Tom Adams

I dabble: http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/Projects/456/Portland-Hilltop-House# Shyeah......right, you dabble. Words evade me for these two homes. Truly dream homes. Tom

If I was limited to just CD, it would be Liquid Soul's "Liquid Soul" CD. If I could go to DVD, it would be "Alison Krauss & Union Station Live" hands down. Tom

Again - thanks guys for the comments. And based upon that I've stepped back and re-thought the idea of a plasma set. In my short research there seems to be some very good deals out there. Interestingly, even though Best Buy has quite a few plasma's of various screen sizes listed on their website, my local store had NOT ONE plasma TV on display or even on the shelves. Which lends credence to the comment that one of you made about folks not pimping or promoting them. Even more so is the fact that the plasma's on BB's site are new models and not some left over 2009 units or some such. Tom

Absolutely brilliant!!!! Now this is the kind of leadership and sense of humor we need in Washington!! I love it!! LOL Hi-jack mode => ON The other night the wife sees this ad on the History Channel for an upcoming episide about what would happen if Washington, DC was the target of a major nuclear strike. She said, "Wow Tom.....can you imagine what would happen??" I said I absolutely knew what would happen the days following. It would be the largest party the country had ever seen for only a nuclear strike could get all those *%&$# outta office. A modern day indepence day! [] Hi-jack mode => OFF Tom

Thanks for the kind words and ideas/opinions. Yeah - the main things are that a) no one was at home (although there is reason to believe they were waiting for the wife to leave for work) and that it was mostly just stuff that can be replaced......well, there was a couple of pieces of jewerly that had more sentimental value than $$ value. To be clear the buggered Samsung is a DLP that uses an LED light engine. And I agree that DLP is out for a replacement unit. It's either LCD or LED. I'm not considering plasma cause I think that technology is on it's way out. HOWEVER - if I come across a really nice looking set with a killer price, I'm not gonna rule it totally out. I briefly looked at a Samsung 55" LCD at Wal Mart today and honestly, as much as I liked my old Samsung DLP that TV at Wal Mart blew it away. The wife suggested we spend some time at Best Buy, so that may be in store tonight along with a nice Italian dinner to remind ourselves that possessions come & go. Tom

So at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon I get the following call from my wife.... "Hey...it's me. Listen, I'm on my way home with Ron (DA that she works for) and I don't have a whole lot of info to tell you but I got a call from a sheriff's detective saying she was standing in our kitchen and asked me to come home 'cause there was a burgurlary at our house. I'll call you when I find out more. Can you get away from work?" My heart sunk..... [] The bad news was that they snatched the 61" Samsung (took all HDMI cables but left the power cord - WTF??? [*-)] ) and my wife's jewelry box (approx. $12K worth of stuff) and that was it. Don't have a clue why they left the laptop sitting out in plain sight or any thing else. The good news is that we recovered the TV and around $8K of the jewelry. BUT....the Samsung is toast due to screen scratches and image misalignment (it's a 2 year old LED DLP) I guess caused by their delicate transportation method of shoving it into the trunk of some small car. So...... I get to begin my search for a replacement and quite frankly, I'm shocked at how much the TV industry has progressed in just two years. As I started looking on the internet, I felt almost lost - especially when it came to the various new LED offerings. We'd like to stay with the same or close to the same size. Actually, we really can't go much larger than 60". Would you guys have any suggestions, tips, comments, opinions (LMAO - this bunch have opinions?? Shyeah right), or recommendations?? TIA!! Tom

I do something similar with my wife but trust me IT IS NOT A GAME!! [:@] I put the toilet paper roll on such that the paper rolls off from the top. And invariably, she will take the dam thing off and turn it around so the paper rolls off from underneath!! So I turn it back around (the correct way I might add) and what does she do? She turns it around again!! You should see her face when we go to a hotel and the roll is installed correctly (like I do). She just about gets all bent outta shape when I point out that even the minimum wage hotel lady maid person that can't speak a lick of english can get it right and she can't. Women...... Sheesh......... Tom

Dragging this back from the grave.......... Today is left-over spaghetti (home made sauce by my wonderful Italian heritage wife) and a Sprite. Dessert will be white grapes and maybe some gummy bears. Tom

At a recent BBQ event I was admiring a smoker when a this nice old black man behind me says, "She sho 'nuff can cook as good as she looks" and I said, "Yeah - it sure looks that way. One day I'd like to have something like that. Is it yours?" He said yes and then proceeded to tell me that it wasn't so expensive to make as long as I had some cuttin' torches and knew how to weld. Well.....sadly.....I'm batting zero on both counts. Anyhow..... He told me that he went to a propane company and asked if he could buy one of their small tanks that they were taking out of service. They sold him one and that became the basis of his smoker. He fab'd a heavy steel plate firebox and welded that on one end, sand blasted the whole thing, and then painted it. Made me wanna run out and buy a MillerMatic welder and a torch. Tom

Reading this article gives me a bit of hope that the great Wal Mart Borg will not assimilate us all. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Best-places-to-shop-for-conreps-2904135702.html?x=0 I don't mind going to Wal Mart 'cause in the dinky town I live in that's pretty much all there is. But if I can avoid them, I do. I just wish we had a COSTCO closer than 3 hours away. Interestly, a couple of times the wife has gone on a shopping hunt for a specific type dress and the last place she stopped was at Dillard's and dang if they didn't have exactly what she had spent the last 6 hours shopping for. Tom

Hey Kevin - As a prostate cancer survivor, I too am glad your surgery went well and that the cancer was confined to your prostate. BTW.....did you ever get the email I sent you about my thoughts of surgery versus radiation?? And I too had the same thoughts about the catheter. I kept thinking, man this would be the answer at a sporting event where you're drinking beer and the bathrooms were a hike away or at a festival that only had porta-potties. My wife asked me what it felt like when the nurse removed my catheter and I told her it felt like a flock of quail had flown outta my @ss. Tom

This website has a lot of decent information about not just cooking but smokers & grills: www.amazingribs.com And if my wife REALLY loved me she'd buy me a smoker from here: www.jambopits.com And Randall is right about "meat not falling off the bone". That's a big no-no for competition BBQ. The goal is tenderness. Randall - I love doing the pork thing too, but brisket is a good change-up and challenge. Next time I do a brisket, I'll send ya some. As for grills.....I'm prejudice as he!! All those guys that cook competition using side mounted firebox, cross-flow smokers can't be all wrong. No doubt all those yuppie green Egg cookers work - just ain't seen them at any serious BBQ joint or restaurant or competition. I'd love to own a serious smoker pit, but my slightly modded Char-Griller does an amazing job. It requires more attention since it doesn't have the heat retention and temperature control that a serious smoker has, but once I "learned it", I've shocked more than a few BBQ experts. Tom

Bought one of these a year or so ago: http://www.chargriller.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=29&osCsid=9ab9e3a6de5764074f133fc203c83094 Had to make a minor mod to the charcoal side to get a better distribution of heat for slow cooking/smoking of pork, ribs, brisket, but it does one hell of a job for a small investment. To be sure it's no Jambo Pit or any other pro model, but it didn't cost me $3K dollars either. The gas side is decent and it's nice to have gas a compliment/option for things like grilling veggies & such. I've put some folks to shame with this smoker - especially when they see how "cheap" it is. Tom

I absolutely envy you guys who have been blessed with such insight and wisdom. But above all....have the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes/world/mind that you know exactly what a person who's on the verge of suicide is feeling/thinking. What a gift you've been given. And let's not even talk about how someone died and left you in charge of criticizing the dead. Yep - only wish I were the manly man you guys are. I do not disagee that there's an aftermath from such an act. But you're attempting to rationalize an irrational act done by someone who has 10 reasons why they should die for every one reason why YOU think they should "man-up" and live. Instead of speculation, why don't you stick to guns, scotch, Porche's.....you know - something you know about instead of something you THINK you know about?? How about just saying things like you don't understand, but will pray for him and his family?? Or does it make you feel superior to "dis" him publicly?? Tom

No - you won't slap him. One of God's promises is that when we die, all things we didn't know or understand would be revealed to us. So when you die, you'll understand why your friend did what he did. Sorry j.4knee that you're having to deal with a suicide. It always amazes me the comments about suicide being selfish or being cowardly. Seems to me that's being a bit judgemental. To me suicide is the end result of a very powerful emotion consuming the rational/optomistic part of one's being. Personally, if in the future my wife dies before I do, I will make sure I'm not far behind her. No kids, no parents, no family, no real friends, and having done just about everything I've ever wanted to do. Why would I want to stick around?? So I can "grow old" in a society that on one hand says abortion is OK but then brings to bear every bit of technology they can to keep a human alive because they can and because it creates a revenue stream for health care professionals???? Sorry - count me out. And like big stew.....I too know what it's like to be right at the brink of dispare with a handfull of hydrocone & oxycotin in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Not something I'm proud of and still hard to understand how I got there. I'm sure I didn't go through with it 'cause I was worried I would be labelled as a coward or being selfish. (sheesh.......sigh.........) Tom

Seems like you've been watching regularly And your point is what?? Trying to increase your post count? Trying to make some kinda off-handed condescending remark? Does not watching American Idol or watching TV or even owning a TV some how make you superior or more "enlightened"? Seriously, humor me and tell me what message your post is trying to convey. (sigh...............) Tom

Me likes Glenfiddich 18 & 21 y/o. Johnnie Walker Blue & Gold is nice. Chevis 18 is a decent (cheap) stand-by. I cried after The Dalmore quit making its Cigar Malt. Tom

If I wanted to listen to Janis Joplin - I'd listen to the real Janis Joplin. Not some tatoo'd, bad-teethed, dumpy-lookin chick with no eyes when she smiles Janis wanna be. Can she sing and strum the guitar - yes. So what. She & 1000's of others out there can too. And talk about not being able to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!!! OMG.....the wardrobe and make up they put her through. YIKES!!! Anyhow........ Is Lee something "special"? No - not really. Plenty of folks like him out there too. However.....the reason I'm glad he won is because he is what I thought that show is supposed to be all about. Someone who is not a professional singer but just your average "Joe" who maybe sings in front of his friends/family/church/whatever and nothing more who decides to give it a shot. If you look at the background of this years top Idol folks they're either in a band or have been performing live since they were kids. He!! Crystal Bowersux started performing when she was 8 years old and has been getting paid money to perform and to support herself. Tom

Not long ago I saw an episode on the I think the Discovery Channel that described just how and why hurricanes were formed. The one thing that stood out was that it wasn't just the hot winds coming off Africa and the coreolis effect that created the hurricane. An essential element was how the hot air passed across an island (forget the name) just off the west coast of Africa. Simply put, if that island didn't exist or if its contours were vastly different, the fomation of hurricanes would be almost next to none. I'm sure this would garner some flack but if what they said was true, and given the cost of hurricane destruction, one would think there would be some discussion about "re-contouring" that island. And last night's show about what's gonna happen 500,000 years from now when the moon leaves the Earth's orbit........ho - boy. Don't EVEN wanna think about that! Tom

Hey boom - When you're runnin' up & down I-10, keep an eye out for my Dad. Can't miss him. He's the 89 year old guy in the 1998 Lincoln Town Car Cartier Edition with retired Air Force tags doing 67mph (thankfully in the right hand lane). LOL...... Everytime we visit my parents and ride in that car I tell me wife to take both of our cell phones so we can talk to each other from the front and rear seats!! Tom

I have a friend at work that has a pair of VOTT that he (well....his wife) wants to be gone. He says they're in great shape and I trust he's telling me the truth. The only fly in the oinment is that they don't have the 902/511B horns. They do have the original crossovers and woofers. What kinda price should something like this fetch? And what am I looking at for a pair of used 902/511B horns? TIA Tom

Thanks! Looks like a relatively simple build (from the website) and the price definitely seems right. May have to build me one of these for my garage/workshop system. Tom

Noooooooo.......I didn't see the thread. Hence the reason for me asking. (sheesh.......this is like having a conversation with my wife [] ) Please don't take this the wrong way, but you guys either got some kinda telepathic connection to all things Klipsch in the universe or have waaaaaaay too much time to be on the internet to find this stuff. And no - they wouldn't fit on my mo'sickle. However they would fit in the back of my Nissan Titan pickemup truck. Sadly, the truck would stop at it's home and that would explain why you got a check in the mail for $200. Tom

Your welcome fini - hope it works out for you. Not sure why the 300# rating though unless it has to do with the casters. The brackets are at least 1/8" think steel and the bolts that attach the brackets to the wood are 3/8" with nylock nuts. Seems to me that it would hold more than 300#. Tom

I want to apologize for interupting you guys' personal conversation by asking the above serious question. Silly me........ Tom