Just a shot in the dark

We gotta raise our fees!!

2008-11-19T17:22:36Z

We occasionally work on PC's for students, faculty, etc. if they get something hosed up and can't sort it out. It helps them out and it gives us a chance to see problems, malicious software, etc. that keeps us current. They drop it off, we look at it when we have free time, sort it out and they pay the standard fee of a plate of brownies or chocolate chip cookies. So, I talked to one of our past customers who told me she had a PC that got hosed and since we had recently worked on another machine for her, she just took this one in to the Best Buy Geek Squad. They diagnosed the virus infection, backed up data, restored the PC and sold her some new anti-virus software for about $65. Total bill - $500.00!! Man, we gotta up our fees - maybe prime rib, instead of cookies.

The apocalypse must be at hand...

2008-07-02T20:30:55Z

There certainly are signs that the cosmos is coming apart at the seams. First there was that thing with me receiving a "Faculty of the Year" award - huh?? Now there's this invitation for me to appear as "an inspirational speaker" for a series of speeches to youth groups.

Somewhere some very un-nerved, retired high school teachers just looked up and muttered, "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror..."

New Trap Gun - continued

2008-04-23T21:16:17Z

Well, the new gun arrived a day ealier than expected. I spent last night adjusting the ribs to the POI that I think I want - 60/40 on the O/U barrels and 70/30 on the Unsingle, according to the instruction booklet. Just 15 more minutes and I can fly out of here and head to the gun club to see how it shoots!!

New Trap Gun...

2008-04-21T21:35:01Z

Well, I went and did it!! I've wanted a new Guerini Summit Trap Combo since I first saw them almost 2 years ago. Doug (Gray's Shotgun Cache) has been trying to sell me one for a year, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money. He called last week with a deal on a demo gun I just couldn't refuse, so my new gun is on the way. I'll have it all set up for the U.S. Open!!

Anybody wanna buy a real nice Browning BT-99?

Wrestling video

2008-01-22T20:55:22Z

Video of Bubba winning the 3rd place medal at the Oly tournament by pin in the fisrt period...
Bubba wins by pin

Well, that was odd ....

2007-10-23T16:30:12Z

I just ran across the street to another building on campus, and on my return trip was met by a deer trying to find a way out of the between-classes crowd. She finally found her way around the building, after trying to go through several large glass windows. The glass on our doors is smeared with deer snot where she tried to go through. But I don't think she was injured.

Doesn't really look like prime deer habitat, does it!

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Normal,+IL,+United+States+of+America&ie=UTF8&ll=40.508489,-88.990674&spn=0.004421,0.008605&t=k&z=17&om=1

Now this is COOL!!

2007-07-09T18:54:54Z

Over the 4th we were able to get together with my lifelong closest friend and his family, who we hadn't seen in years. I knew that his brother-in-law was involved in racing, but didn't know that this is him! Sinden Racing - Indy Racing Experience

Good day of trapshooting

2007-06-11T13:58:20Z

I've been anxious to make it to a tournament. Got off to a good start this season with a yardage group trophy at the U.S. Open Trapshooting Championships last month. Since then, I've taken a shooting clinic from All American Leo Harrison III and made some minor changes in form that seem to be paying off in increased consistency. So, yesterday I went to a fair size shoot (about 75 - 80 shooters). I shot a respectable singles score and mediocre doubles score, but really on for hanndicap. I took the handicap championship by winning a 50-bird shoot-off 48/50 to 47/50. That made it a very good day.

Almost race day !!

2007-05-25T18:09:17Z

Sitting here at my desk watching the live video feed of the pit stop competition from Carb Day at Indy and thinking that I should be there partying with those folks!! There's certainly nothing going on here today. Oh well, I'll be there on RACE DAY.

Got the bike home...

2007-05-21T15:45:36Z

Left home at 3:30 AM yesterday to go pick up the motorcycle - 830 miles, $115 in gas,$13 in toll road fees and 16 hours later I arrived back home with it. And after all that I have to wait 'til tomorrow for the SOS office to open so I can get my registration to ride it.

Yep, I heard it calling...

2007-05-09T04:06:59Z

"Take me home... Take me home!" And, I couldn't resist. It's mine now! These are hard to find - I've been looking for several years to replace my old GK. This one is completely gone through to factory specs and ready to go. Can't wait to get it picked up! Why does nobody make a bike like this any more?

1982 GS1100GK

I may have stumbled onto a motorcycle...

2007-05-07T19:28:55Z

I've been shopping for a motorcycle for over a year and haven't been able to find anything that screams "take me home". I've just stumbled onto a fully reconditioned old vintage bike that is the same model as my last and favorite bike. I think I hear it talking to me....

I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

2007-03-12T13:43:29Z

Finally, it was really nice yesterday afternoon and Bubba and I managed to get out to the trap club to shoot a few targets. I hadn't shot since last November and cabin fever was setting in, but I ran 50 straight right out of the chute. Yeah... I'm feeling much better now.

I'm feeling a little warmer....

2007-02-15T20:34:18Z

after seeing this:

http://www.markdaviesmedia.com/cold

Well, CRAP!!

2007-02-09T20:18:15Z

Got my ATA Average Book the other day and discovered that a new National Team Championship program has just been established. The top 10 shooters in each category from each state will represent their home state in a special event at this year's Grand American. The top 10 shooters in each category had to shoot a minimum number of competition targets and were selected according to high combined average for the year. Bubba didn't shoot very many registered targets this past year because of football camp, wrestling camp, band camp, etc., but he shot well when he shot. His average would have given him a place on the sub-junior team if he'd shot a few more handicap targets. He didn't meet the target minimums for selection - CRAP!! Well, now that we know, he'll get enough targets in this year, for sure.

Firefox vulnerable to password-stealing attack

2006-11-28T14:31:41Z

Here's a little something for all the folks using Firefox to avoid IE vulnerabilities....

Network World's Virus and Bug Patch Alert Newsletter, 11/27/06

Video of Morgan on The Today Show

2006-11-20T17:42:30Z

The daughter of a co-worker who's battle with brain cancer I've previously mentioned was featured on a Today Show segment this morning. Here is a link to the video (you have to wait out the advertising to see the video....)

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?f=00&g=e6c7cba6-b329-441a-91b5-b1d028ca3dc3&p=Source_Today%20Show&t=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3079108/&fg=

SC06 International Conference

2006-11-15T18:17:14Z

Is anybody out there with an organization participating in this: SC06 International Conference - either on site or remotely?

We are a participating remote site - School of Information Technology, ISU

Pick it up and put it in your pocket, MORON!

2006-11-13T22:33:02Z

What a bunch of hysterical boobs! Words cannot describe the amusement this gives me.

Is this not a joke? It's a .22 Short cartridge, for God's sake!

KaBOOM!!

2006-11-07T15:56:58Z

I'll bet this guy's ears are still ringing!

http://www.thegunzone.com/kablooey.html

Support St Jude

2006-11-06T20:08:15Z

I've previously posted about a co-worker's daughter who was a promising gymnast until a year ago, when it was discovered she had a brain tumor that had to be removed by emergency surgery. Morgan is currently featured in the Kellogg's Cereal / Target Stores 2006 "Hope Shines" promotion. I am told that the special boxes of several Kellogg's cereals featuring Morgan have hit Target Stores shelves.

Buy a few boxes and support St Jude. It is amazing what they have done for this young lady.

Morgan's Progress Web Page

Morgan's Gym gets a visit from the Today Show and Olympic Gymnast Shannon Miller

Illinois Election Info

2006-11-06T19:02:04Z

For Illinois shooters - here is the link to the Illinois State Rifle Association 2006 voter's guide.

http://www.isra-pvf.com/images/web_guide_06.pdf

Don't forget to vote. (Of course, if you are in Chicago - vote early & vote often...)

'Splain me sumpin'....

2006-11-02T15:35:03Z

I'm not completely ignorant on the subjects of supply & demand or pricing of goods. I earned a degree from a fairly prestigious university accounting program and spent several years in charge of purchasing, inventory control and pricing for a company that did nearly a million dollars a month in sales. Still, I fail to see any legitimate reasons for the way gas prices fluctuate lately. Here is what the price of gas has done over the past couple of days at a large gas station I pass each day on the way to work:

8 AM - $2.10
5 PM - 2.19

8 AM - 2.16
5 PM - 2.13

8 AM - 2.09
5 PM - 2.27

8 AM - 2.19

Meanwhile, the price of gas at the convenience store in the little burg I live in 30 miles away has remained constant at $2.13 for about a week.

Random Thoughts on a Slow Day

2006-11-01T17:14:50Z

Geez, Bubba is getting big! He's 14 and the freshman football program lists him at 5'-11", 205 lbs. He's pretty proud of that 5-11, since the old man is just 5-10. Rough-housing around the living room has transcended to a whole new dimension!

Good grief, I'm getting old! The oldest daughter is going to make me a grandfather. Me, a GRANDFATHER! Who knew I'd live this long? The end must surely be at hand.

It's not that funny, dammit! The middle child is entirely too amused that someone who hadn't seen me for a couple of years saw me recently and told her, "Your dad looks great. My sister was so checking him out." So.... who's the sister?

My pet peeve.. I've always had a special disdain for gutless people that run their mouth and don't back it up. So, to a couple of individuals - your bravado has finally made it's way to me. I will be more than happy to make myself available to you at your convenience. You certainly know how to reach me. Just let me know when and where.

You just never know... In the past couple of months I've run into 4 different people who were young hell-raisers "back in the day". Now grown with kids, they have made it a point to tell me how much they appreciate that I was "strict but fair" in my dealings with them. They sure didn't appreciate it at the time!

And the winner is ....

2006-10-20T18:57:27Z

Yes!! My BuckSnort Chili was the run-away winner in the College of Applied Science & Technology Chili Cookoff. Now I go on to represent CAST in the university-wide cookoff.