Socialized Medicine

Terry Gross interviewed T. R. Reid last week about his new book on "socialized medicine" or "universal health care" or whatever you want to call it. It was a great interview (as always), and it got me to thinking about the whole health care reform argument. A lot of folks are up in arms about not wanting socialized medicine; a lot of people are up in arms about wanting socialized medicine. I don't really know whether the bill up for debate is actually socialized medicine; I haven't taken the time to really research it. (yes, I'm a bad citizen)

But I did have a thought about "SOCIALIZED MEDICINE." Just a thought-

Next time you find yourself thinking about the whole situation, apply the arguments for or against socialized medicine to the other socialized systems we have here in America...

for instance...

Socialized roads: yes, they have potholes, but they usually get you where you are going...?

Socialized schools: sure, some children get left behind, but we produce a lot of smarties too...?

Socialized police: yeah, they beat up a few Rodney Kings, but we're mostly safe...?

Socialized fire departments: O.K., they don't get every California fire put out quickly, but they still stand out in front of WallyWorld asking for money for disabled children...?

Like I said, it was just a thought... Judge it as you want.

Hurtsboro to Tuskegee to Auburn

From home to Hurtsboro to Tuskegee to Auburn and back is about 110 miles. Patrick and Thomas and I had a great ride. The really curvy road we saw on the map (Boromville Rd.) turned out to be a dirt road, but the Tuskegee highway between Hurtsboro and Tuskegee made up for it with lots of nice curves and hills of its own. We stopped in Tuskegee and some guy stopped and gave us an impromptu rundown of the financial matters of the city of Tuskegee. Then we made our way through Notasulga, then Lochapoka, and on to Auburn. We stopped at Chappy's Deli and had lunch (always a great Reuben). Then came home on Moore's Mill Road, which would be a great ride if it weren't for all the stop signs.
Overall, it was a great ride, a great morning, and a great time with friends.


Beautiful scenery, nice clouds and an open road... What more do we need?


Accidental photo that turned out pretty good


The Tuskegee Methodist Church, built in 1861- with a tree growing out of the bell tower

Deer In My Yard

After I finished the previous post and checking some email, I stood up to leave the office, and looked out the window. Out in my front yard was a little prong-horned buck. So I grabbed the camera and snapped a picture. Just as I did that, an eight-pointer comes walking out of the woods after him! That was pretty cool. They stuck around for about a minute, made their way across the yard and on into the woods on the other side.


From the office window





Evidence!

Back from Kentucky... Again!

We spent the weekend in Kentucky again. Crosspoint Tabernacle decided to put on a concert in the town square, and I went to help out a little. It was also a great excuse just to hang out with my family. I don't get to do that very often, and twice in one month is extremely rare. It was a great weekend.


Shuckin' corn in Clif's back yard with the kids "helping"


Cleaning up the corn husks... You can see who's doing all the work


Ernie and Emily hanging out before the concert- It's always good to see them!


Caleb doing a little 'Singing in the Rain' action with Jo-Jo


Me and Mark messing around after we got the sound equipment set up- 'Sound Check'


Rockin' out!


J, C, and N- and a lot of other people enjoying the music

Strange Visitor

I happened to look out the window this afternoon and saw a turtle walking across our driveway. He/she apparently came out of the woods and was headed back into the woods in a northerly direction. It's shell was probably 10 inches front to back. I'm not sure what kind of turtle it is, but I'm sure someone out there does.

Bluesbreaker (?)

I had this great little Peavey powered mixer that I ran through a 2x12 speaker cabinet. It was great to play guitar through because I could run my acoustic through one channel and my electric with effects through another channel, and not have to unplug every time I switched guitars. I could also run a mic through it, or whatever. It sounded OK, bit it wasn't as portable as I would have liked; being two separate pieces.
Then I got the idea to build a new cabinet for it that combined the two into one. I've wanted a Tech-21 Power Engine 60 for a couple of years, but it only has one channel. If I could combine my stuff into a combo amp, it would be just like a PE60, but with multiple channels!
So I spent yesterday and today doing just that. I tried to model it after the Marshall Bluesbreaker. I think it looks pretty good. The cabinet is closed in the back, so it sounds even better than the open-back 2x12 I was running. It gives it a tighter bass response, and it sounds cleaner, I think. The only thing left to do is get some decent grill cloth and put it on.


Anybody got a spare nameplate I could have?


Portability, verstility, great sound, and good looks all in one package

Update 7/24/09:
Got the grill cloth in today. Built a frame for it and installed it. Here are the pics. I am very pleased with my handiwork. It could almost pass for a real amp.




Looking good, but it still needs a logo...

Back from Kentucky

We got back last night from a wonderful week in Kentucky visiting with family. We had a lot of fun and hope we can visit them again real soon. Here is a small selection of the 175 pictures we took over the course of the week.


Making 'redneck' look sophisticated!


Mommy, since you won't have a baby sister for me, can we buy a Julie Anne?


Rockin' out the Cracker Barrel


Look Ma, no teeth... Either of us


Say 'uncle'... no really, they're your uncles


All hail the lollipop king!


Literally...


Out in the woods


Evenings at the 'Cafe Jeana'


Mark's butt


My cousins' kids... or somethin'; it's starting to get confusing how they're all related


Please, just shoot me!


Hooray for the Red, White and Blue

Updates and Stuff

It's been raining the last couple of days, and Caleb and Mel aren't here, so I've got a little time to update.
My upside down tomatos aren't looking like the ones on TV, but they are healthy and growing well. I finally have an edible tomato, which will probably end up in my belly this afternoon ('Get in my Belly'). There are several more blooms that are making fruit, so that's a good thing. I think the ones on TV are grown right side up, then re-planted in their cute little hangy bags right before the commercial is shot. That's the only explanation; on the commercials there aren't any upturned shoots on the plants...
The basil is doing really well, and the thyme is doing fine. I lost all of the cilantro, but I've never had any luck with it anyway.



Wildlife
I saw this hawk on a snag outside our house this morning and shot a picture of him. I wish I had a better camera for telephoto shots. I think it's a redtail hawk. It and its friends sit out in the woods and call to each other "kree kree kree" one after the other. I don't know what they're saying, but it's pretty cool to watch and listen to.


This is one of our resident bunnies. They like to sit in the yard and on the edge of the woods and eat, then they go right to the middle of the driveway and leave a 'deposit'... always right in the middle of the driveway. I guess that's not completely bad. It's a gravel driveway and they're just helping to build it up.


Wasting Time
Caleb and I got bored the other day, so we got out the .22 and wasted a few rounds. Then I got this bright idea (see video), so we got out the camera and took video of it. I should've used a bigger gun; then you could really see some action!


That's all for now. Hopefully my next post will have a little more exciting news...

Judah was Right!

As we were leaving to go out this afternoon, Judah says "Why is there a birdie in the house?" I told him there wasn't, and he said, "I saw it flying over there."
Well, we left anyway, and later when we got home, he kept talking about the birdie. The kids started watching Spongebob, and I heard a "cheep". I looked around and found nothing. My imagination, I thought.
I started cooking dinner, and heard another "cheep". I'm going crazy now.
So I sat down and watched a little TV with the boys and heard it again. I asked them if they heard it, and they said no.
Then I heard it again, and it kept on 'cheeping'. So we went to look for it.
Caleb found him in the dining room. It was a baby sparrow of some sort that was barely able to fly. I grabbed the camera and got a couple of shots then opened the door and shooed him out. Some adventure!


Little birdie in the corner, behind the milk can


Little birdie after he got out on the deck

My Sidewalk is Finished!

After much delay and anticipation and sweat and more sweat and lots of hot sun... MY SIDEWALK IS FINISHED!
Now if I could get some front lawn to look nice, I'd be somewhat happy.
Next project is to put some edging bricks between the 'lawn' and the driveway, and then get some gravel for the driveway. Oh yeah, and move the pile of sand on the blue tarp.


From the front porch


From the driveway- with the exception of good grass, it almost looks right

Dryer Balls

So for Christmas Mel got me some dryer balls- No it's not an underhanded reference to a vasectomy. They are supposed to be the end-all to fabric softener and the like. But they don't work worth a squat. They are supposed to keep your clothes fluffy in the dryer and make them extra soft. They don't. I still have to use fabric softener. And the horrible noise they make when they go a-bouncing around in the dryer. So lesson learned; ask for a gift card for Christmas- Oh, and don't believe Billy Mays.
I think I would have gotten more use out of one of these... but probably not for what it's advertised for. Speaking of which, the dryer balls would make a great doggie toy!


Worthless Junk

Speaking Out About Lee Road 240

Published in this Morning's OA News was an article about Lee County's town hall meetings to attempt to create a master plan for the county. Quoted in the article is my very own wife who got the crowd riled up about the atrocious condition of Lee Rd. 240. The consulting firm who is putting the plan together had the intersections at 240/ Lee Rd. 179 and 240/ AL 169 as "Rural Centers"; areas where businesses can cluster in the midst of a rural area. If you know anything about these two intersections, you know there is nothing there now except a few houses, a land developer's warehouse, and woodlands. And there isn't a reason that people would go to these areas to patronize businesses even if they were there. But that's just my opinion.
My wife said, “How can this be a rural center if Lee Road 240 is the most horrible road in Lee County?" Hopefully some of the politicians in Opelika will read it and say "Hey, maybe we should do something about 240- like repave it!" Wouldn't that be nice.

Black Rat Snake or Black Racer...?

I was out in the yard this morning when I came across these two black snakes. One of them ran off, but the other stuck around for about 15 minutes. I watched it eat a few bugs and slither around. J woke up and looked at it with me, but he wasn't as in to it as I was. It finally slithered off through the leaves and underbrush. I think it is either a black rat snake or a black racer. It was about 2 1/2 feet long and as big around as my thumb. It had a gray belly and a little white (almost) under its throat. It would have been cool if it were an eastern indigo snake, but it doesn't fit the description. Either way, free pest control, and a great view of the local wildlife.
I saw another one a couple of weeks ago, but it was a lot larger. It might have been the mama. Who knows. It was a great thing to watch.

The "Pile of Sand" Cake

Here is the cake for Judah's party tomorrow. It took me most of the afternoon to finish decorating it. I think it's the best fondant job I've ever done. Spongebob didn't turn out so bad either. I need to work on my freehand lettering, though. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it an "OK".

Judah's 5th

Wow! 5 years old.
It doesn't seem like he's been here that long, but he has.
Since Mel is in Canada on the company dollar, I had Leah and Larry and Oma and Opa over to grill some burgers... except it rained and hailed (it was nearly 95 earlier today, but you should've seen the hail comin' down) so we had fried burgers. They were almost as good. Then we had a little cake and ice cream and a few small presents.
I guess on Saturday were doing the big birthday party for all the friends and the rest of the family. Mel will be back by then, and she can run it, cause I know the real deal; we already had the REAL party!


Makin' a wish on some chocolate fudge cake!


It's a... sweater ... oh wait, it's a flute!


Hungry Hippo anyone?

Vulcan 800 Ape Hangers

I finally got around to installing my new bars. I ordered these a few weeks back, but I've been busy on the walkway and other stuff... I got the new throttle cables and clutch cable in on Tuesday, and the new brake line came on Thursday. I knew it was going to take a while, so I waited until this afternoon. It took most of the afternoon, and then Mel was complaining about not having her dinner, so I had to quit and cook and then eat. I was almost finished, and then I realized I don't know how to bleed brakes. I'd read about it, and I thought I did, but it turns out... I don't! After a quick call to Dad (who happens to know EVERYTHING about fixing on cars) I bled the lines and took her for a quick test ride. I did everything right! It clutches and shifts and brakes like it's supposed to. I'm really impressed with the Galfers stainless brake line. That is definitely worth the money. And they've got great customer service too! Always a plus! And I am impressed with my electrical skills! Everything works like it is supposed to. I figured I would solder everything and not worry with those quick connect pieces of junk. I didn't want one of them to come loose 50 miles from home, so I spent the extra effort to solder. And apparently I did it right. (Sorry for tootin' my own horn)

Quick test ride, then it started to rain! Typical.

Things left to do:
1) Get some bigger shielding for the electrical wires (I didn't realize there were so many wires in there) and install it.
2) Go for a long ride...................


Here are the stock bars


And the new ones! That's the 13" rise ape hangers from Flanders

Flagstone Walkway

I've been cutting stone and fitting it in for three days now, and I'm almost 1/3 of the way finished. At this pace, in another week I'll be done fitting stone. Then I can start putting in the grout sand and whatever else I decide to do to this walkway. I think it looks pretty good so far. I'll let you know my opinion when it gets closer to being completed. It's always a surprise when you work on something for a while, and then one day it dawns on you, "Hey this looks right, I've done a good job. Almost professional." I like that feeling. I'm almost getting that feeling looking at the pictures, but I'll know for sure in about six days.

Dia de las Madres... and Sand

So we had a great time on Mothers' Day. The family came over and we had fried chicken and the fixin's. Everyone was happy to either be a mother or have one... most everyone. There were at least two in the group who were celebra... spending Mothers' Day without a mother.


Oma, C, Douglas, Kaitlyn, Keith and Opa on Mothers' Day


Other side of the room: Tim, Opa, Leah, Larry and Cheri at the house


Oma and Cheri at the Mothers' Day banquet at their church

This afternoon I picked up my first load of sand. It went a little farther than I thought it would. I originally planned on three loads, but it looks like I'll only need one more. Tomorrow I'll get another load and order the flagstone for delivery. This is what the walkway looks like with the first load of sand put in. It is starting to look like an actual walkway.


The last time I went to the dirt store I got a piece of the flagstone I'll be using. This is what it looks like. It's sort of a brown with a little gray. It's more brown than it looks in the picture, and there is a lot of variety to the color. I think it will be a great looking walkway when I finish. Only time will tell.