It's been a while ...

... since I last posted but times are busy. Trying to keep the kids healthy during winter time is no easy task and I am enjoying work as well, so sometimes there isn't a lot of time for other things. However, I did find this amazing version of "Lie in our Graves" by the Dave Matthews Band with a special appearance of Trey Anastasio. Take a look and listen:



On a different note, with the presidential primaries in full swing it's hard not to notice a thing here and there. When reading a bit about Mike (or is it Mick, eh, who cares) Huckabee, I came across some Chuck Norris facts. Pretty funny, Mick (or Mike) Huckabee not so much, more scary than funny. Very much like the whole republican field of candidates, with one notable exception and that would have to be Ron Paul. Anyway, enough politics. Let's just hope we don't get another religious nut in the white house.

Go Sharks, we are perfect at home!!!

My friends Dan, Chris and Jan and I purchased a 10-game plan for the San Jose Sharks. We went again last night and for the fourth time in 4 games, the Sharks won at home. Which means, we have a perfect home record. Unfortunately, it does not look as rosy for the Sharks in general. They have one of the worst home ice records. In light of this, we came up with a grand plan. We talk to the Sharks management and ask them to upgrade us to full season tickets ... for free. And while they are at it they should throw in some beers. I think that plan is fantastic. Let's see what the Sharks have to say about that.

Are you an idiot or do you park like an idiot?

Not sure? Well then, there is help for you, just check out the I park like an idiot web page" with easy to understand pictures to check. And while you are at it, check if you are also a complete idiot by looking at the "I am an idiot" pictures.

Halloween

$-0.95

Weird title for a post, you think? You are probably right, but I had to write about the amount we owe to PG&E for our first electricity bill after installation of our photovoltaic solar system.



Got the first bill and it did what it was supposed to: Eliminate our electricity bill. Unfortunately, PG&E won't cut us a check but the balance carries over and will be reset after the year is over (when negative). If it's positive we will have to pay some money but hopefully it will be very close to $0.

Innovate or Die Contest

Specialized Bikes and Google are sponsoring a contest called Innovate or Die. Invent something cool involving pedal power and you could win. I have a few ideas but I can't participate because I am a Google employee. Not creative? Well, at least take a look at the web site. I especially like the crankset driving planet earth. You can also check out videos of the entries. We need more like that.

New Sharks Season

Just like the season before, my friend Chris and I got a 10-game plan again for the Sharks 2007/2008 season. Dan and Jan are also in this year and we went to the first regular season game on Saturday (we already went to a pre-season game as part of our plan but pre-season does not really count). They beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 and it was fairly entertaining. One of the really cool things this season though is the new scoreboard. Apparently, the Sharks replaced the entire video and sound system and is one of the sweetest system I have ever seen. Clarity is fantastic, you almost end up watching the game on the display instead of looking down on the ice. Compared to last season it's like switching from an old black and white TV to a new HD flat screen. Very cool.

For the geeks among you, here are the details of the improvement (which cost ~16.5 million according to the San Jose Mercury News):

DETAILS OF IMPROVEMENTS

Center Hung Scoreboard
HP Pavilion plans to install a new high-resolution LED scoreboard. This new technology provides a clearer and brighter image than what currently exists. The existing video display is nine-feet by 12-feet; the proposed new display is approximately 18-feet by 24-feet, providing a 16x9 video aspect ratio that is used in high-definition television displays. Currently 21 of the 30 NHL facilities have new high-resolution LED Scoreboards.

LED Fascia Display
HP Pavilion plans to install full color, moving LED fascia displays. NHL buildings constructed during the past five years have these full color, moving LED displays to enhance the guest experience. These signs provide a very dramatic visual experience for the fans. They will also enhance the ability to provide flexible programming for events such as NCAA sanctioned sporting events that require specific guidelines for sponsorships and programming that HP Pavilion currently is not able to provide. The existing fascia display is the original fixtures installed when the building opened in 1993.

Seating Area Sound System
The proposed sound system would be a complete change to digital equipment and would incorporate outward facing speaker clusters as compared to the old style distributed speaker placement. This will provide a clearer or more audible sound quality with sound generated from the center of the building rather than throughout the building. The existing sound system was installed when the building opened in 1993. The system not only provides audio during events but it serves as the primary emergency announcement source in the seating area.

Rigging Capacity Upgrade
The proposed rigging capacity upgrade would increase the current capacity from 75,000 pounds to 150-200,000 pounds depending on the needed scope of work. This work would accommodate both center and end stage shows. When the building was designed, standard show loads were 40,000 pounds with large shows in the 60-80,000 pound range. Today standard loads are 60-80,000 pounds with large shows running 125-150,000 pounds.

HD Video Equipment Upgrade
The building opened in 1993 with analog equipment which is no longer supported by manufacturers. With the change to high-definition technology and digital equipment throughout the industry, compatibility issues with traveling mobile studio trucks has become a serious issue. A complete change is required to ensure reliability and interfacing with the new scoreboard and LED systems and TV trucks.

Acoustic Improvements
Above the soffit of the penthouse suites exists large flat surfaces that cause sound to bounce back into the seating area creating serious sound reverberation issues. A solution has been identified that will encompass installing sound deadening panels from the soffit to the underside of the roof structure. This will create an area between the new panel and existing wall to act as a “sound trap” to significantly reduce reverberation in the seating area. This reduction of the standing waves created by the slap off of the back wall will improve the clarity of the sound system and the systems used by touring shows.

You can compare Apples and Oranges

You have probably heard the following before:

You can't compare apples and oranges ...

or

You have to compare apples with apples and not oranges ...

or any variation thereof. But those people were wrong. Scientific research has found out that you in fact can compare apples and oranges. Read about apples and oranges on the Improbable Research web site.

Solar Rocks

A couple of months ago, Sonja and I purchased a photovoltaic solar system. Yesterday, after going through all the rebate approval processes, they system was installed and turned on for the first time. Was a lot of fun watching the old meter go backwards.



As part of the process we needed to upgrade the roof before we put the panels on top of it. Since it's been a tradition to make reasonably sized project somewhat bigger in the process, we also decided to re-roof. After having the old composition shingles torn off (that was outsourced), I started to re-roof the house.


That is hard work but thankfully, my friend Dan helped out. If it weren't for him, I'd still be working on the roof. It's not exactly difficult work but it's hard work physically, of which my back keeps reminding me.



But it's all good now. We are having the sun pay our electricity bill and (for the first time) I used the Google massage perk. Was very nice and my bacl already feels better.

Was this really necessary ?

The other day, as I was leaving work and heading to my car, I noticed that a police car had pulled over a guy in BMW. They had turned onto the Google parking lot and two cops were busy writing up the guy. There was only one problem, the BMW was blocking my car, so I could not get out. The BMW driver, nice looking guy in his 40s (I owuld guess), starts his engine to pull forward about 10 feet so I can get out. Very nice of him you may think. That's what I thought but one of the cops (almost violently) disagreed. The moment the BMW driver started his engine, the cop starts running towards that car and yells at him to shut off the engine. Not being shy, I offered an explanation to the officer (or whatever rank he may have had) that he is just trying to let me out. The cop didn't care, apparently the very mild mannered guy in the BMW (he looked very scared at this point) posed a flight risk and had to remain where he was. The cop tells me that they are almost done (in a minute) and that I can then get out. Well, turns out that a minute takes really long in "police world". Apparently, the super-eager cop was training a new cop who was learning to fill out a ticket which turned out to be more difficult that one might think, judging by the time it took. Well, finally, after about 10 minutes in my world, the two cops walk up to the car one on either side, trainee on driver's side and Officer Rambo on the other (with his hand on his weapon). Meanwhile, I was getting a little irritated. I did not know why they had pulled that guy over but I guess it was for running a stop sign or a red light, or speeding. Certainly not a felony of some sort since the BMW driver remained in his car. Anyway, after another 2 minutes they finally let the poor BMW driver go. Officer Rambo thanked me for my patience and I thought for a moment to ask him whhat harm would have been done by letting the BMW back or move forward about 10 feet, so that I can get out. I decided otherwise, since Officer Super-Hero didn't seem to have his best day. But you have to ask yourself, "was this really necessary?". It certainly did not kill me to wait and I am sure the BMW driver deserved the ticket but the whole "hand on weapon" thing was a little over the top and not letting the guy move was very much showing a lack of common sense.

All you ever needed to know about Economics ...

Found this through a blog from a co-worker. It's on Youtube. Watch it and everything will be clearer (have no fear, it is very funny):

San Francisco Half Marathon

A while ago I mentioned I was going to run another marathon. While that's not going to happen for another few months (in November in San Jose), I have been following a training plan for about a month now and yesterday I was scheduled for a 13 mile long run. My friend Steve wanted to run the San Francisco half marathon, so we both signed up. After getting up really early (4am) we drove into San Francisco and lined up to get started around 5:45am. Our goal was to run the whole thing in under 2 hours, which meant we had to run a mile pace of around 9 minutes.
The route led us along the Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, through Crissy Fields and up to the Golden Gate bridge (tough climb), across the brodge to the Vista point, back over the bridge and down into Golden Gate Park where we finished after 13.1 miles. We did in slightly under 1 hour and 58 minutes. That was definitely fun although the crossing of the bridge was a very wet affair. Not exactly warm but definitely good for running. Now I am off to more training, increasing mileage on my weekend long runs and doing speedwork during the week. Hopefully I can get into a good enough shape that I can run a new PR. I am currently stuck at 3 hours 51 minutes which I ran 5 years ago. I am hoping to beat 3 hours 50 minutes and get as close as possible to 3 hours and 45 minutes. Wish me luck!

Faceball

I love this: http://www.faceball.org
What is it? According to their web site: "... at a deeper level it's a vehicle for the release of personal animosity, and the Shaming of the Weak." Funny!

Biodiesel -- my first filter change

The other day I went to a gas station (Valley Oil in Mountain View, CA) that sells pure Biodiesel, well B99, so virtually pure Biodiesel. Anyway, a little more expensive than the B20 from Rotten Robbie but it's environmentally even better. Now, when you switch to Biodiesel fuel filter clogging after a few tanks of Biodiesel is pretty common. So I went ahead and changed. Thanks to the Cincinnati TDI Club it was super simple. They posted a video online on how to change the fuel filter. Took a mere 15 minutes and everything was done. Car runs great and I am still doing something good for the environment.

It's finished ...

... well almost, only missing the drawer handles. My first piece of furniture that I built out of a pile of wood.

Side table
Originally uploaded by jmeyer

Biodiesel, Part 2: Environmental Activism

I am on my second tank of B20 biodiesel now and things are working fine so far. Gas mileage increased a bit to an average of 43mpg but not sure whether that's because of the biodiesel or I was simply driving a bit more conservatively. Either way, I thought I'd buy a few stickers and boast a bit about the fact that I am doing something good for the environment.

Image019.jpg
Originally uploaded by jmeyer

On that note, the San Jose Mercury News had an interesting article about trying to do good for the environment. It mentioned California's efforts in trying to build up a greener fleet of vehicles. The chose to go with a bunch of vehicles that are capable of running on regular gasoline or Ethanol-gasoline blends like the Chevy/GMC Flexfuel vehicles. When those vehicles run on such blends they put out much less CO2 albeit at higher cost which the taxpayer has to pay for. However, one problem they did not consider is that there are virtually no fueling stations that carry such blends so that these Flexfuel vehicles are solely run on regular gasoline. Not only are they less efficient than the previous (smaller) fleet vehicles they now output more CO2, at higher cost. Talk about misguided environmental activism.

This is my problem with all these alternative fuels like ethanol, hydrogen and natural gas. The infrastructure simply isn't there yet and they require engine modifications or simply different engines altogether. Overall not very practical. Biodiesel on the other hand doesn't have these drawbacks. No engine modifications are required and if you are ever in an area where there is no Biodiesel available, you simply get regular diesel for one tank. The worst that can happen is that the fuel filter gets clogged which is not that tragic.

So, instead of wasting all that money on the new fleet that currently can't fulfill its potential, they should have invested that money into solar or by fuel efficient vehicles. Oh wait, that pretty much means they would have had to purchase Japanese cars instead of the American POS. Not sure what the reasons were but I very much hope that doing good for the environment from the government is hindered by who makes the car...

My first piece of furniture ...

Over the past few months I have been taking a "furniture design and construction" class through Santa Clara Adult Education and this is the result:

Image018.jpg
Originally uploaded by jmeyer

It wasn't really much of a class but rather a weekly get together of people who wanted to build something and like power tools. By signing up for a class you get to use a machine shop with lots of tools that are also suitable for larger projects. Cost (~ $10 for a 3 hour session) is very affordable, downright cheap if you consider what it would cost to rent or even buy all the equipment. The instructors are laid back and help you out when you get stuck or things get tricky. Other than that you on your own on what you want to build. I built a side table that my wife liked and I worked off of a picture from a Pottery barn catalog. I improvised here and there but I think it came out ok for the first piece.