Jeff

@gadgets.life

"Retired" computer storage architect https://gadgets.life Hobby farm + instrumentation = fun! Ex-Enterprise Architect, co-developer of xFS CoCoRaHS, Metro Sky Warn & Sky Watcher (MN) 2025/2026

At just over a mile from 21D here in the Twin Cities metro area I can tell when Airventure is close as the warbirds stop in for fuel or just to do some practice - radials and Allisons and Merlins making pleasant noises overhead. #AirVenture #Warbirds #airshow

This week was one of those mashups where half my brain was buried in Python scripts, while the other half was dragging to-do lists out of dusty bins. From container tech and chainsaws to contact cleanup and shallow wells, I had my hands in just about everything. gadgets.life Friday April 18th.

Planning a 70' Rohn 25G tower with the house having a 6" wall wood foundation. Even when guyed, can tower's sway still impact the foundation, like causing bulges as the concrete shifts? Safe distance tips? Base would be 2x2 x 4' deep concrete with rebar, 24 inches from the foundation wall. Advice?

My mother got 97 percent on one of her first printing assignments now for college credit. If you know a senior 62 or wiser, encourage them to either audit classes at the University of Minnesota for free or take credit for $20 a credit hour.

Grading sheet for Conrad's mother Mary with a score of 97 out of 100. Comments include "nice gradient effects" and "love the abstracted natural shapes". The art was a screen printing of flowers.

False Spring in Minnesota. The ground is squishy and the grass slides over a still-frozen layer of ground as you walk on it.

A wide-angle view of a rural property in late winter or false spring, featuring a large open grassy area with patches of dormant grass. On the left, a beige metal barn with a brown roof has solar panels on top. Next to the barn, there is a small wooden greenhouse, and a white travel trailer with an "r•pod" logo. A white motorhome is parked further left. In the background, a house is partially visible behind leafless trees, with a red vehicle parked near it. A dense tree line with mostly bare branches extends across the right side of the image, with a few evergreen trees scattered among them. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the field, and the sky is clear blue with a few small clouds.

Cold & clear skies mean some great solar generation today - consuming 4,100W and generating 20,420W at -6F today about 45 minutes before peak sun. The system production for the day was 108.92 kWh.

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NEW: Legislation that would bar the United States government from spying on journalists—except under rare, specific circumstances—is currently stalled in Congress. Now, with only weeks left to legislate, press advocates are urging Senate Democrats to pass the bill, known as the PRESS Act.

Senate Democrats Are Running Out of Time to Pass a Shield Law to Protect Journalism

The PRESS Act, which would protect journalists from government spying, enjoys broad bipartisan support and has passed the House—but it’s unclear whether the Senate will take it up.

wired.com

Europa Launch: uploaded at 9428 x 5303 pixels, mosaic made from screen-caps during launch feed earlier today - thru core stage separation. Using AndreaMosaic www.andreaplanet.com/andreamosaic/ Pretty sure it'll get compressed horribly here so I included a zoom to the rocket section of the mosaic

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If you live in one of these 10 states (AZ, TX AR, MS, FL, GA, TN, KY, IN, OH), today is THE LAST DAY you can register to vote. Even if you think you're registered already, double check to see if your registration is still active. Please do this, it only takes a few minutes. Pass it on.

US map with the 10 states highlighted

Just read about the Juicebox EV charger debacle. Non-internet-reliant chargers to research: ClipperCreek HCS-40P, Grizzl-E Classic, Emporia EV Charger, and EVoCharge EVSE. Some of those seem to have (WiFi/Bluetooth) apps, but a quick look says they're not required to use the charger itself.