Archive for February, 2008

We need a new law

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

12 volt transformerI have been an advocate for years for far less government involvement in our lives, and farbeit from me to ever suggest that more federal government programs in our lives is a better thing, but sometimes it just becomes necessary for our goverment to pass strong and definitive laws.

We all have packed away amongst our stuff literally dozens of these low power transformer do-hickies. For some strange reason they are seemingly never properly marked with the name of the device they are used to power or the necessary voltage and wattage information to know what they do, other than plug into the wall socket and then into some electronic device with a round hole that may or may not match any standard.

I believe that, for all sorts of reasons but mostly because it is just plain frustrating to me, our federal government must pass laws that forces manufacturers and sellers of such devices to, under penalty of huge fines and jail time for executives, permanently mark these devices with proper identification that can be read with normal vision. This must include the name, model, and manufacturer of the device.

Is that too much to ask?

With Age Comes Wisdom

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

fisherman

A guy is 75 years old and loves to fish and play golf. He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, “Pick me up. “

He looked around and couldn’t see any one. He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again, “Pick me up.” He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog.

The man said, “Are you talking to me?”  

The frog said, “Yes, I’m talking to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I’ll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I’ll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because I will be your bride!”

The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front breast pocket.

Then the frog said, “What, are you nuts? Didn’t you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride.”  

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, “Nah, at my age I’d rather have a talking frog.”

frog

Ronald Frontin Art

Friday, February 22nd, 2008

Ronald Frontin's Fall Harvest

I recently acquired this painting and it is hanging over my fireplace, and I am enjoying having it around me, so I thought it would be nice to share my view. 

Ralph’s Reincarnation

Monday, February 11th, 2008

Ralph came home drunk one night, slid into bed beside his sleeping wife, and fell into a deep slumber.

He awoke before the Pearly Gates, where St. Peter said, “You died in your sleep, Ralph”.

Ralph was stunned. “I’m dead? No, I can’t be! I’ve got too much to live for. Send me back!”

St. Peter said, “I’m sorry, but there’s only one way you can go back, and that is as a chicken.”
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Tax Stimulus Package details

Monday, February 11th, 2008

Download an Adobe acrobat file of the Bush Tax Stimulus Package

I just watched the Grammys

Monday, February 11th, 2008

I just spent Sunday evening watching the Grammys. Music is a pretty big part of my life, and I enjoy many different types, so a showcase like the Grammys generally appeals to me.

I was saddened to be reminded of the death of Luciano Pavarotti and Dan Fogelberg, and I have stories about them, but was particularly struck by the news (to me) that John Stewart of the Kingston Trio had passed recently. Bob Shane was a neighbor down in Georgia, and I have listened to their version of the trio perform live, and up very close. John Stewart was a very talented musician, and I’m going to go out and try to find some of his music online.

It is hard to believe but age has finally caught up to Tina Turner, and I noted that Ike died this year also.  Good riddance.

I was glad to see Vince Gill’s These Days win. I have really enjoyed that album this year.

I thought I was getting fat but Aretha make me look slim.

This is where

Monday, February 11th, 2008

I will post techie and nerdy things that frustrate me no end

I am upset…

Monday, February 11th, 2008

because I really want this to get organized and it probably should be simple, but I get so anal about the initial setup.

What I am trying to do

Sunday, February 10th, 2008

I am working on setting up a blogging system on my own server so that I can learn the technology and then use it in any of my client’s web based applications. I have tried several of these types of programs and software over the past years and none have seemed to met my needs totally, so here we go again with a new system, Wordpress.

I am not vain enough to think that anyone would seriously want to read my rantings, but I find it quite usefull to write things down, and whatever the issue seems to come better in focus, and some of my anger diminishes.

I will need to figure out how to add hyperlinks, graphics, and to change the formatting of posts, and how replys and all that nonsense works so here goes with my first try.

Come see me at http://www.birdsnest.com

Richard