2nd place Ribs

Truth be told I lost in the rib competition.  This is the annual cookout that I usually bring the Ice luge.  No luge this year, but they are still using my expertly engineered mount.  

My opinion and in the opinion of the smart people that voted for me, mine were better.  The winner's were not just fall off the bone, in fact they were off the bone.  More like a BBQ sandwich meat with some bones.  They tasted OK, but mine were better flavored.  More smokey and with the sauce they were excellent.  So I learned the masses like mushy ribs.  I like more meaty ribs. Lesson learned, but I will stick with my method.    

The rubbed ribs.

The making of the sauce.  Yes that is rum.

Last Stage of the smoke.

Into the wrap to be finished.

Once again...

A little later in the summer this year but the Ice Luge was brought out again.  This year I didn't have to remake the holder; although, I think it should be 2 inches wider to handle the potential in balances.  I wasn't going to bring it, but the host said people are counting on me to bring it, so I did:   

Mid Late June update

So, I did a few things in mid June.  First, is I took the Maryland Hunter Safety class at a local fishing and Hunting club in Pasadena.  It was 3 days 2 days of class room instruction and one day of field exercises including rifle shooting and trap.  It was fun and informative.  I passed the final test and now am a Maryland certified hunter.  Hunter safety was mostly firearms safety which I have a passing familiarity with but hearing the lessons again would never hurt.  Some of the field craft items were good.  I think the only thing that I would like to have heard was more about Maryland specific rules and regulations and also some more practical hunting information like how and where to use public lands and obtain permits and such.  I know safety was the focus and that is great.  Their advice was to get with knowledgeable hunters to learn those things.  The picture below is during a demonstration they gave of different guns and it was a paint can shot with a shotgun which in turn launched a soda can into the air which the shooter was to shot (he missed).
















Here is one of the dozens of trophies that decorated the rod and gun club I called it our mascot:




The second event was a Beer Bourbon and BBQ at the National Harbor. It was exactly as the title describes.  I had been to one in Baltimore (the fair grounds to be exact) and it wasn't that good, because it was way too crowded.  This one was busy but well spaced out and you didn't have to wait more than a minute to get your sample.  We had a great time.  This ice sculpture reminded me it is about time for the ice luge party, but I have a feeling we aren't doing that this year.           





















Last but not least I saw World War Z which wasn't like the book I had read a year or so ago, but it was very good.  My wife even liked it.  The book was a after action report that interviewed folks around the world involved in the War.  How it started, what happen during the outbreak, how it was stopped and how it was being cleaned up.  The movie was a as it happened live action movie.  Maybe you could say it took place in the WWZ world, but it wasn't the book.  Bottom line it was good, but then again I like zombies...

http://www.worldwarzmovie.com/

June Updates

So its been a busy few weeks.

First the Ice Luge was constructed and turns out the documentation from last year may have been a little unclear.  It turns out we went with 21" not 29" rear leg length.  Thus the angle was too aggressive at 36 degrees (versus 28 degrees).  The other issue was I added lights (bass Christmas lights).  I tested them, but once the ice was in place the lights didn't work. Someone improvised with a black light set on the table under the luge.  So the next plan is to reuse the luge but add black lights and shorten the legs to 21".

On the 17th Father's Day we took the family on the boat to see the Blue Angels.  We anchored up between the Key bridge and Fort McHenry, had a picnic and watched the show.  I was impressed and can't believe I hadn't gone to see them before.  When ever they are in the area I am going to try and see them.           

I am close to finishing the coaming pads.  I have constructed one 100% and the other I just have end caps to sew on. I am a little dissapointed with the finishing,but it seems like they will do the job.  I will have to check the fit and adjust the postion of the snaps that keep it from sliding around too much.

On a new note I gave someone my resume for a PM job where they do IA. More specifically data security by protecting communications, sensitive and classified data, intellectual property and digital identities. I am not too sure about that considering it isn't in my area of technical expertise; however, I think the field is very hot right now and in some ways is the future of defense.  Last week I was also contacted by a former customer that asked me about my willingness to come and work for them.  this is the second time I was contacted by them, but this wasn't a causal what-do-you-think-of-working here kind of deal. Either way I think I need a new suit.

Luge stand test

So I showed the luge stand well here's a picture of it doing its thing (your can see the pipe work through the ice block):

Also here is the annual highlight: the flaming shot that almost wasn't (due to the fact no one had brought any real high proof stuff, so once again Captain_GSXR had to come through with the Bacardi 151):

Theory into practice

So after last year's ice luge holder disaster, I decided to apply a little engineering skill and design a more robust structure for this years ice luge.  This fine example of theory into practice is fashioned out of 3/4 ID Galvanized steel.  This material was picked first for its strength and second the zinc coating originally applied to pipe for plumbing use also should with stand many years of melted luge ice trying to corrode this fine structure.  Its length or luge mounting surface is 38 inches with a rear support length of 11 or 21 inches. If my trigonometry serves that gives an adjustable angle of  16 or 29 degrees.  We'll see how the liquor is flowing to decide on which approach is optimal. See you never thought the real world would require trig.

Theory into practice is engineering defined.