LoneWolf

"Worked from 9am to 5:30am and was up at 8 to get ready for another 9-9 which I am currently enjoying. All in all fun but tiring." It's huge to be able to enjoy your job, even under hours like this. For that, I envy you. Keep up the good work, and let us know how it turns out.

I'm sorry to hear that, Petite. My father didn't always relate emotionally on the surface. Not because he wasn't a good man (he is), but because he wasn't raised in a way that promoted it. The part of him that has learned to do so has taken a long time to grow, and taken a lot of work. However, as life has gotten harder for me, I'm reminded of the Dad that loved reading to me and my sister when we were little. I've seen support that was always there, just not always recognized. It has brought my father closer to me --and in the process, drawn me closer to him. And some of the same thing has happened with my father-in-law; I've seen a side that isn't always on the surface. I'm very grateful to have both of these men in my life. They have made it clear they don't value me based on what I do, or the money I make --they value who I am as a person. And for all of you Dads --I cannot stress enough what a big deal this is.

I talked with Otterbox a few months back at a conference. I believe they now own Life Case, though they are still producing the brand side-by-side for now. http://www.cnet.com/news/otterbox-acquires-rival-lifeproof/

You know why they call it golf, right? All the other four-letter words were taken.

The LG G2 doesn't need extra battery, it's got a pretty darn good one. Petite, good choice. I hope you enjoy it. The Otterbox cases are good, provided you don't mind that they add a little thickness. I do recommend a screen protector; they are quite useful, especially if you carry your phone in a purse or handbag with other items.

Thanks, guys. I was wrong -2005 was the repaint, not 2007. I'm getting old. Two of my four RAGBRAI bands are still on the stem (06, 08, 09, and 10). She's a 2003 Trek 2300 --the last all-aluminum (except for the fork, which was the OCLV 110 fork like the Trek 5200) pro-level made-in-USA model before they shifted aluminum bikes to overseas and added carbon stays. Trek did a bad decal job, didn't even clear-coat, and they started coming off a year later, so I did what I wanted to do in the first place. They used Klein's aluminum alloys from when they bought them out. Eleven years later, she's still a great ride, albeit with 100% different parts.

Dave Sem of San Antonio, TX did her up right back in 2007. He mixed eight custom shades of blue to do it -and his price was a bargain. I've sent some business his way as a result of his great service and quality jobs (Madcity being one of them). Up close, it's got star highlights and planets that he added as touches to my original suggestions. And note --the logos are airbrushed, not decals, so they can't peel or come off. Head-tube Trek logo is ghosted on; you can see it in the right light, and not otherwise. http://semcustompaint.com/

Motorola Moto G. Easy price for getting your feet wet, does everything the bigger boys do.

If it was wrong, we wouldn't have the following: -Indexed shifting -Carbon fiber frames and cranksets -Clipless pedals -Cutout saddles -Sloping top tubes You get the idea.

Round-Up! (be careful not to get your grass, it'll kill that too)

Yes, Bosox, I know you don't like SRAM. I had the the original (first-generation, as is the rest) Force front derailleur swapped for a 2013 SRAM Red Yaw FD before they get discontinued, as everything is going to 22-speed, and I wanted improved front shifting that I'd heard was available. I haven't been able to ride a lot in the past few years, but I did find out the other weekend that she's still a joy to ride. For those of you that haven't seen her, meet the slightly-revised Starlight Express, just back from the shop. She's now 11 years old...well, her frame and fork are, at any rate.

It is good to see you here, friend.

I am grateful that my interview went very well, though it may be 1-2 weeks before I know more. I am grateful to realize the strength of friendships that are stronger than I knew. I am grateful that adversity has only made clearer the love that both my immediate family and my in-laws have for me.

The last place I worked at for support, they started doing call quality surveys. The criteria was heavily skewed. So skewed that the most important thing (no matter what) was that you provided a ticket number. Not whether you resolved the issue. Not whether the caller was happy at the end of the call. If the caller didn't want a ticket number, or the call was ambiguous, they didn't count the call; but then they didn't add another call to your monthly list, so your percentage of success vs. failure dropped anyway. Which meant that if they picked two calls a month for you and one wasn't applicable, you were at 50% success instantly. Most of us took at least 100 calls a month, which also meant you were being judged on 2% of your calls, then 1% if one wasn't applicable. And then they started indicating our receipt of the company's quarterly profit-sharing bonuses would be based on these in addition to the unpleasant talks... I made quite a lot of points in my monthly meeting with the call quality supervisor, only to find she had no real authority and was "just following orders". I then outlined my concerns to my own department supervisor, including an industry document on "statistically meaningful sample sizes". It wasn't very well-received, but to an extent, changes were made.

I am getting an interview. Got a call today.

There are people I would have treated better, in light of being treated exactly the way I did to them. People whose forgiveness I would ask five, ten, fifteen, twenty years later for my lack of understanding, empathy, or immaturity that led to me not making the best decision and the outcome affecting them. Several sins I would not commit, owing to the (well-deserved) guilt I feel today at knowing better, and having done them anyway. And there are people that, because of all of those mistakes, I value more, and am unmistakably clear about it.

Most people hate diarrhea. Which pretty much explains why I'm not a huge fan of Twitter.

I'm sure we can find a medication with some side-effects that RG could take long-term that might give empathy. Anything that causes wild emotional and mood swings would probably do it.

I haven't completely left there. But there are a couple of people: carpet-bomb posters, constant political left-or-right wankers who believe that everything is the fault of (pick-your-party) when the truth is that it's pretty much both sides that are at fault, and the odd provocateur here and there that are lovely to leave behind when I come here. I like the peacefulness here. It's kinda nifty.

Run a minimum of Windows 7 if you are running a Microsoft Windows operating system. Windows XP support was discontinued by Microsoft on April 13, 2014. It is fast becoming a hacker's/malware writer's paradise. Make sure it is patched to the most recent levels. Get a free copy of Avast! Antivirus by googling for it. Install it. Also install the free MalwareBytes and use it occasionally. Use a browser other than Internet Explorer (e.g., Chrome for Business, Firefox) and install the Adblock Plus extension. Note to your kids the most frequent ways of getting viruses and malware --free game/mp3/software download sites. Lots of free things have strings attached. Use OpenDNS Family Shield to set its network settings to provide a minimum safe level of Internet filtering for free. http://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/parental-controls/opendns-familyshield/ Finally, make a habit to know what your kids are doing online. Require that you be their friend on any social networking site and up to a certain age, check their sites every so often. If they are younger than a certain age, require that the computer be used in a public place in your household. And explain to them the "Think Before You Post" motto. Once it's on the Internet, you can't take it back. Have a friendly discussion about what should be kept private, and what the consequences can be for not doing so. The ads below may seem a little creepy --but they're the best illustration I can give as someone who has worked in educational IT for a dozen years, and seen the fallout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w4_Hrwh2XI

I regularly buy laptop parts there, some for work (fleet of student laptops, and the past 5-10 years has seen individual teenager responsibility even with things that cost real money go out the window), and some for the occasional freelance client. Mainly AC adapters, batteries, keyboards, but once in awhile hinges, wireless cards, motherboards, plastics, and such. I've found a vendor for LCD screens that has better pricing than eBay so I don't go there for that any more. I almost bought a 2012-13 SRAM Red 10spd Yaw front derailleur on eBay last week. Then I called a shop and found out the difference was about $20-25 and QBP still has them. I'd rather support local business and the install fee is cheap, so I ordered through them.

This. I can't conceive of the idea of brie, cheddar, smoked gouda, havarti, or anything other amazing variety in vegan form. I suspect the vegan type would taste like Venezuelan Beaver Cheese.

The Pet Supplies Plus sends us a free toy coupon on every one of our cat's birthdays. I think it's Yoshi the Big Siamese this time around. That is four free toys a year. Once again, the entire household will be thrilled at some sort of stuffed something impregnated with catnip. Of course, I'm just amused by the British Shorthair on the coupon with the party hat that says "Free Toy? I can't wait for *my* birthday!" I guess I'm easily amused.

Shimano SH-R220 (Ultegra-level) for my main road shoes. Some very old Shimano (I think 2001) Dura-Ace SH-R212 ; they're getting pretty tight and beat up, but I keep them around as a "just-in-case". I use 3-bolt Look (non-Keo) pedals with both.