Brian Yee

It was an interesting first attempt to make pasta. I’ve learned why pasta machines exist, also.

Before launches at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Helicopters search the downrange path of rockets to find any nomads in the vast grasslands of Kazakhstan.  If any are found they are warned of the upcoming launches.

Link

This picture of this activity was particularly interesting:

(image from russianspaceweb.com, copyright noted)

The americans launch with ocean downrange. and a similar search is performed for boats that are in the wrong spot.

One of the things I’ve been looking forward to recently is the rollout (on 10/20) and the launch (scheduled for 10/27) of  Ares I-X: NASA’s first test flight of the new rockets in support of the Constellation Program (created by Bush II in his Vision for Space Exploration).

It’s been exciting to read about the development, creation, and assembly of the new rockets — the first new thing from NASA since the launch of STS-1 in 1981.  Even more exciting, in a different sort of way, is to read the debates going on right now on the web and trying to figure out what’s going to happen next.  There’s been a review of the entire program by the Augustine Commission — and the future direction of NASA is going to announced soon by new NASA administrator Charles Bolden.

Whether or not Ares I continues development, it’s still an exciting time in Human Spaceflight…even if you only get to watch from the sidelines.

anyone using webfaction? thinking about moving off dreamhost.

Great set of photos of an airplane factory in Burbank, CA that was hidden during World War II using netting and fake houses on the roof.  I guess being on the coast, it was much more vulnerable than, say, Willow Run.

I’ve been trying a few ways home from work (the general idea courtesy of Blue Racecar).  Second number is up until my freeway exit — not sure why I’m keeping track of that, but I thought I’d eliminate any variance in the part of the drive that I can’t really change.

Variation 1 (10->94->96):

9/14: 28.29.9 (23.41.2) –  time slightly off because I stopped to get gas, but I played with the timer to approximate cutting that out…

Variation 1a (96->Wyoming->10->Davison->75)

9/15: 31:43.4 (25.59.3) -

I made weber_cam‘s No Knead Foccacia (video below) Sunday night for a big dinner we had with some friends.  Highly recommended, it was very tasty and extremely easy.  My only regret was I didn’t shoot a picture to put here.  I’ll give this another try this weekend…

Our neighbors gave us their piano. After getting a bunch of friends together to move it, I’m ready to begin tormenting the kids with piano lessons.

Last weekend I made pulled pork, my first time doing real Barbeque, not regular grilling, but low and slow hours long Barbeque.  Joe, from work, had sent me a few links on some techniques.  But not too long after looking for some more information I found the  Virtual Weber Bullet site, then I found weber_cam. After reading a few posts from these places I found new inspiration for documenting what I’ve been doing and the things that interest me — perhaps for the only purpose of writing it down to learn from it later: sort of a personal logbook.

Here’s what I’m interesting in looking into next:

* Homebrew: not sure if I’ll really do this.  I probably need to drink more to make this worthwhile.

* Getting back into RC planes: I never really flew one very successfully and this would be great to have a new start in.  I’ve already spent a fair bit in the up-front costs.  I’ll probably need to get new batteries.

* More Barbeque

* Perfecting baguettes.  weber_cam has some good techniques and videos that I’m going to try.

So with that, I begin.  We’ll find out how long the inspiration lasts this time.

RT @NASA_Ares_I_X: http://twitpic.com/duuhj – For the first time in more than a quarter-century, a new space vehicle stands ready in the VAB