Author Archive for Conor

Spam can kill spam

Published
by
Conor
on November 21, 2008
in Uncategorized
. 2 Comments

I’m going to divert from the typical stuff discussed here. I’m sure you’re on the end of your seat, anticipating what I’ll discuss. Let’s go back in time to when the Beatniks were cool, juvenile delinquency was on the rise, Playboy was just beginning and Grace Kelley was simply beautiful. I’m talking about the 1950s and Spam.

Why Spam? Because I didn’t know there were so many darn types out there!

Here in the Blue House we like to kid around with each other. Typically this involves many “reply all” e-mail chains that spin out of control like a Midwestern tornado. If you step away from your desk during one of these “spam storms” you return to 15,000 e-mails talking about stuff on cats or pies in the office kitchen.

I like to wait for the right moment in these “spam storms.” Typically this happens on e-mail No. 526. Why No. 526? I have no idea, but when we pass that magic number, I like to send out a picture of a Spam can to shut everybody up. I’m sure my co-workers love me for this.

So in honor of Spam (the mystery meat type) killing spam (the electronic type), I’ve decided to post a bunch of Spam can pictures and throw a few interesting facts about Spam out there. Here you go:

• Despite associating Spam with the 1950s, I’ve learned it was actually introduced in 1937.

• The original name was Hormel Spiced Ham, but then shortened it to Spam.

• Austin, Minn. is home to Spam Jam, a carnival devoted to the mystery meat every Fourth of July. Don’t you think they would’ve picked a better day?

• The Spam Jam is not to be confused with Space Jam, Michael Jordan’s best movie.

• The Spam Jam is not to be confused with Spamarama, which is a yearly festival held around April Fool’s Day in Austin, Texas. Really? April Fools Day? OK …

• Spam was one of the few foods excluded from British food rationing during the World War II. Hitler was defeated; Churchill thanked Spam.

• Since World War II Spam has become very popular in Japan. No punch line. That’s the joke.

And that’s all I know. Feel free to pull a picture off this blog to send out when you feel you’re getting spammed (the electronic type).

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

List is ignored, painter profits

Published
by
Conor
on October 31, 2008
in Uncategorized and painting - interior
. 0 Comments

Back in August my roommate* [*name withheld to protect my rent from increasing], who happens to be my landlord, decided to have the house painted.

Learning of his plans, I quickly stepped in, volunteering my Angie’s List membership to help locate a good painter. I pulled three names from the List, all highly rated of course, and gave their contact information to my roommate. But he decided against using any of them. The result? The painter started in September and just finished last week.

I’m not knocking Billy** the painter [**name changed to protect his self-worth] as a person. I just think he should find another profession. My roommate is a commercial real estate agent, and Billy worked on some of his properties in the past. The main reason he rolled with Billy was the price. Billy came cheap.

But Billy completely underestimated the job. He didn’t know how to deal with dry rot, failed to scrape or control a power washer properly and was just physically unable to perform the job in a timely manner.

Warning: If you ever hire a painter and he shows up limping with a cane, find someone else.

Billy: I feel bad telling you this, but you need to find another profession. Physical labor isn’t for you. Plus you smoke, play loud music and my yard looks like you took a cheese grater to the outside. Not only does it look like you failed to clean up, it looks like your goal was to leave the exterior paint in bacon bits across my front and back yards. Plus, you should consider covering up some of those drug-related tattoos. Now that I’ve lambasted Billy, I have something for my roommate.

Roommate: Please listen to people! Now what’s the point of having the List as a resource if you don’t use it? It stinks that I don’t own this home. I would’ve used the List to get this job done in a three days rather than two months. And don’t ever go with the lowest estimate! Lowest estimate typically means the lowest quality. I’m sure he was the cheap choice, but I’m convinced Billy brought down the neighborhood property values at least $100,000.

Look for this report on Angie’s List Indianapolis.

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

My dog’s love for toilet water

Published
by
Conor
on October 13, 2008
in pets and veterinarians
. 2 Comments

Toilet-water-drinking dog ShermanAfter raising the little guy from five weeks old, my puppy Sherman has begun to rebel. Last week, I caught him drinking from the toilet bowl.

Yes, my dog Sherman has developed a taste for the toilet water. I can’t say this development surprised me. Every dog turns to the flushable water at some point in time, right? (Please say yes!)

At first, I was in denial mode. Continue reading ‘My dog’s love for toilet water’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

I love October

Published
by
Conor
on October 7, 2008
in animal & house sitting, auto service, entertainment/parties, holiday decorating, holidays, safety and travel
. 3 Comments

I love October — it’s the best time of year. Here in Indiana the leaves start to change and the weather becomes mild. Across the nation, the NFL gets into full swing, the NBA season starts, the MLB post-season begins and we celebrate one of my favorite holidays, Halloween.Jack-O-Lantern eating a baby pumpkin

I love the horror movies on AMC and TCM, the haunted houses, fake cobwebs, witch costumes and Jack-O’-Lanterns.

Originating in Europe, Jack-O’-Lanterns were first carved from rutabagas and turnips. The name evolved from the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a greedy old farmer who liked to drink and gamble. Mr. Stingy J trapped the devil up in a tree by carving a cross into the tree trunk. Continue reading ‘I love October’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

Picture day floods mind with memories of school

Published
by
Conor
on September 19, 2008
in Blue House and photography
. 4 Comments

It’s rare that I miss my private Catholic high school. The cafeteria food was always bad, the bathrooms were always filled with fifty smoking “rebels” sharing three cigarettes, and the teachers always seemed to single me out, saying “Pull your pants up,” or “Tuck your shirt in.” I hated uniforms.

Derick, our Mac guyBut there were good things about it — few responsibilities and fun Friday football games come to mind. One thing lost in my memory until recently, however, was picture day. I loved it. It was the one chance to wear something different than the blue-shirt and khaki-pants uniforms we were required to wear each day. It also gave me the opportunity to get out of a classroom and harass a working professional: the cameraman. Continue reading ‘Picture day floods mind with memories of school’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s just me.

Published
by
Conor
on August 29, 2008
in alarms, homeownership and safety
. 5 Comments

SpiderConorI’ll let you in on a secret: I’m a hero.

A few weeks ago I was walking my dog. It was a nice warm day and my neighbors were all outside doing yard work. Another young man was walking down the street. I waved to him, and kept walking.

All of a sudden, there are fifty cop cars screaming around my neighborhood. One pulls up to me: Continue reading ‘It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s just me.’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

Cough sneeze sniffle sniffle

Published
by
Conor
on August 18, 2008
in green issues, home improvement, homeownership and window cleaning
. 3 Comments

messy garageDespite the title, I’m not sick while I write this. I’ve recovered. It seems I have a sensitive immune system, and recently got sick while cleaning my garage. It was a freaking mess. A disaster. Continue reading ‘Cough sneeze sniffle sniffle’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

Life on the List is ever-changing

Published
by
Conor
on July 21, 2008
in Angie's List campus, Blue House and games
. 1 Comment

I don’t know about your job, but I love mine. The people are great, the job is demanding and rewarding, and the atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve experienced anywhere else.

Our recent Soapbox Derby (click here to watch the video) is a great example of this unique atmosphere. It’s an annual event at the List, and we’ve blogged about it before. It’s a great event filled with food:

Continue reading ‘Life on the List is ever-changing’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

I would like to introduce…

Published
by
Conor
on June 27, 2008
in Indiana, building, home improvement, homeownership, remodeling and saving money
. 1 Comment

…my new home:

FrontAccording to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the number one reason you should bother to write a good introduction is because you never get a second chance to make a first impression. I hope I succeeded in writing a good introduction of my new home.

Front 2It lies in the Indianapolis neighborhood known as Williams Creek. I have famous neighbors in the area — Peyton Manning lives around the corner in Meridian Hills. Continue reading ‘I would like to introduce…’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

Bad weather bothering you? Not me…

Published
by
Conor
on June 5, 2008
in Blue House, Indiana, building, electrical repair, green issues, handyman, home contractors, home improvement, landscaping & lawn care, pets and remodeling
. 0 Comments

You’d think after living in central Indiana my entire life I’d be used to our weather. But it never fails to surprise me with tornadoes, thunderstorms, destroyed power lines and overflowing basements.

As Kristy indicated, Indianapolis has recently experienced some bad weather. Last weekend, I came home to knee-high sewage that had backed up into my basement. Continue reading ‘Bad weather bothering you? Not me…’

Conor is an associate editor for Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.

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