Archive for March, 2014

Buggy Museum

Saturday, March 29th, 2014

You will see buggies at the National Coach Museum in Portugal, but here in Fort Collins:

Today was learn how to care for your giant millipede

Or these Blue Beetles

And Bees, can’t forget bees!

The new animal exhibit at the FoCoMOD has been constructed to help introduce visitors to species and their vital roles, to highlight the need for conservation, and to spark scientific curiosity. It features animals including Colorado native tiger salamander, tarantulas, leopard geckos, “Dumbo” rats, honeybees, and even a ball python named “Slinky”, an old favorite but not native to Colorado.

Real Science this time!

Monday, March 24th, 2014

Can you say Nobel Prize winner?

Randy Schekman checks out the podium

… as a large group of scientists fill the lecture hall to hear about the molecular description of the process of membrane assembly and vesicular traffic in eukaryotic cells.

The slide I understand

Uh, because there are PacMan characters on it? No! It’s because catabolic cell degradation involving the actions of lysosomes is my middle name. And hanging with a Noble Prize winner can’t be bad!

Stuff to do soon?

Saturday, March 22nd, 2014

And with what?

What about a PCNC?

No, it ain’t no PICNIC, it’s a Personal Computer Numerical Controlled Milling Machine. Maybe to make some kind of prototype idea made out of aluminum why not?

How about plastic parts?

OK, I made fun of these because George Carlin would think these are just crazy, but who knows? We shall see…

Welcome Spring!

Thursday, March 20th, 2014

Time to bike on the Mason Trail:

The New Overpass

Not far from the Spring Creek underpass is this overpass that I assume is for the CSU Animal Management folks so they can cross the train tracks to get to the other side where there is nothing except maybe the MAX station… Oh that’s why.

In the City on the First Day of Spring

Great day to be out. 70 degree weather. Just playin’ banjo with my dog. Proll’y gonna snow tomorrow. That’s Colorado!

What? Shoot a few arrows?

I always saw this outdoor archery range from I-25 as I drove South approaching Harmony Road. There is no real good way to get there by bicycle, but for good reason: If they let me shoot there, you *know* it wouldn’t be safe. May go back again, maybe with a left-handed bow?

Smokey Street

Saturday, March 15th, 2014

Welcome to Smokey Street, Fort Collins!

It’s where the Qdoba Events Center is located!

The Q-What? Oh, some kind of “fast casual” Mexican restaurant subsidiary owned by Jack-In-The-Box. I personally don’t care for their food… It seems low quality at a high price. Just not worth it. Don’t know why CSU students would eat there. Whatever. They Do have an events center and it’s on Smokey Street. I’ve asked several FoCo natives if they knew about this events center… No, they never heard of it, nor have they ever heard of Smokey Street. But it’s there.  What else is on Smokey Street?

Solace Meds

I made this assumption when I headed out looking for the Qdoba Center that I might find a marijuana store someplace on a street named Smokey. It just seemed so Cheech&Chongish not to have at least one. Oh, easy one! Right across the street from the Qdoba Events Center you will find Solace.

Yes, two more

Both next to a gun store.Seems odd.

As for ‘Active Arms’, here’s a review from the internet:

I went in there with my 5 year old sun to see if they could work on an air pistol that I have had for many years, my grandfather had it when he was younger. I waited 20 minutes as the owner was standing there telling some story to his buddy and not really caring that he had 2-3 customers waiting on him. After his wife asked if I had been help, owner still never acknowledged me, I told her what I was looking for, an… view mored then all of a sudden he spoke up and said some negative remarks to my son about the way he was holding the air pistol, while he was looking at someone’s hand gun and swinging it all over the place! Again, it was clearly noticeable that it was not a working pistol, as I had it apart and my son had the handle. He finally got to his point that he didn’t do that kind of work. His business must be good because he doesn’t care anything about his customers, or possible future customers. I wouldn’t do business with him just for that reason!!

A Place Creative

Monday, March 10th, 2014

It’s in Loveland, Colorado:

Jamie, president of the Loveland Creator Space on opening day

A space opened up and we were there to move right in. The Loveland Creator Space is now a happening place!

Empty now, but not for long

What to do next? Some computers have been moved into the space and there’s rumors that a CNC milling machine and a 3-D printer will be arriving within minutes! Can’t wait!

It’s official!

…and we’re busy getting it all together FAST! Check out the web site here to see how it’s going. Also, join the meet-up group to learn even more about classes and open house tours. Click here for that.

No Parade Today

Monday, March 10th, 2014

Duncan and crew were getting ready for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, and then this happened:

Possible torn ACL, no broken bones

There must have been one of those squirrels out in the back yard that morning. Duncan the dog does not like squirrels and while he was out making sure our yard was free of those pests, he may had injured his back left leg– at least when he came back in he was limping. Our local vet was booked solid, and since the vet said he was concerned about pain (and it would be three days before he could see Duncan) he said to take him to the emergency vet, either the CSU school or the VCA in Loveland. So no parade, although someone offered to have Duncan ride on a flatbed truck, we decided Duncan had enough excitement for the day.

Then this happened

There is this cat who lives at the Armstrong hotel. The night after the parade some goofy kids (or young adults) got miffed when they couldn’t book a room at the hotel so they scooped up the cat in the hotel lobby. This made national headlines! The goofy kids (or young adults) probably took the cat a block or two and then let it go, but the police were involved and security tapes were examined for possible clues. Please note:

1) The cat came back.

2) Frickin’ cat has its own Facebook !

Samba Samples

Saturday, March 8th, 2014

At the Qdoba Events Center:

Bloco em FoCo was there.

Fat Tuesday!

Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

Well, there was the Fat Tuesday party benefit for the Bas Bleu Theatre, and before that there was this:

Someplace called the Qdoba Events Center

(More on that later) in any case, Bloco em FoCo was there and we rocked the house! It is possible that we could use this place for practice due to the fact that it is located very far away from anyone who might object to the noise. Time will tell…

AVO’s PASS

Saturday, March 1st, 2014

Our musical entertainment has been secured even more:

The 2014 Avogadro’s Number Annual Pass!

If you don’t have one of these it’s because only a limited number of these have been sold for 2014. This year Avo’s is trying out the concept of annual membership to see how it goes. It will ensure that we will get out and enjoy FoCo music besides going to FoCoMX April 25 & 26, Bohemian Nights Aug 15,16,&17th, and any of the Streetmosphere, Ben & Gerry’s or Lagoon concerts that will be going on this Summer.

Avo’s In March

We know we will hear Wendy Woo March 21st and maybe some others when we can. Why not? We have The Pass!