Now, I'll be the first to exhonorate the fitness club chain if everything closes without a hitch, but let's just say that I have my doubts. Currently, I have a membership at Bally's that is paid through 7/3/2009. I signed up shortly after moving to the neighborhood, knowing that I needed a gym, and that with my recovering shoulder I didn't care if there was a basketball court. Well, now that my shoulder is better and there are no Bally's locations with a court that are within a reasonable distance, I've decided to terminate my Bally's membership and switch to 24 Hour Fitness, since their 2 closeset locations to me have courts for me. Makes sense, right?
So, in cancelling my Bally's membership, the nice lady on the phone (not her fault it took 20 minutes to get in touch with her) explained that I was paid through July 3rd and would no longer be charged for monthly services. However, on Monday, I received a letter in the mail from Bally's that was a bill for next months payment! I'm hoping that 's just them implicitly begging me to reinstate my membership, but I've got this nagging feeling that they'll just accrue a balance as a "late payment" if I don't do anything. However, in looking online, I did notice that it said my membership expires 7/3/2009. So, I'm hoping everything goes smooth with this transition, but I wanted to post my concern so that if the worst happens, I at least get to say that I called it. I mean, I've heard stories, so I don't think I'm reaching to far with my concern, here. Tell me I'm not crazy! ;-)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
KGB: Great Idea, Non-viable Business
I can see it now...A group of friends are swaying as they walk down the block trying to hail a cab. As numerous taxis whizzed by, the group begins to wonder what the average wait time is to hail a cab in their city. They begin a heated debate and wished they could resolve the issue with objective information. One member suggests it would be great if they could just text somebody to look up the answer for them to solve the disagreement. Boom! The idea of KGB is born.
But the problem with this idea is that it doesn't translate well in practice. Maybe it would have worked perfectly 5 years ago, but the technology today doesn't warrant paying $.99 for these answers. Smart phones can readily produce the answers to these questions with internet access that users already pay for at their disposal. Wikipedia, Google, Bing, Ask.com, and others can all provide these same answers at no additional cost to the user.
I thought I would give KGB a try last weekend after hiking Runyan Canyon, in order to find a Habit Burger near Studio City. Not only did the process with KGB take 7 minutes (could've found that info myself in under 7 minutes), but KGB came back with BAD INFORMATION! I was told the nearest Habit Burger to Studio City was at 12659 Moorpark St. in Studio City (there is no Habit in Studio City, trust me). A Google search of "habit burger studio city" returns a top result which indicates that the nearest Habit Burger is in Sherman Oaks and directs you to the main Habit website. Below that is a "Best of the Web, Local" entry which notes a Habit Burger Grill at the address they gave me, granted, but if you look at the site yourself HERE, you can understand that even a moderately internet savvy individual would not have considered this information viable and gone to the Habit's main site and location locator. If I'm going to pay 99 cents for a convenience, let's make sure we get it right and that it's convenient, yes?
My advice: If you know that you have a specific question that you want the correct answer to, just look it up on your phone's internet browser or dial 411. If you have Verizon, they'll even text you the phone # and address of what you're looking for, and even send it to the GPS on the phone to guide you there! So tell me again, KGB, what added value does your idea provide? Thought so.
But the problem with this idea is that it doesn't translate well in practice. Maybe it would have worked perfectly 5 years ago, but the technology today doesn't warrant paying $.99 for these answers. Smart phones can readily produce the answers to these questions with internet access that users already pay for at their disposal. Wikipedia, Google, Bing, Ask.com, and others can all provide these same answers at no additional cost to the user.
I thought I would give KGB a try last weekend after hiking Runyan Canyon, in order to find a Habit Burger near Studio City. Not only did the process with KGB take 7 minutes (could've found that info myself in under 7 minutes), but KGB came back with BAD INFORMATION! I was told the nearest Habit Burger to Studio City was at 12659 Moorpark St. in Studio City (there is no Habit in Studio City, trust me). A Google search of "habit burger studio city" returns a top result which indicates that the nearest Habit Burger is in Sherman Oaks and directs you to the main Habit website. Below that is a "Best of the Web, Local" entry which notes a Habit Burger Grill at the address they gave me, granted, but if you look at the site yourself HERE, you can understand that even a moderately internet savvy individual would not have considered this information viable and gone to the Habit's main site and location locator. If I'm going to pay 99 cents for a convenience, let's make sure we get it right and that it's convenient, yes?
My advice: If you know that you have a specific question that you want the correct answer to, just look it up on your phone's internet browser or dial 411. If you have Verizon, they'll even text you the phone # and address of what you're looking for, and even send it to the GPS on the phone to guide you there! So tell me again, KGB, what added value does your idea provide? Thought so.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
BEP - The E.N.D. is Here!!!
On Tuesday, The new Black Eyed Peas Album, The E.N.D. comes out. Of course, you can get it early right HERE. Believe it or not, it's been 4 whole years since BEP released Monkey Business on May 30, 2005. Both Will I. Am and Fergie had solo albums in the interim that did respectably. And honestly, after both Monkey Business and Elephunk, I wasn't too sure that they would be able to produce an album at that level again.
I'm sure you've all heard "Boom Boom Pow," the debut single off of the album. Like most debut singles, it's catchy and provides hope that the remainder of the album will be play off of the single and it works and they pull it off. I must admit that I was a bit irritated at Will I. Am with the debut single just playing into the current sound and wasn't anything new. If anyone set the standard of wratcheting up the playing field with their last album, it's Kanye. 808's was just so different that it could not be ignored by the rest of the industry, and somebody had to bring an answer to that album.
Ladies and Gentlemen, pardon my French, but fuck Alan Iverson, THIS album is The Answer. Let BEP take you back to the 80's with The E.N.D.'s electronic sounds and samples. You'll welcome the deviation to the standard song structures you hear every day on the radio. Looking to hear something different? Pop on "Alive," and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Long story short, the Black Eyed Peas have set the standard for album of the year in 2009, and have shown their ability to keep their edge with The E.N.D.
I'm sure you've all heard "Boom Boom Pow," the debut single off of the album. Like most debut singles, it's catchy and provides hope that the remainder of the album will be play off of the single and it works and they pull it off. I must admit that I was a bit irritated at Will I. Am with the debut single just playing into the current sound and wasn't anything new. If anyone set the standard of wratcheting up the playing field with their last album, it's Kanye. 808's was just so different that it could not be ignored by the rest of the industry, and somebody had to bring an answer to that album.
Ladies and Gentlemen, pardon my French, but fuck Alan Iverson, THIS album is The Answer. Let BEP take you back to the 80's with The E.N.D.'s electronic sounds and samples. You'll welcome the deviation to the standard song structures you hear every day on the radio. Looking to hear something different? Pop on "Alive," and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Long story short, the Black Eyed Peas have set the standard for album of the year in 2009, and have shown their ability to keep their edge with The E.N.D.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
We're Back in the Finals!!!
Yessir!!! The Los Angeles Lakers are back to back Western Conference Champions!!! After dispatching the Nuggets (which, holy crap, who was the favorite in that series, even to the media, when it was clear who the better team was....when they woke up), the Lake Show will take on Orlando in the NBA Finals, starting with Game 1 at Staples Center on Thursday (still holding out hope that I might have a ticket). This could be a very exciting series, considering Orlando took both games from us during the regular season. Granted, they won both games by a total of 9 points, but they're still dangerous and can bomb 3's like no other. Nonetheless, I'm going with our Commander in Chief on this one and say Lakers in 6.
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