21-DEC-2007
Changed the font across my site to 'Trebuchet MS', pixie size is 11.  Ya I know, who gives a flying shit... 'cept maybe those that have a harder time reading it.  Now go rent Live Free or Die Hard.

28-NOV-2007
I'm sure that over the summer I had more than a few things I could rant, talk or think about up here - but with me being out of the house a lot more often then in the past, it hasn't happened.  I guess below is the most memorable part of summer.  Freaky...

A yittle bit past mid summer we (Fast Brothers, company I work for), had a guy, an O/O if you will, come in and weld up the wheels on the crusher.  As he stood there watching his work being done for him, by a small amount of electronics, we chatted about this and that.  At some point he got really twitchy about me taking so many pics of his own homemade equipment at work and asked what I planned to do with the pictures.  As I do with anything else I like to share online for interests sake, I told him I was going to post online.  That took the cake!  I'm not sure what his exact response was to that anymore, but it went something like this: IF I EVER FIND THOSE PICTURES ONLINE I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!  I don't remember 'kill' being in there, but you get the hint.  He demanded I delete them, and I told him I would.  Then the guy had the nerve to ask if I wanted to get a picture of the truck - his name and contact info was on the side of it... guess he figured for advertising.  Well, if you know me, after he gave me shit, after that I figured 'fuck it' I ain't supporting him that much.

By the way, I still have the pictures... and videos of it in action.  The downside: I'll show them to you in person only.  Soz.

For those who haven't forgotten about my thoughts on getting a Wii, I own one now... and a game called Heat Seeker.  Works nicely on my widescreen monitor. =)

27-AUG-2007
On the 23rd, I did what any self respecting mennonite wanker should do to feel alive if for only one night of their life - I went to see Stephen Hau, Alucard and Tiësto!  Got off work at 16:00 that afternoon, did the clean and dress up thing, and got in a little bit after 20:00.  I will never feel the same soon enough!  w00t!

26th : You know those lil shopping cart shelters you see in some parking lots?  How bout a semi trailer parked in a parking lot for loading donated items into?  Got any idea as to what happens to stuff like that when the wind decides it don't like them?  In the case of the trailer - they tip... onto their side, the cart shelter... blown into the middle of the boulevard in Steinbach, MB between Ste. Anne Co-op North and Superstore - all mangled and twisted no less.  Some ghost town by the name of Gretna (spelling?), had winds blow through it at about 100KPH.  Squeee!  Steinbach had a funnel cloud sighting along with some other lil town of I don't care to look up as to how to spell it.  Wish I could have seen 'em...

I went snapping pics of t-shirts a while back, so expect a page for t-shirt pics sometime between now and winter.  Don't care to wait?  Go look in a mirror and try picking the nose you see... that should keep you distracted long enough for me to have time to put them up.

12-AUG-2007
Went out camping at the Gimli drag way August 4-5.  Snapped a few pictures, recorded some video, watch my tent get the shit kicked out of it by the wind.  Your tent, provided you didn't pay very much for it, will do the same if:

• You're in Gimli
• You setup base in the wide open
• It's bloody windy!

As things stand, I'm being lazy and not uploading pics and videos very eagerly.  Maybe if I get bugged enough things will happen quicker - see the contact link above?  It may be your ticket to getting to see the pics I got.

I got a gun module (to hold the controllers) for the Wii today.  You know that friendly lil dog that likes to go bouncing around for ducks?  Thought so!  I'm on the prowl for Duckhunt now, which will ultimatly lead to me buying a Wii.

28-JUL-2007
So you like Red Bull, eh?  I suppose you have a death wish then.  Found some interesting info on the deadly drink.

16-JUN-2007
I was headed over to Adobe's site to check for a new release of Dreamweaver for my mac.  All good so far.  I click on the trial link and like damn near every other site on the net these days, designed for whoring themselves out, requires that you sign your sorry ass up.  I'll stick with my current version... THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

To add to my ranting, I get the feeling that at least two of the local FM stations - 103.1 and 104.1 hate using the phone to get requests from listeners.  They both send you off to their sites and tell you to click on the email link to send in your request.  This is not so easily done from equipment.  Emailing from a cell phone don't work either since most email servers tend to filter out email addresses with just numbers in them and no subject - unless the user specifies otherwise.

On Tuesday or Wednesday, Ace Burpee from 103.1 introduced a new song he found on YouTube.com called "Paris In Jail", played it once or twice that morning... only to make it to the top 10 countdown at noon every day since then.  ROFL!

20-MAY-2007
On the 14th Toromont came out to fix the 980G.  I had been on the 928F that morning and I was about to spend the rest of the day on it but the salesman got my boss to put me on the 980G to see how much more problems I could find with it.  Again, it almost stalled on me a few times, all the error codes from the past came back and one or two new ones.  On the 15th I was back on the 980G accompanied by the error codes from the previous day - except this time it actually did stall on me... four times in three hours!  I ended up back on the 972H and found out at the end of the day that the machine had been purchased!  That evening I installed the AM/FM antenna, on the 16th I bought a CB, on the 17th it got installed along with one of the CB antennas that came with the machine.

I was headed home on the 17th after I had my fun installing my new radio, only to get a call from my dad who said there was a big party by the river shortly after our corner.  I got curious, naturally, and so I drove by - on the shoulder!  There was three cruisers, disco lights on, and enough flares to make a few pyro's happy.  Looking past them, I saw two vehicles about 100 feet from the highway - I'm not sure what kind the first one was, but I think the other one was a pick-up and its hood was straight up... moreless.  the first vehicle had been turned into a ramp or something similar.  The highway had some gravel from the shoulder sprayed on it, which made me think that the first vehicle lost control on the shoulder and the second one smucked it good and proper.  Interesting derby...

13-MAY-2007
10 and 11 were demo days with a 972H and a 980G.  Going by a calculation that the sales man did, the bucket on the 972H is a lil bit bigger then the one on the 980C I've been running lately.  While the 972H is better for loading trucks, the 980G makes it a short job - one bucket for a tandem (truck/dump box combo), and two buckets for a Pete pulling a tri-axle taking 22 yard loads.  The 980G, equipped with command steering, works best at higher speeds, so flying around the pit with a full bucket and ride control on, running over rocks about a foot in diameter makes for very little spillage.  Command steering took a bit to get used to at first.  Your normal loader steers by controlling hydraulic lines at the bottom of the steering column, command steering adjusts the turning speed depending on how far you "turn" the steering wheel - solenoids control the flow of hydraulics here.  I do wonder how long it would take to get used to steering on the 980G when stockpiling in layers.  The 972H is from 2006 supposedly and the 980G is from 2002 - both with A/C and radio.  w00t!

Shortly after me and the 980G became one, the bucket kick-out stopped working and a bit later, the engine almost stalled on me about 6 times - the computer would reset itself after each time causing me to sit for a bit while it all happened.  After the 6th time the 980G was parked, and I got back on the 972H.  The 980G has a date with the doc tomorrow.

25-APR-2007
You figure this is a prank or reality?  I took it on the 19th after spotting it on the Biovail yard in Steinbach.  Thought t was amusing in either sense.  Whichever derby this cart was in, it lost.

Started work on the 23rd.  Squee.  More days in the hot sun with no cure in sight, except for the huge water hole that teases me every day from inside a distance of 610 meters.

17-APR-2007
Do you enjoy travelling?  Are you a good swimmer?  Have you thought about going from New York, New York to Paris, France?  Let Google guide your way.  Got a new monitor on the 15th - NEC 20WMGX2.

10-APR-2007
I was having a good day till I found out that my CreditCard site, CU CardsOnline, has issues with people using Safari on their site.  The only logical excuse I can think of for their sorry ass for not making the site compatible, is that it's too secure for them.  Also, while I'm busy ranting, NEVER buy from EA Games online.  Why?  Cause your address label is going to get printed up wrong, Purolator will get desufnoc, send it back, and EA will refuse to reship it.  This happened to me oh so recently.  Colour me unimpressed, the survey they got me to fill out reflects my opinions.  Wankers...

01-APR-2007
Good news - George W. Bush got shot in the ass during a hunting accident!  Bad news - he didn't die!

It has happened again!  Err... aside from the seasons changing and the snow melting.  Yes, that's right, my room is getting water in it again!  Gah!  If I'm not digitally alive in the next while, I've moved my computers to a safer spot for the next lil bitty.  I hate it when it happens...

29-MAR-2007
So much for our stash of snow we had in our back yard.  Seems mother nature had to much to drink, and her bladder busted while I was in my room messing around on my computers.  The back yard was covered with snow ranging from about one foot to a foot and a half, a quick peek out across the deck has me guessing it might not even be six inches thick.

Got some new utility software after stumbling into a little problem I had.  Tricky app!  No details on it will be posted here.

17-MAR-2007
I was in the city with my dad today shopping at Advance Electronics.  On our drive home, I hooked up the camera with some shock therapy, inserted a tape, hit record and randomly began "shooting" things.  I guess one guy must have seen me in his review mirror with the camera.  I'm guessing he was trying to tell us to move over, I'm not sure if I noticed him signalling for us to do so until viewing the video.  He had started taking pictures of us, after which he had a grin on his face, and later started tugging his shirt like he was wanting to fight - not completely sure though.  I thought he was amusing in a stupid sense.

13-MAR-2007
I was helping cleaning up more in our shop again today, and I heard a humming noise like a loader.  I sent my brother to go check to see what was there - two fire trucks.  A short visit with two of them said they had been sent by the alarm company that monitors the cabin near our place that belongs to someone.  DUH!  Who else would own it?  The trees?!?  We figured the loader that had been clearing the road to the cabin must have triggered alarm - but why fire?

12-MAR-2007
I started messing with webcasting today over our home network.  Depending on what our host says what we can and cannot do, and if it's possible, I may well set it up on the site.  This might also depend on wether someone at home decides to spend an extra 5 bucks a month for a public IP address.

10-MAR-2007
A friend and me went to go see a movie at a Silver City near us, then we went off to another movie theater place, that being Cinema City.  Walked up to the booth, handed them my bank card and guess what - they don't have interac there.  Ok, walked over to the ATM only to find out it was out of service and said to go tell the people in the office.  Did that, they told me they were aware of it.  As we stood there for a bit, it was clear we weren't going to be the last ones to tell them and doubtably the first ones.  We left without watching the second movie.  Why on earth do dumbasses like that direct you to an ATM they know is down?!?

Did you know that a Whiskey Jack can carry half a hotdog bun.  They never got very high when carrying those chunks either.  Funny birds...

09-MAR-2007
I'm trying something new from Snap.com.  I want your opinions as to whether you like it, hate it or certified pain in the ass.  State your opinion here. It has two flaws:

1. It doesn't work in Safari (might be settings),
2. It doesn't point the bubble downward in the top frame.

Safari may not work with cause of a neat lil program called PitHelmet, which is known for ripping ads straight off web pages.  I'm not sure what category PitHelmet puts this Snap.com preview in.  If anyone browsing this site with Safari and not using PitHelmet, let me know if you see the preview window.  Thanks.

This lil addition of code is proving so far that it does not work everywhere... everywhere except Firefox on my Mac!

07-MAR-2007
I finally gone and done it.  Done what?  I added keywords so my site is now searchable.  However, you won't get the individual pages - just the main index file that takes care of the frame work.  It may take up to 48 hours before Google will get to it.

06-MAR-2007
I witnessed a programming milestone today that has risen from the hideouts of software crackers.  So, on a positive note for the rest of you chasing this marvel that Microsoft calls Vista, piracy is possible... and not with timer cracks!  Time will tell how long this will hold.  Cheers to the people who spent countless hours on this sweet lil marvel!

28-FEB-2007
Today as I was about to supposedly get a free song off iTunes, I was asked to sign up.  Ok fine, no problem, and on I went to choose what info I wanted to be used to access the account.  Clicked 'Continue' and voila, they for some messed up reason, require that I add a credit card to the account!  WTF for?  So as far as I'm concerned, they can take this free tune and shove it up their insane ass.  Hell, it's probably even loaded with *ACK!* DRM controls!  Should any Apple employee care at all, do man kind a favor, and tell your superiors to get that removed.  This also require this information if you want iTunes to automatically get a bloody album cover!  Gah... rant over.

21-FEB-2007
My copy of Vista finished downloading today - 4.6GB later.  I installed it on my Gateway without any hassle.  I cleaned off a 250GB hard drive for the mission, Vista consuming 7.68GB of it, leaving me with a 4.5 on the "Windows Experience Index".  Do I like it?  First impressions - yes, time will tell though.  Now for the screenshots:

07-FEB-2007
I was at the Southland Mall today roaming around and trying to see if Regina had a local access number - they don't.  After that, I walked around killing time.  My last five minutes at the mall were the best though.  A mother had asked her kids, "Let's look at these" (Referring to the clothing 'store' in the middle of the hall).  Her youngest, about four or five, replied back, "No mom, that's gay" - in kind of a whine-ish tone.  The mother, her older daughter and me just cracked up.

04-FEB-2007
Late January some thieves broke into my grandma's place and got some of her more valuable things - including her sleeping pills.  The other pills weren't touched.  Today I got a call from my aunt saying that my grandma was missing something else - an opened case of Root Beer!  This got grandma to ask aunt if she let the police know.  I was told not to laugh, but as I sit here and write this, I am LMAO!  Soz?  I think not.

According to the The Weather Network, a town close to me had a windchill temperature of -50'C.  The temperature sensor at the Winnipeg Airport picked up -53'C for a windchill at 0300.

01-FEB-2007
Today I had the amusing pleasure of telling a company what they had to do to fix their website.  The following was sent off to FabiaTech.com:

29-JAN-2007
Aside from the rabbit looking for fallen bird seed, we have a Manx cat that has started to hang around our place - and get inside with my help.  Neither of our other two cats like him much.  One cat sits on a chair under the table, and the other one scoots off to a bedroom and lays under the bed.  Short of wanting a piece of ass, which I think he's after, he's very friendly.  About a week and a half ago he was the biting type.

Short of being a sticky neighbor, Mark Easton will have a distracting view of the mountains - less his neighbour is forced to remove the designer vents.

21-JAN-2007
(19:23) If you ever get your mugs from Touch Of Glass for a mass wedding reception, locals only, be prepared to get a mismatch of mugs.

(05:05) My "Weak Mouse" got it strength back to once again become the Mighty Mouse it was before.  It went in for surgery at around 10:00 yesterday, and finally got completely reassembled at around 00:20 this morning - save the bottom ring which you can see in the pictures which now needs to be epoxied or superglued back into place.  Downside to that is that it may hinder surgery on it next time if need be.  Reason for the huge delay between start and finish - I was at my sisters wedding, and then went to visit my local ghost town afterwards.  Lost 2/3 of my fur on Thursday morning.  The girl next to the one giving me a trimming were amused at the pile of fur that lay on the floor.  Some pigs from Ste Anne must have gotten lost as they were roaming in Steinbach.  Oink oink!

11-JAN-2007
Picked me up a neat light the other day at Crappy Tire for just over 10 bucks.  It's kind of a bugger that there's no on/off switch, and short of unplugging it, it won't go off.  Having to unplug it for it to go off has a good side to it - you can plug it into the back of a computer and have light to work.

Those of you who don't like the dark, here's some night lights.  I delivered some gravel to this house when it was being built.  I like it.

If you ever see your cat doing push-ups - worry!  Kitty either has a huge mouse it has issues with or he's gonna teach you a lesson!  "Leeeeeeeeet's geet reeeeeady tooo hisssssss".

04-JAN-2006
I got a hold of Apple yesterday.  Apparently, if I had called them on DEC 04 or sooner, I would have been able to get a free replacement.  As soon as I acquire a new mouse for my Mac, pics will be up shortly afterwards.

I downloaded Opera today out of sheer boredom.  Amusing... half-assed I suppose.  It's supposed to be able to understand voice commands.  I have yet to try that out. It also does a very good job of reading text on web pages... including abbreviations and misspelled words.

As far as Casino Royale goes, it'll take a bit of time to adapt to the new James Bond (Daniel Craig).  He has his own ups n downs that I like and dislike and going by the opening theme song, I think he's a bit self-conceited as there no chics in it, only him.  Why on earth did they have to make reference to 9/11?!?  Those who know me well enough, know my viewpoint on this.

01-JAN-2007
Manitoba got between 18-25 inches of snow in different areas overnight on DEC 30-31.  I'm not sure what task Diamond had at Friesen Drillers intersection near my place, but they got their Komatsu WA450 loader stuck good n proper.  It came out with the help of their own Cat 320CL.  I never thought that ditch was so deep.  Wonder what the guy from Pete's Landscaping, operating the Deere 624H, thought.  Ha-ha!

I haven't been able to get ahold of Apple yet to see if they will replace my mouse.  Off for Christmas and New Year's I guess.