Big Stick Physics

Author: Richard Nestoff (Page 11 of 57)

Sparky is a dirty mutt.

September 30, 2024 / / 0 Comments

I can’t explain it.  Sparky looked normal when we went out the door.  It was a typical walk through the parking lot, into the woods, then through the orchard toward the house.  Sparky rolled around on the grass on the way back to the house. What the hell was he rolling in? 

I have been calling him piglet, so maybe he wallowed in mud.  It didn’t smell like anything.  He was pretty happy about it. 

To give Sparky a redemption arc, here is slo-mo video of him shaking off after his bath.  The door mat really needs vacuuming.  There is no dialogue because we both wanted to remain civil and just get through it.

Sparky embraces his robot overlords.

September 25, 2024 / / 0 Comments

This is why I can’t get anything done.  Sparky enjoys novel experiences and I am loaded with dumb ideas.

Before putting the RC cars away after the East Harbor State Park trip, I wanted to try walking the dog with the Land Rover.  Sparky automatically knew what to do.

This is our first attempt.  I had more trouble shooting video while driving, than Sparky had figuring out what he was supposed to do.   Sparky likes RC cars.  He chases the MAXX to get Mr. Moose, and steals treats from the Deadbolt.

He had no problem with the Land Rover taking him for a walk.  He didn’t pull, fight or try to take charge.  I drove across the creek and up the hill.  Trying to turn back down the hill, the Rover rolled.  Sparky wasn’t bothered, he took that as an opportunity to take a dump.

I really don’t mind not getting anything done.

RC Battery burns.

September 25, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Prior to our trip to East Harbor State Park, I charged up the batteries for the RC cars.

As the LiPo battery for the Land Rover was charging, I heard a short, sharp, sound., like a ruler hitting a desk.  It wasn’t very loud, and sounded like the crack from the discharge of a Van Der Graaff generator.

This kind of thing.

I went to check on the charging battery, and found that it looked inflated.  That’s real bad.  I turned off the charger, gingerly took the battery outside, and threw it in the yard where it couldn’t damage anything if it exploded or ignited.  Which, it apparently did at some point during the night.

It appears that since several batteries were going to be charged, the charger was set for a 4S battery, instead of a 3S.  The battery that was being charged had a high enough voltage that the charger didn’t recognized the problem.

Study says you should get a cat if you want.

September 23, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Science Alert: Owning a cat could make you a schizophrenic

Having a cat as a pet could potentially double a person’s risk of schizophrenia-related disorders, according to a recent study.

Full disclosure:  I am biased against cats.  I am convinced that having a cat isn’t nearly as good as having Sparky.  Except for barn cats.  If I had a real barn, I’d have barn cats.

Even with my bias, if a person wants a cat, don’t worry about this study.  The risk of schizophrenia is seven in a thousand.  A fourteen in a thousand chance is very low, and other risk factors are more pertinent.

Habitually smoking a mess of pot increases the risk about as much.

Return to East Harbor State Park

September 22, 2024 / / 0 Comments

We returned to East Harbor State Park.  It wasn’t as good as last year.  2023

The big draw was the sand bars and deserted beaches.  This year, I brought three RC cars.  The MAXX, Rustler and TRX-4 Land Rover.  Lake Erie was higher, and there wasn’t many areas to use them.  We thought the lake might get tides, but it wasn’t that.  

Looking at Lake Erie water levels, it appears that the water level maxes out in the summer.  Last year, we went a month later.  Lake Erie water levels are usually down about 10 inches by the third week in October.  That doesn’t sound like much, but on a beach with a gradual grade, it makes all the difference.

The weather was perfect, but it was only a weekend trip.  I did notice that East Harbor has really good water pressure, so I had a better shower than I get at home.  That’s something.

I added two taller jack stands to my load out, and those worked great to turn the camper ramp into an elevated deck.  I really like it.  Sparky does too.  He is reluctant to jump from the ramp deck, but will if there is a compelling reason.  Another dog or small animal is enough reason. 

The new jump seats and foot stools are really comfortable. 

The trip was short, comfortable and unremarkable.

While camping, Pete reminded me of the fire tower, or “Swedish torch”, we had at East Harbor last year.  He sent me the video, so I’ll put it here at half-speed.

Sparky isn’t a morning person.

September 22, 2024 / / 0 Comments

On our camping trips, I don’t dawdle when it’s time to leave.  Wake up, pack up, and hit the road.  Sparky is adaptable, but prefers the unstructured leisure of mornings at home.

We left East Harbor State Park before 8 am.  Sparky wants to be a good wingman, but the early hour was taking a toll.

Now that we are home, Sparky says that he blinked when I took the photo.  When I reminded him that he looked like that for 10 minutes, Sparky says he was trying to remember if 269 South went right to Route 2.

Maybe he was.  Once we got on Route 2, he took a proper nap.

When we got on the turnpike, he tried to hypnotize me until we got to the next exit.  Sparky says he was trying to get me to stop taking pictures while we drive. 

Once we got on I-480, he assumed his typical car-ride demeanor.

Since I was still taking pictures and Sparky was no longer trying to hypnotize me, his stated objective is in doubt.  While we were on the turnpike, I suspect Sparky was trying to compel me to stop at Sheetz at Lear Nagle and Lorain, to pick up a Slim Jim. 

We had done that on the way out to East Harbor, and Sparky had enjoyed the experience.

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