Month: December 2017
Mars Spirit Rover
Closing out 2017, you’d think we have a long-planned article filled with deep thinking and cute anecdotes. Ha! Barely able to keep up with dry winter skin and filling the constantly empty cat food bowl – where does he put it? – this week’s installment has taken Second Stage.
Following Andy Weir with a NASA Mars feature seemed appropriate. Wow, that image from the Mars Spirit Rover (2004) reminds me of Northern Arizona. How’d you like to drop your orbital vehicle keys out there? Always something keeping us up from what is planned ≈
Holiday cheer has slowed digestion, winter winds, 0˚F this very morning, have stunted typing, and general life activities have crowded thinking. A reoccurring theme, it is the little things which keep us from reaching our potential. A drawerful of items rattling about, a bucket of issues getting knocked over. Likewise, the little things put us over our potential. Matched socks. A tidy refrigerator. The sidewalk clear from snow.
As amazing as NASA landing a 180 kilogram (400 pound) ATV on the next planet over sounds, they dropped a bigger ride, five times heavier, less than a decade later. ATB Prediction: permanent inhabited Mars colony in 80 years.
Here’s to you, the special few,
We lift our mug of jasmine.
With steaming milk and honey too,
A comfortable companion.
Naturally, we close out 2017 with some great music by Phish: “Back On The Train” (2000)
When I jumped off, I had a bucket full of thoughts
When I first jumped off, I held that bucket in my hand
Ideas that would take me all around the world
I stood and watched the smoke behind the mountain curl
It took me a long time to get back on the train
Now I’m gone and I’ll never look back again
I’m gone and I’ll never look back at all
You know I’ll never look back again
I turn my face into the howlin’ wind
It took me a long time to get back on the train
See my face in the town that’s flashing by
See me standing at the station in the rain
See me running there beside the car
I left it all behind, again I’ll travel far
It took me a long time to get back on the train
When I jumped off, I had a bucket full of thoughts
When I first jumped off, I held that bucket in my hand
Ideas that would take me all around the world
I stood and watched the smoke behind the mountains curl
It took me a long time to get back on the train
It took me a long time to get back on the train
It took me a long time to get back on the train
The Martian ◊ andy weir
‘Tis the season for thankfulness. Everything speeds up, though. We attend this, deliver than, check off our list, make the parties. But the true spirit of the “holidays”? Maybe it is to reflect . . .
Last week a book on CD came into my possession. I listen to these in my truck. After the first few paragraphs, I anticipated travel time in the GMC like a dog hearing his leash. The proverbial “old men” maneuvering their ancient Oldsmobiles at a trot pass me along the road as I carefully catch every traffic light. The “travel” in “travel time” was never so enjoyable.
Yes, the writer is amazing. Andy Weir hears this all the time so I need not repeat it. I wonder if he imagined himself Mark Watney ~ I’d bet Andy had to, but that will be another article. Yeah, the upcoming interview, after his people and my people get our schedules in sync. 🙂
At first I did not realize – sorry Matt – this was the book made into a movie. R. C. Bray NAILS narration so convincingly. He becomes each of the characters and owns it so totally, you’d think he wrote it. Our researchers memo’d me R.C.’s closest exposure to aeronautics is paper airplanes, so ghost writing rumors, begone!
Thinking I finally had something new to share with my nephew, I planned to introduce this fine novel to his young inquisitive mind. Yes, the kid is brilliant, but I figure the book is mature enough that he’d have to read it by flashlight under the covers. “Oh yeah, I read that a couple years ago. Great book. And we saw the movie too”. Soccer ball deflated! Where did this kid find the time to turn out so humble and pleasant?
Taking my nephew’s queue, I’ve secured the DVD. I’ll repeat his experience. I am not jealous of his youth or covet his upcoming opportunities, but do regret not noticing how quickly he has grown into a young man. More reflection is in order. After the movie. Pass the popcorn, please.
Great movie! Thanks Matt for your hard work!
The Winter Walk
Our coffers are as bare as our drafts folder. Not a farthing to be had for road trips, not a whiff of wit & wisdom nor waft of wistful words this week. Perusing past articles, we remark again upon this comment from a reader:
Sometimes, amid the beautiful scenery and steady cadence of the horse’s steps and wagon wheels, we forget how the search began and discover pleasures unanticipated.
A budget trip in search of mid-December adventure, a tale of Americana, is undertaken. We sample the afternoon stroll. Take the pulse of The City. Maybe some busking on the accordion. Conduct a Smiles Count. A lustrum back it was under 20%, so we have a baseline of sorts. Well, it is a bit overcast. Plus we’d have competition from the filming of Tuba Christmas. Bah!
Onward through Rittenhouse Square in deep contemplation. Winter brings greater enjoyment of Campbell’s Baked Beans. We consider an article on this fine example of American entrepreneurship. We could even do a tie-in with vegan, gluten-free … wait … the pork … oh, traces of wheat … wow, look at that sodium! But they sure are good, smothered in hot sauce!
Past the Square, a story continues to elude. We’re late for Alma’s Christmas party. Fresh-baked sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles. Mmmmmmm. Family and friends. Happiness and love and forgiveness and compassion. The “spirit of the holidays” has excellent characteristics which would work year around. But not all of them, or my waistline would be *burp* light-years round.
Korky Flapper
Winter weather brings winter water. Reservoir water sitting out, like the porch cat’s water bowl. Gets pert’ cold this time of year. Freezes over, even. What does that water do to plumbing system innards? Not a whole lot, if you’ve got good materials. One component you do not want failing? The flapper inside your toilet tank. The part that opens to let the toilet flush, and closes to let the tank refill.
In 1954 Korky invented the first toilet flapper. This technology is still used today. Their current reliability is so good, Korky warrants their premium product at 5 years. Ten years for their double super premium ‘Ultra’ product line.
Last week my toilet flapper failed to drop over the flush valve. It ‘stuck open’ and the tank tried to fill it self all night long. After morning coffee, I didn’t hesitate. Picking up a new radiator valve for Widow Baxter, I had Mike toss a couple of Korkys into the sack. Replacement was fast and easy. The old red Korky had an accumulation of minerals on it but the rubber was still pliable. Yes, I probably could have cleaned and reinstalled it, but a few bucks for another lustrum or longer of reliability? No brainer.
The Korky premium toilet tank flapper, made with chlorine resistant rubber. This basic component of modern life has done as much to promote health, convenience, and conservation as refrigerated food. Six Thumbs Up to Lavelle Industries of
Chlorazone® rubber is Lavelle’s proprietary family of elastomeric formulations that is specifically designed to withstand chemicals found naturally in water or added to it by municipal treatment facilities. Introduced in 1990, it was the first chlorine-resistant material made available for plumbing applications. Lavelle
SureFire Headlamps
Four years ago we eagerly put the spotlight on one of America’s finest headlamps, a SureFire variable output LED model. This same headlamp has delved into dank dripping sub-basements, explored maze-like warrens of cells within former workhouses, and camped along a raging Gardner River atop the Wyoming-Montana border. We’ve even inched upon glutes and blades in such cramped quarters, a pipe or two had to be removed.
The only thing my 2012 SureFire Minimus has NOT done is fail to work perfectly. A few blinks tells me the SureFire CR123 battery is ending its usefulness. Dial down the output and prepare to swap its single battery.
My 2012 model has endured such intense duty, I had to acquire a new elastic adjustable headband. The up-down swivel is getting a little loose in its carriage but is not yet an issue. Without a doubt, this flashlight is one of the most useful items in my tool satchel. What could be better than the Surefire Minimus? How about a second Surefire Minimus.
The opportunity appeared to acquire a copy gifted in 2013. While mine has gone through boxes of batteries, this one has consumed only one. 50 hours runtime maximum on this Minimus. Its knurled aluminum clean, deep into the checkering. Headband virtually unused. Battery compartment has that new equipment smell.
There’s no excuse to clearly see problems and issues now. Surefire lights my way.
The SureFire Minimus Vision Variable-Output LED Headlamp has been upgraded, replaced by a headlamp with FOUR TIMES the output while achieving even better battery life. HS2-MV-A-BK surefire.com
American Toolbox 