I linked to a precursor of this site back in 2002: Gnoosic – Discover new Music.
Mrs. Idiot says this is the car I’d be if I looked like a car. I only hope I have this much style: Brooklands “Double-Twelve” Style 1929 MG M-Type.
webkit2png makes full-depth screenshots of any website you like without having to assemble them from multiple images. I noticed, though, that it doesn’t support Typekit.
Mondo: The Archive. Awesome poster art for the Alamo Drafthouse.
I’ve got old weblog entries from 2003 almost completely entered into WordPress–I’m at the last 10 or so entries from January, and then I’ll roll back to 2002. It’s slow going, but having everything in one place will be very, very nice.
I’ve also upgraded to WordPress 3.2, which is very nice, very smooth, and very shiny. I’m impressed. However, my webhost control panel keeps rolling PHP back from version 5 to version 4, which is why the site randomly goes down. Annoying.
Class went pretty well last night, but I’m really having problems working with watercolors on sketch paper. I need to go buy some good quality paper that will hold a wash faster than a few seconds so I can work with larger areas. Interestingly, the best drawing I did was the first, and with a lousy pencil:
Drawing 1, 12 July 2011
This was the last one of the evening, and was working well until I got to the legs, which didn’t connect correctly.
Drawing 2, 12 July 2011
So it looks like Super Scout Specialists have new manuals in stock, which is great news. Previous printings had images that were were dark and muddy, and for someone as visually-oriented as myself, having clear diagrams and reference is mandatory. They’re having a special on them this month, so I may bite the bullet and get mine ordered next week—just in time to help drop my gas tank.
→ This is a syndicated post from my Scout weblog. More info here.
I’ve been doing some preliminary research into kegging my beer now that I have a keg and a workable refrigerator in the basement. Pricing for the equipment I need is pretty standard across the two vendors I’ve researched with, and goes something like this:
- A refrigerator thermostat: $80
This converts any chest freezer into a fridge at a constant temperature. - A Co2 system for a soda keg: $200
I’d like to have a real sidemount tap so that I can pour from the front of the fridge instead of opening it each time. - A keg cleaning kit: $50
I suppose I’ll need something like this if I’m going to get serious.
I got some good ideas from Mr. Scout’s setup, as well. In order to fit standard soda kegs, most chest freezers need a height extension, which is usually just a 2×4″ frame around the top of the freezer. This is how mine came to me. Mr. Scout used vinyl decking 2×4″ on his, and insulated it with pink foam around the inside, which is what I’m going to do with mine (as well as moving the tap to the front).
One thing is for sure: I’m excited to sample the Hefeweizen this weekend; it’s had two weeks to finish in the bottles and hopefully it’s ready for consumption.
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Meanwhile, the list of non-brewing things I’d like to purchase gets longer while the amount of ready cash remains small. In loose order, they are:
- New sunglasses—I will be stapling them to my forehead.
- Roof rack for the CR-V—we need this before leaving on summer vacation.
- A new watch—hopefully I won’t crack the crystal in two weeks’ time.
- A set of Scout manuals—they finally rescanned the originals, so they’re worth the money. And long overdue.
So today has been a lousy one for the Lockardugan clan. Finn came back from the river with a fever, which has been spiking and falling with alarming frequency and severity, which resulted in a seizure at the vet’s office this afternoon. She was at the vet’s office because Geneva the cat has gotten to the point where she needs to be put to sleep. Poor Mama has been bouncing between caring for Finn and handling Geneva’s final hours, and I can’t imagine it’s been easy.
The river trip itself was great, up until Finn got sick. The water was calm and warm, and we all enjoyed the chance to float and relax. Finn tried on her life jacket and spent almost an hour riding on my back as we floated in the current, and it was almost impossible to get her away from the dock and the water. She even stayed up to roast some marshmallows by the fire before going to sleep.
Sunday morning she got us up early and I took her down to the dock to watch the mist roll out over the water. We laid on the couch inside and watched a little Cat in the Hat on my phone while everyone slowly rose, then had a tasty breakfast Mr. Scout put together. Finn was uncharacteristically low-key after breakfast (whenever she turns down bacon, something is seriously wrong) and her food came up in my hands while she sat on my lap.
The pediatrician says her fever symptoms brought on the seizure, and they’re doing some tests to see what brought the fever on. For now, she’s curled up next to me on the couch while Mama says goodbye to Geneva at the vet’s office.
I will miss that feisty little girl.
I did a 160-mile round trip out to West Virginia in the Scout this weekend, and Peer Pressure ran flawlessly. I’ve never been able to tell what my speed is (larger tires and a speedo with no provenance) but I’ve suspected that it’s indicating slower than actual. I passed several SHA radar signs—the ones that measure your speed and display it to you—and found that 50 mph indicated is somewhere around 60 mph actual. So, there’s that. I also found that I got her up to 60 indicated, which means she’ll do 70-75 mph with no worries. I will say that hitting expansion joints at that speed on Triangle springs is a dicey proposition. Apart from that, and my ladies being in a separate car (one with air conditioning and airbags), the ride was perfect. The outside temperature was warm but not sticky, the sun as at my back, and the roads were mostly clear.
I got one guy who pulled up next to me in an Acura SUV, honked his horn to get my attention, and gave me a huge thumbs-up and a smile. He stuck a camera out the window and shot a picture on the way past.
→ This is a syndicated post from my Scout weblog. More info here.