From the "Hell Freezes Over" File, Automotive News Europe reported that Porsche is considering building a hybrid version of the Cayenne - using a Toyota powertrain. Readers of this site know exactly what we think about the Cayenne, but it's clear that this is a new low in Porsche history. The company that was founded on building lithe little sports cars that bristled with innovation and the visionary thinking of its founder has now openly admitted that they have given up on the innovation game altogether. Porsche insists that it has to act quickly in order to meet upcoming stricter regulations in the U.S. (and the growing interest in fuel economy by American consumers), but it's clear that if Porsche hadn't succumbed to the siren song of instant SUV-driven profits and had built an AWD vehicle that adhered to their founder's vision, instead of building a bloated, 5,000+ lb. truck that represents everything Porsche is not - they might not have to be trolling for powertrains from an outside source. By signalling that Porsche is either incapable or unwilling to engage in innovative, creative solutions to execute the Porsche philosophy in a new fuel-efficiency-prioritized market environment, CEO Wendelin Wiedeking has now officially and finally removed Porsche from the ranks of the world's great car companies.Read the rest. Autoextremist has never missed an opportunity to rail against the german car company's oversized trucks. They are just about gloating over this news of a Toyota engine being used in a german SUV. They don't use permalinks so you will have to search the archives for the 27 October edition if you get here late.
Friday, October 29, 2004
Just another car company...
Autoextremist is reporting this week that Porsche has turned to Toyota to buy an engine for their Cayenne hybrid!
Sure its piling on, what of it?
Need an Ipod for your music listening pleasure? Try this latest version, the Ashlee Simpson Karaoke Edition. Some of its special features include:
Like no other, iPod Ashlee Simpson Karaoke Edition stands out. Virgin white, it features the new Apple Fast-Forward Click Button and, on the flip side, complete how to use instructions. Available for just $349, it comes with enough money to use a pay phone for calling your daddy, your agent or both, when you get caught lip syncing live on national television. We have also included some Kleenex for those special times when your entire fan base realizes your nothing but a talentless hack.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Yup.
"John Kerry has promised to "take this country back" from the wealthy.
Well who better than a guy worth $700 million? See, he knows how the wealthy think. He can spy on them at his country club, at his place in Palm Beach, at his house in the Hamptons, at his castle in France... He's like a mole for the working man."
---Jay Leno
Well who better than a guy worth $700 million? See, he knows how the wealthy think. He can spy on them at his country club, at his place in Palm Beach, at his house in the Hamptons, at his castle in France... He's like a mole for the working man."
---Jay Leno
First, clear your desk of liquids-
Then go see this link. It does come with a liquids/monitor/keyboard interference alert... John Kerry- Wrong For Geese- Wrong for America. Thanks to Publicola for this link.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
You know I like scooter riding
But this TGB Coast-to-Coast Challenge sounds like an adventure I might just pass up, especially in November! Cobra Powersports is planning to ride three of their TGB Delivery scooters from New York to Los Angeles- with a top speed of 60 miles per hour!
That is going to be a very long ride! and it should be a heck of an adventure. I'm just not certain it would be my adventure. Do check out that delivery scooter though.
That is going to be a very long ride! and it should be a heck of an adventure. I'm just not certain it would be my adventure. Do check out that delivery scooter though.
One more reason I will be voting FOR Pres. Bush
I got this link emailed to me earlier today about a meeting between Bruce Vincent and President Bush last May. This is the kind of man I want as the leader of my United States.
...He grabbed me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as he said, "So that's it. I could tell that something is weighing heavy on your heart today. I could see it in your eyes. This explains it." From the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a pen and a note card with his seal on it and asked, "How do you spell her name?" He then jotted a note to her while discussing the importance of family and the strength of prayer.No matter what other faults our president may have, and he is a politician after all, I believe that he believes and that he is the man we as a country need as president.
When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery and the prognosis. I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an earlier cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery. He said, "If it's okay with you, we'll take care of the prayer right now. Would you pray with me?" I told him yes and he turned to the staff that remained in the office and hand motioned the folks to step back or leave.
He said, "Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer." As they left he turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was prepared to do a traditional prayer stance - standing with each other with heads bowed.
Instead, he reached for my head with his right hand and pulling gently forward, he placed my head on his shoulder. With his left arm on my mid back, he pulled me to him in a prayerful embrace. He started to pray softly. I started to cry. He continued his prayer for Loretta and for God's perfect will to be done. I cried some more. My body shook a bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed by asking God's blessing on Loretta and the family during the coming months.
I stepped away from our embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the tears I'd left on his shoulder, and looked into the eyes of our President. I thanked him as best I could and told him that my family and I would continue praying for him and his.
As I write this account down and reflect upon what it means, I have to tell you that all I really know is that his simple act left me humbled and believing. I so hoped that the man I thought him to be was the man that he is. I know that our nation needs a man such as this in the Oval Office.
Monday, October 25, 2004
John F'n Kerry & those uninspected containers
Michele Malkin really gets to the heart of this story concerning the man who would be king and his oft repeated 95% uninspected cargo lie that he is so fond of. I must admit that I have been waiting anxiously to hear John explain how he would remedy this terrible shortfall in our country's security. He hasn't said what percentage of the inbound containers should be inspected to be acceptable and he hasn't said how he would do the job if he is elected.
John hasn't said how many people he would hire to inspect all the containers or if they would be civil servants or untrustworthy government contractors and how much these people would get paid, and from whose pocket the money would come or where these perhaps thousands of new cargo inspecting employees would live around our crowded port cities.
Yet he can get his facts all wrong, ignore what has been done since 9/11 and keep promoting mumbo-jumbo as his plan for America. He's done the same thing by saying he wants to hire 40,000 additional Special Forces troops, without so much as a minute's consideration of where these folks might be stationed, or live with their families, or get medical care or how the military budget could fit this upsizing of our most elite troops.
I DO NOT understand how this jackass has gotten so much traction as to be a contender to be the president of this United States! He's a hollow self-aggrandizing tax-jacking liberal with no real ideas except for his own promotion and he cares less about America's future than he does about his next haircut.
So explain it to me John, what's your plan for fixing that "95% uninspected container" problem? Hmm?
John hasn't said how many people he would hire to inspect all the containers or if they would be civil servants or untrustworthy government contractors and how much these people would get paid, and from whose pocket the money would come or where these perhaps thousands of new cargo inspecting employees would live around our crowded port cities.
Yet he can get his facts all wrong, ignore what has been done since 9/11 and keep promoting mumbo-jumbo as his plan for America. He's done the same thing by saying he wants to hire 40,000 additional Special Forces troops, without so much as a minute's consideration of where these folks might be stationed, or live with their families, or get medical care or how the military budget could fit this upsizing of our most elite troops.
I DO NOT understand how this jackass has gotten so much traction as to be a contender to be the president of this United States! He's a hollow self-aggrandizing tax-jacking liberal with no real ideas except for his own promotion and he cares less about America's future than he does about his next haircut.
So explain it to me John, what's your plan for fixing that "95% uninspected container" problem? Hmm?
Vote ! Vote! Vote!
I heard a AME preacher from Broward county Florida this morning on NPR extolling his congregation that this year they were going to vote and vote and vote!
Which I guess is just part of the Dem's plans for winning the majority in Florida this year, along with harrassing those voters that choose to vote early. Seems the legislature forgot to install that 50 foot stay-back requirement that applys on election day to the early voting days.
So I guess its "vote early and vote often" in Florida this year!
Which I guess is just part of the Dem's plans for winning the majority in Florida this year, along with harrassing those voters that choose to vote early. Seems the legislature forgot to install that 50 foot stay-back requirement that applys on election day to the early voting days.
So I guess its "vote early and vote often" in Florida this year!
34 degrees and sleeting this morning!
The skiers and snowboarders are getting some early turns at the ski resorts if they are willing to hike. 52 inches of snow on the ground at Alta already and more falling heavily today and more predicted all week! It might be a really great winter if this keeps up.
Still not confirmed for our weekend ticket checking job at Powder Mountain but our applications are in and the supervisor knows who we are so I'll be expecting a phone call this week.
Come on out for some great snow!
Still not confirmed for our weekend ticket checking job at Powder Mountain but our applications are in and the supervisor knows who we are so I'll be expecting a phone call this week.
Come on out for some great snow!
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Vento Phantom R4i scooters are 125cc!
Not 150cc as advertised. (Here's the post I promised a week ago...)
If you look at the this screenshot taken from the Vento website
Vento Web Page
another screenshot
If you do the math to find the displacement of a cylinder, which is Pi x radius squared x the height, you quickly discover that the displacement is 124.6cc. It looks like this: 3.14 X 26.2 squared, (686.44) X 57.8 = 124,583.37 cubic millimeters and by moving the decimal 3 places to the left, you obtain 124.58 cubic centimeters. Not the advertised 150cc!
I think everyone involved with motorcycles or automobiles understands and tolerates a little rounding of the displacement numbers for the sake of simplicity or advertising effectiveness and I have no problem calling 124.6cc, 125cc. That's a reasonable rounding. But rounding up by 20% is way out of line. In fact, it is flat out lying!
When I spoke to my dealer about this subject, he assured me that Vento was actually adding a "big bore" kit to the scooters and he went so far as to call the VP of sales at the corporate office in San Diego. He assured my dealer that if the numbers on the web page added up to 125cc that the web page was wrong!
Want further proof that Vento Motorcycles is lying? Let's look at the online parts manuals for the R4i scooter and the previous model, the R3. First the , R3 parts manual, and then the R4i manual. By clicking on the tab at the bottom of each of these pages to the Cylinder Assembly and comparing the cylinder part numbers, you can see that the parts are the same! If the cylinder part number is the same, then the bore must be the same and that tells me the two engine's displacements are the same. In fact, all the parts I looked at on these two pages are exactly the same part numbers!
I have in my possesion, the owners manual for an R3 scooter, which was last year's model, that's what came with my R4i scooter when I bought it. In it, the displacement and bore & stroke figures are exactly the numbers on the Vento website for the R4i scooter. I also have been able to purchase a copy of the Vento dealer's use, Service & Maintenance Manual for the R4i scooter. It is the revision number 1, dated January 26, 2004. On page 8, under the engine specifications, it clearly shows those same familiar numbers, 52.4 X 57.8 bore & stroke and 124.6cc!
Still not convinced? Let's see what the Environmental Protection Agency has to say about the model of the engine installed in my scooter and every other R4i Phantom. Let's look at this link. (Its a slow loading text page, so be patient.)If you scroll down to the end of the document, or do a search for the model number of my engine, 153QMI, you will see that the engine the EPA certified, is certified as a 125cc engine.
The last thing remaining for me to do, to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt is to tear my engine down and measure it and document my work with photographs. That's going to be a Saturday's work in the shop and so it might not get done for a litle while. But its certainly worth the cost of a head gasket to prove that VENTO IS LYING!
So, is the web page wrong as the VP from Vento claims, or is Vento flat out lying? I've no idea how many R4i scooters they have sold this year but it must be several hundred, maybe a few thousand scooters and none of them apparently were as advertised with 150cc engines.
Why do I care so much? Because if I wanted to buy an identical scooter, a clone with a different name on it but sold as a 125cc machine, I could have saved about $600! Remember, I'm a cheap bastard! I could have bought from this dealer, QJ Powersports and paid a third less money for the same bike, if I had known that VENTO MOTORCYCLES IS LYING!
That's it. That's what I know so far. What will I do next? After documenting a teardown, I'll probably sue Vento in small claims court. It won't be too hard to get a judgement against them, I think, but I'll probably not be able to find a soluton to making them pay a settlement. If I do ever receive a settlement, I'll buy the kit from Power Sports Factory to make my scoot truly 150cc.
NOTE: If you're a lawyer and have some advise on this subject, I would love to hear it. If you are a Vento R4i owner and are as unhappy with VENTO LYING as I am, drop me a note. Maybe we can share ideas. And if you are a potential R4i buyer, I'll say this; I love my scooter. Its lots of fun, it looks great and it meets my needs perfectly. I put almost 600 miles on it in a month and hate that its time to put it away for the winter. I'm disappointed and angry that VENTO MOTORCYCLES LIED TO ME!
If you look at the this screenshot taken from the Vento website
Vento Web Page 
another screenshot If you do the math to find the displacement of a cylinder, which is Pi x radius squared x the height, you quickly discover that the displacement is 124.6cc. It looks like this: 3.14 X 26.2 squared, (686.44) X 57.8 = 124,583.37 cubic millimeters and by moving the decimal 3 places to the left, you obtain 124.58 cubic centimeters. Not the advertised 150cc!
I think everyone involved with motorcycles or automobiles understands and tolerates a little rounding of the displacement numbers for the sake of simplicity or advertising effectiveness and I have no problem calling 124.6cc, 125cc. That's a reasonable rounding. But rounding up by 20% is way out of line. In fact, it is flat out lying!
When I spoke to my dealer about this subject, he assured me that Vento was actually adding a "big bore" kit to the scooters and he went so far as to call the VP of sales at the corporate office in San Diego. He assured my dealer that if the numbers on the web page added up to 125cc that the web page was wrong!
Want further proof that Vento Motorcycles is lying? Let's look at the online parts manuals for the R4i scooter and the previous model, the R3. First the , R3 parts manual, and then the R4i manual. By clicking on the tab at the bottom of each of these pages to the Cylinder Assembly and comparing the cylinder part numbers, you can see that the parts are the same! If the cylinder part number is the same, then the bore must be the same and that tells me the two engine's displacements are the same. In fact, all the parts I looked at on these two pages are exactly the same part numbers!
I have in my possesion, the owners manual for an R3 scooter, which was last year's model, that's what came with my R4i scooter when I bought it. In it, the displacement and bore & stroke figures are exactly the numbers on the Vento website for the R4i scooter. I also have been able to purchase a copy of the Vento dealer's use, Service & Maintenance Manual for the R4i scooter. It is the revision number 1, dated January 26, 2004. On page 8, under the engine specifications, it clearly shows those same familiar numbers, 52.4 X 57.8 bore & stroke and 124.6cc!
Still not convinced? Let's see what the Environmental Protection Agency has to say about the model of the engine installed in my scooter and every other R4i Phantom. Let's look at this link. (Its a slow loading text page, so be patient.)If you scroll down to the end of the document, or do a search for the model number of my engine, 153QMI, you will see that the engine the EPA certified, is certified as a 125cc engine.
The last thing remaining for me to do, to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt is to tear my engine down and measure it and document my work with photographs. That's going to be a Saturday's work in the shop and so it might not get done for a litle while. But its certainly worth the cost of a head gasket to prove that VENTO IS LYING!
So, is the web page wrong as the VP from Vento claims, or is Vento flat out lying? I've no idea how many R4i scooters they have sold this year but it must be several hundred, maybe a few thousand scooters and none of them apparently were as advertised with 150cc engines.
Why do I care so much? Because if I wanted to buy an identical scooter, a clone with a different name on it but sold as a 125cc machine, I could have saved about $600! Remember, I'm a cheap bastard! I could have bought from this dealer, QJ Powersports and paid a third less money for the same bike, if I had known that VENTO MOTORCYCLES IS LYING!
That's it. That's what I know so far. What will I do next? After documenting a teardown, I'll probably sue Vento in small claims court. It won't be too hard to get a judgement against them, I think, but I'll probably not be able to find a soluton to making them pay a settlement. If I do ever receive a settlement, I'll buy the kit from Power Sports Factory to make my scoot truly 150cc.
NOTE: If you're a lawyer and have some advise on this subject, I would love to hear it. If you are a Vento R4i owner and are as unhappy with VENTO LYING as I am, drop me a note. Maybe we can share ideas. And if you are a potential R4i buyer, I'll say this; I love my scooter. Its lots of fun, it looks great and it meets my needs perfectly. I put almost 600 miles on it in a month and hate that its time to put it away for the winter. I'm disappointed and angry that VENTO MOTORCYCLES LIED TO ME!
Mission Accomplished-
or very nearly anyway. The truck has new shocks and new brake pads on the front. At 91,000 miles the brakes still had at least half the pad thickness remaining. Which surprised me considerably. But since the new ones were paid for and sitting there I put them into use. The new shock absorbers seem to be working very well- except on the one concrete street in town. As we went down the road tonight the truck felt like a bucking bronco across every expansion strip! I may have to throw some sand bags in the bed to settle it down, or exchange them for a different model. Changing them in the driveway, in the rain was nearly painless, except for that very last bolt on the bottom of the last shock. That thing was corroded solid into the sleeve inside the shock absorber bushing. Without the air compressor and the impact hammer I don't think I ever would have removed it. Even using the impact gun it took a bunch of hammering and rust solvent spray and colorful language to get it removed. And of course, another trip to the NAPA store for a new bolt and nut...
The tonneau cover is back in place after being off since I brought home the scooter. The camper did get winterized and pushed back but it still needs the tarp tied down to be done. Noah's Tracker is quiet with the repaired manifold installed and the swamp cooler is drained and covered. We also got the Subaru motor moved into the shop and stashed in a corner and out of the weather and the spare tracker motor is up on the engine stand so that I can make certain its healthy before considering swapping it out.
We did NOT get the Halloween/harvest decorations on display in the yard and we didn't get all the hoses and watering devices stored away. We also didn't tackle the leaking oil seal on the Tracker, instead we'll save that for another weekend.
The spouse has taken a downturn again and is not doing so well. Upset sleeping routines again and worries that don't seem controllable. There's a visit to her Doc planned early this week and hopefully he will be able to assist with the meds to get her back on an even keel. She has been able to cook up some nice soup this weekend and we have been shopping a couple times but she is sill kinda rocky. Dang it all!
Now there's 3 baskets of laundry needing folded that are calling my name. When that's done I suppose I can rest!
The tonneau cover is back in place after being off since I brought home the scooter. The camper did get winterized and pushed back but it still needs the tarp tied down to be done. Noah's Tracker is quiet with the repaired manifold installed and the swamp cooler is drained and covered. We also got the Subaru motor moved into the shop and stashed in a corner and out of the weather and the spare tracker motor is up on the engine stand so that I can make certain its healthy before considering swapping it out.
We did NOT get the Halloween/harvest decorations on display in the yard and we didn't get all the hoses and watering devices stored away. We also didn't tackle the leaking oil seal on the Tracker, instead we'll save that for another weekend.
The spouse has taken a downturn again and is not doing so well. Upset sleeping routines again and worries that don't seem controllable. There's a visit to her Doc planned early this week and hopefully he will be able to assist with the meds to get her back on an even keel. She has been able to cook up some nice soup this weekend and we have been shopping a couple times but she is sill kinda rocky. Dang it all!
Now there's 3 baskets of laundry needing folded that are calling my name. When that's done I suppose I can rest!
Friday, October 22, 2004
My weekend starts now!
I'm only in the cubicle today because I took a few hours early in the week. Now the weekend begins! I've got to go pay for my second class, get a haircut, (ok, get all my hairs cut), call Brian to remind him of tonight's Warren Miller ski movie, and take the BSU to Wally World for some new jeans.
In my spare time I've got to pick up the reworked Tracker manifold, get it installed, get the Tracker inspected, buy the shocks for the truck, install the same and the brake pads and the tonneau cover, bring in the garden hoses, drain the secondary water system and prep the camper for winter. That involves getting the water drained out, the water lines blown clear, the battery and propane tanks moved into the shop and pushing the camper back behind the carport.
Easy stuff, right?
Classes kick off again Monday, Intro to Accounting at lunchtime each day and Business Law on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Interestingly, the school has upgraded my status to a Junior since last term. And I got A's in my classes from last term!
Got to go!
In my spare time I've got to pick up the reworked Tracker manifold, get it installed, get the Tracker inspected, buy the shocks for the truck, install the same and the brake pads and the tonneau cover, bring in the garden hoses, drain the secondary water system and prep the camper for winter. That involves getting the water drained out, the water lines blown clear, the battery and propane tanks moved into the shop and pushing the camper back behind the carport.
Easy stuff, right?
Classes kick off again Monday, Intro to Accounting at lunchtime each day and Business Law on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Interestingly, the school has upgraded my status to a Junior since last term. And I got A's in my classes from last term!
Got to go!
I know I said I would be posting more...
but somehow, a week off from school has been just as filled up as a week with school. I'm still struggling with a cold that continues to make my life cruddy but its now just intermittent instead of constant so maybe I'm gaining on it.
Last night was the first night I really got to just do nothing and that was mighty nice. Especially since there was also a home cooked meal of meat loaf, scalloped potatoes and pumpkin pie!
The BSU is really beginning to feel better and more confident and less shaky so she has been stretching her activities and last night it was dinner. She wasn't happy with the results and admits that she is out of practice in the kitchen, I assured her that sitting at our table with a meal she prepared was just dandy with me and that I would eat anything she wants to practice on.
She's felt so bad for so long that feeling good like she is right now is intimidating. She admits that is rather like waiting for the second shoe to fall while she anticipates the potential onset of feeling bad again. I'm encouraging her to first of all enjoy feeling good and secondly to practice feeling good and do things to reinforce the good feeling with positive behavior. Its a little hard for her to accept that idea but we might just keep moving forward with a little positive reinforcement.
Anyway, its a real nice change for all of us.
Last night was the first night I really got to just do nothing and that was mighty nice. Especially since there was also a home cooked meal of meat loaf, scalloped potatoes and pumpkin pie!
The BSU is really beginning to feel better and more confident and less shaky so she has been stretching her activities and last night it was dinner. She wasn't happy with the results and admits that she is out of practice in the kitchen, I assured her that sitting at our table with a meal she prepared was just dandy with me and that I would eat anything she wants to practice on.
She's felt so bad for so long that feeling good like she is right now is intimidating. She admits that is rather like waiting for the second shoe to fall while she anticipates the potential onset of feeling bad again. I'm encouraging her to first of all enjoy feeling good and secondly to practice feeling good and do things to reinforce the good feeling with positive behavior. Its a little hard for her to accept that idea but we might just keep moving forward with a little positive reinforcement.
Anyway, its a real nice change for all of us.
38 degrees this morning!
That was the temperature on the truck's thermometer when I headed to work. Had to sit and wait for the defrosters to clear the windshield before I could head out. Its been a week of exciting weather here in Utah, lots of rain throughout and feet of snow already in the mountains. Southern Utah is under flood watch while those skiers strong enough to hike for some early turns are celebrating.
Its time to put the scooter under cover in the shop...
Its time to put the scooter under cover in the shop...
Thursday, October 21, 2004
There's a party going on at mASS BACKWARDS
Bruce seems to be celebrating something big over at his blog. Something about a flag or a pennant or something... And somebody apparently choked. I can't imagine why he would be raising such hoopla over someone's misfortune...
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
I know that I said that the posting would improve...
and I meant it too. But real Life continues to intrude, this afternoon with time off from the job to run errands and chase some papers that are needed tomorrow for a meeting about my security clearance renewal.
Tonight was more fun as it entailed a trip to Red Lobster to celebrate the BSU's birthday! That's right, she is 28 years old and looks every bit of it! We did have a wonderful dinner with Noah & Lily joining us and we all ate too much. I certainly did!
My ongoing cold really got to acting up at dinner and caused me to have a sneezing and coughing fit that I thought might never quit. But I'm safely home now and already have the NyQuil on board, so there's no staying up late for me tonight.
Go say hi to the newest Axis of Weevil member, Pammy. She looks like she might be an entertaining member of the group. So go say Hi to her and encourage her to dump those Blogger comments and get it on with Haloscan comments, poste haste!
Tonight was more fun as it entailed a trip to Red Lobster to celebrate the BSU's birthday! That's right, she is 28 years old and looks every bit of it! We did have a wonderful dinner with Noah & Lily joining us and we all ate too much. I certainly did!
My ongoing cold really got to acting up at dinner and caused me to have a sneezing and coughing fit that I thought might never quit. But I'm safely home now and already have the NyQuil on board, so there's no staying up late for me tonight.
Go say hi to the newest Axis of Weevil member, Pammy. She looks like she might be an entertaining member of the group. So go say Hi to her and encourage her to dump those Blogger comments and get it on with Haloscan comments, poste haste!
Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
I drove the BSU down to Bountiful last night to see this 910 pound pumpkin. Honestly it wasn't quite as impressive as I might have supposed, but it was there and it is big! Interestingly, Gordon Tanner broke the previous state record with three pumpkins! Make sure to check out the slide show at the link.
Here's another link with the weights of all three pumpkins. Mr Tanner explains he used 54 cubic yards of manure in his garden...
Here's another link with the weights of all three pumpkins. Mr Tanner explains he used 54 cubic yards of manure in his garden...
Monday, October 18, 2004
Television signal prompts Air Force search
It's the case of the TV that was calling for help.Weirdness.
A U.S. Air Force search and rescue alert was triggered by Chris van Rossman's flat screen Toshiba TV.
It has a built-in VCR, DVD and CD player.
And an undocumented feature that has authorities scratching their heads.
Some sort of electric glitch was causing van Rossman's TV to transmit on the international distress frequency.
Yellowstone snowmobile ban overturned
A federal judge on Friday struck down a ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, calling it a "prejudged, political" move that sought to exclude the vehicles from all national parks. Article here.
The BSU has already said she is willing to try the trip to West Yellowstone again this year to reprise our aborted, truck-upside-down-in-the-snow adventure last winter.
The BSU has already said she is willing to try the trip to West Yellowstone again this year to reprise our aborted, truck-upside-down-in-the-snow adventure last winter.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Fun with referrer logs
Somebody worked their way all the way down to #84 to find Wasted Electrons after typing, "I lost my virginity" and "drive-in" and "high school" and "1950."
Well that's real nice and all and sweet in a teeny-bopper kind of way, but I assure you, it wasn't me that did it! Not if it happened in 1950, that's certain. Before my time.
Not that I would have ever done anything as sordid as that in my time... naw.
Well that's real nice and all and sweet in a teeny-bopper kind of way, but I assure you, it wasn't me that did it! Not if it happened in 1950, that's certain. Before my time.
Not that I would have ever done anything as sordid as that in my time... naw.
Its Fund Drive Week @ KUER
And I just signed up as a new member. Its been a few years since I last donated my fair share. Surprisingly, it looks like my company is on the "matching funds" roster, so I just cost them some dough too!
Regarding the Vento Scooter misrepresentation
I'd love to have a conversation with an attorney or two that could offer some advise about misrepresentation by a motor vehcle manufacturer. Whether is worth chasing a lawsuit, or would a class action suit be appropriate since every purchaser of a Phantom R4i was misled. Can I file in small claims against a company in California from Utah?
If there's anybody out there with experience in this type of action, I would love to share the details and see if there can be some action to hold Vento responsible. The details of the story should be appearing here over the weekend as previously promised.
If there's anybody out there with experience in this type of action, I would love to share the details and see if there can be some action to hold Vento responsible. The details of the story should be appearing here over the weekend as previously promised.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Scooters and Choopers for sale
Over there in the adverts on the right, just now. From Clifford Motors who appears to be a Kia dealer and scooter sales store. Their page reminds me of the Rick Case dealerships that used to spread across NW Ohio, you could buy any Japanese car or motorcycle from any number of Rick Case stores. Plus mopeds, skateboards and Kawasaki Jet Skis.
How do I know this? I worked for Ron Case, Rick's younger brother for a year before joining the service.
How do I know this? I worked for Ron Case, Rick's younger brother for a year before joining the service.
This term is finished!
And I have a whole week off before starting class again! I'm just now sitting down from returning from my last final of the term. So I'm too tired to jump into much blogging tonight.
But classes are over and I'm signed up for Accounting Basics already and I might sign up for Business Law next week as well.
To fill my free time void during the coming week, the Tracker has begun puking oil from its front seal, the entire exhaust system may have to be replaced and it must pass a safety & emission test before the end of the month. The dang tailpipe has a hole in it where a mount rusted off so it has to be replaced and the catalytic converter may be plugged up because we can't get the exhaust flange to seal up after two tries, new studs and nuts and a new gasket. That makes me think that maybe the converter is causing some back pressure that's causing the leak. And of course, we just this summer patched in a muffler which will probably get pitched for a new one if the converter has to be replaced because its all welded up pretty good.
Oh yeah, the truck needs shocks installed shortly too... One of them has dried out and is yelling for replacement. At 90K miles I guess its not too surprising.
And I've still got to get the fall harvest-Halloween decorations out in the front yard!
But classes are over and I'm signed up for Accounting Basics already and I might sign up for Business Law next week as well.
To fill my free time void during the coming week, the Tracker has begun puking oil from its front seal, the entire exhaust system may have to be replaced and it must pass a safety & emission test before the end of the month. The dang tailpipe has a hole in it where a mount rusted off so it has to be replaced and the catalytic converter may be plugged up because we can't get the exhaust flange to seal up after two tries, new studs and nuts and a new gasket. That makes me think that maybe the converter is causing some back pressure that's causing the leak. And of course, we just this summer patched in a muffler which will probably get pitched for a new one if the converter has to be replaced because its all welded up pretty good.
Oh yeah, the truck needs shocks installed shortly too... One of them has dried out and is yelling for replacement. At 90K miles I guess its not too surprising.
And I've still got to get the fall harvest-Halloween decorations out in the front yard!
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Dems go over the decency edge now
with this advertisement and handout! This is beyond indecent and is a cruel and rude slap in the face to every person that has a disability. This shows just how far out of touch with real Americans the Democrat party and its supporters have gone. There is absolutely no excuse for this rude, asinine behaviour and the character, State Representative Craig Fitzhugh gets a DUMBASS call from me!
Two new Swift Boat Vets commercials this week
See them both here. I believe these gentlemen, not that hollow ringing John F'n Kerry.
The BSU's birthday present arrived today
I bought her this DVD set of Ren & Stimpy - The Complete First and Second Seasons! Believe it or not, she loves Ren & Stimpy. So I bought her all 32 episodes on 3 DVDs.
Now that the debate is over maybe we'll watch a couple episodes!
Now that the debate is over maybe we'll watch a couple episodes!
Check out this webpage
Its this one for Thomas Aerospace Corporation. I really get a laugh when I see a page like this one, its apparently been up since 2002 and still nobody has noticed the missspelling...
How did I find this fun website, you ask? Well, a long time ago, in a galaxy right here, in this very area code, I used to work with the Mr. Thomas who is now the president of Thomas Aerospace. Later, I married his ex-wife and she is now my Beloved Spousal Unit for these 22 years. Anyway, our son, Kye is actually mine by adoption, his birth father is the same fellow, Randy.
Every so often Randy's name comes to light and I know Kye thinks about him more than the BSU or I do, even though they have had no contact since Kye was a baby. But I found some old printed data about Randy tonight in a drawer and of course I had to go Google his name to see what the latest happenings in his life are.
And it looks like he's done ok for himself. He's at least leased a jet in company with his brother and it looks like they are trying to eke out a spot in the aerospace industry for themselves. That's the good news. The bad news is, they're doing it in Fairbanks Alaska!
Anyway, I'll pass along the info to Kye over the weekend and he can pass along the news of his impending grandfatherhood status.
How did I find this fun website, you ask? Well, a long time ago, in a galaxy right here, in this very area code, I used to work with the Mr. Thomas who is now the president of Thomas Aerospace. Later, I married his ex-wife and she is now my Beloved Spousal Unit for these 22 years. Anyway, our son, Kye is actually mine by adoption, his birth father is the same fellow, Randy.
Every so often Randy's name comes to light and I know Kye thinks about him more than the BSU or I do, even though they have had no contact since Kye was a baby. But I found some old printed data about Randy tonight in a drawer and of course I had to go Google his name to see what the latest happenings in his life are.
And it looks like he's done ok for himself. He's at least leased a jet in company with his brother and it looks like they are trying to eke out a spot in the aerospace industry for themselves. That's the good news. The bad news is, they're doing it in Fairbanks Alaska!
Anyway, I'll pass along the info to Kye over the weekend and he can pass along the news of his impending grandfatherhood status.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Vento Phantom R4i scooters are 125cc!
Not the advertised, posted on their website, filed with the EPA, 150cc size. Its too late for me to write this entire post filled with documenting links, but I wanted to get Google working in my favor.
I like my scooter very much. I've almost 500 miles on it already. But what I have discovered is that the Vento Motorcycle company is lying. The scooter is not powered by a 150cc engine but a 125cc unit. I paid about $500 more than I needed to because I wanted that extra displacement. I could have bought a clone of my scooter that was honestly advertised with 125cc and saved that much money.
So there's a big post brewing and it may take me a couple days to get it all together. In the meantime, if anybody stops by here as a result of a google search, Vento is lying!
I like my scooter very much. I've almost 500 miles on it already. But what I have discovered is that the Vento Motorcycle company is lying. The scooter is not powered by a 150cc engine but a 125cc unit. I paid about $500 more than I needed to because I wanted that extra displacement. I could have bought a clone of my scooter that was honestly advertised with 125cc and saved that much money.
So there's a big post brewing and it may take me a couple days to get it all together. In the meantime, if anybody stops by here as a result of a google search, Vento is lying!
It pleases me to no end
to see that election predicter over there on the right remain with the advantage to president Bush with very minor times showing senator Kerry in the lead. The Dem's hopeful was showing a lead for just about a day over the weekend but now its back to the correct order.
We now return you...
to the regularly scheduled blogging.
That's right, I believe I'm back on track to start offending the blogosphere gods by tieing up yet unused electrons into the juvenile drivel that is Wasted Electrons.
First, the good news- the spouse has returned to the household and is no longer under the control of the (actually) very nice people at the hospital! She finally came home yesterday and she is glad of it. Everyone else is to for that matter, but especially me. No more nearly daily 90 mile trips to visit her for an hour or two and not much more worrying about how her day is going.
The ECT really did shake her thoughts loose on a couple occasions and that's what caused her to remain in the hospital through the weekend. But each day she is less confused and more able to start thinking with some vigor so she should be back up to snuff in a couple more days. There's still trips to see her therapist planned regularly but Sandy's a good one and worth the trip so that's no problem at all.
One more class and a test on Thursday evening and I'll have completed this term with a week off before the next one starts. And I'll only be taking one class this term so that I'm more available to the BSU and her needs.
The bad news is that blogging from the job has become more difficult, too many deadlines to meet and too many people looking over my shoulder to see what I'm looking at on the internet... Not to mention the extremely tight filtering that the network bozos have inflicted upon us poor web junkies. That makes it impossible for me to just read about half the blogs on my very short blog list! How's a guy to keep up anyway?
That's right, I believe I'm back on track to start offending the blogosphere gods by tieing up yet unused electrons into the juvenile drivel that is Wasted Electrons.
First, the good news- the spouse has returned to the household and is no longer under the control of the (actually) very nice people at the hospital! She finally came home yesterday and she is glad of it. Everyone else is to for that matter, but especially me. No more nearly daily 90 mile trips to visit her for an hour or two and not much more worrying about how her day is going.
The ECT really did shake her thoughts loose on a couple occasions and that's what caused her to remain in the hospital through the weekend. But each day she is less confused and more able to start thinking with some vigor so she should be back up to snuff in a couple more days. There's still trips to see her therapist planned regularly but Sandy's a good one and worth the trip so that's no problem at all.
One more class and a test on Thursday evening and I'll have completed this term with a week off before the next one starts. And I'll only be taking one class this term so that I'm more available to the BSU and her needs.
The bad news is that blogging from the job has become more difficult, too many deadlines to meet and too many people looking over my shoulder to see what I'm looking at on the internet... Not to mention the extremely tight filtering that the network bozos have inflicted upon us poor web junkies. That makes it impossible for me to just read about half the blogs on my very short blog list! How's a guy to keep up anyway?
How about that...
My buddy Kenny's gone off and started his own blog! He's online at Coffee in the Morning. Go offer him some encouragement and he'll probably offer to take you shooting in the desert.
Kenny's a great guy BTW. He's a great big guy- door frame filling big, and he does not have an indoor voice! When Kenny's in the building, everybody knows it. But he is friendly to everybody and never has a cross word to say.
So go welcome him to the blogosphere. And as soon as I'm done with 3 more reports for my purchasing class I'll get my blog list updated to include him.
Kenny's a great guy BTW. He's a great big guy- door frame filling big, and he does not have an indoor voice! When Kenny's in the building, everybody knows it. But he is friendly to everybody and never has a cross word to say.
So go welcome him to the blogosphere. And as soon as I'm done with 3 more reports for my purchasing class I'll get my blog list updated to include him.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Blocked & blocked
Good Grief! This is getting danged ridiculous, yesterday Little Green Footballs made it onto the local network’s banned list and today Instapundit is blocked also. Trying to open either of them gets my address on a list and a message that calls these two sites unauthorized as “Personal, Politics/Religion.”
What are they trying to do, make me work all day?
What are they trying to do, make me work all day?
Monday, October 04, 2004
I'm not dead, just really, really busy.
And I've been feeling poorly too. Still. I just can't quite seem to beat this croup/crud that's been making me miserable for two weeks now. Somehow posting insightful stuff has just fallen by the wayside for a bit. Sorry 'bout that.
Good news tonight from my visit with the spouse, the Doc says he is turning her loose on Wednesday! I'm pretty surprised really since she is still in the Intensive Care Unit and hasn't been moved down to the less restrictive unit for a few days like she was 2 years ago. She is pretty excited to be coming home as you might imagine. I'm pleased that the Doc thinks she is fit enough and I'll be pleased NOT to make the 80 mile round trip to see her each evening.
Its a good thing that my two classes turned out to be easy ones this term because tomorrow night's homework is not done. Maybe it will get accomplished at work before class, if I can knock off the paying work long enough... Only one class for me next term so I can focus on my Sweety's health a bit better.
And I need a treadmill for the family room. Tonight. Before she gets home. I really am trying to get her convinced to do some walking every day but she won't do it outdoors.
Work on the job is keeping me really quite tied up and away from my regularly scheduled blogging time, which is a bummer but its got to be done.
I do promise to try to get back to semblance of normal posting just as soon as I get these elephants out of my family room so don't stop coming around for a visit. Your kind words of comfort and concern about my spouse have been very much appreciated and shared with her and I thank each of you for your considerations and prayers.
And now its time to hit the shower and the bed!
Good news tonight from my visit with the spouse, the Doc says he is turning her loose on Wednesday! I'm pretty surprised really since she is still in the Intensive Care Unit and hasn't been moved down to the less restrictive unit for a few days like she was 2 years ago. She is pretty excited to be coming home as you might imagine. I'm pleased that the Doc thinks she is fit enough and I'll be pleased NOT to make the 80 mile round trip to see her each evening.
Its a good thing that my two classes turned out to be easy ones this term because tomorrow night's homework is not done. Maybe it will get accomplished at work before class, if I can knock off the paying work long enough... Only one class for me next term so I can focus on my Sweety's health a bit better.
And I need a treadmill for the family room. Tonight. Before she gets home. I really am trying to get her convinced to do some walking every day but she won't do it outdoors.
Work on the job is keeping me really quite tied up and away from my regularly scheduled blogging time, which is a bummer but its got to be done.
I do promise to try to get back to semblance of normal posting just as soon as I get these elephants out of my family room so don't stop coming around for a visit. Your kind words of comfort and concern about my spouse have been very much appreciated and shared with her and I thank each of you for your considerations and prayers.
And now its time to hit the shower and the bed!
Joke for today
So the illustrious Senator asks the class for an example of a tragedy.
One little boy stands up and offers: "If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a tractor runs him over and kills him, that would be a 'tragedy'."
"No," says Kerry, "that would be an accident".
A little girl raises her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy."
"I'm afraid not," explains Mr. Kerry. "That's what we would call a 'great loss'."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteered. Kerry searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a 'tragedy'?"
Finally, at the back of the room a small boy raises his hand.
In a quiet voice, he says: "If your campaign plane, carrying you, Mr. Kerry, were struck by a 'friendly fire' missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a 'tragedy'."
"Fantastic!" exclaims Kerry. "That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a 'tragedy'?"
"Well," says the boy "because it certainly wouldn't be a 'great loss' and it probably wouldn't be an 'accident' either!
One little boy stands up and offers: "If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a tractor runs him over and kills him, that would be a 'tragedy'."
"No," says Kerry, "that would be an accident".
A little girl raises her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy."
"I'm afraid not," explains Mr. Kerry. "That's what we would call a 'great loss'."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteered. Kerry searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a 'tragedy'?"
Finally, at the back of the room a small boy raises his hand.
In a quiet voice, he says: "If your campaign plane, carrying you, Mr. Kerry, were struck by a 'friendly fire' missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a 'tragedy'."
"Fantastic!" exclaims Kerry. "That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a 'tragedy'?"
"Well," says the boy "because it certainly wouldn't be a 'great loss' and it probably wouldn't be an 'accident' either!
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