AmyFOX

Got this e-mail from a friend today... thought I'd share.


Here's a little something to help you put the current situation in perspective.

If you purchased $1,000 of AIG stock one year ago, you would have $42 left.
With Lehman, you would have $6.60 left.
With Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you would have less than $5 left. But if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you would have $214. Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.
 
It's called the 401-Keg

Sure, lawmakers are steamed that AIG spent nearly half a million dollars on a retreat for executives just a couple days after receiving money from the federal government.

They're upset?

What about me?! I've been with AIG for a couple years and just saw my premium go up for the next 6-month policy. And it is not like I've had any recent "issues" in the last six months that would affect this.

I am absolutely livid.

Couldn't agree with Sen. Barack Obama more... "Those executives should be fired," he said in the debate last night.

They should be fired.

I love this quote from Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York:

"You have cost my constituents and the taxpayers of this country $85 billion and run into the ground one of the most respected insurance companies in the history of our country... You were just gambling billions, possibly trillions of dollars."

I have already contacted my insurance agent and asked her to find me a different company. I can't support this kind of behavior.

Last week, I asked to you share some pre, during and post debate thoughts for the VP debate.

Now, it's time for the 2nd Presidential Debate.

What are your expectations? Hopes? Predictions?

During the debate, feel free to come back to this post and share your thoughts while you watch...

And, just like last week, come on back after the debate to share your thoughts on how things went.

Over the weekend, my brother and I attended Bar Camp Milwaukee at Bucketworks.

First of all, if you've never been to Bucketworks, I suggest you check it out. It's a pretty cool place with a lot of space for gatherings and co-working environments. (and the bubble wrap floor in the entry was probably my favorite part!)

I do have to say, I was both surprised and not surprised to see how many women were in attendance. I would guess maybe 10 percent of the attendees were women. And the benefit in that, ladies, is that there was never a wait for the women's restroom. That NEVER happens! :)

We got there during the introductory session... where everyone introduced themselves and the whole concept of a bar camp was discussed.

I bet you're wondering what a barcamp is... here's the wikipedia definition:

BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — often focusing on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats.

Basically, it's a conference, but not a conference. All the sessions are led by people attending the event, and you can roam between sessions without getting *that* look - you know, the look of "how dare you get up while I'm talking" look! :)

I caught a few sessions Saturday, including Start-ups, Why Your IT Resume Sucks, Wordpress on Steroids and part of the Sketchnotes presentation. I missed some sessions I was pretty interested in... including a photowalk and one on social media networks.

I would have loved to stay longer, but we had to get back to our parents' house to watch the Brewers game... and then Sunday I was sooooooooo sick (still am) and slept most of the day before coming in to work.

I look forward to the next BarCamp so I can meet some more people with similar interests and learn more about this ever-changing technology industry. Maybe I'll even lead a session next time!

I think I might even start attending Web414 Meetings (held monthly at Bucketworks).

If you'd like to see some pictures from the event, many of the attendees posted them to a group on flickr.

Are you planning to watch the Vice Presidential Debate tonight?

I probably will... because 1. I'm curious and 2. I'm a nerd.

Do you have any pre-debate thoughts? Who is going to "win?"

Feel free to post any mid-debate or post-debate thoughts here as well.

And, just in case you were wondering, there are drinking games out there as well. *

*If you do drink, please do so responsibly.

Just released today... David Cook's first single off his debut album.

'Light On' >>Click here to listen to a preview.

I think it's pretty good but I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the album. It seems a little overproduced, but that's not surprising since it's the first single for this American Idol winner. I'm crossing my fingers for some killer rock ballads on the as yet untitled album due out November 18. Hmmmm, just a couple days after my birthday. *hint hint* incase you wanted to know what to get me! :)

I finally broke down and ordered a new computer. I've had my laptop since my last year of college and, well, it has seen much better days!

I'm making the switch to Mac with a 24 in. iMac and it's coming tomorrow!!! Good thing I don't work Fridays, because I'll be setting up my new computer and transferring files all day long.

:)

I've been watching some of the Mac commercials at Apple.com today. They are so clever (and hilarious).

What's your favorite? I would have to say that the two I posted below are probably my favorites so far.

Two of my good friends are embarking on a road trip next week along Route 66. They asked me if I had any suggestions for good road trip music, and I thought I'd get some input from my MyFoxMilwaukee.com bloggers!

If you were going on a road trip and could only have 6 (this is FOX 6 after all) songs on your playlist/ipod/cd/tape/radio, etc... which songs would you choose?

I'll compile your suggestions and send them to my friends!

Thanks!

I promised to share more Guatemala photos like, back in JUNE! Dude, where have I been?

Here are some more photos from my trip... done up digiscrap style:



















I think that's it for now. I will be posting more pages next week.

One of my very good friends Holly McCaig is the designer for a line of scrapbooking paper & supplies. The company just unveiled one of its holiday lines, Sweet Cakes.

I'm excited for more crafty goodies designed by my friend, but also to show you this project she made with one of my photos!



I've also been meaning to blog about crafty stuff for awhile. When I'm not at work or playing with all my crafty supplies, I'm often at home digiscrapping. That's digital scrapbooking. It's similar to traditional scrapbooking (like above) only it's all done digitally. Here are a couple layouts I've made recently:





What I love about digital scrapbooking is the lack of a mess (all you need is your computer, digital photos and photo editing software) and you can scrap whenever, wherever you are. I've made some cards too! You can print out your projects at home, send them to a printer like Sam's Club, Walgreens or Target, or publish them in a cool photobook from places like Blurb.com, ArtsCow.com or Shutterfly.com.

Well I guess that's all for my craft corner today. Just thought I'd share with you all some of my hobbies!

This one's for my dad...

There is now a Pink Floyd-themed Cruise through the Bahamas!

ROCK ON!



This got me thinking... if you could take a similar cruise with ANY BAND (members alive or dead) which band would it be and why?

A friend sent me a link to this the other day.



I think it's hilarious.

Check out Wisconsin's stats here at popvssoda.com.

If you'd like to participate in the survey, click here and scroll down for the "survey" section.

In case you weren't keeping tabs on this all morning like me and my techie geek friends on Twitter and a couple other social media networks...

Apple unveiled the Nano G4.

I have to wipe off my keyboard from all the drooling I did this morning.

I am in LOVE. I especially love the red and lime green ones.

I'm such a tech nerd.

I recently had the opportunity to screen the first two episodes of the new season of HOUSE!

I will write up a full review soon, but wanted to let you know that Wisconsin gets mentioned...

Here's the quote, "You'll end up in a mobile oncology unit in Pewaukee Wisconsin."

HOUSE returns to FOX September 16 @ 7pm.

Oh, and the first two episodes are pretty good. House and Wilson go into couple's counseling! :)

So, I know I'm like a few years behind, but I am currently reading TWILIGHT, the first in a series of books by Stephenie Meyer for young adults.

The story is about a teenage girl named Bella who moves to rural Washington to live with her dad, and meets a mysterious boy named Edward.

I won't get into all the crazy details, but I will tell you Edward is a vampire.

It's bizarre but I'm totally hooked. Read almost 300 pages last night!

It's not at all gory or scary (so far anyway) and the book actually paints the character of Edward in a very positive, human light. He's very chivalrous and separates himself from Bella when he isn't sure he can refrain from hurting here.

I can't explain why this book is so intriguing for me. I guess I'll have to let you know when I finish it (lol probably tonight!)

Here's a teaser from the back of the book:

About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I don't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.