Brain overload...

Lately, my brain has been bursting with ideas.

I guess its back to the shop to wrap up some more projects before I can start new ones.

Oh and the girl wants me to make new kitchen cabinets.

I better go get started.



*update*

Tray imagined... tray actual.

Not quite done but I love to see thoughts come to life in solid walnut.

MGOBLUE: Michigan vs. Penn State

Tonight in a night game, away at Beaver Stadium Michigan faces Penn State in a much anticipated contest.

This will be the 16th meeting between the two schools,
with Michigan holding a 10-5 series advantage. Penn State
has won the last two meetings after U-M won the previous
nine contests.

The shine seems to be off the apple for Michigan and all the talk of Denard and Heisman has all but dried up. This is exactly the time that the Wolverines needs to dig deep and find the strength to win, and do so away from home.

This is when winners can find a way to win. The team, the fans, the program can not afford to lose here.


Good luck to you boys.

GO BLUE!

Pumpkin Fun Time!

Here is a quick shot of my niece/nephew picking out pumpkins for the Halloween.

This might look like my co-workers desktop...

But really something is sitting just under the surface. What is it you ask?
You just have to wait to see...
(update later this afternoon)
Muha... Muhaha... Muhahaha

*updated*Or, I should say, something on the surface...She did not quite know what was wrong at first glance, but knew it just wasn't quite right. After asking me how I broke her computer, she then discovered that duplicated her desktop on paper and literally pasted it (well taped it actually) onto the monitor. Maybe not so much evil as funny, but hey I got a good laugh out of it.

Cool Gear: iPad edition. Moxier Collage

Everyone once and a while the Girl lets me play with her iPad.

One thing that she truly likes it when I add a new app to her toy.

I ran across the (currently free) app: Moxier Collage and since the price was right and most of the reviews were good I loaded it up and presto:

A mini scrap booking programming for the girl and its surprisingly powerful. In a few minutes she was grabbing photos , objects and creating well some really creative stuff. Suffice it to say I am the Hero... for the moment that is.

I cant be trusted*

* in a hardware store that is. Isles like this really get my blood flowing.

This particular isle is in the awesome Stadium Hardware in Ann Arbor. I would argue there is no better hardware around.

Speaking of things we dont know...

Bees Solve Hard Computing Problems Faster Than Supercomputers.

Thanks to Gizmodo for humbling me again.

In a new study, researchers report that bumblebees were able to figure out the most efficient routes among several computer-controlled "flowers," quickly solving a complex problem that even stumps supercomputers.
Read the entire article *here*

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice...

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since…

Who the hell am I kidding my father never gave me any damn advice I had to figure out everything myself.

Now that I know everything, I don’t know what people are thinking trying to tell me better .

Don’t get me wrong this is not like when I was a teenager and just thought I knew everything but was just rebelling. Or when I was in my 20’s and just knew I knew everything but there was way more to know then I could have known at the time.

Now I have enough experience that I know what I don’t know, and I know that I know enough that I can say you should not be giving me advice on the things I do know. You know?

Cool Site: Devour.com

Wow I just lost a couple of hours on Devour.

Face it: there is a lot of crap out there on Youtube why not let the good people are devour sort it out for you.

Check it out *here*

Dear Political add writers:

Dear Political add writers:

I hate you.

I am tired of every waking minute being inundated with your BS. Democrats want to spend money. Republicans don’t care about the people only big business. Stop showing up at my door. Stop showing up on my TV. Stop broadcasting on my radio.

This guy stole jobs from Americans, that girl was stupid about something or other. This person lied and that person is evil incarnate.

YOU MAKE WANT TO GOUGE MY EYS OUT.

Never mind that I have already lost all faith in the political system and you just wasting your money.

Once again:

Hate you

Go Away

You make me want to blind myself.

I have lost faith in politics

Hate you.

That’s about it.

( I’m a concerned citizen and I approve this message)

This weekeds life lessons and other proof hell might just be feezing over

This weekend was a little weird, starting out with no MI football to get me off on the wrong foot. Not to mention having to work Saturday always makes things weird.

Then there was my bothers Halloween party... we had a blast but there is something deep inside me that still feels weird being at a party where at least 50% of the guest are police officers. Although there is nothing funnier that cop Karaoke... (I cant wait to see those photos J) I guess it just proves everyone has to let there hair down and party sometimes.

Then there was Sunday... where warm weather did feel a little like hell was freezing over and we were getting the leftover warmth. Dont get me wrong it was a welcome change. All the weekend work had to be crammed into one day but he best thing is The Girl finally got that big dresser project out my shop (yea!) so shop is mine again. Muhahaah....

So just a re-cap:
NO football - weird
Party with cops- weird
Abnormal warm weather- weird

All in all it was a great weekend... and now its back to work.

From the "Like I did not have enought to worry about already" department

One of the biggest solar flares in months is exploding from the surface of our sun this week. It's right at the center of a roiling filament of magnetism. According to NASA, flares from sunspot 1112 haven't gotten big enough to be worrying.

-No offense I know those NASA guys are pretty smart but .... Large solar flares are not good in my book.

Thanks to io9 for reminding me we are at the mercy of so many things that are out of our control.

Mikes 48 Chevrolet

It might look a little Sanford and Son on the outside but this sleeper
has a new LS1 Vette engine under it's elegantly understated hood. You
could say it's distressed on purpose as the surface discoloration is
by design and the truck is otherwise "like a rock"

Cold wont stop crazy

Today the cold crept in during the day making me regret not bringing a jacket to work. Tanners after work walk was cloudy and freezing (literally as it was in the 40s and dropping quickly to end up south of frost territory)

Apparently neither the cold or the clouds stopped theses tennis layers from being out... in shorts. Crazy F'n Bastards.

Weird letter of the day: Amnesty International

Oh Amnesty… with your lofty goals and humanitarian efforts. I have never really found you that preachy. Sure your relentless pursuit of donations might be considered a little forward, but its a small price to pay for all the good you attempt to do.

That is why I am baffled on the newest trend in your mailings. When did you start telling people how to open your envelope? I am not sure how to take this. Are you saying I may not know how to open an envelope? I am just going out on a limb here but talking down to people might not be the best way to get donations.

Here is something else: if you are going to have instructions lets have them make more sense. “Remove contents from the front of the envelope”? Does that mean that I should forgo the traditional flap and cut right into the front? Or are you saying once the flap is opened that I should read what is in the very front first? If that is the case might I suggest you just put the stuff you want read first in the back where people’s eyes will be when they open the envelope the traditional way.

Either way, not sure I like where you are going here, maybe you should just keep to sticking up for human rights and leave the opening to us the unwashed masses.

Or not.

Maybe there more to know about running a huge charity that involves enigmatic instructions on the back of envelopes then I am aware of. I hope its not some bad translation from some third world cheap printing company because I hear some of them do not have the best track record… I am sorry look who I am talking to.

Mee-che-gen grocery gitter’

Billed as the “Critter Getter” this otherwise low profile vehicle targeting hunting enthusiasts but really I don’t see why ANYONE would not want one. Sure it has a face only a mother could love, but as they say looks are not everything.

Top 5 reasons I need this vehicle.

1) Basic transportation, of course

2) My truck is just not obnoxious enough

3) I have a need to roll on 64’s

4) Two words: Zombie apocalypse

5) Make parking easier. Now I can just park on top of my neighbors prius.

Made in TX, of course.

Thanks again to uncrate for this one.

I have lost my mind... and other signs I have a sickness.

Today I had to draw something on an actual piece of paper.

Here is what is funny.

I was drawing with a pen, and I made a mistake, my left had went out for the control button. Thats right, I caught myself going for the Ctl-Z.

Apparently, I have been spending a little too much time in the digital world.

It is a good day in the woods...

There is a magic few weeks when the lawn does not need to be mowed, and before the leaves all fall when the smells and colors at their peak when fall outshines every other season.

Oh Snap---

Look at the scene near the office this morning.

Damn its getting dangerous around here.

MGOBLUE: Michigan vs. Iowa

Today is perfect weather again, and Ann Arbor is starting to buzz as the Iowa Hawkeyes are in town for Homecoming game.

I dont have any revelations... after last weeks poor performance Michigan needs a win. Michigan (25/26) faces an Iowa team (14/15) who is looking to put us down again.

No more predictions for me.. here are some game facts.

This will be the 56th meeting between Michigan and
Iowa. The Wolverines hold a 40-11-4 lead in the all-time
series, and have a 21-4-3 mark at Michigan Stadium (22-
5-3 all-time in Ann Arbor). Michigan has won eight of the
last 10 games in the series. Head coach Rich Rodriguez is
0-1 against the Hawkeyes.

Looking forward to a great contest.

GO BLUE

It is beautiful out in Ann Arbor today

It was a perfect fall day.

We decided to go downtown before the football traffic was in full force. It was well worth the trip as the farmers market was glorious. The smells, the colors, and the underlying feeling of well-being that could only come from a perfect fall day.

Cool Vehicle of the week

Just so you know... sometimes I do get to see some pretty cool vehicles.

Like this 1968 International Loadstar with custom box for hauling horses.

It. Is. Awesome.

OK so yesterday was rough…

OK so yesterday was rough… I am betting to day will be better.

I guess I am just a little surprised...

I guess I am just a little surprised...

it took me this long to realize life is just a series of challenges meant to break you. They get harder and more complex as you get older and less able to handle them. Until finally life wins.

Not to be negative or anything.

And now its raining....

Just. F'n. Great.

I just realized....

Certin corporate boards (a- ahem)

Are like cosmic strings:

Hard to prove in logical terms, theoretical in importance,one dimensional and most tellng… infinitely dense.

Mmmmmm... Beer

It did seem like a good day to have a beer after work...

...or two. I love that backward cascade.

Glass of Smoke:

Gizmodo has some amazing photos *here* some of them blew my mind.

I suggest you take a second and have a look.

The Network is down....

Today is not exactly working out the way that I wanted it to.

WTF- I disabled myself sleeping

OK I know I am getting older but this is ridiculous.

The other night, I slept wrong and somehow I pulled a muscle in my upper back/shoulder. It. Is. Killing. Me.

Just to get this straight: I practically disabled myself... while sleeping.

NOT while fighting of a bear. Or climbing a mountain. Or chopping down a tree with an axe... no.... I did it while sleeping.

What. The. F? what is next... I am going get a hangnail and bleed to death? Get a sliver need a transplant?

Thats it I have to go drink some raw eggs and count my chest hairs. Five more minutes of this shit and I am going to dislocate my shoulder on purpose just to make myself feel better.

Damn it.

Happy B day to Mina, my niece.

This afternoon, the Girl and I went to my niece's 5th birthday party. She had a Lilo and stitch Hawaiian theme going on. The Girl managed to get this quick shot of her by the cake while all the other kids were raging around the yard in a sugar induced rampage. Oh... to be 5 again.

MGOBLUE: Michigan vs. Michigan State

Its Saturday!

Good luck to the Wolverines.

GOBLUE!

A view across the Pioneer High School parking lot prior to today's game.

Waitng for the Girl....

Waitng for the Girl.... Who had to have a small surgery today. Simple procedure still.. Hospitals are no fun to begin with much less when they cut into your ear. Feel better sweetie.

MOGOBLUE: MI vs MI State

Saturday, in Ann Arbor, at the Big House the Spartans of MI State face the Wolverines in possibly the most anticipated game of the season.

Both teams are ranked (17th and 18th respectively) unbeaten and bringing with them to the realization that this one game alone could make,or break the season.

This battle of the Paul Bunyan trophy it will be the 58th time the two teams will hope to being home the trophy since State entered the Big Ten in 1953. Currently, the Wolverines hold a 34-21-2 advantage in the series. The weather should be perfect this weekend and the Big House will be swelling with pride as well as people creating a spectical that only 100,0000 people crammed into a single stadium can create.

There has been no lack of commentary this week on both sides. The Denard hype machine has been in full force with Heisman rumors lighting up twitter and the interweb like a Christmas tree soaked in napalm. MI surley knows that is is the best team they have faced so far and it will take more than the offense to win this game. The defense must step up and make some stops. On the other hand State hope to be able to cut through the hype and step up to the challenge and prove the have an offense AND a defense that can stand up to Denard and the yard making machine that is currently the Michigan Wolverinies.

This Saturday, in AnnArbor, I expect a great contest. Fall will take the day off and summer like tempatures will pour into the valley creating the best of all possible weather for the meeting of these two rival schools My prediction is Michigan will prevail in another high scoring shootout: 42-35.

GO BLUE!

What to watch: Fringe

So maybe I am a little weird but tonight's eposode of Fringe.... fricken awesome.

AGAIN WITH THE FLIPBOARD....

Flipboard, for the iPad, is still keeping me enthralled AND is single handedly kept twitter interesting for me.

Not that I would not use twitter with out filpboard... I just would not find it so damn cool.

More fall...

More fall colors.

Best quote of the day

Microsoft, once a powerful player in smartphones, has fallen off the bed so hard that it's going to be a Christmas miracle if it can stand up and walk again, let alone become a market leader.

read more *here* from business insider

I am waiting to be wowed by this phone...

It was billed as....

It was billed as...."A Bazooka That Can Save Lives Wins the Dyson Award" but really there are two things I really want to know:

1) Dyson has an award?

2) WTF is up with creepy computer mannequin guy with the black fingernails?

Its like a German-Alien militant hybrid (*) clubber found a life saving device and changed it into some kind of weapon.

* No offense to anyone of the German persuasion, but....come on now. You see what I mean. Plus I am pretty sure I am 1/32 German myself.

Speaking of fall...

The girl has been up to her fall decorating again.

Looks good sweetie...

Look at that sunset...

Just awesome. Fall is just great.

One of these things is not like the other...

*warning re-post*

Oct. 2, 2010

Singer Katy Perry stands between Bavarian-dressed girls during the German game show "Wetten Dass" (Bet it...?) in Munich. "Wetten Dass" is one of the most popular Saturday night programs in Germany and Austria.

Michaela Rehle-Reuters

Anyone else sick of Katy Perry?

I am so tired of battleing with Comcast...

I am pretty sure I have mentioned my opinion of Comcast before... but I am too tired to fight any more.
They have officially won.

River rocks...

Before the game, Tanner and I took a walk down by the river where the colors of summer are still clinging on as the leaves of fall are starting to gain ground.

MGOBLUE. MI vs. Illinois

Today, on the road, Michigan will face Illinois in a game where 19th
ranked MI is expected to come away with another win. This is exactly
when we have to be careful not to underestimate our opponet and focus
on the basics as thus far we have been good but not great. Giving up
to many points in recent games has almost cost us. Here is when we
need to show we can get our defence as tight as the offence and start
out our BigTen season with confidence showing the world we are more
than Denard (and seemingly unstopable depth at the Q back position).
On this cool Saturday a great season is ours for the taking. Let's go
out and claim it.
GOBLUE.