About a month and a half ago, I posted my Schlitz beer that I brewed; which still tastes terrible. I guess there are some things that don’t get better over time. I finally opened up one of my smoked porters that I brewed and it is gooooood! Everyone will have to come and visit, I have 5 gallons…okay, it is two soldiers down from 5…but I am willing to share.
A good brew
August 6th, 2009Water on the moon?
July 29th, 2009
I was watching NOVA on PBS the other day and saw the show about finding water on the moon. Basically, back in 1999, we sent a satellite to the moon mapping the properties of the surface. Well, the satellite looks up to 3′ underground and found the neutron emissions of what appears to be hydrogen rich deposits consistent with water. Now NASA wants to explore this further to see if there is actually water on the moon.
LCROSS was launched on Jun 18, 2009 to validate the theory of water on the moon. The satellite made its first pass around the moon and then back to the earth to slingshot itself back to the moon. The unique thing is the satellite kept the last stage of the Atlas V rocket to launch at the moon. On the final leg, the satellite will seperate from the rocket stage letting it race into the moon followed shortly after by the satellite. The rocket stage will cause an impact like a meteor sending tons of particulate into the air for the satellite to analyze using the suns refraction. The satellite with then impact the moon. LCROSS stands for Lunar Crater Observing and Sensing Satellite.
There are a couple of NASA websites you can check on if you just do a search for LROSS. I guess we (the US, China, USSR etc) have sent quite a few items to impact the moon, 39 to be exact. Anyway, the impact is scheduled for Friday Oct, 9, 2009 0430 PDT. I don’t remember the number exactly, but th ejecta is supposed to be about 40 miles high. We should be able to see the impact on the “South Pole” of the moon with a standard telescope.
Travis–you may want to have your telescope out for this one. Can you record it?
Long time no post
July 29th, 2009Well, it has been a long time since I have posted anything. I don’t really have any excuses other than I have been enjoying the summer. The summer has been quit warm, 120 deg is hot even if it is a “dry heat”. Although I have been really busy this entire summer, my only regret is I did not take enough time off from work. Alysia is already heading back to work teaching already. Work has sent me around the nation recently, so it is pretty nice getting to catch up with some others that I have not seen in quite some time.
On the other note, how about the Tour? Not sure what to think about Alberto Contador. I think that he really could have helped team Astana members get a little better standing on the whole. Although Schleck was a good rider and did have a significant time difference over Kloden and Armstrong it could have been a lot less. I think Leipheimer falling out of the race definitely hurt as well. During my Europe travels, I never was able to see the Tour. Among a lot of places I never was able to see…can’t complain too much.
With that, I am out.
Memorial Day Weekend
May 25th, 2009
So this was my memorial day weekend fun. We have completely transformed this house with paint and other simple things such as putting up this chair rail. I guess it isn’t so bad, I did get an air compressor out of the deal.
Although Alysia and I have done quite a bit of work on the house, the downfall is that we probably won’t get our money back from the improvements; alhtough they may help to sell the house faster. We’ll see what life throws at us for moving etc.
When I get a good picture of our front and back yards, I will post them. Those took a couple of weekends, but we are pretty happy with them.
Last weekend I went to Lake Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe was interesting, casinos up to the Nevada border, then it was California. I was suprised, the lake is about 1600′ deep and fairly blue. I took many pictures, but here is one that I thought explained it all. The ski season just ended and the summer season is just beginning. I guess we missed both, but not everybody. By the way, the lake is still freezing!
The Death of Common Sense
May 21st, 2009I guess it has been a while since I last posted. Life is taking over and not giving me any free time. I recieved this from a friend and thought it was too true:
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn’t always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I’m A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
That will buff out…
May 1st, 2009
I saw read about this on the AOPA e-newsletter; talk about luck! I know I have scared myself flying, but this guy probably had a really good scare. This is not a good place to be, no landing area left and not enough speed to takeoff again. I am sure this guy learned something from this, there will probably be many times he will think about “testing” the snow prior to landing.
I thought this was pretty cool since my dad has a Cub that has the capability to put skis on. I ahve always been fascinated with the ski flying although I have never done it. Anyway, Here is the link of the story, a young guy, 21, in Alaska. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/aviation/story/776605.html
Bitter Beer
April 27th, 2009
Mmmm...tasty!
Another unsuccessful endeavor in my life. I tried brewing my own beer a while back which was pretty fun and exciting waiting for the first batch. Well, I waited the minimum time and tasted some of the most awful beer ever. So me thinking that it just needed time, I have waited a considerable amount of time. Now I tried it and the beer is quite respectable…I just need to find someone that drinks Schlitz or the like. Better luck next time. I think I will need to buy the ingredients for a stout beer.
On the other hand, can I say that I love craigslist.org. That website is great for buying/selling or trading whatever you need. I took some old tires off my 4runner and was able to make a couple bucks off them. Oh yeah, and I bought my 4runner off there for a great price! That is just my sidebar; if you are near a big city, you can find whatever you might need on there. Except for a free airplane!
Happy Earth Day
April 22nd, 2009
Earth Day
Today is Earth Day. It is pretty amazing that someone was able to figure out what day God created the earth to determine 22 Apr is the “birthday”. Okay, so maybe they didn’t. I hate the fact that we need to create a day to remind people about the earth and it is time to hug a tree. I read in the newspaper a Gallup poll (how accurate are polls anyway?) showed with the economy in the gutter, the economy has trumped the environment for concerns. Yeah, the economy is the flavor of the day and that is what I worry about as well. On the other hand, if one makes small changes in your life to help save the earth, one is not really thinking about what they are doing in saving the earth. At least we will be thinking about the earth for one day
I am not a “tree hugger”, but I would consider myself an environmentalist. I do my part recycling, trying to bike to work, using the more gas efficient car running errands, and bringing my own bags to the store when I purchase stuff as just a short list. Every little thing helps; although some people can go quite overboard costing them more money and pain. If I had the opportunity and more so the money, I would completely build my house “green”. There are a lot of small things I have done, but on the grand scheme, there is a lot more. You know, I think people just need to think of the earth like their diets. Make a conscious effort to choose the diet drink over the full calorie drink…okay, but don’t fail at the diet like most people.
There are a lot of great ideas out there, we just need to make them more cost efficient. At Oshkosh last year, Sonex aircraft had an electric airplane. Similar to an electric car, you still need to plug it in…and get energy from the coal burning power plant. I would like to see the statistics on the pollution saved (unless you use solar power). Gas prices went up, now companies are bragging about fuel efficient/hybrid cars. Why have we not done that earlier? I have a 4 cyl non-hybrid German built car that gets about 35mpg…and the US companies brag about 25mpg? No wonder they are struggling.
This cartoon isn’t fair to those of us making earth friendly decisions when possible, but it is pretty funny.
Tailwheel endorsement
April 21st, 2009
Not a Super Cub...just as fun to fly!
Nothing new recently to post about. The thing that has been on my mind recently is flying. I love flying, but sometimes when you fly the big/fast jets you forget where you come from and the pure simplicity of why you began flying.
Last December I got my tailwheel endorsement. First off, the Super Cub that I flew was very basic. This was such a pleasure to fly since I got back to the “simple” stick and rudder flying. This airplane was awesome, only an altimeter, tachometer, airspeed indicator, oil pressure gauge, radio, and whiskey compass. Without all the gucci flying stuff, one actually has to look outside and enjoy the flight.
The Super Cub is an amazing plane when in comes to performance. I was able to takeoff/land the plane in about 500′. The tailwheel reminds me how much you actually need rudder pedals in a piston airplane. I learned how to do a canyon turn, cross the underrun at 1000′ AGL and still land the airplane w/in 1000′, cross the threshold at 100mph and again land the airplane w/in 100′, softfield landings, and shortfield ops landing at 45mph and stopping almost where I touch down at.
The only problem with flying is that it is a doctor and lawyer sport almost. The cost of owning/renting an airplane is pretty tough to justify. I would love to get more into aerobatics, seplane rating, glider rating, and own my own plane for taking trips…does anyone have a money tree?
Well, I’ll keep dreaming…
Rhabdomyolysis
April 20th, 2009
Rhabdomyolysis
A week ago on Thursday, I went to the hospital after my arms were still extremely sore after an intense workout, they started swelling around the elbows, and my urine turned a brownish color. I expected to just get a referral to a physical therapist thinking I sprained my biceps, however, the doctors said they suspected I had rhabdomyolysis, immediately hooked up an IV, and admitted me to the hospital.
Well, initially, I thought I was going to be there for one to two days. Little did I know that I was going to be there for a week. Here is the quick synopsis of what “rhabdo” is; I experienced physical exertion rhabdomyolysis. Basically during my workout, I took my body to failure so many times that my muscles were breaking down faster than my kidneys could filter the by-products out. The brown urine was the myoglobin (dead muscle tissue), my creatine-kinase (CK) levels peaked at 85,000 (around 200 is normal), and my arms tripled their size when they started swelling. I didn’t really know what this rhabdo thing was until I started reading and realized the gravity of the situation. Basically I could have gone into acute renal failure (kidneys quit) or possibly even death if left untreated. Luckily, I went in early enough and the doctors hooked me up to an IV at a pretty high rate for a straight week to fix me.
Well, I am still not back to work yet, but at least I am at home. My levels are almost back to normal, but the rest of my body chemistry is still a little out of whack. I think the most frustrating part is that I feel good, I don’t have that sick feeling like you do with a common cold/flu. My arms are still a little sore, the swelling is almost totally gone and I need to keep taking it easy.
The crazy thing about rhabdo is that physical fitness nor genetics have anything to do with it. Granted, supplements (which I do not use), and certain medications can induce rhabdo easier, everyone is susceptible to it. Typically, rhabdo is seen in crushing injuries where the muscle is destroyed. After all my years of sports and other random “special interest” programs I would have heard about it. Oh well, guess I just need to pass the lessons learned by word of mouth.