My Shit

Baby!

2011-11-24T17:05:00.001-05:00

And the latest addition to the BS household is Annalena Evelyn on 11/23 at 11:40pm weighing in a 9lbs and 10oz and 22" long.

Defended

2011-09-08T09:19:00.002-04:00

After just over 6 years in the program, I successfully defended my dissertation on Tuesday 9/6/2011.

Considering the difficulties of the first 5 years, the last year was relatively smooth, and I would call the last hour (the defense itself) easy.

It was also rather anticlimactic. One would think that reaching success after a long struggle would bring joy and happiness. It mostly just brought relief and maybe some dull satisfaction. I am told the joy might follow in a few weeks. We'll see.

Defense

2011-08-03T12:46:00.000-04:00

I am finally being allowed to schedule my dissertation defense! Better very late than never.

Horray Job

2010-07-09T17:29:00.002-04:00

Got a job! Now I just need to find a place that wants to loan me some cash to buy a reliable form of transportation so that I can get to that job.

Transitions

2010-07-06T16:05:00.002-04:00

Transitions are always weird. There's often a lot of cleaning both physically and mentally as we move from one space, location, job, home, car, etc. to another. It doesn't seem to matter if things have been particularly good or bad, there's still a number of good memories and positive attachments that are about to change.

To me, this major type of change generates an unease. The worst part though is my lack of ability to fully describe it. It isn't the uncertainty that's getting to me, at least not this time. ... I don't think so anyway. While there is uncertainty in my next steps, there's also a lot of joy that things are finally moving forward. Maybe there's frustration that there's been so much difficulty and anguish and that the transition is so subtle and small.

Either way, I'm here now. I don't know if I'm happy, sad, or both. But I really can't wait.

More than one?

2010-03-23T23:49:00.003-04:00

Yes, there is more than one Sweptline pickup! I have the good fortune of having a Swepline owner 30 minutes away from me that likes to share his knowledge.

Transmission Inspection Cover

2010-03-20T21:39:00.001-04:00

Replaced the transmission inspection cover on the left with the one on the right.

Used some 3M Strip-Calk (their spelling) to seal it up.

I know it is supposed to be body color but this will work for now with my tattered carpet.

Once I figure out what "body color" is going to be I can paint it all.

Much quieter in the cab now without a bunch of holes in the floor.

Haulin' somethin'

2010-03-15T21:26:00.001-04:00

And for the first time since I can't even remember when, the truck being used as a truck (plus my wife modeling). It wasn't much of a load (60 8' dog eared pickets, 9 2"X4"X10', 1 4"X4"X8', 3 bags of mulch, and 4 bags of top soil), but it sure was nice to use the truck like a truck again.

Up and running

2010-03-07T18:37:00.002-05:00

All cleaned up and ready to go. Now if I only had money for paint and body work. Regardless, bring me some Hondas!!!

More success!

2010-03-05T16:05:00.000-05:00

My PhD dissertation proposal defense went well. I am now a full PhD candidate and what they call "ABD." I don't know what ABD means exactly. I've heard "all but dissertation" and "all but done." I really don't care what it stands for. It means I'm one step further to getting my rear end out of here.

Finally

2010-02-28T18:55:00.001-05:00

Took the truck for a drive today.

It isn't finished, but it is drivable.

Stupid Hookers

2010-02-19T18:49:00.002-05:00

I ordered a set of Hooker brand headers for the Swepty that were supposed to fit. I even called to verify. They don't fit, of course. So here's a visual representation of my assessment of the less than fortunate situation.

Bout Darn Time

2010-02-12T22:08:00.003-05:00

I was finally allowed to set a date to defend my dissertation proposal. March 5th at 1pm in room 222 of the COM for all you folks that would like to come.

This has been such a long, stupid process I am mostly just relieved rather than happy.

Install Day 3

2010-02-09T08:40:00.002-05:00

I moved the hard part of the trans mount around and got it to fit. I can't say I'm thrilled with this but all of the parts directly under a clamping load are clamped. I think there might be a bit of a moment arm front to back but it doesn't seem too bad.

Here's where I dinged the passenger side header to make it fit.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to bash on the driver side header enough to make it fit.

I got the fan and a number of hoses installed.

Cut out the carpet where I'd installed the MSD. You can see all the great holes in the floorboard that had been made for the A/C system. I don't know if I'm going to try to find some body plugs (may want A/C in the future) or just weld it all up and be done with it.

Got the heater box in.

Got the heater core in.

And finally buttoned up.

I reused the firewall grommets that were on the heater core tubes. I tried looking up the part number and couldn't find them. These were still pliable but I can't image they'll last another 42 years.

Filled the radiator and transmission with fluids. Put the plug in the engine oil pan but since I still don't have a driver side header I haven't installed the dipstick tube. Put the battery in and ran the new line down to the starter. And for the first time in months I have headlights again.

We'll have to see if I can get the driver side header to fit at all. If I can, tomorrow might be the first day this truck will have run since late September.

I've very excited.

Install Day 2

2010-01-28T21:50:00.001-05:00

Finally found the time and weather to work a little more on the truck.

Got the drive shaft installed. Clearly the axle has not had the same R&R as the rest. I think after I get it running again my next thing will be to change gear sets (from 2.73 to around 3.23) and clean this up a lot. I obviously have a wheel cylinder or axle seal leaking on that far side as well (I think it is the axle seal).

I got the torque converter attached to the flex plate. The directions on the torque converter suggest I need 1/16 to 1/8" between the flex plate and the converter when the converted is shoved all the way back. I've got less than 3/16 but more than 1/8." I think I'm going to call Turbo Action to see how critical this really is. I can always add the washers they call for but attaching the flex plate and torque converter is a real PITA to do by yourself (crawl under, check for access, crawl out, turn crank, crawl under, install one bolt loosely, crawl out, turn crank 90*, crawl under, drat, went to far, crawl out.......).

Got the starter installed. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the starter. It works well. I was in a hurry when I got it (about 3 years ago) and I live like 30min from Summit. I didn't know about the conversion to the modern LA starter at the time. The bottom stud is very difficulty to reach and is never really all that tight. This, of course, will turn over a high compression race engine...but I don't have one of those. Lesson learned.

I made a number of the other "on my back" connections today as well. That included the speedo cable, shift linkage, throttle pressure linkage, trans cooler tubes, neutral safety, and trans dust shield. The one thing I did run across though, and I knew it was something of an issue already, is that the trans is pulled really far forward (and the engine sits in its mounts all the way back) such that the trans isolator is really stretched.

I really don't know what to do about this. It was like this before the "new" engine as well. I had what were clearly homemade engine mounts before and I hoped getting the right mounts would fix this issue. It hasn't. I am confident I have the hard mount and isolator on the engine in the right location. But I don't know about this thing. It doesn't look like there is a wrong way to install this but something ain't right here.

I also test fit my shorty headers and they hit the new bigger engine mounts. I used these headers before with the homemade mounts and they cleared just fine. ...I've got my buddies welder. I'm reeeeaaaaalllllly tempted to try to make up my own set of long tube headers and redo about 1/3 of the exhaust system. At the same time, I reeeeeaaaaallllllllllllllllyyyereallllllllyyyyyyy want to drive this thing again.

Install Day 1

2010-01-24T12:39:00.003-05:00

Engine and trans are in. Still have a ton of work to do.

Unfortunately, install day 2 will have to hold off for awhile because of rain.

Final Build Day

2010-01-20T23:32:00.000-05:00

Now to work on install:

Another truck engine day

2010-01-14T20:32:00.003-05:00

The oil pan drain plug attachment in my oil pan was brazed in when I got it and in beating the pan back into shape caused the brazing to break. We brazed it back together and then I sanded down and repainted the damage to the paint from the heat.

The rear sump pickup tube hit my windage tray preventing me from getting it spun around to the right location.

We did a little heating and bending and got it all to fit.

Put some clay on the pickup and placed the pan to make sure I had proper clearance.

Good to go. Just need to bolt down the pan and cut the holes in the valve covers for the breathers. This sucker is almost ready to install!

1st Day

2010-01-12T08:56:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of teaching for me for this semester. Keep your fingers crossed that this is actually a good class.

I wish the class wasn't this early in the day. I'm not even awake yet.

This, however, is the last class I have to teach at Tech!

Drat!

2010-01-10T00:36:00.002-05:00

Found a nice little surprise in the drive shaft when I went to replace the u-joints.

This'll be going to the drive shaft shop for an opinion at the very least and likely a repair.

Transmission!

2010-01-05T15:24:00.002-05:00

Got the trans finished a few days ago and finally have time to post the pictures.

Here's some dirty parts:

Found a bolt in sprag & a 3.8 lever (the 5.0 lever was sooo yesterday), that was nice:

Got the case cleaned up. Not the cleanest I've ever gotten a case but it was the best I could do with the time I had:

Only six springs where we expect to see around twelve. I liked the way it shifted, so we left it with just six:

Stack of clean parts:

Just showing off my friend's homemade trans stand:

Got the valve body cleaned up, made a few modifications, and ready to go back together

The servos and accumulators are back in and ready to go:

Clutch packs, drums, sun shell, and planetary gears are all back in:

Pump is back in with a new seal and a new pump / convert bushing for the new converter:

Correct style rear seal. My friend builds mostly race transmissions and doesn't use these so I had to pick that seal up. We used a connecting rod to go around the seal / bellows so that we could knock it in. Worked like a charm:

Valve body and filter installed:

Going to clean up and paint the pan when I get home so that I don't accidentally scratch it while transporting it before I even get it installed:

One step closer.

My Shit Is:

2009-12-30T02:13:00.002-05:00

My Daytona.

It is a piece of crap. I need a real job if for no other reason than to have a newer car.

Build Day 11

2009-12-15T20:53:00.002-05:00

Got my pushrods in from Trend Pushrods and threw them in. Adjusting the preload was easy with the correct parts.

Installed the bathtub pan, intake manifold, throttle return spring bracket, and kickdown bracket. I think it is turning out rather well. I hope it runs well too.

Out with the old

2009-12-10T19:59:00.002-05:00

Pulled the engine and trans out. I gotta say, a hood that goes straight up is handy:

Pulled the trans off the engine:

Squats a bit with a 440 in the back and nothing in the front!

Install Day 1

2009-12-06T17:38:00.002-05:00

I started installing some of the parts I got for the truck actually in the truck. I wanted to keep an eye on some things that the current gauges and dummy lights don't do.

I installed a vacuum gauge on the right (necessary for setting up a carb correctly) and oil pressure on the left (there is currently only a dummy light and I want to know more than that). Sorry for the crappy cell phone picture but I was in a hurry and it was chilly today.

Build Day 10

2009-12-04T23:13:00.000-05:00

Hammered out the dents in the oil pan. Fixed a rip in the metal with the welder and sanded that back down. Finished the pan too late in the day to get it to the hot tank. Ordered the dipstick tube to replace the broken one. Received the torque converter, flex plate, and bolts. Installed the sending unit for the electric oil pressure gauge and the oil pressure switch for the dummy light in the dash.

Build Day 9

2009-12-03T20:03:00.002-05:00

Sorry I don't have any interesting pictures to go with this stuff lately. It is all mostly just tedious work and there's not much to take pictures of.

Today I got the pedestal issue cleared up. There was a burr from the original machining done that was sticking out and hitting the rocker. Got the rocker side clearance finally set. Used an adjustable pushrod checking tool to figure out what length pushrods I need to order. I checked about 1/2 of the rockers and I'm glad I did because there is some variance and if I wouldn't have checked that many I likely would have ordered pushrods that were too short by 0.050 or so. Well, they would have worked but it would not have been optimal.

My oil pan came in today too. Took it out of the box and got pissed right away because the pan itself has been beat up. If they were still making these I'd be sending this pan back to the guy I bought it from. Oh well, some quality time with a hammer and a welder tomorrow and I'll have it all squared away. But then the pan the pickup both need to go to the hot tank before I can do anything else with them. Ain't nothin' easy on this damn thing.

Build Day 7 & 8 or so

2009-12-01T22:40:00.002-05:00

I spent build day 7 trying to adjust the side spacing on my rockers and the preload. That didn't work out so well for me.

On build day 8 I called a distributor for the rockers. Found out that for a street car the side spacing I was using was far too small and redid everything. Found out the last rocker on the pass side is hitting the rocker pedestal and I'll have to address that before I can finish. Based on some math I'll need pushrods 0.23 shorter than stock as well. I also found out that my el cheapo valve covers are just a hair too short.

Build day 6 or so

2009-11-25T17:56:00.001-05:00

Had a couple of days where I had to go backward (not much fun). But now I'm moving forward. Got a number of things put together today but will need to do much adjustment.

A note to UPS

2009-11-25T11:48:00.001-05:00

It hurts your customer base if your semi-truck drivers run over customers and kill them. I thought you should be aware of this since it does not appear that you are.

More Head Work

2009-11-21T21:53:00.003-05:00

When you cut the deck face of the head you also have to cut down the intake face. Its a geometry thing.

Saw something funky when getting read to clean up the decks on the block to install the heads. Decided to pull one piston to double check everything. What I though might have been wrong was not wrong but I did find a couple of other problems that I'm not especially thrilled about. I'll get it all taken care of though. It just takes more time.

Head Work

2009-11-20T22:18:00.003-05:00

Decided to mill the heads down a tad to get the compression up. It'll still run on pump gas and maybe even 87 octane, so all is still well with the world.

Heater

2009-11-15T21:53:00.002-05:00

Got the heater box painted and reassembled.

Before:

After:

Build Day 4

2009-11-13T21:30:00.002-05:00

Installed the harmonic balancer, the crank pulley, the water pump housing, the water pump, the thermostat and thermostat housing, a wire loom holder, the temp sensor (not pictured), the heater hose barbs (not pictured), the water pump pulley (temporary install), and the head studs (not pictured).

Build Day 3

2009-11-12T20:33:00.001-05:00

Timing chain installed:

Degreeing the cam:

Timing cover, oil pump, and fuel pump installed:

Day 2

2009-11-06T22:36:00.001-05:00

Rings went on pistons, bearings went on the rods, and pistons went in the engine. Also cleaned up the oil pump.

Going back together: day 1

2009-11-05T19:56:00.001-05:00

Cam and crank installed:

Just liked this shot of the crank through the cylinder bores in the block:

Painted Block

2009-11-04T21:20:00.000-05:00

The block is all painted up. Time to start putting it back together.

Truckin'

2009-10-31T18:30:00.003-04:00

Been working on the engine for the truck quite a bit.

I've cleaned up a number of parts and they are ready to be bolted up.

We put the block in the boring/honing machine today.

As soon as the block is honed I can clean it, paint it, and start reassembly.

There was much bad news on this motor when we took it apart. It had been a 1/2-ass rebuild job that was done poorly. The block itself was in great shape. The decks were flat and the mains were properly sized. But I've had to do some work on the rods and pistons to make them right. Very soon though it will be ready.

Friday October 30th

2009-10-31T11:20:00.002-04:00

Our own personal Friday the 13th.

Alex lost her job because the company she works for is closing its doors.

I found out I'm going to have to rewrite my dissertation from front to back because one out of the five people on the committee (the last person) doesn't like most of it.

Oh! That's not stock?

2009-10-11T19:46:00.001-04:00

I wonder how many people will be fooled simply because I painted things with a stock engine paint color. Probably not many.

Not so quick

2009-10-06T21:51:00.004-04:00

The spare engine will not be up and running as quickly as planned.

Pulled a rod cap to double check and it is toast. The other 7 were also toast. The part nearest the camera with the copper colored marks is what is bad. The copper colored marks should not be there at all.

The spare engine

2009-10-04T00:31:00.002-04:00

Because who doesn't keep a spare 440 sitting around???

Dove into the engine today and things are looking good. It is going to take some work but things could have been so much worse. Hopefully I get it running shortly after I get all the parts in.

Broke the crank in half it still restarts!

2009-10-02T17:35:00.001-04:00

See if you can find the break!

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, MARTA bus.

2009-09-25T00:45:00.002-04:00

Things have not been good for the Daytona lately. I replaced the fuel pump. It is the "in tank" style (dumbest design EVER). The o-ring around the pump is leaking. After recovering from the flu, I decided to try to fix the issue. I jacked the car up, pulled the pump, and found that the o-ring and various mating surfaces looked fine. I reinstalled the pump and tapped the lock ring on just a little tighter this time (beyond where it should actually be tight). I dropped the car to the ground and decided I would fill it up with gas to see if all of the nothing I'd done had made a difference. Went to take off and noticed the voltmeter said 8v (aka. very low and not not good). Checking the codes on an '80s Dodge is easy. We call it the key dance. You go from off to accessory position with the key, then back to off and you do this 3 times. Then the "check engine light" (CEL) will flash. Kind of like Morse code. You count the flashes, record them, then go look them up on the internets. I got what I would call a death code. The car ain't moving until I replace one of the computers.

I'd already been waiting for weeks on one of these computers from a parts supplier without success and decided I'd go to the junk yard today and find one. There's always one at the junk yard (note: there were none at any of the 3 junk yards I went to today). I was driving the truck and on my way to the first yard I hear the exhaust ticking like I've got a leak at the header/collector. I've been expecting this since one side went out not too many months before because I used the cheap gasket (never again!). They come in packs of 2 so I had a spare and it is a quick fix but I was still annoyed since it was another thing I needed to fix. Well, after getting to the first junk yard and verifying it was a header/collector leak I shut the hood and took my wedding ring off. I nearly always take my ring off before I go to the junk yard to keep from snagging it on stuff (and potentially losing a finger) and to keep funk out of it. I put it on the turn signal stock just like I always do (and answered the question "what year's yer truck" for a guy because that happens every 20 seconds when you own a '68 pickup).

I never expected what happened when I left the junk yard. As I was leaving I made a right turn onto a 4 lane highway. I felt something hit my left knee. Then I heard a "tink" sound of metal on metal. Whatever it was that had hit my knee fell into the step well of the truck between the cab and the door (old skool trucks have step wells...something the bigger 4X4 trucks of today could desperately use). Then, I hear "tink" "tink" "tink" of metal on the road next to the truck. The door seals on the truck are mostly gone. What ever had fallen into the step well had fallen out of the truck between the door and the step well and onto the road. Oh, wait, I finally know what metal that was. That was my wedding ring!

I stopped.

I got out.

I started walking back up the road.

I'm thinking I'm likely dead.

I don't know how I'm going to find a little ring on a 4 line highway.

I see a dead snake.

Well, if I can see a dead snake, maybe I can see my ring.

I keep waling.

A MARTA bus goes from the lane nearest me to the other lane to stay clear of me (MARTA buses never go that, must have had some other reason for changing lanes).

I keep walking and scanning the lanes.

I feel almost dizzy because I'm trying to widen my vision out to see as much as possible but I also thing I'm likely a dead man for losing my wedding ring.

Then I see it.

It is in the middle of the road.

I look up, no cars, I go get it.

It is still perfectly round but it has some dings. The MARTA bus ran over it (explains why it really changed lanes).

So, that's basically how my day started. How was yours?

An R&R!!!!

2009-09-15T18:45:00.003-04:00

When most people hear "R&R" they think relax and rejuvenate. In academia, we get revise and resubmit. Journals these days in my field rarely accept on the first go. So an R&R is about the best it gets on a first round.

I got my first R&R today from a high level journal. This is a very very very good thing. A very good thing.

Holey

2009-08-30T21:48:00.002-04:00

The spare tire well in the Daytona this morning:

Early this afternoon:

I don't have finished pictures yet. The hole has metal in it but I don't want to show any more until it is done.

Too Much

2009-08-27T23:41:00.003-04:00

My car is a piece of work. There are parts of it I like. There were only 3000 of these made originally. The t-top cars were also hand built. There aren't that many cars around these days that are hand built. I don't know how many of the C/S '86 Daytonas are t-top cars but even it it were all of them, and we lost 100 per year since they were new (I know, it isn't likely a linear function but an exponential function instead, but it is a freaking estimate so get over it) we're only left with about 600 or so of these cars on the road. It is a neat and unique car. It was very highly optioned for '86 and still has some options you don't see to often these days 23 years later.

But the car often fails. Weekly, at least, something goes wrong that makes me want to set it on fire and turn it in for the insurance money. God knows most of these really did burn up because of electrical problems or the stupid way the fuel lines attach to the fuel pressure regulator. I've worked long and hard these past couple of years to make it a fine working automobile. And when the weather is just right, taking the t-tops out is wonderful. Really wonderful. The car is a convertible without the commitment.

Lately though it has had me in fits. The fuel pump and fuel delivery to the engine nearly have me in tears. The "experts" for this car and others like it are at as much of a loss as I am. Even if I were to rip all of the fuel delivery system out and replace it wholesale I'm not sure my problem would go away. When it runs well, it is a nice car. For the past few months, nearly continuously, it has not been a nice car.

I need to graduate if for no other reason than to find reliable transportation.

Looks and works good

2009-08-06T00:39:00.003-04:00

The compressor is a little dirty. I ended up sanding off any rust on the lines and painting them to prevent any further rust. It has been running so good I've even had to turn it down in the evenings!

Car Toil

2009-08-03T21:39:00.002-04:00

The AC in my car quit on Friday. The AC in this stupid car has been a pain in my ass since I got it. In fact, when I got it, it didn't work at all. I tried letting a local Firestone take a swing at it but they failed miserably. I finally rebuilt it myself last summer. It worked okay but wouldn't cool very well at stop lights. But Friday was the end of it. The longer I drove the warmer it got.

Did a little research and found out that rebuilt compressors, like the one I was using, often fail. They are worn out when they are rebuilt and some of the parts that are worn out cannot be replaced. The quit making/using the compressor in my car in 1990. Another rebuilt version of mine would cost around $200 and a new one, if it could be found, would be around $400.

Did a little more research and found that with a few parts from the junk yard I could convert my AC system to the 1991 and newer setup. With $75 in parts from the junk yard (AC and alternator bracket [used a different one for the newer compressor], compressor, hoses, idler pulley, and condenser) and $25 in parts from AutoZone (gotta use a new dryer in the system) I was ready to have it vacuumed own and recharged. Cost about as much to have it vacuumed down and recharged as it did for me to rebuild the entire system. But it works and it seems to work very well. It was putting air out of the vents at around 48*F on my way home from work today. It also continues to work at stop lights!

It was a royal pain in the ass to rebuild this stupid system though. It wasn't very hot outside but it was super humid. All I had to do was think really hard and I was breaking into a heavy sweat. I had to make 2 runs to the junk yard because I didn't think to grab the idler pulley from the car I yoinked the rest of the parts from (I mean, seriously, why would Chrysler use two different pulleys). I also tried about 5 different belts before I got one that was the right size. I guess the older style crank pulley is enough of a different diameter that when matched with the newer style AC setup the stock belt no longer works. Most of the weekend I was soaked with sweat and I stank. This normally wouldn't bother me too badly because normally when I work on my car I am doing performance upgrades or learning something new. This was just strait out work that had to get done and it sucked.

Partly disassembled a turbo today

2009-07-25T23:25:00.002-04:00

Started taking apart my turbo that I plan on rebuilding. There is next to no slop in this thing but it is 23 years old and will be coming apart regardless.

Both wheels look to be in great shape with no indication that either side ever ate anything.

A look at the amount of meat in the outlet of the compressor cover. I hope to taper this so the lip is less than an 1/8" rather than over a 1/4"

And just for fun, a shot of a 2.25" vs a 2.5" SV that'll be going on. That looks like more than just a quarter of an inch.

This thing was just about completely rusted together. I tried using heat (oxy map) and PB Blaster but it just couldn't cut it. Many of the heads of the bolts connecting the exhaust housing to the center section were nearly round. Getting this SOB apart was not exactly fun.

Looks like I made myself a .48 housing to practice my porting skills.

Portland Brewpubs

2009-07-17T00:51:00.002-04:00

Rogue is the one most beer drinkers will have heard of. Deschutes is not.

Rogue beer list was long but after trying three I only had 1 I liked and it was not the right time of year for it. The waitress was an idiot that didn't know about beer. The inside of the ale house (we ate outside) smelled like stale beer poured on the floor (aka. fraternity smell). The only good thing was the beer and cheese plate. We didn't go back. Admittedly, this was Rogues ale house and not their actual brewery. We may go there in a few days when we're in Newport.

Deschutes had a long beer list as well but, unlike Rogue, I never tasted anything I didn't like. Alex found a beer she loved too. We ate at this place for lunch and came back for dinner. Everything we tried, beer and food, was fantastic. The waitress still couldn't answer my question but she had much more a clue than the one at Rogue. This was also not the main brewery for Deschutes but they do brew some of their beers at this location.

Moral of the story: Rogue sucks, Deschutes FTMFW!

Don't count 'em before they are hatched.

2009-07-11T09:34:00.001-04:00

There's a strong possibility that I'm getting married today. Sounds good.

Max Mosley...

2009-06-26T13:17:00.001-04:00

...is a whiny bitch.

Been doing some work on the Swepty

2009-06-08T19:43:00.000-04:00

Updated here:
On my Superbee Blog

Bugatti Veyron

2009-06-07T13:37:00.002-04:00

I saw this car once a few months ago headed down GA400 (north of Atlanta). I thought, must be a Falcon's player or something. They cost over $1.4M and are only making 300 for wold wide production. I figured I'd never see the car again.

Then headed up GA400 on my way to a friend's I see this odd thing coming down a ramp. Could it be the Bugatti? Yup.

I'm kind of impressed with the image stabilization in my phone's camera.

And, Oh Hell Yeah, That's Right, Bugatti in the rear view mirror of a Dodge Daytona!

Sitting at a light

Another priceless rear view mirror shot.

Way to go Dekalb county police

2009-05-27T19:07:00.002-04:00

I watched a Dekalb county police officer watch two cars and a motorcycle run a red light today. There is a reason Atlanta drivers are so bad and it at least partially comes from a lack of police enforcement of laws (that Georgia drivers are unaware of, see post below).

No Shit

2009-05-24T02:09:00.000-04:00

Georgia has some of the dumbest drivers:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2009/05/22/georgia_bad_drivers.html?imw=Y

Turned in a Part

2009-05-13T11:57:00.002-04:00

Well, I've almost completely re-written the first part of my dissertation. This includes a new introduction, cutting the lit review in half, and completely re-doing the theory section. I turned that in yesterday for a review by my adviser. Now we wait.

Disser-working

2009-04-23T11:29:00.002-04:00

The adviser must have just been having a bad day.

I talked to her the next day about some of the things she'd said before and we were able to sort a few items out. It wasn't exactly the most fun conversation I've ever had, but it was necessary. It wasn't mean or anything, but it wasn't exactly fun to tell my adviser, "an unfunded 6th year does not work for me financially and I won't be able to do an unfunded 6th year." So we talked about the kinds of options that are out there.

We then talked about my proposal. According to her, I have about 2.5 dissertation proposals written. There will be much trimming and firming up of ideas over the next couple of months, but overall, I have several avenues I can travel. I think I've got the one I want to take picked out. The other projects will make for great future research. So, not all bad actually, but much more thinking and working to do before I really have a proposal.

Disser-Done

2009-04-15T08:09:00.003-04:00

No, not graduated, just done.

It might be time to start looking for a new job.

I had a meeting with my adviser yesterday and she'd regressed a couple of months from the feeling of it. She was talking again about whether or not she should be my adviser. She appeared to ignore specific items I'd mentioned about the proposal I'd given her. Additionally, she had questions about what I was talking about in the proposal that indicated she had not actually read the document.

She then started talking about how I might have to go into my 6th year. That entire discussion felt like she was setting things up so that even if I wanted to work really, really hard and make a big push to finish in 5, it wouldn't matter because she wasn't going to hold up her end.

There were parts of the discussion that went well. She does want to see the next couple of sections I've written. Plus, once reminded of some of the things I'd mentioned earlier, she appeared to better understand why I'd done what I'd done. It might turn out okay yet.

The entire thing just left a really bad taste in my mouth. She can't even pronounce the work "veridical" and that seems problematic since she has a background in psychology. She couldn't pronounce it, didn't know what it meant, and that's not good because all of our self-report measurement systems rely on veridical perception.

I don't know what I'd do if I left ABD, but it is time to start giving that some serious consideration.

"It's a Major Award. I won it!"

2009-03-30T11:35:00.001-04:00

I entered old el trucko in the Georgia Tech Auto Show in the student beaters category. It won the category!

It Takes Seven

2009-03-24T13:47:00.001-04:00

Seven guys to watch a backhoe in Midtown Atlanta. Don't break a sweat fellas!

Exhausting

2009-03-09T16:43:00.002-04:00

Working on the Sweptline again so I can use it more while I have the Daytona down for some needed R&R. Plus, we're planning on using the Swepty as the get-away vehicle for the wedding, so it needs to run well.

The swiss-cheese style exhaust was replaced in the '68 when the motor and trans mounts were broke and the engine and trans were in the incorrect spot. Of course, I didn't realize the mounts were broke, especially the engine mounts since they are pushed down by the weight of the 440. Long story short, once I went to replace the broken mounts, the exhaust hit the frame meaning I could not position the engine and trans into their correct location (this also resulted in a second broke trans mount).

This weekend I finally had the time and the weather to fix it. Matt has a welder and a chop saw at his house, and I don't. But first we had to replace the starter in his '74 Dart because it was blocking the garage. So we dropped the drag link and pulled the starter on Saturday evening. We got the starter in and also installed new cables to the starter since the old ones were shot. We got the drag link back in but didn't have cotter pins so we left it on the jack stands. We finally got the SOB started. It had been sitting for a long time and had a rebuilt carb that had never been adjusted. So we finally got it started and the carb adjusted.

We got up Sunday and made the first run to the parts store for the cotter pins. We got the pins installed and got Dart back on the ground. The car really wants to bog down and die because all 4 brakes are locking up. But we finally got it moved out of the way and the old Swepty down to the garage. We got it in the air, cut the offending exhaust section out of the way and then spent a while looking at just how badly the exhaust shop had bent the tubing. Yuck. He had shoved one pipe so far up in the collector on the shorty headers that I'm surprised 2, 4, 6, & 8 could breathe at all. I'd already purchased two mandrel j-bends from Summit so we went inside and drew out what we needed to get from the parts store for the 2nd trip of the day. Luckily, I was able to salvage the collector reducers.

Somehow we only made two trips to the parts store on Sunday. Normally, when working on something like this we make half dozen. What can I say, proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance. About the only thing we could have used was shielding gas or wire for use without shielding gas. As it is most of the welds are ugly because we didn't have either, but it is exhaust so I don't really care.

I don't have a picture of how far the guy had the tube shoved up into the collector but this a picture of how badly he'd bent some of the pipe to try to make it work.

Here's a pic from the outside showing how he'd buggered the collector:

Again, a nice crimp in the pipe trying to make the corner:

We then unbolted the mounts, dropped the truck on the ground, jacked up the engine and trans, pushed the truck forward, and dropped the engine and trans back into the correct position. We then jacked the truck back up, bolted the engine and trans back down, and then started working on the exhaust.

So here's some of our handy work to fix it. We cut the ends off the j-bends and then cut the resulting u shape in the middle to make two 90's. We figured you can make just about anything work with two 90s. We used a reducer off the collector rather than a but weld, though there are several but welds in this. Plus, where this snaky section attaches to old pipe is just clamped together, which should make it easier to drop the trans by itself if I ever need to do this.

Driver side:

Pass side:

The above shot shows the cross brace we have to snake around. Only one manufacturer makes long headers for the '68 and earlier Sweptline and they are over $500. This stupid cross brace makes all the difference and is why I don't have long headers.

Upside-down and from-the-side shot:

Another good shot of the cross brace:

Probably not the best thing in the world for flow, but much better than what was there before:

After we were done we went on a short test drive that used about an 1/8th of a tank of gas. :-) Much better! Then I drove about 50 miles back home and used another 1/8th. Old truck gets outrageous mileage as long as you can keep the secondaries closed.

The best show on TV

2009-03-07T01:05:00.003-05:00

TopGear.

But then again, they say JagYouAre, claim we say JagWar, but then it is spelled Jaguar. I mean, how do you say it?

Lemonade out of Lemons

2009-03-06T17:59:00.001-05:00

I guess I jumped the gun in my assessment of the situation regarding the paper. Not only have I now had explained to me what is wrong with the research in the other area but I also got an "atta boy" for looking it up. He says what I did actually makes our job easier.....

Does Not Walk On Water

2009-03-06T16:59:00.003-05:00

I've been working with a famous I/O psychologist the past few years on an article that points out a significant gap in our statistical techniques. We were nearing the end phases of the project when I realized we had an incorrect citation. I got the correct citation and did a forward search on it using Web of Science to see if anyone had actually done what this author had suggested oh so many years ago. Well, of course they had. In fact, the area has its own name and a ton of articles.

What a crappy day. I found out that I've wasted a ton of time over the past couple of years working on the paper and I also found out that one of my idols does not walk on water. I'm glad I already planned on working on cars this weekend rather than anything that would make me think too hard. It is going to take me a bit to get un-pissed over this.

A week at school.

2009-02-27T19:14:00.003-05:00

I decided to try to come to school more in an effort to get more work done. So far, I think it is a wash. On days when I've been writing I do tend to write as much as when I am at home. There are a number of distractions here that I do not like (like my adviser asking me to do more work) but there are also a number of distractions at home. The difference is that I really like some of the distractions at home (i.e. Angus). I have a better chair at home, two monitors, a better key board, etc. I think I'm going to give this another couple of weeks to see how it works out though just because it is helping me to better delineate home life from school life.

Oil Pump Pickup Modification

2009-02-10T23:12:00.002-05:00

I'm slowly building a new engine for my car. Here's the oil pickup. I modified it with the round holes so that it would be less restrictive. The one oval hole just isn't enough.

Window Felts

2009-02-09T12:55:00.002-05:00

Before:

After:

An American F1 Team?

2009-02-04T18:58:00.002-05:00

Please let it be true:
USF1

Dissertating

2009-01-22T17:47:00.001-05:00

The dissertation proposal total length is now up to 25 pages. :-D

Time to celebrate by doing more research. :-(

Dekalb County Police pulling over people for nothing!

2009-01-08T17:46:00.002-05:00

I was pulled over today on Chamblee-Tucker Rd. I saw a police car pulling someone over going the other direction. Dekalb County police rarely pull people over unless it is a speed trap. I looked at my speedo and I was doing the speedlimit: no worries.

As I go through a light at Chamblee-Tucker Rd and Shallowford Rd I look up in my rearview mirror and see the blue lights. As I look forward again, there is a truck pulling into a business in front of me, I make it by him safely and turn into the next business entrance with the officer on my butt.

The officer walks up to my car:

Officer: Where were you headed in such a hurry today?

Me: I wasn't in a hurry. I was going 45mph. The speed limit on Chamblee-Tucker is 45mph. It is 45mph isn't it?

Officer: (after not answering my question) Did you see that vehicle you almost hit?

Me: You mean the truck? Yes, I saw the truck. I looked up in my rearview mirror as I went through the light, saw blue lights, looked forward again, and there was a truck turning into a business. I didn't almost hit him. You were already pulling me over by then. Why did you pull me over?

Officer: (after not answering my question) I need to see your license and registration.

Me: I'm still curious as to why you pulled me over.

Officer: I need to see your license and registration.

Me: Okay, but I am still very confused.

Officer walks away, gets in his car, comes back a couple of minutes later and hands me my stuff.

Officer: Have a nice day.

WTF???

An update, of sorts

2008-12-17T22:53:00.002-05:00

My back: much better but not perfect. I had some x-rays done and there was nothing that showed a real problem there. There's really no reason to do a MRI. Even if it were a herniated disc, many of those fix themselves within a few months (but I really don't have those symptoms). I've been seeing a physical therapist and the things she was able to do have helped out.

My PhD program: much better, but not perfect. Apparently, telling my adviser that I agreed when she said that maybe she shouldn't be my adviser any more was a real wake up call. But I think it was a wake up call for the both of us. We've both changed a number of things, including the way we interact. She is going to remain my adviser through the rest of the program (or so it would appear for now). And I FINALLY have a dissertation proposal idea approved! I can finally start working for reals on a dissertation.

My cars: um yeah. Still waiting on a rim for the Daytona. But in driving the truck, I've noticed some issues. I really need to get the transmission mount fixed and the engine pushed back into the correct position. I "fixed" the oil pan gasket once already but I'm going to have fix it again. One of these days I'll have a vehicle that doesn't need work all the time and I will enjoy it.

Some nice things

2008-12-16T20:44:00.005-05:00

~~Apple video adapter~~

~~Oil Pan Gasket for the truck~~

Kit to rebuild both doors in the truck - DEK 3110 61

Baffled Oil Pan

Rebuilt Turbo

Ported Exhaust Manifold

It's Back!

2008-12-16T02:37:00.001-05:00

I have a difficult time sleeping in winter. I really wish I knew why. Tonight seems like it is going to be an especially bad night. Yay.

Simple Man

2008-12-10T15:38:00.001-05:00

You know how to keep me happy?

A generous supply of gas money and car parts.

I hate Atlanta

2008-12-04T13:13:00.006-05:00

I did something today that was my own fault. I'm going to blame it on Atlanta.

I hate Atlanta. I like our house. I like the people I work with (the people that are in the PhD program with me). But I can't stand this place. The thing I hate the most are the drivers.

I only have to drive 12 miles to work and 12 miles back home. But it doesn't matter what day of the week or time of day, you are going to see someone doing something really stupid with a car. I promise. Usually, the biggest issue is people who won't go. They won't go when they have right-of-way, the ywon't drive the speed limit, they stop then turn ... the list could go on and on.

Today I was following someone in a small foreign pickup who was driving just under the speed limit (on a road where most people go about 10 over) and they slowed down at a green light. Of course, because they slow down, the light turns red before we get there and neither of us make it through. The driver is turning left and I want to turn right. And instead of sitting in the left of the lane so someone can squeek by on the right (as most people turn right at this particular light), they sit in the middle of the lane. I decided to try to go by anyway. I hit the curb with the rim of my car, busted the rim, and flattened the tire.

It is my fault, but .... I just hate this place.

Quit Pimpin'

2008-11-14T01:39:00.003-05:00

Dennis Leary and Mike Rowe ......

I like both of you when you are doing your own stuff. Your own material is brilliant. I still can't take NyQuil without thinking about my potential plans for the upcoming day. But when you are pimping Ford products I hate you. At least Mike kind of makes fun of what he pimps for Ford on his show for the Discover Channel. But Dennis, the "cargo box" on a truck is and has been called a "bed" for longer than both of us have been alive ... put together. So quit, just f'ing quit. I don't care what they pay you. Ford trucks suck.

Oh, and Dennis (and Mike before you cash that check) if you need in the "cargo box" of your truck I would recommend using either the tail gate (if it is down -- and you can raise or lower it as you need), the rear bumper (difficult to use if the tail gate is down) or one of the rear tires. Believe it or not, if you lift your leg, you can step on the tail gate, rear bumper, or rear tire and get into the bed ("cargo box" if you please) with little difficulty. You don't need some cheap step.

Oh, My Back!

2008-11-09T11:59:00.003-05:00

I have no idea what I've done to my back. The past few weeks it has really hurt. Then last weekend it hurt so bad that at times I thought I wouldn't be able to walk. But I had a bunch of work to get done, so I kept on working (ex. cleaning out the chimney, working on my car, etc.).

I was doing a number of things to try to help the pain go away. I was doing yoga on the Wii Fit and also taking anti-inflammatory drugs. It seemed to help out a little bit. But then Wednesday I put a sock on the drying rack, twisted the wrong way, and the pain came back in full force plus some more.

The Georgia Tech Health Center has on-line appointment scheduling. I looked up the schedule for Thursday and they had a slot. I went in, they checked me over, and were pretty sure I just had a muscle strain. So they gave me some stronger anti-inflammatory drugs and a muscle relaxer. I was happy because I thought this was surely going to take care of it.

Friday was the worst day yet for the pain. Teaching my class was easy because all I did was show a video for a group project I have my students working on. My class is over at noon and I had a meeting scheduled with my adviser for sometime after 4pm. I needed to go get lunch so I called in an order to Tin Drum so I could pick it up, bring it back to the management building, and eat with some friends who always bring their lunches. The half of a block walk was just about more than I could take.

I stayed at school to eat my lunch and then went to my office to try to waste three hours (aka. research) until my adviser showed up. But I couldn't take the pain. I tried laying on the floor and almost couldn't get up. I decided to drive back over to the Health Center. They fit me right in without an appointment and prescribed me something even stronger for the pain. Now I thought this thing was licked.

Saturday was not very much fun. I sat in hard chairs to try to help my back and have been sleeping on the floor in my sleeping bag. Nothing has seemed to help at all. Then Saturday night was the worst of the worst. I had been laying on the floor for a while because I had gotten tired of sitting in a hard chair. When I tried to get up it was very difficult and painful. I managed to get all the way up and then sat right down in a chair. The only way I could make the pain go away was to hold myself up off the chair using the arm rests. Alex went and got my stronger drugs and a glass of water for me. After about a half hour, when the drugs started to kick in, I could finally sit comfortably.

Today isn't looking too good at this point. It hurt so bad to stand this morning that I had to sit down to pee. I took some more pain killers and muscle relaxers and managed to sleep for about another three hours. Nothing seems to be helping at all. This just has to go away because I really have too much to get done. And what makes it even worse is that it is difficult even to kiss my fiancee because leaning forward and whatnot makes my back tense up and hurt. This really sucks.

Formula NASCAR

2008-10-17T13:38:00.002-04:00

F1 is looking to go with a standardized engine format for 2010. One of the things I hate the most about NASCAR is that all the cars are the same and there is little engineering actually involved. Way to go F1; you're moving one step closer to NASCAR.

After 6 years of waiting

2008-10-07T14:08:00.000-04:00

Me without braces!

Still Failing

2008-09-15T17:40:00.002-04:00

My part made it to south Florida without any kind of a layover. To get it back to Georgia, however, required an extended stay in Orlando. Let's see if they get this right tomorrow.

FedEx Fail!

2008-09-12T13:01:00.002-04:00

I've been waiting on a part I won off eBay for a little over a week now. It should have arrived yesterday. I've been watching the FedEx tracking for my part and things were going fine. The part made it from CA to GA just fine. Since I live in GA, this is a good thing. Then it went to FL!?!?! Looks like I get to wait a little more while FedEx fixes a cranial-rectal-inversion issue.

Hiking

2008-08-31T22:56:00.002-04:00

Went for a little hike over the holiday. Yeah, I know it is Sunday and I'm already back.

Long story short, things aren't going so hot in my PhD program. I have passed my comprehensive exams, but on Monday, my adviser said that she really didn't think she should be my adviser anymore.

I really don't have too many ideas on what to do about my adviser.

I did finally realize that this is not MY PhD program, but THEIR PhD program. The path is idiosyncratic, but only upon their approval. If I want or need to do something different or look for an exception, it flat doesn't matter. If, on the other hand, they need to deviate from the [unwritten] rules then that will always be acceptable regardless of the individual consequences.

And even though I'd love to tell them what I think, I, for one of the first times in my life, cannot. I just want to get the hell out of here with a PhD and never look back. The best way to do that is to just shut up, work on a dissertation, and do what they ask when they ask.

Palila's thoughts on a recent e-mail from my faculty

2008-08-13T11:55:00.002-04:00

Recently, some of the faculty had a meeting. The purpose of the meeting appears to have been a bitch session on PhD students. The outcome of the meeting was to send "advice" to all PhD students to aid in correcting their aberrant ways.

Item 1. Accept the system.

Palila's response: Accept that we expect you to do everything for us and we do nothing for you. Also, accept that your significant other doesn't exist to us, and shouldn't really exist to you.

Item 2. Self reliance – You are responsible for your own education.

Palila's response: We admit that we don't really teach the classes and accepting people into the program doesn't mean that we want to assist them. All students have cooties.

Item 3. Take a breadth of courses. Go beyond the assigned papers. Take a lot of methodology courses. Attend research seminars.

Palila's response: Again, we don't want to teach you, we expect you to get your learning from other sources.

Item 4. Use senior doctoral students as an important resource.

Palila's response: Important resource for commiseration and venting. Don't really talk to them, that's forming a gang.

Item 5. Work seven days a week – "You beat 50 percent of the people in America by working hard. You beat another 40 percent by being a person of integrity and standing for something. The last 10 percent is a dog fight in the free enterprise system." A. L. Williams

Palila's response: We really think you should be single and living in the park. Better yet, if you have a partner, they should support you in every way, but we want 110% of your time.

Item 6. Invest a lot of time in improving writing and oral communication skills.

Palila's response: Learn new ways to say "Sorry, honey, I can't go with you to anything ever again in the next 8 years. I've chosen to put myself and everyone else I know through hell, because that seems like a better use of my time than spending it with you." You should learn to say this in emails, while on the telephone, through texts, while arguing, and while cooking dinner. Scratch that last one, you'll never do that again because your partner should know better than to ask you to do anything not related to the phd program. See point #5.

Item 7. Treat your graduate research assignment as an important learning opportunity.

Palila's response: Of how to kiss ass.

Item 8. Make an excellent impression on your area faculty in terms of your diligence, work ethic, etc.

Palila's response: Again, don't question what we ask you to do. Building our bookcases and watching our kids are both very important to the education we are providing you. See point #1.

Item 9. Meet all the required milestones of the program.

Palila's response: We won't tell you what they are. Guess! Ha! You're wrong!

Item 10. Have at least one or two published/forthcoming research papers at the end of five years.

Palila's response: We admit that 4 years is bullshit. Also, you won't get to be anything but last author on any paper, even if you have the idea, do the study, do the analysis and write the paper yourself. You're working for us, and we get to boost our CVs for providing this wonderful education for you. But make sure you learn from other people, we don't want to hang out with you. You've got cooties.

Committed

2008-08-07T14:02:00.002-04:00

You know, sometimes you get yourself into a situation and you can't get out of it and that sucks. You just have to keep your head low, do what you gotta do, and hope it is over as soon as possible and as painlessly as possible. I'm, of course, talking about my Ph.D. program.

I don't talk about it much, but I'm really very tired of it. Performance evaluation is almost always negative and too late to do anything about correcting the issue (which is funny, because we teach how performance evaluation shouldn't be that way). We were also told three months ago that we would get huge raises on July 31st. We did not. For the second year in a row, someone in payroll f'ed up. We'll get the pay on August 31st, but that sure doesn't help with the start up costs associated with a new school year.

Three months ago, the Dean made a presentation about changes to the PhD program based upon findings from some action committee. One of the findings was that we were underpaid compared to other PhDs in similar programs (see above). We actually were (still are thanks to payroll) considerably underpaid compared to other similar programs and were (are) also underpaid compared to other PhDs on campus in other programs (I have to thank a friend in another group for cluing me in on that one).

We were also told that we would be required to work less for the school/faculty this coming year. The college is actively trying to make the program easier for people to actually get through. My department currently has three students in their 6th year (!) and one will certainly go into her 7th!! To help people get through faster the college has placed several requirements on the faculty to actually teach the needed classes (which was kind of funny). We had also been required to work 20 hours per week when not teaching and 10 hours per week when teaching for the faculty. This was much more than other similar programs (in private schools, PhD students are often not required to work at all). At the same time as the pay announcement, we were told that we would be working 0 hours when teaching and 14 hours when not teaching. Woooh!

Then the faculty raised hell. My adviser was one of the culprits (and she had the chutzpah to tell me this to my face). The college has apparently decided to go back to the old policy, but has yet to make an announcement about this. Though my department has sent out work assignments for the upcoming year with the full work schedule listed. I was complaining about this to a highly regarded faculty member in another group. At first he had zero sympathy. His policy is that grad students should have to work their asses off. But then he found out that much of it was skut work (grading, proctoring exams, doing unrelated research, helping with someone's consulting business, aiding in recruiting) and not related to research that matched the student's interests. He then sided with me. Grad students should have to work their asses off, but only if it is relevant.

The relationship between me and my adviser is abysmal. She may be tops in her area, but I don't really care for her that much and Palila hates her. The unspoken rules, the ludicrous expectations ... the relationship is so damaged it seems unlikely that I will work with her after I graduate. It is really too bad because she has a great publication rate and she generally continues to work with her former students in a way that sees them to success. Regardless, I don't think I want to continue the relationship. If I am going to be successful, it will be doing my work that interests me and it will be my ideas and my hard work, and I don't want her to benefit from that whatsoever at this point. Luckily, I am working with a much more highly regarded faculty member in another department and it seems likely that this relationship will be much more beneficial in the future (as long as he doesn't freaking retire). It is also much less acrimonious (actually, not acrimonious at all, I love the guy).

All I have left to do now is my dissertation. I would like to finish this process in a year. Unfortunately, it means I will have to stick around for two years because I cannot go on the job market without data (and actually get a job). I have had two ideas turned down so far (both were too much to do for a dissertation or not directly related to my field according the faculty) but I think I have a winner now. I guess we'll see once I talk about the kernel of the idea over with my adviser.

I try to not let most of this get to me, but it does. It has to and there is little I can do to stop it. I'm tired of being broke again. I'm to the point where I wish there was an easy way out of this. But there isn't. I've taken too much money out in college loans. I now pretty much have to see this through to fruition and get the big dollar, high paying job. If not, I'll never get out from under this debt. And it has to be better once I graduate and actually have a job, right?

Tree, house. House, tree.

2008-08-02T19:42:00.001-04:00

A tree just fell on the house.

Now where did that come from?

2008-07-20T01:27:00.003-04:00

So I'm sitting on the couch watching some TVs and I start thinking to myself, wow, I really don't feel so good.

So I went upstairs and got the thermometer. I have a temperature of just over 100*.

Huh? Where did that come from?

Edit: And at 6:10am, EVACUATION!

Good job Joe

2008-06-30T23:47:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/us/01texas.html?_r=1&oref=login

Stupid Cat

2008-06-20T17:04:00.001-04:00

The cat keeps waking us up between 5am and 7am every morning by scratching the underside of the bed.

My only pay back is to throw things at her and wake her up while she takes her afternoon nap.

One more time and she gets to start spending the night in the basement bathroom. I need some sleep.

Stupid car

2008-06-20T16:57:00.002-04:00

Since Monday last week I have

recharged the AC system
replaced the battery, alternator, and voltage regulator
replaced the passenger side motor mount and axle
found a screw in one tire, a staple in another tire, and a broke valve stem on a third tire
installed a new oil pressure sender
replaced the fan relay after the car overheated -- oh, and replaced some antifreeze
installed an MSD-6a ignition box and regapped the spark plugs
built my own velocity stack to fix a problem with my ported throttle body
found and replaced 2 different boost/pressure leaks
ordered a new oxygen sensor that should be here Tuesday

Stupid Hot

2008-06-07T16:22:00.001-04:00

It is so freaking hot. The heat index is nearly 100*. What a great time to have non-functional air conditioning in my car.

Connecticut still sucks

2008-06-06T10:59:00.002-04:00

Need I say more?
Hit and run victim left to die in the street.

No Surprise

2008-05-21T20:58:00.001-04:00

I passed the question I originally failed during my comprehensive exams.

My faculty, however, continue to be a bunch of sissy, ninny, too sensitive bitches.

Junk Yard

2008-05-19T00:52:00.002-04:00

Here in the ATL, I think I have access to one of the best run junk yards in the nation. The junk yard is Pull A Part. Having an '86 Daytona and a '68 Sweptline, I often take trips to the junk yard. I've even found that there are some parts I can buy and resell on eBay for a profit.

Today though, I found a piece of exhaust pipe that is a nice upgrade for my car. I got the pipe for $4 including tax. People that sell them online charge about $104 (and that doen't include shipping. So there's a nice bit of savings for a nice performance upgrade (that should also help with fuel mileage too!).

United States Postal ...... Service?

2008-05-14T16:48:00.004-04:00

The last two times I've been to the post office I've been stunned by the lack of service. I refuse to go to the post office behind the North Lake Mall because the line is almost always to the door and the clerks are blindingly slow.

I decided to try a post office near campus. The line was out the door with people waiting to ship packages. The clerk at the counter, even though the line was out the door(!!) packed up his station and left once his time was up. He was the only clerk working and then he was gone. It took him about 5 minutes to pack up, he never went to the back to get anyone else or anything. Finally, after a few more minutes, someone did come out and started checking people through.

Yesterday I decided to try the post office in Tucker. Once again, the line was out the door with people waiting to ship their things. Luckily, there were 4 clerks working. But even with the line out the door (!!!) one of the clerks packed up her station and left. No one took her spot.

In both instances people ended up leaving without shipping their items. I don't know if they went to UPS or what. The lack of service is just stunning. I thought the post office was in a big campaign to improve their customer service. If this is the improved service I would have hated to have seen it before.

Diversion

2008-05-08T17:40:00.003-04:00

After hearing about my comps I spent a couple of days just being angry. Then I spent a couple of weeks doing research. I'm pretty sure I've got most of what I want to write about for my "new" question figured out. I only have a couple of more articles I want to read. I'll likely start writing tonight.

This afternoon though, I needed a diversion. It is good to let thoughts and information rattle around in your brain a little bit before you start writing. Yeah, some times I forget a few things, but the articles and books are all right there so I can go back and look at them if I need to. But the rattling is good. Sometimes I make connections between things that I never thought about before. Better yet, some of the thoughts that had real hard edges on them start to round out a little bit.

For my diversion, I ran over to the machine shop where I like to get work done when I break stuff. At Digger Don Dixon's he let me help him put some of the finishing touches on a 440 for a Charger. Too much fun. Now I have to get back to work. And better yet, since I'm broke, this was a free diversion.

I'm wasting my time

2008-05-05T13:52:00.002-04:00

It isn't uncommon to fail a question on comprehensive exams. I did just that very thing. Unfortunately, I made the grand mistake of answering the question as it was written and not as the faculty intended it to be interpreted. They, graciously, rewrote the question for me and now I get to write a paper. I was given 3 weeks for the task and I have just under 2 weeks left. I am not at all happy, but I do plan on flaming the crap out of them with my answer. If they are going to waste my freaking time and push me further back in the program, they are going to see how I really think about things. It is always so much better when you can use their own words against them too.

And I Always Thought I'd Go Blind!

2008-04-24T19:41:00.000-04:00

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