http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/index/ en wolf1@laughingwolf.net Copyright 2008 2008-05-16T10:10:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/you_know_you_are_tired_when/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/you_know_you_are_tired_when/#When:10:10:00Z You go to the hardware store to make a small purchase, and your card is declined.  You look at the card you just swiped, and realize that it is your work ID rather than the debit card.  At least the cashier and I got a laugh out of it… LW General 2008-05-16T10:10:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/georgia_update/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/georgia_update/#When:00:16:00Z Talked with some of my family down in Georgia Wednesday afternoon.  They had gotten power back not too long before, and were cleaning up.  I didn’t have the heart to ask about the refrigerator and freezer after they were without power for about four days.  Please keep all those affected by the recent storms in your thoughts. LW Weather 2008-05-15T00:16:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/riding_alone_is_not_nearly_as_fun/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/riding_alone_is_not_nearly_as_fun/#When:14:13:00Z The weather around here has been what I will term sucky:  way too much rain, and it always seems to be windy/rainy right when I get off work.  Yesterday looked to be good, but by the time I got home and out on the bike, the wind was very strong and the sky going grey.  I went anyway.  Only did 3-4 miles (odometer says closer to four, but I think three is fair), but I can say that the new seat is a huge improvement.  Am continuing to tweak seat height, and the other things done at the store have helped.  The only thing no adjustment could help was the wind.  I watched the sky get darker and the wind pick up, and that was one reason I turned around when I did.  Good thing, as the wind was coming at me on the way back and it was almost enough to move me backwards on its own.  The return trip was not fun fighting against it.  It was fun, and nice, when a grain carrier ran interference for me on a busy highway I had to cross—easy to do when it was blocking for me.  The largest drawback I found?  Riding alone is not nearly as fun as riding with a group—or at least the group I rode with for Face of America.  LW Biking/Exercise 2008-05-14T14:13:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/the_news_from_canon/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/the_news_from_canon/#When:12:05:00Z Got the news via e-mail.  They don’t think any parts need replacing (but can’t guarantee) but it does need a bit better than $400.00 worth of work done to it.  Don’t see much of a choice, to be honest, so will get it done. Meantime, here is my current ultimate drool videocamera, but I what I will now settle for this sweet thing.  Both are approved by major cable networks for full footage, not just B-roll, which means that whatever I shoot wherever I shoot it is good to go for a lot more than youtube.  LW Communications 2008-05-13T12:05:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/into_the_light_ron_parise/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/into_the_light_ron_parise/#When:13:37:00Z Many years ago when I did work (sub-contractor) for NASA, one of my first assignments was the ASTRO-1 mission.  This payload carried three major telescopes—HUT, UIT, and WUPPE—to do then new and novel ultra-violet astronomy.  I have heard that first mission declared a total failure because everything didn’t work right, and I say bull.  I have heard it called a complete success, and again I would say bull.  I would call it a success, and an important one, because it did meet many of it’s scientific milestones despite a number of Spacelab and orbiter system problems.  In a short version, the systems that should have powered, pointed, and gotten things rolling didn’t work.  The system was, however, robust enough that work-arounds could be found for most things.  The workarounds, however, depended on the fact that three astronomers were onboard who could work with the ground to not merely point, but zero in extremely precisely to gather data.  Slower than planned, but getting faster and better with practice, the crew was well on the way to completing all mission parameters when a recalcitrant toilet (actually, a frozen waste-water port that developed a sewage-cicle that blocked dumping the toilet and waste water tanks) ended the mission early.  One of those people who made things work was an astronomer and guest astronaut named Ron Parise.  Ron and the others worked with the ground to aim, adjust for great precision, and then tweak more for the best possible data.  The data they got was phenomenal, if limited.  I will always wonder what they might have accomplished on that mission if not for the sewage-cicle. This morning, I learned that Ron has entered the light after a struggle against cancer.  He accomplished much more than just flying in space, and where he flies now I hope he has the answers he sought and much more besides.  May the light shine down on those he leaves behind.  LW News, Obituaries 2008-05-12T13:37:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/the_storms_strike_hom/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/the_storms_strike_hom/#When:10:20:01Z With all the coverage yesterday of the storms out in Oklahoma and the midwest, I didn’t realize until late yesterday that the system had also hit Georgia pretty hard.  The good news is that it appears all my family is safe.  The not-so-good news is that as of last night a number of them were part of the 87,000 reported without power in Georgia.  They are getting by, but good thoughts for them and everyone affected by the storms would be appreciated. LW Weather 2008-05-12T10:20:01-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/patti_wins/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/patti_wins/#When:09:18:00Z I live blogged it at Blackfive, but the good news is that Patti—and Soldier’s Angels—won the America’s Favorite Mom contest.  Congratulations Patti!  LW Doing Good 2008-05-12T09:18:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/well_that_bites/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/well_that_bites/#When:22:50:00Z I met up with a videographer I know, and we tested the tape from the Face of America Ride. Using his equipment, we discovered that the tape is even more corrupted than originally appeared.  Bleep. On the upside, he shared some information with me that has changed some camera plans.  It seems that Sony is coming out with a new high-end video camera, but it’s non-interchangeable-lens cousin is approved by major cable networks for full use: in other words, not just b-roll footage.  It is also more expensive than what I had been looking at, but… So, I think I have a new video camera to shoot for… More soon. LW General 2008-05-11T22:50:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/restful_weekend/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/restful_weekend/#When:10:59:00Z Not so far.  Yesterday saw me out breaking new ground to expand the garden, plowing same, and planting.  For those curious:  heirloom tomato plants; english peas; brussel sprouts; leeks; turnips; green, red, yellow, and chocolate bell peppers; yellow crook neck squash; zuchinni; habanero peppers; jalapeno peppers; purple carrots; healthmaster carrots; and radishes.  I also started moving the herbs up to the rock and flower garden by the back deck.  The half that wasn’t being used is being converted to an herb bed (removing large rocks and replacing with garden soil), and I plan to move the remaining flowers out this fall and make it just an herb bed then.  Herbs to date are chives, cilantro, curly parsley, flat parsley, purple basil, thai basil, dill, and thyme.  Need more brussel sprouts and leeks, also plan to add marjoram and some other herbs once I get that area expanded a bit more.  Still need to plant thai pepper seeds too… Where I want to plant the next two fruit trees is now prepared and marked as well.  I also got the flag pole flower bed planted and flowers in the two big pots out front as well Friday evening—the pots need more plants though.  I had also planned to mow both yards (more like hayfields since I missed a week), but only got the house yard.  I hope the garden does as well as the lawn, as I swear you can just about see the grass and weeds growing… I picked up a LOT more sun than planned or realized, and forgot to wear a hat a good chunk of the day, so the scalp may be a bit pink along with arms and neck.  Yep, I am a red neck right now, fo sho.  I think I hurt worse last night than I did during the bike ride last weekend, it did not make for a good night’s sleep.  Speaking of riding, I also took my riding bike (the other is the errand bike at work) to the other bike store (not the one where I bought it), and tried a new seat, bought same.  Smaller is indeed better.  The person helping me had me ride it outside and do some riding inside the store, with the net result that some other adjustments were made as well.  All-in-all, a much better ride.  Now to get some road work in with it to truly test things out (can change the seat out in the next 30 or so days if needed/desired), not going to happen with the rain today it appears. Jenny is not happy right now.  We had a thunderstorm roll through, and she actually got up partly in my lap.  Thunder, gun shots, fireworks—those just do not make her happy.  She wouldn’t actually sit in my lap, but sort of next to and over me, leaning into me for all she was worth and trembling to beat the band.  I managed to get two melatonin tabs in her before it got too bad, and she finally decided to get out of my lap and just be at my feet.  Semi-attached to them, mind you, but… More soon, and I promise to get caught up on e-mail here shortly.  LW General 2008-05-11T10:59:00-07:00 http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/face_of_america_the_longer_version/ http://laughingwolf.net/index.php/site/face_of_america_the_longer_version/#When:16:20:01Z Is now up at Blackfive.  Go read, enjoy, and get ready to help us for next year. LW Doing Good 2008-05-08T16:20:01-07:00