Paradise Road: Ken’s Blog

Looks like June is going to be one heck of a month. Things are progressing faster than expected on the bathroom construction front, with Melissa’s family strangely anxious to pour their time and energy into completing the project left behind by the previous home owners (not that I’m complaining about the cost of labor!). We worked on it every day of the memorial day weekend, as well as after work. I think I’ve spent enough at Lowe’s for them to send me a Christmas card this year.

Then I’ve got the Network+ Certification Prep class that’s being paid for by TMC through a grant. Unfortunately, the stipulation of the grant is that it must be completed by June 30, which puts me in a bit of a cramp getting it done on my own time.

On top of that, I’ve also got a large project that I’m working at tying up soon, since it’s expected to go into beta testing in the not-so-distant future, hoping to roll out by fall. I’ve also been helping Melissa with an Intro-to-Internet class that she’s taking at Northwestern (you’d think anyone would know how to send an attachment in email–such is not the case).

So… where’s the cheese to go with my whine?

Japan and France just announced that they will work together to develop a successor to the retired Concord. That’s a pretty amazing feat, considering that the Concord lost money and never recouped its development costs. Still, 35+ years is a long time for engines to get more efficient, and Japan’s Trade Ministry says that they have tested an engine that may eventually get up to five times the speed of sound.

“The new plane will have 300 seats and cut the flight time between New York and Tokyo to six hours, reports said.”

At this year’s Paris Air Show, Boeing and Airbus are vying for sales of their new aircrafts, Boeing’s 787 and Airbus’ A380. Boeing has an assortment of military jets and commercial craft, including the new 777-200LR (which has an amazing range of 10,839 nm!), while Airbus is gracing everyone with their massive A380 taking to the air. Even the Boeing folks are moved by it. As one BBC news article read, “‘It’s a great aircraft,’ said one Boeing executive, with others nodding in agreement.”

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Boeing and Airbus are presently in the middle of a development funding dispute being investigated by the World Trade Organization. Boeing is claiming that Airbus is receiving unfair funds from the European Union and that if the aircraft fails it will disrupt the world aircraft market because the EU would take all risk. Airbus is countering Boeing by arguments that Boeing itself receives unfair subsidies in the form of military contracts by the U.S. government.

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It should be interesting to see what happens after the show… who will have more orders?

Wow, now here’s something that I’d never be writing about as truth. Rumor mills have been speaking of Pink Floyd (David GIlmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason) reuniting with co-founding member Roger Waters since Sir Bob Geldof (Irish rock star and the actor who played “Pink” the movie version of The Wall) announced that he was organizing an African Aid Concert the likes of which has never been seen before.

Well, Pink Floyd Management has just confirmed the rumors. Pink Floyd is reuniting with Roger Waters for Live8. This will be the first time the four-man Floyd will be together since The Wall in 1979. Roger booted Richard Wright from the band before they made The Final Cut in 1983, and the album was barely out before Roger went his own direction citing differences with the rest of the band.

I wouldn’t have even written anything about this, but probably the most reliable Pink Floyd site is reporting it, and what’s much more, so is the BBC and CNN. Hell has officially frozen over.

Sites reporting on the event:
BBC News
CNN
Brain Damage

Finally, after more than two weeks of fairly consistent after-work and weekend time spent working on the bathroom addon, it’s running under its own power. Tonight is the first night that I’m not plugging up the new air conditioner vent running into the room. The plumbing is run, the electricity is run save for the hot water heater, and nearly all of the insulation is up. We’ve even got drywall up on two of the walls. It’s actually starting to look like a room now.

What’s left to do? Finishing the insulation is top of mind for me, because that’s the “homework” that my brother-in-law has given me to finish up before his next work visit. Then, we’ve got to get the rest of the drywall up on the walls and ceilings, then get it floated, put on some “drywall mud”, and start the arduous task of sanding it down. My brother-in-law assures me that I’m sufficiently going to hate him, or at least like him less, after I see what a hassle drywall hanging is. After that, drainage is the last huge obstacle before flooring work (we’ve got water coming in but nowhere for it to go). I believe we’ll be working on that as soon as we get a break in the rain we’ve had lately.

What a process, and what a busy month!

Some progress shots:
In the beginning

After knocking out the brick wall and building the framework for Melissa’s closet

The room tonight