Ape Island Index

Cool watch

2011-09-12T10:21:00.004-06:00

Orvis Operartion Overlord watch is awesome. I know this is kind of an advertisement but it's still a cool watch and I like cool watches especially ones with military style stuff like the dial on this one with both 12 hour and 24 hour and the red hand makes it look like a tool not some fancy jewelry.

149 dollars at orvis.com If I lived some kind of lifestyle in some other tax bracket I would pretend that's cheap and call it a beater watch.

I guess I just wasn't made for these times.

2011-08-09T12:42:00.000-06:00

random crap

2011-07-19T14:20:00.002-06:00

You should google yourself.

2011-06-21T11:56:00.005-06:00

I searched my name in google today after reading an article about it. I figured it's been a while. I was surprised to find one of my projects had been featured in a Lincoln Electric iWeld newsletter back in Jan 2010. I don't remember ever getting the email so it was funny seeing something I had done get some sort of street cred with me unawares. Check it out either in the link or click the huge picture I posted above. https://www.lincolnelectric.com/LEExtranet/community/newsletters/archive_detail.aspx?id=2453

I would think they would send me a $2k TIG welder for the 15minutes it took to write my article but sadly no. Though giving back to the internets after taking so so much is sort of rewarding.

So google your name because maybe you will find something you did that you forgot about and didn't have the chance to brag to anyone.

BTW Lincoln Electric how about sending me something that TIG welder or a shirt? I would totally make a blog post about it and like five people read this.

Babies the final frontier..The real one!

2011-06-03T14:05:00.003-06:00

We can send a man or two to the moon or if you are crazy we never sent anyone to the moon. Somehow we can't manage crying temper tantrum babies? I just created a new start up business re purposing decommissioned space gear for baby control.

END YOUR BABIES TANTRUM WITH THE POWER OF THE SPACE RACE AND COLD WAR TECHNOLOGY!

ASTRO helmet silences all screaming with built in helmet COM system to monitor baby crying and puts you in the drivers seat with volume control.
-200psi pressure rating
-flip down blast shield
-adjustable 2 way intercom
-230 dB sound suppresion
-puke resistant
-GPS tracking with indoor tracking matrix
-Prevents Back sneaker and Backscratcher intrusion attack

Asbestos free gloves reduce dexterity so baby can't injure himself by grabbing noxious chemicals or groceries from the shelves.
- 600F titanium heat shielding
- 600 rad radiation shielding
-fully kevlar lined
-full kevlar stiching
-velcro pacifier strapping

Titan 3 support boots with ultra low acceleration index prevent baby escape
-mag shielded with MSD 6AL ignition system
- HEMI 426psi puncture resitance
- nomex lined
- vulture proof soles

Part of the Newly designed Phoenix R-Type IV revision of the complete compatible baby waste/noxious fume atmospheric expellent prevention suit.

Hershey's has a new chocolate bar!

2011-05-30T19:58:00.006-06:00

Hershey's Air Delight is good.

If you are like me you don't eat chocolate bars. The last time I ate a chocolate bar I was punched in the face.

You see I love eating chocolate but hate waiting for the chewed up chunks of chocolate to melt. So one day when I was on the freeway and feeling really impatient I just spat the unmelted bits of chocolate out the window. Some guy got pissed and forced me to the side of the road and punched me in the face. I could understand why he was so mad because his windshield was covered in chocolate! And it was obvious his wipers did nothing!

Don't worry no more black eyes for me because this chocolate bar has all these tiny air holes that were put in there by those small men in that chocolate movie. Oh wait never mind this chocolate is made in Mexico not Wonkas factory. All these air holes mean it melts so much faster and when you bite it it breaks up into tiny delicious bits of chocolate!

Plus since we don't get the Nestle Aero Bar this is the closest thing we will get unless you want to find someone on ebay selling foreign chocolate.

this woman

2011-05-23T13:17:00.004-06:00

This woman liked standing on the seaweed. She also jumped on the piles of seaweed. I couldn't figure out why so I assumed she was either insane or from some Asian country where they don't have seaweed. I think she just like popping it which makes me think she was crazy because old people only like hanging dozens of shirts in the back of their cars and putting fiber in things were it doesn't belong.

Romance is Banana Bread and a clown suit.

2011-05-11T16:51:00.000-06:00

In the news today a man was arrested for delivering banana bread to a woman. The thing is she had a restraining order against him, and he was dressed as a clown makeup and all and seen skipping up the stairs with an umbrella. The man was arrested with 9 felony charges.

Ya that will win her back.

So funny I had to draw him.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=15494504

I think I changed my mind.

2011-03-22T18:31:00.005-06:00

For most of my life the minivan was the worst car imaginable. Men with bad skin and horrible haircuts looked so depressed driving them on the freeways. Then there is those stupid stickers of cartoon versions of the family on the back who are most likely bored to tears by the poor vehicular choice.

Today I realized I am an idiot. Honda oddyssey on SSRs. Of course mine would need around 375HP or so.

trying to find something to post.

2011-03-14T17:31:00.005-06:00

lazy and bored with this blog. thinking of giving it up for adoption. or turning it into a blog where I post what I wear everyday. oh wait I have something to post!

I made creme brulee it was great. Also it was my first time smelling/tasting actual vanilla beans. I had to do it right and broke out my propane torch which usually sees use melting off undercoating from my Cutlass.

Jabbas new truck.

2010-11-11T10:59:00.002-07:00

he looks rightfully proud of it.

I want to make video games now.

2010-09-28T11:57:00.002-06:00

I present Envirobear 2000. A game in which you are a bear and you drive a car through bushes of berries and ponds of fish. You eat the fish and berries getting fat before winter arrives. Watch out for the bees and badgers and make sure you clear the pedals of leaves and rocks so you can drive into a cave to hibernate.

Raddest Lawnmower ever.

2010-07-19T23:05:00.004-06:00

d

Can you imagine how jealous all my neighbors would be If cruised this around the lawn on saturday. Such a great example of the art of kustomizing taking something boring and transforming it into art.

I wonder if it's lowered?

Jacked this from Garage Journal.

I have an instructable featured.

2010-06-29T14:31:00.004-06:00

Not sure if it is something cool I should be bragging about but anything to scrounge up a post on here. I drew all the crazy pictures showing how to do it so it should be crazy as usual.

Smoker build

UPDATE:
My instructable is apparently pretty popular and is on the front page. they even put a fancy orange banner that says popular on the front photo.

Beardism

2010-06-16T13:34:00.004-06:00

I have been growing out a beard for I don't know two weeks or something. I never knew such a thing as beardism existed until I was met with the stares of women as they move their children behind them as I pass. Something about facial hair makes children and women afraid. I am the same person I was before but now I have longer hair on my face I am suddenly a threat. I am just like you people! I may not always have a beard but when I do I want to be treated the same as a clean shaved person.

Bearded people in movies and TV are the butt of jokes. When a character has a bit of bad luck he is usually depicted with a beard. Old men are shown with beards. Bums are always bearded. When Joaquin Phoenix appeared on TV with a beard it was used as a symbol of his fall from sanity and he was derided. Growing a beard is a mans right!

For too long society has been brainwashed by a campaign headed by rich corporations telling us beards are ugly. They have a sinister motivation inspired by greed. They want us to think beards are ugly so they can sell us more and more crappy shave cream and horrible 6 blade razors that are constantly being made obsolete.

“We have now for many centuries triumphed over nature to the extent of making certain secondary characteristics of the male (such as the beard) disagreeable to nearly all the females - and there is more in that than you might suppose” C.S Lewis

I say we let C.S. Lewis's words inspire us to cast off the shackles of society and take back our God given rights to beards without discrimination.

After all if we razor burn do we not bleed If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

I totally want this.

2010-06-04T15:05:00.004-06:00

X-Men animated series on DVD!

Oh and one of these. Hope they do a Bullitt package maybe in a few years I could buy one used.

2011 Mustang 5.0
400 something HP
Brembo brakes
6 speeds

California ruled.

2010-05-31T13:52:00.003-06:00

I forgot how much Utah sucks until I went to California.

2 weeks

2010-05-10T00:33:00.002-06:00

I wish I posted here more so I could say something like "By the way I will be gone for two weeks so don't worry" Since I don't post crap on here much I guess I can't say that. But I will be in California specifically bay Area. I haven't been back home in a long time. Got any good crap to see?

So far I want to:
wander around san francisco
Walk across golden gate
eat a banh mi
blondies pizza
go to the presidio
I wish I could go to a polo game in SF
take photos of stuff
hang out with grand parents
flip off my old elementary and middle school
see some nice parks/gardens
I kinda want to go to SF and just walk around until I get tired and sleep on the street for a few days.
convince the state of california to sell me alcatraz island for $20
I used to live near the naval weapons station and my dad allways told me not to try to jump the fence and wander around there because there were landmines and snipers. maybe I should see if he was right.

Nerds with hats.

2010-04-25T23:24:00.006-06:00

People can dress as they wish and I will make fun of them and move on but this I can't seem to move past. I think it's because it is so prevalent and identified with just nerds. I want to know why there is such a fascination with wearing hats that do not match the outfit or even match the decade or situation one is in. I seen people wearing black trench coats with dragon medallion necklaces and top it off with one of those old tweed grandpa hats. Then there is the guy with the wierd colored round lennon shades and a black fedora with the red band around it like some gangster or the hat dudes used to wear with suits. I think the most confounding is the guy with a tall black hat I don't even know the name of but it looks like one of those hats the guy who plays the piano in the western movies wears. You know the guy with the striped shirt and those rubber bands around the shirt sleeves who gets said hot shot off usually. In that situation it is understandable men wore hats it is just the way it was, but not sitting on a college bus with your black button up shirt tucked into black jeans.

I can't really figure this out. It's not like orks in Lord of the rings wore hats neither did the heros in world of warcraft do they wear hats? Gambit from the Xmen wore a hat I think.

Is it a Utah thing like wearing sandals with socks or rocking flip flops with jeans?

Are nerds really into old timey movies where guys like Fred Astaire always wore hats and suits? or do they just want to look like the guy on myth busters who wears the beret?

These guys can wear hats because it was the style at the time and they have suits on to match the formal hats.

Your beret looks dumb.

Someone explain this to me and I will never mention it again.

THE END.

Wu-Tang pizza 36 slices of deliciousness.

2010-04-16T14:15:00.004-06:00

This photo is all over the interwebs, but it cracks me up so much.

I imagine some monk in a wu tang pizza joint who only shares da mystery of pizza boxin with a select few chosen to emulate the masters lightning quick style. You try to order italian sausage and get denied with a "This pizza only built for cuban links!" The master cuts each pizza into 36 pieces with a huge gold sword. Above the door to the restroom is a sign that says only paying customers may enter the chamber. They got ginger ale so spicy they called it Liquid Sword cuz it cuts up your throat. There is a tip jar with a hand scribbled sign "Shame on a nigga who no tip" The pizza is excellent with a crust so tender you can eat it with silver fangs left in. The tv's are playing old kung-fu movies and tons of people hunched over chess boards.

Cut up your Model A and make a Sheet Metal Brake

2010-04-14T13:31:00.002-06:00

This is from Popular Mechanics January 1942 I stumbled onto this looking for plans to build one of these I never thought I would find something this weird. If I had a model A I would be driving it not thinking about ripping apart the motor and making a sheet metal brake. Pretty ingenious though. Anyone got a Ferrari V12 I can borrow and make a couple of these?

Vinyl and restraunt review.

2010-03-22T13:55:00.009-06:00

I finally resurrected the turntable I bought like two years ago. A headshell and cartridge from amazon 30 bucks. And it worked though I needed a pre amp. Luckily Matt decided to come for a visit and was kind enough to just give me this Phase Linear 2000 Series Two. This amp sounds really nice and has a bunch of buttons and connections to stuff I don't even know what they do.
I have been listening to some vinyl for the first time ever. Kind of sad because I have had my record collection for years. Butch Cassidy and the sundance kid soundtrack sound fantastic.

Matt and I decided to head up to Salt Lake City for some flea market action we were craving some Mexican food normally I would just go to a Tacqueria but I knew there was a Chipotle around there and hadn't had one in years. I was excited. We couldn't find it even thought I knew we were near. We asked for directions. We are both male by the way so that must be some kind of record since every sitcom since the apes touched the monolith have repeated how men never ask for directions. We still couldn't find it so we went to a place called Tres Hombres on Highland.

It sucked something horrible.

The girls at the front seemed pissed off to have to show us to a table.
My pork burrito had three pieces of pork with the combined size of a lego man. Matt's burrito was full of chicken but the chicken was dry and bland. It was expensive I'm talking 10 plus dollars for crappy burritos and some dried out rice and beans and this was their lunch specials. The first round of chips and salsa was alright and it was free. The second round was two bucks. We left pissed. Basically stay away unless you have been drinking because they have a big bar and I think they make their money selling food to drunk people. I think Matt is right anything with a Tres Hombres or any such stereotypical mexican food sounding name is a crappy place.

It wasn't all bad though they have these great tasting key lime mints next to the cash register and Matt said his iced tea was good.

I still want a burrito.

This is old.

2010-03-14T16:56:00.004-06:00

This is so old it is embarrassing. Also embarrassing how long it has been since I posted something on here. This is the best thing I could come up with, I needed find an excuse to bury the last post because I am sick of seeing it.

This is a photo of a cookie I decorated around Christmas. It is a Porsche 356 and tasted better than it drove. enjoy.

Most of my posts are about money.

2010-01-22T16:45:00.002-07:00

Or things to buy with money.

This bit of a poem is no different so if you don't like money...wait that doesn't compute.

I got so much cabbage I am making sauerkraut in the basement
my friend comes over and wonders where all the space went

That's all I got so far but it has been stuck in my head for a week maybe putting it up here will make it go away.

I wish I were a rich man.

2010-01-03T21:56:00.003-07:00

This watch rules. I don't usually like Rolex because of the "hey look at me i got a rolex!" and "I am a douche." vibes they spew.

If I had this $21,600 one I would be very rich and everyone would still think I was a douche so who cares?

Here is the link if you want to buy one...oh hey since you are on your way over there why not get one for me too?

http://www.colette.fr/#/eshop/article/493944/rolex-x-fragment-design/95/

Bonneville 1954

2009-12-18T12:14:00.006-07:00

I haven't been there yet. Life needs to be this simple building my own rod racing it at Bonneville. No negativity No politics No ego Me versus myself. As fast as I can. I need a Hot Rod.

I am building a pedal car.

2009-12-14T21:39:00.005-07:00

Oh this doesn't actually have pedals. Sorry 'bout that. I never thought a car this small could be so much work. Though everything but the wheels are made by me. I have learned a lot trying to build this thing and even though it is not finished I thought a update would be nice. I have learned to weld aluminum with a TIG building this thing. Also I realized how hard it is to build something from scratch and having various unfinished pieces all relying on every other piece around it.

I wouldn't even know how many hours are invested. Too many for sure.

I wanted to make a scaled down version of the Niekamp roadster originally built in 1949 the first winner of Americas Most Beautiful Roadster and raced at the lakes too. Probably my favorite Hot Rod of all time and all dimensions. To learn more about it check your local library or follow this link Niekamp Roadster

Please explain this to me

2009-12-10T19:16:00.003-07:00

Gucci Rubber boots $295

Walmart rubber boots $20

Exactly what does $275 buy someone? I admit the stripe is nice and that Gucci logo is sure to impress. But if am sloshing around in the snow will these stupid things do a better job?

Things like this irritate me.

Sherlock Holmes trashes some fool in bar fight.

2009-12-03T15:00:00.003-07:00

I am a Sherlock Holmes fan, especially played by Jeremy Brett. This rules.

This robot got some moves.

2009-12-01T09:57:00.005-07:00

Watch this robot dance!

This is from a robot dance competition obviously it was held in Japan. Sadly this guy only got 2nd place. First place went this robot dancing to some crazy Japanese pop song.

I can't wait until there are swarms of robots dancing in the streets for nickels!
If you want to hear the song again the name of the song is Joyful by Ikimono-gakari. Just in case you are like me and the song has bored it's way into your brain like some space beetle.

Forced Narcissism can be fun.

2009-11-25T11:31:00.004-07:00

The whole experience of looking at yourself in the mirror for any length of time say like 4 hours is a strange experience. Scrutinizing my nostrils and trying to draw lips that look like mine, also drawing eyes and having to do them 4 times before they look like my eyes. It was all a bit weird. It is very hard to draw yourself because of what you think you look like and maybe how you want to look and ignoring all that and trying to draw yourself as you really are in the mirror. I had my arm drawn in there and it looks in the drawing very close to what it looked that day. People commenting on how muscular it looks is odd. I never thought of it being a muscular arm it's just mine. I couldn't help but think and worry if I had exaggerated it or if it is as it really is.

Having to show it to people and have them critique your drawing isn't fun. People say things like "Were you really pissed off when you drew yourself?" "Are your ears really that high on your head?" "What is with the hand on your face it looks like you were grabbing your face in pain or something?" etc. It isn't too hard for me to take but I imagine it would be hard for some to have strangers talking about their face.

In the end the only regret I have is why did I have my hand like that? It seems too serious and moody to me like I was in some dark emotional pain or something really I was just chillin and that's how I was holding my head. I was perfectly content though maybe a little bored. I guess it would be a bit more exciting if I was actually thinking of something artsy.

I am more likely to see a ballet.

2009-11-21T12:57:00.003-07:00

I am not even sure if that's the proper way to say it. Is it I want to see Ballet or I want to see a Ballet?

I have never cared for dance. I just think it's boring and effeminate.

That was until I watched this video. There isn't any ballet on it but the guy made a good argument on why I should appreciate it.

I still might never go to a Ballet performance but I am now more likely too. Especially if they lose the sock in the crotch.

Some Art

2009-11-14T16:11:00.004-07:00

I find this hilarious for some reason. Who wants to commission this to be painted for real?
bonus fiberglass man.he has a bone to pick with carbon fiber.

Another blurry photo of some art

2009-11-03T22:25:00.003-07:00

Just finished this up tonight and it's due tomorrow. That would be rad if my professor saw it on here and gave me an F before she even saw it in person.

I used nu-pastel for the first time and it was ok.

Art looks better in person.

I was pretty bummed with how it turned out. The paint just didn't look glossy enough to me. I kept at it and I realized how much I wish I was actually in that car driving somewhere just like that lucky guy. BTW I think it's a 1949 PORSCHE 356.

Weird or wierd?

2009-10-30T20:57:00.003-06:00

The other day I went to bed late and fell into a deep sleep. Soon I heard a faint noise as I focused on it I realized I knew the noise. I struggled with all my energy of mind to figure out what it was or where I heard it before. The noise continued and so did I. Slowly my mind put the puzzle pieces where they belonged neurons fired gears turned and slowly the mist concealing the answer dissipated and there before me the answer was revealed I knew where I heard that sound before and knew it too well. With a sense of dread I realized it was my alarm clock.

The most hilarious car.

2009-10-29T14:02:00.003-06:00

I don't think I have ever seen a car that made me laugh before this one. I seriously laughed out loud when I saw it. Thank to A TIME TO GET and Loudpop Voyager

Here it is.

It is a 1960 Ultra Van motor home.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Dave Peterson
Country of Origin: United States
Drivetrain Configuration: Rear engine, rear wheel drive
Engine: 80 hp, 140 cubic inch, 4 cylinder, air cooled Corvair engine
Transmission: 4 speed manual
Top Speed: 70 miles per hour
Years of Production: 1960-69
Number Produced: 330
Original Cost: $7,000

I would make this the star in some weird science fiction thing in which people on vacation drive around in this on some planet somewhere and lots of funny things happen. I imagine these average humans trying to navigate a drive thru window on some foreign planet or maybe they stop at a national park and some space bears try to steal their food.
Maybe I should see if Douglas Adams would write it for me. Shortly after it would be made into a movie and Mos Def would be a main character and maybe Ricky Gervais. Soundtrack by a Primus and They Might be Giants collaboration.

TIG Welding

2009-10-20T15:50:00.004-06:00

Another milestone in my life happened recently. I successfully joined two pieces of steel using the gas tungsten arc welding process. Previously I have used this process for welding aluminum. In related topic I finished a drawing of some welding stuff. I am thinking of sending a copy of it to Miller or Lincoln in the hopes they will send me a TIG welder. Photos follow.

ME and the Simpsons.

2009-10-15T19:07:00.002-06:00

I remember being really excited for some reason when I was the same age as Bart. That means I have been watching The Simpsons for at least 17 years. I really feel like I should host a party or somehow celebrate how I have wasted countless hours watching TV. Or not I will probably just forget and do nothing. But of course my math sucks so who knows.

Porsche wants to be my friend.

2009-09-24T12:53:00.005-06:00

Seriously PORSCHE if you are reading this, I appreciate the effort and the expense you took to send this to me but I am broke. If I had the money for one of these I would be driving it instead of writing this blog struggling to be clever. Honestly I don't need some brochure to tell me about this car I know all about it. Before it came out actually. I have your posters I read all about you in the magazine and online. I went to my University library and went through this whole procedure to procure an out of print copy of your namesake's biography. I am already your friend if you want to be my friend send a car my way or at least let me fulfill a dream of mine and let me drive one sometime.

Love ,
Kolby

Check out this fancy package they sent me for some reason.

-Personalized letter from someone sounding important-CHECK
-Tissue paper-CHECK
-Oversized box-CHECK
-Fancy band around box-CHECK

I really thought there was going to be something cool...it was just a brochure for the new GT3 though it was very nicely designed and had some expensive printing.

Robert Frost

2009-09-22T12:58:00.006-06:00

I recently re-found my lost Robert Frost book. I have been reading some of his stuff before bed. It really puts me in a good mood.

So when I went up to Maple Lake with my camera in the hopes I would find some fall colors. When I saw all the trees changing color and leaves on the ground I couldn't help but think of his poems especially The Road Not Taken.

Sometimes I think nature sucks, but I wish I could have just stayed up there a while longer.
Look for the mountain cows.

Favorite Cars of Hot August Nights

2009-08-28T11:33:00.003-06:00

After going to car shows my whole life perfectly restored cars (actually in a lot of cases restored better than new) with their perfect sanitary paint becomes pretty boring.

I was amazed by this thing. I think it is a '55 Chevy 4x4 Truck with a GMC hood. The Orange paint on this is perfect just the way it is with some battle scars for character. I am so glad the owner didn't put on some chrome bumpers and grill. I think it would ruin the tough utilitarian look it's got going on. Look at those rims! Some sweet 70's slots and some not huge white letter tires look sweet. I believe the stickers on the doors are Cal-Trans stickers so maybe this was a old Cal-Trans truck? Who cares they look great on it. This thing is so dope I would be so happy with this thing in the driveway fill it up with gas throw a cooler in the back and a dirt bike or two and head out into the desert. If only it were mine.

Lake Tahoe rulz

2009-08-17T20:46:00.003-06:00

While on vacation in Reno we stopped at Lake Tahoe. I can't believe I lived like 45 minutes from here and didn't visit more. I think the photos turned out pretty dang good.

My Favorite Cars of Hot August Nights Part 1

2009-08-15T14:47:00.003-06:00

Well I went to Reno for Hot August Nights with my family. We rented this thing called a Dodge Caliber. My official review of it is pretty short. It sucks. The thing has manual windows. Which isn't really what sucks. The seats were horrible. And it was super loud, oh it was ugly too. So that was my least favorite car of the trip. As for my favorites here is one. I don't know my Z cars but I think it's a 270Z. I love green cars and this one is a great green color, and the grey wheels look dope on this thing. I looked at the motor and saw a Small block chevy! This thing must be fun to drive. Hopefully it has some better than stock brakes.

The Ultimate Expression of my nerdiness.

2009-08-03T14:54:00.002-06:00

Basically this is just my ultimate expression of nerdiness in it's final form. I added some paint. Sorry I know that's kinda disappointing. Also I welded up the ends of the tubes! Still disappointed?

I am slowly coming to terms with being a nerd but I still have some denial. After all I welded this thing together! I own a welder! How many nerds do you know that can weld? And that's in real life not in some SIM welder video game either!

I give up I am a nerd...just leave me alone and look at the photos.

Xbox racing wheel cockpit

2009-07-28T13:08:00.005-06:00

I am a nerd for racing sim games like Gran Tursimo and Forza 2. It is pretty fun driving a car in a video game I will never own in real life. It sucks when you have to use a controller to drive a car though. Finally after quite some time wishing for one of these I bought it. And it was cheap.

It was fun for a while until the pedals started sliding away from my feet causing me to crash or steering around a corner and having to make a quick correction and the steering wheel slides off my lap.

I decided to use some metal and my welder and build a real cockpit now it feels much more like a real car and I look like a nerd!

It needs to be finished up with some painting and a some velcro to keep the pedals from sliding off.
Check it out and feel free to make fun of me because I don't care I love this thing!

almost awesome

2009-06-19T17:43:00.003-06:00

Welded in some patches here is the before in case you forgot or are just too lazy to look at the last post.

I hate rust.

2009-06-17T10:30:00.006-06:00

Some progress was made on getting rid of rust. Cutting large pieces off a car can be pretty nerve racking. But once I found what was underneath I knew I did the right thing. I don't usually let the bird out since this is a PG blog but I finally feel like I am winning the war on rust.

The rear window channel was pretty rusty. I climbed in the trunk to see if any other panels were diseased...unfortunately there were some rust holes, so I decided to cut off the whole panel and fix the insides. The pictures below are what I found. BTW I took the photos after grinding you should have seen how crusty it was and all the chunks of rusted metal in there.

So this bird is for the rust but I don't blame the rust there is got to be some positive use for rust but I haven't found it. It's for the idiot who instead of fixing something the right way decided some aluminum and rivets and a good frosting of bondo would fix the rust holes. Actually it made it worse. So this is to you retard who does things half butted.

Most of the rust out on this car had some previous repair on it that not only was done too late but was done in a lazy way that actually made the rust much worse Or was the cause of not fixing a little rust it turned in to a major repair.

In the photos you can see the rust holes even though the only way to see this part is to lay on your back in the trunk and the only people doing that in my trunk might be dead and who cares what they think? Well I guess I do because even though it won't be visible I will know that I slacked off and left a bunch of rust holes in my car, and rust never sleeps you can paint over it or hide it but once it gets air and moisture it starts again. I think I have had nightmares about rust it lurks in unseen places and then after you thought you got rid of it all it can pop right through the new paint like a mugger with a gun popping up behind trashcans.

After patching and welding and fixing this part I can finally get to fixing the part I set out to repair. Sounds fun right?

Rust sucks but I am fixing it the right way so when it's done I won't have to worry about rust anymore. After welding and patching I have another weapon in my arsenal about $300 worth of POR15.
You know I never drove this car! I bought it from Skyler and started tearing it apart to fix the rust. I am getting so anxious to get the rust fixed and drive this thing. I really miss just going for drives in a car I fixed myself.

Dirt bikes

2009-05-15T19:20:00.005-06:00

Geez Dirt biking is fun. It can be scary when you realize the bike you are riding is way more capable and faster than you could ever manage to ride it. There are times though when you feel totally in control and just enjoy the ride. Or sometimes you are going up a steep extremely rocky and narrow mountain trail and you crest it and stall out the bike and try to kick start it for an hour. Then in a sweaty dusty mess give up and push start it down the hill...that sucks. The waves and thumbs up from the neighborhood kids is cool. But when I am done there is always a feeling of accomplishment and sometimes just that I didn't die.

My car has new floors.

2009-05-06T13:41:00.006-06:00

It's officially official. My Cutlass now has floors the other day I got my welding gas refilled and finished welding the floors in. They are beautiful to look at. It is something I think a lot of people take for granted. You know having floor in the car instead of big gaping holes and chunks of rusty metal.

Now I don't know what to do. For so long I had been just thinking of fixing the floor. Maybe I should fix the big rust holes in the quarter panels? I will be glad when I can finally look at my car and not see through to the other side.

And when I am finally done with that there is just everything.

-Wiring
-Paint frame
-Install springs/shocks
-Basically whole new interior
-Get engine rebuilt or run as is.
-Paint engine
-Rebuild front suspension
-swap crappy two speed for a 2004R
-new weather stripping
-bumpers rechromed
-bodywork and paint
-Front Disc brake conversion
-flush and seal gas tank
-new steering wheel

I made this Camaro

2009-04-23T16:49:00.003-06:00

I spent some time today GIMP'ing. If there is such thing as Photoshoping. There can be GIMP'ing right?
Well its a 2010 Camaro I changed the wheels,brakes,stripe color,fog light color,I also removed the banner on the windshield. ( it used to say something lame.)
Starting to get the hang of GIMP. The Wacom makes it way faster!

It says Von Moldy on there but I GIMP'D it.

New author and I want this bike.

2009-04-16T00:50:00.011-06:00

I have a new author here on Ape Island Index...and it's me. I started this blog with a hotmail account. Now I also have a gmail account. So instead of signing in and out with my gmail account I just added it as an author. If anyone knows how to merge them so my login is my new gmail account but lets me keep my old profile I built this blog with please let me know.

So anypoo I want this bike.

Sucks that it's $900, odd that this retro bike costs the same as my Scwhinn Brian Foster pro-model brand new with top of the line parts. I just can't get excited about mountain bikes and this thing just might be able to take it's place.
I raced a PK Ripper when I was younger it was white just like this bike. I remember seeing these bikes when they weren't so retro and they were cool looking then. Old School BMX and simplistic beauty nuff said.

SE Quadangle 24" Limited Edition

Rodney Mullet

2009-04-09T23:41:00.003-06:00

I think this guy invented mullets. Or maybe not but he sho look goood! He is pretty much my hero because even tho it 2009 and we got all kinds of technologies he still rocking like its 1987. Mullets and torn jeans are the uniform of rock soldiers. he cuts the hair in the front so his mom don't kick him out of her basement. The flying V guitar while skate boarding is a must for the true mullet head. This guy doesn't just think outside of the box he takes all the cheap beer out of that box and drinks it and smashes the bottle on the faces of squares who don't head bang to Poison.

My test drive of the 2010 Porsche GT3

2009-04-08T16:22:00.005-06:00

Brand New GT3 is awesome!

I would take mine as shown Carrera White with the black wheels.
I love the new center lock wheels the bump to 435hp is nice too.
If there was a contest where I won any new Porsche I wanted, I would pick the most expensive Porsche there is and sell it and buy one of these. The rest of the money would go to the Porsche European delivery program and tour europe a while or maybe take delivery here, and get some luggage maybe a package of white t-shirts and other necessities. I would buy some driving gloves and fill up the tank the remaining cash would be come with me in a briefcase and we would hit the road.

I think I would go back to Dallas and see some stuff from my mission. Maybe head to New York city for some pizza then maybe later cruise up Pacific Coast Highway in California. I wonder what the top speed would be across the golden gate bridge?

I don't know why I torture myself with thoughts like these.

They actually let me test drive one on the internet...sucks but I got this cool certificate. I wonder if I bring this to the dealer they will actually let me drive a real one?

I am a dork for watches

2009-04-03T17:07:00.004-06:00

Although I may be a dork for watches there is a battle that goes on in my head or is it my groin? It goes something like this Cost vs. Practicality vs. Awesome. Basically If I want something it goes through this test. Even if I can't afford it.
I think the battle goes on in my head, but sometimes If I blow money on something because its just awesome and nothing else it feels like a kick in the groin. I think that explains the confusion above. Right here is something that wins on every standard.
A Bell & Ross watch

It's only like a couple grand so it's not as expensive as a Rolex...I think.
It looks freaking awesome. And it isn't some bling piece of crap. Form and function are equal here. Since its super easy to read and extremely durable its really practical too.
Now I just need to find somehow to pay for it.
P.S. If you feel generous I want the one on the right

Bat for lashes

2009-04-02T12:32:00.003-06:00

I love this video. Pretty creepy and I love anything with music and bikes for some reason. It doesn't hurt the song is good too.

So let me sum up how to make awesome.

animal masks+BMX+good song+creepiness=awesomeness

my grandma who used to teach me math after school everyday would be proud.

Excerpts from my mision pocketbook

2009-03-31T23:51:00.004-06:00

I kept these small pocket sized notebooks to record my thoughts on my mission. They have some pretty crazy stuff in them. Here are a few gems.

you may not be able to read it all so here is what it says
Moldy's ultimate party
-Inflatable jump house
-Bring your own girl or find one here ( i guess to get people to go?)
-hammocks
-firepit bring your favorite thing to burn
-sparkling cider
-nacho bar
-fancy samiches
-drinks with umbrellas
-soda IBC on ice

It still sounds like a ton of fun. Anyone want to throw this party with me?

My first car show

2009-03-30T16:02:00.004-06:00

It is official I have had a car in a car show for the first time.
My car was part of a space that UVU rented out for the Salt Lake Autorama to promote the Street Rod program we got. A few of us in the panel fabrication class made pedal cars from aluminum. Which were displayed in the booth. Including mine even though mine was incomplete and in the back hiding behind a sign. It was still cool to see people admire them when I was showing my dad the car there were some people who actually walked to the back and were talking about my car and about the grill I made for it which was kinda cool. My car looked like crap compared to the others but to be fair I didn't have as much time as the others to work on it and I made the frame for mine while others bought frames.
I felt like a dork taking pictures of my own crappy car so I got only one.
I realized just how lame car shows are. They are cool to walk around and see neat crap but I don't think I will be showing a car again. It just seems so pointless the reason I want a nice car is to drive it and have fun with it not polish it and put it on display so I can try to boost my ego.
But I do get to look at other peoples nice cars!

ROBOBANDITO

2009-03-26T18:01:00.000-06:00

HEY YOU!!!
GO TO ROBOBANDITO.COM
It is a brand new collaboration of me and some other cool guys who draw stuff. It's gonna be awesome. Kind of like an mix tape without all the crappy music.

Wish list

2009-03-25T22:30:00.003-06:00

Do you guys have like a wish list for when you are making some real kinda money. You know when you when the lottery or get a real job after college or something?
I do and one of those things on the list is a nice gun. Something like this AR15.

I need a job.

2009-03-24T17:48:00.002-06:00

Does anyone know of a job that isn't boring in which I get to create things use my imagination possibly weld things and work mostly on cars and I get paid decent and also the people I work with need to be cool. Also my grandmas need to be able to have a sense of pride when they brag to their friends about me. Also the job must take into account the fact that I can cook and sort of manage to hand code html and photoshop. Oh ya also It needs to require my drawing skills.
some of my other skills which as an employer you might find useful.
-I can operate a manual transmission
-I know how to use an english wheel
-I can do wheelies on a bike
-I once bunnyhopped over a trash can on its side.
-I love nachos
-I can cook risotto
-I built my own smoker
-I have experience driving car in reverse and quickly turning the steering wheel to do 180's
-I know how to operate a dirtbike
-I know a lot about the simpsons
-I can do burnouts in a car
-I can grow a pretty cool beard if required.

If you need a formal resume please contact me.

I welded some stuff.

2009-03-21T12:00:00.004-06:00

My welder ran out of gas right as I finished tacking this in! Crap this seems like it will never end. Oh by the way this is part of an ongoing saga of me trying to weld in some replacement floor pans in my 1964 Cutlass. The old ones had major rust and Flintstones cars aren't really my style.

Oh ya and here is an old drawing I did on my moms whiteboard calender I don't know why but some of my funniest drawings are on whiteboards and get erased a minute later. This one I photographed. He better hury before it gets dark or the coyotes might get him!

70's

2009-03-20T12:09:00.004-06:00

Am I the only one totally mystified by the 70's? It all just seems to freaking weird to me.
-Vietnam
-huge bushy sideburns
-Novas,Cudas,Chevelles,Camaros,Mach Ones
-Afros
-chest hair
-silk shirts
-huge sunglasses
-drugs
-bell bottoms
-jean jackets
etc.
I often wonder if I was born then where would I fit?
After watching this video I have a pretty good idea. I probably wouldn't be rocking long hair or bells. Definitely wouldn't be wearing a cape or a feather boa. I just can't imagine myself with a silk shirt halfway buttoned. I am positive I wouldn't have worn a pearl necklace or makeup. And I wouldn't have been on drugs like the chicks with the tambourines. I know for a fact I wouldn't be whipping a guitar. I think I would be working on my 1968 Nova most of the time maybe swapping in a 396 or bolting on some headers or maybe riding around on my dirt bike.
Of course I can only suppose what I would be doing based on what I like now so who knows?
Those back singer chicks got so much energy maybe I would be friends with them? Maybe I would drive around in a van with the roof cut off and my band in the back rocking out blasting sweet tunes for everyone to enjoy solving mysteries and killing commie zombies from vietnam?
What would you have been doing in the 70's?
P.S. watch the whole video it rules! serious.

2009-03-12T16:55:00.001-06:00

THis is a drawing I did on the Wacom it is of a used car salesman for some reason. it sucks.

American Idol blows

2009-03-11T22:00:00.002-06:00

Just because a billion people watch American Idol doesn't make it a good show. The last time the show was on in the same room as me it seemed the whole show was making fun of the weirdos who came in to audition. What if I was to show up when the top ten was singing and boo and make fun of them? They would probably be pissed and say I was immature or something! I guess the difference is they are a bunch of snobs who decide who has talent and who doesn't. But don't they realize their whole show sucks? Anyone who idolizes some teenager who can do a decent job of singing a song someone else already sang needs to reevaluate their priorities and who they worship.
I do not idolize singers just like I don't idolize my blender. But now that I think about it my blender is much more deserving. Imagine giving my blender a huge audience some hip good looking announcer to introduce it and a full band and lights and lasers and smoke machines. My blender steps onto stage and makes a milkshake for everyone to enjoy. Now it's not the best milkshake you ever had but it's good. Plus all the magic and showbiz crap would probably distract you from the fact that it isnt the best milkshake ever. But who doesn't like milkshakes? At least everyone could enjoy it.
Whereas whenever American Idol is on I have to change the channel and watch some documentary about why the planet is doomed.
In closing I feel I have to say that those mutants who show up to the auditions without any recognizable talent need to be sent to the island on the TV show LOST then that monster thing can have its way with them.

consolation bot

2009-03-10T22:22:00.004-06:00

this is the consolation bot. basically it is a robot that consoles people. Like say you are dying or trying to kill yourself the robot would console you. It's voice would be all crappy just like a robot. Imagine yourself on your deathbed and this voice consoles you with.
"...you have so much life to live...you have so much to live for...your affectionate relationship with your girl/boy/pet friend would miss your company...why not visit http://www.webmd.com..I am Programmed to refer you to this website for help...I relate this joke to you for your enjoyment..."
I think I need to patent this quick.

the hardest part i sthe title

2009-03-09T00:55:00.002-06:00

well i should be doing something responsible like playing Battlefield Bad Company. I beat it already but now I want to beat it on hard. You know achieving goals and stuff is important. BUt I am on here posting stuff.
First thing is this video of Jason Jesse. This guy is amazing he makes me laugh. basically I love him. I think I would be a lot like him if I didnt have churchin and didn't over the years become more and more concerned what people thought of me.Oh I would need to be a much better roller boarder. heck it could still happen. say I drop out of college or something. The ring on my right hand tends to make me remember not to do stuff like that though.

Also before I go I have a suspicion that a cat ate my chocolate cake. I was wanting some cake so I make a bundt cake. Bundt cakes are my favorite. Also I love saying Bundt Cake pan with a spanish accent. It rules try it! But ya so I was cooling the cake on the deck and I went out to bring it in to see If i could get it to come out of its home and onto the plate so I could frost and eat it. I noticed there was two big chunks missing. I thought it was weird first I thought maybe the wind did it but a flashlight and me searching couldnt find any stray cake chunks. So I assumed that a hungry cat or mongoose must have found it and eaten it. I was pretty pissed at first cuz I wanted to eat it. THere wasnt really any claw marks or anything so I wasnt totally sure. but who wants to eat a cake after a cat or mongoose? I decided to coat the deck in flour and leave the cake out there and see if the cat or leopard would come back for dessert. As of 1am there is no sign of cat prints.
I wonder if the wind ate it?

I want a motorcycle.

2009-03-05T11:43:00.005-07:00

You guys know anyone who has one for free? I will fix it and make it run and ride it to school. Please ask your neighbors and friends.
Maybe it could look as nice as this one day. this one was built by some geniuses by the name of the Wrench Monkees from Denmark.
Oh and I am not joking ask your friends strangers family members and people who might look like they would have a motorcycle they no longer want. Seriously.
Oh ya I also messed with the HTML crap for a while and changed font colors and sizes and some subtle tweaks to make my blog more unique and I think better looking. Enjoy!

Lame Post

2009-02-24T08:59:00.002-07:00

Well this post is kind of lame in a way because really I am just posting someone elses work and posting it on here. BUt it is worth it because it is one of those gems you find on the internet sometime. they are hilarious comics. I suggest you read them.
married to the sea
and
toothpaste for dinner
here is an example from married to the sea

I went for a Hike.

2009-02-20T19:59:00.004-07:00

I was pretty bored, so I decided to hike this mountain behind my house. I had wanted to go to the top of this mountain and see what it looked like from the top. I did that yesterday and lucky for you I took pictures so you don't have to eat my dust on the way to the top. Oh ya it was super fun.

View of Utah Lake

Looking East

A rock

Cactus!

I want to drive.

2009-02-18T20:58:00.002-07:00

Lately I have been kind of bummed out. Not over anything really serious so don't worry. I just miss being able to jump in my car and go for a drive. Having a cool car has always been such a high priority for me because I love just being able to drive a fun car and maybe get lost and find some random adventure even if it means just getting a burger or soda or something.
As you may know Porsche is a hero of mine. I recently finished Dr. Ferdinand Porsche biography. I started researching some of the cars mentioned and stumbled on these Mercedes Benz cars. They ease the pain...sort of. Enjoy.

New stuff

2009-02-12T16:04:00.004-07:00

Remember in The Simpsons when Marge and Homer explained what is was like to kiss? It's how I feel about a lot of things. Even the quote itself. But I will get back to that. Right now I want to talk about the cool new stuff here. Mostly the title thing I made in Photoshop but also some other work I did in Photoshop. You can find the new title in the very top of the blog. Also following the period at the end of this sentence will most likely be the other crap I did in Photoshop.
blogger doesn't like .psd files so no more new crap just enjoy the quote and the new title and maybe this video of some SNL digital shorts. The Extreme Challenge one creeps me out though. But you might like it.
Quote goes thus.

Bart: Way to go, Dad!
Lisa: The perfect kiss!
Homer: It was pretty delicious.
Marge: It was as satisfying as a million Hallmark cards with all the right-size envelopes.
(Lisa sighs dreamily)
Homer: It felt like a cluster bomb wiping out a graveyard full of zombies.
(Bart sighs dreamily)
Yup that is how it feels to make art...Satisfying. Though trying to brag about it and post images of it on your blog isn't so satifsying.

Just like Luke Skywalker

2009-01-29T16:32:00.003-07:00

I have a class at 7am. I have to wake up a 6am.The sign said it was 12 degrees outside. I park in a cold black empty parking lot and head to the shuttle stop. The cold wind tears through all manner of inventions designed to protect me from such things. In the darkness mountains of snow surround me as I realize I am in the arctic tundra. My eyes are heavy my shoes heavier. I pass a wall of snow and ice. I suddenly feel like laying down in that crypt of snow and ice crawling into fetal position and surrendering to the icy jaws of death. It would be just like when Luke Skywalker on the planet hoth is about to die and Han Solo cuts open that beast and stuffs Luke in it saving his life. Except I don't know Han Solo and there is no beast. Finally the war that has lasted my entire life is over. Though I have surrendered to winter. I am no longer cold. I just die in my little cave at peace so in the end I am the victor. This drawing is about that. True story.
I don't know what this drawing is about.

This is going to be cool.

2009-01-28T22:28:00.006-07:00

This is the first post of my new and looks exactly the same blog. It is some projects for my digital media class. One of the assignments is to make a collage of photos about me. The other is a collage of just text with the option of using a background image. Both are done in Photoshop CS something.
I will attempt to explain these since I hope it will make it cooler when you know what I was trying to do. This one was done from a self portrait I did. The idea was I was frozen in a tube thing and lots of time has passed.
I added the colored images that is stuff I like and some just suggest ideas. I made them all bent and weird looking because I was supposed to be like seeing them like it was a dream or something.
Though the actual drawing looked just like me which was cool the photos don't look too great because the images covered up my eyes and if I were to make them more transparent than they wouldn't be visible. Sucks but it is still kinda cool. See if you can recognize all the photos. There is about eight there and merged and filtered and distorted. Might be hard if it is too small.
This is the text only one but I used a photo as the background. The background is a photo from the movie Metropolis. A really cool movie go watch it now and than this will make more sense. Well the movie is basically about the future. And two classes of people and how in the end stuff blows up and everyone is happier.
The idea was to use only text and change it up and make something cool. I used words and stuff that related to the theme of the movie. I guess Gimp doesn't play too nice with Photoshop or just because I had to merge all the layers I lost the transparency and the vibrant colors and all the glowing effects. Jsut take my word for it that it looks way better than shown here.
Some of my best drawings are drawn on church programs and take less than five minutes. This is one of many gems. I really wish I had a go-kart like this. It would be so fun to tear around the streets. I even have the perfect helmet. Burnouts. Drifts.Donuts and screaming around corners...someday.

THis blog is going through some changes

2009-01-26T22:12:00.002-07:00

blame the economic downturn if you must , but really I just get bored with this place. I think I maye have to just unplug it and start packing it up for a retool.
I am thinking to confining it to just art.
here is my definition of art. If I do it it is art. well not really more like if I draw it or weld it or something like that It will be on here. But really I just want to put more drawings on here rather than stupid crap like a cool photo I find.
Since I am in a digital media class expect some crap from that class. Not the kind of crap you have to wear plastic bags on your hands. I am talking good crap. or stuff...ya stuff is better.

sweetest score ever.

2009-01-20T11:29:00.004-07:00

For quite some time now I have been wanting a really cool helmet to wear when minibiking. I looked on ebay but all of the cool ones were like 50 bucks. So I just stopped looking.
One day I was at the DI and I was trying on some vintage button up shirts in the dressing room. I saw something wierd looking in the bottom of a pile of clothes on the floor I looked at it for a few seconds and I realized it was a helmet of some kind. I picked it up and out came a beautiful vintage metal flake helmet! I couldnt believe my eyes. It was green too! I also noticed the sticker on the back tha said 'bonneville' how cool is that! I couldnt think of a more perfect helmet. IT looked like it was in good condish too. Best thing of all it cost me two bucks.
I got it home and looked it over I got some soap and cleaned off the dirt and grime and rubbed off the scrapes and was amazed at how good of condish it was in. I used some plastic polish and it shined up nice and even better with some wax. I didnt dare put it on my head because the fabric liner was trashed And looked greasy and smelled worse. Looking at it I realized I could pull out the liner as the fabric was jsut attached to foam that fit in the helmet tight so I pulled it all out. I had some diamond quilted material lying around and after cutting and glueing and thinking about how to do it I had reupholstered the bowl shaped part of the helmet. With help from my Mom doing the sewing. Might be pretty crappy compared to a pro job or even compared to a job someone who has done it before could do but It works for me and I like the way it looks. And it is comfy. Then I went to walmart and got some stretchy material for the part that goes over the ears and forhead and stuff. I used some of the quilted material and put it around the forehead part. and put it all back together. Now after spending about 8 bucks total I have a sweet looking helmet of my dreams that fits me perfect. The only thing left to do is get some leather or vinyl and make a new strap with snaps on it as the old one is literally hanging by a thread.

some sweet scores

2009-01-15T14:19:00.003-07:00

check this out the sweet Jvc record player was only fifteen dollars but it is missing the needles. the other Photo is me with a new wacom so far love it! I wrote this post with it. l can't wait to draw with it.

sweet motorcycle

2009-01-13T23:57:00.003-07:00

I don't know what the heck happened but last post is gone.I think I deleted it. I don't know how to get it back so to make myself feel better here is a motorcycle and a really old video I took of a fire. and a cool photo I took of a mountain near my house.

I saw a movie: Benamin Button

2009-01-04T16:36:00.003-07:00

I was bored and wanted to try out the new cinemark huge theater near university mall. I was also nearby so it was convenient. I saw the Benjimin Button movie with brad pit. It wasn't what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting something more cool. The movie was pretty good and all but It just wasn't what I thought it would be. I thought it would be more funny. It seemed to mostly focus on how many times he had sex. And also his relationships and stuff like that. I enjoyed the cinematography and that artsy kind of stuff. The clothes seemed to fit the various times portrayed too.
My faorite part might have to be the old guy who told the story of how he got struck by lightning seven times. Either that or the sweet motorcycles and cars.
I came away feeling kind of bored and maybe a little more confused about what I am meant to do in my life though I think the movie is supposed to make you feel better about what you have chose to do. How does that help someone who has no idea? In that respect I think I related to Captain Mike the tugboat captain.
So overall I think it was good Brad Pit did a good acting job. And so did everyone else. Except for the little girl he eventually hooks up with. I don't know if it is true or not but it really sounds like they dubbed a older girls voice over hers. Weird. It was definitley entertaining and for 8 bux for three hours of avoiding boredom it was worth it. I imagine though a person who would really be horrified to see a baby that looks like a wrinkled up old man then you shouldn't see it.

My least favorite part of the movie.

One of my favorite parts was the motorcycles and clothes and cars though I like the Triumph better this one will have to do. The jacket is cool too.

sometimes

2009-01-03T11:55:00.003-07:00

sometimes

when I buy a CD

>>>>>>>>---------------------------------------I am not disappointed.

Oracular Spectacular is freaking spectacular.
Buy this or kill yourself. May I suggest something German?

Dr. Squarewave Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The TIG

2008-12-19T10:57:00.025-07:00

I was really bored in my Panel Fabrication of Aluminum class. In the past boredom usually resulted in me either getting in trouble with the law or just doing illegal things and never getting caught. Or staring at nothing and day dreaming, Or just pissing off my parents by making a mess in the garage working on something. But this time was different.

I was working on our class project which is to build pedal cars. Mine is basically,hopefully just going to be a scale replica of the Niekamp roadster. I don't think it will be pedal-able, but I am thinking about putting this little motor that was in my mini bike in it and somehow get it to drive. Though I think only a monkey may be able to fit in it. Either that or a newborn baby. Wow I am really getting off the point of this post...let me...try to remember...just what the point was...oh ya I was bored. So I was working on my pedal car and it is kind of like a puzzle in that parts have to be completed and then you build off the finished part and that helps you decide what needs to go where etc. (I am sure you get the puzzle analogy but let me know if you need help.)

My car is basically just a bunch of unfinished parts so I was pretty bored just sitting there thinking of what to do next. The decision I made would changed my life forever. I decided today would be the day I make my first TIG weld. Also it was to be the day I would weld my first Aluminum.
My instructor was kind enough to take the time to show me how to run the Lincoln Square Wave TIG 175 Pro. (welders have the coolest names I know exactly what I am getting!) I cut a ton of scrap aluminum up into coupons and was ready to go. I even brought one of my most prized possesions a Lincoln Auto Darkening welding helmet, in anticipation of this day. He basically setup the machine and showed me how to use the torch and some real basic technique and laid two beads to show me what they should look like and left me to practice, and try to make mine look as good as his. The first was a bunch of welds without filler rod just getting used to using the foot pedal which varies the amperage. After I got the hang of that and bored, I did a bunch of welds using filler rod. It was tough to move fast enough to keep from burning holes in the metal but I kind of figured out how fast to move and got into a rhythm of moving the torch pushing down the foot pedal and adding the filler rod and moving along. I had a sudden realization that TIG welding was a ton of fun! I didn't miss the smoke or the smell of burning steel or the sparks and lumps of molten metal burning my skin. I also realized just how much control I have of the weld I am making and how I precisely I could control the weld process. I got some pretty decent looking beads down and I had pretty even cleaning around the weld but I thought the penetration on the backside of the weld was pretty crappy.

I had the panel full of welds so I decided to try butt welding. This turned out to be way harder as it should be. Butt welding is one of the most difficult welds to do you take two pieces of metal try to fit the edges together as best you can and run a weld down the gap joining them together. The fact I had never done TIG or welded aluminum at all before, I thought this was going to be a huge challenge, though I did feel fairly confident because I had done okay so far. I cut up a bunch more aluminum and cleaned it and tacked my first piece together. It was about like learning to do it all over again because it is so much harder. The arc off the torch wants to stay on one side or the other so you end up heating the edge of one piece more than the other and can melt away the edge without even joining the two together. I messed up a few pieces but by the time I was running out of metal I felt like I could join aluminum pretty well.

When I was a kid I was really into BMX. I think that is pretty much all I would do. It is a rather long story but I wanted to build a BMX frame since I couldn't afford a new bike. My Dad told me a bike frame is welded showed me the welds on a bike and basically never had a welder so I never made a frame. Since then I always looked at the welds on bikes. Especially the aluminum race frames. I don't know why I just loved the way they looked. The idea that you can melt two pieces of metal together to make a bike strong enough to not break when landing a jump was amazing and mysterious it really got my imagination going as I thought about all the cool stuff I could build like go-karts, mini bikes, BMX bikes and all the cool stuff I do on my Schwinn Stingray like add a tank like on the low-rider bikes. I heard stories of how my Dad had a metal shop class and he told me I should take metal shop in Middle school and they might be able to teach me about welding. It turns out that the canceled metal shop by the time I got to middle school. I had to wait until high school to finally take a metal shop class. I looked forward to being able to learn how to weld. By the time I was in high school I never really rode bikes much. I forgot about welding. I took a metal shop class which was cool because we made a chisel and a tool box. We were supposed to learn how to weld with oxy-acetylene but the teacher was old and lazy so he kind of showed us how to do it one day and that was it. Eventually I got a job at Rod Bods that built 32 ford roadster from steel. They kind of showed me how to MIG weld. I eventually bought my own MIG welder, but I had never been able to use a TIG or weld aluminum like the welds on my Brian Foster pro bike. All these years I have admired people who could make beautiful welds and build cool things. They have as long as I can really remember been my heroes, though it is kind of funny to think that someone who can weld good as achieving hero status.

When I was able to show my instructor the welds I had made. I was feeling pretty good. I showed him the butt welds and told him I thought they were just okay. I turned over the weld and showed him the back side and told him how concerned I was that although they looked okay on top the backs didn't really have the proper penetration to make a strong weld. After all a weak good looking weld is pretty much useless. He said I actually had good penetration. He said they looked good and that I should be proud of myself and he said he was proud of me. That was surprising.

When I was able to make some good welds on a TIG and do it on aluminum and never been able to do that before it was a huge accomplishment for me. It meant I was a little more like some of the people I admire. It meant that I could now say I can TIG and that I can weld aluminum but not only that but that I could say I could TIG weld aluminum. Though if the situation ever calls for it I would say it modestly since I am pretty much a beginner welder. One day maybe I might be able to do it well enough to build a BMX frame as beautiful as my Brian Foster Pro model.

This is an example of some beautiful aluminum welds(not my work)

My first practice panel

Practice butt weld

This was the best looking butt weld

!! MAY CAUSE AWESOME !! I finally made Risotto

2008-12-09T17:07:00.003-07:00

Now that's some sweet hair!

I need to work on my photography. Weird looking picture but, here it is.

I think I started really cooking on my mission to Dallas Texas. I was living on Hot-Pockets Pop-Tarts and Capn' Crunch. To put it simply if it had awkward punctuation that is what I was eating. I had made cookies and mac and cheese and other stuff growing up so I could read direction on a box or follow a recipe. I also watched cooking shows on saturday morning instead of cartoons. (I realize now that is kind of wierd.) So I knew a little theory of how cooking works. One day my companion just decided to whip up some spaghetti it was simple and delicious. I learned to make it and just started cooking stuff I wanted to eat.
I came home from my mission and heard about some rice stuff called risotto, every show seemed to have someone standing over a pot cooking some mushy fancy rice stuff. After a while I guess I became brain washed and allways wanted to try it. I never ate at restraunts that would serve something like that, so I decided to make it.
I kept my eyes open for risotto but could never find it at Wal-Mart so it took a while before I found some. I don't remember the store but I found some risotto finally and I ended up buying this tiny plastic container of rice for six dollars! I couldn't believe how expensive it was. I usually could buy huge sack of rice for the price of this little container. And the picture on the sack was way cooler. This risotto just had that Italian building with the improperly built foundation.
Well , I followed the recipe on the rice and made some stock then I stood over the pot for probably and hour stirring the rice and adding stock. Sweaty and tired and my back aching I finally had a bowl of the mythical risotto. I took one spoonfull and threw it out. It was way too salty.
Many months later...today I was bored so I decided to make it again, after seeing someone cook it without using stock and the technique was much simpler. I followed it but I didn't use mushrooms and I added some garlic and tumeric some green onions. Crap it is good! Before today I was comfortable living in ignorance thinking Risotto was just some hipster food you say is super good when you hear someone hasn't had it before. The only way I could decribe it is the first though that came into my head when I ate it. 'It is like rice pudding but with onions and parmesean.'
I know this may be anti clmatic but, you have the pictures or maybe if you are at my house and I am bored enough I might make it again.

Awesome happened.

2008-12-04T21:04:00.007-07:00

THis is a project pedal car for my panel fabrication class. It is made from aluminum and I made it. track nose made from a buck I made and then banged around with a hammer. When It gets all lumpy but fits the buck I take it to the english wheel and smooth it out. Then I do a bunch of stuff that is mostly magic. Not black magic but some gray magic. I weld up a frame from some steel tubing in the garage and put the quarter panels on to see how it looks. I grow a trunklid and tailpanel from some hard work seeds and let em grow big and tall. Mix it all in a pot and then awesome happens. IT BEGINS TO LOOK LIKE A CAR.

Quotes from my heroes who made awesome.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. -Albert Einstein

I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself. -Ferdinand Porsche

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. -Leonardo DaVinci

soon awesome will be complete. hopefully it will look like this.

I want wacom.

2008-11-23T12:18:00.003-07:00

This is about the best thing I have ever drawn on the computer. When using the computer I use my right hand to operate the mouse just like everyone else. But when I am writing or drawing on paper I am left handed. So when I draw on the computer I have to use my right hand which makes it really difficult and unnatural just like dancing or that peanut butter inside Reeses Pieces. That is why I don't really use the computer to draw even though I have a few cool programs to do so.

That is why I want one of these. It is about the coolest invention for computer drawing I have ever seen. You use the pen just like a regular pen, and draw on the tablet thing and it senses how hard you are pushing and stuff like that and you get to draw on the computer just like a normal art geek. Holy crap if I had one of these I would be happier than__insert_something_funny _here_______.
So if any of you readers stumble on some nazi gold I would really appreciate one of these for Christmas. Come on you got all that gold why can't you just buy me a Wacom? Please!?

Cool crap

2008-11-17T21:55:00.007-07:00

random collection of cool crap I have on my computer. Can you believe I don't own any of these things? I can't. Can you imagine what sort of person I would be if I did? I can. My mom got pretty mad about the picture of her...I took it down.

I gotta get me some lettuce.

2008-11-03T14:00:00.001-07:00

I carved a Jack O lantern WARNING IT IS SUPER SCARY!

2008-10-25T10:52:00.002-06:00

I made a movie.

2008-10-11T16:06:00.002-06:00

I made it on this new to me site called go animate.com it is pretty cool. I found these characters which were my favorites. They remind me of the children kids. I thought my video was really funny like most things I make the first two or three times I watched it.

title

2008-09-30T22:18:00.001-06:00

cedric and sarah inspired me to post this

2008-09-27T11:56:00.003-06:00

we have grass.

2008-09-24T21:48:00.003-06:00

I am pretty much and expert now laying sod. This is the second time I have done it. Me and my Mom did it all. It was kind of anti climatic because the yard looks so boring now. We need some huge boulders or old cars in the yard Or a pink flamingo or two. Our neighbor offered to help us then he walked over to his car got in his car with his daughter whom he was watching while his wife was away and drove off. I am pretty sure if we said we could use his help he would be too busy. Maybe I am just too cynical but it was kind of weird.

I surrender.

2008-09-14T22:49:00.003-06:00

I am really tempted to just say screw the internet and all the facebook and blog and myspace crap. it really hasn't benefited me in any way. I haven't met any new friends or made any money so whats the point if just all people you know anyways read your myspace and facebook pages?
It wastes a lot of time. not that I spend much time on myspace or facebook. but that is time I could be with my car. Or reading.

I want a motorcycle.

2008-09-04T21:27:00.002-06:00

With todays high gas prices I want a motorcycle even more. My Mom says she will never let me get one. I don't understand why she thinks she could stop me!
May I introduce the Triumph Bonneville.
It is not one of those crotch rockets where you smash your balls on the gas tank and have to have either bleached hair or a Limp Bizkit CD. This is a more casual bike. It won't do 150MPH but I could ride this thing everyday and I would too. But the best thing about it compared to a japanese crotch rocket is it has style.

This is Skyler

2008-08-25T12:52:00.003-06:00

This is my brother Skyler and he is only slightly less tall than he appears in this photo. We picked him up in Sparks and took him to the MTC on August 20th. He is going to the Nashville Tennessee mission. I don't know if he would appreciate me posting this photo of him but he is gone and I don't know if he has internets in the MTC. Stay tuned for more posts about stuff that has happened recently not much will be about Skyler but stuff like the time we went to Hot August nights and my experiences as a Top Gun A-10 Wart Hog pilot at Hill Air Force base and, just how afraid my grandmas dogs are. of me. Also about the time I ate a lot of meat.

My experiences with smoking it is all good.

2008-08-25T12:31:00.003-06:00

I know smoking is supposed to be bad for you and all but look at what it does for meat! If it can do this to a pork shoulder imagine how tasty you lungs would be! Well I smoked this pork for about 6 hours with apple wood not tobacco. But I am getting ahead of myself.
First I took the meat out of the frig for about an hour then I smeared mustard all over it weird I know but I took some advice from some BBQ experts! Then I used a rub from a Steven Raichlan recipe and rubbed and massaged the pork not a sensual massage but a I just want to be friends massage. A fire was made charcoal was made ready and then the pork went in the smoker. Apple wood was added to fire for that smokiness (not sure on the spelling of that). I cracked open a cold one.

Sat in my easy chair and six hours later I took it out because the wind was kicking up I was getting impatient and my allergies were making me hate the fact I was ever born with sinuses a nose or mucous membranes. So into the oven it went for about two more hours till I got hungry. I temped it at 190 so it was all good to eat. And this is what it looked like.

It wasn't quite tender enough I think because of the fact I wanted to eat it and didn't let it rest in the foil long enough. That is also why I don't have a photo of it all chopped up and sauced ready to be eaten.
I seriously think I may never smoke anything again. Not only is it incredibly boring it is hot stinky dirty and takes for ever! But also because I have to keep messing with the smoker adding more charcoal or more wood or whatever. Maybe the smoker needs more work? Maybe if friends came over to keep me company it might be worth it. I did this pretty much all on my own so that was no fun!
The meat had great flavor but like I said a little to ham like and not enough pulled pork tenderness and texture. I was disapointed but two days later the meat was gone so it must have been good? I have to admit though it tasted freaking fantastic in my wannabe homemade Japanese Ramen!

The Battle for the Ramen God

2008-08-04T02:28:00.005-06:00

After 100 Apprenticeships at Taishouken the Japanese Ramen master retires and a new generation of Ramen God needs to succeed to balance the force in the universe and take the throne to carry on the Ramen skills to the next generation. So it is decided there must be a battle to decide the next Ramen God. The destiny of the Ramen universe is at stake. Fate is sealed and The Battle for the Ramen God of the universe is on! Will the young apprentice betray his master and turn to the dark side or will he humble himself and use the force for the ultimate good in the galaxy?

Part 1

Part 2

Did some weldin

2008-07-20T18:37:00.003-06:00

I got tired of my Cutlass looking like a Flintstone car. So I did some weldin so I could get the new floors in. Practicing on some metal before hand helped to get the welder settings dialed in. I am surprised at what a good welder I have become. Stitching two thin pieces of metal together with melted metal isn't as easy as it sounds or looks.

Here is my hoopty work bench I rigged up. It is small dirty and wobbly but it's mine!

I had to cut the patches with a dull sawzall and an angle grinder and that sucked! I reccomend buying one of these before even trying to do metal work. This was on sale Harbor Freight tool should make the next metal patching or cutting job a whole lot easier I even had a coupon.

I miss it. part3

2008-07-14T01:37:00.003-06:00

I never put more work into anything than this car. I learned how to drive a manual in it. I did all the maintenance on it I changed out the transmission by myself in the snow. I redid the interior I replaced the brakes the shocks the front end. I lowered the rear. I tore down the engine to fix the stripped spark plug I reassembled it. I restored the steering wheel. It was the first car I ever raced someone from a street light. It was the first time I was in an accident and the first car I ever totaled. People used to tell me all the time what great shape it was in. It sucked having something so beautiful destroyed by no fault of my own. Some day I will have another one.

I miss it part 2.

2008-07-08T18:12:00.002-06:00

My face broke the windshield. My ribs broke the steering wheel. I was physically ok but My heart was damaged in a emotional touchy feely kind of way. I still miss this thing a ton.

I miss it.

2008-07-02T12:08:00.002-06:00

Porsche of today

2008-07-01T12:26:00.002-06:00