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Last Tuesday's Adventures
So, I donated a pint of blood last Tuesday. Afterwards I dropped in Kazoo Books, my local independent book store. Their copies of Jim Hines latest book had arrived. It looks good. They couldn't sell me a copy until next Tuesday's publication date, because that would be wrong. A copy has been set aside for me. -
National Association of Rocketry Annual Meet
NARAM as it is usually known as. I am going to be Contest Director (CD) next year. I have finished talking to the National Contest Chair and we have worked out a final list of ten contest events. It will run from July 29 to August 5 next year 2017. The hotel is in Grand Rapids, Michigan with the flying field just east of Muskegon, Michigan. ( Read more... ) -
International model rocket stuff
The International model rocket contest (Internats) live coverage is starting now. Just in case you haven't had enough Olympics.
http://worldrocket2016.frms.ua/en/online.html -
Rocket Recap
Well, my plastic model of a lunar lander survived its flight. In fact it had a most excellent flight and I moved up to second place. So my overall results at NARAM were two second places, in plastic model conversion and 1/2A-superroc altitude, and a first place in C-parachute duration multi-round. Combined they gave me a 3rd place overall in C ( Read more... ) -
NARAM rocket contest
Yesterday I placed second in 1/2A superroc altitude. Today I took first place in C parachute duration multiround. 1/2A superroc is a skinny little 1 meter tall rocket that I managed to get 103 meters into the sky. In C parachute duration multiround I managed to get 36 inch diameter parachutes into 3/4 inch diameter tubes. I had two flights of ( Read more... ) -
National Rocket Contest
I've made it safely to the 100 degree heat of Springfield, MO for NARAM. I've learned that I won't be giving a talk for my R&D project. Oh well, at least I get valuable flight points. Tomorrow I have to rebuild a model for E-Scale Altitude. Any good hobby is spiced with a certain amount of masochism. -
Coffee Barista Herpatologist
I was at the local coffee shop last week and the discussion turned to scary things. The barista admitted to being bothered by spiders with too many legs, but that snakes and lizards didn't bother her. It seems she has several pet lizards at home ( Read more... ) -
Local glass working shop in Kalamazoo
We have been fortunate to have the West Michigan Glass Arts Center in my area. The center has fallen on hard times and is asking for help. I personally have donated a substantial sum to the cause. Here is the kickstarter ( Read more... ) -
My Brother Dan
My brother Dan is dying of inoperable liver cancer. Neither alcohol or smoking were the causes. ( nonsmoker, extremely light drinker ( Read more... ) -
No more Lightfoot Cycles
Lightfoot Cycles, the company I bought my giant tall fat guy tricycle from, went out of business today. (see userpic) I was checking out their web page last night and learned the sad news. I still have my trike, but that means I won't be able to replace it when the time comes. I'm convince it is the reason I am alive today, since riding it is ( Read more... )