The Journey is the Reward

HuffingtonPost.com: Colts Championship Shirts To Go To Haiti

Despite the Colts' 31-17 loss to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, they can feel good that their championship apparel will be put to good use. All of the clothes made in case the Colts were to win the Super Bowl will go to areas in need in earthquake-damaged Haiti.

I think it would be a fun challenge to try to collect "championship" from every year.

NYTimes.com: After Summer Olympics, Empty Shells in Beijing

This is a little sad, but not too unexpected.  Historically, once the Olympic Games end, that's when the economic impact ends too.

To me this was the biggest surprise ad of the night.  I almost couldn't believe my eyes!  It's interesting to read how it all came about.

From NYTimes.com: How the Letterman-Oprah-Leno Super Bowl Ad Came Together

"This wasn't done to help Dave or to help Jay," Mr. Burnett said, "though I think it does help both of them. It was just done because Dave thought it would be funny and would entertain people. Nothing went beyond that."

From ESPN.com: Sills, 13, commits to USC

Lane Kiffin really is getting a jump on recruiting.

No sooner had the Trojans new coach put the finishing touches on the Class of 2010 recruits, that he turned his attention to the Class of 2015.

That's right, 2015.

Thursday evening Kiffin received a verbal commitment from 13-year old wunderkind quarterback David Sills of Bear, Del.

Is Lane Kiffin even going to be coaching USC in 2015?  This kid might project well, but lots of stuff can happen between now and 2015.

Related:
From ESPN.com: Lewis: What a verbal commitment means

Did you know that the paddle wheel on the Riverfront is the "National Steamboat Monument" and that the Cincinnati Recreation Commission considers it an attraction?

It's somewhat interesting if you're down by the river, but I can't imagine taking an out of town guest down there just to see it.  Hopefully, with the Banks project finally on the move, there will be a lot more people walking around checking out things like this.

Here's an old Enquirer article about the 2.8 million dollar National Steamboat Monument.

I don't buy a lot of blu-ray discs, but one that I highly recommend is the Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series [Blu-ray].  The only problem with the box set besides the excessive use of "digital grain" is the packaging.  It's distinctive, but not very practical, with discs that slide in and out of cardboard boxes.  Universal Studios is replacing the packaging with something more conventional and useful.

See more pictures of the Battlestar Galactica Box Set.
 

Dear "Battlestar Galactica (2004): The Complete Series" Owner,

We are happy to announce that new packaging is available for your "Battlestar Galactica (2004): The Complete Series" set. The new packaging is comprised of conventional cases regularly used to store DVD or Blu-ray discs. Please note that we support consumers with U.S. mailing addresses only.

To receive new packaging, please remove the top and triangular flap of the Season One case included in your complete series set and send it to us, along with the following information and a copy of this correspondence:

Your name:

Street address or P.O. Box:

City:

State:

Zip


Format: BLU-RAY __________ DVD ____________

Send to:

Universal Studios Home Entertainment
c/o Deluxe Media Management
P. O. Box 801464
Valencia, CA 91380 - 1464

Please allow 4 to 6 weeks to receive the new packaging.

We hope that you will continue to enjoy "Battlestar Galactica" and future Universal releases.

Sincerely,

Consumer Relations

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

NYTimes.com: G.M. Strikes Deal to Save Saab

General Motors said Tuesday that it had struck a preliminary deal to sell Saab to Spyker Cars, a tiny Dutch maker of high-end sports cars, saving the Swedish automaker from what seemed like certain extinction after previous bids for it collapsed.
...
Even so, taking over Saab will be a huge leap for tiny Spyker, which sells 30 to 50 made-to-order cars a year for about a quarter-million dollars each. In 2008, Saab produced more than 90,000 cars. Saab has 3,400 workers, mainly in Trollhattan, while Spyker has just 110.

Well, it looks like Saab is now rock solid.

Up until the tank falling out of the airplane part, this actually didn't look too cheesy.  If they're going to do cheesy, they should whip out the "cabbage gun".  You can see the "cabbage gun" at minute 41 in the hulu video of the A-Team, season 2, episode 8 "Labor Pains".

Businessweek.com: American Express Profit Surges as Spending Rebounds

American Express Co., the biggest U.S. credit-card issuer by purchases, said fourth-quarter profit more than doubled amid a surge in customer spending and lower expenses for future defaults.

Not coincidentally, the interest rate on my American Express Delta Skymiles card jumped in December from 11.25% to 14.5% a nearly 29% increase.  This is for new purchases and existing balances.  Congress is fighting against this type of increase on balances, but the credit cards are making changes before the law takes place.

From the WashingtonPost.com: Credit Card Issuers Raising Rates Ahead of New Law

The law, among other things, would prevent card companies from raising rates on existing balances unless the borrower was at least 60 days late and would require the original rate to be restored if payments are received on time for six months. The law would also require banks to get customers' permission before allowing them to go over their limits, for which they would have to pay a fee.

I think any legislation should include a roll back of interest rates to a point before these rate increases have been implemented.  Otherwise the intent of the legislation would be lost.  It's like closing the barn doors once the cows have gone.

Battlestar Galactica's "prequel" Caprica premieres tonight 9PM on the Syfy Channel.  The story takes place 58 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica and follows the development of the Cylons and the decay of human society.