Degutis Insights » Misc

Book: The World According to Twitter

Al — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:45:14 +0000

My co-author, David Pogue, sent me an autographed copy of our new book. Sure, I only provided one line but I feel that without that single line the book wouldn’t be the great work that it is.

Get your copy today!

Seriously!

Click here to get more info on the book.

Lost wallet email scam

Al — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:03:44 +0000

I just received the following email which appears to have been sent from a friend’s Gmail account.

Hello,

How are you doing?hope all is well with you, i am sorry that i didn’t inform you about my traveling to England for a Seminar.

I need a favor from you as soon as you recieve this e-mail because i misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money,and other valuable things were kept, i will like you to assist me with a loan urgently. I will be needing the sum of $2,500 to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home.

I will appreciate whatever you can afford to help me with, i’ll pay you back as soon as i return. Kindly let me know if you can be of help? so that i can send you the details to use when sending the money through western union.

Your reply will be greatly appreciated.

It sounded fishy and it is. Don’t fall for this scam.

~Posted by Al

Woodstock Lightning Traveling Baseball Team Fundraiser

Al — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:49:21 +0000

Our neighbor and his son are part of the 13-U Woodstock Lightning travel baseball team (coach and player, respectively). They have organized a fundraiser to help offset the costs for a tournament the team wants to participate in. This baseball tournament is in July at the Wisconsin Dells.

This adults-only fundraiser will be on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Edgetown Bowl in Woodstock, IL. The event will be from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. Tickets are $40.00 per couple which includes 3 games of bowling and pizza, with a cash bar. There will be 50/50 raffles along with other side bets. The format is Scotch doubles (you throw the first ball/your partner throws the second ball) so you don’t have to be a good bowler to participate; it’s all for fun.

Contact us via the form below and we’ll put you in touch with the organizers. Update: Had to remove the Contact Us form because only spammers were using it. You can reach me for more details on Twitter via @frumpa.

If you are unable to attend, pass this along to family and friends that may be interested.

CNET’s Buzz Out Loud Dream Team

Al — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:27:38 +0000

I’ve been listening to CNET’s Buzz Out Loud podcast for a few years now. When I started listening, the co-hosts were Molly Wood and Tom Merritt with Veronica Belmont as the producer. The cast has changed over time. Veronica left and Jason Howell took over as producer. In late 2008, Buzz Out Loud brought in “rotating guest hosts.” In early 2009 Natali Del Conte, one of the frequent guest hosts, replaced Molly as co-host. Since that change there has been a ongoing debate about who is better: Natali or Molly.

I think that all of the Buzz Out Loud co-hosts, full-time or guest, are talented. Each one offers a different perspective and personality. More importantly, each combination creates a different dynamic for the group. I’ve been trying to find a good way to sum up how I feel about the various “team members.” Then it occurred to me, I’ll use the analogy of the beloved star players from the championship Chicago Bulls. This is how I see the Buzz Out Loud Team:

Rafe Needleman = Tony Kukoc
Rafe is a great supporting player.
Brian Cooley = Dennis Rodman
Brian is controversial, to say the least.
Natali Del Conte = John Paxson
Natali is a great point person but a little bland when compared to the rest.
Tom Merritt = Scotty Pippen
Tom is the well rounded, all-knowing, go-to-guy on the team.
Molly Wood = Michael Jordan
Molly is the one with all the amazing shots (i.e. rants, commentary, opinions and perspective)
Jason Howell = Phil Jackson
Jason orchestrates the whole thing.

No doubt that some will agree with me, while others disagree. Let me know your thoughts via comments below.

~ Posted by Al Degutis

Baby and Boxer video

Al — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:56:45 +0000

Very cute video clip from the Bonnie Hunt show:

Not allowed to eat take out food inside the place I bought it

Judy — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:30:46 +0000

Seriously, when did this become an issue? I was out driving around and decided I wanted Chinese food from Chop Suey Hut in Woodstock. I figured I go pick it up and then head over to the Sparrow’s Nest where I work (& volunteer) to see how things were going and eat my lunch. When I called it in they said 20 minutes, hmmm…, so I went to the Sparrow’s Nest first and thought, well, I’ll just eat it there so I don’t have to go all the way home and then back out again. I go to the pick up window and my food is ready, so I ask the owner (cashier was busy) if it would be ok to go inside and eat because I changed my mind about running home. He hemmed and hawed and then said, “I can’t let you do that.” I was like, ohkayyy, why not? and he said, “If I let you do that then I would have to let everyone do that.” Again, I was like, ohkayyy… and left. I should have pursued it with some other questions like these:
1) is there something wrong with the food in the bag?
2) do you often have the person picking up the order ask if they could eat inside? Because I don’t know about you, but usually when I order take out it is for 4 – 5 people and I’m the only one there.
It just seemed really odd that he wouldn’t allow me to eat the food they prepared and bagged inside their restaurant. Am I wrong?

OMGIM (Oh My God It’s Monday)!

Al — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:00:18 +0000

Wikipedia explains TGIF as such:

“Starting in the United States, it has become a common expression of relief at the end of the work week and anticipation of relaxing or partying over the weekend. “

Just about everyone says TGIF on Fridays. If you look at any of the sites or apps that follow “trends” on Twitter, you will see “TGIF” in there.

I felt we needed something at the other end of the work week, you know the less favored beginning part. So I propose the use of OMGIM, or Oh My God It’s Monday. The G could easily be used to mean Goodness, Gosh, Golly, etc. if you’d rather not use the Lord’s name in (work) vain.

OMGIM doesn’t have to be a negative expression. It works for those that love their jobs as well.

I invite you to start using this new expression on Monday’s. I’ll kick it off for everyone.

OMGIM

- Posted by Al Degutis

How many people have your name?

Al — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:44:46 +0000

Luckily I’m unique (in this case I mean in name) according to HowManyofMe.com.

Posted by (the one and only) Al Degutis

Farewell video for Neil

Al — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:17:26 +0000

Today was Neil’s last day with the company so I put together this little farewell video.

Posted by Al Degutis

Judy’s PSA on Drinking and Driving

Al — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:12:38 +0000