| Author | Message | ||
     F_skinner |
Yeah, there are many variables. It will not show me getting home since I turned it off before it updated. I need to play with the software a bit but it is good enough. No stopping off at the strip club since Lynn was watching LOL. The little red dots on my track will show when it updated and what station it went through to update. It is basically taking the raw data from the GPS, packetizing it and sending it out on 143.90 MHZ to other stations that are on the same freq. Eventually that other station will log it and publish it to the APRS site to show the track. Speed, direction, exact road maybe a little off at times. APRS is more of an emergency Search and Rescue and Weather data for Storm Chasers so the weather service and search and rescue guys will also have situational awareness of the people they have and where they are at. There is a text mode linked to email as well but not on my system however I may put that system in the truck one day when the prices come down on the radios. This deal is less that 50 dollars so no big deal, The high speed low drag ones are upwards of 500 without the GPS... Considering I have many of the parts already this was just something fun to play with but does have utility. I need to improve the antenna, GPS antenna location and make a few more connectors...... Pst, don't tell the Uly guys, they will get jealous. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Well, today the world crashed around me for this trip. I had it in my mind that it was the weekend of the 22nd not the 15th. I should have looked at my calander at work..... Here the scoop folks. I inadvertently started a business on the side. A bit of a long story but I'll try to make it short and sweet (as much as possible anyway). My daughter does the art fair circuit all around the country. She came home from a show in DC last Aug with a flower made from spoons. She asked what I thought of it, I told her it was neat but I could do better. Big mistake, her response was "Do it...". So,,,, I did. I bought a bunch of cheap flatware, stainless steel serving cups and some stainless steel bar stock. I fired up the mig welder, turned on the tunes, grabbed a beer and started to play. After about 3 hrs and less than 1/2 a beer (I got in a creative groove and totally lost track of time) I had about 14 or so prototypes. About this time my daughter comes home. She saw my handywork and about did a backflip. Se said it was better than anything she had seen at ANY art fair she'd attended or worked. Skip ahead a week, my next door neighbor owns a garden shop type place in a near by town. She stopped by while I was working in the garage, she saw my "flowers" and demanded that I let her sell them. Who was I to argue? She sold 25 of them in 2 weeks. One of her wholesale customers from Canada wanted another 30 of them. So, long story short, I'm now an "artist" selling these darn things. I've got them in 4 different stores around the Twin Cities area. I've even had to do the "real" business thing, get a tax id, form an LLC (in progress), the whole shebang.. OK, so here's the timing part. My daughter encouraged me to enter a local juried art fair. This past January I submitted an application accompanied with pictures etc. Damned if I didn't get accepted in the "Emerging Artist" catagory. Guess which weekend the art fair takes place...... yeah, the 16th and 17th of July. Needless to say I'm SERIOUSLY bummed. Not only can't I go to the S2 gathering but I'm now an ARTIST doing ART FAIRS selling FLOWERS!!!!! WTF???? I'm a motorcycle riding, cigar smoking (once in a while), scotch drinking (more than once in a while), beer drinking (too often), blues listening, blacksmith wanna be and computer geek. How the hell did this happen???? Do you have any idea what folks pay for this stuff? It's embarrasing.. (not really, it's kind of cool!). This is going to be my first show. It's local, right here in my home town. I cannot miss this opportunity no matter how much I want to be in Michigan. If anyone is heading through the Minneapolis area on the way, you have a place to stay for the evening. I guess it's my way of doing S2 penance... Let the flames begin! Brad Oh, I'm in the process of taking new pictures, I'll post a few when I'm done... No laughing!!! OK?? | ||
| Bartimus |
Frank, that is real slick, I can't wait to track you as you head out on your rides. Quick! run down to the store for me! LOL Brad, tsk, tsk, tsk. What can I say? Getting all Artsy Fartsy on us? WTF? I can already see the abuse coming, your face, in the center of a big flower, made out of spoons, and cups. Oh yea, I'm not so worried about how Frank is going to abuse me, at the gathering.  | ||
| Court |
You can't make this stuff up . . . . I have to tell you . . . in the world of Buell . . .ANYTHING can happen! Where is our Brad and what have you done to him?  By the way . . . where can we buy one of these spoon flower things. . . and I don't want one you did sober either. This is quite cool . . . . . I'm gonna get a drink . . . sit here and wait to see if Road Thing has taken up knitting. . . | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Ok, I knew I was going to get lit up.... Art, not sure! I've got the "Fartsy" part down pretty good it's the Artsy part I'm having problems with.... Court, I've wondered what the hell happened to the old Brad as well. Seems when the 50th thing happened a half decade ago he started disappearing in an odd sort of way... this one is better in many ways but this Brad has more aches and stuff! If Tom takes up knitting, man I'm out of here! Wait a sec, wasn't there a famous LARGE football player that did needlepoint? I guess if Tom want's to knit, well...... Here's a couple of old pics. Some are "production" some are prototypes.    Man, this is embarrassing.....  | ||
| No_rice |
This is quite cool . . . . . I'm gonna get a drink . . . sit here and wait to see if Road Thing has taken up knitting. . . lmao! thatd be a sight! atleast brad is using power tools of a sort. | ||
| Court |
Brad: Those are very cool. Do we have any contact info for where we can buy them? Seriously . . . that's really neat. Court | ||
| Road_thing |
Very cool, Brad! I'm sure Bart will come up with an appropriate surrogate Brad we can abuse in Michigan... I'm inspired. I plan to take possession of a MIG welder here very soon. I've got a motorbike project in the works, but after that I'm thinking of building a knitting machine powered by a Sportster motor... rt ps--be sure to look at the beautiful Norton I've got for sale... | ||
| Essmjay |
Frank- I can split the room with you if it is available. I am making plans to attend. Shane | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Tom, Which MIG unit you looking at? I have some recommendations based on past experience on the low cost units.. I knew I was going to take a bit of incoming flak but I'm a big boy... Court, I don't have a web site up. I have a domain name and everything but I'm a bit reluctant to post pictures. It's not like they couldn't be knocked off real easily.. So far I've been selling them by word of mouth and the 4 stores I've got them placed. The art fair thing is the next step. I'll probably do a couple of Farmers Market type things as a dry run. They are a lot trickier to make than one would think. Very easy to burn through the SS cups. Grounding is a real pain as the parts are small and light weight. Even working on a steel welding table leaves a bit to be desired. I'm still refining the manufacturing process for each one. They are all a bit different to make. Some are pretty simple, others are a pain. Guess which ones sell best...... Brad | ||
| Fahren |
Rosie Grier. (Message edited by fahren on April 26, 2011) | ||
| Gowindward |
Brad have you looked at Etsy.com? http://www.etsy.com/shop/BaldwinHandbags?ref=pr_sh op_more It is quick to at least use as a market testing grounds. I prefer Artisan over artist. A good quick read is Joe Rollings book "Artisans and Money" | ||
| Road_thing |
Brad: Not sure. I think it's a Miller 120V unit. It belongs to a buddy of mine who no longer has space in his garage for a shop. I have generously agreed to keep gas and wire on it and let him use it any time he comes out to the ranchito. Am I a prince, or what? rt | ||
| Hootowl |
And yet another tool disappears into the murky depths of the entropy lab. | ||
| F_skinner |
Shane, sounds good. Brad, I may need to stop by and see your flowers. I cannot go home empty handed to Lynn.... Frank | ||
| Bluzm2 |
You're on Frank. You'll get your pick. Hell, I'll even do a one off for Lynn! | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Loren, I tool like the Artisan tag better. I'm "steeling" that one... I'm going to hunt down that book. OK, back to the S2 Gathering topic!!! I didn't mean to totally hijack the thread... | ||
| Rex |
Things are not working out so good for attending. I had to take a couple of my vacation days to head back home and help with some of my Dads business. That took a couple of days not planned. I only had enough days to fly back. I checked my airlines and no free seats left on any flight into Milwaukee. wouldn't you know, just like the TV ads from Chase Bank and Southwest. US Air said that they are booked. My next choice would be to try and use my points to fly into Chicago and drive up. I know I can look it up, but does anyone have an idea of how long it takes to get from Chicago to Christmas? I have my room reserved, just trying to get there, cheap. I may have to take a photo of my head, and send it to you guys, so i can be around the event, ahahahahahah, sorry Brad. thanks, REX | ||
| Easy_rider |
Rex.... Seems like you ought to look into flights to Minneapolis. Might even find an S2 to ride! ok..I may have gone too far on that one.. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
I might know of two of um.... | ||
| Rex |
I will check. Minneapolis....how far away? rex | ||
| Bluzm2 |
It's about a 400 miles, depending on the route and your "tourist time" I'd say about 7 hrs or so from my house. | ||
| Easy_rider |
Feel free to check Indy as well, Rex. It's a bit farther - 12 hrs of travel - but I thought I'd offer in case the flight was cheaper. I expect an 1125R would be available. | ||
| Rex |
Thanks for the updates. Will check on these and my days off. Thanks REX | ||
| F_skinner |
UP survival skills we made need: | ||
| Edv |
Installed new neck bearings in the S2 along with new fork springs and fluid so the S2 is close to trip ready. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. | ||
| Zenbiker |
Brad, I may need some help getting the Blue S2 running again, as I may be able to make this trip. On another unrelated note, I found this photo on the web, is it you conjuring up your 'spoon voo-doo'?  | ||
| Rex |
Looks like I will not make this event. Not enough days to take off, and no flights. I cannot afford to buy one. sorry. REX | ||
| Essmjay |
What is the best way to add a google map of my route? shane | ||
| F_skinner |
Shane, you can just post the link if you like. Are you using a pc or Mac? |
