Archive for October, 2008

Double Bailey

Thursday, October 30th, 2008


Here are two Bailey computers. I have no idea what Bailey computers are. Or, rather, were. Wikipedia doesn’t seem to know either. They sure look businesslike, circa 1980, though. Picture taken this summer at the Henry Ford Museum.

I’m feeling much better today; thanks for asking. Don’t know what brought me down yesterday, but 11 hours of sleep last night took care of it, I guess. Or my recent flu shot. Or my naturally robust constitution. Or Ghost Miners.

Got Office:mac 2008 in the mail today and installed it. First impression: as with the previous version, it’s exactly what the latest Windows-based version (in this case, Office 2007) should have been. Of course, I need some time with it to really get a feel for the changes. The reviewers have been fairly kind, though.

One typical Microsoft annoyance, though – I had just finished installing the bloated (over 1 GB!) software fresh out of the box that arrived directly from Microsoft today and never sat on a retail shelf, and the updater ran and told me I needed to install nearly half a gigabyte of updates. Already. Why can’t they ship the Really Latest Version? Anybody? Anybody? I didn’t think so – they have no excuse.

We certainly do seem to have had commenting problems since I enabled Blogger’s new “inline” feature. Loyal Reader Number Five couldn’t get it to take her name. Nobody could comment on older posts. Et cetera. I’ve written a stern note to Blogger and gone back to the old system. Things appear to be back to normal. And I was so excited about the new system – I was sure it would increase the quantity and the quality of the comments. Sigh.

Not that there was anything wrong with the quality before, of course.

Rainy day in Lardville today, and the local Loyal Readers tell me there was thunder and lightning to go along with it. Trick-or-treating is threatened, although a quick check at weather.com tells me the probably of Halloween rain has gone down to 30% and the high temperature prediction has gone up to 72 degrees. So it’s not all bad news.

Today’s Morrowlife controversy: Where did this guy come from? And what would you do with him if you could get him? My answers: I think he’s the result of a secret Danish government experiment gone horribly wrong. And I would definitely use him to get on the carpool lane.

Special bonus controversy: Does the picture look photoshopped to you too?

Tomorrow I fix the trailer’s brakes. Unless I get rained out. Wish me luck.

See you then.

Ohio gasser

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008


Here’s one of my favorite vintage drag racers – Ohio George’s famous Ohio Gasser. Photographed in the Henry Ford Museum. Part of my famous Machinery series.

Not feeling well this afternoon. It came on me suddenly, so I’m hoping it leaves just as suddenly. Some coworkers have told me about a bug going around – it’s apparently nasty and lasts three very uncomfortable days. I’m hoping that’s not it for me. I’m hoping my stomach is just going through a phase.

Otherwise a fairly normal day. Got up, got ready, commuted, etc. Came home on an earlier train than normal due to the aforementioned discomfort.

Tomorrow’s work schedule is amazingly not meeting-strewn. I’m looking forward to it. Don’t quite know what I’ll do with myself, though.

I take that back. I do know. I have an exceptionally long list of fascinating and incomplete tasks. No problem.

Today’s Morrowlife controversy: Did Loyal Reader Number One’s friend capture a Ghost Miner in the picture attached to this post? My answer: Of course. Well, probably. Possibly, anyway. Maybe. I have no idea. Probably not. If it’s not a ghost, though, what is it?

Perfect controversy for two days before Halloween, no?

By the way, can ghosts be photographed? If so, can they choose to make themselves visible to the camera? If so, why would the Ghost Miner have chosen to be in that picture? If they can’t choose, wouldn’t that make ghosts improbably rare? After all, people take a lot of pictures and Ghost Miners very rarely show up. Either way, the possibilities are staggering. At the very least, they trip a little.

Time to contemplate those Deep Thoughts. See you tomorrow.

Bird

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008


Here’s a bird. Picture taken Summer 2008 at the Detroit Zoo. In a rare twofer, part of both my Statue series and my Bird series.

Today was a great day to be in Northern California. During a telecon this morning, I learned that it was snowing at our old home in Gardenville, Pennsylvania. We had a few clouds yesterday and again today, but the snow has stayed away. In fact, it’s stayed away since we got here. I enjoy some cool weather now and again, but I don’t like commuting in it.

Loyal Reader Number Three is really struggling with the near-term plan. I have lots of ideas, but none of them is probably right for him. Keep praying for him, Loyal Readers.

Busy day at work. I was in meetings the entire day except from noon to 1:00. The meetings were all necessary, but it’s tough to get all the other necessary things done. Fortunately, Tuesdays are usually meetingier than the rest of the week.

There’s good news from Redmond today! The Windows of the Future will be less annoying!

No controversy today. There is absolutely nothing strange going on anywhere in the world. I know. I’ve checked. Maybe tomorrow.

See you then.

Edison’s chemicals

Monday, October 27th, 2008


Here are a few of the things that Thomas Edison discovered don’t work for making a light bulb. Picture taken this summer at Greenfield Village. Part (barely) of my famous Workbench series.

Happy Monday. Pretty good day for me. I got several things done at work. Also commuted. That pretty much covers it.

The weekend was fine. As reported earlier, Loyal Readers Numbers Five, Six, and Twelve were here. LRN6 spent pretty much two entire days working on detailing their Honda. It looks great. Really great.

LRN5 substituted for us on the piano at choir practice on Sunday and also substituted as the soprano while Loyal Reader Number Two was accompanying us on the organ. At which they both did an excellent job.

Personally, I didn’t do any detailing. Took the Suburban for its badly-needed first free car wash. It’s definitely going again this weekend. Possibly on Friday, right before I take it to pick up the trailer for its badly-needed brake job.

The trailer has electric brakes, of course, which I’ve never worked on. I’m fully confident that I can fix them, though. They ought to be at least as easy as hydraulic brakes.

I think I need new solenoids. The brakes are grabbing really badly.

On the medical front, scientists have made an important discovery that may ensure several Loyal Readers a long, happy life. Or maybe it will just seem long. For everybody else, anyway.

I noticed one other article from the front lines of medicine that might have helped Loyal Reader Number One through his recent surgery. If only we had a banjo.

Juggernaut update: $7.76. I made 17 cents today alone.

Anyway. I can’t think of any other weekend highlights right now. And it’s past time for home evening. So I’m quitting.

See you tomorrow.

Devil

Friday, October 24th, 2008


Here’s Loyal Reader Number Twelve enjoying herself at this evening’s ward Halloween party. We all had a nice time.

Extreme Short Shrift. The party took up all our time.

Loyal Readers Number Five, Six, and Twelve are here for the weekend. LRN6 and I hope to work on waxing our Hondas tomorrow. We’re also going out for our family breakfast in the morning, and Loyal Reader Number Two has Youth Conference. The weekend should be busy.

I have uncovered the science behind Loyal Reader Number One’s upcoming summer internship. Sounds like a job he can really enjoy.

The missing pieces for the UFO and helicopter arrived today! I’ve already flown the UFO a bunch and I hope to find time for the chopper tomorrow. Cool.

Time for bed. See you on Monday.