Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Kodak Duaflex

Kodak Duaflex (focusing) camera

Built: 1947-50
Shutter Speed: One speed
Film Size: 620
Lens: Kodar 72mm focusing f/8 - f/16
Film Size: 620

Cost: $17.25 - Ironically, I recently purchased one on Ebay for not much more. Hmm... whatever will I do with such an antiquated piece of equipment?

Friday, February 23, 2007

Now That's Racing

Rumor has it that Champ Car is looking at filling its late season with another euro race. This time at Dijon.

Here is a very cool video of the great Gil Villeneuve battling it out with Arnoux at Dijon in 1979. I think there were more passes in this one clip than most modern F1 races. Pity.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Mailbag: TO ALL PET LOVERS

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Family Pets:

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that a esthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, or try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain about Our Pets:
  1. They live here. You don't.
  2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why it's called "FURniture.")
  3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
  4. To you, it's an animal . To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
Remember: In many way s, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
  1. Eat less.
  2. Don't ask for money all the time.
  3. Are easier to train.
  4. Normally come when called.
  5. Never ask to drive the car.
  6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends.
  7. Don't smoke or drink.
  8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions.
  9. Don't want to wear your clothes.
  10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college.
And finally,

11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.(okay, I know this last one won't fly here, but it was on the list!)

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Cimarron 1 Mine 1.01

Hour One
  • Assembled the templates
  • Assembled one truss
  • Assembled one floor plate

Friday, February 16, 2007

Cimarron 1 Mine

It's finally here. The Cimarron 1 Mine from Banta Modelworks arrived Tuesday in a surprisingly small box - about 6"x10"x2". The kit includes little bits of strip wood to be cut to size, laser cut/etched flat stock, a bag of plastic tube and metal rod to be bent by hand and finally chipboard templates for assembling the strip wood to form the trusses. It looks like a nightmarish mess of stuff to assemble but after looking at the instructions I think it should go together in an afternoon. Now where did I put those tweezers.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Wild Urbs


I took the dogs to the west Delta Park dog park. The area between PIR and the wetlands. It was cold and damp. Just the right conditions for the half dozen dogs sloshing around by the parking lot. After Cooper and India tired of playing with the other dogs we wandered west to the far end of the park where there were no other dogs.

I saw an amazing Great Blue Heron along the way. It was only about 20 feet from the fence line just tip toeing through the reeds and grasses looking for dinner.

When we got to the end of the dog park I was startled by a dog barking at me on the other side of the fence. It too was pretty close, about 100 feet away. It was an odd sounding dog, it's bark was more of a combination bark/howl/yodel. It looked a little peculiar too. In fact it was not a dog at all. It was a coyote. And it was not too happy to have me and the dogs nearby. So we just continued on our way. When we got back to the parking lot the coyote was still howling it's displeasure at me. I mentioned my sighting to the other dog people. They thought it was pretty cool.