On Backing Into Snowbanks

There is a peculiar danger, one which does not immediately present itself, in backing one's automobile into a well-established snowbank. One naturally thinks of the calamitous: dents, dangling bumpers, inability to remove automobile from said snowbank. However, it is also prudent to be aware of the more innocuous difficulties.

Such difficulties are presented by strange noises. A small but pleasant whistling, not unlike that of a turbo (which my car indeed lacks) presented itself from the rear of the car, along with an intermittent noise of a rattly, puffing, hissing sort, beneath the floorboards, but only when I put the engine under load. These made for an uneventful but nonetheless interesting trip from Freeport to Falmouth, where examination could commence.

I suspected something to do with the small existing exhaust leak just forward of the catalytic converter. Brief examination confirmed the continued existence of such, and that more sound was produced from it than previously, but precisely why it should suddenly sound like an air compressor at higher engine speeds rather baffled my understanding of exhaust problems. (Which, admittedly, are primarily limited to "things falling apart".) However, curiosity regarding the turbo-whistle revealed a very mundane plug of icy snow lodged firmly in the tailpipe. This, thanks to my existing exhaust leak, had not rendered the services historically served by the potato, and merely required a bit more huffing and puffing of the engine.

After picking a hole in the ice chunk with a bungee-cord, it was observed by experiment that normal operation had recommenced and that revving the engine produced an impressive spray of melted snow. Much fun was had by all.

Reformation Day Record

Today is the day Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg. Normally I wouldn't post something like this, but I find it very fascinating that upon this momentous date I also hit my current record of Ninety-Five (concurrent) Firefox Tabs.

Trivial and pointless, I know, but oddly coincidental. And look, ma, no swap! I haven't even maxed out my RAM yet... (And technically it's 96 since I just looked up that Wikipedia link.)

The Nemesis, Conquered

I have won. For the past week, a mosquito has been annoying me, flying around - just enough to be audible - about twenty minutes after I go to bed and shut the light off. Abominably an elusive chap, he naturally was not there when I turned the light back on to look.

To spite me and tempt fate (apparently), he decided to prowl while I was still up last night (though how a mosquito can prowl seriously, I surely don't know), but I'd have to be a magician to have caught him. Or at least have had my glasses on. Every few minutes he'd fly close enough to be heard or caught sight of, but promptly disappear again, thereby postponing my bedtime, cumulatively, by more than is necessary to mention.

But Sir Mosquito was finally undone. When I woke up this morning he was placidly set upon the window, up high, as I lay down below. He was too slow; I promptly dispatched him to the realms of that which is past and shall return no more. I have won. I have beaten the mosquito.

The Pod Is Cast

I've discovered podcasting. It's a fascinating phenomenon, that one subscribes to what are, effectively, (mini) radio shows and listens when one pleases. I don't quite know why it fascinates me so. Perhaps it's the fact that, really, I'm an audio/radio geek at heart and if I have the choice of watching, listening, or reading, I will listen while I work on something else.

Whatever the reason, really, it's fascinating. Also internet radio. I still listen to Thistle & Shamrock, but it's also very nice to be able to listen to other celtic music or British folk any time, 24/7. And while I'm on this internet audio kick, I should also tell you that I've been listening to Three Men in a Boat during my otherwise quiet, music, or NPR saturated driving time. Excellent book, by the way. Timeless British hilarity cannot be had much better. All this to say that I downloaded it from Librivox, which aims to record, through volunteer vocal chords, any and every book in the public domain. Tall order, but good results so far. There is the occasional quality issue - some people, well meaning and talented as they may be, do need some coaching to make their reading aloud palatable - but the enjoyment has largely outweighed that particular chapter.

I should also note that the iPod shuffle excels at audiobooks, as long as you don't do the shuffle part. It's a book-on-a-stick that remembers where you left off!

If I had a decent mic and less cumbersome recording setup, I'd consider doing a State of the Stickman podcast to top my extended family's penchant for weekly/monthly/otherwise periodic email narratives of goings-on.

Of Windchimes, Foghorns, And The Wonders Of Science

It's been a bit windy around here the last few days, which led us, over supper last night, to ponder the age-old question: could the wind be harnessed not just for the pleasant tinklings of windchimes, but also to produce the mellifluous hoot of the glass bottle? Blowing across the bottle undoubtedly works for mere humans, so it seems it could also be possible to use nature's breath to do the same thing, there being a lot more of it.

However, there still remain a few questions to be answered by prototyping:

• What airspeed is required to produce sound?
  
• Is it necessary to funnel/control the airflow in order to produce sound?
• Can we sound up to a three-note chord, with each note denoting a higher windspeed?
  
• What will the neighbors think?
• And, most importantly, will it keep Mom awake at night?

We may or may not have too much time on our hands this summer... so the prototype may or may not get built.

The Bane Of Browsing

I love tabs. I love Firefox sessions. But sometimes it gets out of control...



Is there a support group for this sort of thing?

I Know It's Spring

I hit a bug on the way home from class the other night.