Life in Portland, 2008

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Click on any of the little pictures to see it at normal size. Click on the '=0=' after the picture to see it in giant size (about 2 minutes to download on dialup connection and larger than screen size). This could be useful if you wanted to really look at one part of the picture or to make a print.

Well it looks like I had still more car lessons to work on as my car broke down as I was returning from a very nice program at OSP (Oregon State Penitentiary). This time I called my son David and he researched the web and found several towing services (which was good as we were having record heat and they were way backed up) as well as local mechanics. The problem was the igniter, but they also found out why it had been running poorly since the last repair. The mechanic had been confused about the positioning of the timing belt (and had asked me about how it was running before) and, it turns out, installed it four teeth off. Turton's corrected the igniter and timing belt for less than Doran had charged. My car is running all better now and it is good to have a good local mechanic. Turtons Auto Repair. =0=
Portland City Hall. =0= Portland City Hall. =0=
The last time my car was stolen (part of my car lessons, hopefully all completed now), I got a parking ticket for an abandoned vehicle. While Portland Police recognized that my car was stolen and allowed me to pick it up, the City of Portland continued to prosecute the parking ticket. Go figure! Well I made a Motion for Summary Judgement as I really didn't have control of my car at the time. However, I first served a copy on the City of Portland at City Hall, which is a really pretty building, built in the 1890's I believe. Above are the front and back entrances. Here is a side view of the back. The interior is quite spectacular as well. Below is another picture of the front and the main entrance. Portland City Hall. =0=
Portland City Hall. =0= Portland City Hall. =0=
Portland City Hall. =0= Multnomah County Court House. =0=
The City Attorneys Office is on the fourth floor and above is a picture of the elevator on the fourth floor. After serving the papers on the city, I then filed them with the court. The back of the court house is shown above. Here is the area where you file papers with the court. My main complaint is that with parking tickets they insist that you pay the claimed fine before the court will even hear you, though stolen cars are exceptions to that rule. We will see how they sort that out. Multnomah County Court House. =0=
HDTV Antennas. =0= HDTV Antennas. =0=
At home I have been converting to HDTV. My experience with HDTV is that you can get much better pictures, but if your signal is a little weak, you get nothing. So I have been trying different antenna, three indoor and three outdoor. The complex where I live doesn't allow us to mount via screws but prefers if we use clamps. At first I used C clamps, but I didn't want to have them always out in the weather and I might need them. So instead I made up clamps from scraps of wood and a couple bolts from the Restore. Above, here, and below are the outdoor antennas with their clamps. I kept having problems getting a good recording with my ATI HDTV Wonder card (I am upgrading my recordings of the Simpsons from the old VHS tapes). Finally I tried a K-World HDTV USB dongle and it picks up the signal much better (but the ATI card is almost three years old, so they may have better tuners now). I prefer the ATI software, though. HDTV Antennas. =0=
HDTV Antennas. =0= HDTV Antennas. =0=
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This page was last updated on October 8, 2008.