Posts created during January 2007
The Ultimate Settlers of Catan
Wed, 01/31/2007 - 08:52 — Sean CarneyLast weekend was the Whyte Ridge annual winter retreat at camp and we played the largest game of settlers possible. Mark, Girish, and I brought our boards and expansion packs, which were combined into one huge board.
The game was crazy. It was strange having to get up and walk around simply to place things on the board, or stand up to get a clear view of the other side of the board. We had originally planned on playing to thirty nine points, but ran out of time so we abandoned the game when supper was ready. Mark ended up winning with twenty nine points.
It was really fun although the thirty five minute set up and take down times were a bit on the long side for my liking. Someday we'll have to try this again and actually play all the way to thirty nine points.
Presenting... Class Six!
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 21:33 — Sean CarneyWay back in August I wrote about going white water kayaking one evening, and the movie "Class Six" which resulted from the trip. Some trailers were posted on SeanTV and I said that I was going to post the full version later. Well... I forgot, but in my defense I am sure you all did too. Anyways, I remembered, so here it is: Class Six (length: 21:12)
Beacon
Sun, 01/21/2007 - 18:12 — Sean CarneyYesterday I finished making a beacon which is a type of BEAM robot which I can best describe as a solar powered nightlight. I needed something strange to put on my desk, and this fits the bill.
I have always been really interested in robotics, but I lacked the skill, knowledge and cash to create anything interesting. Making robots was completely out of my reach. Last year I got a subscription to MAKE magazine and learned about BEAM robots which are easy to make, and use renewable power sources.
I like BEAM robotics because it emphasizes the form and aesthetics of a robot and not just the function of it. The robots are modeled after insects and plant life for their looks, and the simple logic they posses is also very similar. They are made from cheap parts and are great to fiddle with and learn from.
I might have a new hobby on my hands.
It's Bloody Cold Out!
Mon, 01/15/2007 - 00:15 — Sean CarneyI really wanted to avoid posting an entry on my blog like this, but I have fallen to a cliche - talking about the weather. The thing is, I think I have good reason to talk about it, because something as simple as the temperature outside has a huge effect on my day to day life.
For example, I tend to run late when it is cold because I need to spend extra time getting all bundled up before even leaving the house. I would love to the use the cross country skis I got for Christmas, but I am not inclined to until the temperature returns to a balmy -10 C. The thing is I am less inclined to leave the house when it is this cold.
I took a few pictures today, perhaps fifteen. Not a long time by any means, I took probably forty five seconds to take them, and by the time I was done I had lost most use of my thumbs. I really forgot how much fun it is to take pictures in the winter.
The cold also leads to interesting social patterns. Earlier this week the malls were simply dead, because no one wanted to leave the house. On the weekend the mall was packed. It was like Christmas all over again. The thing is everyone seemed to be around the food court. The mall wasn't a place for shopping as much as social interaction. People stayed inside for a week, and when cabin fever got to them, they went out regardless of the cold.
So anyway, I am waiting until the temperature rises a bit before I pursue outdoor activities or a social life again. I have to say that Emily sure picked a good time to leave for South Africa.
My New Alarm Clock
Sun, 01/07/2007 - 22:36 — Sean CarneyLate in the summer of 2005 my alarm clock broke. It was very sad because I had been using that same alarm clock for four years without any problem. I could still use it, and it was used until the end of this summer. The problem was the only way to change the alarm time was to stuff a pen into the back of it an wiggle it around a lot until the clock decided to change to the correct time.
At the end of camp this year when we were cleaning house on the rock I found a broken alarm clock. As usual with shampoo and broken alarm clocks, no one claimed it as their own and it got dumped into my stuff. The face was broken and a button was missing but I used it for a few days as my clock became even less cooperative.
Today Girish and I went to Value Village to see what stuff we could scare up. He really didn't see anything that caught his fancy but I saw a few things which cried out to be worked on. The first was an old portable radio which really wanted to house a CD player. I decided that it would be a bit much work and moved on. Next I saw some old alarm clocks and joysticks. Now there's a project just waiting to happen. I had seen a similar project in Make using a Nintendo light gun, so I figured a joystick would be just as good.
I started work on it when I got home with Girish looking curiously over my shoulder. I managed to get it finished and working in relatively short order. It has one small quirk that I haven't been able to figure out, but for the most point it works perfectly. When you press the button on the controller it has the same effect as pressing the snooze button. You can set the clock time and the alarm time by simply moving the joystick back and forth. From now on the gloomy feeling of having to set my alarm clock for early in the morning will be partially offset by the fun of playing with the joystick to set the time.
Resolutions
Tue, 01/02/2007 - 14:11 — Sean Carney2006 is now over and I must say it was a pretty good year. I really preferred it over 2005, which was a great deal more stressful. I am still alive, which in my view, means that 2006 was a success.
Lets look back at my resolutions for 2006. In fact I'll score my completion of them from 1 to 10 with 10 being "Yes, I held that resolution" and 1 being "I don't remember saying that!"
(8) Stop antagonizing world of warcraft players
(6) Start berating world of warcraft players
(7) Replace the word 'rice rocket' in my vocabulary with 'underpowered, ugly car'
(2) Remember that provincial forests are not my private bathroom
(10) Drive faster than 7.5 km/h past photo radar vans
(10) Attempt to keep this blog / a blog running indefinitely
(5) Stop joking about using compromising photos for blackmail
(10) Be nice towards the Dutch
(3) Remember that ticks and mosquitoes are not specifically targeting me
(8) No longer follow the first rule of Italian driving (what is behind me isn't my problem) when backing up
(6) Refrain from playing with fire simply because I am bored
(7) Attempt to exercise once a while
(1) Start working on my 2007 resolutions list before December 29th
(2) See the sun rise more often (but not because I stayed up all night)
(9) Update this blog at least twice a week during classes
(8) Keep in better contact with my friends
So, overall in the past year I was roughly 63.75% successful in keeping these resolutions. Not bad when compared to most other people's resolutions.
For the sake of continuing to improve myself, here are some resolutions I have come up with for the next year.
I resolve to:
- No longer attempt to raise my grades by lowering the grades of my classmates.
- Be less of a 'tea snob'.
- Keep a straight face when preaching about how Moses put two of each animal on the ark of the covenant.
- Continue finding the strangest music to listen to.
- Stop worrying so much about the future.
- Not cook any M&S Ultra Lunch this year at camp.
- Spend time outdoors at least once a week.
- Spend more time with friends
- Keep my desk clean.
- Find ways other than mess to persuade people to keep far away from my desk.
- Mail more random letters to friends, regardless on where on earth they are.
- Take some sort of action on the list of things I have always wanted to do
- Think of some resolutions before December 31st.
- Look at this list of resolutions at least once during the next year to remind myself.
Road Building
Tue, 01/02/2007 - 00:42 — Sean CarneyA few days ago my father and I drove up north to Bissett to visit the cottage lot. Construction of the road is already in full swing so I couldn't help but take a few pictures of the logging.
I'm so very tired right now. Last night was really late, and this morning came fairly early. I'll do the usual new years entry tomorrow.