Rants and Raves

One of my favorite movie lines is from the 2001 movie Bandits, starring Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton. Billy Bob plays a neurotic genius who, at one point in the movie, states “You know the hardest thing about being smart? I always pretty much know what’s going to happen next. […]

ecobee Mothership Won’t Let My Thermostat Phone Home

This entry was posted in Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews Rants and Raves Technology and tagged ecobee hosted application remote thermostat smart thermostat thermostat WiFi on December 30, 2010 by Steve Jenkins (updated 4775 days ago)

I’m typing this blog post on a borrowed computer while I wait at the Salt Lake City airport. It’s entitled: “Today Sucks.” The sucking started when I was awakened at 4:00am by the alarm panel in my Utah house beeping every few seconds to report a communications error (like a smoke alarm […]

Today Sucks

This entry was posted in Personal Philosophy Rants and Raves and tagged grateful gratitude today sucks on December 16, 2010 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3777 days ago)

I attended a funeral yesterday for the father of a lifelong friend of my wife, Gerald “Mac” McManus. Mac was buried at Tahoma National Cemetery with full military honors after more than two decades of active duty in the United States Air Force, including service in Vietnam and Korea. I didn’t […]

She’s a Grand Old Flag

This entry was posted in Personal Philosophy Rants and Raves and tagged 15 gun salute 21 gun salute air force american flag flag Gerald McManus military burial military funeral on May 11, 2010 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3790 days ago)

(The following is a letter emailed to RC Willey Customer Service on February 27, 2010) To Whom it May Concern, I have been an RC Willey customer for many years. Since buying a six-bedroom vacation home in Utah a few years ago, I have purchased over (X) dollars in furniture and […]

Customer Feedback Regarding RC Willey Furniture Delivery

This entry was posted in Rants and Raves and tagged delivery doll house bed furniture RC Willey on February 27, 2010 by Steve Jenkins (updated 5373 days ago)

This is a video of my presentation as part of the BYU Business School’s Entrepreneur Lecture Series on January 11, 2010. Normally, I’d wear a tie, bring PowerPoint slides, and try to inspire the kids into being entrepreneurs. This time, I took a slightly different approach. 🙂

BYU Entrepreneur Lecture Series Video – January 11, 2010

This entry was posted in Personal Rants and Raves and tagged 1% 1% rule byu entrepreneur lecture one percent one percent rule on January 13, 2010 by Steve Jenkins (updated 5071 days ago)

A few months ago, I installed two software upgrades in my 2007 Maserati Quattroporte GT Sport: an enhancement module for the drive-by-wire system, and an ECM peformance chip, both developed and manufactured by Formula Dynamics. They both made huge differences to the car’s performance. Until recently, neither unit had produced […]

Got New OBDII Code Scanner to Clear Check Engine Light ...

This entry was posted in Cars Product Reviews Rants and Raves Technology and tagged check engine light code scanner maserati obd 2 obd ii obd ii codes obdii scanner on December 13, 2009 by Steve Jenkins (updated 5071 days ago)

Because of the consulting work I do for the Department of Defense and the CIA, the security of my personal data is a big deal. So when my benevolent benefactors in Virginia sent me an 8GB Ironkey a little over a year ago as part of their new civilian contractor security […]

I wonder if Ironman uses an Ironkey…

This entry was posted in Product Reviews Rants and Raves Technology and tagged encryption ironkey security on December 10, 2009 by Steve Jenkins (updated 5071 days ago)

Those who truly know me know that I’m extremely “handy” with tools and DIY projects. My Dad grew up on farms and ranches, so he knows how to fix pretty much anything. I grew up going to Parkrose Hardware with him every Saturday, wandering around the aisles until we found […]

You Can Wash and Dry It. We Can Help.

This entry was posted in Rants and Raves on November 20, 2009 by Steve Jenkins (updated 4638 days ago)

Even though Halloween is barely over and Thanksgiving isn’t here yet, I brought in a decorator to help put the Utah house in the Christmas spirit. Whoa… my bad. When I said “a decorator,” I meant “THE decorator.” Lana Christensen designed the everyday interior of our Utah house from top-to-bottom, […]

It’s Christmas-time in Hollis, Queens!

This entry was posted in Rants and Raves and tagged Christmas decor decorations interior design Utah on November 19, 2009 by Steve Jenkins (updated 5478 days ago)

I did it – I upgraded my primary desktop to Windows 7. And yes, when I say “upgrade,” I mean I actually chose the “upgrade” option, because I was already running Vista. So far, so good. I probably wouldn’t have adopted so early (especially on my primary desktop, on which […]

Windows 7 In Effect

This entry was posted in Product Reviews Rants and Raves Windows and tagged Install Upgrade Vista Win7 Windows 7 on November 19, 2009 by Steve Jenkins (updated 5071 days ago)

I am a fan of the indoor smoking ban in Washington State, and also of the law that requires smokers to remain at least 25 feet away from entrances to buildings. Although, technically, I’m pretty sure the law only applies while they are actually in the process of smoking, otherwise, […]

Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room

This entry was posted in Rants and Raves and tagged airport fart spray smoking on July 14, 2009 by Steve Jenkins (updated 5605 days ago)

Steve Jenkins

Product Reviews. Tech. DIY. Guns. Cars. Fitness. Karate. Home Theater. Sea Doos. You know... basic awesome stuff!