camcorder suggetions?

I'm supposed to be getting a new camcorder for christmas from the in-laws, and they want to know what kind to get. I like to do things right the first time, so what should i ask for? This would be used for family and recreational stuff by various tech savvy and non tech savvy individuals. Ease of use is a definite plus. I don't know if this is the standard or not, but I'd like to be able to upload to the computer and edit/add music, and also be able to play stuff on the tv (be able to burn to dvd I guess).

there's a hole in my bath tub

Sunday morning, after showering upstairs, I noticed a pretty bad leak. Water was leaking from the tub, and coming down behind the bathroom wall below it, and into the carport as well. After inspection, it was leaking right at the drain, I could feel it (there's an access panel from the bedroom).

Today I bought a replacement drain, and while attacking the problem, noticed a dark spot that's always been at the bottom of the tub. I poked it, it was rust. I poked it with the tip of my pliers, and it went right through.

So our tub has a HOLE in it. A HOLE in our BATH TUB. Think about that. Let that sink in. Now, if you've never noticed, when a new house is being built, the bath tub is usually one of the first things to go in, after the wood framing. It must be incredibly difficult to remove a tub from a finished house.

I even contemplated getting a mortgage, and just renovating the entire upstairs bathroom. But currently I'm researching Bathfitter and ReBath, they have sort of a mold of a tub, that covers your existing tub. So we'll see what happens.

got rid of my first 7

My first FC was my first car, and I just gave it away for free. It was the one that started it all for me!

It had blown an apex some time ago, I drove it a few more months, then it over heated. I tried to change the t-state, snapped off both bolts, and called it quits. It sat there for maybe 18 months.

My wife hosted a bridal shower this weekend (at about 9 months pregnant, quite a feat for her). I said I'd get the FC out of the driveway before then. Put an ad up early last week on the local car forum, whoever would help me pull the rear subframe, and engine/tranny, could have the chassis.

One guy said he wanted it, so Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights and most of Saturday we worked on all that. He also bought the 5-lug setup from the vert to put on it, so he could roll it on a trailer (a good deal at $180). The only parts of worth on the car were the aluminum hood and a running sunroof motor, everything else was the standard S4 na FC stuff.

He's also coming back for the parts car that's good for nothing but holding all the other parts that weren't worth anything (4-lug bits, emissions crap, etc.). So that'll be more freed up real estate in my yard.


So the KYB AGX dampers, Eibach springs, Energy Suspension bushings and GXL LSD are all going under the vert. Also finally found and bought the Ford SN95 accessory brackets, timing cover, and water pump for my motor swap (to give more hood/radiator clearance). I may actually get this thing running yet! I'm excited about this car again, after it's sat for nearly 2 years. I also still have my 15" Camry BBS wheels for autocross, waiting at the ready. People keep telling me the car should be fun as hell when I'm done, I'm glad to have my motivation back again.

I've also got a barely-used Al flywheel, and s/s clutch and pressure plate to sell, can't wait to unload that and make someone else very happy. Best mod ever on that car. I've also got 2 13bs still, 3 trannies I think, some oil coolers and various other parts that may be worth something. I'd love to put a rotary in some other car some day. Miata, VW bug, swamp buggy (like an ATV on steroids), something.

damascus steel knife

I spent Thursday-Monday in North Carolina for a family reunion. One of my uncles owns Stoney Creek Forge, where he makes knives and wrought iron stuff by hand. I'm thinking about buying one of the damascus steel knives. They look awesome, and they're supposed to stay sharp longer than store-bought knives.

(IMG:http://www.stoneycreekforge.com/FoldSingle/ironwood%20lockback.jpg)


Other items I like pictured on the site are the copper rose, the railroad spike knife (made from a single railroad spike), and the knives made from crane cables (made from a single length of cable). There's a lot of skill involved in this stuff, he was he would spend about 30 hours on a single folding knife.

(IMG:http://www.stoneycreekforge.com/FlowerSingle/copperRoseStand.JPG)
(IMG:http://www.stoneycreekforge.com/MiscKnifeSingle/railroadSpike.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.stoneycreekforge.com/utilitySingle/cableI.jpg)

Got a new job!

Got the call earlier, I got the job I had been hoping for! It's out of state government (which is what I've been in for the last 8 years), so I'm excited about actually getting raises every year (provided I don't suck). By some stroke of luck, they wanted someone with exactly the experience I have, and they seemed to be continually pleased with each nugget of my past career that I gave them. I'll also be the fleet manager, which is actually something I've been wanting to add to my resume. It's about a $4,500 raise, so that kicks ass, especially since my wife will be quitting her part-time job to stay home with the new baby (due in December).