Quite simply, I just received the funniest IM I've ever gotten. See subject for details.
Ryan
Friday, May 27, 2005
Invisible Ink
Remember when you were a kid, and you could write on paper with lemon juice, and it would be invisible, and then you could hold it near a light bulb, and it would become visible?
That was so cool.
Another thing that is very cool is the MS Challenge Walk. My wife has MS, and has decided to participate. It is a 3 day, 50 mile walk to raise money and awareness for MS research. She has to raise $2500, or make up the difference herself. You can donate here.
Anyway, have a gander at that site, and please donate if you feel like it. I'm going to eat lunch.
Later,
Ryan
That was so cool.
Another thing that is very cool is the MS Challenge Walk. My wife has MS, and has decided to participate. It is a 3 day, 50 mile walk to raise money and awareness for MS research. She has to raise $2500, or make up the difference herself. You can donate here.
Anyway, have a gander at that site, and please donate if you feel like it. I'm going to eat lunch.
Later,
Ryan
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Whole Milk
Oliver(my son) now drinks whole milk instead of formula. My wife and I are skim milk people, so I'm not used to having it around... but now we do.
Benefits for Oliver:
Vitamins A & D
Milkfat
Grow up to be a strong, healthy boy.
Benefits for Me:
Milkshakes
No more mixing formula
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (sooooo much better with whole than skim!)
Did I mention the milkshakes?
Benefits for Oliver:
Vitamins A & D
Milkfat
Grow up to be a strong, healthy boy.
Benefits for Me:
Milkshakes
No more mixing formula
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (sooooo much better with whole than skim!)
Did I mention the milkshakes?
Passion
I admire people that have a passion for something... anything. It's really cool to see someone totally engrossed in their thoughts and ideas, and then to see them bring all of that stuff into the world around them.
This guy has passion. I had the opportunity to meet him a few weeks ago, and it was a very cool experience. We talked for a few hours about TDI's and went out to test some of the recent modifications that he had made. You can see from his website that he's very interested in what he can do to his car. But beyond that, he takes the time to be very detail oriented, to make sure that the things that he does "match up" with his design philosophy. It seems like that is a rare quality these days.
If you ever have the chance to meet Scott, I highly recommend it... especially if you get to ride in his car. His quest for drivability/performance has really paid off, and is a great example of an economy car that is BLAST to drive.
Peace out.
This guy has passion. I had the opportunity to meet him a few weeks ago, and it was a very cool experience. We talked for a few hours about TDI's and went out to test some of the recent modifications that he had made. You can see from his website that he's very interested in what he can do to his car. But beyond that, he takes the time to be very detail oriented, to make sure that the things that he does "match up" with his design philosophy. It seems like that is a rare quality these days.
If you ever have the chance to meet Scott, I highly recommend it... especially if you get to ride in his car. His quest for drivability/performance has really paid off, and is a great example of an economy car that is BLAST to drive.
Peace out.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Living Precariously
Sorry if you tuned in because you thought this was going to be some relevatory post about how I'm careening towards self-destruction. In fact, I was going to post about how "living precariously" would be like "living vicariously" through someone who had the qualities I mentioned above. But, now that I've typed it all out, I've realized it's not nearly as funny as I'd intended. I should have mentioned it when I started this post, but Caveat Emptor.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
The Yard Sale Economy
Right now, there is more money tied up in yard sales than there is gold in Fort Knox. Having just burst forth into the ranks of Yard Sale Elite (L33t S41l0r for you yungins...) I can state this emphatically.
The worst part is, the pile just keeps getting bigger. Here's what I mean. People sell stuff at yard sales because they don't use it anymore. People who think they're going to "save a buck" get up early every saturday morning and go buy stuff. The problem is, they're not going to use it either. So, it will someday be fobbed off on some other unsuspecting professional yard saler. (or one of those people that rent a booth at one of those flea markets) Stuff only goes "in" to the yard sale circuit... it never comes out.
You can see why this is a problem... someone like me who never shops at yard sales, enters the fray with a couple hundred dollars worth of useless stuff. Bam! The yard sale economy grows.
On a very loosely related subject: You have lots of time to think if you are putting on a yard sale. The first person who can show me an official vanity plate (with registration) from any state with the letters "EFUSEEK" gets a $10 Chili's gift certificate.
Hasta,
Ryan
The worst part is, the pile just keeps getting bigger. Here's what I mean. People sell stuff at yard sales because they don't use it anymore. People who think they're going to "save a buck" get up early every saturday morning and go buy stuff. The problem is, they're not going to use it either. So, it will someday be fobbed off on some other unsuspecting professional yard saler. (or one of those people that rent a booth at one of those flea markets) Stuff only goes "in" to the yard sale circuit... it never comes out.
You can see why this is a problem... someone like me who never shops at yard sales, enters the fray with a couple hundred dollars worth of useless stuff. Bam! The yard sale economy grows.
On a very loosely related subject: You have lots of time to think if you are putting on a yard sale. The first person who can show me an official vanity plate (with registration) from any state with the letters "EFUSEEK" gets a $10 Chili's gift certificate.
Hasta,
Ryan
Friday, May 20, 2005
Efficiency
The next time I see something on the news about hybrids, or hydrogen, I'm going to puke. If you know me, you know I'm a diesel guy. I drive a diesel Jetta, and I write software for diesel trucks. It might come as a suprise to some people, but clean, efficient, sustainable transportation is out there for the taking, and it has been for a long time.
If you think I'm kidding, look here.
Every once in a while, you'll see Velvetfoot, Jonathon Bartlett or watercop post about their 60+ mpg cars... of which a few are 8 or 9 years old. Plus, they're 100% compatible with biodiesel, which is clean, renewable and sustainable.
Just a few notes about renewable vs. sustainable. Petroleum is a renewable resource. Sadly, I don't have that much time. Solar energy is sustainable... meaning, you can keep using it until the cows come home, and you don't have to worry about it running out. Your great, great, great, great (ad infinitum) grandchildren might, but you don't.
So, next time someone starts blabbering on about renewable fuels, remind them that we already have renewable fuels, what we need are sustainable ones.
OK, rant's over, back to your lives.
If you think I'm kidding, look here.
Every once in a while, you'll see Velvetfoot, Jonathon Bartlett or watercop post about their 60+ mpg cars... of which a few are 8 or 9 years old. Plus, they're 100% compatible with biodiesel, which is clean, renewable and sustainable.
Just a few notes about renewable vs. sustainable. Petroleum is a renewable resource. Sadly, I don't have that much time. Solar energy is sustainable... meaning, you can keep using it until the cows come home, and you don't have to worry about it running out. Your great, great, great, great (ad infinitum) grandchildren might, but you don't.
So, next time someone starts blabbering on about renewable fuels, remind them that we already have renewable fuels, what we need are sustainable ones.
OK, rant's over, back to your lives.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Pomp and Circumstance
Grrr.... This composer thing only works with IE on my computer. I'll have to contact support. I don't think I can take this much of the "evil empire" all in one sitting.
So, today is going to be a neat day... if the weather holds out. They're naming the softball field at my high school after my Grandpa. All my aunts and uncles from across the country are in town. It would suck if it got rained out.
I'll post some pictures that my dad will surely take if the ceremony happens.
Cheers.
So, today is going to be a neat day... if the weather holds out. They're naming the softball field at my high school after my Grandpa. All my aunts and uncles from across the country are in town. It would suck if it got rained out.
I'll post some pictures that my dad will surely take if the ceremony happens.
Cheers.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Greetings
Auspicious first post... the Composer doesn't work on my browser. I'm shooting from the hip and writing in pure html. Ahh the good ol' days.
"Greetings," was the salutation on all of the WWII draft letters. This was a Trivial Pursuit question, which my Grandpa answered immediately, and then went to his desk to retrive his draft letter. That man keeps everything.
I'm not sure if you'll find anything interesting here or not... I usually just need an outlet for some of the ridiculous stuff that my mind happens to dream up. Maybe someone else will think it is funny/creative and enjoy it.
I picked "German Afternoons" for the title of my blog for a couple of reasons. The title is a direct rip-off from a John Prine album. He's my favorite singer/songwriter, and "Bruised Orange" was already taken! Second, I was born in Germany. That's it. Mystery solved.
Stay tuned for more interesting tidbits.
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