Friends? I’d like to introduce you to my new guitar amplifier: Zeus.

Look out internet, Zeus will shake you with its Thunder.

Volume scale:
1. Loud.
2. Do not play in a confined space without ear protection. Damage to ears is possible.
3. Suggested volume for practicing in a basement with your band.
4. In an average space, this volume will drown out your bassist and rhythm guitarist
5. Clears sinuses.
6. Acceptable volume for playing in an Arena.
7. Frees slaves.
8. Cures cancer.
9. Builds dynasties.
10. Spurs Revolutions.
11. Provides evidence for the Big Bang Theory.

Zeus has only two channels. The current Mesa Dual Recs on the market have three channels, but their sound isn’t quite the same as the original two channel variety. The two channels pretty much indicate rock and more rock. Zeus contains 6L6 and KT-88 vacuum tubes. I’m going to play around with those a bit and try to find a good set of tubes to complement my playing preference. Zeus is a beautiful machine.

#1. Girls just want to have fun - Cindi Lauper
#2. It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to - Helen Shapiro
#3. Tubthumping - Chumbawumba
#4. Macarena - Los Del Rio
#5. Cher - Believe
#6. Barbie Girl - Aqua
#7. The collective works of Nickleback

I am impressed with DHL. I made a purchase on e-bay this week and the sender sent it to the wrong address.

I called DHL about 4 times to try and get information, and I would rate their customer service as 8.5 out of 10. Their automated phone answering system was a little annoying (that’s the only reason it’s not 10/10), but the actual phone people were fantastic. They invested a good amount of time researching options for me in a somewhat unusual case and gave me all the information I needed each time I called.

They guided me through an online setup and even helped me save 10% on my shipping. Props DHL. Well done.

Good morning!

We’re back! This weekend (actually most of last week really) was pretty much non-stop work. Friday saw class, Saturday saw class, and Sunday saw 11 hours of work on an engineering project. So really, not all that super.

BUT, there were moments of joy nestled in between the mayhem. First, I had dinner with Schuyler and Darcy on Saturday night. We got a little dance dance revolution and guitar hero in before I headed out overwhelmed with exhaustion. Those people are so much fun.

Saturday’s class was rather exciting as well. The class I’m taking is ‘Management Failure Analysis’ We’ve been talking about big failures and what went wrong and how to fix them. This week we had Rear Admiral Thomas Atkin come in to talk to us about Katrina. Admiral Atkin was the Chief of Staff for the federal government’s response to Katrina. His commentary was great and, whew, what a cool guy. Tall, clean cut, and dressed in his coast guard uniform he walked into the classroom with an aura of authority. He was extremely well spoken and really knew what he was talking about. He discussed federal and state law during emergencies and some of the challenges that he and the others (federal, state, and political) faced as they tried to rescue the people of New Orleans. We discussed future disasters, the role of media, the organizational structure of emergency response, and some specifics to Louisiana.

It was totally awesome.

I work at a small company, and we have a few standing arguments that will never be resolved and will likely continue forever. I’d like to know if this is normal.

Do any of you have something similar? Leave your stories in the comments.

I’ll share a few of our standing arguments:

• In a one-on-one fight to the death between a coworker of ours and a female cow who would win? (no tools, weapons, sticks, rocks may be used)
• What is a sport, what is a game. Is a given activity a sport or a game or a contest.
• Are fish closer to vegetables than animals? (food-wise, i.e. are the advanced enough to feel pain or is it morally equivalent to eating celery)
• The Monty Hall problem.

There are so many more, and none of them are more useful (or resolvable) than those.

Hey everyone! Dwane and I are moving to Oregon in just a couple of weeks. Has anyone
a) made a cross country move before?
b) driven across the country?
c) driven across the country with a cat?
If so, do you have any tips? Right now we’re taking Luna on practice runs. She is an indoor cat and I just got her a collar and a harness, both of which she squirmed out of at first. Also, we are planning on using PODS to move - anyone have any experience with them?
This is my third move in a year and a half and Dwane’s third in two and a half years. You’d think we’d be pros at moving by now, but is still is such a drag to pack and clean everything!
Oh, another thing: anyone want a globe made of interesting stones?

EDIT: Wow, some fantastic advice already. Mike D readers are the best. I thought of a couple more questions:

- Does anyone keep an emergency kit in the car? Besides jumper cables, I mean. If you do, what’s in it?
- Packing extreme breakables (we’re talking champagne glasses, heirloom pieces, etc etc) - would it be wiser to take them in the car?

The problem light broke.

Update: violently.