blog dot see data run dot com

My Desktop

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:06:00 +0000

Special thanks to Microsoft for releasing Windows Live Writer. Blogger's editor is fine, but it's nice to have rich features for cutting/pasting and dealing with images.

Anyway... on impulse, I took a picture of my desktop (with my phone; I'm so modern) that illustrates some interesting things:

Please join me in welcoming Chicken to the Arts family!
The can of Point beer is from the Iola old car show. I have cans for every year dating back to 1987.
Those are my footprints on the monitor; taken on a beach on Lake Superior
My name tag thing was cut with fricken lasers
Those with a superhuman attention to detail will note that I use PSPad for a text editor.
That is the best smelling candle money can buy. I actually can't light candles anymore due to the bird's sensitive lungs.
The bamboo is one of two things in the picture that were purchased at Ikea; the other is the glass paper weight.

Upload!

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:37:00 +0000

Is this all my blog has become? A haven for test picture uploads?

Test from BlogJet

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:36:00 +0000

I'm trying out BlogJet to ease posting a bit. Hopefully this picture will show up…

My dog wearing a pancake

Note: BlogJet is expensive for someone who only blogs once in a blue moon. I'm now using Zoundry.

A picture of a pig

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 13:36:00 +0000

Testing out windows live writer (Thanks Jim).

Cars

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 12:57:00 +0000

Saw Cars last night. Several notes:

Excellent CGI; although the movie is intentionally "cartoony," some of the graphics are very realistic, even if some of the motion is still a bit mechanical.

Note that all of the "chick cars" are Miata's

I would have never guessed that the blue Porsche got it's head cut off at the end

The best time to go to a popular movie is the late show on Sunday night. The theater was mostly empty.

When watching a Pixar movie, NEVER LEAVE EARLY. Some people got up as soon as it looked like the movie was over (trying to beat the traffic? WTF); there always are "outtakes" and other funny scenes at the end of the movie. For those who are extremely patient, there is one last gag all the way at the end.

Best. Animation. Ever.

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:53:00 +0000

Animator V Animation

Duck

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:05:00 +0000

Not sure how I got here, but I came across this wiki article during some surfing. Apparently duck is a funny word.

A year or so ago, I was going to register 'duckslayer.org' to use for personal/home email use. Then I found out that "Duck Slayer" is a brand of shotgun shell or something; that's not inherently funny.

I can swear on this blog

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Mon, 29 May 2006 02:41:00 +0000

hell damn crap.

48 Cylinder motorcycle

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 20:52:00 +0000

This severly beats the 24 cylinder I blogged about earlier.

A big ass hole

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 23:57:00 +0000

YouTube is abusive

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 12:49:00 +0000

I love YouTube. It's easy to find videos of pretty much anything from Son House to burning down a house.

Unfortunately, the cruel honesty of a computer-run network is apparent. I have no friends.

FYI

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:07:00 +0000

I created a blog that Shannon and I can both use for "Family" stuff. This allows me to swear on this goddamn site without my mom seeing ;)

http://artsblog.cdatarun.com

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:47:00 +0000

Not exciting. Testing the image import functionality of Blogger.

The best Harley Davidsion picture you'll see today

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:35:00 +0000

It turns out that a V-Rod based sidecar will be competing in the Dakar Ralley this year. This race is difficult for purpose-build KTMs and custom 4wd vehicles.

New Toy

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 17:16:00 +0000

The whole story starts about a year ago...

I ordered a Gibson Voodoo SG from Music 123. Someone failed to de-tune the strings before shipping and I received it with a broken headstock.

Note one fact. Guitar string that are in tune hold between 15 and 25 pounds of force. Multiply by 6 and you have between 90 and 150 pounds that the neck has to hold-up. Factor in changing temperatures (when it's shipped in 10 degree weather) and the neck doesn't stand a chance. Please (for the children) detune your stringed instruments before shipping.

Back to the SG... The story really isn't that interesting. A couple of phone calls and a week or two's time and I get a brand new one. My only problem is what do I say to my (somewhat religious) sister-in-law when she ask's me what the skull is all about.

Fast forward to about 3 weeks ago... I'm browsing the clearance section at Musician's Friend and see a deal... no, make that a steal on an Epiphone John Lee Hooker Sheraton. Ordered it, waited 3 days, opened the box. Dammit. Didn't detune the strings, blah blah blah...

3 weeks later (thanks to some backorder problems) I finally have the replacement. It's has a nice tone, but now I'm starting to feel the shortcomings of my amp. Time to upgrade and thank goodness *those* don't have strings...

Outsourcing to the Heartland

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 14:31:00 +0000

From the why didn't someone think of this before departement. With a fraction of the cost of living of a big city, I'm not sure why more software development companies don't move away from the coasts.

Blog THIS!

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 21:58:00 +0000

Since everyone in the world is still blogging, I thought I'd start things up again with mine.

Ever notice this?

It looks like it's on all Blogger served blogs. Brings you to a random blog. Pretty fun.

Here are some I found with random clicking:

Sixth grade homework

Lobster's love guiness?

This isn't english

The scam update

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 12:35:00 +0000

(that didn't take too long)

I get an email this morning:

Hello,

How are you?

Thank you for your interest in my 2003 Suzuki Hayabusa.
This bike is powered by a 1300cc engine in great runing condition. It looks perfectly and runs acordingly. It is super clean, has excellent brakes and tires and is ready to ride. This is a great looking, great running bike. You will find no damages, scratches, cracked plastics or bent metals on it. Stored in a climate controlled garage its entire life. It carries the factory warranty. This bike is perfect in every way. Unable to tell from new!

Barely ridden by adult, kept in garage all the time. Only 1283 miles. Clear title in hand and ready to sign. Owners manual in English. Bill of sale provided once with the bike. I am the only owner.
All documents, including owner's manual in english, clear title and bill of sale will be provided along with the bike.

I am located in London, United Kingdom. I was promoted and I moved here last month with my family. I took the bike with me and I took great care of this beauty. Now I am looking for a sale because I have to put up a payment for my house and I need the cash.

I attached a few pictures of the bike. I have more, so just ask.
Get back to me asap so we can talk more.

Thank you!
Dan

Note how Dan conveniently lives in the UK.

The good news is that the pictures he sent are actually a 2003. Most of these types of scams advertise a "bone stock 2001" and send pictures of a lowered, turbo 1999.

So I reply, making this a little more work for Dan:

Hi there, the pictures look great!

I was wondering if you could send me a few more, though, the pictures
you sent are only of the right side, could you take a few of the left
side and the rear?

Also, could you tell me if you did the 600 mile maintenance (oil
change, valve check)? I hear that it is very important to do with
these bikes. Did you do it or did you bring it to a Suzuki
dealership?

Also, I was unaware of the fact that the bike is in London. Did you
buy it in the States? I don't think I'm interested if I have to deal
with registering the bike without a U.S. title.

Scams

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 12:24:00 +0000

So, I get an IM from a friend at work yesterday:

so does a '03 Suzuki Hayabusa with 1,283 miles for $5,000 seem like a good deal?

Yup. It is. Too good of a deal. Apparently someone left this classified ad in the local (Madison) paper:

SUZUKI '03 Hayabusa: LIKE NEW! Garage
Kept! Silver Only 1,283 miles. $5,000/offer email: nlneve2@aol.com Dan

Now, there's a lot of things that I haven't done, climbed Mt Everest, jumped out of an airplane, played around with a scammer. Time to scratch off one of those.

So I send an email:

Hi, I noticed the ad for the Hayabusa you have for sale in the local paper. Could you tell me a little more about it? Maybe send some
pictures?

Thanks,

Jason

Google Gulp

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 12:15:00 +0000

I'm sitting here this morning thinking, "Hey! I have a blog. I should use it."

Google Gulp

Been a while since I blogged...

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 15:15:00 +0000

No time like the present...

Two new toys.

Bought a "non working" archos jukebox 5000 on ebay (5 gig, 2.5" notebook drive, AA Batteries). First thing: I don't know what was non-working, but everything works fine (except for the batteries. That is why I only use things that take standard batteries. $9 bought me 6v and 2500mah rechargeables at Walmart. Try that with your iPod.

Of course, 5 gig isn't good enough so I upgraded to a 30gig I had laying around. Now I have 250 hours of mobile music, plus a place to do a backup when on the road.

Biggest reason for choosing the archos was the ability to upgrade the firmware with Rockbox. Open source firmware. Geek chic.

Toy number 2 (sorry, no pics, it's sitting in pieces in my garage right now) 2001 Kawasaki KLR650. I ran WAY up north in a blizzard a month-or-so ago to pick it up. Saved like $600 by getting it in the middle of winter. Naturally the only reason to get a 650 dual sport is monster wheelies.

Porn Clinic

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 01:02:00 +0000

So I'm looking at a local web site to see what's happening:

True West... whatever

Ice Hockey Tournament... boring

City wide porn clinic... Porn clinic? Porn Clinic?!? *click*

Oh. POM clinic.

I guess I'll end up going to the snomobile/atv races like I was planning on.

Things I won't be buying...

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 13:17:00 +0000

My unread articles in Sharpreader was filled with gadgets. Here are the ones I won't be buying.

An MP3 player you can talk to.I don't want to talk to my anything. Not my car, not my computer, not my MP3 player. What happens if I have a cold? What happens if I'm in a noisy environment?

The iPod shuffle. Where's the display? I don't really care if the design is elegant if I need to stop and listen to each song for three seconds in order to skip to the next album.

The Mac mini. Ok. I like the size of it. It can't run Visual Studio. It can't run GTA Vice City. If I wanted to try an alternate OS, I can probably throw a comparable Linux machine together for half the price.

Pictures are worth 1 word

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Fri, 14 Jan 2005 11:36:00 +0000

Not the first time I saw something like this...

You know you're a nerd when...

noreply@blogger.com (CDATARun) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 12:35:00 +0000

You're excited to read an article entitled ASP.NET 2.0 and Data-Bound Controls: A New Perspective and Some New Practices