Startup's...oh the agony

first off, i'm still working on the startup idea. my long-time great friend edward domain & i are trying to start our own business. while working full-time at present (for someone else), i find myself struggling at times to find balance between work, family & friends. i have been married now for 3 years, and have an 11 month old son. there are a lot of risks involved with starting your own business, but also a lot of rewards.

currently, ed & i are trying to find funding for our business. we are operating a website called TroopSpace.net. check it out. if you want to show your support for the military, sign up and tell the men & women in uniform how much you appreciate them! we also have a ton of great ideas for making money, but that's not the problem. the problem is time. we don't have time to organize and implement all of these ideas. that's why we need to work on our business full-time.

i watched the movie Startup.com last night. it's a documentary style movie made in 2001 by directors Chris Hegedus & Jehane Noujaim. it's based on the rise & fall of a dot-com company called govWorks.com from 1999-2001. the co-CEO's Kaleil Tuzman & Tom Herman bring you along while they experience the high's & low's of getting funding, launching a new business, and having to fire your best friend. i learned a lot just from this show. i highly recommend it.

anyway, i guess i'm just trying to find my own balance. i really have a lot of things i want to do for the business, but only have about 2 hours each night to work on them. at this rate, it will take years before we can even launch. i have apprehension about leaving a stable job with good benefits, but i also really want to be my own boss. and the ability to earn an income based on my worth is much more appealing.

so some day when you read ed & my names in Forbes or Wall Street, you can say "I read about them in a blog back when they were nobody's". and i'll smile at you from my penthouse in the sky. :)

One Action Packed Weekend!

hey everyone,

just a reminder... don't forget, this coming week of june 14 is designated as "National Flag Week." during National Flag Week, the president will issue a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week. so if you have one, display it proudly. if you need a flag, what are you waiting for?! plus, 4th of july is right around the corner. you'll need one by then anyway.

june 14th is also my mom's birthday. happy birthday, mom! 35, again, wow... we'll be with family all weekend having a cookout and drinking some cold ones. sounds like a great way to cap a long week @ work.

and don't forget father's day! this weekend should be spent expressing thanks to all those dads out there who have paved the way for us and taught us so much. here's to all you dads out there!

happy father's day!

NBA & Disrespect During National Anthem

UNITED STATES CODE

TITLE 36

CHAPTER 10

§171. Conduct during playing (National Anthem)

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.

OK, so that's the history lesson according to The United States Code & Patriotic Customs. Most Americans know this and adhere to it. Being a US Army Veteran, I take this code of conduct very seriously, and get furious when anyone (especially US citizens) disrespect the flag & the customs during the playing of our National Anthem! Too many lives were lost in defending our beliefs and our freedoms in protection of that flag. I feel strongly for everything it represents. Many of those who did not serve in defense of our country do not and will NEVER understand what it truly stands for. Hence, this blog post...

I was listening to ESPN radio this afternoon. Michele Tafoya, a columnist & reporter for ESPN, must have read my mind. She was at the Lakers vs. Boston NBA final Game 3 last night. We shared the exact same feelings in regards to what has been an event of rising occurrence in, most notably in the indoors arenas of the NBA. I cannot comment on all other pro sports.

Any hoo...I am watching the NBA finals and see the performance of the National Anthem. As I'm watching the athletes, some staring at the floor, some wiggling in place working out the jitters, some singing the words-hand over heart...I notice something. There are cameras that scan back and forth in the faces of the players on the court, and those cameras then broadcast the players faces up on the jumbo-tron screens. As different players faces appear on the screen, the crowd reacts. Some boos pour out when Kevin Garnett's face appears, roars of applause and cheer for Kobe Bryant. There's even some goofing off, high-fiving, laughing...AND ALL OF THIS IS OCCURRING DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!

What happened to placing your hand over your heart, facing the flag and shutting your mouth during National Anthem?! Did I miss something?! Since when is it okay for the NBA to ENCOURAGE this reprehensible behavior?! Since when is it acceptable to leave your hat on during the National Anthem, gentlemen?! Since when is it more important to watch the players faces flash on the "big screen" instead of focusing on our National Flag during the playing of our National Anthem?! And don't get me started on people talking on their cell phones!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

I'm scared to think what are we teaching our youth by allowing this shameful behavior to continue to be displayed on national television. And all of those kids and adults AT the game are caught up in it by the NBA distracting them from what's truly important. I understand the players all have their own routine during the Star Spangled Banner, but at least they aren't disrupting the anthem.

This type of media presentation by the NBA, or any other sport who sponsors something similar during our National Anthem, must cease immediately. It is improper and disgraceful and as a veteran, I'm outraged by it. Listen, it's not all the NBA's fault. I know this, so I'll get off that soap box. It's a problem with everyday America, and we've all allowed it to escalate to this point.

So it's time to step up America. It's time to MAN UP (pardon the gender specific phrase) and show your true patriotism by not allowing yourselves to be so easily distracted during the National Anthem. It's also time to start correcting others when they are being disrespectful. Face the flag... if you must make noise, SING THE WORDS... and if you aren't in uniform, your hand goes over your heart (that's your RIGHT hand). It's time to give the respect to our COLORS & our ANTHEM that they deserve...no, demand. Now THAT would be patriotic.

1LT Josh Lowe
US Army Signal Corps...sounding off

The suspense is killing me

ok. so i have my high school reunion this summer. actually, it's a 15-year reunion. everyone wanted to get together every 5 years instead of every 10. fine with me. anyway, i'm tingling with anticipation as to who will actually show up this time.

i remember the 10-year reunion was pretty much a bust. but that was only because it was planned last-minute. those who did take over did all they could with no time, no contacts and no money! i did attend, and still had a great time. even dragged megan (my wife) down to meet a bunch of people that reminisced about stories from the good ol' days. she had no idea what we were talking about.

so this year boasts to be a much more organized affair. there's a committee, a website, location/band/food/drinks, etc. should be a sweet time. i am definitely hoping to see some classmates that i haven't seen since 1993. hope everyone shows up. i can hardly wait for everyone to see how chubby i've become. overweight lover indeed. :/

What a scam!!

well, i just got my Nicor Gas bill today. it seems that ever since we went on our "budget plan" in april of 2007 (in anticipation of the huge gas price increases, mind you) Nicor has constantly been increasing our accumulation amount. meaning, we have not had a "zero" balance since april of '07! so i've been paying the amount asked on our bill EVERY MONTH (which is $20).

hey, i didn't come up with that total. it's supposed to be devised by comparing our actual usage levels with their anticipated usage levels for the coming season. is it my fault that they grossly under estimated?!

so now i have an amount due of $865.35. rediculous. i've been taken OFF of their "budget plan" and will now get regular bills for each month. i've also asked to have my meter checked monthly so they can't estimate my use one month, then gouge me the next.

so bottom line is, make sure to read ALL of your bill. even the small print. all i want to know is, how in the hell did they ever expect me to pay off $800-plus by paying $20 a month?! they didn't. and when i asked why my budget payment hadn't been adjusted in 12 months, the response was "it should have been". no shit. it's a shady, shady business i tell you.

Results of Over-logging

this is the result of what can happen if you don't go "off-line" every once in a while. don't become a victim. it's already too late for my 10 month old son.

My name is Josh, and I'm a Technofile.

ok, answer honestly. Who do you know that DOESN'T own a cellphone or PDA in this day and age?! yeah, that's what i thought. so why do i get so much grief from everyone because i'm so "geeked" about my cell phone contract expiring!? i research phones on the internet and learn about their capabilities, i go into stores and play with the demos. i feel like a kid awaiting Christmas!

i've already decided that i'm not switching from Verizon (shameless free plug) just to jump on the iPhone bandwagon. i won't because Verizon's reception is awesome (even in my basement i have at least 3 bars out of 5) and i've never had any problems with tech support or customer service. so why leave? just for a phone? and take the risk that their phone SERVICE may or not be up to snuff with that awesome $400 piece of technology you are holding in your hand?! congratulations on signing that 2-year contract you're now locked into. you've just bought the world's most expensive paperweight! no thanks. Verizon's phones are decent enough. true, they don't have the iPhone, but no one else does (besides AT&T). and i'm not willing to give up my discounts and credits toward a new phone, just for a 2G version that's soon to be replaced well before my 2-year contract does.

so yea, i'm pretty jazzed that i get to upgrade my phone on June 23rd, 2008. and is it wrong that i have a calendar hanging in my office that i "X" off each day counting down until the 23rd?! well, probably yes. that might be a bit obsessive. but the Curve IS that cool! yeah that's right fellow Treonauts...i'm converting over to the darkside of BlackBerry. my days with the Treo 700p were enjoyable, but the time has come. after fiddling with the Curve 8330, i have to have one! oh sweet, sweet Curve. don't get me wrong. the Treo is fine...functionally. it has all the bells and whistles i wanted. but it's bulky and that f'n antenna! ugh!!!! gets hung up on EVERYTHING! the Curve is streamlined and fabulous!

i just hope they don't come out with anything cooler right after i buy my Curve...damn you AT&T...damn you.

Should I call you Logan, Weapon-X?!

Everyone, this is Logan. Logan, meet everyone. Logan is 10 months old in this pic. He's awesome!

Notes on the GI Film Festival

wow, i mean what can i say. getting to attend the GI Film Festival this year was amazing! and to be credited with official press passes was even BETTER! my friend edward domain & i walked around with our amateur cameras and video recorders, while the "big boys" tolerated us being in their way. lol no, really everyone we met as members of the press were awesome people! we got a ton of knowledge dropped on us about cameras, photography, etc. they went out of their way not only to do an outstanding job for the GIFF, but also to take time out to teach ed & i a thing or two. and i REALLY appreciated it!

we also met several celebrities who were there in support of the military. those in attendance were Gil Gerard (aka Buck Rogers), James Mceachin (actor & war hero), Gary Sinise (CSI & Forrest Gump), Karri Turner (from the show JAG), Leeann Tweeden (Best Damn Sports Show Host of Poker After Dark on NBC), Mr. Kennedy (WWE wrestler) & Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now). i've never been around so many famous faces in all my life, let alone 1 week! it was awesome.

we rode in the same car with leeann & karri once. about 8 of us stuffed into a small SUV. the GIFF's founder Brandon Millett was even sitting on a cardboard box full of t-shirts! all of the celebrities were friendly and engaging too. it was refreshing to see. and gary sinise was so down to earth & humble. i couldn't believe it. we shared an elevator with him at the hotel. leeann was really cool as well. i even got to sit right next to her in the car. we were smashed in there, it was awful, just awful . probably more for her than me :)

well, we made a lot of great connections at the GIFF, and are hoping some of them pay off. we'll be sure to go back again next year (if they invite us back). we didn't piss anyone off too bad, so i'm optimistic that we'll get an invite again. next year, we hope to be fully funded in our media company venture and can go to the GIFF as sponsors, not press. ed & i really want to do this full-time. and if funded, we can replace our $100 cameras with some more "professional" equipment that would be taken a bit more seriously. lol

that's it for now.

Christ it's been a while!

well, logan is now 10 months old and i can't believe he's about to walk!! hell, i can't believe how LITTLE i've been on the net! wow.

my friend ed & i have since begun launching our new media company and have 2 sites running as a result (TroopSpace & Teach-Book). our 3rd partner didn't have time to launch a startup business right now, so it's just down to ed & i to make it happen. he's in san francisco and i'm still stuck here in normal, il. once we get funded (which we're actively seeking at this time) we'll launch the media company FULL FORCE! and the lowe's will happily pack up our things and take up the california lifestyle!

will post another entry here talking about my attendance at the GI Film Festival soon. until then, check out the link. lots of celebrities, lots of photos & video. still sorting it all out. talk soon!

josh...out.