Archive for 2013

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Potato Cannon Recap

Aug

6

2013

I recent built a potato cannon. For those who remember my post from last month about potato cannon attachments: no, I did not try any of those.

In the past, i.e. before I had 4 kids, I would have taken photos of each step: raw materials, prepared but unassembled parts, partial assemblies, then finished product. But today you aren’t getting any photos. There are plenty of photos and step-by-step instructions already on the Internet. In case you’re wondering – I used the plans from Instructables.

I couldn’t follow the instructions exactly, because the big-box stores didn’t have 3″ solid-core PVC. So I had to go with a 2″ combustion chamber and a 1.5″ barrel. Smaller displacement means less power, but it still worked.

I was somewhat surprised when the potato cannon worked on the first try. Right Guard for the propellant initially. That was noticed by my brother-in-law because that’s what he uses for his deodorant. I told him not to get too close.

After that, I tried WD-40. That didn’t produce any combustion. Maybe my can was too old. So then I tried half Right Guard and half WD-40. That worked pretty well, but I think the Right Guard did all the work and the WD-40 didn’t contribute much.

After about half a bag of potatoes, the cannon started misfiring. One side of the electrode was a bolt with a nut, so it was secure. The other side was held in place by tape. That was not so secure. It wore out, came loose, and the pressure from combustion started coming out the side of the cannon instead of pushing the potato out.

I was going to take the cannon home to add another bolt and nut to fix the problem, but after much spraying of Right Guard and WD-40, the cannon was greasy and smelly. So I left it at my parents’ house.

In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

2 Chronicles 26:15

Posted in Projects | 1 Comment »

Bathroom Redecorating

Aug

1

2013

We decided to add some visual flair to the bathroom.

First, some random stucco on the otherwise-flat ceiling:

photo of shaving cream splattered on a white ceiling

Then, to catch people’s attention, some random stucco on the red wall:

photo of shaving cream splattered on a red wall

Finally, to really make it artistic, some random stucco on the mirror, of all places:

photo of shaving cream splattered on a mirror

I’m not quite sure I would have chosen to decorate in that manner, but that’s the problem with working with artists – their visions might not mesh with yours.

Here’s the real story: I was shaving and I heard a loud POP. The can of shaving cream was on the floor on the other side of the bathroom, and there was shaving cream sprayed everywhere. As you may be able to tell from the photo, the can was a bit rusty. It’s probably over a year old – growing a beard during the cold months in Michigan will make a can of shaving cream last for a long time.

photo of an exploded can of shaving cream

Shaving cream should come with a disclaimer: discard within 7-10 months of opening.

But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

Isaiah 57:20

Posted in Mishaps | 2 Comments »

Another Vacation Recap, Part II

Jul

30

2013

After we spent a week at Maranatha, we stopped at a submarine museum on the way home. Rather than prolong the Maranatha recap, I decided to separate the sub trip into its own post.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the USS Silversides:

photo of name stencil of the USS Silversides submarine

Here is a photo of the whole thing:


panoramic photo of the USS Silversides submarine

Click the photo for full size

Before you get to the submarine itself, you go into the museum to buy tickets. But before you go into the museum, you pass by a play structure. This particular play structure happens to be the turret thingy from a gun boat or old submarine. The kids had fun playing with that.

photo of gun boat playground outside the USS Silversides museum

They might have played longer, but it was a hot, humid day so we urged them into the museum.

Also outside the museum, they had a hedgehog.

photo of hedgehog anti-submarine weapon outside the museum of the USS Silversides submarine

The hedgehog being the anti-submarine device. It fires a couple dozen little mines that land in the water in a circular pattern and sink toward the sub. The spread-out pattern and lack of warning made it hard for subs to evade.

The museum was good. It gave an overview of WWII, since that was the time the sub was commissioned. It gave some insights as to the operations of submarines. It was interesting, but we spent more time on the sub itself, which is where we headed next.

Here is some of the family entering the sub. We all went on board. The older two kids liked it so much they went through it twice.

photo of people entering the USS Silversides submarine

And here is what the control room looks like.

photo of name stencil of the USS Silversides submarine

The best part about the whole thing was the warning sign at the entrance to the sub. I regret not getting a photo of it, but it said something to the effect of “This sub is still operational. Do not touch any controls or levers.”

Everyone had a good time there, then we got in the minivan and drove for an hour and a half – long enough for the younger ones to nap. Stopped for dinner at Culver’s, then drove another hour home.

Thus endeth the vacation.

Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

Acts 21:6

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

A Poster

Jul

25

2013

No, not someone who posts.

Rather, an informational/inspirational/motivational piece of paper. Although it’s not on paper. Unless you print it.

My two main hobbies these days are running and perusing real estate listings. I forget what caused me to combine the two, but I got to thinking about my waist size and urban sprawl. Here is my conclusion:


inspirational poster about how fat cells are like subdivisions

Fat cells are like subdivisions – when one is full, a new one grows nearby. But the old one never disappears.

Or, if you want to think of it the other way:


inspirational poster about how subdivisions are like fat cells

Subdivisions are like fat cells – when one is full, a new one grows nearby. But the old one never disappears.

His sides are filled out with fat,
And the marrow of his bones is moist,

Job 21:24

Posted in Life | No Comments »

Another Vacation Recap

Jul

23

2013

Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Ph…

Wait, wrong intro. Let me start again.

Some of you may recall that we went to Nevada earlier this year. That seems so long ago now, even though it was only three and a half months. Now we have had our second vacation – our annual trip to the shores of Lake Michigan.

Warning: vacation recap ahead.

Visit 2010’s recap of our trip to Maranatha for a refresher course, or to see how similar trips to Maranatha are. We want them to be similar, because kids need traditions.

First up: the pool

photo of kids in the pool at Maranatha

After a couple of days, he wanted neither the swim vest nor the floaty ring. Daredevil is he.

Next up: crafts. There were a couple of cloudy/rainy days, so we went to the craft room more this year than last.

photo of kids at the craft room at Maranatha

(more…)

Posted in Travel | 3 Comments »

Potato Cannon Attachments

Jul

18

2013

Potato cannons are fun for a while, but then it just seems a waste. Flinging tubers far and wide, just for the sport of distance or accuracy. I wonder if we could kill two birds with one stone, or with one potato for that matter.

What if we put hot oil at the end of the potato cannon so that it fried the potato as it exited the barrel?

Then, when you are done firing, you would have some sides for your next meal. However, no one fries a whole potato. So we need to put a slicer of some sort at the end of the barrel, to cut the potato into the desired shapes and sizes. I’m picturing thin wires, like a cheese slicer. Here are some suggestions:

graphic showing various attachments for a potato cannon to make french fries, chips, coleslaw, and orange juice.

Of course those last two would be cabbage and oranges, respectively, instead of potatoes. I was thinking about having a no-pulp option for the orange juice, but I think that would damage the cannon somehow. Just stick with pulpy orange juice and strain it later.

you shall break it into bits and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.

Leviticus 2:6

Posted in Ponder | 4 Comments »

100% is Not Everything

Jul

16

2013

This post is directed at both the FDA and Minute Maid, but you should read it too so that you are warned of the inaccurate labels on food products these days.

I bought a couple of things that were labelled as 100% juice. I like to buy things with as few ingredients as possible.

photo of a box of apple juice labelled as '100% juice'

photo of a box of orange juice labelled as '100% juice'

So I saw these items with “100% Juice” on the package and I bought them, naively thinking that “100% Juice” meant that it contained only juice. A package can’t contain more than 100% of its contents, right? So if 100% of the box is juice, there is no room left for anything else that’s not juice.

photo of the ingredients list of a box of apple juice labelled as '100% juice'

photo of the ingredients list of a box of orange juice labelled as '100% juice'

As you probably have guessed, companies get to round up or something. They start with 100% juice, then they add something so it’s mostly juice and some additives, but they still call it 100%.

That last step is where I disagree. Call it “Mostly Juice”, call it “99% Juice”, just don’t call it “100% Juice” – reserve the label “100% Juice” for items that are juice, all juice, and nothing but juice.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

Posted in Marketing | 3 Comments »

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