Atari: 40 Years Old!
When I was growing up as a kid, we actually went outside and did stuff. You know, things like ride bikes, play baseball, explore the desert around us. I did not spend all my time in front of the idiot box or exhaust endless hours playing video games. There was no Facebook, Twitter of even a computer in our house.
That being said, we did have an Atari console. And while most time aside from school, sleep, homework, eating, etc., was spent “doing stuff,” some of that time included playing Atari games. That is why the infographic below brought back some memories for me. It is a timeline of Atari history, both their ups and downs, all in celebration of their 40th birthday.
Sold: Taylor 310ce Acoustic Guitar
Hate to do it but I’m parting with my very first Taylor Acoustic Guitar – a 2002 310ce series. I bought her new from Guitar Center and she has been played mostly for pleasure and in church settings. There are a few dings in the body but everything else is in great condition – no cracks, straight neck, recent fret dress, etc. Guitar comes with original Taylor Hard Case.
Cruising Up The Pacific Coast Highway
Irma and I experienced something we have been wanting to do for some time – drive along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Known as the “1” or “PCH” for short, this highway runs mostly along California’s coastal line and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, sometimes at near sea levels while other times atop high cliffs.
Anthem HOA: As Anal As They Come
For the most part, I love living in Anthem, Arizona, a master-planned community built mostly by Del Webb (Pulte), located just south of New River. However, I hate my anal HOA (Home Owners Association). In fact they have to be one of the most anal, annoying and idiotic HOAs on the planet. A recent violation notice they sent me has got me all fired up. Now I’m ready for a fight!
My First Laptop
I was transferring some old business files to new boxes yesterday when I can across a purchase receipt that was somewhat amusing while being somewhat stomach turning at the same time. It was the receipt for my first laptop, purchased in 1997 from a local company.
At a total price of $3,639.39, that’s a whopping price to pay compared to today’s pricing. Wait till you hear what almost four grand bought you back then.
The Evolution of Music Playing Formats [Infographic]
In light of Sony retiring the Walkman Cassette player today, I thought it would be neat to put together a Infographic representing some of the history of audio recording formats. In my generation, vinyl records and cassette tapes were the norm although I remember my Father’s love of his reel-to-reel. However there is much more history beyond that… and how far we come!
Our Dog Jody: R.I.P.
It is with sadness that I announce that our dog, Jody, passed away yesterday. She was about 10 – 11 years old as we are not sure of her birth date, only her adoption date. Jody met her fate after getting into some rat poison which she mistook for something to chew on. The vet tried to save her with injections of Vitamin K but is was too late.
The Things We Do To Protect Our Grand-Babies
We (my wife mostly) watch our grand-babies, Andy – 2yrs. old and Jadyn – 1 yr. old, at least three times a week while their mother works. My daughter being a single a mom, we are glad to help out as the costs of daycare can be enormous.
That being said, we have literally transformed portions of our home to keep these precious little ones safe. I thought it would be interesting to provide a peek at what we actually have to do every time these little ones are with us.
Netflix: You Are Driving Me Away!
I have always been a huge fan of Netflix. What’s not to like about them – get as many DVDs as you can watch delivered by mail for a very reasonable price. Add to that the ability to live stream movies via your PC, specific set-top devices and even some TVs and it is a match made in heaven for any lover of media on DVDs.
Unfortunately as of late, Netflix has been driving me away. I have been courting another DVD rental “lover” and that is Redbox. “What can possibly be the problem,” you might ask? Just look at my current queue of DVDs I’m waiting on.
7 Ridiculous Homeowners Association (HOA) Rules
The astonishingly restrictive ways of homeowners associations (HOAs) came under scrutiny this month when a Sussex Square, Virginia, HOA demanded that a 90-year-old World War II vet remove an unapproved flag pole from his front yard. After receiving support from members of Congress, and even the Obama administration, Medal of Honor recipient Van T. Barfoot, who once singlehandedly took on three Nazi tanks, triumphed in his quest to fly Old Glory. Other homeowners haven’t been as lucky in their battles against their own HOAs’ “fascist” rules.
