<<View Justin and Maria’s Wedding Photos>>

ALSO: You can download the photo by clicking the "Original Image" download link at the top right of the photo.

********************
This may seem like a funny email but I was so surprised by what I discovered I had to share it with you.
When I think of the job situation in this country, I can't help but think this helps in some small way.
I don't know how many households there are in the U.S. but if these were the only things we bought think of the impact....(She wrote:)
This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled "Everyday Value."
I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA .
So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here - from a company in Cleveland OH !
So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets....yep you guessed it Bounce was more money and made in Canada, the Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!
So my challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!
If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time!
Besides, you might save a little green in the process.
Stop buying from China ..........
We should have awakened a decade ago......let's get with the program.... help our fellow Americans keep their jobs ... and create more jobs here in the U.S.A.

As Phil would say "We had a terrible time on our trip and we just have to go back and try again!" As you can tell we by the photos we had an absolutely "terrible" time! As soon as Phil hurries up and wins the lotto we're going to retire there! Please enjoy the photos and don't miss the ones from the airplane ride over the oozing volcano!

<<View our Hawaii Photos>>

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THIS IS?

Can you get it on the first picture or second or third or do you have to wait till the fourth? 5th? 6th? 7th?

New Cook County Correctional Center, Chicago, Illinois

(I guess if I ever break the law, I'd better do it in Illinois! - Homeless people should have it so good!)

Once again the taxpayer gets stung.

It also shows that in most cases the quality of life for prisoners has improved considerably from what you might expect.

And I always thought prison was for punishment.!!!!!

Just in case you ever get these two environments mixed up, this comparison chart should make things a little bit clearer:

@ PRISON
You spend most of your time in a 10X10 cell

@ WORK
You spend most of yourtime ina 6X6cubicle

@ PRISON
You get three fully paid for meals a day

@ WORK
You get a break for one meal, and you have to pay for it

@ PRISON
For good behavior, you get time off

@ WORK
For good behavior, you get more work

@ PRISON
The guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you

@ WORK
You must carry a security card and open all the doors yourself

@ PRISON
You can watch TV and play games

@ WORK
You could get fired for watching TV and playing games

@ PRISON
You get your own toilet

@ WORK
You have to share the toilet with people who pee on the seat

@ PRISON
They allow your family and friends to visit

@ WORK
You aren't even supposed to speak to your family

@ PRISON
All expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required on your part

@ WORK
You must pay all your expenses to go to work, and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners

@ PRISON
You spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out

@ WORK
You spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars

@ PRISON
You must deal with sadistic wardens

@ WORK
They are called 'managers'

THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS

We'll start with an air blow gun, my $2 one is leaking, so this would be nice.

$20, Sears

To keep the air tools going, I'll need some sockets. These are 1/2" drive deep and standard SAE sockets.

$140, Sears

Need to organize those, so the SAE socket organizer goes well.

$9, Harbor Freight

I also have metric set already, that I need to organize.

$9, Harbor Freight

And we'll need to protect my new toolbox from all these new tools with a tool box liner. This will work, or the kind that is a soft smooth liner, vs this one that has like window screen like form to it. Sorry, I dont have a link for this.

$6, Harbor Freight

We'll also want to add a power tool, 3/8 air ratchet.

$35, Sears

Now we'll need 3/8" drive sockets to go with it.

$30, Sears

Ok we'll switch gears: Cameras is the obvious next items.

This is what I'd really like to get, Canon 5D Mark II kit with the 24-105 IS lens.

$3500, B&H

Or, I suppose body only will suffice. Hurry to order though, they are backordered.

$2700, B&H

This would be the next one I'd want, would much rather have the 5D though. This is the Canon 50D with the 18-200 IS kit lens. It has an instant rebate on it, hurry!

$1615, B&H

So, thats a little high for your budget still, we'll bring it down. Off camera flash cord. One of each length, 20" and 34".

$30, Calumet, $35, Calumet

This one the price dropped, I probably will get it if you don't, a black and a white muslin background, 10'x12'.

$59, B&H, $59, B&H

So, thats the list so far, maybe I'll add more, we'll see. Merry Christmas!

Missy has an important role in Krissy and my life, so her wedding had a special meaning to me (and Krissy). Krissy met Missy in Geology classes at NIU, which is how they became friends. The important role comes to Missy’s neighbor in college, Justin. I’ve known Justin since we lived on the same floor in the dorms. Justin and Missy were neighbors, and would combine parties, which is how Krissy and I met.

So being I was at a wedding, I couldn’t leave my camera in its bag, so here are the photos:

<< Mike and Missy's Wedding Photos >>

To download a larger image in the album, click on the thumbnail and click the download link at the top right of the image.

Congrats Mike and Missy!

When driving this summer, remember that slowing down can really add up.
Be Safe.
85% of work zone crashes in Illinois injure motorists, not workers.
Be Wise.
Keep tires properly inflated - fuel economy decreases by 10-20% when your tires are low.
Save Gas.
Every 5 mph you go above 60 mph is like spending $0.22 more per gallon for gas.
Save Lives.
In Illinois, an average of 7,000 crashes occur in highway work zones every year. (www.illinoistollway.com)

Wait, what? Save gas? Really?

To: Illinois Tollway Media Questions
From: Phil

I just received the Illinois Tollway newsletter about construction and safety. It's an interesting letter I just had one question regarding it, the "Save Gas" statement on it. It said "Save gas, Every 5 mph you go above 60 mph is like spending $0.22 more per gallon for gas." Could I get the source to where this fact came from? Could you supply the data that supports this statement?

Thanks for your help.

Do you believe this statement? I can see that it is somewhat true, but I want proof. Speeds above ~45 mph affect gas mileage but only because of wind resistance. That is if there was no wind resistance, it would be the same gas to go 5 mph as it would be to go 100 mph. So this said, how can they relate such a general statement to the cost of gas? What price are they paying for the gas? What vehicle are they considering? Is this a car? Truck? SUV? Semi? Airplane?

Aerodynamics is critical to the gas mileage you get at higher speeds. I have a 2002 Grand AM GT 3.4L V6 and as a test I drove no more than 70mph, for just over 300 miles (Chicago to Detroit), and I got 33.6 miles per gallon. Granted 200 of those miles I never stopped, but this is what your “highway miles” should be rated at. According to the window sticker that came with my car, it is rated at 20 city and 29 highway. So how can I get over 29 mpg? Well this is what happens when you reduce the gas consuming habits in driving.

Taking off fast, stopping at traffic lights, sitting in traffic, repeatedly speeding up/slowing down, all cause low gas mileage. You can see this topic comes back, Traffic Lights.

I would like to see the Illinois Tollway Newsletter say “If we eliminate unnecessary traffic lights and time the ones that are in use, make roads that can handle the traffic better, we will save you $300/year on gas” because that is as much true as their statement above. Granted they aren’t in control of traffic lights, only toll booths (to take your money in another way), but still.

Not to get too off topic but my car is rather aerodynamic, which lets me go faster and still get good gas mileage. If your driving your new Hummer at 70 mph, guess what, you’ll get bad gas mileage. Hummers are good for doing 15 mph over sand and rocks in the mountains, or driving through 3 feet of water, but not for doing 70 on IL roads. Hell, the Hummer is not even good for doing 15 through downtown traffic. That is unless your driving through the Chicago river, then it’d pay off getting that Hummer.

So moral to the story, don’t give fallacies, give real facts: Stopping less saves more than not going over 60 mph.

So what is the other American pet? Yes, a cat. Well I like cats, and have had cats almost all my life; problem is they’ve all been outside cats because I am allergic to cats. Well after many hours of research and looking at the options Krissy found that Siberian cats have less of the protein that produces the allergen. This is not a cure for everyone, some are still allergic to Siberians, but she has wanted to get a kitten for a while. Then she found a 9 year old Siberian cat that was looking for a new home.

So we finally got the time to get up to Wisconsin and pick Sasha up.

Today is day two of the one week trial to see if I’m allergic to her and so far I’d have to say I’m still allergic to her. Krissy is also reacting to her, which she usually isn’t allergic to cats. She did make a nice feather duster by going behind the fridge and washer when we brought her home as it seems that the stress of the car ride home made her really tired because she hid for the first 6 hours she was here. Then she came out, and as friendly as could be just wanted to explore. Jump on anything she could, get to all different altitudes, etc. She is not destructive, but if it looks like she can jump on it, she will. She took to her litter box very well, no problems yet.

Now we’re trying to determine if we are allergic to her, or her shedding and the dust she stirred up. I had more of a reaction yesterday than today, so maybe that’s a good sign, for Krissy that is :).

She has also made a bed of Krissy’s desk.

This post has had a long time coming:

Being I’m a late person and tend to be out late at night, like say, after 11 PM, when the traffic is basically nothing, I cannot stress how much I hate traffic lights. They are stupidly designed, horrible in the way the sense when you are there, and always turn just before you get to them. At least they do for me.

I don’t understand how we can have cars that have advanced control systems, smart tuned engines that require the computer to be there and tell them if anything is wrong, and shut down if there is something wrong. The car knows if there is someone in the passenger seat, knows weather or not to turn on the airbag, knows if you are spinning out and corrects your dumb driving to get you back driving in a straight line.

Advanced cars, advanced computers, in the world of computer controlled everything how have we forgotten about stop lights?

Lets say your driving down a 4 lane road, a main drag, basically no one on the road, (it is late remember, maybe 11:30 PM), coming up to a green light.

Guess what, you found one more person on this lonely road, and they are coming up the side street. In about 4 seconds you would be through the light, but NO, it turns right at that point where you would have to floor it to make it through (and hope that other person is not a cop ready to pull you over for speeding) or you would have to run the red light.

Not only do you have to urgently stop, this person coming from the side road just wants to turn right. He doesn’t even have to stop for the right turn, and is long gone, and there you are sitting at a red light with no one else around.

This is when you have the time to think, “NO one else is coming, why is the light not changing?!?”

Then you realize that only if the light had stayed green for 4 more seconds you would have been through the intersection and the other person would have made their turn, not even waiting 2 seconds.

Well, this seems to happen to me all the time, I don’t understand why we cannot make lights that are more intelligent and not turn the instant a person comes up the side road, especially when there is a break in the traffic that has the green light.

This brings up many issues: Traffic Backups, Gas Mileage, and travel times.

Given I’ve had a real job now for a couple years and get to drive back and forth to work, I see more how traffic works, how to improve it, and well, just where the shortcuts are, which usually include just avoiding as many lights as possible.
-- That’s a good note, ever realize that? Look at many shortcuts people take in their daily commute, does it involve avoiding a traffic light? Well, for damn good reason!

So intelligent lights could allow more time for traffic to get through the light, and allow more than 3 cars through each green light, prime example of this is going westbound on Devon coming up to Arlington Heights road, for those in the NW Chicago area. This light is so quick only 3 cars (or 4) can get through the light, given why there is such a backup.

Oh, and here’s a good example of avoiding a light, I call it the business park shortcut, just because Hamilton Pkw is a business park area and is a great shortcut to get on the Elgin O’hare Expressway heading west, to avoid that light at Rohlwing and Thorndale.

Fewer backups mean better gas mileage, as well as my scenario I described earlier. When I have to abruptly stop like that, that means I have to accelerate again, which only causes me to use more fuel. The government needs to do something about this, don’t just make laws about our cars emissions, make laws to reduce reasons we need to produce emissions.

Some areas have timed lights, when this is done correctly, it works, problem is it seems that most lights are not intelligently timed, only on a 2 minute this way 2 minute that way timing. You’ll really notice this on those “turn arrow” turn lanes; you’ll sit there for a few minutes.

There are many more scenarios and examples I can give, but I think we get the idea; stop lights need lots of improving. Maybe I should have gotten into Civil engineering rather than Mechanical. Either way, maybe you can also see how easily traffic lights could be improved.

LCD TV wall mounted at the foot of our bed.

Blog about his speech

You're the best, man.

Still no takers on this:

Grand Prix GXP

Is that one bad? That must be why I haven’t got it, ok we can go with one of these:

Dodge Charger, all wheel drive, blue SRT8 with a Hemi please.

Ok we’ll drop the costs a little bit for those with a tight budget. I’ll even save you shipping on the next items, just add them all to your cart at www.bhphotovideo.com:

70-200 2.8L IS Canon Lens, you’ll save $125 on this lens! It’s got an instant rebate on it now.

24-70 2.8L Canon Lens

10-22mm Canon Lens

Ok, that is still over your budget, we’ll go for one of these, lets join the crowd, who wouldn’t want this:

160GB Apple iPod Black

So those all bust your budget? This is one is for you, hey get 2 friends to go with you on it and you’ll have the 3 I need! C’mon we’re talking pennies here!

Digital8 tape case, Yes, I still need 3 of these.

www.tapeandmedia.com

So you can't afford anything? Well ya know I have just thing below, those boxes before the submit button, type something and hit POST. Thanks.

The live view is neat, but not really useful other than for still objects, manual focus is slow and hard to get right, even with the 5x or 10x zoom features.

A great improvement is how loud the camera is. I also have a 20D and that camera is very loud, same with the 30D, but even at 6.5 frames per second (I’d eventually verify this fps myself) it is very quiet, and not ‘motorized’ sounding like the Rebel XTi is.

The first thing I noticed is just how enormous the screen is, 3 inches, especially because I’m used to the nice 1.8” on the 20D.

I would really like to do a full test, being that we’ve got the 20D, 30D and now 40D. Side by side, same objects to test color, noise at different ISO, etc.

20D vs. 30D vs. 40D

Is the 40D that much better? I think so.

First photo with the camera:

If I believe the rumors across the internet the 40D will be announced in 3 long days. Hit the stores September 2, that is if I believe Best Buy (Leaked internal information from Best Buy... big oops on Best Buy's part!).

Or maybe I should skip the 40D and go with the EOS-1 Mark III, it is an amazing camera, just got to play with one a couple days ago.

I mean sheesh, it is only $4500, body only.

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