New Ford Hybrid Fusions suck big time. Nice ride, all the creature comforts but it only starts via the battery system and not like a regular car. I was stuck in El Mirage and it would not start. It was like the ignition was locked. This happened to a co-worker too in another new Fusion. She was able to get a jump and get going.
Only 64 miles on this car and I needed to get towed. Wow, what happened to their slogan Quality is #1? So I sat and waited for a ride back to administration. My last day as a tech in the field and I thought it would be cool to drive the new car. The ignition indicator showed a lock on it and the battery indicator would go from the H to the L and just beep. Then the horn would sound. Great way to have your day start. I'm just glad it wasn't 100+ degrees and stuck in front of some out in the no where land. Get it right Ford.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Rave For Kurt Vonnegut's 'Little Drops of Water'
Little Drops of Water was published in the short story works of 'Look at the Birdie' by Kurt Vonnegut. I really enjoyed reading the entire collection but I came upon this title one more time by accident recently.
A couple of weeks back I was having a conversation with a librarian about what to read next. She came up with an interesting list after I supplied some of my reading interests. Kurt Vonnegut was at the top of my list and has been for some time now. We talked about his work and others I liked and some titles she thought I might enjoy. Last week she sent me an email that the library was including his early work 'Mother Night' into the library's collection. I asked her to setup a hold for me and she did so right away.
I had completely forgotten all about that conversation's details when later, that very evening, I was browsing an old copy of Harper's looking to read an article about Bill Gates. To my surprise I find 'Little Drops of Water' by Kurt Vonnegut first and I of course read it again.
Reading this title the second time around I really feel I understood what Kurt was trying to say about friendships, relationships and men versus women. He makes it perfectly clear that Larry is egotistical and not really fit for a true relationship of any kind outside of himself. But it is this very selfish quality that becomes the target of a scorned lover. She becomes determined to have him despite his bad qualities. So the struggle to win starts with each believing they will be the victor. But are they really? Did each win? Did anyone win? Or is this the way he wants us to think. After all the story starts out describing a death of a friend whom never dies.
Little Drops of Water goes a long way in a few short pages describing the human condition of wanting to be connected to someone somehow. This is definitely a must read for anyone. Fan of Vonnegut or not there is something to learn here.
Look at the Birdie: Short Fiction
Little Drops of Water
A couple of weeks back I was having a conversation with a librarian about what to read next. She came up with an interesting list after I supplied some of my reading interests. Kurt Vonnegut was at the top of my list and has been for some time now. We talked about his work and others I liked and some titles she thought I might enjoy. Last week she sent me an email that the library was including his early work 'Mother Night' into the library's collection. I asked her to setup a hold for me and she did so right away.
I had completely forgotten all about that conversation's details when later, that very evening, I was browsing an old copy of Harper's looking to read an article about Bill Gates. To my surprise I find 'Little Drops of Water' by Kurt Vonnegut first and I of course read it again.
Reading this title the second time around I really feel I understood what Kurt was trying to say about friendships, relationships and men versus women. He makes it perfectly clear that Larry is egotistical and not really fit for a true relationship of any kind outside of himself. But it is this very selfish quality that becomes the target of a scorned lover. She becomes determined to have him despite his bad qualities. So the struggle to win starts with each believing they will be the victor. But are they really? Did each win? Did anyone win? Or is this the way he wants us to think. After all the story starts out describing a death of a friend whom never dies.
Little Drops of Water goes a long way in a few short pages describing the human condition of wanting to be connected to someone somehow. This is definitely a must read for anyone. Fan of Vonnegut or not there is something to learn here.
Look at the Birdie: Short Fiction
Little Drops of Water
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Why I Love Linux - Totally a Big Rave
Last week I was browsing the local electronics retailer's multi-page ad. I like browsing and the wishful thinking I'll buy something new. I am totally into gadgets and computers. But on the back page was no less than seven anti-virus products all sporting a cost of $0 after rebates of course. Of course when you get the product they are betting on yearly fees for renewals, updates etc.. Just imagine how lucrative the anti-virus market is. No really just imagine it for a minute ....................................................................................................................................
Okay that was long enough. The average renewal is probably $10-25 per year and upgrades for current customers are usually $25 and up. Take millions of customers and that is a ton of dough. Where is the real incentive for these companies to really protect you? I see virus activity all the time in my work and every time some anti-virus product is installed. Sure they say they want to help. They provide tech support and online forums but they really can't stop the threats 100% of the time.
That is one of the main reasons I run Linux. I really don't worry about it any longer. And I save hundreds of dollars not buying software and renewals. Something to ponder the next time one hits or you pull the credit card out for a renewal or update. For those that won't ever switch from Windows at least visit this site and download and run Secunia's Personal Security Inspector tool. It's free and they are independent of the anti-virus vendors. It will tell you where your system is vulnerable and tell you what to do. It may very well save you some serious headaches.
Okay that was long enough. The average renewal is probably $10-25 per year and upgrades for current customers are usually $25 and up. Take millions of customers and that is a ton of dough. Where is the real incentive for these companies to really protect you? I see virus activity all the time in my work and every time some anti-virus product is installed. Sure they say they want to help. They provide tech support and online forums but they really can't stop the threats 100% of the time.
That is one of the main reasons I run Linux. I really don't worry about it any longer. And I save hundreds of dollars not buying software and renewals. Something to ponder the next time one hits or you pull the credit card out for a renewal or update. For those that won't ever switch from Windows at least visit this site and download and run Secunia's Personal Security Inspector tool. It's free and they are independent of the anti-virus vendors. It will tell you where your system is vulnerable and tell you what to do. It may very well save you some serious headaches.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
OnebookAZ - Code Talker
I have a personal interest in this book since I'm married to a Navajo woman and her sister's father-in-law is a Code Talker. I believed at first that it was he whom the story was being told by. It wasn't until I was well into the book that Danny Akee was mentioned and I knew then he was not the narrator.
Joseph Bruchac encourages the reader to turn pages not with gory details of war but rather the easy conversational tone he gives the story. You find yourself pulling for the hero of the story and his Marine buddies. I will not ruin the story for you since I consider this a must read for anyone interested in WWII history and the history of the Dine people and specifically the code talkers.
ONEBOOKAZ is a program for Arizona Libraries to encourage reading. There are programs for everyone in Libraries all around Arizona. Copies of this book and the adult featured book, 'Hopi Summer: Letters from Ethel to Maud by Carolyn O'Bagy Davis', are available for free while supplies last.
I'm happy and proud to have met Dan Akee and having shook his hand. I knew then what he had done but I have even more respect for him and all the others for their courage and bravery. I salute them all and say a prayer for those who did not return.
Update: I just learned of this terrific site with an article about Code Talkers in WWI. I never knew about this. It is a very interesting read and I will be following the links too. Enjoy.
Update: I have just learned of this memoir Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII
and plan to read it. I wanted to get the news out for everyone else that are interested in these stories. I'm glad to see they are finally getting told and getting the recognition they deserve.
Joseph Bruchac encourages the reader to turn pages not with gory details of war but rather the easy conversational tone he gives the story. You find yourself pulling for the hero of the story and his Marine buddies. I will not ruin the story for you since I consider this a must read for anyone interested in WWII history and the history of the Dine people and specifically the code talkers.
ONEBOOKAZ is a program for Arizona Libraries to encourage reading. There are programs for everyone in Libraries all around Arizona. Copies of this book and the adult featured book, 'Hopi Summer: Letters from Ethel to Maud by Carolyn O'Bagy Davis', are available for free while supplies last.
I'm happy and proud to have met Dan Akee and having shook his hand. I knew then what he had done but I have even more respect for him and all the others for their courage and bravery. I salute them all and say a prayer for those who did not return.
Update: I just learned of this terrific site with an article about Code Talkers in WWI. I never knew about this. It is a very interesting read and I will be following the links too. Enjoy.
Update: I have just learned of this memoir Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII
and plan to read it. I wanted to get the news out for everyone else that are interested in these stories. I'm glad to see they are finally getting told and getting the recognition they deserve.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Dealer Courtesy Cars Observation
I was driving down the freeway the other day when I noticed something odd on the rear windshield of a Toyota Corolla. It was the decals indicating it was a courtesy car for Lexus of Chandler. Hmm, Lexus luxury car, Corolla economy car, it just wasn't adding up right. Yes I'm well aware that Toyota is the big brother of Lexus. But really any Lexus model is easily 30K more than the average Toyota Corolla. This is not to say that the Corolla is a bad car but rather a statement on Lexus of Chandler obviously not willing to put their faithful customers in a like model during service. I have seen in the past BMW, and Mercedes courtesy vehicles and they were of course BMW and Mercedes. Is this a statement of our own economy? Is it just a dealership not willing to pony up for a classier model?
I personally do not own either of these cars. Nor do I plan to anytime soon. But a luxury car is supposed to be just that, luxury. And like all cars they will need some service. If it were me and they told me my Lexus was going to have to spend extra time in the shop and I was driving out in a Corolla, I would have told them who are you kidding? Lexus of Chandler definitely gets a big slam on this one for being cheap and not looking at the big picture. People buy their cars for the look and the status of owning a Lexus not a Toyota Corolla.
I personally do not own either of these cars. Nor do I plan to anytime soon. But a luxury car is supposed to be just that, luxury. And like all cars they will need some service. If it were me and they told me my Lexus was going to have to spend extra time in the shop and I was driving out in a Corolla, I would have told them who are you kidding? Lexus of Chandler definitely gets a big slam on this one for being cheap and not looking at the big picture. People buy their cars for the look and the status of owning a Lexus not a Toyota Corolla.
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