Here it is - I need to add pieces that will store the rack and balls, but the kids love it.
30 December, 2005
The Pool Table part II
Here it is - I need to add pieces that will store the rack and balls, but the kids love it.
20 December, 2005
My new Pool Table
Well, my son did the most wonderful thing the other night. The kids wanted a pool table for Christmas, and the wife wanted to get a <$200 one from a local sporting goods store. I indicated my dismay, as I thought it would last for a whole 5 days. My son then piped up "Why don''t we build one?" I could have kissed him. Well, actually, I did, but it was not a "Brokeback Mountain" kind of thing. We've downloaded the plans for one at www.pooltableplans.com. They reference some items such as the rails from one supplier, but I found better & cheaper, along with leather pockets at www.pooldawg.com. Shipping was quick and easy too. The felt can be bought from suppliers on www.Ebay.com, or the plans suggest using canvas duck material. I'll try some plain felt and see what that does.
Here is a picture of the last project I built, a desk, with simulated elephant hide on top, with lacewood skirt, and cherry legs. The "Wine Spectator" magazine is just for show. I am not a wine snob.
06 December, 2005
03 December, 2005
03 September, 2005
The Flood of 2005, Katrina
I look at the Great City of New Orleans, and I cry for its soul. The finger pointing has started in the aftermath, but too little too late. Last year, when a storm nearly hit, everyone was concerned over what would happen if the Big One hit. Well, after it didn;t, peope went on about their lives after a couple of weeks.
Now the big one has hit. No one even imagined a disaster of this proportion, or the logistics disruption. We always play the discussion of why couldn't we connect the dots, why didn't we do more to alleviate the issues: it is just like at my job - we present worst case scenarios, then the price tag. We get the look of the indulgent parent from our leadership: you know the one, where they say that' snice, but we really can't spend the money on something that may never happen.
Then the event happens, and things go to hell in a handbasket. The questions inevitably come to the point of "Why didn't you do something to prevent this?"
This is exactly the case on the Gulf Coast.
We will rebuild: we don't give up and walk away. That's not who we are; that's not what we do. It' s time to quit the bitcing and move on.
Now the big one has hit. No one even imagined a disaster of this proportion, or the logistics disruption. We always play the discussion of why couldn't we connect the dots, why didn't we do more to alleviate the issues: it is just like at my job - we present worst case scenarios, then the price tag. We get the look of the indulgent parent from our leadership: you know the one, where they say that' snice, but we really can't spend the money on something that may never happen.
Then the event happens, and things go to hell in a handbasket. The questions inevitably come to the point of "Why didn't you do something to prevent this?"
This is exactly the case on the Gulf Coast.
We will rebuild: we don't give up and walk away. That's not who we are; that's not what we do. It' s time to quit the bitcing and move on.
31 August, 2005
In the face of tragedy
The below post shows the most insensitivity to the tragedy occurring on the Gulf Coast. Naturally, it is written by someone from north of Memphis, and in the eastern portion of the US. I personally thank God for the blessings bestowed upon me, and those yet to come. I also thank the Good Lord I am an American, where I can speak my mind even if I am a spoiled stupid twit with an axe to grind. God Bless Al Franken and Ann Coulter (whom I don't consider a twit).
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr/afor-they-that-sow-the-_b_6396.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr/afor-they-that-sow-the-_b_6396.html
15 August, 2005
04 August, 2005
Mr. Fixit - the icemaker
For those who have to troubleshoot icemakers: my refrigerator icemaker is on the fritz. Being the do-it-yourselfer (or the wife's version: do-it-yourself-no-matter-what-the cost-or-how-*%^$#*-long-it-takes) I researched how to check it out and see if it could be fixed. I credit the website http://www.waterfiltermart.com/generic121.html with this information.
BASIC WORKING ICE MAKER THEORY: When ice maker reaches 5 degrees, the thermostat closes and the ice maker motor starts turning. Then the heater turns on to loosten the cubes in the mold so they can eject. The ejector bar(I call it the fingers) pushes the ice out of the mold. The heater turns off as the thermostat opens (due to the heat from the heater). Then the water solenoid valve is sent the signal to let water into the ice maker. This completes the batch as the motor stops. If any of these steps do not happen, you need to replace the ice maker.ICE MAKER IS NOT MAKING ICE! A. Check to see if the water is turned on.B. Check Water Filter (if equipped), to see if water flows thru the filter. If not, replace the Water Filter.C. Check to see if inlet tube (in freezer) is plugged with ice. If so, un-block the tube and Replace the Water Valve.D. If inlet tube is clear and no water, see our link-Water Valve troubleShooting.E. Check temp. of the freezer to see if it 5 degrees or colder. If not, set the temp. colder.F. Does Ice Maker Cycle(rotate)? If not, replace Ice Maker.
Here are a couple of tests:
HOW TO TEST A MODULAR ICE MAKER!! You Will Need a Jumper Wire. With the ice maker still installed, take off the front cover. Then take a 5" jumper wire (spliced approx. 1/2" at each end). Put one end in the upper middle test hole marked 'N' and the other end in the right upper test hole marked 'M'. (you are jumping neutral to the motor). The ice maker should start its cycle. Pull out jumper wire after approx. 10 seconds. The ice maker should complete its cycle by filling with water at the end of cycle.
How To Start A GE, Frigidaire, Gemline or U-Line Mechanical Ice Maker Take off the front cover of the icemaker. You will see the Big Gear which is held on by a Phillips Screw. Take a Phillips Screwdriver and hold constant pressure while turing the screw ClockWise for approx. 1/8 th. of a turn. The Ice Maker should start turning on its own. If not, turn the screw a little more. The ice maker should complete its cycle by filling with water at the end of cycle.
BASIC WORKING ICE MAKER THEORY: When ice maker reaches 5 degrees, the thermostat closes and the ice maker motor starts turning. Then the heater turns on to loosten the cubes in the mold so they can eject. The ejector bar(I call it the fingers) pushes the ice out of the mold. The heater turns off as the thermostat opens (due to the heat from the heater). Then the water solenoid valve is sent the signal to let water into the ice maker. This completes the batch as the motor stops. If any of these steps do not happen, you need to replace the ice maker.ICE MAKER IS NOT MAKING ICE! A. Check to see if the water is turned on.B. Check Water Filter (if equipped), to see if water flows thru the filter. If not, replace the Water Filter.C. Check to see if inlet tube (in freezer) is plugged with ice. If so, un-block the tube and Replace the Water Valve.D. If inlet tube is clear and no water, see our link-Water Valve troubleShooting.E. Check temp. of the freezer to see if it 5 degrees or colder. If not, set the temp. colder.F. Does Ice Maker Cycle(rotate)? If not, replace Ice Maker.
Here are a couple of tests:
HOW TO TEST A MODULAR ICE MAKER!! You Will Need a Jumper Wire. With the ice maker still installed, take off the front cover. Then take a 5" jumper wire (spliced approx. 1/2" at each end). Put one end in the upper middle test hole marked 'N' and the other end in the right upper test hole marked 'M'. (you are jumping neutral to the motor). The ice maker should start its cycle. Pull out jumper wire after approx. 10 seconds. The ice maker should complete its cycle by filling with water at the end of cycle.
How To Start A GE, Frigidaire, Gemline or U-Line Mechanical Ice Maker Take off the front cover of the icemaker. You will see the Big Gear which is held on by a Phillips Screw. Take a Phillips Screwdriver and hold constant pressure while turing the screw ClockWise for approx. 1/8 th. of a turn. The Ice Maker should start turning on its own. If not, turn the screw a little more. The ice maker should complete its cycle by filling with water at the end of cycle.
03 August, 2005
02 August, 2005
27 July, 2005
Are you ready for some football?
It is that time of year that my obsession with football kicks in - mainly at the high school and college level. Both of my college alma maters have new coaches this year. They both flip-flopped in the demeanor of the new coaches. LSU got Les Miles, who is a wallflower compared to the screaming Nick Saban. And Ed Orgeron at Ole Miss, a screaming maniac, as opposed to the mild-mannered David Cutcliffe.
The following account has been on the web a bit, and I appreciate it. I still remember the guy who played for University of Houston who said of Coach John Jenkins "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."
This is an account of Ed Orgeron's first team meeting at Ole Miss, as related by one of the players to another student:(Orgeron was USC's Asst Head Coach and DL Coach)
"Apparently, Coach Orgeron called his first team meeting the other day. I was told that in about a 15 minute period, he cussed and yelled more than most men do in their entire lives."
"He came in to the locker room to his new team and stood there staring at his team. He started to talk in his strong Cajun accent and immediately began yelling at his new team that this 4-7 s**t isn't going to cut it. He talked about how the last game he coached was the national championship and screamed that it was a g*d d**n embarassment to win anything less than 10 games. He went on yelling about how he recruited Leinart and Bush and that that he didn't cometo Ole Miss to have a g*d d**n losing seasons or even to go to this bull s**t Cotton Bowl and get g*d d**n thirteenth place. Thirteenth place is bull s**t and he came here to win."
"He said that his team was going to play defense and hit hard. G*d d****t his team was going to play with g*d d***n passion and they were going to whip some a***s. He then passed a box around the room and said he wanted every g*d d**n earring in the room in the box. He isn't going to have any f*****g p***y girls on his team and wanted every piece of bull s**t earring in that box right now.""With the team stunned faced with about as opposite a person as one could have to Cutcliffe, Coach O started to walk towards the door. He looked back at the team as they passed around the box and said, "I'm going to walk out of here right now, and when I come back in here, I'm going to have my shirt off, and I want everyone of you motherf*****s to have your shirts off too."
"He walked out and everyone, confused, started taking their shirts off. Sure enough, O walked back in, bigger than alot of the guys on the team, without his shirt on. He started yelling and telling the team that they needed to get loud. He said, "When I point to this side of the room, I want you to say 'Ole Miss.' When I point to this side, I want you to say, 'Wild Boys.'" Standing there with no shirt on with every guy in the room shirtless, started pointing to each side of the room. Half the team would yell, "Ole Miss" while the other would yell "Wild Boys." Apparently it got pretty crazy and guys started flipping chairs, yelling, and throwing cooler acrossthe room while chanting Ole Miss... Wild Boys. "
"He then stopped and said, "One more thing. If any of you motherf*****s thinks you can take me, you come up here and get a piece of me right now." He gave everyone an opportunity to come up and fight him and said, "That's what I thought," and walked out of the room."
The following account has been on the web a bit, and I appreciate it. I still remember the guy who played for University of Houston who said of Coach John Jenkins "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."
This is an account of Ed Orgeron's first team meeting at Ole Miss, as related by one of the players to another student:(Orgeron was USC's Asst Head Coach and DL Coach)
"Apparently, Coach Orgeron called his first team meeting the other day. I was told that in about a 15 minute period, he cussed and yelled more than most men do in their entire lives."
"He came in to the locker room to his new team and stood there staring at his team. He started to talk in his strong Cajun accent and immediately began yelling at his new team that this 4-7 s**t isn't going to cut it. He talked about how the last game he coached was the national championship and screamed that it was a g*d d**n embarassment to win anything less than 10 games. He went on yelling about how he recruited Leinart and Bush and that that he didn't cometo Ole Miss to have a g*d d**n losing seasons or even to go to this bull s**t Cotton Bowl and get g*d d**n thirteenth place. Thirteenth place is bull s**t and he came here to win."
"He said that his team was going to play defense and hit hard. G*d d****t his team was going to play with g*d d***n passion and they were going to whip some a***s. He then passed a box around the room and said he wanted every g*d d**n earring in the room in the box. He isn't going to have any f*****g p***y girls on his team and wanted every piece of bull s**t earring in that box right now.""With the team stunned faced with about as opposite a person as one could have to Cutcliffe, Coach O started to walk towards the door. He looked back at the team as they passed around the box and said, "I'm going to walk out of here right now, and when I come back in here, I'm going to have my shirt off, and I want everyone of you motherf*****s to have your shirts off too."
"He walked out and everyone, confused, started taking their shirts off. Sure enough, O walked back in, bigger than alot of the guys on the team, without his shirt on. He started yelling and telling the team that they needed to get loud. He said, "When I point to this side of the room, I want you to say 'Ole Miss.' When I point to this side, I want you to say, 'Wild Boys.'" Standing there with no shirt on with every guy in the room shirtless, started pointing to each side of the room. Half the team would yell, "Ole Miss" while the other would yell "Wild Boys." Apparently it got pretty crazy and guys started flipping chairs, yelling, and throwing cooler acrossthe room while chanting Ole Miss... Wild Boys. "
"He then stopped and said, "One more thing. If any of you motherf*****s thinks you can take me, you come up here and get a piece of me right now." He gave everyone an opportunity to come up and fight him and said, "That's what I thought," and walked out of the room."
21 July, 2005
In Germany
Today I am in Germany. I found this neat port replicator for Dell laptops. I think I want one. It probably will fit nicely into cabins. Otherwise, got a half decent night's sleep. Must keep going on and on. I do not like this place, except for maybe one or 2 people.
20 July, 2005
I'm getting old
My daughter got her first flowers from a little boy. I looked at him, pointed at myself, then pointed 2 fingers at my eyes, then pointed at him, just like Robert DeNiro in "Meet the Parents". He is a nice kid, though, but it is my daughter.
Aaargh!
I am in Norway listening to 2 programmers go over a database design, and argue over its merits, whether it shoudl be in vbs, vba, or should it go into ABAP. The grass is growing outside.
Aaargh!
I am in Norway listening to 2 programmers go over a database design, and argue over its merits, whether it shoudl be in vbs, vba, or should it go into ABAP. The grass is growing outside.
14 July, 2005
Today I must live
I must fight this nagging feeling I have of fatalism and helplessness. Lots to do today before I go across the pond.
13 July, 2005
Today to do
I am having problems with motivation. It is probably because I am depressed. I really need my wife to pick my spirits up. Our bird died today. Tashi was out of water. The kids were crying.
- Hyperion invoices
- Lunch
- plan trip
22 March, 2005
Today is a good day
Things to do:
1. Dashboard
2. Sell Air Compressor - call John
3. Clean up at home
4. design Charles' new shelves
5. go thru mail
6. account checkup
7. renters - get certified letter to them
This is a good day - & I will get lots done
1. Dashboard
2. Sell Air Compressor - call John
3. Clean up at home
4. design Charles' new shelves
5. go thru mail
6. account checkup
7. renters - get certified letter to them
This is a good day - & I will get lots done
13 February, 2005
The new tool
The boss man has a new toy; a Blackberry. Now he is really becoming the alpha geek. He can actually send email from it. Whooppee!
Sunday morning coming down
It will be a good day. Thinking positive always helps. So, it will be a great day.
We have gotten up late, and will miss 8:30 church. We may go tothe 9:45 service. I hope so. Freddie Patrick & Ben Cuadra visited Charles yesterday, and they are nice kids. We may build Freddie a new room soon.
We have gotten up late, and will miss 8:30 church. We may go tothe 9:45 service. I hope so. Freddie Patrick & Ben Cuadra visited Charles yesterday, and they are nice kids. We may build Freddie a new room soon.
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