I Have the Power

So, I have not written in a while. I have been a bit busy doing things like


Running 1/2 Marathons (1:43:43 in the rain. 23rd overall, and 4th in class)


Traveling internationally for work (Taiwan, and Dresden (twice))


Breaking machine tools.


Oh, yeah, and buying a house!

Well, the house is small. I am not talking 1200 ft^2 small, I am talking 554 ft^2 small!
So, one of the first things I did was have a shed built in the back to use as a workshop (The technical term is Calculariam), and NOT for storage!!! Well the city (town) I live in lets me build 120 ft^2 without a permit (Over 1/5th the size of the house). But you can't run power out to it (Sadface). Well, problems have solutions:


Some nuts, bolts, angle, and furniture tips from the hardware store (About $20)


Some selections from my Zip-Tie collection,


And some from my back up Zip-Tie collection


Make a lovely mount for a solar panel (15W for 80$).


Mounted on the roof. Everything I have done on this is with an eye towards expanding the system. Now to hook up the running systems:


I covered it up during this part as so not to hurt myself (try licking a car battery). It was still pushing out about 3V so I could make sure all my connections were good, but with almost no current, so I swore a lot less.


To charge the battery (I have a tiny one in place temporarily, but have a big ass (I think that is the brand) one at work (Free), regulate the power, and protect the panels after sunset ($20, good for 100W).


A 50W inverter that I have had kicking around for 15 years or so (and they tell me I should trow things out)


Light provided by a 5W 12V LED bulb ($12). Don't worry, I cleaned up the wiring.


Half a Saturdays work, finished by sundown. Total cost: $132


And finally, no job is done without one of these :)

Ki-Ya!

So, I recently got my black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do. So don't mess with me, or I will totally break a brick with my bare hands!. But anyway all of my uniforms have a white collar, which is a problem cuz I now have to wear uniforms with a black collar. So I have all of these used (nasty used) Tae-Kwon-Do uniforms... unless you want to buy one? No? Ok, so I will make something with them.

Step 1) Cut off sleeves.


Step 2) Sew sleeves together.

Yes, I can sew. But it does involve a lot of swearing.


Step 3) Fill with beans (or rice, or peas). I made a 6 pocket arrangement so the beans don't flop around and put 1 pint of beans in each pocket (this is perhaps overkill... they is heavy!)

Step 4) Sew ends closed.

Step 5) Microwave. With the 6 pints of beans and my wimpy ass microwave it takes 7 minutes on high. But until you get the hang of your microwave/dealy combination I recommend staring with 1 min, test, add another min, test... that is unless you like 3rd degree burns (I am kidding. Being foolish will probably only give you 2nd degree burns)

Step 6) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

A new skill

So, my dear and wonderful sweetie has a tendency of bringing home furniture that she finds on the street. These items (like me) have the potential of being wonderful pieces, but are in rough shape.


Her latest acquisition.

Since I don't have a fireplace, I acquired some shaker furniture tape, and some 1" foam:


and a few tools (The clamps is the new one):


The first step is to cut the foam so it will fit the area of the seat, minus 1" square cutouts so the foam does not show at the corners:


Now, starting from the front of the chair lay out the warp:

Notice there is space at the front corners, and the clamp is holding the end on the side rail.

Sew the second color to the first:


Now for the weave:


Two up, two down makes a herringbone pattern:



Now we have two chairs instead of firewood:

Statistics, not Just for Breakfast

Why do we freak out over a 1/30,000,000 chance of getting hit in a terrorist attack, but think a 1/30,000,000 chance of getting cancer is "the price we must pay".

Also, that is not how cancer works. Turn the number around. This means that for every 30,000,000 times this machine is used it produces on the average 1 tumor. So, conservatively, with 25,000 flights per day, with 75 people on each flight, that give us 1,500,000 people flying per day. If everybody got scanned that would be over one person given cancer every month!

It is called math people

I have so many questions...

I know I have not posted in a LONG ass while, and now I am throwing this at you...
Just deal with it...

Mine Eyes

Last Day in Kazakhstan

In early 2010, I traveled to Kazakhstan for business. What was expected to be a 3 week trip ballooned into 45 12-hour days in a row. On the very last day I had two hours of free time to take my camera out by the hotel. Most of the images presented in this show are from those two hours.


Showing From July 1-31
At Cafe Galleria In Oakland
Artist Reception Saturday July 3rd 1pm-4pm (Informal)