Hello
I've been off the blog for a few days. I have been trying a medicine for my sleep issue and the first one I tried made my heart beat too strongly. The next one seems to be causing me to stay in a sleepy state. I just want it to alleviate my issue of falling asleep after work.
I'll give the Strattera another chance before I give up. I like the idea of an SSRI but not if it will make me sleep like a bear- and at the wrong time.
Visit this link; deadmalls.com
Friday, September 22, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
What did I do the morning of 9/11/01
I don't know if I've written down what I did on 9/11/01 but it cannot be too much of a good thing to write it down again. The big thought I had was to make sure our leaders and our country would not pull any punches. We haven't done all we can but we are surely safer.
It was ten minutes after 9 and I was in bed getting ready to go to work. I lay there to get primed for the work day at the computer store. I was listening to WMAC-AM and Kenny Bee told us to stand by for a report on a terrorist attack- or an airplane crash, or both. I wish I had his words written down earlier. I didn't know if it were an airliner or a small craft. I remembered the B-25 that crashed into the Empire State Building during WWII. Reports from ABC initially indicated there was a plane crash. Later it seemed the reports talked of terrorism. I made my way to the store.
Our store was in a bigger facility at Mercer Crossing and I had a back room almost to myself for doing service work. I did almost nothing but service work. We had more manpower back then. We didn't have "same day next day" service yet but I took my job seriously.
I had a television tuned to Fox as we had cable internet run to the store. I got to see the pictures run over and over again of the planes crashing into the towers. I got to see an almost live picture of the towers crash. I say these pictures were almost live because the Fox staff indicated no surprise and said "here's some video of the tower crashing". Later the Pentagon fell prey and a plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.
News wasn't entirely instantaneous though some live video showed us what was going on. Much of the video was looped and from other sources. Journalists have to confirm and reconfirm their stories before going public. It is still faster than having to wait for days or weeks as many in our nation did after the Declaration was signed.
Only a token few customers came into the store and the phone was relatively quiet. The nation seemed to stop; there was almost no activity in the shopping center. I heard that the Colonial Mall (later called Macon Mall) was evacuated in the wake of a bomb threat. My sister, who travels to many places in her job, called Mom and Dad later that night to tell us everyone was doing fine and that people were sent home from work due to having nothing to do.
I had heard stories of Pearl Harbor and the Kennedy Assasination. I wondered if we in our dumbed-down generation would trivialize this event and worse, insist on political correctness and forget what kind of stuff we as Americans were and are supposed to be.
I would be more infuriated with American attitudes than our goverment if nobody did anything about the terrorists. The generation after ours knew less about history or government and fell prey to the media and those who want to throw oru nation's principles out the window. I think the new adults very well have a chance to redeem themselves.
It was ten minutes after 9 and I was in bed getting ready to go to work. I lay there to get primed for the work day at the computer store. I was listening to WMAC-AM and Kenny Bee told us to stand by for a report on a terrorist attack- or an airplane crash, or both. I wish I had his words written down earlier. I didn't know if it were an airliner or a small craft. I remembered the B-25 that crashed into the Empire State Building during WWII. Reports from ABC initially indicated there was a plane crash. Later it seemed the reports talked of terrorism. I made my way to the store.
Our store was in a bigger facility at Mercer Crossing and I had a back room almost to myself for doing service work. I did almost nothing but service work. We had more manpower back then. We didn't have "same day next day" service yet but I took my job seriously.
I had a television tuned to Fox as we had cable internet run to the store. I got to see the pictures run over and over again of the planes crashing into the towers. I got to see an almost live picture of the towers crash. I say these pictures were almost live because the Fox staff indicated no surprise and said "here's some video of the tower crashing". Later the Pentagon fell prey and a plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.
News wasn't entirely instantaneous though some live video showed us what was going on. Much of the video was looped and from other sources. Journalists have to confirm and reconfirm their stories before going public. It is still faster than having to wait for days or weeks as many in our nation did after the Declaration was signed.
Only a token few customers came into the store and the phone was relatively quiet. The nation seemed to stop; there was almost no activity in the shopping center. I heard that the Colonial Mall (later called Macon Mall) was evacuated in the wake of a bomb threat. My sister, who travels to many places in her job, called Mom and Dad later that night to tell us everyone was doing fine and that people were sent home from work due to having nothing to do.
I had heard stories of Pearl Harbor and the Kennedy Assasination. I wondered if we in our dumbed-down generation would trivialize this event and worse, insist on political correctness and forget what kind of stuff we as Americans were and are supposed to be.
I would be more infuriated with American attitudes than our goverment if nobody did anything about the terrorists. The generation after ours knew less about history or government and fell prey to the media and those who want to throw oru nation's principles out the window. I think the new adults very well have a chance to redeem themselves.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Been out due to boss' baby
Hello
I've been out because of my boss' wife giving birth but my mind has still been active.
I updated the Nike Hercules page at http://home.earthlink.net/~kturnerga/robinsnike. I am too cheap to buy a domain name so this long-drawn-out URL will have to do. Someone from the Byron Area Historical Society sent a picture of a sign that adorned the Byron Nike Hercules Base in the Sixties. The present property is now a restaurant fixture business and a pyrotechnics facility. Hopefully I can jazz up the web page to make it a showpiece but I am learning more about networking and not so much about web authoring.
The mayor of Macon wants nobody but his spokesperson, Ron Wildman, to respond to any press inquiries. Likely the public safety staff will be able to answer questions on events dealing in breaches of safety but everything else is under Mayor Ellis' lid. It's that simple: we in unincorporated Bibb must consolidate or break off ties with the City of Macon. The big fear is taking on the city's debt and having North and South Bibb become rich uncle to the rest of the county.
Now I did finally get the General Tso's brakes to behave. Or Kubia's Auto Center did. I got the rear brake shoes replaced a few months ago but the brakes were still spongy. I tried bleeding them with the 5.00 gizmo that allows one person to bleed them. I did more harm than good and there was air in the line. Next I propped the pedal with a sawn board and bled the lines in the back. I saw improved results but was not happy. The rear brakes were adjusted at Kubia's. At first the brakes would intermittently require me to hit metal to get to a complete stop at slow speeds. I tried backing up and hitting the brakes several times and voila they work fine.
The next task on the General is to change the oil and shampoo the rug on the driver's side. It still smells of manure when I first start it and the blower kicks in. I will insert some room deodorizer pads in an attempt to alleviate the smell. Should this fail I want to get a Haynes book and go further into the blower intake to make the machine smell better.
We have two window air conditioners in the living room. The big A/C (13000BTU) died so my uncle had one A/C that he didn't need. He and my sister bought another one. Each unit is 5000BTU and 8000BTU respectively. As the big A/C window unit is under warranty we will actually gain two instead of losing one A/C. I just wish that years ago the family had acquired high-velocity ducting and central air. This is if we had known that six window A/C's were to cool 1500 SQFT of space. Some of the units are unused but most tick along all the time. I may be wrong about the square feet of house; I will check with the Board of Tax Assessor's web site (so I read the headlines on Macon-Bibb's BOTA; big deal!).
I have lost a little weight just from judging by the girth I have. Some Tommy Hilfiger pants I got for a song and a dance manage to fit. My belly protrudes less. I attribute this to a small breakfast every morning and sometimes missing a meal. It wreaks havoc with my mood and my sleep cycle is going to pot. I wake up still sleepy at 9:15 and have a small snack. At 3:00 I have lunch and at 8:00 or 9:00 I take a nap. I wake up come 12:00 and shortly thereafter I will have dinner.
I am not getting richer nor am I doing a good job search to build up my piggy bank. I sleep and do a little playing and lots of housework. I want to take Brainbench's Windows 2003 Server exam (free) come October. I don't care if I am seeking a non-computer related career; I want to stay on track and do something with my life.
Dad is getting better and is doing more around the house thank goodness. His sleep cycle is slowly improving. Everyone's thoughts and prayers have been greatly appreciated.
I've been out because of my boss' wife giving birth but my mind has still been active.
I updated the Nike Hercules page at http://home.earthlink.net/~kturnerga/robinsnike. I am too cheap to buy a domain name so this long-drawn-out URL will have to do. Someone from the Byron Area Historical Society sent a picture of a sign that adorned the Byron Nike Hercules Base in the Sixties. The present property is now a restaurant fixture business and a pyrotechnics facility. Hopefully I can jazz up the web page to make it a showpiece but I am learning more about networking and not so much about web authoring.
The mayor of Macon wants nobody but his spokesperson, Ron Wildman, to respond to any press inquiries. Likely the public safety staff will be able to answer questions on events dealing in breaches of safety but everything else is under Mayor Ellis' lid. It's that simple: we in unincorporated Bibb must consolidate or break off ties with the City of Macon. The big fear is taking on the city's debt and having North and South Bibb become rich uncle to the rest of the county.
Now I did finally get the General Tso's brakes to behave. Or Kubia's Auto Center did. I got the rear brake shoes replaced a few months ago but the brakes were still spongy. I tried bleeding them with the 5.00 gizmo that allows one person to bleed them. I did more harm than good and there was air in the line. Next I propped the pedal with a sawn board and bled the lines in the back. I saw improved results but was not happy. The rear brakes were adjusted at Kubia's. At first the brakes would intermittently require me to hit metal to get to a complete stop at slow speeds. I tried backing up and hitting the brakes several times and voila they work fine.
The next task on the General is to change the oil and shampoo the rug on the driver's side. It still smells of manure when I first start it and the blower kicks in. I will insert some room deodorizer pads in an attempt to alleviate the smell. Should this fail I want to get a Haynes book and go further into the blower intake to make the machine smell better.
We have two window air conditioners in the living room. The big A/C (13000BTU) died so my uncle had one A/C that he didn't need. He and my sister bought another one. Each unit is 5000BTU and 8000BTU respectively. As the big A/C window unit is under warranty we will actually gain two instead of losing one A/C. I just wish that years ago the family had acquired high-velocity ducting and central air. This is if we had known that six window A/C's were to cool 1500 SQFT of space. Some of the units are unused but most tick along all the time. I may be wrong about the square feet of house; I will check with the Board of Tax Assessor's web site (so I read the headlines on Macon-Bibb's BOTA; big deal!).
I have lost a little weight just from judging by the girth I have. Some Tommy Hilfiger pants I got for a song and a dance manage to fit. My belly protrudes less. I attribute this to a small breakfast every morning and sometimes missing a meal. It wreaks havoc with my mood and my sleep cycle is going to pot. I wake up still sleepy at 9:15 and have a small snack. At 3:00 I have lunch and at 8:00 or 9:00 I take a nap. I wake up come 12:00 and shortly thereafter I will have dinner.
I am not getting richer nor am I doing a good job search to build up my piggy bank. I sleep and do a little playing and lots of housework. I want to take Brainbench's Windows 2003 Server exam (free) come October. I don't care if I am seeking a non-computer related career; I want to stay on track and do something with my life.
Dad is getting better and is doing more around the house thank goodness. His sleep cycle is slowly improving. Everyone's thoughts and prayers have been greatly appreciated.
Monday, August 14, 2006
South Bibb Development near Hartley Bridge
08/14/06
I read about a Moon Properties development at Hartley Bridge Road and Interstate 75. I praise this form of growth for South Bibb. The houses coming after the commercialization phase include multiple-family structures. If there are any houses built they must be middle-to-upper market. We do not need cheap rental property this close to Crawford and Peach Counties. With the ghetto being a few miles up Interstate 75 we most definitely need Moon's development to be relatively upscale- not snooty but upscale. This is being billed as an alternative to living in Atlanta. Of course we do need the jobs and decent schools to draw in people.
I am very excited with what I see going on in the next few years. Moon, according to the Telegraph, mentions a theater, elementary school, home improvement place, and supermarket.
Just think; when I grew up (an example; 1973)we had to travel to Rocky Creek Road to go to a real grocery store. Back then we had two superettes (Bryant's and the Red and White), one pharmacist (McCook's), four convenience stores, a few smaller country stores, a handful of churches, six full-fledged service stations (most on the Interstate), a few smaller "filling" stations, and two restaurants (Stuckey's and Shane's).
This development means a big push to get more goodies. Who knows; a tire store, a lube shop, more major fast-food outlets (A Hardee's I hope)and a multitude of doctor's offices. I really do not think a Wal-Mart is needed in our community for the next ten years at the earliest.
KAT
I read about a Moon Properties development at Hartley Bridge Road and Interstate 75. I praise this form of growth for South Bibb. The houses coming after the commercialization phase include multiple-family structures. If there are any houses built they must be middle-to-upper market. We do not need cheap rental property this close to Crawford and Peach Counties. With the ghetto being a few miles up Interstate 75 we most definitely need Moon's development to be relatively upscale- not snooty but upscale. This is being billed as an alternative to living in Atlanta. Of course we do need the jobs and decent schools to draw in people.
I am very excited with what I see going on in the next few years. Moon, according to the Telegraph, mentions a theater, elementary school, home improvement place, and supermarket.
Just think; when I grew up (an example; 1973)we had to travel to Rocky Creek Road to go to a real grocery store. Back then we had two superettes (Bryant's and the Red and White), one pharmacist (McCook's), four convenience stores, a few smaller country stores, a handful of churches, six full-fledged service stations (most on the Interstate), a few smaller "filling" stations, and two restaurants (Stuckey's and Shane's).
This development means a big push to get more goodies. Who knows; a tire store, a lube shop, more major fast-food outlets (A Hardee's I hope)and a multitude of doctor's offices. I really do not think a Wal-Mart is needed in our community for the next ten years at the earliest.
KAT
City phone bill being paid?
08/14/06
Question:
Is it true that the City of Macon has not been paying its telephone bills and that some of the phone numbers are dead?
Carelessness, neglect, and even worse can kill
http://www.wmaz.com/news/local_headlines.aspx?storyid=28777 details a woman who is smoking in bed- and she is on oxygen, by the way- and causes a fatal fire.
What part of "Oxygen: No Smoking Within 50 Feet" do some of us not understand?
What part of "Oxygen: No Smoking Within 50 Feet" do some of us not understand?
Sunday, August 06, 2006
General Tso actually gets brakes fixed
08/06/06
The General Tso got its brakes fixed. Yes, it does need its rotors ground but for 280.00 that can wait. The danger aspect of the brakes is gone thanks to the Mad Machinist. I had replaced the front pads but the rear shoes needed replacement. Try this; take a glass jar and rotate it as you would when taking off the lid. Put your thumb on the inside of the jar and force the twirling to stop. This is how brake shoes work on a drum on the rear of a car.
Of course it isn't that simple due to the springs and brake adjustment screw so I took it to the Mad Machinist. Yes there is lots of travel space on the pedal but much of that is normal. I do have to finish with the smell issue and the fuel feed being stubborn but these aren't that critical. Nor is having to feed the thing a quart of oil once every few weeks. A head job is more costly than feeding it oil until it smokes all the time.
I read about Leslie Elliot, who I grew up with. She worked in advertising- like I wanted to. I was an intern for her back in college. But she now has chosen to teach for Heard Elementary. Leslie is going to hang an angel in her room just as her deceased mother, Marian Hamlin, did when she taught a previous generation at Heard.
I do have one question; when is the ACLU going to yank out the angel due to church-state separation issues? Oh and one more question; why are so many promising people like Leslie and myself, when leaving college, forced to teach school, work for the federal government, do telephone insurance sales, or work in health care? This is what is happening in the Macon area. My family needs me here but I can't move forward in my career as long as I'm in Macon or the surrounding area.
I do have a plea for everyone while on the subject; vote for Allen Peake if he is running in your district. I trust a businessman over a lawyer who's father was just another politician at the State House. Read the Peach Pundit. Stebin's father gave to a Democratic candidate this year. So much for his dad being a closet Republican.
Stebin at one time refused to restrict the mayor's powers. I do not know what the issue was but it was in 2005. Someone please clue us in on this before we vote this Tuesday.
Finally, vote for Karen Handel and vote for Black in the runoff.
KAT
The General Tso got its brakes fixed. Yes, it does need its rotors ground but for 280.00 that can wait. The danger aspect of the brakes is gone thanks to the Mad Machinist. I had replaced the front pads but the rear shoes needed replacement. Try this; take a glass jar and rotate it as you would when taking off the lid. Put your thumb on the inside of the jar and force the twirling to stop. This is how brake shoes work on a drum on the rear of a car.
Of course it isn't that simple due to the springs and brake adjustment screw so I took it to the Mad Machinist. Yes there is lots of travel space on the pedal but much of that is normal. I do have to finish with the smell issue and the fuel feed being stubborn but these aren't that critical. Nor is having to feed the thing a quart of oil once every few weeks. A head job is more costly than feeding it oil until it smokes all the time.
I read about Leslie Elliot, who I grew up with. She worked in advertising- like I wanted to. I was an intern for her back in college. But she now has chosen to teach for Heard Elementary. Leslie is going to hang an angel in her room just as her deceased mother, Marian Hamlin, did when she taught a previous generation at Heard.
I do have one question; when is the ACLU going to yank out the angel due to church-state separation issues? Oh and one more question; why are so many promising people like Leslie and myself, when leaving college, forced to teach school, work for the federal government, do telephone insurance sales, or work in health care? This is what is happening in the Macon area. My family needs me here but I can't move forward in my career as long as I'm in Macon or the surrounding area.
I do have a plea for everyone while on the subject; vote for Allen Peake if he is running in your district. I trust a businessman over a lawyer who's father was just another politician at the State House. Read the Peach Pundit. Stebin's father gave to a Democratic candidate this year. So much for his dad being a closet Republican.
Stebin at one time refused to restrict the mayor's powers. I do not know what the issue was but it was in 2005. Someone please clue us in on this before we vote this Tuesday.
Finally, vote for Karen Handel and vote for Black in the runoff.
KAT
Monday, July 24, 2006
General Tso's Rug Gets Shampooed
07/24/06
I took out the passenger's seat on the General Tso as I figured this would most effectively let me clean the carpet. I shampooed and brushed the carpet and front and rear mats. I vacuumed the rug after it dried. The seat was shampooed, brushed,and vacuumed too.
Of course the hardest part was aligning the screw holes with the holes on the seat. The left front screw hole had been stripped by the time I got through. Saturday night I tried to screw the seat in and got really angry. I tried to pry, curse, and sweat through the ordeal.
Then Dad checked his blood pressure and found it to be 205/??. We then called 911 and an ambulance came. The paramedic and EMT examined him and found him to be fit despite his having the jitters. We thought it best to have him go to the ER.
KAT
I took out the passenger's seat on the General Tso as I figured this would most effectively let me clean the carpet. I shampooed and brushed the carpet and front and rear mats. I vacuumed the rug after it dried. The seat was shampooed, brushed,and vacuumed too.
Of course the hardest part was aligning the screw holes with the holes on the seat. The left front screw hole had been stripped by the time I got through. Saturday night I tried to screw the seat in and got really angry. I tried to pry, curse, and sweat through the ordeal.
Then Dad checked his blood pressure and found it to be 205/??. We then called 911 and an ambulance came. The paramedic and EMT examined him and found him to be fit despite his having the jitters. We thought it best to have him go to the ER.
KAT
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Blackballed and a Clarification
Hi!
I got blackballed today!
I posted a comment on a blog about the blogger administrator's opinion on Bibb's public schools. I told him his attitude towards supporting the schools was akin to the Alan Jackson song (lyrics if nothing else), "Prop me up 'side the jukebox when I die". He was in effect propping up dead schools. I then admonished him to think of his kids rather than the institution of public education. I capped it off by referring to the "dog excrement" sending their kids to school as being the big reason Bibb schools stink.
We do have bureaucrats and top-down management wreaking havoc on our schools. Not that they were perfect. My dad used to say that any white Chevrolet truck with a work body going somewhere slowly was a Bibb BOE truck. My mom said it took two people from BOE headquarters to run around a classroom with a Flit can to kill bugs.
If I stepped on the administrator's toes I must apologize but not because I was wrong.
KAT
I got blackballed today!
I posted a comment on a blog about the blogger administrator's opinion on Bibb's public schools. I told him his attitude towards supporting the schools was akin to the Alan Jackson song (lyrics if nothing else), "Prop me up 'side the jukebox when I die". He was in effect propping up dead schools. I then admonished him to think of his kids rather than the institution of public education. I capped it off by referring to the "dog excrement" sending their kids to school as being the big reason Bibb schools stink.
We do have bureaucrats and top-down management wreaking havoc on our schools. Not that they were perfect. My dad used to say that any white Chevrolet truck with a work body going somewhere slowly was a Bibb BOE truck. My mom said it took two people from BOE headquarters to run around a classroom with a Flit can to kill bugs.
If I stepped on the administrator's toes I must apologize but not because I was wrong.
KAT
Friday, July 21, 2006
Mayor Cialis tells MHA board to resign
Hello
Mayor Ellis today told the Macon Housing Authority's board to resign. This request is in light of a federal report detailing improper spending.
So I wonder who among the mayor's friends frittered away the housing funds? I'm waiting for the MHA's members and Mr. Hiscox to tell us their side.
KAT
Mayor Ellis today told the Macon Housing Authority's board to resign. This request is in light of a federal report detailing improper spending.
So I wonder who among the mayor's friends frittered away the housing funds? I'm waiting for the MHA's members and Mr. Hiscox to tell us their side.
KAT
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
General Tso gets new brakes for real
07/12/06
I went to put in a new network card for a friend but the card didn't work. I had bought a card to install in her computer but I couldn't find it. I saw her new dog; it is sooo cute. It's an 8 month-old dachsund.
I went to get my hair cut and finally found a place after three tries. I cannot believe how poorly staffed some salons are! In Warner Robins I went to the second-hand office furniture store. They had some nice office chairs and a few tables but oddly enough the tables, as simple as they were, cost 99.00. I need a smaller table for the sewing room as well as a flippable ironing board.
Next I went to Home Decor. It is one of few businesses that keep the lights on at the Houston Mall. I would advise bulldozing all but the anchor stores and outparcels, putting the bricks and other items for sale on Ebay as keepsakes, and building a strip. This would entail a bit of capital though and I am sure the property makes a nice tax write-off.
At Home Decor I found $4.00 bath towels, some nice mats, and a sheet set for 13.00. I could go nuts with my money in that store. I also found old store racks and fire extinguishers from Wal-Mart. I might partake in one of the extinguishers for the house. I saw some hanging torso squares with female breasts along with some store mannequins.
I slept then changed the brake pads on the General Tso. I put a new retainer clip on the left side and compressed the piston with a C-clamp and a chisel laid flat. Even with this I had to do some tapping to slide the caliper on. I am sure a pro would not have to resort to tapping to force a caliper onto the rotor. I hate travel space and feeling a thunk when I brake slowly and hard. Possibly this is normal operation but I did see less of this happen thanks to the new pads.
I got Dad his medicine to calm him down and allow him to sleep.
I went to put in a new network card for a friend but the card didn't work. I had bought a card to install in her computer but I couldn't find it. I saw her new dog; it is sooo cute. It's an 8 month-old dachsund.
I went to get my hair cut and finally found a place after three tries. I cannot believe how poorly staffed some salons are! In Warner Robins I went to the second-hand office furniture store. They had some nice office chairs and a few tables but oddly enough the tables, as simple as they were, cost 99.00. I need a smaller table for the sewing room as well as a flippable ironing board.
Next I went to Home Decor. It is one of few businesses that keep the lights on at the Houston Mall. I would advise bulldozing all but the anchor stores and outparcels, putting the bricks and other items for sale on Ebay as keepsakes, and building a strip. This would entail a bit of capital though and I am sure the property makes a nice tax write-off.
At Home Decor I found $4.00 bath towels, some nice mats, and a sheet set for 13.00. I could go nuts with my money in that store. I also found old store racks and fire extinguishers from Wal-Mart. I might partake in one of the extinguishers for the house. I saw some hanging torso squares with female breasts along with some store mannequins.
I slept then changed the brake pads on the General Tso. I put a new retainer clip on the left side and compressed the piston with a C-clamp and a chisel laid flat. Even with this I had to do some tapping to slide the caliper on. I am sure a pro would not have to resort to tapping to force a caliper onto the rotor. I hate travel space and feeling a thunk when I brake slowly and hard. Possibly this is normal operation but I did see less of this happen thanks to the new pads.
I got Dad his medicine to calm him down and allow him to sleep.
The Dang Thing Works After All
Hello
I asked the local ambulance service about problems transmitting my dad's 12-lead EKG to the hospital.
It turns out the ambulance crew did get a link up to the hospital. I stand corrected. For those who don't have 12-lead EKG in your ambulances I advise it since a cardiologist, in some instances, can read your EKG on a Blackberry or other PDA even if you collapse near a turnip field. Automatic defibrillation should be in every place visited by tons of people along with staffers trained to use it.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Robins AFB Strippers get automated
Hi!
On CNET's news page I saw a C-130 getting its paint stripped (Photo via CNET). An automatic machine cuts five days off the task of stripping the birds. The article did not mention Robins AFB by name but likely that is where the robot cranes work. NIST, a government agency, developed the Robo-Crane technology which includes an AMP (Aerial Multi-Axis Platform adapted for stripping. The operator is safely enclosed in a compartment. Previous painters had to don suits and deal with hazardous toxins. NIST's web page reports that two production units are being installed at Robins.
It's good to see Robins (if not by name) make it onto front-page geek news.
KAT
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Telegraph endorses Stebin, Ellis faves
07/06/06
Dad is doing fine; just hates being hogtied to a hospital bed by his condition.
I read the Telegraph's endorsements for City Council and State House 137. Some of the nominations make sense but I dislike something about Nancy White and Cynthia Knight, two candidates endorsed by Mayor C. Jack Ellis. Something must be cooking for Ellis to endorse these two.
I also refuse to comprehend how the Telegraph, given Becky Burgess and Allen Peake's reform attitudes, can endorse Stebin Horne. Actually I can; Stebin "kills" more babies than the leading candidate (booming tv ad voice). He is lenient on abortions compared to Allen Peake as per a pro-life group's survey. The Telegraph liberals ate this up.
My support is going with Allen Peake. The Mercer University School of Law has been a staffing firm for the Georgia House way too long. Not that we have had bad lawyers in there at all; Floyd Buford did a reasonable job and so have a token few others.
Becky Burgess has largely been working at Mercer since she received her law degree from there. She is the third banana of somethingorother at the Medical School. She wants to freeze property taxes prior to the sale of property. This means municipalities lose a windfall from companies who reform blighted property. So the knife cuts both ways. Becky also wants to consolidate Macon and Bibb so property owners outside the city limits won't be the rich uncle to the decaying city. I don't see how planning a consolidated government is in her hands; local leaders will have to concoct a charter.
The Peach Pundit says Stebin's mom handed out campaign buttons in one of the classes she was teaching.
As for Dale Washburn the citizens of Jones County weren't totally happy with him when he was their County Commissioner. He could be tempremental with Jones residents although there was the "free lunch" crowd of Macon refugees who have since become more bourgeois. At my store back in the Eighties one lady who had trouble getting a road paved advised her friends weres going to hold a motorcade protest on "Dale Washboard Road." His base, according to the PP, is largely confined to realtors.
Also I have a homework assignment for the readers! I remember Stebin Horne last year was reluctant to restrict the mayor's powers at one point because he disliked being too restrictive on the office of the mayor. This was on a certain issue which escapes me. Clue me in, please. I know Stebin did propose limiting the mayor's power on another issue to be frank with everyone.
Prediction; Aaron Bowers and possibly Cynthia Knight get on Council. And it's a runoff between Allen Peake and Becky Burgess. Becky advertises with the right words and Allen Peake appeals to the average person for what he's not- a lobbyist or lawyer. Anyone who runs restaurants and is a CPA earns their money and then some. If you don't think the restaurant business is hard just try my biscuits- with a good set of dentures.
KAT
Dad is doing fine; just hates being hogtied to a hospital bed by his condition.
I read the Telegraph's endorsements for City Council and State House 137. Some of the nominations make sense but I dislike something about Nancy White and Cynthia Knight, two candidates endorsed by Mayor C. Jack Ellis. Something must be cooking for Ellis to endorse these two.
I also refuse to comprehend how the Telegraph, given Becky Burgess and Allen Peake's reform attitudes, can endorse Stebin Horne. Actually I can; Stebin "kills" more babies than the leading candidate (booming tv ad voice). He is lenient on abortions compared to Allen Peake as per a pro-life group's survey. The Telegraph liberals ate this up.
My support is going with Allen Peake. The Mercer University School of Law has been a staffing firm for the Georgia House way too long. Not that we have had bad lawyers in there at all; Floyd Buford did a reasonable job and so have a token few others.
Becky Burgess has largely been working at Mercer since she received her law degree from there. She is the third banana of somethingorother at the Medical School. She wants to freeze property taxes prior to the sale of property. This means municipalities lose a windfall from companies who reform blighted property. So the knife cuts both ways. Becky also wants to consolidate Macon and Bibb so property owners outside the city limits won't be the rich uncle to the decaying city. I don't see how planning a consolidated government is in her hands; local leaders will have to concoct a charter.
The Peach Pundit says Stebin's mom handed out campaign buttons in one of the classes she was teaching.
As for Dale Washburn the citizens of Jones County weren't totally happy with him when he was their County Commissioner. He could be tempremental with Jones residents although there was the "free lunch" crowd of Macon refugees who have since become more bourgeois. At my store back in the Eighties one lady who had trouble getting a road paved advised her friends weres going to hold a motorcade protest on "Dale Washboard Road." His base, according to the PP, is largely confined to realtors.
Also I have a homework assignment for the readers! I remember Stebin Horne last year was reluctant to restrict the mayor's powers at one point because he disliked being too restrictive on the office of the mayor. This was on a certain issue which escapes me. Clue me in, please. I know Stebin did propose limiting the mayor's power on another issue to be frank with everyone.
Prediction; Aaron Bowers and possibly Cynthia Knight get on Council. And it's a runoff between Allen Peake and Becky Burgess. Becky advertises with the right words and Allen Peake appeals to the average person for what he's not- a lobbyist or lawyer. Anyone who runs restaurants and is a CPA earns their money and then some. If you don't think the restaurant business is hard just try my biscuits- with a good set of dentures.
KAT
Dad's brush with death
Early Thursday, July 6, 2006
Hello
This early Monday morning on July 2 my dad had his defibrillator go off 15x at our house at 1:45 or so in the morning. I was night fishing and returned home to see a red light flashing in my room's window. I knew there were no red lights on our house. I drove up and saw an ambulance. I slid beside it and saw my uncle there. He said Dad had his device go off 15 times and that he almost carried him to the ER. Mom fortunately dialed 911 and had an ambulance and fire engine en route. The medics called in to the Chest Pain Center and tried to transmit a 12-lead EKG but the transmission failed. One medic told me a cell phone was connected to a fax machine on the unit. I read about these units in a news story.
Dad was conscious the whole time and Mom said he told her he wasn't going to make it. I felt a combination of shock and sickness despite knowing about the pessimism Dad always feels. He had seen this and that relative die in the past few years and his sister died as a teenager. I felt guilty. I wondered if I was spending too much time on the computer, too much time playing with my airchecks, too much time hitting the singles web sites, or too much time sleeping. I come home tired from work partly from being upset at what is going on at home and what is going on at work.
I wheeled Mom in her borrowed wheelchair to the ER's front entrance as there was nobody to watch her at the front entrance. I went out the McDonald's door, to the ER's entrance, and then got a ride with a hospital cop. I drove up to the ER and took Mom home. Now I did break a rule; never let the gas go below 1/4 of a tank. We luckily made it to a station and gassed up. I had intended to go to work in the Honda but that was before I was greeted with the ambulance in the driveway.
Monday evening I visited Dad in the CVICU (Cardiovascular ICU). After work and eating at the McDonald's (cafeteria was closed) I went to the 2nd Floor CVICU (Cardiovascular ICU) where Dad was housed. Two of my sisters were in the waiting room. One was knitting. It was cold and they were covered in thin blankets. The hospital does visiting hours at the CVICU in 90 minute blocks. My middle sister came too.
Tuesday I cut grass and one sister helped with cutting what I missed. We watered the tomatoes and before long we felt we should rest before we both wound up in the ER ourselves. I rested and went up to the hospital.
Wednesday around 8 AM we took Mom up to the CVICU waiting room. Ms. D took us to the Heart Lab on the 2nd Floor. We waited for the ablation procedure on Dad's heart nodes to be finished. This would cause sections of the heart to not generate improper impulses to make the heart beat in V-tach. It was around 12:30 when this happened. I found out later when they withdrew Dad from the Lidocaine his machine zapped him 30 times until he was manually converted. Thus they were early with the procedure. The doctor did two of the nodes and had to let a third, slightly less serious node, be managed by medication. We saw Dad at the CVICU where he was returned.
We were tired and went to the Cracker Barrel to eat as one of us stayed behind with Dad. I had a large coffee and biscuit for breakfast so I was half-tired, half-tense. The service was horrible at the Eisenhower Parkway Cracker Barrel. It needed to be bulldozed and most of the staff machine-gunned as they ran from the falling ruins.
There was some loud two-year-old behind us screaming bloody murder. I almost told them to shut up. I got some rest then my uncle brought some stew and cornbread. I ate some chicken he brought two days ago and went to see Daddy. The nurse told us what went on with Daddy and the background behind the procedure. Dad seemed less groggy thank goodness.
I told him every night he was there I loved him as I left. I felt better about myself when doing this though we as a family don't get too sentimental with each other as a rule.
I dropped by Wal-Mart around 11:00 and got some supplies. I got small Diet Cokes so Dad would have it by Mom's bedside at all times and wouldn't have to deal with the big bottles.
I left and went to Wal-Mart to pick up some supplies along with Sean Hannity's book, "Deliver Us From Evil" as it was on sale.
Hello
This early Monday morning on July 2 my dad had his defibrillator go off 15x at our house at 1:45 or so in the morning. I was night fishing and returned home to see a red light flashing in my room's window. I knew there were no red lights on our house. I drove up and saw an ambulance. I slid beside it and saw my uncle there. He said Dad had his device go off 15 times and that he almost carried him to the ER. Mom fortunately dialed 911 and had an ambulance and fire engine en route. The medics called in to the Chest Pain Center and tried to transmit a 12-lead EKG but the transmission failed. One medic told me a cell phone was connected to a fax machine on the unit. I read about these units in a news story.
Dad was conscious the whole time and Mom said he told her he wasn't going to make it. I felt a combination of shock and sickness despite knowing about the pessimism Dad always feels. He had seen this and that relative die in the past few years and his sister died as a teenager. I felt guilty. I wondered if I was spending too much time on the computer, too much time playing with my airchecks, too much time hitting the singles web sites, or too much time sleeping. I come home tired from work partly from being upset at what is going on at home and what is going on at work.
I wheeled Mom in her borrowed wheelchair to the ER's front entrance as there was nobody to watch her at the front entrance. I went out the McDonald's door, to the ER's entrance, and then got a ride with a hospital cop. I drove up to the ER and took Mom home. Now I did break a rule; never let the gas go below 1/4 of a tank. We luckily made it to a station and gassed up. I had intended to go to work in the Honda but that was before I was greeted with the ambulance in the driveway.
Monday evening I visited Dad in the CVICU (Cardiovascular ICU). After work and eating at the McDonald's (cafeteria was closed) I went to the 2nd Floor CVICU (Cardiovascular ICU) where Dad was housed. Two of my sisters were in the waiting room. One was knitting. It was cold and they were covered in thin blankets. The hospital does visiting hours at the CVICU in 90 minute blocks. My middle sister came too.
Tuesday I cut grass and one sister helped with cutting what I missed. We watered the tomatoes and before long we felt we should rest before we both wound up in the ER ourselves. I rested and went up to the hospital.
Wednesday around 8 AM we took Mom up to the CVICU waiting room. Ms. D took us to the Heart Lab on the 2nd Floor. We waited for the ablation procedure on Dad's heart nodes to be finished. This would cause sections of the heart to not generate improper impulses to make the heart beat in V-tach. It was around 12:30 when this happened. I found out later when they withdrew Dad from the Lidocaine his machine zapped him 30 times until he was manually converted. Thus they were early with the procedure. The doctor did two of the nodes and had to let a third, slightly less serious node, be managed by medication. We saw Dad at the CVICU where he was returned.
We were tired and went to the Cracker Barrel to eat as one of us stayed behind with Dad. I had a large coffee and biscuit for breakfast so I was half-tired, half-tense. The service was horrible at the Eisenhower Parkway Cracker Barrel. It needed to be bulldozed and most of the staff machine-gunned as they ran from the falling ruins.
There was some loud two-year-old behind us screaming bloody murder. I almost told them to shut up. I got some rest then my uncle brought some stew and cornbread. I ate some chicken he brought two days ago and went to see Daddy. The nurse told us what went on with Daddy and the background behind the procedure. Dad seemed less groggy thank goodness.
I told him every night he was there I loved him as I left. I felt better about myself when doing this though we as a family don't get too sentimental with each other as a rule.
I dropped by Wal-Mart around 11:00 and got some supplies. I got small Diet Cokes so Dad would have it by Mom's bedside at all times and wouldn't have to deal with the big bottles.
I left and went to Wal-Mart to pick up some supplies along with Sean Hannity's book, "Deliver Us From Evil" as it was on sale.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
General Tso Brake Secrets and Flomax
07/01/06
Thursday I tried to put brake pads on the General Tso. I had pages printed from the Honda manual I downloaded which told me how to do the pads. Of course on part of another page I didn't have it advised me to move the piston. Thus when I had the 3/4 in pad and backings on each side of the rotors I was unable to get the piston (looks like a pipe) to fit around the pads. Another web site told me to remove the cap from the brake fluid.
I got a C-Clamp yesterday from Big Lots. It may not be big enough. I also need Honda-type brake fluid. The DOT3 probably isn't to specifications. I would have done the brakes last night but didn't feel like it. I am on Flomax nightly. I have considered a multivitamin 2x per day.
The Flomax may be doing odd things to my appetite and I am writing this at 15 minutes until 5AM. I got up at 1:30 and had two hot dogs and soup. I notice that even when awake at work I get dyslexic with my typing and I think it might be spilling over into my writing. I may see my general practitioner about my depressed state if things do not get better. There is a new medication out but it costs an arm and a leg. I may ask him about a few medications I have on a list underneath the mirror in my room.
Monday, June 26, 2006
General Tso gets new tire and brakes fixed
6/26/06
I took the General Tso to get the passenger's front tire replaced with a used tire at Economy Tire on Third Street. It cost around 28.00. I also purchased from Pep Boys 30.00 worth of brake pads and the adhesive and cleaner I would need to effect the repair. The car drives better. Of course this weekend it rained, even heavily sometimes. This put a damper on all but indoor work.
Speaking of the General Tso I got "The Damn Show" DVD off Ebay. It has too much of the male reproductive system and too little in the way of creativity but there were some moments- such as Willie the bum and "The Gooks of Hazzard" -that were so funny.
Monday (today) I went to the urologist. He gave me some medication to take for a month and then I would report back to him. I saw Denise's mom as I swung by the cafeteria after seeing the urologist in Coliseum Medical Center's C building . I didn't tell her who I was so she might think I'm a fruitcake stalker since I asked about Denise. She works at the hospital's front desk.
I went to the computer show in Perry this Sunday. I bought a 256mb memory wafer, some DVD blanks for 10.00, CD cases, a whole-band FM transmitter for the MP3 player, and CD sleeves for the store. Then I went home, played with my PC a little while, and took Donna to a movie. She apologized for telling me about a job opening on base; it seems she is liking her job less and less. Donna's been there for almost twenty years so she can't really jump into the private sector and lose her retirement benefits.
I have been uptight on the job and coming home tired. More and more I am getting tired. I have been doing more job searching. I have had a tense stomach this week; a few times I could take a dump on a screen door and not hit the wire for the most part. I have taken stock of my life and my attitude towards people and life in general; I don't like the way I feel. I feel so negative and unhappy.
I'll try this; I'll love people and stop myself when I think negative thoughts about them.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Denny's and Oversleep
I had a frustrating day at work on Saturday so I went to sleep. I got up, jumped in the Honda, and went to Denny's in Byron.
For those who don't know, Denny's in Byron started out in the late Eighties as a Shoney's. When Shoney's left most of Middle Georgia the facility became a Denny's. A few years ago it suffered from bad service and lukewarm coffee (Millstone tastes a bit like wee tee anyway). People had to wait at the front for minutes to get seated.
I was the last customer in all likelihood come the night Denny's closed. I heard the manager on duty say that afternoon they waved off someone coming to close the restaurant because of a lack of a court order. The next day I went by and found the place closed.
Today the facility is still a 4500 ft2 behemoth compared to the smaller Denny's such as the Locust Grove store. That means a bigger light bill and lots of rent to be recouped for a 24-hour operation.
Having said that the service needs improvement. I had to wait 15 or so minutes for my food despite there only being 7 other customers there at 11PM. My lukewarm wee-tee did not get refilled promptly. I thought to myself that the labor pool must be from Peach and Crawford counties (can we say redneck?).
I may not go back to Denny's; then again it may be closed down again by the time I change my mind.
For those who don't know, Denny's in Byron started out in the late Eighties as a Shoney's. When Shoney's left most of Middle Georgia the facility became a Denny's. A few years ago it suffered from bad service and lukewarm coffee (Millstone tastes a bit like wee tee anyway). People had to wait at the front for minutes to get seated.
I was the last customer in all likelihood come the night Denny's closed. I heard the manager on duty say that afternoon they waved off someone coming to close the restaurant because of a lack of a court order. The next day I went by and found the place closed.
Today the facility is still a 4500 ft2 behemoth compared to the smaller Denny's such as the Locust Grove store. That means a bigger light bill and lots of rent to be recouped for a 24-hour operation.
Having said that the service needs improvement. I had to wait 15 or so minutes for my food despite there only being 7 other customers there at 11PM. My lukewarm wee-tee did not get refilled promptly. I thought to myself that the labor pool must be from Peach and Crawford counties (can we say redneck?).
I may not go back to Denny's; then again it may be closed down again by the time I change my mind.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
General Tso gets new fan
Hello
I got the condenser fan for the Honda (General Tso). It was a used Acura fan which I had to remove from its mount and put onto the old shroud for the Honda. I installed it and works fine.
I am concerned about the brakes on the General. When I put on brakes I find they shake when doing all but sudden braking. I looked at the pads; they have 1/8 in left on them. Honda's service manual says .05 of an inch is serviceable (huh?). I priced some basic metallic pads at 20.00. Hopefully the debacle with the Corsica won't repeat itself (in which I could not get the wheel nuts off as they disintegrated when I used a non-metric wrench). I may just take it to my machinist and let him turn the rotors; they are ribbed for my displeasure. He can then do the pads. Then again 20.00 is so attractive for a car that will last a year or two.
Driving an Explorer makes for a heavy foot on the General. I wasn't doing that great with being attentive to the road so I had to hit the brakes hard at least twice. Needless to say I must be careful. I will say this; the General Tso is in for an oil change. I have the filter to do it with too.
My tooth still hurts upon waking but not to worry; Dr. Arnold the endodontist will have a whack at it come two Wednesdays from now. If he had looked at it to start with I would have had a happy tooth this January but the rear-view mirror offers the clearest view of events. I don't fault my dentist for trying but I would have given him three strikes if I weren't so nice.
I am still debating my educational options. I will likely get my Microsoft certs out of the way and learn MS Exchange Server. Of course I need to memorize my processors and sockets. Today I wasn't sure if one DDR2 stick were needed in a system.
The Letters to the Editor have come to a trickle since I've come home tired. When in good spirits I've been doing housework, chatting online, and making DVD's to play at work when time runs slowly. Tomorrow I don't expect too much slowness. I have a screen to change out for Wood Floor Man and a thorny reload that needs to go out at 2:00 for Ms. Nutty Professor. Thus I'll just bring the MP3 player.
I charged up the NiMH battery but it only lists a half-charge on the MP3's LCD. So I have another one charging; big deal. I did hear a WABC Rewound aircheck with a pretty mellow and happy 1973 song George Harrison did. It was one of those Peace and Love gooey things. The song stuck in my mind because even if he were speaking Greek the vocals and instrumentals sounded good. Agreed, George, but I'm still glad Zarqawi is room temperature.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Pat Topping Dances a Jig thanks to Uncle Sam
Hello
The 6/4 Telegraph tells us there is a rosy scenario for jobs in Middle Georgia. Robins AFB will have a slew of retirees very soon and Pat Topping of the Chamber of Commerce says it is worth several "Brown and Williamsons" in the number of jobs created by attrition.
Once again we see how this town relies too much on Robins AFB. What I would have done had I been Mr. Topping is to say, "Good but not great." We are relying on the federal government to prop up this rotting town and sluggish midstate as we have been for sixty years.
I remember a BRAC-related meeting in which George Israel said that people in the old days felt "to get on (get a job) at the base is to have arrived" Yes- arrived at a potential salary and workplace booby-trap.
Firstly, Robins AFB isn't quite likely to close. It may cut back some aspects but not close. Sadly jobs outside of Robins AFB are scarcer and scarcer. That is, unless you love working retail and getting yelled at on a daily basis as you have coworkers lacking your work ethic. Unfortunately the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce is too lazy to get white-collar jobs into the midstate, let alone skilled blue-collar employment.
Here's how the "base" will be a lower-paid hell in which to work. With workers unable to find alternate employment and the prevailing local wage being lowered, Robins AFB's supervisors can treat workers like a dog and pay what they wish. And not always is the laggard working next to you going to get disciplined.
Just try to get a job at Robins AFB. It's who you know not what you know or can do. A Wal-Mart manager, when I put that down on a psychology exam when applying there, wondered if I ad worked at Robins. I am not jealous of Robins AFB's workers or their jobs. I know several people who prefer private enterprise and its more direct, if still flawed, results-oriented microeconomy.
I don't want to ruin a good Letter to the Editor so I'm shutting up.
The 6/4 Telegraph tells us there is a rosy scenario for jobs in Middle Georgia. Robins AFB will have a slew of retirees very soon and Pat Topping of the Chamber of Commerce says it is worth several "Brown and Williamsons" in the number of jobs created by attrition.
Once again we see how this town relies too much on Robins AFB. What I would have done had I been Mr. Topping is to say, "Good but not great." We are relying on the federal government to prop up this rotting town and sluggish midstate as we have been for sixty years.
I remember a BRAC-related meeting in which George Israel said that people in the old days felt "to get on (get a job) at the base is to have arrived" Yes- arrived at a potential salary and workplace booby-trap.
Firstly, Robins AFB isn't quite likely to close. It may cut back some aspects but not close. Sadly jobs outside of Robins AFB are scarcer and scarcer. That is, unless you love working retail and getting yelled at on a daily basis as you have coworkers lacking your work ethic. Unfortunately the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce is too lazy to get white-collar jobs into the midstate, let alone skilled blue-collar employment.
Here's how the "base" will be a lower-paid hell in which to work. With workers unable to find alternate employment and the prevailing local wage being lowered, Robins AFB's supervisors can treat workers like a dog and pay what they wish. And not always is the laggard working next to you going to get disciplined.
Just try to get a job at Robins AFB. It's who you know not what you know or can do. A Wal-Mart manager, when I put that down on a psychology exam when applying there, wondered if I ad worked at Robins. I am not jealous of Robins AFB's workers or their jobs. I know several people who prefer private enterprise and its more direct, if still flawed, results-oriented microeconomy.
I don't want to ruin a good Letter to the Editor so I'm shutting up.
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