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09:12 pm
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Parachutes
Over the last few days I have been on a parachute making binge. I use 1/4 mil aluminized polyester film (Shiny!) and braided fishing line to make them. I made two 12" diameter, seven 24" diameter and six 36" diameter parachutes. It is quite the fiddly business and takes a clear table over many days.
One more thing ready for rocket season.
Current Mood:  pleased
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06:19 pm
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Avatar
I finally conceded defeat and saw the movie this afternoon. While it takes memes from various sources, the movie I find myself thinking of when doing a one on one comparison is "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" with Don Knotts.
Current Mood:  giggly
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07:38 pm
[Link] | Home safe from ConFusion. Good general con. Topics ranged from Alligators in the House to Xenon ion drive.
Current Mood:  tired
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08:06 pm
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Parachute Day
I spent the afternoon making three 1/4 mil Mylar parachutes for my model rockets. Two were 12" in diameter and one was 24" in diameter. A very poky business because the braided fishing line shroud lines have to be attached with three layers of tape to prevent cutting through the 1/4 mil plastic. They are all nice and shiny aluminised material.
Tomorrow it is back to work for a couple of days and then off to ConFusion.
Current Mood:  productive
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03:20 pm
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Civic Duty Day
Gave blood and paid my property taxes today. Treated myself to a movie (The Princess and the Frog) and lunch at Applebee's. Tonight is a city commission meeting.
Current Mood: productive
Current Music: Blood Brain Barrier
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07:18 pm
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Back from Charlestown
Made it back from Charlestown, South Carolina (Sulivan's Island, Specifically.) Sunday afternoon. I was just in time to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie with a group organized by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) qnvhrtz . The week has been work and errand running since then.
Current Mood:  mellow
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10:08 pm
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Mostly clean house
Cookie decorating is tomorrow. With herculean efforts, well not really because no rivers were involved, my brother Dan an I shoveled out my house. We cleaned it up to the standard of "Why didn't you clean your house since you knew people would be over today?" instead of the former state of "Run for your lives!". And so it goes, from the glorious to the mundane.
Current Mood: tired
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06:00 am
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Solar panels and shots
They finally release H1N1 shots to the world this past week and I got my shot last night. $18 at Walgreens.
My solar panel "off" switch finally got tested. Now to find the reporting form and the address where it needs to be sent.
Current Mood: productive
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08:01 pm
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Snow vs Solar Panels
The last bit of wiring/inspection on my solar panels took place yesterday. Except for one thing, the test of the "off" switch. It seems there is enough snow on my panels to keep them from generating enough voltage to have an "on" for the switch to turn "off".
Current Mood:  frustrated
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11:26 pm
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ACORN
Just made it home after ACORN house filk in Ann Arbor. Dropped off Debbers safely on the way.
Current Mood: tired
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09:20 am
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Solar Panel Installation (Pictures and Everything)
The local power company, Consumers Energy, decided to try an experimental "Feed in Tariff". They are calling it "EARP" for Experimental Advanced Renewable Program. This should pay a high rate for a limited amount of solar energy to the power company by home owners. I signed up for the program and was accepted.
I contracted with my brother Dan's company, Four Elements Energy, to put in the solar power system. The installation took about 2 days.
Lots of pictures behind the cut.
( Pictures and Everything )
The whole process costs about $18,000+ for a 2.45 kW installation that will produce about 1,900 kWH per year. I expect to recover the cost from a 30% tax credit and the $.65 per kilowatt hour feed in tariff over 12 years.
Current Mood: productive
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08:26 am
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Special Wire
My photovoltaic solar panels are up. The wiring from the panels to the inverter needs to be a specialty DC wire. The wire shipment from California is somewhere between here and there.
Other than that all I am waiting on is the magic dust from building inspectors and Consumers Power.
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06:04 pm
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Solar Panels
Bang, bang, bang! Drill, screw, bolt! Clang, clack, rattle! Today, seven solar cell panels went on my garage roof. Tomorrow the remaining seven will go in place. Then will come an indefinite wait as Consumers Power (the local electric utility) gets its act together to hook me up to the grid.
Current Mood: productive
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06:58 pm
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Con Dogs Anyone?
And for a practical use of the hovering rocket. About a 2 minute video.
http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/2009_09_07/2009_09_07_Labor_Day_wiener_cam.wmv
I wonder if you can do something similar with a Zeusaphone.
Current Mood: amused
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08:17 pm
[Link] | I now have two and a half kilowatts worth of solar panels in my garage. The building permit is in hand. With luck, on Monday they will go on the roof.
Current Mood: hopeful
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05:36 pm
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2012 Movie
Just got back from the Wreck of the Crash of the Worldwide Neutrino Disaster, that is 2012. I went to the local cheap $4 show. It is definitley a "turn off your brain and enjoy the special effects" kind of movie.
Current Mood:  indifferent
Current Music: The Wreck of the Crash of the Easthill Mining Disaster
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08:37 am
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Gargoyle Reunion
One late October weekend I went to a University of Michigan Gargoyle Magazine reunion.
( For further adventures and pictures )
Current Mood: amused
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05:45 pm
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Kazoo section May-26-2008
I took a picture or two at MARCON in May 2008. This is Peter and Becca at the dead dog playing Kazoos. I believe they were playing that classic tune, Swan Lake. The little foggy spot to the right side is my finger print on the lens.
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09:08 am
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Suriviving World War Z
The City businesses held their annual "Trail for Treaters" Friday afternoon. It was rainy and reports are that the turnout was light.
The weather cleared nicely for the real Halloween yesterday and the Zombies, et al. were out in force. My sister, who lives next door in David's old house estimated about 500. I can't dispute that. I bought vast quantities of candy, and while I had some small stuff left at the end of the night, I can't say I over purchased. Lots of Zombies, fairies, skeletons, grim reapers -all of the usual suspects. There were a lot of psychedelically dressed Hippies! Wee! And one boy with a giant horse shoe magnet around his neck with a Barbie Doll at each pole. He was a "Chick Magnet"!
I also gave out a half dozen Gerber Biter Biscuits to the wee ones.
And a good time was had by all.
Current Mood: amused
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08:34 am
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Maple seed monocopter
A remote control "Maple Seed" helicopter video. It is about 7 minutes long.
Current Mood: amused
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