What I did today -instead- of Rocketry.

[OverTheTop]

Hired a truck and helped (did most!) my daughter move house. Relaxing with a drink now

 

[jqavins]

Attended a zoom call yesterday (my first, believe it or not) organized by my late mother's cousin, with most of the relations on that side out to my second cousins (on my mother's father's quarter). There are about 30, and over 20 showed up, along with some of their spouses and offspring. There are a good few I've met but barely know, and a small few I've never met at all.

One of my generation (a first cousin, it happens) is already organizing another one, this time to intentionally include more of the next generation (i.e. out to thirds) as well.

I'm wondering about setting that up for my father's side. I'll need help finding out who they all are. My sister is better than I on that, and I'm sure Dad's sisters will have more information yet.

Hired a truck and helped (did most!) my daughter move house. Relaxing with a drink now

And pizza? When you help someone move they're supposed to provide beer and pizza. Maybe it's different with your own offspring; my daughter hasn't moved anywhere without us yet.

 

[prfesser]

-Found out that one of my comics made it into a college textbook

You can't make a statement like that without showing us the comic! Inquiring minds want to know!

Best -- Terry

 

[OverTheTop]

And pizza? When you help someone move they're supposed to provide beer and pizza. Maybe it's different with your own offspring; my daughter hasn't moved anywhere without us yet.

My daughter is not that organised. My wife made us some salad rolls for during the day. I was so tired at the end I didn't even eat dinner.

 

[PatD]

Never rode without a helmet.

I've broken a vertebrae in my neck, both arms, both legs on separate occasions, left knee twice, both wrists on separate occasions, both ankles on separate occasions, sixteen ribs. One leg was my fault - racetrack, they moved a haybale I was using as a braking marker. Everything else was someone else's fault.

I don't ride on the road any more. I want to, but I promised my partner and my kids I wouldn't.

Riding flat track? Did that a few times as intermission entertainment at the local 1/4 mile car track. No real circuit in this part of the country so that didn't last. Not into hill climbs (American hill climbs, up steep dirt hills) so it was all fun dirt and road bikes. Had my scrapes and breaks but your list sounds like you rode serious track bikes unless you have much worse auto drivers there than here.

 

[Nytrunner]

sat on the judging panel for the first round of student presentations for their entry into 'Launch Canada'
(more tomorrow!)

Launch Canada

The Launch Canada Challenge An industry-partnered student rocket competition series. #launchthenorth

www.launchcanada.org

Is that still happening? Any luck locating a launch site?

 

[dr wogz]

Is that still happening? Any luck locating a launch site?

Hi, yes, is happening (FB page is best / most up-to-date)
22 teams.. if I'm not mistaken. 2nd round of preliminary presentations this coming week-end. A lot of the entries are based off Spaceport America challenge (except the few obvious ones - wet fuels!)

And no, no definite site as of yet, but they have narrowed it down to a few choices, and are in talks for one in particular. the hybrid & 'liquid fuel' aspects are the main challenge!!

 

[Cape Byron]

Had my scrapes and breaks but your list sounds like you rode serious track bikes unless you have much worse auto drivers there than here.

The haybale incident was during my one attempt at circuit racing. The bike hit me from behind as I was stopped by the foam safety barrier.

All the rest were road accidents, and yes we have some of the worst drivers I've seen on three continents.

I broke the vertebra when I was stationary at a Stop sign. The driver behind just went through me. When the cops arrived he was still trying to get his car off my bike. No attempt to assist me whatsoever. Apparently he thought I was dead.

 

[Senior Space Cadet]

Yesterday I had an event that felt a lot like a heart attack.
I got an EKG today and it looked good. I'm getting a stress test and heart echo next week.
I have a cow valve where my aortic valve was. I had that replaced near the end of 2018.
I ordered some safety equipment for go karting.
My brain may not be as big as some on this forum but it's the only one I have, so I bought a good helmet.
I also ordered some gloves and a neck brace. I still need to get shoes and rib and chest protectors.
I ordered a driving suit last week, but it hasn't come yet.

 

[Senior Space Cadet]

I got this book called "The Perfect Corner" A driver's step by step guide to fining their own optimal line through the physics of racing.
It seems like one of those books that could have said what was needed to be said in about three pages, but he made it into a book so he could make money.
It's a little frustrating wading through all the filler, but I hope to learn something by the end of the book.

 

[KC3KNM]

Man, I miss karting. There’s a group that runs up here I might have to check out...

 

[hobie1dog]

I ordered a driving suit last week, but it hasn't come yet.

Karting suits are really quite worthless. The nylon that they make them out of ends up melting on your skin if you do any type of sliding down the track. my physician friend has told me about finding motorcycle riders that use the same type of nylon jackets and get in Road accidents where they slide down the road for just a little bit and then amount of friction will cause the nylon to melt and bonds to your skin so you have to go immediately from an urgent care to a surgery room to have it cut off. But everybody in karting wears the exact same type of suit, so unless you are a die-hard and get a Kevlar driving suit or an all leather suit like motorcycle racers use, it's mainly for looks.

P.S. hope the heart issue is minor.

 

[Senior Space Cadet]

Karting suits are really quite worthless. The nylon that they make them out of ends up melting on your skin if you do any type of sliding down the track. my physician friend has told me about finding motorcycle riders that use the same type of nylon jackets and get in Road accidents where they slide down the road for just a little bit and then amount of friction will cause the nylon to melt and bonds to your skin so you have to go immediately from an urgent care to a surgery room to have it cut off. But everybody in karting wears the exact same type of suit, so unless you are a die-hard and get a Kevlar driving suit or an all leather suit like motorcycle racers use, it's mainly for looks.

P.S. hope the heart issue is minor.

Well, unfortunately the track requires them. I would, most likely, be wearing something underneath, so hopefully the nylon melting to the skin scenario wouldn't happen. A Kevlar suit would offer more protection. but I hate to think how much it would cost. Nomex would be another option.

 

[Senior Space Cadet]

Man, I miss karting. There’s a group that runs up here I might have to check out...View attachment 447090

How old is this photos? That doesn't look like a modern kart.

 

[KC3KNM]

How old is this photos? That doesn't look like a modern kart.

I think I was about 6 there, so ‘98-‘99 or so.

 

[jqavins]

Yesterday I had an event that felt a lot like a heart attack.

Oh, shite, that sucks. I'm glad glad to hear it wasn't one. Here's hoping the stress test comes out OK, and that this doesn't happen again.

I have a cow valve where my aortic valve was.

Moo.

 

[Cape Byron]

Went bowling with the family for the first time since I broke my right hand four years ago.

I didn't even break 100, but I still had a good time. Beer, bowling and family is a good combination.

 

[NateB]

Nomex would be another option.

I have a 2 piece Nomex racing suit that I wear as PPE for shooting firework shows. It wasn't terribly expensive, actually cheaper and thicker than my nomex flight suits. I would trust it more than nylon, but less than leather. It's great against the sparks and hot fallout from handlighting fireworks, but I don't think it would do much against road rash. I don't think it would offer much protection from a helicopter crash either.

 

[jqavins]

Went bowling with the family for the first time since I broke my right hand four years ago.

I didn't even break 100, but I still had a good time. Beer, bowling and family is a good combination.

Ah, but how was your bowling before you broke your hand?

"Doctor, will I be able to play the violin?..."

 

[hobie1dog]

Went bowling with the family for the first time since I broke my right hand four years ago.

I didn't even break 100, but I still had a good time. Beer, bowling and family is a good combination.

I was going to have my Memorial service at the local Bowling Alley as it has a great big Banquet room, that way after trying to find 2 people who might be able to find something nice to say about me, then everyone could go to the bar for beers and then bowling so that it would be a fun event. It would also be as far away from a Church that you could get. But now I don't have to worry about it with Covid ruining Memorial Events.

 

[Dan Griffing]

Fireworks, OMG!

I took a break from watching tv yesterday by taking our three black labs on a 3-mile walk to our subdivision river access but kept them from going into the ice-lined river.

Then I finished the day by watching the best fireworks display I’d ever seen.

The fireworks on the Mall surpassed the 1976 bicentennial displays, and the 2000 New Years Y2K displays.

 

[Cape Byron]

Ah, but how was your bowling before you broke your hand?

"Doctor, will I be able to play the violin?..."

Well, it was better than it is now, but certainly not league standard.

 

[ewomack]

You can't make a statement like that without showing us the comic! Inquiring minds want to know!

Best -- Terry

Well then you asked for it! Screenshot from Amazon preview - unfortunately the book costs $80.00, but I'll try and get a copy someday. I know very little to nothing about the book, but the author contacted me over a year ago asking to use the comic. This is the second book I've had a comic printed in. Not a huge deal, but kind of nice.

 

[jqavins]

Not a huge deal, but kind of nice.

Indeed it would be. Sort of like, it's not:

Holy cow, you famous, dude!​

But it is like:

Hey, cool. Good for you.​

 

[Wayco]

Woke up this morning to that annoying little chirp that smoke detectors make. Why do they always do that at 4 am? Of course, it was the one in the front room, which has a 14 foot vaulted ceiling.... So after a couple cups of coffee, Sharon and I drug in the 12 ft. step ladder and started replacing the batteries in all five of our smoke detectors. Only two need the big ladder, but this is not a task you take lightly.
Just a reminder to those of you that have these pesky but necessary items, they have a 10 year service life. I replaced mine about five years ago.

 

[Mugs914]

I got this book called "The Perfect Corner" A driver's step by step guide to fining their own optimal line through the physics of racing.
It seems like one of those books that could have said what was needed to be said in about three pages, but he made it into a book so he could make money.
It's a little frustrating wading through all the filler, but I hope to learn something by the end of the book.

If you are interested in reading a bit more there are two books that I would recommend:

I'm not familiar with the book you mentioned, but there are hundreds of books that talk about the physics of track driving (I have read most of them, and like you said, they tend to use a lot of words. )

These two, though they were written with motorcycles in mind, concentrate more on the rider (driver) and his approach to the task at hand, as opposed to the typical focus on the machine or track. Code does a great job of communicating some rather complex concepts in an understandable manner.

I have been a racer, a performance driving instructor, driver coach and owned a race car shop for most of my life (Did bikes too). These were books that I would recommend to my students. I think you might like 'em!

 

[jqavins]

Woke up this morning to that annoying little chirp that smoke detectors make. Why do they always do that at 4 am? Of course, it was the one in the front room, which has a 14 foot vaulted ceiling...

You're a better man than I am. If that thing woke me at four in the morning, I'd've got out the ten foot long whack stick and shut it up real quick!

 

[Wayco]

That thought did cross my mind, but we get up fairly early every morning, and after coffee, that 12 ft. ladder is a bit less scary.
My version was with a 12 ga. shotgun, but then I'd have to repair it.....

 

[Cape Byron]

I have been a racer, a performance driving instructor, driver coach and owned a race car shop for most of my life (Did bikes too). These were books that I would recommend to my students. I think you might like 'em!

Colour me impressed. I still have my copy of 'A Twist of the Wrist'. Brilliant book: all thriller, no filler.

 

[OverTheTop]

Replaced a piece of architrave in the laundry that has to be done as part of my renovation. Filled the nail holes and gaps and then painted. I hate painting.

Ordered a bar fridge to keep our drinks in, to go next to the architrave.

Tidied up a heap of stuff that was sitting on the back deck for a while. Tidied the workshop a bit too, as it was getting out of hand.