dumb link

What the hell???

house stuff

Similar to the other list for cars, but this time for house stuff... This is probably not a comprehensive list since I don't keep track of it like I do with stuff I do for my car. Here goes...

• Telephone wiring and jacks
• Replacing outlets, light switches, etc.
• Laying tile (including backer boards)
• Completely tearing apart a kitchen - cabinets, flooring
• Putting in kitchen cabinets
• Snaking drains
• Installing faucets
• Installing a tub/shower
• Removing a cast iron tub
• Adding another bar in a closet to hang clothes
• Constructed frames for putting up paneling
• Putting up drywall
• Changing light bulbs
• Sealing driveways
• Patching holes in driveways
• Changing the wheels on the garage door
• Installing thresholds for exterior doors
• Put up a fence for a compost
• Carpet removal
• Building shelves
• Installing a new sink
• Changing locks
• Removal and installation of interior doors
• Removal and installation of an exterior door
• Installing a gas range
• Installing a dishwasher
• Making a door disappear
• Painting
• Putting in trim
• Planting trees
• Pruning trees
• Cutting down trees
• Running cable
• Change fuses
  

car stuff

So what have I done with cars?

Replaced:

• Alternator
• Alternator belt
• Serpentine belt
• Front and rear disc brake pads
• Brake calipers
• Brake caliper braket
• Master cylinder
• McPherson struts
• Rotors
• Sway bar
• Sway bar bushings
• Front and rear upper suspension arms/ball joint
• Anti-lock brake sensors
• Radiator
• Oxygen sensors
• Car batteries
• Assorted lights (headlights, rear lights, turn lights, gear selector light)
• Fuel filter
• Air filter
• Oil and filter
• Radiator coolant
• Radiator cap
• Spark plugs
• Tie rod ends
• Drive shafts
• Wipers
• Side mirror
• PCV valve
• Ignition coil
• Distributor cap
• Distributor rotor
• Ignition module
• Radiator hoses
• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Gasoline... yes, I pump my own gas (screw NJ!)
  

Repaired, adjusted, or reconditioned:

• Brake caliper boots and bolts
• Distributor rotor
• Idle speed
• Exhaust
• Electrical connections
• Your mom

What I don't do:

• Timing belt (needs an engine hoist!)
  
• Water pump (needs an engine hoist!)

oil oil oil!

We rock. In case you didn't know, our domestic oil production is only 66% of what it was in the early 1990's. Don't believe me? See for yourself.

Another interesting fact. We're the third biggest oil producer in the world, yet we're still largely dependent on foreign oil. Granted, we have a huge population, and we're definitely not as screwed as China from an energy standpoint. Not troubling, until you consider the scenario of major powers fighting (literally) over energy. Good times. (sarcasm).

So who should we attack next? Probably Brazil or Norway. They seem to be increasing production. Oh... and annex Alberta from Canada since oil sands are now profitable.

Lesson learned (or not learned)? Attacking countries and making them politically unstable doesn't help oil production. Iraq is running at only better than 50% capacity compared to the days of Saddam Hussein. Next time do a coup instead of a frontal assault.

Random related links:
Link 1: Oil output forecasts
Link 2: Report and outlook

realization

So I got 20 free songs on iTunes from getting plane tickets on continental.com. Yay me. So that led to to the iTunes store... to Green Day... to see if I should repurchase Dookie, my third CD ever.

And on the Dookie page, there were the customer reviews. One of which asked Green Day fans if they could name any songs that are not on American Idiot. Good question, eh? I can do it easily (Basketcase, Longview, Minority), but that's because I was in high school when Dookie came out. Am I really that old? (no, because I still hang out with college kids at times)

But this got me thinking back to the Green Day concert that I went to. We were some of the oldest people there. Most of the audience was probably in high school or college (more likely high school). So if they're 16-18 now, that means that they were 5-7 years old when Dookie was released. A good chunk of them probably never heard Dookie. And if they did, they listened to it the same way I would listen to an early Aerosmith album -- a piece of the past. Strange when you think about it that way.

find the skank!

It's like "Where's Waldo?," but very very different...

Link

a touch of class

Those of you who know me know that I'm a classy guy. (-; Here's a rundown of places I'll be staying for my next two trips.

• The Comfort Inn in Belleville, Ontario
• The Econo Lodge in Montreal, Quebec
• The Rondo Motel in Golden, British Columbia

Yes, clearly the international traveler. But hey, I've never been to Alberta before. It's my chance to hit all the provinces? Probably a silly goal since I'll never go to the Northwest Territories, but not a bad start for a Yankee.

um....

er... I've been up for 20 hours straight. Maybe I should be feeling more tired. Maybe I'm excited about my upcoming trips!

Yep, I'm doing another Canadian whirlwind tour. Kind of like last year when I hit Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, but nothing like it!

For this year:
Toronto, Montreal?, Vancouver, Mt. Revelstoke NP, Glacier NP (the one in Canada, NOT the one in the U.S.), Yoho NP ("Yo, ho!"), Banff NP and Jasper NP? Yeah! Good thing I have plenty of memory cards for my camera!

random link of the day

Churchgoers longer, studies say.

http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060403_church_good.html

It also says that it's not as cost effective, or as effective overall, as regular exercise. It also makes it pretty clear that this is a correlation and no causality has been established.

This brings me to a more important point. Causality is ignored so often it's amazing. This is a good topic to get me on a rant about work. Not as good as abstraction though. We really need more abstract thinkers who can apply learnings less directly.

random site of the day

http://www.improveverywhere.com/missions.php

And yes, I should be sleeping...