A few weeks back I got to go visit Fender in Phoenix AZ. I have been there many times and enjoy each visit. I truly believe they should call the company “My day job” because everyone seems to be a musician. (The receptionist isn’t a musician but she like musicians and it is nice to work at a place where the musicians have paying gigs.) Their lobby is really cool. I included a picture of me with some artwork. They used to have signed guitars on display in the lobby but apparently they got stolen. The still have signed guitars deep inside their building. I enjoy seeing a company where the employees so identify with their products and are proud of what they make. They have such a great gig going on making great amps. They make rock amps and jazz amps. They make jazzy rock amps and rocky jazz amps, mostly rock kinda jazzy amps, and all sorts of variations. Then they come up with some famous Jazz Artist’s (that is what jazz musicians call themselves Jazz Artists) signature amp that of course all the young musicians just have to buy. No wonder we have starving musicians, they are spending all their money on instruments. Seriously they understand and respect their audience and they are a joy to work with.

I went to visit TASER last week, always a good time (Just a friendly recommendation, check the urinals before using them.) We have doing business with TASER for a long time. The model shown in the picture is an X3. It can shoot 3 electrodes.  It also uses 3 PSoCs. (I am trying to get them to go to four.) As you can see the gun still gives off gianormous arcs after being shot. It also has a laser pointer. Apparrently that itself may be enough deterrent. Sure feels good to just hold this little puppy. Apparently many of the employees have voluntarily been TASED and they keep offering the chance to me. I politely decline while thinking, “ARE YOU FRICKEN NUTS?” The only way I will voluntarily get TASED is for money. This is what I am thinking. I would post on this blog a video of me getting TASED if you guy sent in enough cash. What I am thinking is donations to the Taser Foundation for the Fallen Officer. Statistically about 160 officers are killed on duty each year. Their average fallen officer is 35 and is married with 3 children. That would be an awful age to lose a Dad. The foundation gives the families grants to help with the immediate costs. I thought maybe setting up something for the New Year. If there is enough interest I will set a financial goal for the year. If reached I get toasted. Would that interest any of you? (Hell I know people in Cypress that would cough up the dough just to see me fry).

A couple of weeks ago I got the wonderful experience of visiting K-tek. They have a design and manufacturing operation in Orem Utah. It was enjoyable to see a company manufacturing in the USA. On meeting them it is obvious that they are extremely proud of what they build (As they should). You would know them for their Blendtec blenders. This is the ones that the CEO of the company uses to blend just about anything. You may have seen them on youtube. Greg Jackson, one of their engineers (and my blend assistant) said it would be okay to blend a PSoC-Eval1 board. Stay tuned for the followup where I attempt to get the board replaced.

P.S. Ground up PC boards smell like electronic butt.