The Pandas are coming

I saw this in the news this morning:

Panda Attacks Man... Again

I am amused by the previous drunken attack where the man bit back.

The story reminded me of the Sifl & Olly "Panda Song"



After dark the pandas stalk
Nightmare creatures with black hearts
Ravenous teeth that glow in the dark
feasting on bums that sleep in the park

the panda is indeed the most mysterious of all creatures
shrouded in the enigma of it's black and white coat
what kind of camouflage is this?
black and white?
hiding in an Oreo factory could be
that's just another chapter in the endless saga of the panda!

chorus
the pandas are coming!
to rip off your head!
the pandas are coming!
on a rampage of the dead!

Hannah Montana Release

Should I be concerned that on my commute into the office this morning I found an insightful work related song? I am driving a rental until my car gets fixed form the wreck. Figures no German car parts are in stock anywhere near here.
Rental has satellite radio and I have been sampling the airwaves on my commute each day. Radio Disney is a few clicks away from Raw Dog which makes me laugh too much (broken ribs).

Hannah Montana must have dealt with last minute release loading issues to pull this one off:


Sometimes I'm in a jam
I've gotta make a plan
It might be crazy
I do it anyway
No way to know for sure
I'll figure out a cure
I'm patchin' up the holes
But then it overflows
If I'm not doin' to well
Why be so hard on my self?

[Chorus]

Sometimes I work a scheme
But then it flips on me
Doesn't turn out how I planned
get stuck in quick sand
No problem, can't be solved
Once I get involved I try to be delicate
Then crash right into it
My intentions are good
Sometimes just misunderstood

[Chorus]
Next time you feel like...
it's just one of those days...
when you just can't seem to win
If things don't turn out the way you plan,
FIGURE SOMETHING ELSE OUT!
Don't stay down! Try again! YEAH!

I think I will have to download the mp3 to listen to today while I try to find out who has the patches for the holes in 2008.02 Indirect lending purge fatals. I have a deadline of Sunday January 11,2009 to get this release up and running without corrupting the system. I escalated the cases, and now I am just waiting for a patch re-install. Maybe it's about time to start up a indirect lending module support group? Symitar is being supportive, but I think they're feeling the stress form this one too.

coppola magnum

Coppola Blue Label Merlot, 2005

Turkey Osso Bucco, in a chardonnay mirepoix, with a roasted garlic gremolata

Roasted Butternut Squash Polenta, with Parmigano and Fontina

Italian Brioche with Artichoke Pesto

Pumpkin Tiramisu, made with Starbucks Christmas Blend and Grand Marnier

The menu from the dinner party I threw this weekend.
The theme came from the magnum of Coppola that didn’t fit in the wine racks, and an overwhelming urge to use my new oversized cast iron pot.

I am very amused that both the wine label and the cast iron pot were in a matching shade of blue.

I roasted the butternut squash with olive oil and salt/pepper and it came out delicious. I saved a few crescent shapes for garnishing before I made up the polenta. I trimmed out the turkey legs for presentation and made the gremolata with my new favorite recipe:

Gremolata
Italian parsley - minced
Lemon zest
Lemon juice
Pine nuts
Roasted garlic (roast the night before)
Salt/pepper

Dinner was yum…. No leftovers (party for 8)… and everyone cleaned their plates. I’ll have to redesign the recipe for leftovers. I can only imagine it’s one of those “even better the next day “dishes.

DIY Office Decorations

Origami Reindeer

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Origami-Reindeer

Christmas Card Star

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Christmas-Card-Star

Recycled Paper Bows

http://www.instructables.com/id/ReWrap---recycled-wrapping-paper-and-bow-from-scra/

Flex Terms

Flex Term certificates are just one of those things I have takes for granted over the years prior to working for my current employer. I had set up a tiered based certificate system at my last Credit Union years ago, and since I still bank there it’s not like I have gone without the service.

It still surprises me however how many Credit Unions do not offer flex terms to their members (including my current employer – which I am hoping will resolve themselves to flex terms in a meeting this morning)

A member walks in looking to put away some money for an upcoming event. A wedding, a birthday, holiday or anything with a solid date. Say they’re having a baby and don’t need the money until 9 months from now. If you only offer a 6 month and a 12 month CD are you really offering them what they need? Or are you encouraging them to settle?

It’s not hard to offer Flex Term Certificates. You don’t even have to develop new share types. Just take your existing share types and modify your processes to prompt for the term and calc the maturity date. (In creating a demo for the presentation, I actually completed the coding for this option in our ACS workflow in under 18 minutes!)

So modify your defaults, revise your workflows, change your TISAs and rate sheets, and give your members the options not available to them today. They’ll love you for it!

Security Question

Jim Stickley sends you a link in an email. He “says” it’s safe.

Do you:

a) Click on the link – if it’s from Jim so it HAS to be safe

b) Ignore the email and continue monitoring the Woot-Off in the hopes at snagging a bag o’crap

c) Think about how you’ll look on the today show when Jim does his segment on “how gullible email readers will click any link you send them”.

http://www.tracesecurity.com/office-prank

*** secretly hoping that Woot puts the Shun knife block back up for sale at 90% off again!!!