tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113247102024-02-18T23:22:49.511-08:00Bill's RamblingsRandomness... by Bill.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-6814058843592544812016-01-13T18:56:00.001-08:002016-01-13T19:25:55.052-08:00T-bones and underwearI was sitting at a stop light behind a city bus this morning. I left enough room between me and the bus for the car in the convenience store parking lot on my right to pull out and turn left beside me. In other words, there was enough room for the guy to fit between the rear of the bus and the front of my truck to make the turn. <div><br></div><div>So the guy drove between me and the bus in preparation for the turn. When his front bumper was at the very left corner of my front bumper, I blew my horn. </div><div><br></div><div>He looked at me with disdain and proceeded to become quite animated--middle finger and all--until he was abruptly startled by the 18 wheeler hauling ass in the opposite lane beside mine. </div><div><br></div><div>The middle finger instantly lowered once the guy realized I had stopped him from getting T-boned by a speeding semi truck. The disdain was replaced by thanks and gratitude. </div><div><br></div><div>Completing the left turn, he stopped and rolled down his window. He apologized repeatedly and thanked me profusely. </div><div><br></div><div>The price of a new pair of underwear was certainly cheaper than a T-bone. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-70850567476282523782014-11-18T18:55:00.000-08:002015-06-29T08:57:22.265-07:00How big is BIG? I’ve found that people have trouble with large numbers. I don’t mean numbers up to one million. I think everyone has some frame of reference to what a million is. For example, a high-end Mercedes costs about $100,000. So I could buy 10 of them with $1,000,000. I could also buy three $330,000 homes for $1,000,000.<br />
<br />
But I’m not talking about one million…<br />
<br />
With all the yada yada about Baker Hughes and Halliburton going on, I thought I’d put things into perspective—into terms and analogies most folks can grasp.<br />
<br />
Baker Hughes has a market cap of $27.5 billion. Market cap…or market capitalization…is the total dollar market value of all of a company's outstanding shares. It’s a pretty easy number to calculate, but the calculation is irrelevant to this post. The $27.5 billion is what I want you to keep in mind.<br />
<br />
Now let’s look at Halliburton. It has a market cap of $41.1 billion.<br />
<br />
If I add the market value of BHI and HAL, I end up with a total dollar market value of $68.6 billion. Sounds like a lot of money, right?<br />
<br />
But exactly how big is $68.6 billion? Well, I know it’s this big:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">$68,600,000,000.00</span></div>
<br />
That’s pretty big. But it really doesn’t put things into perspective.<br />
<br />
To help wrap your head around $68.6 billion, let’s consider the $100,000 Mercedes I mentioned earlier. With $68.6 billion, you could buy 686,000 of them. That is not a typo.<br />
<br />
What about the $330,000 house? Turns out you could buy 207,878 houses if you had $68.6 billion. If you lived to be 80 years old, you would have to visit seven of your houses every day of your life to see them all.<br />
<br />
Or how about this? The average person's stride length is approximately two-and-a-half feet long. That means it takes more than 2,000 steps to walk one mile. If you were to take 68.6 billion steps, you’d walk more than 34,300,000 miles. To put that into perspective, the distance around the earth is 24,859.82 miles. If you took 68.6 billion steps, it would be like walking around the earth 1,380 times.<br />
<br />
What if I gave you $68.6 billion in one-dollar bills? If you counted $1 per second every second of every day (<i>no breaks…just counting 24/7</i>), how long do you think it would take you to count all 68.6 billion one-dollar bills?<br />
<br />
[<i>insert dramatic pause here…</i>]<br />
<br />
It would take you more than 2,175 years to count them all.<br />
<br />
And let’s say as you were counting all of the one-dollar bills you stacked them neatly on top of one another. How high would a stack of 68.6 billion one-dollar bills be? Well, you’d need quite a ladder to stack them all, because your stack of one-dollar bills would be more than 3,789 miles high. Yes, miles.<br />
<br />
And if you didn’t want to stack all the money, you could give it away. If you had $68.6 billion, you could give every person in the world…and I mean all 7.125 billion people on the earth… $9.63.<br />
<br />
Just give me a $10—you won’t have to count ones…and what’s 37 cents in the grand scheme of things anyway?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-9111895000103115092014-04-15T14:40:00.001-07:002015-04-01T17:44:43.838-07:00100 - 94 = 6<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_C6LiDjT14I/U02jfIluoRI/AAAAAAAANQ8/5ERRt4eNTsQ/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_C6LiDjT14I/U02jfIluoRI/AAAAAAAANQ8/5ERRt4eNTsQ/s1600/14+-+1" height="320" width="240"></a>So let's say your wife gets several packs of card stock. And let's say there are supposed to be 100 sheets in each pack. Let's say your wife is suspicious that there are not 100 sheets in each pack and counts the total number of sheets in the first pack. Let's say there are only 94 sheets. Given my experience, I think it would be safe to assume your wife will not be happy.<br>
<br>
And now let's say your unhappy wife asks you to help her count the number of sheets in the remaining packs. What do you do? How can you show your support? How can you exceed her expectations in a situation like this? <div><br></div><div>The answer to this is so obvious I'm surprised I even have to tell you. But it turns out some wives think you're supposed to literally help her count the sheets in each pack...as in 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. And believe it or not, I found out there are guys out there that agree.<br>
<br>
Are you kidding me? Is that how you exceed your wife's expectations? <br>
<br>
So let me detail the blindingly obvious solution so everyone is on the same page.<br>
<br>
OK husbands, here is what you do:<br>
<br>
Go to the garage and get your dial calipers.<div>
<br>Turn on the air compressor, wait for it to build up pressure, and then blow any dust off of the dial calipers with the air hose.</div>
<div>
<br>Get a micro-fiber towel and apply a very light coat of machinist's oil to the towel and lightly wipe down the calipers.</div>
<div>
<br>Next, completely close the calipers and check the zero reading. If the calipers are not reading zero, recalibrate the calipers to ensure the initial reading is zero (you might need to do this a couple of times).</div>
<div>
<br>Once your calipers are ready, go back into the house and listen to your wife tell you to "forget it"...she's "already counted the remaining packages." Knowing she is just saying that because she knows you have many other things to do and doesn't want to bother you, you completely ignore her and measure the thickness of one sheet of card stock.<br>
<br>
"0.016 inches." you tell your wife. She will stare at you with a face that clearly says 'Oh wow..please tell me more!' Use this opportunity to explain the process to her so she understands exactly what to do in case this happens in the future and you're not there to help her.<br>
<br>
As you measure the thickness of the entire stack of cards in the package, explain to her that if there are 100 sheets, the dial calipers will read 1.6 inches. If the measurement is less than 1.6 inches, tell her the math is easy enough. I found providing a written example left her speechless. <br>
<br>
You may understand better if I share the remaining steps from my personal experience. I think it also adds credibility knowing I have already been through this exercise...<br>
<br>
As I was coming back down the stairs with the piece of paper from the upstairs office printer, I started explaining how the first stack measured 1.44 inches. Then I scribbled out the following while giving a verbal explanation of what I was doing...<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1.6" - 1.44" = 0.16"</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">0.16" / 0 .016" per sheet = 10 sheets.</span><br>
<br>
I explained to her the pack was short 10 sheets. Her words, "I know!" filled my heart with joy. I was so happy to hear she understood what I was saying. And I knew she understood, because as she walked into the other room she said, "Yeah...I got it."<br>
<br>
So I measured the next pack and ran the calculations. I yelled, "This second pack is short 6 sheets." <br>
Her loving voice came back with, "Yeah, I know. I already counted the sheets in that pack."<br>
"Oh...", I said. "Well, you were right!" I called back to her. She said something, but I wasn't quite able to hear it clearly. It sounded like "No dip, ducking genius." Since I could clearly make out the word "genius", I knew she approved.<br>
<br>
When I began to measure the third and final stack, my wife said, "I bet it's short 6 as well." as she walked by me towards the bathroom to get something out of her eyes. I noticed earlier her eyes were bothering her because she rolled them back into her head a few times.<br>
Well, interestingly enough, after my measuring and calculating, she was right! It was short 6 sheets. Unbelievable! Unbeknownst to me, I taught her how to use her eyes as calipers! I mean, she just looked at the last stack and knew it was short 6 sheets. And she was so confident in her abilities, she wanted me to throw the calipers away. She called out from the bathroom, "...stick the calipers in the grass." ...or something like that. <br>
<br>
So there you go, husbands. If after all that your wife is not obviously happier, show her how to use a micrometer to solve the same problem in case the calipers are broken. I cannot tell you how much my wife appreciated that (<i>because she left while I was out in the garage waiting on the air compressor to build up pressure again...</i>).</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-14912829283166286992012-10-10T16:05:00.003-07:002012-10-10T16:44:24.098-07:00The Macaroni MooseWhat's better than opening a bag of macaroni and having it tear open and throw the noodles all over your kitchen?<br />
Nothing.<br />
No...wait...<br />
...having your nine-month-old 115-pound "moose" start gobbling up the raw macaroni before you can sweep it up.<br />
Yes, that's better.<br />
No...wait...<br />
...having the water boil over while fighting your 115-pound "moose" for the fallen macaroni. Yes, that's better.<br />
No...wait...<br />
...stepping in dog saliva in bare feet from where your 115-pound "moose" licked and drooled all over the floor while you scrambled to turn down the stove.<br />
Yes, my friends, that is indeed better. Dare I say, the best!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-53215457290595259342012-07-21T08:54:00.001-07:002012-07-21T08:54:40.246-07:00LAWD! HE BIG!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"OH LAWD! Yo dog BIG!</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He nice?"<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"He can be..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Lawd, look at them fools. I gots five chilrens, and them two the onliest ones scared of a dog. You believe that? </div>
<div>
What kind of dog is that?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"He's a Rhodesian Ridgeback..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"A what?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"A Rhodesian Ridgeback..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Lawd, he big! How big he gonna get?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Well, he's 103 pounds right now, but he's only seven months old, so...."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"OH LAWD! You hear he say? He say that dog seven months old! </div>
<div>
LAWD! </div>
<div>
Look at them feet! </div>
<div>
Now what kind of dog he is again?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"A Rhodesian Ridgeback..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Well, he sure pretty. But Lawd, he big!"</div>
<div>
"Come on you fraidy cats; let's go!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"But Mama!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You see me here pettin' this dog. He sweet. NOW COME ON!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
"But Mama!"</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div>
"I'm fixing to leave they ass...scared of a sweet dog. You believe that?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Well, we'll stand over here so your kids can go around..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You oughts to just let him off the leash...</div>
<div>
I SAID COME ON...and that's the last time I'm gonna say it too! </div>
<div>
<i>You best believe that! Over an ol' sweet dog... Lawd!</i></div>
</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"They ain't no snakes down there is there?"</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"No ma'am. I didn't see any..."</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com1W White Oak Bayou Trail, Houston, TX 77018, USA29.8203175 -95.449309529.8134295 -95.45918 29.8272055 -95.439439tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-45016129840433497362012-02-05T20:33:00.001-08:002013-10-02T09:45:01.723-07:00Free Ice CreamToday William and I sold Boy Scout Fair Coupon Books at the Kroger at Echo Lane and I-10. For a couple of hours in the frigid afternoon air, we greeted a steady flow of shoppers from all walks of life. One by one we asked them if they would be interested in buying a coupon book to support the Boy Scouts of America. The coupon book is actually a good deal--for $10 you get $400 worth of coupons to Kroger, Luby’s, McDonalds, James Coney Island, and several other Houston businesses. The three Scouts working this particular Kroger were quite anxious to tell the passersby that the coupon for free Blue Bell ice cream could be used immediately!<br />
<br />
At some point during our afternoon sales shift from 2:00 to 4:00, we had a nice woman (though she bordered on obnoxious) donate $50 to William! She said she wasn't from Houston, but wanted to help the Boy Scouts. As she rambled incessantly about Boy Scouts, Kansas, and fast food, we thanked her for her generosity.<br />
<br />
William was a coupon-book-selling machine. It didn’t matter who walked into the store--moms, dads, grandparents, college students, the security guard, the cashier on her smoke break...even the acne-faced teenager wearing his blue Kroger vest gathering the shopping carts from the parking lot--everyone was given an opportunity to buy $400 worth of coupons for $10! And it didn’t matter if William asked the person when they walked into the store...he asked them again when they walked out--just in case they wanted to buy a second coupon book!<br />
<br />
William approached one particular older woman who was wearing a faded and tattered sweatsuit. A lace on her once-white shoes was broken. It appeared her green and orange wool socks had been in the washing machine many times. <br />
"Excuse me?” William’s little voice called out her. “Would you like to support the Boy Scouts by buying a coupon book for $10? It has free ice cream!”<br />
Her apologetic eyes met mine. I wanted to look away. I didn’t. I expected more of what I’d heard many times earlier, ‘Not right now.’<br />
I even had my standard response ready, ‘That’s OK, have a great day!’<br />
In a voice spoken soft enough for only me to hear, she said, “I’m sorry; I cannot afford $10.” <br />
I watched her as she dug through her well-aged handbag. Seconds later, her age-spotted hand emerged from the bag clinching a one-dollar bill and various scraps of paper.<br />
“Do you accept donations? Would it be all right if I donated a dollar?”<br />
As I took the coupon book from William and slipped it into one of the plastic Kroger bags in her cart, I said, “That’s very kind of you, but you keep that dollar. And you keep this coupon book too.”<br />
My hand had not even released the coupon book before tears were visible on her pale cheeks. The appreciative smile on her face said everything her voice could not. As she looked down at William, he smiled and said, “There’s a coupon for free ice cream in there too!”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-19719394749821759862012-01-24T14:29:00.000-08:002016-01-18T09:46:46.926-08:00The ChairMy appointment was for 2:00. As I glance up to look at the over-priced clock, I realize my ass hurts from the uncomfortable waiting-room chair. I also realize it's 2:48.<br>
<br>
Interestingly--though no shocker to you--if I'm 48 minutes late to an appointment, I have to reschedule. Part of the rescheduling process involves me explaining that it's raining, and Houstonians suck at driving in the rain, and I shouldn't have to pay for a visit!<br>
...but not today. No, today I was here at 1:55. Rain and all.<br>
<br>
It's 2:51.<br>
<br>
My doctor recognizes me as he casts a warm smile my way and calls "John Somethingoranother" to come back.<br>
"Mallin. It's Bill Mallin." It doesn't even sound like "John Somethingoranother." UGH!<br>
<br>
I cannot see the clock this time. I even leaned to the right to stretch my back. Stupid chair. I hate this chair.<br>
<br>
Perhaps I should join the over-weight lady wearing black leggings and hoolahoop earrings. She's bitching at the emotionally detatched receptionist. She's also blocking my view of the clock.<br>
<br>
I hate this chair.<br>
<br>
I hate that the lady directly across from me is deaf. I know she's deaf because the volume of the Mexican soap opera she's watching on her phone cannot possibly be turned up any louder. I hate Mexican soap operas.<br>
<br>
There are 27 lights in the ceiling. There are four speakers, eight A/C vents, three sprinkler heads...<div><br></div><div>I hate this chair. </div><div><br></div><div>Hoolahoop ears is walking this way eyeing the chair next to mine...HOLY MOTHER OF GOD...IS THAT PERFUME? Please go block the clock again!<br>
<br>
It's 3:06.<br>
3:07<br>
3:07:30<br>
3:07:47<br>
...<br>
<br>
It's 3:12:13.<br>
<br>
Stinky has just informed the deaf girl she has beautiful hair.<br>
My nostrils burn.<br>
Felix is apparently going to leave Maria (<i>or so I gather from my limited Spanish</i>).<br>
John Somethingoranother apparently has a major illness.<br>
Deaf girl does not have beautiful hair.<br>
My ass hurts.<br>
I hate this chair.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-52701211501046758622010-08-21T07:28:00.000-07:002010-08-21T07:28:45.190-07:00Some stats from my running...<div style="font-family: Verdana;">This is some interesting information, at least to me...I've been using a Garmin GPS type watch to record a lot of my running…for my last 79 runs to be exact...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana;">(here's where the engineer in my raises its head...)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the last 79 recorded runs, I've:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><ul><li>covered over 313.40 miles </li>
<li>ran a total of 48 hours, 54 minutes and 8 seconds</li>
<li>climbed over 60,778 ft (and descended an equal amount, obviously)</li>
<li>had an average HR of 166 bpm and an average maximum HR of 190 bpm</li>
<li>burned 36,049 Calories</li>
<li>averaged 3.97 miles on each run</li>
<li>had a maximum run distance of 11.12 miles</li>
<li>had an average running time of 37 minutes and 8 seconds per run</li>
<li>and ran for 1 hour, 40 minutes and 55 seconds straight at one point.</li>
</ul></div><div style="font-family: Verdana;">If this link works, you should be able to see the all of the activities (running, cycling, etc.):</div><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=nb-oms">http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=nb-oms</a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm surprised I'm not faster and healthier! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-54146028684795296572010-07-03T17:12:00.000-07:002010-07-03T17:24:13.215-07:00Magnolia Marc's 1996 Proflex AttackI helped my Buddy, Magnolia Marc, restore his old 1996 Proflex Attack. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd3DpxjMkRcgTpQRLG7nsALTkl0XmNIH57bX9qsFb19rfoJFby3XW59XVkO1CsfUr-rxsV3ZewfDaor-rT9GBzj7xZmW7Mw4hUY_JsDRuZ9D52hHy5x5Vrv6YrIA-jLalMp65/s1600/Marcs_Attack7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd3DpxjMkRcgTpQRLG7nsALTkl0XmNIH57bX9qsFb19rfoJFby3XW59XVkO1CsfUr-rxsV3ZewfDaor-rT9GBzj7xZmW7Mw4hUY_JsDRuZ9D52hHy5x5Vrv6YrIA-jLalMp65/s400/Marcs_Attack7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If you like old bikes... check it out...<br />
<a href="http://billsbike.blogspot.com/">http://billsbike.blogspot.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-82454306262324598782010-06-19T12:23:00.000-07:002012-02-05T20:40:53.122-08:00Juneteenth - Olivewood CemeterySpecial Ed, Magnolia Marc and I went on a photo safari this morning. Our plan was to shoot old abandoned buildings, which we did later in the day, but we started off at Olivewood Cemetery.<br />
<br />
Olivewood Cemetery lies near a bend in White Oak Bayou, along the rail line to Chaney Junction, where the First and Sixth wards meet just northwest of downtown. The 6-acre cemetery is a historic resting place for many freed slaves and some of Houston’s earliest black residents.<br />
<br />
In 1875, the land, which had previously been used for slave burials, was purchased by Richard Brock, Houston's first black alderman. It opened as a cemetery for black Methodists in 1877. When Olivewood was platted, it was the first African-Americans burial ground within the Houston city limits. The cemetery contains graves of both the well-to-do and those who died in poverty; therefore, the grave markers run the gamut from elaborate Victorian monuments to simple, handmade headstones. Burials at Olivewood Cemetery continued through the 1960s.<br />
<br />
While we were out there, an archeologist showed up and said he was doing some historic research. He said there would be a crowd of folks out later in the day given that today is Juneteenth. He was part of a non-profit group called "Decedents of Olivewood." He told us that the site was supposed to contain 440 graves, but his research over the last nine years has revealed there are more than 800 graves at the site.<br />
<br />
Even though the Decedents of Olivewood was established to take guardianship of the cemetery, decades of neglect and abandonment are evident. Water and vandals have damaged many of the graves, and at the back of the cemetery many of the graves are hardly visible because of the overgrowth and disregard.<br />
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Sad.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-40145876665184565902010-05-23T08:59:00.000-07:002012-01-24T18:40:49.168-08:00Gang colors... there goes the neighborhood!Stepping out on the porch this morning, I was surprised to see a brown anole flashing his gang colors at me! If you’ve not seen a brown anole, they are much more tolerant of humans than the green anoles typically seen in our neighborhood. <br />
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Since he didn’t seem like he was in a hurry to go anywhere, I went back inside and grabbed my camera. He waited.<br />
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This particular brown anole is a male. Males are brown and speckled; females have diamond-shaped patterns. This fella is also a mature male as evidenced by the crest-like ridge along his back. <br />
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When I started taking his picture, he was quite the true professional. Brown anoles get used to humans; you can typically get really close to them if you move slowly. I was able to get the lens within a foot of him, and he only flinched at the clicking sound of the camera’s shutter. I guess he thought he was going to be on the cover of National Geographic.<br />
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After shooting a few pictures of him on the stone, he hopped into the bushes and began the characteristic head bobbing. Then he displayed his yellow-trimmed, red-orange dewlap for the camera lens. I had to turn the ISO up to 1250 because of the poor lighting in the bushes, so there’s a little noise in the dewlap portraits, but he’s still a handsome fella.<br />
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He won’t make the cover of National Geographic, but I trust you will appreciate his dashing looks and flamboyant display.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-86846612597967444892010-05-15T18:15:00.000-07:002012-04-18T18:22:13.249-07:00You're not the boss of me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The first words out of William's mouth most Saturday and Sunday mornings are similar to the following, "Daddy, can I play the Wii?"<br />
<br />
William is five. He loves the Wii. Emily, seven, also loves the Wii, but she doesn't have the same level of obsession with the Wii as her younger brother.<br />
<br />
More frequently than not, playing the Wii becomes a problem. And typically the problem is one of two things...<br />
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For the first 15 minutes or so after the Wii is powered up, Emily and William work as a team while playing Lego Star Wars. At some point a decision has to be made about what door to open or who gets to be what Star Wars character. Then it happens--yelling, screaming, stomping... "YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!!!" William is in tears and Emily decides she doesn't want to play anymore anyway!<br />
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The other "thing" that happens is the result of too much Wii. If William plays the Wii for too long, turning the Wii off typically results in a meltdown. William cries and cries and cries...and between the tears he reminds me that he never gets to play the Wii, and "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!"<br />
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<i>Perhaps a third "thing" is my inability to manage Wii time, but clearly that subject would require more self assessment than I'm willing to dedicate to it at this particular moment...</i><br />
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<i>Santa needs his ass kicked for putting the Wii under the tree in the first place. Fat bastard.</i><br />
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So while having dinner at IHOP tonight (yeah, don't even ask...you can think it, just don't ask it...), William says, "Daddy, can we play the Wii tomorrow?"<br />
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<i>Seriously? Are you f'ing kidding me?</i><br />
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Thoroughly annoyed, I try to use some parenting skills that don't involve the words, <i>"I'm going to throw that Wii in the trash!"</i><br />
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Finally, I got it!<br />
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"William..." I say, "I think you play too much Wii; that seems to be all you want to do. What's something you could do tomorrow besides playing the Wii?"<br />
<br />
William looked at me intently...he gave the matter serious thought for a good 15 seconds...carefully he chose his words before proclaiming, "I know, Daddy!...I could watch TV!"<br />
<br />
<i>Shit.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-29445275069863086212010-05-15T12:39:00.000-07:002012-01-24T18:44:51.005-08:00Horrible 18-wheeler accident on I-10...An 18-wheeler crashed on I-10 in Houston today...right at I-45 and I-10. The crash must have happened around lunch time.<br />
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The following are the pictures I took after I drove up on the HOV overpass lane to look down on the scene...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRRwbua1QH_Rrzxw_3EzTgmPwJiUBQ9V1Re7W50ztt3MZJ9VQuqh8hyphenhyphenINmQcZbgZ4Ic7cNrrCO4a8fdLW5gCTKMhdSiSBM2lX7XD95x06l18O6AC_HxO-pmB9zPkql-0EZTfZ/s1600/truckcrash_I106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRRwbua1QH_Rrzxw_3EzTgmPwJiUBQ9V1Re7W50ztt3MZJ9VQuqh8hyphenhyphenINmQcZbgZ4Ic7cNrrCO4a8fdLW5gCTKMhdSiSBM2lX7XD95x06l18O6AC_HxO-pmB9zPkql-0EZTfZ/s640/truckcrash_I106.jpg" width="424" /></a><br />
<br />
More...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iwSxaY9nBM_8ga7I-2kgm2GlT6eb3mF9l7PjqHSKdmRB9rYdl2NqcW2TNh93Vw5QoYMbIxPVI-4iGyTt3ThK507uBzpuB7VrMTg2k-YdDQ3p_dkCzYPdZCARnEpKzg_ZDw1T/s1600/truckcrash_I10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iwSxaY9nBM_8ga7I-2kgm2GlT6eb3mF9l7PjqHSKdmRB9rYdl2NqcW2TNh93Vw5QoYMbIxPVI-4iGyTt3ThK507uBzpuB7VrMTg2k-YdDQ3p_dkCzYPdZCARnEpKzg_ZDw1T/s640/truckcrash_I10.jpg" width="424" /></a><br />
And a look from the other direction<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCkUX1jRliJvEHG-6GfPwuGnNyMMpnkgfHQpjishuLczcVSQ88izt-9vDEwxKQEJaSBq5AluR6aVMDkpaxfoUIItcNCRzijeCjnb3r3ez3kor-lWGA9Nsj4Wo44X0OjWtKZNx/s1600/truckcrash_I101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCkUX1jRliJvEHG-6GfPwuGnNyMMpnkgfHQpjishuLczcVSQ88izt-9vDEwxKQEJaSBq5AluR6aVMDkpaxfoUIItcNCRzijeCjnb3r3ez3kor-lWGA9Nsj4Wo44X0OjWtKZNx/s400/truckcrash_I101.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Part of the hood...and the turbo charger<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MMRew068dpQuywMdyggtVYhFbvlX_H0DIdsi2yfBY6aRZmG2qeclgdBFWNBPyh6lmmzK8ZgrJLIuZ0OGCPJEJ6PINLum8FVWhBhr266-lj5ZDnVNyT12U0TbIdKypDDTeY6o/s1600/truckcrash_I103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MMRew068dpQuywMdyggtVYhFbvlX_H0DIdsi2yfBY6aRZmG2qeclgdBFWNBPyh6lmmzK8ZgrJLIuZ0OGCPJEJ6PINLum8FVWhBhr266-lj5ZDnVNyT12U0TbIdKypDDTeY6o/s400/truckcrash_I103.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
He's alive!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNGGYuHYFFVwhWJpNUzx9vFSBWUlQSgNIC2DkMIGfNicZz9dHPzmUH_3TeUT43tVeDzsvGXSBQkcEY8_X1xdZ9Q8401r3Xkuz6GrbjeUbqMfz_D3cF9GsLA6BE8FmhLffwoYJ/s1600/truckcrash_I104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNGGYuHYFFVwhWJpNUzx9vFSBWUlQSgNIC2DkMIGfNicZz9dHPzmUH_3TeUT43tVeDzsvGXSBQkcEY8_X1xdZ9Q8401r3Xkuz6GrbjeUbqMfz_D3cF9GsLA6BE8FmhLffwoYJ/s640/truckcrash_I104.jpg" width="425" /></a><br />
The upper part of the cab and the driver being loaded into the ambulance<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0N6tiEXISGYiVQ0TWBJTJo9Fn_JZCZI8O2FfvU6Exa0LlHVwSnp4hi_u0ByvUoTBa2zwFeMAks0RtyfLkh77uxRrp_JVuDzUk6sO8-6a3KEJKU30gEARuU9CFNczAW6KM-rR/s1600/truckcrash_I107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0N6tiEXISGYiVQ0TWBJTJo9Fn_JZCZI8O2FfvU6Exa0LlHVwSnp4hi_u0ByvUoTBa2zwFeMAks0RtyfLkh77uxRrp_JVuDzUk6sO8-6a3KEJKU30gEARuU9CFNczAW6KM-rR/s400/truckcrash_I107.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Here you can see the bottom of the tractor underneath the trailer...see the exhaust stack?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1gVzSmPpl_mqVTH0ENZRVP4q3BgTymVechdyE2t0PaogEcndsAi3EsLd_6OtTKDY1ElSPdXMHthPlCgWfzm6shNj1K28bbWeaFW29wnuwPx2pvJgAoEqFqKCcjEBbPaZJiiu/s1600/truckcrash_I105_arrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1gVzSmPpl_mqVTH0ENZRVP4q3BgTymVechdyE2t0PaogEcndsAi3EsLd_6OtTKDY1ElSPdXMHthPlCgWfzm6shNj1K28bbWeaFW29wnuwPx2pvJgAoEqFqKCcjEBbPaZJiiu/s640/truckcrash_I105_arrows.jpg" width="425" /></a><br />
Here's another look...<br />
you can see part of the cab under the trailer (blue arrow),<br />
the top of the cab (red arrow),<br />
and the hood (purple arrow).<br />
<br />
Damn!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-13412056335731920462009-12-19T08:39:00.000-08:002012-01-24T18:42:09.635-08:00The Best $2 You Can Spend!Some where at some time at some point I heard mention of a thing called a "marshmallow gun." Turns out you can make a mighty fine one for about $2!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBn_NEE5b5vrFLhdpkYKeo_sSi-cYvYiVrgacWL5KoLA4lywt3ZKbGjgMpguoXjy710TxYzsTv0De1xUKEz8lzmgjJuCUPQvvFwrAVIa70_ZJr43JeejPtI7Erih3fJ5VVnLN/s1600-h/marshmellow_gun1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBn_NEE5b5vrFLhdpkYKeo_sSi-cYvYiVrgacWL5KoLA4lywt3ZKbGjgMpguoXjy710TxYzsTv0De1xUKEz8lzmgjJuCUPQvvFwrAVIa70_ZJr43JeejPtI7Erih3fJ5VVnLN/s400/marshmellow_gun1.jpg" /></a></div>
Basically you need some 1/2-inch PVC and a few other bits. Get "Schedule 40" PVC... typically marked on the PVC as "SCH 40". It's the most common stuff you'll find at Home Depot. ...what I'm saying is don't buy sprinkler line or anything like that... just get SCH 40 PVC. You can buy a 10-foot length of 1/2-inch PVC from Home Depot for a dollar and change. A 10-foot length piece will yield five guns... or you can buy a 2-foot length of 1/2-inch PVC for $0.87, but clearly the 10-foot piece is the better deal. In addition to the 1/2-inch PVC, you need the following PVC pieces for each gun:<br />
<ul>
<li>2 - 1/2-inch "90s"</li>
<li>2 - 1/2-inch "Ts"</li>
<li>2 - 1/2-inch caps</li>
</ul>
For cutting the PVC, I used a PVC cutter (<i>because I happened to have one</i>). You could use a hacksaw, or something similar, but every house should have a PVC pipe cutter--it can cut hoses, PVC, rubber tubing, etc... and it's only <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100662400/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053">$13 from Home Depot</a>. It looks something like this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAw6TTxsjroiCLNIbdjlAylpGQuQ_X9MTugAJmdl_jFZHN3DjgRw5QKH9gw6aZBrQDBJhFj-s3w_9yENDkGXo3mbZkZ7wjzSjXqI5L03DgMV2_M4GBG4dXrwXkM4zD5TUX2k-/s1600-h/Screen+shot+2009-12-19+at+9.03.07+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAw6TTxsjroiCLNIbdjlAylpGQuQ_X9MTugAJmdl_jFZHN3DjgRw5QKH9gw6aZBrQDBJhFj-s3w_9yENDkGXo3mbZkZ7wjzSjXqI5L03DgMV2_M4GBG4dXrwXkM4zD5TUX2k-/s400/Screen+shot+2009-12-19+at+9.03.07+AM.png" /></a></div>
... and if you use a saw, you have "burs" you have to sand clean, yada yada... (<i>just buy a cutter... you'll use it for lots of things</i>).<br />
<br />
As I mentioned earlier, you can get five guns from a 10-foot length of PVC. To make things easier, cut a 2-foot length (24 inches) off the 10-foot piece. Take a tape measure and layout the following marks on the 2-foot piece PVC you just cut... 3"... 6"... 9"... 12".... 15"... and 19-1/2"... then cut the PVC at these marks with your PVC cutter. This will yield the following pieces:<br />
<ul>
<li>5 - 3-inch pieces</li>
<li>2 - 4-1/2-inch pieces</li>
</ul>
Now you're ready to assemble...<br />
<br />
I annotated this picture to show you where everything goes...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAKexsQOxzSlWFn8Gtown_hKVyOgoY2DAs4r-KodGDkFfa-Z4J6cQ_DHlnbAx-GyiIFvKpt8d29VZcPxCaW9Z7PdB3-HHM7_WZ6s3GZu5IHW54VDD-KBj7XgPkvXMsMSVfkK9/s1600-h/marshmellow_gun_measurements.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAKexsQOxzSlWFn8Gtown_hKVyOgoY2DAs4r-KodGDkFfa-Z4J6cQ_DHlnbAx-GyiIFvKpt8d29VZcPxCaW9Z7PdB3-HHM7_WZ6s3GZu5IHW54VDD-KBj7XgPkvXMsMSVfkK9/s400/marshmellow_gun_measurements.jpg" /></a></div>
Don't use any sort of glue... you don't need it... it's probably not safe to put in your mouth... and you'll need to disassemble the gun to either remove stuck marshmallows or to put the disassembled parts into the dishwasher from time to time to clean 'em.<br />
<br />
You "shoot" the gun by blowing into the open end of the 4-1/2" pipe. The most effective way to get the maximum "punch" from the gun is to load the marshmallow into the hole where you blow--just insert the marshmallow into the hole and push it in an inch or so... then BLOW! <b>Make sure you inhale prior to putting your mouth on the PVC</b> or you'll suck a marshmallow into your throat and risk death!<br />
<ol>
<li>The gun is pretty darned accurate for what it is!</li>
<li>A bag of bullets is super cheap!</li>
<li>Your dog will find and clean up any unfound bullets!</li>
<li>And most importantly... you get BIG smiles!</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx1CnmIMrV_IfphnID3d-3wes9wFgtM5yAawv8CQhsxgZrHSTpST8uLbn-rjZ853d4aYgEDZU0qKh1Ihyphenhyphenbicj-tzQztA-haUW37lxGHCivmFeAPydmF5eH_zDGlw-bMXmAnv-/s1600-h/marshmellow_gun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx1CnmIMrV_IfphnID3d-3wes9wFgtM5yAawv8CQhsxgZrHSTpST8uLbn-rjZ853d4aYgEDZU0qKh1Ihyphenhyphenbicj-tzQztA-haUW37lxGHCivmFeAPydmF5eH_zDGlw-bMXmAnv-/s400/marshmellow_gun2.jpg" /></a></div>
Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-62069615821068894322009-12-06T09:18:00.000-08:002012-02-05T20:40:29.366-08:00Details...I purchased a new book from Borders... because I had a 30% off coupon. The book is <i>Understanding Close-up Photography</i>. You can always learn something new... and I liked the title, since it said “close-up” instead of “macro.” If nothing else, it inspired me to get the camera out this morning and play around a bit. The following image is the result:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn02fSvqxDR9GBvLEWldX1Hjfa_ZbImKpxfHdY8RAs-OXdstlXGDAQThmHqmHBu1jSflpKkNAgBPx48aQb5G1SHjS2V4oBL2xppqToOrk12DSJxGLf-2eZFIjSWyQEn46g-i4/s1600-h/flower1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn02fSvqxDR9GBvLEWldX1Hjfa_ZbImKpxfHdY8RAs-OXdstlXGDAQThmHqmHBu1jSflpKkNAgBPx48aQb5G1SHjS2V4oBL2xppqToOrk12DSJxGLf-2eZFIjSWyQEn46g-i4/s400/flower1.jpg" /></a></div>
The image above was produced from the image below...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRvlglgebbhDXDJnLmWIco0yxa3jHSBqYoD-30iL2of5LvuiMSWPWDcEWCKLOQ3jAAJjem3npdaZxXWtVlJZm5_fqdNYKe0RyO3FRYVpxSUUidw7gmGsKJT_H6MFPcqT7f4rE/s1600-h/flower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRvlglgebbhDXDJnLmWIco0yxa3jHSBqYoD-30iL2of5LvuiMSWPWDcEWCKLOQ3jAAJjem3npdaZxXWtVlJZm5_fqdNYKe0RyO3FRYVpxSUUidw7gmGsKJT_H6MFPcqT7f4rE/s320/flower2.jpg" /></a></div>
I LOVE the details you see going in close. I don't think most folks typically take the time to “zoom” in...<br />
<br />
I added these pictures and more to the <i><a href="http://web.me.com/billmallin/photography/Local_Photography/Pages/Flowers.html">Flowers photo album</a></i> on <a href="http://BillMallinPhotography.com/">BillMallinPhotography.com</a> (you can find it <a href="http://web.me.com/billmallin/photography/Local_Photography/Pages/Flowers.html">here</a>).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-47265862898870424252009-11-08T08:25:00.000-08:002010-07-03T17:13:44.495-07:00My Hipster Bike is Complete!Following up on my post below about my Hipster bike...<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I completed it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt4ToJ8FVhKLDvT82tvwKE9YEQVWVf39Yoe3XjcWxCwp-cE9SLKhPatwUY_lMXD72JbpSrAHW9ZnhbYIJL3-HzEjcbR02DEr363dj1vAMLQ1URAdu0yX_SR-jn3OZifWA90SN9Q/s1600/601_ride6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt4ToJ8FVhKLDvT82tvwKE9YEQVWVf39Yoe3XjcWxCwp-cE9SLKhPatwUY_lMXD72JbpSrAHW9ZnhbYIJL3-HzEjcbR02DEr363dj1vAMLQ1URAdu0yX_SR-jn3OZifWA90SN9Q/s400/601_ride6.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Mas details, etc. can be found here: <a href="http://billsbike.blogspot.com/">http://billsbike.blogspot.com/</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-26832309667355585442009-10-25T14:40:00.000-07:002009-10-25T14:43:20.723-07:00Two Pie Are...I ran today... first time I've done so since I hurt my foot. Like a good patient, I've stayed off of it since my last run on September 30. <br />
<br />
I ran 9.01 miles just under an hour and 20 minutes. If'n you're interested in the run, you can find the yada yada about it here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/17084336">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/17084336</a>.<br />
<br />
I don't usually run the loop at Memorial Park, but I decided I would today... in case my foot started acting up, I'd be no more than a mile and a half away from the car. The loop is three miles. At least that's what everyone says, but in reality, it's about 2.9 miles (according to my Garmin 305, that is). <br />
<br />
I ran one loop clockwise... one counterclockwise... and the final one clockwise. (Of course I had to run a little more than three loops to get my nine miles).<br />
<br />
Anyway, during my run, I noticed a sign that said, "Stay to the right." Well, if you're running clockwise, that puts you on the inside of the loop, and obviously running counterclockwise puts you on the outside of the loop.<br />
<br />
Since I had all of this random information in my head, I wondered how much further you ran if you ran counterclockwise (on the outside of the loop) as opposed to running clockwise (on the inside of the loop). I said to myself, "Self, you should calculate that when you get home." Followed by, "You really are a dork!"<br />
<br />
Well, dork or not, I calculated it...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltss8dyO-m9PERd5tzyIyiMR17tnLr6Szv1Kr1dpYXGl5JvoOcsEv1q-EWU8THZIhvoNYH3qshGoH6N47dCqISmG2DFUGQ24D_q98Ba-5jq0FqYCqN-hVvWax_unlG1Bb2wSz/s1600-h/loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltss8dyO-m9PERd5tzyIyiMR17tnLr6Szv1Kr1dpYXGl5JvoOcsEv1q-EWU8THZIhvoNYH3qshGoH6N47dCqISmG2DFUGQ24D_q98Ba-5jq0FqYCqN-hVvWax_unlG1Bb2wSz/s640/loop.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
The following are some assumptions and some constants:<br />
<ul><li>the width of the trail is 12 feet</li>
<li>the loop is a circle</li>
<li>you run clockwise on the inside of the path for the entire loop</li>
<li>you run counterclockwise on the outside of the path for the entire loop</li>
<li>π = 3.14159</li>
<li>the formula for the circumference (C) of a circle is C = 2πr, where r = radius</li>
<li>there are 5,280 feet in a mile</li>
</ul>(<i>I sure hope you appreciate the accuracy of these calculations!!!</i>)<br />
<br />
We know the circumference of the inner circle--3 miles.<br />
3 = 2πr<br />
so r = 3/2π<br />
Plug in the numbers...<br />
r = 0.477464829821269 miles, or if we convert it to feet we get r = 2521.0143014563 feet.<br />
<br />
Since we assumed the trail is 12 feet wide, that makes the radius of the outer trail 2521.0143014563 + 12 feet, or 2533.0143014563 feet.<br />
<br />
Well, now it's simple to solve for the circumference of the outer circle...<br />
As before...<br />
C = 2πr; therefore,<br />
C = 2π(2533.0143014563)<br />
C = 15915.3982236 feet<br />
And since we know there are 5,280 feet in a mile, the outer circumference is 3.01427996659091 miles.<br />
<br />
That's a difference of 0.01427996659091 miles... or 75.3982235999985 feet. if we think about it in football terms, that's equivalent to 25.1327411999995 yards. <br />
<br />
And let's say you run 9 minute miles... running counterclockwise will take you 0.128519699318179 minutes... or an additional 7.71118195909075 seconds! The following table lists some pace times and the additional time it'll take you to make it around:<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pace </b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(mins/mile)<br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Extra time </b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(seconds)<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;">7 <br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;">6.0<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;">8<br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;">6.9<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;">9<br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;">7.7<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;">10<br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;">8.6<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;">11<br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;">9.4<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;">12<br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;">10.3<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div style="text-align: center;">20<br />
</div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;">17.1<br />
</div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So if you want to save 7 or 8 seconds, run clockwise on the inside of the path!<br />
<br />
DORK!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-33975557201097134352009-10-03T16:26:00.000-07:002009-10-05T07:14:48.389-07:00My Hipster Bike Project!I have a new project... a Hipster Bike...<br />
<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLqROQwnrhCZ-o33CDBYX37s44wu8Du09cjJ6qn0c_Mu_xgyCAgDuTSEHDvylNimXm_nQgyHGKAOybssPqxjYoL0x92xYDZiAWKvc0OcAL0th-6q1m70JouOvlXjZ6aVgf36uIQ/s1600-h/hipster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLqROQwnrhCZ-o33CDBYX37s44wu8Du09cjJ6qn0c_Mu_xgyCAgDuTSEHDvylNimXm_nQgyHGKAOybssPqxjYoL0x92xYDZiAWKvc0OcAL0th-6q1m70JouOvlXjZ6aVgf36uIQ/s400/hipster.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I created a blog for it... here: <a href="http://billsbike.blogspot.com/">http://billsbike.blogspot.com/</a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">:-)<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-28371407550477238942009-09-22T18:51:00.000-07:002012-04-18T18:22:37.788-07:00Piss Away $20.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWxXHcfOjMVqz5MiXos7t-13vtlba7EWL-Oy7L5U_kzRnPvNfXqjmisqAc_BNpOTvc2VbeRJn2_iNo2l278m09tbs8WyV_LNBveFrCMdmfKrIjsXOBUOXdym28ySb5d3XRIya/s1600-h/stagespowerwalle12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWxXHcfOjMVqz5MiXos7t-13vtlba7EWL-Oy7L5U_kzRnPvNfXqjmisqAc_BNpOTvc2VbeRJn2_iNo2l278m09tbs8WyV_LNBveFrCMdmfKrIjsXOBUOXdym28ySb5d3XRIya/s320/stagespowerwalle12.jpg" /></a></div>
Think back to when you were a kid. What was the most exciting part about going to the dentist...assuming there is an “exciting part” lodged in your memory? Ask me, and I will tell you it was getting the new toothbrush!<br />
<br />
Today my kids went to the dentist.<br />
<br />
The toothbrushes they received were a lot nicer than ones I got when I was a little kid. The toothbrushes I got were emblazoned with the dentist’s name and logo, and aside from being new, that was about it.<br />
<br />
My son’s new toothbrush was perfectly sized for a four-year-old hand. The dentist’s name and logo had been replaced with a picture of a boy kicking a soccer ball. The affinity my son had for the toothbrush could not be contained; he had to show it to me immediately!<br />
<br />
Clearly my “tinkling” (<i>as my daughter calls it</i>) into the potty made no difference in my ability to look at his new toothbrush as my son proudly held it up for my inspection.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Green</span>. I saw that it was a green toothbrush…right before it fell into the toilet. The same toilet I was "tinkling" in (<i>the picture of the boy kicking the soccer ball was a detail I would later discover…</i>).<br />
<br />
He tried to be strong, “That’s OK, Daddy… it’s OK.” But the tears were coming too fast, and the uncontrollable crying quickly ensued.<br />
<br />
Well, it seemed to me the issue could be solved by putting the toothbrush in the dishwasher. I even mentioned to my wife this was the obvious solution. Little did I know this was not acceptable. And I was able to figure this out without the word “no” actually being spoken. Seems “No!” can be conveyed with a certain look…<br />
<br />
Five minutes later, my son and I were in Walgreens looking at new toothbrushes. “I like this one, Daddy.” 'This one' happened to be an electric Wall-e toothbrush.<br />
<br />
So now I had another problem (<i>well, the green toothbrush was still in the toilet, but in addition to that</i>)… Clearly I could not go home with a new electric toothbrush for my son and nothing for my daughter. She did tell me she wanted a package of Starburst candy as my son and I were heading out the door. I thought I could get a three-dollar toothbrush and a packet of Starburst and all would be good…right.<br />
<br />
I wasn’t about to tell my son he couldn’t have the Wall-e toothbrush…I mean, come on…his green toothbrush was floating in the toilet.<br />
“OK William, that’s a good one.”<br />
<br />
I placed the Wall-e electric toothbrush...and the Ariel Disney character electric toothbrush...and the two packages of Starburst candy on the counter.<br />
“$20?” “Really?”<br />
“Credit or debit?”<br />
<br />
During the ride home, it never entered my head that electric toothbrushes for a four- and six-year old might not be appropriate. It turns out “<i>Why do they need to when they have electric toothbrushes?</i>” is not the appropriate response to “<i>How are they going to learn to brush their teeth with a regular toothbrush now that you bought these?</i>”<br />
<br />
Ugh!<br />
<br />
And the green toothbrush was still floating in piss.<br />
<br />
Damn it.<br />
<br />
I figured since it wasn’t a good idea to put the toothbrush in the dishwasher, it probably wasn’t a good idea to use the kitchen tongs to retrieve the toothbrush from the toilet...I did think about it though...I thought it better not to even ask.<br />
<br />
So it turns out the little bags used to clean up after my dog work equally well for removing toothbrushes from the toilet. The irony.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-15161665268645660202009-07-02T11:57:00.000-07:002012-01-24T18:38:27.247-08:00It's About Time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5isixhd-HDF8gt4CEnyWBN5xJ48oex499ZhId7NoUsIJYVmrYVAMLn7221hmYJ-gpB4Hs-0o4YfZfOXD_lf9iR5edTSzjD9PN30kQ-8tPRdKoEQ2Wp6VunXjjtwkMInEAbkW/s1600-h/watches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5isixhd-HDF8gt4CEnyWBN5xJ48oex499ZhId7NoUsIJYVmrYVAMLn7221hmYJ-gpB4Hs-0o4YfZfOXD_lf9iR5edTSzjD9PN30kQ-8tPRdKoEQ2Wp6VunXjjtwkMInEAbkW/s200/watches.jpg" /></a></div>
Omega. James Bond wears one. Cindy Crawford wears one too. I reckon I got Seamaster prior to seeing 007 or the former supermodel sporting theirs. It was a graduation present to myself after completing grad school with honors no less!<br />
<br />
I saw the retail price of the Omega Seamaster is now $2,000, though it appears they are frequently on sale for $1,500ish. I damned sure didn’t pay that in 2000 when I got mine; I guess I spent a little less than a grand on it at the time. It seems to have been a wise investment on my part–that is, <i>as long as someone would be willing to give me more than I paid for it.</i><br />
<br />
Timex. My original Iron Man died about a year and a half ago. I bought a new one in Singapore. I think I paid about $70 for it. And the old one didn’t really die, the Velcro just stopped Velcro-ing, and the watch would fall off my arm if I wasn’t careful. By default, I am not careful.<br />
<br />
I got to thinking… $1,500 vs. $70. The Omega is over 21 times the price of the Timex. And for what? Well, let’s see…<br />
<br />
My Omega tells time. It’s pretty. It’s heavy. I get complimented on it a couple of times a year. It tells me the day of the month as long as I advance it on the months when there are less than 31 days…and as long as the minute hand is not covering the spot at the three o’clock position where the date shows.<br />
<br />
My Timex tells time. If I want (<i>and I do</i>), I can have it beep on the hour. It also displays the time in military time. It has a 100-hour chronograph with lap or split option. It has a very bright light so I can tell the time in the dark. It’s water resistant to 330 feet. It has five alarms and keeps time in two time zones. It has a reminder thing that allows me to plug in birthdays and such. It automatically knows if there are less than 31 days in a month. It also tells me the day of the week and year.<br />
<br />
I’m scratching my head wondering why I needed to pay 21 times more for the Omega.<br />
<br />
Anyone want to buy an Omega Seamaster? It really is pretty...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-1039930219301560692009-05-17T05:47:00.000-07:002009-10-02T06:08:36.305-07:00DIY: Yakima Bike Rack ModI did a lot of research before buying a bike rack for my car. I looked at sevaral brands. I looked at on-top-of-the-car versions. I looked at hitch-mounted racks. At the end of the day I went with a <a href="http://yakima.com/racks/bike-racks/product/8002434/holdup-(1-1-4-receivers-only).aspx" style="color: #990000;" target="_blank">Yakima hitch-mounted rack</a> for several reasons:<br />
<ul><li>It didn't touch the car</li>
<li>It wouldn't scratch the paint</li>
<li>I wouldn't scratch the car loading bikes</li>
<li>Better aerodynamics</li>
<li>No bug funk on my bike</li>
<li>And Yakima has served me well for nearly 20 years.</li>
</ul>Anyway, this is how it looked on the car... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="331" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4347.jpg" title="1" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div>It hauls two bikes, yada, yada... But the reality is that it's usually just me. So in the interest of saving a little weight, I took off one of the bike holders. This is how that looked... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="344" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4350.jpg" title="2" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When I am going cycling with a friend, I simply bolt the other bike holder on with two bolts. Obviously it works, but it's ugly. More importantly, I could not open the hatch without lowering the rack, because the hatch would hit the rack...<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="420" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4353.jpg" title="3" width="271" /><br />
<br />
</div>Obviously that's a pain in the ass having to lower the rack every time I wanted to get into the back... I thought of just cutting off the top, but then I could only haul one bike. So I thought about it for a little longer and came up with a solution... I purchased the following spare parts from Yakima: <br />
<ul><li>RPL, SPINE ASSY, HOLDUP part number 8890201. $60.</li>
<li>RPL, MTG HDW HOLDUP +2. $5</li>
</ul>These are part of <a href="http://yakima.com/racks/bike-racks/product/8002435/holdup-plus-2.aspx" style="color: #990000;" target="_blank">Yakima's Holdup Plus 2</a>... an extension that allows you to add two additional bikes to the rack using the 2" receiver. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="155" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4357.jpg" title="4" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div>It slides into the spine of my rack and secures tightly using the bolt shown above. Basically my plan was to convert my rack to a single-bike rack and use the spine from the Plus 2 to add the second bike holder for a two-bike configuration. The first thing was to measure where to cut my rack. I cut it in such a way to stop the arm from flopping all the way over and still allow me to open my hatch without lowering the rack... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="278" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4365.jpg" title="5" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div>The next thing I did was design it in such a way to increase the distance between two bikes by about 2". The reason is that when my teammate and I load our mountain bikes, the handlebars and seats interfere with one another. The additional 2" between the bikes will stop this problem... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="278" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4369.jpg" title="6" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div>So after a whole lot of measuring, cutting and drilling, the following is the completed product... The first set of pictures show the single bike version of the rack... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="343" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4371.jpg" title="7" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="420" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4388.jpg" title="8" width="278" /><br />
<br />
</div>Note how I can now open the hatch without lowering the rack? WOO HOO!!! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="420" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4372.jpg" title="9" width="334" /><br />
<br />
</div>Here's the rack with a bike loaded on it... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="420" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4375.jpg" title="11" width="287" /><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="313" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4376.jpg" title="12" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div>This is the other bike holder mounted to the Holdup Plus spine I modified... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="278" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4377.jpg" title="14" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When I want to add the ability to carry a second bike, I just pop out the red cap...<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="278" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4379.jpg" title="15" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">... and slide the smaller spine inside the larger one and use the bolt to secure them together like so...<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="278" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4381.jpg" title="16" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And it folds up just as it did before...<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="352" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/Yakima/DSC_4386.jpg" title="17" width="420" /><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope you find this useful.<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11324710.post-5767927166510050132009-02-01T06:12:00.000-08:002009-10-02T06:12:31.251-07:00DIY: PVC Bike HolderWhen Dr. Josh and I are out running, paddling, whatever, the bikes stay in the transition area. We usually lean them up against a chair or tree. I figured I could make a little something out of PVC that would hold the bikes. I came up with the following...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="360" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/bike_holder/DSC_2945.JPG" title="a" width="420" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It’s made from 3/4” PVC. It holds two bikes (though I only had one bike to show… the other bike simply faces the other direction)…<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="420" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/bike_holder/DSC_2950.JPG" title="w" width="358" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I created it in such a way that when the bike is not in use, you can pull up the vertical pieces (wheel holders) and store them horizontally like so…<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="276" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/bike_holder/DSC_2952.JPG" title="e" width="420" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This makes it easier to transport to the races, carry, etc.<br />
<br />
(Looking directly down on it in the collapsed state)...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="297" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/bike_holder/DSC_2956.JPG" title="d" width="420" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>You need the following if you want to make one:<br />
<ul><li>~20' - 3/4” PVC. I used thin-walled pipe to make it as light as possible. If you want to use the thicker-walled stuff, you certainly can.</li>
<li>12 - 90s</li>
<li>16 - Ts</li>
<li>PVC glue</li>
</ul>The cut list is as follows:<br />
<ul><li>2 - 3" pieces</li>
<li>8 - 2-1/2" pieces</li>
<li>2 - 9" pieces</li>
<li>12 - 1-3/4" pieces</li>
<li>4 - 14" pieces</li>
<li>2 - 11-3/4" pieces</li>
<li>4 - 22-1/2" pieces</li>
</ul>Below is where the pieces go...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="325" src="http://oms.billmallin.com/images/web/bike_holder/DSC_2965_dim.JPG" title="sc" width="420" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Now I didn't call out the 90s and Ts, but you can obviously see them.<br />
<br />
All connections are glued EXCEPT the bottoms of the vertical pieces (wheel holders). They are to remain dry. In other words, the holes for holding the wheel holders vertical, and the holes used to store the wheel holders are NOT glued.<br />
<br />
I reckon there are more uses and other variations, but this one met our needs. Feel free to experiment.Total cost... $11.01.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08928121150022504634noreply@blogger.com0