Monthly Archives: October 2013

Monday night – thermite

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Diane is out of town for the evening so Gabe and I had a quiet meal and decided to do the only guy;s night thing we could think of. We interrupted homework (mine and his) to run outside and melt a hole in some scrap metal with a thermite bomb. Thermite is a combination of iron oxide and aluminum dust that makes an intense 2500 degree C ..

THermite is fun stuff it works like this

Fe2O3 + 2 Al → 2 Fe + Al2O3

 

here’s gabe mixing the iron oxide and aluminum

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we through in a few screws to melt too

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in goes the magnesium ribboon to ligh the stuff

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we wanted to see if we could bunr through an empty acetone can ..

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gabe torched the magnesium and quickly got out of the way.

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whooooosh !IMG_5324

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what was left was a gooey mass of molten metal tht took about 15 minutes to cool IMG_5343 IMG_5346

here it is still glowing about 10 minutes later. IMG_5347 IMG_5349

the molten metal burned right through the top.. IMG_5350

here’s a pool of iron IMG_5352 IMG_5353 IMG_5354 IMG_5356

and two of the welded screws. the others had vansihed IMG_5357

pretty fun !.. now back to homework !

nite all, nite sam

-me

Saturday night – fall in love

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It's about 8 PM and I've been home for about an hour. Great trip this week. Got lots of things done… And left too many things undone as always. Having the Ted X talk be the last thing on the last day was pretty intense. It felt so good to relax after the talk last night. I was honestly sad to leave because I have made some quick good friends there. I was particularly glad to get to know the folks in the civil engineering department and the staff of the tedx event. Both groups did so much to make me feel at home. I really, really appreciate that!. The Dutch are such wonderful people.

I was really amazed and impressed with how much work went into creating an event like that… And how much effort goes into the care and feeding of all of the performers. If the Other speakers were even half as nervous as I was, the staff must've really had their hands full

After the event, Rohlfing I had a quick dinner then I went back to pack and work. I ended up having meetings until almost 2 AM again. 7 AM came too early but the brisk walk to the train station woke me up. The town was almost deserted even though it was almost 8 AM Saturday. I guess that was consistent with the sound of partying through most of the night ..

 

The trip home was long but uneventful. An older playing, no power, no Wi-Fi, no video really. Two nice people next to me and I worked the entire way but maybe 15 minutes of sleep. We were in Philadelphia before I knew it. But I worked all the way through home.

 

It was so beautiful line into Burlington this afternoon. For full it is it peek around here now. I've never seen such bright reds yellows and oranges from the plane. Photos don't do it justice… Especially from my crap phone. But it filled up my heart.

So nice and Diane driving to the airport. It's nice to see the dogs too. Haven't seen gabe yet.
Okay I think it's time for me to drop into a bathtub and not think for a while. It's so nice to be Home!

Night all, night Sam– Me

 

 

 

Friday Night – TEDx Delft 2013

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congratulations to all the organizers of TEDxDelft 2013. It was a very good day of talks and performances.. the logistics were flawless and the 1000 or so folks all seemed to really enjoy the day . . I want to add my thanks to Rob, Toine, Eveline, Roos, Karen,Brenda, Antoinette, Frode, Toi-Toi-Toi lady. Shiraz, . and all the other great folks that made the day work .  Thanks fo your help adnd calming energy.. it got me through the day 🙂

 

I had several work meetings during the morning an afternoon, but I was still able to see abou 6 of the days talks..There were some amazing talks on diverse topics as “the Joys of Failure” .. and zero energy air conditioning. THere were singers. a symphony.. a tram contest.. and grasshoppers to eat at the end.. (yum ?>) ..
I was sooooooooooooo nervous about my own talk.. which was the last in the day. Through a really odd coincidence.. my talks title was the same as the conference.. I thought it was on purpose.. but I’d named my talk based on a line I always use.. and they’d chosen the title long before inviting me.. very strange..

As I stepped out on stage my mind went TOTALLY blank.. an I couldn’t remember what to say.. but i managed to start talking.. and the next thing I know I was done. It was a great relief being done.. .. and I think I did ok. It was so great relaxing afterwards.. it was *almost* worth the angst of giving the talk Again the irony of stressing out over a talk on ‘play’ is pretty funny
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JCTED

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I talked ot this guy Neils  a bunch   He’s a social media consultant.. we neded up hanging out in the back of the room together during some of the afternoon talks.. .. his service dog was named stevie .. and made me miss my girls..

<Added Saturday .. he just sent me a link to (his and) Stevie’s story here)IMG_5131

 

Here’s my freind Rolf announcing the tram race. IMG_5133

 

the tram race was outside and it was a challenge of who could move these railroad trollys the fastest either by hand or engine. IMG_5136 IMG_5141 IMG_5146 IMG_5148 IMG_5153

 

lots of great energy in the talks.. like these musical twins IMG_5159

 

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and a whole 80 piece symphony on stage IMG_5164

 

they handed out boxes to each person and asked us not to open them.. then after my talk they asked us to open them.. each one had a dried grasshopper inside.. and they asked us to eat them .. sort of yummy !IMG_5167

 

Here Rob is thanking the staff.IMG_5171

 

then it was out for a party.. i got lots of pics with folks.. these are only a few.  IMG_5178 IMG_5179 IMG_5180 IMG_5181 IMG_5190 IMG_5201 IMG_5203 IMG_5205 IMG_5206 IMG_5210 IMG_5212 IMG_5213 IMG_5214 IMG_5216 IMG_5220 IMG_5224 IMG_5226 IMG_5231 IMG_5232 IMG_5234 IMG_5235

 

we got soem more grasshoppers to eat as well !IMG_5243 IMG_5244 IMG_5246 IMG_5248

 

finally things broke up.. I packed up my ton of stoff and Rolf and I walked back down town for a late snack and a beer.. I managed to miss a work call in doign that.. so rescheduled and just got off that call (1 AM)IMG_5252 IMG_5253 IMG_5255 IMG_5256

 

now back at the hotel and packing  (pictures on my walls here) IMG_5258 IMG_5259

 

crud.. cant find a 220 v adapter   to charge my ipad.. so I rigged one up colony style.. (thats why i always bring duct tape )IMG_5260

 

i need to catch an early mornign  train to shipo.. so I better sign off.. good week here..   Dank je wel Nederlands !

more tomorrow.

nite all, nite sam

-me