Sad fact

If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq Theater of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000.

The firearms death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000.

That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in our Nation's Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq.

Conclusion: We should immediately pull out of Washington D.C.

Slow down

I guess you could say I'm on the frontline of the economy; or at least, support for the frontline. I have noticed the downturn that started almost immediately after the mortgage bubble popped. Residential electrical is slowing down. Commercial and industrial is still going, which helps, but residential is down. We're feeling it at work; slow days, especially when I'm not out at a store, like today. Little stock to put away, not as many customers since they don't have as much work. I'm not too worried yet, as spring, hopefully, isn't that far away.

I don't call what's happening to economy a recession...it's merely a slowdown at this point. To me, a recession involves massive layoffs and high unemployment; there are still plenty of jobs out there, and I haven't heard of any major layoffs. Everyone's nervous, I suppose.

Unbricking an iPhone

tonight I had pleasure of unbricking an iPhone for a friend of mine. It's his son's iPhone actually, but Brian asked if I could take a look at it. The son had tried to put an aftermarket firmware on his iPhone, and it broke it. I'm writing this to save people the steps I couldn't find to make it easier for them to get back to working status.

First, you should pop out the SIM card. It's located at the top of the iPhone, between the headphone jack and the power button. You'll need something small to push firmly into the ejection hole, but it does pop up. I used needle nose pliers to slide the SIM card holder further out til I could grasp it with my fingers.

Next, you'll want to make sure the usb cord is plugged into the computer you have iTunes on, but not plugged into the iPhone yet. power the iPhone up, then power it down by holding both the power button and the home button. Continue to hold down the home button after the iPhone is "off" , then plug in the iPhone, then start iTunes manually.

With a minute or so, iTunes should find the iPhone, in "recover mode" It will then ask you if you want to basically wipe out everything and start over. I believe this is your only choice. iTunes will then download the current firmware (1.1.3) and then install it on the iPhone.

After the iPhone was restored, I powered it off, then re-inserted the SIM card. I powered the iPhone back up, most of the functions were there. just for good measure, I did a restore once more, and after that, the iPhone was just like new. I made a test call to my phone on it, and vice versa. I connected to my home wireless network. I browsed the internet on it. I tried to test it as best as I could.

Hopefully, this helps someone save about 3 hours of looking for the way to restore their iPhone after a failed Jailbreak like this was.

Feel free to drop me a line, and I'll answer questions as best I can.

Cheers
Chad

weekend recap

ok, so I took Friday off just to have a day with nothing on my schedule....it felt really nice...

Saturday, basketball to coach at 8:30, lunch with Holly at 11:30, then off to Racine to tech with my buddy Matt. Payment in great pizza at Angelo's.

Sunday...church, lunch, basketball practice, football game. Holly had a lot of work this weekend, and was feeling some stress because of it, so I cooked her dinner Sunday night. I fixed my fabulous chicken, and for desert, we had peanut butter cup ice cream.

Giants win, no perfection for New England...

thatisall

I love being me

OK, this post is not done out of arrogance...just to clairfy that.

At some point this morning, I realized that I love being me. I have a great life: a beautiful girlfriend, awesome friends, a great job...

People call me for tech advice/support.


just....yeah :D

on being resolute

Forgive my Blogger for I have sinned; It's been 35 days since my last post.


I don't do New Years Resolutions....I try to take care of things as they happen, not when I buy a new calendar. That being said, I'm not doing a good job of either.


I find myself being snarky alot lately, and fairly cynical as well. Not traits one desires when trying to be a leader in the church. I think that snark and cynicism have places in one's personality, they just don't need to be the dominating traits on one's personality. The news bores me to no end, with all the coverage of the election. By the time November rolls around, it will have been over two years of solid coverage. So help me God, no one better start campaigning immediately after this election or I will move to Mexico and live like a gringo on the beaches of the Pacific.

I find myself wanting to be entertained alot lately; seeking amusement rather than musings. Am I giving in to the American idea of me me me, or do I lack the initiative to forge my way and no go the easy route, to instead think for myself? Admittedly, the writers strike hasn't affected me all that much, as I pretty much gave up most TV when I started working second shift. I want to read more; Holly loaned me a book and I ate it up...now I'm asking "what's next?"

I keep meaning to join a gym, but haven't done it. I'm developing a belly that's bigger than I'd like, and I'm short of breath more often than I care to admit.

I keep meaning to read my Bible more, but it lies in my bag, carried with me everywhere, read nowhere.

Lets do the Time Warp

Alright boys and girls, let's fire up the Delorean and do 88 mph....

Micah, sitting in my truck, June 2002



My Dad, June 2002, holding my angry nephew


Andy, Sean and Micah. These guys are all in college now. May 2002



My friend Brandon



My friend Jason on his wedding day. He and his wife are expecting their first child.


Me...June 4, 2002

ME again, better side shot of me rockin' the sideburns


I remember that being a great summer. That August, a group of us went on a mission trip to the Texas/Mexico border. The shot of my Dad is from a family reunion in Peoria. I had been in Milwaukee three years at the point. It's now been eight years, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Another Tuesday, another sales meeting for work...good food though.

It's becoming the time of year I started not liking a few years ago...not because I don't like Christmas, but because I don't like what Christmas has become to many people. All the shopping, Black Friday, this toy, that gadget...drives me crazy.

thanks

Thanks


Thanks to all my friends that read this blog.

Thanks to Holly for being simply Amazing.

Thanks to God for everything, for Holly, work, play, church.

weekend kicks

so, what does one do in Milwaukee on a given weekend? Go see a band of course!!

Saturday night, my friend Bettina's band Albatross was playing at Smoking Joe's in West Allis and I was encouraged to come check them out. Albatross is local cover band with a few originals. Gotta say, I was really impressed. Overall, they've got a tight sound and a good sized set list that spans rock and pop from the 70s to today. Click on the entry title for a link to their website.

Imapean, European

Your Inner European is Irish!

Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Who's Your Inner European?

Winter is trying to push fall aside...since fall arrived late I guess winter thinks it can start early.

My ache from Saturday is mostly gone. Laid 2000' of pipe for the new dining hall over at camp and made some great progress so the gang can get the floor poured soon.

webcam shot

take peek during daylight hours.

Rest in Peace Dustin

Dustin Paul Larson
1981-2007

Tuesday, October 23, 2007
GERLAW - Dustin Paul Larson, 26, of Gerlaw, died at 6:55 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 21, 2007) at OSF Holy Family Medical Center, Monmouth, Ill.

He was born Oct. 12, 1981, in Monmouth, Ill., the son of John and Paula (Bushong) Larson. He was raised and educated in Monmouth and attended Monmouth High School.

Dustin worked at Farmland as a forklift driver since 1999. He enjoyed 4 wheeling and following and attending NASCAR events. But most of all he loved spending time with his son.
Surviving are his son, Logan Larson of Monmouth; mother, Paula (Tim) Lay of Monmouth; father, John Larson of Little York; one sister, Mary Beth (Matt) Giddings of Kirkwood; one brother, Brian (Suzanna) Larson of Monmouth; maternal grandparents, Stewart (Mary) Bushong of Monmouth; paternal grandparents, Phil (Dixie) Larson of Little York; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his stepgrandparents and great-grandparents.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel, Monmouth, with the Rev. Ken Muck of Countryside Bible Church officiating. Burial will be in Monmouth Cemetery. Friends may call on today, Oct. 23, at Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel, Monmouth, where his family will be present from 6-8 p.m.

Memorials may be given to the Logan Larson Trust Fund.

That phone call you don't ever want to get

7:20pm Sunday night

My step-dad calls. My cousin Dustin died in an atv accident.

I haven't seen my cousin in a few years, but it still stings. I don't know any other details right now, and I'm waiting for my mom to call me later on to fill me in.

You never know when, or how, you might go. I'm 31 and I still have that arrogant sense of "I'm going to live forever."

In the midst of what will turn out to be a busy week, I sit down tonight at home and just rest. I don't really have the energy to do much more than that. The tired feeling has returned and I'm not sure why. It could be the fall out from my late Saturday night fixing a client's computer, or it could be the weather change and my body is trying to fight off my fall bought of bronchitis. Work hasn't been terribly difficult that last couple days, as I'm in Waukesha; there are busy times, but for the most part, it's calm.

Business meeting at church tomorrow night

I think Thursday is open

Friday, picking up a bedframe with Holly, then off to set up Upward registration, which is Saturday.

Saturday, I have a client scheduled. I was planning on going to Chicago that night for a birthday party, but now I'm not so sure.

Anxious. That's how I feel. Anxious. Maybe that's what's draining me.

a night at home to reflect

As usual, I've had alot on my mind lately.

opportunities....some of which I may share later.

Starting Monday, I'm back at the main office in Brookfield for work...it makes what I do much easier without having to worry about leaving Joe by himself at the store.

I've put over 1600 miles on my car in 3 weeks.

I've had a few people tell me that they miss me lately. I miss them too.

so....what's new with you??

not much here...same soup different bowl for the most part.

not on the road as much this month for work.

bought a new car a couple weeks back....the Explorer was just too thirsty...the Focus is much nicer on gas.

Chicago was fun...pictures soon...

places of interest...

So, this is at least part of my Friday with Holly, photographing these locations...


I'm still trying to find the Adams Street Bridge...

things on my mind...

The prevailing thought I have lately is to be pro-active. So often in my life, I've been able to draft off someone else and help broaden their experience/ministry, and I get to be part of it without being the one who spearheads things. I'm told by those close to me that I am a leader; that people will listen to me, and perhaps follow me, and yet, I do nothing. I wait.

I stepped out of 4:12 (the college and career ministry at my church), not because I felt too old, but because I felt it was time to do something else. I feel a pull towards men's ministry, yet there isn't much of that currently. I want to help get something going, but will it be as one who heads it up, or as one who helps enable those who lead?. I wait.

I love Holly more than even I can describe with words. We both know that we want to spend the rest of our lives together, and we've talked of wedding plans and looked at rings and so on and so on. I don't have the money for a ring, nor have I asked her dad for her hand in marriage. I wait.

I enjoy my job, even when there are snags. I'm told that, in time, I'll be given a store to manage. I continue to learn more about the products I sell and how to do my job better. I wait.

At what point do I stop waiting, and start doing? What do I have to be afraid of? I don't feel afraid or fearful, just uncertain. Uncertain of what step to take, to make a mistake, to do something wrong; and yet, waiting in and of itself feels wrong. Perhaps this is why I don't sleep at night...My conscious is not clean, filled with doubt and guilt. I know that the grace of God covers a multitude of sins, but I don't accept that grace. Instead, I somehow think that given enough time, by waiting, the answer will just appear.

So....I don't think I'm THIS conservative....but I found this hilarious :P