Brian G

Originally posted by hausdok And this is the guy that, after more than 5 years still can't figure out how to post a photo to TIJ? Waddueyeseewrongwiddispicshure? [:-magnify I can follow the simple instructions, it just doesn't work for me. It downloads, it says it downloads, but then it isn't there. It's not like I'm the only one. I can post photos at IN with no problem. Brian G.

That should be very useful to me, thanks Gary. I just bought hard copies of Ubuntu and Freespire on eBay for a few bucks (combined), just to check 'em out. As I understand it these OS's can be booted from a cd, but I'm also seriously considering a second hard drive because of the shrinking available space on the existing one. I may go dual to get accustomed to Linux. Brian G. Radical, Dude [:-mohawk]

I hate to drift here, but I did a house Monday with a new drop-stair/pulldown that was made of 2x stuff with heavy steel hinges at the joints. I've never seen one like it. Damn that was nice. Son-of-a-gun was as stiff as I used to be. [] Brian G. Yet Another Failure of Impluse Control []

I like 'em, and for free you can't complain much, but they do have a certain....perspective. If Certainteed makes a given product, the good points get more emphasis than the bad. If not, it's the other way around. For example, in any test question involving cellulose insulation, the answer is invariably the least flattering of the choices. I suppose they're entitled to that, on their own dime. Brian G. It's a Spin-Happy World [:-hspin]

I've been down the deadbeat road just once so far (paid with a check, then stopped payment). I have a lien against a house here that cost me $12 to register at the county courthouse, which assures that the owner will never be able to sell his property without paying me. I'm not spending any time or energy pursuing him, but someday the check will come in. Brian G. Don't Make It a Crusade, But Don't Give Up Easy [8]

Originally posted by ozofprev In today's PC market, it's hard to imagine anything much more common than Windows. id="maroon"> In today's market, yes. It's by far the most common, even downright dominate, but not universal. Wouldn't a universal open source OS be nice, if it was good stuff. Before we go any further, let me say I am not, Not, NOT a fan of Microsoft. My politics are very similar to yours. Peace and love, Bro! I agree with everything you write in your previous paragraph. I would love to see everyone dump Microsoft and buy Linux. But then, I remember the Serenity Prayer. id="maroon"> The world is what it is my brother, I'm just impotently raging against the machine. All I can do is deprive the Evil Empire of my measley two cents next time. Well, it kinda did happen with hardware. Intel and Microsoft began the Wintel revolution back in the 80's. The world is supplying Vista drivers much more quickly than open-source folk are providing Linux drivers for new hardware. id="maroon"> True I'm sure, but that's the advantage of having a huge lead in the market. Vista is the new flagship of the juggernaut, and there's a lot of money to be made. Well, that's not strictly true. I have worked on (and written) real-time embedded operating systems that will not crash. Of course, they are tiny systems (relative to Windows) that are responsible for instruments that must not fail (e.g., medical dosing pumps). id="maroon"> Now you're just getting persnickety on me. [] The politics in the Linux world are not completely selfless. Many egos polute Linux development. See, for example - http://linuxgeekboy.wordpress.com/2007/07/25/a-leading-linux-kernel-developer-quits-but-why/%20id="maroon"> I read it. Interesting, but I'm not sure where the big ego comes in. A Linux guru got frustrated and quit. Egos, of course, are wherever people are, and people are rarely completely selfless. In a different vein, why are Windows-based computers called "PC's"? Isn't that just short for personal computer? Is a Mac not a personal computer? Or a Linux-based desktop? Brian G. Are ATM's IMpersonal Computers? [?]

I'll start by admitting this isn't my strongest subject. What I know about the deep inner-workings of computers would be a very thin book indeed. Certainly it would be great to have a common system, but that seems all but impossible in my lifetime. And if there were to be one, it should be an open source system (free or dirt cheap), not one that costs hundreds of dollars for a "home" version the manufacturer will be working to make obsolete and unusable as soon as possible. Too many people are left out at the bottom; too few reap the massive profits at the top. In terms of economics, Linux is a panacea. If it isn't obvious yet, my desire to change is primarily political (via economics). Having one giant corporation dominate this field is not in the best interests of anyone but the giant corporation. Thank the stars above the same didn't happen to hardware, or a basic PC would still cost five grand and far fewer Americans would have one. I haven't tried any of the current Linux systems yet, but the few I've talked to who have swear they're very stable and user-friendly. Any OS can crash, that's a given. Brian G. Competition Is Always Good in a Democracy [:-thumbu]

Well as expected, the over-rated trophy goes to Notre Dame. I must say I didn't expect that score though. Ohio State didn't look like an over-hyped team. They may walk away with the Big 10 again. Richard, send Locker down here. I'll give you $20 bucks for the kid (cash!). [] In the SEC the 2nd story line is the rise of the downtrodden. Kentucky is tough this year, knocking off highly ranked Louisville last Saturday. South Carolina, which has frustrated Steve Spurrier's vaunted coaching abilities thus far, is suddenly looking dangerous. Nick Saban is working his old familiar magic at Bama, now 3 - 0 after upsetting Arkansas in a terrific game. And last but not least, lowly Mississippi State is now 2 - 1 after a gutty win at Auburn (sorry Gary). The Dawgs won't contend for the West title or anything, but they may spoil someone else's shot along the way. Brian G. In Pigskin Heaven [:-footbal[:-angel]

Somebody wake me up, I'm having a terrible nightmare! In it the Saints have caught a bad case of Rams disease and can't get a win. But alas, tis' no mere trick of the subconcious, it's real. Eh....it's only football. The Bears redefined the ugly win again. If Devin Hester gets hurt the whole season could go down the toilet. It's gonna be a long year if things don't change. Brian G. Hang In There Baby [:-crazy]

I wish I had never started down the Microsoft road. Imbedded as I am in their software, I'll stick with XP Pro until changing becomes totally unavoidable. When that happens I'm going to start over with a Linux system like Ubuntu or Linspire. I'll be happier not supporting ineptitude or villany. Brian G. Planning My Escape [:-masked]

What a moron. If I ever became that desperate, I'd at least take the time to plan the job (case the bank, create a disguise, steal a getaway car, set up a safe switch to my truck, etc.). Brian G. Get A Brain [:-dunce]

It's a little defensive/combative, which is understandable, but nothing there is rude or over the line. originally posted by sonofswamp The closest I got to that kind of tile was 50- 80-year-old asbestos/cement tile. That stuff's brittle. I wouldn't walk on it. If somebody really wanted me to look at that stuff from above, they'd have to rent me a bucket truck. I see those once and a while, always on historic houses, and I wouldn't consider putting my foot on one either. I did walk up a wide metal valley once. Brian G. First, Do No Harm (The Hippocratic Oath)

Originally posted by SonOfSwamp Unless the buyers and RE agent went up the ladder and saw that there were no broken tiles, they can't back up your claim that you didn't break anything. (They're not experts anyway. Probably wouldn't know the difference between an intact or broken tile.) I agree they can't testify that the inspector didn't break any tiles, but the fact he told them he saw a lot of broken tiles before setting foot on the roof isn't meaningless. If I were on the jury and I thought the inspector, client, and agent were credible people, I'd give that testimony a significant amount of weight. Somewhat off-topic, but if I were the owner of the house, I wouldn't let anybody walk on my concrete tiles anyhow. It's asking for trouble. I've never seen one, so I'll leave that debate to you gentlemen. Brian G. Been in a Ce-ment Pond, But Not on Any Ce-ment Tiles [:-slaphap

Originally posted by Richard Moore So as far as who is over-rated...I'm hoping it's Ohio State this week, but I suspect a return to reality and an ass kicking, although I'm more than willing to be pleasantly surprised. I think you have a real shot at that one. Conferences, like individual teams, trend up and down over time. The Big 10 is down right now; the Pac 10 is up. Ohio State may turn out to be only marginally better than Michigan, if your boys can ignore the hype and swagger surounding the Buckeyes. That's part of how Appalacian State beat Michigan. Brian G. Hype Takes a Hit [:-party]

So who do you boys like to attain the dubious, unofficial title of the most overated team? Will it Michigan or Notre Dame going 0 -3 Saturday? I have to pick Michigan to win the game. Notre Dame is overated every year. I'd say Virginia Tech deserves a mention in that discussion as well. LSU beat them as bad as they beat Mississippi State a week before, but with less difficulty (State is unranked and picked to finish at the bottom of the SEC). A tip of the hat to Cal from week one, for a fine peformance against Tennessee. Cal looks fast. The Vols were gutty, but were simply outmatched by the Golden Bears. Brian G. Lord, Send My Bulldogs a Quarterback (Please) [:-angel]

Originally posted by fqp25 Can the defense win another NFC Championship for us? I'd give that a big, fat "maybe" Frank. Part of it depends on how much a few other teams improve over last year. It's way too early to tell much, but Green Bay and Minnesota won't be as easy this year, and the Eagles, Cowboys, Seahawks, and Saints all have reason to expect more from this season than last. OK, I know it was hot in San Diego today, and the Chargers went with their visitor white, but Rex didn't disappoint so much; as compared to the offense as a whole. Yeah, the new running back didn't do much, the line didn't have a particularly good day, and the receivers blew a few all by themselves (like Barrien quitting on that interception). I gotta say though, for the most part Rex still looks like Rex from last year through the preseason and first game...erratic. Brian G. Rex Continues to Perplex [:-boggled

Originally posted by Bob White Looks like Mr. Bush forgot how to run upfield. First game jitters? He ran like that for about half of last season. He got most of his touchdowns late in the year, when he started adapting to the NFL game. He'll come around. The Colts did a great job of staying in front of him, but our coach is a little too taken with using Reggie sometimes. Deuce McAllister is our best running back. Games like that make me fear the Saints turning into the Rams...too much finesse, not enough physical. Brian G. Football Is Physical [:-fight][:-footbal

I can understand your first instinct, but remember how this looks from where they sit. The last guy said the roof was fine (ha-ha). They want to believe you blew it, not him. They're also feeling the pressure from trying to sell and hitting a big problem in the inspection, so they're reacting emotionally instead of thinking it through. Unless they're cynically angling for cash, odds are the truth will sink in and they'll grudgingly drop the whole thing in less than a week. If they happen to be nuts, all bets are off. [] Brian G. "There's a fool born every minute, and they all live" Grandpa Goodman [:-irked]

My water bill came today, and for the first time I really looked at the numbers. My daughter and son-in-law are also on our meter down in the old 12 x 60, so it's 4 adults and a 9 year old (and 2 dogs). We average 330 gallons a day, which breaks down to about 66 gallons each (dogs not included). That's more than I would have guessed, but still well shy of the 100 gallons per head claimed in the article. Brian G. Don't Water the Grass; It'll Only Make It Grow [:-crazy]

They have no case. I would be polite, but wouldn't pay them a dime. If they wanted to go to court they would have to overcome the testimony of two witnesses who were standing there at the time, and convince the jury you took photos of the tiles after you broke them. I'd love to hear what your motive for that was supposed to be. The roofer is full of crap. You're a licensed home inspector, which gives you as much right to be up there as a licensed roofer, IMHO. And I would definitely say agreement to allow an inspection certainly includes the roof. They'll probably try to scare you into handing over some cash, but they have nothing. Brian G. Not One Dime [:-dog]

Ouch. That got ugly in the second half. The Colts looked like mid-season, the Saints looked like first game. Oh well; pet the dog, get some sleep, go back to work. We'll be fine. I saw where the Bears and Chargers play this weekend. I hope that's a feature game. [:-party] Brian G. Bruised But Not Broken [^]

Yep, I used to know a few old timers (sparkys) who would check voltages with licked fingers. Not a good idea. Brian G. Redefining "Don't Try This At Home" []

Well, I've suffered through the last boring Sunday of golf and the 147th baseball games of the season. It's been a long time coming, but tomorrow night the NFL kicks off the football season in style with the Saints at the Colts. It oughta be doozy. Sports Illustrated has the Saints beating the Chargers to win the SuperBowl, but Smith & Street's has the Saints losing to the Patriots in the big one. Is hell freezing over? Experts are picking the Saints to get there! Frankly it makes me a little nervous, but it beats being expected to bring up the rear. One idiot, Chris Collinsworth, has my boys losing the division to the Panthers. Hah! I should note that same fabulous prognisticator had the Panthers winning the Super Bowl at the start of last season (8 - 8 in the end). I think Tampa Bay might pass them for the #2 spot in the NFC South, leaving Carolina to fight for third with Atlanta. The Colts lost 9 starters (and several back-ups) in the off season, as free-agent players cashed in thier Super Bowl status elsewhere, but Peyton Manning and most of the offensive weapons are still in place. Defense...not so much. Whichever team's defense can hamper (not stop) the other's offense the most will win. I like our chances. I'm gonna tighten my season prediction to a nice, even 12 - 4 mark. If Drew Brees gets hurt, forget I said anything. Who's making the schedules out these days? We get the Colts in the first game and the Bears in the last game, both away. Gee...thanks. Brian G. At Last, At Long Last [:-footbal[:-jump][:-jump][:-jump]

In a reversal of the norm I haven't witnessed in all my previous 45 years, my little postage stamp of America is thriving. Industry is moving in with good-paying jobs, which keeps the housing market spinning at a nice clip. I don't see anything more than an occasional lull in the next few years. In my first few years I continued to do carpentry between inspections, so if/when things slow down, that's what I fall back on. Never, ever, sell the tools. Never. My sympathies to my struggling brothers. Hang in there. Brian G. Riding the Wave [:-thumbu]

I wear mine every place except crawls. The only thing I've lost is a pocket screwdriver (knock wood). Most inspectors never completely get over gadgetmania, because we've had it since childhood. Brian G. Born Infected [^]