I remember I was somewhere and I heard the question asked “who is your biggest competitor?” the answer surprised me at the time. Not because of the words spoken but it was the forward thinking of the answer, ‘Its the guy in his garage..building the next big thing“. Those words stopped me in my tracks as I could have been that guy. Any number of the smart people I know could have been that person.

Today I can only what it must be like to have that great idea. The venture capitalists are back at it and looking to find the next google or facebook or twitter. Lots of great small companies coming out of the wood work providing great tools. The one tool they do not have is history. I use to work for a small business who was looking to get big….they always looked at the big boys and swung the bat. They had over a .500 average but they lacked something and that thing was time. History was always an important factor in our success. Building on experience was our proven weapon of choice.

Being a great solid company in todays times is golden. To be a great solid company and move into a space that you are not known for takes balls. Yesterday Google made some large announcements about their cloud computing marketplace (http://www.google.com/enterprise/marketplace/home). This is a game changer as far as the leverage the small to medium company has today. The small guy in the garage can now compete with the big boys in the same sandbox. Small business can shop around for their best tools with little to no effort. They don’t have to be shoeboxed into some big product and spend a ton of money for it.

I am impressed by this showing from day one. I am impressed by the quality of tools available from big names and small names. Go and check them out and be impressed yourself. I want to thank all the people that are making the world of business for the little guy better. I am glad to work for a company on that list, I hope we are thinking like the guy in the garage.

I am so damn tired of the dribble that is coming out of the House of Representatives.  I have not heard one damn thing of value in the last 6 months that leads me to believe that they care about America.  NOTHING.  All I here is Nancy and John bicker back and forth about nothing.  I have heard better talk come out of strippers at 10pm when I am still sober then those to back stabbing people.  You have the nation waiting on you to produce something…anything at this point other then the crap that you have been shitting out for 6 months.  How bout getting something done….anything!  You control one of the largest legislative bodies I know now do something!

Most everyone I knows I was in DC over the last few days.  I was there for one reason, to see Seattle Sounders FC play for the US Open Cup in RFK stadium.  So much happened in the span of 24 hours I will try to recount it in all its glory.

September 2nd started with me on a plane, landing at National Airport around 1230am.  A quick 10 minute cab ride over to the Capital Liaison Hotel and met up with Amy and Alex who had gotten into town about 2 hours before me (long story).  We ordered some Pizza to tide us over till the morning and set off on the days journey.  We ended up getting a few hours of sleep in there but were up at 8am getting ready to take on DC.

We found a Starbucks on the corner of the street we were staying on so we go some caffeine and set out for the day.  We walked all the way to the Smithsonian Castle to get some more info for later in the trip.  From there we moved on over to the Holocaust Museum for our depression of the morning (more on that in a later post).  Left there and decided to hit the National Archives next which was a bit less depressing.  Bout this time we were getting hungry so we headed back towards the hotel where we found the Dubliner Pub and grabbed some grub before a quick pit stop at the hotel.

Once we had a few minutes to rest up at the hotel we headed out to meet up with ECS (Emerald City Supporters) for the pre game meet up at RFD near China Town.  We got there about quarter to 5 and the place was packed with a sea of blue and green (Pictures here) all singing and chanting and getting fired up for the game in a couple of hours.  There was a small group of DCU fans that showed up at the bar but they decided they were out numbered and moved along.  The people at RFD were great and let us pretty much take over the place.  Things began to wrap up there as we hit the streets of DC to march to the match.

Lined up on 7th street moving to the Metro station to head to RFK we had a pretty large gathering chanting the whole way while people stopped and stared at us.  A few people knew what was going on but most were in awe of the sight of a 100 + folks filling the sidewalks with scarfs, and singing.  The singing happened all the way to the Metro and down the tunnel where the echo was awesome.  Getting on the train was an experience as it was rush hour but we all got on.  Of course there was a few DC fans on the train but it was normal back and forth between us and them.  Getting off the train again was pretty loud (more on that further down) and we formed back up and headed out of the tunnel.  As we got back into the sunlight of late afternoon we saw RFK and headed that way as a group and I am pretty sure that we got louder the closer to the stadium.  As we rounded the corner to head to the gates we got about half way before we were “met” by our security detail.  We were greeted and escorted to the stadium singing and chanting.  This is where my story drifts a bit from most of the other ECS members there.  We had to get our tickets from Players will call since they were purchased from the front office.  It seems there was some issues with the location of our tickets.  They knew we had tickets but they did not know where they were.  This of course put is out front of will call for about 25 minutes or so in the heart of DCU fans.  A few Sounders fans were also getting tickets and everyone left us alone so it was it was not too bad.  March to the Match photos

Since we didn’t get to head into the Stadium with the rest of ECS and we had back packs we had to use gate A to get in.  This was also fairly easy and nothing but nice things to say about the DC fans who we ran into.  We of course looked for the $2 beer and hotdogs but the lines were 40 deep to get them so we ended up with $10 22 ounce corona’s and headed to our seats.  We walked past our seats in the 300 level and proceeded to head up to the rafters to sit with the other ECS fans.  I thought that they may have turned us down but there was no one up there except our security detail, a Washington Post reporter and ECS.  We settled in for the game pre kick off by yelling, singing cheering and all the other stuff you do at a soccer game.  It was about kick off time when our sections started to pogo (everyone jumping up and down) when Alex and I stopped and looked at each other with fright as we saw the upper deck flexing.  I have not looked at our video yet to see if its there on tape but it scared the crap out of me.  The first half both sides had their chances but it looked as if we wanted to win.  Hard running and hard playing lead to some chances that the DCU keeper (more on that a bit further down) came up HUGE.  Both teams headed to the locker rooms with a 0-0 draw.

During the first half of play you could see the La Barra Brava and the DCU supporters going to town in the lower bowl shaking the stadium as well.  They were all they promised to be.  Looking around the rest of the lower bowl though, there was a bunch of empty seats.  It sure didnt feel like 17k + they announced.  Not sure if that was tickets sold or not but it seemed lower then that in the place. 

Right as the second half began a guy in a La Barra Brava jersey came up to the ECS section with a girl with a Sounders Scarf.  Not sure to many people saw him but he was as asked to head on out which he thought was move to the other side of the bleachers.  We told him to take off his shirt so he did and all was right with the world.  Back to the game….

The second half started off with a bang much like the first.  Lots of energy from both teams but you could see Seattle was about ready to pop when in the 66 minute changed the game…..This is when the Sounders score a goal which was followed by a flurry of activity on the far side of the field.  Most of it, I could not see until I got a text message from a friend saying it should be a straight red….half a second later it was a straight red to Josh Wicks for stomping on Montero post goal.  Montero was carried off the field but he came back on until the 76 min.  There was some more back and forth ball with 12 minutes or so to go and then came the 85th Minute in which the whole of the upper deck began to shake and roll again as Le Toux puts one across the goal and who was on the other end of it?  None other then Roger…who put away another USOC goal!  Now all we had to do is hold on and make it to the end! 

Things got a bit tricky though as the 88th min brought a goal from DCU which is what none of us wanted but it happened.  The 90th min came and the 4th official put up 5 minutes and just about every sounders fan watching around the world started to hold their breath.  I am pretty sure that was the longest 5 minutes I have experienced in a long long time.  Once that whistle blew we all knew it was our trophy.  The team was on the field jumping, we were all jumping.  I teared up a little bit.  Our boys did it.  They did something that DCU never thought would happen, we came to their house and took their trophy.  The same trophy they just spent a month talking about winning.

While we were jumping around the whole team came to our corner and gave us a bow then they went and got the trophy and brought it over to us!  During this whole time I didn’t realize that most of the lower bowl was empty…..It was like a ghost town when I looked around!  There were a few Barra Brava still lingering but everyone else that was not in blue or green was gone.  Security held us up for a bit before they walked us out and half way down the road to the Metro where we were met by a few DCU fans and what seemed like the DC Swat team.  I guess Metro called them after we came through the first time.  Most of the fans were really cool but there were a few that did not like the fact we won.  The guy holding up the we win trophies sign after they just lost was kinda funny.

While we were on the train there were 2 DCU fans sitting next to us.  They were pretty cool and we gave them a little crap but nothing more.  We all walked with giggling smiles all the way to RFD where we took the place over again until they closed the doors. 

Amy, Alex and I then headed back to the Hotel for a well deserved sleep.

Post Game Picture of Alex, Amy and myself

I’m taking a trip to Washington between September 1st and September 5th.

Site Seeing and Sounders Open Cup Final!!!

The battle is raging on around the country today between our broken 2 party system.  Once more it seems that the fight is not about what is right or what is wrong but who is right and who is wrong.  Scare tactics and TV ads are the tools of the fight.  Grass root efforts on both sides are at war with each other while America suffers.

Why is America suffering?  Its simple, when we get distracted on one issue for so long, other issues lose priority that may need attention from the President, Congress or the courts.  Issues on the 2 wars going on oversees as well as other domestic issues go by the way side.  Instead of fixing the issue and moving on we are in a heated debate on if its needed.

It amazes me to think that anyone in America would think that our healthcare system is not broken in some way.  Maybe its due to the rising costs of premiums or maybe its just the ability to get care.  I understand there are millions of people without healthcare for one reason or another.  Some is employer based for not wanting to cover employees.  Some is personal choice of not wanting to pay into the system.  Some is due to insurance companies denying coverage for some conditions.

Americans need healthcare.  I need healthcare and pay dearly for it.  I am also stuck in a privatized healthcare system where my insurance company can pick and choose when to raise rates or deny coverage at will.  Do I feel that I would be better off with a government program?  Nope sure dont.  What I would be better off with is some government regulation.  I think the best thing that could be done would be to make Private Healthcare not for profit.  Why you ask?  If companies like United Health Group and Aetna had to work with the idea of serving their clients instead of serving their interests for profit, America and Americans would no longer have to fight for something they pay for.  Also by doing this it would open up the requirement for community giving.  Giving back to the 46 million that may not have healthcare for one reason or another.  Provide free clinics to reduce ER visits and provide doctors the chance to give back to the communities they choose.  What about medical CO-OPs as well?

By having insurance companies putting profits back into the system over time would allow for a stronger US healthcare system.  It would allow for all people to have a choice which is what they want and it would allow doctors to provide CARE and not reduce cost. 

Now this leads to another issue.  Doctors like the money they make and who wouldnt?  I dont remember any of this effecting what doctors make or charge but I feel that there needs to be a national guideline.  If a procedure costs $1000 to do nationwide and your doctor choices to do it for $3000 dollars, the remaining cost should come out of your pocket.  That is the price of choice of doctors.  This reduces overhead on the now nonprofit insurance companies and allows doctors to play ball in the free market.

There are so so many things that need to be reviewed with such a system but it allows for our national healthcare debate to be neutral in nature and allows for what we all want which is a capitalistic view on our growing rich fast country.

There is a lot to be said about the state of the US Health Care system. The last few weeks there have been lots of this and that bickering about what should and should not be done. Obama is using his “Yes We Can” ideas which are fine and all and he has done something that I think most people in Washington would be afraid of, he gave a deadline.

We all know that deadlines in Washington are not something they are good at or like. This means that people have to work for a change. Just like the rest of us for the rest of us. I wonder if anyone cares if Congress misses their summer vacations? I personally don’t.

What do I think about the plans? Well I am personally in favor of socialized medicine but I am also pro choice in what I get. I think that like most things people need in America, people will find a way to charge you more for it. In the case of health care though its been out of hand for a long long time.

I have a pretty good health plan and I pay decent amounts of money for it but its a requirement. I have a kid and a wife these things are needed. But why does that amount need to go up all the time but as the price goes up the services and service levels go down? If I pay more money into the system I should get more correct? The price of drugs is not going up over all for the manufacturer is it? I am pretty sure its not. Does an MRI cost any more to produce films today then it did 2 years ago? I am pretty sure that it does not. I will say that the average cost of sending the doctor’s kids to private school has gone up as well as the country club fees. But its not just the doctor, its the insurance execs as well.

Health care is not a right nor a privilege for any US citizen and I do not claim it should be. What I do think is that the US pays for the worlds healthcare. Example I have back issues that require I take medication to reduce swelling and allow me to have a productive life. While in Mexico I was able to purchase the same medications I take here for the price it would cost me for one doctors visit and one trip to the pharmacy. I had to do the math but as this is a reoccurring thing with me I figured why should I pay $50 for 20 pills and a doctor that cant do much for me instead of just getting the same thing for 1/5 the price ($50 for 100 pills). Why in the US do I have to pay for medications or services that are drastically cheaper in other countries? Why can’t our healthcare system pay the same prices as other 1st world countries instead of absorbing the costs for other countries for their subsidies?

The concept does not make sense to me. Everyone at the upper management level wins but the rest of America loses. Now those pharmacy companies and insurance companies are making tons of money that we HAVE to pay into while they raise costs. I want reform and I want it now but I am not willing to lose my rights as a person to choose. I do not want to be forced to do what I don’t want to do but I think its time that we look at ways to bring health care costs down for all Americans.

Stand up and get what we all need, a functioning healthcare system.

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Originally uploaded by lastweeksfreak

After thinking and thinking and realizing I cant really afford a harley I think this is what I want in the Bike department.

I’m taking a trip to Vienna between December 2nd and December 8th.

I’m taking a trip to Frankfurt between November 26th and December 1st.

I think today there are many people around the world who felt the “winds of change”, but what is change?

In todays world can one man bring change to so so many people? I don’t think so but I think that one man can bring the idea of change into a nation that needs change. The idea of change is nothing more then that, an idea. It takes of those around him to enforce that change. To lead the change is a huge task in of its self but it can only be realized if normal everyday people invoke that change.

This leads me to hope. Today did bring a big ole helping of hope. Tomorrow when people wake up from their celebration hang overs of “Change” it will be time to enact change. This will require hundreds of thousands of people getting up and taking action. ALL People, white, black, brown, yellow and green. Americans need to evoke the change thats needed not one man named Barack. I hope that at 9am tomorrow morning January 21st, 2009 Barack institutes his homeland plans for personal change.

I have been doing some research on the subject of personal giving and what I can do. I have a few ideas which I hope to post more on soon. I want to hear what tomorrow brings.

I hope that everyone is doing the same thing and preparing for the same.