Stupid Expert

My New Faux-Hawk (The Beckham)

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 1:28 PM 2 comments

Favorite Bar: Crew At Poughkeepsie

Crew's a really nice place. The way the inside is designed is very posh and elegant. It truly seems out of place in Poughkeepsie because it's the only bar around here that's nice looking.

What I love about the place is that it's actually a neighborhood bar type of place. Relatively the same people come there, but that's good. The people who come there are all generally in their 20s and they're all relatively clean cut. In the area, it's your best shot at finding good looking, sophisticated people. It's deffinetly my favorite bar in the area.

So, basically, if you're looking for a place that's packed, this is not the place to go. If you're looking for something sorta small and intimate, this is the place to go. The clientele is very friendly and it's the kind of place where everyone knows the bartender. It's a major hangout for Olive Garden staff, students of the Culinary Institute of America, and city officials.

...Next entry will be photos of my new haircut. Yikes!

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 10:21 AM 1 comments

Tito Dolping, May You Find The Peace That This World Cannot Provide

I never really knew my Tito Dolping. There are only a few things I know about him, and it only seems right to write about them here.

When my parents first started dating, Tito Dolping was a dick to my Dad because he liked my mom's ex. 10 years ago, Tito Dolping got a brain tumor. They got rid of it, but it came back when I was a senior in high school. It was hard for my family in the Philippines because he didn't have health insurance. It was hard on my mom and Tita Amy because the brunt of the payments came from them. I did what I could because I felt guilty spending my money on high school stuff when I could see his pain in my mother.

His wife and children weren't there as he suffered more and more from the spreading of the tumor. There were surgeries after surgery to get rid of it, but ultimately, he died at the hospital with my mom's family there. She said she looked at peace. I hardly know you, but I feel you. I hope you're doing well up there.

...Next Entry will be my review on Crew at Poughkeepsie.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 10:48 AM 0 comments

Oracle Rated Strong Buy

Everyone buy Oracle stock. Strong buy rating for Oracle. Why? With the recent acquisition of PeopleSoft, Oracle has not only gotten rid of major competition, they are able to cut the labor force and grow to be a huge contender in the software industry.

There may be initial problems as far as integration of the two seemingly opposite cultures. However, the collaboration of these two software companies will eventually lead to a superior business and technical infastructure.

...My next entry will be a tribute to my late Tito Dolping.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 4:00 PM 1 comments

Why Yahoo Is Better Than Google, MSN Search Sucks

So in a recent news article at news.google.com, I read that google is down and msn search and yahoo are up. I had to see what this was all about.

First, I did a controlled search on Google. Being the self-centered guy I am, I searched for "Jan-Michael Cruz." I got a good number of hits. I had nothing to complain about. Then, I tried Yahoo. This yielded the best results of them all. It actually had my blog in there with all my posts as possible results! This is a Google run blog site mind you! Finally, I went to MSN Search. That sucked, I don't even want to show any respect to it because it gave the worst results for my experiment.

So, I'm gonna try to use Yahoo as my primary search engine. But, my natural instinct is to use Google. And, you gotta respect a company that publishes stories about how it's losing marketshare. MSN used to give 4 site results if you searched for "Linux." And, they were all Microsoft sites!

...Buy Oracle Stock!

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 6:35 PM 0 comments

Worst Weekend of Football Ever

Wow. What a horid weekend of football. First game, Jets vs. Steelers. Nailbiter. But you know what, that doesn't mean it was good. Both teams sucked. The Steelers gave that game away, are you kidding me? They're capable of playing much better than that. Rothlisberger sucks.

Second game, Falcons vs. Rams. Ok, this was the one game that went my way. I needed the Falcons to win this so that they can take out my much hated team, the Eagles. And they did, by a lot. Way to go, game ball goes to Warrick Dunn.

Then Sunday came. This was where the men were really separated from the boys. Culpepper and the Vikings coaches, are you kidding me? Horrible play. Culpepper needs some freakin' field vision. Coaches need to remember that this is the NFL. And, the defensive line needs to put some sort of pressure on the QB. Gimme a break.

Finally, the game I had looked forward to all season, Colts vs. Patriots. Stop dropping passes! This is supposed to be the best offense in the game. How many dropped passes or fumbles did the colts make yesterday. And not just the offense, but the freakin' secondary could've picked off so many that they just let drop.

Next week, it better be Falcons beating the Eagles and the Steelers beating the Patriots.

...I'm gonna write about how Yahoo is better than Google.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 6:29 PM 0 comments

Mahoney's at Poughkeepsie Is The Current Hot Spot

I've been to Mahoney's a few times already. It's only fair to say that one of the owners there is the father and step-father of a couple of friends of mine in high school. Generally speaking, it's a nice place. I like the atmosphere, its got two bars and a plasma television downstairs for sports. They have a pool table in the corner and an upstairs area that overlooks the dance floor.

Mahoney's, at time of print, is the hottest bar in Poughkeepsie. Everyone is there. The wait to get in on Saturday night is around 15min. - 1 hour. That may be normal in NYC, but rare in Poughkeepsie. If you're looking to see attractive women, this is one of the few places you can count on seeing them (Barnes & Nobles and the Galleria being other ones).

If there's anything worth mentioning about food, they seem to specialize in burgers. The burgers are really hit or miss on level of cook. People complain about well done being too done and medium being too rare. Be safe, get the medium well. At least it'll be tolerable at that rate. The friend shrimp is over seasoned. The prices are decent, and most of the wait staff is kind.

I highly recommend this bar because it's clean with a good atmosphere. Keep in mind the clientele is 20 somethings on Friday and Saturday nights, but can vary significantly otherwise. As most places in Poughkeepsie, you'd be hardpressed to find diversity at this bar as it tends to be around 95% white. Dress is casual.

...football wrap-up.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 10:47 AM 2 comments

Rain and Snow Cause Flooding In Our Basement

Last night, I had no plans going into Friday night. It's proably a good thing because the house got flooded. All the snow and rain that we've been getting here in the Northeast had actually flooded a lot of mine and my co-workers's basements despite the fact that our houses were designed not to get flooded. And, since our houses aren't supposed to get flooded, none of us have a sump pump to get the water out.

So, after calling Home Depot to find out that all the sump pumps had not only been rented out, but that people had been calling about them all day, we decided to go buy one ourselves. When we went there, we saw a crowd of people at the sump pump section looking for one that sucks in water from the bottom. This is neccessary because they were going to place it on the floor rather than a well or drain in their basement. But, the salesperson said they've been all out of those and "what you see is what you get." So, I dug behind the boxes to find 1 MORE LEFT. I grabbed it and ran. Haha! Suckas!

...I'll review Mahoney's in Poughkeepsie next.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 1:51 PM 1 comments

It Doesn't Make Sense To Get A PC

Last time I wrote, I said I was gonna write about Barnes and Nobles being a a modern day marketplace. I actually wrote a whole entry about the four characteristics shared by the two, but I lost the post. Do you know why? Freakin' Microsoft Update!

So, instead, I'm gonna write today about how much I hate Microsoft. The amount they charge for their software is absurd. I'm not gonna front. I like Windows and Microsoft Word. But, unless your computer comes with it or you pirate software, it's rediculous to go buy them.

Also, in the spirit of competition, which is good for consumers, why not get an Apple? I know, I work for IBM, but hell, Apples look nicer. Their architecture is made for multimedia. And essentially, isn't that what people (excluding gamers) use a computer for? To listen to music, to edit and view photos, to watch videos? And their software is so intuitive. Trust me. Get an IMac. The Minis are a trick. The Power Macs are too expensive.

...the consequences of not planning anything for Friday night.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 3:45 PM 1 comments

$14.99 for 1 Month's Worth Of Renting at Blockbuster

You know how Blockbuster is losing a lot of business to NetFlix? Well, they're doing all this stuff to counteract it. First, they got rid of late fees. That's like 55% of their revenues right there. Then, they offered the same service as NetFlix but cheaper. But, I'm here to talk about they're new offer.

For $24.99 a month, you can just mozy on down to your nearest Blockbuster store and rent two DVDs at a time. It's like NetFlix but with one less DVD and no waiting to get it in the mail. Plus, stuff are offered at Blockbuster sooner then on NetFlix. Actually, for the first month it's only $14.99. That' what I'm doing. I have it set to cancel subscription after this first month. It's a great way to just save money and get caught up on movies.

Remember, when you're renting movies for people, get one that no one has seen yet. Don't be selfish because you're the only person in the world who hasn't seen Spiderman 2.

...Next entry will be about Barnes and Noble as a modern day marketplace.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 5:57 PM 0 comments

How Did I Go Through Life Without '24'?

I love 24. I'm just coming in now, in the 4th season, and it's so good. This past week they've shown 4 hours worth of new material. It's awesome. Every minute is great. I only regret that I'm just coming into it now and not during the first 3 seasons.

Already I have a friend with the three seasons I missed, and he said I can borrow them whenever. I'm kinda interested in seeing Elisha Cuthbert, because I've only seen her in her cameo on "Love Actually." The new season, I haven't really seen any hot girls. The teenager that was just killed is pretty hot, Debbie. But, otherwise, not much there.

But with this show, it doesn't matter. It just does not matter. The hero, Jack Bauer, (I think that's how it's spelled) is so sharp that you can't help but admire this character. The plot is interesting. And the side characters are all interesting. Watch this show!

...'Renting Movies.'

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 5:43 PM 0 comments

King Arthur Was Another Great Guy Movie

I really enjoyed watching King Arthur the other day. I guess I just love those kinds of movies. I suppose there's nothing special about it. But, it certainly evokes a certain feeling of nationalism and honor.

Like in Braveheart, King Arthur really depicts the importance of country and freedom. In a way, it shows us how land belongs to a certain group and that it is not meant to be controlled by more powerful empires or kingdoms. I suppose this gets right to the heart of US involvement in Iraq. However, it's never that simple. Or is it?

The other thing I loved about this movie was the honor and virtue displayed by all the knights. Their care and trust of one another is the kind that can only be forged on a battlefield. Perhaps it's because your lives are on the line. I suppose if you can trust your life in someone's hands, all other forms of trust seem trivial. When someone puts themselves at risk in a way that helps make you safer, in such an intimate way, how can you help but feel that love?

...Next article will be on the new season of 24.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 6:03 PM 0 comments

Napoleon Dynamite Is Weird and Funny

I said that I was gonna write about Spice in Chelsea, but instead I stayed at home and rented DVDs. The movie I watched yesterday was "Nalopeon Dynamite."

Napoleon Dynamite is anything but another teen movie. It's not laden with a great soundtrack. It's actors are in no way good looking. And the main character is just that, a character.

However, the strangeness of the whole music lends itself to rediculously funny moments when you least expect it. What you come to recognize is that if you moved to Idaho in high school, you would own that school. It seems to depict some sort of backwards land where no one is admirable and the only virtue was loyalty.

I enjoyed the movie and invite others to go watch it. Be warned that you might feel bad afterwards for being shallow in high school.

...Next entry will be my review on "King Arthur."

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 1:45 PM 0 comments

Drinking Etiquette for the Young Male Professional

John Wayne once said, "I never trust a man that doesn't drink." I've talked about this with other guys and I realize it's true! We don't trust men who don't drink. If a man doesn't drink, it means he's not willing to let his guard down. If a man is not willing to let his guard down, it means he's got something to hide. If he's got something to hide, that means that you can't trust him.

Plenty of people don't drink. And absolutely, they're not all untrustworthy. But, if there's anything I've learned from the business world, it's that people will trust and respect you if you drink with them. Inherently, the trick is to not have anything to hide. If you do hide things, you should consider coming to terms with the truth. If you can't come to terms with the truth, you should just learn to drink as much as you can without getting drunk. Be gregarious, but don't lose self control.

So, when playing beer pong, use 2 beers for 6 cups. Use 3 beers for 10 or 12 cups. When you're at a bar, order a beer or vodka (or whatever your preference is) on the rocks. Sours are for women. Drinking isn't important. But, it's an easy way to gain instant respect and trust. Trust me.

...Next entry will be my opinion on Spice in Chelsea.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 10:34 AM 1 comments

Motorola V551 is Perfect

Motorola comes out with a lot of phones. Obviously phones like the Razor are their top end and the wildly popular V60s were so good I bought it twice. My latest phone purchase for my switch to Cingular GSM was the Motorola V551.

The 551, although not as small or sexy as the Razor, is just what I wanted. First of all, it's price is $50 upon activation through letstalk.com. The Razor is 10 times that price! This phone has everything an average user like me needs. It's got bluetooth, mp3 ringtones, and a camera.

I've always said I didn't want a camera on a cell phone. But, I have to say, I love how the person's picture comes up when they call. Also, I love how the address book actually shows a small representation of their picture when I browse it. I'll revist this topic after I try to integrate the phone with my Palm Desktop.

...Next article will be about Beiruit (aka "Beer Pong).

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 4:01 PM 0 comments

Ashlee Simpson's Orange Bowl Performance

Yesterday morning, as my alarm woke me up at 6:00am, I heard the worst singing I have ever heard. What's funny is that it was actually a professional singer, a platinum singer even!

Ashlee Simpson is arguably the worst person to do PR for. First, she dyes her hair black, which I'm sure was not well recieved in the focus groups. Then, she gets caught lip syncing/sing on Saturday Night Live, and blames it on her band and acid reflux. Then finally, in the Orange Bowl of all places, the "redemption" performance, she can't find the key, pitch, or tune to save her life.

Here's a girl with a great album start to finish, but boy does she suck live. This is all part of the way the world works now. The whole, "You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it," became "I can make you a celebrity over night." If music wasn't on television, would performers be artists? Would they be musicians?

...Next article will be about my new Motorola V551 I recieved today.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 6:24 PM 1 comments

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 7:09 PM 0 comments

AT&T's Automatic Repayment

In my last entry, I wrote about how I was overcharged because my Cingular calls were not counted as Mobile-to-Mobile. Although customer service has assured me that the problem has been corrected, I went back to my online bill to find that I had already paid do to my automatic payment. But, I paid the incorrect amount of $123.

Although the payment has not been reflected on my card, AT&T server problems are keeping me from seeing my balance. Thus, I am left with the fear of losing $50 in what I've already seen to be shotty database and programming practice over at AT&T/Cingular.

...Next article is about the Ashlee Simpson phenomena

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 6:29 PM 1 comments

AT&T and Cingular's Mobile-to-Mobile Problems

Today, AT&T sent me my paperless bill asking for a payment of $123 for last month's cell phone use. Seeing as how my plan was only $34 a month before tax, I was immediately up in arms because this was the most I have ever been over the fixed payment.

Looking over my bill, I realized that I was being charged for calls made to Cingular customers. Seeing as how AT&T and Cingular had been toting their "Your family just got bigger" motto, I was a little annoyed.

So, I called up Cingular, and after a few phone routes and a lot of hold periods, they corrected my bill and I ended up only having to pay for about $50.

I should probably note that a possible cause for the error was that I was on the TDMA network as opposed to the common GSM network that AT&T and Cingular share. If this was the case, that was piss poor programming on their part.

...Next article will be about my automatic payment.

posted by Jan-Michael Cruz @ 8:09 PM 0 comments