Yearly Archives: 2010

Monday night – motors. monitors, mentors,microprocessors media men, minor moth mavens and more

Full and wonderful day.. a perfect wqay to end a half a century,.. My life is very full and entertaining when it isn’t hectic and unpredictable.   I began the day by working with homer n figuring out how to rewire the 60kw generator he borrowed to produce three phase 408 volt AC..to poewr his new robotic router.   We spent about 30 min on the phone staring at these ancient wiring diagrams . trying t figure out how to get the gneerotr rewired..

 

the rest of the day had a mix of normal day job stuff.. and some cool

new stuff. I recorded some interviews with some senior colleagues

giving career advice to younger folks in the company..

This afternoon I had an hour talk with some folks in film and media business about motivating kids for engineering careers. One of them had a great idea about extendign the concept of STEM (science technology engineering and math) .. to STEAM ( science  technology, enginineering ARTS and math).. I know it’s a small differntence.. but I’ve been thinking about ways to bring the right half of the brain into the mix for energizing kids on math science and engineering. The mix of arts and technology is what turned me on so much at burning man.. it’s a GREAT way to get kids of all wiring to consider technical fields.. especially those that matter in the world. I’m going to think of a way of moving on that.. watch this space..

After another set of very interesting and productive day job meetings I rounded out  the day with a half hour conversation with ‘Leela, a 10 year old future etymologist. She and her mom had written our Chairman and asked for help in a think project (putting gps on butterfly’s wings !)..    For the last several years most requests from kids to the company get routed to me.. I think that’s kind of cool.. anyway.. teh conversation with ‘Leela was amazing and enlightening.. she’s one smart kid.. She gae me a homework assignment that I’m still trying to work out even now..

After yoga.. one more project.. benn F. and his friends came over for help with a high school prank. they are working on a battery powered hovercraft to run in the annual hallway race.. we cobbled together some stuff.. hovercraft base, new shovac, inverter and deep cycle battery to see f the idea could work. We got close.. but we need to recharge the battery to be sure it will work.. wathc tis space and we”ll see..

OK.. now time for bed.. I will wake up as a 51 year old.. not bad, I think.. I’m liking  where I am in my life.. so 51 sounds just about right..

nigth folks. night Sam

-me

happy almost birthday to ME !

Sunday night – toasted

Greetings from one of the few houses not watching the superbowl.. I wonder if I would watch it if we had TV.. I think so.. but just for the commercials. I gotta say though.. that I’m really happy tht the Saints won.. I didn’t know much about the other team.. but I’ve had a ton of family in NOLA … I do remembre how much my late uncle JM loved the saints.. he used to tell us about wearing a bag over his head to the games..

JM.. this one is for you..

Hmm.. not much to report here.. i’m sitting down to blog at midnight on a Sunday night..I ended up having to work this afternoon for roughly 5 hours to catch up from the three hours I took off Friday afternoon.. ugh..

It has been a great weekend though.. On Sat morning, the penguin plunge
We even made the cover of the Burlington Free Press

Then up to Bolotn where Gabe came in 2nd in hi sage group in the USASA snowboarding event.

Later that night Jen, Tim. Martha and I headed over to Jim and Dawns for their 4th of July in Feb party.. it’s an annual thing.. They turn up the heat and everyone strips to their shorts.. not that easy in 3 degree weather.

Here’s the temp inside…

Jim went as far as to record record high weather reports one summer and had them playing on the TV..

As always Jim was well prepared for the ‘heat’.. they had a huge array of jello shots in every flavor and color.. as well as a wole wall of home brew (jim is  one of the best brewers I know.. )

Today was wonderful too. we spent the entire day at Stowe helping run another snowboarding even.. this one a half pipe. t. Gabe did well again.. a first and a 2nd place showing in his age group. We have some good pics.. but they must be on the upstairs coputer.. I cna’t find them on the camera.. I’ll post them when I find them

We were all pretty neat by the end of the day.. I was getting my standard.. Sunday antsyness. I have so many things goign right now.. by the time it’s sunday night, I find I’m already revving for the week. I need to back off of that I think

I was so preoccupied that I burned the garlic bread not once, not twice.. but three different times !

Oy.. well. of to bed now to dream of burnt toast..

Nite everyone.. nite Sam
-me

Saturday night – nice day for a dip

Great day woke up and it wasn’t quite 4 degrees out, just the the right weather for a little swim in the lake.  as part of Special Olympics Penguin Plunge..  

Diane and Gabe headed up to Bolton for Gabe’s USASA competition   .. I bundled up and headed to Mexicali for a little ‘training’ . This is the second time I’ve lunged with the fine folks at Mexicali..  I couldn’t make it last year because I was off at a conference and gtting ready to leave for The Colony. These guys go every year.. I think Nick said we raised about 3000 dollars for the Special Olympics.. I think that includes the $325 I raised.. (thansk to those of you who contributed.. those of you who didn’t I thin you still can at http://www.firstgiving.com/johncohn)

..Training this year included a shot of Erin’s homemade maple scotch.. not my normal breakfast fare.. but very yummy and warming..   We had about 12 folk, I think.. 4 johns , 3 nicks and a smattering of kyles, amelias and lances..

Here I am with John 2 (I’m John 4).. they though he was my kid..   must be the smile  🙂

I chugged a redbull just for motivation.. then we all climbed into a rented taxi van..

We were packed and toasty (and soem of us were tasted).. all behatted and feelign good in the ‘brisk’ morning..

Nick 1 had gotten us all registered last night so we new we were going inearly as team 5.. we even marked ourselves..

OK.. here’s where all the interesting pictures should be… but.. of course.. I didn’t have my camerra.. .. I’ll get some pictures fro the folks who stayed dry.. but for now.. just imagine:

– a tent ful of naked and nearly naked guys switching from mid winter to mid summer in 30 seconds,
– a quick jog to the staging tent lining up as the fith team to go in
– abotu 100 screaming ,chanting and chearing scantily clad men and woemnt making noise to keep their . spirits and temperature up . It was so noisy that Erin passed out earplugs.. I declined.. I thin noise is an anesthetic..
– with in 10 minutes it was our turn to plunge.. The door opens.. and we trot out into the cold.. The air temp was about 10 by that point.. sunny and bright and not bad.. Erin. Chelsea and I had the Mexicali banner.. e.. lance was in front.. everyone else behind..   
– they’d used a backhoe to clear enough ice for us to actually ru into the lake instead of over it..   In we went on the boat loading ramp.. The water was about 34 degrees I think.. actully.. not bad at all.. I love cold water.. so this wasn’t even a shock.. we plunged in .. the rest of the team came after..
– A couple of us tossed SamStones in the water while we were in.. then we pivoted with the banner and marched out majesticly.. I sear .. I wasn’t even cold !
– they handed us all towels.. then we jogeed back to the men and ladies tents…   
– more naked guys.. now shivering and blue.. but very vrey happy.. I found a swatch of less nakeedness and dug out my camera..

The we all scrambled to get out of our wet things, find our dry things and sort them out from the layers and layres of OPS (other peoples stuff). I wanted ot make sure I didn’t take anyone elses dry stuff.. that would SO suck..

No wwarm.. I went out and watched a couple of teams go out and back..

We tried to gather the team.. toook us a while.. I found Erin and Chelsea and then found the others.

Kyle  took a really bad fall on the way in.. and was bleading and hurting pretty much.. he was still smiling though

Then back in the van for the trip back to the restaurant.. They passed around some blackberry brandy.. but .. I couldn’t figure out how to pour it in…

From there I rushed back to Bolton to see the last of Gabes competition.. I got there jsut at the end.. Gabe placed 2nd !!.. It was awesome.. I’ve got to get photos from that off the other camera…

Now we’re off to Jim and Dawn’s party.. more on that later
nit for now folks.. Nite Sam
-me

Thursday night – parking lot

I’m writing frm the relative comfort of a parking lot in beautiful poughkeepsie NY. I’m down here for a 25th work anniversary party for my good friend bruce . It’s amazing that I know folks (like me) who’ve had the same job for a quarter century or more.. I couldn’t not come..

GIven that I spent most of the day in the car coming down..a nd on th e phone.. not much new to report here. I have a few pictures from the last couple of days.. lemme see what they are..

Ahh. heres a cool Hawk I saw on my way to work yesterday.. .. I actually turned the car around and went back to watch this guy.. so regal.. so cool.. and so tiny in my crappy camera..


Hmm.. what else.. ah..   I spied this cool hadline that made me feel noble..

Then last night we were up at Bolton for Gabe’s night riders competition.. he had a great night..

Oh waut, here’s a good story.. I got home last night after Gabes competition and found a box from Sparkfun. my favorite electronics company . Those who read this blog might remember my description of  ‘Free Day‘..  where the copmany gave away 100,000 dollars of parts to their customers   .. 100 bucks to each !  to thank them for a good couple of years. The deal was first come, first serve.. I tried to get my order in from the oepneing bell.. but due to the huge number of folks also trying to order, my order never got through. I was dissapointed that my order didnt get through.. ut I wrote them a nice letter anyway tellign them how cool i thought they were for giving stuff away lke that..

Well.. my ever loving mother saaw the post.. and being the sweet person she is, didn’t want to see me dissapointed.. so .. she called Sparkfun the next day and poitned them at my blog post. And they figured out form there what i was trying to order (parts for a talking blood alchohol meter I want to build.. don’t ask)  .. then Mom ordered the parts for me.. isn’t that awesome..

Thanks Mom .. I love you !  You are amazing..

Today.. was pretty ok.. crammed work meetings in morning .. then beutiful sunny drive dwon in the afternoon.. also crammed with phone meetings.. On my way out I drove by Markowskis and saw the Time cycle lookign regal and cold..

Then treated myself to a trip on the new makeshift feerry near the site of the old Crown Point bridge.. You could still see the chunks of the now demolished brudge

It was a quicl 10 minute boat ride.. they’v e amnaged to keep the ice clear fro the salvage, so the ferrys run 24 hours a day.. how cool to be on a boat on a bluebird day like this..

They actually have 2 ferrys .. one going each direction.. it looks like it’s been there for years.. but I think it’s been there only a month.

OK.. 7PM.. time to go inside. and see bruce.. More tomorrow.

Nite all. nite Sam
-me