All posts by cs

Trails & Tracks

jog track aggregatorWordPress is a great CMS apparatus which can be further enhanced with Plugins. A Routes extension, just installed, solved a need for a way to display a collection of jog tracks that I’ve built upon over the years. This plugin features an aggregate function which displays them all on a central map index. Routes has several methods for entering geographical information on a Google Map post but it is the ability to import GPS tracks from a GPX XML file that beats all. 5 Stars!

Little Manatee River State Park

Not on the most spectacular beautiful places list by any stretch but somehow special we tracked a 3 mile path through late winter dry swamp. Ditty Kong comes to mind as we explored boardwalks and Spanish moss. This excursion is somewhat off the beaten path of things to do in Florida. A stop at the Ranger Station is required to procure the padlock combo for entrance to the trail head. No Manatees were observed but we did spy two (half wild in the brush) moo cow types if that counts.img_1778

closure

I logged PIC time in this very tail number between late 1988 and early 1989. It was operated by an airline called Westair which was based in Fresno. In that era N617KC made commuter flights throughout California. Westair had a fleet of these Bandits, most of which have likely received this same fate by now.

26.2 with Donna The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer

The 26.2 with Donna Dede Marathon was streamed LIVE on a webcast so it was thrilling to watch and listen as my sweetheart began a 1/2 Marathon on Jacksonville Beach.
live-donna-26pt2Also thrilling that I could track her progress as the athletes were wearing RFID chipped ankle bracelets. When the race was started they ran across an RFID wire stretched over the road. The wire powers the device with a high frequency signal picked up at the antenna which transponds its unique serial number. Everyone’s time is tracked by running past the wire. At strategic choke points they passed a different wire which marked time. Using T and D formulae one can derive ET, Pace, and ETA statistics. I’m streaming tears and cheers of joy for her!
… data at the 7 mile marker
tracking-26pt2

home movies

Dad Harrison was an early adopter. Action photography for the hobbyist did not become mainstream until years following. This clip is part of an archive that was originally captured on 8 mm filmstrip. At some point these films were copy | transferred to VHS cassette tape. This media is now obsolete as well. Using an analog to digital converter his films can be passed on to the next generation, preserving his effort. A music track has been dubbed with artistic license but if you wish to sample the original goods you can mute the audio. In those days the viewers at home in the living room would supply laughter and narration (if they weren’t already asleep).

The automobile (at 1:45) appears to be a postwar Oldsmobile Torpedo 2 door sedan circa 1946.