by Alan Hoskins on March 10, 2010
Lately as a part of my work with ChaCha I’ve posted (a long with some others) news stories on ChaCha’s Facebook/Twitter pages about celebrities who have passed on or when something interesting happens to them. This has made me realize, while only 27 (28 on the 19th), I am old. After posting these we always receive a good number of people, yes they are mostly younger, but some are 18+ and they have NO idea who these celebrities are.
My brother (right) and me (left)
For instance today Corey Haim died and on the posting on Facebook a few people say “Who is he?” or just “Who?” This is what makes me feel old. I mean who hasn’t seen The Lost Boys or maybe The Two Coreys (ok I didn’t watch this either)?
Anyway, that is my gripe for the day. On top of me having a 9-year-old son who makes it seem like time flies by, I now have this younger crowd throwing it in my face that I am indeed old. Oh well. At least I’m not turning 30 this year like my brother.
My brother (right) and me (left) at Halloween of '86
by Alan Hoskins on March 5, 2010
by Alan Hoskins on February 25, 2010
Dawn Brancheau and Whale - AP
Sad story today (or yesterday now) of a trainer at an Orlando SeaWorld being killed by Tilikum, a 30 year old 12,300 lb killer whale, in front of an audience. While I think this is tremendously sad and by no means think she deserved it, it makes me wonder why we keep such animals for our amusement. This whale was probably doing what he would instinctively do in the wild. Whether she fell in or he grabbed her, he probably saw her as a toy and didn’t mean to kill her. Or maybe he did, I don’t know. But now this whale could possibly put down after it was forced into this life of smaller “aquariums” and a entertaining us as humans.
I have mixed emotions overall. When something like this happens I think how it wouldn’t if we didn’t treat animals (large animals especially) like this, but when I am at the zoo I do go and watch the dolphin shows (or I suppose being at the Zoo period supports it). Either way I do think this is horrible and I feel tremendously sorry for Dawn Brancheau’s family for what happened to her today.
by Alan Hoskins on January 26, 2010
Have you seen this commercial? I forgot what I was watching (or listening to) the other day when I out of nowhere heard this little kid voice say “Oh ****” with the bleeped out word of course being shit. I laughed and caught it the second time come on. In my personal opinion I thought it was a funny easy to remember commercial (and made me want some Joe’s Crab Shack). But after not seeing it again for a while and asking my family if they’d seen it I find out that some networks have banned it. Dumb! Guess it is just my opinion, but I don’t see how this commercial hurts anyone atleast not more than skimpy clothes or other insinuated things shown on TV.
Oh well. If you haven’t see it, check it out below. Oh yeah. Be honest with yourself. This stuff happens. Parent (or adult) says bad word then the kids repeat it.
See the video..
by Alan Hoskins on January 7, 2010
Audible.com recently added Gary Vaynerchuk’s Crush It! to their long list of audio books and this is one I decided to purchase. I’ve been debating for a few weeks whether or not to buy the physical book as I’ve felt I wouldn’t have time to sit and read it, so I was glad to learn that there was an audio version that I could listen to as I went about my daily work.
If you’ve never heard Gary give a keynote or speech you should pull up Google now and do a search. Gary has so much energy he puts into his talks that when I heard he was doing the reading for this book I knew it was one I would be buying.
Gary offers advice and information in this book that is not like others. Some of the books similar to this make it seem like its easy to just jump in and become rich or successful. Gary lets you know that you have to work for it and “sweat”, but since it is your passion you are doing it should be something you enjoy. I’ve always felt that I could never be happy doing something that I was not passionate about. With Gary’s words and encouragement from this book (and his keynotes, speeches, vlogs) I know that I can take my passion(s) and turn them into a career that I will love and be successful at.
With that I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is working at job they hate or want to start doing something that they are passionate about. Or if you just want to hear Gary’s motivating energy each day to make you feel like you can conquer anything.
by Alan Hoskins on November 29, 2009
Last night my family and I went downtown for the lighting of monument circle in Indianapolis. This was our second year in a row going and I think it may become a tradition. We stayed at the Sheraton which is overlooking the circle and we had a great view from our room and the hotels 9th floor balcony. This was the view 30 mins before the lights were turned on (images from my iPhone, not the best):
Circle of Lights - Pre Lighting
and this was after the switch was flipped:
Circle of Lights - Post Lighting
Sadly after the lights were turned on we went straight to our room (to avoid waiting at the elevator with the many guest who were on the balcony), so we missed the fireworks which happened to be going off over/behind our hotel view. Hopefully next year I will remember my good camera and we will stand outside or down the street so I can capture the fireworks as well.
Here is a photo from a previous year courtesy of Fun City Finder:
