Riding a Robot!

Me riding an industrial robot arm powered by a friend in the streets of Baltimore. Found this looking through old photos and videos and thought it was worthy of a post. It was years ago and believe me I tried to figure out how I could get it to my place but the thing probably weighed a ton or more. It was there for a few weeks before it finally disappeared. Still sad I couldn't find a way to get it home. Still I got to ride on it -:]

Nice Green Clip

I like this rusty green clip.


I also like it in 3D. To bad everyone doesn't have a nice 3D display. It looks much better in full color. The red/blue really kills the greenness of it.

OBX Edition -- Still Life

This was the top of the dresser in our room in the historic beach cottage we stayed at in the Outer Banks, NC for my annual family vacation. The cottage was pretty neat. It was old, kind of spooky and had lots and lots of doors many of which seemed to go nowhere (maybe they were for the ghosts?).

I've been into 3D a long time

And here is a photo from sort of my early days.

I was scanning in a bunch of old photos last weekend when I came across some old 3D Polaroids I had taken. I think they are from around 1985 give or take a few years.

I used to use my parents' Polaroid and film and just walk around taking 3d pictures. I think I used up a lot of their film which was probably not cheap. Good thing they came out with digital cameras or I would be broke. Oh, the picture is of the patio of the house we lived in at the time. Pretty boring except that it's a 3d photo I took 20ish years ago -:]

What's that noise?!

So at about 6:15 this morning Linda and I are woken up bya strange sound from outside the bedroom door. It was kind of a flapping/flopping sound. Of course we are both a little worried it might be some animal flopping around outside our door. Then I bring up that maybe it is Butter (Linda's 16 pound cat) but we quickly decide it doesn't really sound like him. So I decide to get up and see if I can see anything if I open the door a little. I peek out and with the bedroom light on all I can see is Butter sitting in the hall with a concerned look on his face. He kind of looks at me then back behind him then back at me as if to say "Aren't you going to go see what's making that creepy noise in the dark?"I decided if he's disturbed by it I'm more disturbed by it. So I close the door, put on some clothes and some thick socks since I don't have shoes in the bedroom, and go to investigate. I left the bedroom door open so I could see a little in the hall since the light for the hall is at the other end, which, with the noise, seems extra dark and far away. Linda didn't really like my plan and said I had to shut the door in case it was a mouse or rat so it couldn't run in and cuddle up in bed with her. So I step into the bathroom and flick on the light which is only 1/3 as far away as the hall light and shut the bedroom door. I quickly find some shoes and slip them on in case I need to stomp a rat or something plus shoes just make your feet feel safer in situations like this.

I just kind of stand there for a little bit trying to figure out where the noise is coming from. It was kind of sporadic like the noise an animal might make when trapped in a small space. After a few seconds I realize the sound is coming from the bathroom. Okay, the light is on already so I stand looking in. All I see is the bathroom curtain moving around in front of the bathroom vent. So I think maybe it's just the curtain hitting the tub. But as I watch, the motion and the sound just don't match up. I figure it sounds small and not 100% animal so I step in and pull the curtain back and see nothing. Hum. Then I realize the sound is coming from the vent. Cool! Since if it's an animal the vent will protect me! I'm so brave aren't I -;] Here is where the noise was coming from.

I can't really see anything in the vent because it's all dark in
there so I go find our big flashlight and shine it in there and
see this big white thing moving around. At first I think maybe
it's a trapped bird but can't tell so I put my face right up in there
and realize it's only a stupid piece of paper! Now I feel kind of stupid
for wanting to put clothes and shoes on and being so cautious. Maybe
if Butter hadn't acted a little nervous I wouldn't have been as
worried that it was a strange animal. Any way I got a screwdriver,
opened up the vent and took the paper out. Check it out below.

It is some kind of American Express form letter from August
14, 1997. Wow, has it been in our vent for 10 years?! Neat.
The front had dirt and some red scribbling on it like someone
was trying to get a ballpoint pen working. The back is a little
more interesting because it has some kind of list that I can't
make heads or tails of. Any ideas?

Linda is yelling at me now to get ready for work so I have to go
get ready so we're not late. Let me know what you think
the list is, 'cause I have no idea.