August 2007

I Just Thought It Was Hot Yesterday

rmiles7721August 10, 2007Site News

Today was a pretty easy day at work. All of my managers were in, so I spent a little while at each store, did the banking for a couple of them, checked some tickets for pricing and them went to Wal-Mart to get something for supper tonight. Like I said, easy day.

The ride home wasn’t quite as nice. It’s hot as blazes out there. Somewhere between 100 and 105 and humid as hell. I pulled my little fan out of the Dodge Van that plugs into the lighter socket, but all it does is blow hot air on me. At least it was moving it around I guess. I was pouring sweat by the time I got inside.

The wife and girls still aren’t home yet, so I figured that would give me time to get a little posting finished. She should be leaving at some point shortly to get the girls. No cooking tonight. It’s going to have to be sandwich night or something.

One other purchase I made while I was there was this nifty little remote controlled dragonfly. It’s cool. The girls will love it, right up until they destroy it. I will try to get some pictures up tonight.

Redneck Air Conditioning

rmiles7721August 10, 2007Site News

Laura posted the link to this video in the comments last night and I just thought I would share it. This guy has a busted air conditioning unit in his car so he rigged one up. It was immediately obvious that he was either a redneck from around these parts, or an engineer. Turns out he’s a recent graduate with a BA in civil engineering. I’m only surprised that it’s not bigger.

Now that I think about it, I have one of those fans that you plug into your lighter sitting in the back of my van. I think I will pull it out of there this morning and put it in my car.

Judge Roy Pearson May Lose His Job

rmiles7721August 10, 200725Site News

Remember Judge Roy Pearson? That’s the fool that sued for $54 million over the loss of his pants.

Well, he may now lose his job. It’s hard to be humble when you’re so darn stupid.

Updated 1-16-2008. I have done a bit of reading on the lawsuit against the dry cleaners. While Pearson may have had a small claim against them and a valid complaint, it certainly wasn’t worth the frivolous lawsuit. Here’s what Wiki has to say about it:

“
”
Pearson sued a D.C. dry cleaning establishment, Custom Cleaners, for over $67 million for the loss of a pair of pants. The pants were from one of several suits that Pearson had brought to Custom Cleaners to be cleaned in May 2005. When Pearson requested the suit two days later, the pants were missing. Pearson then asked to be refunded for the full price of the suit, $1,000. The cleaners refused and later asserted that they had found the pants a week later. Pearson claimed the pants were not his, stating “I haven’t worn pants with cuffs since the 1970s”, providing a photograph of all his (cuffless) pairs of pants as evidence.
Pearson rejected a later offer to settle the case for $12,000. D.C. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz stated that “the court has significant concerns that the plaintiff is acting in bad faith.” However, because there was no motion to dismiss filed, the judge could not dismiss the case. He did, however, resolve some of the issues in the Chungs’ favor in response to their motion for summary judgment, which was filed at the close of discovery.
The owners of the business, South Korean immigrants Jin Nam Chung, Soo Chung and their son, Ki Chung, are reportedly considering moving back to South Korea. After an outpouring of support for the Chungs from members of the public, a website was set up to accept donations for the Chungs’ legal defense.
On May 30, 2007, Pearson reduced his demands to $54 million in damages rather than $67 million. Among his requests were $500,000 in attorney’s fees, $2 million for “discomfort, inconvenience, and mental distress”, and $15,000, which he claimed would be the cost to rent a car every weekend to drive to another dry cleaning service. The remaining $51.5 million would be used to help similarly dissatisfied D.C. consumers sue businesses. Pearson also re-focused his lawsuit from the missing pants to the removal of window signs for “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and “Same Day Service”. Pearson claimed the signs represented fraud on the part of the Chungs. The Chungs’ lawyer, Christopher Manning, alleged that the signs could only be considered fraud if a reasonable person would be misled by them, and that a reasonable person would not see the signs as an unconditional promise. The Chungs’ lawyer portrayed Pearson as a bitter, financially insolvent man; under questioning, Pearson admitted that, at the start of the court case, he had only $1000-2000 in the bank due to divorce proceedings, and was collecting unemployment.

This is my open track-back post for the weekend of August 10th-12th.

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, The Pink Flamingo, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Perri Nelson’s Website, Leaning Straight Up, Wake Up America, Right Truth, Conservative Thoughts, Gone Hollywood, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Linkfest Haven, the Blogger's Oasis


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Heading Out

rmiles7721August 9, 20073Uncategorized

The wife just called and she will be picking the girls up from school shortly. I’m interested in hearing how their day went. I also ran out of smokes and am going to have to brave riding in the furnace to go get some, as well as possibly dinner although we may just get pizza or Chinese tonight.

Have to go fold laundry now. Back later.

Death Valley and the Dead Undergarments

rmiles7721August 9, 20073Uncategorized

I just went out to get the mail. I only thought it was hot this morning. Damn. I think I need a beer now just to recover from the walk to the mailbox (20 yards from the porch).

aaahhh. Guinness Extra Stout. I always know that there will be beer in the fridge if I by Guinness because I am the only one here that will touch the stuff.

Wanna know just how fucking cheap I really am when it comes to purchasing clothing for myself? Well, a couple of weeks ago my shoes separated from the sole at the toes. A touch of marine contact adhesive fixed that shit right up. Or how about these bad boys?

undies.jpg

One would think that Mr Fab had snuck into my house to wear my damned underwear. Actually I just have to make sure the family jewels are protected and there are no nasty skid marks. The rest is all window dressing anyway. It’s not as if I wear my damn underwear where you can see it, unlike quite a few young people now.

I must be getting fucking desperate for blog fodder. Where’s a good blogmeet when you need one. Maybe I will take that pair instead of disposing of them, and fly them outside my cabin like a flag.

Asian Blog

rmiles7721August 9, 2007Blogging, Travel

Since I post quite a bit about vacations and different places I want to go, I also frequent a few sites that specialize in that genre. One of the sites that I have come across is the Asia travel blog. Blogasian has Asian news on travel and hotels, and has nice thorough descriptions and some pictures as well, and we all know that I prefer pictures any day. They have several photos accompanying the blog posts which is a must for me. I like to be able to get a visual to go along with what I am reading.

There is everything over there from a guide to Taj Mahal to the Top 5 Ways to Spot Lady Boys in Thailand, one of those skills that you need to have if you ever go spend time in Asia. The Lady Boys post is particularly funny. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Regarding the Taj Mahal post, here is what they have to say

Walking up to visit the Taj Mahal,
you approach the main gateway onto the grounds, the rest blocked from
view by a wall, which surrounds it on three sides, the fourth blocked
from easy access by the Jamuna river. Through the gateway, you’ll
immediately see the elaborately laid out gardens, with reflecting pools
in the center. Through the archway to your left sits a mosque, and to
your right is, what they believe, may have been used as a guesthouse.
Of course, immediately ahead of you beyond the gardens is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the tomb itself.

It is actually a much longer post but I really enjoyed reading the description and history of the Taj Mahal.

I would like to eventually go visit several places in Asia and as with anyplace else I always read up on the cities and towns that I want to visit, to get a feel for the place. I know nothing is a substitute for experience but it’s always nice to have at least a little bit of knowledge about where you are going before you get there.

Blogasian is a fairly new site, but I have bookmarked it in my RSS reader to see how often they update and to go back and check it out again. With as many sites as I like to visit I like to know if they’ve updated before I go to the page itself.

Things NOT To Say At Work

rmiles7721August 9, 2007Site News

If I recall I may have posted this list a couple of years ago but a reader sent it to me the other day and recycled shit is better than none at all. 🙂

1. I can see your point, but I still think you’re full of sh–.
2. I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll bet it’s hard to
pronounce.
3. How about never? Is never good for you?
4. I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in
public.
5. I’m really easy to get along with once you people learned to see
it my way.
6. I’ll try being nicer if you’ll try being smarter
7. I’m out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
8. I don’t work here, I’m a consultant.
9. It sounds like English, but I can’t understand a word you’re
saying.
10. Ahhh… I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again…
11. I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid.
12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
13. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don’t give a damn.
14. I’m already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
15. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about
you.
16. Thank you. We’re all refreshed and challenged by your unique
point.
17. The fact that no one understands you doesn’t mean you’re an
artist.
18. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely
coincidental.
19. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?
20. I’m not being rude. You’re just insignificant.
21. It’s a thankless job, but I’ve got a lot of Karma to burn off.
22. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely
ceremonial.
23. And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be…?
24. Do I look like a people person?
25. This isn’t an office; it’s Hell with fluorescent lighting.
26. I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.
27. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
28. If I throw a stick, will you leave?
29. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
30. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
31. I’m trying to imagine you with a personality.
32. A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.
33. Can I trade this job for what’s behind door #1?
34. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
35. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
36. Chaos, panic, and disorder — my work here is done.
37. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
38. I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a salary.
39. Who lit the fuse on your tampon?
40. Oh I get it… like humor… but different.

St. Moritz

rmiles7721August 9, 2007Travel

Now this would be a really kicking vacation. St. Moritz is the oldest winter resort in the world and is truly a beautiful place.

St-Moritz_04_2004.jpgSt. Moritz has several ‘sister cities’ including Bariloche, Argentina; Kutchan, Japan; and Vail, Colorado. It is a popular site for skiing and hiking as well as the world famous Cresta Run toboggan course. St. Moritz is also the starting point for some of the famous Swiss Train tours such as the Glacier Express. The Glacier Express really isn’t an express train. It’s not particularly fast at all, but it is a series of stops on several rail lines that travel through the beautiful country of Switzerland.

Albulabahn01.jpgAs an overseas tourist even with a Eurail pass you can only ride the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Muster without additional Swiss-Pass train tickets. The Swiss Passes give you unlimited travel for whatever length of time you purchase it for on almost all of Switzerland’s public transportation systems including buses, trains, and boats. Overall it is a pretty good deal.

From the pictures and videos I have seen of Switzerland and in particular the Glacier Express it is a really beautiful place.

Glacier_Express_-_Zermatt_-_Switzerland_-_2005_-_02.JPG

The travel route is a 7 1/2 hour journey that takes you across 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and across the Oberalp pass at 6,670 feet altitude. You get to see the Graubünden holiday region, Lake Lucerne and Lucerne itself, Valais, and the beautiful areas if southern Switzerland.

Thursday Thongs…

rmiles7721August 8, 20072Site News

I know it’s an hour or so early but I need to get to bed. No sleeping late for me on the first day of school for the girls.

Thong Song

This thing right here
Is lettin’ all the ladies know
What guys talk about
You know, the finer things in life
a heh heh heh
Check it Out

Ooh that dress so scandalous
And you know another nigga can’t handle it
So you shakin that thang like who’s the ish
With a look in yer eyes so devilish
Uh

You like to dance on the hip hop spots
And you cruise to grooves to connect the dots
Not just urban she like the pop
‘Cause she was Livin’ La Vida Loca

She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck
Thighs like what, what, what
Baby move your butt, butt, butt
I think i’ll sing it again

She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck
Thighs like what, what, what
All night long
Let me see that thong

I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong

I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong

That girl so scandalous
And I know another nigga can’t handle it
And she shakin’ that thing like who’s the ish
With a look in her eyes so devilish

She like to dance on the hip hop spots
And she cruise to the grooves to connect the dots
Not just urban she like the pop
Cause she was Livin La Vida Loca

She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck
Thighs like what, what, what
Baby move your butt, butt, butt
I think i’ll sing it again

She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck
Thighs like what, what, what
All night long
Let me see that thong

I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong

That dress so scandalous
I swear another nigga couldn’t handle it
When you shakin’ that thing like whose the ish
With a look in your eyes do devilish
Uh

You like to dance on the hip hop spots
Then you cruise to the grooves to connect the dots
Not just urban you like the pop
Cause she was Livin La Vida Loca

She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck
Thighs like what, what, what
Baby move your butt, butt, butt, uh
I think i’ll sing it again

‘Cause she had dumps like a truck, truck, truck
Thighs like what, what, what
Baby move your butt, butt, butt, uh
I think i’ll sing it again

C’mon
C’mon
C’mon
C’mon

I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong

Duh dun duh
Duh dun duh
Duh dun duh
Thong, thong, thong, thong, thong

Duh dun duh
Duh dun duh
Duh dun duh
Thong, thong, thong, thong, thong

I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes
Duh dun duh
Baby make your booty go
Duh dun duh
Baby I know you wanna show
Duh dun duh
That thong thong thong thong thong

Wait for it…Don’t click if you are easily offended…

(more…)

Flying the Flag for NAHETS College

rmiles7721August 8, 2007Home & Garden, Uncategorized

Wade Vakulik is an instructor for the Oklahoma College of Construction. He is also in the Air National Guard. In July of 2006 they activated him and he spent six months in Iraq as a construction equipment superintendent. Anyone that has family that is over in Iraq knows just how difficult it is for them to be away from their loved ones and their jobs. I hate to say it, but the salary of an active duty air national guard member does not pay the bills and they have to get paid. Not only that but like a lot of people that get called up, he was extremely worried about whether he was going to be able to keep his job or not. The folks at OCC came through and told him he would be able to keep his job. Being very appreciative of what the Oklahoma Construction Company was doing he had this to say:

“I wanted to bring something back for the OCC and NAHETS from Iraq that
would truly be an honor to hang on the wall, not just the normal little
trinkets that one can purchase at the Base Exchange. I am truly
grateful for the OCC and NAHETS for understanding my situation…As a
result they helped to contribute to the freedom and security of the
United States of America and the Iraqi people.”

While he was there he purchased a flag and gave it to the Blue Wolves, 25th Infantry Division Aviation Brigade. The Blue Wolves are an Apache Attack Helicopter Squadron. They flew the flag in an AH-64D Apache on a combat mission especially for Wade and OCC, which he has presented to the college. Check out the press release:

As of June 2005, Wade Vakulick was an Instructor for the Oklahoma
College of Construction (OCC). In August of the same year, he was
appointed Chief Instructor. A year later…he was in Iraq.

In July of 2006, Wade was contacted by his Air National Guard unit.
They notified him that he was to be involuntarily activated to assist
in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom. He was in Iraq for 6 months.

Wade’s duty in Iraq was construction equipment operator, as well as
project superintendent of the U.S. Army Iraqi Theater of Operations
construction projects on COB Speicher. Before his deployment in Iraq,
Wade was activated in October of 2006, spent four weeks at Ft. McCoy in
Wisconsin to do combat training, and then was deployed to Kuwait.

It was difficult for Wade to be away from his home and family for those 6 months, as it is for all who serve overseas.

He also was concerned about what would happen with his employment
while he was gone. When he learned that he would be able to remain
employed at the OCC when he returned, he wanted to do something special
for the college in order to show appreciation for its support of him
being in Iraq. He said:

“I wanted to bring something back for the OCC and NAHETS from Iraq
that would truly be an honor to hang on the wall, not just the normal
little trinkets that one can purchase at the Base Exchange. I am truly
grateful for the OCC and NAHETS for understanding my situation…As a
result they helped to contribute to the freedom and security of the
United States of America and the Iraqi people.”

While Wade was serving on Coalition Operating Base (COB) near
Tikrit, Iraq, he was able to purchase an American Flag. He gave this
flag to the Apache Attack Helicopter Squadron “Blue Wolves”, 25
Infantry Division Aviation Brigade. The Blue Wolves had the highest
kill ratio of any attack helicopter squadron in Iraq. The Blue Wolves
were able to fly the flag in an AH-64D Apache helicopter on an actual
combat mission over the skies of Iraq especially for the Oklahoma
College of Construction and the National Association of Heavy Equipment
Training Schools (NAHETS). Regarding the event Wade said that “This
flag is a one of a kind tribute to a one of a kind company. The flag is
a thank you for the support that was shown to my family and me by the
OCC and NAHETS during my 8 months away from work.”

Now Wade is back from Iraq and is the Business Relations Director for the Oklahoma College of Construction.

The OCC is a member college of The National Association of Heavy
Equipment Training Schools (www.nahets.com). NAHETS aims to fill the
needs of heavy equipment operators across the country. With
professional training, education, certification, and job placement
assistance, NAHETS graduates are qualified to operate equipment
anywhere in the country-and on occasion when you are deployed to
Iraq-outside of the country as well.

People like Wade Vakulick are the ones that make this country great and The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS) like the Oklahoma Construction Company that support our heroes show the true meaning of being an American. Even when I post a sponsored article like this one I enjoy getting to learn about our unsung heroes and feel proud to be an American. I have a nephew in Iraq right now, and unless the war suddenly end my son will most likely be there before spring if not the end of the year. The bravery that these men show is boundless and we should do all that we can as American citizens to support and embrace our boys in the military and the people who support them.