Vapor Life

Vapor life... My life as it is, as it should be. *********************************************************************************************************** Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep. Fran Lebowitz (1950 - )

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Hulu


OMFG…. Forget what I said about Joost

Hulu.com has won my heart. Why?… I will tell you. Full episodes of News radio, Family Guy and more… soon I will not need cable, all internet TV.., For The Win!

Fail!







The system outages report found on my work desktop this morning.

Yes its going to be a good day.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

HA HA HA HA...(PAUSES FOR BREATH)... HA HA HA HA


Cincinnati Patrolled By Real-Life Superheroes. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

By Meredith Woerner, 11:30 AM on Wed Apr 29 2009

Cincinnati has its own Allegiance of Heroes led by a 21-year-old masked superhero named Shadowhare. These superheroes patrol the streets carrying legal weapons in hopes of hindering evildoers. This will so not end well.

See full story and hill-lar-e-us video *here* thank io9.com

Last Nights Dinner


Last year this (rather large) fish was swimming in a lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This year thanks, to modern freezer technology, we had a rather great dinner using this marinade that we have been using for swordfish fillets. We grilled it up and it turned out great.

Strange Time-Lapse


Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

I ran across this Vid... it was both weird and interesting ... two of my favorite things.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

1941 International

Check out my friend Rich's 1941 International...to sweet.

POGOPLUG FTW!

Do you have half a brain (like I do) and know enough just enough about the interweb to be dangerous (like I do) want to share/access files over the internet with out setting up a home server (like I do).

Then this pogoplug thing is for you!

With just a wireless router, a plane old usb drive ( or thumb drive) you can set this up in seconds and viola! You have internet access to all your files, or just the ones you want on a detachable drive.

I read about it *here* and *here* and *here*

And I have to tell you, so far it works awesomely. I had it set up and was able to allow access to one file only to selected friends in an instant. I highly recommend you check this one out, because if I can figure it out you know It has to be easy.

www.pogoplug.com

Monday, April 27, 2009

OH-MEXICO!

What a busy week you have had. Becoming complacent with your on-going drug war, you have become ground zero for a pandemic *AND* and earthquake in one day! Do not overstep yourself my quaint southern neighbor. Your beaches and down to earth charm are enough, you did not have go and piss off Mother Nature like that now did you?

Traveling to you in the past has been has dicey as ordering food from that churo vendor with a weepy eye but now… well now its just life threatening in every way possible!

Please, my friend you try to hard!

You had us at drug wars… you had us at drug wars.

¡Le saludamos!


(disclaimer: meant as sarcasm, not in any way meant to offend the fine people of Mexico, Churo venders, any person with ocular discharge (weepy eye). Not, in any way, intended to make light of those who will be affected by influenza now or in the future, or anyone in the travel industry. Not intended to be judgmental of those who have chosen the cartel way of making a living, or any one affected in any way buy the recent earthquake, natural disaster of any kind and anyone who has ever felt slighted my mother nature. If you don’t like the font I wrote this in, the illustration that I have chosen or the colors give you eyestrain, please please accept this heartfelt apology. )


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Speaking of the dorm...

We ran into this pluming nightmare in west quad when helping the girl
move.
I thought I had plumbing issues.

Shop Update


This weekend, we moved Chelsey out of the dorm and took care of the quickly growing lawn and I still had time to finish out the small chest and complete this small box with a simple detail cut into the surface.

They both turned out good.

First time I uses this tension lid support and it worked awesomely.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Gratzi !

A nice splurge for dinner with my girl.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Top things you should understand if you own a home:


Microsoft Word - FIRA - Summary of Coverage.doc

How an escrow account works:

It’s not that hard, but understating it will make your life a lot easier. Yes it’s shocking but the bank is not really doing you huge favors, sure they pay your insurance/taxes but they are sitting on a years worth of your money for the privilege. You can argue all you want but if you think your account works differently you are likely mistaken.

Insurance is not a home warranty:

If you want a home warranty, get one, but insurance should be for the things that you cant afford to fix. If you can’t fix a burnt out light bulb, perhaps you should not own a home.

As your home gets older there will be maintenance:

Your roof will get old and have to be replaced, things will wear out, faucets will leek. This is NORMAL and you should EXPECT to fix them at your expense. Its your freaking home.

Your home value might fluctuate, and its not the same as rebuild cost:

Say what you will, but what you can sell your home for and what can rebuild it for may be entirely two different numbers. Think about it.

OH MY GOD… THERE IS MOLD IN YOUR HOME:

Hate to break it to you but almost (and I only say almost because there may be some exception out there) every home has some mold in it. You are not likely to die. Saying that, use your common sense if you have mold growing up the walls in your basement you might have some moisture issues.

WATER IN YOUR BASEMENT IS NOT A FLOOD, Necessarily.

Seriously look it up, FEMA describes a flood as: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property)” Last time I checked your basement was not two acres soooo…since FEMA is in charge of this program flood insurance would not have covered your wet basement even if you had it.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Cool Tools: Bridge City Tools


A friend of mine, who knows I am into woodworking, brought in a tool from his collection to let me see/drool over.

This original Bridge City Tools bevel gauge, takes craftsmanship to a new level.

If it were mine it would be in a display case as it is just to nice to use, but this kind of limited addition hand made tool is something to be proud of. He has had it (I think he said) 20 years and it looks like new, in the box, with the paper work. Since they only make limited runs of tools, this thing an awesome find. I doubt I will see another.

Thanks Mike.

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Monday, April 20, 2009

Stupid Weather


I know I have been bitching all day but this weather report is to stupid not to mention.

Yes SNOW on Wed, and 82 deg on Friday.

Seriously,Snow, then 82.

Are you fricken kidding me?

Worse day than mine.

Clearly the guy that rear ended the truck on the corner of Saline AA rd and Waters is having a worse day than me... but not by much. Bet he did not think he would have tire marks on his hood this morning.

I have no words...


For how frustrating today has become.

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Saturday, April 18, 2009

When The Dog Farts...

No one wins.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Morning Dew

With spring temperatures finally returning the cold night yields to the
morning sun forming dew across the lawn.
(click on this photo for the full effect)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Being Green


Speaking of being green, I was talking to my better half about getting a bicycle lately to get out a little bit more now that summer is coming. Once again, she just looked at me like I was crazy and that was pretty much the end of it.

So imagine my excitement when I saw this add campaign for Johnny Loco bicycles. The theme of the add campaign is “Explore” and you can see the full add campaign *here*. Explore indeed.

Sure these bikes are way out of my price range, and I am guessing this add campaign will do nothing to bolster her interest in the two wheel fun. But it sure caught my eye.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Spring Rain


Funny how a smell or sent can bring back such a strong memory but this morning in the spring rain there was that earthy smell of worms and dirt.

For some reason that smell always brings back memories of when I was a child playing outside of Mrs. G's house (she was the sitter back then) I would be about 5- 7 yrs old but I distinctly remember that smell as I stomped in the puddles out side the home in the spring rain.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Some days...I could just run away.


It is often hard to remember why I stay here in cold, dreary, rainy Michigan.

I was reading about Obama relaxing some restrictions with Cuba and it got me thinking:
I would not mind going for a little visit. I could see my self eating a pork sandwich drinking a mojito or two with my girl at my side. On a day like today it sounds like a good place to run away to.

At least for a while.
Hope I don't run into any *Pirates*
Now if I can only get my better half on board.

Monday, April 13, 2009

What The...



Did I wake up in the wrong century?

Today’s CNN headline:

Pirates vow to kill U.S., French sailors

Now I know that there has been a rash of pirates off the cost of Africa and other places for a while now, but really. Pirates? The took on the US navy and are mad because there brothers in arms got killed? Really? Now they are mad, that they were killed while holding an American citizen hostage, in international waters? Pirates?

Ok forget the absurdity for a moment. I mean we sent some fricken battle cruisers in for the love of …. I mean I don’t care how bad ass you are but we HAVE A NAVY.

But I mean if you are going to embrace the lifestyle of a Pirate, I think chance of death has to be pretty high up on the list of things I am considering when I am going down this particular career path. I don’t really think you can feel bad about getting killed in the line of doing your job, if you can call it that. I mean that is what could happen you are not sitting behind a desk exactly now are you?

So now they are mad and U.S. and France? France? What that F do you expect countries to do WHEN YOU STEAL THEIR BOATS AND TAKE PEOPLE HOSTAGE? Negations only work for so long then just like you pirates, it becomes about he money… lets see re-tasking two battle cruisers, negotiation team, lost time, effort…. Millions. Cost of killing three pirates once we are on scene…. Less then $5 worth of ammo. I think you get the picture, even you are not that stupid.

So for all you current and would be pirates out there, you had a good run but time to hang up the eye patch. Or continue at your own risk, just don’t come crying when someone gets hurt because you are running around with automatic weapons causing a big fuss.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter Everyone

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Frauscher Cantiere Nautico Feltrinelli



I have always wanted a little runabout for kicking around the waters here in Michigan.

This one will do.

Luxury German boatbuilder Frauscher is coming out with a beautiful new
speedboat mixing modern and classic in honor of boatracing legend
racer Dino Feltrinelli. Feltrinelli, himself born of an Italian
boatbuilding family that has long been allianced to Frauscher, won
many racing trophies in the 1930s and '40s. Frauscher, founded in
1927, commissioned designer Annette Hintwirth to come up with a craft
that celebrated Feltrinelli's racing glory while showcasing the best
contemporary style. Powering the black, teak and white rocket is a
Volvo Penta V8 engine.


Check it out *here*

(Hey only 45 min to Easter Sunday!)

Dollar Movie Mania

Lately,

We have been going out to the dollar movies. If you don’t mind bad seats, hit or miss popcorn and seeing moves months after they come out you cant miss. Besides I cant beat the company:). Anyway since Benjamin Button I did not have much hope for Paul Blart but to my surprise…. It was not that bad. Not that bad at all

Night Out

> Last night we went out to dinner with Chelsey and I took this quick
> night shot of a dining hall attached to her dorm.
>

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Neuroscientists in Brooklyn successfully erase memories with drugs


Um… I hate to break it to you but I have been doing this for years in a home setting.

Read the whole article *here*.


Thanks Engadget


Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center have apparently been tinkering with selectively erasing the memories of rats with a mysterious drug they call ZIP. In the trial, mice who had learned to avoid an electrified area of their cage, once injected with ZIP, appeared to have forgotten about the electrification, and ceased to avoid the area. They have also successfully made the rats forgot about their distaste for a substance that had previously made them sick. Dr. Todd Sacktor, head of the project, believes that the drug may be used in humans one day, and that it may also help enhance memories as well. We don't really have any specific info about the drug itself, or how it works, so until then... we'll just have to keep hoping that the lyrics to Use Your Illusion II fade on their own.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Finally, a Vehicle to Save GM (Sarcasm)






The new PUMA, Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project, found (see full story here) is got to be one of the worst ideas I have seen in a long time.

Lets take Segway (failing company) add GM (also failing) and produce a project that’s sure to … fail?

Seriously the biggest reason I don’t like it: no room for the dog. Or anything for that matter.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

With all the greif going on..

I almost forgot it was spring. I think mother nature has forgotten as
well.

Friday, April 03, 2009

Sometimes it is hard


Sometimes it is hard

To understand what a man is thinking. What is going on in his mind.

What makes one man walk away from the brink and another throw himself into the abyss.

Sometimes its hard

To understand why one mans demons effect him so greatly while another can keep them at bay in the shadows. How a similar path can look so different through different eyes.

Sometimes its hard

To see that someone that has so many great gifts may have the most trouble with the simple things we take for granted. To remember to cherish what we have every day.

Sometimes its hard

To realize that someone you loved is gone before his time. To remember to separate the grief from the guilt. To remember all that was good in his life and hope that finally he may have some peace.


Rest in Peace my Cousin, my Friend. You will be missed

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Happy April 1st



Happy April Fools day everyone.

I miss drinking....