It's not just me.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Sundry Mortifications No17: Another Year, Another CycleMotor Plan.
I can't remember when it was that the idea of building a cyclemotor came to me.
Oh, wait a minute, yes I can.
It was when I saw a picture of a Felt 1903 Motored Bicycle similar to this one:
The 1903
The major difference between the model that made my heart beat faster and Ridley's version being the addition of a copper fuel tank.
My blog was riddled with my various attempts to build my take on the cyclemotor.
All of them, for one unsurmountable problem or another, failed.
(I deleted the posts out of shear embarrassment and frustration.)
The last nail in the coffin was pedal clearance, or lack of it, on the side of the engine.
I put the engine in a box, put the box in the loft where I couldn't see it and forgot about it.
This evening I went into the loft to start doing a winter rebuild on the Black Tractor.
I saw the engine and, just out of curiosity, offered it up to the frame.
Then the solution hit me.
Lift the engine to a point on the down tube where it clears the pedals then extend the rear engine mounting studs till they reached the seat tube:
It works!
I'll have to add some nuts and washers at the engine end to make sure the studs don't work loose but this is the answer!
I messed about for around and hour fitting bits and bobs to the frame and voila! Here's a really bad picture of what I ended up with:
There are some small hurdles to get over but the solutions are all sorted out in my head.
So, here I go again building a machine that I won't be able to use as transport on the roads of Great Britain.
Oh, wait a minute, yes I can.
It was when I saw a picture of a Felt 1903 Motored Bicycle similar to this one:
The 1903
The major difference between the model that made my heart beat faster and Ridley's version being the addition of a copper fuel tank.
My blog was riddled with my various attempts to build my take on the cyclemotor.
All of them, for one unsurmountable problem or another, failed.
(I deleted the posts out of shear embarrassment and frustration.)
The last nail in the coffin was pedal clearance, or lack of it, on the side of the engine.
I put the engine in a box, put the box in the loft where I couldn't see it and forgot about it.
This evening I went into the loft to start doing a winter rebuild on the Black Tractor.
I saw the engine and, just out of curiosity, offered it up to the frame.
Then the solution hit me.
Lift the engine to a point on the down tube where it clears the pedals then extend the rear engine mounting studs till they reached the seat tube:
It works!
I'll have to add some nuts and washers at the engine end to make sure the studs don't work loose but this is the answer!
I messed about for around and hour fitting bits and bobs to the frame and voila! Here's a really bad picture of what I ended up with:
So, here I go again building a machine that I won't be able to use as transport on the roads of Great Britain.
Two Rants and a Brag.
Johnny Mnemonic Rant (edit):
Johnny Mnemonic Rant (edit) by Outa_Spaceman
Howard Beale Rant (02):
Howard Beale Rant 02 by Outa_Spaceman
My version of "The Brag of the Subgenius":
The Brag of the SubGenius (edit) by Outa_Spaceman
Johnny Mnemonic Rant (edit) by Outa_Spaceman
Howard Beale Rant (02):
Howard Beale Rant 02 by Outa_Spaceman
My version of "The Brag of the Subgenius":
The Brag of the SubGenius (edit) by Outa_Spaceman
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Sundry Mortifications No16: Bottom of the Bottle.
I wrote this song in 2005 and it generally goes down well where ever I play it.
About 3 years ago a man with a leather waistcoat and a grey ponytail collared me and said he was sure he'd heard it before and thought it might be one of George Jones' songs.
I assured him that I'd written it but he was still unconvinced and went away mumbling.
I finally get round to recording a video of it and, as soon as it appears on my YouTube channel, I see that there are several songs that share the name.
The most distressing version, for me, is by Ira Louvin:
Bottom of the Bottle
The first two lines he sings turn up in my song.
I can honestly say I'd never heard Mr. Louvin's song before in my life but I know exactly what he means.
Friday, 14 January 2011
Heart (Demo 03)
I'm still trying to get this song into shape.
This version includes Baritone Uke, Soprano Uke, Shaky Egg and Roland TR78 Drum Machine.
Recorded using my computer's internal mic.
There'a 'crash' after the line "In Light Assending" provided by some guy throwing barrels about just outside my window.
It's in Em/D and runs at 155 BPM if you'd like to play along.
Of course it still needs Dogsbody and Girl on Wire adding.
Here's a link to the version on SoundCloud (better audio)
Heart (Demo 03)
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Monday, 10 January 2011
Sunday, 9 January 2011
As I Walked Out To The Littlehampton Ukulele Jam.
A free Sunday!
Bright, bright sunshine, waves crashing on the beach and about 4 miles of coastal walking between me and the Littlehampton Ukulele Jam.
Walking this route can be, and is, difficult at times because the whole stretch is covered in shingle as a defense against the relentless sea.
I got sick of it in the end and moved off the beach on to a footpath.
Big mistake.
For 'footpath' read 2 foot wide trench filled with mud and dog doings.
It took me 2 hours to get from my seat at home to my seat and cup of coffee at Hunnies Bar in Littlehampton.
I must say Hunnies Bar is great. They deliver my coffee to my table. Now that what I call service!
The jam had been running about half an hour and I joined in at the Toots and the Maytals song Monkey Man.
A personal favourite that I'll still dance to in public (because I just can't help myself)
Good selection of common currency songs that everybody knows.
Here's what two of them look like from the chair next to me:
Hmmm, I've just got to get a better quality phone.
The aspect of this type of get together I really enjoy is the willful enthusiasm of it all.
It seems to me that there ain't no tune a group of dedicated uke players can't hammer in to submission.
Usually any distinctive lead break is handled by kazoos and I'm the only person in the room who remembered to bring one.
I decide my walk home will be made at a leisurely pace.
I stopped at the West Beach Cafe for a pastie and a cuppa then back to the beach walk.
There's a problem.
I've got a tune in my head that won't go away.
I plonk myself down on a concrete block, work it out then:
Now all it needs are some words and I can offer it up for BeHeld to flesh out.
I notice that I seem to have a weirdly elongated little finger in this video.
As the sun is setting and I'm nearly home I run into a couple setting off a Chinese lantern.
That'll do nicely thank you.
Bright, bright sunshine, waves crashing on the beach and about 4 miles of coastal walking between me and the Littlehampton Ukulele Jam.
Walking this route can be, and is, difficult at times because the whole stretch is covered in shingle as a defense against the relentless sea.
I got sick of it in the end and moved off the beach on to a footpath.
Big mistake.
For 'footpath' read 2 foot wide trench filled with mud and dog doings.
It took me 2 hours to get from my seat at home to my seat and cup of coffee at Hunnies Bar in Littlehampton.
The jam had been running about half an hour and I joined in at the Toots and the Maytals song Monkey Man.
A personal favourite that I'll still dance to in public (because I just can't help myself)
Good selection of common currency songs that everybody knows.
Here's what two of them look like from the chair next to me:
Hmmm, I've just got to get a better quality phone.
The aspect of this type of get together I really enjoy is the willful enthusiasm of it all.
It seems to me that there ain't no tune a group of dedicated uke players can't hammer in to submission.
Usually any distinctive lead break is handled by kazoos and I'm the only person in the room who remembered to bring one.
I decide my walk home will be made at a leisurely pace.
I stopped at the West Beach Cafe for a pastie and a cuppa then back to the beach walk.
There's a problem.
I've got a tune in my head that won't go away.
I plonk myself down on a concrete block, work it out then:
Now all it needs are some words and I can offer it up for BeHeld to flesh out.
I notice that I seem to have a weirdly elongated little finger in this video.
As the sun is setting and I'm nearly home I run into a couple setting off a Chinese lantern.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Friday, 7 January 2011
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Boffin On The Beach.
Much to my annoyance Linda insists on turning the television on at breakfast time.
Linda is obsessed by weather prediction and, despite having listened to the shipping forecast and radio weather reports, she has to see it on a computer generated map on the television.
This morning, just before the weather report, there was a short piece about a partial eclipse.
Some BBC iCandy and a Boffin were discussing the eclipse live from the beach just outside our flat.
I went down to investigate.
The iCandy had disappeared into the BBC van (in case her hair went frizzy in the drizzle no doubt) the boffin and a tele-bod remained.
'You'll be lucky to see anything this morning' was my cheery remark.
The boffin assured me his luck was very good.
I looked at the space where the blank grey sky met the blank grey sea and suggested it would have to be.
The boffin then started talking about refractive indices and I moved away slowly.
Linda is obsessed by weather prediction and, despite having listened to the shipping forecast and radio weather reports, she has to see it on a computer generated map on the television.
This morning, just before the weather report, there was a short piece about a partial eclipse.
Some BBC iCandy and a Boffin were discussing the eclipse live from the beach just outside our flat.
I went down to investigate.
The iCandy had disappeared into the BBC van (in case her hair went frizzy in the drizzle no doubt) the boffin and a tele-bod remained.
'You'll be lucky to see anything this morning' was my cheery remark.
The boffin assured me his luck was very good.
I looked at the space where the blank grey sky met the blank grey sea and suggested it would have to be.
The boffin then started talking about refractive indices and I moved away slowly.
The boffin is the one in the wide brimmed hat
So, once again I failed to get myself on the tele.
Toy Piano and Glockenspiel.
Toy Piano and Glockenspiel by Outa_Spaceman
Short piece created using Reason with a set of toy piano and glockenspiel samples.
The midi file it's built from came via a collection of guitar midi strum files.
There's also a 'mechanical' sound thrown in as a sound bed to lend a touch of musical box 'authenticity'.
Short piece created using Reason with a set of toy piano and glockenspiel samples.
The midi file it's built from came via a collection of guitar midi strum files.
There's also a 'mechanical' sound thrown in as a sound bed to lend a touch of musical box 'authenticity'.
Monday, 3 January 2011
I Like To Press Wild Flowers.
Sometime ago, so long now that I can't remember when, I found a flower press in a bin.
I brought it home because it had 4 bolts c/w wingnuts on it and I thought the two bits of wood might come in handy as well.
On 'dead-heading' the flowers in the front garden one afternoon I thought 'hang on, I could try to press some of these'.
So I did.
This afternoon I was tidying the lab and found the flower press.
It worked!
So I put the squashed bloom in a frame:
Yes.... it's a pansy.
I brought it home because it had 4 bolts c/w wingnuts on it and I thought the two bits of wood might come in handy as well.
On 'dead-heading' the flowers in the front garden one afternoon I thought 'hang on, I could try to press some of these'.
So I did.
This afternoon I was tidying the lab and found the flower press.
It worked!
So I put the squashed bloom in a frame:
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Cardboard Reality Interventions 2011: No. 1 & 2
01/01/11 On Felpham Prom:
02/01/11 At Goodwood Racecourse:
02/01/11 At Goodwood Racecourse:
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
My 'Track Of The Week' : "I Can't Control Myself: (As Performed By Pascal Comelade).
Many thanks to Mr. Frank Key of Hooting Yard for bringing this to my attention and for publishing the book 'Impugned By A Peasant' that has held me spellbound for several days.
Friday, 24 December 2010
Happy What Ever You Celebrate At This Time Of Year!
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Happy New Year.
I decided to spend New Year's Day in the garden with my friends.
Oh yes...
Finger Rhumba by Outa_Spaceman
Saturday, 18 December 2010
My 'Track Of The Week' : Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 "Alla Turca" (As Performed By Eiko Sudou At The Toy Piano).
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
How To Do A Silly Thing No 01: Madonna's Hand.
I have collected quite a few odds and ends in my charity-shop-wheelie-bin-diving.
And I do mean 'odds' and 'ends'.
Very rarely do I end up with a complete set of anything.
Today I found a plastic imitation severed forearm/ hand that pulled several odds and ends into a whole new odd end.
I added a black lace glove, two rings and a plastic spiked bracelet.
I have decided to call this creation 'The Hand Of Madonna' (circ 1984)
I found a suitable town centre spot...
Hee, hee! I love doing stupid stuff then running away!!!
And I do mean 'odds' and 'ends'.
Very rarely do I end up with a complete set of anything.
Today I found a plastic imitation severed forearm/ hand that pulled several odds and ends into a whole new odd end.
I added a black lace glove, two rings and a plastic spiked bracelet.
I found a suitable town centre spot...
..where I 'dropped' the counterfeit limb.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Get Thee Behind Me Satan.
It may be noticed that I haven't been posting much to my blog recently.
The reason?
I've stopped smoking.
I've been an on/off smoker most of my life.
Periods of desolute self indulgence tempered by periods of sickening self-righteous abstinence.
I didn't suddenly decide that I must stop smoking.
It, sort of, happened by accident.
I had a dental appointment and not wishing to offend my (attractive) dentist with ash-tray breath I slapped a nicotine patch on.
After my appointment I wondered how long I could go without a cigarette on one nicotine patch.
That was three weeks ago.
The only time I noticed being 'bothered' by not smoking was when I sat at my computer and every cell in my body shouted 'CIGARETTE!!'
So I've avoided using the computer for the last three weeks.
I hate to be smug but I didn't find stopping smoking particularly difficult.
Time will tell.
(Yes I have taken the nicotine patch off.)
The reason?
I've stopped smoking.
I've been an on/off smoker most of my life.
Periods of desolute self indulgence tempered by periods of sickening self-righteous abstinence.
I didn't suddenly decide that I must stop smoking.
It, sort of, happened by accident.
I had a dental appointment and not wishing to offend my (attractive) dentist with ash-tray breath I slapped a nicotine patch on.
After my appointment I wondered how long I could go without a cigarette on one nicotine patch.
That was three weeks ago.
The only time I noticed being 'bothered' by not smoking was when I sat at my computer and every cell in my body shouted 'CIGARETTE!!'
So I've avoided using the computer for the last three weeks.
I hate to be smug but I didn't find stopping smoking particularly difficult.
Time will tell.
(Yes I have taken the nicotine patch off.)
Idiot Culture.
The way things connect in the world of the interweb fascinates me.
Some one in Seattle sees an image I made illustrating a posting on Hooting Yard:
Putty Putti
They contact me to ask if I'm will to allow it to be used for an album cover:
I say 'yes', some adjustments are made and voilà :
Here's the information about the album:
I've heard some tracks from the album and, though not what I'd usually listen to nowadays, I quite like them.
Which is a bit of a bonus.
I wish you well Idiot Culture.
Some one in Seattle sees an image I made illustrating a posting on Hooting Yard:
Putty Putti
They contact me to ask if I'm will to allow it to be used for an album cover:
I say 'yes', some adjustments are made and voilà :
Here's the information about the album:
Please check out the band IDIOT CULTURE. The band is led by guitarist Byron Duff. Some of you may remember him from his days with The Spectarors, Dive or Moth. He has a new album out on my 'dadastic! sounds' label. Feel free to download and share the 'KINGPIN' from the album.
Byron is both an incredible musician and one of the nicest guys around. He deserves some long-overdue recognition.
Here are some links:
Dadastic! Sounds (The record company)
I've heard some tracks from the album and, though not what I'd usually listen to nowadays, I quite like them.
Which is a bit of a bonus.
I wish you well Idiot Culture.
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