tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290636862024-03-13T18:03:50.000-04:00DougintologyI'm a universal constant. I'm a singularity.Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.comBlogger2072125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-30082915109997218262020-10-29T19:35:00.010-04:002020-10-29T19:56:33.089-04:00Aquaponics<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've finally got our hydroponics system setup and mostly populated. There were all sorts of issues along the way, but I'll get to those later. First, the grand tour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Click the pictures to embiggen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNV_jxZS0Pw/X5s-hixRGSI/AAAAAAAANng/dAVD6Qwz28MwK7-qN8ZHYCTp83NRbPONQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_172934248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNV_jxZS0Pw/X5s-hixRGSI/AAAAAAAANng/dAVD6Qwz28MwK7-qN8ZHYCTp83NRbPONQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_172934248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When you walk into the room this is the view you get. There's an old chest freezer, as in older than me old, that holds the fish. We've got fifteen in there. One that we took out of Mariah's parents' little pond and fourteen more that we got once we realized what a pain it was to get fish out of the pond. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ammonia in the fish waste gets transformed into nitrites and then into nitrates and is all of the food for the plants. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJFHsxEFRaI/X5s-hozdv0I/AAAAAAAANnk/HrkUj4ZTdroBVSTX1Zh-dCE5fcNuSQmxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_172950372.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJFHsxEFRaI/X5s-hozdv0I/AAAAAAAANnk/HrkUj4ZTdroBVSTX1Zh-dCE5fcNuSQmxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_172950372.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On either end of the freezer there's a post running across. A small pump runs water through all the time. Probably a bit deeper than it should be, but the roots are still developing. Could be a problem later. Anyway, the water pumps in one side, out the other, and over to the second post. Might add a third post later. We just ran out of caps. I'd have to make my own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bucket underneath has two small screw holes in the bottom. I was hoping to keep the water level high enough to grow duckweed in there to feed the fish, but low tide is too low. So, instead I use it to add water to the system slow enough to keep the temperature change from shocking the fish. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-begLuDuvlWQ/X5s-hVnETSI/AAAAAAAANnc/a8e9uNBUlYEYpqlRz7_SRhz8Kd8ue_hJACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173003864.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-begLuDuvlWQ/X5s-hVnETSI/AAAAAAAANnc/a8e9uNBUlYEYpqlRz7_SRhz8Kd8ue_hJACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173003864.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a minor trickle. Isn't it cute?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fAw8A04gAA/X5s-j5ABOeI/AAAAAAAANns/oYAskffxYqkx9PPpYa5zDv7UnOxFR2ZfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173017497.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fAw8A04gAA/X5s-j5ABOeI/AAAAAAAANns/oYAskffxYqkx9PPpYa5zDv7UnOxFR2ZfwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173017497.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low tide<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the inside of the chest freezer. I filled it half way and left it for a few weeks to make sure it was water tight. Terracotta pots give them something to hide in and keep the fish tank from being an infinite white void slowly driving the fish mad. You can also see the return hose from the posts and a bubbler. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsRk3HphqtM/X5s-j3hoLpI/AAAAAAAANno/23X2xIv-I1c0aKFe7hgB6n1b0ohUKaT9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173025772.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsRk3HphqtM/X5s-j3hoLpI/AAAAAAAANno/23X2xIv-I1c0aKFe7hgB6n1b0ohUKaT9ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173025772.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The posts are one system and this is the start of the second system. This is the control bucket. One pump in the fish tank pumps water into this and a pump in the control bucket pumps water back out. Water then flows through the six other hoses in the side of this bucket to six other buckets. The water automatically keeps level across all seven of them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's a float valve inside the control bucket to stop the water at a certain level, but it's rather narrow, so it limits how fast the bucket can fill. So a timer pumps water in for half an hour, it sits for about fifteen minutes, and then the second pump drains it in about ten minutes. Then it sucks air for five minutes because the timer works on intervals of fifteen minutes. This give the fish tank a tide of 25-30 gallons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did try giving them more water so that low tide isn't so low, but the float valve isn't as effective as one might like and there was overflow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note the white(ish) block of wax under the bucket. That'll come up again.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other six buckets are in a reflective grow closet. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWe6P1oHdOA/X5s-lxHsF9I/AAAAAAAANnw/pW5-xXqv9_4zN8ZLHENEHhm0rhF_4LzZACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173044148.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWe6P1oHdOA/X5s-lxHsF9I/AAAAAAAANnw/pW5-xXqv9_4zN8ZLHENEHhm0rhF_4LzZACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173044148.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26OtH9yjRDo/X5s-mT4uz6I/AAAAAAAANn0/jAWf6gaFk_glAG6TKMJdU27pE5xzxESQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173107095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26OtH9yjRDo/X5s-mT4uz6I/AAAAAAAANn0/jAWf6gaFk_glAG6TKMJdU27pE5xzxESQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173107095.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26OtH9yjRDo/X5s-mT4uz6I/AAAAAAAANn0/jAWf6gaFk_glAG6TKMJdU27pE5xzxESQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173107095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdXk8kEoEUg/X5s-qNs9iFI/AAAAAAAANn4/_TJHGuxhea8MBtXDeIzdShSDGOiLVnSCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173122127.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdXk8kEoEUg/X5s-qNs9iFI/AAAAAAAANn4/_TJHGuxhea8MBtXDeIzdShSDGOiLVnSCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173122127.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lq26ACv8zQs/X5s-vULxwqI/AAAAAAAANn8/SLtZkDJ-238CNGcsebKN5TyK5d9epgy4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173130652_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lq26ACv8zQs/X5s-vULxwqI/AAAAAAAANn8/SLtZkDJ-238CNGcsebKN5TyK5d9epgy4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173130652_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I take a pot out you can see the roots coming out the bottom. Once that's happening with all of them I can lower the water level by removing the wax block under the control bucket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Right now, only the tomatoes have roots that big. If the other stuff, like the strawberries, don't catch up, they'll end up moved to the continuous flow system.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grmGG1c1oQM/X5s-vqd2GvI/AAAAAAAANoA/I9e1NvsHQWA4xlLmU28641nVj7vCfvuaACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173153462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grmGG1c1oQM/X5s-vqd2GvI/AAAAAAAANoA/I9e1NvsHQWA4xlLmU28641nVj7vCfvuaACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173153462.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyN8yMvYXc4/X5s-3ISDZtI/AAAAAAAANoU/wiAiCmXtdDcF_86GLw7KsXP-82CTCA2bACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173253537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyN8yMvYXc4/X5s-3ISDZtI/AAAAAAAANoU/wiAiCmXtdDcF_86GLw7KsXP-82CTCA2bACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173253537.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are expanded clay pellets. They are neutral enough to not change the PH level of the water, big enough not to wash away, and serve to help hold the plants in place. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aA7vRrVCRKk/X5s-3lQo85I/AAAAAAAANoY/TTqADrMg68E-SBdeiP4KHd4RRyOSOWb5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173307921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aA7vRrVCRKk/X5s-3lQo85I/AAAAAAAANoY/TTqADrMg68E-SBdeiP4KHd4RRyOSOWb5ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173307921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The biggest expense is the lights. That's true in general and not just in the case of people like us who scavenged most of the material. This light was $500. And I shopped around until I found one that wasn't made entirely in China. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are a major source of heat. Not as much as the pre-LED systems, but quite a bit. The basement likes to be in the mid-60°Fs, but this reflective room gets to 79°F when the lights are on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Whinging</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The biggest issue with a system like this is leaks. Or algae. So far, it's been leaks. Anywhere there's a hose coming in or out there's a rubber gasket and plastic grommet. Those weren't waterproof on their own, much to my disappointment. So, I tried to use silicone to seal stuff up. Apparently a common mistake as the guys in the shops nodded knowingly when I griped to them about how that went. So I stripped it off and used a more adhesive caulk. That was better, but still drippy. So I put some inside, too. No good. Finally, after weeks of using different materials, letting it set, testing it, mopping the floor, letting it dry, trying something else, I got some Flex Seal and slathered it all over the ends of the posts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY3sM66Zpac/X5s-2uQ1IqI/AAAAAAAANoQ/D6xBfJHLEYEVkB1xUg6cwbVCPGwqLdOhACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201029_173628005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY3sM66Zpac/X5s-2uQ1IqI/AAAAAAAANoQ/D6xBfJHLEYEVkB1xUg6cwbVCPGwqLdOhACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20201029_173628005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suck it, leaks!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It still leaked where the hoses came and went... sometimes. That's why the control bucket is in a pan. And in the first picture there's an aquarium under the end of one of the posts. All that water didn't come from a leak. That's the fish hospital. The PH got a bit out of control and some needed assistance. Anyway, the leaks around the hoses seem to have stopped after running for a few days. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's actually, less complaining than I expected to do. BUT THE LEAKS WERE A BIG AND ANNOYING PROBLEM!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, right the algae. If you're doing this at home you want to block out as much light as possible. Paint the buckets black, use black hoses, keep a lid on the fish tank, etc. A few years ago I helped set up a tower garden for my brother, but replaced the reservoir with a 300 gallon IBC tank and fish. But too much light got in, the algae clogged up the system, and water poured everywhere he didn't want it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our system isn't as light-proof as I might like it, but it's better than my brothers' was and so far we have no algae. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Materials</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We got the freezer free from Craiglist. We thought we were getting a working freezer. So did the people who gave it to us. But the guys who pushed it to the curb tore out some vital parts... such as the power supply. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The big fish was abducted from in-laws. The little fish are feeder fish rescued from a pet store. Cost us two bucks.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The posts came from the in-laws. They got them free some years ago as leftovers from someone's project. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The pots were free from Craigslist. Some farmer was buying plants and had lots of empty pots to get rid of. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The clay pellets were part of a previous attempt at hydroponics from 5-6 years ago. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Buckets from the in-laws. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Lids from HomeDepot. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The reflective closet, the light over the fish tank, hooks, ropes, the drip pan, and some vent fans and other stuff we got off Craigslist for $250 or so - about 1/3 the going price. When this light was in the reflective closet the temperature sat at 77°F. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The new light is new and ~$500. I did a lot of shopping to find one that wasn't 100% made in China. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The tomatoes in the reflective closet are cuttings from stuff in the yard. The tomatoes in the posts are cuttings from a friends' yard. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The strawberry in the closet is one from the yard that came with the house. The one in the post we got in the spring, grew like mad, and never produced anything.</div><div style="text-align: left;">There's blueberry cuttings from the blueberry bush outside using the light and some fish water.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We brought our peppers in and put them in the closet to see how well they keep producing over the winter. </div><div style="text-align: left;">There is lettuce, zucchini, and some other things coming up from see to go in the system. </div><div style="text-align: left;">There's two apple trees grown from seed.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We're still trying to figure out what to do about our two dozen lemon trees grown from seed. </div><div style="text-align: left;">FlexSeal is like $30 a quart!</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the hoses and pumps and gaskets came from local hydroponics store and cost many moneys. By local I mean the several that are an hour away and the none that are close. </div></div><p></p>Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-58461120110387054232019-03-30T12:59:00.005-04:002019-03-30T12:59:47.187-04:00Lawn mowingNo, I'm not reviving the blog. I'm turning it back to what it originally was, a way to keep track of when I did certain things to the house.<br />
<br />
Oh, I bought a new house on Halloween of 2018. I'm in a town north of Frederick, MD. And today I'm gonna bitch about lawn care.<br />
<br />
I guess I'm a true suburbanite now. I'm getting in a feud with an<br />
elderly neighbor about lawns and worrying about lawn care.<br />
<br />
In Westport I had an electric mower and would mow my lawn, the lawn of<br />
a house I was renovating, up to 4 other lawns for elderly neighbors or<br />
vacant houses, and about half of a sizable lot that neither the city<br />
nor the state would claim. All the extra mowing was to deny rats<br />
places to hide and to make the large lot useful.<br />
<br />
But all those lawns had nobody to care for them so the grass was<br />
generally pretty thin and my mower could cover some ground. In my new<br />
house the previous owner, and the neighbors, hire lawn services. Which<br />
is fine when you consider their ages. They all have 20 to 40 years on<br />
me. Who wants to be pushing a mower in their 70's? But you could make<br />
it easier on yourself. These services are fertilizing the lawns and<br />
spreading herbicides and pesticides. Look, my lawn is like a carpet.<br />
It really is. These services work. But it's not the 1950s anymore. The<br />
neighbors are still worrying about keeping their yard a monoculture<br />
and a perfectly manicured green carpet while we're concerned about<br />
bees and runoff.<br />
<br />
I expect my lawn to thin out a bit over the next few years as I stop<br />
fertilizing. But for now I'm starting to see why mine is the only<br />
electric mower. It's because I've gone through 4 batteries over 3 days<br />
and am only about half way done with my first mow. My yard is only 1/3<br />
of an acre! The grass is so thick, the mower has to work so hard, that<br />
each battery charge lasts me only 10-15 minutes. So, exhaust 1<br />
battery, then the next, then spend 3-4 hours to charge both batteries<br />
back up. I'm hoping that later mows will go easier, but not counting<br />
on it.<br />
<br />
One neighbor I talked to warned me about dandelion seeds blowing from<br />
the city property next to hers. She got real quiet when I said I don't<br />
mind dandelions much and that they're a major staple of the diet of<br />
spring bees. Another guy mentioned before the city council that<br />
someone wasn't raking the needles from my pine tree or any of my other<br />
leaves. Are you kidding me with this? I said "Hi, I think I'm the<br />
needle guy you're talking about. If they bother you I can get them<br />
up." They make a nice mulch for my garden since most plants I'm likely<br />
to grow like acidic soil. I offered them to the neighbors first and<br />
got horrified looks (which I'm starting to delight in). The leaves,<br />
however, i'm just gonna mow into mulch. Once the mower battery got low<br />
enough that it couldn't cut the main lawn I came back over and drove<br />
over leaves repeatedly. Sure, a blanket of leaves can kill the lawn,<br />
but the grass under the trees is already pretty thin just from getting<br />
that much less sun.<br />
<br />
So many people want their grass clippings hauled off in this county<br />
that they are encouraging "Grasscycling". Really? We need a word for<br />
just leaving the grass where it falls? No, they didn't come up with<br />
the word, but I'd never heard of it until I got here.<br />
<br />
When you tell someone around here that you moved from Baltimore they<br />
go on for a bit about horrible it is there and how much happier we<br />
must be out here. For the most part we agree, but we do have to throw<br />
out a little "But, you know, we didn't see nearly as many Confederate<br />
flags in Baltimore as we see around here."<br />
<br />
I've been wanting a robot lawn mower ever since I saw the one my uncle<br />
Steve has in his yard, but always had a hard time justifying it. Also,<br />
I was worried it'd get stolen. I was planning to wait until I'd been<br />
here a few years and my push mower was on it's last legs before making<br />
the switch. But if the lawn doesn't get easier soon I may need to go<br />
ahead. I really don't want to have to go back to something gas<br />
powered. And if I'm gonna have to mow a dozen times a week I want to<br />
make the droids do it.Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-4696175438349430452016-01-19T16:11:00.000-05:002016-01-19T16:11:55.537-05:00Links dammit!Zombie satellite. [<a href="http://www.space.com/9135-zombie-satellite-galaxy-15-won-die.html">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Simple homopolar motor.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPzJr1jjHnQ" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Monty Python reference in Game of Thrones. [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/may/13/game-of-thrones-monty-python">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The nuclear missile arsenal runs on 8 inch floppies. [<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/americas-nuclear-arsenal-still-runs-off-floppy-disks">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Little girl from Schindler's List gets traumatized by watching Schindler's List. [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/mar/04/schindlers-list-actor-traumatised-by-film">link</a>]<br />
<br />
12 Days of Evolution - complete video series.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c_jyHp3bmEw" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Former NHL player talks about his abusive father and warns about abuse in youth hockey. [<a href="http://www.theplayerstribune.com/patrick-osullivan-nhl-abuse/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Buried ships of San Francisco. [<a href="http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Ships_under_Financial_District">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Calling cards to get laid. [<a href="http://gizmodo.com/young-people-used-these-absurd-little-cards-to-get-laid-1751387386">link</a>]<br />
<br />
A game I'll have to play someday.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y7OTIMoY5qY" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Stormtrooper dressing room. [<a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-11/18/star-wars-force-awakens-stormtrooper-dressing-room">link</a>]<br />
<br />
3D printing ice buildings for Mars. [<a href="http://cloudsao.com/MARS-ICE-HOUSE">link</a>]<br />
<br />
175 year old battery that still runs, and nobody knows why. [<a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mystery-continuously-functioning-battery-1840-180954028/?no-ist">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Cross sections of Star Wars ships. [<a href="http://nerdapproved.com/movies/star-wars-tfa-cross-sections/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-5166091085953972202015-12-21T20:09:00.000-05:002015-12-21T20:09:14.427-05:00Links for wheneverBloody Simpsons opening<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_NT2ZiPIukw" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Why we don't let the kids drive<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7kx67NnuSd0" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Spock tribute song<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vNBA8mHFf8" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Blue Origin's successful rocket landing<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9pillaOxGCo" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
The perfect Republican speech. [<a href="http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/stump-speech/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Words that should have died. [<a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/51150/12-old-words-survived-getting-fossilized-idioms">link</a>]<br />
<br />
A Star Wars love story - Green Leader [<a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/1e5uw">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Some people just need Darwin to smite them. [<a href="http://www.roanoke-chowannewsherald.com/2015/12/08/woodland-rejects-solar-farm/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
100 fantastic photos made without Photoshop. [<a href="http://brightside.me/article/100-best-photographs-without-photoshop-46555/?image=210605">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Injured elephants turn to people for help. [<a href="https://www.thedodo.com/elephants-travel-humans-help-1353631970.html">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Hateful Eight filmed in native 70 mm. Why you should see it. <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SGg2N32Z-co" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Room temperature diamond manufacturing. [<a href="http://m.phys.org/news/2015-11-phase-carbon-diamond-room-temperature.html">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Astronaut and cartoonist have a chat. [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/28/conversation-chris-hadfield-randall-munroe-interview">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Smartphone add on can diagnose malaria. [<a href="http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148236:Smartphone-microscope-can-diagnose-malaria&catid=161">link</a>]<br />
<br />
A scan of Pluto's surface. [<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/nh-craters-mountains-glaciers.jpg">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Everybody Hates Ted Cruz. [<a href="http://uproxx.com/news/2015/12/ted-cruz-hate/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The biggest known planetary ring system. [<a href="http://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/gigantic-ring-system-around-j1407b/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
CLOWN FIGHT! [<a href="http://torontoist.com/2013/09/how-a-fight-with-clowns-led-to-the-birth-of-modern-policing-in-toronto/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The invention and death of privacy. [<a href="https://medium.com/the-ferenstein-wire/the-birth-and-death-of-privacy-3-000-years-of-history-in-50-images-614c26059e#.ngkkyx56v">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Brilliant room model. [<a href="http://kotaku.com/japanese-high-school-students-room-will-amaze-you-1744591755">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Scientists who discovered gluten sensitivity change their minds. [<a href="http://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-who-found-evidence-for-gluten-sensitivity-have-now-shown-it-doesn-t-exist">link</a>]<br />
<br />
How Claire McCaskill won her election by funding Todd Akin. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/todd-akin-missouri-claire-mccaskill-2012-121262_full.html#.VkI9V36rRaQ">link</a>]<br />
<br />
<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-46017357628220940232015-12-11T01:18:00.000-05:002015-12-11T01:18:03.636-05:00DuckweedI recently ordered some duckweed for a couple of projects for family and neighbor kids. Step one is breeding it. I knew I'd need more than my own eye to be able to tell me how fast it's growing. So I took pictures. Here's a bit more than 24 hours of growth.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm5muMNS0Qg/VmpqL6-CNgI/AAAAAAAAEzA/xjFVPKsosK4/s1600/NCM_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm5muMNS0Qg/VmpqL6-CNgI/AAAAAAAAEzA/xjFVPKsosK4/s400/NCM_0167.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYIn9lD5wMI/VmpqMGHpMtI/AAAAAAAAEy8/0_54wmPnhWc/s1600/NCM_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYIn9lD5wMI/VmpqMGHpMtI/AAAAAAAAEy8/0_54wmPnhWc/s400/NCM_0168.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-34393293638709154072015-11-24T13:22:00.000-05:002015-11-24T13:22:23.074-05:00Friday Links: October/NovemberToy Story refilmed with real toys.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5G0j_Huv2Fg" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
$1 of drug treatment equals way more in enforcement and control. [<a href="http://harmreductionvictoria.ca/?q=node/56">link</a>]<br />
These are Canadian numbers, but I'd have to guess that America's numbers are similar.<br />
<br />
Game: Mosaic Box - collect pieces of a song and then assemble it to make famous musical pieces. [<a href="http://www.kongregate.com/games/Badim/musaic-box">link</a>]<br />
<br />
How to find out where your microwave heats. [<a href="http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2011/microwave-oven-diagnostics-with-indian-snack-food/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Obama's real economic record. [<a href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/18/president-obama-makes-history-with-record-setting-economic-turn-around-video/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Homeless man had his dog stolen by animal activists.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7pKb29VHwb8" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Homeless man's dog returned to him. [<a href="https://www.chien.fr/actualite/le-chiot-vole-par-l-association-cause-animale-nord-rendu-au-sdf-exclu-chienfr/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Guinea pig bridge. (turn down volume)<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bq9ghmgqoyc" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
SG1 reunion panel. [<a href="https://vimeo.com/80426447">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Benny Netanyahoo blames the Holocaust on Muslims. Germany corrects him. [<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/10/21/netanyahu_muslim_holocaust_comment_germany_jumps_in_to_correct_record.html">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Mortgage derives from the French for "death pledge". [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage_loan">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The Y2K bug did do something bad. [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/sep/14/martinwainwright">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Guns and Roses marionette in the subway.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nfN252EcG9I" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Hillary e-mails prove Bush and Blair planned Iraq war. Thanks for exposing that Republicans! [<a href="http://www.occupydemocrats.com/newly-released-clinton-email-proves-bush-blair-plotted-iraq-war-a-year-before-launching-it/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The clips on bread bags mean something. [<a href="http://consumerist.com/2011/02/28/color-coded-plastic-ties-tell-you-day-your-bread-was-baked/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Watch the video - Tesla battery tech for the house. [<a href="http://www.teslamotors.com/powerwall">link</a>]<br />
<br />
When you speed up a recording everyone becomes the Chipmunks. What happens when you slow the Chipmunks down? [<a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/slowed-down-chipmunks-are-both-brilliant-and-terri-227794">link</a>]<br />
<br />
People have stripes, too. [<a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/65092/our-skin-covered-invisible-stripes">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Super efficient lettuce farm. [<a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-largest-indoor-farm-produces-10000-heads-of-lettuce-a-day-in-japan/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Photos of molecules. [<a href="http://news.berkeley.edu/2013/05/30/scientists-capture-first-images-of-molecules-before-and-after-reaction/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Failed islands make for successful coral. [<a href="http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-24060-dubais-coral-reef-flourishes-at-the-world/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
A prison with an open door model. [<a href="http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-15/finlands-open-prisons-inmates-have-keys">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Negatives found in Antarctica successfully developed. [<a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/100-year-old-negatives-discovered-in-antarctica/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
George RR Martin's house. [<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHrkgC5TF7s&ab_channel=DurchdieNachtmit...">link</a>]<br />
<br />
That car from the Fallout games had a real world basis. [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Nucleon">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The day the U-Boat washed up in Hastings. [<a href="http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/u-118-world-war-one-submarine-washed-ashore-beach-hastings-sussex-england/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Talking with North Koreans. [<a href="https://www.nknews.org/2015/11/conversations-with-north-koreans/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Will Barbie spy for you? Or for the government? [<a href="http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/15018/hello-barbie-security-concerns/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Historical texts find no evidence of Jesus. [<a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/1504964/jesus-never-existed/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Big badda-boom. [<a href="http://gizmodo.com/nasa-releases-harrowing-new-photos-of-last-year-s-antar-1740741248">link</a>]<br />
<br />
DEA chief denies science. "Drugs are bad, m'kay." [<a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/11/5/9675478/dea-medical-marijuana-joke">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The Petticoat Rebellion - or that time women took office. [<a href="http://www.damninteresting.com/the-petticoat-rebellion-of-1916/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Serotonin comes from your guts. [<a href="http://www.caltech.edu/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Air Force dumped bodies of soldiers in a landfill. [<a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/12/08/9290603-report-air-force-dumped-remains-of-274-troops-in-landfill">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Mice sing, too. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/04/01/mice-sing-just-like-birds-but-we-cant-hear-them/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Who has a 3D printer?! [<a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:106595/#files">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Cats at the G20. [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/nov/16/cats-g20-summit-stage-video">link</a>]<br />
<br />
It's harder to buy a barrel of oil than you might think. [<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-03/that-time-i-tried-to-buy-some-crude-oil">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Paper e. coli. [<a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/paper-cuttings-ecoli-bacteria-cut-microbe-rogan-brown/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The budget camera rigs of The Evil Dead. [<a href="https://mattmulcahey.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/the-crazy-camera-rigs-of-the-original-evil-dead/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
It sucks to be Vigo the Carpathian or to be around him. [<a href="http://deadspin.com/the-hateful-life-and-spiteful-death-of-the-man-who-was-1737376537">link</a>]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-81828656590669408542015-11-10T01:13:00.001-05:002015-11-10T01:13:39.552-05:00This is Halloween, this is Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was my makeup for Halloween 2015.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made a plaster cast of my face, filled it with foam created by mixing Gorilla Glue and water. I used a high heat hot glue gun and white hot glue to make the teeth on some glass, popped them off and trimmed them to shape. Used pink hot glue on the face to hold the teeth in place and to make sure they'd fit my face. Spirit gum held them on. Black sclera lenses on my eyes to make them black.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3djIYO8PDAw/VkGJ6_oqufI/AAAAAAAAExk/r8AygTo5PyA/s1600/NCM_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3djIYO8PDAw/VkGJ6_oqufI/AAAAAAAAExk/r8AygTo5PyA/s320/NCM_0126.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgysvulbUiw/VkGJ6h--onI/AAAAAAAAExc/0qnUvVQTYiM/s1600/NCM_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgysvulbUiw/VkGJ6h--onI/AAAAAAAAExc/0qnUvVQTYiM/s320/NCM_0137.JPG" /></a></div>
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Bonus: the teeth on my eyes chewed when my real mouth did. </div>
Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-62153211533868396512015-10-30T19:24:00.001-04:002015-10-30T19:24:31.244-04:00Pre Halloween<p dir=ltr>A neighbor had me do her makeup for a party.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-liGxdmK4nnY/VjP8LCQzQ0I/AAAAAAAAEwU/xXkxQc5e_N0/s1600/NCM_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-liGxdmK4nnY/VjP8LCQzQ0I/AAAAAAAAEwU/xXkxQc5e_N0/s640/NCM_0133.JPG"> </a> </div>Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-20527907391769351892015-10-28T10:19:00.001-04:002015-10-30T21:02:29.731-04:00Pear tree - year 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ba6VUyNP614/VjDZa62MRVI/AAAAAAAAEv0/7uh78ilmMOw/s1600/NCM_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ba6VUyNP614/VjDZa62MRVI/AAAAAAAAEv0/7uh78ilmMOw/s640/NCM_0123.JPG"> </a> </div>Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-49520102332653176562015-10-01T23:19:00.000-04:002015-10-01T23:19:10.757-04:00Movie Review: The MartianMovie Review: <a href=http://dougintology.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-martian.html>The Martian</a><br />
<br />
The movie version of The Martian came out last night. How did it come out so soon after the book? Apparently the movie and book deals were both struck within four days of each other. The movie was great. Yeah, some stuff was cut. Some stuff is almost always cut when they adapt a whole book to fit a movie sized spot. But some stuff is added. In the case of this movie they added some fantastic shots of Mars. We've had so many landers and rovers and satellites land there that they can do some super realistic shots of the landscape and the weather patterns. And it's gorgeous. <br />
<br />
Let me tell you what they cut without giving away spoilers. Many of the problems and disasters. Most of the math is gone. Much of the botany and biology. Much of the chemistry. Not all of it. Some of it, one could argue, wasn't cut, but assumes the viewer isn't an idiot and knows what he's doing. Some of the chemistry is explained, but the movie doesn't tell where the catalyst was scavenged from. People who've read the book will know why Mark Watney is wearing a helmet indoors in one particular scene. It's not to protect his head. <br />
<br />
You know how the Lord of the Rings movies were long, but on DVD they're even longer for all the fans to get the scenes they want? Most fans of the book want to add another hour to the movie just so the film makers can take the time to get into the details the book did. <br />
<br />
The movie is hard science fiction. The only thing that is technically wrong is the weather. Mars does have storms that rage at 300+ MPH, but the air is so thin that you won't feel more push than you would in a breeze on Earth. The author knew that and twisted that fact anyway to tell a good story. He said that thanks to him the country is learning that fact about Mars and he's totally happy with that. <br />
<br />
If you liked watching MacGyver then you'll love The Martian. Both tell about very smart people doing brilliant things with limited resources and with a good dose of action thrown in. <br />
<br />
I'll absolutely get this on DVD. I may go and see it in theaters one more time. Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-82569369681003519812015-09-17T23:32:00.001-04:002015-09-17T23:32:31.809-04:00Friday links - I got nothingI got nothing this week. Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-12969070903233755472015-09-11T02:26:00.000-04:002015-09-11T02:26:36.194-04:00Friday LinksWhat if there was a black hole in your pocket?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8nHBGFKLHZQ" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Gamal Abdel Nasser on the Muslim Brotherhood<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TX4RK8bj2W0" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
An Alaskan village about to wash away. [<A href=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-arctic-obama-20150830-story.html>link</a>]<br />
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A bike riding robot. <br />
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mT3vfSQePcs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Ferrofluid art. [<a href=http://www.ferrolic.com/>link</a>]<br />
<br />
Where punctuation came from. [<a href=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150902-the-mysterious-origins-of-punctuation>link</a>]<br />
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Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-28000653826066351482015-09-04T18:35:00.000-04:002015-09-04T18:35:57.117-04:00Friday LinksThe saga of the dead raccoon. Be sure to click "next". 12 pictures in all. [<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153627929143385&set=pcb.10153627934373385&type=1&permPage=1">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Visual comedy the Edgar Wright way.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FOzD4Sfgag" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
John Oliver cited by US Court of Appeals. [<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/28/1416435/-John-Oliver-Cited-by-United-States-Court-of-Appeals?detail=email">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Imagine someone so isolated that they don't know what a dog or a bear looks like. That guy found out that his guard dogs were killing all his chickens for a reason. [<a href="https://www.thedodo.com/man-dogs-black-bears-1230085544.html">link</a>]<br />
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C-17s fly like geese. [<a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a9257/vortex-surfing-formation-flying-could-save-the-air-force-millions-on-fuel-15703217/">link</a>]<br />
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Consumer Reports calls the Tesla the best car they've ever driven. [<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-27/tesla-with-insane-mode-busts-curve-on-consumer-reports-ratings-idu1hfk0">link</a>]<br />
And conservatives have fits. [<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/31/1417018/-Consumer-Reports-calls-latest-Tesla-best-vehicle-they-ve-ever-tested-right-wing-goes-nuts?detail=email">link</a>]<br />
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3D printing prosthetic arms. [<a href="http://www.openhandproject.org/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Thank you for your help. Why are we screaming at each other?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NOl8WZS3Aoc" width="500"></iframe><br />
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The pitch (to the studio or to us?) for the new Muppet show.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x2B5d-8H588" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
How 3M invented the force field. [<a href="http://amasci.com/weird/unusual/e-wall.html">link</a>]<br />
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After about 2 minutes I totally lost the thread. A short film done in early 60's British gay slang. [<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/07/28/polari_the_gay_dialect_can_be_heard_in_this_great_short_film_putting_on.html">link</a>]<br />
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One of the top runners for President: Deez Nuts. [<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/19/presidential-candidate-deez-nuts-does-not-exist.html">link</a>]<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Only the neighbor kids joking on my front porch give me any idea about this joke.</span><br />
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Pics from Banksy's Dismaland. [<a href="http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/08/dismaland/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
The music video is more interesting than the music.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ONKi2S6YBSU" width="500"></iframe><br />
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108 year old message in a bottle found. [<a href="http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/worlds-oldest-message-in-a-bottle-found-in-germany-1210083">link</a>]<br />
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Midcentury modern hotel. [<a href="http://blog.preservationnation.org/2014/08/21/retro-roadmap-wildwood-motels-midcentury-modern-for-everybody/">link</a>]<br />
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1982 DC Comics style guide. [<a href="http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2015/08/the-entire-1982-dc-comics-style-guide-online-and-amazing/">link</a>]<br />
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When civilization collapses, what one fact is it most important survives? [<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/tomchivers/how-come-no-one-mentioned-evolution-by-natural-selection#.fi6kAPWwX">link</a>]<br />
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<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-19487510067575853712015-09-01T18:16:00.000-04:002015-09-01T18:16:39.600-04:00Short film collectionStealing Time<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UTO0ogdNMdY" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
I'm You, Dickhead<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iAUjt7KWp9A" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Time Trap<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BpmkpCK3ysg" width="500"></iframe><br />
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The Last Human in the Milky Way<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YlmWYa9alyc" width="500"></iframe>Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-27803152476796236242015-08-27T15:07:00.002-04:002015-08-27T15:07:40.560-04:00Friday Links: 28 AugustBaltimore area Batman dies in car wreck. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/route-29-batman-is-killed-after-his-car-breaks-down-along-a-maryland-highway/2015/08/17/13f0e9b2-44e3-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html">]</a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I regret that I never saw him on area roads.</span><br />
<br />
18 CEOs called out by Bernie Sanders for economic sabotage. [<a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/18-ceos-called-out-by-bernie-sanders-for-taking-trillions-in-bailouts-evading-taxes-and-outsourcing-jobs/">link</a>]<br />
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Conservatives opposed to misogyny? Since when? [<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/08/10/conservative_outrage_over_donald_trump_s_misogyny_hilariously_opportunistic.html">link</a>]<br />
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Why CG sucks... or doesn't.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bL6hp8BKB24" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Bulldog loves his box.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tGiKYlN0pDM" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Cheap synthetic muscle. [<a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a3088/synthetic-muscle-made-of-fishing-line-is-100-times-stronger-than-the-real-thing-16514805/">link</a>]<br />
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Mortal Combat in the back yard.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/icN6rblqYRg" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Beer that's heliumated instead of carbonated.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3V9QHBgrPNY" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Game: MineCaves - A MineCraft styled game where you find the gems and keys in the dungeon. [<a href="http://www.freewebarcade.com/game/minecaves/">link</a>]<br />
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Zorro: Beyond the Thunderdome. [<a href="http://www.latino-review.com/news/zorro-post-apocalyptic-reboot-film-is-actually-happening">link</a>]<br />
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GTA5 plugin gives you better camera control to make your own movies. [<a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/08/23/grand-theft-auto-v-opencamera/">link</a>]<br />
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JRR Tolkien's latest book. [<a href="http://io9.com/j-r-r-tolkiens-the-story-of-kullervo-will-be-published-1722964621">link</a>]<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Three movie deal coming soon.</span><br />
<br />
Another article calling anti-choice groups a bunch of liars. [<a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a38642/heartbeat-international-conference-crisis-pregnancy-centers-abortion/">link</a>]<br />
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Bears playing in a pool.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/77dtqOOaGLo" width="500"></iframe><br />
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<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-73286495772141325052015-08-10T00:05:00.001-04:002015-08-10T00:05:05.513-04:00Friday Links delayedThe farmers' market on Thursday screws up Friday Links. Yeah, yeah, that's my excuse.<br />
Place your bets on how long it takes to become Monday Links or I drop the blog entirely.<br />
<br />
Toronto is smog free. Shutting down the coal power plants is one of the big reasons. [<a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/08/21/toronto_is_smog_free_for_the_first_summer_in_decades_but_why.html">link</a>]<br />
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Counter-script for dealing with telemarketers. [<a href="http://egbg.home.xs4all.nl/counterscript.html">link</a>]<br />
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What happens when cyclists obey the traffic laws. [<a href="http://m.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2015/07/30/this-is-what-happened-when-bicyclists-obeyed-traffic-laws-along-the-wiggle-yesterday">link</a>]<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't mind stop signs meaning yield for cyclists so long as I'm not getting charged with vehicular homicide when they get hit when blasting in front of me.</span><br />
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Flying Human Torch.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o3usKUcFVeY" width="500"></iframe><br />
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They haven't release the light that runs 2 hours on a lift of the weight, so this will have to do. [<a href="http://gravitylight.org/gravitylight/">link</a>]<br />
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75 year old nurse commits suicide, because she knows growing old sucks. [<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/gill-pharaoh-healthy-former-nurse-75-takes-own-life-at-assisted-dying-clinic-after-deciding-old-age-is-awful-10433954.html">link</a>]<br />
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A natural quiet preserve. [<a href="http://www.outsideonline.com/2000721/americas-quietest-square-inch-and-preserving-natural-sounds">link</a>]<br />
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Making 2000 year old bread.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYTuNXq1eBk" width="500"></iframe><br />
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I used to love this dead mall.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJtJ2zUfhow" width="500"></iframe><br />
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The Nickleback of the GOP. [<a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/donald-trump-is-the-nickelback-of-gop-candidates/">link</a>]<br />
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Abandoned Japanese fishing village. [<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/07/the-abandoned-fishing-village-of-houtouwan/399911/">link</a>]<br />
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Game: Error Prone - drive in a circle better than the automated cars. [<a href="http://madewithmonsterlove.itch.io/error-prone">link</a>]<br />
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Popularity of swearwords across America. [<a href="https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/mapping-the-united-swears-of-america/">link</a>]<br />
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I made one of these for the farmers' market. [<a href="http://community.homedepot.com/howto/DiscussionDetail/Building-a-Giant-Jenga-Game-9065000000008yO">link</a>]<br />
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Kitchen haunted by a baby ducky. [<a href="https://narf-archive.com/pix/4f8291fdc0f3761dba8722a5db6bdbdae1913947.webm">link</a>]<br />
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The Food Babe makes up some bullshit about beer ingredients. [<a href="http://foodbabe.com/2013/07/17/the-shocking-ingredients-in-beer/">link</a>]<br />
Beer makers set things straight. [<a href="http://www.maureenogle.com/maureen-ogle/2013/08/18/whats-in-your-beer-or-the-dangers-of-dumbassery">link</a>]<br />
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"GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU BITCH!" [<a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/news/539251/the-exoskeletons-are-coming/">link</a>]<br />
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How to build a Mossarium. [<a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/news/539251/the-exoskeletons-are-coming/">link</a>]<br />
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<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-86931867784583579072015-07-31T03:56:00.000-04:002015-07-31T03:56:26.554-04:00Friday Links: July 31Guys who are abusive to women online really ARE losers. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/07/20/men-who-harass-women-online-are-quite-literally-losers-new-study-finds/">link</a>]<br />
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There are superhumans... of a sort. [<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-22/these-superhumans-are-real-and-their-dna-could-be-worth-billions">link</a>]<br />
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Adam Savage wires up his Captain's Chair. [<a href="http://www.tested.com/art/makers/528305-one-day-builds-adam-savages-star-trek-captains-chair/">link</a>]<br />
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WOOHOO! Washington DC is the worst bang for your buck. What's $100 worth in your area? [<a href="http://www.citylab.com/work/2015/07/what-100-is-worth-in-cities-across-the-us/398564/">link</a>]<br />
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Before Adam Sandler there was a good version of "Pixels".<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ugV6cLgwomo" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Marion-Kay seasoning 99-X is the Colonel's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe">link</a>]<br />
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Once again, Fox News is confused by the Moon. [<a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2011/07/28/fox-news-confused-baffled-by-the-moon/183428">link</a>]<br />
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The smartphone for the audiophile in your life. [<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/16/8976561/marshall-london-smartphone-images">link</a>]<br />
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More of the Old Testament/Torah shown to be false. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/09/books/new-torah-for-modern-minds.html">link</a>]<br />
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Did I post these modern grotesques? Have some modern grotesques. [<a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-grotesques-of-chapelle-de-bethlehem">link</a>]<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">note: it's only a gargoyle if it spits water. </span><br />
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Pretty sure this isn't canon.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EnLcV1ASZQw" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Rocking out on homemade banjos.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TIkoqyOeZK0" width="500"></iframe><br />
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A monitor made of thread.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dvDHNDkO-Qo" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Who has fired Trump? [<a href="http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-07-01/who-has-fired-donald-trump-so-far">link</a>]<br />
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Luxury animal quarantine. [<a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/3048832/fast-feed/check-out-the-worlds-first-airport-terminal-for-pets">link</a>]<br />
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University of Michigan built a small town just to test self driving cars. [<a href="http://fusion.net/story/170240/the-university-of-michigan-built-a-fake-town-for-driverless-cars/">link</a>]<br />
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What most non-Planned Parenthood pregnancy counselling places are really like. [<a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a43101/pregnancy-centers-august-2015/">link</a>]<br />
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It's not pool, it's loop. [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/alexs-adventures-in-numberland/2015/jul/16/loop-new-cue-sport-pool-ellipse-elliptical">link</a>]<br />
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It's like a clean room, but for noise. [<a href="http://arstechnica.co.uk/science/2015/07/inside-the-quietest-room-in-the-world/">link</a>]<br />
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Lion hunting is WAY easy. [<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/dont-forget-that-killing-a-lion-is-the-most-cowardly-thing-y#.kjyjlKE28">link</a>]<br />
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A haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M6Qtc_zlGhc" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
How to build a great bicycling city. [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/29/how-groningen-invented-a-cycling-template-for-cities-all-over-the-world">link</a>]<br />
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<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-76988847062556570932015-07-24T07:00:00.000-04:002015-07-24T07:00:00.043-04:00Friday Links: July 24How to cheat sleep. [<a href="http://qz.com/430415/i-once-tried-to-cheat-sleep-and-for-a-year-i-succeeded/">link</a>]<br />
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Why some people are "evil". [<a href="http://aeon.co/magazine/philosophy/people-do-violence-because-their-moral-codes-demand-it/">link</a>]<br />
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Actual 3D, interactive holograms.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AoWi10YVmfE" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
A Confederation of lies. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/07/01/why-do-people-believe-myths-about-the-confederacy-because-our-textbooks-and-monuments-are-wrong/">link</a>]<br />
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... and I can't even blame it on the Japanese.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wBqM2ytqHY4" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Lego Doctor Who trailer. [<a href="http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-07-09/the-doctor-meets-batman-and-gandalf-in-amazing-new-doctor-who-lego-dimensions-trailer">link</a>]<br />
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Shop smart, shop S-Mart. [<a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/26/ash-vs-evil-dead-exclusive-first-image-bruce-campbell-back-ash?hootPostID=1bd2858ee067cbe869a1640993d1bd3e">link</a>]<br />
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The return of Bloom County... again. [<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/13/422545636/bloom-county-2015-berkeley-breathed-revives-comic-strip">link</a>]<br />
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Most terrifying Joker ever.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVFTrLDsW8U" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
This is how Star Wars is done.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTNJ51ghzdY" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
19 September<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QVMUPZm04MA" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Block God from your kids' computer. [<a href="http://www.godblock.com/">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Chinese visitors to SW United States 2500 years ago? [<a href="http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3855171.shtml#.Vaz4FBNVhBc">link</a>]<br />
<br />
How to give mosquitoes a good population check. [<a href="http://www.popsci.com/mosquitoes-designed-self-destruct">link</a>]<br />
<br />
Fog flow.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OnQiZBMaXG8" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Which political party is better for the economy? I mean, setting aside the fact that one in particular routinely boasts lower unemployment, lower deficits, and all that. Whose policies are better? [<a href="http://politicsthatwork.com/blog/which-party-is-better-for-the-economy.php">link</a>]Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-14036744815554833452015-07-17T02:52:00.000-04:002015-07-17T02:52:02.336-04:00Friday LinksMessages from BEYOND THE STARS! Or, more likely, from the actual stars. [<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22630153.600-is-this-et-mystery-of-strange-radio-bursts-from-space.html#.VXhEmE-eDGc">link</a>]<br />
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Mouse vs Scorpion: FIGHT! [<a href="http://www.livescience.com/45134-grasshopper-mouse-scorpion-video.html">link</a>]<br />
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Judges told the Kansas Governor that he's required to fund the schools. So now he's trying to get rid of judges. [<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/final-front-sam-brownbacks-battle-control-kansas">link</a>]<br />
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Rich Californians ask what's the point in being rich if we can't use all the water we want? [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/rich-californians-youll-have-to-pry-the-hoses-from-our-cold-dead-hands/2015/06/13/fac6f998-0e39-11e5-9726-49d6fa26a8c6_story.html?hpid=z1">link</a>]<br />
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Shortest commercial flight. [<a href="http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/08/worlds-shortest-commercial-flight-is.html">link</a>]<br />
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Delirium deaths: coincidence that 100% of cases are of people in police custody? [<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/06/excited_delirium_deaths_in_police_custody_diagnosis_or_cover_up.html">link</a>]<br />
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The man who decides what goes on beer labels. ALL beer labels. [<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/12/meet-the-beer-bottle-dictator.html">link</a>]<br />
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Another history of Boko Haram. [<a href="https://thenib.com/some-wars-start-small-the-history-of-boko-haram-9387e3d822e9">link</a>]<br />
<br />
A history of musicians telling politicians to stop using their music. [<a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-long-history-of-musicians-telling-republicans-to-stop-playing-their-music/">link</a>]<br />
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See through trucks. [<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/22/1395581/-New-Samsung-See-Through-truck-may-help-save-lives-looks-very-cool?detail=emailclassic">link</a>]<br />
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<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-7738318617424216872015-06-26T02:28:00.000-04:002015-06-26T02:28:49.014-04:00Friday LinksLaptop issues continue, but here's something.<br />
<br />
Cartoon documentary about Washington's medical marijuana. [<a href="http://boingboing.net/2015/04/20/washington-states-medical-ma.html">link</a>]<br />
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The instrumentation that's been picked for the Europa probe. [<a href="http://space.io9.com/heres-the-9-instruments-well-use-to-reveal-the-secrets-1706993818">link</a>]<br />
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That time NBC funded a breach of the Berlin Wall. [<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/berlin-wall-anniversary/tunnel-29-how-nbc-news-funded-big-breach-berlin-wall-n242006">link</a>]<br />
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Source of weird radio station found. [<a href="http://www.dailydot.com/technology/uvb76-russia-mystery/">link</a>]<br />
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Robot dog/cheetah/horse can now jump. And operate off the leash.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_luhn7TLfWU" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Real Viking helmet found. It's short on horns. [<a href="http://www.world-archaeology.com/great-discoveries/object-lesson-the-gjermundbu-helmet.htm">link</a>]<br />
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I mentioned the iron snail before. Here's more. [<a href="http://morethanadodo.com/2015/04/28/the-iron-snail/">link</a>]<br />
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I want these cats as strays in my neighborhood. [<a href="http://www.livescience.com/15994-glow-dark-cats-aids-virus-research.html">link</a>]<br />
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The Wizard of Oz with They Might Be Giants as the soundtrack.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yya9gsFMYos" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Clips from the DARPA Robot Challenge narrated by WWE announcers.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L9ziMQWlj5Y" width="500"></iframe><br />
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100 year old chalkboard discovered. It proves Oklahoma didn't know how to do math back then, either. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/06/eerie-chalkboard-drawings-frozen-in-time-for-100-years-discovered-in-oklahoma-school/">link</a>]<br />
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<br />Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-6427557663165392632015-06-18T22:40:00.001-04:002015-06-18T22:40:35.397-04:00Westport Market - opening day reportFriday Links continues it's hiatus due to computer issues.<br />
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I've been quiet for a long time. This is partially because I've been so busy. I bought yet another house, work strange hours, rescue fallen birds, refilling the Little Library on the front of my house, have had nice weather to sit and read on the front porch in, have been spending time with various tabletop gaming groups, and I've been helping to start a farmers' market in my neighborhood. As well as the usual mowing and spraying for poison ivy when there's time.<br />
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My neighbor, let's call her Dee, is an organizer. And I sometimes wonder if she know how ghetto the neighborhood is. She decided we need a farmers' market. I didn't really think it would do well. There's not enough money in the neighborhood and there's not enough of the food conscious sorts who really care about where their food comes from. And there's not enough people to make it worth it for the vendors. ...so I thought.<br />
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Still, I knew I could be wrong, I want to improve the neighborhood, so I jumped in. <br />
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I ended up, as I often do, being a major doer. I'm not a caller. I'm not their PR person. But I'll make sure that things get done. <br />
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I created the postcard, with Dee helping refine the design, that someone else mailed to everyone in the neighborhood. The postcard featured a picture of blackberries taken on my cousin's farm in Oregon... to pitch a local food event in Maryland. <br />
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I learned screen printing and made shirts.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few prototypes. The color they picked with bright, electric, neon, lime.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I made 5 signs to put up around the neighborhood. One permanent one on the site, one outside Dee's house by the light rail, and a couple that can easily move. Then a dozen small signs that go up the day of to give directions to the market and to parking. The big ones showed me how good I'm getting with a paint brush. The little ones showed me how bad I am with spray paint.<br />
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I attended a lot of meetings, some which Dee was supposed to attend but got held up at work.<br />
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I rebuilt two picnic tables in the park where they were rotting or vandalized in an ownership dispute and painted three.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first two tables</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I mowed the park... twice. My new electric lawn mower only does about 1/3 of an acre with a charge. It took two trips.<br />
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I helped plant a sunflower forest to help advertise the market. I'm not sure exactly how the sunflowers do that. It'll be quite a site from the light rail train as it passes, but doesn't do anything for the market.<br />
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I went to an existing market and tried to sell those vendors on coming to ours.<br />
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I designed a lighting system to go with a emissions free generator we wanted. I mean I had every watt accounted for.<br />
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I brought Gandolf to socialize and have pictures taken with people. [<a href="http://www.trgram.com/westportmarket">instagram</a>] [<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/charmcitygray?source=feed_text&story_id=1042892802405341">facebook</a>]<br />
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I picked up the generator and got trash and official Baltimore recycling bins for us to use.<br />
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I wasn't really involved in the press releases. Or harassing vendors to come.<br />
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The first market was last night. 5:30 to 8:00. We had five food vendors and four "other"s.<br />
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One guy was selling bags of food. You weren't sure what you were getting, but it was a mix of vegetables. He sold out and plans to be back week after week, now.<br />
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The next was from a community garden the next neighborhood over. They've changed management since we started planning and are only doing the opening weekend.<br />
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The next was from a garden of only 1/4 acre. And he has a ton of hula hoops that he brought for people to play with. He'll be back on weeks when inventory allows.<br />
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Then there was some people with a respectable farm. They had similar anticipations for the farm to mine, but sales were good enough from their two tents that they plan to come back with more food.<br />
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Then there was the egg guy. He got held up, but he had plenty of eggs for sale. This was his second farmers' market of the day. He'll be back.<br />
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Then there were the others. First there was a representative of Retrofit Baltimore. They help people in low income areas find affordable ways to make their homes more energy efficient. They'll be along once a month.<br />
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Some people from the University of Maryland Agriculture Department were talking to people about gardening.<br />
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A woman talking about the hazards of a plan to ship oil through Baltimore in fragile train cars that are known to explode was there. Her group also helped with the initial park cleanup back in April.<br />
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And a woman who makes her own veggie juice was selling there. She says she'll be back, too.<br />
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This doesn't even mention the news crews or the politicians who showed up. State Delegate Brooke Lierman comes out to all our events. Enough that she knows my face.<br />
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We had a good turnout. A raffle helped keep people around for awhile. The hula hoops and Gandolf helped.<br />
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Then we tore everything down and shoved it all in Annapolis Bog. Then we'll do it again next Thursday, and every Thursday after that until mid-October.Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-44732032336033854842015-06-11T22:15:00.002-04:002015-06-11T22:15:53.704-04:00Please stand byWe are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please stand by.Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-42601819631239349142015-06-08T02:27:00.001-04:002015-06-08T02:27:23.373-04:00The police were involvedThis weekend I called in my first homicide.<br />
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Got your attention with that, didn't I?<br />
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So, I'm sitting out front trying to organize stencils to make signs for our upcoming farmers market while dealing with a swarm of neighbor children when I heard a rapid "bang bang bang bang bang bang". One of the kids jokes that someone just got shot. I analyzed the timing and determined that was too fast for a car backfiring. "I think you're right. Stay there." I said, and got up, moving towards the corner. As I reached my corner I saw two guys running like a bat out of hell away from where the sound originated. Definitely a shooting. Round the corner. What can I see? Phone out. 911 ready. Is there a body? Yes. Crap. I hit dial. "All circuits are busy. Please hold." I held for several minutes before anyone picked up. "Shooting. Annapolis Rd and Kent St. Someone down. Race unknown, ID unknown, condition unknown." Cops showed up shortly after. Word is the guy had a pulse when they arrived but I saw them doing compressions when they put him in the ambulance. Word is also that he's a homeless guy. But his mother was there. She lives too far away to have gotten there that fast. They're suspicious characters. After the crowd cleared I mentioned to some officers that I saw runners and which direction they headed. Then I hung around for more than an hour so the homicide detective could question me. They took me downtown but I couldn't tell them much. My focus was on making sure help was called for the shooting victim. <br />
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What did you do yesterday?Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-80499830462218466922015-05-29T07:00:00.000-04:002015-05-29T07:00:00.691-04:00Friday Link: May 29One link. This game that ate my time.<br />
<a href="http://agar.io/">http://agar.io/</a>Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29063686.post-29059063305494926742015-05-23T14:06:00.001-04:002015-05-23T14:06:33.890-04:00Book review: The MartianI finished reading "The Martian" Friday night. It's put the forthcoming movie (Thanksgiving 2015) at the top of my list of anticipated movies. Yeah, more than Star Wars episode 7.<br />
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I had no choice but to read this book. None. While walking through the bookstore my attention would be drawn to this book over and over, visit after visit. I wanted to read it right off, but it was only in hard cover and I didn't want to read it $25 worth. I finally got it when I built up a pile of gift cards. Then it sat while I read all these other books that I really wanted to read. I should have just coughed up the cash. It's totally worth it.<br />
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The story is near-future, hard-science fiction. NASA is running a series of manned Mars missions. During the third mission a particularly bad sand storm comes up and the crew has to leave before their rocket blows over. One person gets left behind, assumed dead, when the storm stabs him with a broken off antenna and blows him out of sight of everyone else. When he finally comes to he has to figure out how to expand his 400 days of food into enough to last until the fourth mission arrives in four years on a different part of the planet.<br />
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The story gets into the chemistry of breaking down the toxic rocket fuel into components that can be combined back into water and breathable air, the reclaiming of Martian soil for farming, and how much food can actually be grown with the resources at hand. He has to adapt the rover for long trips to scavenge parts from old Mars missions, real ones. And it gets into what's going on back on Earth and on the craft that left without him and their efforts to help him once they see activity on Mars.<br />
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A desperate survival and rescue story is always good, but a large part of what makes this book so enjoyable is the writing style. When on Mars the story is told via the mission logs. More of a diary or blog, really. He has no pretense of formal, technical writing for NASA. He's writing as much to amuse himself as to document things for history or for technicians. On Earth the story is told more like a normal book, but you get people bantering more.<br />
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The movie will have to cut some of the more interesting parts of the story because they just won't work on screen. So be sure to read the book as well.Ibidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15614529174562538070noreply@blogger.com0