The blog you have been waiting for

Ok, here it is the blog you have been waiting for, for about a month or so now. The weird news blog.

First story come to us from right here in So Cal......

HACIENDA HEIGHTS, Calif. (AP) — The only familiar signs at the McDonald's in this primarily Asian community are the golden arches, the drive-through and the menu.
Gone are the plastic furniture, Ronald McDonald and the red and yellow palette that has defined the world's largest hamburger chain. Leather seats, earth tones, bamboo plants and water trickling down glass panels have taken their place.
The makeover elements are meant to help diners achieve happiness and fortune — whether they realize it or not.
That's because the restaurant was redesigned using the principles of feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects and numbers to promote health, harmony and prosperity.
The concept is an unlikely fit with fast food. But the restaurant's owners say the designs are aimed at creating a soothing setting that will encourage diners to linger over their burgers and fries, and come back again.
The makeover is part of the attempt by McDonald's in recent years to remodel hundreds of its restaurants to attract more patrons with unique decor and amenities that might entice them stay awhile.
It also fits into McDonald's larger corporate practice of catering to local tastes, such as a fondue-style burger in France or a pita-wrapped "McArabia" sandwich in the Middle East.
"We can't look too cookie cutter," Mark Brownstein, one of three owners of the restaurant, said about the new decor.
The basic principles of feng shui include placing strategic representations of five natural elements — earth, water, fire, metal and wood — around the room to increase the flow of chi, or energy.
Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) has been employed in the designs of high-rises, banks, even zoo exhibits, and has been popularized by countless coffee table books and TV shows such as HGTV's "Fun Shui." It's also used in the designs of the Panda Express Chinese food chain.
The McDonald's in this Los Angeles suburb boasts wood ceiling, silver-coated chairs, plus red accents throughout the dining area to symbolize fire and "good luck, laughter and prosperity," said Brenda Clifford, who designed the dining area.
The textured walls patterned after ocean waves symbolize "life and relaxation — the balanced things that you want in your life," she said.
Customers are responding positively, whether or not they recognize the feng shui elements.

So here is my thought on this story. It is fine that McDonald's is designing their local stores to fit the local demographics, but two questions for everyone. One, why is there something in USA Today about it? and two, Does anyone really care? The answer to the second question comes in a part of the story that I didn't even think was necessary....."Andrew Chen, 20, said he didn't notice the feng shui elements. He just thought it was a modern interior."

In another story revolving around hamburgers.....

SOUTHGATE, Mich. (AP) — A Detroit-area restaurant owner believes he has
broken the world record for "largest hamburger commercially available."
After 12 hours of preparation and baking, the 134-pound burger emerged Saturday at Mallie's Sports Bar and Grill.
The "Absolutely Ridiculous Burger," made with beef, bacon and cheese, was delivered on a 50-pound bun, The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press reported. It sells for $350, and orders require 24 hours' notice.
Flipping the burger required three men using two steel sheets.
Owner Steve Mallie told The News he wanted to show that he has the
biggest and best burgers.
Authenticating Mallie's claim could take a few weeks. His burger would outweigh the 123-pound burger made last year by Denny's Beer Barrel Pub, of Clearfield, Pa.

So here's the real question here, will anyone actually take the time and give the 24 hour notice that they are requesting in order to attempt to get this behemoth of a burger down? Also, Is Mallie's willing to do what several other places have done which is if you eat the entire 134-pound burger, will you get it for free? I have seen several other places on FoodTV and the Travel Channel state that if you eat some HUGE meals or burgers or pizzas you get the thing named after you and you get it for free. Obviously if you don't finish it, then you have to pay for it. So any (as Mr. Wirig would say) Questions, comments, concerns, things you wouldn't dare tell your psychiatrist but would gladly share with us?

College Baseball at its finest

Ok, before I begin this is going to be a real quick blog, so no funny news, I PROMISE I WILL GET THAT IN TOMORROW in 1.016.

Tonight, or last night since I'm writing this after midnight, was the annual SDSU vs. USC baseball game at Tony Gwynn Stadium (TGS for those in San Diego). Talk about a great game!!!! #22 SDSU (I love typing a ranking before SDSU's name) fell behind after the fifth inning when USC took a 1-0 lead. SC got the run on a lead-off double followed by a sac bunt, and a single up the middle.

SDSU held fast until the bottom of the seventh. HBP (Hit By Pitch for those who don't know) followed by a fielders choice, single, walk, balk to bring in the first run, and then another run came in on a wild pitch. That gave the Aztecs a 2-1 lead and they never looked back.

Great job by all 3 Aztec pitchers, as they shut down a very talented USC team. SC could go pretty far in the Pac-10 this year. As far as the Aztecs are concerned, WOW, they are turning alot of heads in the country.

Til bog 1.016, where I promise I will have some funny news, live life to the fullest, or at least try!

Greetings from back home

OOOOOOOh Myyyyyyyyyyyyyy Goodness, you will not believe this past weekend. You have undoubtedly heard of AWESOME Weekends, well this is my first AWESOME weekend in quite awhile.

It started on Friday, as most weekends do. I blogged from Lakewood as you may have seen, after a FINE SDSU Baseball game that the Aztecs had won 11-2 over #5 USD at TGS. I then caught up with my friends the May’s (BTW, Greetings Jesse, you can check out his 4 blogs at jemcam.blogger.com (you now owe me Jes)).

On Saturday, it was picture day for the 58th NSDC in Long Beach. Mom came up with Matty, The Otto’s, and Jeanne T., one other person was in the vehicle, but I don’t talk about trouble makers. It was extremely close for the Security picture not having Lost or Found in the picture as Mom arrived about 2 minutes before the picture was actually taken (thankfully, the rest of the committee allowed another committee to go ahead. Then the gang (The Otto’s, Jeanne, The Davis’ and Matty) all went to dinner and then went to the 59th NSDC Pre-Con dance. (BTW, Jesse, I still have that box in my trunk.) After the dance, Matty & I were supposed to go to his house in Carmel Valley (San Diego) and sleep before getting up and riding the Metrolink into Auto Club Speedway (Formerly known as California Speedway) to watch the Auto Club 500. Well, it turns out the May’s RV was available, so we ended up sleeping there instead. This was after Matty experienced a Croakers after party for the first time.

Sunday morning, rolled around and I was JACKED. I have been a NASCAR fan for maybe approaching 10 years or so, but had never been to a race. Because Matty is so connected throughout So Cal, he got us tickets to the race at Auto Club Speedway. So we left Lakewood and transversed the LA freeway system to get to Fontana. We went to the general parking lot, and rode into the speedway on a school bus. Matty was supposed to pick up the tickets from media will call, so we finally made our way over and they were there waiting for him. They were not just tickets, they turned out to be Credentials for us to checkout Pit Road, and sit in the Pit Road Suites. Also, in the package was a parking pass, so we went back to the car and drove onto the speedway grounds and thought they were for the grandstands, it was then we found out that they were for the Pit Road Suites.

Once in the Infield, we realized they gave us Pit Road Access until an hour before the race was scheduled to begin, it had been raining all night, and morning so we thought just on the off chance that NASCAR was going to be strict on the time, we better go and checkout Pit Road. Well, we got onto Pit Road, and Security forced us onto the grass infield between the track and Pit Road. So we hang out in the grass, and none other than ZZ Top began to play. SWEET!!!!!!! Then I turn maybe 30⁰ and what begins but driver introductions. Dummy me, forgot his camera in the car, THANK GOD for Camera Phones. So I took a few pictures of me in Victory Lane, and of the drivers during introductions. Security forced us off the infield, and up to the suite seats. We grabbed a seat that was maybe 6 pit boxes from the start/ finish line and a box and a half from the scoring pylon. About two boxes East (or to the Left, as we were looking) from the pylon was Hendrick Motorsports newest driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr and two boxes further down, was JEFF GORDON !!!! Mr. El Cajon, had the very first pit box/stall and that was about 8-10 stalls/boxes away.

When Matty and I left the speedway, the race had yet to go back to green, and well probably not go back until Monday. 87 laps were in the books, and due to a lengthy (1 hr 20 Min +)Red Flag due to a bad crash and water seepage and a couple of yellows and another Red Flag for rain. There was no way that the race would finish on Sunday. Look for the conclusion on SPEED TV on Monday from what will probably be a nice sunny Fontana, CA.

I have uploaded some of the pictures to my myspace account (www.myspace.com/mavricksd) under the AUTO CLUB 500 gallery. Check it out, til Edition 1.015 I’ll be seeing you! I promise in 1.015 I will have some funny news for you, it has been a while since I have done that.

BTW, There is a 85% chance that I will be back at Auto Club Speedway in August for the Pepsi 500!

Greetings from Lakewood, CA

Yes that is correct I'm not in San Diego for a change. This is actually the second trip to the Orange/Los Angeles County areas. Last Sunday, I along with Matty, Julie, and my mom went to the square dance club Croakers (a youth club in Garden Grove). This was Matty's maiden voyage into youth square dance land.

Now this weekend, I have come to the greater Long Beach area in order to participate in the 58th National Square Dance Convention's pre-con dance and meetings. I have the enevitable position of being in charge of lost and found. Yes the son is in charge of lost, and the parent is in charge of found.

Then on Sunday (weather permitting) I will be in Fontana watching the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Hopefully I will be able to watch the race in person without any rain interupting. Of course, I will be waking up around 5 in the morning. So that Matty & I will be able to be at the Oceanside Amtrak station to catch the Metrolink and ride it straight into the Speedway.

Well, its off to bed for me, at an unbelievalbe 11:00 on a Friday.....HOLY CRAP!!!!!

Greetings once again

Well, it certainly has been a long time, huh?

Welcome to Bog 1.012 and welcome to the Grossmont College computer lab. I am writting this while I'm in class (Intro to Computers). Obviously since, I'm writting this I am not exactly new to computers. Hell, I've been using these fine boxes since junior high school.

The news on everything here in spring semester is relatively good. I have gotten into all the classes that I was attempting to get into this semester, I have gotten into. The only problem that I have really encountered was when I was getting into public speaking.

I would love to continue this particular post, but, I need to go and finish a speech that I need to give tomorrow morning. Until I post this weekend at work, see ya!