Wanting to build a time machine...

I have been thinking (this can be dangerous) that I need to build a time machine.  Now it's not for reasons most of you might think.  I don't necessarily want to travel back in time per say.  I am more interested in being able to create more time.  So....when everyone else has 24 hours in the day, I could have 30.  Something like that.  Then maybe I could get things done.  I'm at work for about 13 hours a day, then come home and have things needing my attention, and then need sleep... oops, almost forgot homework.  Gotta have time for that as well.  Grrrr....I bet I'll have a paper due in the middle of my 7 days in a row shift.  If anyone has already invented a time device of some sorts, please feel free to give me any pointers!  Thanks!

Fuel made from corn, not as great as it may seem.

     For some, the thought of being able to produce our own renewable fuel is very appealing.  I must admit that I like the sound of having a renewable energy source that helps keep our reliance of foreign oil down.  Here recently corn has been seen as a great way to produce a renewable fuel source known as ethanol.  Now the idea to use corn as a fuel source has been around for quiet sometime, but has recently seen more and more popularity. In large part, do to the rising costs of fuel.  So, what's so bad about a fuel source that is renewable, gives off oxygen as it grows, and help out the American economy?
     Well for starters, it requires fuel to plant and harvest it.  Is the amount of energy required greater than or less than the amount that can be gathered from it?  Then there is the concern about the increase in food costs.  Have you ever looked on the label of what you are eating?  Many products on our shelves have corn in some form or another in them.  High fructose corn syrup, sound familiar?  It is in pop and many other products we use.  Let us not forget it is used in pet food and animal feed as well.  Increased ethanol production equals increased demand in corn, which in turn raises the cost of corn, (enter supply and demand).
     Well then, why not just produce more corn then?  That certainly is an option but, what would producing more corn do to the environment?  Corn growers use nitrates to help fertilize thier crops.  Nitrates then in turn wash out of the soil and enter our water.  Running into our streams and rivers destroying them.  Eventually making it's way into our ocean leaving large areas of water almost lifeless.  Nitrates in the water supply create lower oxygen levels, which in turn kill off fish and other animals that need that O2 in the water.  So, think corn is a great way to get rid of our need for foreign oil and be "greener" too, think again. 

Trying to choose the right carpet.

     Well, my wife and I have decided on replacing the family room and hallway carpet.  In part because it is older and has a few stains and also, because our two "little ones" have taken an "interest" in it.  Now, I need to clarify  a few things first.  When I say "little ones", I mean our two little chihuahuas (rats that bark), Einstein and Angel.  Einstein (the cool one) is named so, because of his great mind, he is literally too smart for his own good.  Angel (evil) on the other hand, is not named because of her sweet nature...quiet the opposite actually.  I believe that she is part, if not all demon.  Which brings me to... when I say an "interest", I mean that for some strange reason they like to pull on the berber carpet and watch it unravel.  It's not like they don't have an over abundance of chew toys and what not.  So, I am not sure what's so fascinating about the carpet.  I know Einstein knows better than to destroy "daddy's" carpet but I have caught him more than once tugging away on a new strand.  This I am sure of only happens after Angel talks him into it, remember Angel is the demon dog.
     Now that we know the reasoning behind our need for new carpet, we need to look into what our requirements are.  First and for most, we need as puppy proof of a carpet there is, one that is soft and pleasing to the touch (wife likes to run around barefoot), and of course in a color that we can agree on (after hours of "politely" discussing it).  After searching around on the internet we came across Carpet One's website and found that a brand called Lee's that looked like it could meet our needs.  So, we went to the local store and met a nice lady there who gave us a demonstration of how stain resistant it was and how soft it is.  Also, it's not berber!  Much more unlikely to unravel, so that's two outta three!  Now it comes in many color choices so, I'm sure that I can persuade my wife to pick some reasonable color.  Maybe if I tell her it's probably the color that the little doggies, "gremlins"  don't like, I can get one I find pleasing.

Ron Paul and the media blackout.

     What is up with Ron Paul and the media almost completely ignoring him?  That i,s unless it is negative in nature.  Ron Paul comes in at 2nd place in the Iowa Straw Pole and it seemed almost every major media outlet didn't even mention his name.  Fox News, which is mostly conservative skips over his name when listing the contestants.  So, we have a first place winner,  Michele Bachmann (4,823 votes), and a third place winner, Pawlenty (2,293).  Fourth place, Rick Santorum, (1,657) and then fellow Texan Rick Perry only got 718 votes and placed 6th.  Ron Paul on the other hand got 4,671 votes, barely losing to Michele Bachmann.  When it came time the announce the winners, guess what?  They just passed over his name like he didn't even exist!  He had less than 1% difference in the votes.

     Another case of the lack off media coverage is this.  As well as, this statement from Willam F. Jasper:  "A recent study by the Pew Research Center confirms what many Ron Paul supporters have claimed all along, that the mainstream media (MSM) have indeed been singling out Paul for the ostracism treatment. Among other things, the study found, as reported by politico.com, that "Ron Paul has been featured in 27 news articles since January, fewer than Rick Perry's 33 articles, even though the Texas governor announced his candidacy less than three weeks ago." 


     There are those who say that Ron's lack of coverage is to do with, his not being seen as a serious contender. I believe that this is mostly a political ploy being used by people who are afraid of Ron Paul and his beliefs and wanting much less "Big" government in our lives and more state rights.  Too many powerful people with too much wrapped up in having "bigger" government, to let Ron Paul have much of the spotlight. 


     

Decided to clean ended up remodeling.

     Well, I have been wanting to clean out the utility room ever since I got my Yamaha XJ550.  I had decicded to clean it out and make room for my automotive tools, workbench, and bike parts.  Now being a utility room means that, it really is a catch all room for all the other crap in the house that you have no other place to put.  Once I removed all that stuff I realized how much there really was!  So after a couple hours of moving things around I have an almost empty room, that's good right?  Well, yes and no....know looking at vacant room I realize that it could really use a good cleaning.  So with broom and dustpan in hand I go to work.  Hmmm...looks like it needs mopped too, no big deal, I got this.  Then, I come to the realization that I hate the color.  Ok, I bought a nice green color for the bedroom and haven't gotten around to painting it yet, lets use it.  I was pretty sure the wife wouldn't mind me using it ( turns out I was safe this time).  
   
     I began doing all the things one needs to do in order to paint, prepped the walls, pulled nails, and filled holes.  Everything is looking good and going great, then I come to the conclusion that I wont have enough paint.  Hmmm...ok, I'll just go get some more.  Turns out Sutherlands no longer carries that brand.  Shoot!  They can try and color match it, so I guess all it not lost.  I go home and finish most of the painting and start looking around and think, hmmm...I could really use some crown molding in here.  Now I am going to sidebar here for a moment cause this is somewhat of an inside joke.  I like molding, crown molding, base, and whatever.  It just finishes a room, well anyway, at my old house I went as far as putting crown molding in the  closets too.  Yeah I know, a bit excessive but it looked really nice.  So my wife teases me about it from time to time.....if she only knew what I was up too know.  Mauuuhahahaha.

     So, paint, molding, and oh...looks like I could use some nicer cabinets above the washer/dryer.  Go to Lowes and picked out some oak ones.  Then notice that a built in ironing board would be nice as well.  Oh, and then there is the bare concrete floor, gotta do something about that.  The list starts getting longer and longer.  All this from wanting to clean out the utility room to make room for more stuff.

My "new" old 1982 Yamaha Seca 550

I have never owned a motorcycle until today, but have always wanted one since a kid and had my first ride on a Honda scooter.  It has been a dream of mine to get an older bike and restore it, but life had other plans for me...that is until today.

A co-worker informed me the other day that there was a 1982 Yamaha Seca 550 on craigslist, and that it was going dirt cheap.  I thought to myself, it's probably gone by now, but would call when I had time.  Well a couple days go by and he is still bugging me about it, so I call that evening and low and behold...it's still available!  Come to find out it has not been started in over 15 years and hasn't seen the road for 20!  Oh boy, wonder if it is really worth my time to drive all the way to Tulsa to look at it.  Also, I find out that there is another person interested in it too.  Hmmmm....I tell the guy to call me today and let me know if the other guy gets it.

11:00 A.M. I get a call, the other guy failed to show and I could come and look at it.  Call my buddy up and soon after we are on the road to Tulsa, OK.  Couple hours later we pull up to the house it's located at and get out.  The guy comes out and takes us out back.  To my surprise there sits a completely stock Seca 550.  Original everything!  Exhaust pipes, tires, all the metal and plastic pieces are there.  Seat is in fairly good shape, no major dents, and all the lights and lens are intact. I find out it's been sitting in a storage unit this entire time.  The only bad thing is that they never drained the fuel from the tank.  The motor turns freely but the tank and carbs will most likely need overhauled.

I pay the man and am thinking to myself that I am almost stealing it from him.  This bike, with a little bit of work, will be a very nice classic that is bound to get a lot of looks.  Ha ha, even before I got home I had people stopping a looking at it in the back of my truck.  When I got home my neighbors from across the street came out and drooled a little over it.  They have a bike or two and are in a vintage motorcycle club.  So, it looks like I might be joining a club or two soon!

Hot tubs, they'er supposed to be relaxing, right?

So, I have chosen to do some major improvements to my home, that go above and beyond repairing the recent storm damage it sustained.  I have been wanting a hot tub for many years and am finally in a place (both room wise and financially) to do so.  First things first, I needed a "spot" to put it at.  After some thought I decided to put it next to my covered rear patio.  I marked off about a 13' x 13' area.  Called around and found a place that would deliver just over 4 tons of river rock for a reasonable price.  It took me hours to move by wheel barrel and shovel what took him only a min to unload from the dump truck.  Man, I needed the hot tub right then!  Ok, I got the area paved with rock, now I needed some privacy.  Now enters the wooden fence.  At this time I was not ready to replace my current chain link fence, so I installed the wooden privacy fence right next to the rock pad.  I started from the back of the house and went about 13 feet out and then over to the outer post of the rear patio.  Digging holes was never at the top of my "fun things" to do list, but never the less needed to be done.  Again, my thoughts kept returning to the relaxing time I would have in the hot tub.  Patients young grass hopper, work first, play latter.

So, I have the "spot" for the new tub, now I just need to find one.  I am someone who always tries to keep an eye out for a good deal.  Looking at the costs of a new vs used tub...I went with used.  I figured I could save a lot of money.  Craigslist, gotta love it.  Spent days cruising it on my cell phone waiting for the right time to strike.  Ding Ding!  Found a couple of possibilities.  First one was not quiet what it was made out to be (like that never happens).  The second one in my meager price range was pretty much what it said it was.  Large and in good looking condition but, non running.  I passed at first cause I could see the $$$ racking up in order to fix it, but kept coming back to it.  What finally sealed the deal was he dropped his asking price in half!  It seemed to good of a deal to pass up.  Large 6 person tub with rebuilt electric motors...just needs a new heater and control board.  No problem, I got this.

I talked him into delivering it to my home, said it would only take 4 people to move it.  Easy enough for him, he had a forklift at his ranch.  When they say 6 person tub, I now know that they mean not only does it seat 6, you need 6 to move it!  Oh my word that thing was heavy!  I had 4 people lined up and needed to call on a couple extra to help.  It hurt to move it every step of the way!  I also had to take down part of the fence to get it into the back yard, set it in place and prayed that I never have to move it again.

Now the wiring.  I called on another good friend of mine to help with the 220V wiring.  I wanted it done right and well, that's not my forte'.  Find out copper wiring has gone way up in price recently, but that's ok, it's going to a good cause.  In the mean time I find the part I need is almost $600!  Heck with that, so I looked on the net and found a place that makes aftermarket controllers and heater boards.  Got an upgraded heater and a better control board for almost half what they wanted for the stock one.  Long story short, got everything hooked up and ready to go runs for a few hours and get to use it once and the wet side of the pump explodes.  Crap!  All that work and now this.  End up finding a new one online and installed a couple days ago.  Everything is working great for now and I am finally able to enjoy it!  Still have way less $$$ in this than I would have in a new one.  Heck it's almost new with all the parts that have been  replaced.  Hoping it lasts for a while and I can get back to other projects around the house.

Is lethal force necessary to protect our borders?

The use of deadly force to protect our borders, is it necessary?  I believe it is.  It amazes me that our government  spends billions and billions of dollars on military  actions over seas to "protect" our country, yet at times seems to almost ignore our own borders.  Try crossing into Iran illegally, and if you aren't shot on the spot you rot in jail.  This is the practice of many nations; Afghanistan, North Korea, and China to name a few.

We face the very high possibility of terrorists and drug cartels crossing our borders with little risk to themselves, and there for no real deterrent.  If they knew that force, or even deadly force, was used to ensure our county's border's and there for our national security, would they be so readily willing to do so?  I think not.  Knowing that their lives would be at risk would be a very big deterrent in my opinion.

When our border patrol agents come under assault and they choose to defend themselves they are often criticized.  Arizona has recently been in the spotlight for passing laws that it sees as necessary to protect it's borders and it's people.  But, when faced against heavily armed gangs of smugglers and drug dealers, don't we have every right to use deadly force?  I believe so.  Arizona is facing a very real problem with that now.  How can we truly protect ourselves if we can't secure our own borders?

I am not saying that deadly force should be used in every situation, but we should make it clear to those who would try to cross illegally that their will be more than a slap on the hand and told not to do it again.