Gone Solar

Cells soaking in late-December rays. (12/26/16)

For as long as we have lived at our current home, my wife and I (well, mostly my wife) have maintained a vegetable garden from which we harvested multiple varieties of tomatoes, greens and other vegetables. Over a decade ago, my sons and I built our first composting pit with chicken wire in the backyard. Since that time we have added a smaller enclosed pit for wet waste before ultimately joining a community composting service. Two years ago, my wife leased a Volt after many satisfied years with the Prius. For a number of years now, my wife and I have discussed the possibility of having our home equipped with solar panels.

The next step seemed clear.

Our roof from a side street pre-installation. (11/15/16)

This past September, we met with contractors and received estimates and information about having a solar electric system installed as an end-of-year home improvement project. Just prior to Thanksgiving, we took the plunge and by mid-December, with the i's dotted and necessary permits acquired, our cells began collecting solar power and converting DC to AC through our basement inverter. (Full discloser: I am most definitely not entirely conversant in the ins-and-outs of the tech, so have chosen to use information from a FAQ page on Invictus Electrical's website for this post.)

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Racking for solar panels installed. (11/29/16) 

Moving forward, the Photovoltaic, or PV system, will convert sunlight directly into electricity serving a portion of our home’s electrical needs. The PV system is connected to our home’s electrical service panel to supplementing the existing utility service. After an inspection by our local municipality, a secondary meter called a net meter was installed for tracking the balance of energy used in contrast to that generated by the cells. Because we have a Southern-facing rooftop with no buildings and trees obstructing the cells, our PV system will work for us anytime the sun is shining. When the PV system is generating more electricity than our home is using, we will receive a credit for the excess power our utility.

Twelve panels installed and catching rays. Note that the angle of the sun is
such that the neighboring tree does not obstruct the cells. (12/26/16)

"Sunny Boy" the inverter, all moved and ready to rock in the basement.

Net meter installed! (12/26/16)

I often tell my own students that I regret not having paid better attention in high school and college science classes as my basic understanding of the science behind the technology is spotty at best. Fortunately, I have my wife to point me to sources to fill in the gaps as we continue to modify and adapt our home around us, and adventure which continues...

Reviewing the Old Ways the Old Way

Original box for Gary Synder's audio book The Practice of the Wild (1991).

Despite his voice being a touch higher than I recall, perhaps due to the tape being too tightly wound on a long undisturbed cassette, The Practice of the Wild cassette book is very much how I recall the poet sounding back in 1991 when I heard him speak at Nazareth College. At least I think it was Nazareth College. While cleaning out the attic a few weeks ago, I came across a small collection of books-on-tape that I purchased shortly after  graduating from college with my undergraduate degree in English Literature/Secondary Education. Among them was the aforementioned double cassette. In an age of digital sound, listening to the tapes took a little effort, especially as we, like most American homes, have converted everything to CDs and digital download. After procuring my late father's Walkman, I was ready to take another walk in the woods...

Like many college English Literature majors, I was introduced to the work of Gary Snyder in an introductory poetry course, and as a young man growing up in an urban neighborhood attending Catholic elementary school, the content and perspective was exotic and new. At the time, I had not traveled beyond the freeway connecting our home to my relatives' outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the idea of anyone espousing a belief system outside a Judeo-Christian one was unfamiliar to me. Snyder's poetry then was a gateway to the larger school of thought he represented and further (if not a touch more concretely) articulated later in a number of essay collections. If the earlier Earth House Hold (1969) or Myths and Texts (1960) appealed to the revolutionary spirit most moderately embrace in undergraduate studies, the nine essays that comprised The Practice of the Wild spoke to the adult domesticity I found myself accepting as a parent shortly after graduation.

The Practice of the Wild (1991) double cassette runs 3 hours and is a traditional book on tape in that its contents reflect those of the original text, published a year earlier in 1990. Having the text read by Snyder lends an added sense of gravitas and nobility to the its already comforting and airy message. In many ways, my experience to listening to Snyder's verbally share his work is reminiscent of listening to classic music on the way  to work with my untrained ear. Both are incredibly comfortable auditory experiences that establish an educated yet grounded mood. On rare occasions some small understanding is revealed to me as the recipient.

Much like a film with many quotable lines, The Practice of the Wild has many phrases and sayings that since its initial publication have become popularized as inspirational quotes, such as “With no surroundings there can be no path, and with no path one cannot become free.” Also like a quality movie with many good lines, the parts are even stronger when taken as part of a whole. The tape (and book) both add depth and meaning to Snyder's personal philosophy of compassion for all sentient beings, a class in which he includes mountains, trees and water. Key to continuing to foster and nurture this relationship with all beings is allowing our language to grow and develop in a manner that suggests the interdependence necessary for survival. "Wild," "nature," and "place" are just three of the words that Synder's clarification of within the context of his environmental politics, serve as common entry points for those unfamiliar with his thinking. As someone who is superficially aware--and deeply appreciative of--Snyder's work, I find myself always in need of a re-engagement with his brand of deep ecology. This rewiring of our linguistic present is just a precursor to what Snyder hopes will blossom into a radical restructuring of modern living in accordance with his ideas.

I seem to recall having seen a more current version of The Practice of the Wild text with the audio book included, but was unable to find it on line. Fortunately, Snyder is such a beloved literary-cultural figure that many of his speaking appearances and interviews have been capture on video and are available for viewing on YouTube. If unable to find the book-on-tape, you could do much worse than spending a few minutes with Gary Snyder at Colorado College in 2015. 

Running Naked?

Most weekend mornings, my neighborhood is flooded with folks of all shapes, sizes and ages "learning to run" as part of a program organized by a successful local running store/road race promoter. I applaud the energy and effort of those who attempt to finish (if not "run") organized races of all distances, and I have noticed that nearly all of them are dressed to "the nines" with the latest apparel including Garmins, aerodynamic tights, running jackets, and headlamps. Always one for minimally gearing up, I remember finishing my first road race 10+ years ago and telling my wife "I can't see myself wearing tights" which, of course, I do regularly in cold weather.

Somewhere between Laramie, Wyoming,
and Steamboat, Colorado, circa 2006.

Like any capitalist endeavor, it is in any store's best interest to promote the significance of these items, though I, a simple on-again-off-again recreational runner, might not see the need for much of it. (The only time I've worn a head lamp is when I was running alone in Rabbit Ears Pass, Colorado, at 2 a.m. way back in 2006.)

I do, however, occasionally find myself falling into the habit of relying on some tech (in the past, for example, a heart rate monitor or online mapping software) at the possible expense enjoying the run (though some might rightly suggest that my blogging about running in this goofy post is an example of over doing it with tech). This brings me back to the idea of being a retrogrouch, one which crystallized for me when I read Just Ride by Grant Peterson. Petersen (the original bicycling "retrogrouch") wrote his book with the intention of getting people to "enjoy bikes again, the way you did as a kid, before you got so serious." On a personal level, I think maybe the same sort of backwards design philosophy might benefit the recreational running world, too. In effect what I am thinking about is how one can strip down, or get naked, when it comes to jogging, running or racing. It is amazing how the dynamic of a run can change even when one leaves his watch behind...

This is not to suggest I will only be running barefoot (though I have read a number of books promoting the idea and have my cross-country athletes perform barefoot strides during practice) from here on out or that, in the spirit of Born to Run, wearing sandals for trail races. Nor am I suggesting that streaking attire would be a grand idea for my next 5k. On a completely personal level, I think it might be helpful to minimize being overladen with lamps, cumbersome hydration systems, and specialized unloosening laces, especially when the terrain, elements or course do not necessitate their use. On a much smaller scale, perhaps running occasionally without my timepiece as a pacer, just running to run guided by my internal clock.

For me, training naked means taking advantage of the opportunity to tune into one's breathing with only that equipment which is necessary to comfortably get outside. With the understanding that I am not training for the Olympics, but rather running to enjoy the moments and the environment through which I can move, the choice to  minimize, or run naked-er, is an easy (and personal) one.

Maverick Rolls into the FIRST Danger Zone!

Following both the Canada and American national anthems, the stage was set
for the Greece Gladiators (bottom left) first qualifying match of the day. (3/28/15)

Qualifying rounds for this year's Finger Lakes Region FIRST Robotics competition continued Saturday morning at RIT, and after last year's positive experience (my first), I was more than happy to start my Spring Break by supporting my students in this exciting endeavor. While the team had been on site preparing and participating in qualifying rounds the previous two days, this morning was my first opportunity to get out and watch the students at play. As is often the case with school events, it also provided the chance to touch base with alumni and parents, which is always a very welcome by-product of attending.

The Greece Gladiators' (1591) robot,
Maverick, battles to successfully stack
boxes during competition.

As a spectator, I felt much more well-prepared to meaningfully observe (and cheer) as I had kept up with the Greece Gladiators' progress prior to competition. By talking with participating students from my building (it's a district team comprised of students from all four Greece high schools) and working with a student-reporter who researched and wrote a fantastic article for the most recent issue of our school's Trojan Tribune (which I co-edit with a colleague) I had garnered a tiny bit of insight on what to look for. Of course, Gladiators at the competition were also available to proudly clue me in on any nuances I had a questions about.

Each year, participating teams are given a task or "game" for which they must design and build a robot to compete. Last year dealt with propelling a large inflatable ball into a hoop and this year, robots potentially needed a variety of skills, including stacking and moving bins, as well as picking up and propelling foam noodles. When talking with the adult facilitator, a Technology teacher at my school, I was impressed that he and the students had opted to focus on completing one task more fully than others in an effort to maximize their potential to score points.

Maverick gets prepped by student engineers for his next foray into the squared circle. (3/28/15)

The most enjoyable part of the day for me was talking with the students while they prepared their robot for competition. The qualifying rounds come in fairly quick succession, leaving only a short time for any necessary tinkering and repairs. Fortunately our robot, dubbed "Maverick", was a hardy competitor and required little in the way of tuning-up between the two matches I stayed to watch.

Students and adults, including Athena Technology teacher Mr. Mros, discuss
the most recent battle in anticipation of the next qualifying round. (3/28/15)

The laptop and controllers are used to guide Maverick's movements via Wi-Fi. (3/28/15) 

Viewing footage taken during the first match may reveal some insight for
improvement in the second. (3/25/18)

The FIRST Robotics emcee gets the crowd (and teams) jacked to compete! (3/28/15)

The spectacle of FIRST competition is something that really needs to be seen firsthand
to fully appreciate. (3/28/15)

The Gladiators are all business (for the most part) during the pre-match
air guitar contest caught here on the big screen. (3/28/15)

Gladiators ready to battle, but others experience the dreaded "technical difficulties." (3/28/15)

The power of Maverick 1591 can only be restrained for so
long! (3/28/15)

The field of battle is looked over by judges: moved crates carry 
values, but yellow crates and foam noodles are worth even more. (3/28/15)

Athena senior Bradley Haag participates in an impromptu (and rousing) performance 
of "Cotton Eyed-Joe".e. (3/28/15)

The match begins with Maverick quickly picking up two crates. (3/28/15)

As part of the Red Alliance, Maverick exposes valuable yellow crates for allied 
robots to extract. (3/28/15)

The Red Alliance and Maverick build a solid advantage. (3/28/15)

With a solid performance, Maverick is ready for his jumbotron close-up. (3/28/15)

Greece Gladiators squad moves up in rank to #40, thanks to a strong performance 
as part of the Red Alliance! (3/28/15)

Back in the staging area, technicians give Maverick a quick check-up (3/28/15)

The safety supervisor (with green badge) insures technician safety while
reviewing strategy in anticipation of the afternoon's festivities. (3/28/15)

The buzz was very positive about the team's performance thus far this year when I left after the second of two qualifying matches. Following what was a challenging 2014 competition (one filled with electrical issues), it was great to see so much of the squad's hard work and energy being rewarded with success in 2015. It continues to be a source of great pride to be involved in the education of the excellent students at our school, and to get out and have the opportunity to learn something about those passions which, though alien to me, inspire them to pursue excellence.

Getting Mod with Cataloguing Comics

The Collecterz.com software is very easy to manage.

Last Sunday, I took the next step in my 30+ years of collecting comic books, by finally purchasing software to assist in the tracking and logging of the comic books in my collection. Though I have always endeavored to maintain a running list of the titles I own, including those I have discontinued reading, it was always in a way that required my entering the most basic data (title, volume and issue number) by hand.

Twenty years ago it was using a spiral bound notebook and listing the issues I had. Two years ago, I began periodically updating a Word file with roughly the same information. Needless to say, I was way behind the times, and (despite having read comic books for so many years) having always thought of myself as a casual collector, I never really felt that I needed a software system to keep these things in order. I have often marveled at the weekly "collection porn" on Comic Book Resources, but rarely envisioned myself taking it to that level. I figured I did not need to as long as I bought, boarded and bagged my books regularly. After a week of beginning to enter those titles I still add to on Collectorz.com, I am prepared to admit I was wrong.

After previewing a number of free and pay comic book collecting software, I settled on Collecterz.com comic book option due to both its reasonable cost and the ease with which one could enter the information. With older titles from the pre-variant Nineties (a fad that really never faded from the comic book shop collecting scene) it was very simple. More recent titles from publisher such as Dynamite and Dark Horse who regularly publish issues with both A and B titles, it has taken a little longer. I am oddly okay with this as it requires me physically engaging with each issue. Thus far I am happy with the software and with the opportunity to organize that which I have spent so much time acquiring, reading and re-reading.

While I still have a long way to go to get through all of the titles I've been accruing over many years, there is time. This disgustingly cold winter should continue to provide plenty of opportunity to stay inside to methodically plug ahead long-box by long-box through my collection before too long.

The cloud interface allows for checking on titles on a
tablet or phone.

Digital vs. "Real" Comic Books

Hard copy of Artifact Rebirth alongside digital Artifacts FCBD #0 on cell phone.

I remember record albums. Because of this, I also fondly recall what was lost when albums beget the cassette tapes that gave way to compact discs and ultimately to digital downloads: the nuanced but significant importance of the album cover. At the time it seemed a small price to pay for higher definition sound, but staring a small square CD cover was never the same as listening to a new record while reading the liner notes and trying to figure out just why that Iron Maiden, Asia or even AC/DC image was chosen to represent that collection f songs on the shelf.

Cover comparison: "real" vs.
digital.

It is too far of a leap to suggest that in ten years, comic book collectors such as myself may look longingly back at paper comic books in the same way; the age of the digital comic is upon us. As content has become available both in comic shops an donline (with many of the larger publishers offering same day releases for both), it is way past time to take a look at this new medium to discern whether it is one that I can accept. Whether online or on the new releases table, just as comic books are no longer "Only 35 cents!" (not even close), this may be the wave oh the publishing future.

As I toy around with digital comics I get the same sinking feeling as I did with the "evolution" of music distribution. Yes, it is more expedient and does make titles previously difficult-to-find easily accessible. Yes, it does allow for the magnification of panels and covers without loss of resolution. Despite these benefits, I still can't however help but feel that in the trade-off something greater is being left behind with this transition to digital. Since buying a smart phone, I have been periodically looking at a variety of free comic downloads online using the Comixology app.

Panel close-up of digital
 page above.

For comparison purposes, I down loaded the difficult-to-find Top Cow Artifacts #0 from 2010, and then pulled out the Top Cow Artifacts Rebirth one-shot from my long box. For those unfamiliar with the Top Cow line of books, while the stories may seem weak (though I'd disagree), the artwork is, without doubt, beautiful in its execution. The digital version does indeed offer the reader the opportunity to zoom in closely on the artist's line work and colors. Comixology also offers a reading system that moves from panel to panel creating an animation effect (in which the e-reader moves form panel to panel in a predetermined sequence) similar to the old Marvel cartoons from the 1960's.

Admittedly, many of the experiential qualities ameliorated due to the transition to digital are personal. For me, what is lost in the experience is part of what made it so appealing to me 35(!) years ago when I picked it up. What it does not allow (at least in the same way practical comics do) is the ability for the artwork to tease your peripheral vision. Oddly enough, one of the most pleasurable sensory stimulants I associate with comic book collecting is gone as well: the smell. (Students laugh at me when I get a similar level of joy from the scent of old books--they just don't get it.) The acre and attentiveness necessary to collecting (bagging, boarding, but not bending) that is integral to the hobby is also rendered obsolete.

Though my sense of nostalgia runs deep, the Nook tablet I received as a gift this Christmas reminds me there is likely no going back. Now, even Barnes and Noble's offers some fairly deep cuts of comic book collections and (appealing to the hipster/youth market, I'm sure) a wide array of manga. In some ways, this digital accessibility could help solidify the comic book world's financial future.

I can see the appeal for those who unfortunately don't have a solid, reliable local comic shop (lcs) from which to obtain "real" versions of these materials on a weekly basis. Or other fans in the community in which they live to personally discusses the latest controversial heel reveal or no re-boot on New Comic Book Wednesday. For this reason, I welcome the technological advances as they help insure the continuation of the medium I love. I am not, however, looking forward to the day when traditional comic books go the way of vinyl: available for inflated prices (digital back "issues" are very reasonably priced) and relegated to only the most popular titles being available.

Greece Gladiator Goliath Remains FIRST In Our Hearts!

The spectacle of robot competition... FIRST style. (3/29/14)

This morning I took a drive to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to check out the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) regional competition. With a mission to "transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders;" FIRST seeks to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. And it is fun, too!

A number of my English Language Arts students have been working diligently over the past two months as part of Greece Central School District's Robotics Team, the Greece Gladiators, to develop an automaton to compete in the three day regional event. I was happy to have time this to see what all the excitement was about. Surprisingly (given the inconsistent descriptions shared by my students I did not know what to expect), the idea of competitive robots was much more exciting than I had expected it to be. As explained t me at the event, each year the design challenge and competition is changed and this year's game dealt with robots passing large inflatable balls to one another and scoring points in a number of different ways.

On deck prepping Goliath for the first competition of the day. (3/29/14)

In addition to reinforcing what I already knew (that our students in Greece are capable of great things), I also learned a little bit about the FIRST program and robotics. It was amazing how much the students accomplished under the tutelage of our team's teacher coordinator, Chris Mros.

Entering the squared circle for 3-on-3 robot basketball/soccer amalgam. (3/29/14)

Robots are built in 6 weeks from a common kit of parts provided by FIRST, and typically weigh up to 150 lbs. As I understand it, the students break themselves into different committees, each serving its own purpose and collaboratively working toward the funding (with sponsors), design, and development of a competitive robot.

Teams bring their own control panel with into competition area. (3/29/14)

Greece Gladiator Goliath on the jumbo-tron doing his thang! (3/29/14)

Greece Gladiator fans go CRAZY! (3/29/14)

Zach V. and Jeff I. get Goliath ready for the next round. (3/29/14)

The lads explaining info about Goliath with some official-types. (3/29/14)

Meghana K., Amy G, and Claire T. showing their Gladiator Pride!  (3/29/14)

Mr. Mros inadvertently(?) photo bombs Zach V. and Tyler C. (3/29/14)

Goliath enters a meditative state prior to the next match. (3/29/14)

Shots of bots in action aren't easy... but here's one that's not ours. (3/29/14)

The Pit, where robots and techs go to prepare and socialize. (3/29/14)

The announcer gets the competitors and audience fired up prior to each match. (3/29/14)

This year's game was VERY fun to watch. (3/29/14)

They call him 1591, but his Gladiator-gang tag is Goliath. (3/29/14)

At the controls for the second match of the day. (3/29/14)

While the Greece Gladiators did not win (though they were part of the winning alliance in the final game for which I stayed), there was a clear, well-earned sense of accomplishment on the part of the team. When one considers the student-driven nature of this competition, it is exciting enough to see the final product in the filed of competition to draw a sense of satisfaction from the experience. Not surprisingly, this was also reflected in the pride taken by parents and school staff who were in attendance offering their moral support.

As this was my first experience seeing the FIRST program and robotics team in action, I was very fortunate that the students allowed me to come into the pit and ask basic questions about the competition. Observing their efforts and teamwork toward a successful meet is a tremendous reminder of the many different ways our students demonstrate their academic/technological skills, as well as, school pride.