How to install a ceiling fixture

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/10/24_How_to_install_a_ceiling_light_fixture_or_the_Internet_as_actually_useful.html

For the most part, the internet is a giant waste of time/ I have found jobs/candidates/dates/directions/tickets but for the most part watching The Rocking Son of Dschinghis Khan on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEeOkDMWO5g

But yesterday the Internet was actually useful. I saw that my overhead kitchen light was out so I hit it and came back on but then went out. I then opened the dome and tried to tighten the bulbs but the wires were loose/frayed. I knew from the Onion that this could be bad and I would either deal with a dark kitchen, pay someone to fix it or research how to do it myself.

So I did a Google search on Installing Ceiling Fixture and came across the following video
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-replace-ceiling-light-fixtures.html

Then I had to figure out which circuit breaker turned off the light.

Got a coupon from the Entertainment book and went to an Ace Hardware on Noriega but it turned out the light fixture was only $17.

It was a little frustrating but I was able to install it.


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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

My LinkedIn  Profile
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Questions I would want answered

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/10/23_Questions_on_aliens_time_travel.html

I saw in the news that they (Scientist) discovered 32 extra-solar planets which brings the total number to 403, all discovered since 1995 which I think is amazingly cool.
This got me thinking about questions I would love to have answered in my lifetime (even if it means putting me in carbon freezing and woken up in 2176)

1) Is there life on other planets and do they have British Accents
With the large number of Galaxies/Stars/Planets etc I think it would be crazy to have Earth be the only planet with life. Imagine if they found a shrub on Titan.
I do not believe in UFO crashes or alien abductions because if they (aliens) can get all the way here, I doubt they would crash but I do know people who made it all the way home and ran over their mailbox.

2) Is time travel possible?
I guess this would make space travel more viable but you open up different situations involving Lea Thompson. Imagine going back to the 1970's with an iPhone that somehow had Internet access. Technology will continue to improve and they may figure out how to make this happen but I am sure it will end up like Air Travel.

3) Parallel Universes (Multiverse) or what was before the big bang...
Again, my interest in Science Fiction shows but what was going on before the Big Bang? What is beyond the Universe? I often think about these concepts how a dog would think of me taking their picture and then remotely putting it on the Internet.

4) What about a creator
Most people know my thoughts on Religion so I am not going to prattle on but I know I am in the minority. Throughout history the vast majority of people (and even today) believe in a God of some type. From a young age I always thought we could all be created five minutes ago with false memories but if we encounter any of the first three (Aliens, Time Travelers, Parallel Universes characters or a combination) would we be able to tell the difference? Think of the Cargo Cults. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmlYe2KS0-Y


--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

My LinkedIn  Profile
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/0/67/264

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Washington Redskins are awful

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/10/22_The_Redskins_are_bad.html

If the San Jose Mercury news has an article about the Washington Redskins and they are not playing 1) in the Superbowl 2) Against the Raiders or 49ers, most likely they are bad. Not bad in a notch below their competition, but bad like an opponent in a late 1980's Mike Tyson fight.
Right now the owner is applying Dilbert like business ideas (that to be honest, most of the time do not work in business) to the football game. The owner saw they had a problem (they are a comically bad team) and figured that the solution is not improving the caliber of talent, but adding a level of management to the game calling. They brought in a consultant to call the plays from a booth. This makes a little more sense than having all of the fans fitted with video game controllers and having the group think message a play to the team. They are playing the Eagles, which lost to the Raiders somehow on Monday. I doubt the Redskins will be playing on Monday night for a while.
Now this blog, that I admit I have gotten lazy on in the last few days is not about sports, the NFL or Jerseys.
Most people who know me, know that I am a fan of the Washington Redskins (but to be fair, my interest has waned since I was in short acid washed short pants) but they randomly make comments. Not in a talking trash because the team is so bad, it does not warrant trash talking.
The reason I am reflecting on the Redskins awful season is how it impacts one of my Brothers (who is a big fan) and my Sister (who is not a fan at all). My brother will go out of the way to watch the games and I am guessing unless he is a glutton for punishment (like re-watching Star Wars Episode I) I think he has more time on Sunday which is how it effects my Sister who used the time when the Redskins were playing to enjoy an "I am Legend" scene when everything is not so crowded. As fans give up on the awful team they venture out and the roads are no longer a ghost town.
After this Sunday, kickball will be done till April and I will need to find something else as I do not think watching the NFL will be an option.
I am considering going to the Washington Redskins/Oakland Raiders game in Oakland (I will be wearing a black shirt as I do not want hassle from the fans). At that point, I think the Redskins will be allowing random fans to call the plays, coach or even play. I am aiming for a ticket costing less than a UFL ticket on the 50 yard line.
One of the things about being a fan of a team compared to an individual athlete is that in boxing a career has a beginning and an end. They may retire at the right time (Marvin Hagler/Lennox Lewis) or stay on too long (Ali, Holyfield, Leonard, Duran, Hearns) but it ends and then you can watch Foreman Moorer but a team is different. It is an ongoing ordeal. My favorite team was the Redskins under Joe Gibbs I. It also had to do with my age (in short pants) but you are not really allowed to switch teams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU

On another note, one of my friends from Kickball/Trivia has started a blog so I figured I would give him a link
http://www.hanleybonynge.com/


--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

My LinkedIn  Profile
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/0/67/264

My Facebook Profile
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Aquarium

One type of event I like is when they have a "grown folks night" at a place like an Aquarium, Zoo or Museum. I like those places but feel a bit odd going there there without any kids. One of my kickball teammates told me about Sharktoberfest which was some sort of fundraiser at the Aquarium of the Bay
http://www.aquariumofthebay.org/ so for $20 it was a good night. I was able to get answers to many of my shark related questions.
For a good Google Search check out
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=%22who+would+win+in+a+fight+between+a+*+and+a+*%22&start=10&sa=N&fp=bf55b3d15dafb488
This Sunday is my 2nd time running the Nike Women's half. Last year I was running in honor of my Mom. This year (and each additional year) will be run in her memory.
Had a nice walk in Golden Gate Park this morning with Otter where it was kind of foggy. Not in a live action Scooby Doo way but more in a good way. I do not like new fangled versions of cartoons like Curious George.

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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Long Run

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/10/4_A_long_run.html

If I was going to slack off on a run, this was not the one for that as it was dedicated to my Mom.
It was also my teams turn to bring the food so I made brownies. I also left the oven on overnight which is not that bright of a movie.

Made my way to the Sports Basement and said the following,

"Last year I was running the Nike (Half) Marathon in honor of my Mom who had just completed a round of radiation for Lymphoma and was in remission. This year I am running in her memory. That one word makes a big difference. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma for the first time in 2003 and was cured through chemotherapy. I believe that the work of the Leukemia and Lymphoma society gave me some extra time with my Mom and my family and I are thankful. Near the end of her life, while in a rehabilitation facility, she told my sister that when she got better and left, she wanted to return to the facility to get a job. My sister asked if my Mom wanted to be a nurse, to which my Mom said, no, I want to act as a counselor and listen to their problems. Even at a point where she was not doing well, she still was concerned for others and wanted to help. I miss my Mom and I am thankful for the additional time that we had."

Everyone was given a photo with Mom & Cosmo to pin to their running jersey. As I saw people from the earlier groups (and the later groups) I saw that picture where Cosmo is wearing a tie sitting next to Mom.

Then it was off to run from the sports Basement to AT&T park (The Willie Mayes Statue). It was my favorite course as it is mostly flat and scenic. My legs felt great and I had good endurance. It was one of my most inspired runs to say the least. Finished strong with one of the coaches.

Vick

So the word on the street was that Nike was going to endorse the very classy Michael Vick. This would require me to switch my brand of running shoes. I am a big fan of the Nike + but I could not support a firm that associates with the likes of Michael Vick. Luckily Nike saw that the fans of dog fighting and those that would boo Santa Claus is a small crowd and has decided not to endorse him.
Went to the Kezar track for my third track workout in the last 20 years and I actually felt really good. They are days, weeks, months where running is a pain in the ass, which is how I felt in the May/June/July/August time frame but the reason was obvious and then you add an ankle issue.

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

My LinkedIn  Profile
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