Rains::Pours

Looks like I will be segueing into the new year with a sackload of expenses and errands. My Cruiser has been off the road since before Halloween, and now the tally has come in: fix the rear differential, replace rear tire and brake pads, replace a fork seal and perform a 72,000 mile service (change oils, fluids and filters; valve adjustments; other inspections). My brake rotors will eventually need replacing, hopefully not until toward the end of 2008.

My truck is overdue for some service, not that I drive it much (until recently, now taking round-trips to the light rail station which amounts to under 10 miles). It will need the fluids changed, some free recall items squared away and perhaps lube and air filter inspection. I did manage to replace a headlight bulb by myself!

My boys are due for their annual checkup. I need to respond to a semi-annual dental reminder. My central heating went out several days ago, and fortunately I've survived the coldness with portable space heaters.

And now if this doesn't beat all: I have some LED lights strung up under my gazebo's canvas canopy, but about half the lights are out. I think I put them up over the summer. I also have some colored LED lights strung around the arch of a metal arbor/bench in my backyard for a bit of holiday spirit, and wouldn't you know, half the string is not lit. By coincidence, half the power in my house went out a couple of nights ago. Although the circuit-breaker switches all seemed to be on, I flipped them off/on again and everything came back on. There must be some correlation here however little sense this makes... LEDs are supposed to last 10x longer than standard bulbs. Would sure be nice if all my expenses would cost only half as much!

Happy New Year!

Arrrrr!

Just the other night while out shopping, I was perusing the grocery aisles and happened to pass by a mom carrying her young daughter (3-6 yrs old... I dunno and haven't a clue). She quietly exclaimed to her mother "a pirate!" to which I silently chuckled.

Seeing Johnny Depp in his role as Jack Sparrow, I guess it must be my long black hair and the goatee. Hehe... pirate.

Winter Solstice

Here we have the first day of Winter, and the night is going to be as long as it's gonna get. Our nights have been a bit on the chilly side (and of course, this is all relative, especially if you ask those in the Northeast part of our country who may be experiencing blizzards and subzero temps). It's dipped to around freezing... plenty cold for me. This is in contrast to a summer ride I made a few years ago through Death Valley (Stove Pipe Wells was a brief stopover). All suited up in protective gear and it was 120 degrees at 200' below sea level.

I still think my body parts function a bit better on the warm side.

Wet Xmas

I hear it's gonna be a wet Xmas, and being the fair-weathered motorcyclist that I am, I may end up driving my truck 50 miles south this year to visit my brother and his family. Bummer, I love riding. Well, the upside is that I'll be all comfy in a dry cab with some heat and tunes... but I'll be taking an mpg hit.

Gas ain't cheap these days!

Update (12/19/2007 10:30p):

Weather is unpredictable... latest forecast is that the rain might come the day after Xmas. Heck, it's raining outside right now, but expected clearing for the next 5 or so days. Yeah, I'll just have to wait and see.

Update (12/23/2007 6:25p):

It's a crapshoot... possibly rain by the evening on Xmas day, or maybe not. It depends on which weather forecaster you want to believe. I believe I might take a gamble and just prepare for the worst.

Jack Fields, R.I.P.

By Ryan Lillis - rlillis@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Story appeared in METRO section,
Page B6

"Jack Fields, a renowned photographer who traveled the world for more than five decades, chronicling the lives of people from the South Pacific to Alaska to Africa, died of heart failure Thursday at his Placerville home. He was 87."

(more...)

I have met Jack on more than one occasion during the mid-90s. He was a BMW motorcycle rider, although I have never ridden with him. A small group with whom I rode took a small trip up the hill, stopping by the Fields' residence for a social break. Jack's den had endless shelves that adorned every wall, all filled with copies of National Geographic magazines (which I was sure contained photographs that he had contributed). That left a lasting impression in my mind... plus, Jack was always trying to pry away a pair of bright yellow-framed Oakley sunglasses from me!

Over the past many years, I have contemplated paying the Fields a visit whenever in the neighborhood, but there was always tomorrow. That tomorrow for Jack is no longer; something we all should reflect upon when we think about those around us who still have tomorrows to come. Make a little time before these moments slip us by into yesterdays.

Jack, may you rest in peace.

Digital Teething

Last Friday I seemed to have been unable to pull in the local CBS affiliate station's (KOVR-13) HD broadcast. I called the station and asked how long they anticipate getting back on the air. The voice on the other end of the line sounded puzzled, since he was unaware that the station was experiencing any transmission problems. He also went on to state that I had contacted their news department. That was that.

I decided to conduct a new scan to locate the digital broadcast signals in my area, and lo and behold, I discovered that KOVR had changed its channel number from 13-1 to 25-1. Only a few nights later and 25-1 also disappeared. Another rescan and guess what? Our local station can be found again at 13-1, but the call letters changed from KOVR-DT to CBS13-H.

The FCC has decreed that all TV broadcasts will switch from analog to digital by the year 2009, so everyone is scrambling. The first to make the bold move in my area was the NBC affiliate station at KCRA on Channel 3, nearly a year ago.

In CBS13's effort to push toward digital totality, perhaps they can provide a bit of PR to alert viewers of their intentions (as KCRA had done). At the very least inform your own news staff! I mean, what kind of confidence can you instill in your viewers looking for news, when your news staff are clueless about what's happening inside their own quarters?

Not much, if any.

Nigger

Nigger, nigger, nigger. Nigger this and nigger that. There, I've said it. I said what is usually referred to as the N-word in our society's Politically Correct effort to be civil. And from whence comes this potty-mouthedness of a rant?

On my trip home from work on our light rail public transit system, that's where.

I was inundated with a barrage of this dialogue when about a half dozen or more youths in their late teens and early twenties boarded the train one stop after I did. They were loud, rude, animated and obnoxious, engulfing me as they stood near my seat and in the aisle. I quietly continued with solving the day's NY Times Crossword puzzle.

If you hadn't already guessed, these youths were all black (African-Americans, if you must). Until the civil rights leaders clean up the laundry in their own backyards first, I don't want to hear their outcries and chastising of those non-blacks who engage in this type of language. It is ONE BIG DOUBLE STANDARD.

Reverends, take note.

My Xmas Wishlist

I will not yield to calling this season "Holiday" to appease the Politically and Religiously Correct (I believe the acronym rhymes with "sick"), so I will just call it "Xmas". Where this abbreviation comes from I do not know; perhaps the X marks the spot as a placeholder and begs to "insert your favorite religious icon here". Merry Mosesmas! Uh, I hope that didn't narrow my chances for possibly getting a gift in my stocking... here's my wishlist that I will expand if I happen to think of anything useless to add:

Nice hardwood abacus

Staunton design chess set (nice woods, or stone)

Chess clock

2002 Sacramento Kings framed poster

That's it for now.

Mobile Phones

Have you noticed the great number of cellphone callers behind the wheel these days? (Or perhaps you're one of the guilty ones). What is it with the need to be yakking constantly while driving? Can anyone tell me what driving was like before cellphones became so prevalent?

(and if you can, you may be dating yourself).

Skype (Again)

I've had my Skype account for about a year now. Spoke with a couple of my coworkers back when I first signed up (after convincing them to do same), and a volleyball buddy of mine, who regularly uses it when contacting me. That's because he knows I have my computer running whenever I'm home and not asleep, and chances are I'm at home (unless I'm out riding, or at the gym).

Most recently I set up a webcam with Skype... nothing extravagant or expensive, and made a Skype call to my friend Mike. Since he did not have a webcam set up I was unable to see him; however, my video image showed up on his end of our Skype session. It's like having a videophone!

(on an aside, I have not had a landline phone for over 4 years now). SkypeMe!

To Your Health

I must be watching too many commercials and observing the grocery shelves a bit too closely lately. Have you seen some of the product labels?

• 50% Less Sodium
• Reduced Fat
• No Sugar Added
• No MSG
• Made with Real Butter

This is feel-good advertising, hoping to entice consumers who are health conscious or to raise awareness about the healthful benefits of the company's products. Or to make a buck. I tend to believe the latter, since why would they supplement their main product with these alternatives instead of replacing them altogether? They still want or need to push their crap, otherwise you'd be seeing labels such as:

• 50% More Sodium
• Twice the Fat
• Sugar Added
• Contains MSG
• Made with Fake Butter

Doesn't sound so appealing now, does it? Well, I guess hearing what goes into hot dogs hasn't stopped me from eating 'em either, so what do I know?

Santa's Old Lady

Hah, a couple of talking Douglas firs.
Happy Holidays!

Oi to the World

'Tis the season for your less than traditional Christmas songs! This version was performed by No Doubt (Gwen Stefani).

Happy Holidays!