tbbs has been relocated to a new server, thanks to the fine folk at http://www.hosting.com/.  I had to move the old blog to get PHP 5.3 or better, so I could upgrade to WordPress 3.2.1.  DNS is being propagated, the site has been moved, and the WP upgrade is complete, along with all the plugins.

Now, with such a bully platform, all I need is something to say.

The drollery will continue, and with updated frequency.

-k-

We had a regularly scheduled “Project Status Conference Call” a week ago. The description of the call should testify as to its overall utility. The call is primarily for the benefit of our unengaged management, so they can be brought up to speed on issues¹.

This particular call was no exception, until we noticed that the most dysfunctional participant was using the phrase you know with disconcerting regularity. We workers, being remote, and in a room by ourselves, decided to count the number of times the phrase was used. On one side of our whiteboard, one person used a blue marker to update the count. Using a black marker, I wrote over/under on the board. Bets were placed, with predictions ranging from 20 to 60. Final tally was 58, an average of one you know per minute.

Best “Project Status Conference Call” I’ve been on in a long while. 58 usages, a record for the ages, you know.

-k-

I put this on Google+, where my audience (both of you) is the same as this old blog’s readership:

As 9/11+10 approaches, the Powers that Be are trying to put the wind up us again. “Credible, but unconfirmed” threats promoted incessantly by the lapdog press; “If you see something, say something”.

I prefer to fight the war on terror by refusing to be afraid. If we all do this, of course, the government “Keep us Safe” agencies have no reason to continue.

Oops, there’s the problem…

-k-

We’ve seen the ponies again! MLB and I went over to visit friends in Martinsburg WV yesterday. Since Martinsburg is but a stone’s throw from Charles Town, we went to the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races last night.

Now, Charles Town is no Churchill Downs. By that, I mean that the Downs attracts higher grade horseflesh. Charles Town has live racing throughout practically the entire year, which means lots of locally-bred talent, cheaper claimers, and maiden races galore. Not exactly a handicapper’s¹ paradise. Much like Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE, where MLB and I spent many Saturday afternoons with best buds Dale and Kathy, where we² fancied that we could become sufficiently proficient handicappers that $DAYJOB would fade into oblivion. Whatever the venue, the thrill of spending pissing away investing real money on a horse you’ve picked, after judicious analysis of the Racing Form, is something that always excites me.

So, last night, after blowing some races by just a tad (an exacta bet, wherein my horses ran 2-3, comes to mind), I was down a few bucks. I sat out a few races; the mid-part of the card was simply difficult to pick, unless silk colors and horse’s name are important.

In the 8^th, a clear bet emerged; a shipper, running for a relatively large purse, who had won and come close to winning in the past. My analysis said, bet to win. He went off at 5-2, and won wire-to-wire. I bet him to win; cashing the ticket about broke me even on the night. MLB bet him, too, and would have in any event: the name Ryan’s Gold would have been enough analysis for her.

And, man, did we cheer that horse on! I think we even said “Go, Buddy!” a few times.

-k-

With all the hoo-rah about Hurricane Irene, it’s nice to see the sun shine someplace. In particular, over Bristol TN, for tonight’s running of the Irwin Tools Night Race. Bristol. High-bank concrete track. Night Racin’ of a Saturday night.

Man, that gives me goosebumps. However, we all know there could be storms in Bristol tonight. 43 cars create a well-known vortex. Let the storm begin!

And, please, Dominion Power, keep the juice flowing, so I may witness the spectacle.

Thank you.

-k-

From the Racerati blog, a tip of the racin’ hat acknowledgement of little ol’ me:

We’ve recently had the good fortune to have Ken Nelson join us in our little endeavor. Ken is a NASCAR guru, with lots of seat time, and a passion for racing.

I deduct some more seconds from my allotted 15 minutes of fame.

Seriously, it’s good to chip in a few blurbs over there. Racing is something that’s always been near and dear to me, and I’m happy to throw in a tad of internet typing when I can.

Latest Racerati post here.

Happy 4^th!

-k-

Just made my periodic check-in at the Pigman. Online store still not up¹. Haven’t been without the Pigman’s sauce since ’95.

This little part of the Pigman’s menu set my mouth watering; it’s called tuna-Que:

In this Pigman’s original, fresh, yellow fin tuna is slowly smoked to perfection then flaked-up in our Grillin’ Sauce. We add a touch of Soy Sauce for flavor. Unbelievable! Seriously, read the reviews!)

MLB had the tuna-Que last time we were there; I had a bite of it. Awesome stuff.

-k-

I’m posting from time to time at over at Racerati, whose about link reads like so:

Racerati is an independent website devoted to the wild & wacky world of motorsports. Who doesn’t like horsepower, huh?

Just some guys and gals writin’ about racin’. My latest offering is here. Check out the whole site!

-k-

OK, the Belmont Stakes goes green¹ in about an hour.

My bet? Shackleford. On the nose. Odds are 8-1 last I checked. Hoping to cash my I’d have done that bet an hour hence.

I really should devote some time to following the ponies more. I always enjoyed it, and still do.

-k-

Well, I finally broke down and bought a 21^st Century cell phone: the Nexus S . I’ve had a love/hate relationship with cell phones since I’ve had one; $dayjob++¹ puts demands on my accessibility that (I think) will be well-served by this device.

My previous phone was one of those LG Lotus Elites, a flip phone, with the tiniest keyboard imaginable; flipping it open to take a call inevitably led to my turning on the camera, speaker, or heaven knows what else. Dinky keys, easily fat fingered, are no good for me. Plus, I thought the LG looked girly².

So, I decided to get a real phone. Android devices, like my Samsung Galaxy Tab, are easy to use and feature rich. I’ve had the Tab for 4-5 months now; for casual use, it has replaced my usually powered-up laptop. The Android market has apps to do things I didn’t even know I needed to have done. The Tab and I have become great buds, and it goes where I go.

So, being sold on Android, it was a short leap to the Nexus S. I’m discovering that I want to keep information so that it can be accessed from anywhere, from a variety of devices. The Nexus S delivers that; had I not succumbed to the Google “No Evil” cloud, this would have been a harder sell. As it is, the Nexus, the Tab, and all the laptops I have, get the same access to calendars, contacts, etc., etc. Add to that that Sprint, my cell/data carrier, enables using one’s cell number as a Google Voice number, and the cake was duly iced.

So, I have a boatload of applications on the Nexus:

• RSA Token for work.
• Secure EAS, for work email.
• A decent CIDR calculator.
• MyCast for weather; best weather app I’ve seen.
• The general Google lineup – Gmail, Reader, Voice, Talk, and the like.

And, in a pinch, I can make a phone call.

-k-