pico projectors!

Wow! Talk about cool! I don't think I will be running out to buy one of these "pico projectors" any time soon, but the concept of marrying a small projector to an iPod is just plain nifty. With time, one could expect improvements in projection quality, perhaps rivaling the need for a small LCD in the bedroom. I'm not sure what you can connect to the inputs of the projector aside from the iPod shown in the video. There is minimal information on wowwee's website. We'll have to keep an eye on this one! Thanks to cnet for bringing us this first look from the CES...

2000 Honda CR/V Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement

I am about to embark on the replacement of the timing belt and water pump for the family Honda CR/V. It seems the check engine light has started to blink...and well...the codes are misfire 1,2,3,4...so timing is off. Seeing that the Honda just turned over 180,000 miles, it is way overdue for the timing belt to be replaced. The water pump will get replaced because you might as well if you are in the neighborhood. The water pump is actually driven off the timing belt for this Honda CR/V. I've picked up the parts from Autozone already, about $50 for the water pump including the o-ring gasket, and the better part of $100 for the timing belt and tensioner (again - I'm replacing the tensioner because I will be in there - might as well).

There's some good information on timing belt change procedures on the internet, Autozone actually has the procedure with nice clear photos and drawings. I know from talking with others and doing a bit of reading that this procedure is a pain in the ass. Tight quarters...metric bolts...and stubborn pulleys. Still, I have about $150 into it in parts, and shouldn't have to rent any tools (reminder...need to borrow Bob's torque wrench and strap wrench...). The Honda Dealer wants $650 and the local mechanic wants $400 plus. So, if all goes well, I should be back in business for another 100,000 miles on the Honda engine and feeling good about saving at least $250! Look for my future post on how the whole experience went down.

Getting the bigger financial picture...maybe

I've always struggled with getting the bigger financial picture of my life. I like data, statistics...you know...numbers! But if you don't use those numbers to your advantage...then you are living without a BUDGET!!! ARGHHH!!! It seems like no matter how many spreadsheets I create with balances for checking, savings, credit cards, income, etc, etc...they end up outdated and don't reflect the flexibility that a budget would need for our family. So...enter a new website I saw on TV during some network morning show. It's called mint.com and seems like a good start towards something. Being web based, we can only hope for more functionality and improvement on what they have today. I gave it a first stab and was only able to enter a few accounts. I ran out of time, and wasn't well prepared with all the account information I would need. So, get that stuff in order and your experience will be better than mine. Once I get comfortable with the site, look for a more in-depth review. For now, if you'd like, try it out and let me know what you think!

Happy Birthday to me!

Ugh. 40. I guess it's not such a big deal. I had a nice day hanging around the house. The kids are back in school as of this morning, so it was pretty quiet here. I even snuck in a late morning nap. When I work, I have to be up at 2:30am, so this morning, being off, I slept in until 5:30am! Then it was time to get the kids up and off, so a (quiet) nap at 10:30am is usually a delicacy for me! I was rather nice. Tonight my in-laws, Steve and Sara, came up to the house to bring me a gift and enjoy cake and ice cream with the family. Yummy. People aren't joking when they want to call the fire department for 40 candles on a cake, there was alot of fire there. I did manage to get it out in one blow. Can't tell you what I wished for though!

Thanks to everyone that sent a card, called, are just texted me! See you on the other side of the hill!

Open Solicitation for Mid Life Crisis ideas...

Oh my...I turn 40 tomorrow. I haven't even had time to think of a mid-life-crisis to enter into yet! I need your help - - Fast!

Meet the iPod Family!

My family has iPods - - lot's of them! So I thought it might be cool to make my iPod Family bumper sticker, you know, like the ones you see on all those soccer mom SUVs that show Dad, Mom, their super kids and all their special pets??? Well, here it is!

One Nano went MIA, if you see it let me know! Two of them are dead (sad faces). They are iPod Videos - 5th Generation with 30 gigabyte hard drives. Since the units won't power up, the batteries are immediately suspect. I decided the first step was to see if I could open the units up. After a quick Google search, I saw that many sites offer the batteries for cheap with a nifty tool to help open the iPod case without destroying it. I also read somewhere in Google-land that a guitar pick is an option many have said worked to help open the case too, so guess what? I found a guitar pick in the clothes dryer the other day (they all end up in the dryer for some reason), and was able to use it with no problems to open the cases. The next step is to identify a good supplier for the replacement batteries. I've seen them from $9.95 to $39.95. The price seems somewhat dependent on battery capacity (measured in millamp-hours, abbreviated mAh) and whether there is an case opener tool included. ipodjuice.com seems to have just about everything...but look around. I'll post another entry to the blog when I actually get around to ordering and replacing the batteries.

Happy MMIX!

Happy New Year! Well, if you've followed my blog you'll notice that I haven't posted in quite a while. You'd think taking a year off would give me some more material to consider! Well, with 2009 kicked off and running, we'll see if I can't keep up with the blog-sphere a bit more. No resolutions - why set myself up for that disappointment? Let's just say I'll try to post more if I think someone will actually read this stuff!

New Years Eve 2008 was spent at home with the family, sans our (still-at-home) oldest. Brian attended a church lock-in-party with friends - a night fueled by caffeine and video games I am sure. So Deb, David, John, Ashley and myself watched a movie (okay I caught the beginning and the credits...). We (er...my wife and kids) watched "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor". I couldn't tell you much about it, my eyelids were in the way!

I did manage to stir for the final seconds of 2008 and give my wife her first kiss of 2009, Ashley got a kiss from her Dad too! I thought Dick Clark sounded terrible, it was difficult to understand what he was saying...but sick or not, I'd rather listen to him than Ryan Seacrest!

Well, I suppose this is a good start for the year 2009. Don't hold your breath!