Winter??

It actually got in the high 30's here the other night I believe. Freezing in Pittsburgh at game time as I type this. Snow expected!

Here We Go Steelers Here We Go!

On a lighter note, Biskit has been becoming lazy (like her owner) and was challenged for a treat. As you can see, she's bigger but was able to once again, completely flatten herself out and get the cookie.

She is shown underneath my couch.

Canucks Prank Palin

2008 Election

Andy, Opie & The Fonz Endorse Obama

As a former resident of Charlotte, N.C. and having worked at TV station who ran re-runs and got great ratings, WHOAAAAAA! ... AAAAAAAAY!

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Now This Is Great.....

Can you imagine the cop's face? Keep that in mind and read below.

Police arrest Mich. man for car wash vacuum sex

Sat Oct 18, 7:56 pm ET

THOMAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Police say a Michigan man has been arrested after "receiving sexual favors from a vacuum" at a car wash.

The Saginaw News reports the 29-year-old Swan Creek Township man was arrested Thursday in Saginaw County's Thomas Township, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.

Police Sgt. Gary Breidinger says a resident called to report suspicious activity at the car wash about 6:45 a.m. An officer approached on foot and caught the man in the act.

The suspect, whose name wasn't immediately released, is being held in the Saginaw County Jail.

Information from: The Saginaw News, http://www.mlive.com
Source: The Associated Press

KK On the Move...

So it's been way too long since my last update. Lots going on to say the least... After 2+ years working for XOS Network/JumpTV, I've accepted a new job at XOS Technologies, Inc.

Now I realize that might be confusing and that is understandable. Basically, XOS is starting a new initiative and I'm now onboard as Director, Content Management.

Previously, XOS had a separate unit, Network, which I worked in until it was acquired by Jump. The other two XOS units remained untouched.

It's a great opportunity for me and a better fit for my skill set. I had a blast at JumpTV and learned a lot and will miss all of my ex-colleagues, but sometimes opportunities present themselves and you act.

That's really all there is to it. I will still work in Central Florida, Lake Mary to be specific. It's only one exit further to work each day so that's nothing.

Well, that's about it for now, but I certainly hope to provide more frequent updates.

Paris Takes a Shot at McCain

I thought this was really funny. And she is hot.

Reporter Turns Ghetto in 3 Seconds

My friend Harry, who started a great new blog of his own, sent this. Hilarious!

Imus - Dead Or Alive?

One of my favorites from the Howard Stern show.....

Busy Times Lately, New Look Ahead

I'm very intrigued with the merger recently announced by my company, JumpTV and NeuLion.

PRESS RELEASE

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Leaders to Create Powerhouse of Online Sports, International and Religious Programming

TORONTO – June 27, 2008 – JumpTV Inc. (TSX/AIM: JTV) (“JumpTV” or the “Company”), a leading provider of live and on-demand sports and international programming over the Internet and NeuLion, Inc. (“NeuLion”), an end-to-end IPTV service of live and on-demand sports, international and religious programming over the Internet and through set top boxes, today announced the execution of the definitive agreement in respect of their previously announced merger.

The terms of the definitive agreement are outlined in detail in the June 9, 2008 announcement. Closing of the proposed merger is scheduled to occur on or about October 1, 2008 and is subject to regulatory approvals (including approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange), JumpTV shareholder approval and NeuLion shareholder approval.

JumpTV and NeuLion have agreed the proposed private placement of units, previously disclosed on June 9, 2008, will be put to a shareholder vote in conjunction with shareholder approval of the definitive agreement. Pursuant to the private placement, AvantaLion LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Wang, has irrevocably committed to subscribe for 10 million units from JumpTV’s treasury at a price of $1.00 per unit, and G. Scott Paterson has also committed to buy 1 million units on the same terms. The aggregate gross proceeds from the units will be CDN$11 million. Closing of the private placement is subject to regulatory approvals, including approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Completion of the merger is additionally conditional on shareholder approval of the unit subscription. The companies continue to anticipate the shareholder meeting will be held on or about October 1, 2008.

Additionally, the Company announced Jordan Banks will cease acting as CEO effective June 27, 2008. In conjunction with this news, Mr. Banks did not stand for re-election as a director of the Company at today’s Annual and Special General Meeting.

“We are grateful to Jordan Banks for his strategic vision and unwavering dedication to JumpTV and all of its stakeholders for the past eight months,” said G. Scott Paterson, Executive Chairman, JumpTV. “Jordan has played a critical role in JumpTV’s evolution. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

On June 25, 2008, Brad Greenspan, on behalf of an entity which he controls, delivered an unsolicited offer to combine JumpTV and LiveTime Group. The Board of Directors of JumpTV convened a special meeting to review and consider Mr. Greenspan’s proposal. After due consideration, deliberation and discussion, and following receipt of legal and financial advice, the Board determined that Mr. Greenspan’s proposal was not in the best interests of the Company, and that the Company’s interests and its shareholders’ interests were best served by continuing its negotiations with NeuLion, ultimately completing the definitive agreement as described above.

About JumpTV

JumpTV (www.jumptv.com), (TSX/AIM:JTV), is a world leading broadcaster of live and on-demand sports video over the Internet. In the last twelve months, JumpTV streamed more than 15,000 live and exclusive sporting events – comprised of top college (NCAA), professional and Hispanic sports coverage – to millions of fans globally. JumpTV also delivers a broad offering of internet services to its partners including web hosting, live event video streaming, ticket management and e-commerce.

Through JumpTV’s consumer websites: JumpTV.com, Cycling.TV and SportsYa.com, as well as its collegiate and international sports partner websites, JumpTV streams tens of thousands of hours of live and on-demand events and international programming over the Internet each year.

About NeuLion

Based in Plainview, NY, NeuLion works with content partners to develop end-to-end solutions for multimedia IPTV services. The NeuLion iPTV Platform encodes, delivers, stores and manages an unlimited range of multimedia content, and the Operational Support System (OSS) maintains all billing and customer support services. NeuLion content partners are responsible for content aggregation and the sales and marketing for the individual IPTV service.

Let's Go Pens!

Wow, what a tough way to end a remarkable season. Reminds me of the Tennessee Titans falling a yard short in their Super Bowl loss to the St. Louis Rams. This team was a joy to watch each and every game. From the evolution of Evgeni Malkin, to the return of Gary Roberts, it was a helluva ride.

This team is poised to make many a run at the Stanley Cup so there is absolutely nothing to be disappointed about. As a fan, I can only hope that management is able to keep as many of the core group in place. It was a real thrill to see the talented Marian Hossa mesh with Sidney Crosby. Watching Marc-Andre Fleury raise his game to a new level and the courage of Ryan Malone, a true warrior and Pittsburgh hometown favorite.

For this, I salute you Penguins on a job very well done and am counting the days until it all begins again. I can hear it now, Let's Go Pens! Let's Go Pens! Let's Go Pens!

Go Home Flyers!!!!

Screw Filthadelphia and all their lousy, arrogant piece of shit fans.

Some of the most classless individuals on this earth. Nonetheless, Fuck You!

You got owned bitches!!

Let's Go Pens! Let's Go Pens! Let's Go Pens!

Stanley Cup, here we come!

Pens Dump Rangers, Listen Live

Mike Lange, the best NHL announcer ever, makes the call on Marian Hossa's game-winning goal.

Bring on the Flyers! Let's Go Pens!

Smyrna Sharks Biting Big-Time!

This is what happens in my back yard.

New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Fla., is the shark attack capital of the world, according to a database called the International Shark Attack File. Each year, thousands of people dip their toes and then jump in, stroking past the surf and into a zone that's literally thick with sharks.

“Most people who have swum in and around New Smyrna have been within 10 feet of a shark in their lifetime,” says George Burgess, an ichthyologist and fisheries biologist at the University of Florida who maintains the International Shark Attack File (ISAF).

To read more of the MSNBC article, click here.

World of KK Returns

So postings have been few and far between here these days and there are a variety of reasons for that. The main reason being work and the fact that I've traveled more this year professionally than ever before.

That's OK and it's fun. I have trips upcoming to Chicago and Dallas. I'll finally get to see a game at Wrigley Field. That will be very cool.

Uncle Sam took a bite out of me this year and I'm still recovering. What a great tax system we have. Thank God our fearless leader is giving us a $600 'rebate.' In my take, it's a fucking cash advance that will most certainly end up costing each of us in the long run.

The Pirates season is already over in April but what the hell else is new? I'm so glad I didn't waste my time or money on them this year. It will be two years in a row for my attending games boycott. Any of you who know me know how hard that is for a diehard fan but enough is enough.

I'm looking forward to a visit from my parents in May and I'm hoping to take my first long vacation of the year this August.

Until we meet again, back to the salt mine I go, pick axe in hand.

From the Stern Show: Karloff???

Quality...

Farewell to a Pittsburgh Legend

As a youngster who aspired to be a broadcaster/journalist, I was immediately drawn to Myron Cope.

He just had the unique way that made you want to listen more and more. I was honored to be a regular caller to his WTAE show with a handle known as 'The Kid.'

Myron Cope is a legend that won't ever soon be replaced.

We should all be so fortunate that we had the chance to see, hear and for some, meet this true legend of Pittsburgh.

My deepest sympathies go out to the entire Cope family.

Gene Collier from the Post-Gazette sums it all up quite well.

Wow! This Schedule Is Brutal!

Peter King from SI breaks it down....Yikes!

* = 2007/2008 playoff team

Stat of the Week
Home
*Indianapolis (13-4)
Houston (8-8)
*NY Giants (14-6)
*Dallas (13-4)
*San Diego (13-6)

Road
*Jacksonville (12-6)
*Tennessee (10-7)
*Washington (9-8)
Philadelphia (8-8)
*New England (18-1)

Has anyone out there looked at the Steelers' schedule for this fall? Schedules are organic things in terms of degree of difficulty; they tend to change week-by-week during the season. But looking at Pittsburgh's slate right now, we might be seeing the toughest schedule a team has had in recent history.

Lots of teams have division schedules as tough or tougher than six games with Cleveland, Cincinnati and Baltimore, though the rising Browns, Carson Palmer and the presumably rejuvenated Ravens will be a difficult six-pack.

Amazing. Horrendously amazing, if you bleed black and gold.
Schedule factoids:

• Eight of Pittsburgh's 10 non-AFC North games are against 2007 playoff teams.

• All 10 non-division foes were .500 or better in 2007.

• New England plays four games against teams that finished over .500 in the 2007 regular season. Pittsburgh plays 10.

• Excluding the Steelers in 2005, the last four Super Bowl champs (Giants, Colts, Pats, Pats) are on Pittsburgh's schedule.

Fun Times Up North (in a foot of snow)

I am in Toronto for work and had the privilege of attending a charity event at the NHL Hall of Fame. The Executive Chairman of JumpTV leads the charge for Merrygoround.

It's a great organization that helps children obtain computers and e-buddies courtesy of volunteer Toronto police officers.

Many former players attended with notables Steve Thomas, Wendel Clark and Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey.

I had the privilege to meet Paul and he had nothing but good things to say about Pittsburgh and its people. He was very friendly and extremely approachable. I truly felt like a kid as I enjoyed watching him play so much, especially while he was with the Penguins.

On a side note, I asked him if he agreed that Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are polar opposites.

He responded, "I hate it there." Atta boy Paul!

It's Election Time

Now, as Florida prepares to vote this Tuesday, check this out:

Ty 'Fucking' Conklin

The World of KK ends its silence in tribute to a journeyman goaltender who simply can't be beat.

CONK!

Gator Finally Spotted

I'd heard about an alligator in the pond across the street from my house but hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

That changed this Sunday morning when my Dad spotted the 5+ foot reptile in the adjacent pond.

Pretty cool. Suffice to say Biskit gets leashed.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!

Been busy and stressful times lately in the World of KK but never too much to sit back and enjoy the holidays. My parents are here and my brother Khris arrives tomorrow.



That's what the holidays are all about and I'm so happy they can join me in sunny Fla. I look forward to the New Year both professionally and personally.

The year 2007 had its and ups and downs but we're still standing tall so let's see what the future brings. One thing is certain, the Pirates will still suck.

So to all of my family, friends and to the millions of World of KK fans, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

See ya in 2008!

Steelers Shit The Bed

What a sickening performance by the Black and Gold on Sunday. They better get their head out of their ass as they host the Dolphins (who are chomping at the bit for a win) next Monday night.

The offensive line played so bad you'd wonder how Willie Parker leads the AFC in rushing. Fast Willie went nowhere, Big Ben was sacked seven damn times and at the end of the day, we're treated to an overtime loss to a lousy team.

I can't tell you how upsetting it is to have had the AFC no. 2 seed and now lose it because of a loss to a BUM.

It's almost 24 hours later and I am still fuming. Get your heads out of your ass!

World of KK Returns: Steelers, New Neighbor

OK. So, it's been awhile since you've all heard from me and there are some reasons for that.

Suffice to say all is well all considering and I'll be posting more as time allows. Let's just leave it at that.

Where do we start?

That's easy. Of course we start with the Steelers. They're on a solid roll and came back nicely last week to beat the upstart Browns. The week before, I had the privilege of attending the Monday night thrashing of the thug Ravens. More importantly, I was able to see the tribute to the Steelers 75th anniversary team. Chills rushed down my spine.

Hopefully the boys can pick up 3 wins against sub-par opponents the next three weeks. All games are in Pittsburgh (Jets, Dolphins and Bengals -- I will be at the Cincy game).

That would set the table for the hopefully 10-2 Steelers to travel to Foxboro to battle the Patriots. Man, I'd love to go to that game.

In other news, Biskit has been growing bolder lately and running away (to a point) from me when I let her out. She used to do an about face, do her business then return. That will change now as the addition of our new neighbor, a three-foot-long alligator in a nearby pond.

So, Biskie is now leashed at all times. I hope this blog report reaches all of you well and in good spirits. If I don't write, Happy Thanksgiving from the World of KK.

p.s. Since you're here, you might as well watch Hines Ward lay out two Ravens with crushing blocks, including All-Pro safety and shit talker Ed Reed.

The Steelers Pierogi Fight Song

OK. So I'm not really in the blogging mood these days but I had to post this.

I really don't know what else to say about this other than, Wow!

Great Game Steelers!

What an inspiring performance by the men in Black and Gold yesterday with so many starters out.

They say good teams find a way to win despite adversity.

I would say that holds true for sure with this team. After such a shitty effort against the Cardinals, they come out and embarass a solid first place team and totally shut them down.

I hope all the Super Bowl XL naysayers watched this thrashing....yeah dog!

Now the Steelers need to rest and recover and what a great time for a bye week. Next up, Sunday night in Denver.

I'm headed to Toronto tomorrow for a few days training my counterparts at JumpTV Sports. I've never been there before so I'm kinda looking forward to it.

The Rain Won't Stop

So I return from Pittsburgh which is the definition of overcast and it has rained every damn day. I got a new pair of cool shades and I can't even put them to the test. And, it looks like softball will again be canceled tomorrow due to rain.

Looks like we're on a roll. Not so fast though, I'm going to get a major workload lifted off me at work and I secured seats to the Steelers vs. Ravens on Mon., Nov. 5 and also the Steelers vs. Bengals on Sun., Dec. 2.

Now that is what I'm talkin' about. Yeah dog. I really like the Steelers chances to open 4-0 as they play San Francisco at home and then head to Arizona.

The Cardinals game could get interesting with all the old coaches and players but the talent level just isn't as good.

4-0 would be awesome.

Survey finds Steelers have largest female fan base

Another great reason to love this team. Lovely ladies!

Survey finds Steelers have largest female fan base
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The Associated Press

The Steelers have known for years their fan base included countless women - that was evidenced by all the pink official team jerseys they sell and the hundreds who attend their female training camp each summer.

Read more here.

Softball Night

Maybe I won't get myself almost killed tonight. Hard to believe it's been a week. I'm feeling fine, but I still have a big knot right near my heart.

The bruise is almost gone. It's humid as hell today. It's 90 degrees but feels 103. Thank God we have the frickin' last game.

But that makes for a late night at Mulligan's....which is always fun, except for the next day at work.

Off to the Burgh Friday for some family, friends and Steelers fun!

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

Deal With Me

Now this is just downright funny. This poor bastard. Think he was picked last in gym class?


Deal With Me - Watch more free videos

Mama, I'm Comin' Home...

Life is so weird the way it churns up and down. The only thing you can truly do is hold on and go along for the ride. Just this past week I suffered a chest contusion while missing a line drive in softball while playing shortstop(drilled me right in my chest).

My Dad always told me to get in front of the ball. I guess I should have used my glove. Regardless, I made the play on a runner at 3rd. I had two chest x-rays and an EKG. Both came back normal, so that's OK.

So hopefully this Thursday I get my head out of my ass. Of course, we lost the game. But oh well, we had fun afterward as always.

Going home for the first time in 14 months this weekend. Gonna spend some time with the folks and hang out with my friend Amy. She and I will be headed to Heinz Field to watch the Steelers kick the shit out of the Buffalo Bills and will be out on the town for her cousin Tina's birthday party Saturday 'dahn Sousside.'

Wow! What a Weekend (Round II)

This past weekend was so much fun. One of my very best friends and, well..., one of my very best friends in the world visited me last weekend.

I've know Amy for most of my life and she's always held a very special place in my heart/life.

We really had a blast and I think it's safe to say she'll be back. We went on the St. John's River cruise and saw gators and exotic birds. We also went to the beach for some sun and just for a night time walk.

One of the highlights for me was being able to watch a Steelers game together at Giuseppe's Steel City Pizza in Port Orange.

The place is a hell of a lot of fun and makes you really feel like you're back in the Burgh. I wore my Big Ben jersey and Amy wore my Heath Miller jersey.

It's almost bizarre how much of a connection we have as Amy brought me some great housewarming gifts (pillows, seat cushions, table cloths, napkin settings, etc) that match to an absolute T the theme I used for decorating my house. Not just kinda, it was an exact match. That was very kind of her and much appreciated. Now I just need a table so she needs to come back and finish the set.

It truly was one of the best weekends I've had in a very long time and I thank her for that.

So Amy, come back soon, Biskit and I miss you lots and look forward to seeing you very soon.

EDIT: Unexpectedly, but very much a good thing, Amy was able to come back down this past weekend. Two weeks in a row. We went to Gatorland, had some drinks in downtown Orlando and had lots of fun at Pub 44 in New Smyrna Beach. (see pic above) Can't wait to do it again. Next time, it's Animal Kingdom!

Housewarming Bash a Huge Success

Lots of shit has gone down since my last post, the most important being my 2007 summer housewarming bash.

Over 60 family, friends and neighbors showed up and got after it. A good time was had by all and I humbly thank each and every person who attended for making me feel great and for their kind gifts.

I was able to buy a new gas grill and some accessories so everyone is invited back for Round II in the winter. (NFL playoff party anyone?) GO STEELERS!

A special thanks to my parents and brother who went above and beyond the call of duty to help decorate, hang pictures and set up for the party.

There are parties, and there are Kraig Koelsch parties. Many know the difference.

If you don't, you should.

Biskit Comes to Work

I brought Biskit to work today at the request of my colleague Cynthia. She recently purchased a new cocker spaniel puppy named Jenny.

These two quickly hit it off and were raising hell within a matter of minutes. It's good for Biskit as she has been very lonely with her best friend Eddie moving to Arizona.

And Jenny was really having fun too.

Gotta love XOS Technologies. I mean dogs come to work? Cool.

The picture above was taken with a camera phone so I apologize for the blurriness. Also, the participants weren't all that eager for posing.

The Onion Rips Dumbass Dave Littlefield

Gotta love The Onion.

Pirates GM Unable To Trade Xavier Nady For Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter

Chocolate Rain

Farewell to a First Class Friend

With extreme sadness I'm writing to let everyone know that the Koelsch family dog, Nutmeg, was put to sleep today.

The old girl (14-15 years old) was just in way too much pain and hasn't been eating or drinking for the past few days.

I'll never forget her and the enjoyment she gave me. I'm so fortunate to have spent 10 days with her last year in Dublin, OH when my folks came to Florida.

We had some great times and I only regret not being able to say goodbye.

So, from the bottom of my heart, goodbye Nutmeg old friend.

You won't ever be far from our hearts.

XOS Is Now JumpTV Sports ... Well Almost

It was announced yesterday that my company was merging with JumpTV to create JumpTV Sports. The particulars should be finalized in August.

I wasn't sure how I felt about it but after hearing the plan moving forward and meeting some of the JumpTV folks, I'm very excited about the new challenges and happy that my immediate future in Florida is secured.

If you care to read more, see below:

Online video service JumpTV Inc. said on Tuesday it would buy a U.S. college sports broadband network for $60.25 million to expand beyond its portfolio of ethnic channels.

JumpTV, which raised about $100 million in February with an eye on acquisitions, will buy the broadband network business division of XOS Technologies Inc. in a deal that also includes the payment of 3 million retention warrants to employees.

Toronto-based JumpTV offers online video channels from countries including Albania, Australia, Egypt and Hong Kong.

The unit of Sanford, Florida-based XOS, which developed and maintains official Web sites for collegiate and professional sports teams, streams over the Internet thousands of U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association football, basketball, volleyball, baseball and track & field games.

It has more than 150 official and exclusive relationships with U.S. colleges.

The unit generated about $2.45 million in revenue in the first five months of this year and logged an operating loss of $3.17 million in the same period.

The sale to JumpTV follows last month's acquisition by Yahoo Inc. of Rivals.com, a site for fans of college and high school teams, for an undisclosed price.

Here is the official release from JumpTV.

Here is the official release from XOS Technologies.

Spider Pig

Are All Car Dealers Like This?

We all know they're filthy rats but wow, watch this shit.

House Is Finished

Now the fun begins. Thank God my Dad is here to assist me with cleaning, etc. Also a big thanks to my good friend Harry for the moving help.

Got it all done, no thanks to the help of my good friend Amy, who consumed many a Michelob Ultra with me and my Dad this past weekend. But as usual, we had a blast. We've known each other since before kindergarten.

Now, it's just unpack and put all the shit away, hang pictures and clean old apartment. I can't believe the difference in my life in just a few days NOT living the apartment lifestyle.

I'll be posting pictures soon as folks have been asking but for now, just wanted to give a generic update.

So, I decided to post a picture of Biskit as she helped move some boxes.

House Countdown Less Than 3 Days!

I had my walk through today and am pleased to report there are no major issues. The window treatments (blinds) and the garage door opener are the only outstanding options that need to be installed.

Then, it's just a bunch of touch up here and there. I was joined by my brother Khris, my realtor Rich Wize, KB Home Project Manager Jerry Muncy and KB Customer Representative Aaron Mayes. Both Aaron and Jerry were very helpful and immediately acted on my requests to get shit done.



They list the progress at 94% completed and guarantee that all work will be done by Friday. My closing walk through/sign off is at 10 a.m. and then final closing at 11 a.m. in Ormond Beach at the title company.

Then, I get my keys! I've already scheduled for my new furniture to be delivered Sat. June 30 at 2 p.m.

Then, it's just pack and move, pack and move and of course, clean my old apartment. Thankfully, I have such great family and friends that it will be a piece of cake.

Khris leaves tomorrow and my Dad arrives. We will have a blast!

One Week and Counting!

Closing is now less than a week away. It's scheduled for Fri. June 29 at 10 a.m.

Here is the latest progress update.

The Pirates are so Damn Bad....

That they have to resort to making bullshit like this to keep people interested at the games in PNC Park.

Sell the team already Nuttings!

Closing Date June 29

Things are really getting close. KB Home informed me that closing will be June 29 and I'll have a walk through on either Monday June 25 or Tuesday June 26.

They dug out the yard over the weekend and painted the entire inside. Baseboards, banisters, window sills and doors have all been installed.

It should be a busy week but I am very excited. I made my final closing cost payment today so no more $$$ for KB until I get my place.

My brother rolls into town this week and my Dad will be here for closing. Should be lots of fun. Stay tuned.

p.s. Anyone who knows me knows that I know how to throw a party. Well, just wait until August as I'm gonna throw a housewarming party of epic proportions. All are invited.

I'm Happy, I'm Relaxed

I won't even comment suffice to say the video speaks for itself. Some funny ass shit right here.

Can Never See This Too Many Times

Screw fat ass John Madden and the Raiders. This is by far the best video of the Immaculate Reception I've seen on the Web.

House Update: Drywall Done

Wow. The builders continue to make great progress and are still shooting for end of June for completion. Supposedly, June 29 is the target, but anything can happen.

The outside has been painted as you can see and now it's time for touch up and then I'm told they will start painting the inside and doing floors and cabinets.

It's absolutely crazy how fast this is coming together, yet very exciting on the same hand.

I usually do a drive by every night and bring Biskit. She loves climbing the stairs and as you can see, she's found a new spot on the window sill in the guest bedroom.



I'll find out more this week, but it's gonna be a busy couple weeks. That said, my apartment lease runs through July so I don't have to do everything in a weekend.

On a different note, the Yankees swept the Pirates with ease and the Bucs are now 11 games under .500 and only 1.5 games out of the NL central cellar.

This entire organization is a shitful embarassment to the entire city of Pittsburgh.

Relief Is On The Way, But What About The Bats?

To quote a poster from a popular Pittsburgh Pirates message board “The Pirates kicked their entire fan base square in the,” well, you get the picture.

That’s certainly how the masses (except one fan that nobody takes seriously anyway, except himself) feel.

How could a team so desperately starved for hitting pass on a prospect like Georgia Tech standout catcher Matt Wieters?

A power-hitting switch hitter that stands six feet five inches tall…

Well, we do have Ronny Paulino so don’t take a chance right?

The fact that the Bucs not only passed on Wieters but took a reliever, yes a reliever in the first round shocked the fan base yesterday.

But why should it? Anyone who has followed this team consistently should know and know well that this organization is committed to nothing but itself and its profits. This was made ever so clear yesterday by this insanity.

I have nothing against Daniel Moskos and I wish him the best, but this choice really shows that this organization as a whole is out to lunch.

If Dave Littlefield really thinks Moskos was their guy, he should be canned immediately. If he doesn’t he should take many fans suggestions and resign, letting the fans and MLB know that he wasn’t given the opportunity to do his job by ownership.

As for the commitment by ownership, read this: "Clearly, anybody in the organization could say the goal is to win more games and build a championship team," Bob Nutting said.

So you build championship teams by selecting relievers with the no. 4 overall pick?

Sad my friends, quite sad but not the least bit unexpected.

I’m 33 years old and I hope I see the Pirates win before I die. But I’m really starting to wonder.

It’s a good thing though that they’ll have a closer to close the 40 games they win when he’s called up.

Yikes! I Haven't Even Moved in Yet

So I'm driving home from work Tuesday night and I see a massive smoke cloud and a few helicopters flying over top. As I get closer, I realize the fires are very close to my apartment.

But, they're even closer to my new town home. I took a ride to the new place and a road less than 1/4 of a mile away was blocked off. I'd say the raging Florida wildfires were less than 1.5 miles away. Now that is scary.

Good thing though, they were contained. Here's some more info from my good friends at WFTV.com (sister station of my former employer WSOC-TV).

Firefighters in New Smyrna Beach were keeping a close eye, Wednesday, on a fire that crept dangerously close to some homes. The fire burned about 50 acres just southwest of the intersection of Turnbull Bay Road and Martins Dairy Road near the Sugar Mill Country Club, Tuesday night.

Firefighters said they had the fire under control, but they were keeping close watch on the hot spots, because they were burning close to homes and because neighbors know what could happen if the fires reignite.

To read more, click here.

Fantastic Week

I had the best week in a long time this past week. My parents joined me for some fun in the Florida sun. I'm truly blessed to have the best parents in the world.

We did as much as we could and had a blast. Some highlights were the St. John's River Cruise where we saw birds, alligators and all sorts of beautiful plants. We also trekked to St. Augustine (along with my friend Gary Usina) and did the tour with a stop at the Fountain of Youth (pictured, below). That was neat. Of course we went to the beach/pool a bunch of times and just enjoyed each others company. My friend Julie was also here for a few days and enjoyed catching up with my folks.

They also had the privilege of watching the world's worst softball team lose again last Thursday. But, we remain undefeated at the bar.

Thanks again Mom and Dad for a great week. Biskit and I miss you already and send our love. SEE YA SOON!

Happy 30th to John Henry

My pal the piggy celebrated at Hooter's and boy is this vintage. Enjoy!

Progress and Relaunch of Iratefans

The house is really coming along nicely. The roof is finished and electrical wiring begins. Windows are to arrive within a week and then they will drywall the place. After that, it's smooth sailing and I am ready to leave apartment life for good.

Here is a picture of my kitchen and garage. The door opens into the garage.


I've already met a neighbor who will let Biskit out for me while I'm working and that is huge. I have a great view of a wooded area in my backyard and I look out into some beautiful old trees from my master bedroom.

The tentative closing date remains end of June/early July which is perfect as my lease is up end of July.


We're revving up Iratefans.com again as the shitful Pirates are back at it again.

It's really a damn shame how bad this team is year after year and the entire organization is run extremely poorly. There is no accountability whatsoever.

For those looking for a forum to vent, I offer the fastest-growing Bucs site on the net, MaximumGrilledPirates.com.

Same Old Cleveland Brownies

I liked this image so much I had to blog it for everyone to see. It's nice to see some things just don't change.

Tough to chide an ND guy, but now that he's a Brown, screw him.

So I Got Promoted...

Please excuse the mug shot but you get the point. I've been elevated to Senior Manager following a stint as Project Manager. Here is the news release for your reading enjoyment. Please e-mail me if you would like a new business card. The first 50 requests will receive a signed and numbered card. These will be worth big money.

XOS Network Enhances Customer Support with Internal Structure Changes

Additional technicians combine with current leadership to offer the most comprehensive XOS support services to date

ORLANDO, Fla. – May 14, 2007 – XOS Technologies, Inc., the leading technology provider for maximizing the value of content, commerce and services for sports organizations and fans, today announced a series of structural changes to its Network Operations and Support Center as the XOS Network of more than 150 partners continues to expand.

Jeff Young, XOS Network vice president of Operations, today announced new leadership appointments for XOS employees John Henry, Kraig Koelsch and Jeffrey White. Young designated the new leadership positions to accommodate the company’s rapidly growing support center staff. XOS Technologies continues to demonstrate “strong organic growth” which places a heavy emphasis on support services, according to Young.

“We’ve continued to make some big investments to ensure that the superior level of service that our Network partners are accustomed to continues to exceed their expectations even as we grow,” Young said. “The XOS Network Support Center has expanded its well-rounded team of experts to include an even greater variety of skill sets. In addition, with a new management team in order, our partners will continue to receive the same prompt responses to help them answer their questions immediately.”

As part of its continued investment to enhance its support center, XOS promoted Henry from project manager to senior manager of Partner Support. In addition, Koelsch was promoted from project manager to senior manager of Fan Support and White was promoted from partner support representative to project manager.

In his new position, Henry will oversee a team of partner support representatives and ensure that the evolution of the team progresses smoothly, adequately and with no interruption to Network partners. Henry’s professional background includes more than six years of sports-specific Web experience – four of which were spent at CSTV Online and its precursors, and two with AOL.

Koelsch’s new role entails daily oversight for the fans of the XOS Network partner teams to ensure complete satisfaction with premium site offerings. Koelsch served as programming manager for two years at AOL and Netscape before joining XOS. Prior to that, he spent nearly three years as the online content manager for Cox Television's wsoctv.com, the No. 1 Charlotte ABC affiliate, where he achieved record page view, page weight and ad revenue figures within first year.

White began his XOS career working in the trenches of the XOS Support Center, where he formed solid relationships with many of the Network’s partner teams. In his new position, he will lead a designated support team in assisting select Network partners.

The XOS Network Support Center focuses on assisting its professional and collegiate sports partners with troubleshooting regarding:

*Web production and development
*Web publishing (non-digital media assets)
*Web content implementation
*Digital media
*Information technology
*Streaming video across broadband networks

The XOS Network Support Center offers partner and fan support 24/7 through a variety of options including e-mail, phone and live instant messaging based on customer preference.

“Our Network support team needs to be as dynamic as the content that our partners are delivering to fans via the Web, “Young said. “To this end, we’re always examining ways to ensure the best possible support for our many and varied partners. Today’s announcement goes to the heart of our belief that no matter how superior our technology offerings, people make the difference”

XOS Network President Nada Usina also added, “The XOS difference can be summed up by one word – integrity. When we say 24/7 service we mean it. Nothing proves this more than our partners’ trust in that XOS promise. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Just ask any of our partners who have switched to the XOS Network from other providers whose integrity couldn’t match what is demonstrated by XOS every day.”

Happy Mother's Day! Roof Roof, Woof Woof!

First off, Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, Kathie Koelsch. Also, Happy Mother's Day to all the rest of the mothers out there as well.

Had a good weekend thus far with Fat Bradley. The slob currently is asleep after eating 10 mini doughnuts, a bag of Gardettos, half a can of peanuts and half a bottle of wine.

We're having tacos tonight and Lonely John Henry will be attending. I was pissed that the race was rained out last night, but it is always great on a Sunday.

We went to the dog beach yesterday (Smyrna Dunes) and were horrified to see the damage caused by the latest storm last week. I'd say more than half of the beach is now ocean.

Biskit loves it there and it so so peaceful. So that's what makes it so sad.

In other news, the house is going awesome. The guys are working sunrise to sunset 7 days a week.

Here's to hoping Dale Jr. end up driving the no. 3 car (with GM Goodwrench) for Richard Childress Racing next year. That would be awesome.

Happy Birthday Biskit, House in 50 Days!

Biskit turned 1 today and my friend Fat Bradley and I celebrated by buying her some Doggie ice cream, which she loved. She is all better from her colitis and happier than a pig in shit.

Also, I found out today that my new townhome will be ready ahead of schedule. The builders are targeting end of June. I am so excited as I finalized my options today and toured the site with the head foreman.

I look forward to entertaining my family and friends. My parents will be here in two weekends along with my friend Julie.

In other news, Alan Faneca told the Steelers to screw off in a manner I've not seen in some time. It's really ugly. I hope they get Polamalu squared away.

The Walls, Come.....Tumblin' Up!

So the picture sucks but don't blame the photographer. I got as close as I could as there were 10 Mexicans running around.

I'm so excited and every day brings more progress. I got promoted today at work so congrats to me. I'm now a SENIOR Project Manager.

Bow down to my presence.

Don't ask what it all means as it's as confusing as a Pirates personnel decision.

But, we press on and count down until home ownership.

Look Closely: Second Floor Appears

Biskit is under the weather with a form of colitis so says the best Veterinarian, Dr. Ginger Bryant Hutchinson from the Glencoe Veterinary Hospital in New Smyrna Beach.

But regardless, Biskit and I are so happy with the progress of our new house. On a side note, Biskit turns 1 this Friday May 11.

Send gifts to:

Biskit
C/O Kraig Koelsch
13104 Lymestone Court
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168

p.s.s Thanks again to the best parents in the world for helping make this dream come true. Biskit and I love you very much!

Damn: Maybe It Was a Good Pick

A punter in the fourth round? Take a look and judge for yourself. That's one hell of a shot laid out by new Steelers' punter Daniel Sepulveda.