Asymptomatic

There must be intelligent life down here

Space Derby
November 19, 2013
derby space Riley scouts rocket

Recently, Riley and I completed the Cub Scouts' Pack 32 Space Derby. Months ago, I told Riley's den leader that I was enthusiastic to help with the derby, since it is one of my favorite scouting events. After a handful of emails, I found myself volunteering for a number of things related to the event, in addition to helping Riley with his rocket.

The derby itself is a race of propeller-driven rockets, flying down a length of taught fishing line. The rocket is made of two halves of balsa wood, hollowed out and glued together, then shaved and sanded to a rocket shape. A hanger is attached to the top of the rocket that allows it to slip into a cradle that hangs from the fishing line track. Rubber bands inside the rocket attach to the propeller in front and a small stationary dowel in the back. The propeller is wound, tightening the rubber bands, and when it is attached to the cradle and released, the rocket flies down the track!

Fluxmob Bolt Review
November 13, 2013
review device power Fluxmob UDB Bolt

Back in June, I noticed a Kickstarter project for the FluxFluxmob Boltmob Bolt, and decided that it would be worth a pledge. The Bolt is a combination wall charger and battery backup for USB devices.  

The first thing you would notice about the Bolt is that it is very small and attractive-looking. It comes in multiple colors, of which I chose blue. The finish of the device has a nice quality tacky/rubbery feeling, not the slick plastic of similar devices.

Family Fridge Calendar
November 12, 2013
calendar Google fridge refrigerator

Fride CalWe use shared Google Calendars for our family calendaring. Each of us has his/her own calendar, and we have a shared calendar for stuff that we all participate in. But when we're sitting in the kitchen with the kids at meals, particularly while getting ready for school in the morning, it would be nice not to have to fish out the phones and cross-reference, and blah blah blah.

I set out to find a solution to this issue. The obvious solution is a traditional calendar. Berta bought one and added October's events to it, but it had some of the traditional problems.

Fall Soccer
November 11, 2013
Abby soccer sports

Over the summer, I signed up Abby for GEYA Soccer, based on the appeal of her experience in their spring soccer program, which she really enjoyed.  I didn't realize what we'd ultimately be getting into.

The fall soccer season is apparently not a popular one among "sporty" types.  The sporty kids seem to rotate their sport experience each season.  I'm not sure what the girls play in the fall, but they seem to leave the soccer field either for other sports or for other pursuits.  A similar thing happens to the boys soccer program in the fall, since a good number of boys leave the soccer program to participate in fall football.  The end result is that not enough players were signed up for fall soccer to have separate leagues for boys and girls at Abby's age group, and so the leagues combined for co-ed teams.

Diseased
September 29, 2013
sick shingles doctor

I usually document the start of weird illnesses here, so that later, when the doctor asks what my symptoms have been, I can tell her my list of grievances with my biological existence.  But for whatever reason, I did not do it this time, opting instead to do it now, amid treatment.

Last weekend at the soccer and baseball games, I accrued a pretty bad sunburn on my forehead. I didn't really think that the sun on a 60-degree day at 9 am would be enough to do much damage, but I was - as usual - quite wrong.  Or at least, that's what I thought when at the end of the day, my head felt like it was pretty well baked.