[ravnostic]

It’s a circumhorizonal, then. My astro program shows me the sun 45% high in the sky–that’s low enough. While they never do, the arc, continued, would have it’s focus directly above your head. They are hard to capture–cameras don’t do them much justice.

//edit–doh!

[ravnostic]

This is my go-to site to figure these things out:

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/common.htm could be a circumhorizon if the sun was higher than 58% in the sky. On the other hand, if the sun was low, and it formed a halo who’s point of origin was directly above, then it’s a circumzenithal arc. But it could be a bunch of others, check the site out–it will keep you looking skyward, always.

[ravnostic]

+100 to the poem.

[ravnostic]

Ha! I just commented on the same video that NBD posted in ‘software’. Ain’t technology grand?

[ravnostic]

Wow. Never take–err, post process–a blurry photo again. Very cool. Where to next?

[ravnostic]

well, I’ve felt like I’ve been in a slump lately, and still do, but the total votes graph speaks otherwise.

Yeah, you’re still in the top 3 in a lot of categories and some of any “decline” is likely due to rav really stepping up his game. Considering that you’ve had a wedding, a move, and a job change within the periods in question, I’d say you’re doing great!

I’m a little shell shocked, actually. Makes me wonder what I could do with better toys…

I fear the aspidites fellow, though. That guy (gal?) has mad skillz. Wolf.

//No, I mean the picture of the wolf, as an example. I could have gone with ‘They’re Great!’ but …oh hell, nevermind.

[ravnostic]

So, I am doing a little research on the ole Wikipedia looking for ideas and I am now compelled to ask: the idea of this theme is Hard Infrastructure, correct?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrastructure#.22Hard.22_versus_.22soft.22_infrastructure

Roads, railroads, power lines, aqueducts, that sort of thing are the intended subjects rather than government buildings or banks, that sort of thing?

So is anything listed on that wiki page fair game for this week? Or is it limited in some way?

I’m reading this as ‘show us the base elemental places/things that support our civilization.’ I’m sure that isn’t the limit of the contest, but it’s in the ballpark, and I’m hoping that’s what the voters envision. The description, to me, is vague and could imply more, but the way it’s written, I’m sticking with hard.

[ravnostic]

yay this ^—^

🙂

[ravnostic]

A Q? A Farking Q?!?! Jesus!

/Someday.

Some background for the non-rocketeers. Amateur and model rocket engines are designated by letter codes as to how powerful they are, each letter being twice as powerful as the one before it. One B = 2 A’s, 1 C = 2 B’s or 4 A’s, etc. The ones you get at the toy store fly on 1/2 A’s through C’s and sometimes D’s. Up to D is considered “model” rocketry. E, F and G are considered “mid-power” rocketry, and in the right rocket can put you over a mile in altitude. Anyone can fly up to a G as long as you meet all the other wickets (FAA flight ceiling waiver, etc). H and I require a Level One certification from the National Association of Rocketry (my next step). By this power level, most rockets are fiberglass or carbon fiber and have onboard avionics for flight event control and tracking. J and K require level two (as well as MUST have active avionics), and L, M, and N require level three. These are the largest you’ll see commercially. To go beyond this requires a federal license to manufacture your own fuel and engines. At this power level, it’s also almost certain that you have to use welded aluminum for construction (whereas metal is illegal at the low powers). This guy was flying on a Q. That’s like eight N motors, or 2^16 (just over 65,000) wal-mart motors.

//Jesus.

///Someday.

So….I take it you like? ;o)

[ravnostic]

No offense

Waiting is. I have time.

//well, you never know, I could get hit by a truck tonight 😯 but elsewise, I’ll have time.

[ravnostic]

I’m noticing at the time of this writing that the votes are 33% up from the current year average (“Where the Wild Things Are”, Friday 9am MST(PDT), 2052 vs ~1500). Maybe not Tolkien or Herbert epic, but perhaps Rowling or King epic. This got me looking at Schnee’s site, and some of the stuff there.

And don’t get me wrong. When I open my browser and it shows me the icons of my most visited sites, you’re on the top row. Me wants it, I’m your biggest fan.*

But it would be cool to see the top contests (evar and recently), greatest entries (e&r), and such. The graph of one’s vote history.

I’m sure you’re probably already working on it to some degree or another, as life permits–You’re end-of-contest stats show you have access to the figures. Any kind of due date?

//special shout out to Schnee–miss your site–but CISS is doing your legacy proud. See you occasionally in the contests!!

***note the Tolkien~King tie-in there, yeah? 🙂

[ravnostic]

Voting’s up about 30%over the next-best week recently, I noticed. I love weeks like this.

[ravnostic]

Speaking of Mopsy, I love the lion with the breath frost. Great shot!

[ravnostic]

Dang. My Komodo is right next to U-Man‘s Overlord. Let the battle of the reptiles begin! 😉

//remarkably similar shots–right down to the something-or-anothers under the chins and focal point on the eyes. But I love the textural elements of yours, U-Man.

[ravnostic]

For better or worse, I’ve got my 3; b’s are in my google + profile. I’m really looking forward to this–I’m sure there’s going to be some really powerful images from everyone.

I decided against the squirrel monkey shots; I don’t have a one that doesn’t show some part of their collars, used by the vets to identify them if any health issues are reported. But damn, they were cute. If anyone happens to be in Phoenix, head to the zoo–you get to walk among them, and they are really really fun to watch.

[Author]

Posts