Bye Email

I sent this e-mail out to my coworkers today at NiSource:

Well, with so many people to say bye to, I know I'll miss someone…feel free to pass this along to anyone you wish.

I have only been here for 5 years, but in those five years I have interacted with many people and learned many different things. Thank you to everyone who put up with my learning curve and the barrage of questions. I will treasure the experiences and friendships I have had at Columbia/NiSource and would like to keep up with everyone.

My personal e-mail address will always be mjncj@maxsons.org. My current address and phone number can always be found at http://www.techs4jesus.com/contact.htm. I have started a blog and will do my best to keep it up to date. If you want to read it, the URL is http://www.techs4jesus.com/cgi-bin/blosxom.cgi. Yes, it has an RSS feed: http://www.techs4jesus.com/cgi-bin/blosxom.cgi?/index.rss. I would like to keep up with everyone. Part of how I do that is through Christmas cards. If you want to be included on my list, send me an e-mail with your address (don't reply back to this e-mail…I won't get it).

By the way, if you have problems with AssetCenter or Remedy, please follow established procedures and call the Technology HelpDesk.

Buy vs Rent

Everyone is asking why Cyndi and I decided to rent in Richmond. We are planning to stay long-term and we could afford to buy. So, why "throw money down the toilet" of rent?

In the first place, I don't think rent is throwing money away. We are paying for a place to live. So? Yes, we don't own the house, but we don't have to deal with the hassles either. If the hot water tank goes kaput, we call the landlord. If the roof gets damaged in a storm, we call the landlord. There are advantages to renting.

We don't want to live in the city forever. Eventually, we want to save up money and purchase a house and acerage in the country. If we rent, we can save more money per month than we could if we purchased a house. When we buy, we will buy someplace we want to live and stay at for quite some time (15-20 years).

Additionally, I think the housing market is way inflated. It cannot keep going forever. Here are some links to some interesting articles in Money magazine:

Should I buy a house?
Risky real estate moves
Are you living in a bubble?
Will housing prices pop?
Why the housing bubble hasn't burst
Rent or buy? The answer may surprise

Additionally, I think the economy is going to turn south sometime in the next 2-10 years. When that happens, it will be way way worse than the great depression. Cyndi and I can have enough money to pay off our lease and get out of Dodge; however, we couldn't be able to get out of a house payment as easily.

One other engine choice

Alan and I were talking yesterday about the possibility of using a Wankel Rotary engine in an aircraft. Well, it appears it has been done:

MISTRAL engines

MISTRAL Engines offers a family of liquid-cooled rotary-piston engines for light aircraft. The powerplants are built around a rotary, Wankel-type engine core, with a planetary reduction gear and a fully redundant Digital Engine Management (DEM) system designed to meet certification standards.

Real World Solutions

Real World Solutions Inc. was formed for the purpose of developing cost effective information and products for converting the Mazda rotary engine for aircraft use. (We are NOT a "fire wall forward" manufacturer, however.) The rotary is uniquely qualified for this use due to its high power-to-weight ratio and reliability at high power settings.

Moving Day at the Maxson’s

Yesterday, the movers came and packed everything we hadn't already (we packed books, sheets, etc…). When I got home from work, the house was full of boxes! Today, the driver came and loaded the truck. Our delivery in Richmond will occur 21 May (Saturday). Cyndi took pictures post pack. I'll be posting those once we get to Richmond and have a computer and Internet connection available.

Aircraft Engines

I have done some reading into kitplanes and engine alternatives. Since kitplanes are considered experimental, you don't have to use a standard aircraft engine. This means you can save money on fuel and maintenance. Initial cost also seems to be less for these alternative engines. Here are two I have found and think they are interesting.

Eggenfellner

Like traditional, 20th century aircraft engines, the boxer Eggenfellner engine is horizontally opposed. But it’s similarity to old-fashioned engines ends there. Because this engine isn’t air cooled. It’s liquid cooled. And that makes a big, big difference.

DeltaHawk Diesel 

DeltaHawk's Aircraft V-4 Turbo Diesel Engine is designed from the ground up as a compression-ignition general aviation engine designed for simplicity, durability, fuel efficiency and power configured to accept a fixed or constant speed propeller. [It is also a] springboard for other applications requiring light weight compression-ignition engines

Marshall vs WVU

Does everyone remember the WVU Marshall game from '97? I sure do…I was able to go. Well, the Parkersburg News (or Sentinel I'm not sure) is reporting that WVU and Marshall will once again play each other.

One thing strikes me as odd though. They report that Gov. Manchin made this game part of his platform when he ran for governor. What a goofy thing to take a stand on. I know WV is a great state, but aren't there bigger issues for the governor to care about?

What Kind of English Do You Speak?

Well, everyone knows that American English is totally different from "real" English. Everyone in the US also probably knows that different parts of the country have different "English" dialects too (although, this is becoming less common as more and more people move, watch TV, etc…). Have you ever wondered what "type" you are? Well, here is an online test you can take to find out what kind of American English you speak.

Here are my results:

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English
20% Dixie
10% Upper Midwestern
5% Midwestern
0% Yankee

 

Screen Capture Apps

Have you ever wanted to capture a video of something on your computer screen? A buddy of mine (Alan) recently wanted to do just that. He went looking and found an app called CamStudio. If you ever need to do something like this, CamStudio is easy to use and works.

OutSourcing Date @ NiSource Pushed Back

According to this article, the rumours about "the date" being pushed back are true.

"We are in due diligence and contract negotiations to decide what really gets outsourced, who gets rebadged, what happens, where will the investments be made," NiSource Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Neale told shareholders at the company's annual meeting in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

By mid-June, NiSource should be announcing some details of the plans, Neale said.

 

More On NiSource Outsourcing

Well, it looks like Gary Neale is leaving NiSource as CEO right before the "big" outsourcing announcement–the one where the NiSource and IBM will announce exactly what will be outsourced. Here is a link to the announcement on the NiSource Investor Relations site.

NiSource Inc. announced today that, effective July 1, 2005, Robert C. Skaggs, Jr., NiSource President, will assume the additional responsibilities as NiSource Chief Executive Officer. Skaggs will succeed Gary L. Neale who will retire June 30, 2005 as CEO, but will continue to serve as Chairman of the NiSource Board of Directors.