Thursday, March 31, 2005
Look out Singer
I've got a new skill. Let me know if I can cook you up a custom embroidered ditty bag. They're one of a kind, I promise:
Yes, that's right, the embroidery is an electical tape & dental floss hybrid. Look for it on next season's letterman's jackets.
Yes, that's right, the embroidery is an electical tape & dental floss hybrid. Look for it on next season's letterman's jackets.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
What a difference a day makes.
Well, we're headed home tomorrow but ever since Monday it's been blowing super hard, like constantly in the 30s. I guess it had to happen eventually. So, here's Sunday, a gorgeous day at the alpine facility:
Just a day later the wind of course picked up, no pictures from when it was super windy but check out how bowed out the tent is:
Otherwise, much more to tell but it will have to wait until the Fairbanks return since we're up at 5:30 tomorrow...
Just a day later the wind of course picked up, no pictures from when it was super windy but check out how bowed out the tent is:
Otherwise, much more to tell but it will have to wait until the Fairbanks return since we're up at 5:30 tomorrow...
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Moving along
Well, good or bad I'm not sure but there've been no show stoppers or much trouble of any kind on this trip. How disappointing. One highlight from this morning, on a similar note as the celine dion listening to bus driver from December, an Enya fan in the cafeteria. The room was rocking the tunes were so loud. Scares me some.
Anyway, Loda's sharing a room with a day sleeper so this morning the lady called security to get her kicked out of her room. That was different. Otherwise, more great weather but the wind kicked up tonight so who knows about tomorrow.
Anyway, Loda's sharing a room with a day sleeper so this morning the lady called security to get her kicked out of her room. That was different. Otherwise, more great weather but the wind kicked up tonight so who knows about tomorrow.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Another beautiful day in the neighborhood
Well, after there being blizzards up here all week and us not being able to fly out Thursday morning as planned but rather late Friday night, we're finally up at Alpine. We're doing the couple lakes over here first and then heading back to Kuparuk to finish stuff there. Beautiful day though, the sun's higher on the horizon and with no snow it was great. Who knows what tomorrow holds but the -6 temperature really didn't feel bad at all. Catch you later
Alllll Aboard??
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Aurora action
Well, I didn't see the great auroras that were happening over the weekend, Friday the battery in my digital camera died and Saturday it just wasn't going good when I was outside but tonight... a great night for being outside. Check out how dynamic it was:
Yeah, spoiled rotten by a special evening.. I'm dying to see what's on my film camera, too. That will have to wait until I get that roll developed though.
I can't remember if I've shown you the secret to good pictures but basically, I check this site (when I remember) for the forecast:
GI Aurora Forecast
And this site for the current conditions:
POES Auroral Activity
Basically, if the activity level on the second link is 7 or higher it's worth heading outside every now and then to see how things are going. Also, like weather forecasting the GI forecast isn't always dead on so, if you want to see aurora defintely poke your head out every now and then. Another place I haven't looked at to much but seems like it should hold promise is this one:
SALMON Project
But... at the moment it doesn't seem to be working.
As far as time goes, it's subjective and the learning curve is much reduced by using a digital SLR camera but (immediate feedback so you get a quick handle on how much light is needed to get a good picture), not many have access to that so you basically want to be at the widest aperture (the smaller numbers like F2, F2.8, or F3.5 that you select from the twisting dial on the lens) and vary the time from 5 to 40 seconds. If you want to get better, write your exposure times down as well as the frame # and try to remain aware of the light conditions later after the film is developed. Also in the beginning I found it helpful to be all over the map with exposure so that I could see how thing varied in the film. You may find something that works better though. I guess also you'll need a tripod although as you've probably seen a mitten or backpack can double as a tripod should the circumstances demand it.
Yeah, spoiled rotten by a special evening.. I'm dying to see what's on my film camera, too. That will have to wait until I get that roll developed though.
I can't remember if I've shown you the secret to good pictures but basically, I check this site (when I remember) for the forecast:
GI Aurora Forecast
And this site for the current conditions:
POES Auroral Activity
Basically, if the activity level on the second link is 7 or higher it's worth heading outside every now and then to see how things are going. Also, like weather forecasting the GI forecast isn't always dead on so, if you want to see aurora defintely poke your head out every now and then. Another place I haven't looked at to much but seems like it should hold promise is this one:
SALMON Project
But... at the moment it doesn't seem to be working.
As far as time goes, it's subjective and the learning curve is much reduced by using a digital SLR camera but (immediate feedback so you get a quick handle on how much light is needed to get a good picture), not many have access to that so you basically want to be at the widest aperture (the smaller numbers like F2, F2.8, or F3.5 that you select from the twisting dial on the lens) and vary the time from 5 to 40 seconds. If you want to get better, write your exposure times down as well as the frame # and try to remain aware of the light conditions later after the film is developed. Also in the beginning I found it helpful to be all over the map with exposure so that I could see how thing varied in the film. You may find something that works better though. I guess also you'll need a tripod although as you've probably seen a mitten or backpack can double as a tripod should the circumstances demand it.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Iditarod Pt. 2
Here's something you might dig:
Follow the Iditarod in 3D
The website and stuff are something that a few of the people I work with here on campus are involved with. If you've never bothered to look at the terrain between Willow and Nome that would be a cool place to go to see it all.
Follow the Iditarod in 3D
The website and stuff are something that a few of the people I work with here on campus are involved with. If you've never bothered to look at the terrain between Willow and Nome that would be a cool place to go to see it all.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Iditarod
Well, if you're going to watch the Iditarod this year keep an eye out for #20 Ken Anderson. My little Midge probably has aunts, uncles, and grandparents running on his team. He and his wife Gwen are Windy Creek Kennel.
Well, after a bit of a break there should be fresh stuff up here more often. I'm headed up to the slope again this week and then off to plane crash school next week.
Well, after a bit of a break there should be fresh stuff up here more often. I'm headed up to the slope again this week and then off to plane crash school next week.
