Beware of Leopard ⁽²⁵⁵⁾

Brian Bilbrey October 28, 2012

Dangerous Sandy

A bit of light drizzle, some breezes, and a second day under cloud cover. That's what has happened so far. But Sandy approaches. The patio furniture is stowed in back, the hanging baskets and flag removed from the front, and the generator is tested and ready. I gave Marcia a walk-through on starting it up today, and she feels content with that. At this beginning of things, our rain gauge stands at 2.96 inches, as of 1700 EDT. School countdown: 7 weeks left. * * * Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors: Chief Warrant…

Brian Bilbrey August 18, 2012

So This Happened...

So this happened: Frankly, I've been tempted by BMW ever since I spent a few days driving a 325 while visiting with my folks a couple of years back. But it took this long to execute on the temptation. The Prius was such a sane, safe choice: great gas mileage, some fun bits of technology built in, and ... great gas mileage. But while it is only three years old, it was starting to get rattly and junky - primarily plastic things on the interior failing. The driver's seat starting to come apart. Stuff like that. And frankly, it's not…

Brian Bilbrey July 28, 2012

Mmmmm, Tomatoes!

Today's harvest from the garden

Brian Bilbrey July 10, 2012

Fresh Pi, Have a Taste

Here's a shot of the screen: The screen is running from my newest linux-based computational device, which you can see at the lower left of the picture above. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, yet, but at $35 plus shipping, I'm sure I can find a cost-appropriate use... I got in on one of the first few batches manufactured, placing my order last February, I think. It arrived today, a few weeks ahead of original schedule. They're supposed to be opening up ordering again in a few days (whenever "mid-July" is, in marketing-speak), at this Newark/Element14…

Brian Bilbrey June 30, 2012

Stormy Weather

Well, not anymore, just back to HOT. It was 104°F according to my car, on the drive home yesterday just after 1600 EDT. By 2130, the lightning was lighting up the sky in the west. Fast moving storms with big winds, shedloads of lightning, and hail plowed through here. Maybe half an inch of rain, too, much of that within a 15 minute period. The good news, from my perspective, is that other than a few blips, we kept our power, both here and at work. More than a million other folks in the greater Metro DC area ... not…