Busting blue skies, kids in shorts, more runners than dogs.
#LateDecember #SouthEnd
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Open Source Wrench
Did you read that NASA emailed the space station a wrench? Of course not an actual wrench, but the instructions for a 3D printer to make a wrench. More marketing than actual utility, but still it was an interesting proof of concept. When the hardware store is not around the corner, a 3D printer is a nice option.
Here is Commander Barry Wilmore with the resulting wrench.
Well the good guys at NASA uploaded the instructions for the wrench for the world to have on their website. I downloaded and printed the same wrench. It took about an hour to print, and is more like a Fisher Price object than a NASA object. Here is my printer printing a clone of the wrench.
Before leaving the bay, I measured the drain holes of my sailboat with a micrometer, then when back in Boston printed a couple of drains, and recently Francois installed them for me. Thanks Francois!
Since it seems to fit, I have uploaded the instructions to a web site where other owners of my same sailboat can download the same drain.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Seeing the Invisible
As humans we only see a small sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum. I am not sure of the evolutionary advantage of this, perhaps too much information would confuse us.Below is a chart showing the known spectrum and what we see.
Just past the visible light region is the Infrared spectrum. Most of the thermal energy radiated by objects near room temperature is in the infrared spectrum.
Fortunately we can detect infrared and map the heat to colors so that it appears we can see infrared. Economics has brought the price of these cameras down to close to dirt cheap, and now can be found as attachments for you smart phone.
I am a sucker for solutions looking for problems, so I snatched an early release model from Seek Thermal
There of course is an associated app with the camera that does all sorts of interesting stuff.
Here is a picture of an intersection by the big Church down the street. Ok the resolution is not that great, but you can clearly see the outline of a Van and the camera has detected the hottest spot at 194 degrees near the engine. The coolest spot in the image is the street at 48 degrees. Orange is hotter than blue. So you can also see the heat escaping from the windows the church.
Here is the outside of our building with the screen split, left half normal, right half thermal. Again the warmest spot is the windows in the basement.
Here are the thermal footprints on the floor left after walking in my sock feet. Thank goodness Cindy cannot see in the infrared, my visible smudges are bad enough.
So where are we going with all these solutions to non existent problems, not a clue, but it does stir the imagination of the possible.
Thanks for Wikipedia for the first image and some of the wording on the spectrum.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tis the Season
The boys are setting up shop to sell Christmas trees around the corner. Should be all ready just after thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Weather on phone by
The weather channel. Calculations of high temps is like nails on a chalkboard.
Must be that new math.
Must be that new math.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
George Yeoman Pocock
Quote from the book Boys in the Boat
“Harmony, balance, and rhythm. They’re the three things that stay with you your whole life. Without them civilization is out of whack. And that’s why an oarsman, when he goes out in life, he can fight it, he can handle life. That’s what he gets from rowing. —George Yeoman Pocock”
I wish I could explain why this book has become my all time favorite, a bit of history, a bit of sport psychology, and a touch of woodworking.
Picture from Boston University Rowing Tanks Room.
“Harmony, balance, and rhythm. They’re the three things that stay with you your whole life. Without them civilization is out of whack. And that’s why an oarsman, when he goes out in life, he can fight it, he can handle life. That’s what he gets from rowing. —George Yeoman Pocock”
I wish I could explain why this book has become my all time favorite, a bit of history, a bit of sport psychology, and a touch of woodworking.
Picture from Boston University Rowing Tanks Room.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Wegmans
Wegmans just opened up a store right around the corner from where I work and directly on my way home. Thanks Danny!
Perhaps just a tad smaller than Pittsford, but with a few new ammenities
- Covered Parking (yes it does rain and snow here)
- Integrated Wine/Beer/Liquor store (Interesting to see wine paired with food around the store)
- A Sports apparel store (pick up all your Boston Team Jerseys)
- A Special escalator to take your cart to the second floor (not sure what is up there)
- An outdoor seating area with outdoor fireplace
- A Round About instead of the stupid 4 way stops entering the compound.
Oh yes, they are already selling Christmas Trees.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Good Morning Boston!
Just after sun rise in the Boston Public Garden. Good views of the financial district, the Taj Roof Deck, and the Capitol building. Once again, this is too close to an airport, so the drone limits the altitude to 100 meters.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Determination Conquers Dispair
I don't recall a more entertaining read. A confluence of sports, psychology, and history. Nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
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