Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

I filled out a Walmart survey today. I have no real idea why. I guess I was a sucker for the $1000 dollar chance prize. Besides letting them know about the non-caring employees (I didn't start in on clientele) I provided the follow suggestion: Even with no line, the cashier bagging and scanning is helpful and faster. Bagging at the self checkout is cumbersome at best. The protocol used for self-scan doesn't seem to allow for fast scanning. I often "tilt" the system and have to wait for a attendant. You should develop a tunnel scan system where we put items on a belt and the items get a 360 degree scan, if it fails scan it will be redirected either to an attendant or a second pass through the tunnel. Bagging could also be automated based on the SKU, sorted and gently dropped into bags.

I did my biannual flight review that other day. I am good for 2 more years. I have lots of flight credit. I need to fly more. The big crate thing is what a new Lycoming airplane engine looks like in the box. I forget which plane gets the new engine this time. My friend John and I are setting up the bandmill over at his son's farmette. They have some logs to chew up after we get the thing reassembled (again). Better than having it just sit around. Its all running but it needs attention on several areas. The HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) is registered, titled and on the road. I am chasing gremlins on it, but it gets around ok. Angie thinks its fun. We agreed it was a smarter purchase than a motorcycle. It definately is a truck, no need to slow down for speed bumps thats for sure. It is definately a head turner.