Owner: Bob's Thoughts URL:http://renigade.blogspot.com Join Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:41:01 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: This is my personal Blog where I put down some useful information, thoughts, many photographs and pictures, rants and raves, about my life and times, travels, mountain biking and adventures around the country. Site statistics:Click here
Some Interesting Pics... 2007-06-22 19:23:00 You know that i like to post some interesting pics that i find on the net every now and again. Here are some more for your viewing pleasure... What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts...
Real Tallent... 2007-06-22 00:39:00 That must hurt her hands...Very useful skill...These people have what it takes to make it to the top of my Dumbass of the week posting...What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts...
A Modern Parable... 2007-06-21 19:48:00 A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company( Ford )decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decidedto investigatethe reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had eight people steering and one person rowing.Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing. Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally Read more:Modern
, Parable
Today’s Corporate World… 2007-06-21 19:10:00 It appears that in today’s corporate world that there is not more stability in friends, and family, or community. In today’s market where the little fish get eaten up by the big fish and then everything has to be restructured, one looses the idea of community. With corporate acquisitions that occur yearly, one cannot even begin to think that a city or town can be called home. The big companies want to give their employees the perception that where they live for practical purposes is “home" even if it is a fleeting notion at best.When a company moves from one town to another there are all types of repercussions that happen. When I lived in Indiana, the company I worked for relocated me from Texas to Merryville. They came to where I was living and packed all of my belongings and placed them on a big truck and shipped them to my new address. I got there about a week before my stuff got there. I was given some money to help with getting things set up, lights, water, cable, pho Read more:Today
, World
Vacation.... 2007-06-20 20:18:00 Next week…We leave for vacation to Florida. I am eagerly awaiting this as I have never been to MGM Studios. I want to go and see this at night. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth as it looks wonderful and this. The Wishes™ Nighttime Spectacular. I have always loved fireworks! Pleasure Island sounds like fun for us adults!!All in all, it looks like we are going to have a very fun and good time!! I have been to Disney in Florida before with my High School Band (jasper) and also with my family 2 other times. This will be my first time with my family. What comes around goes around as the saying goes.Spaceship Earth Pavilion is one of my favorite rides at Epcot in Disney. I remember it well as a child. Step into the world-renowned geosphere to witness milestones in communications vital to man's survival. Ride Spaceship Earth to the further reaches of the solar system, and then visits a post-show to see your photo on the digital branches of the Network Tree.What is your opinion? Read more:Vacation
Pocahontas State Park Trails. 2007-06-19 14:12:00 Here is the new GPS of Lake View 1&2 that i promised you today.We rode on these trails on Sunday morning and we did 9 mileswith 970 feet of elevation chages.This is the old data. It is off the Qalla Road entrance. It shows the Red, Blue, and 2xRed trails.This is a FlickR link to us to see all the pics and stuff.http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmstringer/sets/72157600393338093/What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts... Read more:State
Bush Gardens Rides for Big Kids... 2007-06-18 18:52:00 Griffon carries riders up 205 feet, then hurtles them 90 degrees straight down at 70 mph.It is a good ride, not up to the Hype like they say.Experience the world's tallest, most twisted inverted roller coaster. Alpengeist reaches a height of 195 feet and a speed of 67 mph. Alpine "skiers" are launched on the most chilling ride of their lives as this snowbeast twists an innocent ski lift into six staggering inversions and a 170-foot drop. I do not think that it isw still the tallest. It was a very good ride!!at speeds approaching 50 mph. The "Wolf" rambles through natural terrain and dense forest, suddenly dropping a sheer 99 feet to nearly skim the Rhine River below. It reminded me of XLR8 at Astro World in Houston texas. Not really that fast, and it looks dated. The big drop was nice.The pulse-quickening journey plummets passengers a total of 825 feet. Apollo's Chariot boasts nine drops, the first of which plunges passengers down 210 feet of steel track. You will experience periods Read more:Gardens
, Rides
God's Will... 2007-06-18 00:00:00 This has been bothering me a lot lately. People always talk about God's Will. I know from my own life and that of 12-Setep you are supposed to submit to God's Will. How do you know what that is? Me, My Wife and Daughter have been together this coming December 5 years (married) we have been together a total of 7 this summer and have known for over 20 years. We went to the same high school.Over the last 5 years, we have moved 5 times to different stated for her company. We always hoped that the "next" move would be the one that would bring us happiness. We moved from Houston to Austin, Then to Highlands Ranch Colorado. From there we moved to Gardner Massachusetts; she worked in Boston. From then we moved to Midlothian Virginia. We made up our minds to stay here until our daughter got out of high school. Now, with things so up in the air, we are perplexed.We try to go to church and to follow God's Will, but it is hard. When we lived in Colorado, we were members of St Andrews Unit
A few more pics... 2007-06-17 20:55:00 Me and Jeff all banged up!!Mark on the trail!!Mark in the creek crossing!What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts...
Fathers Day... 2007-06-17 20:52:00 I just wanted to wish all the fathers around the world, Have a Happy Fathers
Day!!What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts...
Our Ride This Morning... 2007-06-17 20:12:00 So this morning we went on a bike ride to Pocahontas Park. It was Jeff, Mark and I. We had to do an early ride as I have to work tonight. We got there around 8.15am and proceeded to go to the trail. We went down some nice trails that lead us to the main trailhead. On the way, I was going fast down one of the hills and I tried to scratch my nose. Boy was that a mistake!!My wheel turned to the left and I kept on flying down the hill. It was almost like I was sliding into home plate!! My right forearm is all scratched and my left knee is all torn up. I was bleeding and had a trail of blood all the way to my sock. The bad part about all of this is that I was not trying to do an obstacle! It was just a wide open road. I am sore, but my pride was hurt more than anything. We decided to continue with the ride as planed. I was not going to let a wreck keep me from getting my exercise and fun for the day.Mark and Jeff both now have Clip-Ins and Egg Beaters for their bikes; so needless to say, I Read more:Morning
Today... 2007-06-16 07:32:00 I took the night off and we are away to Bush Gardens!!!What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts... Read more:Today
Another Recovery Memory... 2007-06-15 18:18:00 It was back in 2002 when I first tried to get clean. I remember going to several NA meetings and I thought that I liked them. So after a month or so, I asked a person to be my sponsor. His name was Wes or Officer Wes as he is known.We decided to meet on the next after at a local cafe to discuss The 12 Steps and how I was going to go threw them with him. He gave me his number and told me that if I needed to talk or call him in a weak moment for me to do so no matter what time it was. That is what a sponsor is supposed to do for your information. I thought that I was doing well and he and I proceeded to work me through the first 3 steps and we would meet regularly at his house or at the cafe. Then came that dreadful day after I had 3 months of sobriety that I had the dreaded "R" word...Relapse! For you see, that can happen if you do not totally put you whole body into the program of recovery. It happened because I still thought that I could drink and get away with it. I could not Read more:Recovery
, Memory
Some more FREE Music... 2007-06-15 05:30:00 Several months ago i posted about an artist named VXC or if you will VXCasualty. One in the same. He has a few more new tunes for your download. His record lable is called LSDXM."Vxcasualty is an experimental trance project with psychedelic and ambient elements produced using Propellerhead Software's Reason" - Last.FMNew Music
:Mothra Organica is a directory with new music.vxc&dysphor - untitl..> is also new.http://vxc.lsdxm.com/demonology_EP_2007/Index of /02-07/earthbound direct link to directory.These are direct links to these tracks.http://vxc.lsdxm.com/gateway_drug.mp3http://vxc.lsdxm.com/brain%20floss.mp3vxc - now, then!.mp3 vxc - friable.mp3 These are his old links:vxc - 5-meo-wtf/ vxc - shadowcaster/ vxc - singles/ vxc - synapse/ What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts...
Blog on the net... 2007-06-15 03:21:00 It always seams that I am trying to generate new traffic for my Blog by singing up on new free services. You can see all the badges that I have on the left side of my blog. It is a personal thing that I like to do. I could go the route of Ad-sense from Google, but I do not want to sell out and place advertising on my site. I could also do the pay-per-click but that is not what I am about. I have had over 4300 hits since I started actively promoting my site sometimes last December. Not bad figures if you ask me. The picture is a map of where people all over the world read my blog. I just think that it is neat when someone from India leaves me a comment on my blog. The internet is a wonderful tool that all should be able to enjoy!!I do not under any circumstances condon censorship in any way, shape, or form!! The internet should be kept free and clear off any and all censorship because no single country owns the internet. I know that there is a lot of that going on around the wo
Stress Level... 2007-06-15 01:11:00 With things like they are today, many people including myself are very stressed out. How do you deal with stress? Do you meditate, or walk, jog, or workout? I for one like to go mountain biking. It is great exercise and also a great way to blow off steam! There is nothing like going riding with my friends and doing about 8-10 miles in the great parks that are around the Richmond Metroplex.I can tell when I get too stressed out. I get very edgy and snap at people for no or little reason. Little things piss me off and I do not like that. I am a high energy person to begin with, so being on the high side of that level is almost too much to deal with. With so much uncertainty in our lives, minor things tend to be as they say the straw that broke the camels back.I think that when we focus or obsess on small issues that it tends to make them bigger than they actually are. I know that my wife often tells me to no obsess about an issue and it will not be that big. I understand what she is sayi
Ubuntu Linux... 2007-06-13 15:11:00 I have been test out this install of Linux
for the last few days. It is called Ubuntu
. So far, i am really impressed with this as i have messed with SUSE linux before, but did not like it. I run an all Windows network and as such have had no need to test this before. I just thought that it would be neat to try.The first thing that impressed me was how easy it was to install!! It took only 15 minutes to do a complete install and if there were other applications that you want, just do an update and you will get them. The second thing that impressed me was the ability of Ubuntu to open up my widows network! It found both groups, the MS Home and Work Group. Secondly, it was able to open up the shared drives that i have on my network with no problem and to also xfer files from them to the Linux computer. We have a shared printer on our network. All the computers in the house can access it. So, i decided to try to add a printer to the Ubuntu box and it found the printer and installed it. I t Read more:Ubuntu Linux
US States Renamed For Countries With Similar GDPs 2007-06-12 18:53:00 I thought that was very interesting for everyone to read and look at.Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a convenient way of measuring and comparing the size of national economies. Annual GDP represents the market value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year.Put differently:GDP = consumption + investment + government spending + (exports – imports)Although the economies of countries like China and India are growing at an incredible rate, the US remains the nation with the highest GDP in the world – and by far: US GDP is projected to be $13,22 trillion (or $13.220 billion) in 2007, according to this source. That’s almost as much as the economies of the next four (Japan, Germany, China, UK) combined.The creator of this map has had the interesting idea to break down that gigantic US GDP into the GDPs of individual states, and compare those to other countries’ GDP. What follows, is this slightly misleading map – misleading, because the economies both of the US Read more:States
, Countries
To Kill An American.... 2007-06-12 03:46:00 Thanks to LCDC Mike Sieverson for sending this to me. I wanted to send this to my Blog for all to read... Written by an Australian Dentist....and too good todelete....You probably missed this in the rush of news, butthere was actually a report that someone in Pakistanhad published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American
, any American.So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial thefollowing day to let everyone know what an American is.So they would know when they found one. (Good one,mate!!!!) "An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish,German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An Americanmay also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian,Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.An American may also be a Comanche, Choctaw, Cherokee,Osage, Bl ackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one ofthe many other tribes known as native Americans. An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, orBuddhist, or Musl
My Gary Fisher Wahoo Bike... 2007-06-12 02:23:00 So after having my Wahoo for over 6 months, I really like it. It is not for the casual rider. The bike geometry is very different from the Schwinn bike I used to ride. If a person purchases a Gary Fisher
bike, they really have to want to ride. The bike has a very sharp front end and as I like to say, it is in attack mode or attack stance. The front tire and fork is very sharp compared to other bikes. The forks are adjustable and I like to keep them very loose to absorb impacts better. The gear changers are very responsive and tight. With just a little motion, the gears will change. The seat I bought (Bontranger) in conjunction with a good pair of padded shorts helps keep my butt from getting too sore on extended rides. I changed the pedals to a pair of Crank Brothers 5050 this weekend and I really love them. The Lizard Skin I bought really helped make the ride very quiet because it padded the chain from hitting the frame. There are a few more things I would like to get for my
Moutain Biking and Health Benefits... 2007-06-12 02:01:00 Last year about November I went to the doctor for a physical. He did all the blood work and all that stuff. My results came back good. My blood pressure is about 127/80 and my Triglycerides are about 189 which are in the good range. He said that I needed to loose some weight. At that time, I was about 185-190 and I am 5'8'' He suggested that I ride my bike more and that it would help. I said ok. I was going to try to anyway as I like to do it.A few weeks ago, I realized that my pants were fitting very loose. They are a 34 waste. So after noticing that, I got on the scales after I took a shower and was amazed. I weighed 172!! I got on them on Sunday night and I was 169. I am on the first belt hole and all my 34 stuff fits me very loose. So with out even trying to loose weight, I have done it. I do not diet!! I eat what I want to and also at work I walk an incredible amount because of the size of the Fab that I work in. I walk an average of 10,000 steps a shift! So you Read more:Moutain
, Biking
, Health
, Benefits
Patent Bending Ding-a-ling! 2007-06-11 20:59:00 This sounds like BIG BUSINESS to me...The ITC blows up the cell-phone market.Paging U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab: Please call us on your cell phone. And better do it fast because cell phones may soon be harder to come by thanks to one of the dumber rulings ever by the U.S. International Trade Commission.By a 4-2 vote on Thursday, the ITC decided to ban the import of any new cell phone model produced with certain microchips made by Qualcomm. ITC Chairman David Pearson dissented on grounds that the ban was antithetical to the public good, which is certainly true. But the import ban is effective immediately, and this means that President Bush, through Ms. Schwab, has just 60 days to set the ruling aside before it becomes permanent. There's an overwhelming case for doing so.The ITC's power to ban foreign-made, patent-infringing products goes back to the infamous Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930--which ought to be a hint that this is a bad idea. The fear was that American intellectua Read more:Patent
What is Net Neutrality? 2007-06-11 19:13:00 I just made my voice heard on the net neutrality issue. IF you value the Internet, you should also."Net neutrality" is an issue that will shape the future of the Internet.Save The Internet.NetCompetition.orgNetwork neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. The Internet has operated according to this neutrality principle since its earliest days. Indeed, it is this neutrality that has allowed many companies, including Google, to launch, grow, and innovate. Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In our view, the broadband carriers should not be permitted to use their market power to discriminate against competing applications or content. Just as telephone companies are not permitted to tell consumers who they can call or what they can say, broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online. Today, the neutrality of t Read more:Neutrality
, Net Neutrality
This weekend... 2007-06-10 13:24:00 Well, yesterday i took my Wife riding and we did 3.5 miles. It was on the streets. Afterwards, Mark and I went riding in one of the new housing editions and we made some jumps out of boards and stuff. It was fun and i caught some great air!!This morning, Mark, Mike and i went to Pocahontas and we did the Blue, Double Red, and the Red trails. All in all, today we rode over 9 miles and all total for the weekend it was about 17 miles total for 2days. We went to the Comic Book show today and i got some of the Micronaut back issue that i have been looking for and they cost $1 an issue. Not a bad price!!Back to work tomorrow...What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts...
Thunder Storm Last Night... 2007-06-09 09:23:00 I was able to get a few lightning photos last night. i have never tried this. So, give me a few comments...What is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts... Read more:Thunder
, Storm
, Night
Immigration... 2007-06-25 23:59:00 For many years we have been lax and complacent on immigration and illegal people crossing our borders. I know what the Statute Of Liberty says:"Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"Most of the people that came to the USA in the early days wanted a better life for themselves and their family. Most came here with little or nothing and that was ok. Now, people come here with nothing and send it all back to where they come from. Illegal Immigration has got to be fixed or worked on. We have hungry and starving people that live here in America and with wave after wave of illegal’s coming here; it places a great strain on a system that is already strained. I am all for people that want to come here and live legally! If you want to be an American Citizen, please feel free to do it the correct way and go through the process. Do not
Tomatoes & Cheap Labor 2007-06-25 23:40:00 Thanks to LCDC Mike Sieverson for sending me this. CHEAP TOMATOES? This should make everyone think, beyou Democrat, Republican or Independent The followingis from a Southern California, LA area schoolteacher..."As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal immigration, there are some things thatyou should be aware of: I am in charge of theEnglish - as - a - second - language department at alarge southern California high school which isdesignated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower socioleconomic and income levels.Most of the schools you are hearing about, South GateHigh, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, etc., where thesestudents are protesting, are also Title 1 schools. Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and freelunch program. When I say free breakfast, I'm nottalking a glass of milk and roll -- but a fullbreakfast AND cereal bar with fruits and juices that w Read more:Tomatoes
, Cheap
Skull Candy - Ear Buds 2007-06-24 23:15:00 So far, i am blown away by them!! They totally go into my ear and are very comfortable. I purchased them at Best Buy.When all you want to hear is your music, Skull
candy’s exclusive noise eliminating sleeve makes it happen. Smokin’ Buds deliver the frequency range and fast response found in full-size headphones in a direct-to-ear package all the while isolating you from external haze:9mm driverEar fitting noise reduction sleeveDirect-to-ear high fidelity acousticIn-line volume controlTravel caseI am very impressed with them so far. i got them for the vaca i am going on.I also have a pair fo these:I like them, they are just to big for my ear cannal.Philips - Ear-Bud Headphones with Virtual Surround Sound HE592 Reflected-speaker design; flexi-grip connection; 15mm neodymium speakers; asymmetric cabling systemWhat is your opinion?Subscribe to my Posts... Read more:Candy
Mack: Chariots Afire 2007-06-24 22:45:00 Thanks to Mack Hall for giving me this. Chariots Afire An unknown functionary at the Vatican has published a fifty-page book on how to drive in a Christian fashion. I do hope this will enjoy wide circulation in the streets around the Vatican, where, I am told by an accurate observer, motorists customarily speed down the crowded streets with one hand on the horn and the other displaying a single-digit sign of, oh, Christian greeting. Vatican documents are never brief; indeed, no ecclesiastical scrivener employs five or ten words when six hundred and sixty-six will do (oh, I'll bet that sends 'em to the latest bishop's letter, calculator in hand...). However, this document is summed up as (I wish I were making this up) "The Drivers' Ten Commandments." Having taken two terms of Latin, I humbly submit a translation following each item: 1. You shall not kill. Translation:
Finally, jetpacks!!! 2007-06-24 21:15:00 I'm a big fan of retro-futurism, ie the future we were promised but never got (jetsons, flying cars, jetpacks, hotels on mars, robot butlers, etc).A lifelong dream of mine gets that much closer to reality!Read on:To some extent, everyone's in the market for a jet pack. But since Bell Labs built the first rocket belt (the correct, if less exciting, name) in 1953, potential buyers have been stymied by two problems: Rocket belts aren't for sale, and even prototypes run on modern-day fuel (as opposed to whatever the Jetsons use) — which means rocket belts can weigh upwards of 100 pounds, with only enough fuel to stay aloft for under a minute. Now, a pair of companies have solved one of these problems — rocket belts are for sale.Mexican start-up Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (TAM) offers its custom-built TAM Rocket Belt for $250,000, which includes flight and maintenance training. On a full tank of hydrogen peroxide the belt weighs 124 to 139 pounds (the bigger the pilot, the bigg Read more:Finally
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