If you want to see some video of a bit of a gun test, check out this link from Down Range Television. Todd Jarrett, champion handgun shooter with more trophys in his cabinet than I have guns in my locker, takes a box stock Para Ordnance, single stack 1911 pistol and runs 1000 rounds of ammo through the barrel in less than 11 minutes.
Its pretty amazing to watch and very clear that he could have been done faster if his 3 magazine loaders could have stuffed ammo faster than they did.
I wish my Para Ordnance Warthog was as reliable... I need to get that beast to the range again and decide if it works or if it doesn't. The last time I tried to use it I was extremely disappointed in its reliability. In a word, it wasn't! So I need to shoot it again and if neccesary, send it back to Para for a tune up.
But watch the videos! Pretty amazing stuff.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Kids calling home today
Its unusual when the boys call home on the same day, unless maybe for their Mom's b-day, but that's what happened today. So what could be happening to get them both to call today?
Well, the eldest's POS Escort (redunancy alert!) has apparently given up the ghost, limping into some off street parking with smoke billowing and barely pulling itself. This is the car that I put a used engine in for him, 2 years ago. I told him then that he should be working to shop it off and trade it for something more reliable but he's run it all this time without significant problems. Until now.
So he's walking and I'm guessing the car needs towed off to a pick & pull yard. Hopefully he will be looking at a tax refund very soon that he can use it to get back on wheels.
The youngest boy is job hunting pretty diligently, ever since he was told that he would be laid off at the end of this week. Today he told his mom that he is traveling to south Salt Lake tomorrow to interview at a luxury car dealership where one of his former Job Corp instructors is employed. He also intends to travel to Heber to interview with a small shop that builds off-road truck accessories and custom trucks. And apparently, if he figures out how to get there, he has an interview with another off-road fabrication shop in Aspen, Colorado! Somehow he thinks there are hippie chicks hanging out on the streets of Aspen and he wants to meet some of them!
Everytime the boy changes jobs, he has to load up about 1000 pounds of tool box and tools. He really needs to build a permanently mounted trailer on that toolbox so he can jack it up and attach a tow bar to it for his moves. Or take up piano tuning that might take a little smaller toolbox!
Anyway, they continue to work towards real adult behavior and decisions. But they call their mom, never me. I wonder why.
UPDATE: After thinking about this post overnight, I wanted to make it clear, neither boy called home complaining or begging for either help or money. I consider this pretty grown behavior. Mostly they are calling to keep us informed, maybe to grouse a while to a sympathetic ear and to get some positive feedback about their lives and decisions. I've got to call the oldest boy about that car, after thinking about it fpr a bit. If he has any luck at all, he might just have burst a water hose and overheated things a bit. Maybe I can get the younger brother with all the tools to see if he can help out older brother with the busted car. Wouldn't that be perfect?
Well, the eldest's POS Escort (redunancy alert!) has apparently given up the ghost, limping into some off street parking with smoke billowing and barely pulling itself. This is the car that I put a used engine in for him, 2 years ago. I told him then that he should be working to shop it off and trade it for something more reliable but he's run it all this time without significant problems. Until now.
So he's walking and I'm guessing the car needs towed off to a pick & pull yard. Hopefully he will be looking at a tax refund very soon that he can use it to get back on wheels.
The youngest boy is job hunting pretty diligently, ever since he was told that he would be laid off at the end of this week. Today he told his mom that he is traveling to south Salt Lake tomorrow to interview at a luxury car dealership where one of his former Job Corp instructors is employed. He also intends to travel to Heber to interview with a small shop that builds off-road truck accessories and custom trucks. And apparently, if he figures out how to get there, he has an interview with another off-road fabrication shop in Aspen, Colorado! Somehow he thinks there are hippie chicks hanging out on the streets of Aspen and he wants to meet some of them!
Everytime the boy changes jobs, he has to load up about 1000 pounds of tool box and tools. He really needs to build a permanently mounted trailer on that toolbox so he can jack it up and attach a tow bar to it for his moves. Or take up piano tuning that might take a little smaller toolbox!
Anyway, they continue to work towards real adult behavior and decisions. But they call their mom, never me. I wonder why.
UPDATE: After thinking about this post overnight, I wanted to make it clear, neither boy called home complaining or begging for either help or money. I consider this pretty grown behavior. Mostly they are calling to keep us informed, maybe to grouse a while to a sympathetic ear and to get some positive feedback about their lives and decisions. I've got to call the oldest boy about that car, after thinking about it fpr a bit. If he has any luck at all, he might just have burst a water hose and overheated things a bit. Maybe I can get the younger brother with all the tools to see if he can help out older brother with the busted car. Wouldn't that be perfect?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Why was getting on the internet so important last night?
Well, in case you haven't heard, Latter Day Saint prophet, Gordon B. Hinkley passed away yesterday evening. The news reporting of his passing interrupted all other programming on the major networks and disrupted the showing of The Russell Girl, a Hallmark Card chick-flick that the BSU was intent on watching.
Sadly, I was unable to bury myself in the interweb to avoid either this corny melodrama or the continual loop of the news reporters flapping their gums about the passing of a 97 year old church president. They all acted as if Hinkley's dieing was a huge surprise and a tragedy of unforeseen scope.
C'mon, he was 97 years old!
So, nothing else is going to happen in Utah this week. Nothing. Avalanches? Never mind. Mudslides in California? Who cares. Monsterous snowstorms bearing down on the state? You all be careful traveling to the multitude of memorial services this week.
Apparently, the decision as to who will replace President Hinkley does not require smoke from a chimney to alert the masses, just an announcement on KSL...
Sadly, I was unable to bury myself in the interweb to avoid either this corny melodrama or the continual loop of the news reporters flapping their gums about the passing of a 97 year old church president. They all acted as if Hinkley's dieing was a huge surprise and a tragedy of unforeseen scope.
C'mon, he was 97 years old!
So, nothing else is going to happen in Utah this week. Nothing. Avalanches? Never mind. Mudslides in California? Who cares. Monsterous snowstorms bearing down on the state? You all be careful traveling to the multitude of memorial services this week.
Apparently, the decision as to who will replace President Hinkley does not require smoke from a chimney to alert the masses, just an announcement on KSL...
Lost! Lost, I tell you!
Sometime yesterday, after my morning coffee and internet browse-around and my evening, I-want-to-upload-some-pictures internet browse time, my interweb connection died.
Died, deader than a stump. Deader than a parrot nailed to 'is perch.
I tried unplugging it. I tried unplugging it and waiting. I tried resetting the wireless router. I tried disconnecting the wireless router from the system. Nada. I even called customer service who was unable to see my modem or to communicate with it.
Its busted. Apparently.
So today the modem is in my truck and when the BSU comes to pick me up after work, we will go pick up a replacement. And if a new modem won't fix my lack of connectivity to the outside world, I have a service appointment set for tomorrow morning.
UPDATE: We have connectivity! Hurrah! Comcast swapped me a new modem this afternoon, no questions asked. I hooked it up and plugged it in there it was again, the internet!
Died, deader than a stump. Deader than a parrot nailed to 'is perch.
I tried unplugging it. I tried unplugging it and waiting. I tried resetting the wireless router. I tried disconnecting the wireless router from the system. Nada. I even called customer service who was unable to see my modem or to communicate with it.
Its busted. Apparently.
So today the modem is in my truck and when the BSU comes to pick me up after work, we will go pick up a replacement. And if a new modem won't fix my lack of connectivity to the outside world, I have a service appointment set for tomorrow morning.
UPDATE: We have connectivity! Hurrah! Comcast swapped me a new modem this afternoon, no questions asked. I hooked it up and plugged it in there it was again, the internet!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
More snow is on the way-
and Leonard the neighbor is going to leave me his snowblower! He figured out that having his driveway and sidewalk cleared makes his house look more lived in while he is away most of the time.
Good deal!
On the chest cold front- I'm much better today. Not well, but better. Yesterday I did get the nativity characters and creche moved in and the BSU and I went to the movies. But that was all the energy I had for the day and I was in bed by 9:30. More resting to be accomplished today so I can be well enough to get back to work tommorrow.
Good deal!
On the chest cold front- I'm much better today. Not well, but better. Yesterday I did get the nativity characters and creche moved in and the BSU and I went to the movies. But that was all the energy I had for the day and I was in bed by 9:30. More resting to be accomplished today so I can be well enough to get back to work tommorrow.
Friday, January 25, 2008
In other news- Sleek Black Beauty does not get a new muffler!
I finally spoke to the manager done at HP Coatings yesterday and it seems that his previous plan- to purchase a new muffler for SBB was a non-starter. Seems that Yamaha wants $649.95 + tax for that ugly black cannister! And it turns out that there is more than just a muffler inside that can, there is also a catalytic converter.
So HPC had sent the muffler to a local machine shop who was in the process of cutting off the welded-on end cap to allow access to dig out the remaining ceramic beads that got trapped as a result of their polishing process. Once the muffler is all welded back together and recoated and polished, HPC is shipping it back to me, all free of charge.
I wasn't too unhappy to hear the manager offer to ship it to me because at our $3/gallon gas prices, it would be a $25 or $30 round trip to go pick it up. I'm anxious to see it and I hope it comes out looking shiny and pretty. I'm just glad I didn't wait until riding season to get this done!
So HPC had sent the muffler to a local machine shop who was in the process of cutting off the welded-on end cap to allow access to dig out the remaining ceramic beads that got trapped as a result of their polishing process. Once the muffler is all welded back together and recoated and polished, HPC is shipping it back to me, all free of charge.
I wasn't too unhappy to hear the manager offer to ship it to me because at our $3/gallon gas prices, it would be a $25 or $30 round trip to go pick it up. I'm anxious to see it and I hope it comes out looking shiny and pretty. I'm just glad I didn't wait until riding season to get this done!
Sick today-
and its snowing. Again. Not very much snow right now but who knows what the skies will will release upon our already overburdened snow shovels.
I've got a terrible chest cold. It moved in on me last night in retribution for a great meal at Red Lobster. I've coughed myself miserable. Not much sleep last night and way too worn out to think about going to the job. So I've had some multi-treats everything but hangnails, oversized capsules that promise me relief and now I'm having my coffee. Having coffee looks like it might be what I do all day today. Maybe I'll find a book I haven't finished.
In the mean time, neighbor Leonard returned home Wednesday and had his snowblower locked away in his garage before I could even talk to him about keeping it out so I could use it on both of our driveways. That was going to be my plan, in exchange for the cost of the parts that I bought and my efforts to install them. I guess we'll talk sometime this weekend.
Sooner or later, I have to get my nativity scene out of my yard. The Heavenly Host Trio and the star on the roof will probably stay up there until all the snow is gone because I just don't feel like going up there will all that snow making footing treacherous.
I've got a terrible chest cold. It moved in on me last night in retribution for a great meal at Red Lobster. I've coughed myself miserable. Not much sleep last night and way too worn out to think about going to the job. So I've had some multi-treats everything but hangnails, oversized capsules that promise me relief and now I'm having my coffee. Having coffee looks like it might be what I do all day today. Maybe I'll find a book I haven't finished.
In the mean time, neighbor Leonard returned home Wednesday and had his snowblower locked away in his garage before I could even talk to him about keeping it out so I could use it on both of our driveways. That was going to be my plan, in exchange for the cost of the parts that I bought and my efforts to install them. I guess we'll talk sometime this weekend.
Sooner or later, I have to get my nativity scene out of my yard. The Heavenly Host Trio and the star on the roof will probably stay up there until all the snow is gone because I just don't feel like going up there will all that snow making footing treacherous.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Be careful who you call Grandma...
Check out this post at Arms and the Law and make sure to watch the video. Technical aspects of the law, as its discussed obviously bear consideration- that is, to shoot or not shoot when someone who just robbed you is turning away. Regardless of the law, the video is terrific and I'll bet that lady earned some respect in her neighborhood that might just slow down the next thug that thinks about robbing her store.
Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA)
My good friend Karen alerted me to this new program-
WASHINGTON, DC - Congress is considering sweeping legislation which will provide new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA) is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.
"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said California Senator Barbara Boxer. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing."
In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons of Inability.
Private-sector industries with good records of nondiscrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), the airline industry (68%), and home improvement "warehouse" stores (65%). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has a great record of hiring Persons of Inability (63%).
Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million "middle man" positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.
Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given, to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability into middle-management positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.
Finally, the AWNA Act contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled, banning, for example, discriminatory interview questions such as "Do you have any skills or experience which relate to this job?"
"As a Non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them," said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan, due to her lack of any discernible job skills. "This new law should really help people like me." With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Said Senator Ted Kennedy: "As a Senator With No Abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her adequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation."
UPDATE: Seems this originated with The Onion.
WASHINGTON, DC - Congress is considering sweeping legislation which will provide new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA) is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.
"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said California Senator Barbara Boxer. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing."
In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons of Inability.
Private-sector industries with good records of nondiscrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), the airline industry (68%), and home improvement "warehouse" stores (65%). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has a great record of hiring Persons of Inability (63%).
Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million "middle man" positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.
Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given, to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability into middle-management positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.
Finally, the AWNA Act contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled, banning, for example, discriminatory interview questions such as "Do you have any skills or experience which relate to this job?"
"As a Non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them," said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan, due to her lack of any discernible job skills. "This new law should really help people like me." With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Said Senator Ted Kennedy: "As a Senator With No Abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her adequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation."
UPDATE: Seems this originated with The Onion.
Such language!
I got an email from Dad last night and boy was he worked up! He has finally caught up to the 21st century and ditched the dial-up internet connection at his house. Since there are 2 computers at his place, (his & hers), both needed upgrades before the DSL and wireless connections could be implemented. He was getting some computer geek help from someone at his church.
The dial-up has been cut, the DSL installed and the wailing and gnashing of teeth has begun as he figures out all the differences in the new methods and connections. Dad's a long-time AOL user and all his internet favorites, email addresses and links reside someplace in AOhell and he is having to find all the things that aren't in their usual places.
I'm pretty certain that he will get it sorted out in pretty short order. And I assured him that some frustration with new technology was to be expected. I also promised him that there is a whole bunch of the internet that he has been missing that will be opened up now that he has a fatter interweb connection pipe coming into the house.
Plus Carol won't miss any more incoming phone calls while he is surfing the web!
The dial-up has been cut, the DSL installed and the wailing and gnashing of teeth has begun as he figures out all the differences in the new methods and connections. Dad's a long-time AOL user and all his internet favorites, email addresses and links reside someplace in AOhell and he is having to find all the things that aren't in their usual places.
I'm pretty certain that he will get it sorted out in pretty short order. And I assured him that some frustration with new technology was to be expected. I also promised him that there is a whole bunch of the internet that he has been missing that will be opened up now that he has a fatter interweb connection pipe coming into the house.
Plus Carol won't miss any more incoming phone calls while he is surfing the web!
Scooter fiend makes the Big Show!
That scooter fiend would be Steve, proud and diligent author of The Scooter Scoop blog. He's got a terrific new job as Italjet's Sales and Marketing manager for the USA.
How cool is that? To say I'm jealous of his success in an industry he so obviously cares so much about would be putting it very mildly. His new job sounds terrific and I'm excited to see what Steve will bring to the industry. I just wish I could manage to travel to the Dealer Expo next month to shake his hand and buy him a beer or two.
How cool is that? To say I'm jealous of his success in an industry he so obviously cares so much about would be putting it very mildly. His new job sounds terrific and I'm excited to see what Steve will bring to the industry. I just wish I could manage to travel to the Dealer Expo next month to shake his hand and buy him a beer or two.
Monday, January 21, 2008
How did I spend my day?
Well first I took the BSU to her upper GI test shoveled 8 inches of snow out of the driveway.
Then I took the BSU for her upper GI inspection, whichshe seemed to do very well with and with no apparent problems. After we had a late lunch and returned home, I found the parts for the neighbor's snowblower that I ordered last week had arrived. What perfect timing!
So I spent the afternoon repairing the snowblower- in my carport, since the blower's much to big and unweildy to fit in my shop. And I got it done. It took a few hours and some struggling to get it all together, but it works! (Imagine that, Kenny!)
When it was all put back together, with no leftover parts, I gave it a good workout in both my drive and Leonard's. And I had the tools all put away before it got dark.
I wonder if Leonard will let me use it all the time now...
Then I took the BSU for her upper GI inspection, whichshe seemed to do very well with and with no apparent problems. After we had a late lunch and returned home, I found the parts for the neighbor's snowblower that I ordered last week had arrived. What perfect timing!
So I spent the afternoon repairing the snowblower- in my carport, since the blower's much to big and unweildy to fit in my shop. And I got it done. It took a few hours and some struggling to get it all together, but it works! (Imagine that, Kenny!)
When it was all put back together, with no leftover parts, I gave it a good workout in both my drive and Leonard's. And I had the tools all put away before it got dark.
I wonder if Leonard will let me use it all the time now...
Its John Moses Browning Day!
Or maybe its actually Wednesday this year, but no matter, I have the day off work and its an official holiday- John Moses Browning day. This is the day we celebrate Mr. Browning and his marvelous inventions that did more to rid the world of tyranny and world collapse than perhaps any one person.
I should make a pilgrimage trip to the museum today but I don't think I'm going to make it. Pity
I should make a pilgrimage trip to the museum today but I don't think I'm going to make it. Pity
CONFIRM YOUR WINNING
NOTE FOR MY READERS: I didn't post this. Apparently some email spammer has stumbled upon the email address that allows me to post indirectly from email. That's interesting becasue the only time I ever use that email application is from the job... I'm pretty certain that means the spammer got the address from the base's system. If it happens again I'll have to change that email address.
CONFIRM YOUR WINNING
This email is to notify you that your Email
Address
attached to a Ticket Number(106012) has won an Award
Sum of
(1,000,000.00)(One Million euro)In an Email
Sweepstakes program held
on the 18th of Jan 2008.
Please contact the claim officer through the
below given contact information.
CONFIRM YOUR WINNING
This email is to notify you that your Email
Address
attached to a Ticket Number(106012) has won an Award
Sum of
(1,000,000.00)(One Million euro)In an Email
Sweepstakes program held
on the 18th of Jan 2008.
Please contact the claim officer through the
below given contact information.
MR.R. PETERSON.
TEL. +31-611-241-338.
FAX: +31-847-300-430.
E-mail:claimagent@aol.nl
WINNING INFORMATIONS
Ref Number (42261)
Serial Number 76087
lucky Numbers4426765
Batch
Number EU85011
Please forward the above stated winning information
to
your Claim Agent.
Congratulations!!!
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Berg Lucy,
Public Relation Officer.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Instead of an old motorcycle-
Maybe I should just build a bigger scooter with this chassis from Scootster. Then I could take off and go for rides with my buddies that have big bikes. I do think some scooter styled body panels might be called for though, similar to the Torpedo.
Temptation...
First, read yesterday's post about the 68 Honda Dream motorcycle and my long term lust to replace the first motorcycle I ever owned. I really want this bike, even though I have no place to park it, no real need to own a classic motorcycle and would suffer greatly at my BSU's hands for such an extravagance.
And then consider that in yesterday's mail came an unsolicited letter from one of my credit card companies, raising my credit limit to an amount that would allow me to purchase this motorcycle...
A message? I don't know. Maybe. It certainly seems odd that the two unrelated circumstances would cross paths on the very same day. I could even pay for this purchase interest-free if I just answered any of the many credit card opportunity letters that frequent my mailbox every week.
I can resist almost anything except temptation...
And then consider that in yesterday's mail came an unsolicited letter from one of my credit card companies, raising my credit limit to an amount that would allow me to purchase this motorcycle...
A message? I don't know. Maybe. It certainly seems odd that the two unrelated circumstances would cross paths on the very same day. I could even pay for this purchase interest-free if I just answered any of the many credit card opportunity letters that frequent my mailbox every week.
I can resist almost anything except temptation...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I need this motorcycle!
No, really, I NEED this motorcycle! Since there are a number of bikes displayed on this advert, I'm talking about the 305cc Honda Dream that is sitting in some other guy's living room right now, waiting for me to buy it.
If you don't know, my first motorcycle, purchased at the wet-behind-the-ears age of 16, and no-kidding, found in a barn, was a 1964 Honda 305cc Dream. I bought it for just $200 from a guy a few blocks from my house, pushed it up over the bridge to get it home and when it was safely in the yard, Dad took me to get my drivers license, tags and insurance for my pride & joy. I bought a set of cheap, imitation leather saddlebags for it, Mom made me some naugahyde chaps to wear in the cold weather, and Brother Tim and I rode that thing to school every day until the snow started flying in December.
In between, I rode that bike everywhere, as long as I could keep the battery charged. Some (expensive) part of the charging system didn't work and it was just outside my financial reach so I couldn't fix it properly. Instead, I complied with Indiana's "headlight on" rule by adding a 6 volt lantern spotlight to the handlebars and strapping the dry cell battery on top of the engine cases. That extended my run time considerably but I still ended up pushing that bike home a couple times when all the electrons quit moving in the charging system because I had failed to hook up the battery charger for too many nights. There was even a summertime vacation trip to Michigan where that bike and Dad's got trailered along and I got to go riding with a favorite cousin all around the area.
So you can see why I need this motorcycle. But the BSU can't see the same picture. She especially can't see an ancient red motorcycle sitting in her living room as the current owner is doing. Which I think is mighty curious because she can get a really good idea of what it might look like since the current owner has the exact same couch and hardwood floors as we have in our living room. This bike is a classic and I wish I had a simple way to run out and pay for it. I'd suffer the spouse's disapproval to have this beauty parked under my carport, ready for a jaunt when I felt like a change from riding Sleek Black Beauty.
As a couple sidenotes, I wouldn't mind having that 77 Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD that is also for sale at that advert. I was selling those things in 1977 before I found my way into the Air Force and they were the top of the line bike back then. Also, after editing this post and applying a parental/historical outlook to it, I can see why my parents might have been so insistent that I pay for the electrical parts that I never could afford. Had that bike not been quite so dependent on a power cord and a battery charger, Imight would have been tempted to wander even further away from home than I did.
If you don't know, my first motorcycle, purchased at the wet-behind-the-ears age of 16, and no-kidding, found in a barn, was a 1964 Honda 305cc Dream. I bought it for just $200 from a guy a few blocks from my house, pushed it up over the bridge to get it home and when it was safely in the yard, Dad took me to get my drivers license, tags and insurance for my pride & joy. I bought a set of cheap, imitation leather saddlebags for it, Mom made me some naugahyde chaps to wear in the cold weather, and Brother Tim and I rode that thing to school every day until the snow started flying in December.
In between, I rode that bike everywhere, as long as I could keep the battery charged. Some (expensive) part of the charging system didn't work and it was just outside my financial reach so I couldn't fix it properly. Instead, I complied with Indiana's "headlight on" rule by adding a 6 volt lantern spotlight to the handlebars and strapping the dry cell battery on top of the engine cases. That extended my run time considerably but I still ended up pushing that bike home a couple times when all the electrons quit moving in the charging system because I had failed to hook up the battery charger for too many nights. There was even a summertime vacation trip to Michigan where that bike and Dad's got trailered along and I got to go riding with a favorite cousin all around the area.
So you can see why I need this motorcycle. But the BSU can't see the same picture. She especially can't see an ancient red motorcycle sitting in her living room as the current owner is doing. Which I think is mighty curious because she can get a really good idea of what it might look like since the current owner has the exact same couch and hardwood floors as we have in our living room. This bike is a classic and I wish I had a simple way to run out and pay for it. I'd suffer the spouse's disapproval to have this beauty parked under my carport, ready for a jaunt when I felt like a change from riding Sleek Black Beauty.
As a couple sidenotes, I wouldn't mind having that 77 Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD that is also for sale at that advert. I was selling those things in 1977 before I found my way into the Air Force and they were the top of the line bike back then. Also, after editing this post and applying a parental/historical outlook to it, I can see why my parents might have been so insistent that I pay for the electrical parts that I never could afford. Had that bike not been quite so dependent on a power cord and a battery charger, I
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Chrome!
That's right, the shiny, chrome plated master cylinders have arrived for Sleek Black Beauty! Like most of the shiny bits I've purchased for my Morphous, these new parts came from Dragon Custom. Here's what the new cylinder and lever assemblies look like.
I am impressed with the appearance of these units and they seem to be really nicely polished. I did notice that the brake fluid reservoirs are smaller than the stock units but I suspect that difference might be a Japanese vs. US specification difference. As long as they aren't leaking fluid, they should be fine in operation while cleaning up the handlebars at the same time.
It may be a few days before it warms up out of the single digit temperatures that we are experiencing before I feel like tearing into the SBB to install these shiny bits and I still have to receive the mirrors that Iwant ordered to go on top of the new master cylinder assemblies. But it will warm up a bit in a few days and then I'll spend a pleasant evening putting all the new shiny bits onto my scoot in anticipation of the upcoming riding season.
Now I just need to find a 2nd seat from a salvage yard that I can use as a mule for designing a new seat cover!
I am impressed with the appearance of these units and they seem to be really nicely polished. I did notice that the brake fluid reservoirs are smaller than the stock units but I suspect that difference might be a Japanese vs. US specification difference. As long as they aren't leaking fluid, they should be fine in operation while cleaning up the handlebars at the same time.
It may be a few days before it warms up out of the single digit temperatures that we are experiencing before I feel like tearing into the SBB to install these shiny bits and I still have to receive the mirrors that I
Now I just need to find a 2nd seat from a salvage yard that I can use as a mule for designing a new seat cover!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
What can you say to that?
On Saturday I was doing my usual Powder Mountain ticket checker duties and like I usually do, I asked one gentleman who was wearing a Senior price pass, "How are you doing today?"
His quick response was, "I'll tell you how I'm doing, I'm a rich f*cking Texan! That's how I'm doing."
"Well sir, we're just glad you came to Ogden and Powder Mountain to spend your money!" What else could I possibly say to that?
Turns out Jerry, (that's what his jacket said) was a really nice, if somewhat profane fellow from Ft. Worth. We chatted every time he and his wife came around to the lift where I was working. I even gave him chocolate- twice, and both times he promised to put me in his will! I reminded him to be sure to spell my name right.
Its guests like Jerry that make working on the mountain fun and worthwhile.
His quick response was, "I'll tell you how I'm doing, I'm a rich f*cking Texan! That's how I'm doing."
"Well sir, we're just glad you came to Ogden and Powder Mountain to spend your money!" What else could I possibly say to that?
Turns out Jerry, (that's what his jacket said) was a really nice, if somewhat profane fellow from Ft. Worth. We chatted every time he and his wife came around to the lift where I was working. I even gave him chocolate- twice, and both times he promised to put me in his will! I reminded him to be sure to spell my name right.
Its guests like Jerry that make working on the mountain fun and worthwhile.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sleek Black Beauty wants this!
Look what I found on the interweb tonight, dual chrome mufflers! Don't these look sweet?
Ah, is there anybody that can interpret this page for me? Hmm?
BTW, there is a bunch more Morphous accessories for sale on this website, I just can't understand any of it!
Ah, is there anybody that can interpret this page for me? Hmm?
BTW, there is a bunch more Morphous accessories for sale on this website, I just can't understand any of it!
About all that snow in my driveway-
I've dug almost all of it out. I even took out a flat utility shovel to break up the ice around the mailbox so the mailman and I can reach it without climbing the snowbank. I am so glad that I got the camper moved back behind the carport before it snowed because its parking spot in front of the carport is now piled high with snow that I would not have had room for if the camper were there.
So far I have been unable to get the borrowed-from-Loc snowblower operating. The carburetor was varnished up badly and so I've had it off and cleaned and pushed wire through every port I can find with no results. It will start right up if I pour gas into the carb but won't continue to run when that fuel is used up.
I also went to work on neighbor Leonard's big 11 horsepower snowblower that stopped working in my driveway a couple weekends ago. Leonard was clearing out both our drives when something caused his augers to lock up and so he had to put it away broken. I talked him into bringing it over yesterday and buried up in the top of the discharge auger drum, I discovered what made it stop- one of my rugged, aluminum flashlights! I don't know how it ended up at the entrance of my driveway but his snowblower ingested it but couldn't pass it. It took a bunch of hammering on a piece of 1/2" pipe to free that flashlight! I also fixed the wheel that wasn't driving and took the machine for a test drive down the driveway. That's when I discovered that it didn't really self-propel all that well.
I took off the cover plate, (yes Kenny, I took it apart) only to discover that one of the chain sprockets was worn beyond use. Sears even has the jackshaft part listed on their website so when Leonard got back I showed him the problem and he gave me the go-ahead to order the parts and fix his machine.
Of course I'm hoping that once its fixed he will leave it with me to keep both our drives cleared off. When he arrived on Friday he had to pay somebody 45 bucks to get his driveway cleared since all the snow that had fallen for 10 days was still there waiting on him. If he leaves me the machine, I can keep both our drives cleared saving him some grief.
Anyway, there's cold temperatures forecast for this week but no new snow. So maybe I can keep the driveway cleared a few days!
So far I have been unable to get the borrowed-from-Loc snowblower operating. The carburetor was varnished up badly and so I've had it off and cleaned and pushed wire through every port I can find with no results. It will start right up if I pour gas into the carb but won't continue to run when that fuel is used up.
I also went to work on neighbor Leonard's big 11 horsepower snowblower that stopped working in my driveway a couple weekends ago. Leonard was clearing out both our drives when something caused his augers to lock up and so he had to put it away broken. I talked him into bringing it over yesterday and buried up in the top of the discharge auger drum, I discovered what made it stop- one of my rugged, aluminum flashlights! I don't know how it ended up at the entrance of my driveway but his snowblower ingested it but couldn't pass it. It took a bunch of hammering on a piece of 1/2" pipe to free that flashlight! I also fixed the wheel that wasn't driving and took the machine for a test drive down the driveway. That's when I discovered that it didn't really self-propel all that well.
I took off the cover plate, (yes Kenny, I took it apart) only to discover that one of the chain sprockets was worn beyond use. Sears even has the jackshaft part listed on their website so when Leonard got back I showed him the problem and he gave me the go-ahead to order the parts and fix his machine.
Of course I'm hoping that once its fixed he will leave it with me to keep both our drives cleared off. When he arrived on Friday he had to pay somebody 45 bucks to get his driveway cleared since all the snow that had fallen for 10 days was still there waiting on him. If he leaves me the machine, I can keep both our drives cleared saving him some grief.
Anyway, there's cold temperatures forecast for this week but no new snow. So maybe I can keep the driveway cleared a few days!
Wasted Electrons is 5 years old today!
How long is that in internet years? Its hard to believe it but I've been doing my part to clog up the interweb tubes with my drivel of puny movie reviews, scooter excitement, familial ups and downs and reports of dumbasses making their efforts public for all of us to ridicule. Since cranking up the Wasted Electrons World Headquarters in the basement closet of my humble abode, I've reported on my efforts as a Park University student and subsequent graduation, guns I've bought (and lost), medical emergencies for myself, my spouse and my mom and a couple of vacation ventures outside of my adopted state of Utah. I've told of my work travails and successes, days skiing and welcoming guests at Powder Mountain Ski Resort and trips to the Utah desert for jackrabbit shooting trips with my family and friends.
I've met some great friends through Wasted Electrons, both online and in the flesh and there are several more online friends that I hope to greet in Real World style in the future. I've convinced my dad and my sister and my buddy Kenny to start their own blogs but can't even convince the BSU to read Wasted Electrons. So I can pretty much say what I want here without her caring about what I'm spilling to the world. Five years in and she still thinks WE is a silly waste of time. Which of course, it is.
But, it still pleases me and I hope reading this blog occasionally pleases you too. I wish I could tell you that there would be more goodness spilling out of the palatial Wasted Electrons World Headquarters, (I'm no longer hostage in the basement closet) in the future but mostly what you will get if you keep coming around is more of the same simple dreck. Its an election year and so I might crank up my snarkiness towards the woeful bunch of underachievers calling themselves candidates. That shouldn't be too difficult. I also intend to become more active and more vocal in my support of gun rights activism and to do everything I can to defeat bad laws as our local and national politicians figure out how to impose their will on me and you.
So keep coming back please and invite your friends. There's room enough for everyone in WE World and when you're here we can sit back and tell each other our favorites stories.
I've met some great friends through Wasted Electrons, both online and in the flesh and there are several more online friends that I hope to greet in Real World style in the future. I've convinced my dad and my sister and my buddy Kenny to start their own blogs but can't even convince the BSU to read Wasted Electrons. So I can pretty much say what I want here without her caring about what I'm spilling to the world. Five years in and she still thinks WE is a silly waste of time. Which of course, it is.
But, it still pleases me and I hope reading this blog occasionally pleases you too. I wish I could tell you that there would be more goodness spilling out of the palatial Wasted Electrons World Headquarters, (I'm no longer hostage in the basement closet) in the future but mostly what you will get if you keep coming around is more of the same simple dreck. Its an election year and so I might crank up my snarkiness towards the woeful bunch of underachievers calling themselves candidates. That shouldn't be too difficult. I also intend to become more active and more vocal in my support of gun rights activism and to do everything I can to defeat bad laws as our local and national politicians figure out how to impose their will on me and you.
So keep coming back please and invite your friends. There's room enough for everyone in WE World and when you're here we can sit back and tell each other our favorites stories.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
I have an idea for Hillary
And it amazes me that somebody hasn't already thought of this obvious solution!
What's the question? First, its how to reduce the members of our community that are unemployed. After all, everybody wants to work- right? Second, Hillary, and many of the others of her type that want to be president, have made it clear they want to take the "unfair" profits from the biggest corporations and pass that cash down to the little people.
Here's how to do both- make it a federal requirement to outlaw self-serve fuel pumps at every store that sells gasoline. It is already a state law in both New Jersey and Oregon, so the figures for how many persons that could be added to the employment rolls could be easily extrapolated. Just think about having 1 or 2 or even more employees added to every 7-11, Shell and Flying J truck stop, just for the purpose of asking you how much of what type of fuel you desire, pumping your fuel for you and either using your card to pay or handing you a portable scanning device so that you can swipe your credit or debit card to pay. Think of it, you never have to get out of your car! Better yet, all those cash heavy, highly profitable fuel selling companies have to pay the salary for all these new happy employees, driving down their profits. Which is pretty nearly exactly what Hillary wants to do if she gets herself elected.
So there it is, in one paragraph, a way to reduce unemployment, put people to work and reduce the unfair profit margins for those evil oil companies. I expect to hear this idea coming from some Democrat as their solution for the country sometime before election day in November.
But remember, you read it here first!
BTW, in Oregon, the pump jocks may come out and put fuel in your car and they will be offended as all get out if you try to do something that you safely manage wherever else you live or travel. But don't expect that your windows will get washed 'cause that's not part of their job description!
What's the question? First, its how to reduce the members of our community that are unemployed. After all, everybody wants to work- right? Second, Hillary, and many of the others of her type that want to be president, have made it clear they want to take the "unfair" profits from the biggest corporations and pass that cash down to the little people.
Here's how to do both- make it a federal requirement to outlaw self-serve fuel pumps at every store that sells gasoline. It is already a state law in both New Jersey and Oregon, so the figures for how many persons that could be added to the employment rolls could be easily extrapolated. Just think about having 1 or 2 or even more employees added to every 7-11, Shell and Flying J truck stop, just for the purpose of asking you how much of what type of fuel you desire, pumping your fuel for you and either using your card to pay or handing you a portable scanning device so that you can swipe your credit or debit card to pay. Think of it, you never have to get out of your car! Better yet, all those cash heavy, highly profitable fuel selling companies have to pay the salary for all these new happy employees, driving down their profits. Which is pretty nearly exactly what Hillary wants to do if she gets herself elected.
So there it is, in one paragraph, a way to reduce unemployment, put people to work and reduce the unfair profit margins for those evil oil companies. I expect to hear this idea coming from some Democrat as their solution for the country sometime before election day in November.
But remember, you read it here first!
BTW, in Oregon, the pump jocks may come out and put fuel in your car and they will be offended as all get out if you try to do something that you safely manage wherever else you live or travel. But don't expect that your windows will get washed 'cause that's not part of their job description!
We've been to the movies again!
So we've been to our local theater establishments again a couple times this week and we've seen a couple dandy movies. The first one, The Great Debaters is based on a true story of a wildly successful debate team from the small black school, Wiley College of Marshall, Texas. The story revolves around the debate coach and teacher, professor Melvin Tolsen, played by Denzel Washington and his efforts to instill the power of words and clear thinking into a mismatched group of semi-eager debaters. Tolsen's a powerful character and acive in political wranglings and organizing of the local sharecroppers which gets him in trouble with the local law enforcement in addition to his debate coaching duties. But he trains his team, a 15 year old son of a scholarly pastor, played by another Academy Award winner, Forrest Whitaker, a whiskey and music loving older student with a jail record and the first woman to become a debate team member.
But the team works hard, wins their matches, including one against an all white college and eventually wrangles a prized match against the national debate champions, Harvard University. On the way through their debate schedule, one member drops out due to Professor Tolsen's politics, they witness a lynching and learn a little bit about love and lust and hard work.
The Great Debaters is a terrific movie. Its maybe one of the best movies I've ever seen. It is powerful reminder of how bigotry and racial prejudice are not so far behind us in history and its moving as a story of hard work, perseverence, motivation and success, both in the short term as a debate team and long term as the skills of the team are applied to life outside academics. This movie gets two thumbs up from me and the spouse and I recommend you get out to see it immediately.
During our next trip to the muliplex we picked a bigger blockbuster movie, I am Legend. This is a adventure-thriller type movie I suppose as Will Smith plays the last man alive in Manhattan after a mutant virus has killed off nearly everyone, leaving behind only mutated, zombie-like cratures that hide in the dark and only come out when the sun sets. Smith is an Army research doctor that was working on the virus program when it when awry and for whatever reason was not affected by the deadly strain. He has a well equipped laboratory, weapons and a trusty dog to keep him company.
The story wraps around Smith's daily hunting efforts for food- somebody should have taght him how to treestand hunt, searching out and capturing a dark seeker for experimental research and all the things that can go wrong when you are the only man left alive. The movie's good. Its scary in all the right places and makes for a really good movie. Smith plays a guy struggling to keep his sanity in spite of overwhelming odds and does a fine job with this challenging part.
So this film also gets a thumbs up from both the spouse and I even if its no Academy Award challenger. Its a good story and worthy of your popcorn money.
But the team works hard, wins their matches, including one against an all white college and eventually wrangles a prized match against the national debate champions, Harvard University. On the way through their debate schedule, one member drops out due to Professor Tolsen's politics, they witness a lynching and learn a little bit about love and lust and hard work.
The Great Debaters is a terrific movie. Its maybe one of the best movies I've ever seen. It is powerful reminder of how bigotry and racial prejudice are not so far behind us in history and its moving as a story of hard work, perseverence, motivation and success, both in the short term as a debate team and long term as the skills of the team are applied to life outside academics. This movie gets two thumbs up from me and the spouse and I recommend you get out to see it immediately.
During our next trip to the muliplex we picked a bigger blockbuster movie, I am Legend. This is a adventure-thriller type movie I suppose as Will Smith plays the last man alive in Manhattan after a mutant virus has killed off nearly everyone, leaving behind only mutated, zombie-like cratures that hide in the dark and only come out when the sun sets. Smith is an Army research doctor that was working on the virus program when it when awry and for whatever reason was not affected by the deadly strain. He has a well equipped laboratory, weapons and a trusty dog to keep him company.
The story wraps around Smith's daily hunting efforts for food- somebody should have taght him how to treestand hunt, searching out and capturing a dark seeker for experimental research and all the things that can go wrong when you are the only man left alive. The movie's good. Its scary in all the right places and makes for a really good movie. Smith plays a guy struggling to keep his sanity in spite of overwhelming odds and does a fine job with this challenging part.
So this film also gets a thumbs up from both the spouse and I even if its no Academy Award challenger. Its a good story and worthy of your popcorn money.
Friday, January 11, 2008
A believer in hypothetical criminals, bogeymen and "The Only Ones."
"If you've got a concealed weapon, don't try to protect me,"; he said. "I'll take my chances with the security forces." This quote from a guy interviewed for a story in today's Salt Lake Tribune and found via a post at The High Road.
That hypothetical criminal is a bogeyman to Steven Gunn of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah. He knows state law allows guns into the airport, but he wishes it didn't. "There are plenty of authorities with guns at the airport, he said."That's a bright example of an otherwise intelligent citizen believing in the power of "The Only Ones" that David Codrea, is always highlighting in his valuable blog, The War on Guns. I wonder if Mr. Gunn believes that he could put on his seatbelt in time to reduce injury before an automobile accident. I seriously doubt it, yet he would no doubt, not see the connection between individual self protection and responsibility through proper use of a seat belt or a sidearm. I'm also pretty certain Mr. Gunn, (or his family) would be quick on the lawsuit trail should something happen to him in the firearms carry approved area of the airport or anywhere else where he depended on "The Only Ones" to protect him from a bogeyman.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
22 inches?
Yeah, we got that. Snow, that is, 22 inches in my driveway by the time I got home from work. My truck was dragging its axles in the snow in my driveway. And, yes, I shoveled it out last night after dinner. It took a long time… I did drag home a snowblower that is excess at my buddy Loc's house but I couldn't get it started so I had to do it the manual way. It was without a doubt the single biggest single-day snowfall at my house since I've lived there.
My back step is 9 inches high. Yesterday at 8 AM, the snow was even with the step. I cleared it out. At 11 AM, the snow was half way up the step. I cleared that out too. When I got home from work at 5:30, the snow was piled up over the step.
And it is supposed to snow again tonight… I'm running out of places to pile the snow!
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2462872
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Strange- this blogging world
I was browsing through my visitor logs the other night, just to see where people come from that visit or discover Wasted Electrons out there on the old interweb and I discovered this visitor from the Palestinian Occupied Territories!
This is pretty remarkable-
Remember a few weeks ago when I said I needed a new battery for my trusty sidekick laptop but was put off by the seemingly exhorbitant price?
Well, look at this search result. The number is the part number for my battery. Click the first 4 sponsored links and look at the disparity in price between these 4 sources. Somehow a price range from $34 to $151 for the same object just seems wrong to me.
Guess which one I'll be buying...
Well, look at this search result. The number is the part number for my battery. Click the first 4 sponsored links and look at the disparity in price between these 4 sources. Somehow a price range from $34 to $151 for the same object just seems wrong to me.
Guess which one I'll be buying...
Sweet Black Beauty gets a new muffler!
That's right, the scoot is going to have a brand new muffler shortly. I don't think I've mentioned it but I took the muffler and the heatshield to HP Coatings for an application of their shiny, polished aluminum, high temperature coating. I've been waiting as patiently as possible to get the call to come pick up my shiny parts. Yesterday I finally got a status call from HPC. It seems that they use a tank of vibrating ceramic beads to put on the polish after the coating application and when my muffler went into the polish bead tank, a cap came off one of the 3 openings and the muffler filled up with ceramic beads. Which the guys at HPC have been unable to shake out! So they needed to know exactly what that muffler I left them was designed to fit so they could order me a fresh one.
So now I'm waiting for HPC to receive a new muffler from Yamaha and for the plating process to be re-accomplished. Its going to be a couple more weeks before I can pick it up I suppose. I'm sure glad I didn't wait for riding season to get it done! http://www.hpcoatings.com/am/products/products_heat_hipercoat.aspx
Monday, January 07, 2008
Carol's going to be mad at me!
So last night I was chatting with my friend Carol. That would be Mrs. Flyboy over there in my blogroll, if you don't read her regularly. She is in Ft Worth, Texas this week for her company and she is meeting with people from another big airplane building company there.
I told Carol that she should try to get a group to go to dinner for steaks at New Orleans Nights, not too many miles from where she will be meeting. I told her about tasty, cheap steaks that are served there.
I didn't tell her that New Orleans Nights is a gentlemen's club with some of the prettiest, nekked women in all of Texas on display!
I told Carol that she should try to get a group to go to dinner for steaks at New Orleans Nights, not too many miles from where she will be meeting. I told her about tasty, cheap steaks that are served there.
I didn't tell her that New Orleans Nights is a gentlemen's club with some of the prettiest, nekked women in all of Texas on display!
Sunday, January 06, 2008
You have to read this!
Whacking: The redistribution or impairment of biological functions intended to eliminate intercellular cooperation within a sentient organism.To find out the background and the entire story, go here.
Move the drinks away from your keyboard and monitor before reading this.
Family pictures from Christmas
I don't know why I didn't get around to loading these pictures from our family Christmas earlier. But better late than never, I suppose.
I told you it was snowing!
And it still is, though right now its backed off to a minor trickle. But to give you an idea of how much snow we received and how hard it was falling earlier, I took this picture: That driveway was cleared off just long enough ago for me to shovel all the way arond the truck!
Must go shovel the driveway-
Again!
Since I didn't do it yesterday, I have pumpkin and watermelon sized clumps pushed into my driveway by the snowplows. Its snowing now and looks like it could continue the rest of the day.
The snow since yesterday is as deep as the bottom of the rims on my truck. What's that, 6 inches probably? That's how much needs shoveling out of the driveway.
Roger, my next door neighbor, is done already.
Today was supposed to be the day I bring in the nativity scene from the front yard and the roof. I'm thinking that might be delayed a little longer...
Since I didn't do it yesterday, I have pumpkin and watermelon sized clumps pushed into my driveway by the snowplows. Its snowing now and looks like it could continue the rest of the day.
The snow since yesterday is as deep as the bottom of the rims on my truck. What's that, 6 inches probably? That's how much needs shoveling out of the driveway.
Roger, my next door neighbor, is done already.
Today was supposed to be the day I bring in the nativity scene from the front yard and the roof. I'm thinking that might be delayed a little longer...
Things that make me laugh
My friend Carol may have a real good guffaw at her hubby's antics a couple weeks ago but last night I got a laugh at least equal to hers.
I had a bowl of chili for supper. When I finished, leaving some in the bowl, I set it on the side table. My cat, Uinta decided he had to clean up the bowl for me...
It was pretty spicy chili.
You should have seen the tears balling up and running down his cheeks while he tried to finish the chili I didn't eat!
I had a bowl of chili for supper. When I finished, leaving some in the bowl, I set it on the side table. My cat, Uinta decided he had to clean up the bowl for me...
It was pretty spicy chili.
You should have seen the tears balling up and running down his cheeks while he tried to finish the chili I didn't eat!
Friday, January 04, 2008
I fixed it!
That's right, thanks to a trained professional appliance repair technician and the interweb, my range door is fixed! I called an appliance repair place today and after I explained my predicament to the technician, he put me on hold for a few minutes. When he came back on the line he told me had had found the solution online and the reference pointed directly at my model of stove.
According to Appliance Guru, I needed nickels! That's right, the solution was two nickels, wedged under the hinges to hold them out.
Well, I got home and only had one nickel anywhere in the house. So, I used quarters. I pried up the hinge and wedged a quarter between the hinge and the door. The door slid in immediately, perfectly and latched right into place! Then I opened the door just a little and the quarters popped out. Voila, the door was fixed!
One of the quarters disappeared...
According to Appliance Guru, I needed nickels! That's right, the solution was two nickels, wedged under the hinges to hold them out.
Well, I got home and only had one nickel anywhere in the house. So, I used quarters. I pried up the hinge and wedged a quarter between the hinge and the door. The door slid in immediately, perfectly and latched right into place! Then I opened the door just a little and the quarters popped out. Voila, the door was fixed!
One of the quarters disappeared...
Thursday, January 03, 2008
This is going to cost me!
How dumb is this? A couple days ago, I removed the door to our stove so it could get a good cleaning. There had been some turkey juices spilled during the Christmas bird roast and there was a mess and it needed cleaned up.
And I removed the range door so I could reach in there better than leaning over the door. It pulled right off as I expected and in just a little while I had the range all cleaned up. And then I went to reinstall the door...
There are two hinges, one on each side. They are spring loaded to pull the door shut and need to be pulled out to fit back into the range and onto the pins that support each hinge. But I couldn't keep the hinges pulled down long enough to get the hinges slipped in and on to the pins. That was last night.
I even went on the internet, found the Whirlpool website and downloaded the owners manual for my model of range. And, surprise, there are supposedly, holes on the hinges and on the door frame that are used with pins to hol the hinges in the right position for installation. Except my range doesn't have the holes! I looked. Twice!
Tonight I tried to use Vice-grips and a c-clamp to hold the hinges out- no joy. Closer comparison to the picture in the manual and the hinges I have, show that the place where the holes are supposed to be isn't the right shape nd so, no way to drill holes on my own.
I guess tomorrow I'm calling a repairman to either tell me how to install my door or to come over and do it for me... Grumble! And yes, I know, Kenny, sometimes getting things back together is trickier than taking them apart...
And I removed the range door so I could reach in there better than leaning over the door. It pulled right off as I expected and in just a little while I had the range all cleaned up. And then I went to reinstall the door...
There are two hinges, one on each side. They are spring loaded to pull the door shut and need to be pulled out to fit back into the range and onto the pins that support each hinge. But I couldn't keep the hinges pulled down long enough to get the hinges slipped in and on to the pins. That was last night.
I even went on the internet, found the Whirlpool website and downloaded the owners manual for my model of range. And, surprise, there are supposedly, holes on the hinges and on the door frame that are used with pins to hol the hinges in the right position for installation. Except my range doesn't have the holes! I looked. Twice!
Tonight I tried to use Vice-grips and a c-clamp to hold the hinges out- no joy. Closer comparison to the picture in the manual and the hinges I have, show that the place where the holes are supposed to be isn't the right shape nd so, no way to drill holes on my own.
I guess tomorrow I'm calling a repairman to either tell me how to install my door or to come over and do it for me... Grumble! And yes, I know, Kenny, sometimes getting things back together is trickier than taking them apart...
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
About that last post-
Its only January 2nd and already I get to label somebody a dumbass! I'll fix the original post when I get home tonight.
Men shot as they traced gun for tattoo
Bwahahah! What maroons!
Never mind of course that the picture is not an accurate representation of a .357 magnum, we can't expect news people to know the differences. Note too that the original writer assumed that the gun malfunctioned and "accidentally went off" when anyone that has ever held a handgun knows that you must pull the trigger to make it go bang and that no amount of handling will make a gun go off "accidentally"
Too bad they didn't make it into the Darwin Award category...
You know I have an occasional feature here at WE where I get to point out that some people are dumbasses, and these two fools are the first two of 2008! Dumbasses!
Never mind of course that the picture is not an accurate representation of a .357 magnum, we can't expect news people to know the differences. Note too that the original writer assumed that the gun malfunctioned and "accidentally went off" when anyone that has ever held a handgun knows that you must pull the trigger to make it go bang and that no amount of handling will make a gun go off "accidentally"
Too bad they didn't make it into the Darwin Award category...
You know I have an occasional feature here at WE where I get to point out that some people are dumbasses, and these two fools are the first two of 2008! Dumbasses!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
If you were waiting to get me a Christmas present...
I'd like one of these pistol kits from Blue Grouse Creek Black Powder. I saw a kit from a different brand a couple of guns shows back and didn't buy it, like I should have, and of course, the last time I went, the dealer no longer had that model...
So, I want a winter project and I think I would like it to be a black powder pistol. The underhammer model from Blue Grouse Creek looks perfect.
So, I want a winter project and I think I would like it to be a black powder pistol. The underhammer model from Blue Grouse Creek looks perfect.
What have I done all day?
Nearly enough- nothing! I haven't been outside, its cold today and very windy, so I stayed inside. I've been working on the family PC for several hours now, trying to rid it of all the bugs and spyware and junk that has found its way onto the system. I think I've been successful but the BSU will let me know later if more work is required. I found trojans on the machine, safely quarantined by BitDefender but have not been able to actually remove them from the system. I'm re-running the scan right now hoping to get a status report that I can send to them for assistance.
I just got off the phone with Dad and he and Carol are (finally) thinking about breaking their dependence on a dial-up internet connection! THey don't want to give up their AOL habit just yet but apparently there is a way to keep using AOhell while using a high speed connection. Needless to say, I was doing my part to encourage their jump into all that the internet has to offer that just won't fit through a dial-up modem. Carol's also using a 10 year old computer and mentioned that there were laptops available for just $500 in the local paper, so I of course, advised that Dad encourage her to dump the old anchor and get something portable.
For some reason, re-running the virus scan is not giving me the results that I had just a little while ago. I have no idea what that means! I just hope I can get our PC running well enough without having to completely reinstall the operating system. So far, I haven't been that brave!
Anyway, its about time to scrounge up some dinner, fold laundry and think about taking down the Christmas tree and putting away the decorations. The nativity scene in the front yard remains lit tonight but I think it will be the last night for this season and I'll get up on the roof to take everything down and out of the yard later this week- when it warms up a bit!
I just got off the phone with Dad and he and Carol are (finally) thinking about breaking their dependence on a dial-up internet connection! THey don't want to give up their AOL habit just yet but apparently there is a way to keep using AOhell while using a high speed connection. Needless to say, I was doing my part to encourage their jump into all that the internet has to offer that just won't fit through a dial-up modem. Carol's also using a 10 year old computer and mentioned that there were laptops available for just $500 in the local paper, so I of course, advised that Dad encourage her to dump the old anchor and get something portable.
For some reason, re-running the virus scan is not giving me the results that I had just a little while ago. I have no idea what that means! I just hope I can get our PC running well enough without having to completely reinstall the operating system. So far, I haven't been that brave!
Anyway, its about time to scrounge up some dinner, fold laundry and think about taking down the Christmas tree and putting away the decorations. The nativity scene in the front yard remains lit tonight but I think it will be the last night for this season and I'll get up on the roof to take everything down and out of the yard later this week- when it warms up a bit!
Happy New Year to all!
So the spouse and I checked into bed early last night and did not stay up for any New Year's revelery. She's been sick all weekend with a flu or cold bug and our celebration invitation fizzled out when Carol came down sick too. I never even had a drink last night to celebrate the ringing in of the New Year, just watched some tv and baout the time the weather forecaster was done on the local news, we went to bed.
Hope I didn't miss anything...
So, I suppose I should be reflecting back on 2007 and making some prognostications and plans for 2008. Here goes-
2007- it was a pretty good year overall. We got to travel on our first cruise and see some family that we hadn't seen in a long time. That was especially nice. I need to be making plans to get north to see more family in the coming year. I survived one ugly episode at work that sent me job hunting but it seems as though all is forgiven and I'll get to keep my job one more year but contract re-signing is in January, so I guess I'll see later this month. Overall, the job is terrific and I like my work and workplace and I hope to keep doing program management work for a long time.
My family is all well and growing in their individual paths. Noah has figured out that college life and tasks are not his strong point so is working full time in a Toyota garage and expecting to move out of the lube bay into a tech position sometime soon. He still has some figuring out to do, like paying for his car insurance, which I've been doing for him while he was a student. Now that that moniker no longer applies, my continued financial support is running out too. Kye is back to work and even got a haircut not too long ago which was a pleasant surprise. He seems in good spirits and seems to be pretty happy with his girlfriend.
Its remarkable to think we have been in our house for 8 years already. After moving about every few years while in the military, it feels really good to be unpacked with no expectations of packing up and heading someplace else. We've a home here, we are comfortable, the pets are happy here and my AF retirement pay continues to pay the mortgage. So life is good.
Now about 2008- my only self improvement plan is to spend more time playing guitar and to find an instructor to help push me along and motivate me. I admit, I've been slacking lately. I need to loose several pounds and I'll work on that too but I'm making no promises. I'm going to continue to seek a government job instead of working as a contractor but it appears that the Veterans Administration doesn't think I am worthy of any disability from my service years and that makes getting into a civil service position more difficult. That disability rating process is still working through the administrative hoops, so it may change.
I'm going to continue blogging, loving on my BSU and showering her with affection and fresh flowers and the occasional jewelry and tinkering with my scooters and guns in 2008. That much I promise!
Hope I didn't miss anything...
So, I suppose I should be reflecting back on 2007 and making some prognostications and plans for 2008. Here goes-
2007- it was a pretty good year overall. We got to travel on our first cruise and see some family that we hadn't seen in a long time. That was especially nice. I need to be making plans to get north to see more family in the coming year. I survived one ugly episode at work that sent me job hunting but it seems as though all is forgiven and I'll get to keep my job one more year but contract re-signing is in January, so I guess I'll see later this month. Overall, the job is terrific and I like my work and workplace and I hope to keep doing program management work for a long time.
My family is all well and growing in their individual paths. Noah has figured out that college life and tasks are not his strong point so is working full time in a Toyota garage and expecting to move out of the lube bay into a tech position sometime soon. He still has some figuring out to do, like paying for his car insurance, which I've been doing for him while he was a student. Now that that moniker no longer applies, my continued financial support is running out too. Kye is back to work and even got a haircut not too long ago which was a pleasant surprise. He seems in good spirits and seems to be pretty happy with his girlfriend.
Its remarkable to think we have been in our house for 8 years already. After moving about every few years while in the military, it feels really good to be unpacked with no expectations of packing up and heading someplace else. We've a home here, we are comfortable, the pets are happy here and my AF retirement pay continues to pay the mortgage. So life is good.
Now about 2008- my only self improvement plan is to spend more time playing guitar and to find an instructor to help push me along and motivate me. I admit, I've been slacking lately. I need to loose several pounds and I'll work on that too but I'm making no promises. I'm going to continue to seek a government job instead of working as a contractor but it appears that the Veterans Administration doesn't think I am worthy of any disability from my service years and that makes getting into a civil service position more difficult. That disability rating process is still working through the administrative hoops, so it may change.
I'm going to continue blogging, loving on my BSU and showering her with affection and fresh flowers and the occasional jewelry and tinkering with my scooters and guns in 2008. That much I promise!
Fred talks to Iowa
This will get me in trouble with a certain friend, if she stops by but this is too important not to share and to encourage you to take time to listen to.
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