Baumblog EST 1968 - A blog for the Baumbachs who originated in Syracuse, NY

If it's not one thing....
posted by Steve on January 4, 2009 @ 4:27PM

Boy, Parsla's luck has to turn around at some point I hope. Her Siberian Huskey Smokey started having problems just after I left for Christmas. He was peeing on the carpet overnight, when he usually was good about waking you up or holding it all night. When I got back here, in just the few hours we were at Parsla's house between NY and going up north, I noticed he was drinking a LOT more water than normal, and going to the bathroom a lot more than normal. The condition continued like that while we were up north at her sister's cottage, so we decided to come back early and get him to the vet as soon as possible. Yesterday Parsla was at the vet from 9:30 AM until about 2:00 PM. Smokey has diabetes. :-( That's kinda what I figured based on his behaviors, but it could have been a few other things too. I was surprised that it can show up that quickly, but I'm wondering if maybe he's been showing signs of it for a while, with it only turning bad just recently.

So now the lucky guy gets insulin shots every day, and we have to buy some very expensive food for him (which Sam, the black Lab, will also eat, as you can't force one dog to eat one thing and another dog to eat another). That dog food is $60 for 30 lbs, whereas the normal Purina dog food we normally bought cost $23 for 55 lbs. So between the dog food change and the insulin, Smokey just got about $75 a month more expensive, plus a one time cost of $900 (exams Saturday and then they'll keep him Monday-Wednesday to slowly ramp up insulin injections to figure out how much he needs).

Oh well, at least we are all safe.

2 comments | Tags: None

Merry Christmas!
posted by GJ on December 24, 2008 @ 12:49PM

Here it is, another Christmas almost upon us. 2008 is rapidly fading, 2009 is knocking on our doors. This has been a tough year for much of the family, but the important thing is, we're all still here, we're all still healthy, and frankly, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. One of my most favorite quotes (no idea who it's from): "Greatest opportunity often finds you in times of crisis and angst." I'd say we're in the midst of some great opportunities, wouldn't you?

On a slightly different note, don't forget about the less fortunate in these lousy financial times. Food pantries are staggering under the weight of the volume of people who don't know where their next meal will come from--folks who are definitely worse off than any of us. If you've got money to spare, great, but these charities are always more than happy to have a few extra volunteers especially during the winter months.

If you want to arrange it

this world you can change it

if we could somehow make this

Christmas thing last.

By helpin' a neighbor

even a stranger

to know who needs help

you need only just ask.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Old City Bar

So, to all, Merry Christmas, have a happy, safe, and wonderful holiday season, and let's kick this economy back into shape next year!

No comments | Tags: well wishes

Food for thought in this Christmas Season
posted by GJ on December 19, 2008 @ 9:53AM

Check out the results of this study. If you have never studied morality outside of religion, it's a very interesting topic...one that will definitely make you view your fellow humans in an new light.

No comments | Tags: things that make you go hmmm

Wild Weather on the Way
posted by Eric on December 19, 2008 @ 9:17AM

Hey all you New Yorkers!

Be ready for a pounding. Snow is on the way. We got hit this morning starting around 4:00am and it's still going. Took me over an hour and a half to get to work. We have almost 10" already on the ground.

Get your snowblowers gased up and your shovels waxed!

2 comments | Tags: weather

If only he reacted to other things the same way...
posted by Geoff on December 17, 2008 @ 1:16PM

3 comments | Tags: political

Mitch Albom's Rant on Auto Bailout Failure
posted by Eric on December 15, 2008 @ 8:41AM

Hey, you senators: Thanks for nothingA few parting words for the senators who squashed the auto rescue

By MITCH ALBOM • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • December 13, 2008

Do you want to watch us drown? Is that it? Do want to see the last gurgle of economic air spit from our lips? If so, senators, know this: You’ll go down with us. America isn’t America without an auto industry. You can argue whether $14 billion would have saved it, but you surely tried to kill it.We have grease on our hands. You have blood.Kill the car, kill the country. History will show that when America was on its knees, a handful of lawmakers tried to cut off its feet. And blame the workers. How suddenly did the workers — a small percentage of a car’s cost — become justification for crushing an industry? And when did Detroit become the symbol of economic dysfunction? Are you kidding? Have you looked in the mirror lately, Washington? In a world where banks hemorrhaged trillions in a high-priced gamble called credit derivative swaps that YOU failed to regulate, how on earth do WE need to be punished? In a bailout era where you shoveled billions, with no demands, to banks and financial firms, why do WE need to be schooled on how to run a business?Who is more dysfunctional in business than YOU? Who blows more money? Who wastes more trillions on favors, payback and pork? At least in the auto industry, if folks don’t like what you make, they don’t have to buy it. In government, even your worst mistakes, we have to live with.And now Detroit should die with this?In bed with the foreign automakersKill the car, kill the country. Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Bob Corker, Sen. Mitch McConnell, your names will not be forgotten. It’s amazing how you pretend to speak for America when you are only watching out for your political party, which would love to cripple unions, and your states, which house foreign auto plants. Corker, you’ve got Nissan there and Volkswagen coming. Shelby, you’ve got Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and — like McConnell — Toyota. Oh, don’t kid yourself. They didn’t come because you earned their business, a subject on which you enjoy lecturing the Detroit Three. No, they came because you threw billions in state tax breaks to lure them.And now you want those foreign companies, which you lured, and which get help from their governments, to dictate to American workers how much they should be paid? Tell you what. You’re so fond of the foreign model, why don’t you do what Japanese ministers do when they screw up the country’s finances? They cut their salaries.Or they resign in shame. When was the last time a U.S. senator resigned over a failed policy? Yet you want to fire Rick Wagoner?Who are you people?More money for the lords of Wall StreetThere ought to be a law — against the hypocrisy our government has demonstrated. The speed with which wheelbarrows of money were dumped on Wall Street versus the slow noose hung on the auto companies’ necks is reprehensible. Some of those same banks we bailed out are now saying they won’t extend credit to auto dealers. Wasn’t that why we gave them the money? To loosen credit? Where’s your tight grip on those funds, senators? Where’s your micromanaging of the wages in banking? Or do you just enjoy having your hands around blue-collared throats? No matter what the president does, history will not forget this: At our nation’s most uncertain hour, you senators stood ready to plunge hundreds of thousands of American families into oblivion. Leave them unemployed, with no health care, on public assistance. And you were willing to put our nation’s security at risk — by squashing the manufacturing base we must have in times of war. And why? So you could stand on some phony principle? Crush a union? Play to your base? How is our nation better off today now that you kept $14 billion in the treasury? Are you going to balance the budget with that? Don’t make us laugh. Kill the car, kill the country. You tried to slam a stake into our chest; you don’t realize how close you are to the nation’s heart. Shame on your pettiness. Shame on your hypocrisy. This is how lawmakers behave two weeks before Christmas? Honestly. What has become of this country? Contact MITCH ALBOM at 313-223-4581 or malbom@freepress.com. Catch “The Mitch Albom Show” 5-7 p.m. weekdays on WJR-AM (760).

4 comments | Tags: politics, political

GJ said about 3 hours later

Personally, I think breaking up the UAW would be a move in the right direction for the domestic automakers.

It's the classic game of chicken--who will blink first. Ron Manyfingers, or the GOP senators, or lame duck but surprisingly good at ducking flying shoes soon to be former President Bush.
Geoff said about 6 hours later

Nice rant.
Eric said about 6 hours later

The UAW does have a few good aspects, but most of the policies and politics ultimately hurt their union members.

It's just a matter of time before the auto companies get their loans. It will pass in January.

By the way, I don't agree with many of the things in the above article. I just thought it was very pointed; I'm sure that many Americans have the same sort of passion (one way or the other) concerning the job our Congress is doing.
GJ said about 7 hours later

Oh, I don't think for a second that the unions in general are bad. However, what do we really need them for?

They once existed to level the balance of power between companies and their employees, when women and children first began entering the workforce (at least, in this country) and employee abuse by employers was rampant. Since the government wouldn't help them out, they took it upon themselves to stand up to the companies they worked for. Good for them.

Cut to today. Most white collar industries have no unions--they are "at will" employers. Those of use who work in at-will shops can tell you that layoffs during down periods are common, and that's precisely how employers keep costs in line (well, at least labor costs). Funny--you don't see them asking for bailouts, other than banks, but don't confuse the bank bailout with the auto one. They are two totally different animals...remember, the financial businesses use money as raw material, and it's also a deliverable product. The liquidity of the US market was at risk, and the bailout was SUPPOSED to be used to get it moving again. Of course, the lack of oversight there has produced some fairly predictable results (AIG is a prime example).

Now, in terms of the automakers, what service does the union provide--I mean, really--what do they provide that an at-will employee like me is missing? They try to offer job security, which is not part of their original mission (it was an eight hour work day, safe conditions, and the cessation of child labor). They fight for higher salaries for the group as a whole, knowing that the bargaining power of the group is far greater than the individual. Of course....if you do that, you end up with salaries far higher than they should be (artificial inflation) and more employees employed than are truly needed because the union fights job cuts at every chance.

You notice that the transplants are union free, and their workers are quite happy and feel they're paid well and have secure jobs. Go figure--maybe they're on to something.

So...while I think the Big 2.8 have their collective heads up their asses, which is why they pursue more dumb business models than smart ones, the UAW really needs to go. The domestics will never be able to compete on a level playing field with foreign manufacturers with that millstone around the neck of the Big 2.8.

Funny Kittens
posted by Marc on December 14, 2008 @ 11:02PM

1 comment | Tags: video, funny

Now this is a superhero!
posted by GJ on December 13, 2008 @ 10:29AM

It appears the folks in Sheffield, England have their very own Batman...

No comments | Tags: news

Ice Storm (or...why that generator purchase just paid for itself)
posted by GJ on December 12, 2008 @ 3:39AM

That snow storm that we were supposed to get turned into an ice storm, leaving us with about one inch of ice on everything. Not surpisingly, power outages are rampant and we lost power around 2am. Ahhh, but with the generator, I still have Internet, Dish Network, and heat! Heat is good--it's supposed to be c-c-c-cold tomorrow night and the power is likely to be out till Sunday at least.

Don't want to see my gas bill next month, though. Here's to hoping none of my trees decide to create new entryways in the house!

How is everyone else doing? Since we're borrowing National Grid folks from Syracuse, I'm guessing CNY is doing better than we are. How is Rochester?

11 comments | Tags: weather

Marc said about 6 hours later

Just thought I'd let you guys know it's going to be a chilly 52 degrees here today. I'm sure it'll be similar for Kristen. We should be back in the 70s next week though. :)
GJ said about 6 hours later

Power is back on here at of 9:15am. That was pretty fast, all things considered.
Geoff said about 7 hours later

Rochester is fine. We're cold, but we don't get much precipitation. It either hits Buffalo or Syracuse. I'm cool with that. Less shoveling.
Kristen said about 7 hours later

Yes, we received about an inch or more of rain, but it'll be sunny and in the upper 40's or low 50's today. :) I really could have used a snow day, hehe. Although they have agreed to give us Inauguration day off--a "traffic" day, if you will, since we expect upwards of 4 million visitors to the area that week.
Eric said about 12 hours later

We were blasted with a 1/4" of snow earlier today. I almost had to use my snow brush. I hate these brutal Michigan winters.

It has been very cold though, if that makes you feel any better.
Eric said about 12 hours later

Do you have one of those Natural Gas generators, GJ?
Geoff said about 13 hours later

2 comments in one day? That has got to be a record or something.
GJ said about 14 hours later

Yes, I do. It's a Generac 14kw, and it's hooked up to my illustrious sumps, heater, water heater, both fridges, all computer and TV equipment (priorities, man), all bathrooms, and all lights / outlets downstairs. We don't currently light the kids bedrooms, and eventually I'll rewire it to better insulate my two sump pumps away from the garage circuit, which means we'll only keep enough lights on upstairs to do a bathroom and the computer room.
GJ said about 14 hours later

It was nice watching the weather on TV with the power out in the neighborhood this morning, btw. :)
GJ said about 20 hours later

And oh, btw, we're back on generator since 6:30pm. My gas bill will be hiiiiiiigh this month.
GJ said 1 day later

Final tally: down from 2:30 - 9:30am Friday. Down 6:30pm to 5:30am Friday night into Saturday morning. Of course, they're predicting more wind today....and the ice is still on the trees. But hey, we still played hockey last night! :)

Scary video?
posted by GJ on December 9, 2008 @ 3:26PM

21 comments | Tags: video

GJ said 1 minute later

Methinks the length of the credits was the scary part.

Don't blame me if you can't sleep tonight, though.
Marc said about 18 hours later

Very simple and effective. The face on that thing was awesome. I agree the credits were a bit ridiculous.
GJ said about 20 hours later

Yeah, the face was awesome. But the movie should have ended right there, imho.
Geoff said about 23 hours later

Bah! Go watch Darkness Falls with surround sound on, by yourself, in total darkness.
GJ said about 24 hours later

I've seen few movies rated as bad as that one on Rotten Tomatoes, dude.
Geoff said 1 day later

I guarantee most of these folks don't watch their movies in the right setting. If you're looking for a scare...and you have the RIGHT setting, this movie will do a good job. As does The Grudge. Especially if you enjoyed this clip. It's a horror flick...who gives a crap about the plot or characters. Some people take movies too seriously. You want an epic, go read a book or watch The Lord of the Rings.

One thing this movie does well (I thought) is when they build up the anticipation that something is going to happen, it actually happens. No cat jumps out...nobody coming in to say hi...the cheap tricks MOST horror flicks give you. No, it's the damn toothfairy every time, and she's come for more than your teeth.

I guarantee anyone who pops this in at night (with the lights off of course) with some good surround sound, will definitely make your hairs stand up. Especially the beginning.

Make sure you have a flashlight handy after the show.
Geoff said 1 day later

If you really want to shit your pants, the Exorcist down in Ma and Pa's basement with surround sound will do the trick. Marc knows what I'm talking about. I'll never look at them stairs again the same way.

Marc said 1 day later

Thanks for putting that memory back in my head. That was the best and freakiest surround sound moment ever.
Geoff said 1 day later

tru dat
GJ said 1 day later

you guys frighten me.

"it's a horror flick, who gives a crap about the plot or characters"

Horror is so much better when you've invested into the story it's trying to sell. Even better if the characterization is done so well that you can identify with the characters.

Also, you kind of have to believe in ghosts and crap like that to get scared by a flick, dudes. Find the scariest movie you can, I'll be glad to watch it with you and show you just how non-plussed I'll be after the flick. Give me a flashlight and I'll tour the dark part of the basement, or the whole freaking house, or even a graveyard. To give you an idea of my "don't give a **** about ghosts and dead people".... I used to play hide and seek in a graveyard at night at a buddies house. If you can do that, I can promise you that no movie will freak you out.

That said, I kinda liked the Ring. Even if it was mega-stupid.
Geoff said 1 day later

I don't believe in ghosts either, but there is something to be said with good audio mixing and killer speakers :)

That said, go watch the Grudge and then crawl up your attic. hahaha

Give me a good horror movie that you genuinely identify with the characters. I can't think of one off the top of my head. It's horror...it's hard to identify with any of it because it's so out of whack. In fact, I'd love to know what horror movies you do like.

The ring had some good moments, but fell short in the end IMO. The Exorcist is good, though some parts show its age. The Grudge is very good. There isn't much substance behind it, but lots of great scares. The Amityville horror remake is decent too. Way the hell better than the original. I also loved Saw. The original was really good. Not so much horror as it was a gore fest, but the ending was superb.

Those are a few that stand out to me....and I've seen a lot of horror. Silent Hill actually was pretty good too. The end got a wee bit crazy lame, but man, when that siren sounded, you knew you were in for some f'd up sh#t. That one was really bizarre...

I'd say for good character development for a horror, Bram Strokers Dracula stands out. Though it's more drama than horror IMO. John Carpenter's Halloween wasn't too shabby either for its time.
GJ said 1 day later

Let's see...first off, I don't find much horror made today very good. Movies like Saw and Hostel are more torture porn than true horror, and that seems to be in vogue now and has been for several years.

My favorite horror movies include Alien, Night of the Living Dead, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Shaun of the Dead, and The Shining. You'll find a decent plot in each of those, as well as good characters.

Methinks you just believe the horror genre simply consists of craptastic scarefests. They are much more then that, despite the recent trend in horror movies.

Marc said 1 day later

Want to see a decent, and recent, horror-esque/thriller. Watch Untraceable. Very interesting plot idea, not the most realistic in many areas, but fun. A couple horrific deaths, but nothing like Saw or Hostel. Hostel, BTW, was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. That was so gruesome and outrageous I stopped watching it.
GJ said 1 day later

Untraceable was one of those kind of anti-torture-porn movies that still featured torture-porn. Kind of confusing. :)
Marc said 1 day later

I liked the plot, only because if the technological part wasn't so crazy, it would totally work with our society.
GJ said 2 days later

Yeah, that I will grant you. People are sick mofos.
Geoff said 2 days later

Yeah I didn't make it through Hostel. I think I stopped it 5 minutes into the porn flick, I mean horror flick. Saw, while it was gruesome...was darn good.

Forgot about the Shining. That's a good one. I really need to watch Alien. Don't think I've seen any of them in full, in the right setting.

I think horror should scare you, yes. That's horror to me. :)

1408 is a good one. Frailty is another (Excellent by the way). The Messengers had one awesome scene in the movie, and for that, they receive honorable mention. The Omen 666 (the new one) is also very good. So much better than the original. But, if you want some real gruesome stuff, The Hills Have Eyes is your ticket. I think that one is the most gruesome movie I ever saw. Easily handing Saw it's hat. Other than gore though, it sucked.

If there is one, true good quality horror flick, characters and all, Silence of the Lambs has got to be it.

GJ said 2 days later

Watch the original Alien for a true horror flick. Aliens is an action movie far more than a horror flick. I have the series on DVD if you want to borrow them.
GJ said 2 days later

Oh, I totally forgot Poltergeist...that was an excellent horror/suspense flick. If you've never seen it (early 80s release), check it out. Still holds up pretty well today.
Geoff said 2 days later

yes....good as well. I'd love to borrow the Alien series.
GJ said 2 days later

I'll try to remember to bring them at Christmas...along with those books I told Eric I'd bring and have yet to remember to bring!


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