MasonM

Reply to Opensource is damaging intellectual property rights in Politics JoeUser Forums

The RIAA are a bunch of Nazis. Reacting that way over a suggestion just demonstrates their fascist tendencies. Their statement suggests that open source software wouldn't be the "best solutions" for Indonesia. Just because something costs a lot of money and is covered by thousands of patents doesn't make it the best. Having dealt with Microsoft's "support" in past jobs I can tell you that Red Hat or Canonical's support is vastly superior and more effective at problem reso

Reply to iTampon will destroy netbooks due to 'magic', according to Apple. in Personal Computing JoeUser Forums

So when some lawyer realizes it isn't magic what do you think the resulting lawsuit will cost?

A Small Adventure in Blogging JoeUser Forums

After the garage told me this morning that my truck would "probably" be ready on Tuesday I decided that I should go and pick up some groceries to tide me over and save a few bucks. I had noticed there was a bus stop across the highway from my hotel so I got online and checked the bus routes and schedules. That line runs by a Wally World and has a stop there. Now, I must confess here that I have never ridden on a city bus in my life. I have always driven or taken a taxi. Taking a bus w

Reply to Global Warming - A Comedy of Errors in Politics JoeUser Forums

Large L.E.D. technology has come a long way. Military vehicles are now being built with L.E.D. headlights and they work quite well (no heat sinks or fans). Big rigs and trailers now come with L.E.D. marker and tail lights. I've noticed that the price of these tail lights has dropped a great deal over the past few years as they have become the standard. The key with L.E.D. lights is not in making a single diode to burn as bright as you need, but in clustering them to produce the needed

Reply to Took A Shot To The Head Last Night in Blogging JoeUser Forums

:LOL: What can I say?

Took A Shot To The Head Last Night in Blogging JoeUser Forums

As I have posted my truck is in a "broke down" state in Florida and I am holed up in a motel. Today the housekeeper came in to clean my room as I was smoking a bowl of Uhle's Bishop's Move. I was somewhat surprised as she said how much she likes the smell of a pipe and commenced to tell me how her grandfather smoked a pipe and how she liked the smell. Bishops Move is pretty heavy on Latakia so I am always surprised when anyone says they like the smell of it. This lady espec

Reply to The Saga Continues in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Trudygolightly" reply="5" id="2547915"]look on the bright side Mason, you're not sitting in a jail, eating bologna sandwiches, and watching one of those 56 " HD televisions....jk well, it's almost spring and the roads hopefully will be decent and your truck up and running soon[/quote] Being couped up in the motel almost feels like being in jail. I am greatly looking forward to the return of Spring.

Reply to The Saga Continues in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="3" id="2547650"]It was snowing in Chicago yesterday (I had a layover there), so maybe the nasty weather will clear by the time you get back on the road. Good luck on that.[/quote] Yeah, there are always hopeful thoughts.

Reply to The Luck Of It All in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Getting older. Yeah, that happens. Dammit. While not a red-head I am mostly Irish so the grey doesn't surprise me too much. Hell, my Uncle Ray was totally grey at the age of 20. Ya just can't beat genetics. But then my grandpa was bald at the age of 25 so I've surpassed that (although steadily thining now). I guess my grandmother being Apache has aided me in those areas.

Reply to Bow Tie Anyone? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="7" id="2547333"]I always associate a bow tie to College Professors. Much like you come across as Mason. [/quote] I didn't know it showed. [e digicons]:D[/e]

Reply to The Saga Continues in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Leinad0033" reply="1" id="2547264"]Well look on the bright side now you have alot of time to put that E reader you just got to good use.[/quote] True enough.

The Saga Continues in Blogging JoeUser Forums

This morning I spoke with the engine shop that has been working on my truck since last Wednesday. They still have the engine torn down and still have to replace the pistons and cylinder lining as the blown head gasket that started this mess caused the tops of the pistons and the cylinder walls to be burnt and pitted. Wonderful. So basically they are having to rebuild the engine. This is probably a good thing in the long run as the warranty is due to run out in less than 200,00

Reply to My new 'toy' in Personal Computing JoeUser Forums

Cool but what kind of gas mileage does it get? [e digicons]B)[/e]

Reply to Bow Tie Anyone? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Nitro Cruiser" reply="3" id="2545538"]I have mixed feelings on them. I think they look great with formal wear (tuxedo), but not so much in place of a tie. Of course, the person wearing it does make a difference. Some are more suited to it than others, I just happen to fall into the later group.[/quote] Yeah, bow ties are like that. Some like them, some don't.

Reply to Bow Tie Anyone? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="notronaj" reply="1" id="2545266"]I have always liked a bow tie. My father looked dashing in one as I am sure you do. I guess you chose the ties rather than to eat. Now that is sticking to a diet! An waiting for the pic sans the beard too! I wouldn't know you now if we passed on the street. Take care and I am glad you liked the e-mail pics. judy[/quote] Thanks. No, I wasn't forced to forgo sustin

Reply to Where Is Starbucks? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="JillUser" reply="5" id="2544542"]I drove my hubby crazy when we were in NYC one time and I kept saying "Oh look, a Starbucks!" Every couple of minutes....they were everywhere! Every corner we turned had one![/quote] Even worse! Did you know that in NYC there is actually a Starbucks inside of another Starbucks? It's crazy.

Bow Tie Anyone? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I may have mentioned in some previous article that I am rather fond of wearing a tie on most days. While I do often wear what one may think of as a traditional tie, I am also fond of the good old, much maligned, bow tie. While killing some time at the local mall yesterday I wandered into Bloomingdale's to have a look around. I noticed they had many menswear items marked down 40%, making the prices almost reasonable. While looking at some of the sale items I came ac

Reply to Where Is Starbucks? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="utemia" reply="3" id="2544279"]I would hazard a guess that truck stops are way better than gasstations. When I was in the US I never stopped at a truckstop because I wasn't really traveling around that much, but we did stop for gas and coffee when we took small trips. One cool thing is that gasstations sell jerky lol we don't have that at all in Germany. It sort of made me feel like primitive caveperson, chewing on dried meat - or like a dog, because some of the hide chewtoys look

Reply to Where Is Starbucks? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I don't care for Starbucks coffee either. I also don't like flavored coffee. Due to my line of work most of my coffee comes from truck stops. The Pilot fuel stops have the best coffee of them all and that's where I try to get my morning coffee when possible. Their Sumatra coffee is very good.

Reply to The Luck Of It All in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="utemia" reply="3" id="2544227"]What do you do with the things you knit? I mean you can never have too many warm socks, but still.. what kind of things do you knit besides pipeholders? Sweaters, shawls, hats, mittens or maybe some decorations for your truck (jk)[/quote] I knit socks, hats, scarves, and sweaters mostly. Some are for myself but most I give as gifts.

Where Is Starbucks? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Just to get out of the motel today I took a cab to the local mall. I had him drop me off at a corner and started walking. As I was standing and waiting for the light to change so I could walk across the street this guy stops his car and asks me "Where is Starbucks"? Hell if I know. The car behind him was honking the horn, as was the car behind that one. I decided to have a little fun and pretended I didn't hear him. I got away with it three times and numerous honks before he f

Reply to Obama just cut off funding to NASA??? in Everything Else JoeUser Forums

I think it's great that Obama is cutting off funding for any scientific research that doesn't put money into green pockets.

Reply to Will America always be a superpower? in Everything Else JoeUser Forums

Historically, all "super powers" eventually fall. The U.S. will likely follow suit. Eventually. Personally, I predict the next Great Super Power nation will be Liechtenstein.

Reply to The Luck Of It All in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Leinad0033" reply="1" id="2543602"]Sorry to hear about your engine troubles I hope that you will be able to get back on the road soon.[/quote] Thanks. Such is life on the road.

The Luck Of It All in Blogging JoeUser Forums

This morning I called the engine shop to get an update on the repairs to my truck. The news was by no means good. This morning they arre pulling the head. He told me they had received some of the needed parts but were still waiting for some of them and the truck would be in the shop at least until the early part of next week. Wonderful. I'll be spending the weekend in this motel room. As I've already been here for two days, that's going to pretty much make a week of down time by the t