What Are You Working On?

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm a big fan of Tesla's work myself.

As am I!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SzTVnSMlF0]YouTube - Tesla "Modern Day Cowboy"[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyHkcY_U7to"]YouTube- Edison's Medicine - Tesla[/ame]




Oh wait...you mean the Serbian genius whose inventions are a substantial part of the backbone of modern society. Yeah, I like him too (as does the namesake band...).

 

[Jack7]

As am I!

I didn't even know they existed till I heard that. But I saw a hairdoo just like that guy's one time in Aberdeen. It caught fire at a rodeo and catfish fry and they lost three good clowns in the conflagration. It was just like the Edmund Fitzgerald all over again.


This isn't really something I've been working on, but it is something I've been following for some time. I thought some of you might be interested in the reopening of the Museo Leonardiano. Here's a press release and a link to the program:

Museo Leonardiano


As for me, tonight I was watching a DVD copy of the second season of the Wild Wild West borrowed from the public library. The disc was scratched terribly (because so many people don't treat library CDs and DVDs very well) and the show hung in several places. While I was watching it I thought that although the disc was stopping in play progress, it actually looked as if the data or information on the disc were being stretched, or elongated.

This gave me an idea for two possible inventions. First of all data and image discs which are coated with a covering (which will not interfere with the optical or otherwise reading of the data), that shields the disc itself from being scratched but the same covering allows the imprinting (by the disc) upon itself of a holographic impressive overprint on the covering. Or with a coating that allows the disc itself to act as a "holographic mirror." This would mean that even if the protective covering were damaged, or the disc itself scratched, there would be imprinted upon the disc an innate (or reflective) holographic image of the original data which the reader could then use to reconstruct (or simply re-read) any lost data or image points obscured due to mishandling and physical damage. If an acceptable holographic coating, or mirrored holographic coating, could be developed (and ideally it would be in spray form because then you could go back and treat already existing but uncoated discs) then it would likely possess the secondary benefit of allowing extra data and information space to be added to any disc so treated. If you could encode mirrored holographic information correctly so that only certain readers could detect it then this application would also have potential benefits as an espionage and intelligence tool. I've even thought of this app as a possible extension of "environmental encoding" through the development of sprayed on holographic or steganographic images that could be value-added to any existing CD or DVD, but only read by a particular and properly calibrated reader.

The second idea I had involved data disc area and storage capacity. Suppose in the manufacturing process of creating the disc in the first place you intentionally scratched the readable surface area of the disc because you could write or implant in the walls of the scratches (obliquely) and in the trenches of the scratches either additional data and information, or duplicate versions of the intended imprinted data, images, and information. The scratches themselves would then act as "preservation trenches" for either the original data (like storing data in hidden recesses previously unused or empty, but now filled) or to enhance and augment the original data with additional data. The scratches then could serve tow distinct functions, or perhaps both function simultaneously depending upon how information is imprinted: Data preservation, or data enhancement, which would have the added effect of greatly increasing the storage capacity of the data disc itself.

The trouble with the second idea is that one would have to develop both new types of imprinters (capable of successfully imprinting data in such scratches and intentionally designed trenches), and new types of readers which could detect and read such data at oblique angles of approach and decipherment. Both ideas interested me however because of the inherent potentials.

Other than that I'm working on my staff officer work, studying for my final exam for CERT, and I have just finished my notebook of Fundamental Plans, and slightly revised my Plot Machine. I'm also reviewing my Investment Portfolio to see how it can be improved. But little time for anything else right now. I've written a few poems and started an essay on Thaumaturgy, but that's about it for me.

I'd be happy to hear what others are up to lately.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

- First and foremost, working on writing my book on the cryptozoology and such of Pennsylvania. I've actually gotten a few compliments on what I've put together so far. It'll likely be published through the CFZ. So far, I've got two complete chapters and quite a few fragmentary ones, two that are about 75% done and one that's only about 25% done. Also several that amount to a written sentence.

- Hand in hand with that, I'm also covering Pennsylvania and Maryland for the CFZ-US so I'm generally keeping a track of cryptozoology stuff in those two states. If anyone knows any, feel free to contact me!

- Working on my DnD homebrew, naturally. Trying to split time between my homebrew and my CFZ stuff above - mostly failing miserably.

- Getting rid of the veritable Schwarzwald of weeds growing in our flowerbed. The previous residents of our house didn't weed for years.

 

[Jack7]

- First and foremost, working on writing my book on the cryptozoology and such of Pennsylvania. I've actually gotten a few compliments on what I've put together so far. It'll likely be published through the CFZ. So far, I've got two complete chapters and quite a few fragmentary ones, two that are about 75% done and one that's only about 25% done. Also several that amount to a written sentence.

- Hand in hand with that, I'm also covering Pennsylvania and Maryland for the CFZ-US so I'm generally keeping a track of cryptozoology stuff in those two states. If anyone knows any, feel free to contact me!

You know what I'd like to see? A book on cryptozoology and Chimeras (ancient and modern), and then a chapter or two on the possibilities concerning modern genetics and artificially created Chimeras in modern times.

Cryptozoology delving into what might be possible in the future regarding artificially created Chimeras and odd creatures. Sort of a work on cryptozoological futurism.

Another thing I'd like to see is a book or several good chapters on Frontier's Cryptozoology (weird or legendary creatures of the Frontier's Era in the US and Canada), along with information on Indian stories and myths regarding odd or one of a kind creatures. (I also wouldn't mind seeing a book on weird critters on the Western Frontier, and during the Civil War, versus now, and how have stories and legends about such creatures changed over time, or remained the same or similar?)

Good luck and Godspeed with your work by the way.
Don't post anything to the internet you wanna publish later, but kinda let us know every now and then how it's going and how your subject matter proceeds.

 

[Jack7]

Well just finished my final exam, debriefing, and graduation from my initial CERT training. I'm glad it's over, two months is a long time. But it's required by my squadron nowadays. So it was good to do it now.

Tonight I handled triage, though last time they made me SAR Leader. I prefer Search and Rescue (cause I'd much rather be in the field), though I like Triage and medical operations too. I think though that I'm gonna go on with advanced civilian SAR training, and medical training, maybe even shoot for instructor or district coordinator.

My ultimate goal is to have a wide variety of well rounded Military, Law Enforcement, Medical, SAR and disaster response skills. I'm pretty well set except for the disaster response and medical skills. I've had good and sometimes even extensive training in both categories, but I'm not yet satisfied with my level of training in those fields. I can use some more training with civilian SAR too probably. I think all of these skills will assist me when I train to become a Priest, especially working in the field. I can be the kind of priest who can help respond in bad situations and in isolated locations. By the way, here is the training program I developed for my preliminary Priestly studies. I've been meaning to do that but kept forgetting about it with other things cropping up. I posted it to my blog. Hopefully by the time I start real training I'll be well ahead of the curve.

Anyways I really liked my instructor (he's recently been certified as an International Law Enforcement Instructor) and I made a lot of new, solid contacts for my PIIN in local law enforcement, especially in the training and patrol sections. And the sub-station out at the airport. Which is fine cause I'll fly from there from time to time. So that was a good part of the training as well.

For graduation they gave us all a really nice kit. It was much better than I had been expecting. It's a useful kit which I'll add onto once I make a complete inventory, but I thought it was a right nice little equipment pack.

My daughters got to be earthquake victims in the training simulation. They seemed to have had a ball and it was good training for them too. I was proud of em. But again, I'm glad it's over.

Now that's it's finished though I can devote time to my conversion and priestly studies, I can get back to work on a novel I'm writing, work on some prototypes on two invention ideas I had during class (one is for breakaway roof structures during earthquakes), finish some more landscaping, and work on a couple of scientific experiments I've been meaning to pursue. Sometime this summer, now that I've made all of my lands a wildlife preserve, I'm gonna try and set up some specific habitats here and there for various local creatures. That'll be more of a fun hobby I undertake with the kids.

For now though I think I'll just have a glass of wine and go to bed.
I'm pretty much played out for one day.

 

[Jack7]

Some time ago I turned my land into a private game and wildlife preserve. a lot of animals live and make their home on my lands now cause they know they won't be hunted and it's safe, and they know they're welcome. So we got a lot of all different kinds of wildlife, and me and the kids have even been building some habitats for some of the critters.

We've got a lot of deer, coons, possum, snakes (long as they aren't copperheads or rattlers or cottonmouths they are welcome), lizards of various kinds, squirrels, rabbits and so forth. I think we got a brown fox too. I also keep places for various spiders and certain types of insects I like to cultivate, like Praying Mantes.

My Danes keep going and getting baby wild rabbits from their warrens, but they don't kill em, just tote em around in their mouths to show me they have em. Makes em real proud to have caught something and they like to show me their work. But since the rabbits are so small, only about three inches long, I'm afraid they'll kill one by accident or put one in shock so I've fortified their warrens to deter my dogs. It don't take much to shock a rabbit to death.

We've also got a lot of different kinds of fowl. Owls, cardinals, water fowl, blue-jays, cranes to the south near the river, all kinds of birds. About an hour before dark tonight I walked out to the east field and saw two huge and very beautiful hawks a'mating.

That pleases me as I know they are probably nesting on my lands, but on the other hand it bothers me too. Last season we had a Cooper's Hawk in the west woods who practically annihilated my cardinal and blue-jay population. Especially the really nice and bright male cardinals I had fattened up on dry dog food and table scraps. Once I figured out that he was killing off all of my cardinals I went out and shot in his direction with my revolver several times to try and scare him off. Eventually he left but not before I thought it would be several seasons before I had any new cardinals. But this year I got four couples so far.

I like tracking animals and I like watching em and photographing them. My kids do too.

So aside from my fears about what the hawks may do to some of the other critters this little project is going really well.

I hope to entice some beavers farther inland onto my property as well. See if they'll squat here.
It's a long shot, but worth a try.

Wouldn't mind a small keep to himself bear either, long as it was just one of em.

 

[Tewligan]

I like tracking animals and I like watching em and photographing them. My kids do too.

Ooh, that sounds pretty cool - any chance of sharing some of those wildlife pics of your preserve here?

 

[Jack7]

Ooh, that sounds pretty cool - any chance of sharing some of those wildlife pics of your preserve here?

I do from time to time on my personal blog.
When I get some new ones up I'll put some links up here.

 

[Mistwell]

Some time ago I turned my land into a private game and wildlife preserve.

What does this entail? Did you have to get official recognition from a Government entity? File papers? Post notices? Place fences? Provide proof of a certain amount or type of wildlife? Hire a wildlife expert to certify the land as a preserve?

 

[Jack7]

What does this entail? Did you have to get official recognition from a Government entity? File papers? Post notices? Place fences? Provide proof of a certain amount or type of wildlife? Hire a wildlife expert to certify the land as a preserve?

No, I don't live in California or Oregon or Pennsylvania MW. I live in the Deep South. We don't need government regulations for everything (or most anything) we do. We just do stuff. (I'm kidding to a certain degree, of course, but only partially. We don't much cotton around here to asking government permission to do what we wanna do with our own land. It's my land, I don't need a permit or to file papers. I'll do as I please.)

When I got married it wasn't even legal for us to get hitched. Not according to the state constitution. But then I don't much care about laws or regulations that make no sense. So I did it anyway. I'm an American and a Southerner. The government and experts are way down on my pecking order. So when it comes to stuff like this I pay em no attention.

They want my help for law and peacekeeping, or with SAR, or for the military, or for some disaster I'll do my bit to serve. They wanna tell me what to do with my own property or regulate my rights, they're flat outta luck.

But to be more serious, cause I do understand your point (and I'm not making fun of your point, just the idea that I'd need permission from somebody else to do as I wish), I could file and make it official. But then I'd have to follow whatever crazy regulations the government might invent in the future. The regs aren't bad now, but I'm not selling out my rights or my land for whatever idiocy the government devises in the future.

So instead I just told all my neighbors, "don't hunt on my land, the animals are safe there," and just about everybody around hunts but they all have their own land for that and so they respect my wishes. And I posted signs saying that if you do come on my land for purposes of poaching or other criminal activity then I'll shoot ya myself. Then arrest ya.

As for the habitats I just made some studies of what kinds of animals like what kinds of homes then started making some or creating conditions favorable to their homesteading. Course some critters only lodge around here in certain seasons. And some only come up when they're being hunted elsewhere.

But giving them a refuge has worked out real good for me and the kids. I like critters and it gives me and the kids a chance to study them up close. Gives the animals a safe place to live too. Well, as safe as you can get being a wild animal, seeing as how so many of em like to eat one another. Still, at least for my land I have taken the gun and knife off of their throats.