My Pop is one of those guys that you cant help admiring. Moreso if you are his son. Moreover, once you become a Dad. He is one of the 'The Greatest Generation'. He has faith in God and is a man of his word, honest and hard working. He has a curious nature and is always learning and educating himself. He is a devoted loving husband and family man.
Growing up he was always there, sit down dinners. Taking us to movies. He was my companion through Y-indian guides and a goodly chunck of boy scouting. As typical of a father and son there was stuff I did that he didnt 'get'. He would always listen though, and offer up his own advice in a take it or leave it fashion.
In our youth we are so egocentric, I think that is what leads to us 'kids' being so antagonistic where advice comes in. We do not see the message as much as see the messanger as attacking us. I sure am glad that some of his sage wisdom stuck even if, as a kid, I gave him more lip service then thanks.
So, I look up to this man and try to be like him, fail, and try again. Because thats what he would do.
Happy Fathers Day Pop.
June 18, 2007
June 14, 2007
Unflappable
It's fairly rare for me to not pick up on something quickly.
My wife has a group of Senior Girl Scouts that have been regulars at our household for quite some time. One of the girls was a late addition into the Girl Scout program and was one of those personalities that likes to throw shocking comments out there to get a reaction or to watch said reaction.
However, when she pulled her various attempts she found Tina to take said comments in stride. So much so that Tina was able to redirect the statement or correction in such a ways to cause this particular girl scout pause. I think, this in no small way, allowed this girl to not only continue on with the program but have an accepting outlet for her various life issues that had not existed previously. Sage advice if you will.
Now the thing I had not quickly picked up on was how my Darling better half had become so unflappable. My siblings where quite quick to point out the source...
My wife has a group of Senior Girl Scouts that have been regulars at our household for quite some time. One of the girls was a late addition into the Girl Scout program and was one of those personalities that likes to throw shocking comments out there to get a reaction or to watch said reaction.
However, when she pulled her various attempts she found Tina to take said comments in stride. So much so that Tina was able to redirect the statement or correction in such a ways to cause this particular girl scout pause. I think, this in no small way, allowed this girl to not only continue on with the program but have an accepting outlet for her various life issues that had not existed previously. Sage advice if you will.
Now the thing I had not quickly picked up on was how my Darling better half had become so unflappable. My siblings where quite quick to point out the source...
June 13, 2007
Summer movies 2007
I recall in my Teens having a movie to look forward to see nearly every week, during the summer.
The last few summers it has been pretty difficult finding anything worthy of heading out to the theaters for. It is as if Hollywood is afraid of somthing.
All the films I am interested in seeing this time around are sequals.
Spiderman, Harry Potter, Shrek.
The Summer fare I am really looking towards is Doctor Who. And thats on Sci-Fi channel. Oh and with Heroes on summer leave I can start Tivoing '24' again.
I'm dissapointed that Grind House didnt do better. Something like that can make the executives take more chances.
The last few summers it has been pretty difficult finding anything worthy of heading out to the theaters for. It is as if Hollywood is afraid of somthing.
All the films I am interested in seeing this time around are sequals.
Spiderman, Harry Potter, Shrek.
The Summer fare I am really looking towards is Doctor Who. And thats on Sci-Fi channel. Oh and with Heroes on summer leave I can start Tivoing '24' again.
I'm dissapointed that Grind House didnt do better. Something like that can make the executives take more chances.
June 11, 2007
What to know about Graduation in my town.
Found this all out the hard way. By experiencing a graduation first hand. To start off with 500 kids means two very full stands in a stadium and lots of people getting there early to snatch up the prime spots. So if your kid is supposed to be there at 1:30, you needed to have a squatter there at noon to noon:30.
Bring something to sit on. The metal aluminum bench dissapates heat from your bum quickly.
Figure out how you are going to get your kid afterwards BEFORE you let him head into the crowd.
Bring something to sit on. The metal aluminum bench dissapates heat from your bum quickly.
Figure out how you are going to get your kid afterwards BEFORE you let him head into the crowd.
June 07, 2007
WIres and sleeping with a vaccum cleaner in your nose.
Okay, so I have been getting the nods around 2:00pm some some days. My doctor wasn't sure if it was my type II or Apnea. So I got to go to this lab with hotel rooms. They had Dish network and I brought a small handful of comics just in case.
So I show up and they get me to my room and I change into my P.J.'s I get to watch some sports center (Ducks win the cup) and fill out some forms. Its a nice twin bed, actually pretty comfortable mattress. The room is clean and decent hotel looking but no windows and there is a fairly obvious camera with an IR light next to it. (You REALLY need to change clothes in the bathroom).
So then you head to a barber chair and they start the process of sanding down bits of skin and applying conductive glue and little tiny wires to various parts of your head shoulders and back. This consists of about one million sixteen wires. These are all linked into a large block that plugs into a receptacle by the bed. Next I head back to the room and sit carefully waiting and watching myth busters.
Next the tech comes in and I get as comfy as possible with all this Medusa crap and get a sensor put into my nose (tickles) and another into my mouth. Okay, now its time to sleep till about 2:00am.
Time passes and around 1:00am I wake up and cannot seem to roll over anymore as either the wires are stuck or there are Lilliputians tying me down Ala Gulliver. I am also parched and have no way of leaving the bed without tearing small bits of myself free from the various electrodes. As luck would have it the SECOND time I asked for assistance a nice lady brought me a glass of water.
I must have drifted off because next thing I know they are going to put me on a CPAP machine for the rest of the night. I get to loose the nose and mouth sensor but now have this clear plastic little critter mating with my nose for the rest of the night.
This CPAP is a reverse vaccum cleaner that keeps positive airflow going up your nose. On the bright side it has a water thingy to add a fine mist and keeps me from gettind dried out. Also I can close off my passage and have it make funny noises through my open mouth. Imagine the worlds longest Rasburry...
So it takes me a good 30min to fall asleep but it seems to go quick cuz my alarm goes off at 5:30am. And it feels like I just went to sleep. Now I have to lay restrained until the tech comes in to remove the various connections from me so I can stand up.
I still have crap in my hair and a good long shower still didnt remove some adhesive.
So now the unofficial results. I had some apnea episodes when I was sleeping on my back. Enough to qualify to try the CEPAP for the rest of the night. This means they have enough results for full evaluation with and without. Which means I do not have to go back.
So now I get to find out the results.
So I show up and they get me to my room and I change into my P.J.'s I get to watch some sports center (Ducks win the cup) and fill out some forms. Its a nice twin bed, actually pretty comfortable mattress. The room is clean and decent hotel looking but no windows and there is a fairly obvious camera with an IR light next to it. (You REALLY need to change clothes in the bathroom).
So then you head to a barber chair and they start the process of sanding down bits of skin and applying conductive glue and little tiny wires to various parts of your head shoulders and back. This consists of about one million sixteen wires. These are all linked into a large block that plugs into a receptacle by the bed. Next I head back to the room and sit carefully waiting and watching myth busters.
Next the tech comes in and I get as comfy as possible with all this Medusa crap and get a sensor put into my nose (tickles) and another into my mouth. Okay, now its time to sleep till about 2:00am.
Time passes and around 1:00am I wake up and cannot seem to roll over anymore as either the wires are stuck or there are Lilliputians tying me down Ala Gulliver. I am also parched and have no way of leaving the bed without tearing small bits of myself free from the various electrodes. As luck would have it the SECOND time I asked for assistance a nice lady brought me a glass of water.
I must have drifted off because next thing I know they are going to put me on a CPAP machine for the rest of the night. I get to loose the nose and mouth sensor but now have this clear plastic little critter mating with my nose for the rest of the night.
This CPAP is a reverse vaccum cleaner that keeps positive airflow going up your nose. On the bright side it has a water thingy to add a fine mist and keeps me from gettind dried out. Also I can close off my passage and have it make funny noises through my open mouth. Imagine the worlds longest Rasburry...
So it takes me a good 30min to fall asleep but it seems to go quick cuz my alarm goes off at 5:30am. And it feels like I just went to sleep. Now I have to lay restrained until the tech comes in to remove the various connections from me so I can stand up.
I still have crap in my hair and a good long shower still didnt remove some adhesive.
So now the unofficial results. I had some apnea episodes when I was sleeping on my back. Enough to qualify to try the CEPAP for the rest of the night. This means they have enough results for full evaluation with and without. Which means I do not have to go back.
So now I get to find out the results.
May 31, 2007
CFL lights
A friend recently blogged on Compact fluorescent lights and how much better they are (Green etc). I have purchased them in the past. In my case I found they cost alot more and lasted a very short period of time. Of the six pack I got (sylvania brand) only one is still working after six months.
Then I am reading how you need to take pains to dispose of them. (http://www.earth911.org)
Seems they have to be crushed in a negative vacuume environment with mercury screens.
Next we read that there are a lot of bulbs out there that have no safety rating on them.
Finally if you accidently drop one the EPA recommends the following:
EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
1. Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
2. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.-- Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands)-- Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.-- Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.-- Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
3. Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it.-- If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the CFL in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available).-- Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
4. More-- The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.
YIKES!!! no more 'be careful of bare feet". Or you can even look at this poor lady. And figure you might be shelling out $2,004.28 for a blub.
Looks like your 'safer' with those LED light blubs. Although, I still need to check into those.
Then I am reading how you need to take pains to dispose of them. (http://www.earth911.org)
Seems they have to be crushed in a negative vacuume environment with mercury screens.
Next we read that there are a lot of bulbs out there that have no safety rating on them.
Finally if you accidently drop one the EPA recommends the following:
EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
1. Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
2. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.-- Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands)-- Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.-- Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.-- Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
3. Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it.-- If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the CFL in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available).-- Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
4. More-- The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.
YIKES!!! no more 'be careful of bare feet". Or you can even look at this poor lady. And figure you might be shelling out $2,004.28 for a blub.
Looks like your 'safer' with those LED light blubs. Although, I still need to check into those.
May 30, 2007
Online Fun and Games
I really enjoy the MMORPG genre. It is fun and costs less then some other game habits. I enjoy that they are ongoing and you do get chat with people all over the world. I also like some of the funny situations that occur.
Running a person accidentally off a cliff
Having your pet wander off only to come back with half of the denizens of the dungeon chasing him.
Winning a duel by someone jumping to thier death.
Asking an innocent question in such a manner that its meaning is innunedo.
That moment when someone realizses they made a terminal error. Like attacking a giant with a dagger.
Running a person accidentally off a cliff
Having your pet wander off only to come back with half of the denizens of the dungeon chasing him.
Winning a duel by someone jumping to thier death.
Asking an innocent question in such a manner that its meaning is innunedo.
That moment when someone realizses they made a terminal error. Like attacking a giant with a dagger.
May 28, 2007
Cumputer blu's (part deux)
After the last OS crash I installed a 2nd hard drive in my wifes system. I loaded the OS on that and set up Connor with a limited access account. I lowered his internet access and restricted the XP log-in account as well. I even put in a simpler interface and had on ly his icons.
Somehow with this in place he was able to get an unrecoverable error....
So I had to re-re-load the OS on saturday. It went much quicker this time.
I clamped down his access even more. I think my error came in the form of the kodak software icon in the lower right corner. It would throw up error messages due to his limited access. I am going to lock him down even further and move the kodak from all users to just tina.
Also, I got the icons down there perm hid.
Lets see him break THAT!!
Somehow with this in place he was able to get an unrecoverable error....
So I had to re-re-load the OS on saturday. It went much quicker this time.
I clamped down his access even more. I think my error came in the form of the kodak software icon in the lower right corner. It would throw up error messages due to his limited access. I am going to lock him down even further and move the kodak from all users to just tina.
Also, I got the icons down there perm hid.
Lets see him break THAT!!
May 25, 2007
May 23, 2007
Money $$$
There are two people I trust with my money. First is my wife, I come a close second. I trust my better half so much that when dating I gave her a credit card of mine, this is generally a pretty stupid thing to do. Luckily she is more fiscally responsible then I am (except, for a water filter incident).
We have been fairly busy and gotten a couple of days behind in looking in the mailed letters of the people who want us to pay them back (read Credit Card companys). We have been paying off the balance and avoiding the sometimes stupidly high rates they charge for using thier money. The current card was due today and we needed to assess if we could avoid the stupidly high rate by paying it off.
Now then I do not trust Quicken either so I actually keep two sets of books for our main account. One that Quicken handles and one that I handle. This works for my peace of mind but sometimes something crops up that just requires time to look through and fix.
Last week I noted a wider then usual discrepancy between my two sets of books. So I could have delved into the accounts and seen where the problem(s) are or wait for the statement and use that as a starting point. I got the statement and had planned on delving this week.
With the stupidly high charge nigh, I had to do the delving this AM before work. It took an hour and 15min but I found and resolved the issues and got Tina an accurate balance in which we could assess and pay off the card and thus avoid the stupidly high charge.
So it was a win but made for a very busy no coffee morning..
We have been fairly busy and gotten a couple of days behind in looking in the mailed letters of the people who want us to pay them back (read Credit Card companys). We have been paying off the balance and avoiding the sometimes stupidly high rates they charge for using thier money. The current card was due today and we needed to assess if we could avoid the stupidly high rate by paying it off.
Now then I do not trust Quicken either so I actually keep two sets of books for our main account. One that Quicken handles and one that I handle. This works for my peace of mind but sometimes something crops up that just requires time to look through and fix.
Last week I noted a wider then usual discrepancy between my two sets of books. So I could have delved into the accounts and seen where the problem(s) are or wait for the statement and use that as a starting point. I got the statement and had planned on delving this week.
With the stupidly high charge nigh, I had to do the delving this AM before work. It took an hour and 15min but I found and resolved the issues and got Tina an accurate balance in which we could assess and pay off the card and thus avoid the stupidly high charge.
So it was a win but made for a very busy no coffee morning..
May 22, 2007
Time Passages
Recently RBG posted a pict of his family on a recent vacation. As I expanded the picture I was wondering who that guy on the left was, must be an extended family member or something.
Then it hit me that it was my childhood chum himself. While planet revolutions and rotations mark the passage of time, the mind tends to freeze images in the state of last observation or preferred observation.
My mind see's my friends as they were .vs. as they are dispite that nearly 20 years have passed.
Then it hit me that it was my childhood chum himself. While planet revolutions and rotations mark the passage of time, the mind tends to freeze images in the state of last observation or preferred observation.
My mind see's my friends as they were .vs. as they are dispite that nearly 20 years have passed.
May 20, 2007
The Man Song (wow style)
Never heard of Bob and Tom but this was pretty dang funny. When placed with a gnome just adds to the fun.
May 16, 2007
LoTR .vs. Star Wars (Clerks II) Warning Language ahead)
If you hold Lord of the Rings in your mind as diety you may not want to watch this. Warning-heavy colorful metaphors in use.
May 14, 2007
Back in Action
Got Tina a new Hard Drive for her computer, then re-loaded her OS.
Connor whom I suspect aided in the corruption of whatever files that go corrupted is now set up with a limited use account on Tina's system. He seems to have taken to the new interface quite nicely.
only a small glitch in the setup when the CPU fan had become unplugged. Other then that, we are up and rolling with more storage then ever!!
Connor whom I suspect aided in the corruption of whatever files that go corrupted is now set up with a limited use account on Tina's system. He seems to have taken to the new interface quite nicely.
only a small glitch in the setup when the CPU fan had become unplugged. Other then that, we are up and rolling with more storage then ever!!
May 09, 2007
Computer blues
Okay, so I get my new system. It's great works awesome. You should see my DivX copy of Torchwood on it! I had to figure out the damn sound card for teamspeak. Got that done by serendipity.
Now my wifes system is locking up. Add to that one of my kids 'decided' to reboot the system during a windows update.
So, playing with new system hat comes off and IT tech hat goes on.
Booted to safe mode, ran anti-vi, found boot sector issue. Booted to recovery console ran good ole chkdsk /p and repaired. Rebooted. System was running more stable but going on a web browser would crash.
I have IE.7 and could not figure out how to run recovery. Looked it up at MS.com and found the instructions (It was pretty much what I guessed). Nice to have that confirmation.
Now I just need to go try it and see if that resolves the issue. If not I may need to re-load the OS.
Now my wifes system is locking up. Add to that one of my kids 'decided' to reboot the system during a windows update.
So, playing with new system hat comes off and IT tech hat goes on.
Booted to safe mode, ran anti-vi, found boot sector issue. Booted to recovery console ran good ole chkdsk /p and repaired. Rebooted. System was running more stable but going on a web browser would crash.
I have IE.7 and could not figure out how to run recovery. Looked it up at MS.com and found the instructions (It was pretty much what I guessed). Nice to have that confirmation.
Now I just need to go try it and see if that resolves the issue. If not I may need to re-load the OS.
May 08, 2007
Final System Operational
Got my system from UPS last night. The box is frigging huge! And over 70 lbs.
I had taken time on Sunday and Monday to move all the needed files over to various family USB memory keys. Got the case upgraded the Ram moved the components from the old system (left running on our local network).
Then after all the updates etc. I pulled WoW directly across the network. Turns out that WoW has no registry entries so it just runs no problem. This saved me about 10 hours of downloads.
Pulled off the bloatware. Installed the software. More updates etc.
Ready to roll! Fired up WoW and maxed out the graphics. Worked like a champ! Not sure where teamspeak hid its settings but I have to re-enter those.
Code Name: Big Red Kitty is online!
May 07, 2007
Leftist thought control
I really enjoy David Limbaughs writings. I find he echo's quite a bit of my personal viewpoints and makes some rather pointed observations.
This quote: "Increasingly, from the left's perspective, there is just one acceptable viewpoint. " Rings so true.
Great read to share: Link to artical
This quote: "Increasingly, from the left's perspective, there is just one acceptable viewpoint. " Rings so true.
Great read to share: Link to artical
May 04, 2007
Torchwood
Sci-Fi show set in England (made by the BBC). It's a X-files, tiny bit CSI Law & Order. Set in Cardiff England lead by an Immortal. Searching out alien artifacts and implimenting them for the defense of the earth.
Tough to find here in the US but well worth watching. Oh, be prepared for it being an 'R' rating.
May 03, 2007
Coolest video I have seen in awhile
Watch Video
An excellent mime performance to one of the biggest hits of the 90's. Even better when the original performer joins him on stage!
May 01, 2007
New Computer time
Finally looking to replace my old Dell Dimension 8200 system. It's been a peach but has been showing its age quite a bit as of late.
Went the complete route and I am going to send the components down the family line. The wife gets my nifty 19" Digital flat panel and speakers. My son is getting the tower. I am keeping the keyboard and mouse.
Starting off I got a 22" wide aspect Samsung monitor. Killer specs. on this. 1000:1 contrast and a 2 ms response G2G.
It's an SLI compatible motherboard and has plenty of room for additional hard drives and opticals. I got 3GB ram for it and some nice Logitech speakers.
Should be really spiffy! Now to wait till it arrives.
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