Summarize your life in six words

Article continues at the above link.

My summaries:

• [It] Seemed like [a] good idea at [the] time.
• F**k 'em if [they] can't take [a] joke.
• More core; Try again; Burma Shave.
• My hovercraft is full of eels.

While mucking about with KisMAC on my MacBook today, I saw that there were 27 WiFi networks in my neighborhood (single family homes and quad-homes). All but three networks were encrypted. Less than half of the encrypted networks used WPA, the rest used WEP.

Two of the three unencrypted networks were named "Linksys" (noobs) and the other was an ad-hoc network (looks like a printer).

About half of the networks were pretty weak, and this was via the MacBook's tiny built-in WiFi antenna. Imagine how many networks would be found using a high-gain antenna.

This project has been completed. Begun in late August, completed in mid-November.

Tuesday, 14 Oct., the contractor I hired poured concrete into the forms for my new steps and stoop.

They started around 7:30 AM, at least that's when I woke up and found 'em working. After a few hours, all but two of the workers left. The two workers continued to dress the concrete and remove the wooden forms. The concrete had set up enough to hold it's shape without support. It should be safe enough to walk upon in two days.

Next project is to select an iron works contractor to install the railings.

Basil, the 17 year-old CRF cat, had his semi-annual checkup, urinalysis and blood-work on 15 September, 2008.
His weight is down to 5.2 pounds and his blood pressure is 160 (good).

Eyes: Cloudy. Ears: Dirty (cleaned by Vet).

BUN: 30 (OK); CREA: 1.7 (OK); Thyroid/T4: 1.1 (OK). CBC: WBC: 8.6; RBC: 5.89 (low); HGB: 8.0 (low); HCT: 24.1% (low).

Urinalysis: Blood in urine, but no infection.

X-ray: One kidney sub-sized; the other full of kidney stones.

Ultrasound: No bladder or kidney tumors.

Anemia: Bone marrow is producing red blood cells; anemia caused by blood loss into urine.

Conclusion: Basil remains relatively healthy considering age and CRF. His CBC should be re-checked in a month.

Basil's food: Royal Canin Waltham Renal LP and Eukanuba Mature Care kibble.

Basil's medications: LRS 100 ml/daily Sub-Q; Pet-Tinic (~0.55 ml in food); Enalapril (~2.5 mg BID); Omega 3 fish oil (in food); and Methimazole 50 mg/ml Transdermal daily, alternate ears.

I guess that Basil is not quite ready to join Bast.

Basil the Cat at age 17
Click for much larger image.

At 7:00 PM today (Sept. 13), the greatest single day of rainfall was recorded at O'Hare airport. A total of 6.61 inches of rain fell since the day began. That record will likely be broken by midnight as it is still raining in the area. The previous record was 6.49 inches set on August 14, 1987.

This rain is caused by a stalled frontal boundary along with remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell [link].

More rain is expected Sunday as the remnant of Hurricane Ike moves through the area. 3 to 4 or more inches of rain is expected from Ike's leftovers.

Update: 6.64 inches of rain fell at O'Hare airport on Sept. 13!

It's been so wet here that a shark keeps trying to deliver a Candy Gram(TM).

Here is a YouTube video for Michael Palin for President of the United States of America.

User Friendly from Sunday, 8 Sept, 2008.

If you don't follow the User friendly comic strip, you may need to read the previous week or two.

I opened another checking account for exclusive use with PayPal. My bank offers a no minimum, no fee checking account which fits my needs perfectly. I will use teh Internets  to transfer funds between the new account and my high-rate interest (2.05%) or day-to-day bill paying checking accounts. I ordered the bare minimum number of checks of a different color and style than my other two acounts. Plus, I will be getting a debit card for the new account shortly.

I also selected a contractor to replace my concrete steps, stoop and front sidewalk. 30 years of hard winters have taken their toll on them (especially the recent winters of ice storms with their rapid freeze/melt cycles).

Next up, I need to select a contractor to install new hand rails and railing. I have wrought iron now, I'd like to have wood or one of the new composite materials.

Then time for some plumbing improvements in the kitchen.

Yoda the cat has four ears [link].

Kepler is the NASA mission that will be capable of finding Earth-sized and smaller planets around other stars.

Visit the Kepler web site for more information.

I spent a few hours scanning old photos and documents from my father's side. The HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One (Printer, Scanner, Copier, FAX) works like a champ with Mac OS X Leopard. I scanned about 18 photos to JPEG files and then imported them into iPhoto. An eight page high school graduation program was scanned into TIFFs. I have my father's high school diploma which I will also scan.

I'm using Synium Software's MacFamilyTree program to compile my family tree. One of the program's features is web page generation containing people and family information with media.

I registered my new domain GeorgeBrickner.com with Go Daddy today. I configured the domain to redirect to my Live Journal blog.
Then Go Daddy called this afternoon to follow up and see if I was satisfied. I was. This is excellent customer service.

Hallmarks of Felinity from the 9 Chickweed Lane comic strip: August 9 and August 10.