STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 22031: Daylight Saving Time & Other Nonsense

Nothing much new to write about since I last posted. The MMM and I are well and in good spirits. After returning to Corinne, I only did four loads. One right back to Vegas, the second to St. George, UT and Mesquite, NV, the third was a “local” load to Logan, UT, and the forth load was right back to Vegas again. This time, I decided to stay an extra day and do another 34 hour re-start. 

The only significant event that I can recall was Daylight Saving Time. I’m not a big fan. Mostly it is an inconvenience to me. I had to reset four of the seven clocks in my truck (my cell phone and computer reset automatically). I would have had five clocks to reset, but the battery in my watch went dead. Since I seldom use the watch anyway because I have the cell phone, it’ll be a while before I replace that battery. The hassle is that I have to refer to the manual for each clock because I can never remember how to adjust the time on these infernal contraptions. (They say that the memory is the second thing to go, Damn if I can remember the first).

While in the Casino this afternoon, I entered the free Video Poker tournament. I placed 3rd, and won $50.00. Not too bad.

Tomorrow, I head back to Corinne. I’m expecting a couple of packages in the mail (some CD’s and some winter clothes), so i’ll wait until afternoon to leave.

Life Day 22000: Milestones

This month (October, 2007), is a month of milestones for me. First, as you can see, I am 22,000 days old today (please no accolades, I did nothing to achieve this except exist). New viewers of this BLOG are probably wondering how I keep track of my days on this planet. Brother Donald sent me a link to an interesting website a few years ago, (Paul Sadowski.com). That is the secret. 

The next milestone is that as of 1 October, I now have been retired from the Air Force for as many years as I served (20 years).  I am just simply to young for this to be possible, but it is true nonetheless. I guess that there is a lot to be said about a “footloose and fancy-free” existence. It has kept me young (at least at heart).

The third (and last) milestone I share with my truck. Somewhere around Evanston, WY at about 2300 on the 2nd, it turned over 100,000 miles. It was on a trip fron Corinne, UT to Cody, WY. There is nothing really significant about this except that it serves as a reminder that I need to have another PM Service (lube and oil change) done, but it was yet another milestone. 

Barry Bonds Breaks Baseball Benchmark

Last night Barry Bonds bashed a benchmark baseball into the bleachers in front of his ”hometown” crowd in San Francisco. #756*.
There is a cloud controversy about the validity of this record, because of Bonds’ alleged use of steroids. In my humble opinion, this has no merit. Even if he did use steroids, they were not “illegal” at the time. “Major League Baseball” turned a “blind eye” to steroid use for decades. Only when steroids went “out of vogue” did “Major League Baseball” take a stance against their use. When Mark McGuire, surpassed surpassed Roger Marris’ single season home-run record of 61, he was allegedly on steroids too. When Barry Bond’s then broke McGuire’s single season record a couple of years later, establishing the current record of 73, he broke a “alleged steroid user’s” record. When Roger Marris broke Babe Ruth’s single season record in 1963, there were 30 more games per season than when  “the babe” played. Babe Ruth played in just over 8,000 games in his career to hit his 701 home-runs. Hank Aaron played in just under 12,000 games to set his record of 755. Also, Hank Aaron had the additional benefit of the “improved”, “live” baseball toward the end of his career. 
You can put all the ******** you want behind these records, they are still the records.
CONGRATULATIONS BARRY.  

* This record may not stand for too long anyway. Alex Rodriguez just hit #500 last weekend, and he is just 34 years old, the youngest player to ever reach this milestone. If his career lasts into his 40’s, which is not uncommon, he will almost certainly break Barry Bond’s record.

Joy, Joy, New Toy

On Monday morning I picked up a load in Salt Lake City, UT. Directly across the street from where I loaded was a Best Buy, so I bought a new lense (Tamron AF 18-200 zoom) for my camera. Immediately upon making the purchase, I had to try it out, naturally. First, I took a wide angle (18mm) shot of the building near where I was parked. Next, I took a shot at full zoom (200mm). Finally, I took this shot of some blossoms to check out the macro capabilities of the lense.

I made a mistake and installed the lense hood. I forgot how much available light is comsumed when you use a zoom lense, so the 200mm shot is a little dark. Lesson learned. I was also either too close to the blossom, or I need to be more careful on focusing.
My next attempt was at the MMM’s favorite Rest Area. I started off with three shots, standing in the same place, to demonstrate the difference between 18mm, 55mm, and 200mm.

Still need to work on focus.
Then I tried the Macro again. Three pictures from about a foot away from the subject, progressing through the focal range, 18mm, 55mm, & 200mm.

I’m still too close with the Macro, but it could be used as a good special effect. Notice that the very center of the 200mm picture is in sharp focus. With a little more practice, i’ll soon get the hang of it.

Another “Politically Correct” Pigskin Prognostication

Tomorrow is the “Super Bowl” and in keeping with the tradition I started last year, it’s time to predict the outcome using “politically correct” Liberal logic (an oxymoron).
First we consider the names of the two teams involved. This year it is the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. Bears are vicious beasts who comsume other mammals, poor innocent little fish, and shred foliage from oxygen producing flora to quash their ravenous appetites. Colts are cute little “horsies” who have not even yet reached maturity. This puts the “PC” crowd in a quandry. Being wild animals, Bears should be protected. (Some species are even on the “Endangered Species List”). Colts are domesticated livestock and according to some, should have the same “rights” as humans. See the quandry. Few Colts who encounter Bears survive. Give this point to the Colts because they are cuter and friendlier than Bears.
The next point to consider is the home cities of the two teams. Indianapolis is located in the heartland of America. It tends to be politically Conservative for the most part. Chicago is a bastion of Liberalism with a strong Union base. This is a “no brainer”. Give this point to the Bears.
The third point to consider is the venue. This year the “honors” (re: MONEY) go to Miami, FL. Miami over-all tends to be more Liberal than the rest of Florida, although, President Bush did carry Miami in the much contested 2000 election by a slim margin. The resentment garnered by this fact would be enough to tip this point in favor of the Liberal bastion of Chicago and the Bears in the eyes of most of the “PC” crowd.
The forth point to consider is the “hometown” advantage, if any. The Colts were originally located in Baltimore, and moved to Indianapolis relatively (in the life of the NFL) recently. The last (and only) time they won a “Super Bowl” was 36 years ago when they were in Baltimore in 1971. The Bears have been a mainstay in Chicago since the 1920’s. They have only won one other “Super Bowl” and that was 21 years ago in 1986. I think that the “PC” crowd would give this point to Indianapoils because it is only “fair” that they win since it has been longer between championships for them (the Colts).
The last point to consider is the weather. Since the game will be played in Miami, it shouldn’t be a factor. There is a chance of rain forcast around game time, but both Indianapolis and Chicago are known to get rain. The humidity and heat in Miami should also be no problem for either team since both are located in the mid-west where it has been known to get hot and humid. Even in the one in a quintillion chance of snow, neither team would gain an advantage since it also snows in the midwest. (Note: should more “key” players from one team or the other die of a coronary at the sight of snow in Miami, it could affect the outcome of the game).
Now for the prediction. It’s a close race. The “pundits” favor Indianapolis’ potent offense over Chicago’s strong defense by 7 points. Those are the Las Vegas odds. I think Liberalism will win out and the Politically Correct would choose the Chicago Bears. As much as it pains me to do so, I’d have to agree with the “PC” crowd.
I pick “DA Bears”, but by less than 7 points. My guess at the score is 27 to 21 (maybe 24) Bears!!!!!!!