While visiting a new home last week I took a photo of wiring running through a front door hinge. Unfortunately my concern was dismissed with a smile: “Oh I been doing this for 15 years” and “its only a small strings of lights.” Sadly, I don’t think pointing out the potential risk will be heeded, but perhaps posting this here might help someone else? As you put away your Christmas lights this season, consider the many safety issues that might have been overlooked. By the way, what do you think about running wires through door hinges?
It’s been almost a week since I’ve posted, so perhaps I’m not addicted to a daily blog after all?
😉 Can I really wish someone a Happy New Year 2007? As we put 2006 behind us, I have a sickening feeling when reflecting on this past year of war (US casualties top 3000), of local violence (Cincinnati homicides highest since WWII) and the of dangers around the world (Iran vying for nuclear power, North Korea testing missiles and continued killings in Israel and Lebanon). The civilized world, including the United States, is continuing to see a depressing slide in values and what traditionalists perceive as right and wrong, or good and bad. Surely people of faith recognize the Godlessness already apparent in much of Europe and that same erosion becoming obvious in the US as well? As a ‘once Christian nation,’ we have discounted biblical standards and the teaching of Jesus … America has moved from our “One Nation Under God” founding principles towards the philosophies of secular humanists. (Or Secular Progressives … as the New York Times bestseller “Culture Warrior” call them.) Sadly as a nation, these new secular values in the United States are adding to the destructive immorality that plagues the world human condition … absent from God.
I’m thankful that ultimately for believers in Christ that the future is certain. That future that holds the promise of an eternal life with our Heavenly Father … one without the wickedness that is so apparent in our world. Thankfully for those who know Christ, the death, destruction and immorality we see today, it will not be our ultimate future. I continue to pray for peace and for renewed direction, but recognized that without God none of this is possible.
Anyway, I also live in the secular world and enjoy the traditions of the moment. Last night (from bed) my wife and I watch Dick Clark and the ball drop in NYC … and after wishing each a ‘Happy New Year’ were thankful for all we have. Our health, our children, our friends and family, our country and our Saviour. May your 2007 be one of blessings … Happy New Year.
It has been a busy holiday week which included Christmas, New Year’s Eve, football and my niece’s wedding. I also wanted to ‘archive‘ at least one photo from from the wedding. (and what a wedding it was!) Here’s wishing both Madison and Nathan congratulations as they begin married life together.
Oh … and thank you Chris and Jerry for a wonderful wedding and beautiful reception out at the Norlyn Manor in Batavia.
Christmas has been hectic as usual around our house. We’ve been entertaining and enjoying the festivities including time with our extended families. (which isn’t going to end until after the New Year!) This year was special for my son as you might have noticed above; Santa brought him a ‘car’ … I’m not sure how it fit in the sleigh?
😀
Several years ago we surprised my daughter with a car as a Christmas present in a much different way, and in fairness, it was only right to do the same for my son. His expectation most likely was that he would inherit my VW Jetta TDI; he has been driving it for the past year. I’ve been slowing misleading him in this direction for the past couple years, sort of hoping that it might be the car he wanted anyway? In maintaining the excitement and surprise that we did for our daughter, I slipped the 2007 VW GTI in the garage at 2 AM on Christmas eve. As a present, I prepared a special license plate frame wrapped in a clothing box which I purposely typed few misleading (but not lying) words to denote that the frame was for the VW. (he was ‘politely’ excited even though he expected that my Jetta would eventually be his) As my wife walked out and positioned herself behind the new car with the video camera and I ‘slyly’ mentioned … “you’ll have to check out the new MP3 player in the VW.” Needless to say, he quickly ran out to check out the new ‘car radio’ — I think his heart nearly stopped as we watch his jaw hit the floor!
Christmas is a wonderful time to burn in familymemories … even when kids are ready to leave the nest. Hopefully, we’re doing the right thing in giving both our children cars and providing them an undergraduate college education? Only time will tell. I hope everyone’s Christmas was merry.
EDIT 12/27/2006: For those who are interested and know us personally enough to care about the video, I’ve included it in the next post with a ‘weak’ password: What’s the color of our house?
Short … and I mean short … ‘no sound clip’ of the new Volkswagen Tiguan mention in an early post. It was displayed at the LA Auto show last week. (the clip was actually a test clip in hopes of better YouTube quality — the encoding didn’t improve it. You can download higher quality test clip here.)
I also want to take the opportunity this Christmas eve to wish each person reading my blog a very blessed Christmas. May the true meaning of Christ’s birthday remain paramount amidst the hubbub of the season. Merry Christmas and Happy New year.
To celebrate the Christmas season, Brenda (my wife) suggested (to my moaning) that we go as a family to see the Nutcracker performed by the Cincinnati Ballet. I’m probably the only ‘guy’ in America groaning about spending $50 a ticket to go to the ballet … right??? Music Hall. Although it was a wet and dreary evening, after the ‘in the rain’ and tiring 5 hour drive back from Cleveland, the warm and historic surroundings offered a perfect setting to escape the rat-race that most of us face preparing for the holidays. Although we’ve enjoyed performances at the music hall before, the Nutcracker was perhaps the best.
As my son and I sat waiting for the ballet to begin, we both started the annoying habit of fiddling with our cellphones. I tried to take a couple low-light photos without looking too obvious and he of course did what teenagers do — that eventual carpel ‘thumb’ precursor: text messaging. (ugh!) The Palm Treo 700p photo at the top looked a little better in black and white and the one below I left with it questionable incandescent color — its looking overhead at the chandelier. All in all, the evening was enjoyable — thanks Brenda.
Toting my Palm Treo 700p with its handy cellphone camera feature, I decided to stop over and see Greg Allen at the Southwest Landmark fuel terminal in Lebanon, Ohio. (click photos for larger) I have been bugging Greg about putting the biodiesel in his public pumps for a while … ever since he became my summertime B100 or B99.5 supplier. SURPRISE … he finally did and and I just now found out!
The current public pump blend is about 10% biodiesel/ 90% petroleum diesel called B10; it is a start. Greg commented today that keeping the biodiesel through the winter might be a challenge since he doesn’t have a heated storage facility. His concern is that once he picks up load at Peter Cremer in Cincinnati that his only storage is truck or tank. He assured me that higher percentage biodiesel would definitely be back by April 1st because his retail diesel fuel sales have “quadrupled.” (If you are a fuel retailer … take note … “quadrupled.”) So … if there are any locals looking for a place to fill their diesel vehicles with high quality Ohio grown, process and marketed fuel … considered the 24hr ‘card access’ Southwest Landmark Fuel Center in Lebanon, Ohio.
Is Yves Rolly a modern day Icarus or perhaps Batman? Maybe not, but when I heard about this “winged man” and his jet powered strap-on wing, all I could think about were the dreams of man flying like birds. Yves Rolly has figured it out and built a set of powered folding wings to strap on his back. He is no amateur tinkerer, but his four jet engine powered wing does leave room for one to question his sanity?
Rolly is an experienced pilot, having flown jets including the Mirage III for the Swiss military. He has work commercially as a pilot of DC-9s and Boeing 747s and continues to chase his aviation passion performing aerobatics, hanggliding, paragliding and skydiving. His experience would indicate that he is not a crackpot inventor, but a man with creativity and talent. If you enjoy experimental aviation, or even if you do not … check out Jet-Man.com and the short video clip below. Not only is this an impressive flight, but seeing him ‘jet’ around with the Swiss Alps in the background makes it doubly impressive.
I took a quick cellphone photo (Palm Treo 700p) showing the 12/20/2006 updated pricing at the biodiesel and E85 Ethanol Mt. Gilead Sunoco. The prices seem to be pretty stable, at least for biodiesel. The central Ohio station is located very convenient to exit 151 ramps on Interstate 71 between Mansfield and Columbus Ohio. Its an easy on and off both north and southbound. (The McWherter Fuel Depot in Delaware Ohio, which is about 20 miles away, was $2.72 for B20 yesterday)
While visiting a new home last week I took a photo of wiring running through a front door hinge. Unfortunately my concern was dismissed with a smile: “Oh I been doing this for 15 years” and “its only a small strings of lights.” Sadly, I don’t think pointing out the potential risk will be heeded, but perhaps posting this here might help someone else? As you put away your Christmas lights this season, consider the many safety issues that might have been overlooked. By the way, what do you think about running wires through door hinges? 
As we put 2006 behind us, I have a sickening feeling when reflecting on this past year of war (US casualties top 3000), of local violence (Cincinnati homicides highest since WWII) and the of dangers around the world (Iran vying for nuclear power, North Korea testing missiles and continued killings in Israel and Lebanon). The civilized world, including the United States, is continuing to see a depressing slide in values and what traditionalists perceive as right and wrong, or good and bad. Surely people of faith recognize the Godlessness already apparent in much of Europe and that same erosion becoming obvious in the US as well? As a ‘once Christian nation,’ we have discounted biblical standards and the teaching of Jesus … America has moved from our “One Nation Under God” founding principles towards the philosophies of 
It has been a busy holiday week which included Christmas, New Year’s Eve, football and my niece’s wedding. I also wanted to ‘
behind the new car with the video camera and I ‘slyly’ mentioned … “you’ll have to check out the new MP3 player in the VW.” Needless to say, he quickly ran out to check out the new ‘car radio’ — I think his heart nearly stopped as we watch his jaw hit the floor!
Music Hall. Although it was a wet and dreary evening, after the ‘in the rain’ and tiring 5 hour drive back from Cleveland, the warm and historic surroundings offered a perfect setting to escape the rat-race that most of us face preparing for the holidays. Although we’ve enjoyed performances at the music hall before, the Nutcracker was perhaps the best.
The current public pump blend is about 10% biodiesel/ 90% petroleum diesel called B10; it is a start. Greg commented today that keeping the biodiesel through the winter might be a challenge since he doesn’t have a heated storage facility. His concern is that once he picks up load at 
