I couldn't find ANY information on the Schwinn Loop when looking to buy an inexpensive folding bike. I took a gamble and bought one on the cheap and made this video so future folding bike shoppers can see what one can get for around $200. This video was done in one take without a script, so be kind.

Here's some pictures from Chantel's 7th Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. 

All the kids definitely loved it and our "hostess" at Chuck E. Cheese made sure the adults had little to do but enjoy pizza and sandwiches.

After the party, Chantel and Toma hung out around the Christmas tree and opened up Chantel's birthday presents....

Chicken Limbo.  Limbo underneath the chicken and if you hit his tail, he taunts you.

Toma and Chantel got Moxie Girlz dolls.  The blonde doll for the blonde girl and the brunette doll for Chantel.

My complaints about iPod/iPhone:

1. iTunes.  You MUST use it to transfer files to and from your device.  I should be able to see my device as a drive letter and be able to drag files over to it.  Also, iTunes is very slow and clunky.  It doesn't matter what computer I'm using and how fast that computer is, iTunes just seems to hang for long periods at a time.  You also have to be careful about having iTunes installed on different computers because moving files to and from an iPod or iPhone is done by synchronizing in iTunes.  If some files are on one computer and not another, you could actually wipe files off of your iTunes or iPod when you go to do a synch.

2.  The iPod doesn't have a microphone.  This is particularly annoying on the iPod touch.  The Touch can use all the same programs as an iPhone, as it's essentially an iPhone without a phone, but because there is no microphone, you can't use certain applications that utilize voice recognition and you can do voice recording.  Get with it Apple.  Zune HD has a mic.  Even Creative Zen has a mic.

3.  Titles of movies and songs don't scroll.  This is true even with the Touch and iPhone and is amazingly frustrating.  So if I have something with a long title... say an MP3 with the artist name and song title or a TV program that has the season number, episode number, show name and episode name in the title... you can only read the first few characters of this title if it's longer than what the iPod or iPhone screen allows for.  Dumb. 

4.  Inability to multi-task.  There's no pausing a game on your iPod Touch or iPhone so you can read an email or check on your stocks.  Once you leave that game, you have to restart it when you fire it back up again.

5.  Battery life is horrible.  Of course, this is a relative thing and the battery in an iPod and iPhone are quite small.  Regardless, I feel this is still something that Apple should address.  The fact that the battery can't be (easily) accessed and replaced only doubles this problem.  With other companies' phones and MP3 players, spare batteries can be swapped out if need be when you're running out of juice.

6.  There's no stop.  Only pause.  It sounds like a silly complaint, and on the surface it doesn't sound like a big deal.  But use an iPod or iPhone for a while and you start to wonder why they didn't put a stop button that allows you to stop playing a song or a video and either replay that file or go back to browse for another. 

7.  There's flaky WiFi on the Touch and iPhone. I'm not sure why, but if the device is allowed to fade to a black screen, I will lose my WiFi connection and it takes it forever to make the connection again.

8.  Lack of non-proprietary connector.  I know WHY the iPod has a proprietary connector.  It's because you can actually control an iPod or iPhone through it's interface.  Simple signals through the multi-pin connector can control track navigation, volume, etc.  There's even a video output pin.  But this is no excuse for a complete lack of a standard connector like a mini-USB.  Charging the iPod or iPhone is impossible without having an expensive, proprietary iPod cable.

9.  Spell check.  Yes.  Spell check on the iPod Touch and iPhone will drive you mad.  Unlike most phones that give you spelling correction suggestions, Apple just automatically assumes you're a crappy speller and changes words for you on the fly.  You have to tell it NOT to change words for you as you type, which I feel is completely backwards behavior.  Let me keep typing.  If I want to change the spelling of something I think I might have spelled wrong, I'll tell you.

Our SUV is in the shop and it's apparently taking a lot longer to fix than they expected (supposedly just a failed BCM, but last I saw the car the mechanic was completely upside down under the hood).  The dealer was nice enough to provide me with a vehicle to use while they figure out what's wrong with our car. Interestingly enough, the loaner car was a 2010 Dodge Challenger.

First impressions of the Dodge Challenger are "wow!"  Dodge did an awesome job of making the Challenger look  completely retro.  At first glance, it would be easy to mistake the 2010 for a 1970-1974 Challenger.  The Challenger is not a car for someone that wants to keep a low profile.  At the very least, the menacing look of the Challenger gets stares and a lot of people talking.

My loaner car is powered by the 3.5L SOHC V6 and provides just enough power to get this nearly 2 ton car out of it's own way.  Handling is very good, especially considering the weight of this thing.

The Challenger is slightly uncomfortable for my 6'4" tall, large frame.  It seems that the pedals are closer to the steering column than I'm used to.  In other words: with the seat far enough back for me to comfortably grasp the steering wheel, my legs are still fairly bent when on the pedals.  In fact, my right knee rests right on the corner of the center dashboard.  After a long drive, my knee was starting to hurt.  I can't honestly see who would be 100% comfortable driving this car.  Isn't everyone's legs longer than their arms?  The pedals really need to be farther forward, or perhaps the steering wheel needs to come farther into the cockpit.  The steering wheel is actually quite flush with the dashboard and actually obstructs the view of some of the instrumentation.

The backseat of the challenger is more useful than other modern-day pony cars on the market in that you can actually fit adults back there.  The problem is in getting those adults in and out of the back seat.  Only the passenger seat flips forward to allow access to the back.

Trunk capacity is enormous in the Challenger and the interior is fairly roomy with plenty of head and shoulder room.  The sound system is excellent for a stock sound system and all controls are well within reach (if not located in different locations than most other cars I've driven.)

I'm not a big fan of the 5-speed automatic transmission, but that's more of a knock agaist Chrysler in general and not the Challenger specifically as I have driven other Chrysler products and have NEVER liked their "Autostick" shifting mechanism.  I have a tendency to rest my right hand on the shifter on the center console.  With Chrysler's Autostick, a slight pull towards the driver causes a downshift and changes the transmission mode from automatic to Autostick.  In many other cars, like those equipped with Triptronic or Shiftronic, the manual upshift/downshift is operated in a separate shift gate AWAY from the driver so there is no unintentional downshifts from simply resting one's hand on the shifter.

Over all, the Challenger is a very cool car.  I can totally see enjoying the V8 Hemi version with a manual transmission.  Would I buy one?  No.  It's just not practical and I can't see taking one for a long trip.  But if I'm given the opportunity to drive one again on someone else's dime, I would totally do it.

First we went bike riding.  Chantel was willing to go 5 miles.

She's a good swimmer too.  If we can work on her running, she can become a regular Triathlete!

In the evening we went to the park where Chantel took advantage of some inflatable obstacle courses and when the sun went down, the fireworks show began.

I think she's dancing.  Hard to tell with her.

I had to take pictures of these guys.  I thought they were too cute.

Last week, we found a mommy bunny protecting five new borns in the side yard next door.....

After a week (as of last night), one of them found his way into our yard... and sometimes our garage!

Looks like the little bunny wants some popsicle.

Today I made wings with the smoker.  I start by smoking the wings for 3 hours at 200°F+.  This get the wings full of a smokey flavor. 

I found out the secret to keeping the cheap ($59) Brinkman smoker going is drilling holes in the bottom of the coal pan.  My next project is going to be installing a charcoal starter in the bottom so I don't have to heat the coals up in the grill first.

It's time to get the grill ready to finish off the wings.  I use Hickory lump coal, which is why the grill is smoking almost as much as the smoker.  You have to grill or fry the wings after you smoke them because the skin will be chewy otherwise. 

Here's the smoked wings on the grill.  After about 15 minutes I'll turn them over.

Here are the wings flipped over and grilling on the other side.  Looks crispy, eh?  After another 15 minutes, it'll be time to toss in some Texas Pete wing sauce!

I got these cell phone pictures from someone I had "Ice Monster" with while over in Taiwan last week.

Ice Monster is REALLY good.  It's not ice cream, it's not sorbet... it's a little of both, with fresh fruit on top.  Definitely something to try when you go over to Taiwan.

No, I did not eat all four bowls.  There was four of us there.  ;)

Umm.......  That's all I can say.

If Daniel could build this in 40 hours, I want to see what he can come up with in a month's time!

"Fully semi-automatic, up to 14 shots.  Capable of delivering over 18J kinetic energy, and speeds up to 110km/h! (42 gram projectiles).  It’s a single stage gun, using a 8800uF(4×2200) capacitor bank with max 400v (704J).  Max shot efficiency is 2.8% but reaches almost 4% at lower voltages.

Charge time for 300v (12J kinetic energy 396J capacitor bank) is 8 seconds for the mains connection, and when using the internal batteries about 90 seconds. It also has a Digital voltage display.

Coil overheat after 14 shots at 300v.  Total weight: 5 kilogram.  Total spend: ~~ 100 Euro.  Construction time: ~~40 Hrs."

Check it out here.