Tag: san francisco

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Day 104 and 105: Bringing Home Sand

stuntrabbit

This morning the camp next to us is having a bloody mary party. You’re supposed to bring a cup, but one guy forgot his. In exchange for a cup, he’s providing an eloquently-sung limerick of questionable taste for the entire camp. Today I head back to the city. I’m having a fantastic time, but there are things I still want to do at home before my coach turns into a pumpkin. I’m proud to be an original member of Open Kitchen Camp. Side Note: These two have posted some more fun pictures from the trip here. I spend the morning … Continue reading Day 104 and 105: Bringing Home Sand

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Day 88, 89, 90: Roadside Demon Machine

stuntrabbit

This is some else’s secret plan. They thought of this and built it before I even realized it was needed. There’s a gasoline engine and a propane tank… but what’s it for? Aha. “A machine for adding that hometown textured feel to crosswalks.” Those three rows of pressure-stampers are patiently stamping brick patterns into the new asphalt. Then they get painted. The part of the machine labeled “HOT” has a little skull hanging from it. Inside the tank, I’m picturing a pentagram with a demon sitting inside it, generating heat for the brick stamper. He’s got an orange vest and … Continue reading Day 88, 89, 90: Roadside Demon Machine

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Day 66 and 67: Focus and the Predator

stuntrabbit

I’m spending a couple of days making some serious progress on Secret Plan 174 (the 100-year-old telescope), and also finishing the wiring diagrams for SP161. When you want to get some work done in the city, there are plenty of good places downtown. If you haven’t got time to walk, the Market Street Railway has a whole fleet of restored streetcars from various cities. As 10-minute commutes go, they’re pretty cool. One of my favorite desks is the window table on the third floor of the Virgin building. It’s usually not crowded, the staff is friendly, the grilled sandwiches are … Continue reading Day 66 and 67: Focus and the Predator

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Day 62: Zombie Phones and Baby Alligators

stuntrabbit

While my phone was busy finding the limits of the text messaging infrastructure, my muse’s phone has decided to turn any battery placed inside it into a lump of coal. Two so far this month. I want to stencil little battery icons on the side of it, like mini kill-trophies. She’s giving me that look. Side note #1: When her last phone died a few years ago, I took it apart, soldered in a bypass for the charging circuit, and kept it running for a full year. Yay zombie phone! The look She’s giving me now says “Oh no you’re … Continue reading Day 62: Zombie Phones and Baby Alligators

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Day 56: High Wires and a Good Trade

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Dad and Chuck may be getting themselves involved in a really interesting computer project for the Mt. Wilson Observatory. They’ve asked me to help out as well, so look for pictures of a really big telescope soon. The cats look like they suddenly fell asleep after a high-speed collision. The wires above Muni trains are dangerous and carry extremely high voltages, which is why they’re high off the ground. Going anywhere near them is strictly forbidden, for very good reasons. If you did, though, it would look something like this: First stop today is Tartine Bakery. Everyone who lives nearby … Continue reading Day 56: High Wires and a Good Trade

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Day 16: Pelicans and Snakes

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Right under the Golden Gate Bridge is Fort Point, a defense station which dates back to the Civil War. On a day like today, it seems like a great place to be stationed. Pelicans have a cool prehistoric look. We were very careful not to be eaten by this vehicle. After playing by the bay with Ashley and Alex (our heavy-machinery expert), my muse and I went for a walk on the 3.5-mile trail around a radiotelescope in Palo Alto known as the Stanford Dish. This snake is about 6 feet long, lazy and happy. There’s plenty to eat here. … Continue reading Day 16: Pelicans and Snakes

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Day 15: Time for Projects

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Speaking of sci-fi (weren’t we?), if you like intelligent analyses of good films, take a look at Haden’s blog. I’d swear he and I grew up in the same house. So there’s a hopping-night-spot-which-also-serves-breakfast place nearby, Cafe Flore. My muse and I have never had breakfast there, so that’s where we go. This bar also serves coffee. This place gets crazy-busy at night, but for breakfast it’s mellow and tasty. After food and a walk, we spend most of the day at home, working on projects. She’s building something, and I’m not allowed to say what it is, but it’s … Continue reading Day 15: Time for Projects

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Day 14: Fog and Dangerous Music

stuntrabbit

So I’ve started collecting albums by “Musicians who have been denied entry to the United States.” I picked up Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse today, and I already have Cat Stevens… still need Axel Willner’s band… got any more? I’m looking for recommendations. Why? Maybe it has to do with attraction to things you’re being protected from. Anyway, it’s fun, and the music’s good. This morning’s sunrise was somewhat less brilliant than Wednesday’s… …but the funny thing about San Francisco weather is that a 10-minute drive in any direction (I chose North) will usually get you this: Microclimates are awesome. … Continue reading Day 14: Fog and Dangerous Music

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Day 13: Gargoyles, Scientists and Cookies

stuntrabbit

First thing this morning, I got a surprise phone call about buried ships. Leigh works in the Maritime Library archives. He had heard that I was looking for information on the Niantic wreck, and called to say that he actually has everything recovered from that ship. Tools, supplies, even the champagne (which he says he has not sampled). He’ll be able to show them to me in a couple of weeks. Next person I talked to was my grandmother, who moved to SF from Scotland when she was little. She said “I could have told you they were there. They … Continue reading Day 13: Gargoyles, Scientists and Cookies

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Day 12: No Distractions

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After an excellent sunrise in the city… …the sky clouded over, and it looked like it might rain. Aha! Cool. Finally time to get some heads-down work done. No beautiful weather, no buried ships, no distractions. I take care of a few things first, and just as I’m about to get started, I see the weather’s beautiful again. I really need to get some computer-work done, so without allowing myself to be distracted at all, I waste no time and head straight to the beach. Pillar Point hides some excellent secrets, but I’m not equipped for exploring today. There are … Continue reading Day 12: No Distractions