Dear Auto makers of the World;

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Do you remember the halcyon days or yore when it was physically possible for Joe Shadetree to actually perform routine maintenance and repair of his vehicle? Days when it was possible to actually see and touch a nut or bolt at the same time?

Efficient use of space does not have to mean cramming as much as possible into a space as small as possible. Leaving room for a poor mook to get his hand on a part is an efficient use of space.

Tonight, I encountered possibly the strangest thing yet about my car: a part (the starter) that was reasonably reachable, located at the bottom front (!) of the motor. The problem: a 13mm bolt located behind the exhaust pipe that allowed for at most one click of the ratchet in travel.

One click. That’s all, and to get that click I had to use my torque wrench instead of a regular ratchet because of the depth of reach. It took me a half hour to remove that one of the three bolts. Replacing it will be oh-so-much fun.

Then I had to get the wiring off – a proposition that really requires two hands, but space allows for only one.

I will grant that during engine assembly, this procedure is simplicity itself. It would be nice however, if it were just as easy with the engine actually in the vehicle.

Just a thought.

Ask my doctor about what?

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Is anyone else getting sick of all these bullshit commercials about drugs lately? Not illegal drugs, I’m talking about prescription medications here.

The pharmecuetical companies have apparently decided that it isn’t enough to send out announcements to all the physicians in the phone book – they now find it necessary to advertise directly to the end-user with print and tv ads. This strikes me as wrong in a number of ways.

It seems to me these companies should be spending those millions of advertising dollars on something more important – like more research to iron out all those pesky little side-effects such as liver problems, internal bleeding and death.

That’s right, I have distinctly heard “death” referred to as a possible side-effect of a drug on a commercial. If possibilities such as these are important enough to mention in the ad, how the frell did it get past the FDA?

Write your representative – link is to the right. Don’t bother writing to the FCC – the current chairman was appointed by Bush. I’d say that puts the chances of him telling big business “no” at pretty slim.

She’s mine all right

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The boys and I were playing Mechwarrior tonight, and the Pookster was feeling a little left out. Being the nice guy he is, the Physicist let her take the stick for a minute. She wandered around the map for a minute or so, until someone got the range on her and started shooting. What does she say?

“Oh, you want some of this?!? Take that!” and holds down the trigger.

…and thus, a Gamer is born. I get the feeling that a video card upgrade is going to be on her Xmas wishlist.

When is a 5-year battery not a 5-year battery? (updated)

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When it dies in the fourth year, of course.

Thankfully, it waited until I was close enough to home for B:TNG to come and give me a jump-start to get the Beastie home. Unfortunately it meant I had to cut short a date with the Best Girlfriend Ever – my car is essential to my job and I have an interview in Vancouver Friday, so this had to be taken care of immediately.

According to the paperwork, there’s enough warranty on the battery to get me a 25% discount on the replacement, but the shop I bought it from is closed this late. B proves he is a helluva guy and has granted me the use of his car while he’s out of town, so I’m cool. I’ll be driving his Little White Beastie for a day or so.

*Update:*
It really helps to check the fluid level in your battery every so often, folks. Last night, it barely had enough juice to turn on the overhead lamp. I topped off the water level, and it electrolized enough juice on its own to start this morning.

For a smart guy, I can be an idjit sometimes.

But Teacher, when am I going to use this?

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There are many things you study in school without any idea of when the subject may become useful in real life. For many students, Creative Writing is something that really goes beyond them. “I like to read,” they may say, “but I’m not a writer. When will I ever use this in real life?”

The answer, grasshopper, is on your resume.

The other day a potential employer emailed me a long list of essay questions they wanted me to answer. So, I dusted off the old thesaurus link, dragooned a buddy into the role of editor (thanks, Greyduck!) and buckled down to work.

An hour or so later, I sent off said missive. Today, they called to schedule an interview.

Hit the books, kids. You’ll need it in a few years.

Serenity

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I was planning to review Serenity here, but there’s no real need – several thousand others already have.

This movie is, in my humble opinion, the best movie to hit the screen since I don’t know when.

It has layers of plot. It has quality acting by the truckload. I laughed, I cried, I got pissed off…and by D.o.C., I hope they do something more with this, whether on small screen or large. Nathan Fillion gets his revenge, in spades.

Now for a small spoiler. Continue Reading →

Oregon RIAA Victim Fights Back; Sues RIAA

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I will link this here because every little bit of publicity helps, and I am always willing to help a fellow Oregonian:Recording Industry vs The People

This is the case peer-to-peer file sharers have been waiting for. Tanya Andersen, a 41 year old disabled single mother living in Oregon, has countersued the RIAA for Oregon RICO violations, fraud, invasion of privacy, abuse of process, electronic trespass, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, negligent misrepresentation, the tort of “outrage”, and deceptive business practices.

Ms. Andersen’s counterclaims demand a trial by jury.

Give ’em Hell, sister!

Anybody seen a pod lately?

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I’m sick today, which sucks. Been fighting a fever since I woke up, and I think I may have woken up in an alternate universe of some sort. There’s a boy downstairs that looks and sounds just like Ratty, but he’s cooking dinner (after washing the dishes) and doing homework for a class he hasn’t even been to yet.

On a Saturday.

All in all, this pod-boy I think I will keep.

The search for a ring

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Apparently I, Asshole is having the same problem I am lately: I can’t find a ringtone I like.

I had my phone replaced a week or so ago due to the fact it was dropping incoming calls like hot potatoes, and I lost my previous ringtone in the process. (“Tom Sawyer” by Rush). Not wanting to pay another $1.99 to download it again, I have been on the lookout for something new, and I have become stumped. Why are none of the really obvious songs made into ringtones? Consider these:

“Who are you?” By The Who. Currently the theme song from C.S.I., and a damn good song in general. Seems an obvious choice. Or “Mother” by The Police. C’mon, the opening lines are “Well, the telephone is ringing / Is that my mother on the phone?”

I did manage to find Men Without Hats’ “Who can it be now?”, but it was a bad cut and didn’t sound right. The Clash’s “London Calling” was another atrocious midi ringer you could barely recognize, but crap by any number of flash-in-the-pan pop artists sounded perfect.

Back to the original, when there are multiple ringtones featuring Ozzy, Iron Maiden or Quiet Riot, why is there only one Rush? These guys nailed many Grammy awards, and we are left with “Metal Health”?

Oi.