tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113252442024-03-14T14:44:32.624+00:00Matt Cole: The Underdog BlogA blog for the masses.
Come. Read. Enjoy. Comment.Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-42557689790218711142008-09-24T15:55:00.003+00:002008-09-24T16:00:37.672+00:00Washington Democrats getting desperate? But political stock car racing rulesIn an already nasty political re-match for the Washington gubernatorial race, things seem to be getting worse. No, I am not talking about the two candidates duking it out on the racetrack with sponsored super stock cars in Monroe; I mean the recent articles about the Washington State Democrats suing Secretary of State Sam Reed over how Dino Rossi chooses to list his partisan preference on the Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-86301227192508162692008-09-19T23:14:00.003+00:002008-09-19T23:22:29.796+00:00I am a PC...and I use a MacI saw this commercial for the first time last night. By far, one of the best advertisements I have seen – especially as a come back to the Mac ads which has cleverly assailed Microsoft for so long (since 2006).It looks like MS has ditched Jerry Seinfeld in favor of this new strategy. The ad features a variety of people from all walk claiming that they are a "PC". I love Mac, and will likely Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-83857652327316956382008-09-17T21:41:00.001+00:002008-09-17T21:43:09.086+00:00Must Listen: The Classic CrimeA must listen to band is The Classic Crime. No kidding, these guys could single-handedly rejuvenate the rock scene. I emceed a concert they headlined on Monday night alongside A Current Affair and Theories of Gabriella. Good bands are always good live. Especially those who bring energy and full sound to the stage. My true test is to see if you can always tolerate listening to a band’s music at Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-28254799415425805172008-09-16T17:21:00.004+00:002008-09-16T23:18:54.591+00:00GM comes around?I am not a terribly huge fan of domestic cars. The 80’s did everything it could to destroy my generation’s perception of Detroit heritage. Cars made by GM, Ford and Chrysler have a notorious reputation for producing ugly cars, with poor quality and horrible resale value. In recent years we have seen some of that turn around. Chrysler revamped the Dodge lineup by introducing the Magnum, Charger Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-68673049867825775182008-09-15T17:29:00.002+00:002008-09-15T17:49:01.990+00:00Truth and Objectivity in JournalismMany of you may have watched Charlie Gibson interview Sarah Palin the other night. Many more of you heard about it in the succeeding days. Gibson was praised for being a tough journalist, asking hard pressing questions about Palin's experience and questioning her qualifications to be VP.Back in June, Gibson also interviewed Barack Obama. Today the American Thinker just released a comparison of Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-7539204282251313372008-09-12T17:36:00.004+00:002008-09-12T17:48:25.638+00:00Best Video DemoI have been researching a lot of video demos lately in order to develop our own for PIER. In that process you see a lot of good and a lot of bad video demos. I think the tenancy of some companies is to be too self-absorbed in their products, especially in the Software as a Service biz (SaaS). They make the demo that's too lengthy, too full of jargon, too....boring. Then I found Angelsoft's video Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-28211887937824410362008-08-11T18:52:00.002+00:002008-08-11T18:59:44.633+00:00Web Pick: COLOURloversThis website was on Time's 50 Best Websites 2008 list. For those of you in the design biz, I highly recommend it. COLOURlovers provides oodles of color combos for you and even free swatches and patterns. For design neophytes, this is also a great source if you don't know what looks good together.Check them out at www.colourlovers.comMatt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-77535964883745908852008-06-30T19:55:00.005+00:002008-08-11T19:05:18.018+00:00Some wildfires begat othersNorthern California is seeing largely some of the most complex wildfires to date. As I write, there are 1,420 fires burning across approximately 364,600 total acres of land. Response is substantial with more than 19,000 state and federal personnel responding. And for such a large area of land, surprisingly only 28 residences, 1 commercial building and 19 outbuildings have been destroyed. Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-24718675347800192852008-06-13T19:52:00.002+00:002008-06-13T19:58:02.449+00:00News legend Tim Russert dies at 58NBC has just reported that "Meet the Press" producer and anchor Tim Russert died today of a heart attack while prepping for this Sunday's edition of his show. I am speechless. Russert was a great reporter and I will forever remember him for the "whiteboard" role he played covering the 2000 presidential election. Journalism has today lost one of its greats. My condolences to his family and Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-10488954111349954522008-05-29T16:09:00.007+00:002008-05-29T16:42:08.827+00:00Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime ExperienceIt’s nothing new for warriors to write about their experiences in battle. Soldiers have done this for thousands of years. David wrote poetically about his battles with the Philistines, Homer wrote of Troy and Sparta, Dick Winters wrote of his Band of Brothers in WWII, and on and on. We know about these because the experience has been written, documented and passed on for generations.In my Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-58887393962558530832008-05-27T20:07:00.001+00:002008-05-27T20:27:43.290+00:00Best headline ever: Hillary Dangerfield Gets No RespectEven better than a crafty headline is Bill Clinton’s increasing insanity. What happened to him? He went from moderately successful POTUS, to a philanthropic change-the-world gospel to angry husband of a presidential candidate. Type in ‘Angry Bill Clinton’ on You Tube and you’ll see what I mean. That query is loaded with clip after clip wherein The Comeback Kid is talking stern to reporters, Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-42498515054881173292008-05-22T19:12:00.007+00:002008-05-23T17:26:30.865+00:00We still remember“For love of country they accepted death.” President James GarfieldAs Memorial Day approaches, I have reason this year to be especially observant. Last year at this time I was in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Shortly before my arrival there, a good college friend of mine, First Lieutenant Forrest Ewens, was killed in the Pech River Valley in the northern part of the Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-57491467430847794282008-05-05T22:47:00.005+00:002008-05-05T23:00:40.321+00:00Stacy's mom hates provocative litThis is the greatest story ever: A local mom was outraged when recently visiting an Urban Outfitters store at the Alderwood Mall near Seattle. The mother, Marci Milfs, said the store had on display books that she believes are inappropriate to the tween audience the store caters to. Among the racy books were “Pornogami: A Guide to the Ancient Art of Paper-Folding for Adults” and “Porn for Women”.Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-80930202371106361332008-05-01T22:55:00.000+00:002008-05-01T22:56:31.704+00:00Food Shortage: What would Mormons do?If you have not read about it in the news you have no doubt felt it at the pump and in grocery store lines. Food and gas prices are soaring. For me, this sharp increase over the last year seems a bit more shocking. When I left for overseas in early summer 2006 groceries seemed to be somewhat stable. Since returning last November after being gone nearly a year and a half, the difference is more Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-14318558202287938842008-04-30T16:17:00.001+00:002008-04-30T16:21:23.651+00:00Local murder story reminds us to behave ourselves in private, tooOf late, the news here in Bellingham has been consumed with the disappearance of Ferndale High School Assistant Track Coach Jeremy Scully. Last Thursday, Scully was reported missing and on Saturday his car was discovered alongside a road near Lake Samish, just south of Bellingham. The keys were still in ignition and the door was ajar. On Sunday, several hikers stumbled upon a body on Blanchard Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-56816981337924610872008-04-21T17:55:00.001+00:002008-04-21T17:58:35.209+00:00A big dam projectAfrican policymakers have begun discussions on building what could be the biggest and most powerful hydroelectric dam in the world……Actually, I got nothing. I just thought that the pun in the headline was rather awesome. But, coming from the Pacific Northwest where dams are plentiful, this is a remarkable show of progress for the African nations. Dams, remarkable in their ability to deliver Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-91979388871026316102008-03-28T22:41:00.004+00:002008-03-28T22:48:09.745+00:00Book Review: Duane Knapp's The BrandPromiseThe BrandPromise book is Duane Knapp's continuum of his last work, The BrandMindset. In his most recent brand philosophy, Knapp concentrates on how your brand can deliver a distinctive experience to all stakeholders and customers by making a Brand Promise.It's not enough to make a promise, Knapp says, you must truly live that promise; and he shows you how in ten easy to read chapters. Knapp Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-61552902447520027772008-03-22T17:56:00.006+00:002008-03-22T18:11:10.052+00:007th Generation Nissan Maxima Makes Its DebutThis week Nissan debut the next generation Maxima. For those of you who know me, know also that I am a car guy and love Nissans – the Maxima in particular. At first glance the new Max is stunning. It seems to fall in line with the European sport saloon styling while staying true to Nissan’s design and heritage.It’s good to see that Nissan has also reintroduced the “Four Door Sports Car” (4DSC) Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-62213841097548350992008-03-17T20:34:00.001+00:002008-03-17T20:38:01.113+00:00More on CharacterAs a follow up to my previous post, Character Really Is King, I just read this news story on CNN.com: Controversial minister off Obama's campaign.The relationship between Senator Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright was referenced by Sowell in his recent column. It appears that now that relationship, at least in the political sense, has dissolved – likely due to political pressure. It should be noted Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-82647279227860978882008-03-17T16:31:00.001+00:002008-03-17T16:33:44.999+00:00Character really is kingThere is no doubt that Thomas Sowell is one of my favorite modern political philosophers. He has a way of bringing issues down to the core – explaining in plainsong prose how something really works.This weekend, my mother of all people sent me his latest commentary. While nothing new in revelation, it was a great refresher on the impact of character and a reminder that in these modern times, theMatt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-89028439550620073982008-03-14T19:38:00.000+00:002008-03-14T19:40:19.251+00:00Airlines and Broken PromisesIt’s 0330 on a Tuesday morning. I need to drive from my home in Anacortes to catch a flight out to Charlotte from Seattle. The airport, an hour and a half away, requires me to be there at least an hour before my departure time if not longer. I am a speed traveler and like to push it. Don’t leave me in a crowded terminal at 0600 with crying babies and crabby travelers waiting for my flight to Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-10512625952779170672008-03-11T19:42:00.005+00:002008-03-11T19:52:35.850+00:00Back to the blogosphereNearly 20 months ago (wow, that long?) I called the blog quits for a while. Many know that I was deployed by the US Navy to serve a 12 month combat tour in Afghanistan. That tour was extended to 15 months and only five months ago I returned. I have used the latter time to catch my breath, reflect on the experience and decide what's next for me in the blogosphere. The options are limitless. I am Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-1155162066106683612006-07-17T10:00:00.000+00:002006-08-09T22:21:06.160+00:00Hold that blog! Duty callsI have just received word from the Navy that I will be recalled to active duty for one year in support of theatre operations in Afghanistan. My deployment begins in July 21 and will take me first to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for 60 days of combat and weapons training, and then in-theatre where I will work to provide critical intelligence to troops on the ground. While this will obviously will be Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-1150999399761293892006-06-22T17:46:00.000+00:002007-02-25T16:44:40.360+00:00Golden rulesBlogger Ken Germer has a great idea. On his site, Not that you asked me, but… he has begun a running list of rules to live by. I am inspired. So much so, I have begun my own list of life’s rules. These are things I have long thought, so I am pleased to able to rip Ken’s idea and share my own. I will add as I see fit, and these are in no particular order.The first 20:1. Men should never curse in Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11325244.post-1150935403492867012006-06-22T00:14:00.000+00:002006-06-22T00:18:06.686+00:00In memory of 1st LT Forrest P. EwensKXLY: Whitworth ROTC graduate killed in combat in Afghanistan Whitworth College Press ReleaseForrest was a friend of mine in college. We lived on the same hallway in Stewart Hall my first year at Whitworth and kept a friendship throughout our years there. I have always held him and his twin brother Oaken in the highest esteem.Forrest died for America’s cause, and in the service of his country; I Matt Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190539920281967842noreply@blogger.com2