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• Post #4261509

  Why does camping in a state park have to be so expensive?

• Post #4261508

  I was thinking about a 2-night trip, but at $45/night for rustic camping, I'm thinking about just an out and back closer to home.

• Post #4261507

  A quick writeup of my ride in the Amishland and Lakes event yesterday. https://ohheybrian.com/blog/2026/07/amishland-and-lakes-2026 #biketooter #blog

• Post #4261506

  Just made a reservation for August 12 at Van Buren State Park near South Haven, MI. The only bummer is that there was a fantastic site available, so I put it in my cart. But then I had to make an account and my cart was lost, but the site was still pending, so I couldn't re add it. I had to leave for a while and when I came back, someone else had grabbed it 😭 I got one that's still in a nice spot, but it's not as good. Still looking forward to my little adventure.

• Post #4261505

  Today was a very productive day. Work on the new house flew - several windows installed and the old part of the house got prepped for its new windows along with siding tear off. At home, I managed to get the fridge recharged and it is now cooling again (thankfully). I also made big progress on the new seed tray cart - that'll get finished tomorrow. #today #farm

• Post #4261504

  Well, the cart came together well, but I need to do some work on the axle. There's a ton of torque the way it's currently set up, so I need to figure out a way to have a fork on the wheels to reduce that force.

• Post #4261503

  Super tired again tonight. Spent the day finishing up the seed starting cart (I'll post pictures tomorrow) which had turned into an exercise of iterations in engineering. A couple of teardowns and rebuilds took up most of the afternoon. Tomorrow, it's back to the house build for the morning at least. But for tonight, it's a shower and a beer.

• Post #4261502

  Just realized my blog has a bug. If I save a post as a draft and then publish later, the RSS feed isn't generated. Not sure why ...

• Post #4261501

  Of course I realize this while I'm eating breakfast getting ready to head out the door. I'll have to look at it later.

• Post #4261500

  Trying to decide how far I want to ride my bike tonight...I just mapped out a 23 mile loop, but that is feeling excessive. I may just go for it and shorten it if I need to.

• Post #4261499

  Ok, I decided to do the full route. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/401597782?privacy_code=bSd5cnhfAAj2g4kEKPv2cAGsyy4Vq5kl #cycling #biketooter

• Post #4077103

  Anyone with commercial refrigerator repair experience? We have a Continental 3R refrigerator on the farm that has stopped cooling. The compressor runs, but the high/low pressure cooling tubes are not hot or cold like they should be. I'm assuming the thermostat isn't to blame because the fridge is trying to cool, but cannot. I need some tips on more troubleshooting or options for a repair. This is a pretty critical piece of equipment. #askfedi #diy

• Post #3551781

  It's too hot to do anything outside so I'm doing some sketches inside from photos that may or may not be painted some day. #mastoart #sketch #landscape

• Post #2527102

  Ok Fedi, I'm starting the process of researching solar panels for my barn. I'm a DIY person, so not looking for install recommendations, more interested in what I need to learn in order to do this wisely. Hardware, unexpected gotchas, other things DIY people need to know. I can build and I am comfortable with electrical work. #askfedi #solar

• Post #1908652

  More enshittification in education this morning. I don't use Kahoot often, but it is helpful for concept reviews. I used to be able to get high-level reports of how each student did. Nothing wild, just right/wrong ratio and the most missed question in a set. Not anymore. Today I logged in to look at yesterday's warm up and it's all behind a paywall now. I can see the top three, but no one who actually needs help. Why can't we have nice things. #teaching

• Post #1847491

  Doing acids and bases today, students understand why the general acid formula is HA (A- anion produced). But why is a general base formula MOH? I don't know what the M stands for...I just know that's what we use. #askfedi #chemistry

• Post #1636731

  This is a little concerning - The Lancet published that school phone bans don't improve student digital addictions, it just offloads it to non-school hours. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(25)00003-1/fulltext We have a ban coming next year in Michigan, which will be one thing. I'm already talking with students daily about their phone habits...I need to be more intentional.

• Post #1446718

  A field and a mountain this evening. #watercolor #mastoart #sketch

• Post #1213075

  Today in the classroom: I was out yesterday and unfortunately I have to talk with two classes about how to behave with substitute. Pretty ridiculous. First year chem is doing more molarity practice. I might add dilutions in today. Second year chem is taking notes on buffers to prepare for their big buffer lab later this week. #chemistry #teaching :cupofcoffee:

• Post #1213074

  I got the bottom bracket apart (except the drive side...I need to get a better tool), but the bearings were a mess. How do I size these for replacement? This is a generic kids mountain bike (Dynacraft Magna Echo Ridge model 8153-31Taj) and the manual doesn't have info. Can I just measure the bracket with calipers? #biketooter #askfedi

• Post #1213073

  Today in the classroom: Labs all day. First year chem is preparing a solution from solid to a specific concentration. I'll test with a colorimeter against a dilution series I did this morning. Then, they dilute to a new concentration and check again. Their grade is partially based on their accuracy. Second year chem is exploring properties of buffers. They'll compare solution ratios to measured pH values and calculate Ka for an acid. #teaching #chemistry :cupofcoffee:

• Post #1213072

  Took a stack of grading home last night just because I ran out of time during the day. I marked it all and put scores on my clipboard to enter today. Left my clipboard and all the papers at home on my table :eyeroll:

• Post #1213070

  I told my TA today that I would do dishes because I need a mindless job to distract myself from all the crap that has happened this week.

• Post #1213069

  We have something like 40 days of school left and the 10th grade boys are falling _apart_.

• Post #1213068

  A few comments, as a teacher, on the Ars Technica article "To teach in the time of ChatGPT is to know pain." https://ohheybrian.com/blog/2026/04/teaching-in-the-time-of-chatgpt #teaching

• Post #1213067

  Today in the classroom: I have written detention referrals every day this week. I am praying that I don't have more today because I'm worn out. First year chem is finishing molarity practice and doing a final check on solubility at the particle level when things dissolve. Second year chem is finishing their buffer lab - we didn't have quite enough time yesterday. They'll describe acid/base salts w/ net ionic reactions and calculate Ka. #chemistry #teaching :cu...

• Post #1213066

  We also got this monstrosity yesterday. I have many thoughts.

• Post #1213065

  Balancing out the awful bucket, our kitchen staff have put an extra cooler of food out for students. It's all precooked with reheating instructions on the packaging. This reduces our waste and feeds more people.

• Post #1213064

  A couple little landscapes this evening. #watercolor #mastoart

• Post #1132614

  I'm getting into my own bicycle repair. I'll start with my daughter's, whose cranks are sticking. I'm planning on trying to get into the bottom bracket today to check the bearings. This video is fantastically helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXQA4kNmhPA #biketooter