Algonquin Trip

Well I just got back from four days in Algonquin Park with a group of six students. We had some rough spots with the weather, including being caught in the thunderstorm, but the kids were awesome. Five of the six were actually rugby players and they just powered by the other groups on the portages - absolute machines.

The image above traces our route - about 70 km with over 7 km of portages. Here are some pics that were taken.



Mike

Model Ship Update: Ratlines

I haven't worked on my model ship all summer, but once I got my course done I started picking away at it again. The main addition were the ratlines which are the lines that are tied across the shrouds (and also the stays with this ship) to allow the crew to climb aloft. You can also see, attached to the front of the tops (the platforms on top of the masts) the lines that go to what the kit identifies as "fiddle blocks". I gotta be honest, I'm entirely sure as to the function of these blocks - whether they were to help secure the tops, adjust the tension on the stays, or something else.

Next come the rest of the masts, which will pretty much double the height of the model. I've already got them made and needing only one more coat of varnish. Then come quite a few more shrouds and stays.

By the way, I've got all my model pictures on my Orkut page if you want to check them out.



Mike

You Gotta Love Google

I know they're going to be taking over the world soon, but they'll be such a benevolent dictator.

This is the message you get if you uninstall Chrome, Google's entry into the Web browser market.

Large Hadron Rap

Okay, I was a physics major so you may think it's just me that finds this funny, but this has been a bit of a hit on YouTube.

Awesome job, CERN.

Mike

Portrayal Of Obama As Elitist Hailed As Step Forward For African Americans

The Onion again. You know, I've got to start spending more time there.



Mike

Kansas Outlaws Practice Of Evolution

The Onion can truly be awesome sometimes.

The Onion: Kansas Outlaws Practice Of Evolution

Favourite Quote:

Anti-evolutionists such as Hellenbaum have long accused microorganisms of popularizing "an otherwise obscure, agonizingly slow, and hard-to-understand" biological process. "These repeat offenders are at the root of the problem," Hellenbaum said. "We have the fossil records to prove it."

Mike