Sound Off by Texas T's

Houston ship channel cruise.

2009-06-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

2007-11-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

"There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity."
- General Douglas MacArthur

Science Fiction Author Bruce Sterling's Latest Effort

2007-11-13T07:45:00.000-08:00

The Interoperation is published online at the Technology Review website.

The Interoperation

Architecture had given way to software management. So he turned buildings into construction programs.

It is an okay read. Certainly not Mr. Sterling’s most stirring work, but definitely not a waste of time.

Via Beyond the Beyond

Back in the Stone Age

2007-11-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

I acquired my first Macintosh Computer. It was a MAC IIx. One of the first models where they made the case separate from the CRT (monitor). Even back then, Apple still had it all over any other machine.

I had had the machine a year or so, and started getting some funky I/O errors. Seemingly random, they would cause the machine to crash at the most in-opportune times. I finally got frustrated enough after working through all my Mac owning friends and they were far and few between (We were all clueless about these) that I called Appel Tech support.

I described my issue to the support tech on the other end of the line. He listened patiently while I ran through my rant. When I fianlly wound down, he asked me if I was ready to try something a little un-orthodox.

I was somewhat taken aback by this, but so frustrated that I was indeed open to suggestion. He asked me if the monitor was sitting on top of the case (It was) and would I power the system down and set the monitor aside? I didn’t see what this had to do with anything as when I asked him if we were going to open the case he answered no. But I powered down and moved the monitor.

He: This is going to be a very low tech solution.

Me: OK.

He: Please pick the case up about two and a half to three inches off the desk top. [I did this] OK now drop it! he said.

Me: Are you sure about this?

He: Yes sir, quite sure. So I dropped the case back to the desktop. He had me do it two or three more times. The he had me power it back up.

At this point I was kind of laughing, but the machine seemed to be humming along. We chatted for a minute or two and then rang off.

Turns out the expansion cards were spring loaded and dropping the unit to the desktop a time or two reseated the cards. I did this every 3 or 4 months after this call.

I never had another problem with the mac.

Now This is Just a Little Weird

2007-11-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

Art collective Henry VIII's Wives restaged historic photographs with elderly volunteers as the models. All of the models in the series, titled "Iconic Moments of the Twentieth Century," live in a home for the elderly in Glasgow. From the Henry VIII's Wives site:
A group of aged volunteers pose in their everyday outfits and in their daily environment (the vicinity of the Home) to re-enact the scenes from well-known newspaper photographs taken from history books and encyclopaedias. The images in question depict ‘historical moments’ that took place in their lifetime: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at the Yalta Conference during the World War II, the Napalm Attack and the killing a Vietcong from the Vietnam War, or the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald, which was depicted live on a TV programme. Each of these images represents an immediately recognisable cultural leitmotif of its époque, the representation that overshadows the event it documents.

Via boingboing.net

New Pictures On my Flickr account!

2007-10-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

On Flickr over the last couple of days...

From my trip to Austin for Maker Faire.

Some new pictures from downtown Houston. I took this series yesterday. We really do have a great looking downtown district. I stopped on the west side of Downtown in a little parking area on the Allen Parkway. Snapped off (quite) a few pictures and these were the best of the bunch...

The Sculpture Garden a friend alerted me to in a post on her lj. This is sitting at roadside, Texas 288 @ Bellfort. No signs, no warning no nothing. But there it is!

I pulled over on the side of the road. There was a huge shoulder. Took a few pictures and was about to step on to the property for a better look, when I noticed one of the “Posted - No Tresspassing” signs. Dang! Still, these came out alright considering how far away I was. Cool!

There's A New Cat In The House

2007-10-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

...And it is good!

Honestly, I like all the eye candy in OS X Leopard...

This is What happens When Engineers Have Idle Time

2007-10-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

Unemployed engineers having fun?

link

These fellas need to get a life!

Thanx Brenda F.!

Acceleration Defined

2007-10-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

One top fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower
than the first 4 rows of stock cars at the Daytona 500.

Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitro
methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate
with 25% less energy being produced.

A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the
dragster's supercharger. With 3,000 CFM of air being rammed in by the
supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a
near-solid form before ignition.

Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock at full throttle. At the
stoichiometric (stoichiometry: methodology and technology by which
quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions are determined)
1.7:1 air/fuel mixture of nitro methane, the flame front temperature
measures 7,050 deg F. Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white
flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, dissociated
from atmospheric water vapor by the searing exhaust gases.

Dual magnetos supply 44 amps to each spark plug. This is the output of
an arc welder in each cylinder. Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed
during a pass. After halfway, the engine is dieseling from compression,
plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1,400 deg F. The engine can only be shut
down by cutting the fuel flow.

If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned nitro builds up in
the affected cylinders and then explodes with sufficient force to blow
cylinder heads off the block in pieces or split the block in half.

In order to exceed 300 mph in 4.5 seconds, dragsters must accelerate an
average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph (well before half-track),
the launch acceleration approaches 8G's.

Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading
this sentence. Top fuel engines turn approximately 540 revolutions from
light to light! Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900
revolutions under load.
The redline is actually quite high at 9,500 rpm. Assuming all the
equipment
is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each
run costs an estimate $1,000.00 per second.

The current top fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the
quarter mile (10/05/03, Tony Schumacher). The top speed record is 333.00
mph (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run (09/28/03 Doug
Kalitta).

Putting all of this into perspective, picture this scenario: You are
driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06.
Over a mile up the road, a top fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a
quarter mile strip as you pass You have the advantage of a flying start.
You run the 'Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting
line and pass the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The "tree" goes green for
both of you at that moment.The dragster launches and starts after you. You
keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that
sears your eardrums and within 3 seconds, the dragster catches and passes you.
He beats you to the finish line, a quarter mile away from where you just
passed him.

Think about it, from a standing start, the dragster had spotted you 200
mph and not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed
you within a mere 1,320 foot long race course.

... and that my friend, is ACCELERATION

From an email from my friend bamatex! Thanx, Larry

When Negative People Do Their Best To Rain On Your Parade!

2007-08-21T21:59:00.000-07:00

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:

"Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you stayi ng in Rome?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it's gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they're overpriced. So, whatcha' doing when you get there?"

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo........

The hairdresser asked, "Well, how was your trip to Rome?"

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually , we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand; I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh really! What'd he say?"

He said: "Where'd you get the shitty hairdo?"

Flickr

2007-05-05T06:27:00.001-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

News and Holiday Greetings!

2006-12-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is having a Joyeaux Noelle!

I've sort of made a move from blogger to livejournal. The bulk of my posting activity is going on lj right now!

Are you a modelrailroader?

Have you got pictures you want to share? Have you got a flickr.com account? (If you don't have an account, it is pretty easy to sign up for one. And it's free!) I think if you have a Yahoo! photos account you can also join and post, but I'm not sure about that.

Come and join the Modelrailroading group and share those great photos! I started this group in 2005 and I also admin for this bunch of train-nuts!

This flickr group is about all aspects of Model Railroading - Concepts, design, planning, construction, running trains, models, scenery, you name it. This is the place for it! All Scales are welcome! Post photos, or start a discussion. Currently we have 26 members and are always open to more.

Here's a couple of my favoprites...

Come on! Share your Modelrailroading goodness!

Hope everyone is having a joyeaux noelle!

I've also posted an invite on my liverjournal page

http://texasts.livejournal.com/

as well as the modelrailroading community on LJ.

http://community.livejournal.com/modelrailroader/

Happy Holidaze!

from
TexasT's

Where Is TexasT's?

2006-11-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

He thinks he is moving to LiveJournal. com

Why don't you join him there? Same great taste, just more flexibility!

TexasT's Invades LiveJournal!

I will keep this active and probably switch to the NEW blogger. Right now, though, the majority of my energy is being expended on LiveJournal

Join me! As usual I've got a lot to say about Everything!

All The News That Fits

2006-10-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

Excuse me if I seem to be rambling on. Might be the meds...hahahahahahahahaha!

Oddly enough - Humor!
I must be feeling better...My sense of humor seems to be returning. I laughed out loud when I read these. Or it could be the meds....
Freely Stolen from the Oct '06 Readers Digest- All In a Days Work:

First one is for The Offspring:

A customer came into our coffee shop and ordered a pastry. "This my breakfast AND lunch," he told my co-worker.
"Oh," she said, " you're killing two birds with one scone."
Jill Stout

I'd just lobbied a Congressman in his Washington, D.C. office when I stopped to use the rest room. After washing my hands, I stepped up to the dryer and noticed a note pasted to it. The note said, "Push button for a message from Congress."
Michael Brokovich

In Other TexasT's News:
Sent a note to my team today for the basket that I rec'd from them this afternoon! It's got plenty of fruit (which I need), cookies and such (which I don't, heh. But will be happy to take care of!), and Chocolate (which I most definitely DO need! ha)! V-e-d-d-y n-i-c-e!

Monday I had a septoplasty and turbinate surgery. Surgery seems to have gone well. But boy am I glad I shaved as I had a nosebleed all day and most of the night. What a mess that could have been. Yucky!

At any rate, kept me awake last night. Didn't sleep a wink. Still can't breathe out of my nose very well, but without the packing I removed this morning there is some improvement, but not much yet. I dozed on and off all day, thanks to meds from the doctor.

My nose is pretty swollen. "ad I soud like I hab a readdy bab code in my node" Heh!

Since I shaved, The Offspring says, "You probably look like you are in your 20's now."
I say,"Thank you! Yeah right..." You know what they say about flattery...

Also, I don't understand why my ribcage feels like someone has been STANDING ON it!

I see the Doctor on Monday and hope to be back to work soon after that. But we will see what he says.

Oh yeah - in other news
I stopped smoking on Monday as well. I'm started on "the patch" as well. So maybe this time I can make it stick! (pun intended) Seemed to work for a co-worker so...With the surgery and all - it just seemed like a good time...Probably a good thing I am by myself most of the day, eh?

All These Floating Things in the City Hall Reflection Pond

2006-10-13T05:15:00.000-07:00

I dunno. But if I want anyone to see what there is I'll have toget a little closer with my camera phone. Crap!

Pay It Forward - TexasT's Style

2006-10-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday mid morning - On my way back up to Cube City - Guy gets on, on the eighth floor. He got a tray of big ole chocolate chip cookies.

I say, "For me?"

He says, "Certainly. No, really you can have one if you like!"

"Thanks - but I better not. Well, okay just one though." I take a cookie.

He gets off on twelve and says, "Have a great day!" I don't even know the guy. But he has just made my day with this Random Act of Kindness.

Later as me and the girls from our corner of the building are looking for lunch in the tunnels in downtown H-Town. They decide on rabbit food. I saw an Otto's Bar-B-Que a few stores back and decide to get a beef spud. Work my way through the line, got my food (to go), and am at the cashier. She tells me the price, and I say (thinking of that guy in the elevator, "Go ahead and add hers in too." motioning to the woman behind me. She starts to sputter and protest about a stranger buying her lunch...

"Lady, No Fear. I'm just payin' it forward. Some stranger did something nice for me today an' I'm just doin' somethin' nice for you!" I pay the tab and make my way out to where the girls are waiting for me, leaving one flustered, but smiling lady behind me.

"What was that about?" one of my companions asks...

"Oh nothing. Just a RAK..."

"What? A rack? What are you talking about? What do you mean a RACK?" Ah well, maybe they'll figure it out...

"I told you - nothing." I reply and walk whistling through the crowd on my way back to the office...

Do good things - Practice Random Acts of Kindness. I promise - It will make your day to:

Pay It Forward!

Just found a new blog: H-Town Blogs

2006-09-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

Doesn't look like there is much activity on the actual blog - But there are a heap of Houston bloggers on the link list...There are quite a few of us out there!

Here's lookin' at ya, H-Town Bloggers!

Got there via a link from the houstonpress.com site.

woot!

So Where were you on this the most infamous of days?

2006-09-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

I was right where I am now...Here in Cube City in a Hi-rise, in DT Houston. Got a call from the Queen, went in to a conference room, turned on the tube (Oh Shit!) and that was about all the work I got done for that day. Tuned in right about the time the second plane hit.

I was stunned to silence - to say the least. Anger came later...

People on the floor were freaking out because they were in a hi-rise too. Some of that was understandable given these persons natures. However, I was not among them. Some of the folks that were sure surprised me though.

Managment for most companies in DT Houston released their employees to go home early that day. And the Big Clam (to it's credit, I guess) was right there with the others. So we all went home and turned on the tv...I sat there like a piece of wood. And wondered who would be next.

Let's face it though - those two towers stood out like a sore thumb and were a symbol for Capitalism. It wasn't the first time they were targeted either.

As if we needed more proof

2006-09-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

That the world has gone stone fucking crazy...

The most emailed photo over the last two days if of a baby's first (reportedly) first ...

TURD!!

Here's a link to the Yahoo! article! Most emailed Photo

I dunno, but that poor kid of Cruise's is gonna be screwed! What kind of warped is it to have baby's first shit bronzed. And THEN! As if this weren't enough...Have it auctioned off!?!

WTF?!?

Taken at the Park-n-Ride right here in Katy, Texas

2006-09-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

Taken with my Razr phone this afternoon.

Not too bad considering I took it with my PHONE!

Couple Of Things For Today...

2006-08-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

I Don't Think So, TexT...

So I've been walking briskly down four blocks to catch the bus most afternoons lately. Sounds good doesn't it?

...

But I suppose if I'm smoking at the time, that negates any health benefit I hope to derive from it.

Sense Of Irony?

As I was pulling out of the Park and Ride this evening, I noticed a Mercedes Coupe with the hood up. As I went by, I noticed the driver coming around from the far side with a pair of jumper cables. Don't Mercedes' have automatic everything? Like headlights that turn off automatically? I probably should have stopped, as I vaguely remember seeing those lights on as l pulled in this morning.

But I didn't.

Why? Well, I've been slugging between Katy and downtown Houston, since about 1999, and in my experience, most of the GUYS that drive expen$ive german car$, are the rudest, most arrogant, and selfish drivers in town. Would he have stopped for me if l was broken down? Probably not.

So why do I feel guilty?

Dunno - I'd like to say, "Maybe a lifetime of taking the high road where this kind of stuff is concerned." But I can't. But I have spent most of my adult life trying to always do the right thing. I don't always succeed at that. As a matter of fact, I hardly ever do.

But still, it ain't a bad thing to aspire to, is it?

Shit.

I should have turned around.

An Analogy Levels of Complexity Between the Sexes?...

Thanx and a tip of the ole fedora to BamaTex for that last one. Where the hell do you find this stuff anyway?

3rd In A Series Stuff You'll Find In Our Backyard

2006-08-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

First - Here's the backyard - From the backyard

click any Picture for a larger view

There are two oak trees, and as well as 1/2 dozen pine trees back here. That's one of the oaks on the left in the picture.

Can you imagine trying to reason with hurricane season with all this stuff? Well we did. And it was a severe pain in the you know whatsis! Last year when Rita was a threat, we cleared all of this that we possibly could. Including the patio cover. We tried not to leave anything that would have potentially become a missile in high winds.

We have a lot of interesting things (Well, I like to think so, anyway) back here, most of them of the organic type stuff. Come from living with two people that take care of plants for a living. Me, I'm just an old computer jock they keep around for the heavy crap and to mow the grass. This summer, because of all the rain, we have had to mow lots! Haven't been able to do it every week either because it's been muddy or under water (blub!) at times. Not too deep. Just enough to keep us from getting out there and splashing around in the muddy water while pushing a lawn mower. Bl-e-e-a-h! But our boxer likes it!

Lets Have a Look Around - Shall We?

First and foremost - Absolutely NO Hunting! We're serious. Unless you are hunting weeds, of course!

The Queen and The Roomate planted these in these hangers using a coconut liner filled with potting soil. That green looks like it would glow in the dark doesn't it? It's actually just the bright sunlight behind me. Mind they do look pretty neon=like don't they? The trees in the background are in the neighbors yard.

Here we have our Passion Vine. It sits in a 25 gallon tub near the fence. These flowers bloom for one day and then they die. Fortunately, the plant produces a lot of blooms! They smell fine too! If you ever smelled one, you would know why they are called the Passion vine. Va-Voom!

*Breaks into song*, "I'm lookin' over a four leaf clover!"
We got these at a water garden store we frequent sometimes. These seem to be GIANT, purple clover. Probably a radioactive, mutant strain. *Grins* But they are beautiful. and purple. Really PURPLE.

We also have six sets (or so) of windchimes. And other assorted hangie-downie thingies!

Well, That's it for now. Gotta get some work done!

Oh here are the other two in case you are interested.
In My Backyard This Morning
Post From My Garden

This is a Pretty Cool DIY! via Lifehacker

2006-08-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is a good idea...The next time you are on a road trip, try this. Check out this post on LifeHacker. I really like this site.

DIY HUD

What you do is get your map, enlarge it somewhat, use some software to mirror it, print it out, and put it up in the windshield. I'd use Paint Shop Pro, but you can use whatever you have that's capable. I don't think the map would do me any good (other than giving me a headache) but I think turn by turn directions in a large font that were mirrored would do just fine!

Some commenters have some improvement suggestions as well!

This is almost luddite like in it's execution!

Here's a sample! See the full size on my flickr account!

The original

The reverersed version!

File this under: lifehacker, diy, luddite, flickr, hud

It's my Cube Mate's 30th Birthday!

2006-08-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Напиши еще?

I hope these are from her husband. If not, I'd say he is in sooooooooooooo much trouble.

Still Smokeless on day 7!!

2006-07-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm smoke free. But this feels like it may be the hardest day yet! I feel like I haven't eaten. You know that empty, shakey feeling you get when you need to eat? That's how I feel and I've eaten...

I'm basically feeling like refried crap!

Shit!

I think I've finished (mostly) with my DB crap for work. I'll probably need to tweak it. But that's for later today. Got to see the doctor about my elbow(?) And pickup filters for the AC units for the house. Need to mow and edge the front yard too. But I'll wait till the sun is over the house for that. And pay some bills. And the Queen says I don't do anything on my days off!

Quote of the Day:

"The power of the executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgment of his peers, is in the highest degree odious, and the foundation of all totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist."

~~Winston Churchill

Courtesy of one of my favorite authors - William Gibson - Found on his blog - And never more appropriate that now.

How about a few links I've found to be interesting:

The last of Mr. Gibson's books was "Pattern Recognition" in which the protagonist was a Cool Hunter. She was able to recognize what the nect latest thing was going to be, or when it was going to be so over. Hence: Josh Rubin's CoolHunting - Cool Hunting: finding things in the intersection of design, culture and technology that excite the imagination and inspire creativity.

Upon which I found this. The kitchen of the future. Actually for my european friends it is already here. The Clever kitchen. From our ever so efficient friends in Germany.

How about this cool app. Quikmaps - Interacts with google earth to let you draw your own map. This is way cool. They will even host it for you. The blog is here: http://wanderingken.com/

The app: Quikmaps.com

Dell has a blog? Too little, too late or right on time? You decide...Dell's one2one.

ArsTechnica for the PC enthusiast in you. And me...

Engadget reports on tech for you.

Lifehacker. com For the geek in all of us. "Computers make us more productive. Yeah, right. Lifehacker recommends the software downloads and web sites that actually save time. Don't live to geek; geek to live."

TechCrunch is "a weblog dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new web 2.0 products and companies."

TechDirt. The name kinda says it all don't it?

Because what everybody needs is a Garfield dissection service: Garfield: Permanent Monday.

The official google blog at blogspot.

Got a Moto RAZR? So does this fellow. And he's got a few hacks for it here: Razr V3, V3C, V3x . How to get free dialup here. With video: Free internet on laptop using your cell phone . Also has Phone tools software here: OBEX File Manager. Zac liked this SW better than the Moto stuff. Drivers here: My Awsome Razr (which you will need for your PC. Also a message board if you just don't get it.

Zac says a regular digital camera USB cable will connect your phone to your PC. It looks like it should. But bear in mind I haven't tried any of this stuff yet. And this is not an endorsement. If you fry your phone doing this stuff do not come here bitching. As I said I haven't tried any of this. But I'm gonna.

But I have phone insurance, too. I'm merely pointing in the direction you may want to go...

See you around...

Next!

A Speculative Future (fiction by me)

2006-07-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

A rangy, gray haired, darkly tanned man rises and starts to speak at a gathering of 40 - 50 people in a semi-ruined auditorium located somewhere in the Central South of the North American Continent in what used to be the United States of America. The group that has gathered here in this ruined spot, in this ruined city, are mostly younger than the man who has risen to speak. They are, in various shapes and sizes, mostly skinny, (hungry) disheveled, and dirty looking bunch. Every one in the room, if you could actually apply the term to the place, including the gray haired man looks to be carrying at least one weapon of some kind. Looking
around himself, into the crowd, he hesitates a moment, and then starts to speak...

"So, forty years ago, I was a support programmer for a major oil multinational, in Houston, Texas. What were you doing forty years ago? Trouble is, most of y'all weren't even born then. Those of y'all that were, know that things were a lot different back then. Trouble is, there ain't that many of us left. That remember. Most of us that do and that still have our wits about us, are gettin' old. And wore out."

He pauses for effect and then continues, "I was born in Nine-teen fifty-eight. I guess that makes me one of the oldest people here. Do any of y'all even know what year it is?"

Some one in the back of the ruinous amphitheater yells out something.

"That's right, you in the back. It is now the summer of 2045. You must be damn near as old as I am."

"In the year 2005, I was forty-seven and I had all the stuff that was thought to have mattered. A wife. A house. A Mortgage. A good job. Three kids (one that was mine, two that were hers). One of our kids was graduating High School. The other two were in College. One Sport Ute and two cars. A long commute. A retirement fund and a pension to look forward to. And Two (count 'em) ex-wives.

And everything that went along with all that shit. Hell, most of y'all don't even know what most of that shit is, do ya?"

Another pause. Then, "That was the year everything started. And started to end. American Society at that time was the top of the heap, Numero Uno. The big cheese. We had the best of everything and we were the best, and brightest. Or so we thought."

"That's the trouble with bein' on top. There's always some sumbitch to come along an' try and knock you off the top. We were the only Superpower left. An' we shoulda been on the lookout for the fall."

"That's what the Soviets found out twenty years earlier. When their own people rose up and said, 'ENOUGH!!' Theirs was a crummy system anyway. The government couldn't sustain their economics and finally fell over from their own heavy handed, top heavy systems." The old man paused, as if trying to catch his breath.

Some younger man in his immediate vicinity mutters something and the gray hued man picks up on it, "Wha'd you say there, youngster? This ain't no history lesson? Well, yeah, it kinda is...So get on with it you say! Watcher hurry? You got an appointment?" The kid backs off and sits down on the ground.

"2005, the year that everything started. Actually it was the year before, in '04. It probably really started before the millenium turned, but '04 was when I started payin' attention..."

"There were all kinds of signs. The entire planet was in trouble. Natural disasters, high unemployment. There were wars over religious beliefs goin' on. Prices for staples rising higher and higher. Pollution indicators off the scales. Mass deforestations.

Crazy fuckin' weather."

"And one of the most ignorant, arrogant bastards in the Whitehouse in history."

"We, the planet, were in deep shit. An' we were too self absorbed to even realize it

Uh-Oh!

2006-07-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

Went to see a Play at the Alley Theater Saturday, "Wait Until Dark".

But that ain't what this is about.

Daughter #1 invited us. She has an internship there. So off to Dinner and the Alley we go...The Queen, Daughter #1, and the BF. And I. Our seats (At the Alley) were almost in Pairs. The Queen and I's were. Daughter #1 and BF were separated by a row. But they were able to sit together as there were some no shows in thier immediate vicinity.

Play was good!

But that ain't what this is about.

After the show, while we were standing in line waiting for the Parking Garage elevator, everyone is kind of antsy. I suggest to the Queen, "Why don't we go to Birra Poretti's and wait for traffic to die down? We can have a cup of coffee or something." A withering glance..."Or not," I say. Dunno if the kids are aware of the tension level between the Queen and I or not. You'd have to be unconsious to not feel it. Or DEAD...

Plus I have discussed it with Daughter #1 in the near past. I assume she has talked to the BF and perhaps other family members about it.

But that ain't what this is about.

So the others decide that rather waiting in the line for the elevator(s), we should take the stairs. To the 5th Floor.

I didn't think this was really a wonderful idea, but decided to keep it to myself.

By the time we had gone up 4 flights, I (of course) could no longer catch my breath. It was like being at high altitude. There was NO air for me here...I hadn't the presence of mind to bring an inhaler with me. (SHIT!) Luckily the truck was actually on about floor 4.5. I made it to the vehicle.

Daughter #1 is looking at me, "Are you all right?"

"No-oooo-ooooo-ooooo-ooo...I'm not. I can't seem to catch my breath."

"You want some water?" she asks. I didn't bother to point out that THIRST was the LEAST of my worries. But I took the bottle any way.

We cruise on out of the Garage. The Queen lights up a smoke. I was about to ask her for one - I had run out while we were at the theater.

But something stopped me )DUH!(

By the time I had sufficiently recovered my wits we were on Richmond Avenue. Going toward the kids' apartment.

The Queen asks me, "You want me to stop at this store so you can get some cigarettes?"

I was about to say ok, but at the same time I was thinking, 'Are you FUCKING CRAZY?!?!?' I heard myself saying as if from the inside of a long tunnel, "No - Don't bother..."

Sidelong glance from the drivers' seat, "Ok-aaaaaay..."

"I'm quitting." Who said that? Did I just hear myself say that?

From the backseat, "Right now?"

"Yes," I say...Enough is enough. Walking up four flights of stairs should NOT feel like a suicide attempt.

This is what this post is REALLY about!

Now four days later. I still haven't killed anyone. (Not that I haven't thought about it!) I havent really slept well since Friday night. But I was expecting that. I feel okay I guess. Aside from an overall jitteryness.

A bit itchy....and (B)itchy.

...Definitely a person NOT to be fucked with, right now!

Still Percolating on My Trip to North Florida

2006-07-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Been back for less than two weeks and I'm still unsure how I feel about that trip...

REALLY!!!

Couple of Books I Read Recently

2006-06-28T05:16:00.000-07:00

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Read Gregory Maguire's take on the Wicked Witch of the West.
Pretty good first novel I must say. Though, I've heard some of his other stuff ain't so hot. I really liked the witch. She was believable in a fantasy kind of way. You have to sympathize with the witch when you read this tome.

I'm quite sure, though that he sees OZ alot (A LOT!) differently than Baum did. The characters in this book were positively RANDY!

T's rates it: TTTTT

(Side note - I just started reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister)

Also read (again) Connie Willis' tongue in cheek take on chaos theory, fad research, and love: Belwether.

I love the way Connie writes prose! This book is a series of absolute corporate fuck-ups from front to back! I used to work in a big research facility that was not academic, so I can identify! If you are into speculative fiction and you work in the corporate world, you should read this book! Of course, I recommend (really!) anything by Connie!

T's rates it: TTTTT

More from North Florida

2006-06-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's about time to take off for Houston. I'll be leaving in the early morning, to head back out west. Think I'll actually overnight somewhere in between, this time!

It's been an interesting visit. Both my sisters kids are great! The reunion was a bust (for me). But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Comments for my last few Mo-Posts!

A1A

Well, apparently when you ZOOOOOOM in, it makes the photo a bit smaller. Who knew?! I'll have to try to get a more decent one before I leave.But the photo is actually taken outside of St. Augustine, Florida. Up the road a piece from the School for the Blind there. This is the school Ray Charles attended as a child.

On the way to the Beach!

My sister Jean driving on the way to Vilano beach. Vilano Beach is south of Ponte Vedra Beach (and north of St. Augustine beach) and appears to be one of the last beaches you can drive your car on in North Florida.

Recycled Roofing Parking lot at UNF.

University of North Florida. I think this is a great way to recycle old roofing materials. Beats the hell out of putting them in a landfill, don't it?

Recycled roofing parking lot at UNF

2006-06-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

On the way to the beach!

2006-06-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

A1A

2006-06-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

A Few Things From Jacksonville...

2006-06-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

My Sister is on Dial-up (sigh)

Holy Crap! Does it take forever to display a page...And the browser that Compuserve uses is so much like AOL (Grrrrrr!) and doesn't seem to like the Standard Blogger interface So - forced to connect with Compuserve and then use IE 6 (or whatever...) (Grrrrrrrr!) But hey, there is a PC so I can stay connected.

It Doesn't Feel Like 30 Years!

Met up with an old school bud yesterday. It had actually been about 32 or 33 years since I'd seen him. Still the same ornery guy - but mellowed somewhat with age. And he has more gray hair than I do! He was always a cowboy. Loved Hosses and Dawgs and still does...And holy shit! Does he live a long way in the country! Drove out to his job site - A concrete plant - had a little conversation there...Then drove back into town for lunch.

What's wrong with this picture?

I drove a thousand miles so I could go to the Texas Roadhouse in Jacksonville for lunch??

There has got to be some irony there, boy! Food was good, though! I ain't even sure we have any of these in Texas...

After lunch we drove out to his house - Far (far) west of JAX. Thought I had driven halfway back to Texas by the time we pulled into his front yard. He's got 3 acres that he shares with his wife, 2 hosses and a passel of Dawgs. They (my friend and his wife) think they are in charge, but it ain't too hard to see who really rules the roost! And it ain't the humans! Ha Ha!

Driving back to my sister's after dark was a trip

Hell, just gettin' back to a paved county road was a trip. And then there was the RAIN. Couple of real gully washers! At a couple of points I had to downshift to 2d gear and drive r-e-a-l s-l-o-w cause the wipers in the Saturn wouldn't go fast enough to let me see out the dang windshield(!) Only lasted a couple of minutes each time, though and then it was back to 70 MPH. I love the north Florida back country. I had forgotten just how hilly it is in North FLA...

I think the entire state ain't nothin' but a series of tall sand dunes!

Off to cruise down A1A for a while today

And then check in at the re-union this evening! THAT should be interesting!!

Seeya!

t...

Blogging From Email?? A Test...

2006-06-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

So I've set up to send posts to "Sound Off" via email. And from my mobile.
The first post from my mobile phone should already be here. Just testing a
couple of things to see how long it takes. However images cannot be sent to
blogger via email. Just from a mobile.

Still this is some pretty cool stuff!

T's from Jacksonville, Florida!

MoBlog experiment

2006-06-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

My sister was good enough to put me up this week.

Where the Hell is TexasT's??

2006-06-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

Excuse me...I've been a little busy...

This week, I've travelled to Jacksonville, Florida to attend my 30th Highschool re-union. Seems a bit informal - as there is no set agenda - other than a meet and greet at a hotel in Downtown JAX on Friday.

I've never attended any of the others...So I'll just have to wait and see how that goes.

Oh yeah and I've setup to blog via email. so I'll have a test post before too long.

Think I'll set up to post via my cell as well.

Sooo experimental blogging is in the offing!

t...

I've had a Death in the Family...

2006-05-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

So I'm off to points north - Chicago or there abouts to be inexact. Little town 'bout 80 miles west on I80.

I'll check you later.

T

In the Past, I've Ranted

2006-05-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

About the Isolation of Society...Due in large part to the proliferation of Cell Phones, Personal Stereos, MP3 Players, Personal (sized) Video Games, and the like.

However...

Since I got my LifeDrive from Palm, I find that I like making my own Sound Track for life. But, where I can still pay attention, some other folks are likely to step in front of a Bus or do something else equally as stupid or life threatening.

Whether listening to music or talking on their phones, I have personally observed people that are potentially dangerous to themselves or others around them, because they are...

Not In The Moment(!) In Which They Exist(!!)

So if you are using these devices whether walking, riding, driving(!), or whatever, please pay attention to what is going on around you. Before you injure someone else or otherwise become responsible for something yourself or society will never forgive you for.

Other than that, please feel free to isolate away. Just stay out of other people's way. And for God's sake...

PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU!

This is a public service announcement brought to you by TexasT's. We now return to our regularly scheduled blogosphere. Have a nice day!

Special Post to the "Mother of the Offspring"

2006-05-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Where the hell did you come up with "Cadona"

Cool name...Just wondering...

I was asked about my blogs this week and (indirectly) about blog-ging!

2006-05-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Someone Near and Dear to me - "Your blog is so neat and tidy. And you have everything on there - Books you've read. Movies you've seen. I don't get it! But it is very neat - Why isn't your life like that? I just don't get it! You seem to be very proud of it!"

Well, I hope I don't sound like I'm being smart and smarmy with this explanation. If you read this - Please don't take it the wrong way!

I don't have everything on my Blog(s). Mostly fluff from inside my head and stuff I find interesting...

But no, you don't "get it". It ain't necessary to "get it"! And I'm sorry you don't. But I ain't makin' no excuses either.

Maybe I'm just a frustrated, wannabe author. And this is my literary outlet...Proud of it though? Don't think so - But it is about the only thing that is totally mine.

It's also about the only thing that I can control TOTALLY! The way it looks or feels is limited only by my skill level and my imagination.

Maybe it looks so neat and tidy because that's the way I WISH I could live... I don't share this space with any one! Unless I want to! I can bitch! I can rant! I can praise! I can write about stuff that means something to me. Or stuff that doesn't. I can write things here that I can't seem to say out loud. I can delete comments!(I usually don't - unless it's obviously SPAM)

I can tell you what I don't blog for...That's the readership. I do it for me. And me alone. Hell, I'm not even sure anybody reads this motherfucker anymore.

I'll stop when I'm ready to stop. And the fat lady ain't even begun to sing yet!

'nuff said!

AlleyCat - Today is a Momentous Day For You

2006-05-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

My Stepdaughter turns 21 today! Yay!

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY!

Ams,

I know this is falling on deaf ears but...

Try not to give yourself too bad of a headache for tomorrow!

Be careful out there, princess! And no Driving!!

Mission Impossible III

2006-05-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

Movies - Saw the latest offering in the Mission Impossible franchise last weekend.
Link to Yahoo review: MI3@Yahoo

Now I'm not a big Cruise fan. Jesus fella! Every body gets it - You are in love with Ms. Holmes! Shut the fuck up already! Nobody (well, I don't) gives a shit!

And the Scientology thing?!? Well that's just getting old.

And I don't care how you feel about Psychology (No matter how close your feelings are to mine!) If it seems to work for some people, LET IT!

Take some lessons from Travolta. He doesn't seem to wear his religion on his sleeve.

But I digress...
I thought the plot was almost plausible (It is Mission IMPOSSIBLE!). Cruise and company were alright. As much as I hate to admit it Tom, you can act, in my opinion. But you you come accross as a smug fucker and that gets on my nerves!

I gotta say, whenever Philip Seymour Hoffman was on screen, the temperature in the theater dropped about five degrees. His character was fuckin' STONE COLD... Now there's an actor's ACTOR!

TexasT's rates it: TTTt

Found a post about Ben Franklin

2006-05-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

In late February of this year on Boing Boing. I wrote this post, saved it as a draft and then promptly forgot about it. (I think it was right around this time that my employer blocked boingboing.net from my location. So I had other stuff to think about at the time. Boy, was I pissed)

If only we all strove to be this good! Something to think about. On second thought, I think I only need to worry about me. Y'all can strive on your own...

Benjamin Franklin's 13-point plan for virtuous living

When Benjamin Franklin was 20 years old, he wrote up a 13-point "plan" for how he would live his life. He found that following the plan increased his happiness so much that he kept it up for the rest of his life. He committed to giving strict attention to one virtue each week so after 13 weeks he moved through all 13. After 13 weeks he would start the process over again so in one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times.

He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day.

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

http://www.flamebright.com/PTPages/Benjamin.asp http://www.43folders.com/2005/09/01/ben-franklin-keeper-of-his-own-permanent-record/ http://www.boingboing.net/2006/02/27/benjamin_franklins_1.html

The MS Access (Intermediate) Class

2006-05-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

That I've spent two days attending. (Wednesday /Thursday)

The Big Clam paid for it (or will). It was a disappointment for me.

This was not the Instructor's fault. She knew the material; She could also see there were a couple of us in this class of seven that were WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE. Nothing she could do about it...

I should have signed up for the Advanced Class. My intuition told me to. As usual I wasn't listening...Dammit!

I was worried it might be beyond my meager abilities in MS Access. I should not have been. Don't get me wrong, I learned some stuff, but was it worth missing 2 (!) days of work for?? Probably not. But it wasn't a complete waste of money.

And I paid for it at the office Friday.

And why is it (inevitable) that there is some person that should be in the beginner's class slowing every one down. At times I could barely hide my resentment. Hell, I'm not sure this person should be allowed near a PC! Much less developing applications!

Patience my left butt cheek!

shit!

PC Lockups! Dammit!

2006-05-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

I need to figure out why my freakin' PC locks up at the most in-opportune times!

Last night I had this really nice, (and long) elegant (not to mention eloquent) post almost finished when my system froze up (!) and I lost EVERYTHING!

I had written over a fucking HOUR! At least! About a whole range of stuff.

I've got to find some time to get to the bottom of this! Sometimes I can go for days with no freeze ups. Other times the fucker does it once an hour(!) I'll fix it dammit! Pisses me off!

shit!

As a result though, THE RESULTING POSTS (smaller bytes) probably will not be as eloquent.

But I AM saving more often! Dammit!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!!!

2006-05-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

My daughter is twenty-two today!

Baby Gurl, have I told you how proud your Daddy is of you?! Well I am!

Your Mother and I (aaaaaaaaaaand every one else involved - Gotta give credit where credit is due) did a good job with you!

Happy birthday Princess!

Seems like only yesterday you were turning TWO!

I L-o-v-e getting up at 0330 in the Morning...

2006-05-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

...After 3 hours of sleep to unlock 1700 + users that one of my counterparts in Europe COULD have handled if they weren't just back from HOLIDAY!

Four weeks vacation in Switzerland! Not my first choice for a vacation spot but at this point, I'd just about take an all expenses paid trip to Hoboken! Oh yes, I do believe the company bankrolls their freakin' vacations too!

shit!

Random Thoughts Over the Last Week or So...

2006-04-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Friday April 28th