August 1972. My brother and I stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin. We had just arrived from London on our first flight ever. The flight was cheap by 1972 standards: just £14. In 2018 pounds that’s £181 (US$230), a lot of money for us: I was an undergraduate, and my brother…… Continue reading The Time I Sneaked onto a Night Train from Communist East Berlin to Prague
Category: Living
Covered Bridge
The University of Minnesota’s covered walkway across the Mississippi provided a welcome respite from rain and slush. Later, I was glad to warm up on one of the light rail trains that run on the lower deck of this bridge.
Former Cream of Wheat Headquarters
Walked to a Home Depot to choose picture hangers and drywall anchors. On the way, stopped to enjoy the 1928 Art Moderne former Cream of Wheat headquarters and factory, now condos.
Christmas Food, UK-Style
Enjoyed Christmas pudding, ice cream, and whipped cream. Later we had Christmas cake which a friend made in the UK and managed to get through customs.
Patient Canoes
While I walked, canoes waited for the ice to melt on Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis.
Christmas Crackers
First Christmas gathering of the season at our nephews’ and their parents’ home. Our nephews had insisted on Christmas crackers (a British tradition). We’ve brought them up well.
British Seasonal Fare
British seasonal fare: Dwight made (sweet) mince pies and I made/assembled sausage rolls.
Specialized Household Items
Posted A Motorized Ottoman and Other Specialized Household Items.
A Motorized Ottoman and Other Specialized Household Items
I like good solutions to household challenges. Take harvesting apples. When we had a house, there was a lovely apple tree in the front yard. Every year it produced an amazing quantity of crunchy, sweet apples. Problem: How do we reach the highest apples?Solution: We used an apple picker. Apple PickerA balding male who attempts…… Continue reading A Motorized Ottoman and Other Specialized Household Items
Test Network Rig
Built a test rig for the network I’ll set up in our new home. Devices connected to the switch in this prototype include: Google Wifi (mesh), OBiTALK (Google Voice VoIP), and Internet of Things (Samsung SmartThings, and Philips Hue).