Where Did The Air Go?

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/28/06 at 02:07:31 pm

We have definitely been having some unseasonable temperatures this summer. Sure it’s July and its supposed to be warm but I can’t remember having desert like heat for weeks at a time like this.

The problem is, unlike the states in the south, Minnesota has humidity, and a lot of it. Ever hear the phrase “Its not the heat, it’s the humidity.”? Minnesota is one of the few states where that term is used commonly. When the local news and forecasters combine the heat with humidity to create a realistic temperature they call it a “Heat Index”. So this weekend is projected to break records with highs of 106F + on Sunday and Monday, and with the Heat Index it will be well over 110F.

It surprises me that there are still officials and scientists that believe Global Warming doesn’t exist. The overall average temperature for our seasons has definitely changed in the last decade or so, our winters are warmer with less snow, and our summers are hotter. It isn’t El Nino like they tried to blame it on in the 90’s, it isn’t a fluke. I believe it has been Global Warming all along and were now seeing the dangerous effects.

I’m no environmental expert however I don’t think we have to stop what were doing to slow down or help fix the effects of what’s going on. We just have to prioritise the measures that are already being taken, and take those changes seriously.

I think the big threat that needs to be worked on is the automobile industry. Having major automobile manufactures switch to Next Gen fuels like E85 and researching new Eco-friendly fuel options is a solid start towards not only helping the environment, but lowering fuel costs and improving the economy. Or how about saving some energy around the home? That doesn’t have to be a big deal… There are light bulbs out there that can provide just as much light, at a fraction of the energy use, they may cost a bit more however they last much longer then the more common light bulbs. Small conversions can make a big difference if enough people do them.

I don’t know about you guys, but I think It’s pretty scary when an average energy wasting, junk food consuming, careless American like myself is starting to get concerned about the environment.

Mark Squared Studios

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/26/06 at 08:07:58 am

I had the chance to finish the new Mark Squared Studios website. I think all of my design and development work will be done under this name from now on, not that I do a lot of that sort of thing, however it does sound like we might have a client or two lined up to rake in a couple bucks this fall.

It’s a real simple design with minimal content, just enough to get the word out on what we can provide. You can check it out at Marksquared.net

Projects and Problems

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/23/06 at 03:07:21 pm

It seems live I’ve been just swamped the last week or so with various projects and things coming up. With work and the purchase of the car and fixing the problems with the car… It has kept my time and budget fairly tight.

I’ve also recently taken some time to develop a new website with a colleague of mine. We’re going to be setting up some Web Dev work and we needed a name to work under so we came up with Mark 2 Studios (Mark Squared), were both Marks so the name was catchy and somewhat original. I’m about half way done with the new website, I shall purchase the domain and everything for it this week. Once I get it going I’ll definitely be mentioning it here.

For now I think I’ll enjoy what’s left of the short weekend, Maybe I’ll jump in the pool for a while.

Down With Cancer!

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/19/06 at 10:07:24 pm

One of the members at Dream in Code posted about an event that will be coming up July 29th called “Blogathon”. Apparently tons of bloggers all around the world stay up for 24 hours and post every half hour to help raise money to fight cancer.

DIC has agreed to match donations up to $200.00 for members who contribute. So if this is something of interest and you want to double what you plan to donate, now is a great time to join DIC and help save some lives!

I would consider participating in the event however the weekend of the 29th I’ll be out of town and I may have limited internet connectivity. However I will look into a donation for the cause.

You can get more information by Clicking Here

Workgroup Intelligence

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/16/06 at 06:07:38 pm

I have decided to utilize my Dream in Code Developer Blog. I wanted a separate place to host the interesting IT articles and columns I come across rather then posting them on my personal website. So why not share the content and my input on the technology industry with a larger audience? Make sure to check out my new DIC Developer Blog ‘Workgroup Intelligence’ by Clicking Here.

New Ride

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/12/06 at 03:07:13 pm

So the big project this week was getting a new vehicle for myself. With the hot weather this past weekend the transmission in the Voyager seemed to put up a fit. Also the breaks seem to be worn out and are now making a grinding noise when I come to a stop. So the van is definitely starting to show it’s mileage. Sure the breaks are repairable, and the transmission could probably just use a good flush however with the other problems this thing had I really just wanted to get rid of it, I will miss the Voyager.

On Friday night I applied for financing on a 2007 Chevy Cobalt. I was approved for a term that was just a bit over my budget, with me having nearly no down payment and the fact that I haven’t had this job for real long I was impressed that I was approved at all. I could afford the payments but when it comes to my finances I don’t like being strapped or cutting it too close. Also I was somewhat pushed into applying for the car, I go in there looking at used vehicles and next thing I know I’m filling out a loan application for a new car I hardly knew anything about, let alone being knowledgeable on detailed reviews and consumer reports. It was just too much too fast, however the thought of a brand new car off the lot like that was tempting. I think I would rather go with something more comfortable for now, comfortable being cheaper.

I ended up settling on a 1999 Ford Taurus SE earlier this week. I’m a big fan of the Taurus look from that time, they were definitely thinking forward when they designed the car. I’ve heard good things about the engine but in the last few days I’ve been reading some nasty reviews on their transmissions so it will be a bit of a gamble but I guess I’ll accept that. The car is in really good shape and the mileage isn’t bad at all so I feel that I got a good deal. There were a few minor electrical problems with the car so I agreed to pay the asking price if the dealership had all of the problems repaired. The car has been in the shop the last couple days and it sounds like I may be able to pick it up after work tonight so I’m really looking forward to that.

I should have the chance to take some pictures of the car once it’s all settled in and I have time to snap a few. So look forward to some photos of the new ride in the next couple days.

Tidbits

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/07/06 at 10:07:00 am

The great part about going back to work after a long holiday weekend is that it’s only a couple days before the weekend goodness returns.

I’ve decided to put my Plymouth Grand Voyager up for sale, I’ve had the van for about a year and it’s getting to be time for something new. I think I’m going to head over to the dealership after work today to see if they have anything of interest, if so I may do another Rollover on my loan. Otherwise I plan to sell it privately and spend some of the money towards something new, I would like to get something else before the Fall. If you live in the Twin Cities or North Metro vicinity here in MN and you’re in the market for a Mini-Van, drop me a line using the contact information on the ‘About’ page.

On another note, I took some time last night to update some of the information around the website. It’s surprising how quickly it can fall out of date. This place is all about learning more about me and what I do so it’s important to present accurate information.

Alright, I suppose it’s time to get back to work… Reading those tech magazines can get pretty rough.

In the Midst of it all

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/02/06 at 03:07:56 pm

So far the long weekend has gone well. I ended up having to stay a little longer at work on Friday due to some unexpected changes but I still got out of there a bit early to kick off the weekend.

Friday night I visited Grand Casino in Hinckley with a couple friends. We did a couple games of billiards in the giant arcade and hit the delicious buffet they have, it was nice to get out of the house and do something. On the way home from the casino I ran over what was left of a skunk on the freeway. The shrapnel from the impact went all over the bottom of my vehicle infecting it with its deathly odor. Yesterday I thoroughly cleaned the van but the smell is still definitely noticeable.

Speaking of yesterday, it was interesting to wake up to the sounds of police and SWAT covering the neighborhood. According to the roomers, there was a crazy guy with a gun at the local bar the night before and he was chased off or he ran off and witnesses said he ran into the feed mill across the road from my house. So the Minnesota State Patrol’s SWAT and the Chisago County SWAT shut the place down to search the complex. Harvest Milling is a big place with the train yard and everything so they had the place shut down well into the afternoon. I took some pictures of the excitement from my back yard, you can view them by Clicking Here.

Besides the 4th, I haven’t made any big plans for the rest of the weekend as of yet. I think I’m going to a BBQ on Tuesday and then I’m still deciding on where we’re going to go to see a fireworks display but it will likely be somewhere local this year.

Alright, That’s all I have for now.

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