Why SKREAM?

Part Two:  The Boss Button

While researching part one of this blog, the effect of March Madness on work production, references to the 'boss button' came up frequently. Anyone who is a March Madness fan knows that this is a button you can hit if you are watching the NCAA games online at your work and see your boss coming. The button makes a spreadsheet popup on your computer screen and mutes the streaming video in hopes of fooling your boss into thinking you are working. (Warning: The 'mute' aspect has not worked on my computer – so some testing may be needed if you really plan on using this feature.)

Part one: My March Madness…

Disclaimer… I am a huge NCAA March Madness fan and love filling out my brackets and watching as many games as I can. I think CBS putting the games on demand is the best thing they could have done. But I do have to work…

Since I am not a sports writer I knew it would be hard to make watching the games part of my job description. Then I had the great idea to look into the claim that the work production in the US drops noticeably during the weeks of March Madness and blog about it (that still doesn't give me an excuse to watch the games… but it's one step closer!).

Then Google ™ happened. Ok, I can't blame it on Google™ – I am the one that must find every bit of research and come at things from all angles before moving forward – Google Search™ is just my vehicle.

Well, I eventually discovered there was a much bigger controversy – the 'BOSS BUTTON' (insert scary music here).

Rising home prices and an improving economy will spark a modest rebound this year in home-equity lending, the driver of about 2 percent of consumer spending in the first half of the decade.

“This time around, lenders and homeowners will be more cautious about converting their equity to cash, muting any boost to the economy”, said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst with Bankrate.com.

"Home-equity borrowing won't be the economic crutch it was a few years ago," said McBride. "This is not an economy in which consumers are going to be able to go nuts."

The truth in no online database will replace your daily newspaper, no CD-ROM can take the place of a competent teacher and no computer network will change the way government works...

This is a quote from an article written by Clifford Stoll for Newsweek Magazine, dated Feb 27, 1995 - how ironic is it that you can now read this article on Newsweek's very own website?


The full article....

Downtown Kirkland's Ben & Jerry’s, located at 176 Lake Street S, will reopen March 15 after several months of remodeling.

Deciding whether it's best to buy or rent a home isn't an easy decision. There are financial pros and cons to each. Plus, whether or not you want to become a homeowner may depend on your lifestyle, so it's very much a personal choice. Take a close look below at the pluses and minuses before making your move.

The video below was on KOMO News a year ago... and things have not gotten any better!

Donations for babies in need drying up - KOMO News - Seattle, Washington

If you are in or near Kirkland there is an easy way to help - a 'Donation Station' has been set up at Fox Cleaner. You can drop donations off anytime between 7am and 6:30pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.