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Forget M.P.G. How Many Miles Per Dollar Does Your Car Get?
Posted on August 29, 2006 at 02:29 AM
In these times of fluctuating gas prices people are paying more and more attention to how much gas they consume. Factors like how far they drive, what kind of gas mileage their car gets, or what alternatives to driving are available in their city are beginning play a larger role in our daily lives. Though instead of focusing on what kind of mileage your vehicle gets, maybe it would be easier to put things in perspective, monetarily speaking, if you knew how many miles per dollar your vehicle got.
A friend of this blog named Vern Graner showed me a neat little web app that he and his friend James Delaney developed called the Miles Per Dollar Calculator (MP$ for short).
You enter in information like how much you pay for gas and the gas mileage your car gets and the MP$ calculator will tell you how many miles per dollar your vehicle gets. You can also enter how many miles you drive to work and the calculator will tell you how much you spend on your daily commute.
As an example, I filled up my car today and paid $2.59 for gas. The official vehicle of JoeSchmidt.com (the sexy and uxorious 1995 Chevy Lumina) gets about 25 MPG and my one-way trip to work is about 21 miles. I enter all that info into the MP$ calculator and here are the results:
So it seems I spend on average $4.35 a day to drive to work, which works out to be $21.75 a week and $1131 a year. Now if I could only ride my bike to work everyday, not only would I be approximately $1000 richer but probably a few pounds lighter.
Posted by joeschmidt at 02:29 AM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
Omaha. Not As Angry As You Would Think
Posted on August 24, 2006 at 12:10 PM
Over on MSN Health and Fitness, there is a study entitled "How Angry Is Your City?" which lists the top 100 angriest cities in America. Omaha, the world headquarters of JoeSchmidt.com, ranks a measly 89th on the list (note to self: work on being more angry).
Factors they measured to compile the angriest cities in the US were percentage of High blood pressure in men, FBI rates for aggravated assaults (is there such a thing as an un-aggravated assault?), workplace deaths from assaults and other violence, traffic congestion data, and speeding citations per state.
What's the angriest city in the US you ask? Well it's Orlando, FL of course. Which isn't so surprising. I mean come on, imagine living in a perpetual tourist trap compounded by seniors making their 4:30 mad dash for the closest waffle house and you've got a time bomb waiting to go off.
New Orleans is surprisingly not anywhere to be found in the top 100. If I had to place money on it, I would've sworn New Orleans hands down would have been the angriest city in America. But maybe that's just me, I dunno.
Posted by joeschmidt at 12:10 PM | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
The 2006 JoeSchmidt.com Blogathon
I have been kicking around the crazy idea of holding a blogathon on JoeSchmidt.com for the past 6 months or so. It's something I've wanted to at least try once, you know, just to see if I could do it. Plus it would be nice to use my blogging powers for good, as blogathons are usually held to garner donations for a specific charity. And let me tell you, the Head of my Culinary Arts Department (who is concerned enough already with the amount of time I spend on the computer) is oh-so thrilled that I have now chosen to spend an entire 24 hour period blogging.
"So what exactly is this "blogathon" thing you speak of?"
For those who may not be familiar with what a blogathon is, let me explain...
The term blogathon is a portmanteau word which is a combination of the words blog and marathon. Back in 2001, Cat Connor held the first ever blogathon on her personal website, and due to the overwhelming success of that first event, she created the website blogathon.org and decided to make it an annual event. Blogathon 2006 took place on July 29th, in which 283 blogs participated and raised over $104,000 for various charities.
So what takes place during a blogathon?
Actually a blogathon is an event where for 24 hours straight I will be posting on this blog twice an hour (a total of 48 posts in one day). Blogathon's are usually held to support a charity of the bloggers choosing, where the blogger asks his/her readers to sponsor them by pledging a dollar amount for each post. At the end of the blogathon, all proceeds generated will be donated to the charity and then the blogger sleeps for an undetermined amount of time.
So why didn't I hold my blogathon with the others back on July 29th?
Good question. Basically it was a timing issue. To pull this thing off, I wanted to make sure I got my ducks in a row in order to make sure the blogathon would be as successful as humanly possible. Plus I thought if I held my blogathon on a date separate from the worldwide blogathon I would eliminate the issue of having to compete with 283 other blogathons that day.
Do you think you can really post 48 times in 24 hours?
This will be a daunting task. Loyal Joeschmidt.com readers will remember I made a statement about a year ago in which I was going to post 30 times in 30 days. I didn't quite reach that mark but since this is for charity I am uber motivated to make it work.
So what charity are you blogging for?
I am still working out a few details so I am not going to make that announcement as of yet. Once those logistical details are resolved I will announce it here on JoeSchmidt.com. I can tell you though that I have been in contact with the charity and that they are very excited to be apart of the blogathon.
Alright, so when is 2006 JoeSchmidt.com blogathon going to be held?
On Saturday, September 30th I will commence my first annual blogathon at 8am (central standard time). It should be a great event so mark it on your calendars, blog about it, post a myspace bulletin, or whatever it is you crazy kids do these days.
The success of the blogathon will depend on getting the word out to as many people as possible. So any help you can lend will definitely be appreciated.
For now I've created a blogathon page that is just a placeholder with general information until I finalize all the details. Check it out later next week and I should have more detailed information listed.
Posted by joeschmidt at 05:49 AM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
2006 Omaha Corporate Cycling Challenge
Posted on August 22, 2006 at 01:42 AM
This past Sunday marked the 16th annual Corporate Cycling Challenge which gives Omaha cyclists the opportunity to get out and ride with thousands of other area riders. This blog has participated in the ride with fellow coworkers for the past 5 years, but this was the first year I chose to make the 42 mile round trip trek to Ft. Calhoun (a.k.a. The Tour de Fort).
42 miles may seem a bit daunting to some, but as far as this blog is concerned, I would rather ride 42 miles on a bike than run 2 miles on foot (ahh, my high school cross country days are but a distant memory).
The ride itself was mostly uneventful, though I was surprised to see how many people were at the starting area for the 42 mile ride. I would estimate the numbers to be in the 1500-2000 rider range. Below is a picture of just a fraction of the people at the 8th and Farnam starting area.
At one report I heard that this year's event had over 10,000 registered entrants. As a company we had a very good showing and am happy to report we logged approx. 496 miles, so we should be in the running to claim the top spot of the "A" division (though results at this point have not been posted).
What's interesting to note is the type of bikes people show up with the day of the event. You will see anywhere from $5000 road bikes all the way down to $100 Wal-Mart Huffy's and anywhere in between. Also riding where a lot of tandem bikes (with Mom/Dad in the front and a child bringing up the rear) and recumbent bikes (where the rider is in a seated position with the pedals situated in front of the rider).
But the most peculiar bike I saw eluded my camera phone's battery life (otherwise you'd see an actual picture of it here). It is a bike manufactured by Surly and it is called the Pugsley.
This purple, two wheeled bo-wheemoth was just ahead of me for most of ride back to Omaha and it was interesting to watch the rider mash the pedals up large hills as he battled gravity and friction due to the bikes humongous tires. You are probably wondering why someone would ride a bike like this 42 miles? The only answer I can muster is that some people just want to be different. My other answer of course would be pure lunancy, but I digress.
While I thought the ride was a huge success there were just a few things I thought could be improved upon for next year. Here are a few helpful hints for the events organizers:
1. Sub par restroom facilities at the Ft. Calhoun turnaround point.
This blog has excellent bladder control and didn't feel the need to go while at the turnaround point. Though if I did, I would have had to stand in about a 15 minute line for the men's restroom (which was your typical two stall restroom found in your local park). The women's line was an estimated 25 minute wait, which held up a few of the riders in our group. Just a thought, maybe mix in a few port-a-potties for next year in order to speed up downtime at the turnaround.
2. Change up the route.
The ride to Ft. Calhoun has varied a bit over the past years but never really deviates from the Highway 75 route. I'm cool with that, but maybe next year think about sending people towards the Boyer Chute route on the return trip to Omaha. It's a very scenic road that is nestled between the high bluffs of Northern Omaha and the Missouri River. Plus there is an excellent trail that follows the route which would be good exposure for those who never knew that trail existed.
3. Ditch the Powerade.
It seems every year I make the same mistake of thinking that the free Powerade they offer at the turn around point will actually taste better than last years. I don't drink Powerade at all so I am not real familiar with its taste, but I can't imagine it is supposed to taste like watered down sweat squeegeed of the backs of all the riders with a little blue dye #5 added for effect. So if that's what it is SUPPOSED to taste like, then please disregard this comment.
Other than those few preceding gripes the ride in my opinion was a great success. Mad props go out to the rides organizers who again put together a great event and also to the local area bike shops who lent a hand in support of the riders. I know fixing flat tires for 4 hours can't be much fun, but until the average-joe-bike-rider-who-thinks-it-would-be-fun-to-ride-42-miles-without-first-checking-the-conditions-of-their-tires thinks before showing up with crappy tires your expertise will still be needed and greatly appreciated.
Also a few shout outs to local law enforcement for halting traffic at different points along the route. I'm sure you got sick of all the motorists wondering where the hell did all these bikes come from and when the hell will I be able to cross the street, but your efforts were greatly appreciated. Especially the one officer who held the traffic back a little longer for me as I zoomed down the hill at I-680 at close to 40 miles an hour. Having to stop with that kind of built-up momentum would have been definitely below average.
And just to clear things up, the following video is not of this blog taking a short-cut on the trip back to Omaha, though I would love to know the secrets of that guy's speed for next year's ride.
Here is the link to the video for those not able to see the embedded movie.
Posted by joeschmidt at 01:42 AM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
My Second Anniversary Of Being Wal-Mart Free
Posted on August 18, 2006 at 06:00 PM
I can't believe it's been two years already. Last Tuesday, August 15th was the second anniversary of this blog being Wal-Mart Free. And it seems like my personal ban against all thing Wal-Mart has started to take its toll on the world's largest retailer. On the same day of my wal-mart free anniversary, Wal-Mart announced on their Q2 FY2007 earnings call that they posted their first profit fall in 10 years. Coincidence? I'd like to think not.
And for those of you who still shop at Wal-Mart despite all my attempts otherwise, I offer you this, the December 2003 Fast Company article entitled "The Wal-Mart you don't know". It's a long read but well worth your time if you haven't perused it before. I suspect you might look at Wal-Mart a little differently afterwards.
Posted by joeschmidt at 06:00 PM | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
The Amazing Fountain of Ibirapuera Park
Posted on August 16, 2006 at 12:23 AM
Completed in 2004 to commemorate the 450th birthday of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Fountain is located in Ibirapuera Park, which is comparable in size to New York City's Central Park. While this fountain might not be the largest fountain in the world, it is definitely one of the most amazing this blog has (virtually) seen.
If you're wondering how much water this fountain moves it is reported to be in the range of 61,000 liters of water per minute. I think that definitely qualifies to be in the assload of water category.
[For those unable to see the video above, here is a direct link to the video on YouTube]
Absolutely memorizing isn't it?
ranting side note: Why couldn't Omaha build something like this instead of spending $100 million+ on an ugly over-pass and a bridge that leads to no where Riverfront pedestrian Bridge?
The only other fountain I've seen that might be able to touch this would be The Fountains of Bellagio situated in front of the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. Now it doesn't quite capture the imagination like the Ibirapuera Fountain, but what the Bellagio fountain does offer is immense scale and the fact it is situated in front of one of the most beautiful properties in all of Las Vegas.
To put the massive scale of this fountain in perspective, it has 1200 jets capable of propelling water 240 feet into the air and is able to have 17,000 gallons of water in the air at any one time.
This blog was in Vegas a few months back and was able to witness the Fountains of Bellagio firsthand and took the following picture:
click image above to enlarge
Nonetheless, it's still a wonder to behold.
ed note: I would be remiss in not mentioning the third most amazing fountain I've ever seen powered solely by Mentos (the "fresh maker" for those in the know) and Diet Coke:
[via EepyBird.com]
Posted by joeschmidt at 12:23 AM | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
So what exactly have you been doing for the past 2 months?
Posted on August 10, 2006 at 01:18 AM
I feel as if though I should provide some kind of explanation to you, the loyal readers of this blog, for my utter lack of posting these past few months. A-list bloggers will tell you that if you've had some kind of absence in regular posting you shouldn't feel the need to inform your readers why you've been slacking, just continue where you last left off. Hogwash I say. If you are a diehard JoeSchmidt.com reader who has come to this web site every day for the last two months only to be met with that time-lapse video of those FedEx planes then I feel I owe you some kind of explanation. Though I'm pretty sure my reasons for not blogging are pretty weak. Mea Culpa.
Here we go...
Sick
During the middle of May I contracted a rather nasty head cold. You know that head plugged up, mucus-down-the-back-of-your-throat, total exhaustion type of sickness that just seems to hang around for ever. For a two and a half week stretch I think I was in bed every night by 10pm. For reals. Which if you know me, 10pm to me would be like most people's 5pm.
Google DaVinci Code Quest Finalist
Google held this contest back in April in conjunction with the release of the Da Vinci Code movie. Basically every day for 24 days they had you go to their Google Da Vinci Quest web site and solve a puzzle. The first 10,000 people to complete the puzzle were made finalists and then given the opportunity to solve a final puzzle in hopes of winning a fabuloso grand prize.
I was one of those 10,000 finalists and in recognition of that feat, Google sent each one of us a replica Da Vinci Code cryptex (thingy that protected important documents back in ye olden times). For those who are just dying to know more about this contest go check out Wikipedia's entry on the Google Da Vinci Code Quest (don't all rush there at once).
Below is a picture of my prized Google Da Vinci Code Cryptex
Head of My Legal Department's Birthday
I was totally remiss in not wishing the Head of My Legal Department a Happy Birthday back in June. Hard to believe he is just about as old as Google.
Fishing
You wouldn't know it, but here at JoeScmidt.com we've been doing some serious fishing these past few months. There are a few decent lakes (in other states these would be called small ponds) in and around the Omaha area and the legal department and I, along with a few JoeSchmidt.com Board of Directors, have been doing a little angling as of late. We're mainly the catch and release type as I wouldn't dare eat anything living in the run-off, dammed up creeks lakes around Omaha. Below is a picture from one of our outings. Not sure why the catfish was just sitting there so close to the top of the water. Either it was confused because of the heat or it developed human lungs from all the toxins in the water. At any rate, it was so close I could have clubbed it over the head.
Oh and by the way, the head of the legal department has learned how to set a mean hook. You gotta watch it if he sets that thing and you're standing behind him, you might find a hook, bobber, and some bait headed straight for you.
Bicycling to work
If you read my last post, I've been biking to work and experimenting with different routes. Most people don't quite understand why I would bike to work since I live about 20 miles away. I don't really have a good answer for them other than it's fun. No seriously, it is. Remember when you were a kid and you rode a bike everywhere and how fun it was to ride up to the local store to by some candy? Now as an adult and having access to a car you normally wouldn't hop on a bike and ride to your destination. I've found that unless I have somewhere to go I don't really enjoy riding as much, so riding a bike to work kinda gives me a sense of accomplishment. Plus it's a good way to get ready for the Omaha Corporate Cycling Challenge when we will ride the 45 mile Tour de Fort to Ft. Calhoun in a few weeks.
Today I am experimenting with a new bike route to work which is less hilly than my previous route. It should be interesting.
Other than that not much else has been going on (I told you my excuses for not blogging were pretty weak). Though looking ahead towards August I have some very interesting announcements to make. Not any Earth shattering news like I found a cure for cancer over lunch one day or I finally convinced Britney Spears to stop dirtying up the gene pool by having children with K-Fed. But interesting nonetheless.
Posted by joeschmidt at 01:18 AM | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
