Every Day Bible

a walk of discipleship

Archive for category Personal

Motorcycle Upgrades: Turn Signal Conversion (Part 1 of NaN)

Nov 16

Posted by Happy in Motorcycle | No Comments

So, some of you know a 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 decided to come and live with us. Now that we’ve spent about 1,000 miles together, it’s time to start breaking things.

One of my bigger fears while riding is getting rear-ended. Not much I can do to prevent that one, other than pray and work on visibility. You’ll notice the last post on this blog was about prayer – and this one is on visibility. Trying to cover my bases…

So, I bought a “Turn Signal Conversion Kit” from the Electrical Connection in Knoxville. Cost just under $50, online. (Disclosure: they didn’t pay me to write this review, however, if you’re reading this, folks, I’d be glad to change that…)

The kit is pretty simple: two RED amber LED rings, one for each rear turn signal lens. The rings attach to the lens with included silicon adhesive. Bonus points to the Electrical connection for including the adhesive and alcohol pads for surface prep.

The LEDs get wired to the turn signal power and ground, the brake light power and ground, and the tail light power and ground. When you’re running regularly, the red is illuminated at a low setting, providing additional red taillights. When you brake, the LEDs illuminate at full strength, giving you two additional brake lights. When you turn, the red LEDs deactivate, leaving only your standard amber turn signals, so everything is street legal anywhere in the states.

The installation took me about 4 hours, mainly because I’m an idiot. It took me nearly an hour to find a way to fish the wiring through the turn signal stalks. The stalks were not meant for extra cabling, but several tries later on each side, they went through. Finding the correct power lines wasn’t too difficult: they Hayes manual pages I found online pointed me in the right direction, and a couple of probes with a voltmeter confirmed my guesswork. The kit included vampire clamps (t-taps) that make decent connections, but not that great.

After installing the kit and testing it, Leslie brought her mad PhD soldering skills outside to sure up the connections a bit. I’m very pleased with the final product…so take a look at a quick video:

If you’re looking to add to your nighttime visibility, I’d give this kit an A+. Being LED-based, I didn’t have to worry about it over-stressing the limited power capabilities of this small bike, and it didn’t break the budget. Here’s a link to the manufacturer’s information.

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Why software development scares me

Oct 15

Posted by Happy in Hate When That Happens, Technology | No Comments

Developers, like me, are writing software for things that could kill me.

Did you see this news story? An error in programming gave hospital patients overdoses of radiation for 18 months before it was detected. If you read the story, it boils down to the fact that the guy in charge messed with settings he shouldn’t have been allowed to even see. So, maybe we don’t blame the programmers…

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Animalia

Jun 16

Posted by Happy in Me, Personal | No Comments

Yes. Cute. I know.

Works in progress…

May 10

Posted by Happy in Ministry, Technology | No Comments

Most of you know that I work as an IT consultant in addition to my ministry work. Yes, I know this qualifies me as the dorkiest man in existence…but I’ve come to grips with that fact, and so should you. :)

I’ve added a section at the top of the site "Church Technology." I’m working on putting together some of the more useful tips, tricks, and websites that I’ve come across that have something to do with ministry.

I get asked on a pretty regular basis for software recommendations to keep home PCs safe. I’ve put together a list of a semi-comprehensive package of tools you can use to protect your computer on a subpage of my Church Technology Section. I hope you’ll check it out! :)

By the way…

Jan 7

Posted by Happy in Personal | 1 Comment

We now have a puppy. Any ideas on her name? She’s a mutt with a lot of Mountain Dog.

Pictures after the fold…. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s that time again….

Oct 4

Posted by Happy in FHU, Personal | 1 Comment

Yep…St. Jude’s time. There’s a big group of Freedies, Burnsites, and others that are all going to be in serious pain for a few weeks. If you haven’t seen it, check out the info on St. Jude’s. It’s a pretty neat program. Research hospital + sick kids + no fees = giantfundraiserrunningevent. It’s worth it! So if you’re interested in supporting me, I’d really appreciate it.

You can view everyone on TeamFHU or go directly to my page to support my campaign. My goal is $500. It has a pretty cool progress meter so you can see how our team is doing and how everything is working out.

Thanks! :)
Matthew

WRKN Channel 2: Jamie Tucker

Mar 30

Posted by Happy in News, Soapbox | 4 Comments

I hope you know about this. I was at the Winkler funeral…where media was not allowed inside. On their evening newscast, WKRN Channel 2 (the ABC affiliate in Nashville) led off with a story from Jamie Tucker. He began his report by explaining that media were not allowed in the funeral, but he went in anyway with a hidden wireless microphone to give channel 2 the scoop.

I don’t know about you…but I thought this was pretty terrible. Mr. Tucker was more interested in an exclusive than a grieving family. Channel 2 had the arrogance and audacity to air such a disrespectful segment. I hope you’ll send them an email (their website is http://www.wkrn.com) and you can send email to a variety of accounts. I personally prefer their newsdesk (news@wkrn.com) because it gets in the way of them reading other “exclusive stories.” I hope Mr. Tucker loses his job for this, and I hope our pressure causes several advertisers to abandon WKRN like I plan on it.

Spread the word.

A Change in Heart on Church & State?

Mar 9

Posted by Happy in Religious, Soapbox | No Comments

From the latest Tennessee Blue Book:

Tennessee State Constitution

 

ARTICLE IX 

Disqualifications. 

Section 1. Whereas ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated 

to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great 

duties of their functions; therefore, no minister of the Gospel, or priest of any 

denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the Legislature. 

Section 2. No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards 

and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this 

state. 

Section 3. Any person who shall, after the adoption of this Constitution, 

fight a duel, or knowingly be the bearer of a challenge to fight a duel, or send or 

accept a challenge for that purpose, or be an aider or abettor in fighting a duel, 

shall be deprived of the right to hold any office of honor or profit in this state, 

and shall be punished otherwise, in such manner as the Legislature may prescribe. 

I’ll leave the commentary up to you. Quite a difference in the perception of the value of ministry and the importance of a belief in the Lord and His plan on ethics and decision-making, isn’t it?

Dirty Laundry?

Dec 23

Posted by Happy in Religious, Soapbox | 1 Comment

I hate to air it, but sometimes you still just have to say something about it. I was at a congregation a few months ago. After the morning services, we had a fellowship meal. During that meal, we celebrated the birthday of one of the members. I happened to have my digital camera on me, so we took a picture of this dear lady and her husband. After I shot the image, she inspected the picture and suggested that I must have a particularly good camera to take “such a good picture of her.” I replied, “It’s not the camera, ma’am, I had good material to work with!”

Her response: “Why thank you! That was a very political answer. You’ll make a fine preacher someday!”

I didn’t exactly know how to respond to her comment. I believe she meant it as a sincere compliment. I wasn’t aware that passing the credit for a good photograph from the instrument to the candidate was a political process, and I really wasn’t aware that politics make or break preachers.

Now, this is not intended to bash preaching, religion, etc. etc. These same problems exist in all arenas of life. Shucks, I’m not even going to complain about this attitude. (The lady’s husband is a preacher, by the way). My question, and the only reason I’m posting this, is what will I do to fix this problem?

St. Jude’s Half Marathon

Dec 13

Posted by Happy in Me | 1 Comment

Life lesson: if you decide in the summer to run a half marathon in December, run during the summer and during the fall and beginning of the winter. A couple of Saturdays ago…on the third, I think…a bunch of us from Freed went down to Memphis for the half marathon. We did it as part of the fundraiser for St. Jude’s children’s research hospital.

It was a really neat experience. There were a lot of people who worked really hard for the kids and raised a lot of money…and all that good stuff. It was amazing to go and run for nearly 3 solid hours (and yes, I know that’s terribly slow). It made me think of the days before cars. When we were driving in, I noticed just how far 13.1 miles was. That takes a little bit of time in the car…and I was about to do it on foot!?!

Anyway…these might be entertaining for you. The results by age division (ha! I beat 6 people!) and overall.

Ane they also had race photographers (let’s just say they didn’t need a very fast shutter speed to keep my pictures from blurring…) who put the pictures on the internet.

It was fun. I think I’ll do it again next year. And maybe I won’t be sore for quite so long…