Pie In Waiting
August 18, 2008
Some of my neighbours find it odd that I’ve got fruit trees in the front yard.
They seem to think that front yards are for golf-course-like-manicured-lawns that you pour water and chemicals on all summer, and heaven forbid you should walk or play on it.
Not sure they appreciate the tether-ball in the front yard either.
Guess they won’t be getting any pie.
August Full Moon Sail
August 17, 2008
When I put Madsu in the water this spring, I challenged myself to get in as many full moon sails as I could this summer.
The weather has been super cooperative - with another clear night last night (August 16th) for my third full moon sail this summer (see June and July).
It was one of the hottest days of the summer and I’d hoped for a nice offshore breeze once the sun went down, but no luck - just a few puffs off the bluffs at Whytecliff Park. So, I didn’t get as much sailing in as past full moon nights, but it was still inspiring to see that huge orb slow rise over the West Van hills.
Perhaps as a way of making up for the lack of wind, there was a wonderful sunset. The sky over Bowen Island turned crimson and reflected back on Madsu’s wake. Nice. Also out and getting an eye full was the massive motor yacht Nova Spirit which passed me inbound to Vancouver.
Now if I could just figure out how to do a long exposure on a moving boat, maybe I could get an actual shot of the moon…
Hockey Stars from Citizens Bank
August 15, 2008
HockeyStars.com launched earlier this week. It’s a fun tool for anyone playing hockey and I was fortunate enough to help with a small part of the site.
I recorded and produced the audio you hear in the flash movies - there are more of them once you’ve registered.
It was loads of fun to work on. Hanging out at the rink all day reminded me of when I was a kid and spending the day at the DMCC arena in Dauphin.
Here’s what the site is about:
Sphere: Related ContentHockeyStars is devoted to the real stars of the game. It’s a free online community for amateur hockey players, coaches, parents and volunteers.
It’s where players come to connect with their teams and others in the community, and where managers and coaches can use online management tools to make team communication and operations easier. HockeyStars makes it easy to share game schedules, statistics, photos, videos and messages with teammates, family and fans.
HockeyStars is powered by Citizens Bank of Canada, a national online bank backed by the ethical grounding that comes from being part of the Vancity Group. Formed in 1997, we have a strong focus on corporate social responsibility and are the only bank in Canada with a clear ethical policy.
What does banking have to do with hockey? Well, some banks open new branches to serve the community around them. We’re opening online branches—small, online communities built around a common interest, like hockey. Through HockeyStars we hope to give back to the community while helping to raise a generation of young savers.
Hilarious Community Engagement Trailer
August 11, 2008
James Glave is at it again.
Not satisfied with writing a wonderful book called Almost Green, James is also making some hilarious videos as a means of promoting the book.
Created with Cam Hayduk, they’re cheeky, gutsy and irreverent - 100% Glave.
The first two are online at his web site Glave.com - I think there will be more coming.
Sleepy Bowen Island gets to be a star as well - not since The Beachcombers has that side of Howe Sound had so much attention !
Solar Charging My Mobile Phone
August 3, 2008
It’s a bit convoluted, but while sailing this morning I was also using the sun to charge my mobile. There’s something magic about silently ghosting along under sail - added bonus is charging batteries at the same time.
On a sailboat, you typically charge up your batteries while using the engine. Just like in your car, an alternator on the motor charges the 12 or 6 v batteries on the boat. But since there is no alternator on Madsu’s old outboard, the only way to charge the 12 volt batteries that run the lights and other on board equipment is to use a battery charger plugged in while at the dock. I do have a 110v AC marine trickle charger installed, but all last season and so far this season, I’ve relied on a 14 x 14 solar panel I bought at West Marine.
It trickle charges the batteries and I’ve not had to plug-in to shore power since I bought it. I put a switch on the panel so that I can send the charge to either one of the two batteries on board, and so far, I’m super happy with the performance of the little panel. I mount it on the stern pushpit, clamped to the rail mount I use for the Force 10 BBQ which is stowed unless I’m using it.
When it was on sale last year, I also bought a small (coffee cup sized) inverter. It plugs into the cigarette lighter socket on the boat and outputs AC. Today I used it to charge my cell phone. I don’t have a 12v charger for the mobile, and don’t need to buy one. The solar panel charges the batteries, the batteries provide power to the inverter, and the inverter outputs AC to my standard phone charger. Nice.
