Monday, January 23, 2006

Old Time, Good Times

I recently went to Wal-Mart for a tire rotation. The reason why i went is becuase I baught the tires at 75% off and got a killer deal. Part of the price included lifetime rotation/balance/and road hazard protection. My truck was due for a rotation, so I decided to go directly after school (2:15 pm) and hopefully beat the rush. My miscalculation was that Palm Ocast is so full of jobless (either retired, rich, or really jobless) that Wal-mart was on a full on hop at 2:30 pm. I signed up for a tire rotation and was given a one to one and one-half wait time, for the 10 minute job.

Now Wal-Mart in Palm Coast is nowhere near (walking distance) to any where else. I was basicly trapped in side for the better part of two hours. So I walked isle after isle in the slowest gait my legs could withstand looking at nearly every item. After I had finished all iles, save for womens and food, I realised I had only passes just over thirty minutes, I still had at least an hour untill my vehicle was ready.

I wondered by the front area and the "Super Cuts" caught my attention. There was no line and I could use a trim. Normaly I goto John's in Bunnell, but I felt since I was hostage anyhow, it would help finish my wait. Only after commital would I be sorely regretted.

I approached and took count of the seven employee's of the establishment. Two where busy trimming hair (as would be expected), four stood together and chatted, while the seventh organised the shampoo racks. I walked in and the "leader" of the chatting group asked "Would you like an hair cut?" (My first thought was "I ain't here for the ambiance.") I politely replied yes. The four discussed this answer for a few seconds and finally agreed on who would cut the hair. As my luck would have it, I was assigned the least english profecient.

To compaire this to John's. At John's There are only two employee's, John and Dave, two elderly enghlish profecent gentilemen. They never ask why you are there (i guess they realise we dont goto a barber shop to buy cookies). It is never a discussion who does your hair, who evere is avaible gives you a hair cut.

I will compaire other aspects, SC for SuperCuts and J ofr John's

SC: The chair was very minimal. Much like an office chair.
J: The cair is more like an easy chair.

SC: They ask if I want to change my hair style, and how short on top, etc..
J: Realises that your are a real man and your hair never changes, only ask if you want a trim or very short.

SC: Likes to use the electric clippers
J: Only uses the sciscors

SC: My "stylist" answered the phone three times (even though three employees where ovioulsy not busy)
J: I dont think they even have a phone there.

SC: I have to face the mirror and watch the process
J: I watch the news with the sound off and close captioning on.

SC: Only reading while waiting is hair magasines
J: Normal magasines (wide selection too, Time, popular scienc, road and track, etc..)

SC: Loud music, middle of walmart with cash register noise the whole time, people walking buy watching the half cut head while your stylist talk on the phone.
J: QUIET, no nose, windows are tined so non customers can not see you.

SC: During the cut a differnt stylist came over, leaned over me (not behind) and gosspied to my stylist about a third stylist who the referred to "nut case" (as if i would know who there talking about.
J: If any one speaks gossip they are thougt of as gay and banished. (or so I woul assume)

SC: Used a dinky electric raiser to trim neck hair and side burns.
J: Uses hot shaving lather (feels so good) and a strait raiser to trip neck and burns.

SC: Offers wax, perm, or shampoo as extras at ungoldy prices. Yes they asked about two of them to me. "Would you like a wax or shampoo?"
J: Offers a hot lather, strait raiser, shave for $2 more.

SC: $12:50
J $8:00 ($10 if you do the shave)

Oviosly the its a close one. I have decied to keep with John's and share about supper cuts.

Monday, January 09, 2006

Sometimes it only takes a play or two to completely change a game. And that's exactly what happened in the Redskins' 17-10 win in Tampa on Saturday.
A quick LaVar Arrington interception set up a short Clinton Portis touchdown run. And then with the Bucs driving and Chris Simms in a groove, Pro Bowl snub Marcus Washington jarred the football loose from Cadillac Williams. And eventually fellow Pro Bowl snub Sean Taylor scooped it up and glided down the field for a score.
14-0 Washington in the first quarter.
Good thing for the 'Skins they had that lead because the offense did nothing to build on the score.
And I truly mean nothing.
The Redskins' offense was offensive, totaling 120 total yards. Portis was suffocated by the outstanding Monte Kiffin-coached defense. Chris Cooley and Santana Moss were invisible. Mark Brunell, rattled by pressure from Simeon Rice and friends, was horrible.
The story of the game was the Redskins defense, led by guru Gregg Williams. The newly minted $8 million man, proved to be worth every penny as the 'Skins yet again created turnover after turnover.
But the Redskins better find their offense on their trip to Seattle if they want to have a prayer next week.

This crasy week had all four of my favored teams losing. What s turnaround. Other the The Jags Pats this is an underdog weekend.

Friday, January 06, 2006

From Fox Sports.

I really like the Mormon and Mennonite refernece.

Redskins at Buccaneers:
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who are the most similar teams of all?
The Bucs started out 4-0, then endured a 1-3 stretch and almost fell of the chase. Luckily, they finished strong, winning four of their last five. The Redskins started out 3-0, then endured a 1-3 stretch and almost fell off the chase. Luckily, they finished strong, winning five straight.
The Buccaneers would be smart to get the ball into the hands of playmaking receiver Joey Galloway. The Bucs have Cadillac Williams, a gifted running back with a cool nickname. The Redskins have Clinton Portis, a gifted running back with 20 cool nicknames. The Bucs have Joey Galloway and a scarecrow at wide receiver; the Redskins have Santana Moss and a department store mannequin at wide receiver.
Both teams use two-tight end, two-running back power formations more than most NFL teams do. Redskins QB Mark Brunell is having a fine year after getting thrown under the bus by the Washington Media. Bucs QB Chris Simms is having a breakout season after getting thrown under the bus by Steve Young. Getting thrown under a bus by a Mormon is like being pushed off a cliff by a Mennonite.
When the Bucs and Redskins met in November, it was a clone war: the game was tied at 21 in the third quarter and at 28 in the fourth. Only a gutsy two-point conversion dive by Mike Alstott prevented overtime, giving Tampa a 36-35 win. Both teams have changed a little since then — the Redskins defense is playing better, Simms and Cadillac have improved — but the near draw revealed just how close these competitors are.
Both teams are storming into the postseason, but the Bucs have one key advantage besides home field: they are healthier. Redskins cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers may both be out of the lineup on Saturday. Get Galloway revved up. And while the Redskins winning streak has been impressive, they needed a handful of Mike McMahon brain cramps to seal the deal against the Eagles last week.
The Bucs will move on to the next round. In fact, they may be the best team in the NFC.