Thursday, September 30, 2004

Attitude check


Saw these and just had to share .... the one on the left is hard to see, but the caption on the shirt (below the straight line EKG) reads:
For a minute there, you bored me to death
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Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Wednesday Software review: BackUp4All

Application title: BackUp4All
Website: http://www.backup4all.com/
Software type: Shareware
Use: Backup4all is an award-winning backup software for Windows. It was designed to protect your valuable data from partial or total loss by automating tasks, password protecting and compressing it to save storage space. The application is feature rich and offers an intuitive interface making all features easily accessible for both beginners and professionals.
Ron's thoughts: When I originally obtained BackUp4All, they had a freeware version of the program, that was minus some of the current bells and whistles of the latest version. However, for what I need, it works just fine. I have it set to backup my "My Documents" folder, as well as various other important files/folders on a nightly basis. It creates a .zip backup file, so I can simply open the file and retreive whatever file I might need.
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Monday, September 27, 2004

How fresh is fresh?


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Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Shirts I really need to get!!!!!

    

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I feel like a slacker......

I feel like I should blog, but I have no idea what to blog about.......

(the title of this entry reminds me of the setup line for a joke:
"I got a sweater for Christmas....")
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Friday, September 17, 2004

Groan Alert......

Frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patricia Whack. "Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday." Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager. Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral. The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed. Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office. She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what in the world is this?" The bank manager looks back at her and says... "It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a Rolling Stone."
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Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Wednesday Software Review: AM-Notebook Lite

Application title: AM-Notebook lite
Website: http://aignes.com/notebook.htm
Software type: Freeware
Use: AM-Notebook is a fine system tray utility that provides an easy way to store notes and other data.
Ron's thoughts: I found this little program when looking for a small One-Note replacement program. I have it run on startup, and it is always available for storing both short-term and long-term information.

(sorry for the short review ... I have been out of the office for a few days in regards to a family medical issue, but still wanted to get this review out)
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Friday, September 10, 2004

Wouldn't you love to hear President Bush make this speech?

My Fellow Americans:
As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.

This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days. It is time now to begin the reckoning.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there. The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the worlds nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption. Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China.

To Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Yo, boys. Work out a peace deal now. Just note that Camp David is closed. Maybe all of you can go to Russia for negotiations. They have some great palaces there. Big tables, too.

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis. I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers, and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change. Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil.

Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them be saying, "darn tootin." Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup Soccer from America.

To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys. We owe you and we won't forget. To the nations on List 2, a final thought. Drop dead.

God bless America.
Thank you and good night.

If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

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This Day in History... (Sept 10)

1897 First DWI
Even without Breathalyzers and line tests, George Smith's swerving was enough to alarm British police and make him the first person arrested for drunken driving. Unfortunately, Smith's arrest did nothing to discourage the many other drunk drivers who have taken to the road since. Although drunk driving is illegal in most countries, punished by heavy fines and mandatory jail sentences, it continues to be one of the leading causes of automobile accidents throughout the world. Alcohol-related automobile accidents are responsible for approximately one-third of the traffic fatalities in the United States - 16,000 deaths each year, and also account for over half a million injuries and $1 billion of property damage annually.

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Thursday, September 09, 2004

Something shared by a proud daddy ... consider this a virtual refrigerator

Sarah had a assignment for her "World View" class to write about God. Here is the result:

The approachability of God is the most awesome thing in the entire universe. Spending time talking to Him is possible no matter what you are doing, whether it be washing dishes, riding in the car or just sitting; He’s always available. You do not have to wait around and pass the time until bedtime just to talk to Him. He is waiting and ready to listen. Even if it is the middle of the night you need not worry about waking Him for "He will neither slumber nor sleep," (Psalms 121:4). Not only that, but He really cares. Since He wants to know how you feel and what you need, no matter how small or unimportant, go ahead and ask for help finding your missing shoe; nothing is too small, "Look at the birds of the air; your heavenly Father feeds them," (Matthew 6:26a). If God cares that much for birds, then surely He will help you find your shoe. He cares if you have had a bad day or if you have had a great day, and He wants you to tell him about it. So majestic is He, but He still takes time to hear each of us individually out of the 6 billion people on this earth. It does not matter to Him if you are smart or not, or what you financial status is or where you live. He hears you the same whether you live in the African jungle or the White House.

God’s approachability is the result of His son, Jesus, dying on the cross. If He had not died then our ability to talk to God would be clouded by sin. Without Jesus’ death, which He died for us, we would be lost for all of eternity "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a). For we can not earn our way to heaven, but Jesus paved the away for us when He took our sins, "That while we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) that we might be with him forever, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as result of works, that no one should boast," (Ephesians 2:8, 9). God’s availability is the most incredibly amazing thing about God and unselfish death of Jesus so that we might live with Them all of eternity.

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Wednesday, September 08, 2004

The Dark Sucker Theory

For years, it has been believed that electric bulbs emit light, but recent information has proved otherwise. Electric bulbs don't emit light; they suck dark. Thus, we call these bulbs Dark Suckers. The Dark Sucker Theory and the existence of dark suckers prove that dark has mass and is heavier than light.

First, the basis of the Dark Sucker Theory is that electric bulbs suck dark. For example, take the Dark Sucker in the room you are in. There is much less dark right next to it than there is elsewhere. The larger the Dark Sucker, the greater its capacity to suck dark. Dark Suckers in the parking lot have a much greater capacity to suck dark than the ones in this room.

So with all things, Dark Suckers don't last forever. Once they are full of dark, they can no longer suck. This is proven by the dark spot on a full Dark Sucker.

A candle is a primitive Dark Sucker. A new candle has a white wick. You can see that after the first use, the wick turns black, representing all the dark that has been sucked into it. If you put a pencil next to the wick of an operating candle, it will turn black. This is because it got in the way of the dark flowing into the candle. One of the disadvantages of these primitive Dark Suckers is their limited range.

There are also portable Dark Suckers. In these, the bulbs can't handle all the dark by themselves and must be aided by a Dark Storage Unit. When the Dark Storage Unit is full, it must be either emptied or replaced before the portable Dark Sucker can operate again.

Dark has mass. When dark goes into a Dark Sucker, friction from the mass generates heat. Thus, it is not wise to touch an operating Dark Sucker. Candles present a special problem as the mass must travel into a solid wick instead of through clear glass. This generates a great amount of heat and therefore it's not wise to touch an operating candle.

Also, dark is heavier than light. If you were to swim just below the surface of the lake, you would see a lot of light. If you were to slowly swim deeper and deeper, you would notice it getting darker and darker. When you get really deep, you would be in total darkness. This is because the heavier dark sinks to the bottom of the lake and the lighter light floats at the top. The is why it is called light.

Finally, we must prove that dark is faster than light. If you were to stand in a lit room in front of a closed, dark closet, and slowly opened the closet door, you would see the light slowly enter the closet. But since dark is so fast, you would not be able to see the dark leave the closet.

Next time you see an electric bulb, remember that it is a Dark Sucker.

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Hnuan Mnid- Paomnnehal Pweor

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg! Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe...

Amzanig huh?

Ntoe: I'm not ginog to try and splel cehck tihs!
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Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Don't upset the Gimp-Boy

OK, now I'm upset .... Here is why:
NBC prided themselves on presenting hundreds of hours (did they end up getting over 1,000?) of
coverage via their numerous channels (NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, Telemundo and NBC HDTV). They, along with ALL other US based broadcast organizations have refused to air ANY coverage for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens (Sept 17-28).

I understand that the public won't be as enthralled with the Paralympics as they were with the Olympics .... but ZERO coverage? Not even a middle-of-the-night-so-set-your TiVo/VCR-to-record-it time?

As soon as I get some contact info for the various broadcast organizations, I am going to send them a piece of my mind (I know I don't have much to share ... but they'll get a piece anyways)

See http://tinyurl.com/4fjm8 for a report from the US Paralympics site about the (lack of) coverage.

According to the International Paralympic Committee, this year's games are expected to break new ground by gaining the widest media coverage ever (see Record Number of Broadcasters at ATHENS 2004 Paralympics). The last sentence on that page advises:
The rights for the US territory have not yet been bought.

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Two funerals and a (major) allergic reaction ... What a holiday weekend!

Some people look forward to three-day weekends. After this last one, I wouldn't wish it upon my worse enemy.

On Saturday, I went to the funeral of a good friend's father. It started late, and the following reasoning was given by the pastor: "you might have noticed we started the funeral a little late ... this is due to the fact that Mr. Black was always late to everywhere he went, and family thought it would be appropriate to start late". Ok, start with some humor ... considering the life we were honoring, that was appropriate. The funeral also included a powerpoint presentation showing dozens of pictures of Mr. Black growing up, playing with his kids and grandkids ... it was very well done. The trip to the cemetery was somewhat eventful, as some people don't understand that a hearse (driving slowly), with about a hundred cars behind it means a funeral procession. When their traffic light turned green, they decided they should go ... the car in front of me almost got t-boned .... not a pretty site during a funeral.

On Sunday, I went to David's funeral (see Sept 2 entry). I have never been to a child's funeral before, and I hope I never have to again. The family and pastor did their very best to make this a 'Celebration of Life', but when the video presentation of David's (short) life was played, which included so many cute pictures of him and his little sisters, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. David's parents are absolutely WONDERFUL people. It took about 45 minutes for the sanctuary to clear after the funeral, but that was because both were standing at the door, shaking hands and thanking everyone that was there. Very short stories (many which ended with laughter) was shared near the door.

On Monday, Renee and I decided to take the girls to OKC (Oklahoma City) for some shopping. While we didn't find exactly what we wanted, some of those shopping (no names being shared) had no difficulties in finding something to buy. We then went to lunch. Before I explain the rest of this story, you need to remember that over the last three years, I have had several combinations of pharmaceutical medications mixed up in my body, and I am still trying to get my body (internally) over that experience. As a result of the various meds I have had, I have developed some food allergies. Well, I didn't order what I normally do, which is unusual for me, but what I got was good. On the way back to Stillwater, I got a pounding headache, which is one of my initial indicator of an impending allergy attack. The next indicator is what scares Renee to death: difficulty breathing. Yep, that kicked in as we are northbound on I-35. A quick detour into Guthrie for some Benedryl and I slowly recovered (when this happens, I am pretty much toast for th rest of the day, due to the fact that I have to work so hard at breathing until the Benedryl kicks in ... it feels like I have run several miles, all up hill)

After a weekend like that ... work is almost a welcome site!
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Friday, September 03, 2004

TGIF Image


Click on the image for the full effect
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Thursday, September 02, 2004

Please lift up in prayer....

Please lift up the Weckler family in prayer.

To make a long story short, their 8 year old son David was recovered (unconscious) from being underwater on Saturday. He was airlifted to a hospital in Tulsa, where he has been in the ICU since then. After running several test, and hard decisions, he was removed from the ventilator at 12:06pm today. At 12:12pm, he was pronounced dead. His parents and grandparents were with him. His two younger sisters were being watched by friends.

His services will be Sunday afternoon.
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This Day In History.....

1945: Japan surrenders (Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan formally surrenders to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II.)

1945:Vietnam independence proclaimed (Hours after Japan's surrender in World War II, Vietnamese communist Ho Chi Minh declares the independence of Vietnam from France.)

1959:The Mustang's Little Cousin (The Ford Motor Company introduced its new marque, the Ford Falcon, in the first nationwide closed-circuit television news conference.)
Personal note: I used to own a 1964 four door Ford Falcon (I got to drive it for a few days before my accident)

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Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Wednesday Software Review: RoboType

Application title: RoboType
Website: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,427600,00.asp
Software type: Shareware
Use: Do you find yourself typing the same phrases and paragraphs repeatedly? Perhaps you prepare business documents that contain standard paragraphs. Or maybe you're a tech-support provider and you have to answer the same questions over and over via e-mail.
Ron's thoughts: I don't think I could provide technical support (at the high level of productivity) that I do without this program (it ain't bragging if it's the truth). This program "watches" what you are typing, and when a certain combination (the template for the review is created by my typing `review - see screen capture for details) is typed, the typed characters are replaced with the pre-defined text. It is like having an ever-expanding clipboard to copy from.

There is also an ability, during the replacement process, for it to prompt you for information to input. That feature allows for a scripted answer, but to include personalization at the same time. While I thought the program was cool before, when I found that option, it became invaluable! (I could actually write an addition 25-30 lines of info about this program, but I don't want to set a precedence for long review)

RoboType is a title in the "Utility Downloads" area of PC Magazine. Utility Download is a 'for-fee' service of PC Magazine. A year's subscription is $19.97, but you can also get a 30 day pass for $9.97 or simply purchase RoboType via a one-file pass for $5.97.
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