Hysteria

From recent experience I have to agree that the bassline of this song makes a great demo if you want to show off your programming and robotic hardware project. An incredible tech achievement!
I've got my hands full trying to play it through one time without stumbling badly.

They say that "muscle memory" requires up to 2000 repetitions to get it right but I never bought into that before now, because I like to interact freely with the other musicians. This song screams out for "Charge Ahead" on the bass and hope for the best.
What is the "exit strategy" should you blow a note? Get out of synch and where do you go?

God forbid the drummer comes in a little faster than I can manage.

Hovering Birds

Pretty excited about this purchase:

Seeing all the hummingbirds at the inlaw's feeder last week had the idea fresh in our minds, then a few days later coming across low-low prices for a feeder and nectar concentrate powder...why not?

Put it up on Saturday, then added cord to lower it down on Sunday so it wasn't as hidden under the patio roof, saw our first hummer on Monday.
Not bad.

Each day the sightings increase, which is great.


What have I learned from Gurgle about these tiny wonders?

The nectar is not their main food--they use it like an energy drink to improve their hunting of insects.
They eat mosquitos and other little bugs, and even snatch them out of spider webs. Yoink!
Many species migrate all the way to Panama for the winter--some even taking the 20+ hour over-the-gulf route.
The only bird that can fly in reverse, and that can hover without help from the wind.
Average weight is around 3 grams.
Migrating hummers will visit the same feeders on the route, often on the same day of the year, so they have good memories.
They are very territorial with feeders, chasing away others of their kind as well as bees and anything else hanging around. For all I know, we only have the one visitor so far--I saw a quick battle today.
Tolerate humans rather well, as can be seen on YouTube videos of people with small feeders in their mouths.

My ultimate goal is to get some serious pictures of them.
Hang a backdrop, put some of my radio-triggered flash units on stands near the feeder, pre-focused DSLR on tripod also nearby, trigger shutter using IR remote from inside the house.
Piece of cake? Hope so.

Probably give it a shot in September when it isn't 10,000 degrees and we have more traffic at the feeder so I'm not peeking through the blinds for hours on end with my batteries draining away.

Random Purchases Of Note

At Academy Sports & Outdoors, these banners have been slashed to around 15%.
Banner only, so pin it to the wall or improvise a compatible flag pole like I did using parts from a microphone stand.
Need to bring it back inside and iron it.

At Home Depot Sylvia spotted this incredible deal:

Not often you can get 16 light bulbs for $5.88
Even if half of them pop as soon as the more expensive ones, you're still way ahead.
Hilarious that the retro commemorative packaging mentions itself repeatedly.

Blanca Suave!!!

Cool White for my crackers needing translation.
Extra laughs because these cheapo bulbs are made in Hungary of all places.

Also needed some brighter bulbs for the bathroom to facilitate makeup and girly stuff, so I grabbed a 4-pack of these much different GE bulbs:

Supposedly delivering the same output as 100w incandescent bulbs, these GE "Energy-Efficient" bulbs only consume 72 watts.
As you can see in the photo, there is a small halogen bulb inside the normal one.
Fascinating!
$6.97 for a 4-pack, made in Mexico instead of Hungary.
Where are GE's LED bulbs made?

Supposed to last way longer.
Have installed a pair and they are bright enough to back some of their claims, although it's difficult to prove the one about using 28% less energy.


Thanks for reading this weak's update.
It's my birthday, and with all of my work-type situations imploding right now it was fun to focus on dumb stuff from Home Depot. I won't discuss the toilet repair part we bought unless it doesn't work properly and I want to complain. My tip for home plumbing repairs is to never attempt them at night or on weekends, because if you screw anything up or another part nearby gets busted by an errant wrench you need professional backup.

So far I really like my new 2xAAA LED penlight used to illuminate the halogen bulb internals. I hope it stands up to hard use after my dissappointment with supposedly better units that cost 3x as much.

Does heavy music work with reality TV?
We'll be answering this question very soon.
When I floated the idea of Televators being on a reality show, Sylvia busted out laughing and couldn't stop for a very long time,
Then started up again.
And again the next time I mentioned it.
And again a few hours ago.
Can't say I disagree.

Stay tuned...

Verdicts

Weird coincidence today, given the media obsession with events in Florida.
For about an hour I was worried about becoming the next George Zimmerman.

While potting some plant clippings on the patio around 5pm (thanks Eddie!) I noticed movement in the alley. Normally this would be deer, but it was too close to our fence and didn't follow the usual patterns. I'm trying to make sense out of what's visible thru the little gaps between fenceboards. Eventually resolves into somebody sitting with their back against our fence and doing stuff that involves moving their arms on a regular basis--that's all I can discern--but based on past evidence of drug and inhalant abuse in the same spot over the last few years I'm getting angry that whoever's getting freaky in our alley is back. I enlisted a spotter to keep track of them while I prepare my tools and we discuss a gameplan.
Police? No evidence that this is needed...yet.
Eventually our mystery man stands up and starts walking back and forth and possibly practicing Tai Chi, Yoga, or just dancing while completely wasted on a hot afternoon. We agreed that it was very bizarre behavior that needed intervention.
Ended up going out in the backyard fully prepared in a conspicuous way that's in keeping with Texas traditions and laws and banged my buttstock against the fence while eyeballing him over the top. Nice simple conversation with a white/semi-ginger punkass (20-ish) in red shorts wearing a backpack:

Me: "Hit the road, and DON'T come back!"
Him: "uh...OK" (walks away)

Got in the car and tried to catch him exiting the alley for a mugshot, but he had completely evaporated, which reinforces my earliest guess that it's a close neighbor kid who can't get high at home. He probably hopped his own fence a few houses down and hopefully realized what an idiot he's been and how close he came to having a very bad day.


Twice I've had to send big wet piles of blankets and pillows and drug paraphernalia to the landfill from the same spot--it's good to finally have a face to match with the evidence, if it's the same fool.
VERY glad it didn't escalate in any way.
Next time, now that he's been warned, the cops will be directed to come from each end of the alley and a complaint will be signed.

I'm tired of this asshole and want to be done with the nonsense.

4th of July

This young man from Nigeria not only graduated basic training to become an Airman yesterday, but also at the same moment became a US citizen:

Our nephew (already a citizen) also graduated BMT:

Have a happy and safe 4th.

Okay, I'm Over It

SO close!!
My spirit was crushed for over a week, and life had no meaning.
Time to move on and make the Spurs better enough to go all the way in 2014--won't take much!!

Televators News: We are playing at Leather & Lace in Austin this coming Wednesday July 3rd, and back here in SA at The Falls on Friday the 5th, and Boneshakers the 6th.

Our nephew Aaron is graduating from basic training at Lackland AFB (SO proud of him!) and related events are also scheduled for July 3,5, & 6. Going to be a busy week.
Good thing I can kick back on the 4th of July, right?
Nope--my first time running sound for the brand-new country band 5th Wheel is on the 4th. It's a rougher, harder-rocking country band than my last one so I look forward to finally hearing what I've gotten myself involved with.



My pepper crop this year is coming in nicely.
The jalapenos and serranos taste great and have good heat.
The chili piquins that wintered in the garage are plentiful, but both of my very old chiltepins aren't fruiting so it's a good thing I found an amazing wild specimen in the alley that's going to get dug up and potted when I get the time. This lush little round bush already has enough Scoville units to blister the mouths of everyone within a rifle shot.


I want this:

A little too white for my tastes, although it has the advantage of changing color depending on stage lights.
Perhaps some thin trim of fine wood veneers, or maybe airbrushing select areas of black.
Then there's steampunk details...