Thursday, February 05, 2009

"Debbie Frost... and Guest"

Someone that works for the Arizona Sundogs called Debbie's office with free passes for what they called "Spa seating" at tonight's hockey game. No one else in the office wanted to go, and even if we're not big on hockey, free is free.

Turns out that our seats were in what looked like a press booth sitting at ice level between the home and away benches. We had to walk across the ice and through the home team bench to get to our seats, then we were basically locked into this Plexiglas phone booth. Between periods, someone would come and check if we needed to get out for food, beer, restrooms, etc. Sometime during the second period we heard the announcer welcome "Debbie Frost from AAA Arizona, and Guest" and flash us up on the freaking jumbo screens. I managed to stay hidden behind one of the supports for the glass. Debbie didn't. The only downside was that we were assaulted with hockey player BO the entire time, and it was hard to see the near-side corners because all the guys on the bench were leaning over the boards trying to see as well. And it doesn't matter how many times you tell yourself not to, you still flinch when the puck (or someone's face) smacks the glass a few inches in front of your face. But even if we aren't that into hockey, it was fun and the Sundogs won.

So, from now on, you may simply refer to me as "Guest."

And that's what I did tonight instead of homework. I'm getting caught up again, even if I don't have books for one of my classes yet, and I had hit a wall about when Debbie came home from work, so I knew staring at the screen would be pointless. Did I mention the game was free?

If you want to see a geek completely shred a major federal agency, watch this. This guy rips the SEC several new ones. Priceless. We need to find one of these guys for every Federal agency. Get it on the record that no Federal agency actually accomplishes what it is supposed to do on paper. They only do what all bureaucracies do: hire and pay bureaucrats.

The treasury department now has the unenviable task of selling the $1.5 to $2.5 trillion in bonds to fund all the bailouts and stimulus packages. Interest rates are already starting to creep up, which is good for us because we have no debt of any kind, and our money is in CD's and money market accounts. It's bad for anyone who owes money. Which is nearly everyone.

The British version of the RIAA is trying to charge fees for such public performances as your wife over-hearing a CD you are playing in your home, or leaving on a radio to keep the dogs in the pound quiet. As long as the rest of the world acts as stupidly as we do, our stupidity doesn't impose much of a burden. But those pesky Chinese....

I have to go to bed. Another long day of writing; I have about 2,000 words that absolutely have to get written and in final draft form tomorrow.

3 comments:

Michelle said...

What you mean they flashed "guest" up on the screen?

Ric said...

No, they had a camera on us showing us on the big screens and the announcer said over the PA the whole "Welcome Debbie..." etc.

Anonymous said...

You mean they didnt bring you beer and hot dogs during intermissions? What kind of "free" tickets were these?