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Planet Dave! Sunday, February 17, 2008
More links!
Cool ancient astronomical calculator - more than 2000 years old! Furoshiki! Tetris shelving - Ok, I need some of that. Somewhere to put the baby while you're using a public bathroom. Convenience or child abuse? (Or convenient child abuse?)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy VD!
I got an email yesterday from Ann Arbor Civic Theater. The production of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" had to be canceled due to staffing problems. The email that went out (the day before Valentine's) bore the subject "I Love You canceled".
I was amused. Wednesday, February 13, 2008
In repose
Today's Maddox pic is from Septmber 7th. (I know, I know, I've got some catching up to do.)
I believe that's grandma's arm on which he's slumbering.Look what I found!
Wall mounted fireplace. WTF? Cool photos from the Toronto CN Tower. Make a better folded map! - Ooo. I need to start carrying around Maddox pix folded like that.
PlanetDave How To: Dangerous Laser Pointer
Make a high powered laser pointer out of a DVD burner! Man, I'd be afraid to have that thing in the house. Not sure I'd trust any of MY friends with it. And it's not just trusting them to not point it at anyone's face. It's trusting them to not point it out a window, or at ANYTHING reflective.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Grandpa Bob
Today's Moddox pic is with proud Grandpa Bob. (Andy's and my dad.)
He's two days old in this shot.
Random Stuff from the Web!
I need to upgrade my computer.
Homemade steampunk goggles
Vintage Flying Machines
Instant Hammock! All you need is a sheet and some rope! Well, and somewhere to hang it.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
More Nephew Pix!
Today's nephew pic is of Me (Uncle Dave) holding Maddox, and Grandma Maria. (My mom.)
The blue thing is because he just spit up. Man, I was there the whole weekend and I didn't get spitup on my shirt ONCE! I feel kinda gyp'd. Well, we're going again next weekend, he'll have another shot at me then.
I need this stuff.
Morgan and Jurgo have decided I need some of this:
Hrm. X is never initialized. And no distinction is made between an assignment '=' and a comparison. Ok, this isn't for me. I don't want sloppy code in my hair.
More random stuff.
Who wants to be a Cognitive Neuroscientist Millionare? - Read how this guy hacked his brain to win $1M.
If you mug a magician and he shows you that he's got nothing in his pockets, don't believe him!
A comic book guide to picking locks
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Family Photo
Today's nephew pic is of Maddox, Mom and Dad (Magen and Andy), and the paternal grandparents, Bob and Maria.
Have I mentioned that I think Maddox is insanely cute?
Whip Repair
I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark at a tender young age. My first whip followed soon after. The first few were less than $5 each, from the Blossom Parade. (I think Mom still has one of those.) When I was about 15 or so, we went on a family vacation out west. One of our stops was the Wall Drug Store. These days, it's a mall-like tourist trap. (Not that I wouldn't go back...) Inside, one of the stores was a leather shop. I remember they had a nice shot-loaded kangaroo hide whip that was several hundred dollars outside of my price range. They also had a really cool twelve foot swivel handle western style whip. I think it was about $70. It broke the bank, but it was mine. At the time, I remember thinking that I'd be lucky to get five years out of a cheap whip from a tourist trap. That was about 18 years ago.
Last summer I noticed the transition between the rigid handle and the flexible tail was getting loose. I figured I should try to repair it. But this was my first serious whip. Most of what I know about whip-cracking, I learned with this whip. The thought of unbraiding it scared me. I've made almost a dozen whips, but do I really know enough to work on THIS one?
Well, I can't ignore it any more. The transition is really loose, and it's only going to get worse. I had nothing going on today, so I took it out to the deck and started unbraiding it. Felt weird. Like I was operating on an old friend, not sure if I really know what I'm doing. It occurred to me then that it was silly to get emotionally attached to a whip. It's like a sword or a book. It's a consumable. There are only so many times you can read a book before it falls apart. There's only so much you can do with a sword before it breaks. Yes, you can put it on a shelf, dust it reverently every day, and never use it. It'll last forever. But what's the point of that?
About half-way through the whip, I solved a mystery. For a strand to run the whole length of a 12 foot whip, it needs to be at least 18 feet long. If not longer. Where do you get the leather for that? I don't know about you, but I've never seen an 18 foot long cow. Cutting a spiral out of a side of leather kinda works, but it takes some work to get the leather strip to lay flat. Turns out this whip is a four strand whip spliced to the end of an eight strand whip. Huh. That's kinda clever.
Shortly after discovering this, I went back to thinking about placing sentimental value on something you use up. And I remembered Mom reading The Velveteen Rabbit to my brother and me. I don't remember the details, but the gist is that the toys that survive their owner's childhood aren't valuable. It's the teddy bear that's missing both eyes and its nose, that's been re-stuffed a dozen times with old shirts and socks. I suppose if you really think about it, humans are pretty transient. Makes sense that we can love transient things.
Well, the rope core is completely severed at the handle, and the leather bolster holding it on the handle is torn about half-through. Hrm. I think I can remove the damaged sections and re-attach the core and bolster. I'm going to try to do that without disturbing the transition knot. I was never any good at those, and I don't want to practice on this whip. I might just get another decade or two out of this whip.
The Inner Life of the Cell
Clips of this video made the rounds a while back. (It won a SIGGRAPH award.) And Morgan found this link to the whole thing with narration. It's a REALLY cool video, describing the inner workings of the cell. (Morgan's favorite part is the moving mitochondria. My one gripe with it is that it doesn't show the billions of molecular collisions that don't do anything. Only the few that bind and interact. The result is an implication of intent on the part of the molecules. Meh. It's still really cool.
Look! The Internet!
The Wimshurst Electrostatic Machine - Something to add to my list of things to make. I'd swear they build these into shopping cart wheels. The one I had yesterday must've zapped me a half dozen times.
Rubber Band in Super Slo-mo
DIY Stirling Engine - These things are cool.
So... I guess I'm not getting a Comcast DVR.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Maddox and Dad
Today's nephew pic is of Maddox and the proud father, my brother Andy.
Maddox is three days old in that photo. He's SO CUTE!!!
RPG Motivational Posters
I got this from Ron. He said his favorites were Bluff and Buff Up. I'm a fan of Aggro Control and Ganked.
Have you seen...?
Pix from Burning Man 2006
Understand the physics of this pole dance gone wrong
MacGyver Tip: Iron shirt collars with a hair straightener. ... Not exactly bachelor advice, is it?
DIY secret bookshelf door
DIY bottomless pit
Martin Logan Descent i Subwoofer - Actually goes to 11!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Nice Hat
Today's nephew pic is one to pull out the first time he brings home a date.
Less than a day old. (Possibly less than an hour old.) And letting his thoughts on the world be known!
Things from here and there
Histomap of the world - Every classroom needs one of these.
Animated knots!
Schwinn Electric Bikes - I don't see much use for a motorized bicycle. (Exercise is good.) But man are these cool!
Rube Goldburg Tea Machine - I really liked the two panes of glass.
Sewing LEDs into fabric
Hardcore chef knife - I really wish I had a use for one of these.
Learn to juggle! - I thought the commentary was pretty entertaining, too.
Completely silent, non-electric humidifier - Oh, the wonders of modern technology!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Nephew Pictures!
Yeah, I haven't been updating lately. (Insert excuses here) I blame a combination of inconsistent Internet access and spending too much time on Real Life. Now, for the first time on PlanetDave.net, my nephew!
I know I'm required to say he's cute, but he IS! He really is!
Random stuff from the Inter-Tubes
Insanely cute baby seal. Just chillin.
Home Inspection Nightmares
A visit to the Black Hole of Los Alamos
Film Noir Portraiture
Getting Out: Your Guide to Leaving America
Well, if you've been watching the signs, and following the news, and considering your options, then this book might be for you!
Monday, July 30, 2007
I'm an uncle!
Not more than an hour ago, Maddox Gray Melcher was born. My brother Andy says that his lovely wife Magen is doing very well. (And he sounded so calm! I'm flipping out!) He weighed in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and he's about three weeks early. Ok, my head is still spinning a bit, but I'll put more info up as I get it. (Well, as I'm able. I spent about half an hour fighting with my internet connection before hijacking Morgan's. Fuckin' Comcast. (Ok, I happen to know for a fact that it's the wiring in my house, but I'm going to blame Comcast anyway.))
Wednesday, June 13, 2007