Sunday, February 17, 2008
I’ve always wanted to take my photos, video, audio, and research, and write a book on traveling in the High Desert. Not the kind of book you would buy at your local bookstore or Amazon.com, but a PDF of suggested sites and routes. I’ve thought about creating web pages that combine all that media — […]
Monday, February 11, 2008
Things I’ve learned as a…
Test/Manufacturing Engineer:
Have a general pool of knowledge to draw from. Know how to find information. Be a quick study.
The people who build and assemble the product(s) are my most valuable resource. They know the practical reasons for why things are, or aren’t, working.
Know when to ask for help. […]
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The REI Boarding Bag is the perfect size for carrying the Asus Eee PC. The power adapter fits in the front pocket. A mouse, pens, pencils, flashdrive, cellphone, and a Moleskein Cahier notebook fit in the middle compartment. The final (largest) compartment holds the laptop and a Kensington security cable. What else do you need?
01/28/08 […]
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
There’s a lot of cleaning to do when you get home from the playa. This is due to dust-storms, the trip home, and simply living on the playa. Over the years, I’ve found these simple tips work:
Add vinegar to laundry and gear washing water. Around a cup per washer load or gallon of sudzy water […]
Here is a PDF version of the supplies list from tip #9. There are blank spots for additional items and space for notes. You can circle the bullet when the item is staged (in the garage ready to go) and check it off after it’s loaded.
Your list may be different from this one, this is […]
Thursday, August 16, 2007
I bought a quick setup 10 ft. X 10 ft. canopy for the playa this year. My observations:
Good:
Easy
Inexpensive? ($79)
Canopy is green (not blue or white)
Metalized coating on inside of canopy blocks UV and creates dark shade
Bad:
Might be a two-person job to get the frame to fully extend and everything to lock into place
Will it blend? […]
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Some car alarms have a valet mode allowing you to silence the alarm so a valet can park your car, or the service department can work on it. It also silences the noise you make when you unlock or lock the car with a keyless remote.
Your playa neighbors don’t want to hear your car chirp, […]
A very quick review of the Coleman 5469 series propane camp stove…
Cons:
The latch will be the first thing to break. It’s cheap
The propane regulator/tube connection will be the second part to break
It’s going to be a rattle trap that will drive you crazy on long drives (unless you pad it with a dishtowel)
Pros:
Inexpensive? ($59)
Electric start […]
This summer I’ve been drinking my iced tea and water with flavor in it. I add a packet of True Lemon crystallized lemon substitute. The stuff is all natural and easy to use. I’ve found that I need two packets for my 32 ounce water bottle (they suggest one packet for each 10 to 16 […]
If you’d like to add some solar-powered blinking to your camp or project, and you’re not afraid of future maintenance or the need to do some hacking, you might want to buy these lights from geeks.com. Just be aware of a few things:
The case and LED string aren’t waterproof
The connectors won’t stand up to any […]