Steam Radiator Tips.

It got down to 63° last night, so we cranked up the furnace this morning to warm the house. I've been meaning to gather a list of links on caring for steam heating systems. In no particular order: Bleeding, shimming, gurgling and clangs, Steam radiator tips, and troubleshooting a steam distribution system.

Posted on October 3, 2008 4:02 PM | link to this entry

Honcho.

Gone are the days, sadly, when a major car manufacturer would actually print the word Honcho on the side of a vehicle. This is no pantywaisted leather cocoon of luxury. This is a man's man's vehicle. (craigslist link)

Posted on June 23, 2008 10:33 PM | link to this entry

Ice on Mars

Mars lander finds bits of ice, according to NASA. Ice, bitches! If it's true, this could be a huge step for travel and colonization.

Posted on June 20, 2008 9:10 AM | link to this entry

Apache Rescue in Iraq

I don't remember hearing about this, but it's an amazing story. A two-seat Apache helicopter evacuated a wounded soldier in Iraq last year; they strapped the soldier inside while the copilot rode outside strapped to the wing. Outstanding. Here's some video.

Posted on March 27, 2008 11:16 PM | link to this entry

Life After People

Life After People, History Channel, 9PM Monday the 21st. This stuff has fascinated me for years. I know where I'll be Monday night.

Posted on January 18, 2008 2:31 PM | link to this entry

Lego Yamato

Jesus Christmas, I would have sold my everloving soul to Satan for this model when I was a kid. Some kook in Japan is building a model of the battleship Yamato in his living room, the ship that inspired my favorite show, Star Blazers. (via)

Posted on November 17, 2007 3:25 PM | link to this entry

Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay

From Metafilter this morning: An excellent post about the Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay, which is the largest concentration of wooden steamship wrecks in this hemisphere. Here's the history behind it—some things never change.

Posted on September 14, 2007 10:32 AM | link to this entry

Buran

Tweaking my dual interest for airplanes and abandoned equipment, here are some photos of the Soviet space shuttle Buran, abandoned since 1989 at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Siberia. Here's a little more on the subject. (via)

Posted on September 13, 2007 2:34 PM | link to this entry

In the Shadow Of The Moon

A new (award winning) documentary about the Apollo space missions, compiled from remastered NASA footage, with interviews of the surviving astronauts. The trailer alone gave me goose bumps. It's hard to even imagine what living through that time must have felt like. (via)

Posted on September 5, 2007 2:01 PM | link to this entry

Honeybees

There's a fantastic article in the latest New Yorker about the mysterious honeybee illness that's threatening the commercial apiary business here in America. (Commercial honeybees are essential for pollinating most of the crops grown and sold here in the States.)

Posted on August 2, 2007 9:24 AM | link to this entry

Carbibles.com

Carbibles.com, a site written by a non-expert in a normal (and UK-based) tone about, well, car stuff. Interesting reading. (via)

Posted on July 12, 2007 9:30 AM | link to this entry

"Lost" Creators Finding an Ending

'Lost' creators: We know where we're going
"It's time for us now to find an end point for this show," [executive producer Carlton] Cuse said during ABC's portion of the Television Critics Assn. winter press tour in Pasadena. "It's always been discussed that the show would have a beginning, middle and end."

This is probably, as much as I hate to say it, the best thing possible for the show. Better to end the way the creators intended than to fizzle out like the X-Files.

Posted on January 16, 2007 3:49 PM | link to this entry

Search for Original Apollo 11 Footage

NASA retirees search for original Apollo 11 footage. It's missing. Also: the image we've all seen was second-quality copy—they pointed a TV camera at a monitor of high-quality feed from the moon. And, there's only one machine in the world that can play the tapes. (RealPlayer req'd.)

Posted on July 31, 2006 1:27 PM | link to this entry

Aircraft Cockpits.

Aircraft Cockpits.
I love this kind of stuff. I love this stuff in the same way that I love the Serial Number List, an exhaustive and obsessive recording of all the planes owned and flown by the U.S. military. I am a geek. (via)

Posted on April 6, 2006 11:37 AM | link to this entry

Hint, Hint.

For those in the know, this is not a bad idea, nor is this, nor is this...
(link to main site-follow blue note link on left)

Posted on March 14, 2006 11:34 AM | link to this entry

Strange Perspective.

Strange Perspective.
I dig old planes, and plane graveyards. This weblog has lots of good info and pics from the Mojave airport, home of many old planes. This particular picture blows my mind—look at the size of the MD-80's in front compared to the (I'm guessing) Tristar in the background. Amazing!

Posted on February 22, 2006 6:03 PM | link to this entry

How To Pick The Perfect Steak.

How To Pick The Perfect Steak.
This is good information, considering the number of crap-ass steaks I've brought home in the last five years. (via)

Posted on February 16, 2006 11:05 PM | link to this entry

Smart Power Strip.

Smart Power Strip.
This is cool; it would be better if there was a surge protector/UPS integrated into the unit.

Posted on January 11, 2006 9:55 AM | link to this entry

Hugh Thompson, RIP.

Hugh Thompson, RIP.
Proof that one man with a conscience can make a difference.

Posted on January 7, 2006 9:39 AM | link to this entry

Stabilized Zapruder Film

Stabilized Zapruder Film
This will horrify and amaze you, folks. It's fascinating in a car-accident sort of way.

Posted on January 3, 2006 9:30 AM | link to this entry

Inexpensive Pseudo-SLR Digital Camera.

Inexpensive Pseudo-SLR Digital Camera.
Hmm. Leica lens, 5MP in an SLR body for $350? Sounds too good to be true. (via)

Posted on December 13, 2005 10:05 AM | link to this entry

SurplusShed

SurplusShed
A company that resells surplus government optics, instruments, and lenses. I'd buy this adapter to put on my Minolta 35MM zoom lens.

Posted on December 8, 2005 11:31 AM | link to this entry

Firaxis Sold.

Firaxis Sold.
Somebody made a lot of money there. I'd bet it wasn't the employees. Better start polishing those resumes, kids...

Posted on November 14, 2005 11:05 AM | link to this entry

Sub $100 Laptop.

Sub $100 Laptop.
This is great on so many different levels. I'd love to get my hands on one of these to build stuff for it.

Posted on November 4, 2005 3:00 PM | link to this entry

Predicta Televisions

Predicta Televisions
Old-skool Philco television design, with new cases and electronics. Sweet.

Posted on October 3, 2005 11:11 AM | link to this entry

DIY Endoscope.

DIY Endoscope.
It is my firm belief that men like this have the power to change the world. Right on.

Posted on August 23, 2005 10:27 AM | link to this entry

Baltimore Crime Blog.

Baltimore Crime Blog
Interesting reading.

Posted on August 18, 2005 2:35 PM | link to this entry

Compare Bank Rates.

Compare Bank Rates
Well-designed site, and helpful, too.

Posted on August 2, 2005 11:57 AM | link to this entry

Cell Tower Search

Cell Tower Search
Ever wondered why your cell reception sucks? Look for some local towers, thanks to Google.

Posted on July 26, 2005 2:58 PM | link to this entry

Build Your Own Chat-Cord

Build Your Own Chat-Cord
VoIP using this gadget and your existing phone. Cool.

Posted on July 5, 2005 4:06 PM | link to this entry

Lego Journal

Lego Journal
I would have killed for this as a 10-year-old kid.

Posted on June 24, 2005 7:26 PM | link to this entry

$30 Disposable Digital Video Camera

$30 Disposable Digital Video Camera
Sweet. I'll wait until they hack this one, and pick it up.

Posted on June 8, 2005 10:01 AM | link to this entry

Flag art Project

Flag Art Project
Via Jen. What a great idea.

Posted on May 20, 2005 11:21 AM | link to this entry

Impact driver wrench

Impact Driver Wrench
I NEED this tool. (Thinking of the Scout)

Posted on May 16, 2005 3:32 PM | link to this entry

Interstate Wine Sales Legal

Interstate Wine Sales Legal
You better BELIEVE I'm ordering wine off the internet.

Posted on May 16, 2005 2:15 PM | link to this entry

Vietnam Primer

Vietnam Primer
Lessons learned, c. 1966, or, how not to fight a war. RIP D. Hackworth.

Posted on May 6, 2005 1:41 PM | link to this entry

Antique Tile

Antique Tile
I have no firsthand experience with this company, but I'll keep you posted.

Posted on May 4, 2005 9:54 PM | link to this entry

Postsecret

Postsecret
I think I wrote about this before, but it's worth another look.

Posted on April 29, 2005 4:25 PM | link to this entry

Flickr Pro Upgrade

Flickr Pro Upgrade
$24.95 for 2GB of uploads and archiving. I will do this.

Posted on April 19, 2005 12:22 AM | link to this entry

Memory Meme

Memory Maps Meme.
via Google Maps and Flickr. Here's mine.

Posted on April 15, 2005 3:47 PM | link to this entry

Australian camper home

Australian Camper Home
I've always dreamed of having a self-contained RV, but this is crazy.

Posted on April 15, 2005 12:54 PM | link to this entry

Sin City frame comparison

Sin City frame comparison
I'm so excited to see this movie...

Posted on March 31, 2005 5:35 PM | link to this entry

Blockbuster busted

Blockbuster busted
"No more late fees" my ass. I want my $5.40 back, bitches.

Posted on March 30, 2005 10:27 AM | link to this entry

La Vida Robot

La Vida Robot
Excellent story from Wired about an unlikely team winning an engineering competition.

Posted on March 29, 2005 5:23 PM | link to this entry