Stick

August 09, 2006So I was shown this guitar today.  You really need to see/hear this.  Follow the links below:

Intro To Instrument
Zig Zag Balade

Now I want one.  I'll add it to the "when I have extra money" list, which incidentally doubles as the "drooled on, but can never buy" list.  It'll fit nicely between ipod and motorcycle, somewhat below new graphics card but above laptop cooling pad.  We've been looking at what it will cost to have Daniel in daycare this semester.  Take my paycheck, subtract taxes, Daniel's daycare, and gas money to get to work, and divide it by the number of hours I work plus 2 hours of travel each day, and my hourly pay is literally cut in half.  When does work become profitable?  Tack onto all that other expenses incurred by working (more expensive lunches occasionally, more car repair/upkeep), and I have to pay TTU do stay enrolled!  Alas, I thought that "easy go" was always preceded by "easy come."  Apparently, no matter how difficultly earned, "easy go" still applies.  Oh well, perhaps I can sell a lung.  Engineers don't need two.

My ride home today was slowed by torrential rain, so I've discontinued my experiment.  Many people I know like to drive very fast.  Personally, I've taken to driving exactly the speed limit.  Cops don't worry me, the car handles better and burns less gas, and I can pay more attention to the cars around me and less on cars I'm barrelling towards.  It's rather relaxing.  Back to my experiment, though, we'll make this a pop quiz.  I decided to drive home from work at exactly 70 mph (and 60mph in the construction zone) and time myself.  The next day, I drove at exactly 75mpg (and 65mph in the construction zone).  Now, intended speed is not actual speed, since some people get in front of you and slow you down, and there is the time required to accelerate to and decelerate from higher speeds.  In theory, the faster you're trying to go, the more people will be in your way and the more time you'll spend on less than intended speed.  My drive to work is 48 miles.  How much time did I save?  I'll help you out a little.  It took me 42:40 to make it home at 70mph (avg of 67.5mph).  How much time did I save by going 75?  Take a guess, and we'll see who's closest.  Both days had relatively light traffic with no uncommon delays.  Now that my experiment is done, I'll go back to 70.  I know some of you will consider this "lame", and that's fine.  Just don't tailgate me.  :)

Work is busy.  Chuck is gone, so I've picked up both our work.  I've been chasing down suppliers and making sure parts are on their way, making the test stand run, building databases, measuring parts, taking inventories... and all of that has been happening this week.  I like to stay busy at work, but I kinda miss finishing a project.  Most of what I'm working on is a "continuous project."  Basically this means that my list gets longer, but I don't get to check anything off of it.  More later, I guess.  This is getting lengthy.

Calling all Song Writers

August 06, 2006 So there's a popular song right now that contains the following chorus:

When I think about rain, I think about singing.
When I think about singing, it's a heavenly tune.
When I think about heaven, I think about angels.
When I think about angels, I think about you.

Being obnoxious (me and the song), I can't help but think there are better ways to go from "rain" to "you" that still fit the structure.  I made up one or two, and I wanted to see what the rest of you can come up with.  So post your lyrics.  Here are mine.

When I think about rain,  I think about bathing.
When I think about bathing, I thinking of showering, too.
When I think about showers, I think about stinking.
When I think about stinking, I think about you.

When I think about rain, I think about falling.
When I think about falling, I think of imminent doom.
When I think about Doom, I think of first person shooters.
When I think about killing, I think about you.

More?

Kick in the Pants

August 03, 2006It's  Shark Week on Discovery.  Yesterday, I learned that a lot of sharks are eaten in Japan, because it is believed that shark meat increase virility and drive.  Today I learned the sharks have unusually high amounts of mercury, and eating them can cause impotence and sterility.

Liz, ever being a mother, focused all of her attention on making sure Daniel was getting better.  Unfortunately, she didn't take care of herself.  Tuesday evening found us in the emergency room, with Liz having great difficulty walking and moving her head.  Liz's parents came to Cookeville, and we had some friends come sit with the baby while he slept.  Liz is getting better, but she and the baby went to Hendersonville where Liz will have more people around to help her take care of the baby.  These days, I'm out the door before she wakes up and home in time for dinner.  And what am I doing?  Staying busy... kinda.

My car was low on coolant, so I decided to take care of it.  As I hadn't ever flushed the system, I decided to do that.  Apparently it's too expensive to make the radiator drain plug out of metal.  With one soft twist of a screwdrive, the head of the screw stripped.  After telling my screwdriver what I thought of Nissan and Japanese people in general, I pulled out my drill and changed the shape of the head.  After I got everything flushed, it was time to put it all back together.  As I slowly twisted the radiator drain plug back into place, I heard this pop and a slight give.  At what couldn't have been more than 5"lb, the stupid plug sheered in half.  Apparently it's made of two pieces, connected with a thing cylinder.  I can just imagine the meeting...

"We need to cut prices to stay competitive.  What can we do?"
"I've been thinking that the radiator cap could be a little smaller."
"Smaller, eh?  Why not make it out of plastic.  Plastic is cheap."
"Well, that's true.  Alright, I'll find some hard plastic plugs."
"No, soft will be fine.  And we shouldn't make it a whole plug."
"I'm sorry?..."
"You know, not a solid cylinder.  Let's put a deep ridge in it that runs all the way around it.  That should cut down on the total volume."
"Won't that weaken the plug?"
"Come now... who drains their radiator these days?"
"Well, alright.  Anything else?"
"Yeah, let's not bother rounding the edges on that ridge.  I know sharp corners cause stress risers, but the bigger the radius, the more plastic we have to buy."

So, I was frustrated.  It seemed to seal just before snapping in two, so I'll just watch the level for a while.  Unfortunately, I'll have to see about a replacement for next time (or take it to a pro).  Alas.

Tonight's plan: mow lawn, update file server, eat ice cream, watch Shark Week.

Quote of the moment "Shark attacks are generally bad for tourism."

Daniel is Headed to Hawaii

July 26, 2006At least that's what CNN reports.  Unfortunately, he's been downgraded to a tropical depression.  Maybe that's why he's been cranky.

Alas

July 25, 2006Sick babies are exhausting.  He's in so much pain, and there's nothing more we can do for him.  We just keep watching his diaper rash get worse and better and worse again, and his temperature is flucuating, too.  Liz has been infinitely brave these days, braving doctors' offices and other important trips with a baby disinclined to play quietly.  Poor little guy.  For a while, every day show marked progress.  Now, it seems he's kinda stalled out.  Hopefully he'll be better today.  With all the antibiotics, special creams, and food additives, we're starting to run out of options.