Marc's Public Blog - Misc Public Entries

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2017/05/28 3rd set Back to the Roots kits

π 2017-05-28 00:00 in Public

I had tried back to the roots before, and it was fun. I was curious to try different mushrooms this time though.

Try #1

Try #2

Tried some Lion Mare, very interesting and easy to grow mushroom that is actually quite tasty:

it was already primed when I got it, ready to grow

before long...

nice

it came to a sad end for the mushroom, but it was yummy for us :)

The other set was yellow oyster mushroom. This was a bit more picky. It had to be tented in to keep the moisture, otherwise it would dry out. However, doing so would also asphyxiate it and it would die because it couldn't breathe, but if you make too many breathing holes, then it's at risk of drying out again:

it started well

and then it died

tried again

and then it died, again

one more try

and finally it worked out

good crop

tried a 2nd crop

not as big, but still enough to eat

the end :)

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2017/05/20 Maker Faire

π 2017-05-20 00:00 in Public

blade runner umbrella was all I needed :)

3D printed shoes, pretty cool actually

this would be very cool at burning man :)

tiny arcade worked and looked super cool

Z80 clone, very cool

nice way to show how FPV works

Miniature worlds were great:

Big things:

remember seeing those guys at burning man, they look better at night ;)

this robot was cool, but unreliable

and it died before being able to hit the car (on its 3rd failed attempt)

the Tesla coil from my neighbours at Burning Man

The dark room was fun as always:

The Google booth had some friends:

learning about the upcoming total eclipse

A few talks:

Ahah, other people have been making neomatrices:

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2017/05/07 MTV A La Carte Art Festival

π 2017-05-07 00:00 in Public

a roomba for grass, good iea, but expensive ($1500+)

Always nice pictures:

Also, nice display of RC aircraft and cars:

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2017/04/30 Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival

π 2017-04-30 00:00 in Public

Another year, another Cherry Blossom Festival in Cupertino, nice demos, displays and art:

Multiple sport demos and performances:

For animals, a koi pond, and japanese dogs:

Lots of Ikebana:

Dolls:

Kanji Art:

Dance and music performances:

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2016/12/29 Mini Europe in Bruxelles

π 2016-12-29 00:00 in Belgium, Public

For our first day in Bruxelles, we went to check out Mini Europe because it looked fun. and it was. The only mistake is that we should have gone to see the Atomium first, before the line got stupidly long. I did get a few pictures Mini Europe from the Atomium, and those were nice:

sacre coeur

And here are some pictures taken from inside:

nice model of centre george pompidou

sacre coeur

pisa

venice

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2016/12/11 Visit of Black Chasm Cavern, in Volcano, CA, on SR88 on the way to Kirkwood

π 2016-12-11 00:00 in Public

After having gone to Kirkwood where the conditions were terrible, we left early since skiing ice was no fun at all. Arturo made the great suggestion of going to visit Black Chasm Cavern on the road back, just off SR88.

So let's be honest, it's far from being the best cavern I've visited in the US, however, it has a vast arrays of rare helictite crystals, which I had never seen anywhere else. Water pressure causes water droplets to be pushed out of the rock, evaporate, and leaves behind very unusual organic looking growths:

Good call Arturo, thank you (and thanks to Johannes for getting us there)

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2016/11/25 Chinese Illuminations at Gilroy Gardens

π 2016-11-25 00:00 in Public

Since Jennifer's parents were visiting for thanksgiving, Jennifer had the good idea to take us to Gilroy Gardens which had some really nice Chinesee illuminations and included a decent performance too:

It was very well done, quite worth the trek there, and the money.

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2016/09/13 Hummingbird in our Yard

π 2016-09-13 00:00 in Public

The Lantanas that have replaced our grass are in full bloom, and the local hummingbirds have noticed. Love those little guys :)

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2016/09/04 Burning Man's Red Lightening's 360 Dome, Showing Samskara

π 2016-09-04 00:00 in Bm, Public

Red Lightening at Burning Man 2016, had an awesome 360 video show by Android Jones. There were long lines every night to go see it, it wsa hard to get in. I got lucky and was able to, and I'm sharing a few shots and a quick summary video for those who weren't able to see it: