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Mark Nielsen
"AmateurX" originally came from a username I was trying to come up with for a photography forum. I wanted to show that I was an amateur, but I needed some cool, so I added the "X" for that little x-tra cool.
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Tweets
- Got a hankering for Gramma's rhubarb pie. #memorialday
- Sure wish I had a stout to drink right now. :-(
- RT @blipshift: youvotedforitandhereitis. Summer of Mumblish now available http://t.co/mZnmbR8e2k http://t.co/q8vWv8FWv4
- 15 years ago today I watched my gorgeous bride @lbnielsen walk down the aisle. Can't believe it's been that long. Still in love with her.
- Photo: Why is there a deer in my driveway? http://t.co/HJE1wP9KgW
- Heading out to our 24hrs of date night. Excited to not be working, and spending the day with my wife of 15 years.
- Photo: STi in the morning light. http://t.co/zlQCU7zZrl
- Photo: Yes. http://t.co/ExWAQH8acf
- "There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things."
- Time to boycott soybeans. Supreme Court Backs Patents on Seeds ('Self-Replicating' Technology) http://t.co/zy7NtHMtAQ
- Porsche Puts Two More Nails in the Manual Transmission's Coffin | Autopia | http://t.co/LXFI8wtgsP http://t.co/LKY6sU4PmG #savethemanuals
- Definitely... http://t.co/PQ88lujArO
- RT @freep: We stopped Schmohz Brewery on #craft beer tour of 8 Grand Rapids breweries. Find out how it ranks http://t.co/zvtimsIJQg
- I'd love to live in a firehouse! Detroit to sell 7 vacant firehouses... http://t.co/anihMsKmhJ
- RT @srtusa: EPIC RALLY PHOTO: Rallying has everything. Including volcanos. @Davidhiggins75 #subaru #mthood #oregon http://t.co/V1WExQs0Ck
- In an attempt to recover from a not-so-great night, I turn to espresso, & and chocolate. Next, beer, brats, and hugs.
- Impeding traffic ticket was my last straw. Fuck you Ferndale. You ain't getting my business.
- Photo: Turbo anyone? http://t.co/Ptmo5tYzEw
- Feds: Many causes for dramatic bee disappearance - http://t.co/8uZI2TiUsi I blame cell towers & wifi.
- RT @usweekly: RIP. Jeff Hanneman, legendary Slayer guitarist, dies at age 49 http://t.co/WMwaxr7wUR
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Posts
- Feb 25, 13
My consistent prayer is that God make it clear to me what he wants me to do. I tend to need a pretty good push to actually notice anything. That's why I tell Laura not go give me hints, but rather tell me directly so I don't miss what she's trying to tell me.
So minutes ago, I was at the gas station, the third one today in hopes of finding a good price. A man next to me asked me for some "spare change" because his debit card "stopped working." I didn't see any good reason not to give him a couple bucks. In the back of my mind though, I hear a voice that said to fill his tank. I blew it off thinking that someone with money could do that, but not me. I was mad enough at the recently risen gas prices, and meeting my budget concerns.
I got halfway home when I realized God had indeed aligned the planets for me to serve the Least of These, and I ignored his signals. See, tomorrow I'm going on a road trip for work. So essentially all the money I would've given this man would be reimbursed. I also could've used my rewards card and gotten the points from his fill up. Not to mention, if I were in his shoes I would have felt like a heel, asking for for money. Surely he wasn't excited about it.
So basically, I ignored God's call. I really need to open my eyes and not assume that God isn't talking to me. This is one of those things that I probably won't forget. I only have a few regrets in life. All of them are situations like this, where visit could help, but didn't.
- Mar 23, 13Yesterday was a low point in the history of my parenting performance. I inadvertently became my father, and I didn't even see it coming.I was making sure the kids were to not plug/unplug cords from my computer, I got a little emotional. It started about a month ago when I went to plug my USB thumb drive into the front of my computer in the morning. Dark, I fumbled around trying to get it aligned. Flipped it over the standard 3 times, plus a couple more for good measure. By then I had to turn on a light, and witnessed both the front USB ports completely broken. I was pretty mad, but chalked it up to the computer's placement relative to the high-back chair...my fault. At that point I decided to plug all the necessary cords into the 5 or so ports on the back of the computer, and run the cables along the desk. And, I figured, since we have a zillion micro USB, and iPod cables all over the house, these cables would never need to be removed from the PC.
So yesterday, I am attempting to make sure all the kids understand that the cords need not be removed from the computer. (This is a result of fear that more USB ports will be broken in the future.) By the time I got over to Carly I had become more annoyed at the potential of broken USB ports, so my voice was probably too assertive. She claimed I was "yelling at her". I clarified that I wasn't "yelling". She reiterated her position that I was yelling at her. And before any rational thought could enter my mind, I yelled at the top of my lungs, "DO YOU WANT ME TO YELL?!"
[fail]
I failed on so many levels. On the surface I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I neglected to consider the other 3 people in the room that had absolutely nothing to do with the situation, yet bore the brunt of the attack. My youngest daughter (11) and her friend (8), as well as Carly's friend (11) witnessed the asshole buried inside a pleasant exterior.
Of course it didn't take long before Laura came down to assess the situation. At that time, I realized my job was done, and trotted upstairs, mentioning that I had given instruction of the difference between "yelling" and "not yelling". Shortly thereafter Laura came upstairs to tell me that I freaked out the 8 year old, and Carly's friend was crying. I decided to take a few minutes in solitude to reflect.
After about 30 minutes I came to a few conclusions, with the most significant being what Laura & I have been trying to build (a safe place where our kids, and their friends could hang out, and be loved) was threatened. It could even be torn down in an instant, with a stupid lack of judgment such as this. Carly would likely remember this event for life. Her friend (who's not my kid!) would likely remember me as the father that can blow up at any moment without warning.
I made what seemed like feeble attempts to apologize to everybody. I mentioned that I had a lack of judgment. Now I feel like this apology isn't going to repair the damage I've surely caused. I need to reiterate my feelings of regret, and possibly even promise never to do such a thing again. It was uncalled for, and unnecessary. - Feb 03, 12
Ever get the feeling your life is missing something? For me, it's fulfillment. Every day it's the same old shit. Part of me feels like selling everything and moving somewhere far away. I think it would force me to rely on God, and quite possibly bring my family closer together. I'm too practical a person to actually go through with it. Maybe someday God will show me what the right decision is.
- Dec 20, 11Today I want to write about my son.Last night I watched 300 for the hundredth time, and I noticed a couple subtle details regarding the father/son relationship I hadn't noticed before. After the son had been killed, the father said he regretted he hadn't told his son that he was the son he'd loved most. Now, I don't really have that problem because he's my only son, but that's besides the point. At age 7, I can already tell he's the son I love most.I believe when it comes to boys you never know what card you're going to be dealt. Are you going to get a crazy, loud boy that never seems to calm down? Or, will you get the boy that is calm, courteous, collected, but still has a love for boy things (sports, cars, etc)? I believe we lucked out; our boy is of the latter variety.For me, it's the little things that make the difference. He's constantly respectful of others, especially adults. He always wants to do the right thing. This reminds me of a few times at school he would complain that if he obeyed the rules (of not running, in this case), he'd never get the good seat (or whatever). He was learning the lesson that good guys finish last. I thought for sure this would sway him to become a little insubordinate. It didn't. In fact the closest he's come to being a "bad kid" was a few weeks ago when he got suspended from school. Apparently he & a friend were horsing around when PJ bit his friend on the arm. The kid complained to the lunch lady, and PJ received a suspension. I was a little afraid that day would come, but when it did, it was easy to blow off. Boys will be boys.He's a softy, but he still loves boy things: football, baseball, cars, 4-wheelers, motorcycles, etc. The few things we have in common, really give me hope for the future. I love these days with my son. I just hope there's still a little more uphill before things go downhill.
- Apr 04, 11
I think April Fools Day should be re-named April Rules Day. This infographic I think makes my point.
Brought to you by ZippyCart.com and Designed by Killer Infographics - Feb 28, 11
Caution: very boring, and technical prose ahead. Read on only if you like computers...
A few weeks ago, I couldn't pass up the deals on Newegg.com for computer parts. I dove in with both feet and took the plunge to build myself the family a computer to stream movies, music & pictures to my TV over a LAN.
The hardware was the easy part. I already had a 1.5TB HDD, so I managed to buy the CPU, motherboard, PSU, case, and another 1.5TB HDD (for RAID 1 - mirroring) for all under $300. I had considered an all-in-one solution, like a Drobo, but those are way too expensive, and I was looking for cheap. I could've also gone with a cheaper/lower power CPU setup, like an Intel Atom, but those motherboards are either limited in features or are expensive. Additionally, if there's any video transcoding necessary, an Atom would not have done the job.
The software is always the wildcard, especially when you're going for the cheapest setup possible. At first I chose to use FreeNAS. This is basically a simple operating system that can turn virtually any PC into a Network Attached Storage. I've successfully implemented FreeNAS in the past with little issue. I reviewed the specs, and found that it would be capable to stream my video, and supported a plethora of RAID cards. What's really cool about FreeNAS, is that it's really small. You can install it on a 1GB (possibly less) USB thumb drive. Since I had a spare 2GB thumb drive laying around, that was my plan.
Even though I was planning on using the on-motherboard RAID configuration (for the 1.5TB storage disks), I assumed that FreeNAS supported the RAID, because it was a popular chipset. I was wrong. I set up the 2 HDDs in RAID 1, using the on-motherboard RAID setup. It was actually, pretty painless. But, to my surprise, FreeNAS would attempt to start, but would only result in a reboot. If I put the HDDs back to IDE mode, it would boot fine, but that's not what I wanted. After a lot of scoping thru the FreeNAS forums, I decided to abandon FreeNAS altogether. Apparently there was a new beta release that could've possible solved my RAID problem, but the DLNA streaming wouldn't be available for the foreseeable future. :-( So, on to Linux I go.
I've installed and used Ubuntu, OpenSuse, and a couple others before, with reasonable results. This time though, would be different. I've never had to create a server before. I decided to use Mandriva for two reasons. 1) the KDE interface looked pretty, and 2) the wiki and Mandriva forums had a wealth of information regarding servers, and shares. Luckily the streaming application (PS3 Media Streamer) that I currently use for Windows, to stream video to my PS3, has a Linux version that works in Java, so no installation necessary. w00t!
I still have a couple things to iron out. 1) Under the disk management in Mandriva, it shows 2 1.5TB HDDs. This is not what I would've expected since they're configured in RAID 1. I plan on writing a bunch of information to 1 HDD, and see if the free space of the 2nd HDD goes down at the same time. 2) I can't figure out how to share the drive location, to a Windows computer, using SMB shares. Right now, I just think I have more reading to do... When I get this all done, maybe I'll throw up some info on how anyone can do it...
I'm hoping that after all is said and done, I can check off my "learn linux" goal on 43things.com
- Dec 28, 10
At the beginning of this year I posted my resolutions, and such, for 2010. Well, here it is, the end of the year. Let's see if I've accomplished anything of value...
My resolutions for 2010 were as follows:
- Pray with both my son & my girls before they go to bed.
- Do coffee or breakfast with all my kids, but especially Carly. (Remember, God has engineered YOU to mesh with your family. You, not Mark, not Ryan, not Will, are the spiritual leader of your family for a REASON.)
- Continue with small group. It's been a while since I've been encouraged in such a way that I'm motivated to go home and lead my family in the pursuit of following God.
- Be diligent, honest, & committed to my spending plan. Understand that it's OK to revise the plan as long as we both agree.
- Join a reading plan on Youversion.com. Make reasonable attempts to stick with it. Hold laura accountable.
- Pick out a Bible verse with the kids to memorize. Attempt more as time permits.
- Pray more frequently
- When is God most apparent to you? Is it during worship? Driving, what?
- God has placed His desires in our hearts! What are YOU going to do about it?!
Ok, let's see how I did...
- Fail. I don't think I did this at all.
- Neither fail nor success. Although I didn't really do coffee or breakfast with any of them this year, I did make a point to take them individually out with me to do things, like errand running and such. It's not nearly the face time I had in mind, but it was something. And the kids & I did have had some good conversations. I like this one though, and I think I'll keep it on the list for 2011.
- Fail. Joined a small group, but dropped out. No fault to the group; I was feeling the demand of the commitment I'd made, and I didn't like that.
- Success! Although I wouldn't call it a complete success, we did stay (relatively) committed to our spending plan, and managed to come out in the black. (considering it's post-Christmas I consider that a definite success) So, to improve upon this goal, I plan to make some revisions, and keep better track of where my money is actually going.
- Fail. Although I joined the plan, motivation was nonexistent. I'm not really sure what the solution is here.
- Fail. Completely forgot about this one once I wrote it.
- Neither fail nor success. Although I feel I prayed rather frequently, I definitely didn't pray as much as I wanted to.
- I think this is an ongoing question. My answer as of now: during Worship.
- This question fuels a complicated answer that I'm not prepared to answer now.
Although it appears that 2010 was mostly a FAIL for me, I'm not looking at it that way. I did manage to carve out a new position at work, that I actually like. Football this year was a success. The hopes I have for my kids have not subsided. I have worked out at the gym a bit...
That leads me to my resolutions for 2011:
- Continue working out at the gym, but progress toward a 5 day workout week.
- Significantly reduce my daily sugar intake.
- Revise budget to include 401k contributions, and better weekly expenditure tracking
- Read a novel
- Better refine my work duties, responsibilities
- Create an actual schedule for one-on-one time with each of the family members - especially Laura. (see number 2 above)
- Find a Disciple that works with me.
- Take more pictures, and publish them.
- Create and develop long-term goals
- Pray with, and for my children.
- Learn Mandarin (a little)
- Get another tattoo
- Do at least 1 fun thing with my cousin, Eric
- Visit my sisters (both of them)
It'll be interesting to see how I do this year.
- Sep 21, 10
Found this on Jalopnik the other day:
For me, I'd have to say it was my dad taking me to car shows, crash-up derbies, drag races, etc. From there, the cars themselves took over. The countless color schemes, smoke from burnouts, the smell of burnt racing fuel, and the revs of V8 engines, was like the perfume and make-up of a pretty girl walking by. It still makes my heart flutter. The funny thing is, it's not the ride in the car(s) that I remember. I didn't get very many of those.
What Made You A Car Guy? [Question Of The Day]:
Whether we're born with an innate love of automobiles or not, environmental factors fan the flames. Just ask an Andretti. What made you a car guy (or gal for the 4% of the Jalopnik readership who is female)?
Personally, growing up in a steadfastly working class neighborhood I had little access to fine automobiles or classics. It was mostly trucks and cars kept barely running. So quirky cars like an Isuzu Impulse and Subaru Brat became my objects of affection and shaped me into a strange car guy. The next transformation came when we moved to an apartment complex in Houston and a neighbor's son, a dentist, would bring over well-worn issues of Road & Track too dog-eared for his lobby.
Reading Peter Egan, Phil Hill, and Thos L. Bryant gave me an appreciation of the finer things in life. Finally, a grandfather willing to drive me anywhere to see anything (firetrucks, classic cars, new car shows) sealed the deal. Thus I can like a new fire engine, an old rusty El Camino, and a perfectly restored Bugatti. All in the same day.
What's the source of your car love?
I actually think I'm more a car guy now than only just a few years ago. I recently let go of all my auto-inhibitions and started taking a car for what it is, rather than how old it is, or who it was made from/by. I have a greater appreciation for the automobile now than I ever have.
I sometimes notice how my son is attracted to cars. I'm finding he likes many of the same attributes, but really likes trucks & Jeeps. ...not my thing, but that's ok. I really think this stuff runs in the blood. Thanks dad! - Jul 16, 10
Ok, joined the gym last month, and have gone 2-3 times a week ever since. I still feel there’s a long way to go to look good naked, but at least I have a regimen. The next step is to eat healthy…no easy task.
See more progress on: exercise more - Apr 28, 10For over a year I've been stashing money away for the purchase of a new car. I decided on what I wanted last August, but was nowhere near the down payment I wanted. I had even considered purchasing the car late last fall, to take advantage of the sales tax savings, but decided that a larger (30%) down payment outweighed the good interest rate, & tax savings. It was then that I decided to buy a 2010 model toward the late spring of 2010.
A couple weeks go the 2011 models were announced. I reviewed the specs & looked at the pictures, but decided that I didn't really like the styling changes, and was glad that I had decided on the 2010 model.
So, it was yesterday that I had contacted the dealer to see what's available and place my order if need be. Come to find out, the last date to place an order for the 2010 model was a month ago (March 19th), and there's no cars on the lot in all of Michigan, Indiana, & Ohio. I'm screwed.
People keep trying to talk me out of the new car purchase. I completely understand the difference in value new vs. used. I am conscious of the whole “the car goes down in value by X% as soon as you drive it off the lot” argument. I have 2 rebuttals: 1) I'm not going to sell my car as soon as I drive it off the lot; I plan to keep it for 10+ years, and 2) This car is absent in the used market; people buy these cars and keep them. Buying used isn't really a viable option.
So now that I have to wait an additional 3-4 months, I must stay diligent with my saving. It's very difficult to see a woot-off and not press the I Want One button. I see the deals at Newegg on a weekly basis, & have to close the site as soon as I open it, because I know that I'll be tempted. There's a video game that I want to get next month, and it pains me to know that I can't. Keeping my 'eye on the prize' takes more willpower than I had originally thought. I just hope I can make it. :)
Photo courtesy of Autoblog - Apr 28, 10
This morning as I lay awake in bed, not wanting to get up for work, I had an epiphany.
I’ve been trying to come up with a tattoo idea for my left forearm, for the better part of 3 years. I knew how I wanted the tattoo to make me feel when I looked at it, but that was all I could come up with. I knew that it had to be a certain size in order to fit my forearm. That there is the problem.
So I lie awake in bed, brain is contemplating the crazy dream I had, when this image popped into my head! (I’m going to attempt to explain what the image was in text, so please bear with me.) Picture Jesus’ face. Now picture his face made up of puzzle pieces. Now picture some of those puzzle pieces missing. I believe that this image represents how we know Jesus. We have some idea what he looks like (metaphorically of course), but we’re missing some important details.
I would love to get this tattoo, but there’s no way it’ll fit on my forearm. I’m stuck; I don’t know what to do. :(
See more progress on: get another tattoo - Jan 07, 10
Today a friend asked me what my spiritual goals/resolutions are for 2010. I didn't really have any definitive resolutions that were specifically spiritual so I didn't really answer the question. On the drive home I managed a little reflection time & came up with a laundry list of things that I want to do, be able to do, or accomplish this year. (Please note that sometimes it helps me think to write in the third person.)
Goals for 2010:- Pray with both my son & my girls before they go to bed.
- Do coffee or breakfast with all my kids, but especially Carly. (Remember, God has engineered YOU to mesh with your family. You, not Mark, not Ryan, not Will, are the spiritual leader of your family for a REASON.)
- Continue with small group. It's been a while since I've been encouraged in such a way that I'm motivated to go home and lead my family in the pursuit of following God.
- Be diligent, honest, & committed to my spending plan. Understand that it's OK to revise the plan as long as we both agree.
- Join a reading plan on Youversion.com. Make reasonable attempts to stick with it. Hold laura accountable.
- Pick out a Bible verse with the kids to memorize. Attempt more as time permits.
- Pray more frequently
- Baby steps...
I also came up with a couple questions that I'd like to answer:- When is God most apparent to you? Is it during worship? Driving, what?
- God has placed His desires in our hearts! What are YOU going to do about it?!
- Dec 11, 09
For the most part, I wouldn't call myself “artsy”. After my first (and only) year of architecture school, I realized that I have an engineering mind, rather than an art mind. Even though I'm convinced that I am all-left-brained, I seem to have this emotional connection with some art forms (music & photos). I actually like to look at pictures more than I like to make them. I wouldn't quite call myself a photo connoisseur, more of an enthusiast. I have a ritual that I like to go through every so often: I put on some trance music & stare at hundreds of photos. It sounds so trivial, but it's so much more! You'd be surprised at the emotions that can be triggered with this awesome combination. I'll briefly break it down:
Why trance music?- Simply put, trance music doesn't distract. It tunes out the world so you can really look at the pictures as if you had blinders on.
- It's simple. You're not going to find yourself singing along, possibly looking up the lyrics because you forgot that particular line. Most of the time, there are no words to sing along to.
- It's energetic. You're not going to find yourself falling asleep or bored. I betcha you'll be tapping your foot before you know it.
- I enjoy photographs more than any other art-form, aside from music. One simple picture can tell a whole story.
- It's not a video. Pictures don't have to hold your hand. Video takes your hand & leads you down a path for up to 4hrs! A photograph can tell its story in a measly 2-5 seconds, with the same, or greater impact.
- High consumption rate. Because of the 2-5 second rule (above), you can experience hundreds of pictures in a matter of a few minutes.
Where can you go to find an endless supply of pictures? There are quite a few sites that have zillions of pics, but I have to say, I prefer Flickr's interface. I especially like their slideshow feature. There's a little bit of up-front work to finding what you like, but it's worth it.
Photo preparation: To do this proper, you should create an account. Take a few days to browse around and find photographers that you like, and add them as a contact. This concludes the prerequisite work.
Music preparation: There are several ways to get good trance music these days. For me, the easiest way is to subscribe to the Trance Around the World podcast on iTunes. There you can download the latest episode for free. (You could also listen live on Trancearoundtheworld.com, but to me, that's too much trouble.) There's minimal talking, and it's 2 hours long - plenty of time to get lost in some pictures. A State of Trance is another weekly show that's pretty good. There's also a couple dance/trance internet radio stations that are options, Digitally Imported is an oldy & goody.
So, now go. Put on some music, and look at some awesome pics. It's a great experience. - Apr 28, 10LA 2009: Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition is sportier, less expensive: "
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Subaru
2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery
So often, the tag of 'Special Edition' comes with a not-so-special price increase. Fortunately for Subaru fans, the newly-introduced Impreza WRX STI Special Edition is actually less costly. At $32,995 it's actually $2,000 cheaper than the base price of the standard STI.
Of course, buyers of the Special Edition will have to go without certain features, namely HID headlights, premium audio, and automatic climate control. It's not just a de-contented package, though, as the car also comes with the suspension from the spec C model in Japan that includes a thicker rear stabilizer bar, stiffer bushings and stiffer springs.
Initially, each car will be painted in Aspen white with the charcoal-colored 14-spoke wheels also cribbed from the spec C. Just 125 examples will be built in the first quarter of 2010, although Subaru says that more will be available later in the year in additional colors. High-res gallery below, pricing press release available after the jump.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading LA 2009: Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition is sportier, less expensive
LA 2009: Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition is sportier, less expensive originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments" - Nov 30, 09Sell No: Why You Don’t Need A New Car [New Cars]: "
According to recent reports, new-car sales in this country are slowly climbing out of the toilet. We love you, Driving America, so we have some advice: Stop it.
We know what you're thinking: The American economy is barely alive. Detroit is busily attempting to reverse decades of bad choices. Speed has never been cheaper, interest rates are still in the gutter, and everyone and their brother — hello, Black Friday — wants you to buy, buy, buy. It looks like an easy call.
We're here to tell you to hold off. If you can stomach it, we suggest you do something radical: If it has wheels, don't buy it new. Period. Sound like sacrilege? Maybe, but there's more to it than you might think.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Argument One: Cost
As obvious as it seems, the money bit can't be overlooked. Sure, you lose a hefty chunk of change the moment you drive your new snazzmobile off the lot, but that old saw rarely stops people. And yeah, interest rates are low, and the guy in the nice tweed suit is going to talk to his boss and almost lose his job so you can save a few bucks. It's tempting. But it's also a game for suckers.
Look at it this way: Yes, there's never been a better time to buy a new car. But by the same token, there's also never been a better time to save your money and buy something older and a heck of a lot cheaper. The same economy that made that brand-new Porsche 911 seem affordable also trashcanned the values of every used car on the planet. Never has so much fun been available for so little, and the tradeoffs are relatively benign. (In the case of the 911, a good used 996 Carrera will be almost as fast, half as expensive, and just as much fun to fling into a fencepost ass-first.) And if you're worried about repair costs, don't — unless you buy in the rain, at night, and while drunk, a year's worth of fix-it bills will rarely outweigh the heft of twelve car payments.
Take the cash you saved and go on vacation. Invest it. Hell, for that matter, just use it to — wait for it — buy a second car. (What can we say? Jalopnik wants you to roll.) The possibilities are endless.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Argument Two: The Environment
It doesn't matter what you buy, how old it is, or how much it says "hybrid" on the trunk — if you're buying a new car, you're consuming resources. Great strides have been made in the field of automotive recycling, and for the most part, large-scale manufacturing is cleaner than it's ever been. But you can't negate the laws of physics: If it already exists, then you don't have to make it. Creating things takes work, and work, by definition, makes something happen by using up something else.
A few years ago, a company called CNW Market Research created a 'dust to dust' study that examined the net environmental impact of a host of new cars. The study received a lot of press, largely because it claimed that a Jeep Wrangler used less energy from cradle to grave than a Toyota Prius. The firm's methods have since been the subject of a great deal of controversy, but the argument they make is valid: Things aren't always what they seem, and planetary harm has a lot more to do with sustainable design than with tailpipe emissions.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Argument Three: Safety
This is the bit that comes with a caveat: No matter what you drive, the newer it is, the less likely it is to kill you in an accident. Vehicle safety standards are like the laundry — they never rest, and the only thing you can do is try to keep up. That said, thanks to Ralph Nader (I can't believe I just typed that), the curve isn't linear.
By and large, things are much better than they were fifty years ago. Your dad's '61 Cadillac may have killed him if he so much as looked at it funny, but anything built since the first Bush administration is going to be safe enough that you shouldn't feel terrorized by traffic. When in doubt, err on the side of newer, more airbags, and more crush space. Just because it's older doesn't mean that it wants you dead.
Argument Four: Fun
If you regularly read car magazines, the following may come as a shock: New cars aren't always more fun. Here at Los Jalops Con Carne, we've driven everything on the market, and most of what's out there simply isn't that special. Thanks to ever-increasing safety, emissions, and comfort standards, the average new car is a lumpy pile of bloated meh. There are exceptions — a lot of them, thankfully — but they aren't available for beer money, and most of them are either wildly impractical or more expensive than a small house. Buy older, and you get access to the once-costly fun stuff at cut-rate prices; you also get lighter curb weights, better steering feel, and more seat-of-the-pants Kickass.
The Caveat: Sometimes…
OK, we give — none of this is set in stone. There are obviously exceptions to each and every one of these arguments, and sometimes a new car is simply the best answer. We feel your pain. But if you remember nothing else, remember this:
Save the old cars. Please. Don't let your children grow up thinking that 4000-pound sport sedans with foot-thick doors are the way of the future. Help us, before it's too late. This is Jalopnik, signing off from the future. You have been warned.
" - Nov 30, 09
Finding joy has been one of those things that I've struggled with for a long time. Not really knowing what it looks like makes it all the more difficult to know it when I have it. I've always known it's more than just “being happy”. This weekend, God has blessed me with just a taste of what His joy can be. I can only imagine what His joy can look like at its full glory!
There's no doubt about it, the warm sunny weather did a good deal to improve my attitude this weekend. Saturday was a busy day. The morning was packed with Cheer-Off for the OMYFA. It's always chaotic, but usually worth it in the end. Carly's team got 3rd place out of 10ish teams, & the Chargers managed to get the Sportsmanship award (the whole team, football & cheer). It was so wonderful to see the girls enjoy themselves.
From then it was a nice wedding of a friend, followed by a monster truck show for PJ & I. None of these event were all that special. I don't really know how else to explain it, other than “it came from God.”
Sunday got even better. There was a short section of our church service where people could share their testimonies. I'm not averse to offering mine, but most of the time, I have nothing to share. This day was different. I felt lead to share that I had found just a little bit of joy. Ever since, I'd been on a high.
After church I sat in the sun watching as a bunch of kids (neighborhood, church, & ours) played in the leaves, laughed out loud, & chased each other around the house. The Sunday ended with a nice trip to the cider mill & a dinner out.
The funny thing is, it was so similar to weekends past, yet this one had so much more peace & love. It probably sounds a bit cheesy to the outsider, but very authentic to me; and it's clear as to where these feelings are stemming from. - Nov 10, 09
Come this December 2nd, the Nielsens will be debt-free! Well, for the credit card anyway. We've been credit card debt-free before, but I actually think it'll stick this time. We've made some mindset changes that has enabled both Laura & I to stop using the credit card, but use the bank card instead. We still have a little more to go (some weeks we run out of money - oops!), but for the most part it's working out. The next step is budgeting. I have a feeling that is going on the New Year's resolution blog entry; stay tuned.
- Oct 22, 09
I took advantage of Microsoft's pre-order promotion a few months ago. If you pre-order W7, you can get a huge ($50-$100) discount; so I did. I placed my order through Amazon. This will be my last pre-order from Amazon.
Today's the today M$ officially releases Windows 7. The last few times I've pre-ordered something from Amazon, I have received the item a few days after the release date. Typically they'll ship on the release date. (which, to me, seems kind of stupid) Wondering if they've shipped my copy, I check my account status. This is what I see:I know I'm bitching about only a few days, but come on! 4 days, really?! I'm tired of being treated like this, and I'm putting my foot down. No more (pre-)orders from me... - Oct 08, 09
Late last month I sprained my ankle. I don't recall ever feeling that kind of pain before. I'm on my road to recovery, but it's been a difficult journey.
The weekend of September 12th didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. I had been struggling with feelings of being a less-than-stellar father. Monday morning, I had been brainstorming with the wife on how I can be a better dad.
At 6:30pm the kids & I were discussing what we could do for the evening. All three of them voted to play video games. Given my recent propensity to do the right thing, I vetoed all their votes and stipulated that if we go out on a bike ride to the park, they can do something “fun” when we get back. (Assuming we would indeed have fun at the park)
Just after 7:00pm we arrive at the park, approximately ¾ miles away. There was a soccer practice going on, but the play structure was empty, so we decided to play tag on the structure. During one of my escape maneuvers, I proceeded to walk down a 3-step stairway. On the first step, my foot turned sideways, and I heard a loud “pop” sound, followed by a “crunch”. An immediate surge of pain brought me to my knees on the wood-chip covered ground. Rolling around, in a futile attempt to get away from the pain in my ankle, I manage to drag myself, only using my hands, to the edge of the wood-chip area. At first my kids thought I was being funny. It wasn't until they noticed I wasn't addressing them at all that they realized I was indeed not being funny.
Laura had a PTA meeting to go to and was over at the school at this time. She had been there only 15 minutes when she received a phone call from our oldest daughter (I was in too much pain to hold a conversation) saying she had to come pick up her husband. I laid there a good 20 minutes, before she pulled up to the park. We attempted to hop the ~50' to the curb, but it was a no-go. I made her drive up onto the park lawn so I could crawl up into the van's backseat. She drove me home while the kids rode their bikes back home. (Luckily a neighbor saw what was going on, and volunteered to keep my bike along the side of their house until we could pick it up.)
Since it was now the kids' bedtime, Laura called my mom to take me to the hospital. It was at least 9:30 before I actually saw a doctor. X-rays showed no break, but a “severe sprain”. They gave me crutches, a “4-layer wrap” (sounds like a Taco Bell meal), and an air-cast. We got home at 11:30pm.
I figured I'd be back to work in a couple of days. My instructions were to wait until the swelling went down. 14 days , and 2 doctors visits later, I went back to work. (That whole situation is for another day). Me and my paycheck didn't get along for the following 2 weeks.
Recovery has probably been on-track, but my perception is that it's slow. I literally stayed off my feet for 16 days. I used crutches for an additional 5 days. I am now using the air-cast exclusively, and keep it on all day. It's saved my ankle from re-injury more than a few times. I have scheduled to keep it on until the beginning of November. I do manage to walk around, albeit slowly.
The orthopedic doctor gave me a statistic that is looming over my head. He told me that about 10% of people re-sprain their ankles. He added a side note saying that given the amount of people that sprain their ankles, that's a lot of re-sprains.
I've had to refuse playing outdoor sports with my son a few times. It pains me to see him say, “Okay dad.” and move on. I can't help but think I'm letting him down.
The moral of this story is this: if the kids want to play video games, don't argue. You just might sprain your ankle. (Alternately the moral could be this: You don't have to play on a play structure to be a good dad; video games will do fine.) - Oct 07, 09
I’ve decided to postpone buying a new car until I have more cash to put down. I’m 80% sure I’ve decided on a model, but there are a few things I still need to nail down (color, options, etc). Waiting also throws a monkey wrench into the options of “good” APRs, as well as being able to write-off in sales tax on my taxes… I still figure that if I can put more money down (and get a lower payment), it’s the best decision.
See more progress on: buy a new car - Oct 07, 09
"Slow & steady payments..."
How I did it: It took several years, but what it really boils down to is just keep making the payments, use the standard payment plan, & make extra payments when you can afford to.
Lessons & tips: Make sure you're not on the extended pay-off plan. While in the beginning, this may seem like an attractive option, it really makes the burden of payments seem to last forever.
It took me 10 years.
It made me Ecstatic
See more progress on: pay off my student loans
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data-link="http://www.flickr.com/7445605@N04/8218201123/"> " data-title="Relax v4" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/30536739@N06/8142088712/"> " data-title="Relax v5" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/30536739@N06/8151755655/"> " data-title="Pyramid Point - Return Trail" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/21919055@N07/8154157421/"> " data-title="Alder Lake [EXPLORED #1]" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/44954831@N03/8077416949/"> " data-title="Clear Autumn Sunset, Seattle" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/53020444@N06/8094039849/"> " data-title="Autumn Woodland" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/71463577@N00/8063489914/"> " data-title="Fall is here" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/38748740@N05/8047490630/"> " data-title="The last day from the earth" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/33366294@N04/8056349718/"> " data-title="Chapel Beach Campground" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/21919055@N07/8001916965/"> " data-title="Sunset on Chapel Beach" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/21919055@N07/8004326369/"> " data-title="Chapel River" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/21919055@N07/8007793650/"> " data-title="catch me if you can → ♦♦ explored ♦♦" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/24479122@N08/7836514590/"> " data-title="The Infamous Tornado Photo [08.14.12]" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/25845174@N08/7839077036/"> " data-title="Green world" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/36449002@N08/7602154456/"> " data-title="My to do list is healed and in use!" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/59773274@N00/4668030838/"> " data-title="Title Above.." data-link="http://www.flickr.com/58796820@N04/7426646746/"> " data-title="Modded WRX" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/31129096@N03/7398879916/"> " data-title="DSC_0142" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/41617491@N08/7289928098/"> " data-title="" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/79852943@N05/7151272649/"> " data-title="The only thing left to do." data-link="http://www.flickr.com/92721510@N00/7203009288/"> " data-title="blushing bride" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/70927081@N00/2732085202/"> " data-title="DONUT!" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/54344841@N00/2905470713/"> " data-title="Subaru WRX Limited" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/31129096@N03/7069537537/"> " data-title="Subaru WRX Wallpaper" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/31129096@N03/7117351905/"> " data-title="Chemo-nomics. Above, about $100 or less of medical cannabis. This is enough for many, many doses against chemo sickness. Below, 3 pills that effect for 3-5 days, $500 after my insurance. There's no generic for it, so: major gouging. It's one of the few ph" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/81513646@N00/6925873945/"> " data-title="Kill the noise" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/30536739@N06/6843826764/"> " data-title="Another Alki Lighthouse Sunset" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/38529596@N02/6969763511/"> " data-title="Soldier On" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/63447395@N00/6914028263/"> " data-title="1 last shot from Milfordsound" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/90313708@N00/6881658245/"> " data-title="Mt Tabor Engagement" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/31081207@N00/6834067417/"> " data-title="Mt Tabor Engagement" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/31081207@N00/6834064631/"> " data-title="Hot Import Nights" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/30364906@N08/6465460735/"> " data-title="Bond Falls" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/16612517@N00/6746920541/"> " data-title="Tahquamenon Falls. Lower Falls" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/16612517@N00/6746922383/"> " data-title="Walk Wherever you Want" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/31220697@N08/6731761267/"> " data-title="Almost there. |Explored|" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/54874059@N08/6702891055/"> " data-title="" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/40147513@N05/5951629005/"> " data-title="Point of View" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/16612517@N00/6714728459/"> " data-title="I stand alone" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/30536739@N06/6552378169/">
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Info
- Summary
5 years machining experience followed up by 13 years in manufacturing process & project engineering; continuously working to better the flow of information from Engineering/Quality to the shop floor, while maintaining the accuracy standard necessary to produce cost-effective, high-precision gears for the aerospace industry.
Specialties: Heat treated aerospace gear manufacturing process & quality planning; project management;Experience- Jan 2008 - PresentManufacturing Project Engineer / BMT Aerospace
-Provided customers with a knowledgeable, technical contact to resolve issues related to multimillion dollar manufacturing transitions.
-Sub-tier development.
-Performed technical presentations to design engineers, buyers, manufacturing engineers, etc.
-Lead pre-manufacture “kick-off” meetings mitigate potential trouble points in manufacturing process.
-Lead post-manufacture process review meetings to determine where failures existed.
-Frozen process planning administration for Flight Safety & Flight Critical parts.
-Established engineering department standards for CAD modeling, drawing, & practices.
-Created interdepartmental work instructions.
-Developed AS9100/ISO9002 department procedures & SOPs - Feb 1999 - Jan 2008Manufacturing Engineer / BMT Aerospace
Responsible for creating all aspects of the manufacturing process plan of aerospace gears & assemblies.
-Created involute spline gauge specification sheets reducing creation time from ~1hr to ~5 minutes, while improving accuracy.
-Implemented the use of electronic forms over handwritten forms to improve consistency, time, and record retention.
-Tooling design - work holding, functional gauging, etc. - Jun 1996 - Aug 1998CNC Lathe Setup/Operator, Shift Supervisor / Central Screw Products
Process engineering, personnel training, machining equipment setup/operation.
- Sept 1992 - Sept 1997Machinist / Central Screw Products
CNC Lathe setup/operator, Manual lathe/mill setup/operator
Education-
1996 - 1998Central Michigan UniversityBSMET in Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Activities: SME -
1993 - 1995Oakland Community CollegeLiberal Arts
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Interests:Cars, Computers & software, F1, Rally racing, photography,
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UploadsJun 07, 13" data-title="Brake Scrape"> Jun 01, 13" data-title="Eastern Market Time Lapse"> Apr 28, 13" data-title="25 lap Late Model"> Jan 27, 13" data-title="Sno*Drift 2013"> Jan 27, 13" data-title="Sno*Drift 2013"> Feb 03, 11" data-title="Sno*Drift 2011"> Jan 30, 11" data-title="Sno*Drift 1"> Jan 29, 11" data-title="Sno*Drift 2011 Neon!"> Jan 29, 11" data-title="Haybale-SnoDrift"> Apr 03, 10" data-title="Mads-Chat.mpg"> Apr 03, 10" data-title="Barbershop.mpg">Dec 04, 10" data-title="Porsche 911 GT2 RS - Driven to Extreme"> Nov 30, 10" data-title="Ken Block's Gymkhana GRID Invitational Officially Awesome Hype Commercial!"> Sep 22, 09" data-title="Dub FX 23/07/09 'Hip Hop'"> May 13, 10" data-title="Team Polizei's 2005 Gumball: The Battle of Rome Pt 1">
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VideosMar 23, 12" data-title="Untitled"> Feb 03, 11" data-title="Untitled"> Feb 26, 09" data-title="Sledding in '09"> Jan 02, 09" data-title="Interview with the Nielsens"> Nov 25, 08" data-title="CPD-cut"> Nov 18, 08" data-title="Flewallen family reunion"> Nov 09, 08" data-title="SV at Bean & Leaf">Feb 26, 12" data-title="Whiteout"> Jul 30, 12" data-title="ReadySetFilm - Import Alliance Summer 2012 - Z-Max - Charlotte, NC"> Mar 30, 12" data-title="What Happened To Detroit?!"> Mar 28, 12" data-title="HILL"> Feb 13, 12" data-title="24 | HOURS | IN | PARIS"> Apr 03, 11" data-title="Only Air"> Nov 07, 10" data-title="The Art & Soul of BDC"> May 12, 10" data-title="RACING DREAMS TRAILER 166m"> Nov 07, 11" data-title="MECHANICAL SYNFONICA"> Oct 03, 11" data-title="Landscapes: Volume Two"> Aug 03, 11" data-title="AwesomeFest 2011 - by capProd"> May 18, 11" data-title="How To: Playstation 3 Yellow Light of Death Repair"> Jun 22, 11" data-title="Splitscreen: A Love Story"> Jun 22, 11" data-title="s_11"> May 24, 11" data-title="Carving the Mountains"> Jan 27, 11" data-title="REISBRENNEN TRAILER BY FORMAT67.NET"> Jan 29, 11" data-title="Charlotte's One Year Video"> Dec 29, 10" data-title="UNDERCITY"> Aug 30, 10" data-title=""Church Planter" by Darrin Patrick"> Oct 28, 10" data-title="Miami Horror - Holidays"> Aug 06, 10" data-title="Out West Back East"> Jul 01, 10" data-title="Pikes Peak 2010 - Jeff Zwart In Car"> Jun 23, 10" data-title="Lightning strikes three of the tallest buildings in Chicago at the same time!"> May 21, 10" data-title="24 HOURS IN 19500 FRAMES"> Jun 01, 10" data-title="Nostalgia Drags at 240 FPS"> Feb 24, 09" data-title="NIN Sydney 2.24.09 - Mid-show Power Outage [HD]"> Dec 21, 08" data-title="Snow Day"> Jan 23, 09" data-title="Maker Workshop - DTV Antenna & Steadicam on MAKE: television"> Feb 26, 09" data-title="NIN: Burn Live from on stage, Melbourne 2.25.09 [HD]"> Feb 20, 09" data-title="Jorenholmen HDR Time Lapse"> Apr 28, 08" data-title="STI"> Feb 16, 09" data-title="BOOMBOX">
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Photos
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Photos" data-title="Hack! What now dad. @tessaanielsenn_ and parker;-)" data-link=""> " data-title="Why is there a deer in my driveway?" data-link=""> " data-title="STi in the morning light." data-link=""> " data-title="Turbo anyone?" data-link=""> " data-title="That's sad." data-link=""> " data-title="Figure 8 race. Sweet." data-link=""> " data-title="One eyed Jack" data-link=""> " data-title="Look, ma! No electronics!" data-link=""> " data-title="Today's spoils." data-link=""> " data-title="Upset that Caribou Coffee is closed, the kids decide to make their own iced coffee. :-(" data-link=""> " data-title="Kitchen computer repair. With @laur_loo." data-link=""> " data-title="Been that kind of weekend." data-link=""> " data-title="No filter. It really is this pretty." data-link=""> " data-title="Mmmmm... Heavy cream." data-link=""> " data-title="" data-link=""> " data-title="My USB pet rock at home on my desk at work. #mylifeisbetterthanyours" data-link=""> " data-title="Fuck computers." data-link=""> " data-title="Helping dad install sway bars. :-)" data-link=""> " data-title="Now if I could get the guy who puts together the production order to spell our last name right... Great job @carlyyy_bieber & @laur_loo" data-link=""> " data-title="Abandoned by the fire." data-link="">
