Dead Bugs in the Middle of the Car

2009 Bug Splat WinnersTonight was the MMC’s Annual Bug Splat Rally. With only five cars in attendance nearly everyone was assured of a prize. From left to right, John Nicholls, Closest to the Dot with his prize of Bullseye BBQ Sauce; Dave Schumacher with the Cleanest Car prize of Bug Stickers to use next year; Donna Bogardus with Bath Time Stickers to wash the Most Bugs off the nose of the Emperor and Denny Smith with the Trophy for Biggest Bug. If you look just to the right of the Big Bug on the Trophy you will see the ghostly apparition of Rudy Wilmoth who was the driver of the only car not to take home a prize. Don’t feel too sorry for Rudy as he and Patti are past winners of the coveted BBT and are just coming off a two year streak of winning the Cleanest Car.

Started up, went down, went up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 356

Well, You’re Stuck With Me For Another Year

I have the domain mr-miata.net registered through Yahoo Domains. I signed up with them 3 years ago and the price was $9.95 a year. Well, it is time to renew, and I got an email the other day telling me I would be automatically renewed at their new price of $39.95 a year! That is way too much and I figured I would shop around for another domain register. Trouble with that plan is I misread the auto renewal date as 8/31, when it really said 8/21, i.e. today. Too late.

I have been struggling with producing content for this place the last couple of weeks and had even considering taking a break from blogging, but now that I’m forty bucks into it, I’m going to keep at it even if the content is crap (and after all, what else were you expecting, it’s right there in this blog’s tag line: a proud part of the 90%.)

And while $39.95 sounds like a lot, it is less than 11¢ a day. If you factor in the 10 bucks a month for hosting it still comes out to less that 45¢ a day. Cheap therapy.

And trust me, I need the therapy pretty bad as the FRS are losing to their arch nemesis the Yankees tonight 15 to 4…

Started up, went down, went up, back down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 353

Turkey Hunters

An 80-year-old man went to the doctor for a check-up and the doctor was amazed at what good shape the guy was in. The doctor asked, “To what do you attribute your good health?”

The old timer said, “I’m a turkey hunter and that’s why I’m in such good shape. I’m up well before daylight and out chasing turkeys up and down the mountains.”

The doctor said, “Well, I’m sure that helps, but there’s got to be more to it. How old was your dad when he died?”

The old timer said, “Who said my dad’s dead?”

The doctor said, “You mean you’re 80 years old and your dad’s still alive? How old is he?”

The old timer said, “He’s 100 years old and, in fact, he hunted turkey with me this morning, and that’s why he’s still alive…he’s a turkey hunter.”

The doctor said, “Well, that’s great, but I’m sure there’s more to it. How about your dad’s dad? How old was he when he died?”

The old timer said, “Who said my grandpa’s dead?”

The doctor said, “You mean you’re 80 years old and your grandfather’s still living! How old is he?”

The old timer said, “He’s 118 years old.”

The doctor was getting frustrated at this point and said,”I guess he went turkey hunting with you this morning too?”

The old timer said, “No… Grandpa couldn’t go this morning because he got married.”

The Doctor said in amazement, “Got married! Why would a 118-year-old guy want to get married?”

The old timer said, “Who said he wanted to?

Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Painting

Fotoscsketcher is a free windows software program that will turn your photos into a painting or pencil sketches with little effort. It can even put a nice little frame around it. So while we are on the subject of the Beatles…

Fotosketcher Beatles with Frame

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 349

The End Of Reality

We were up early this morning to ride the tandem to work, but as we started down the drive way something was wrong. The back tire was flat. Seeing as this ride was optional, we just parked the bike and Plan B was implemented, drive the car. Because we were early instead of finishing breakfast and heading right to the Bogardusmobile there was some time for TV watching.

During a break in Sportcenter I surfed the channels until I stumbled on VH1 playing an old Beatles tune, “With a Little Help from My Friends.” Wow, VH1 is back to playing music. They, like their big brother station MTV, seemed to have abandoned playing music videos in favor of other crap, including “reality” shows, nice to see them back to music videos again.

Wait a minute, that’s not the real John, Paul, George & Ringo, its a computer generated facsimile. Turns out it is a video-slash-commercial for something called Rock Band, which as best I can figure is a cross between karaoke, air guitar, your TV and an expensive gaming console. So much for back to reality.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKRyKVDvO6U

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 347

I’ve Done It Again

Nothing to say….

Savannah River Rapids

Sorry Mark.

Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 345

Keeps Getting Better

Tried to print something this evening and my free for buying a laptop Dell 720 printer wouldn’t print. Wouldn’t turn on. Zippo. I measured the output voltage at the terminals of the transformer, it is supposed to be 30VDC, it read zero.

I can take a chance on some fly by night outfit and buy a new power cord/transformer for around ten bucks with shipping or I could just go ahead and buy a new printer. There is a dealer on Amazon that is selling the same Dell 720, new, for just $39 including shipping.

Or I could get something else in the $50-60 range, but what? Our printing needs are minimal, an occasional receipt for an internet purchase and the Miata Club Treasurer’s Report once a month. Color is not required at all. Anything fancy I do it at work where I have access to everything from a letter sized color laser to a 36 x 48 ink jet plotter…

Started up, went down, back up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 344