.JPG)
Review of Baker Street Pub & Grill:
I decided to have lunch at the Baker Street Pub & Grill located in the Belmar area of Denver. Baker Street touts itself as an English Pub, which is fine, I can deal with an "Americanized" version of an English pub, but despite their attempt to recreate the character, it lacks the history. After all, in a real English pub, when it has an airplane propeller on the wall, that propeller probably came from a shot down Luftwaffe Stuka that was discovered in a field nearby the pub, whereas in the U.S, the propeller is just a prop. Of note for lawyers, they appear to have the full set of the Corpus Juris Secundum (probably an old set), among other law books, but nevertheless, if you need a quick reference article, you could probably pull the book off the shelf.
In any event, the beer selection was adequate, but nothing special. They had Guinness, Bass, Harp, etc; but nothing truly exotic. The food was pretty good and fairly reasonably priced, I opted for the fish and chips to see how they did with "traditional" English pub food, and the fish was good, but the chips were a little lacking, too thin and dry. But they provided tartar sauce, ketchup and Malt Vinegar. Otherwise, the menu consisted of Burgers, lower quality steaks, traditional English pub food, and some Mexican dishes.
The lunchtime atmosphere actually reminded me of Ex-Pat pubs in Southeast Asia; many older, overweight patrons getting their fill of comfort food. I get the sense that night time is probably a better time to visit. There is a small stage for a band and they have some nice beer cocktails (Black & Tan, Red & Black, etc).
Not a bad place, but at the same time, nothing to go out of your way for.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Movie Reviews
Cloverfield:
This is the movie that War of the Worlds should have been. Cloverfield stayed with the "everyday person" perspective throughout the movie without over-heroising the characters, i.e. the hero did not save mankind. However, the camcorder perspective was a little tiresome, but nowhere near as bad as Blair Witch. All in all, this movie was very compelling and worthwhile.
****
4 out of 5 stars
I am Legend:
Interesting concept, but this movie fell short for me. There was some good psychological drama and they made an effort to be realistic about how a person, surviving alone for 3+ years, would probably react, but in the end, the movie was somewhat formulaic. The hero dies in the end to save mankind.
***
3 out of 5 stars
National Treasure 2, Book of Secrets:
This movie is what it is, a big budget, intellectual action movie that was interesting and entertaining to watch. Thankfully, this movie did not get as carried away with the Davinci'esq codes as the first National Treasure, but the ultimate "find" seemed to be an afterthought; as if the writers really could not figure out how to end the movie so they just picked some old legend. And, of course, they left plenty of room for a sequel.
***
3 out of 5 stars
This is the movie that War of the Worlds should have been. Cloverfield stayed with the "everyday person" perspective throughout the movie without over-heroising the characters, i.e. the hero did not save mankind. However, the camcorder perspective was a little tiresome, but nowhere near as bad as Blair Witch. All in all, this movie was very compelling and worthwhile.
****
4 out of 5 stars
I am Legend:
Interesting concept, but this movie fell short for me. There was some good psychological drama and they made an effort to be realistic about how a person, surviving alone for 3+ years, would probably react, but in the end, the movie was somewhat formulaic. The hero dies in the end to save mankind.
***
3 out of 5 stars
National Treasure 2, Book of Secrets:
This movie is what it is, a big budget, intellectual action movie that was interesting and entertaining to watch. Thankfully, this movie did not get as carried away with the Davinci'esq codes as the first National Treasure, but the ultimate "find" seemed to be an afterthought; as if the writers really could not figure out how to end the movie so they just picked some old legend. And, of course, they left plenty of room for a sequel.
***
3 out of 5 stars
Bankruptcy Tip of the Week
What IRS Taxes can be discharged in bankruptcy?
Context: I am discussing personal tax obligations which come in two varieties, 1040 Income Tax, or the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty ("TFRP"). You small business owners may run afoul of the TFRP if you didn't pay your Federal Tax Deposits relative to your employee withholding (Form 941) and therefore you get assessed personally for the withholding portion of your 941 Withholding. However, TFRP is easy in BK, the TFRP CANNOT BE DISCHARGED IN BK. But, there are some options with regard to personal income tax debt.
Discharge Rules for Taxes
So, the #1 questions, what Federal Income Taxes can be discharged in BK? There are basically 4 rules:
1. The 3 year rule. An income tax can be discharged if the Tax Return Due Date is 3 years prior to your BK petition filing date. This rule assumes the tax return was filed.
Example: ALL 1040's are due April 15. Thus, the most recent tax you could discharge this year (2008) would be income taxes from tax year 2004 because the due date for that return was April 15, 2005 and that date is more than 3 years ago.
Caveat: The extension date COUNTS. Thus, if you filed an extension for tax year 2004 so that your return was due in October, that same tax debt WOULD NOT be dischargeable until November of this year. Also, the time runs from the Due date, so if you filed your return early--say Feb '05--you still must wait 3 years from April 15.
2. The 2 year rule. For taxes that meet the 3 year rule, but you filed a LATE return, you must wait 2 years to discharge the tax from the date you filed that late return.
Example: You owe for 2002 (hence, Due date was Apr 15, 2003 satisfying the 3 year rule), but you did not actually file the 2002 1040 until April of 2006. That IRS debt can be discharged NOW because you filed the return more than 2 years ago and the due date of the return satisfies the 3 year rule.
3. The 8 month audit rule: If you are audited and ADDITIONAL tax is assessed, you must wait 8 months before you can file a BK petition to discharge that additional tax.
4. The fraud rule: The IRS can challenge the discharge of tax debt if you committed any sort of fraud. Keep in mind, BK fraud is less strenuous than regular fraud in that the creditor normally need not prove "actual" intent.
Context: I am discussing personal tax obligations which come in two varieties, 1040 Income Tax, or the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty ("TFRP"). You small business owners may run afoul of the TFRP if you didn't pay your Federal Tax Deposits relative to your employee withholding (Form 941) and therefore you get assessed personally for the withholding portion of your 941 Withholding. However, TFRP is easy in BK, the TFRP CANNOT BE DISCHARGED IN BK. But, there are some options with regard to personal income tax debt.
Discharge Rules for Taxes
So, the #1 questions, what Federal Income Taxes can be discharged in BK? There are basically 4 rules:
1. The 3 year rule. An income tax can be discharged if the Tax Return Due Date is 3 years prior to your BK petition filing date. This rule assumes the tax return was filed.
Example: ALL 1040's are due April 15. Thus, the most recent tax you could discharge this year (2008) would be income taxes from tax year 2004 because the due date for that return was April 15, 2005 and that date is more than 3 years ago.
Caveat: The extension date COUNTS. Thus, if you filed an extension for tax year 2004 so that your return was due in October, that same tax debt WOULD NOT be dischargeable until November of this year. Also, the time runs from the Due date, so if you filed your return early--say Feb '05--you still must wait 3 years from April 15.
2. The 2 year rule. For taxes that meet the 3 year rule, but you filed a LATE return, you must wait 2 years to discharge the tax from the date you filed that late return.
Example: You owe for 2002 (hence, Due date was Apr 15, 2003 satisfying the 3 year rule), but you did not actually file the 2002 1040 until April of 2006. That IRS debt can be discharged NOW because you filed the return more than 2 years ago and the due date of the return satisfies the 3 year rule.
3. The 8 month audit rule: If you are audited and ADDITIONAL tax is assessed, you must wait 8 months before you can file a BK petition to discharge that additional tax.
4. The fraud rule: The IRS can challenge the discharge of tax debt if you committed any sort of fraud. Keep in mind, BK fraud is less strenuous than regular fraud in that the creditor normally need not prove "actual" intent.
Work Out of the Day
Friday, May 30
General Aerobic Run: 5.30 miles.
Hilly course. Climb: 310 feet in 1.25 miles
Weather: Cloudy, 78, humid, ugggg!
General Aerobic Run: 5.30 miles.
Hilly course. Climb: 310 feet in 1.25 miles
Weather: Cloudy, 78, humid, ugggg!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Work Out of the Day
Sunday, May 25
General Aerobic Run: 5.25 Miles
Felt a little sluggish, probably because I have not been working out in the morning.
Weather: Sunny, 55, calm.
General Aerobic Run: 5.25 Miles
Felt a little sluggish, probably because I have not been working out in the morning.
Weather: Sunny, 55, calm.
Some movie reviews
Golden Compass: This quasi sci-fi movie was a snore fest, enough said. I could not even stay interested in watching it so I can't remember how it ended. I like Daniel Craig, but he was barely in the movie.
1 out 5 stars.
*
Charlie Wilson's War: I rented this DVD because the story is interesting. However, the movie was not very good and relatively boring. The acting was fair enough, but there was nothing compelling about the movie. The behind the scenes features on the DVD were more interesting to watch than the movie.
2 out of 5 stars.
**
1 out 5 stars.
*
Charlie Wilson's War: I rented this DVD because the story is interesting. However, the movie was not very good and relatively boring. The acting was fair enough, but there was nothing compelling about the movie. The behind the scenes features on the DVD were more interesting to watch than the movie.
2 out of 5 stars.
**
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Work Out of the Day
Thursday, May 22
General Aerobic Run: 5.45 miles
Hilly course
405 feet in 2.80 miles.
General Aerobic Run: 5.45 miles
Hilly course
405 feet in 2.80 miles.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Long Term Travel Advice I
Background:
I would not consider myself a hardcore backpacker; when I spent 9 months traveling, I did not set out to travel on $25 per day, or any such nonsense; but, I did try to budget about $100 per day, for 2 people. However, that $100 budget was awfully tight and was impossible to maintain in Europe, that budget barely held-up in New Zealand, but went quite far in South East Asia. Also, I think that budget was unrealistic for my age; if I were 19, I could probably accept some deprivation, but at 33, a quiet, comfortable place to sleep is a requirement.
First, long term travel is actually hard work in the sense that you are always planning the immediate future and have to learn and figure things out in a country where you don't speak the language (and in South East Asia, cannot even decipher the language). Also, if you are on a budget, you can't really just sit back in your hotel or hostel if you wanted to rest and kick back; after all, those places are not the best places; they serve there purpose of providing a bed, but you would not want to hang out and linger (at least not always). Thus, you are always figuring out where to eat, what to do to pass time, and how to get to your next destination. Although it sounds romantic and adventurous to "let the wind take you where it will," the practicalities of travel/living can ware on you.
Some tips:
1. You need to factor in what I term "admin days". Admin days are when you spend time doing laundry, arranging travel to and lodging at your next destination, shopping for necessities, etc. If you are traveling on a whim, like we did, Admin days can sometimes occupy the entire day. Aside from our arrival and departure cities for any particular country, we had no plan as to where we were going to go in that country.
2. Don't pack white clothing, or at least don't pack whites that will absorb color. This tip, I think, is fairly obvious, but given a limited budget and the practicalities of doing laundry, you want to do as few loads as possible.
3. Build in a "vacation from traveling". If you are going to be gone for more than 6 weeks, go to a location where you can spend an extended period of time to give yourself a break from the rigors of travel. Our first destination was New Zealand, we moved from place to place about every 3-4 days; that schedule gets tiring and we were in New Zealand for 2 months. By the time we hit Southeast Asia, our average stay in any particular location was 6-7 days, and we lodged 12 days on Tioman Malaysia, and nearly 3 weeks on Phuket, Thailand to simply take a break from moving around. We did the same thing in Italy, we lodged nearly 3 weeks in Molveno, Italy out of a 2 month trip to Italy. One nice thing about spending that amount of time in one location is that you really get a better sense of the area, the people, the culture, and the lifestyle.
4. Again, although it can seem romantic to just show-up in a location without any ideas, a guide book is helpful to get your barrings. Unless you speak the language, getting things figured out can be daunting. Note: more people spoke English in Southeast Asia than in Greece or Italy.
5. Touts: relying on touts is country specific. I would never rely on touts in an Asian country, it is just too risky. However, the touts in Greece were actually quite reliable. Some of my best stays and deals in Greece were as a result of touts. Just be sure to negotiate, ask questions and don't be afraid to say no.
As I think of more nuggets of knowledge, I will post.
I would not consider myself a hardcore backpacker; when I spent 9 months traveling, I did not set out to travel on $25 per day, or any such nonsense; but, I did try to budget about $100 per day, for 2 people. However, that $100 budget was awfully tight and was impossible to maintain in Europe, that budget barely held-up in New Zealand, but went quite far in South East Asia. Also, I think that budget was unrealistic for my age; if I were 19, I could probably accept some deprivation, but at 33, a quiet, comfortable place to sleep is a requirement.
First, long term travel is actually hard work in the sense that you are always planning the immediate future and have to learn and figure things out in a country where you don't speak the language (and in South East Asia, cannot even decipher the language). Also, if you are on a budget, you can't really just sit back in your hotel or hostel if you wanted to rest and kick back; after all, those places are not the best places; they serve there purpose of providing a bed, but you would not want to hang out and linger (at least not always). Thus, you are always figuring out where to eat, what to do to pass time, and how to get to your next destination. Although it sounds romantic and adventurous to "let the wind take you where it will," the practicalities of travel/living can ware on you.
Some tips:
1. You need to factor in what I term "admin days". Admin days are when you spend time doing laundry, arranging travel to and lodging at your next destination, shopping for necessities, etc. If you are traveling on a whim, like we did, Admin days can sometimes occupy the entire day. Aside from our arrival and departure cities for any particular country, we had no plan as to where we were going to go in that country.
2. Don't pack white clothing, or at least don't pack whites that will absorb color. This tip, I think, is fairly obvious, but given a limited budget and the practicalities of doing laundry, you want to do as few loads as possible.
3. Build in a "vacation from traveling". If you are going to be gone for more than 6 weeks, go to a location where you can spend an extended period of time to give yourself a break from the rigors of travel. Our first destination was New Zealand, we moved from place to place about every 3-4 days; that schedule gets tiring and we were in New Zealand for 2 months. By the time we hit Southeast Asia, our average stay in any particular location was 6-7 days, and we lodged 12 days on Tioman Malaysia, and nearly 3 weeks on Phuket, Thailand to simply take a break from moving around. We did the same thing in Italy, we lodged nearly 3 weeks in Molveno, Italy out of a 2 month trip to Italy. One nice thing about spending that amount of time in one location is that you really get a better sense of the area, the people, the culture, and the lifestyle.
4. Again, although it can seem romantic to just show-up in a location without any ideas, a guide book is helpful to get your barrings. Unless you speak the language, getting things figured out can be daunting. Note: more people spoke English in Southeast Asia than in Greece or Italy.
5. Touts: relying on touts is country specific. I would never rely on touts in an Asian country, it is just too risky. However, the touts in Greece were actually quite reliable. Some of my best stays and deals in Greece were as a result of touts. Just be sure to negotiate, ask questions and don't be afraid to say no.
As I think of more nuggets of knowledge, I will post.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Iron Man Review
There was nothing particularly great about IronMan, but it was still an entertaining movie. It was interesting to see Robert Downy Jr. in a mainstream role but Gwenyth Paltrow phoned-in her performance.
On the one hand, the story was a typical man has regular life, man suffers, man becomes superhero; but there were some interesting story layers that kept the plot moving foward. Also, as with any superhero flick, there was the usual humor.
Special effects were good and not too overwhelming.
All in all, 3 out of 5 stars.
Work Out of the Day
Sunday, May 18
General Aerobic Pace Run: 4.90 Miles
--relatively flat course
Weather: Sunny, 70, calm.
General Aerobic Pace Run: 4.90 Miles
--relatively flat course
Weather: Sunny, 70, calm.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Work Out of the Day
Thursday, May 15
Warm-up: Jumprope x5 min
Misc Rows x4, 10-10-8-5
Walking Lunges x2, 30-30
Crunches x3, 20-20-20
Leg Raises x2. 10-10
Back Ext. x1, 15r
Jumprope x1, 40 alternating feet.
Warm-up: Jumprope x5 min
Misc Rows x4, 10-10-8-5
Walking Lunges x2, 30-30
Crunches x3, 20-20-20
Leg Raises x2. 10-10
Back Ext. x1, 15r
Jumprope x1, 40 alternating feet.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Work Out of the Day
Tuesday, May 13.
General Aerobic Run: 4.60 miles
This run was more strenuous than expected as the course was more hilly than anticipated.
General Aerobic Run: 4.60 miles
This run was more strenuous than expected as the course was more hilly than anticipated.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Its Official
I am now a Colorado resident. I received my CO drivers license in the mail.
I was a little taken-back by the fact that they actually sent the license in the mail. In Las Vegas, the cards are made on-the-spot. The DMV was not too bad, CO liberally spreads the buildings throughout the city and designates certain locations for certain task; thus, if you just need a drivers license, you go to one address and for vehicle registration, you go to another address.
The CO drivers license are somewhat flimsy and don't look all that great, but oh well.
I was a little taken-back by the fact that they actually sent the license in the mail. In Las Vegas, the cards are made on-the-spot. The DMV was not too bad, CO liberally spreads the buildings throughout the city and designates certain locations for certain task; thus, if you just need a drivers license, you go to one address and for vehicle registration, you go to another address.
The CO drivers license are somewhat flimsy and don't look all that great, but oh well.
Work Out of the Day
Monday, May 12
Jump rope x5 min
4 rounds of:
Overhead Squat: 20-15-15-15r
Power PushUp: 25-20-15-10
Crunches: AMRAP
Jump rope x60 hops
AMRAP = As Many Reps As Possible
Jump rope x5 min
4 rounds of:
Overhead Squat: 20-15-15-15r
Power PushUp: 25-20-15-10
Crunches: AMRAP
Jump rope x60 hops
AMRAP = As Many Reps As Possible
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Work Out of the Day
Sunday May 11.
Recovery Pace Run: 4.85 miles
I haven't worked out since Tuesday as I apparently over-did-it. I had a really sore lower back for about 3 days. I guess those walking lunges took a toll.
Weather: Sunny, 60, slight breeze
Recovery Pace Run: 4.85 miles
I haven't worked out since Tuesday as I apparently over-did-it. I had a really sore lower back for about 3 days. I guess those walking lunges took a toll.
Weather: Sunny, 60, slight breeze
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ahhh, Greece
.JPG)
I was watching Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations show, and this week he went to the Greek Isles. Thus, I could not help but think of my time in Greece. I think for many US tourists, Greece is an afterthought, but Greece is a truly wonderful experience.As Anthony found out, the food is simple but superb, and the people truly love life. Lamb is the mainstay ingredient and I have not found fresher vegetables anywhere. To this day, I cannot find fresher fish or better food.
Obviously, Greece has much to offer in the way of history (mainly ancient history), but the more interesting aspect of Greece is the recent influences to their culture, e.g. Turkish occupation, the world wars etc, all of which are tragic times in Greek history and go a long way in shaping their current culture. More than anything else, Greeks appreciate each and every day.
If you truly want an adventurous and interesting European vacation, skip the obvious ports of call...England, France, Germany, etc....head to Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and Turkey.
.JPG)
Fishing village of Mithimna, Island of Lesvos
Bankruptcy FAQ for the Day
What is Pacer?
PACER is the bankruptcy court systems case filing database. Pacer is primarily used by bankruptcy attorneys and bankruptcy trustees but it is a public database. Pacer contains all bankruptcy filings and allows anyone with an account to view any document that is filed with the bankruptcy court. For the individual bankruptcy debtor, it is usually a good idea to apply for a PACER account as doing so will allow you to monitor everything that is filed in your bankruptcy case.
However, PACER is not, strictly speaking, a national database; although all bankruptcy districts use PACER, you cannot register on PACER for national coverage. When you register for a PACER account, you must select a specific bankruptcy district.
However, a word of caution, PACER is NOT free. If you are obsessive compulsive or otherwise a worry wort, PACER is not for you as you will run-up tremendous charges simply checking on your case. In any event, you can find out more by visiting the PACER website.
PACER is the bankruptcy court systems case filing database. Pacer is primarily used by bankruptcy attorneys and bankruptcy trustees but it is a public database. Pacer contains all bankruptcy filings and allows anyone with an account to view any document that is filed with the bankruptcy court. For the individual bankruptcy debtor, it is usually a good idea to apply for a PACER account as doing so will allow you to monitor everything that is filed in your bankruptcy case.
However, PACER is not, strictly speaking, a national database; although all bankruptcy districts use PACER, you cannot register on PACER for national coverage. When you register for a PACER account, you must select a specific bankruptcy district.
However, a word of caution, PACER is NOT free. If you are obsessive compulsive or otherwise a worry wort, PACER is not for you as you will run-up tremendous charges simply checking on your case. In any event, you can find out more by visiting the PACER website.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Work Out of the Day
Tuesday, May 6
Jumprope x3 min, warm-up
3 rounds consisting of
--Walking Lungers x2, 32r (100ft) ... Air Squats x1, 20r
--Misc Rows, x3, 8-10r
--Dips x2, 8r ...Push-up x1, AMRAP
--Jumprope 60 hops
Cool down.
Jumprope x3 min, warm-up
3 rounds consisting of
--Walking Lungers x2, 32r (100ft) ... Air Squats x1, 20r
--Misc Rows, x3, 8-10r
--Dips x2, 8r ...Push-up x1, AMRAP
--Jumprope 60 hops
Cool down.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Dodgers vs. Rockies
This afternoon we made our first trip to Coors Field to watch the Dodgers play the Rockies. For us, going to Coors Field would be like Roosevelt going to Tokyo in 1942, into the belly of the beast. Despite moving to Denver, we still have a distinct loathing of nearly all Denver professional teams; the Rockies, Broncos, and Avalanche are all at the bottom of the list. I suppose the only team we will give a pass too is the Rapids (the soccer team). The Dodgers beat the Rockies on Friday, 11-6 and Saturday, 12-7; so it figures that the day we go and see the game, the Dodgers lose 2-7. In any event, the game started off sunny and warm, but as clouds rolled in, the temperature cooled and the climate became more comfortable. Even though we are not familiar with Denver, we actually figured out a way to get to parking with zero traffic hassles, which was nice. Since the Dodgers lost, I can't say we really enjoyed ourselves, but it was still a fine afternoon. The seats seem tighter than Dodger Stadium, but we managed.
Work Out of the Day
Sunday, May 4.
--Walk: 4.40 miles.
Legs were sore, so I took it easy today and simply walked. I don't really consider walking "exercise", but at least it is something.
--Walk: 4.40 miles.
Legs were sore, so I took it easy today and simply walked. I don't really consider walking "exercise", but at least it is something.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Bankruptcy FAQ for the Day
Question: On your Bankruptcy Petition, must you list creditors to whom you owe NO money (e.g. credit cards with a zero balance)
Answer: NO, Section 101(10) of the Bankruptcy Code defines a Creditor as "(A) Entity that has a claim against the debtor that arose at the time of or before the order for relief concerning the debtor..."
And, as I am sure your next question will be...
Section 101(5) defines a Claim as..."(A) right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured..."
Translation: A creditor, for BK purposes, is someone who "actually" can "claim" something is owed to them by the debtor at or before the time the bankruptcy petition is filed. Thus, a credit card with a ZERO balance at the time of filing has no claim against the debtor; hence, that credit card is not a creditor for BK purposes and need not be listed on your bankruptcy petition.
However, there can be dire consequences for intentionally omitting creditors to whom you owe money. Chase V. Harris, First Circuit.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, when your listing your creditors, you should list every conceivable creditor. Even if you have zero balance on a credit card upon filing BK, odds are that account will be closed when that creditor does a routine inquiry of your credit report and discovers the bankruptcy.
Answer: NO, Section 101(10) of the Bankruptcy Code defines a Creditor as "(A) Entity that has a claim against the debtor that arose at the time of or before the order for relief concerning the debtor..."
And, as I am sure your next question will be...
Section 101(5) defines a Claim as..."(A) right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured..."
Translation: A creditor, for BK purposes, is someone who "actually" can "claim" something is owed to them by the debtor at or before the time the bankruptcy petition is filed. Thus, a credit card with a ZERO balance at the time of filing has no claim against the debtor; hence, that credit card is not a creditor for BK purposes and need not be listed on your bankruptcy petition.
However, there can be dire consequences for intentionally omitting creditors to whom you owe money. Chase V. Harris, First Circuit.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, when your listing your creditors, you should list every conceivable creditor. Even if you have zero balance on a credit card upon filing BK, odds are that account will be closed when that creditor does a routine inquiry of your credit report and discovers the bankruptcy.
Work Out of the Day
Saturday, May 3
--Recovery Pace Run: 3.35 miles
--Misc. Stretching.
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 62 Degrees, Slight Breeze
--Recovery Pace Run: 3.35 miles
--Misc. Stretching.
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 62 Degrees, Slight Breeze
Deconditioned Doldrums
In the realm of personal training, there is a phenomenon known as Deconditioning or Detraining. Most folks would simply understand those concepts as being "out of shape", but the word detraining or the phrase 'out of shape' implies that you were once trained or "in shape". In any event, I find myself significantly deconditioned. About this time last year, I ran both the L.A. Marathon and Big Sur Marathon. Since then, I have essentially stopped training. Sitting here today, I don't even really have a good explanation as to why I stopped training, but I suppose it was a combination of weather (e.g. running in Las Vegas when it is HOT is very tough), and lack of motivation (e.g. I had a achieved my goal so I was lacking any goal-based motivation to continue logging the long miles).
Thus, here I am, a little over a year later, and detrained. Being detrained, I believe, is mentally tougher than having been sedentary; reason being, as you start exercising again, you know and feel that your performance is not what it once was, and you run a greater risk of injury because you are likely to train more intensely than you should. I used to be able to log 18-22 mile training runs, now I barely want to run more than 4 miles; also, I am slower and my effort more labored. Granted, those results are to be expected as a result of being detrained, but still, it makes it very difficult to get up and go.
This blog may help somewhat in that I will post my daily workout; so, out of pure embarrassment, I will want to have at least something posted most days. :) This time around, I am going to focus on the Half-Marathon and work on getting faster. When I trained for L.A. and Big Sur, the goal was more about completion, but now, I really want to improve my performance. I have never really been a "fast" runner, even during my time with the Naval Special Forces, I was one of the slower runners (by comparison). Also, my schedule does not lend itself to loging the distance I would need to 'really' train for a full marathon.
Thus, here I am, a little over a year later, and detrained. Being detrained, I believe, is mentally tougher than having been sedentary; reason being, as you start exercising again, you know and feel that your performance is not what it once was, and you run a greater risk of injury because you are likely to train more intensely than you should. I used to be able to log 18-22 mile training runs, now I barely want to run more than 4 miles; also, I am slower and my effort more labored. Granted, those results are to be expected as a result of being detrained, but still, it makes it very difficult to get up and go.
This blog may help somewhat in that I will post my daily workout; so, out of pure embarrassment, I will want to have at least something posted most days. :) This time around, I am going to focus on the Half-Marathon and work on getting faster. When I trained for L.A. and Big Sur, the goal was more about completion, but now, I really want to improve my performance. I have never really been a "fast" runner, even during my time with the Naval Special Forces, I was one of the slower runners (by comparison). Also, my schedule does not lend itself to loging the distance I would need to 'really' train for a full marathon.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Work Out of the Day
Today's work out (Friday, May 2nd).
--Jump-Rope 3-5 minutes to warm-up + misc Stretching
--Overhead Squat x3 sets, 15r each, w/bar
--Push ups x3 sets AMRAP
--Crunches x2, AMRAP
--Leg Raises x1, AMRAP
AMRAP = As Many Reps As Possible
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Decided to go to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science today, and I also caught the IMAX film The Alps. The museum is about what you would expect, numerous life-size displays of various animals and habitats along with some other stuff. The educational quality is so-so...the museums of Europe provide more in depth knowledge. However, since the DMNS appears to cater mostly to school age children, the information was probably adequate. The taxidermy was top notch and they had some very good mineral and gold displays. Tips: if up go on a weekday, show up after 2:00pm so as to avoid the school field trips. But, the museum is located on the western end of Denver's City Park, so if you go early, you can take in the park and then go to the Museum.
The IMAX feature The Alps was interesting, but not as good as Everest. The story was not as compelling and the footage did not really take you into the climbing experience, but having been to the Italian Alps, the film made me long for a visit back to the mountains of Northern Italy. The film is largely shot in Switzerland and recounts a story of son who attempts the north face of Mt. Eiger (the most difficult climb of the Alps) on which his father died 40 years earlier. The soundtrack featured music for Queen, so that was good, but all in all, I would rate this IMAX feature as average.
The IMAX feature The Alps was interesting, but not as good as Everest. The story was not as compelling and the footage did not really take you into the climbing experience, but having been to the Italian Alps, the film made me long for a visit back to the mountains of Northern Italy. The film is largely shot in Switzerland and recounts a story of son who attempts the north face of Mt. Eiger (the most difficult climb of the Alps) on which his father died 40 years earlier. The soundtrack featured music for Queen, so that was good, but all in all, I would rate this IMAX feature as average.
Crystallized Gold
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Coffee Snobbery
The cafe's of Italy have turned me into somewhat of a coffee snob, I ashamed to admit. I used to drink coffee but was never really that anal about it and I never really got into the cappuccino/mochaccino thing. However, after visiting Italy for 2 months, I can no longer drink standard, drip coffee; doing so is quite disgusting. I still don't go in for the cappuccinos and other "exotic" coffee drinks, but I like my espresso's and very strong, rich, dark roast coffee. The challenge is how to get that in the U.S. without spending $1,000 on an espresso maker or going to an expensive coffee shop.
Luckily, Italy gave me the solution in the little Bialetti coffee makers. In addition, I have resorted to grinding my own coffee beans. The other challenge, of course, is finding fresh coffee beans, but that aspect of coffee snobbery is a bit more forgiving as you can still make a fine cup with higher-end brands you can buy at a regular grocery store; no matter what you may think of Starbucks, their whole bean packages are pretty good (get the French Roast, Espresso Roast, or any of their Indonesian varieties).
When I do go to Starbucks, or any other coffee house, I will order a Cafe Americano. The one thing about Italian coffee lifestyle is that the espresso's and cappuccino's are morning drinks and not designed to be lingered over. The men come into the cafe, order and pay for the drink and usually some pastry, and then shout their orders to the barrister. Then they will drink their coffee and eat their snack, converse with whoever is around the bar, and then leave. My first time in a real Italian cafe was a bit unnerving (mostly because I did not speak Italian) and it is very fast paced. But after a few tries, picking up some of the language, I could at least order what I wanted without getting the "hurry up" sneer from the barrister.
.JPG)
Note, that picture is at Positano, Italy
Luckily, Italy gave me the solution in the little Bialetti coffee makers. In addition, I have resorted to grinding my own coffee beans. The other challenge, of course, is finding fresh coffee beans, but that aspect of coffee snobbery is a bit more forgiving as you can still make a fine cup with higher-end brands you can buy at a regular grocery store; no matter what you may think of Starbucks, their whole bean packages are pretty good (get the French Roast, Espresso Roast, or any of their Indonesian varieties).
When I do go to Starbucks, or any other coffee house, I will order a Cafe Americano. The one thing about Italian coffee lifestyle is that the espresso's and cappuccino's are morning drinks and not designed to be lingered over. The men come into the cafe, order and pay for the drink and usually some pastry, and then shout their orders to the barrister. Then they will drink their coffee and eat their snack, converse with whoever is around the bar, and then leave. My first time in a real Italian cafe was a bit unnerving (mostly because I did not speak Italian) and it is very fast paced. But after a few tries, picking up some of the language, I could at least order what I wanted without getting the "hurry up" sneer from the barrister.
Ciao
Note, that picture is at Positano, ItalyYou must travel too....
In 2006 I traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia...and of all my travels, this spot was one of the most interesting places. Siem Reap is both on and off the beaten path in a sense. Most people in the U.S. would never consider traveling to Cambodia, but Siem Reap has a well developed tourist infrastructure, but still maintains a rustic Southeast Asian feel. There are a handful of 5 star resorts (Raffles, Le Meridian), but there are numerous places to stay to fit any budget.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
The people are truly friendly as I feel they have not been as influenced by the travel trade as has Thailand and Malaysia; so in a sense, Cambodia is the true land of smiles (which is Thailand's claim to fame). Rarely do you feel like the locals are taking advantage of you, and a nice kicker to your stay is that you will get a personal driver for you entire visit (regardless of where you stay). However, do not be afraid to switch drivers, the quality of your stay is largely dependant on the quality of your driver. I still remember by drivers name, Ni (not sure on the spelling).
The obvious draw to Siem Reap is its proximity to Angkor Wat, so that is why I say it has a well developed tourist infrastructure. You will see the Northern Asian tour companies bringing bus loads of tourists to the major temple locations, but still, the town, the atmosphere, the shopping, all make a trip to Siem Reap worthwhile.
The dinning is actually quite good; there are plenty of European Ex-Pats to satisfy your need for comfort food. The local food is about what you would expect, pretty much standard Asian fair, but there are the eccentric tastes, fried spiders and toads, etc.
.JPG)
Siem Reap is best visited with friends and I highly recommend you make at least a 4 day stop in the town. Siem Reap makes a good side trip to a resort stay in Thailand or Malaysia.
.JPG)
New in Denver
I moved to Denver about 2 weeks ago from Las Vegas, so I am in the process of learning the ins-and-outs of the town, which I am sure will take some time.
The area to which I moved, Lakewood, is nice; I am about 200 yards from the Bear Creek Trial so that should allow me to resume my running.
In any event, I will post first impressions soon as well as other thoughts.
The area to which I moved, Lakewood, is nice; I am about 200 yards from the Bear Creek Trial so that should allow me to resume my running.
In any event, I will post first impressions soon as well as other thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)