Journal Entries
B4 - NaJoPoMo 19 Nov 2011 - BMW K1100LT
Posted Nov 19, 2011
"He's able to shirk his NaJoPoMo responsibilities two days in a row? Who does he think he is to get away with that?" you ask.
I don't know what to tell you, other than it's not premeditated. I'd intended to provide a glowing description of my new (to me) 1995 BMW K1100LT on the one-month anniversary of its purchase. However, the bike is still at Gateway BMW in St Louis, as the repairs aren't complete yet. Most of that is my doing, because I'm not independently wealthy and it's expensive to refurbish a machine by this manufacturer. I knew that going into the deal. Therefore, I've been authorizing additional repairs as I've had the "discretionary cash" available. 
What I didn't know is how much the seller of the bike had misrepresented the details. Granted, it's a 15-year-old motorcycle with 121,XXX miles on it; however, BMWs have a reputation for running well, even into the 1/4-million-mile range. The pictures on Craigslist showed the K1100LT bike with a trike conversion chassis attached, and listed it as a Voyager. This was truly a boon for me, because A--- is a bit skittish about riding on motorcycles. I figured having the stability and upright stance provided by the extra wheels would take some of the worry out of her riding pillion with me. We discussed it and she agreed it would be a good transition from Black Betty (my 1997 Honda Nighthawk CB750) to a BMW Motorrad (something I've wanted for quite a few years).
I contacted the seller and discussed it with him. He let me know the bike hadn't been running since he tried to install a new fuel pump; he admitted he might have done something wrong in the wiring or flow alignment. He also stated it hadn't been garaged for a while and might need some clean-up. He graciously agreed to pack in all the documentation, the bike's maintenance manual, and the old fuel pump in the side cases on the bike. I asked him what was the bottom dollar he'd take for it and he cut the price in half from what was advertised. That put the decision over the top and I agreed to have him paid via wire transfer from my bank to his. He let me know he'd send the title and an extra key via priority registered mail to me, and tuck the other key in with the bike so the transporters and the repair crew could move it around easily. I'd originally expected to drive to Sarcoxie, (just west of Springfield), pick up a U-Haul truck in the near vicinity, pack the bike and trike chassis in, and transport it all to St Louis for an initial "health check". One thing and another, I ended up contracting Dalton Logistics (from Earth City) to fetch it and bring it back, finding out in the process they did this frequently for Gateway BMW and their clients. So, I never made the trip to southwest Missouri to inspect the K1100LT first-hand and bought the bike "sight unseen".
After Dalton got it to their warehouse, the person I'd been coordinating with gave me a call and made mention of the condition of the bike. He even sent some photos via e-mail so I could see how they'd strapped the bike to a pallet to keep it upright for transport. One of the shots was a close-up of the front fender and it was obvious the paint had oxidized and flaked off. The Dalton representative assured me they hadn't damaged it, but rather the bike had been found in that condition. He also told me they had to keep it on the pallet because it wouldn't stand up by itself. The previous owner had removed the center stand / side stand to accommodate the trike conversion chassis for his riding style. The seller had disconnected the trike conversion from the bike (as we agreed upon to facilitate transport), but failed to mention there were no stands to hold it up. I got another "knife to the gut" when I asked the Dalton rep to check for which of the four models of Voyager kits was with the bike. He let me know there were not markings or plates to confirm it was an MTC Voyager, never mind style A / B / C / D. He sent me a close-up shot of a stamped metal chit with "BMW" and several numbers embossed around the circumference. One of my coworkers--oddly enough--had worked for MTC in a previous career, and he verified from the photos it was definitely an off-brand conversion kit. It probably wasn’t specifically designed for my style bike, therefore necessitating removal of the stands.
The Gateway BMW service department made mention of the missing stands, stressing the fact my bike was "tying up" one of their lifts. They priced a new assembly near the $800 mark. I balked and let them know I'd try to find something. Initially, I looked for OEM parts via some of the internet motorcycle parts suppliers I'd used before, but it would have cost even more. Perseverance paid off again and--for less than $60--I was able to purchase a reclaimed combo stand AND have it shipped directly to Gateway. They agreed to paint it and install it for a reasonable cost, so I turned them loose with it. They also replaced the fuel pump with another new known good one and got the bike to crank up and run. Score! 
Then came another bit of bad news. There were a handful of other issues I could have them deal with to fully recondition the bike, but they wanted to know how much I was willing to have them do. I had them provide a list and assign priorities to the additional work, so I could make some informed decisions. I decided to limit the next bit of repairs to the front forks, which were leaking onto the brake calipers. Having the forks leak would screw up their damping capabilities and would drastically change the ride capabilities of the bike, especially in turns. The good part about the leak is it kept the front calipers from rusting and seizing, because of being exposed to the elements out-of-doors. Other known issues that can wait a bit to fix include: fuel lines beginning to show signs of age; brakes that might need an overhaul; tires coming due for replacement; a windscreen with minor cracks; and some additional painting opportunities. Yes, I'll be sinking some more cash into this project, but I'll feel good to have it restored and then go out riding with a motorcycling club for some long-distance treks.
In the BMW biking community, this style bike is affectionately dubbed the "flying brick" due to its in-line 4-cylinder engine, instead of the "boxer" engine that was the mainstay for Beemers throughout their history. This particular bike is already making me think it's a bit of a Frankenstein, cobbled together with spare parts by the greatest technical minds of our century. Or rather, it is becoming a Borg, assimilating everything it needs to sustain its life. Hence the reason I'll be calling her "7 of 9".
B4someoneholdsmyfeet2thefire4usingthecorrectlynamedsmileysbutwithincongruousgraphicshavingnothing2dowithcyborgs
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Latest reply: Nov 19, 2011
B4 - NaJoPoMo 18 Nov 2011 – Refuel 18
Posted Nov 18, 2011
I was going to write about our Refuel 18 progress, but…
-- It was scheduled as a "short" 30-day Outage
-- There were no major news-worthy pieces of equipment replaced or refurbished
-- We didn't staff up with anywhere near as many contract personnel this time
-- I did not take on any Outage-related additional duties, as I had before
-- The schedule of events creeped along and full communication was sadly lacking
-- It's almost over, later than desired, and we're finishing with a whimper rather than a bang
…so I'm just not going to bother with it. It would only bore you to tears.
B4ijockeyaround4amoreresponsiblepositionthatwillallowmetotakeonanOutagerole18monthsfromnow
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Latest reply: Nov 18, 2011
B4 - NaJoPoMo 17 Nov 2011 - It's All Greek to Me
Posted Nov 18, 2011
Why I learned a bit of Greek:
I was doing scriptural research, attempting to prove/disprove some key points from the chronicled information about Jesus. I wanted a better understanding of the events and didn't want the language to get in the way.
First steps:
Learn to recognize the letters of the Greek alphabet. I also wanted to be able to pronounce the sounds correctly.
Here's a good resource: http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/greek/index.asp
I actually used the information in our Interlinear Greek - English New Testament to start learning.
Second phase:
Using the built-in concordance allowed me to get a feel for how the words were alphabetized and how to gain skills in looking them up. After some practice, I got good enough to read and pronounce the words directly in the Interlinear.
Epiphany stage:
It's amazing how understanding the language can clear up common misconceptions in translation. [In example, the phrase "enteuthen kai enteuthen" in John 19:18 means “on this side and on that side” and, coupled with the phrase “two others” (allos duo), paints a slightly different picture of Calvary than we've imagined.] Sometimes this type of revelation flies in the face of tradition, but I prefer to learn the truth, rather than simply tag along like a lemming. It has put me at odds with folks on numerous occasions, but a reasonable discourse usually settles the matter; plus, both parties learn something from the exchange. I won't open a debate here; I only wanted to let y'all know these spiritual matters usually engender a bit of discussion.
Practical usage:
Only in the context of biblical studies do I find this handy. I don't have anyone I know who speaks Greek on a daily basis, so conversational Greek is right out for me.
Personal assessment:
I've found it a fun and exciting challenge to get a handle on the alphabet, the pronunciation, and the application of syntactical information in regards to how it affects biblical translation and understanding. I'm thankful the Greek language uses such "exacting" terminology, because it can truly provide a precise definition of a concept. What a marvelous thing language is in bringing our thoughts into the open so we can share important ideas amongst each other!
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Latest reply: Nov 18, 2011
B4 - NaJoPoMo 16 Nov 2011 - Drive Me Crazy
Posted Nov 18, 2011
I snck at First Person Shooter (FPS) games. You know the kind: Doom, Duke Nukem, Call of Duty, Modern Warfare, Halo, et al. I don't deal well with lots of stress and the threat of death. Even if it's only a game simulation, my reflexes aren't good enough to handle the information overload, nor to make split-second life-or-death decisions.
Therefore, I opt out for driving games on my PS3, because it's a "non-threatening" environment. I've been driving IRL for about thirty-five years, so playing driving simulators is like second nature once I memorize the controller button layout. I really enjoy driving games, since they attempt to simulate the physics of a variety of different styles of vehicle. So, if you're like me—not independently wealthy (read: too cheap)—this is a great way to "get the feel of" the driving characteristics of popular cars on the market, from modified stock vehicles to exotic European racers.
How did I get involved in racing simulators? It all started with our GameCube and the Need for Speed (NFS). I've played a handful of the games in this franchise, starting with "NFS Underground" and "Underground 2." The games are predicated on driving in an "open-world environment" around a large-scale town depiction, with intricately mapped roads and shortcuts. The player has the option to engage in challenge races to boost career status and gain money, in order to add modifications to one or more vehicles in inventory, so as to be able to better the odds in successive races. There's even an option to "tune" the engine for peak performance on a Dynamometer in a garage setting. It's a common theme in most racing games to be able to "trick out your ride" so it handles better and looks sharp. Once I bought the PS3, I jumped into "NFS Carbon" and I was in heaven! It offered full-scale morphing of many of the car body parts to enhance aerodynamics, and a paint editor that truly allowed you to make one-of-a-kind vehicles. This is the one driving game I played all the way to completion of the built-in story line, and went back for recaps of certain challenges. The other two iterations of NFS that I played for only a short time were "Most Wanted" and "Undercover." The map layouts were good, but the vehicle mods were more basic and their story lines were geared toward specific race routes.
My wife was not as much enamored of the whole driving game milieu. Why? Because I was inclined to spend an inordinate amount of time playing the NSF games. After a few arguments about how I'd stayed up into the wee hours of the morning doing racing challenges, I finally got wise and started to limit my playtime. Taking a couple of hours (maximum) out of a weekend day is just as good as (or better than) going on a binge and doing without sleep. Now that I'm moderating my play time, life is sweeter; and I still get to "progress" in the games, in manageable steps.
The second driving game I tried out was Midnight Club: LA (MCLA) and its graphics are absolutely amazing. The mapped driving world is a stylized representation of the actual streets of Los Angeles, and the environment offers a gradual day/night cycle to provide a constantly changing view of the surroundings. There are a number of camera viewpoints available for watching how the car handles, from Static (from behind the vehicle) to Bumper (no view of the car, only the roadway) to Cockpit (in the driver's seat). The latter is the most amazing, because it it shows the interior, steering wheel, gauges, and the arms of the driver. As you maneuver the controls, you see the in-game character's arms turn the wheel and reach for the shifter appropriately. The challenges are tough, though not impossible, as you progress through various stages of the game and make improvements to the configuration of your vehicles. There are opportunities for you to win vehicles from rivals via "Pink Slip" races, or you can amass a fortune (and/or sell off older vehicles), then purchase a new one from those available at the Garage. The game also includes a small stable of motorcycles and they are fast! Using the Cockpit view on the bikes puts you right behind the fairing, and the viewpoint dips, bobs, and weaves as you lean the bike into the curves and turns. Not recommended for those with queasy stomachs or problems with balance. The one thing that irked me about MCLA was the original controller set-up. Using two toggle sticks (one for steering, one for the gas / brake) was counter-intuitive to my way of driving. This frustrated me to the point I nearly whipped the Sixaxis controller through our big-screen TV, so I decided to put the game aside. I recently discovered you could configure the controller to suit your driving style, and the game now has a new lease on life. I've even started to win more of the challenge races.
At the time I was getting perturbed by MCLA, I found another game that had been on the racing game scene for a while. The price for Burnout Paradise (BP) dropped to a reasonable amount and I purchased it. I'd not played any of the earlier versions, but other players told me this was the best looking and best handling version yet. I have to agree. Whereas with MCLA, if you faltered or crashed, you lost the race; in BP, the physics engine almost encourages you to crash to see the deformation of each different car's chassis, and the race criteria are less stringent. Since there are 81 cars available to drive, there's lots of mayhem to enjoy. This game is more arcade style and holds quite a few interesting features. It has stand-alone off-line play, yet it can link up to 8 players via the internet. Stand-alone single-player mode calls for you to engage in Races (requiring you to go fast to be first), Stunt Runs (testing your various driving skills to chain stunts together), Road Rages (to bash other cars off the road to past a certain tally), and Marked Man get-aways (where you are the punching bag while trying navigate from Point A to Point B). These same Freeburn Challenges are available for on-line multiplayer games, but the 50 Races available change, depending on the number of players. The one additional off-line single-player mode that's a real hoot is called Showtime. The object is to tank up your boost, hold to buttons to engage the mode, then used your vehicle to pulverize everything in your path, including vehicles, traffic signs, and anything else "not bolted down." The more you destroy, the higher your score. Talk about an outlet for your aggression! The best part about the on-line mode is being able to use a Bluetooth headset to communicate (and "trash talk") with the other drivers. Not only does the game pit all the drivers against each other in competition, it also has a large portion of the challenges designed to promote cooperative play. The marketing department also knew their stuff, because the game has more than a handful of downloadable content (DLC) purchases available. This runs the gamut of additional vehicles, a map expansion designated Big Surf Island, and a Party Mode add-on that allows you to pass the control between friends at your own PS3. Of all the driving games I've played, this one holds the best replay value.
Another one I picked up last year is Blur. It's similar to most of the "career ladder" racing games, in that you have to win races within prescribed time limits on specific track layouts, but you also have the added challenge of meeting Fan Demands for points to unlock more vehicles. The big draw for the game is what's called "powered-up racing." Each track has various "pick-up symbols" you can drive through to add to your arsenal of weaponry (up to a maximum of three), and you can unleash them on your opponents to gain an advantage. Your offensive weapons are: Bolt—three single shots of energized metal slugs to slow and damage the car ahead of you; Shunt—a homing missile designed to take out a driver farther ahead than a Bolt will reach; Barge—a close-proximity thumping sound wave to push surrounding vehicles out of your way; Mine—to drop behind you and let the tailgater swallow an explosion; and Shock—which targets the lead vehicle(s) and shorts out there electronics momentarily. Defensive pick-ups include: Nitro—to give your car a quick boost to pull ahead of the pack; Shield—to block those pesky in-coming offensive weapons; and Repair—to fully restore your car to pristine condition, even if only until you get hit again. Some offensive weapons can be used in reverse (by pushing the steering stick in the opposite direction of normal fire), so Mines can be shot ahead of you (don't run into them!) and Bolts can be shot from your tailpipe. Nitro can also be "fired forward" to quickly retard your speed so you can negotiate a tight curve. On-line play can get pretty wicked, with up to 20 drivers trying to edge one another out for the pole position!
To find out a bit more about these games, check out the links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-person_shooter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_Speed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Club:_Los_Angeles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_Paradise
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blur_(video_game)
B4imeetyouonlinein1ofthegames&nudgeyououtsoiwintherace
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Latest reply: Nov 18, 2011
B4 - NaJoPoMo 15 Nov 2011 - Anniversaries
Posted Nov 15, 2011
Romans 14:5
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
I just recently noted my 9th Anniversary on HooToo. Yea, Toast! The realization I’ve been connected with you lot for that length of time gave me paws to think.
You know what I mean. I took stock of the investment in time and “sharing of myself” and noted the other long-term commitments I’ve had in my life. Twenty years in the Air Force; ten years at Callaway Energy Center; nine years on HooToo; and eighteen years married to A---. Which prompted me to look ahead to our 20th Anniversary in one year and four months. Is that long enough lead-time to plan something truly special? Lord, I hope so. We deserve ~something~ nice for putting up with each other for an entire generation!
Any other anniversary, I'd be debating with myself to celebrate or not. I'm the kinda guy who esteems every day alike, I’m afraid, and sometimes it distresses my wife. She loves to celebrate special occasions, usually planning everything down to a gnat's bum of detail; whereas I'm lucky if I remember to congratulate someone (even a family member) on the day of. A--- has helped me over the years to see the importance of celebrating achievements and commemorative days, especially in regards to honoring family on such occasions. We have both our sons graduating college (this time with BS degrees) on the same day and we expect to corral the whole family for this auspicious event. 
I sometimes ask myself, “what makes this such a special day, anyway?” I mean, is it simply marking time, or do we really care? The obvious answer—the one that evaded me for so long—is it's important to the person celebrating it. Just because ~I~ don't see the reason for making a Big Production out of it, doesn't mean it's not personally important to the celebrant (the person who esteems one day above another). After all, this whole universe is set in motion and has its seasons. [Sing it with me: “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by Pete Seeger and The Byrds, or read it in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. * ] There is “difference” from one day to the next. And I am more convinced with each passing year there is a valid reason to note and highlight key events. Even God takes time to mention important occurrences in the scriptures; why shouldn't we also commemorate things that are meaningful to us?
Now, I'm not a big fan of “over-commercialization” for ~any~ occasion, because things just get silly when we concentrate on that rather than the ~reason~ we celebrate. Witness some of the comments in Journal Entries about the doings on Armistice Day, held only a few days before this posting. I believe we need to continually do a “check-up from the neck up” when it concerns our motivation on ~how~ we celebrate. Certainly, a nice gift of some sort—appropriate to the situation—can mean the world to the one receiving it. Have you ever noted how some people can track their entire history by showcasing meaningful gifts they've kept for decades? So, how elaborate should the gifts be? Not overwhelming to the point of being gaudy; meaningful enough to touch the heart of the one honored. “Re-gifted” McDonald's Happy Meal toys are right out!
Be aware there may come a time when a person has simply acquired “enough stuff.” In example, my Mom has taken to insisting we only send a card these days. For the Holidays, for her birthday, for any other yearly event the greeting card companies choose to push. I can see the efficacy of that. In a sense, it requires us to pause in our routine, reflect upon what the person means to our life, and then communicate it with words. And I'm certain all of us here understand the importance and impact our words can have. The sharing of our thoughts and feelings with another, especially someone close to us, is a loving expression of tender care. I can see this as even more important than showering someone with trinkets if there's no “heart” behind the gift-giving.
So...what have I learned over the years? Keep it meaningful; make it from the heart; commemorate because you value the life of the one to whom you're giving. Blessings will abound when we remember and give something of ourselves in the process of celebrating.
B4iaddyourspecialmoment2myOutlookcalendar
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!
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Latest reply: Nov 15, 2011
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