The Bobb Report

Big Three Bailout

2008-11-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

I'm for a Big Three Bailout. I'm a true believer in American ingenuity and technological prowess, and I truly feel that having the Big Three domestic automakers as viable, going interests is important to the United States. Moreover, they've made too much progress recently to let them completely fail.

Reading some of the comments about this debacle on websites like CNN and the NY Times makes me want to drink myself into a puking mess though. So many people out there ranting about how the Big 3 produce junk and how they need to just go bankrupt, etc, etc...is quite frankly, a little disturbing to me. I knew that in a lot of circles, the opinion on our own domestic car makers was bad, but I didn't really think it would be as bad and as misinformed as it is.

Of course, my guess is that it's probably the same people posting similar comments on multiple message boards. I'm sure that at the end of the day, most Americans simply don't care, and probably don't post anything (and/or don't have a real opinion either way), but to read comments like "let em die" and "they don't make cars people want" either makes me wonder if these same people are actually employees of their competitors, or simply just haven't stepped inside a Big Three showroom in 20 years. There's no doubt though that this is a growing, popular sentiment - GM, Ford and Chrysler now command less than half of the US market, something that has only just recently happened.

The way I look at this mess, is that even if I wasn't a car nut, and even if I drove an import (well, my wife does), I still would want to give these companies a chance - (we're giving companies like AIG an opportunity, and over the last 8 years we've let Halliburton essentially get all the business it wants thanks to the Iraq War), why not let three of the largest manufacturing companies in the country, who actually employ a shitload of people, that actually produce tangible products from parts that are made right here in the United States, have a chance too? Common sense would tell me that the Big 3 spend untold billions of dollars on engineering and technology, IT products, parts, people, etc, etc. to make it worth at least trying to prop them up (financially) so that they can make it through the recession and pop out on the other side. Wouldn't it be cheaper on society, given the size and complexity of these companies, to let them keep going as operating interests, as opposed to having thousands upon thousands of people suddenly on unemployment? Having followed this industry for a while now, I know they've made some major improvements not only on the product side, but on the business side as well, slashing costs and reducing their work force to keep up with their import competition. One of the smartest moves that these companies made was restructuring how they pay their workers health care costs when they renegotiated their UAW labor contracts in 2007 (putting the onus on the union to pay for health care). I'm convinced that if the economy weren't so weak, and credit weren't so tight, that they'd probably be able to shore up the financing they need to sustain these efforts and keep going until 2010, when their new labor contracts take hold.

Moreover, I think anyone half paying attention, even outside of being a car industry nut, would at least notice that the Big 3 are starting to produce viable, competitive products? I mean, don't people drive around and see the cars around them in traffic? Lets face it, what's the real honest to God difference between a Honda, a Hyundai, a Chevy Malibu and a Ford Fusion?? That's right - as Andrew Dice Clay would say, "what's the fucking difference?" - because there really isn't any! But ask the common Joe on the street these days, and you'd think the Asians are building their cars out of gold or something. If you really poke and prod around any of these products nowadays, you'll see that the Big Three are not just competitive, but in some regards, ahead of the curve. The recent Cadillac CTS is proof positive that these companies know how to make an awesome car - just like they did in the 1960s.

Like we've all mentioned before, it's a gigantic perception problem that the Big 3 face, and it's absolutely awful when I see it manifest itself on the comment boards by the general populace. In a strange sort of way, I see simply writing off the Big 3 car makers, their history, and their recent accomplishments almost as a slap in the face for the United States.

What's amazing to me is a lot of the "let em die" crowd probably tends to feel the way they do because they've either been burned by a Big 3 product from 20 years ago, or maybe feel that the Big 3 don't produce fuel efficient cars, or that the quality of the Big 3 sucks. However, every single one of these mantra's can be countered by facts that actually support the Big 3 and their message.

On quality, viability and simply having appealing products - just picking up a magazine or searching out information on Ford and GM's recent product hits and quality improvements brings up loads of good information, from publications like Consumer Reports and auto rags like Car and Driver and Motor Trend. The information is out there.

On fuel efficiency - Cobalt, Focus, Aveo, 4-cylinder Malibu and Aura, 4 cylinder Fusion, new Ford hybrid models - even GM has hybrid models out there. GM and Ford will soon have plug in hybrid cars (in 2009) and GM is introducing the Volt Electric Car in 2010. Sadly, Chrysler is still behind in this category I think. The last fuel efficient car they sold was the Neon, and the killed it. I think that was a big mistake. The Sebring is an okay car, but unfortunately I don't think it stands a chance these days in this crowded marketplace.

If these companies die, then so goes an entire large chunk of the American middle class, and an industry that helped that middle class, and our entire country become what it is today. Think of the how many different people were effected positively over the last 100 years through their "car" experiences? This is an industry that has inspired songs, books, poetry, art, whose products have even taken on the roles as key parts of movies (the movie "Bullitt" comes to mind)- these companies are deeply woven into the fabric of our Nation. We see their products in Norman Rockwell paintings and we read about them in Keroauc novels. Christ, Bruce Springsteen sang about 396s and drag racing, he sure as shit never wrote a song about Credit Default Swaps. Their factories were utilized during WWII to help build tanks and planes. Throughout the backdrop of 20th (and now 21st) Century American history, the Big Three have been there - sometimes in the background, and sometimes at the forefront, but there nonetheless. See the USA in your Hyundai just doesn't make as much as sense as in your Chevrolet, now does it?

But even if there wasn't such an emotional attachment to their products or their history for some people, wouldn't it be healthier as a country to figure out exactly what the real problems are that these companies face, and then embrace some sort of cohesive plan to help them fix it? (Simply considering how much R&D, purchasing, finance, HR and engineering $$$ is involved with these companies)? I would think this would be a much more noble and worthy cause than say, giving AIG $250 billion to do absolutely nothing, or giving Halliburton contracts to essentially run the War in Iraq (which does nothing to help our own country's infrastructure).

Lastly, helping out the auto industry is another way to help feed the economy from the bottom up, which in some academic circles, is considered paramount to a successful economic recovery for the United States. Former President Bill Clinton's Labor Secretary Robert Reich says it best when it comes to ensuring that our country remains economically strong moving forward in his commentary from November 19th on NPR's "Marketplace".

It's essential that these companies get the financial support they need to make it through this recession. This is a loan, which will be paid back (with interest). Without a viable, domestically owned and controlled auto industry, I feel that we can almost essentially take ourselves down a couple of rungs on the world ladder. Despite what many feel, this is an important business, that too many people rely on. If Congress does nothing, or comes up with more political excuses as to why this would be the wrong way to use taxpayer money, I think the consequences, especially over the short term, would be absolutely devastating for our economy.

Suicidal Poochie Saved by Bridgestone

2007-06-14T17:17:00.001-07:00

Ah, this ad makes me want to buy Bridgestone tires for my car.

The Media and the US Auto Industry

2007-06-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hey, I haven't written anything in a long time. I guess I've been a little busy with a career in supply chain working for Chevron and most unfortunately, a father who has become quite ill with lung cancer. But being the gear head that I am (like my Dad who worked at GM for a large part of his career), I can't help but think about how our own domestic car manufacturers are viewed in the eyes of the public at large. I drive a GMC, but my wife drives a Lexus, and I know which one I like more (the Lexus). Probably not a fair comparison, considering the GMC is 4 years older, and its a truck, but still...I know which one has given us less problems. But times are changing, for the better I think, for the US automakers. But you wouldn't know that if you opened any large newspaper these days. Its interesting to watch, but I think we're seeing a good example, a case study if you will, of how an industry with it's back against the wall can actually come out fighting, and perhaps even change what I'd like to think are pretty stale perceptions.

A lot of mainstream journalists, columnists and editorial writers have been taking some pretty hard cracks at the domestic auto industry. I've been following the car industry for a long time, passively, as both a consumer and an enthusiast. Anyone who enjoys reading the Wall Street Journal, Businessweek or the like has surely come across quite a bit of press over the last couple of years agonizing over the troubles that GM, Ford and Chrysler seem to be having since posting some pretty huge losses in 2005.

While I agree that GM, Ford and Chrysler messed up pretty bad by putting all their eggs in one basket (SUVs and trucks in the 90s), they really are offering some very competitive (and "relevant", using a word from our fearless leader) products these days. The problem now with the Big 3 is perception and stigma. Lets face it, a lot of influential journalism comes from the coasts, and the coast dwellers love their trends - they always have. Its trendy to rip on the Detroit automakers, which honestly is pretty sad, especially for a car guy like myself. If its trendy to associate only trucks and SUVs with Detroit, then most California or New York based writers will do it. Columnists and their rags will stay popular, and ultimately sell books and magazines, and that's what the media is in business to do. Some of the news is true (health care costs certainly are a problem, not just in the auto industry, but for self insured small businesses as well), but a lot of is just simple tripe, coupled with a now very boring and somewhat deceiving notion that our auto industry is archaic and mundane, which really isn't the case (anyone who follows the industry with an open mind and at least a little bit of curiosity will see that the Big 3 have some pretty cool technologies and designs too). In a way, the view by most mainstream columnists of Detroit continuing to offer old, stale product is as old and stale as the old stale product actually was. At the end of the day, it would be a lot harder to convince any reader who wasn't following or had no interest in the auto industry via a cartoon, that Detroit was actually building decent cars now.

Cartoons of the day about the US Auto Industry

The Gold GMC

2006-11-25T09:33:00.000-08:00

Out in front of the Sturm Family home (under construction) in Durango, Colorado - July 2003.

I'm not completely sure why, but when it comes to trucks, I'd like to think of myself as a GMC guy. I know, I know, they're exactly the same as Chevys, with the only difference being the grills, the steering wheels and in some cases, the colors. But for all intents and purposes, GMC trucks are exactly the same as Chevy Trucks. Basically, GMC drivers like good trucks that are exact replicas of Chevys, but have no preconceived social identifier attached to them. They're totally anonymous vehicles. I like that. Perhaps owning the least popular of the two brands makes me feel more special too. Seriously, what sounds better: "Hey, I'm a Ford man". "I'm a Chevy man". "I'm a GMC guy myself".

This post details the ownership of one of the best vehicles I had over the years. I have a ton of great memories associated around the time I owned this truck, and a lot of bad ones too I'll admit. Purchased in the spring of 2001, this vehicle spent 3 solid years with me, becoming a close and reliable confidant so to speak. It got me where I needed to go, hauled my personal junk back and forth between Houston and Denver (right after I bought it), and took me through thousands of miles of American interstates and back roads between Houston and Seattle, twice. The whole time, it had not one single problem - save for an engine ticking noise that apparently was quite common - that had made it's way into the engine after about 7,500 miles or so. That tick stayed with the motor until I traded it in (April of 2004, for the white GMC) with well over 80,000 miles. Other than that small nuisance noise, it was pretty solid vehicle.

Right after I bought the truck in 2001, I took it up to Denver to work with my cousin building and staining decks. If you ever had the pleasure of driving a two wheel drive pickup in the midst of a mountain snowstorm, you'll know the pure, unadulterated terror I experienced after only having had the truck for about a month. I was only minutes away from cousin's house in Conifer when a late spring snowstorm nearly forced me to park on the side of US 285 about 10 miles away from his house. This truck had absolutely no traction in wet weather, and driving in the snow was nearly impossible. While trying to move forward up a steep grade on 285 during this driving snowstorm, I was only moving in one direction - sideways. It probably didn't help much that I had Texas plates in Colorado, but needless to say I had many strange looks (and waving fists) as frustrated Colorado motorists went around me up the hill, in their Subarus, four wheel drive trucks and small front drivers, while I stayed in one spot, turned slightly sideways, more or less blocking all lanes of traffic, wheels spinning uncontrollably. Yes, I was thinking that my $20,000 brand new truck was about to get destroyed as I go careening into a rock, or worse, over the side of a cliff. Somehow, miraculously, I made it to my cousin's house. What would have taken about 10 or 15 minutes from that point in dry weather, took nearly an hour and a half. I ended up parking the truck towards the front of his subdivision (a labyrinth of winding, cliff hugging dirt roads that are hard to navigate on a dry sunny day, let alone a wintry day with 6 inches of snow on the ground).

That time around, I only spent a few weeks in Colorado. I took the truck on it's first trip up to Seattle during May of 2001. That trip was incredible. I stopped in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, drove through Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix visiting friends and enjoying some time away from working in a cubicle. Over the course of 2001 and 2002, the truck performed flawlessly, taking my friend Hux and I out to Big Bend National Park during the spring of 2002, and taking me out to the Texas Hill Country and up to College Station numerous times. When I drove back up to Seattle in October of 2002, I again went back through L.A., Sacramento and San Francisco - making it to Seattle right at 7pm on a Friday night, to meet Erik and friends downtown to watch a live sketch comedy act of "Mr. Show". We drove the truck out to La Push, Washington to go camping too.

During the time I owned this truck, I moved from The Woodlands to in the inter loop of Houston and came up with the idea of starting my business in Durango after taking a drive up there during the summer of 2003 - in this truck of course.

I dated of course while I owned this truck - and most importantly, I met my wife Sharon while I owned this truck.

The 4.8L V8 in 2001 was rated at 270 hp and 285 lb. ft. of torque. It was actually a fairly strong running truck. Having just come from a 300+ hp Camaro, I was honestly pretty surprised that this truck didn't feel too slow. I'm not exactly sure what the 0-60 was on this vehicle, but I know that it will keep up with an IS300 sedan up to about 60 or 70. (How do I know that??? Hmmmm. hehehehe).

Near Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, July 2003.

On my way back to Houston from Durango in 2003 I stopped off at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and decided to do a little off roading (it's only 2wd, but this wasn't very hard core off roading mind you, just driving on dirt roads basically).

This was a great truck to own. I traded it in only because I was starting a business in Colorado (again) and I wanted a 4wd truck. Did I actually need a 4wd truck? As it turns out, I guess I didn't. I'm back in Houston now, and the gold truck is a distant but good memory. I wish I still had this truck. We did a lot together, and went through some important changes together. I miss you friend.

On my way to Durango - ah what a trip - July of 2003 in the gold 2001 GMC Sierra.

My 86 Pontiac - They Built Excitement

2006-10-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been seeing buzz around the internet that GM wants to make a more concerted effort to take the Pontiac division back to it's performance roots, making the entire line up of cars exclusively rear wheel drive. Personally, I think it's a great idea. If the new Pontiac Solstice is any indication as to where the division may be heading, then the Performance Division of General Motors may have hope yet to regaining some credibility back as the maker of true driver oriented, interesting autos like the 60s GTOs and the late model F-Body Trans Ams.

But during a different era for GM and the auto industry in general, back in 1986, my Mom and Dad and I needed a new family car. My Dad was actually working with Malcolm Bricklin trying to set up a dealer network for Yugo America, the American importer of the infamous Yugoslavian economy car and my Mom worked for Welcome Wagon - welcoming new people into our town of Strongsville, Ohio. At the time, our hand me down 1978 Buick Regal was on it's last legs, and my parents finally had the wherewithall to start seriously considering a new car again. My Dad wanted a Buick Grand National, but after my Mom got some insurance quotes, and realized that the car was basically an insanely fast Buick Regal, decided that it wasn't all that practical. Having many dealer friends and contacts from years at GM and now working with Yugo, my Dad found a brand new 86 Pontiac Parisienne on one if his dealer's lots in Irwin, Pa. (Hamilton Pontiac I believe).

After taking the 2 hour drive from Cleveland with my Dad squished into his company car Yugo, we arrived in Irwin at the dealership to pick up the new ride, sight unseen (by my Mom and I), to drive it back to Cleveland. I recall my first impression of the car, not actually realizing that Pontiac still carried the "B-body" GM platform (Buick and Olds already dropped this platform from their lineup in favor of a front wheel drive platform), was, "this thing is big!". At that point, Pontiac was still carrying basically a dressed up version of practically every Chevrolet available. I instantly fell in love though, as I knew that we were essentially taking the last of the large rear drive, body on frame Pontiacs ever built. I was giddy with excitement.

It was certainly not a ground breaking piece of machinery. I imagine that even by mid 80s standards, the body on frame design and solid rear axle were already starting to be considered pretty outdated for your mainstream family sedan - Honda and Toyota weren't as large as they are now, but they were starting to sell fairly good in those days, and most of the domestic family sedans were front wheel drive too. Moreover, 1986 was the first year of the Ford Taurus, a radical departure in design from almost every other domestic sedan built that year. But this Parisienne had some major style. It looked like a Cadillac - it really did. The wire wheels, the leather interior, the chrome door handles on the inside and super sweet fender skirts (which I believe was probably one of the only cars offered during the 80s with that particular styling feature), made this thing look insanely ostentatious, but in a very cool way I thought. It also featured a Pontiac Firebird 5.0 liter V8 with a large 4-barrel carburetor. For it's size and era, it was actually a fairly quick car. From a dead standstill, this car could keep up with my friend's 1991 V8 Ford Thunderbird (up until about 60, then the T-Bird would start pulling away) - I know obviously, because we drag raced the two cars when I was in 11th grade. We were both shocked, as was my passenger and his. How could that be? Well, this particular Parisienne was ordered with an optional trailer towing package, which for 1986, included larger shocks, a stiffer anti-roll bar, beefed up radiator and a much lower gear ratio ratio - which made this car actually "perform" quite well.

In high school, I was shocked to discover the one thing that consistently blew my mind about this car - it was fucking fast. Seriously, from a dead standstill I could break the rear wheels loose, which put a shit eating grin on my 17 year old face every time I did it. I have no idea what the actual 0-60 was on this hefty piece of machinery, but it had to be in the mid to high 7s on a cool day, which was incredible by 1986 standards, especially for a car of it's size.

This car soaked up long stretches of highway like a beach towel on spilled keg beer. The dash was long, flat and allowed for a front seating area that could sit three across in quite a bit of comfort. Cars don't have this kind of feel to them today. As I mentioned with the 82 Regal I drove before this car, I sort of miss that. The back seat was the same way, three across was no problem, and the seats were fairly comfy too. No, it wasn't built for high speed twisties like a BMW or Audi, but it would please any family who wanted to drive from Texas to California in (relative to the times) style and comfort. This was a very fancy Chevy Caprice, but it was actually much nicer. I liked this car.

I drove the car during 11th grade and I felt like I was seriously King of the Parking Lot (hehehe). Nobody else had a 1986 Pontiac Parisienne. It was an unusual car, most Pontiacs in the early 90s were small and still somewhat ubiquitous, but not this machine - it stood out, and had a shit load of character. I called it a hoopty actually. But this car wasn't embarrassing at all. It was my Mom's car for years, my car for a year, and it was the car that transported me, a young and excited 13 year old kid from Ohio to where I live now in Houston back in the summer of 1988. This was an important car in my personal history. I fell in love with the American V8 with this car, and I knew there would be no changing my mind - that no matter where GM decided to take the Pontiac division in the future, that back in 1986, making a fancy Chevy Caprice would make a young man root for the division's legitimate comeback into the minds and hearts of the automotive enthusiast world. Who would have thought this would be the car to do it?

The Cars I've Owned - Pt. 1 - The List and The 82 Regal

2006-09-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Being a car guy, I've done some thinking about the cars I've owned and what they were truly like. I've owned mostly American makes, with two Japanese cars for good measure. (Well, one of the Japanese cars belongs to Sharon, but since we're married, I guess I'm part "owner" too).

Here's the list

1) Maroon 1982 Buick Regal 4-door
2) White 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Classic
3) Tan and Gold 1986 Pontiac Parisienne
4) Pearl White 1997 Ford Thuderbird LX
5) Maroon 1991 Nissan Pickup
6) White 1998 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
7) Gold 2001 GMC Sierra
8) White 2004 GMC Sierra
9) White 1998 GMC Jimmy
10) Black Lexus IS300 Sportcross

WOW! - I've wasted a lot of money over the years! hahahaha.

This is an honest rundown. Unbiased, no b.s., with a nitty gritty approach to what was horribly wrong with each one, and why certain ones were really better than others. Each car represents a different part of my life too, so they all hold a dear part of the fabric of my very being, no matter how shitty or cool they were.

The 82 Regal:

Let's start at the beginning of my automotive experience. Back in the fall of 1990, in the months leading up to my 16th birthday. It was during that time that I had my eyes on the car my Dad was driving at the time. This was a dark maroon 1982 Buick Regal 4-door. Yes, this was a perfect example of early 80s American cookie cutter sedans with a drastically underpowered and over-EPA'ed, pollution control device hampered, 2 barrel carburated 3.8L Buick V6. With a plush, expansive maroon interior, seats that allowed your ass to sink 6 inches into the fabric and column shifter this thing would seem like a complete and utter relic by today's standards. Looking back at this car in my mind's eye, I can remember that I actually really liked this car. It had 5 spoke steel "road wheels", a casette player (an option in 1982) and an old school analog factory radio - with large chunky buttons that physically moved the orange needle behind the glass fascia to set the radio station. It wasn't necessarily the best thing out there for 1982, but it fit well with what a Buick Regal was in those days. A step up from a Chevy or a Ford, but not quite a Caddy.

But this car was showing it's age at what would seem way too early by today's standards. Without even 100k on the odomoter (actually, the odometer only had 5 numeral places, hmmm), it was suffering some problems. The carburator was shot. I can't even tell you how many times this car would stall on my way to school during 10th grade. In a nutshell, I would consider these as very dark days for GM. This car really sucked by today's standards. But, it has some cool character about it. There probably will never be a mid sized sedan built again as a body on frame, but I don't think the average person would even realize the difference between this and a typical modern, unit bodied car. These older cars have an expanse of shoulder and legroom inside and almost overly simplictic, rudimentary feel that is missing in a sort of bad way from today's modern cars. I miss that old feeling of really plush cloth seats sometimes. Today's seats are firmer, and provide more support, but compared to these old American cars from the 70s and 80s, they don't have an overly "comfy" feel. I sort of miss that.

Up until recently, GM has really let Buick rot on the vine. No new products to speak of before 2005 in what seems like millenia. The new Lucerne and LaCrosse are okay, good enough to at least get some consideration from prospective Toyota Avalon buyers. But will they get an Acura TL or Acura RDX buyer?? I don't know. I don't think so. Buick needs to bring back the Regal name - but put it on a car that is truly awesome. No b.s. It needs to have a completely new platform, and something really unique about it. Perhaps the new direct injection turbo 4 cylinder from the new Solstice GXP should be offered as an option engine in small RDX type crossover or something. Buick needs something that will really draw attention. The new Enclave looks promising. But we need some rear drive V8s, some cars that have cool looking blue and green gauges, and in a throwback to the early 80s, bring back some real plush seats (but keep them stylish).

The more I think about the old Regal, it was probably substandard even for it's own time. It was designed for a different type of consumer than today's hip crowd though. The hip crowd of 82 may have thought these cars to be pretty cool, but Buick didn't have the kind of competition it has today. Honda and Toyota didn't have Acura and Lexus yet, and BMW's and Mercedes were quite a bit more expensive than even Cadillac's of the time. (Incidentally, my friend Nick had an 82 Cadillac Fleetwood at the same time I had my 82 Buick, and his car was much cooler, with a digital radio to boot!).

I'd still like to drive one of these old beasts again though, it would be an interesting experience.

The Olds and the Pontiac:

The 86 Pontiac and the 88 Olds were very similar - more to come on those in the next post.

If anyone has any pictures of an old 82 Buick, feel free to send them to me by responding to this blog.

Historic Loop 610 Photos and the growth around Houston, TX.

2006-06-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

I want to start off this post with a caption from a classic Negativland song, "Escape From Noise". This is the song that goes through my mind when I sit in the construction zone underneath the interchange of the I-610 Loop /I-10 Katy Freeway during rush hour as I head west on my way to work:

ROCK MUSIC BLARES
DOORS SLAM
PEOPLE YELL
CHILDREN SCREAM
SIRENS WHINE
TRUCKS RUMBLE AND ROAR
AND ROCK MUSIC BLARES
BLARES
BLARES
BLARES
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE ... FROM NOISE?
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE FROM NOISE?
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE FROM NOISE?
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE FROM NOISE?

With that said, I found it interesting to come across some Houston history while "surfing" the internet.

The Galleria Area of Houston is home to numerous tall buildings, thousands of apartments, townhomes and condos as well as a huge shopping mall. Urban sprawl and the growth of this area over the last 50 years never ceases to amaze me.

The above picture was taken in 1965 and shows what is now the intersection of Interstate 610 (the Loop 610) and San Felipe. I-610 was under construction then. Let's just say this place looks a little different today.

If you want to see more on the history of this freeway, which incidentally supplies part of the name on the subtitle to the blog you're currently reading, then check out this interesting pdf file on Houston Freeways.com

I've been thinking about taking some pictures of my own to document more of the construction going on all around where I live. It's quite fascinating. Interstate 10 and 610 are undergoing a complete transformation just 2 or 3 miles from my house. I pass through that area daily on my way to work (yes, I have a job now fellow Bobb Report devotees), and I must say, the erection of an expanse of new highway overpasses and freshly laid concrete is a marvel to witness. (I just said erection, hehehehe).

Do I mind all this construction? In a word, no. It's unbelievably necessary as Houston has grown into the 4th largest city in the country. Should there have been a rail line put in back in the 50s and 60s when all these highways were more or less just a dream in some politician's head? Well, that could be debated too with no real definitive answer.

Simply put, it is what it is. Houstonians love their cars and their ability to come and go as they please. We aren't laid out like New York or Chicago, so getting around this place requires a major widening of the already extensive network of freeways. It just sucks in the interim, as I spend a lot of time sitting on a system designed for a smaller populace while the work is not yet done.

If you're travelling through Houston from California to Florida, or vice versa on I-10, plan to sit on the Katy Freeway west of Houston for what will seem like an eternity, especially if you come through here during rush hour. And while you're there, remember that you're passing through a city that needed this expansion 20 years ago when Harris County was well on it's way to 4 million people.

YEE HAW!!! Interstate 10!!!! - How I Love Thee Even More Now! - Our State's New 80 mph Speed Limit

2006-06-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Need I say more people?

I'm happy that I can now do 80 miles per hour legally out in West Texas (this was the speed I normally set my cruise control on anyway on the long stretches of I-10 between Kerrville and El Paso).

Screw the fact that gas costs $3.00 a gallon, or that most people in the United States drive like shit anyway, I'm super-psyched about this.

Of course, it's only 80 in the western regions of Texas. East of Kerrville on I-10, and Eastern parts of I-20 are still only 70 (65 at night). I can understand that though, as most of the population of Texas resides in the eastern part of the state.

Thoughts? Comments?

Mrs. Miller - From the 1960s

2006-05-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

I was "surfing" the internet over the weekend and came across what I consider probably one of the most ridiculous counter-culture phenomenons of the 1960s - Mrs. Miller.

This Groovy Grandma will delight and/or astonish you as you listen to her completely botching up some of the more popular tunes of the day, in a professional recording studio.

A must hear (and see) for music fans of all ages. Check out the official website for the Eva Miller Historical Society.

The Wedding Was A Success

2006-05-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

More photos here too (from the best man): Hux Rules!

April 8th was a great day for a wedding - so Sharon and I had one.

The best part was getting to see my close friends and family all in one spot. It was nice to see everyone, and I want to say thanks for all of those who could make it.

The Bob Miller and Sharon Cattanach Wedding video is now online, and definitely worth a watch.

Our trip to Maui for our Honeymoon was much needed. Hawaii serves as an absolutely incredible backdrop for any vacation. Quite frankly, it blows my mind that there are Americans who don't even realize that Hawaii is actually part of the United States. A good friend of mine recently told me that he knew someone who lived there and worked in a place where numerous tourists would go. He said that a lot of people (from the United States mind you), would actually ask her where the nearest currency exchange booth was located! How insane. I know that the average person walking around is actually quite stupid, but that goes beyond stupid, to downright utter ignorance.

Enjoy the picture from outside our window of the hotel

Wow! A New Bobb Report Update

2006-05-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Well, things are going well here inside our humble new abode inside the loop. We've been over in Timbergrove Manor now about 3 or 4 months and I must say, I'm surprised it's been as quiet as it has been.

I'm learning that the Heights area has a unique charm that frankly is quite atypical for Houston. I guess that's why it's so appealing.

Last night my wife Sharon and I, tried out a new restaurant, King Biscuit (well, new for me, it's been in the same Heights location since the 80s).
http://www.kingbiscuitcafe.com/

For about a mile or so down White Oak Dr., I actually thought I wasn't in Houston. It was quite refreshing.

Fun Day at the Harris County Courthouse

2006-03-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

I know, I know...
It's been too long since you've heard from your favorite blogger, Bob Miller. Perhaps it's all the wedding planning and running around, or maybe moving into a new house. Maybe it's all the hard work I have to do every day at the salt mines. Or maybe it's just plan laziness. I know what it is: a combination of all of the above.

The photo says it all though - proof that Bob Miller and Sharon Cattanach are both spoken for. Yay!

This Saturday - the bachelor party.

April 8th - the wedding.

April 10th - Maui, Hawaii, USA.

More to come from the Bobb Report as the weeks progress.

TTFN!

Wonderful Early Dinner at Benjy's

2006-02-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

The Early Bird Special

Sharon and I enjoyed a wonderful night, well, okay, a wonderful early night out tonight at Benjy's in Rice Village. Yes guys, don't make your reservation at 12:30 pm on a Saturday for the same night the weekend before Valentine's Day. You won't get the time you want. But okay, it was still great and the best thing is, I'm home. Well, I don't know if that's the best thing, but, okay.

We both think you need to check out Sharon's friends' Al Durrell's website.

Al Durrell

Chevrolet Introduces Camaro Concept

2006-01-11T15:50:00.000-08:00

The new Camaro Concept introduced at the 2006 Detroit Autoshow looks awesome. I've read so many blogs and websites about this car and it definitely looks like something General Motors will probably end up putting into production in the next few years.

I once owned a 1998 Camaro Z28 and I must say, it was a pleasure to own.

But this Camaro tells me a different story when I look at it. I believe this Camaro will bring not only the Chevrolet and GM faithful back into the showroom, but it may possibly bring a completely different audience who perhaps would have never even considered a Camaro before. The BMW 3-Series and Lexus IS350 crowd perhaps?

In my opinion, there's only one way to find out - and of course that would be to stick this car (or something very close to this car) into a Chevrolet showroom and see what happens.

New IPOD, Burning CDs - Being "30-Something" and a Car-Nut Promise

2005-12-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

Sharon went ahead this week and got me the nicest birthday present ever - a new IPod 60 Gig Music and Video player - hellz ya.

I've been wanting to rip all my CDs to a computer for the past 6 months or so anyway, so getting the IPOD for my birthday was a great excuse to be a man of conviction. Neither myself nor Sharon realized we had so much music, and I feel this is going to be quite an undertaking. But, a very worthwhile one nonetheless.

Being a carnut, I also wanted to post some topics on the current situation going on in the domestic auto industry. Apparently GM and Ford are posting some pretty heavy losses this year and I've been slightly obsessed with the topic - reading about it all over the internet from dedicated automotive journals to financial and economic oriented publications to a multitude of car related blogs and online magazines. Sure, I have big fish to fry - starting a new job as a supply chain specialist for Resources Global Professionals to getting married in April, to buying a new house with my fiance - I'd say I have a lot going on. But I can't help but think that perhaps, in just a few short years - there won't be a Camaro vs. Mustang rivalry because General Motors and Ford will be owned by Toyota or Honda (or BMW). Who knows, I may even devote an entirely new (and improved) blog site about the subject.

Anyway - more to come. I'm tired and I'm ripping music.

Oh, the birthday was great. Pork roast and steamed veggies at the Cattanach residence in West Houston- and yes, chocolate cake. And even some friendly conversation about General Motors and the future of America - and a little bit about a dude named Alexander Hamilton.

My First Week at Work

2005-11-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

I found employment - working for Resources Global Professionals. They hire people with accounting, supply chain and information management experience and then assign them to various different projects that clients may have. Resources has clients from a wide range of industries around the United States (and around the World actually). Of course in Houston, most of the clients are in the oil, gas and exploration industries - Conoco Phillips, Chevron and Halliburton to name just a few.

My first assignment started this week at Halliburton. Okay, based on what you've read on this blog and what you've probably discerned about me, Halliburton is probably the last place you think I'd want to work. Despite some of the negative press, and obvious preferential treatment they get from Washington, I have met some very bright and somewhat interesting people there (mainly in their I.T. department, where that seems to naturally happen regardless of what type of company it is). Moreover, I'm personally learning some cool computer shit and finally getting to use my brain in an actually job.

As the project wears on, I'm sure I'll have more to say about it, but now, I'm about to get ready to leave for Austin, where my friend "Proudsponsor" from Seattle is currently visiting some mutual friends.

Talk to you soon

People need to mind their own business

2005-11-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

My take on the whole gay marriage issue is this: LEAVE THOSE POOR PEOPLE ALONE GOD DAMMIT!!!!

First of all - who gives a shit if your neighbors are gay or lesbian! They aren't hurting anyone! If two dudes want to get married because they love each other - then let it be - it has nothing to do with you Mr. and Mrs. Right Wing Church Goer/Conservative Bible beater - Nothing at all. It is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS as to what someone you don't even know, don't have a clue about does behind closed doors. None. Period. If they want to be married, then let them be. Marriage can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Can't we just stop worrying about other people's business and take care of our own shit every now and again?

Since I'm on a rant: Parents, a word to you: If you don't want your kids to hear dirty language or see dirty shit on TV and buy dirty rap music at the record store - then it's YOUR job to make sure they don't see it or buy it- not Washington's.

Apology to residents of Tucson

2005-11-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

I misspelled Tucson on my last post - sorry.

Twin Bears says Road Trip very Memorable

2005-11-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

I'm back this week from another successful and much needed road trip.
Although both of my sisters back East have asked me to come out and visit, I knew that I had to make another trip out West. After all, like Jim Morrison said, "the West is the best", hehehe. When you live in Houston, you long for mountains, and in my case, any change of scenery, but mountains are preferable.

Hux and I started out from College Station last Monday and made it out to Ft. Stockton. We spent a fabulous night at the wonderful Ft. Stockton Motel 6 - (continental breakfast included, if you're ever passing through, give my regards to Manuel, the wonderful Motel 6 porter). This is a good place to point out that Hux is an oceanographer, and traveling with someone who truely understands (or at least has a good idea) of what geology you're passing through can make for quite a groovy conversation. West Texas has a lot of interesting topography believe it or not, as I like to think of the Trans-Pecos region traveling west on Interstate 10 as more or less the gateway to the American Southwest. Driving west you really can imagine that you're driving along the floor of what once was a shallow sea, approaching the shoreline as you reach the mountain ranges in the distance. Another weird fact: El Paso is closer to L.A. than it is to Houston.

We spent Tuesday night and Wednesday/Wed. night in Tuscon with his Dad. We went on a hike in Seguaro National Park (I can now check one more park off my list) and introduced his Dad's 2005 Cherokee to dirt - something most SUV owners should do at least once during the tenure of the ownership. Tuscon is a great place - but it's a little sad to see the desert being over populated with strip malls and such - but what can we do? Well, as long as people like dry air and beautiful desert scenery, I guess there's only one thing to say: Bobcat, Mountain Lion and Coyote - you best pack yo bags foos, cause the human's are moving in!

I wonder if people would still want house cats if we renamed them "house lions" or "apartment lions"?

Ah, last Thursday it was off to Durango - up wonderful Arizona Hwy. 77 through incredible canyonlands and mountain ranges - past golden aspen trees and desert cactus - yes, the American Southwest - sigh...How I want to go back so badly. Perhaps one day, I can convince Sharon that Durango is the place to be. We took a few moments at Salt River Canyon to appreciate the two bridges standing next to each other at the base - one new, one old. Hux and I preferred the 1947, much narrower silver painted steel span standing next to the modern, much larger new span. I could somehow picture the overall-clad workers - Al, Joe, Jack and Biff with their hard hats and steel lunch pails - perhaps they were down from Chicago and looking forward to getting back home after this project was over. Old 1930s and 1940s trucks and steam shovels lining either side of the deep canyon.

Off to Durango, through Petrified National Forest - ancient logs, now petrified (or scared as it were, hehehe), floating down a river and becoming buried under layers and layers of sediment - over 200 million years ago. Now, those trees are very much preserved, laying around on the floor of what is now rolling, treeless, and rocky terrain surrounded by incredibly beautiful mountain ranges in the distance all around. As we rolled north towards Durango through New Mexico - we became fascinated with our ficticious character, "Twin Bear" - ah, Twin Bear knows no evil, and yet somehow knows everything. "Twin Bear says Conoco station deal on Bud Light very noble. Twin Bear say me like-em Houston Astros". And so on and so forth, the droan of the motor egging us onward - towards my last address and the memories of having a small business with a friend in the mountains.

Southwest Colorado greeted us both with pitch darkness. We went out that night, and it was great to see Carl again. Durango brought back a flood of memories - all good honestly. I think I saw Ryan, the hippie painter guy who worked for us, but I wasn't sure. It was Halloween weekend, so there was an added element of difference (or indifference) in the air - I guess I was just happy to see a great town. Some melancholy and a want to stay another few days - and a little bit of me wanting to get back to Sharon and the cats. Mixed feelings. Being there reminded me that aging also speeds up the hands of time, and things go on without you there. Hux had to go home early, and I spent the last day in Durango hanging out at Carl's house and going on a hike off 32nd street. Carl met me in town that night for one last evening of bar hopping and people watching. The next morning I left, sleet mixed with snow falling over the town, and me wanting nothing more than to listen to Carole King and Norah Jones - oh, and Greg Brown too. New Mexico rolled by me as it has a thousand times before (one of my favorite places). In Albuquerque I saw a horrible car accident in I-40 (this car flipped over). I drove through a deluge of rain near Fort Worth on Monday and arrived back in Houston Monday afternoon - a 40 degree temperature difference across 1000 miles of Southwestern America.

Well, that is the best summary I can think of - too much to put on a blog - but that's what I've been up to the last week or so. Hopefully Hux can send some pics - and maybe I'll post a few here.

Oh, too bad about the Astros. Oh well. There' s always next season.

Astros down 2 games in World Series - Tomorrow Marks Day 1 of Big Road Trip

2005-10-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

It's a chilly willy this morning. Only 49 here in Houston.

TodayI leave with Hux for Arizona to see his Dad - and we'll close out the week with a weekend in Durango to hang out with my cousin and be in the town I left last fall when my business went out of business. It will be fun, and slightly emotional I'm sure.

More news from the road perhaps.

See you later computaters.

Arab Simpsons are called Al Shamshoon

2005-10-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

I suppose it was inevitable, the Simpsons are being broadcasted over the Arab TV netword MBC as Al Shamshoon. Homer will be called Omar, and Bart will be Badr. Instead of Homer having a penchent for Duff beer, it will be softdrinks - and of course, he won't be eating sausage or anything else made out of pig. Oh, and he won't be hanging out with drunks at a bar after work either apparently. Arab critics of the show were quoted saying that the show has been changed too radically, taking away some of the wonderful satire that made it so funny to begin with.

http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article320877.ece

In other news...
It's Friday! Yay! Of course, that has been meaningless to me lately. But, I can still feel the vibe of the working world, and I still get pretty psyched towards the end of the week.

I'm going to start thinking of music for my wedding in April. Sharon and I got a DJ, but I definitely want an infusion of my own music along with the standard issue wedding music you always hear at weddings. Hey, with people like the Structure gang in the house, I'm going to have to have something with a beat, that you can dance to, you know what I'm sayin'?

Astros in World Series- Finally

2005-10-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Bagwell and Biggio. Cool.

What happened in the 9th last night?

2005-10-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

What happened to the Astros bullpen in the 9th inning last night? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a win in St. Louis - I'd really like to see these guys get in the World Series. I'm sure Proudsponsor was happy about the St. Louis win.

In other news - things are looking good on the job hunt as I may be working for a project consulting firm here in the next few weeks. Hey, if they don't end up hiring me, I'll just collect unemployment and sip coffee in front of this computer for the rest of my life.

MGD Light not bad with chips and ham sandwich

2005-10-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after raking my Dad's lawn (yes, I finally made it up there to do some work) I ate a ham sandwich, some Lay's Bar-b-que chips and drank an MGD Light. Now, I was a little worried that the MGD would make me want to puke, but as it turned out, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. As a matter of fact, I ended up buying a six-pack of it on the way home to enjoy while I watched Game 2 of the NLCS between the Astros and the Cards. Could MGD Light be my new cheap beer of choice? I haven't yet decided. But one things for sure, I've added it to the list of possibilities while standing in the beer aisle at Kroger pondering the selection of go down easy light beers.

Astros lose Game 1 and a thing or two about a thing or two

2005-10-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

C'mon Astros, don't let us down two seasons in a row. Either way, their phenomonal comeback this season and the improved bullpen are still something to be psyched about if you like this Houston baseball team. Even so, it seems to me that every year (except for a disasterous 2000 season) they seem to make it a nail biter towards the end, only to end up falling flat, or coming up short as it were. It's almost indicitive of the city itself. If you've never been here, you get that feeling as soon as you start driving around that perhaps this was all a strange scam many years ago. You think, "what the hell is this place doing here? It's hot, flat and extremely marshy (in places) and they had to man-make the port, not to mention the ungodly humidity (in the summer)." I mean, there's some cool places to drink (LZ's Pub on Richmond, one of my favs), but seriously people, what is this place have going for it? Oh well.

But Houston does have some cool places to be:

I must say though, I like my particular neighborhood, it's one of the older sections of the city and I can actually walk to places which is pretty rare for this strip center filled haven of urban sprawl more indicitive of Los Angeles. Moreover, the oasis of civilization between downtown and the Galleria district at least has some interesting people taking up residence in it's WWII era houses. Like that crazy guy with the pink mohawk riding his Vespa that I see, the artsy fartsy people that live on Montrose and the surrounding streets. And who would believe that there would be a flourishing gay and lesbian community here in the land of large, conservative oil companies and the like? The area around Rice University is absolutely beautiful and some of the older neighborhoods here in the inner loop have a charm that I've only seen in places like San Francisco or perhaps some of the older, more established Northeastern cities. Where I live, large live oaks line the streets, with a great mix of well-kept 1940s ranch style homes with front porches and newer, cool looking townhomes.

Hey, this place is not somewhere I'd want to visit on a vacation but if you live here, you may find something about it you can relate to or like. I have. And perhaps the Astros can actually do something they haven't done before; represent this place in a World Series. And for one week this fall, baseball fans in Houston can rejoice, and maybe we can forgive the land around us for being so flat, or the air for being a little muggier than it should be, and the monotony of the strip centers along our major thoroughfairs may seem a little more like home. If just for a few days. But I guess it doesn't take a baseball team to remind me of where I live. It just makes it a little more interesting.

BREAKING NEWS: FEELING CLEAN BETTER THAN FEELING DIRTY

2005-10-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

More to come as story develops...

Nice Lady at Petco Helps out with a "Scratchy" Situation

2005-10-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

It was that time of month again - time to get Chewie and Spike's nails "did". Chewie was a little traumatized by the whole experience, but I think Spike actually was quite fond of the adventure.

My friend Chad said he would do it for me next time. I may take him up on that, as Petco will gladly do it for $8.00 per cat.

So this is Wednesday

2005-10-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

But somehow, it feels like Saturday to me. Oh I know why - because I have no job.
Well now that we all know who Proudsponsor is, perhaps he should come up with a new alias? For the record, I love that man.

Oh, you're probably wondering about the picture in this morning's post. The picture above was just taken a few minutes ago. It's me. I wanted everyone to see what I look like in the morning before my shower. Note the sense of gloom in my eyes? Well, once I start having a positive cash flow again, perhaps I'll go back to looking like my normal self.

In other news, I'm going to call back a potential employer who I thought was going to call me yesterday. I just hate being on the edge of me seat like this.

Oh, and that book, "What Color is Your Parachute?" Ah, well, it's a good read. If you're stupid. No, I like it, but how in the hell can you devote 8 hours a day to job hunting? One of the suggestions the author makes; go door to door selling yourself to potential employers. Now, for the record, I just spent the last 8 months or so trying to sell packaging material using this same technique, (yes, I had no clue what I was doing) and I'll have anyone know that more often than not, the person "manning" the front door was put there with one mission: "keep anyone and everyone without an appointment the hell out of here". Period.

That said, I think I'm going to get a cup of coffee.

Givin' Kettle Chips They Props

2005-10-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

Now playing: Jay-Z "Show you how to do this"

Yes, I'm going to Kroger to get some fat free Kettle Chips. I'm very psyched about this. Seriously. Oh, and I'm raising the roof to "Raw 66" on XM Radio (no, that was not an advertisement for XM)

I like listening to rap music sometimes - but I don't quite understand a lot of the Colloquialisms. Still, fun to listen to.

Man Enjoys Beer in Backyard

2005-10-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

We have reports that this man (at times) can become somewhat dangerous if more than a week goes by without at least one opportunity to enjoy a cold beer. If this happens (no cold beer can be procured), please approach only with extreme caution.

Proud Sponsor Identity Revealed!

2005-10-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

After much speculation between myself, Chewie and Spike - the identity of Proud Sponsor was revealed as none other than

Erik "Mayhem" Meyer of Seattle, Wa.

In other news

For whatever reason, and I have no idea why, my left hand feels totally unnatural while I type today. It makes no sense at all. Seriously, its as if my left hand has never done anything before. Not even typed. Nothing. Typing itself feels completely unnatural to me at the moment.

Another case of the "Moondays"

2005-10-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

This morning I was having all these insanely bizaare dreams - people getting their heads chopped off, strange looking beasts running across this open field (cross between dinosaurs and something you'd see in the videogame "Doom"). Naked man - it's all because of you!!!!! hehehehe. Just kidding. I have no idea why I'm having these fucked up dreams - but they kind of suck.

Raining now - good chance to look for jobs and drink a lot of coffee (perhaps I'll make a 2nd pot?)

More to come.

Major Hangover After "Solid" Night in College Station

2005-10-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

First off I'd like to congratulate my good friend Hux for successfully defending his thesis Friday morning to become "Master Hux. Master of Oceanography". My fiance Sharon and I made the 93 mile trek to College Station Friday night to join he and his wife and a few other college friends for what I want to call an incredibly "solid" night of drinking. Yes, Sharon told me that I became quite inquisitive as the night wore on, and if you would have asked me at 1 am whether or not I could write and defend my own oceanography thesis, I probably would have been fairly confident that I could have.

Moreover, I was apparantly distraught over news of the South Asia earthquake when we got back to our hotel room. "That sucks, those poor people. Oh my. How awful..." on and on until Sharon had to remind me that it was 'quiet time' and that I should go to bed.

Despite being hung over, and still slightly traumatized about the naked man from the day before, Sharon and I went running at Memorial Park. And yes, trying to jog hungover totally sucks. Unless you're in VERY good shape, it's almost impossible to do. But, the weather was nice, and I enjoyed the out of doors. A trip to the park wouldn't be complete without at least one "Crazy" sighting: a woman who was perhaps enjoying the music on her MP3 player a little too much. She was dancing around erratically on the grass as she skipped parallel to the jogging path, attracting the suspicious glares of joggers and people driving by on the park road. Very weird. Perhaps the California like weather lately makes people think they're in San Francisco. Crazy people but minus the beautiful mountains and Pacific Ocean.

Later (you big thillys)!

Naked Man at Memorial Park

2005-10-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

So I decided to go to the park today and take a walk on the wonderful nature trails (marketed as mountain bike trails, as if we have any real "mountains" around here, hehehe) Anywho...What's crazy was I saw this naked man walking around in the woods. Now, I know I said I was going to be the one walking around naked at the park, but apparently someone beat me to the punch (as it turns out, I ended up leaving my clothes on).

This guy was about 20 or so feet off the trail in the woods, frantically trying to get further back in the woods when he realized I was coming up the path. How funny. He was thinking, "hmmm, I really need to take a shit. Hell, its 1 in the afternoon, nobody will be at the park on the first comfortable day of the season, bright and sunny weather and only 70 degrees outside. I'll just go over here, strip down, take my shit, oh, and I'll just walk around a little bit, you know, air out my genitalia - get back to nature- right in the middle of the 4th largest city in America". I thought I was on the West Coast for a minute today - seeing naked people in the middle of a park in a big city. hehehe.

Ah, the joys of unemployment!

Until next time...

To rake , or not to rake

2005-10-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

Should I go and rake my Dad's lawn today? It's nice - he needs it done, I need $$$. Hmmmm?

The Cold Front Is Here!

2005-10-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

I walked outside this morning and felt the cool air all over me. It was awesome. I think I'm going to run down to the park and roll around in the grass naked, as promised.

Houston can be referred to as a city that comes alive during the winter, as opposed to the rest of the country, which comes alive during the summer - Houston goes into hibernation during the summer. Yes, we're part of the United States, but we're retarded.

Anywho...talk to you soon.

Flying Spaghetti Monsterism

2005-10-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

I never thought I would subscribe to any belief system that held an idea that one thing, one entity is solely responsible, or could be solely responsible for everything we see around us. But I've made up my mind - The Flying Spaghetti Monster is my Savior.

see "Open Letter to Kansas School Board" in links on right

I think what did it was the correlation between pirates and Earth's average temperature.

Today - a job interview - lets keep our fingers crossed everyone.

And a funny e-mail from a person who shares the same name as my friend Robert Knight - after thinking I was e-mailing him with my resume, the false Robbie Knight e-mailed me back with some constructive criticism (about my resume) and the shocking revelation that he in turn did not know who I was. How funny. Especially in light of some comments that were made in my initial e-mail that were somewhat crude (the intended Robbie and have known each other for years). I still don't know who the guy that e-mailed me back was (or is) - but oh well. Will the intended Robbie Knight please step forward. hehehehehe

Another thought - T-Minus a few hours (hehehe) to our first significant cold front of the season. RAMEN! (Flying Spaghetti Monsterism requires that I use Ramen instead of Amen).

In other news - Sharon passed her test tonight in Tae Kwon Do. She is now at "Yellow Belt" level - so now she can TOTALLY kick my ass if I fail to mention wedding info/updates on The Bobb Report.

Well, off to Starbucks to meet the DJ for the wedding. Unreal. We're going to pay a guy money to play MP3s on his computer all night - something I could do for free. Oh well, saves us the hassle I guess.

Until next time - this is Bob Miller - I'm "Inside the Loop" - So you don't have to be.

Why think when you can buy?

2005-10-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

Why think when you can buy? I was pondering this question earlier today. We are entrenched with so much advertising and marketing that Americans don't have time to think for themselves that much. Consumerism can actually be quite consuming and extremely unfulfilling.

But, none of this matters. Because I need money, and honestly I'd like to have so much money that I could ponder these types of thoughts more often. But the fact of the matter is, I don't have time for that now, because I don't have any money - in other words, I need a job. And honestly, I need the money so I can eat, pay rent and sit down and write out cool thoughts all day long. Oh, and maybe jump in my 7 year old car and drive around the country a bit.

I want to write a clear, concise version of the last few years of my life, so I want to more or less build up to that (for future posts) as to how I found myself sitting here in front of my computer with no job in Houston.

I want to mention right now, for the record, that I have more than just a lousy cold front to look forward to. Yes, I'm getting married next April - to my lovely fiance Sharon. The wedding will be here in Houston, and I'm guaranteeing a good time for those who can make it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Superstructure gang will be there (maybe Sharon will let them play a few songs, hehehe). We're looking for a decent DJ, so if anyone knows anyone, then tell them to drop me a line.

So, someone answer the initial question. Why think when you can buy? Did I get off track? Well, sorry.

You better "Comes Correct"

2005-10-04T21:44:00.000-07:00

The end of another exciting day in the life of Bob Miller. I'll leave with something a good friend of mine recently told me in light of something my last boss did to me earlier this year. And I quote:

"If someone pokes their finger at my chest - they better 'comes correct' ".

Couldn't have said it better myself.

T-Minus 2 days to Houston cold front

2005-10-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

How do people actually become successful I wonder? Perhaps its as simple as picking something you like, pursuing it, and then sticking with it. Or again, maybe its who you know.

Wait! I know something positive coming towards Houston - in just two days! A COLD FRONT! Yes, the high on Friday is only going to be 78 according to the NOAA website. Yes, something to look forward to. Alright, cool. Something positive to focus on. Yes. Cool. Awesome.

I need to live in the mountains again. No, seriously.

2005-10-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Chewie after a hard day of napping.

Coffee, computer, cats, calamity

2005-10-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Ah - ready and raring to go. Another day on the job hunt. Me, a computer, coffee, protein bars and of course, Chewie and Spike. And as a good friend of mine pointed out once, Jesus too, for he is with you always. Ah, er. Okay. Time to carry out the month old ritual of dividing my time between actually doing productive work and pacing around the house. I would like to say it was a nice clean 80/20 split, but we may need to reverse that ratio.

I pondered the internet as a medium, a forum for whoever has access and time. How do we decipher what's worth our time? Most of us can determine that fairly quick I imagine.

I was told recently that I use language to talk myself out of things - that perhaps maybe human beings don't trust their own brains. I'll practice using my language correctly on the Bobb Report. After all, I'm "publishing" myself, who knows who'll read this?

Bobbybigbucks - Man, Myth, Legend

2005-10-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

Bob Miller (circa 2003)

Bob Miller seen in this rare 2003 photograph captured before a night out on the town.

What am I doing?

2005-10-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

I'm waiting to hear from a potential employer today. Oh what fun is to wait to find out if you'll have to rely on unemployment, or if you'll have something to keep you busy for the next few years.

At some point in time, I'm going to have to come up with something, some sort of subject to write about, to entertain myself and whoever else happens upon this website. After all, I named this website the Bobb Report, so I'm going to have to report on something, right?

What I can tell you are some things that I'd rather not report on, although I'm not going to entirely rule them out at the moment. But just so you know, here are some things that I'd rather not talk about:

1) Talk about people dying, people getting limbs or body parts severed, pictures of such, or any other mention of any sort of this type of retched Tom Foolery. I have some real sick bastard friends out there, and I can see some real sick shit being posted here someday. (Remember though, I'm not ruling it out completely, so if it's something pertinent to National Security, or it could make me an ungodly amount of money, then it's okay).

2) Women (or men) that have been recently been "empowered" by something or someone. But, if you have a picture of yourself becoming empowered through a sudden electric shock (example, touching a downed power line during a thunderstorm), then I will waive rule #1 above and we can discuss, ad nauseum if you'd like.

3) Hunting, or anything to do with rednecks wielding loaded weapons at any living thing. It's scary enough to think that for a certain period of time every fall, we have TONS of men (and women) with very low IQs out in the woods, legally, walking around with loaded weapons, I don't want to have any server space dedicated to talking or thinking about it (at my expense, or associated with me).

You know, I heard of a website you can log onto where you can actually shoot live animals over the internet - from the warmth and comfort of wherever your computer happens to be set up. What the fuck? Sick.

I'm sure I'll think of some other things.

Of course, living in Houston, I have to be careful.

Today in Houston

2005-10-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or should it not be 90 degrees on October 2nd in the Northern Hemisphere?