Archive for December, 2005

MIT’s Stackable Cars

December 31st, 2005 | Category: Tech

Four years in the making, a new type of stackable car design is about to be finalized by it’s MIT developers. The car is designed to help big cities cope with the age old problem of traffic congestion — at least until we can all afford Segways.Of course this design is so revolutionary it may extend beyond the big city to the rest of us. I know that I’m always looking for a sweeter ride to get me around the back nine. :D

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PC Christmas

December 26th, 2005 | Category: Forwards, Soapbox

For those of you that were offend by our “Merry CHRISTmas” yesterday… We’re sorry.

Not really, but for those of you that are overly sensitive here is a PC Holiday Greeting: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. And without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee. PS: If you ARE offended by this whole Christmas thing, We — as a matter of personal social conscience — will thoughtfully take any and all Christmas presents off your hands. Simply contact us via our email or text the word “Gifts” to 101909 and we will send you information on how to ship them to us.Thanks Sarah
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Merry Christmas

December 25th, 2005 | Category: Holidays, Kubanisms

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!Christmas time reminded me of another Kubanism. The correct way to sing the classic tune Angels We Have on Heard High is as follows:

Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
(Chorus)
Glo—ria. In egg shells, cease day-O.
Glo—ria. In egg shells, cease day-O…

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DIY Basement

December 23rd, 2005 | Category: DIY projects, Pics

Whew… It's been hard to keep up with the site… what with the Christmas rush and trying to finish my basement. I figured I would turn this obstacle into an advantage and grab some content out of the experience. Here is the glorious BEFORE picture:

 

And the Phase 1 pics. On the left, notice the window is now a door and the electrical work is partially complete. On the right, the framing for the closet and bathroom is complete and the cinderblock walls have been prepped with waterproofing paint…

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Credit Averages

December 20th, 2005 | Category: Finance, Reference

While reviewing my credit report, I found some interesting numbers on the national credit averages. I found some of them surprising. The average American consumer has 5 open credit accounts and 1 late payment on their credit report. The average mortgage balance is $106,782 with an average payment of $1,020. The average auto balance $12,141 with an average payment of $416. Meanwhile, the average total debt in America is $79,884. Uh, do that math… (yeah, I know)

Those numbers don’t seem too out of line to me. What struck me is that the average credit card debt is $1,006. A GRAND! A grand? I don’t know anyone that has a credit card balance of $1K. People I know either DON’T carry a balance on their cards or they owe ten, twenty, THIRTY thousand dollars to Mr. Visa. I guess that just shows how averages can be deceiving. Still these averages can give you a hint as to how enslaved you are to “the man” or your stuff at least.
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Want To Be A Millionaire? Hurricanes Can Help

December 13th, 2005 | Category: Reference

So Katrina caused a huge amount of economic destruction… people just can’t seem to agree on how MUCH economic destruction. Louisiana asked for $250 BILLION! Mississppi was a little surprised to learn this, since they’ve only asked for $33 Billion. So here’s a little math based on Census data. Louisiana’s $250 Billion translates into

  • $533,012 for every person in that lived in New Orleans
  • $55,361 per person in Louisiana
  • Seven times the total retail sales for the entire state of LA in 1997 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22000.html)Mississippi’s $33 Billion translates into
  • $86,118 per person in Mississippi
  • Twelve times the total retail sales for the entire state of MI in 1997 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28000.html)It looks like both states are going to be disappointed since the current aid bill working it’s way through Washington has been moving between $25 and $30 billion. Total.
  • Louisiana’s funding request created shockwaves
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    Reasons Not To Be A Minister

    December 12th, 2005 | Category: God, Soapbox

    I met a girl on ThanksMas that was looking to move down here from Boston. She liked the area and was pursuing a career with Young Life. Apparently there are more positions available locally than up North. After further conversation she admitted the following:

    …Well, I dropped out of college… I tried the whole job thing and I didn’t like it — so I decided I’m going into full time ministry… Yeah. Ok, I understand not everyone sees the problem — people seem to be commonly blinded by religious commitment and miss the motives. Not liking work is not a “calling” to ministry. There’s a reason it’s called “work” and not “fun” or “play time”. Don’t like your job? Get a new one. Don’t like your options? Get additional training or education.Now don’t get me wrong… I don’t have anything against a calling for ministry in general or Young Life in particular. But a calling is more than avoiding pain, responsibility or effort. Personally, I believe everyone is “called” to something — some vision, some milestone, some purpose. Your calling may have a spiritual aspect, but I view a “calling” more holistically. What makes you tick on the inside, your passion in life will effect more in your life than just your job or your spiritual walk. It will affect every aspect of your life.

    Don’t know your calling? I recommend 48 Days To The Work You Love. While this is a work focused book, it approaches it in such a way as to discover your gifts and passion and move you towards things that use them in the real world. So while it is task driven, your task may end up be feeding the homeless in Nigeria… or clearing mine fields in the Balkans… or even becoming the music minister at your church. BUT more importantly than the tasks it helps you find, is the clear sense of purpose you can discover while ferreting out said tasks.

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    Happy ThanksMas!

    December 05th, 2005 | Category: Kubanisms

    ThanksMas is holiday that comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate surviving another semester… or for us old folks: to reminisce about surviving semesters or co-eds or whatever. ;) Typical celebration involves turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. And, of course, watching a Christmas Story (or some similar classic, but a Christmas Story is best)

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