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November 30, 2005

2005 Recap

Only one month left to accomplish the 2005 Resolutions. A look back and current grades. 1 is poor 10 is great.

1. Save more money. 4. Overall savings/investments are barely up over last years totals. A lot more work and OT are gone. Dividends are not coming in to be spend but re-invested. Some of the unrealized gains are quickly turning into losses. Retirement in the 401k remains at a robust 15% with a company match, so I can't complain there.

2. Find a cool place to live. 3. More costly which eliminates goal #1. The place is alright, a little bit longer of a walk, and slightly up hill. Still hate to move yet again, but it seems more and more likely once the lease is up come August.

3. Travel more. 2. Failed to take off anywhere exciting. No thanks to those who plan the vacation schedule. Almost guaranteed to improve next year. Germany anyone?

4. Get in better shape. 4. If by rounder or larger in the mid-section. This figure better improve for 2006.

5. Run a faster half marathon or a complete marathon. 9. Yes a new personal best was set 10/9/5 at the BAA Half Marathon on a solo effort. Not much training going into the race. After nearly oversleeping, (how is that possible)? All pre-race expectations went out the window. No warmup, rainy, windy, cold weather. Less than ideal, but somehow I pulled it off. No plans for a full marathon so less the 1 point.

6. Figure out what I want to do with the next five years, or set Longer term goals. 4. Still not sure. Check back in 2006. Would have been higher, but the longer term goals need improvements.

7. See a space shuttle launch. Let's go already NASA! 0. NASA shut this one down. Although, June/July would have been as good a time as any, since it seems like it will be difficult getting down to South Florida anytime soon.

8. Volunteer more. 2. Yes Marquette National service day counts, but little service for the fellow man was done. This number will be improved come 2006.

9. Be a better person. 7. I think I have become a better person. Too tough a question, so this goal will probably not make it back come 2006.

10. Live life to the fullest, everyday. 3. Life is full of surprises. Everyday living one or encountering one is still in need of improvement. Another tough one to guage/assess accurately.

MU/Rutgers 2/12/06

I got the tickets today for the game in February. Pretty good turn around for the ticket office. Remember the side stakes.

Golden Eagles vs. Scarlette Knights.....I can't wait to storm the court and carry out the baskets...oh, wait that is in football where they act all crazy.

Tip of the day: Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Feeling: Flu like symptoms injected in the left deltoid. Not bad since I don't suffer from a fear of sharp objects or needles, aka Aichmophobia. See the complete list of fears.

NCAA womens X-C results. MU was 29th.

Don't quit your day job if you won 4.5 million.
Free Physics pdf text book.
MU Blog

November 29, 2005

Tuesday Items

Would you rather:
live forever OR go back in time to when you were seven, knowing everything you know now?
Go back in time, knowing everything. I think a pretty good alternate universe would result rather than living in one forever.
be caught with your hand in a stranger's purse OR taking a picture of a stranger peeing?
Caught in a purse. Easier to explain away.
kiss a horse on the lips OR poke a dog in the butt? Kiss a horse. Mr. Ed is a loveable horse.
wake up in the county jail OR naked, on the train tracks? Wake up on the train tracks. Not sure I need a rap sheet and couldn't afford the bail anyways.
have a "get out of jail free" card OR "win second prize in a beauty contest" card? Get out jail free card. See above. Second place in still second place and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
have the power to give people paper cuts OR satisfy their hunger? Satsify their hunger. Nothing beats having a good cook around who knows a thing or two about good food.
eat a plate full of daisies OR four full hams in one sitting? Never know how daisies taste, but would pass on the excess hams for terrible tasting items.
get hit with a golf ball OR a football? Football. Golfballs can leave a deeper bruise. The football I think wouldn't hurt as much.

November 27, 2005

Bypassing the automated voice menus

Tips on actually talking to a customer service rep. Various companies directory.

A little bit about yourself....Are you more _____

01) Prone to using a letter opener to open a letter or prone to using your finger to open a letter?
My finger. Although the number of letters is far less than the rip in half approach to the thousands of credit card offers I receive.

02) A thief or a liar?
A thief on the smallest scale. But after finishing Blink and Freakonomics and the study of those who don't pay for items, I will change my ways. No company supplies anymore.

03) Sociopathic (lacking conscience) or emotionally sensitive (too much conscience)?
Emotionally sensitive.

04) A conformist or a gadfly?
I tend to fit in. Normal in most ways.

05) “Low-fat eating is the way to lose weight” or “Low-carb eating is the way to lose weight”?
Not concerned either way, but low carbs since most people don't burn enough calories.

06) An orange or a potato?
Orange. Although the potato has many other benefits.

07) Attracted to younger men/women than yourself or attracted to older men/women than yourself?
I don’t really care about the age. Both are attractive on their own.

08) A pervert or a prude?
I’m not an extreme of either.

09) A Star Trek fan or a Star Wars fan?
Star Wars. Never liked Spock, Data, or any of the others.

10) Good at listening to someone or bad at listening to someone?
I’d say I’m pretty good at listening.

Random Links

Speech on China relationship by Robert B. Zoellick, Deputy Secretary of State. Historical look back on speech history. NYT article.
Pricing Links. Misc. Econ Links
List of some outdated business thinkers.
Fed GovernorsWho really runs the Fed?
Kurzweiltech. Random link to AI info.
AI.

GAS Title

Yes we know how Marquette faired last season after getting to a fast start, and I would comment on the games or results. Well, after watching the performance at the GAS (Great Alaskan Shootout), I came away impressed. Yes the first overtime title game went to Marquette rather than South Carolina. The three fresman (James, McNeal, and Matthews) was looking good. Where Novak and Amaroso's career highs came from I have no idea. Crazy defense couldn't contain USC, but the defense really stepped up in key spots.

Unintentional humor about leaving Steve Novak open, "You never want to leave a floater."

November 25, 2005

Driving Lessons

A good lesson here. Don't drive drunk. You might drive through a window.

November 24, 2005

New IMAC G5

A pretty cool new computer at home. The coolest/best computer ever made. Now for the DSL upgrade. Why Verizon doesn't have access to areas Comcast does is beyond me?

Ideas for Turkey leftovers and tryptrophan (sp?) cures?

Fantasy team took another loss and had some of the better Turkey day performances on the bench.

Back up in Beantown

Back in Boston after a 5 1/2 hour drive back. Some snow in Central CT through the Mass pike. Windy now with some severe wind chills.

Good food today. Time for a nap to catch up on the lack of sleep and get ready for all of the work that has been piling up. Easy to handle one Friday, although work wouldn't originally give me the day off because everyone else has it off.

November 20, 2005

Turkey Day Vacation

Down in New Jersey for Thanksgiving. Back up to Boston for work on Friday. Easy drive down to North Jersey and off to the South Jersey tomorrow.

Went to see Harry Potter. A pretty decent movie. Some cheesy teen scenes, some cool wizardry/dragon scenes and a little death throw in for good measure.

November 16, 2005

Fed Article

Fed article for reading up on later.

November 15, 2005

Sound Advice

Be honest: be who you really are.
Care for yourself.
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Don't make work for others.
Challenge yourself to grow.
Make a positive difference in the world.
If you have a complaint, suggest and work towards a solution.

New Jersey Slogans

What does a $260,000 contract get with coming up with a new tourism slogan for New Jersey? Absolutely nothing.Article here about the other write in suggestions.

November 13, 2005

New York City Marathon Finish

To lose a 26.2 mile race by less than one stride. Maybe he was late in reacting to the starting gun. Had a one second pause because he was stuck behind a slower running while at the starting line. Put to lose by such a narrow margin in that long of a race is unbelievable. Results here.

In a little bit different news, the Packers have finally won another game. This time in a shocker over the Atlanta Falcons. Yes the 6-2 Falcons were taken down.

November 08, 2005

More Discounts

JPM employee discount website.

November 06, 2005

Changes

What does it take to "change" yourself, your situation, your future, or your family? Do realize the reality of the situation that you find yourself in? Have you researched and developed a personal finance plan? You must read, study, ask questions, and do whatever else it takes to understand your very own "personal" personal finances. Ignorance is not "bliss", it is "dangerous". Focused, intense study and thought lead to knowledge, which leads to change, which leads to growth. You cannot change what you do not know needs changing. Once you have knowledge, you have more than just "power". You have the ability re-align your priorities and literally shape your destiny. ou must put both to work through ACTION. Knowledge without application is USELESS. Don't draw up 50 plans, don't invent a dozen scenarios! Do your research, make a plan, and move forward. You can always "change" directions as you gather more and more desire and knowledge, but you will NEVER get anywhere by standing pat. Just as desire without knowledge leads to futility, knowledge without action leads to frustration. JUST DO IT!

http://ncnblog.blogspot.com/2005/10/deal-me-in.html

November 02, 2005

Discounts

Some of the discounts that workers get.

http://mc.jpmorganchase.com/MC/cda/dMCDisplay/0,3481,143-845-1,00.html

American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024
212-769-5100
> www.amnh.org

Guest passes available
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Basquiat Exhibition
National tour of the Jean-Michel Basquiat collection. This exhibition will take place at the following museums during the specified timeframes listed below:

March 11- June 5, 2005
The Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238-6052
718-638-5000
> www.brooklynmuseum.org

Free admission to Basquiat for employees and their families when you show your employee ID
$10 off any level of membership
July 17- October 10, 2005
The Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles, California)
250 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-626-6222
> www.artcommotion.com/Issue2/moca/

Free admission to Basquiat for employees plus one guest when you show your employee ID
20% discounts on membership
Free admission (for employees only) to all exhibitions through July 2006
November 18 - February 12, 2006
The Museum of Fine Arts (Houston, Texas)
1001 Bissonnet Street
Houston, TX 77005
713-639-7300
> www.mfah.org/

Free admission to Basquiat for employees plus one guest when you show your employee ID
Discounts on all membership levels:
Individual membership - regularly $50/$40 with discount
Family/Dual membership - regularly $65/$55 with discount
Contributing - regularly $100/$90 with discount
Patron - regularly $150/$125 with discount
Supporting - regularly $275/$255 with discount
Sponsor - regularly $550/$500 with discount
Benefactor - regularly $1200/$1100 with discount
Please email onthetown@jpmchase.com for more information regarding the Basquiat Exhibition


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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 10025
718-623-7200
> www.bbg.org

Guest passes available, only 1 pass per employee. Priority given to employees who do not have JPMorgan Chase IDs
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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George Eastman House
900 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607-2298
585-271-3361
> www.geh.org

Guest passes available for Museum admission and the Dryden Theatre
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128-0173
585-271-3361
> www.guggenheim.org

Guest passes available. Limit: 1 per employee – Each pass is good for 2 free admissions
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
212-423-3200
> www.thejewishmuseum.org

Guest passes available
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023
212-LINCOLN
> wwww.lincolncenter.org

Priority on group sales tickets (25 or more per performance) to the New York City Ballet (NYCB) 2005 performances of George Balanchine's The Nut Cracker in advance of other groups and the general public. It is strongly recommended that orders be placed prior to September 2 to ensure ticket availability. For more information or to take advantage of this offer, please email onthetown@jpmchase.com

A near 50% off discount off for the Riverside symphony's November 5th concert for $25 dollar tickets which includes the following:
1. Prime concert seating (regularly $45)
2. Wine & cheese concert preview at The Americas Society, Park Avenue at 68th Street

To order tickets, please visit: http://www.riversidesymphony.org/orderform_corp.php?group=JPMorgan.
Take advantage of a 2-for-1 ticket deal for the following Performers events:
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Avery Fisher Hall
8:00 pm
Tickets: $30, $42, $56
András Schiff, piano
Works by Beethoven and Haydn
Sunday, December 4, 2005
Avery Fisher Hall
3:00 pm
Tickets: $30, $42, $56
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Works by Brahms, Beethoven, and more
Here are 2 ways to receive the discount:
Present your JPMorgan Chase employee ID at the Avery Fisher Hall box office, or
Order through CenterCharge at 212.721.6500 and mention the code: CCFD. A valid corporate ID must be presented when picking up the tickets at the box office.

Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Memorial Art Gallery
500 University Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
585-473-7720
> mag.rochester.edu


50 guest passes available
Required: E-mail Marilyn.J.Brown@jpmorgan.com to take advantage of special offers within the Rochester region


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Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
212-535-7710
> www.metmuseum.org

Corporate Reservation Coupons available. By presenting your JPMorgan Chase employee ID along with this card, you will be able to make reservations at the Trustees Dining Room.
Receive a 20% Corporate Patron Rate discount on select concerts (see below). To get tickets, call: 212 570-3949. Mon. thru Sat. 9:30am - 5:00pm and reference the following code: CONCERT3.
Flute and Chamber Orchestra Concert
Temple of Dendur
Saturday, November 19, 2005 at 7:00pm
All Vivaldi Program
Tickets: $48 (normal price of $60)
Christmas Concert
Medieval Sculpture Hall
Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 8:30pm
Related to the exhibition: "Prague, The Crown of Bohemia, 1347-1437"
Tickets: $48 (normal price of $60)
Jazz Piano Concert
Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
Friday, January 20, 2006 at 8:00pm
Featuring New Orleans Jazz Pianist Henry Butler, and a rich amalgam of jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues, and R&B music.
Tickets: $36 (normal price of $45)
Employees cannot use the special benefit listed above without a JPMorgan Chase employee ID or a JPMorgan Chase business card. Employees must be present to obtain this offer.
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
212-708-9400
> www.moma.org

Guest passes available. Limit 2 passes per employee
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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New Museum of Contemporary Art
Chelsea Art blding
556 West 22nd & 11th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212-219-1222
> www.newmuseum.org

Volunteer opportunities with youth and the public
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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New York Botanical Gardens
200th Street and Kasimiroff Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10458
718-817-8700 General info
718-817-8779 Directions
718-817-8777 Events line
> www.nybg.org

Holiday Train Show Open House on Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For the Holiday Open House, RSVP and then present your JPMorgan Chase ID card to receive the following:
Free admission for up to five guests
A 20% discount at the Shop
A 10% discount at the Garden Cafe, upon presentation of company I.D.
Please RSVP by November 16th with your name, the number of children and adults in your party, and company affiliation to corporate-relations@nybg.org as space is limited. Download the Train Show Invitation for more details.
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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New York Historical Society
2 West 77th Street
New York, NY 10024-5194
212-873-3400
> www.nyhistory.org

Free Family Programs at the Historical Society for employees and up to 3 guests each. Children under 12 are always free. To take advantage of this offer, click here.
Submit feedback or questions via email to onthetown@jpmchase.com

Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Repertorio Español
138 East 27th Street
New York, NY 10016
212-889-2850
> www.repertorio.org


Repertorio Español will have 2 performances of their “Ana en el tropico” for JPMorgan Chase employees on November 12th and on November 17th in New York City and 2 performances in Syracuse on November 15th and November 16th. If you and 1 guest would like to attend one of these performances, please rsvp to onthetown@jpmchase.com no later than November 10th.
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17 Street
New York, NY 10011
212-620-5000
> www.rmanyc.org


Opportunities to volunteer and participate in Museum activities
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offer


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Strong Museum
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
585-263-2700
> www.strongmuseum.org


100 one-time-use family passes per year (each pass admits up to two adults and their resident children)
Required: E-mail Marilyn.J.Brown@jpmorgan.com only to take advantage of special offers within the Roechester region


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Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021
212-570-3676
> www.whitney.org


Free admission guest passes
Required: E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers


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Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10460-1099
718-220-5100
> www.wcs.org


By presenting your JPMorgan Chase employee ID during their specific corporate weekends, you receive the following at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park, and the Queens Zoo:
Free admission for yourself and 3 guests
10% discount at the Bronx Zoo Store, the Central Park Zoo Store and the New York Aquarium Store

Please note: At this time, there are no corporate weekends scheduled.
E-mail onthetown@jpmchase.com to take advantage of special offers