I just can't put into words my reaction when I heard/saw this... for the first time in maybe 15 years.

The Brits in the crowd might just know this: WOT.

I'm near tears from joy.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 07:49 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Right, for what it's worth, MomDuck ended up with THIS CowPuter.

Athlon 64 3700+, 1 GB RAM, 200GB HD... she's got a frickin' 64-bit processor!

I've got a 850MHz P-III, with 384 MB of RAM, a 30 GB HD and an 80 GB HD, both of which are close to being filled, a GeForce 5200 (my original video card, a GeForce 2, died last August, and the 5200 was $50), a DVD recorder (it takes 8 hours to change 2 hours of avi videos to DVD video... and 5 minutes to burn the disc)...

Yes, I've got SERIOUS computer envy.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:01 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I hope I wasn't that obnoxiously cheerful when I was a salesduck at CowPuters (stores now deceased).

We wound up not getting anything, because I really didn't have time to research the systems we were looking at. Some very nice set of specs out there, for not a whole bunch of money, but I'm going to be the one that has to fix the thing... I want MomDuck to have a computer that she can't 'break', even accidentally.

I use computers probably 10x as much as she does, yet I've never had a virus or scumware. She's had two virii, a dialer (that called Croatia), and scumware out the yingyang, all in the last two years.

I know a new computer won't help much with that, but maybe if I make keep hitting her with the "that crepe is why you're shelling out $$$ for a new computer" message...

Still looking for advice on what to get!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 04:51 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Well, it finally happened. MomDuck's computer, a 500mhz P-III system (yes, you read that right... close to 9 years old, if I remember), finally got an ick that I couldn't de-ick.

It surely isn't worth spending money on it, so we're off to buy a new computer for her. Any suggestions? "Buy an Apple" is not an option, and we're looking around $1000, roughly.

So no quad-core, SLI-gpu'd systems, alas.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 01:11 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Rick Steiner can't seem to break the habit of calling himself 'Rick Steiner.' Seems he was running for School Board membership under the name 'Rick Steiner,' even though his real name is Robert Rechsteiner.

Problem is, in the county he's running in, you can't run under assumed names. Oops. I guess it doesn't count that he's been using Rick Steiner as his name for 20 years, he never had it legally changed.

*Kla-Ding-ding* "Ladies and Gentlemen... now entering the meeting room... Riiiiiiiiiiick (pause) STEIIIIIIIII-Nerrrrrrrrrr!"

"...and there's a STEEL chair to the back of a commiteeman's head..."

I'm just not going to think about what he'd do to PE class.

(original story HERE)

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:29 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I didn't get the manager's job of the Duck U. Bookstore.

More to follow, when I'm sufficently inebriated to comment on it.

LATER...

Well, I'm not inebriated. But I didn't get the job. I'm still the Ass.Mgr., though, so that's something. I was thanked for my service over the past six months, was told I had done an 'amazing job, given the circumstances,' given a blindfold and a last cigarette, tied to the post, and...

I'm being flamboyant. The n00b has a year or so's worth of manager experience more than myself, and is more of an energetic 'go-getter' sort, according to the district manager. My managerial style is a tad more laid back, which goes over well with store-level people, but isn't ranked as highly with the higher-ups. Sure I can kick and take with the best of them when I have to, but I try not to have to.

So... we'll see what happens. The n00b comes on board May 15th, and we'll go from there. In many ways, I'm glad it's over... now I can get on with doing my job, instead of wondering what my job is going to be.

Now, where's that 'personal serving sized' bottle of sake...?

Posted by: Wonderduck at 01:02 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Ever had one of those days?

(159am Editor's Note: Five paragraphs deleted due to excessive whining.)

So I left... and walking out to my car, I stepped in a gopher hole and sprained BOTH my ankles. My right foot went in the hole and twisted, making the most amazing sounds, and my left foot came down in an odd position as I tried to recover. *snapcrunch* Voila! One gopherhole, two bum ankles!

A perfect topper to a lousy day.

Maybe Tuesday will be better.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 06:50 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Today is the six month anniversary of the most frightening thing I've ever had happen to me.

On October 25th, 2005, I suffered "The Incident."

Since then, I've had no repeat, no difficulties of any kind. I'm not proclaiming myself 'healthy,' but it's clear I've dodged a bullet.

I said it back then, and I'll say it now: If something weird is happening to your heart, CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY! It may save your life... it may have saved mine.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:57 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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1 Glad to hear you are doing so well

Posted by: flotsky at April 26, 2006 07:43 PM (6T2ID)

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Good news: Clowns didn't eat me.

Bad news: District Manager didn't name me Manager of the Duck U. Bookstore.

No News: YET. We'll have a decision "by next Friday."

So the fretting and stress will go on for at least another week. I've actually past the point where I just want it over. I'm to the point where I no longer CARE if I get the job. I've been assured of keeping my position as Assistant Manager if they name someone else, so I won't be unemployed.

I just want them to name SOMEone. I've been in limbo now for over five months.

Oh, and there's a F1 race this weekend... on my birthday, no less. As a present, I'd like to see Super Aguri on the podium. Or Zsolt Baumgartner have a drive.

Hey, everybody's gotta have a dream.

The 'funny' thing is that this was the race that S.A. was supposed to have their new car. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they don't. Really, it's a miracle that they're racing at all; three months from startup to first race would strain a major name team like Ferrari or McLaren after all. Sure, they're not competitive yet, but S.A. is getting race experience, with zero pressure or expectations.

If they ever DO field a modern car, having these races under their belt can only help.

Friday night is PockyPalooza 2006, so F1 UPDATE!'s report on the 2nd Friday practice session will be delayed.

In other F1 news, my BATracer F1 2006 league is in the final few races, and I've got a 9 point lead for the driver's championship. I've won 4 races, had pole 9 times, and had 3 fastest laps... IN A TORO ROSSO. Second is a Renault entry, so it's not like the league is completely ack-bassward.

How's everybody else's entries? Would there be any interest in a 'private league'?

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:16 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Sorry to hear that about your work. Horrible to have something hanging over your head like that, just wanting it sorted so you can move on and deal with whatever is happening. Will keep various things crossed for you.

Yep, feel like we have gone too long without another race. We also get the GP2 races starting now we are in Europe.

I'm doing pretty rubbish in my F1 league, finally got a podium in my midlands car today. Am doing a little better in the CART series I am in.

I'll be up for a league once I've donated and got the kooltools thing sorted (I could be wrong, but I think you can only do two without donation). I should be sorted for that around the 26th (no coincidence with payday at all)

Posted by: flotsky at April 20, 2006 08:29 PM (6T2ID)

2 According to my teammate in the F1 league, you can do 2 public and X amount of private leagues... "X" because he's not found the limit yet.

I'm having a hard enough time keeping two different ones straight... "How in the world did F1 decide to drive at Nazareth, PA?!?!"... yet he's in SIX.

I'm leading in my CART league, too, but that's only because I won one of three races and had a 5th in a second. Too early to brag.

Posted by: Wonderduck at April 21, 2006 01:17 AM (Ffvoi)

3 I'm running fourth in my league right now in a Honda. 20 points back of the leader, who's in a BMW. Second and third are Toro Rossos, so my championship is a little odd too.

I've crashed out of a couple of races, and completely missed setting up for the last event (work was busy and the cutoff times suddenly changed without me noticing).

My driver has a nasty habit of goofing up during practice so my setup data isn't all that great. He does well in the races typically though. The first several races were on The Raikkonen Plan.

I'd be interested in a private league! Let us know if one gets set up! I call a McLaren!

Posted by: SkarTisu at April 21, 2006 03:55 AM (FVDkH)

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Can't blog, clowns'll get me.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 06:07 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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For those of you that celebrate, of course. If you don't, enjoy Sunday. If it's not Sunday where you are, then... um... enjoy the day at work?

Now I'm off for a slice or two of pig, slathered in lingonberry, a scoop or two of corn souffle, and my family!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:35 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Ever have one of those days? Ever have it stretch out to cover a week? How about one week stretching to cover a whole month?

That's me these days. As many of you know, I'm the acting store manager of the Duck U. Bookstore. I started in that position back in November, when the store manager went on maternity leave... but she never came back, deciding instead to be a stay-at-home mom (and who could blame her?).

Since she left to expel her parasite, though, I've had THREE different district managers. I've had to interview for the position of store manager with four other people, and I've got another one (with the newest district manager) coming up towards the end of next week.

Throw in the time of year, when the Spring semester is drawing towards a close (which means textbook buyback) and both Summer AND Fall semester textbook adoption forms are due in, and I'd be hard-pressed to do my job anyway... my OLD job, back when there was both an assistant manager (moi, who handled most of the text decisions) and a store manager (who did much of the paperwork). Now, though, I'm doing the equivalent of TWO different jobs, both of which need full attention.

Throw in my impending birthday (on the same day as Imola), inching closer to the frightening 40, and I'm crispy around the edges to say the least.

Then Momduck called. She told me to meet her outside the store (understandable, since parking is nightmarish around Duck U.). "Well, okay, sure." So she drives up, and hands me a tupperware container. "It's for dinner tonight, enjoy!"

So tonight, I got to enjoy a meal that I haven't had in AT LEAST seven years: tuna-noodle casserole. Yep, it's pretty simple stuff: can or two of tuna, peas, can of cream-of-something-white soup, stir, serve over bowtie pasta.

But I can't make it like Momzerduck can. Comfort food... is there anything better when you're in the middle of a bad patch?

Thanks, Momzerduck! Love ya, quack!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 04:54 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 Awwwww! Damn right on the comfort food front, nothing in the world like familiar tastes. When I was very young, Mama Flotsky would make a breakfast for my sister and I called coddled eggs. This was buttered bread cut into squares, with the contents of a boiled egg mushed into it. These days I add a fair bit of pepper, but it is an instant doorway back in time.

Mrsfb a while back had some medication which had the side effect of killing her appetite. I was a bit lost for things to tempt her with, but that was the one that worked

Posted by: flotsky at April 12, 2006 08:08 PM (Dl1rW)

2 I am hereafter known as DuckyNoodle. Glad you enjoyed dinner last night...it seems to have done it's job!
Wish you could go outside and play. It is a warm and sunny day. Both kitties are in the catnip patch and their furry faces are looking very happy.

Posted by: Duckydoodle at April 13, 2006 05:55 AM (Ffvoi)

3 My mom, ladies and gentlemen! With guest stars, Rumpole and Hercule, the cats!

Posted by: Wonderduck at April 13, 2006 06:34 PM (y6n8O)

4 "expel her parasite" LOL!!

Posted by: SkarTisu at April 14, 2006 12:53 AM (FVDkH)

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Horrible news from Silent Running; one of the most famous regiments of all military history has gone the way of the dodo.

The famed Black Watch has been disbanded.

As SDB says, this would be like the US Army disbanding the "Big Red 1." Or the Navy without an Enterprise.

*sigh* What ARE they thinking?

Posted by: Wonderduck at 06:23 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Along with the job at Duck U., my fantasy baseball league has it's auction in (glances at clock) one hour and of course BATracer is sucking time away as well.

So if anybody ever says to me "you're living in a fantasy world," I can honestly say "yes, but I'm having fun."

Now all I have to figure out is if Pujols is better than Alonso...

Posted by: Wonderduck at 03:57 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well, at least I've got the eyes for it at the moment.

See, I had to get new glasses desperately. The ones I'd been wearing were SEVEN YEARS OLD, and things in the distance were beginning to get a tad blurry. So off I trooped to Lenscrafters, where they were a little surprised to see a duck needing glasses, but like the pros they are, they sent me back to the OptyDoc.

Who had to give me the nasty eyedrops that blow the pupils WAAAAAAY big.

I love the new glasses, I think... I'm not sure, I really can't see them very well right now. Everything is REALLY bright, and my eyes look like an anime character's: lots and lots of black, almost no iris visible.

I have no idea what twisted mind would make me an anime character... maybe something from Gainax, perhaps... but there are people out there who spend $50 a pair for special 'blackout' contacts that do the same thing that I've got going on right now.

Okay, I really shouldn't be looking at the screen, so I'm packing it in for the night. Thanks for reading this latest (dull) entry at Wonderduck's Pond.

Tomorrow, back to F1 talk... I promise.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 04:12 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Good luck, Kirby.

1108pm Update

Kirby Puckett didn't look like a baseball player. He was short and squat, with a tendency to put on weight in the offseason.

He may not have looked like a baseball player, but he was one. In fact, he was a Hall of Fame centerfielder for my adopted team, the Minnesota Twins. He was born and raised in Chicago, same as me.

In 1991, the first summer I was in Minnesota, he led the Twins to a World Series Championship. Indeed, the title of this post was spoken by Jack Buck after Puckett single-handedly won Game 6 of the World Series with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning.

His career was cut short when he lost vision in his left eye after being beaned by Dennis Martinez.

Kirby Puckett passed away tonight, following a massive stroke.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 12:08 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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As some of you may remember, one of the readers of The Pond is Simon. Simon's job has taken him to the Middle East repeatedly, and he's scheduled to be in Bahrain soon... like in time for the race!

If, indeed, that happens (he's not sure it will), he's graciously volunteered to be F1 UPDATE!'s on-the-spot color commentator.

For now, however, I've received a missive from Simon regarding the weather in those parts. I've left the letter unedited, save for some formatting and the like.

Take it away, Simon! more...

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:55 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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It was called "The Incredible Victory" and "The Miracle".

It was hailed as 'the turning point of WWII.'

It all hinged on 'the fateful five minutes.'

It was 'The Battle That Doomed Japan.'

IT was The Battle of Midway. And everything you know about it is wrong. more...

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:57 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I had nothing at all to comment on today. Then I got to The Pond, and discovered that I had been commentspammed. Again.

Which made me weary.

Hopefully, I got them all before anybody saw them... after all, it's not like I've got 3000 readers or anything (I might have to, y'know, be witty then). But geez, I wish that they could be at least INTERESTING commentspammers.

Is that too much to ask?

Oh, the title? I dunno, but it got your attention, no?

Posted by: Wonderduck at 05:49 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Flotsky is in the process of quitting smoking.

Go give him encouragement... GO FLOTSKY!!!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 06:27 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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