Midspot

Blog Move

2006-06-26T07:17:00.000-05:00

Come join me on my new blog at midspot.wordpress.com

The RSS feed is found here:
http://midspot.wordpress.com/feed/

Corral Campout Recap

2006-06-20T21:31:00.000-05:00

Thankfully the weather was much more cooperative this year than last year. With highs in the low 80's compared to the mid 100's, it was much more comfortable.

This year's turnout was a little less than last year, which I think was due to the heat, but the crowd also seemed to include more younger people. I can't think of any suggestions to improve next year's event other than have a "parade of campers" type of event where you could look at new models. I did happen to gain access to a few of our fellow neighbor's campers for a look around and all I can say is, "wow!"

Thanks to Corral Sales for giving back to their customers once again.

Bill Gates announces retirement

2006-06-16T07:26:00.000-05:00

Microsoft Corp. today announced that effective July 2008 Bill Gates, chairman, will transition out of a day-to-day role in the company to spend more time on his global health and education work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The company announced a two-year transition process to ensure that there is a smooth and orderly transfer of Gates’ daily responsibilities, and said that after July 2008 Gates would continue to serve as the company’s chairman and an advisor on key development projects.

news link

Wow! Some things you just don't think will ever happen!

spending time with you

2006-06-15T12:57:00.000-05:00

Dear friend,
I found your picture on one of the websites, can we talk to
each other? I might be acoming to your place in few weeks.
This would be a great opportunity to meet each other.
Btw, I am a woman. I am 25. Drop me a line at px@mailforfreedom.com

Don't you just love spam?!

Feed cleanout time

2006-06-14T21:41:00.000-05:00

I cleaned out about 50 RSS feeds out of my blogroll in the last few days. Some sites that I didn’t read anymore and others that no longer exist.

One thing I have noticed is that I haven’t added a new site in a long time. If you want to have your site added to my list of feeds I read everyday, leave a URL in the comments.

Technorati Tags: Feeds, Sites, Opml, Blogroll

Wordpress?

2006-06-14T21:38:00.000-05:00

I have been looking at Wordpress and have been thinking about moving my blog over to that framework instead of Blogger. Either way I host the content on my servers but the Wordpress framework looks like it offers a little more functionality. Anyone have any advice?

Technorati Tags: Wordpress, Blog, Switch

Corral Campout

2006-06-13T21:23:00.000-05:00

It's getting closer. I am started to get excited! I just wish I could get ahead on my college courses before I go...

Halfway Done

2006-06-07T21:19:00.000-05:00

Halfway through training! I am really ready to come home on Saturday. I just found out class will be done early on Saturday but I already am booked for the late flight back into town. Oh well. I don't want to say that the people here aren't great, because they are, it just is kinda lonely here all by myself, although Fridays is really getting to know me by name!

Tomorrow night we plan on taking in some live comedy next door at The Bob. More on that later if we go...

Small milestone

2006-06-06T19:57:00.000-05:00

Well we seem to have crossed a small milestone today. This blog has received 50,000 hits since I moved it to being powered by Blogger from DNN. It is still being hosted on my servers but the management is a little easier with Blogger.

Anyway, thanks for the viewership.

On the road again...

2006-06-05T17:23:00.000-05:00

I am once again on the road for work. This is the first time I am traveling alone though and I have to admit it is a totally different experience. Usually the time just flies when there is someone else to go hang out with after conventions/training/etc but now the day(s) just seem to drag on.

Last night I went across the street to Friday's and had supper after I got into town around nine. I ended up meeting some guys around my age and we discussed the differences in weather and past times from my region to theirs. It's amazing how 1200 miles doesn't really make that much difference in this case but in other areas it is like a whole new way of life.

The weather is good here in Michigan with highs in the seventies and low eighties. People are really friendly here just like back in Bismarck. The hotel is also great and has free Internet which is a welcomed change. The hotel really makes the trip. I've stayed in some real dives and some real nice places and it seems the overall stay is way better when the hotel is better. I guess the extra price of higher quality hotel is worth it.

Training is going good although today was a little boring but you need to start somewhere. I think the group as a whole is pretty close to all being on the same level, which is a huge help to making the class beneficial for all. I really hate when you have both ends of the spectrum and then class is deliberately slowed to accommodate for some to the disadvantage of others. This happened at a training class last fall and I ended up walking away feeling robbed of what it could have been due to the inexperience of one individual.

I really enjoy being with a group of individuals that all think on the same wave length but after awhile it's almost as if you need a break from “geekdom” to just socialize and talk about everyday stuff. I guess some people are just more “techie” than others. I like technology and all but every now and then an unrelated subject is very welcomed. It seems like others just live and breath technology while others can just put it down at the end of the day and do something else.

The part I really hate about being on the road is how far you get behind at work. Just today I have 6 new voice mails which is really odd because usually my phone only rings a couple of times a day, or so it seems. I guess when you handle things as they come up you don't really realize the workload as compared to letting it all pile up and then trying to catch up after a day or two or even a week. Without the Internet, I couldn't imagine the pile up of tasks when returning after a week of absence. I can't even understand how some people can take a week or two vacation and totally unplug. I would just want to never go back and attend to all the things I missed. It is so much easier to tackle some every day. I guess it's not a true vacation this way but to me it is better than the alternative.

I always thought it would be fun to be a trainer or something and travel around all week and attend conferences and seminars and not have to worry about catching up with your real job when you get home. I realize this would still be hard with a wife or kids but for a single guy it would be great. Even now with a serious relationship it gets long being away, much more than it ever was before. It really makes you wonder how some of these people do this full-time with a family waiting at home. I guess with technology and video conferencing and all the Internet tools to connect people it gets a little better but it is not like being there.

Google Video, better than TV

2006-06-03T17:57:00.000-05:00

I’m really getting hooked on this Google Video thing. I mean this is better than the comedy channel.

Where would you find great videos like this Black Metal

And look at this one named OMFG. I think it should be more like WTF?!

You can’t beat this one either. How about some lady getting punched by another right in the ole pie hole!

And who can resist this one of a girl getting caught cheating on her web cam! Don’t worry it’s safe for work.

You can’t forget the original Numa Numa video that started it all... Don’t forget all the reasons to learn the English language (objectionable language...) How about a car pile up on the first snow of the season? Redneck water skiing, the evolution of dance, tunnel crash scene, monkey picks on dog, ice rink driving, and the real reason for the internet! (prolly NSFW due to words but no nudity)

And here is another of a woman and her horse trick!

Now get back to work!

Technorati Tags: Google, Video, Funny, Google Video

Google Cheat Sheet

2006-06-01T19:32:00.000-05:00

Think you know everything about Google? Well think again. This cheat sheet will help fill in the voids...

Technorati Tags: Google, Cheat sheet, Pdf, How-to, Tips, Tricks

Sellers Beware!

2006-06-01T19:28:00.000-05:00

Ever think about selling something on eBay and saying it worked but didn’t? Well hope you don’t suffer the same consequences as this guy featured on this site.

Apparently the guy that owns this site bought a non-working laptop from a guy on eBay and sought his revenge by posted all the pics he found on the dude’s hard drive.

Technorati Tags: Funny, Ebay, Laptop, Broken, Revenge

probably you

2006-06-01T07:41:00.000-05:00

Hi tahere lovely,
I was seaarching the net few days ago. I am new to this thing.
and saw your profile. I decided to email you cause I found
you attractive. I might come down to your city in few weeks.
Let me know if we can meet each other in person.
I am attractive girl. I am sure you won't regret it.
Reply to my personal email at mpuh@freemailserv.com

I just love spam that wants to meet up with me, especially if it is an attractive girl! Who actually falls for this stuff anyway?

Naked Football

2006-05-31T18:52:00.000-05:00

I love this parody on the "naked streaker"!

This may not be safe for work!

Working Trends

2006-05-31T07:29:00.000-05:00

There is a startling occurance happening in Bismarck right now. For the first time that I can remember, there are businesses actually closing because they cannot find workers. Granted the businesses in question are not the greatest paying businesses, but they are jobs. The first happened about a month ago, and was the closing of the rather new A&W on the north side of town. Now just last week the Wendy's on State Street has closed citing the same reason.

I find it hard to believe that they cannot find anyone to work. I think the trend does not have anything to do with a shortage of people but rather a laziness forming in the next generation. I have noticed that fewer college kids are working as compared to when I was in college full time. Also many high school kids no longer have jobs or work very few hours compared to years ago. a lot of these same kids expect to enter the workforce after school with $50k a year jobs and not have to work their way up the corporate ladder. When as not to most of our surprise, this is far from the truth. Actually I'm rather sick of the notion that these kids have about work and expect everything to be handed to them. It makes me glad that I am not an employer that employs un-trained/un-experienced people because the turnover rate and lack of work ethics I hear about from other employers would be maddening.

All I have to comment on the issue is that I hope this next generation wakes up or we are in for some hard economic times in the future of our country.

Being Sick Sucks

2006-05-24T07:29:00.000-05:00

I have been fighting a head cold for 3 days now. It finally won. I am staying home from work today to sleep.

This post was more of a test than anything as I migrated this site to a new server last night. Looks like everything went as planned.

Technorati Tags: Sick, Cold, Head cold, Server, New, Hardware

Surgery is a Success!

2006-05-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

Everything went well they said. Trenton is awake and everything went as planned. As things look he will be released tomorrow around noon or so...

Hotel stay and surgery

2006-05-19T10:25:00.000-05:00

Our lovely hotel was less than stellar. I think they messed up and put two box springs on the bed instead of a mattress. To top it all off the shower this morning was ice cold and there was no adjustment on the water temperature.

Hopefully the surgery goes a lot better than our hotel stay. They admitted Trenton shortly after 9 for surgery. We expect to know more in about 2 hours. We have used the time so far to catch some much needed nurishment in the hospital cafe which was excellant. Now starts the rest of the wait for the after surgery news. Hopefully we now more soon and everything goes well...

Well we made it

2006-05-18T13:14:00.000-05:00

An hour ahead of time to spare even. The drive was pretty un-eventful. A couple of diaper changes along the way and light traffic all the way down.

Found the hotel and hospital without trouble. I'm in the waiting room right now wishing they had a couch to take a nap on. This waking up at 2 AM to drive 6 hours is very over-rated.

At least I have my blackberry to keep me busy....

Ghosts of North Dakota

2006-05-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

I saw a neat news story on the local news last night about these guys that have been going across North Dakota and photographing and filming the vacant and near vacant towns in North Dakota. I always thought this type of stuff was pretty neat because once it’s gone, it’s gone.

I’m glad someone out there is preserving this North Dakota history and I wish them well in their journeys. If you would like to visit the site go to: GhostsofNorthDakota.com

Technorati Tags: North Dakota, Ghosttowns, Ghost, Photo, Pic, History

More of a test than anything

2006-05-16T22:30:00.000-05:00

I'm just testing out posting from my blackberry phone as I'm not sure if I will have internet at the hotel we are staying at in Minneapolis for Trenton's eye surgery.

We leave very early Thursday morning and tomorrow I have a ton of stuff to do including getting the tranny oil changed in my Avalanche before the trip.

Eichele Wedding

2006-05-13T11:48:00.000-05:00

I’m getting ready to head down to Streeter for James’s wedding. I’m taking the camper so we don’t have to drive back tonight. Should be an all night party, knowing the groom!

Last night we went out to Driscoll, as the bar owner’s sister was having a 21st birthday celebration. I was surprised by the amount of people out there. Ended up having a great time.

Well I’m off to Streeter.

Trenton comes for a visit

2006-05-13T11:45:00.000-05:00

Heather stayed with us the other night with the new baby, Trenton. Pedro was really jealous about having something compete for his attention. One thing I noticed, is even after they had left, the house smelled like "baby" for like 2 days. Unbelievable how something so small can leave such a lasting effect...

Long Week!

2006-05-05T17:16:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a week. Glad it is finally over. Got a lot accomplished this week though. Sealed two new accounts. Got approval on another about a design. Gave my final speech for college. I think I sold my laptop. DJ in Steele tonight. Out in New Salem tomorrow. Wow what a week!