Winners have been notified

Hey all:

The winners of the Working Daze free book contest have been notified by e-mail.

If you didn't win this one, don't worry there is a new contest coming soon.

Jz

Just some random thoughts

Hi all:

This week's post is a little (well much lighter). Just some thoughts from my brain.

Wow, NBC really messed up with the Jay Leno show by putting it in prime time. Leno seems like a decent enough guy but as a writer I hated seeing TV lose 5 hours of scripted shows a week. I'm glad the show is leaving primetime. Of course this begs the question will Conan accept being pushed back to 12:05 or jump to Fox. A lot of it is about ego, I am betting on the jump. The interesting thing is Leno and Conan were both funnier than they have been in a long time, yesterday when they were busting NBC. (Deservingly so.)

Wow, Sarah Palin will be on FoxNews. I really thought she'd be heading to CNBC. Maybe NBC will give her a 10 o'clock show?

Who will replace Simon on American Idol? I don't think he can be replaced. I think the show will eventually be usurped by Simon's new X-Factor America show.

I am so glad Chuck is back on the air. Yes, I am a geek.

In politics, our congressmen and senators can't really be as dumb as they appear. Can they? Do the senate and congress buildings have some sort of intelligence draining devices? Devices that drain your intelligence to the point that you are capable of agreeing with what your party has to say but nothing else? Yes I am looking at you Harry Reid.... Sigh.

According to ex-NY major Koch I mean ah, Giuliani, there were no terrorist attacks during the Bush administration. I guess they have that intelligence draining device in mayor's offices too. This is a really surprising statement coming from a man who's every other word is "9 11". Sigh.

Yeah, Delta is raising their charges on checked baggage! Now it will cost $23 for your first bag and $32 for your second. Yes, another reason not to fly delta. Sigh... Actually I think this is delta's master plan to help us all get into great shape by carrying around even heavier carry on luggage.

Mark McGuire admits to using steroids. Surprisingly no one not even my mother.

2009

My father passed away in the beginning of 2009. His death was closely followed by the passing of my wife’s brother. These events sort of set the tone for the entire year.

My father lost a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. My brother in-law, a long battle with alcoholism. They are both sorely missed. As much as I am grieved by their deaths I am even more deeply saddened by the way these two diseases took two strong vibrant individuals (my father an ex-Marine and an artist, my brother inlaw a Veterinarian) and savaged them until they became mere shells of their former selves. I know the Marine in my dad never would have wanted to live the way he lived the last few years of his life, unable to do practically anything for himself. One of the saddest moments of my life is the day I looked into my father’s eyes and realized he didn’t know who I was. The light of recognition in his eyes was gone. That really hurt, even though at the time I couldn’t admit to myself that it hurt. It’s a pain that I am hoping someday others won’t have to experience. In order to do my small share to help I am going to donate 15% of the money I make for Working Daze (it's not a lot) in 2010 (and hopefully beyond) to the National Institute on Aging (http://www.nia.nih.gov/).

Scott and I would also like to encourage those of our readers who can to also try to make an extra contribution to their favorite cause: be it for families who deal with alcoholism (http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/), be it cancer research, be it the boys and girls club, be it The Salvation Army (http://www.salvationarmy.org), be it whatever. We know times are tight. But even small contributions can help. Heck, sometimes just giving time to a charity can be cool.

Since this is suppose to a be a fun comic, I’ll stop sounding like an after school special. There were some good things that happened this year, the birth of a new nephew (Mr. Felipe, the boy always on the move) and new niece (TZ, the girl with those eyes) being the highlights. The family lost two members, the family gained two members. I guess that’s how the Universe works. I am sure my father Mike, and brother inlaw, Manuel, are smiling down on the two new additions. After all, my dad always loved being around young life and these are Manuel’s grandchildren.

Finally, since this is the time of giving, we’ll be doing some giving. I have a bunch of extra books around: some original Working Daze books, my latest novels and my YA book Baxter Moon. We’ll give away 10 books to 10 randomly chosen people. All you need to do is email me at: johnzakour@yahoo.com. All you need to say is: I would like a book. Or something like that. If you are one of the ones chosen you will then be emailed and asked which book you would like. The goal is to start 2010 off on a nice note.

Year coming to Close

As the year is coming to a close here are some of the strange things I am thinking about.

Okay, I assume our senators and congressmen are intelligent human beings so why do they all act so ridiculous once they become senators and or congress peoples. What they heck every happened to best for country being more important than best for party. Are these guys all just trying to make sure they keep giving Jon Stewart material for the daily show?

Is it really reform without a public option?

When the heck does Chuck come back on and why the heck did NBC wait so long?? Are the Networks being run by partially trained chimps?

Is Avatar going to be Star Wars for this generation?

I'm sorry by New Moon can't be Star Wars for females cause well Star Wars was good.

Wow, I am freaking 52 years old. I remember when my dad was 52 he sure seemed old to me. Can I really be that old? I must be getting old because I am actual anxious for Christmas to get over with. I like it, I really no. I am no scrooge, but man there is a lot of hassle to the season.

Are the Buffalo Bills ever going to get the superbowl again?

Why does the new 27 inch Imac have to be so pretty? Can a computer be pretty? Yes I guess it can.

Why does reality tv seem to breed and nurture such idiots? I am looking at you Spencer and Heidi.

Note: my start of the new year post is going to be much more serious.

We have a winner

Hey all:

We have a winner in the "you can be in working daze" contest. The winner knows who he or she is and their special cartoon will appear in December.

We want to thank all who entered and there will be more contests and giveaways in the future.

I hate shredders

Hey all:

Been organizing my office, which means a lot of shredding, which means a lot of shredder jamming. We have two shredders in the house, one tiny 3 paper one and one that holds 6 sheets. I've learned these numbers are no arbitrary. I've learned the hard way, by jamming each one of them on numerous occasions when I tried to hopefully "squeeze just one more page into this batch of shredding..."

It's not that I can't count to 3 or 6 it's just after shredding over and over again your brain (well at least my brain) starts to think, "you know John if I could just squeeze in an extra page or two here and there I could cut down on my shredding time and do something more fun, for example actually write something..." So I inevitably try to cram a few extra pages in, figuring, "this time I will get it."

Ever once in a while it does work. There are times though, most times actually when I end up jamming the shredder. I need to use the reverse button, tooth picks, ice picks, scissors or whatever to unjam it.

This begs the questions: why I do repeat the behavior when I know what is going to happen and why don't I just rip the damn things by hand?

My answer (albeit not a good one) is: I somehow think "current John" is smart than "past John", past John is the guy who tried to cram 8 sheets into the 6 sheeter but did it wrong. Current John learned from his mistakes and will now cram those 8 sheets in better. Even if this current John fails, he will learn from the experience and make future John brighter.

That is my answer, which I like better than just admitting I'm lazy and not all that bright.

This will certainly show up in working daze.

Do you want to be in comics?

Hi:

Ever want to be a comic strip character? Well now is your chance as we are having the sort of annual, "you can be in working daze" contest. Just email me at johnzakour@yahoo.com and tell me why you deserve to be in Working Daze.

Scott and I will pick one or two or maybe even three lucky winners.