Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Animated Duck Riders!

These take awhile to make... If I get some feedback I may be motivated to make more!

Lois Duck
Twins Duck
Deb Duck
Dick Duck
Rick Duck

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Rodenator!

Deb and I have just gotten back from a viewing of the Rodenator in action, and I can tell you it has restored my faith in America! The boom and the concussion are amazing. Flame and debris blowing out of holes feet away. I will be using this fine piece of equipment in the near future as the destructive wall of whistle pig holes creeps in from the back of the house. We heard the booms and headed over to the neighbor's house to watch the owner covered with grass and dirt grinning from ear to ear! "Boom!!!" You can feel the thump through the ground. "BOOM!!!" He says that he hopes it works... but even if it doesn't it was worth it! As we are leaving other neighbors are walking into his yard with the same look I have... "I wanna be a redneck and blow up rodents TOO!"

I Can Fly














Sunday, June 21, 2009

“ASPEN 20” – SR-71 – Groundspeed Check

There were a lot of things we couldn't do in an SR-71 Blackbird (The Air Force/NASA super fast, highest flying reconnaissance jet, nicknamed, "The Sled"), but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane - intense, maybe, even cerebral. But there was one day in our Sled experience when we would have to say that it was pure fun to be the fastest guys out there, at least for a moment.

Amazing Long Exposure Pictures

I Am Currently Drooling Over Camera Lenses


Oh Yea, They Know How To Work It!

Pssst. "I think they might just keep feeding us forever if we stick with the plan!"



Reporters Begin To Assemble In Anticipation! Duck Riders 2009


Reporters Begin To Assemble In Anticipation! Duck Riders 2009

Daily life

Vending Machine Dispenses Gold Bars To Go

Looking to capitalize on the popularity of gold investments in these tough economic times, TG-Gold-Super-Markt is installing vending machines that dispense 1g, 5g and 10g bars / gold coins at 500 locations in Germany.

Why I am Tossing All Of My Chairs

Saturday, June 20, 2009

The Beauty and Mystery of Wrecked Ships

This article will highlight the most incredible shipwrecks around the world and maybe prompt a curious expedition or two. Go check them out while they still exist, daily battered by the wind and merciless waves.

Anything For The Perfect Shot!

The following is a series of funny and unusual situations in which photographers (and their gear) find themselves, in search for that all-around perfect shot. Heavy equipment, crazy set-ups, impossible positions, hostile public, cars and elements - and the list goes on.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I Guess My Experience With United Is Not So Unusual!

When asked which airline had the rudest flight attendants, United clocked in with the rudest (14%), followed by American (13%) and US Airways (11%). Singapore Airlines was voted first for having the most polite attendants (19%), followed by British Airways (8%) and Southwest (7%).

Click on title for the full article.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

First Class!

On a recent trip I was upgraded to First Class. It was really quite bad. As much as I travel, it takes alot of junk to happen before I start to whine. This was bad enough.

First class is just flat awful on United!

- Flight attendants have the look of total apathy! They go through the motions, but absolutely no heart, they are slaves and they think smiling may only result in a beating.

- "Breakfast?"

"What are my choices?"

"Omelet." I look at her thinking as short as that answer was, that there must be more.

"We're out of the fruit plate." She says with the continuous scowl she'd worn the entire flight.

"Well, omelet then. Thanks." She gives no nod, no smile, just moves on to the next row.

"I'll have the fruit plate." The guy right behind me says. Not a word out of her as she writes it down.

- Hot towels are past out and I fold out my table from the arm rest. Something is not right as the table will not lay flat. I attempt different pushes and tugs but the best configuration I can get results in a flapping thing closely resembling a springboard. Each bump of the plane results in the floppy end doing the bouncy dance, smacking the center console.

- Food trays have been coming out for the last 10 minutes. The man to my right has gotten his and is half way through the meal. People behind me have their breakfast. I look around and realize that everyone has a tray and are well into them. The troll is even picking up empty trays from the people up front. I wait for her to come by me, and as I open my mouth to ask about my meal she sticks her hand out palm first and walks right on by. For several more minutes she picks up trays, fills coffee, and asks if people would like water. My tray flaps with emptiness.

She finally makes the mistake of looking me in the eye and I ask if there is a reason I don't have a meal. She looks down at my table as if she has never seen it! "Oh, I'm sorry.". She heads up front and brings me... Wait for it... A fruit plate.

- The man next to me is done. He hands his tray to Madge and asks for Black coffee and a water with no ice. When the tray was being picked up I leaned back from my breakfast minus only two bites. I'd only had it sitting in front of me for a little over a minute. He makes his request in a volume normally reserved for comments about 'the sermon.'. He, however, is on a jet liner. Bertha leans in, over my tray and says "What?". Same request, same volume. " Sir, I can't hear you, you'll have to speak up. Same request, same volume. I lick my fork, searching for flavor. She then just starts naming things off, "Tea?". "Water" he nods and whispers "...but with no ice.". "Coffee?". Another nod. "Black.". She's gone and I dive into my food.

Olga waddles down the aisle with coffee in one hand and water (filled with ice) in the other. We hit some mild air and she wavers like a bear riding a unicycle over a tight rope. I wish her ill, while I eat grapes one after the other, hoping for more! She attempts to steady herself by planting her ample hip against a grandmother in the second row. I'm thinking "weebles wobble and they DO fall down! The air smooths out and sadly she delivers both drinks while I lean back again. As she completes this and exits my space, her claws wrap around my tray! "I'm not done.". There is more that half of the food left and my fork is still in my hand, albeit turned around and held like a murder weapon. She releases the tray and moves on in her wordless daze.

- Blanch is back offering to fill whisper-mans coffee. He has headphones on and is lost in his book. The coffee pot hoovers over my lap at eye level while Bowling Pin attempts to stay upright. She assumes as I do that there is no way he can't notice her doing the 'flaming pot' lap dance a foot away. He can.

I imagine looking up at her and saying "You really are an awful flight attendant.". She replies "F#!* Off!"

Having gotten my dollars worth, I turn and a little too loudly say "Sir!" He looks up and mouths 'no thank you', as she tops off his mug.

- The plane is on final approach and whisper-man still has his unfinished coffee on his enviably stable table. Rags has walked by several times doing things like pressing people's head rests down and ensuring that bags "are completely under the seat in front of you.". Low talker looks concerned as Gretchen disappears for a long time up front. An attendant from the back of the plane bringing up paper work notices the items and with a pursed look at whisper-man retrieves them. The plane lands 3 minutes later.

I walk off thinking of ways to turn United into a curse word.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Some People Are Just A Bit Messy!

A woman in her mid 40s rented this north Houston apartment for herself and cats. After not paying her rent for well over a month and not being able to be contacted the management company entered her apartment. This is what they found. They state the fleas were so bad that after just a few minutes inside you had hundreds of bites. The cats were later found and are ok. No word on the woman or whatever happened to her.

Bing-411

1-800-Bing-411 (1-800-246-4411)
Get audio directions, traffic conditions, and weather reports.
And it’s free!

Useful Knots

I often need knots. I have often learned the knots I need. But these two things never happen close enough together to result in long term knowledge storage.

Click on this article title for a wallet card.

How to Be Photogenic

Do you dislike having your picture taken because you always seem to come out looking hideous? Felt jealous of your friend who always comes out flawless in photos? What’s the deal with pictures? While being photogenic just comes naturally to some people, there are a few things that anyone can do to look better in photos. Try out the tricks in this article and stop running for cover whenever the camera comes out.

Baby Birds


Deb and I were out checking on the trees, looking at all of the new growth. Suddenly, a bird came crashing out of one we were standing by. We peered inside the branches and saw two baby birds. I quickly took a photo and never got closer than 4 feet from the nest. The babies were perfectly still and never made a noise. Hopefully mom will come back shortly.

As with all pictures on this blog, click in the photo so see the full size version.