Who owns your tap water?

David Schuttler and MeeCiteeWurkor have both recently blogged about the legality of using your personal tap water to water a community garden.

David noticed that on the back of the water bill there is a section that would imply that using your water for purposes not on your property would violate your agreement with The City.
"The Customer agrees that any water sold to the Customer shall be for the use upon the Customer's premises, and will not be re-sold, nor given away for any use elsewhere."

I called The City and spoke to a gentlemen named Mike. I asked him what the deal was with this clause. Mike told me that if I wanted to water my neighbor's lawn, or give them water to flush a toilet while they are having pluming problems, or give water away for whatever reason I that I saw fit, that I could do that. The propose of this clause is to prevent people from having the multiple houses running off the water from one meter, not to prevent you from doing what you want with the water that you paid for. Listen to the call here.

While the wording of the clause does seem to be very prohibitive, according to Mike, those wanting to water community gardens, should feel free to do so. Which is good.

Technorati Tags: water
Tulsa

Are you ready for Conficker

I meant to blog about this sooner. As it stands you have 4 days (including today) to take action to protect your PC against Conficker. Conficker is a nasty little worm also known as Downadup or Kido. It has infected at least 10 million un-patched Windows computers running Windows 2000-Windows 7.

Conficker has been quietly spreading and infecting computers and building strength. It's purpose is unknown, but what it is widely believed that it will activate and carryout it's dark propose on April 1st. So, if you are reading this before April 1st you still have time to protect yourself.

Step 1. Go to BitDefender's website and download this free tool to find and remove this worm from your computer. Once you know you are clean, or that the tool has removed this worm from your PC you can breath a little easier, and move on to step 2.

Step 2. Go to Windows update and make sure that your computer has all the updates from Microsoft installed.

Step 3. Finally, make sure your virus scanner is up-to-date. There are several free options out there, I like AVG.


Technorati Tags: Conficker
Downadup
Kido
BitDefender
AVG
Microsoft
Windows

TV Commercials Should be Rated

If I had a dollar for every time I've had to divert the gaze of my children away from the TV because of some horrible commercial, I'd be rich. I watch a lot of television on Spike TV that gets recorded at 2:00am; specifically, various Star Trek re-runs. While Star Trek is a show that I would let my kids watch, I have to be careful when I watch it in front of them because of the G!rls G*ne W!ld commercials that air in the middle of the night. Since my DVR won't let me skip commercials, I have to fast forward them. However, even fast forwarded, they are pretty bad. I really don't what my 6-year-old daughter to be exposed to that.

In another common scenario, we might be watching some random live TV-PG program when some awful commercial for the latest horror film comes on. I quickly have to hit mute, and yell at the kids, "DON'T LOOK AT THE TV!"

If you are letting your kids watch Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels and your kids see a G!rls G*ne W!ld ad, then that's your own fault. However, if you are watching Data's evil brother Lore steal the emotion chip that Dr Soong wanted him to have, and during the commercial break your kids are exposed to topless sluts kissing each other, well that's another matter entirely.

There is an increasing a gap between what is shown during a television program and what is presented during its commercial break. This makes it difficult for parents who take an active role policing the television, to effectively block the unwholesome images and concepts that are presented to their children. Commercials should be rated, and then only allowed to air with shows that have compatible ratings.

***Note*** In an attempt to avoid the delicious irony of unwholesome Google ads placed in this post because of the contextual reference to G!rls G*ne W!ld I've obviously changed the spelling...we'll see how that works out for me.

Technorati Tags: parenting
television commercials

My first 100 bucks

Almost exactly three years ago, I decided to put Google ads on my blog. Google only pays out after you have racked up 100 dollars or more. It took a while but I finally reached the threshold for my first payment.

Had I known then that it would take three years, I probably wouldn't have bothered. However, it is nice to have some extra cash.

Technorati Tags: google ads

Too Little Too Late

Muskogee Politico noticed that KFAQ has re-posted the final week's worth of podcasts from the Chris Medlock Show on their site .

I see this as a good move on KFAQ's part (but by no means redeeming their actions in this situation). It remains to be seen whether they will return the entire archive of The Chris Medlock Show or not, but this is a good start.

I agree with all but the last sentence. I say too little too late. I won't begrudge KFAQ with having to make a difficult decision but I really hate how they carried it out.

Medlock posted some audio from the Pat Campbell show on MedBlogged.com. Pat reiterates the KFAQ line about what a hard decision it was, and that he left on good terms..and blah blah blah. That's nice I guess, but actions speak louder than words. KFAQ cut Chris without so much as a hint or a warning to the Q-Nation, they didn't let him, or us, say good-bye, and all his content was summarily purged from their website.

It seems that only after they realized what a stupid mistake that was did Pat Campbell go on to say a few nice things about Chris. Only after the outrage from the Q-Nation about the clean sweep of their site does KFAQ put a few pod casts back on their site.

I'm not impressed. If they hire Chris back, or have him come on for a final farewell show, then I'll return to the Q-nation. Until then, my radio will continue to be a KFAQ free zone.

Technorati Tags: 1170 KFAQ
Chris Medlock

Public Works Projects on Hold

At this morning's Sales Tax Overview Committee(STOC) meeting, we were provided an report on the 49 projects which were placed on hold as a result of the federal indictments issued in the wake of the Public Works scandal.

I've scanned that report and posted it. To read it in it's entirety click here (PDF)

While Public Works initially reported that 49 contracts were the subject of a hold and review, it was ultimately determined that many of these matters were already 100% complete or could be completed internally. At the end of the analysis 17 contracts are at issue. These contracts fall into two categories: Consulting (design and inspection services) and Construction (where design work is complete and construction has commenced.)
...
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
There are a total of 12 Construction contracts at issue. These contracts involve two separate companies: 1) Horizon Construction Company, Inc. and 2) Yocham Enterprises, Inc. These companies are owned by the individuals named in the federal indictments.
...
Construction bidding laws require general and sub contractors to obtain performance and or payment bonds (also known as surety bonds) on certain contracts to protect tax payers against contractors who fail to complete a job or fail to pay their subcontractors. Municipalities, including Tulsa, require surety bonds on construction projects.
...
When a contractor fails to perform on a contract the surety steps in to complete the project. Here, due to the indictments of the owners of Horizon and Yocham the City has notifed the sureties of the default and placed them on demand to step in to complete the following projects: (open PDF to see the list)

Employers Mutual Casualty of Des Moines, Iowa is the surety for Horizon and Granite Re of Oklahoma City is the surety for Yocham. Both have acknowledged receipt of our claims and we are in discussions with them to find a resolution to timely complete the projects.

The rest of the report outlines the consulting contracts at issue, and the completed projects. Again, you can click on the above link to read the entire report.

Technorati Tags: Tulsa
Public Works
public corruption
Yocham Enterprises
Horizon Construction Company
Breisch and Associates
FBS Inc

Randy Brogdon for Governor

I've heard a few people speculate that State Senator Randy Brogdon was going to run for Oklahoma Governor but there was nothing concrete, until now. According to Brogdon's website, he is working toward officially announcing his candidacy. He has determined that he needs $100,000 to get his campaign kick started.

I really like Randy Brogdon, I've spoken to him a few times, and heard him give several speeches. Brogdon has been a great State Senator, a proponent of liberty, states rights, fiscal responsibility, and sound tax policy.

I don't have a lot of money to donate to politicians or their campaigns, so I rarely do it. However, because I really believe in Randy Brogdon, and think he would make an excellent Governor, I've done just that. It wasn't very much, but every little bit helps; if enough of us who believe in strong conservative values pitch in a few bucks, we can really make a difference.

I encourage you to check out his website, do a little research on your own, and if you can spare some cash, make a donation to Randy Brogdon's campaign.

(Randy Brogdon's website, via MuskogeePolitico, via GetRightOK)

Technorati Tags: Randy Brogdon
Oklahoma

Brothers Pizza

I've recently discovered Brothers Pizza at 101st and Sheridan. We went there for lunch on Friday, and again this afternoon. It's really good. I thought their pizza reminiscent of Hideaway, and for good reason. It turns out that the Brothers Hall had over 12 years of experience at Hideaway before deciding to open their own store. Although to be honest, I think theirs might be a bit better than Hideaway.

At lunch on Friday I noticed that one of the Brothers Hall was pouring over architectural drawings. When we asked whether they were moving, expanding, or opening a new store, he told us that it was their intention to open a new store at 71st and Garnett. Here's hoping that it works out for them. Their new location would be less than 120 seconds from my house; I really like Brothers Pizza and would love to have the new location so close.

If you love pizza and want to try something new, I suggest Brothers pizza. If they get their new location at 71st and Garnett off the ground I'll let you know.

Technorati Tags: Brothers Pizza
pizza
Tulsa

MedBlogged...After Reading...Shred Your Monitor

Chris Medlock has revived his blog. If you are a missing your daily 2-4 Medlock fix, perhaps MedBlogged can fill the void. I'm pretty excited to see Chris blogging again...although, I have a confession. Despite Medlock's instructions, I do not shred my monitor after reading his blog. I mean I would, except I've gone through a lot of trouble to fix my monitor recently and it seems like a awful waste.

Technorati Tags: Chris Medlock

Your Pet's Current Condition

I took my dog to the Vet today to be put to sleep. On the examination report there was a section titled "Your Pet's Current Condition". There were three boxes under this section, excellent, good, and needs improvement. Needs improvement was checked which was something of an understatement. I assume it is just standard procedure to attach the examination report to all customer receipts, although it seems a bit strange to provide it to people whose pet has been put to sleep. However, since I prefer to use humor to diffuse stressful or upsetting situations, I found this notation on my dogs report to be a welcome diversion.

So my dog of 10 years, Sirius Bi-Mon-SciFi-Con* Roemerman, had to be put to sleep today because he was suffering from heart failure and could not breathe. I chose to remain in the room as they injected him with the euthanizing agent and was relieved that he slipped away peacefully.

Since he died I've been thinking about what a good dog he was. Sirius was extremely territorial; just a few months ago he bit the gas meter reader because he jumped the fence. Also, I know for a fact that he prevented our house from being broken into while my wife was home alone a few years back. This from the same dog that would let our kids literally take food out of his bowl while he was eating.

While I'm sad he died, and that I had to have him put to sleep, I don't regret that I eased his pain. I'm grateful for the past 10 years, Sirius will be missed.

*It's kind of a long story, and mostly an inside joke, but that was Sirius's middle name.

Technorati Tags: Sirius
euthaniza

KFAQ Responds

KFAQ recently let Chris Medlock go. I sent them a nasty-gram about it. The following is their reply, and my reply to their reply.

Hi Steven,

Thank you for writing. The economy has forced many businesses to make choices. With our move at KFAQ, we've had to make a difficult choice to stop working with someone we really care about by canceling the Chris Medlock Show. It was not an easy decision. We do hope to be able to call on Chris' expertise in the future.

In the meantime, we are changing our line up by adding an additional hour of the Laura Ingraham Show, which will now be heard from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. We will be adding a new local show, "Live at 5" to be hosted by Elvis Polo. Elvis will also be continuing his role on the Pat Campbell Show.

Through these changes, we hope our listeners understand our commitment continues to Standing Up For What's Right in Tulsa. We remain steadfast
on that mission.

bg

Brian Gann
Operations Manager
Journal Broadcast Group - Tulsa Operations

My reply to Mr. Gann.

You've got to do what you've got to do, but standing up for what is right should be more than just a slogan. The Chris Medlock show was not your show, it wasn't even Chris's show. It was OUR show. We deserved a final show, or at least an acknowledgment that he was being let go. You guys messed up. I don't think I'm going to be willing to give you a second chance.

Regards,
Steven H Roemerman Sr

Technorati Tags: 1170 KFAQ
Brian Gann
Chris Medlock

KFAQ missed a spot

I was on a long conference call on Friday; it lasted from 12-4, so I missed the Chris Medlock Show on 1170 KFAQ. Little did I know that I didn't miss anything because Chris's last show was on Thursday. I listened on Thursday and there was no hint that I could discern that would have indicated that it was his last show. KFAQ kicked him to the curb with out even a chance to say goodbye.

Michael Bates' post,Where's Chris Medlock, pointed out that they have completely purged Chris from their site. His post was nicer to KFAQ than I will be with mine. KFAQ can take a long leap off a short pier. It is my intention to not listen to their channel again.

Here is the letter I wrote Brian Gann and Randy Bush.

Your purge of Chris Medlock was not entirely successful...you missed a spot

I'm disappointed in you KFAQ. Why did you cancel Medlock's show with not so much as a tip of the hat to Chris and a chance for the Q-Nation to say goodbye? Obviously you are free to do what you what want* with your station. However, I'm free as well to choose what AM stations are set on my dial; and I can tell you that 1170 is going to be knocked off altogether and 740 KRMG will move to position number 1. Good luck with your new line up.

Regards,
Steven H Roemerman Sr

*oops I made I typo...I was mad when I wrote this...

Technorati Tags: Chris Medlock
1170 KFAQ
740 KRMG
Brian Gann
Randy Bush

Roemerman on Record on KTUL

KTUL Channel 8’s Cindy Morrison just stopped by to interview me about my post regarding Taco Bueno’s drive-thru outsourcing.

If the story airs, I should be on the 6:00 news. Had I known I was going to be on TV this morning, I probably would have shaved my face, and trimmed my bald dome. Oh well, even if I look like one, here is hoping I do not come across as a complete tool.

(UPDATE)
Fortunately, I don't think I looked or sounded like a tool...

Cindy Morrison found out that Taco Bueno is not outsourcing their drive-thru anymore.

Taco Bueno's district manager told NewsChannel 8 the call center made the drive-throughs more accurate and faster, making them more money and actually allowing them to hire extra Tulsa employees.

But, he said timing is everything. In this economy, it just wasn't the right time to outsource and they didn't want to give customers any reason not to come back.

Based on my conversations with people, it was not outsourcing that bothered them, it was that the person on the other end of the phone was not here in the US. If it was working so well for them, why doesn't Taco Bueno continue the the outsourcing of the drive-thru with a US-based call center, instead of shipping jobs overseas?

The note I received from Taco Bueno indicated that the decision to outsource wasn't based on the cost of performing the drive-thru function at the store. Mr Aga wrote, "The call center is not a decision based on economics, but rather to help expedite our drive thrus." So if that's true why not just have the call center in her in the US?...or better yet, here in Tulsa?


Technorati Tags: KTUL
Cindy Morrison
Taco Bueno
drive through
outsourcing

Laptop Repair

About a month ago, the backlight on my laptop went out. In the old economy I would have just asked for a new laptop from my company. Unfortunately they are not doling out the money for new hardware these days. Since our laptops are not under warranty anymore, if I wanted a fully functional computer, I had to take matters into my own hands.

Luckily we had another dead laptop of the same model in our office. I took both laptops apart, and swapped the entire monitor section, casing and all, with the dead laptop. I needed a new keyboard so while I was at it I swapped that too.

A week ago, calamity struck again; I broke the LCD on the new monitor; leaving me with a good backlight but a broken screen. Today, a coworker and I performed another transplant. We completely disassembled the monitors of both laptops. We took the backlight out of the broken LCD and swapped it with the backlight in the other one, and then put it all back together. This was not nearly as easy as the first transplant, because the backlight is sealed inside the LCD as one unit. It is not really designed to be stripped down that far. But we did it, and now I’m back in business! Yea!




Technorati Tags: laptop repair
Thinkpad T42p
LCD
backlight

Homestead Exemption Applications Due Next Week

If you don't have a homestead exemption on file with the Tulsa County Tax Assessor, you have until the 15th*, to file it.

From the county website...

Homestead Exemption applications are accepted at any time throughout the year. However, the application must be filed by March 15 to be approved for the current year. Any application filed after March 15 cannot be approved until the following year.

You can download the form here. If you have questions filling out the form, you can call them at this number:596-5143.

*The 15th falls on a Sunday, I called the Assessor's office and found out that they will give us until the 16th this year.**

**Don't blame me if they don't accept your application, get it in the mail on Friday just to be safe! I'm mailing mine tomorrow.

Technorati Tags: Tulsa County
Homestead Exemption

Cyberdyne Systems T-740

I was listening to Joe Kelley on 740 KRMG this morning. I caught him talking about robots and Sarah Connor. Apparently he can't stop thinking about robots killing her. It makes me wonder whether or not he is programed to have these thoughts....think about it.



Watch your back Sarah, Joe Kelley from News Talk 740 KRMG is coming for you!


Technorati Tags: Joe Kelley
740 KRMG
Terminator
Sarah Connor

The Caf Nazi

Classes were over, and the boys from Krause Hall Second Floor South had just finished watching Seinfeld and Simpson’s re-runs. As if their watches were set by perfect synchronization, these hungry residents of K2S each left their rooms and headed down to the Caf for their evening meal. There were always a few stragglers, for them the alarm was raised, “Let’s go! Time for dinner!” The short walk from Krause to the Caf was usually filled with idle conversation about the attractiveness of the young women that passed them along the way. However, increasingly the conversation had started to veer toward my interaction with the Cafeteria employee who manned the cash register.

It was the accepted practice that each patron of the illustrious Evangel College Cafeteria with a meal card, would swipe it through the reader next to the cash register. If the light flashed green it meant the customer was free to enjoy the food that had been so carefully removed from a box and fried by the expert technicians that manned the food lines. Their dedication to food preparation meant nothing however, if the line coming into the building did not run smoothly. Someone had to mange the rabble of hungry college students and that person was the young woman that would come to be known as Caf Nazi.

Perhaps the word came down from the management, or perhaps the Caf Nazi had decided that her job of watching people swipe their own cards was meaningless since she did not actually do anything except sit and watch. Whatever the reason, things had changed. No longer would students be allowed to swipe their own card. From now on, meal card swiping would be her sole domain. Most people were happy to comply with this new policy. After all, what difference does it make who swipes the card, as long as that green light flashed and access was granted? I however, was not among those who would freely hand over their card.

Possibly it is the curse of time that has blurred the details in my mind, but as with many great conflicts, no one is quite sure how this one started. It was probably the look in her eye and the sternness in which she demanded my card that first time. Whatever it was, when our eyes met, we both new that we had met our new nemesis, I would not be allowed to blatantly defy her will, and she would not so easily bend mine.

My battle with the Caf Nazi had not gone un-noticed by my fellow K2S residents. It was this interaction that they were discussing on the way to the Caf. She was as serious about enforcing this new policy as I was in protesting it. It was this battle of wills that intrigued many on my floor, and they wondered what I would do next.

My first reaction had been to come up with ways of swiping my card before she could stop me, but it became apparent that this was not a viable ongoing strategy. My campaign of non-compliance had to take new direction. She had the power to deny me access to over-cooked mozzarella sticks, all I could eat waffles, cereal and soft serve ice cream. I had decided that nonviolent passive resistance was the best approach. On this particular evening I had decided that while I would let her swipe my card, but I would not touch it at the same time has her. When it was my turn to hand her the card, instead of handing it to her, I set it down and let her pick it up.

At first I am sure she did not notice what I had done. Conceivably she was too consumed with the sweetness of her victory to notice that I had not actually handed the card to her. It was when she tried to hand it back that she realized that the war was not over. “Take the card!” she demanded. I refused, “Just set it down, and I’ll take it back.” She eventually complied with my demand and set it down. It was not until I did the same thing the next night that she realized that I had turned the tables on her. While she had forced me to comply with her will, she had unwittingly done the same. Instead of setting it down, she violently threw it on the ground. I smiled and picked it up off the ground. I was happy to do so. I had won.

This went on for several weeks and we fell into a comfortable routine. I would set my card down and she would swipe it and toss it on the floor. I realized, however, that she had gained an advantage over me. She did not care how she obtained the card, or how I got it back, in fact my initial act of protest had backfired because now I had an extra step I had to comply with; picking up my card off the floor. This would not do, I decided I would have to put new life into our conflict. That night when she tossed my card on the floor, I caught it before it hit the floor. Cheers erupted from the line. I smiled at her; she knew she had lost another round.

Little did I know that my battle with the Caf Nazi would soon draw to a permanent close. She was a year a head of me; she was a senior, I was a junior, and it was graduation day. This was a fact that I did not realize until I saw her walking toward me in full cap and gown. She was with a friend, as we drew closer I noticed that she was whispering to her. I knew it was about be because of the glare I received from her friend when the whispering was over. I imagine that she told her, “Look! That’s that guy in the Caf that hassles me about swiping his card!” As we passed the months of conflict came to a head. She knew she would never see me again, and she gave me her final gift. She looked me straight in the eye, and yelled a single word at me. “JERK!” I smiled at her and went on my way. Although I was far from happy, inside I was heartbroken. I knew that the dance was over, and that we would never meet on the field of battle again. It was a bitter sweet day to be sure.



Technorati Tags: Krause
K2S
Evangel College
Caf
Cafeteria
Nazi
passive resistance

A Spoon Full of Sugar Helps the Medicine go Down

I've been reading the coverage of Obama's Heath plan at Heritage.org.

Obama's plan is a bitter pill to swallow, a spoon full of sugar is needed to help it go down I think.

President Barack Obama's budget sets aside $634 billion over 10 years in a health care reserve fund, which is earmarked for the enactment of unspecified policies intended to bring down costs and expand coverage. The President's budget outlines in broad terms the methods his Administration will employ to secure the projected $634 billion "down payment," but its true costs are still unknown. The budget narrative even says that "additional funding will be needed."

According to media reports, experts believe that the actual cost of his health plan is likely to be much higher, perhaps exceeding $1 trillion over 10 years.
...
The President is proposing tax increases on those making over $250,000 annually...The mechanism would limit the itemized tax deductions for these citizens, including mortgage interest deductions and charitable contributions.
...
The Administration proposes cutting payments to Medicare Advantage plans. These plans are increasingly popular, enrolling one out of five senior citizens, and they provide richer and more varied packages of benefits than available under traditional Medicare.
...
The Obama Administration's budget would also expand the availability of Medicaid family planning funding. These family planning provisions already undermine parental authority by allowing children of any income level to qualify for family planning benefits without parental approval.
...
Obama's health care budget proposal is large but surprisingly unimaginative. It depends on old-fashioned, populist, "soak the rich" tax hikes combined with technocratic tinkering with administrative payment and new software in anticipation of program savings. It does very little to change America's flawed public and private third-party payment arrangements, where value is secured for "payers," not individual patients. If the President wants to affect real change—and secure value for individual patients rather than third party payers—he should take concrete steps to transfer direct control over health care dollars and decisions to individuals and families.

I'm sure that the "bi-partisan" health care summit going on right now will make all the bitter portions of his plan sweeter...right? Ohh yeah..probably not.

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama
health care reform

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I captured some audio of my two-year-old son singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

He also sang B-I-B-L-E, and You are my Sunshine.

Technorati Tags: cute

Pinewood Derby Time

Our church does a pinewood derby race every year about this time. I’ve been working on my cars for a few weeks now. I’m almost done, I have to perform a final axle polishing, put on the wheels, and perform the final weigh check. When I’m done, I’ll post pictures. In the meantime, I’ll share how I usually assemble my cars.(UPDATE pic and video here)

First, I don’t use the pre-drilled axle holes (really this year, I made my own block from scratch, so I didn’t even use the kit…but I’m getting off topic). I like to drill my own holes with a special jig. This ensures that the axles are perfectly even and perpendicular to the body. In addition, it makes it easier to insert the axles. I find those groves on the BSA blocks to be troublesome.

Next I draw the design on the top and side of the car in pencil; once I’m happy with the design I cut it out with a band saw, and perform a rough sanding with a belt sander. I start the sanding with 150 grit, and finish it off with 600 grit sand paper. The wood should be smooth as glass before painting.

Just before paint, I like to dremel out a section on the bottom of the car. Instead of adding extra weights to the bottom at the end, I like to hide my ballast on the inside. To accomplish this I’ll melt lead, and pour it into the recess I made with the dremel. Then I’ll cover up the lead with quick dry wood putty and perform a final sanding. I try to get the car as close to the final weight as possible but I usually leave a tenth of an ounce for paint.

I like to make a movable platform for painting; such as a paper plate with a small plastic lid on which to place the car. The lid lifts the car off the plate, and the plate allows me to move the car around while painting without actually touching it.

This year I did not paint, as I indicated earlier I made my block from scratch with special wood, and decided to stain instead. However, when I do paint, I start off with several layers (at least 5) of spray primer. In between each coat of primer, I sand with 600 grit sand paper.

I like to put on several light layers of spray paint. It makes for a smoother look while reducing the chance of runs. After paint, I think it is important to put at least 10 layers of clear coat. Clear coat really sets the look of the car, providing a great finish. To avoid finger prints, I never touch the car for at least an hour after paint or clear coat. Also, if the temperature is lower than the recommended temp for paint, I’ll bring it inside to dry. The quicker it dries, the sooner I can put on another coat of paint.

Once the last layer of clear coat dries and is really set, I’ll put the axles and wheels on. I have not gotten crazy enough to purchase $15 specialty speed axles, and $30 speed wheels. However, I do make a few minor modifications to the stock axles and wheels. With a file, I remove the little imperfection on the axle left by the manufacturing process. This year a friend and I split the cost of a tool that ensures the axle is straight, and also adds a bevel to the head. It remains to be seen whether or not this helps. Then I polish the axles with ulta-fine wet sand paper. Also the stock wheels need a light sanding to remove the little bump left by the molding process.

After the wheels are on I perform the final weigh in and add a little weight as inconspicuously as possible if necessary and then I‘m done. No, I did not forget to graphite the wheels. Graphite is added for me by the officials just before the race.


Technorati Tags: pinewood derby