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Showing posts from October 9, 2011

Wyoming and Idaho

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We are back from a quick vacation. I managed to score three (actually several more) bucket list items in 4 days. 1.) Long Snowmobile Trip. 2.) Yellowstone Park and 3.) Wyoming. I reached my 50th State --Wyoming! And we took a 90 mile snowmobile trip in Yellowstone National Park. We went to the "Craters of the Moon--National Monument and Preserve" in Idaho and also stopped at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where I got to see (with my own eyes) the very cool nuclear powered twin turbojet engine. It was a successful experiment in the 1950s and 1960s. https://whatisnuclear.com/safety-minutes/htre-3-meltdown.html Of course, I had my Radiacode scintillation detector with me and yes, the apparatus is "Hot". The screenshot of the readings from my three walk-arounds the artifact. I swear you could smell the radiation. There was a very un-natural burnt smell something reminiscent of burned bakelite. Although, I am quite certain the emitted radition was not the source...

Amateur Rocketry

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I have always been interested in rocketry. Here is a really good milestone-type launch of amateur rocketry. I knew there was a reason I was being drawn towards Burning Man and the Black Rock desert this year. Hopefully, I will make it in 2012. The rockets are the real burning man.
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I don't think I ever put Melody Gardot on my blog. (A quick look back indicates I did early this year.) Her story is very interesting. These three in order, even if you only listen to some of each piece. You will be back.
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I have been busy at work. I am planning a trip to Brazil in a couple of weeks. Other than that NY, MA and maybe some other domestic travel for the rest of the Year. I may go to Haiti in March. I have to get the dates. I will be in Europe in Feb. It has been windy flying. Too windy to solo, but I still go with an instructor. I have a lot of studying to do. Here is an article about one of our most recent purchases. AGCO Buys GSI. It is good be be part of an organization where you you feel the executives are doing something meaningful. Unlike my most recent previous employer that hasn't launched a new product in years and spent the capital on questionable custom software. Now they have some plan to start making products in China for the China market. Good luck. Here is a pic of a 220HP tractor I drove the other day.