Well over the holiday break is over.  I am now back to work and over my self imposed break from the internet as well.  (The net is fun of course and I love blogging, but the week I was off from my regular job, I also took off from blogging.)  The trip home was busy of course.  4 families in 2 days etc.  However, I did pick up much of the old Märklin train stuff from my parents place. It was rather fun to unbox all of that with my Dad and review our discoveries. (I have been posting updates on my Model Train Flickr set.)

Then of course the first thing I did when getting back to Jamestown was un-boxing what I had been able to fit into my car. (Left at my parents house are a couple of boxes of models and modeling supplies - along with the wood from the original benchwork.)

One discovery we had is that all of the electrical components are missing. (Wires and control boxes.) Now they will turn up someday I am sure, but in the meantime I had to do some ordering and creative thinking. After discussing the problem with the folks on the Märklin B&G Yahoo group - I learned that I can replace the old control boxes (which aren’t sold anywhere except ebay anymore) with simple easy to obtain toggle switches. So a quick trip to radio shack I was able to pick up a couple of different types and test them out. I also ordered a bunch of wire off of ebay - so I should be good to go soon. (Also at Radio Shack picked up power distribution strips so that when the wire does get here, I will be able to wire everything to the transformer.)

Last thing I accomplished this week - is my initial single level layout. Not quite perfect yet, though Dad is planning on coming up sometime to help revise, but it is a start.

So the break from work and the net was pretty good for me.  Gave me a chance to get a jump on the hobby I am getting back into, relax a little, and prepare for a great 2009.  I hope everyone else had a great holiday as well!

Technorati Tags: Märklin, Marklin, Model Trains, Comics, Model Railroader, layout

Tweet This

• In the dog house
  Posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 in Friends - Comments: (2)
  Along the line of Ede’s doggy court, Sparky was busted, evidence collected, and sentenced.Today’s criminal, one Mr. Sparky Barnard, was caught red-handed.Exhibit A)

  "Oh I am soooo sorry"

  [/caption]Unfortunately this was discovered as merely a cover story for the larger crime.  Committed in secret upstairs.  Right next to the location of a previous infraction!
• North Dakota Public Policy Institute - Sat Dec. 20th
  Posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 in Look here… - Comments: (2)
  ThatEdeGuy and myself will be attending the North Dakota Public Policy Institute this Saturday the 20th of December in Bismarck, ND.  We are both looking forward to attending as it will give us a chance to network with some of the folks we have heard of, conversed with, and a fellow blogger or two.  (Hi Rob!)I have linked as much as possible to a reference site for each for those interested.
• Stop, Drop, and Blog - HP Contest
  Posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 in Blog of the week - Comments: (3)
  First, let me say, if you haven’t heard about the HP Magic Giveaway contest yet… go look at it!  HP is having 50 different bloggers around the world give away $6,000 worth of computer equipment.  It is a pretty cool (and fun) contest.  I have entered a few of the contests, though haven’t won yet.  (We can all hope right?)Really the best part of this contest for me has been discovering some new blogs.
• Tax And Spend: Hoeven Announces Plans For A 26% Increase In Government Spending
  Posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 in Politics - Comments: (2)
  Apparently our local state government misses the concept of being fiscally conservative just as much as the federal government does.  Rob from SayAnythingBlog has a great recap of Hoeven’s tax plan for the next fiscal session.  (Every 2 years in ND.)  This is a 26% increase in government spending - on the heels of a 24% increase in spending during the last session!Hoeven’s budget requests $3.11 billion in state general fund spending from July 1, 2009, until June 30, 2011, an increase of 26.4 percent.
• Ummm what was wrong with the box?
  Posted on Monday, December 1st, 2008 in house - Comments: (0)
  Well, playing catch up after the holiday break, but Sparky for one did not seem to approve of everyone returning to a normal schedule.I suspect this was in response to him being left alone for the first whole day in a week.  Bad dog!  (The shredded cardboard was spread fairly evenly between the kitchen and the living room.

Tweet This

ThatEdeGuy and myself will be attending the North Dakota Public Policy Institute this Saturday the 20th of December in Bismarck, ND.  We are both looking forward to attending as it will give us a chance to network with some of the folks we have heard of, conversed with, and a fellow blogger or two.  (Hi Rob!)

I have linked as much as possible to a reference site for each for those interested.

Event agenda:

Participating Organizations: ND Policy Council, Citizens for Responsible Government, SayAnythingBlog.Com, ND Hospitality Association, Land Owners Association of North Dakota, (Attending: ND Farm Bureau, NFIB, ND Petroleum Marketers, ND Stockmen Association)

9:00 – 9:15: Welcome/Intentions/Goals

9:15 – 10:05: Property taxes

10:15 – 11:05: K-12 Education

11:10 – 12:00: Higher Education

12:00– 12:45: Lunch: Keynote Address: Kevin Cramer

12:45 – 1:15: Government Transparency

1:20 – 1:50: Economic Development

1:55 – 2:25: Taxpayer-funded Lobbying

2:30 – 3:00: Extraterritorial Zoning

So that is the list of sessions that we can attend.  Quite the wide range of topics, but should be interesting.  ND having been my home for almost 10 years now (and going to be much much longer now as I live/work/own a house here) this should be quite the opportunity for me to dig deeper into ND politics/government.

Side note - any Bismarck friends who might be around, Shane and I are planning a Buffalo Wild Wings pilgrimage while in town.  So let me know!

Technorati Tags: North Dakota, Politics, Sayanythingblog, Rob Port, ND Public Policy, Jake Barnard

Tweet This

Well, I was working on a draft of a new post and I noticed that I was at 199 posts. I figured I would put a quick note about that up. It is kind of neat actually. One way or another I have been having this blog and it’s format since 2005.

It originally started with a lot of tech stuff, but I split that stuff off onto Supergeekblog.com - and kept this one more personal/random sort of stuff.  The site has gone through plenty of changes in the last few years, all of which has been a fun process.

I really like the direction I have this site going now though.  The face lift to the theme, and the bit more time in general I spend with the site has made a real impact.  This site is still about “Jake” and I do blog about personal happenings, but I also try to cover other topics (eh heh politics) and whatnot.  In doing so, the readership has increased along with general traffic.  That has reinforced to me that I am doing something right - and enjoying it as well.

So - thanks everyone for visiting and celebrating the 200th post.  Here is to 200 more!

Technorati Tags: Jake Barnard, Olorinpc, Blogging

Tweet This

First, let me say, if you haven’t heard about the HP Magic Giveaway contest yet… go look at it!  HP is having 50 different bloggers around the world give away $6,000 worth of computer equipment.  It is a pretty cool (and fun) contest.  I have entered a few of the contests, though haven’t won yet.  (We can all hope right?)

Really the best part of this contest for me has been discovering some new blogs.  This has been probably my favorite discovery so far.  As you will see by the name, and looking through the site, they are a “fire family.”  The husband (called FireDad on the site) is a 26 year old career firefighter.  The wife (aka FireMom) is a 27 year old freelance writer and mother of 2.  So seeing similar ages, interests, blogging, and loving all things department related, perked my interest to the site right away.

They are starting their contest today: Stop, Drop, and Blog.  Here is the post for the HP contest. (Each site has their own rules, so make sure to read the contest rules before commenting.)

Disclamer: this post counts as an additional entry to the contest… but I also thought it would be fun to share how winning (if chance likes me) would impact my family, friends, and readers.

First, I would replace our aging family laptop, but more importantly I would give one to my wife so she can finally have her own computer. (Neither is in the Christmas budget this year.)

Secondly, I would see if anything would be of use to my (fire) dept. - I am guessing the photosmart the guys would have a lot of fun with and actually use productively. (Well sometimes.)

Last, I would share online as well by having a contest of my own on supergeekblog.com - not only would it be a blast, bring a lot of new readers, but someone I don’t even know would have a better holiday season as well.

So winning would have a positive, lasting, impact on myself and others.  I encourage everyone to head on over and check out the Stop, Drop, and Blog site.  It is a blast

Technorati Tags: HP Magic, Supergeekblog, Contest, Jake Barnard, Olorinpc

Tweet This

Via Boing Boing this morning:

Source.

Not much else really needs to be said, it is supposed to be saterical and thought provoking.  (Along with funny of course.)

Technorati Tags: Bailout, Auto Industry

Tweet This

Along the line of Ede’s doggy court, Sparky was busted, evidence collected, and sentenced.

Today’s criminal, one Mr. Sparky Barnard, was caught red-handed.

Exhibit A)

"Oh I am soooo sorry"

Unfortunately this was discovered as merely a cover story for the larger crime.  Committed in secret upstairs.  Right next to the location of a previous infraction!

Exhibit B)

Somehow... someone knew when to hide when I went upstairs... I wonder why.

As we all know, chewing on and tearing up carpet is a serious infraction if you want to maintain your status as a good dog.  Having violated multiple house rules, the criminal was sentanced to an afternoon in doggy jail.

He is very remorseful:

"Ohhh I am such a bad dog. I won't do it again I swear!"

So Sparky is currently serving his sentence for the afternoon.  At which time he will be released and be his normal bouncy self.

Technorati Tags: Sparky, Jail, ThatEdeGuy

Tweet This

The Mighty Bargain Hunter blog has a great write up this morning on why bailouts are bad.  (This is still an important topic due to the current discussion on the Auto Bailouts and ongoing bank bailouts.)

A bailout of the auto industry will save a few jobs for a little while.  OK, it will save a lot of jobs for a little while.  But in the long run, a bailout reduces everyone’s standard of living.  It’s interference in the free market, and causes a misallocation of resources.  It’s a misallocation because the market has already given the company the thumbs-down, in that the company has not been able to deliver a product profitably at a price that the market is willing to pay.  A bailout says to the market: “You’re wrong.  This company deserves to stay in business.”

This wouldn’t be the first time we have bailed out the auto industry either.  Since they are back for a handout again, doesn’t that imply that bailing them out just doesn’t work?  If I start a small business and run it into the ground should someone bail out me?  Certainly not, it would turn into a failed business.  I would have to evaluate why it failed and how to avoid that in the future.

The article makes a number of good points, this one being key as to why bailouts are bad:

We all lose because the resources have been re-allocated inefficiently by force, against what we, the customers, have already said we want.  We instead get more of the failing business’s products and less of the succeeding business’s products, and have to pay for this situation to boot.

Short version: They failed, you have to pay more for a product (due to higher wages, poor management, etc) AND foot the tax bill for the bailout.  I encourage you to go read the full article over there.  It makes some excellent additional points.

Technorati Tags: bailout, politics, auto bailout

Tweet This

From The Club For Growth:

I don’t think a better explanation is needed in this case…

Technorati Tags: Bailout, Politics

Tweet This

Apparently our local state government misses the concept of being fiscally conservative just as much as the federal government does.  Rob from SayAnythingBlog has a great recap of Hoeven’s tax plan for the next fiscal session.  (Every 2 years in ND.)  This is a 26% increase in government spending - on the heels of a 24% increase in spending during the last session!

Hoeven’s budget requests $3.11 billion in state general fund spending from July 1, 2009, until June 30, 2011, an increase of 26.4 percent. North Dakota’s general fund is financed mostly by taxes on sales, income, energy, corporations, tobacco and gambling. Total spending, which includes federal funds, state gasoline tax collections, and other revenues, would rise 19 percent, to $7.71 billion.

I agree with Rob 100% on this part - [Hoeven is talking about] “one time spending.” Which is baloney.  If you increase spending on an agency that is on going spending. Ummmm duh.  It is in government agencies best interest to perpetuate their own existence.  They will never voluntarily cut their own budgets.  So increasing them is not “short term.”  Whoever thinks so is smoking some really good crack.

Rob goes on to cover other points in his article, so very much worth reading.  The only other part I really can contribute is the fact that part of this budget is raiding the oil tax trust fund.  (To the tune of $562 million)  With oil prices going down, that fund will not be replenished quite as quickly.  So does draining it really make sense?  That is exactly why I was so disappointed the protection measure on the ballot this year was defeated.  It would have prevented this exact situation.

View Rob’s original post here.

Technorati Tags: Hoeven, North Dakota, Taxes, Politics

Tweet This