WHY DOGS HATE HALLOWEEN

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my heart is sick - RIP Marco Simoncelli

A MotoGP international motorcycle racer I watch (Marco Simoncelli), was killed Sunday in Malaysia when he slid over in a turn and two racers following collided with him and his bike (his helmet came off in the process).

Amazingly, I hadn't heard about the incident, and I didn't know about his death until I watched the recorded race last night. The race started as usual after an overview of the field, Marco promoting his new website, poised for a competitive race, starting on the second row. All was going well for Marco just a few laps in, battling for 4th position, when he innocently slid the bike over ever so slowly, yet directly in the racing path, and the horrific collisions ensued. Everyone immediately knew it was bad (especially heart-wrenching was a camera shot of his girlfriend's reaction after the crash, after just having shown her smiling and waving seconds earlier), and there was stunned silence while waiting for news.

They had stopped the race with red flags and now showed other riders sitting in their garages blankly staring. I stared too, at the screen, frozen in dis-belief, eyes wide, open mouth covered with hand. Waiting, hoping. Race Direction eventually posted our worst fears - he had succumbed to his injuries. I immediately began sobbing, still trying to comprehend.

There only 16 riders at this top level and though hugely popular internationally, my 2 friends and I are some of the loyal, but low in numbers, US fans, so they are all like family to us and I guess that is why it is hitting me so hard. He was only 24 and a new rising star in the series -full of talent, good looks and charisma. His riding style was often considered too agressive, but he was adjusting as time passed and his drive and desire to win remained. He had just placed second at the previous race in Australia and was expected to battle for the win in Malaysia.

There is a moving story from his father here upon their return to Italy yesterday:

http://asia.eurosport.com/motorcycling/simoncelli-snr-in-tribute_sto3004328/story.shtml

Souvenirs from 13 yrs ago

Souvenirs from 13 yrs ago
What's left of the Helmet, Jacket and tail cover from the Ninja ZX7

See previous post for what the bike looked like

ouch

This was crumpled 13 years ago today  -and me with it J
(Though I recovered much better than the bike)

 

 

Instructions for care of babys

Creating a Ping Pong Singles Championship Trophy

 (I forgot I documented this in pictures until today so I am presenting them now) 

Ping Pong Tournament at work a few months ago - since we were hosting a singles as well as doubles contest this time around and we didn't have a singles trophy, we needed one. Even if I wanted to spend money on it, it would probably be cheesy and stale so I checked to see what I had on hand.

• a paddle
• ball
• an old trophy base (sorry Brandon)
• hardware
• adhesives

now to attach them I have a bit of hardware that I rounded which should fit in the handle and secure a threaded bolt shaft to tie it all together

stick the paddle handle in a vise and drill a neat hole as centered and vertical as possible

 test cram the hardware in the hole

 add the assumed finishing hardware

 eyeballing the assembly shows i need to shorten the column (since I don't have a longer bolt)

we'll cut that later - first prep for hardware securing by taping the areas I don't want to get goo on it

we'll be using reliable old jb weld

 mixing equal parts resin and hardener

 mix with a wooden paint stick

until a consistent grey color

it will be fairly liquid to start but it hardens quickly so I must drip and cram as much as I can get into the gap between hardware and handle quickly

 it tends to settle after a bit so I keep adding more using gravity as a helper

I have also prepared a place to hang it as it hardens completely 

it hardens pretty quickly

 as it hardens I begin to cut away the excess

 it has a somewhat leathery consistency at first but is much harder after curing, so I find it best to trim excess before fully curing

need to get it nice and clean so the parts mate up flush

 then it is ready to cure overnight

now to cut the column

first thought: easy hacksaw cut

 kinda looks crooked 

 yup - it's crooked

 breakout the chop saw and get it straight

test assemble the pieces, clear the tape and final assembly

Add a drop of clear auto adhesive to secure a ball

 let it cure overnight

 ready for labeling 

 Ping Pong Singles Championship trophy!

see the lucky 2011 trophy recipient here