-
Progress
Bike & Build is going well. Currently at $3499 of $4000 in donations, not too much more and I'll be there. I got my bike last week - it's pretty nice. I'll post pictures when I get it fully modified. I'm starting to look like the crazy bikers you see who resemble Lance Armstrong. Might have pictures of that. -
Biking
So, I'm in with Bike & Build. Providence to San Francisco, all of June and July, just shy of 4000 miles. A few stops to help build affordable housing on the way. Should be a lot of fun, and with four months to prepare, I should be able to get into shape to do it ( Read more... ) -
Craziness
So I'm thinking of being crazy this year, and doing this: http://www.bikeandbuild.org/index.html2-month bike ride across the country, starting early June. Stops to help build affordable housing. Not sure which route I'd go for yet, Portsmouth, NH to Vancouver, or Providence to either Seattle or San Francisco. Probably the far north route. Four ( Read more... ) -
Toys
Got some nice Christmas goodies. A few books - Tolstoy, Turgenev, programming manual, fantasy. Some chocolates. And tools ( Read more... ) -
Pretty sparks and magic smoke
So I was trying to fix a fluorescent light fixture. The old bulb was pretty clearly dead, but a new one didn't work. I couldn't get any voltage across any of the contacts, so the bulb wasn't getting any power. The next question is where is the circuit broken? Voltage is good at the wall switch, that isn't the problem. I pull the fixture out of the ( Read more... ) -
mechanics
Ok, I've been playing with cars way too much recently. Re-gapped spark plugs, replaced leaking valve cover gasket, replaced spark plug cables. I want to check the brake pad/disc/drum condition, but the fix is too much for me - the pedal's too soft and pulsates, and it feels like one of the brakes is grabbing oddly. Might change the oil if it ever ( Read more... ) -
Doomed! Doomed!
Over the weekend, I was at a housewarming party for one of my mother's coworkers, who is moving into a new apartment. Quite a nice evening, a small apartment filled with Russian Jews. Interestingly, two of the women there were new brides - married less than a year. As it happens, the hostess had a hand in both of those marriages ( Read more... ) -
on patriotism
In early September, 1814, Francis Key was aboard a British ship in Chesapeake Bay, having successfully negotiated the release of Dr. William Beanes. Having heard much of the plans for the attack on Fort McHenry, they were forced to remain onboard until after the Battle of Baltimore. The next day, he began writing a poem based on his experience, ( Read more... ) -
Changes
A few new things from the last month or so.
A guavmomfriend's throwingstardnason just got married. Yay for them ( Read more... )