March 31, 2005

Spring has sprung

It kind of snuck up on me what with being busy as all git out lately. My wife pointed out the the hostas in the front are starting to sprout, which reminds me that I want to transplant them into the backyard sometime soon. I'll replace them with four small boxwood shrubs (or maybe three if I can find a small burning bush for the end nearest the gate). My goal is to have a front yard that looks great and only needs a little grass cutting and edging and occasional minor trimming and pruning. I'm about 80% there.

But even moreso Spring means rockets. Even though I fly rockets all year round, this is the season when the pace picks up. The farm fields that some clubs fly at have dried out enough to use but haven't been planted yet, so a lot of rocket clubs schedule big launches for springtime (our group is blessed with a great field that is available all year).

This weekend, both days, I have a rocket launch at Great Meadow. It'll be a contest launch sponsored by a club from Pennsylvania that lost access to their area, so they're using our field. The following weekend is our club's big Spring contest, another two-day event. There'll be sport flying too, just for fun, which is what I do since I don't fly contests. Everyone's invited, sport flying is free for everyone, and it's a great way to spend a day with the family.

If you come out, look for me near the red Mazda pickup. I'll definitely be there on Saturday both weekends. Bring your rockets and we'll fly 'em, and if you don't have one I've got some you can fly to see what it's all about.

Then, from April 29th through May 1st is BattlePark 2005, in Culpeper, Virginia. It's one of the biggest and best rocket launches on the East Coast. I'll be there both Saturday and Sunday.

Questions are always welcomed in the comments. Or email. Or look in my Rocketry category archives for tons more information.

I love Spring!

Posted by: Ted at 06:10 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Liveblogging My Colonoscopy

Or are y'all still burnt out from the last election?

Posted by: Ted at 05:35 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 Interesting train of thought there.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 31, 2005 09:13 PM (BUnQl)

2 I'm waiting.... Where is the liveblogging?

Posted by: The Maximum Leader at April 01, 2005 10:01 AM (jiSuM)

3 If I ever have one, I'll make sure to send you personal updates.

Never let it be said that I don't do my utmost for Rocket Jones readers.

Posted by: Ted at April 01, 2005 12:22 PM (blNMI)

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March 30, 2005

I wish she would die already

I'm sorry, but there's no gentle way to put that. As soon as she dies then the real debate can start instead of this never ending circus horribilus.

Captain's Quarters is beginning to sound like the mirror image to Kos. It's depressing and boring.

Nobody wins, and until her body stops breathing, we can't even work towards making sure there is never a next time.

Posted by: Ted at 08:22 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Out-of-context Quote of the Day

From Boudicca:

my husband's family are knife wielding bunny cutters

Posted by: Ted at 12:54 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Smarter than a speeding bullet

That's me. Remember that book thing making the rounds? The one where the very first question is:

You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

Apparently I'm not the only one who didn't get it right away. Think about the story. Think about the people who hoard books. Remember that everyone in that group would memorize a single book?

Ahhhhhhh.

Posted by: Ted at 12:49 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Reminder

Top left corner of this page. The pink button. Click it on friday, the first of April and leave a comment. No fooling.

Posted by: Ted at 12:19 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Maybe I'm too Ameri-centric

The Major Soccer League is renaming their teams to be more like the teams around the world. So instead of, for instance, the Dallas Burn, you'll have teams like FC Dallas, where the "FC" stands for "football club". Yeah, maybe in the rest of the world, but not in Dallas.

New to the league this year are Real Salt Lake City (pronounced Ray-al) and Chivas USA. Chivas is spanish for goats. Really.

I was never a fan of that odd trend for new niche sports teams to name themselves for something other than a noun - the "Rage", the "Freedom" and so on. It just seemed so trendy, like a loser trying desperately to be cool.

So the MLS gets away from that nonsense, but decides that they need to be less American and more like Europe. Like I needed another reason to ignore them.

Posted by: Ted at 12:17 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Carfax fun

Ptiza is looking to buy a car, so she ponied up the bucks for a month of unlimited Carfax. Smart move, and we do the same when we're in the market.

But Ptiza's creative genius had me laughing my ass off when she combines unlimited Carfax and eBay auto auctions into a hilarious blog post.

Be careful, for her wit is sharp and the edge drips acid.

Posted by: Ted at 06:07 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 I hate to say it Ted but the gal doesn't know squat about cars or car people either for that matter.She should stick to being a comedian.I'm NOT laughing AT her,I'm laughing WITH her!I swear!
Maybe she can get together with Liz Crenshaw from News 4's Ask Liz and the car "expert" from the washington Post.They give bad info too.
I almost feel sorry for her in that she has to point out every little thing about others possibly in an attempt confirm her own self worth.Perhaps it's just the veggy diet.Lack of B vitamins or something.
Also,ask me about the fake Hemi Cuda add that Mopar Collectors Guide ran on E-bay once for the sake of illustrating just how deceptive car adds can be and netted close to a million bucks for.

Posted by: Russ at March 30, 2005 08:18 AM (ObxzR)

2 You didn't get it Russ. Of course the ads are deceptive, that's what Carfax is for.

For the record, she's not a vegetarian (as far as I know). The blog name is a joke too.

Posted by: Ted at March 30, 2005 09:26 AM (blNMI)

3 O.K.,Ted.I'll take yer word for it.I'll just assume it was all a joke.After all I don't want to walk around with a bad taste but rednecks in pimped out Mazdas?That's a new one on me.Two million mile Mercedes?That's even newer still.

Posted by: Russ at March 30, 2005 12:55 PM (ObxzR)

4 Russ, you're an idiot.

Posted by: smotlock at March 30, 2005 10:02 PM (D3+20)

5 No, Russ just thinks I'm a vegetarian, and cucumbers make him feel inferior. Poor boy.

Posted by: Ptiza at March 30, 2005 10:04 PM (Nwck5)

6 A question for smotlock;"Can you explain yourself on that one?Why would you say that?"
That is the kind of thing that liberal internet trolls over on Yahoo do.Instead of actually being able to discuss a point all they do is make snyde little one liner remarks like that without ever explaining themselves.
Much the same way that Pitza has done here.Pizza I assure you that absolutely nothing makes me feel inferior.Especially moronic,ranting,human appologetic liberal lesbians.This goes double for the ones who like to spout off regarding things(like cars)that they obviously know nothing about.I will ask you your own question;"Does it physically hurt to be that stupid?"

Posted by: Russ at March 31, 2005 12:05 AM (ObxzR)

7 Lesbian?

Whoa there Russie. You haven't turned me off the whole of the male race just yet.

Once you learn to properly punctuate, then we'll talk.

Posted by: Ptiza at March 31, 2005 11:46 AM (Nwck5)

8 First it's nouns and now punctuation counts?!?!?! I am so behind the curve.

Posted by: Ted at March 31, 2005 02:40 PM (blNMI)

9 Any excuse to avoid the issue,huh?Trying to attack me because you're too stupid to comment intelligently on what I said.I see that a lot among libs and people who claim to be christians yet know nothing about the bible and sometimes even their own religion.In other words people who don't know what they're talking about.It's called Ad Hominem.

Posted by: Russ at March 31, 2005 03:43 PM (ObxzR)

10 Considering that I'm neither a Christian nor a liberal, what in God's holy name are you blathering about?

Posted by: Ptiza at March 31, 2005 06:59 PM (Nwck5)

11 I never said you where.I only pointed out the fact that you have many of the same character traits.Once you learn proper reading comprehension,then we'll talk.

Posted by: Russ at March 31, 2005 11:45 PM (ObxzR)

12 Aww, how cute! The dear little thing is using my tactics! Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, Russ, and I am flattered. Truly.

Posted by: Ptiza at April 01, 2005 12:40 AM (Nwck5)

13 Well I can fully understand how someone like you should take it while they can get it and all but actually I was just throwing your assinign statement back at you so don't flatter yourself too much.

Posted by: Russ at April 01, 2005 03:11 AM (ObxzR)

14 asinine. you really need to be careful wielding those big words against others, russ.

Posted by: ian at April 02, 2005 08:12 AM (YweTE)

15 Ask me if I feel bad about it.

Posted by: Russ at April 02, 2005 08:15 AM (ObxzR)

16 The more Russ rants and raves, the more astute my intial one-liner becomes.

Posted by: smotlock at April 07, 2005 11:12 PM (Nwck5)

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Happy Birthday

Today is Cindy's birthday. If you feel so inclined, head on over to Dusting My Brain and wish her a happy. While you're there, check out the Ken & Squip Show, which is a weekly podcast they do.

Posted by: Ted at 05:51 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

That dumb, and I can't lick myself either

So I get home Monday to an empty (of humans) house. Son got called in to work, wife was working late, Mookie has musical rehersals, and it's just me and two dogs who are very happy to see me.

They went out. They came in. We played and just generally acted like guys do when they have the run of the house. Lots of toys being thrown about and growling and rough-housing going on.

I had to use the bathroom, so as usual I shut the door behind me and as I stood there I wondered why I did that since I was home alone. When I opened the door, both dogs were sitting there in the hallway and looking at me like, "You are soooo whipped."

There's wisdom there if you know how to read it.

Posted by: Ted at 04:40 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

March 29, 2005

Asinine Quote of the Week

And believe me, there've been some doozys.

"But people would rather live under undemocratic rule than in the chaotic atmosphere of Iraq, for example, which the Americans tout as a model." -- Egyptian Diplomat

The definition of chaos being "more than one choice on the ballot", of course.

Posted by: Ted at 08:36 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

I have seen no evidence of this (darn it)

According to Mookie's friend's sister-in-law's sister's friend's coworker, our town is the Swinger's Capital of the East Coast.

Good enough for Dan Rather.

Posted by: Ted at 08:25 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

I didn't hear the *pop*

Evidence that Yahoo still has their head up their ass.

I put in a team for annika's blogger fantasy baseball league. I, with a minimal interest in baseball, let the automatic draft happen, well, automatically. I didn't spend time adjusting my picks or deciding whether I wanted Joe Schmo or Joe Blow for my third-string bench warmer.

I got Barry Bonds.

The same Barry Bonds who just underwent his third knee operation since October. The one who was widely reported as possibly missing the entire season as recently as last week because he's rehabbing from KNEE SURGERY!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I wonder who else wasted a draft pick on injured players?

Posted by: Ted at 04:32 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 Speaking of Yahoo being idiots...

Posted by: Ptiza at March 29, 2005 11:31 PM (Nwck5)

2 Well, its something to do when there's no hockey, isn't it Ted?

didn't i warn you about Yahoo?

Posted by: annie at March 30, 2005 12:22 AM (dMgez)

3 Ptiza, I done get it.

annie, I'm in this for fun. Take all my griping with a huge grain of salt. We should have a pool for next season's basketball league on who drafts Len Bias.

Posted by: Ted at March 30, 2005 06:09 AM (blNMI)

4 Len Bias...remember Major League?
Charlie Donovan: Most of these guys never had a prime.
Board Member 2: This guy here is dead.
Rachel Phelps: Cross him off then.

Posted by: Victor at March 30, 2005 07:37 AM (L3qPK)

5 Or how about real life? The New York Giants drafted a dead guy about 10 years ago. The kid had died about a month before the draft and they didn't know. They wanted their pick back, but the league said nope.

Posted by: Ted at March 30, 2005 07:49 AM (blNMI)

6 And now it looks like Aramis Ramirez, your 3rd baseman, might hold out. Now I'm glad I didn't rank him higher.

Posted by: Victor at March 30, 2005 03:11 PM (L3qPK)

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Love means never having to say "I'm in over my head"

A lady at work recently had her entire kitchen renovated. Nic is in the early stages of going through the process as well.

I mentioned it to my wife.

Suddenly there is graph paper and my big measuring tape on the bar. A night out might mean dinner and then a leasurely stroll through the hardware store.

I'm not too worried about it, because we're certainly not rushing into things. We've lived in the house for 15 years, and before the first was over we'd replaced the appliances and a few years later I redid the wallpaper. Other than that - nada.

So we've had time to dream and consider and ponder and decide, and of course we disagree on several key points, but nothing important enough to turn into a major fuss.

I expect I'll be starting phase 1 here in the next month or so, which is removing the "bar" and cabinets between the kitchen and dining room and replacing them with a new set of cabinets along another wall.

Step at a time, and it's not so hideously expensive that way as long as you don't do something stupid like total up the receipts.

Posted by: Ted at 12:03 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Not worry free, but getting there

Over at Dustbury I saw an interesting snippet about changes in the 401(k) rules. Glancing over them quickly, I can see where they'll benefit a lot of people, if they're smart enough to take advantage.

The company I work for has an incredibly generous matching plan, and I was really surprised to learn just how few of the younger employees are taking advantage. We've always tried to beat it into our kid's thick skulls instill in our children the idea that you have to treat savings like a bill. Pay into it once a month at least and leave it the hell alone. It'll add up fast. We were mostly successful. Oldest daughter bought her first two cars herself and Mookie purchased her own PC when offered yet another hand-me-down model.

My plan comes in two parts: upon retirement I live simply and long enough to have to learn to like the cheap dogfood.

Posted by: Ted at 11:45 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 Interesting. I didn't know about it, but I was planning on setting up an IRA after I left anyways. I see your point about younger people too. This is my very first "real" job and I set up my 401(k) right away. A lot of the people I work with don't have one. My employer started contributing after a year and I just love to go check my balance on my 401(k) and see it grow....especially after I balance my check book

Posted by: Blogeline at March 29, 2005 04:16 PM (YMz4J)

2 Well dad, you can't blame me for buying my own pc. Cause no offense, the hand-me-down you guys offered me would of made a better paper weight then a computer. =D

Posted by: Mookie at March 29, 2005 06:10 PM (ZjSa7)

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With a bod like that, you knew she had to be bad

Barbies in bondage.

Popup photos not safe for work (or maybe they are, they're just dolls after all).

I especially like the cowgirl outfit.

Yeehaw!

Trussed up like a li'l heifer in 6.2 seconds.

I always wondered about that four-poster bed.

Barbies "Paris" moment: "Where did that video camera come from?"

Posted by: Ted at 04:48 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

March 28, 2005

Dangerously Simple

Friday afternoon I was given a new assignment. Looking at the task, I realized that it would be very handy to have a copy of a certain manual, so I jumped on over to Amazon. In ten minutes I'd ordered the reference I needed.

It was delivered this afternoon.

Posted by: Ted at 05:28 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

When Dorks Collide

Rejected titles:

• When Dorks Attack!


• It's a dork, dork, dork, dork, dork world!


• Dorks gone wild

It's a knock-down drag-out dork-o-rama over at The Ministry of Minor Perfidy.

Round 1.
Round 2.
Round 3.

It's not pretty, but it is pretty damn funny.

Posted by: Ted at 12:45 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

New Blog Showcase

Before I knew what blogs were, I found Rachel Lucas. I googled "girls with guns" or some such nonsense and her site popped up. I read, and I was hooked. She's since retired her original place and resurfaced as the Blue-eyed Infidel, minus the internal censor and even more chock full of Ranty McRant opining.

Anyways, in honor of the very first blog I myself ever discovered, I've decided that the theme for this edition of the New Blog Showcase will be creepy floating baby heads.

Enjoy.

Let's kick this off with a trip in the ol' wayback machine to a time when every toy we played with was dangerous and deadly. How in the world did we ever survive? Could it be that only the brightest of us did? *thinks about recent headlines* Nahhhh. Thanks to Melinama at Pratie Place for reminding me of that simpler if seemingly less-safe time.

Welcome to Hermitville, a mostly fictional collection of monologues and observations. I was going to include a sample here, but couldn't decide on just one snippet. This crab can write!

aTypical Joe chimes in with I say eat him. This is a very nicely designed blog, so I say read him (is there an echo in here?)

Michael Minton is an experienced blogger who recently started The Gunner's Corner. He's going to focus on news with a conservative slant. According to the creepy floating baby head, you must go check it out.

Scared Monkeys is two guys represented by the "see no, hear no, speak no" icon. Get it? Two guys... three monkeys? Nope, me either. Anyway, they invite you to drop in and read their take on a major US news media outlet. I notice that they don't promise to not fling poo at you. So, are you feeling lucky punk?

The masthead at The Nose On Your Face reads "News so fake you'll swear it came from the mainstream media". If you like your news with a hint of onion and with a heaping side of satire, then this might be your new daily special. Don't miss the "Top 9" list either. No hints, just go.

This next new blog is written by a reservist currently stationed in Iraq. Firstly, please accept my thanks for your service to our country, and pass those thanks on to your troops as well. Secondly, if the rest of you have ever wondered what the heck all that "hooah" business is about, well, Mustang 23 has the complete word. I almost forgot to mention that the name of his place is Assumption of Command, and if you hover your mouse over his creepy floating baby head (on your left... your military left) then you'll see that the enthusiasm starts young.

Atlas Shrugged is another blog taking on today's big issues, and Pamela has started a very nice weekly roundup op-ed series. I note again that she does not promise to not fling poo at you. Hooah! (I really need to get some sleep.)

Last but certainly not least is a very new blog called Constructive Ideas, with some intriguing analysis of our educational system from an angle that hasn't occurred to me before. He writes under the moniker of 'Positive' from the state of Florida. Did you know that Florida has the highest incidence of lightning ground-strikes in the world? That's something pilots and steely-eyed missile men know.

Every blogger started somewhere, and those first few weeks are the hardest of all as you try to build up your momentum. Check out these newest members of the blogging community, leave a comment and some encouragement, and you just might discover a new daily read. That might not be enough reason for some of you. Fair enough.

Do it for the creepy floating baby heads.

Mandatory informational type goodies:
Do you have a weblog that's been open for less than three months? To join the Showcase and get the word out, send an email to showcase.carnival@gmail.com with the following info:

* The name of your blog
* The title of the post
* The url of the post
* Your name

Or use the Multi-Carnival Entry Form.

Catch previous Showcases and volunteer to host new ones at the Showcase Home.

Posted by: Ted at 05:05 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 We've had our new site design for less than three months. Does that count for a link?

Btw, there's yet another round of dorkfighting up. I think I'll have a rough time topping Johno's space camp tale.

Come over and vote.

Posted by: buckethead at March 28, 2005 03:30 PM (r8pWR)

2 Great job, Ted! Combined with your recent effort with Carnival of the Recipes I think I can say that yer an even better emcee than Billy Crystal!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 28, 2005 10:23 PM (SmuPE)

3 I'd settle for half as good if it came with half his paycheck.

Posted by: Ted at March 29, 2005 08:04 AM (blNMI)

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March 27, 2005

Hope y'all had a nice Easter

We had all the kids home for the weekend, and made a huge family dinner. The rabbit was delicious.

What?

As Douglas Adams said, it's all about nailing a guy to a tree for the crime of saying that we should be nice to each other.

So I'm guilty of mocking the commercialized version of the holiday. When the Cadbury Police knock on the door, I'll go quietly.

Posted by: Ted at 07:09 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

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