Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

Republicans face an 'epidemic' of U.S. House dropouts

With 25 GOP retirements or resignations from the U.S. House already announced, the Republican Party has a political problem.
Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
Are ya hitting Noise Pop?
Smackette wants to see Stellastarr and I'm hoping to hit one of those Mountain Goats shows…
Originally posted by vansmack:
Republicans face an 'epidemic' of U.S. House dropouts

With 25 GOP retirements or resignations from the U.S. House already announced, the Republican Party has a political problem.
This has been chronicled for over a year at Daily Kos.
Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
This has been chronicled for over a year at Daily Kos.
Yeah, I'm a casual reader fo the Kos (I find some contributors much stronger than others). But I was taken back by the fact that the Repubs are at 25 and we're still 4 months from the primary. Shocking.

This is why I think you won't see the outpouring of support or glorification of GW like you did with Reagan in the late 90's and early 2000's. At some point the party will have to put the blame on him. Of course, if McCain gets drubbed in November, he will be their scapegoat.
The wheels are really starting to fall off my prediction that HD-DVD will make substantial in roads on Blu-Ray in 2008.

Best Buy to Recommend Blu-Ray high definition Format

Of course, if a Best Buy sales person recommends anything to me, I tend to do the exact opposite.

I'm still holding out for an all download HD model via my 360 with a Netflix style rental model. That's what I really want - then I won't have to worry about this format war at all.
This one made smackette's day:

Cheaper Access to wi-fi at Starbucks

According to a Starbucks' Press Release, 2 free hours per day for customers who use their prepaid Starbucks card once a month.
Originally posted by vansmack:
I love an election year.

What are you going to spend your ~$300 on?
So it's official now:

Bush Signs Economic Stimulus Package

$600 per person/$1200 per couple

$300 per child (with a cap)

Minimum single income $3000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum income for full payment is $75000 (with gradual phaseouts up to $87000)

Minimum couples income $6000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum of $150000 (with gradual phaseount up to $174000)

You must fill out a 2007 tax return and have a valid SSN. Depending on how you requested a refund will determine how you get paid (either direct deposit or mailed check). Payments to begin in late spring and continue through the summer.

Spend away! I recommend a video game console and Rock Band with your $600.
In the middle of last night, I was lying awake in bed trying to figure out which I was more excited about:

Pitchers and Catchers report tomorrow or

The Daytona 500 is Sunday.

Sadly, I still haven't reached a conclusion and will probably wake again tonight and debate the same thing.
I'm equally excited for the start of baseball and racing. I'll take watching Daytona over watching pitchers and cathers do wind sprints though.

Originally posted by vansmack:
In the middle of last night, I was lying awake in bed trying to figure out which I was more excited about:

Pitchers and Catchers report tomorrow or

The Daytona 500 is Sunday.

Sadly, I still haven't reached a conclusion and will probably wake again tonight and debate the same thing.
Watching pitchers and catchers do windsprints is perhaps the second dullest thing on earth to watch. NASCAR would be #1 though.
fuck baseball and nascar, its still hockey season
Originally posted by pdx pollard:
fuck baseball and nascar, its still hockey season
Now this is a sentiment I can get behind!
Originally posted by pdx pollard:
fuck baseball and nascar, its still hockey season
Thank you for reminding me. Now that Teemu and Scotty are back, the defense of Lord Stanley's Cup officially begins.

And if you watched Sundays game at Detroit, you know what I'm talking about.
Josiah Leming. The odds on favorite to be the first American Idol contestant to take his own life.

But not until he gets a deal from Subpop or Capitol.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by vansmack:
[qb]

Minimum single income $3000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum income for full payment is $75000 (with gradual phaseouts up to $87000)

Minimum couples income $6000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum of $150000 (with gradual phaseount up to $174000)

pre or post tax
Adjusted Gross Income. i.e. pre-tax

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by vansmack:
[qb]

Minimum single income $3000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum income for full payment is $75000 (with gradual phaseouts up to $87000)

Minimum couples income $6000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum of $150000 (with gradual phaseount up to $174000)

pre or post tax
interesting
DC/b'more wimax trial going forward, rest of the country maybe not so much:

Sprint's Limited WiMAX Launch Imminent
A Sprint official acknowledges, however, that the carrier's full-scale deployment still awaits budget approval by new management.

time to move to pakistan.
Originally posted by sweetcell:
time to move to pakistan.
For me maybe, but for the rest of you, an alternative to waiting for FiOS deployment.
pakistan, or baltimore… tough choice.