tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19432553371399968732024-02-19T16:13:24.781-08:00Miscellaneous Thoughts and MusingsAnthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-18944407093708648432021-12-15T17:30:00.000-08:002021-12-15T17:30:09.117-08:00The Newt and the Apple<p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story was inspired by an apple I was putting in the girls lunches this morning. It's not very long...</span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once upon a time there was a newt named Isaac who was very interested in physics. He used to spend hours mulling over the great, imponderable questions of the time, such as the motion of the heavenly bodies, or whether the chicken came before the egg, or the other way round. He was well known amongst the other physicists of the time, who would treat him with great respect and often referred to him as Sir Isaac.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvw3L3pJa0cawI9sUzbPRRlCedtaTfm0kyLG86TBEj_gQ-XfajuU0v2oqMi3AJhkF3Jj6dTADVDfE4T3f27vJmOOmoxrP3Vf2BF0zBi8u4PN4skAWvc2rwsTOPFsX5BirGcOaY86iw-amO64BLJU4anEbo45PUaSMk5u-emfYK4pvxYxIORtSICXAKJA=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="800" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvw3L3pJa0cawI9sUzbPRRlCedtaTfm0kyLG86TBEj_gQ-XfajuU0v2oqMi3AJhkF3Jj6dTADVDfE4T3f27vJmOOmoxrP3Vf2BF0zBi8u4PN4skAWvc2rwsTOPFsX5BirGcOaY86iw-amO64BLJU4anEbo45PUaSMk5u-emfYK4pvxYxIORtSICXAKJA=w400-h323" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">At night Sir Isaac the Newt would go up to his observatory and train his telescope on the night sky, studying the stars and planets, and writing indecipherable notes on stacks of disorganized notebooks that littered his study. As dawn approached, he would move his telescope to focus on a neighboring farm, and spy on the hens as they performed their morning rituals.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The days, if the weather was fine, Sir Isaac would often spend sitting under a tree, reading and re-reading his notes, or simply lost in thought.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was on a day such as this that an Evil Squirrel happened to climb the tree under which Sir Isaac was sitting. (Now, my astute reader, you are most probably saying to yourself that it’s a bit redundant to say “an Evil Squirrel”, like saying “a Large Elephant” or “a Wet Fish”. So let us instead say that this was an Especially Evil Squirrel.)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Especially Evil Squirrel spotted the newt, sitting under the tree, seemingly transfixed, and hatched an Evil Plan. The squirrel found a large apple and rolled it along a branch until it was just above the newt’s head. Then he pushed it over the edge and waited, listening for the thump.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now you might think that this would be an opportunity for great scientific discovery. But, dear reader, you are forgetting one important fact: Sir Isaac was a newt.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A newt, as you are no doubt aware, is much smaller than an apple. Especially a large apple.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sir Isaac, I’m sad to tell you, was squashed flat. And, with his untimely demise, so too were lost the many great scientific and philosophical discoveries that he might otherwise have brought to the world.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjruQPfLVDRrbibOy2WvpE8dwxvvv7xolYGMKL8o1pI38F47mWrNMgEyZroN_q4peCHHURsYNe3abjx4j-v3BjrA7sA1IJQJpZEj49l8uMjSdqCL9-VDtP69qUWzwhC2g2RRVhCSSnXSBTZXe4g_sKw6br83lvIVJM27oRMkUiyxh00_7DUiKgkA1feqw=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="800" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjruQPfLVDRrbibOy2WvpE8dwxvvv7xolYGMKL8o1pI38F47mWrNMgEyZroN_q4peCHHURsYNe3abjx4j-v3BjrA7sA1IJQJpZEj49l8uMjSdqCL9-VDtP69qUWzwhC2g2RRVhCSSnXSBTZXe4g_sKw6br83lvIVJM27oRMkUiyxh00_7DUiKgkA1feqw=w400-h306" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only the chickens at the neighboring farm were relieved, for they did not like being spied upon and were happy to regain their privacy.</span></span></p><div><br /></div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-67733390931033169892021-12-14T16:19:00.001-08:002021-12-14T16:19:36.955-08:00Making a "Tintin" Rocket on Mini-Lathe and Mill<p>
I've been making a series of model rockets on lately, using the mini-lathe and
mini-mill. Most of them have been somewhat 1950's/Flash Gorday inspired, with
either tritium inserts or miniature LED flashlights inside to make them glow
in the dark.
</p>
<p>
I decided to make one inspired by the Tintin rocket a birthday present for my
brother, since he liked the Tintin books growing up. (I read them too, but, at
the time, prefered Asterix.)
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhyuNJ9zJuDtlBaIZB0OvPLrtO4GS3KvUr3HPeORLGJKSfDoV0r_o1A0DNtm3ma93IKmzoLq-gn2TaTILcwIj4iaym0pHE41S4FeAr3S8T_NbKrEsSuP7owPatp-TH9WLURrFPDa_L2UG/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="1084"
data-original-width="800"
height="320"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhyuNJ9zJuDtlBaIZB0OvPLrtO4GS3KvUr3HPeORLGJKSfDoV0r_o1A0DNtm3ma93IKmzoLq-gn2TaTILcwIj4iaym0pHE41S4FeAr3S8T_NbKrEsSuP7owPatp-TH9WLURrFPDa_L2UG/w236-h320/finished.jpg"
width="236"
/></a>
</div>
<p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Materials</h2>
<p>
Since I was planning to paint it anyway, I decided to stick with aluminium
(6061). I used one piece of 7/8" rod for the main fuselage, 1/2" rod for the
feet, and 2" x 1/8" bar for the legs. Also some 1/8" stainless rode for the
antenna and some clear Alumite to fill the nose-cone.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlOM2Aq4yNkhs69KB8A3gr0lvH6LfLeh5R_za9J1OI0oo22bPyLkMgR9IPFZbqEMJcHBio8F-0zZmQ0CT-8AC8hoB2fnM2CrbLSW0FwyG6Q58QpcydhlAMcKHsPHSVww-5ynT1L1SGGH3/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="3024"
data-original-width="4032"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlOM2Aq4yNkhs69KB8A3gr0lvH6LfLeh5R_za9J1OI0oo22bPyLkMgR9IPFZbqEMJcHBio8F-0zZmQ0CT-8AC8hoB2fnM2CrbLSW0FwyG6Q58QpcydhlAMcKHsPHSVww-5ynT1L1SGGH3/"
width="320"
/></a>
</div>
<p></p>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Fusalage</h2>
<p>
The main fusalage is made in two parts: the nose-cone which is about 1 1/2"
long and has three portals, and the body, which is about 4 1/2" long and
solid. (The portal are not a feature of the rocket in the Tintin books. If you
want to be more correct, you can save yourself some trouble and make the
fuselage as as single piece. But, as I said this is intented to be "inspired
by" the Tintin rocket and not a replica).
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
First the nose cone was cut and faced. Then drilled out to a depth of about 1"
and threaded with an M10-fine thread. (Sorry for mixing units, but those were
dies and taps I had handy).
</p>
<p></p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5mdmAohHxs64SFBxhWTIR_tPwe1WsG0oqNBYzkrbu_tWOw4vfLSyZ8WlEmhl_VxPmPsmFEbQUvjlFQXNKrKn7xdyck85_2VqbJ6rlqtwYGj4rn9RzDtVqdj91B7XPRogEzXJOfSEMEEd/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5mdmAohHxs64SFBxhWTIR_tPwe1WsG0oqNBYzkrbu_tWOw4vfLSyZ8WlEmhl_VxPmPsmFEbQUvjlFQXNKrKn7xdyck85_2VqbJ6rlqtwYGj4rn9RzDtVqdj91B7XPRogEzXJOfSEMEEd/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJi4hsnZnlFffhtxMDPhZlFQwSNPjmnM8OVKuGcwTf-85eXCvAO02zt2ylVw4cJCFE9f3R1K3-PHU3Hs1HDJZaR08BlaGL___sL6XJhEDF0pNex1KG9o8tVPxUT0G_OQiodADwn5xnJxw/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJi4hsnZnlFffhtxMDPhZlFQwSNPjmnM8OVKuGcwTf-85eXCvAO02zt2ylVw4cJCFE9f3R1K3-PHU3Hs1HDJZaR08BlaGL___sL6XJhEDF0pNex1KG9o8tVPxUT0G_OQiodADwn5xnJxw/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjK7cc1cXy4jhBOgamQ73EHlK18EczVue_hh_yjfkq88TmhG4H6BQpE5kPwKjeqExfckBteQBEvf2dNKDKsb2JFb1ll4fisuuoQFElu8U_ljgMvgT-xSvUAuVazbF2pTI4l10nbtr_YHN/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjK7cc1cXy4jhBOgamQ73EHlK18EczVue_hh_yjfkq88TmhG4H6BQpE5kPwKjeqExfckBteQBEvf2dNKDKsb2JFb1ll4fisuuoQFElu8U_ljgMvgT-xSvUAuVazbF2pTI4l10nbtr_YHN/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cTk4T_sfp6iZTQ78ey2o3DIF55wBC_9d2VURBHmmahqk9rGEIdY77vtSOxrxtVCBl-NA8o6Gy085pkVubQnozVHIq7Ij6BdYVmB3ejyIIiL1yEv5_94xcupJyYlH5yYJk4aOTA5iq3Y-/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cTk4T_sfp6iZTQ78ey2o3DIF55wBC_9d2VURBHmmahqk9rGEIdY77vtSOxrxtVCBl-NA8o6Gy085pkVubQnozVHIq7Ij6BdYVmB3ejyIIiL1yEv5_94xcupJyYlH5yYJk4aOTA5iq3Y-/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEVI13wswQ6geMuTppnZMJJfoalxM_iy0VO1TNuv39Rndp8LWb-69PPb_ZrAbsgbLcPDsvPIasBRiYfmIeI9iJaytAvD_iz8iRM__Avw5LTCQVUbuYyqhgkv8n9an7Gt1exOkQw887ODx/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEVI13wswQ6geMuTppnZMJJfoalxM_iy0VO1TNuv39Rndp8LWb-69PPb_ZrAbsgbLcPDsvPIasBRiYfmIeI9iJaytAvD_iz8iRM__Avw5LTCQVUbuYyqhgkv8n9an7Gt1exOkQw887ODx/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLayrZOTvZByceVDQhyphenhyphenAb7sGWWnaPiFMRCtAo93GDR14SwGONZyu-OUyx3OEamqH12OJEvZkkJ1LWOLTlr-Yr9O8tWfbiKI8I1TY-eYJmnHrpULyS3OJj4QFz6kA0i-AMCL1E-OOqaXkE_/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLayrZOTvZByceVDQhyphenhyphenAb7sGWWnaPiFMRCtAo93GDR14SwGONZyu-OUyx3OEamqH12OJEvZkkJ1LWOLTlr-Yr9O8tWfbiKI8I1TY-eYJmnHrpULyS3OJj4QFz6kA0i-AMCL1E-OOqaXkE_/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Next I started on the body. The section was cut about 1" more than the final
length. I turned down a section about 3/4" long down to 1/2": this was to hold
it by and got removed later. Then, on the other end turned and cut a screw
thread a little over 1/4" long:
</p>
<p></p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-vrSxM9e_b9NwbgjSeRJR4wddDfTI5IoGwmi6eFRzAmfD3mYNpmnUEaQWJYoC2ExbwH07sKQkNvptUMfkAc3mMlI8xXimHWRAIAFgUeyV7-ZNN5wl99O_ubh21EE0Isq6mw9XKDb5DHS/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-vrSxM9e_b9NwbgjSeRJR4wddDfTI5IoGwmi6eFRzAmfD3mYNpmnUEaQWJYoC2ExbwH07sKQkNvptUMfkAc3mMlI8xXimHWRAIAFgUeyV7-ZNN5wl99O_ubh21EE0Isq6mw9XKDb5DHS/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l0yxssG-as321BeC4GvVi0zDiuEI-9URpsFV2lT1kDynCFatz4LXcYO8g7MPb0B5FdSQg5hoGcPM8aaKeq8Br6q7jk9lITxgk01_HUf2HAKk9MgrvfaTqkV5VZyZsEkHKLLgNgjP1Wqk/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l0yxssG-as321BeC4GvVi0zDiuEI-9URpsFV2lT1kDynCFatz4LXcYO8g7MPb0B5FdSQg5hoGcPM8aaKeq8Br6q7jk9lITxgk01_HUf2HAKk9MgrvfaTqkV5VZyZsEkHKLLgNgjP1Wqk/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-vrSxM9e_b9NwbgjSeRJR4wddDfTI5IoGwmi6eFRzAmfD3mYNpmnUEaQWJYoC2ExbwH07sKQkNvptUMfkAc3mMlI8xXimHWRAIAFgUeyV7-ZNN5wl99O_ubh21EE0Isq6mw9XKDb5DHS/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblrguYYjlOsJUbV2BnImbgeTT2PSEtDFTumQsWMeLPe5eNCiGWaVvTzzDN069aZstloRNYyub5WdlrXeCou8ux-Aw-GCoJ3_0je12Zu3OLqEM6uW-3BH9sGmmpTmyeZ-k10wgpnQ6qjUL/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-vrSxM9e_b9NwbgjSeRJR4wddDfTI5IoGwmi6eFRzAmfD3mYNpmnUEaQWJYoC2ExbwH07sKQkNvptUMfkAc3mMlI8xXimHWRAIAFgUeyV7-ZNN5wl99O_ubh21EE0Isq6mw9XKDb5DHS/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VXWrhWxOcx6irH0BAKVRp4ws0LVT09BqXKJV1VAmyFXgneo9nKn_yoa8FyyY15lRam8iQZwg6YvlzBgkgDZkkQqxsXSJvXyUShAtwPBiuzldpaJ0IcIdeb7IshdLz3Y874SzgLEFATRM/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
I put the two parts together, blued, and scratched in some reference marks. (I
wanted the portals to line up with the mid-points between the legs.)
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecJlnyMrKcUEhnuf9O-jyjfjqB3beDfaUhWbQ9uL_o4wXCwigJ_wRLc6cacTzbw3xCqc4bojgqBS97a6mZN7NfIZigG47zg_Ar9hybAB-2Bf07tvSKHs5G9Mpib7-qkPwrfESUIiWYJgk/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="1000"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecJlnyMrKcUEhnuf9O-jyjfjqB3beDfaUhWbQ9uL_o4wXCwigJ_wRLc6cacTzbw3xCqc4bojgqBS97a6mZN7NfIZigG47zg_Ar9hybAB-2Bf07tvSKHs5G9Mpib7-qkPwrfESUIiWYJgk/"
width="320"
/></a>
</div>
<p>
Next, I switched to the mini-mill to drill the portals. I used a rotary table
in in to make them at 120 degrees to each other. Finished with a 5/16" end
mill:
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrJXuU-jQ1Yfis_mZQT4HQO6kA1Xhs7azSnDesuie2ttB8VnDEdZj4mIcCroAVJlGTOfTGem2kiZZ57tWlEi29-jCDXxKcl4IHAkoCTQBgCVFipWs5AvjZ1eQDFfXUoSGasuXiyVf2Z-V/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrJXuU-jQ1Yfis_mZQT4HQO6kA1Xhs7azSnDesuie2ttB8VnDEdZj4mIcCroAVJlGTOfTGem2kiZZ57tWlEi29-jCDXxKcl4IHAkoCTQBgCVFipWs5AvjZ1eQDFfXUoSGasuXiyVf2Z-V/"
width="180"
/>
</a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrJXuU-jQ1Yfis_mZQT4HQO6kA1Xhs7azSnDesuie2ttB8VnDEdZj4mIcCroAVJlGTOfTGem2kiZZ57tWlEi29-jCDXxKcl4IHAkoCTQBgCVFipWs5AvjZ1eQDFfXUoSGasuXiyVf2Z-V/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
>
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfSFbvlEMXz4LxwQCVppnHdjPcOACDVU1N6yjsrtqfbg9Lvu8E_j_1GIy4Fsgfn44At40sCwgEtAfUxeBjn4qbLY8Dr1X52n5YdboABIw9QLwIo4nCfb-FIKr6vbn7wXPAQQvIDbo1VSJ/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrJXuU-jQ1Yfis_mZQT4HQO6kA1Xhs7azSnDesuie2ttB8VnDEdZj4mIcCroAVJlGTOfTGem2kiZZ57tWlEi29-jCDXxKcl4IHAkoCTQBgCVFipWs5AvjZ1eQDFfXUoSGasuXiyVf2Z-V/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
>
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53zEW_SWulQos6PIo5xsh1YBTuQea0To923mP9oxixiOlNdt2sXAz7E2uJ_7o-fueYdXohCk2Qt3XSeev57bruZn7HPcOezDZMwzEAYl90gEACnYXangi6ZatRkVh5zZcawtl3SgYskEq/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Then mounted the body on the mill and milled three slots for the legs, 1/2"
long and 3/5" deep using the 1/8" end mill.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D6NuAgVVaiNnJmcmMadRjOtZpAYlex4lzOJlwXI27pDiv3xoIYnkyPuSokWGW59ztY4JG2IRJTK9pnw5uGhC-66awVX7fu7HvLj1OPf7lYeJOg7l9iQTxxQy2FoJx4NnFnY75NuT5_41/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D6NuAgVVaiNnJmcmMadRjOtZpAYlex4lzOJlwXI27pDiv3xoIYnkyPuSokWGW59ztY4JG2IRJTK9pnw5uGhC-66awVX7fu7HvLj1OPf7lYeJOg7l9iQTxxQy2FoJx4NnFnY75NuT5_41/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfQkyAQmvi0Et02YHm2H2wN-iRvIIegTAUxmIMIsSTuQ_PAlrS4123qIdxAzed6ZlGsKe6rWexQg3n_hvk5vaVFLcYEaRyU0TKzO9QCzvbZsg-SYekv0YOz5xAzEwApiOKqHLloHKeSgr/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfQkyAQmvi0Et02YHm2H2wN-iRvIIegTAUxmIMIsSTuQ_PAlrS4123qIdxAzed6ZlGsKe6rWexQg3n_hvk5vaVFLcYEaRyU0TKzO9QCzvbZsg-SYekv0YOz5xAzEwApiOKqHLloHKeSgr/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>The two parts together:</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODx3PbFN8rF2ZTJzdtUh0QO9bCBiuXl7UQXI0ZcRxaFl8JcqCHCT6Kl1NJzsROYaSxJ4djm6JUh6Shf3w0PD_IQbdGaQO318oFEv7oxD1vXpOy7jOqGSpjl58l3G8YmZiGZ66iDg2J3kE/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="1000"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODx3PbFN8rF2ZTJzdtUh0QO9bCBiuXl7UQXI0ZcRxaFl8JcqCHCT6Kl1NJzsROYaSxJ4djm6JUh6Shf3w0PD_IQbdGaQO318oFEv7oxD1vXpOy7jOqGSpjl58l3G8YmZiGZ66iDg2J3kE/"
width="320"
/></a>
</div>
<p></p>
<p>Next, I wrapped the nose cone with tape and filled it with Alumite resin:</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkyPw2_j3YWTiUdhJ6fhV81I23Nd-KWrlv0uvAepmYuSkMjzdetnnDCGwt6Mvg4Z9MvdVhK1X5O7cccRmZhtCQSQbbLSWCMKSMezOKS3SN_TayFYy_JTxq8KkbsNIbhsfXRoWUxWbt28x/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkyPw2_j3YWTiUdhJ6fhV81I23Nd-KWrlv0uvAepmYuSkMjzdetnnDCGwt6Mvg4Z9MvdVhK1X5O7cccRmZhtCQSQbbLSWCMKSMezOKS3SN_TayFYy_JTxq8KkbsNIbhsfXRoWUxWbt28x/"
width="180"
/></a>
<br />
</div>
<p>
The resin needs at least 24 hours to harden. Fortunately I accidentally
uploaded a photo of Winnie along with the photos from my phone for this
project, so we have something to look at while we're waiting.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GanNPZB0-cIbc5G2RBTCv3W9yD9-1IVdaRpn0gnZbVuNYxDZ50vv7R9-prwowwgfX98lZedKwz7E9cuW1zaiyWnAtkdBQU1JLLlUlQETAYJ4963dMuXVpntSv5bqb0968Xm_117b5aMD/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GanNPZB0-cIbc5G2RBTCv3W9yD9-1IVdaRpn0gnZbVuNYxDZ50vv7R9-prwowwgfX98lZedKwz7E9cuW1zaiyWnAtkdBQU1JLLlUlQETAYJ4963dMuXVpntSv5bqb0968Xm_117b5aMD/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<p>Done waiting. The nose is ready for the next step.</p>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4ENyZGL6YC7gv86WiKSOVNHE16DjER0Co5M1W3Z5K3azjlFUcq4nAHgKkBDirxk8dRnkGRLH4HN4wASQZ-3a4WN4G7gM2YZSltOr_pV_8_y3Z58-C31G54l30H9pG-jHRPeDAjJRFBI7/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4ENyZGL6YC7gv86WiKSOVNHE16DjER0Co5M1W3Z5K3azjlFUcq4nAHgKkBDirxk8dRnkGRLH4HN4wASQZ-3a4WN4G7gM2YZSltOr_pV_8_y3Z58-C31G54l30H9pG-jHRPeDAjJRFBI7/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<br />
</div>
<p>
Next I drilled some holes in the acrylic to accommodate some tritium vials. In
this case I decided to go with three smaller vials of different colours, one
for each window.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMuVbh_9oq-_4feuYrIZnfHrnGLfaLne-higI44xz0-QQ29Kw1L75vb9Z1x67dZOxtNcoXQSsEXmFd0Z1y2owpf0QIeEL1pOu_lXOZL3kQhl5feUnD67oGxmW7Sq_cOkXQlKc7d3Wigxk/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMuVbh_9oq-_4feuYrIZnfHrnGLfaLne-higI44xz0-QQ29Kw1L75vb9Z1x67dZOxtNcoXQSsEXmFd0Z1y2owpf0QIeEL1pOu_lXOZL3kQhl5feUnD67oGxmW7Sq_cOkXQlKc7d3Wigxk/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-GAUUm-L2jF3QRZDm6DmxOaEPnwnS8ux7y96DhQDCITLbWJ_qURmIFfSJ-0D7Ij1zM0I2hiqL_8-SoKi0vegs07lwHTjcINMTfxwckmc006imZhsxXCUsr0jgtTuqWm6Hl4es_GPgxTq/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-GAUUm-L2jF3QRZDm6DmxOaEPnwnS8ux7y96DhQDCITLbWJ_qURmIFfSJ-0D7Ij1zM0I2hiqL_8-SoKi0vegs07lwHTjcINMTfxwckmc006imZhsxXCUsr0jgtTuqWm6Hl4es_GPgxTq/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
At this point the two parts are put back together and go back to the lathe to
finish. Most of the hard work is now done.
</p>
<p>Back on the lathe, I drilled a hole 1/4 deep for the antenna.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy1OeqyxoVbZMRCBdq_8YxgMAHhkmHJn2TPeZSmt8jQ-QfvGCYhiSNN7rZy6iu3M3r54lFLaFv_97ZMAtEQ1M-VvLHI4d_grOiJEpfW4DnIUceR9fkozkSLftXO2OELztZwHx-EBhf1rp/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy1OeqyxoVbZMRCBdq_8YxgMAHhkmHJn2TPeZSmt8jQ-QfvGCYhiSNN7rZy6iu3M3r54lFLaFv_97ZMAtEQ1M-VvLHI4d_grOiJEpfW4DnIUceR9fkozkSLftXO2OELztZwHx-EBhf1rp/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<p>
Then I started a series of cuts, at different angles, using the compound.
First cut at 40 degrees took the longest.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrJQhrR4YwlMpuJt2eSd9WucvjTeU-SOnY01kwRjK5FN0idr-bO0jS-BMhescrnb8qNAlwHZre9YtHEHO2klBi0gtfR5SZn4ujaUVbORtD9KBxNt_8ZRcaGIZUsa09lIUSVn1gBxvGPMK/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrJQhrR4YwlMpuJt2eSd9WucvjTeU-SOnY01kwRjK5FN0idr-bO0jS-BMhescrnb8qNAlwHZre9YtHEHO2klBi0gtfR5SZn4ujaUVbORtD9KBxNt_8ZRcaGIZUsa09lIUSVn1gBxvGPMK/"
width="180"
/>
</a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrJQhrR4YwlMpuJt2eSd9WucvjTeU-SOnY01kwRjK5FN0idr-bO0jS-BMhescrnb8qNAlwHZre9YtHEHO2klBi0gtfR5SZn4ujaUVbORtD9KBxNt_8ZRcaGIZUsa09lIUSVn1gBxvGPMK/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
>
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWPOxAS09jJ-ydxIGAxxIM86B7-XMEwrU_eZyr4l7v1w4bOTNX7KtVrl_E6IVFb0__LgAiMaEly-gQv2iG2FAg0GyJZ3WIeJobhiZWodTHvJjk4HhXjWA_xO1ok21VK6CJkjwbaH-jWcS/"
width="180"
/>
</a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrJQhrR4YwlMpuJt2eSd9WucvjTeU-SOnY01kwRjK5FN0idr-bO0jS-BMhescrnb8qNAlwHZre9YtHEHO2klBi0gtfR5SZn4ujaUVbORtD9KBxNt_8ZRcaGIZUsa09lIUSVn1gBxvGPMK/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
>
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIrGZxZ3lNhA_KqsaE7qupcvpYW8wRMYhNkuH5BDVQC5PGe1qu3CS6mBFvwM8_p9v6x3nDmvsYny_7PFEMz74qRj4zlDInFvRMqua8EY3kVqezIuoFjjIyXDiEqS7dXGhoK-XJTM4AKk-/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Then I started doing more cuts, reducing the angle in 5 degree decrements:
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoAgmszwDFoCeXCtGbpl7gHsv6NsT_p0zwNUEtrB0X06inFi7GPUFZozegwZMANWedDnHmtSCnzSVoUq2HAPaG4E2BiSEY5DVxk9flNUcuzL_mFjjfTBhL2h0Mq3vMSBHsvcdiCTSLzPL/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoAgmszwDFoCeXCtGbpl7gHsv6NsT_p0zwNUEtrB0X06inFi7GPUFZozegwZMANWedDnHmtSCnzSVoUq2HAPaG4E2BiSEY5DVxk9flNUcuzL_mFjjfTBhL2h0Mq3vMSBHsvcdiCTSLzPL/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjv0Y4ClG50U6_on0lGrn4ES4YtQW7cvUFEeuhFyTZP5vbXft9AZS9Q6ujtpoPBCUfm4x7M8kanu8I3Om5FyQESpuaO_7HYihTb20md2wWGskNAI57DLzvdq5vNdZJMdDvlgMKIfaaaMHZ/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjv0Y4ClG50U6_on0lGrn4ES4YtQW7cvUFEeuhFyTZP5vbXft9AZS9Q6ujtpoPBCUfm4x7M8kanu8I3Om5FyQESpuaO_7HYihTb20md2wWGskNAI57DLzvdq5vNdZJMdDvlgMKIfaaaMHZ/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZsgtOamLjrFtzCLlRcrmEEUwWvWUlIVz6L7vZ_bwjG3g7A1_UrZEcoy09gPsQph7SvKT53oVTuCnfG3bZ_aIaWrA5aOw9-jp-VlqwbDJq9134sNyv7O1wk-Nhpt-xRc4DVTEgdL9xuVb/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZsgtOamLjrFtzCLlRcrmEEUwWvWUlIVz6L7vZ_bwjG3g7A1_UrZEcoy09gPsQph7SvKT53oVTuCnfG3bZ_aIaWrA5aOw9-jp-VlqwbDJq9134sNyv7O1wk-Nhpt-xRc4DVTEgdL9xuVb/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
When I got close to zero degrees, I moved the body forward in the chuck. This
is where the 1/2" end section came in. On the back half cuts were much
shallower, in the range 1-5 degrees.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A3ey7VGATsQUfuKSot-P3aqciwB3Edjmz3Qx8_Lw1OXA1gT7GoBghO03Ut6gxDQm0l1f-kvWSycGLCRW9mHEl-r6PdmdjJ-DYojyCGPiVLkkseIjx-L2AoYD95AO2Yz9oFLfZAmMW-sG/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A3ey7VGATsQUfuKSot-P3aqciwB3Edjmz3Qx8_Lw1OXA1gT7GoBghO03Ut6gxDQm0l1f-kvWSycGLCRW9mHEl-r6PdmdjJ-DYojyCGPiVLkkseIjx-L2AoYD95AO2Yz9oFLfZAmMW-sG/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxiOb2x9McNP1IvO0sOISBpF8o_HlPyOFzMPYYNyhEIOqeLRi1PeFOmLdyoEZ-Moy_vVMIcsl9FfswLhlbfEV7ptDp_crOf-_ehYq1cJB_6yeCXQ9PrKBtJ2pT9B10baYuqMqQneEpcwt/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxiOb2x9McNP1IvO0sOISBpF8o_HlPyOFzMPYYNyhEIOqeLRi1PeFOmLdyoEZ-Moy_vVMIcsl9FfswLhlbfEV7ptDp_crOf-_ehYq1cJB_6yeCXQ9PrKBtJ2pT9B10baYuqMqQneEpcwt/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0F55oBIG6JpAONXj5Sw7nFDin5LnK-k0Fxan-EFvfQyT7xFv6968ATbLzNxTxeBc91G9qaozZeenpPUfAKBaOgw8390EKSqaMXHO7Zbfttxj9iiPIyIqF71Wu8ph9drnDQolz6Hk7gFk/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0F55oBIG6JpAONXj5Sw7nFDin5LnK-k0Fxan-EFvfQyT7xFv6968ATbLzNxTxeBc91G9qaozZeenpPUfAKBaOgw8390EKSqaMXHO7Zbfttxj9iiPIyIqF71Wu8ph9drnDQolz6Hk7gFk/"
width="180"
/>
</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxiOb2x9McNP1IvO0sOISBpF8o_HlPyOFzMPYYNyhEIOqeLRi1PeFOmLdyoEZ-Moy_vVMIcsl9FfswLhlbfEV7ptDp_crOf-_ehYq1cJB_6yeCXQ9PrKBtJ2pT9B10baYuqMqQneEpcwt/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69orVAHtNw_gRScIPbLVtV7NVcXKEYqms_peMujDUHDvlxHRbTWGwp7INFIpRfbTu_5y5OS2KP-i4RhdmU7Vs5H9CPLoS59fB7t2QWvqm6p7-nFCcadZ_1rrRc6s0WOVTlMXR4uFSYbfX/"
width="180"
/>
</a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxiOb2x9McNP1IvO0sOISBpF8o_HlPyOFzMPYYNyhEIOqeLRi1PeFOmLdyoEZ-Moy_vVMIcsl9FfswLhlbfEV7ptDp_crOf-_ehYq1cJB_6yeCXQ9PrKBtJ2pT9B10baYuqMqQneEpcwt/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN0ojnJkxxJ46biTPuMLbfY8Zk2iszn6jR59QIcC1gx1_6-QKNgkgMfXgXE1AMjarO1K3Lx0JVCCSaagrA_ShQ6GdjsFFba3cvklQ2r1S5YPdyOXGoXgc2k1Qa4I-SeehUQH8YlGqiofc/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
I finished off with emory paper and cut off the end stub. Finally I added the
antena using a spot of green loctite.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j6Xg3Eo7kObNkX7HU9AKbmHwa7f6I5fP5GIPPpQGBqM1a1CjpqDBqHmpPKIUuIY-lto9njg0cfXSpTwRFafhyXrahmJlLjg42t3_oVajjvoKkzFuilyANQkUydY6xesWnuf9QTNia6x2/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="1000"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j6Xg3Eo7kObNkX7HU9AKbmHwa7f6I5fP5GIPPpQGBqM1a1CjpqDBqHmpPKIUuIY-lto9njg0cfXSpTwRFafhyXrahmJlLjg42t3_oVajjvoKkzFuilyANQkUydY6xesWnuf9QTNia6x2/"
width="320"
/></a>
</div>
<p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Shock Absorbers</h2>
<p>
The shock-absorbers/feet were made in a similar way to the body of the rocket,
though simpler and also more rounded on top.
</p>
<p>
First I cut three pieces of the 1/2" rod, faced them and turned down a 1/2"
section in order to hold them in the chuck.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2c_uT4KbTvCG21rakrq7pMioW0dq-284AwZfiUFUW_r4B7Fxyj5Deddg_ehBsVk-7DhXYBjgc8akfO0K7KpGAepK_gICNYHRJAA-GndCH3AHGAAKWjVXE6dZJHJxOL_mx1pa3SLRFvsr/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2c_uT4KbTvCG21rakrq7pMioW0dq-284AwZfiUFUW_r4B7Fxyj5Deddg_ehBsVk-7DhXYBjgc8akfO0K7KpGAepK_gICNYHRJAA-GndCH3AHGAAKWjVXE6dZJHJxOL_mx1pa3SLRFvsr/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z0gTjxAamEeSwPkOtZxaMfV3fuus984hWou_83x5ikh1UkfLvW5nXuae7ZVGyCiPAuWzA8V6iD_N8NwzbkMVVLkmpS5UG6hieQgxEcCGGRXtV7okQUXqHuVBUjRpSv1gm17itugVrwUB/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z0gTjxAamEeSwPkOtZxaMfV3fuus984hWou_83x5ikh1UkfLvW5nXuae7ZVGyCiPAuWzA8V6iD_N8NwzbkMVVLkmpS5UG6hieQgxEcCGGRXtV7okQUXqHuVBUjRpSv1gm17itugVrwUB/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6uoteX8zOiltfXF0hHXg_GP-wiV1VOPwY1_yf-c-VNLj13bFNIcuUU6bFRLe96FrmE91ixmdLY0AWOIJX2eJM8r6JAx_TmKPnNJXBcLvvBPRRx9zHALfvx915iogzBCvkXZBz1oo12pd/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6uoteX8zOiltfXF0hHXg_GP-wiV1VOPwY1_yf-c-VNLj13bFNIcuUU6bFRLe96FrmE91ixmdLY0AWOIJX2eJM8r6JAx_TmKPnNJXBcLvvBPRRx9zHALfvx915iogzBCvkXZBz1oo12pd/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Next I milled the slots for the legs, 1/2" long and half the thickness of the
rod:
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABNGzNFe6zXQqeWGQUZmcD1kNK4NKzIV5IlyTkuFMR18Re4vemrGvnnYnq21MQZJeKybiYfiSp_xKQ4nT2ffHsQn8bY_6h5qIrIoeic1CGGNsniFl36-eJ__1PA4SyP25DBXGu4XlEIrA/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABNGzNFe6zXQqeWGQUZmcD1kNK4NKzIV5IlyTkuFMR18Re4vemrGvnnYnq21MQZJeKybiYfiSp_xKQ4nT2ffHsQn8bY_6h5qIrIoeic1CGGNsniFl36-eJ__1PA4SyP25DBXGu4XlEIrA/"
width="180" /></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWYEizwfIkE1Lf_-g6MFehYe-rgD4y2HEHWDOo0uYpkZmLFdDJsxYjwQvfTvUX4xu85sjXBAzHQR1y6zzJFvvPRpQpEmrpETLVHvAVpcQ257GNF6_1-1Hua8b4pBo-oPO-7sajUX_qunn/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWYEizwfIkE1Lf_-g6MFehYe-rgD4y2HEHWDOo0uYpkZmLFdDJsxYjwQvfTvUX4xu85sjXBAzHQR1y6zzJFvvPRpQpEmrpETLVHvAVpcQ257GNF6_1-1Hua8b4pBo-oPO-7sajUX_qunn/"
width="180" /></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AKGsyn_0gMD8PWRH-_xXDUgAee_gH07JYrV93Og1hWZyylSP1XPkuqBpNLbGz5PtI4BaXvb52cuG8xVT493ZDontqYvamXmpGCU1wCN2u5YFEBN69dU9rSB3S4vUQsGdOa4cRskK1ZNZ/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AKGsyn_0gMD8PWRH-_xXDUgAee_gH07JYrV93Og1hWZyylSP1XPkuqBpNLbGz5PtI4BaXvb52cuG8xVT493ZDontqYvamXmpGCU1wCN2u5YFEBN69dU9rSB3S4vUQsGdOa4cRskK1ZNZ/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Then back to the lathe for shaping. For the shock-absorbers I shaped the
bottom first and then the tops.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNSUYkS-juSEIEgYcebHWdKWygOvjI2qHvM9J_cQlCHAp72X0-X0zbsByrRJec8_MxZlLqER6xxt2Fpd5ZaIYU8aVpq1uF9Ptpimawl7nCbqlmuhYA5U45QUh5TaRosOkbAkyoGkzASrc/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNSUYkS-juSEIEgYcebHWdKWygOvjI2qHvM9J_cQlCHAp72X0-X0zbsByrRJec8_MxZlLqER6xxt2Fpd5ZaIYU8aVpq1uF9Ptpimawl7nCbqlmuhYA5U45QUh5TaRosOkbAkyoGkzASrc/"
width="180" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOl0i-KGnPtWJ64jTo39QDu_isnim3ZLkKYyayjM77LpzzZ7z5l6D61OUIiOOKpC_iPuOgNJVsUqKW2COR41zXxAVZ-Qjqy-jeJsDH9Ak6SjAxLKWBPkMh_vTzMPr5Q_aVJ1FO75qiiyo/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOl0i-KGnPtWJ64jTo39QDu_isnim3ZLkKYyayjM77LpzzZ7z5l6D61OUIiOOKpC_iPuOgNJVsUqKW2COR41zXxAVZ-Qjqy-jeJsDH9Ak6SjAxLKWBPkMh_vTzMPr5Q_aVJ1FO75qiiyo/"
width="180" /></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F-Iu1CZIWr32NaF8xK4HY_qDRZxW0z67_N1wOk6XJXTiQ0CLQdVa_xvmm0ymuctwbhNaETJK2ykXQatDzXh89uX_AR1Yooc_ckNS0MsLE84kKudtWuO0clwfchsEGZz6NQmOIRPpe0Fo/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F-Iu1CZIWr32NaF8xK4HY_qDRZxW0z67_N1wOk6XJXTiQ0CLQdVa_xvmm0ymuctwbhNaETJK2ykXQatDzXh89uX_AR1Yooc_ckNS0MsLE84kKudtWuO0clwfchsEGZz6NQmOIRPpe0Fo/"
width="180" /></a
>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknfBf7zGLxQSl4UuPAKXFk6Wmx0-8FWIkROHs_XlBOx11eOQQiTCZOoJ6QdYgF4fE58p5_vI8YmlcB4FxeaTsRW0pRqJ3zIcuJ-5Re3gUFDlLQYFbaF9LZyaxdqCz1rrZfC4WnjCCK2Lj/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknfBf7zGLxQSl4UuPAKXFk6Wmx0-8FWIkROHs_XlBOx11eOQQiTCZOoJ6QdYgF4fE58p5_vI8YmlcB4FxeaTsRW0pRqJ3zIcuJ-5Re3gUFDlLQYFbaF9LZyaxdqCz1rrZfC4WnjCCK2Lj/"
width="180" />
</a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknfBf7zGLxQSl4UuPAKXFk6Wmx0-8FWIkROHs_XlBOx11eOQQiTCZOoJ6QdYgF4fE58p5_vI8YmlcB4FxeaTsRW0pRqJ3zIcuJ-5Re3gUFDlLQYFbaF9LZyaxdqCz1rrZfC4WnjCCK2Lj/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBOhJGKw3p1UQMDDABlBN-mHWHs_2jofbXND2_4SQQZ3XGXiJGwqBYwF5chuvvklE9Sr-M27YYSmS-FWyMeWF5e-TY0DuudjIvAukykf_QF8O5Mn4jOTQzEnAg0rPok3fFScS1_uxrrts/"
width="180" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknfBf7zGLxQSl4UuPAKXFk6Wmx0-8FWIkROHs_XlBOx11eOQQiTCZOoJ6QdYgF4fE58p5_vI8YmlcB4FxeaTsRW0pRqJ3zIcuJ-5Re3gUFDlLQYFbaF9LZyaxdqCz1rrZfC4WnjCCK2Lj/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfJchnYBMnDvis2HJ5Z0PMRnCSCtS2xhvJPttANRnYqY4ixtf4lokWMT1wiPQiH1KndKpQTq4oXftjifs9covxeOpLdMQ-0X_bbAq0ShgdVcX4KDq_maEy8k4PPDbx5I8BoBqbNC50tBZ/"
width="180"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Legs</h2>
<p>
The lets were made out or the 1/8" by 2" aluminium bar. I started by cutting
three blanks, milled the edges to be square and parallel, and then glued the
three parts together using four spots of superglue.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq961q-kheVYsHXU9IhG_0a6Ffbe0oGR7f3NHzV14IaQe2jUgD7euDsz0LTx0-gX5Vvo1wQ7g9EFUaNwZXUGXhzEaKujhfFT20f_6QHZqbOTi57uKmCuq9h3hpE9A5VLmTftuqftAfNQjV/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="563"
data-original-width="750"
height="150"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq961q-kheVYsHXU9IhG_0a6Ffbe0oGR7f3NHzV14IaQe2jUgD7euDsz0LTx0-gX5Vvo1wQ7g9EFUaNwZXUGXhzEaKujhfFT20f_6QHZqbOTi57uKmCuq9h3hpE9A5VLmTftuqftAfNQjV/w200-h150/legs1.jpg"
width="200" /></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuc0InXyYfLmHta4lqGvDDJ7Bk2KNnf6xfQM36noiaf8r4RClu5VlDOJRCyIO0KrgB3nSzLFNEF81rx7GdfrjaF0OKisog1TvKqkGF7tgx0b94oJC5Ajtsb4FxtJDAVPC9iMC3OVKlN7F/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="471"
data-original-width="750"
height="126"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuc0InXyYfLmHta4lqGvDDJ7Bk2KNnf6xfQM36noiaf8r4RClu5VlDOJRCyIO0KrgB3nSzLFNEF81rx7GdfrjaF0OKisog1TvKqkGF7tgx0b94oJC5Ajtsb4FxtJDAVPC9iMC3OVKlN7F/w200-h126/legs2.jpg"
width="200" /></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqZPfLQ3qAl81U0fw-u4HewEm49FBXMCvJmWKFwy-O2FNCKB-bbheHC4akKVAa8Glsic4bIvybOmbwtbDW7deAfuV_Ic8cJD2OXfPtJGFKyHnqzmYj1pyMvvQOnsvg7umOVAEt6Qn0UgV/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="200"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqZPfLQ3qAl81U0fw-u4HewEm49FBXMCvJmWKFwy-O2FNCKB-bbheHC4akKVAa8Glsic4bIvybOmbwtbDW7deAfuV_Ic8cJD2OXfPtJGFKyHnqzmYj1pyMvvQOnsvg7umOVAEt6Qn0UgV/w150-h200/legs3.jpg"
width="150"
/></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
I used the mill to roughly shape the block of leg pieces with a series
of cuts at different angles. (A vertical band saw would have been ideal
here, but I don't have one and am running out of space.)
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG-sHSxi_8WgFKHdxTGSjIk2GtibXsbb8s7hFl40TDS8AvhkNFvOyotsbwRRUDUXTfIZbXPECVApjgqgJbg3khAH8KZH4iMjPVAuxl8qvw-xCR1R5JmU0y6jF23J5Z_jvfCAPdFpTg29u/"
><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG-sHSxi_8WgFKHdxTGSjIk2GtibXsbb8s7hFl40TDS8AvhkNFvOyotsbwRRUDUXTfIZbXPECVApjgqgJbg3khAH8KZH4iMjPVAuxl8qvw-xCR1R5JmU0y6jF23J5Z_jvfCAPdFpTg29u/"
width="180" /></span></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7CyayGUPxkpB9YkljX6SuWrNoy5b_YNXXBqQhmv3lMQJuIXjYyb_xXQ1aum6ExBVYGOCB1vxBP7eoi4Elizey7owD7emSak0XYIgUNK9-O5kEj2pYmw3HHo7UrvDJObdEz2E2_tnKgWz/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7CyayGUPxkpB9YkljX6SuWrNoy5b_YNXXBqQhmv3lMQJuIXjYyb_xXQ1aum6ExBVYGOCB1vxBP7eoi4Elizey7owD7emSak0XYIgUNK9-O5kEj2pYmw3HHo7UrvDJObdEz2E2_tnKgWz/"
width="180" /></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoTO5z0ZGAyVQQERTHaEYbYoRLo6aOkDjng3H9951b3brjMg2MYwcVTuOW_ENqGSG-NrFfMW5qAxovp6yl_Xy0TWT0im9mh-f6JIFxw05cgnq8fNeIlwmi8JXcUkDorfdXvVjqkDqTsOx/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoTO5z0ZGAyVQQERTHaEYbYoRLo6aOkDjng3H9951b3brjMg2MYwcVTuOW_ENqGSG-NrFfMW5qAxovp6yl_Xy0TWT0im9mh-f6JIFxw05cgnq8fNeIlwmi8JXcUkDorfdXvVjqkDqTsOx/"
width="180" /></a
>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvovCWFhZqO22oIKkz-BETrg1o_WjaRdVqmPoceUjZSUb5sxnDzq1CtkKuj6zF9SqUVtaVLK_rfZbblPw-92vHAr7zEGdEfz9TnhdOtbRlGBGdW_u8k3qdBFeURiKaU_IfrtZ8a7VJLOq/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvovCWFhZqO22oIKkz-BETrg1o_WjaRdVqmPoceUjZSUb5sxnDzq1CtkKuj6zF9SqUVtaVLK_rfZbblPw-92vHAr7zEGdEfz9TnhdOtbRlGBGdW_u8k3qdBFeURiKaU_IfrtZ8a7VJLOq/"
width="180" /></a
>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4ss5PEGd6E6T4Jz7ekpamt0UVXoXXgCZWqpqx0JVnr3ov4X2Fba-wVjSvLNxKBIQnyHejeqFWsP8NtBG-iS6kzoBCZUSEhxTzXoWtSJd5VzKKclw09OHKVNHpW-S0PPsl-fznKd7cZca/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4ss5PEGd6E6T4Jz7ekpamt0UVXoXXgCZWqpqx0JVnr3ov4X2Fba-wVjSvLNxKBIQnyHejeqFWsP8NtBG-iS6kzoBCZUSEhxTzXoWtSJd5VzKKclw09OHKVNHpW-S0PPsl-fznKd7cZca/"
width="180" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvovCWFhZqO22oIKkz-BETrg1o_WjaRdVqmPoceUjZSUb5sxnDzq1CtkKuj6zF9SqUVtaVLK_rfZbblPw-92vHAr7zEGdEfz9TnhdOtbRlGBGdW_u8k3qdBFeURiKaU_IfrtZ8a7VJLOq/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNuiQykU7feaSD-mLXDODrTH-t_9dCBX6cM5_sp8modKWzPeSi1w4plLId2APpS71h6vSnRbLRpZ311Wh7k1aWidYHGsgNaFA2j7Q8cdKyhspZ-Yf8nb13M2zD0SFiUDZmYW392_7uSy5/"
width="180" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Final shaping was done with a file in the vice, before breaking the legs
apart:
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZg1byz70xE7r-j2dWWHNDOVAppOeiaikAgKOT9kBwQf-wMV_dL3c5Vjwhrk0V0uFMf_BE0V0-_HtHsQDy6i9t87XWCFu8pyQADfccImb8-9aWZV5W4N8LGHTslM8QV9NpX7Up15juj5a/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZg1byz70xE7r-j2dWWHNDOVAppOeiaikAgKOT9kBwQf-wMV_dL3c5Vjwhrk0V0uFMf_BE0V0-_HtHsQDy6i9t87XWCFu8pyQADfccImb8-9aWZV5W4N8LGHTslM8QV9NpX7Up15juj5a/"
width="180" />
</a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZg1byz70xE7r-j2dWWHNDOVAppOeiaikAgKOT9kBwQf-wMV_dL3c5Vjwhrk0V0uFMf_BE0V0-_HtHsQDy6i9t87XWCFu8pyQADfccImb8-9aWZV5W4N8LGHTslM8QV9NpX7Up15juj5a/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
>
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimpZJIrH12xIYRSFjpZi6jcH8JcDYe73GtbLqsllmFgCxu-Qk82c90RB_d5Rr0HQMJsD40semodOVQzHsepTCwQwRZfGBWfZmKoFkcSTj-ufKUB7NyE2PM1nVHk82Kmdkcm-Kf_6OCJ7d/"
width="180" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZg1byz70xE7r-j2dWWHNDOVAppOeiaikAgKOT9kBwQf-wMV_dL3c5Vjwhrk0V0uFMf_BE0V0-_HtHsQDy6i9t87XWCFu8pyQADfccImb8-9aWZV5W4N8LGHTslM8QV9NpX7Up15juj5a/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
>
<img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk1jX1EAoL_Vzqv0UD3mT4iD9ZOUjs7Nt7EIp1yOjsqUkgGSnr46RvG18JdQUyPpX0sIyG6NSw0Ea_S2DE151y8yismdrRIzPYnYCvFQsUs5PwwyPr7dLtbjjwRuNdEf-Z9ycnMk6LoUI/"
width="180" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Then I did a quick pre-assembly to check that all the parts fit together and
looked about right:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIgreVaiHIsqMqcbAd3Ot2lmGXbBQAT9dx_Aw1d1CZiks8ZNZE3dWGLrkQTe6NyLUt9Tmsy4R1Fw4su1z5jtANHiZjbvSpn3VcNrurUZYS3Oj3kNf7-udWkczuMYyq56t1XtV7hCCnde3/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIgreVaiHIsqMqcbAd3Ot2lmGXbBQAT9dx_Aw1d1CZiks8ZNZE3dWGLrkQTe6NyLUt9Tmsy4R1Fw4su1z5jtANHiZjbvSpn3VcNrurUZYS3Oj3kNf7-udWkczuMYyq56t1XtV7hCCnde3/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<p>
The legs were finished off with wet/dry emory paper and a Dremel tool. I also
used the Dremel to round the top edges of the legs where they fit into the
body, otherwise there would be a gap:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OqwaMluVDjiY1YklvTPnTkACDFbRfjJro9h1njopCREo3PIDIJU7CJvDWTDUPVL2bdcyHvRFJYxUMsUHQ_eEoxV5WA9Al6ZWAB90TduUh3k8tz0-41zcs0CgXfLniXJr9_EKei9QsgkT/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="563"
data-original-width="750"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OqwaMluVDjiY1YklvTPnTkACDFbRfjJro9h1njopCREo3PIDIJU7CJvDWTDUPVL2bdcyHvRFJYxUMsUHQ_eEoxV5WA9Al6ZWAB90TduUh3k8tz0-41zcs0CgXfLniXJr9_EKei9QsgkT/"
width="320"
/></a>
</div>
<p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Assembly and Painting</h2>
<p>
At this point all the individual pieces were finished:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh7f6QYuehiz8JQEkNdRqBBEYVm7y7RHbP-L7xT_0nVyQySTbAhM84kcIi5RwJZTj9s4PM3qnXUPxUg-ODpTmo1CgvNSU0YZVK1dga131bTY_uayBUnSaojjpXU2bBZByclaCC5Pyz4T_/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh7f6QYuehiz8JQEkNdRqBBEYVm7y7RHbP-L7xT_0nVyQySTbAhM84kcIi5RwJZTj9s4PM3qnXUPxUg-ODpTmo1CgvNSU0YZVK1dga131bTY_uayBUnSaojjpXU2bBZByclaCC5Pyz4T_/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<p>
I assembled using "extra-time" appoxy and did a little more cleanup:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjylGwCOvQ45ny4u_b9rpI-1pBoSOqeswtYy7WWfDNMYzr5UxhcYEh38gdlsbtqv984VJDqs30fYK2KazX1u5ohLPJFceWQ1h4mWbDZQXIv6hm3ggELsnoVvTmYXgCScKzcDukr-1kaXc/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="1000"
data-original-width="750"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjylGwCOvQ45ny4u_b9rpI-1pBoSOqeswtYy7WWfDNMYzr5UxhcYEh38gdlsbtqv984VJDqs30fYK2KazX1u5ohLPJFceWQ1h4mWbDZQXIv6hm3ggELsnoVvTmYXgCScKzcDukr-1kaXc/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<p>
It was tempting to just do a little more polishing and leave it like
this, but I stuck with the original plan to paint it.
</p>
<p>
I masked the antenna and portals and then gave it three coats of white enamel
paint using an airbrush:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-AZS5_-66M1jo69W7EuMDunb9mS96j8EYjY7n1wRZ2vxnNTnZMCjY0wtdrWWrxDFGF5_epRmDdBbHdAVl1okG1D9x6hTyAjjn6CZpbDrAJSOSssZfoRZdKIotX2_G4D5rHlXFxXPDQsH/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-AZS5_-66M1jo69W7EuMDunb9mS96j8EYjY7n1wRZ2vxnNTnZMCjY0wtdrWWrxDFGF5_epRmDdBbHdAVl1okG1D9x6hTyAjjn6CZpbDrAJSOSssZfoRZdKIotX2_G4D5rHlXFxXPDQsH/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<p>
When it had dried thoroughly, I wrapped the rocket with several rings of
1/2" masking tape. Then cut six vertical lines in the tape, and peeled away
alterntate squares:
</p>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzDzenLddMMYgfiqkZeDIpafpINyZGXtI1SG5NlLxLpFpmvXLrSuZCi3uJT6FCuUKygFQAaZIgqzAUAwgwmM-iDkd4rxlTvOzcgPMBiLg9e76svnzvE94nqIf5RuGx5iihpjIgon5hTEZ/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="750"
data-original-width="563"
height="240"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzDzenLddMMYgfiqkZeDIpafpINyZGXtI1SG5NlLxLpFpmvXLrSuZCi3uJT6FCuUKygFQAaZIgqzAUAwgwmM-iDkd4rxlTvOzcgPMBiLg9e76svnzvE94nqIf5RuGx5iihpjIgon5hTEZ/"
width="180"
/></a>
</div>
<p>
Finally added several coats of red enamel, peeled of the remaining
masking tape, and DONE!
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeECt28_Y0ot8FaDlF0fSfv354bquQ3Du4g6mEXIJTBWz_arrlvHbKZ1iFIqtD1bEgpovm-kQNSSvn_EYWippc9Kp7afxEdvHbzEDDPsUKcIgC2vw0hRx3kk3OFejLjUpSvp8tv6DIlayl/"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
alt=""
data-original-height="1084"
data-original-width="800"
height="320"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeECt28_Y0ot8FaDlF0fSfv354bquQ3Du4g6mEXIJTBWz_arrlvHbKZ1iFIqtD1bEgpovm-kQNSSvn_EYWippc9Kp7afxEdvHbzEDDPsUKcIgC2vw0hRx3kk3OFejLjUpSvp8tv6DIlayl/"
width="236"
/></a>
</div>
Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-2055612091716263482021-11-04T13:52:00.001-07:002021-11-04T13:52:37.135-07:00A Story About Itself?<p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">At least the first part of this story is true. I'm not sure about the rest, or indeed what the story was about that the story is about. Perhaps it is a story about itself...</span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once there was a little girl who liked to be told a story before going to sleep.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-37830847-7fff-b849-701f-b17ab0fad4e2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So she would ask her Daddy, “Please tell me a story”, and her Daddy would say “What would you like a story about?”. Then the little girl would ask for a story about a princess, or an alicorn, or an evil eggplant who tried to take over the world.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But sometimes the little girl would say, “I can’t think of anything. You choose”. Then the Daddy would tell a story about a Wicked What, or a Golden Hedgehog, or whatever else came into his head.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, one day, when the little girl couldn’t decide what she wanted a story about, the Daddy said, “I can’t think of anything either. Let’s make up a story together.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And they did.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And it was a good story.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was exciting, and it was funny, and it was moving, and it was frightening, and it was exhilarating. In fact it was sooo exciting that the little girl had to have a cold shower to calm herself down before she could get to sleep.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next day at school, the little girl told the story to her classmates. Her classmates thought the story was funny. In fact they thought it was sooo funny that they couldn’t stop laughing, and they kept having to dunk their heads underwater to stop.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Teacher came into the classroom. “Why are you all dunking your heads underwater?” she asked. And one of the children told her the story.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Teacher thought the story was moving. In fact they thought it was sooo moving that she went into the corner and started crying buckets and buckets full of tears.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a while the Principal came in to see what was going on. “Why are you sitting in the corner filling all those buckets with tears?” she asked the Teacher. “And why do your students keep dunking their heads underwater?”. The teacher told her the story.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Principal thought the story was frightening. In fact she thought it was sooo frightening that she went and hid in her office, and locked the door, and refused to come out.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eventually the Coach came and knocked on the Principal’s office door. “Why are you locked in your office?” he said. “And why is the Teacher crying buckets and buckets full of tears? And why do her students keep dunking their heads underwater?”. The Principal refused to come out, but she told the Coach the story through her office door.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Coach thought the story was exhilarating. In fact he thought it was sooo exhilarating that he had to start doing jumping jacks, and he continued doing jumping jacks, non-stop, all day long.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later that afternoon the little girl’s Mommy came to pick her up from school. She looked around. “This is odd,” she said. “Why is your coach doing jumping jacks? And why is the Principal locked in her office? And why is your Teacher crying buckets and buckets full of tears? And why do your classmates keep dunking their heads underwater?”.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s because of the story Daddy told me last night,” the little girl said.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s silly,” said her Mommy. “Time to go home.” And they went home and had scones and clotted cream for tea.</span></p><br /></span>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-70852238845126006832021-01-06T12:26:00.001-08:002021-01-06T12:44:51.169-08:00Making a Toy Gyroscope on a Mini-lathe - Part 2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mZNKND9cMRo" width="320" youtube-src-id="mZNKND9cMRo"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the <a href="https://anthonykosky.blogspot.com/2021/01/making-toy-gyroscope-on-mini-lathe-part.html">previous post</a> I showed how to make the outer cage for a gyroscope toy using a mini-lathe.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://anthonykosky.blogspot.com/2021/01/making-toy-gyroscope-on-mini-lathe-part.html">Making a Toy Gyroscope on a Mini-lathe - Part 1</a></span></li></ul><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9fb3ee77-7fff-95e7-076e-b5679afb76f3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this post I’ll cover how to make the bearing cups, flywheel and spindle, and assemble the parts.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bearing cups</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bearings are held in two M4 threaded cups which also serve as the balance points for the gyroscope.</span></p><br />
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Staring with a piece of ⅜” brass rod, face and turn down to about 11mm. Then turn down a 14mm long section down to 4mm. Cut the thread using an M4 die. (I have a die holder for the lathe which makes this easier to get straight, but could be done without):</span></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe-YpVrzfPhfLONeNtmw5Xn_0b2RlfvUTlBvpHVfOU9cibQHvc7eDL1hNbJtZGMX4wy1YLFqeM9Zsxe51ckZhvxyhyAnXaSTzDY_DePnW3IcyVoBllG2eW2W2j3b3Ct_Q2zxN7yauG9MK/s1067/cup+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe-YpVrzfPhfLONeNtmw5Xn_0b2RlfvUTlBvpHVfOU9cibQHvc7eDL1hNbJtZGMX4wy1YLFqeM9Zsxe51ckZhvxyhyAnXaSTzDY_DePnW3IcyVoBllG2eW2W2j3b3Ct_Q2zxN7yauG9MK/s320/cup+1.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWGZiN_wExe-DfbuVcIZLZgbmdQ2R3nL2dqgVHIEv29WsQfMwsG-haX0EDIaggoxrXpAr2Rs2aUIa4mgzJ2WUIWEn2EQC1fGQwjL4AEoakZwoL7be83KnpWl6nH7msD0Iywt_0zPFarXr/s1067/cup+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWGZiN_wExe-DfbuVcIZLZgbmdQ2R3nL2dqgVHIEv29WsQfMwsG-haX0EDIaggoxrXpAr2Rs2aUIa4mgzJ2WUIWEn2EQC1fGQwjL4AEoakZwoL7be83KnpWl6nH7msD0Iywt_0zPFarXr/s320/cup+2.png" /></a>
</td>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0G25JkQHgPdALaSuKMC2g7JeClhPA5aUOIaICVTO8beRpcBn87penHoMOZsbsI4lynVJ5OaeUyR8iK6Y2xqr-gekPT_0SlI2LJiOSYzpAY66eAMoAQz44EXU2eLdsIOc95S1GU1MbJPWb/s1067/cup+3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0G25JkQHgPdALaSuKMC2g7JeClhPA5aUOIaICVTO8beRpcBn87penHoMOZsbsI4lynVJ5OaeUyR8iK6Y2xqr-gekPT_0SlI2LJiOSYzpAY66eAMoAQz44EXU2eLdsIOc95S1GU1MbJPWb/s320/cup+3.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yV7vCt_DAwndOGnRaNb-slRIKXTzq6R3LdZ7nQBrQ4jZqNuo_UZWHU0K2ZCn1XeDD6hXkJXrdTjvnTY-pyICFsVRYIa94PS3vhSCulKP11qL2IYChFMo_w3ED0grAMYvFaRthppx3_NH/s1067/cup+4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yV7vCt_DAwndOGnRaNb-slRIKXTzq6R3LdZ7nQBrQ4jZqNuo_UZWHU0K2ZCn1XeDD6hXkJXrdTjvnTY-pyICFsVRYIa94PS3vhSCulKP11qL2IYChFMo_w3ED0grAMYvFaRthppx3_NH/s320/cup+4.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXrCDIFJfNv1vRL8s8u1WRoVytWJG3yyrn_WQPzdSfZQpsv_AcnpdWbOSfOdUovwQy8wtGsPnrPIF0zk2umsmt_wUpfVwCt9bRzxWwe5RVg9639uuB0zEde7qQkJ4sHZ4V1RGlh7gjKTt/s1067/cup+5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXrCDIFJfNv1vRL8s8u1WRoVytWJG3yyrn_WQPzdSfZQpsv_AcnpdWbOSfOdUovwQy8wtGsPnrPIF0zk2umsmt_wUpfVwCt9bRzxWwe5RVg9639uuB0zEde7qQkJ4sHZ4V1RGlh7gjKTt/s320/cup+5.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaj0G153BIOe2b8_bA8QLZ5CQ1eD3zn_5dzNTkhCR3Bw7PaKY0iM5m00FXRhlwuoCZv57WCDbj0i18J-3iRdX_aAtSIfd0K9VTzeBgRlF2BYMPW5dI01bZrH-tJUHWyI8ee2lslDKjAVz/s1061/cup+6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="796" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaj0G153BIOe2b8_bA8QLZ5CQ1eD3zn_5dzNTkhCR3Bw7PaKY0iM5m00FXRhlwuoCZv57WCDbj0i18J-3iRdX_aAtSIfd0K9VTzeBgRlF2BYMPW5dI01bZrH-tJUHWyI8ee2lslDKjAVz/s320/cup+6.png" /></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5fcdb7b3-7fff-1286-f1c7-68780ae6f9c1"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">File the end round and smooth. Cut off the piece and repeat the process for the second cup:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-YXymyb4JjKB7ECysf0WzN97R8m-aTN5XjOmkuYGG2WnbBRcMBoj7PEI96q7pVf5GLW55Ytksupcy7JiagjRjM5V096WNDCMqryKYOI3R1Y-fhES3uQNl3f6NBWjh-YAngqX2AV-nYIn/s1067/cup+7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-YXymyb4JjKB7ECysf0WzN97R8m-aTN5XjOmkuYGG2WnbBRcMBoj7PEI96q7pVf5GLW55Ytksupcy7JiagjRjM5V096WNDCMqryKYOI3R1Y-fhES3uQNl3f6NBWjh-YAngqX2AV-nYIn/s320/cup+7.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9a5053df-7fff-1bf8-56fd-f38954fd2931"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To face and drill the other sides of the bearing cups, I mounted them in a piece of aluminium rod drilled and tapped with an M4 tap to about 12mm depth. Check the measurements of the bearings and drill appropriately:</span></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvSCjeTGcpIzv_ioCmFRBT5Q56TgW337HYW4kEU65j_ov2HUSI6vy6VJyM4etBuaGnlqGhW-jnQ0JYhE1TBwvH81JEREk59_kkkGS7xHOMDrBnYt7IPEuZQflArSnDaqdDxhyBG9txOMu/s1067/cup+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvSCjeTGcpIzv_ioCmFRBT5Q56TgW337HYW4kEU65j_ov2HUSI6vy6VJyM4etBuaGnlqGhW-jnQ0JYhE1TBwvH81JEREk59_kkkGS7xHOMDrBnYt7IPEuZQflArSnDaqdDxhyBG9txOMu/s320/cup+8.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXMa2jvoaGXutVFVjyRVBpseqGHNUNw2Ao1fBWAtz59X8aWAkca1Phf3XDUtQelo7ydgy0TfVtRIULR8SRv5U_P0rkb6mSc2Fp0QsDTGYKuDqHyED0zo1Fw6z6YRtDqPjh0GID0wfNHnH/s1067/cup+9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXMa2jvoaGXutVFVjyRVBpseqGHNUNw2Ao1fBWAtz59X8aWAkca1Phf3XDUtQelo7ydgy0TfVtRIULR8SRv5U_P0rkb6mSc2Fp0QsDTGYKuDqHyED0zo1Fw6z6YRtDqPjh0GID0wfNHnH/s320/cup+9.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk326T-tjYGZaMKv1ymtyT61ZtfvGNkbTWe_w0bO3AvfRgsJZUi6WfCA0DmCUT-SO2usR7SRFINzEchke0B5O4lU_d7cQDqMF5tTfzeek1ydSNWVu2PABco4g0IPl7aVBrV5bM-LZaLxQl/s1067/cup+10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk326T-tjYGZaMKv1ymtyT61ZtfvGNkbTWe_w0bO3AvfRgsJZUi6WfCA0DmCUT-SO2usR7SRFINzEchke0B5O4lU_d7cQDqMF5tTfzeek1ydSNWVu2PABco4g0IPl7aVBrV5bM-LZaLxQl/s320/cup+10.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjjEgsVX0F_gWxuoed_ljpe7KbTsOjixCaamwGrUeK725ldHZzG8hx7hQfWisQV8Ltni_6T3ZvuI7xUOK1kOxq0TGYgFTq0j6IncSafmxx6s28e0CFnL6nCuG5M5FtLIvZl1-ACKuZ0sE/s1067/cup+11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjjEgsVX0F_gWxuoed_ljpe7KbTsOjixCaamwGrUeK725ldHZzG8hx7hQfWisQV8Ltni_6T3ZvuI7xUOK1kOxq0TGYgFTq0j6IncSafmxx6s28e0CFnL6nCuG5M5FtLIvZl1-ACKuZ0sE/s320/cup+11.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrsWZTCtUHiYGYxChDU8en2Qp3NxLu_rJtIqDaQLT5xiY4myn7tKYuOxON6X_gwsZPotrX6s1yZgjBYETlBLmJ4EX7CWSuJESopPQs6u-QJthxeLrsyRTV_VM6KOCpp1p_ZQ4XKfie-Hg/s1067/cup+12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrsWZTCtUHiYGYxChDU8en2Qp3NxLu_rJtIqDaQLT5xiY4myn7tKYuOxON6X_gwsZPotrX6s1yZgjBYETlBLmJ4EX7CWSuJESopPQs6u-QJthxeLrsyRTV_VM6KOCpp1p_ZQ4XKfie-Hg/s320/cup+12.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3iLKkrdvaZnK-tpnM-9WeZgSLsurX6dmWoEg13wvJ-wv3ZK8cjxfPwjT6-eZcmCL_Xntz-ao9i1Jhn21Ft_3cxskvgc4-y9nn8tUQi5oQmU1Ftr4Oo9SVrVWy9NZAkLavydbBMzXY9U0/s1067/cup+13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3iLKkrdvaZnK-tpnM-9WeZgSLsurX6dmWoEg13wvJ-wv3ZK8cjxfPwjT6-eZcmCL_Xntz-ao9i1Jhn21Ft_3cxskvgc4-y9nn8tUQi5oQmU1Ftr4Oo9SVrVWy9NZAkLavydbBMzXY9U0/s320/cup+13.png" /></a>
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-86a55ad5-7fff-f551-9f9f-35ffe23358c7"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally file some flats on the bearing cups to fit a 10mm wrench. (Alternatively one could use pliers to adjust the cups but this might damage the finish).</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlrLKZ8GRG_QmJeXn6x_lVKpieBLoow1EQpZIwRj7kpVSJZz-hO5gOBoFMFej80_HBSbz6ee5kP7EthEdBP2WVLc7O14pA-eyurNndpDzlaisndkbR6xLKLbp9Iw7Yt_RG9b-5T5WB4kN/s1067/cup+14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlrLKZ8GRG_QmJeXn6x_lVKpieBLoow1EQpZIwRj7kpVSJZz-hO5gOBoFMFej80_HBSbz6ee5kP7EthEdBP2WVLc7O14pA-eyurNndpDzlaisndkbR6xLKLbp9Iw7Yt_RG9b-5T5WB4kN/s320/cup+14.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAxh7IN6eHRnpQBjXVY9TYh9s-DrhOpYfpMgql9W1Zw-tJ6xsL-k276MzjMuDxCGK5Usn-5lu79BC7_kRYVlD1ObDT7OLXNHQEQPX3xtgRfQAOqk85uI_P6WMLOMK-dN3TKIHBV1nQG6J/s1067/cup+15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAxh7IN6eHRnpQBjXVY9TYh9s-DrhOpYfpMgql9W1Zw-tJ6xsL-k276MzjMuDxCGK5Usn-5lu79BC7_kRYVlD1ObDT7OLXNHQEQPX3xtgRfQAOqk85uI_P6WMLOMK-dN3TKIHBV1nQG6J/s320/cup+15.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQp3zukkE9IRA3xIt5GryRsJtuQgWXOv8-rSECa6PyJZL2bjZaw9DEQftaUocNN9xYdVTLFGZlqZthw5NscIDX-BjrSe5Jl2bE1PPK72F2qb8rj695Ynqx3aLy3EszdP4Ob7W6RBjLl47/s1067/cup+16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQp3zukkE9IRA3xIt5GryRsJtuQgWXOv8-rSECa6PyJZL2bjZaw9DEQftaUocNN9xYdVTLFGZlqZthw5NscIDX-BjrSe5Jl2bE1PPK72F2qb8rj695Ynqx3aLy3EszdP4Ob7W6RBjLl47/s320/cup+16.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9fb3ee77-7fff-95e7-076e-b5679afb76f3"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b6c03b5b-7fff-bec4-5855-720787a4561f"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">Flywheel and Spindle</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">To start the flywheel, cut a nice thick slug, about 18-20mm thick, off the brass bar. This is the point where I seriously wish I had a bandsaw:</span></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QGFYSjFmOIOzezFrP51nPRp7XOgpj9OYMdbSgBd47tN2FA76y9gA7mPodKKbVrX4He2V0bXSmHMK4AFAp6AVfTsre-bhrLv2WqkrsdvdmbjTfO73yhaoJ-KQTJphMLzw2oHxiPYMOya2/s1067/flywheel+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QGFYSjFmOIOzezFrP51nPRp7XOgpj9OYMdbSgBd47tN2FA76y9gA7mPodKKbVrX4He2V0bXSmHMK4AFAp6AVfTsre-bhrLv2WqkrsdvdmbjTfO73yhaoJ-KQTJphMLzw2oHxiPYMOya2/s320/flywheel+1.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDqjgwqOKckQpGDxqQlyD7epxj-O4TTx88rAa1_R6whJIX7fccXabjVeqjOKIEGpJ7MUEUpfpPJEjJ5RNCrI7kITZTF18fyxgIGOQvCIQy3OxDhcTOklSEaT3YQTXJ4zpUOb9lPQK36gd/s1067/flywheel+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDqjgwqOKckQpGDxqQlyD7epxj-O4TTx88rAa1_R6whJIX7fccXabjVeqjOKIEGpJ7MUEUpfpPJEjJ5RNCrI7kITZTF18fyxgIGOQvCIQy3OxDhcTOklSEaT3YQTXJ4zpUOb9lPQK36gd/s320/flywheel+2.png" /></a>
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</table><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mount the flywheel in the outer jaws on the lathe and face both sides. Then drill to slightly smaller than the diameter of the spindle rod:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK3eRbcWJiXzvTrdOMZ7stqUkLHeKPYTnmz48kVDpeNGh_Tz2KPszm36F0sURQgdOmVt28HTCwiAsridVNkAUch_Afj_gRDghczKhJYeuiQOqGYanE8Teu7wfPtll65WkSeg7pwa7qMb7/s1067/flywheel+3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK3eRbcWJiXzvTrdOMZ7stqUkLHeKPYTnmz48kVDpeNGh_Tz2KPszm36F0sURQgdOmVt28HTCwiAsridVNkAUch_Afj_gRDghczKhJYeuiQOqGYanE8Teu7wfPtll65WkSeg7pwa7qMb7/s320/flywheel+3.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv56xSuIPDOO449HYAeV8YJnuAEuX6YDpdjqWeR5-Q2TdcWYcSwY8I24eHmcT69zLlCJHmv9JbfKQoi6T0uS7hlJ55QlG5b8Xghd26Geb2IEDOEyuxRECdblPNdVZBblLMyBKgi09QxbgS/s1067/flywheel+4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv56xSuIPDOO449HYAeV8YJnuAEuX6YDpdjqWeR5-Q2TdcWYcSwY8I24eHmcT69zLlCJHmv9JbfKQoi6T0uS7hlJ55QlG5b8Xghd26Geb2IEDOEyuxRECdblPNdVZBblLMyBKgi09QxbgS/s320/flywheel+4.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EZqgxUWA-Zf8Fg2JNTk_oRQObc8PFq7ccJmwAKi_7BVSE6vC5AnGQtV2w-qy8uRGpxh2oIqSZRwlqXRTJe-Ll3YWPx4GGbj_13TYK42a0O9J7mwdiD9JyQHuUtAlYag1f4qLfz2MV2JF/s1067/flywheel+5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EZqgxUWA-Zf8Fg2JNTk_oRQObc8PFq7ccJmwAKi_7BVSE6vC5AnGQtV2w-qy8uRGpxh2oIqSZRwlqXRTJe-Ll3YWPx4GGbj_13TYK42a0O9J7mwdiD9JyQHuUtAlYag1f4qLfz2MV2JF/s320/flywheel+5.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGd8xBrGyE68KFHtIqJk7AmBIEnsYtge5mA5W6hn0fNxp5JUbfYeCgPFcWNtko2FE5h2c-_pUDYfmkKL_wHIqr8hqr_g1-Ku80rC9WLiOZ8l69PkcLye5zNTRQJ4EswwOmO4dLXgkKPAC/s1067/flywheel+6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGd8xBrGyE68KFHtIqJk7AmBIEnsYtge5mA5W6hn0fNxp5JUbfYeCgPFcWNtko2FE5h2c-_pUDYfmkKL_wHIqr8hqr_g1-Ku80rC9WLiOZ8l69PkcLye5zNTRQJ4EswwOmO4dLXgkKPAC/s320/flywheel+6.png" /></a>
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</table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> <span id="docs-internal-guid-7c8aaaec-7fff-ab61-ed00-2720376e12a7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Next we cut a length of rod for the spindle. To determine the length, screw the bearing cups as far as they will go into the inner cage ring. The length should be about 2-3mm more than the maximum distance between the bearing cups (so that the cage will need to be squeezed in the vice in order to assemble).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Turn down a length of the spindle to the diameter of the hole in the flywheel, leaving a collar to center the flywheel on the spindle. The length of the turned section should be (length-of-spindle + thickness of flywheel) / 2.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd73EBAlaczWOCmVJt-QIE_VploLVHl_46I3WnM3cyDDFQ1Ov8WFvd2bqZN3VM1HLgi2sq_XBCsG-WgB9V8XoXQ3G5u-zDSzYyIVgXbEalRxrIo66k-dp1CluREtkAZsJW14v1qeFNBd4O/s1067/spindle+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd73EBAlaczWOCmVJt-QIE_VploLVHl_46I3WnM3cyDDFQ1Ov8WFvd2bqZN3VM1HLgi2sq_XBCsG-WgB9V8XoXQ3G5u-zDSzYyIVgXbEalRxrIo66k-dp1CluREtkAZsJW14v1qeFNBd4O/s320/spindle+1.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b999cd5f-7fff-898a-d812-a9bafc42b344">Next we make a cross-hole in the spindle to use for the string. File a small flat in the thicker end of the spindle and drilling on bench drill:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx73y2aUYnxcvQVxJp8rlWAdHhl5M-5JbjOS3xT6Lq1Cv8OHj44NxeeqHQDs3SYE7v8M_KWqOc9X86B8wEjiG__z-ehu0HF2ayJFLOWxYBgEC4GnuFrhLK4m4Ja7knEazW0SDPD2WFQ9i/s1067/spindle+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx73y2aUYnxcvQVxJp8rlWAdHhl5M-5JbjOS3xT6Lq1Cv8OHj44NxeeqHQDs3SYE7v8M_KWqOc9X86B8wEjiG__z-ehu0HF2ayJFLOWxYBgEC4GnuFrhLK4m4Ja7knEazW0SDPD2WFQ9i/s320/spindle+2.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNSLnDPXSkVWhB27XIGvN0nVX4rc_hxVM8pD0Wyxa4vn4dRD1PSzfuA94GZoRlTkf_nTc8arVwCIUAy9xvcl9x_aWWPcD0MKRGVQmILnRpFa9xu0V_Apq6iPLBGvGsPKfcoS9vRSTtEIq/s1067/spindle+3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNSLnDPXSkVWhB27XIGvN0nVX4rc_hxVM8pD0Wyxa4vn4dRD1PSzfuA94GZoRlTkf_nTc8arVwCIUAy9xvcl9x_aWWPcD0MKRGVQmILnRpFa9xu0V_Apq6iPLBGvGsPKfcoS9vRSTtEIq/s320/spindle+3.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C8qpAmdjVJ0H1C2SMUbP6ozDnlLMN079UUrDQa_fK3ZPohvYn3aUEr6vN3yJSSpmS4v3oevwUO64r5YfLJWckTyM-yFMfI0oXr3sqmcBoctCYSOOnm8A-bjVinVdnFAgmopzVqcA8JeC/s1067/spindle+5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C8qpAmdjVJ0H1C2SMUbP6ozDnlLMN079UUrDQa_fK3ZPohvYn3aUEr6vN3yJSSpmS4v3oevwUO64r5YfLJWckTyM-yFMfI0oXr3sqmcBoctCYSOOnm8A-bjVinVdnFAgmopzVqcA8JeC/s320/spindle+5.png" /></a></td>
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</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Next turn down the thicker end of the spindle to the same diameter as the thinner end, leaving a collar for the flywheel. Then turn a length of 1.5-2mm on each end to fit the inside diameter of the bearings:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEM8SAbg5SakaQipVLRIj4FtOlQPkGkV7FLc0cgwmlOCNuBgwWCy0jE4lrVAp2uv70ivmC-2dQlFWqnHZ7wMmAfJglpDGAZ4zZTL81xN6OO4jY19aSbFqlakXjN9xZwJ4Idak2o68jt5k/s1067/spindle+6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEM8SAbg5SakaQipVLRIj4FtOlQPkGkV7FLc0cgwmlOCNuBgwWCy0jE4lrVAp2uv70ivmC-2dQlFWqnHZ7wMmAfJglpDGAZ4zZTL81xN6OO4jY19aSbFqlakXjN9xZwJ4Idak2o68jt5k/s320/spindle+6.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dENw5WXoh7ui3mFyMmbFREUQxON5p_SAdSNSvb2d809C_1D3AVcgPq7Lb25kaxmQMEKzXEOboXPa2ORbS_soSM9tNAFXiGJlA9E2dWSOdVPV7fdvkUNws2Bgs2AFN1el_yikwfvVVMVZ/s1067/spindle+7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dENw5WXoh7ui3mFyMmbFREUQxON5p_SAdSNSvb2d809C_1D3AVcgPq7Lb25kaxmQMEKzXEOboXPa2ORbS_soSM9tNAFXiGJlA9E2dWSOdVPV7fdvkUNws2Bgs2AFN1el_yikwfvVVMVZ/s320/spindle+7.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl-nIRtkM-VseRfrnfW6pj47zuyTjcqDEtxjJCUUzXLEQ9sCWeJ_1z9D9iS9nWCknwRkA7b3S8ZgAwx9r9vNqUFkcYwxvEGvUL7fdA9Kwb5LjpqZJRHZDL884VyEgfKRIEm5wYy9eyv8y/s1067/spindle+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl-nIRtkM-VseRfrnfW6pj47zuyTjcqDEtxjJCUUzXLEQ9sCWeJ_1z9D9iS9nWCknwRkA7b3S8ZgAwx9r9vNqUFkcYwxvEGvUL7fdA9Kwb5LjpqZJRHZDL884VyEgfKRIEm5wYy9eyv8y/s320/spindle+8.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdkdWb4eMpqQ0TFQDytenJV9AdXJhSxIeyLkVMFmggP7vaNy2WaywjW7XJOdafos1Gc250eJNrOFWvbA6sl0TjYfmaCc3LbLxR6eU3TKBi1xz6ybuCrhQFPvA-yOke8QhVIxmcNHOafpz/s1067/spindle+9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdkdWb4eMpqQ0TFQDytenJV9AdXJhSxIeyLkVMFmggP7vaNy2WaywjW7XJOdafos1Gc250eJNrOFWvbA6sl0TjYfmaCc3LbLxR6eU3TKBi1xz6ybuCrhQFPvA-yOke8QhVIxmcNHOafpz/s320/spindle+9.png" /></a>
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</table><span id="docs-internal-guid-245ff6dc-7fff-f5c8-d222-c0d2b62f9e28"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Now we can insert the spindle into the flywheel, using some green Loctite to set. It should be a tight fit, and, if necessary, you might need to use a vice to push it all the way:</span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjHO8nog053iyjx69z4zVec5fxqOAKDG3J3B0DXC9iMNexlyipHcNWutafkUpJXP6BywA6St4tlgpbXmEl_j33WJlU5alJGQQ9UXTY3kh4TeoD4ZpZE1Dp9OQRFyh9Ollbb6q1kaEh3Sp/s1067/flywheel+spindle+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjHO8nog053iyjx69z4zVec5fxqOAKDG3J3B0DXC9iMNexlyipHcNWutafkUpJXP6BywA6St4tlgpbXmEl_j33WJlU5alJGQQ9UXTY3kh4TeoD4ZpZE1Dp9OQRFyh9Ollbb6q1kaEh3Sp/s320/flywheel+spindle+1.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jfoIgpyvGeK-YnXqtbZHx7Q3shDqnfsdYfcdJqtI5NXbtGl_iUTDWwS8NLPNooiDV0CZv1jboFUtpPXEA5OYydCLIyniLcLFcdcBuwqINiva-Glm9IpQdOqLJTOA6gOS2-ItoUdD98js/s1067/flywheel+spindle+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jfoIgpyvGeK-YnXqtbZHx7Q3shDqnfsdYfcdJqtI5NXbtGl_iUTDWwS8NLPNooiDV0CZv1jboFUtpPXEA5OYydCLIyniLcLFcdcBuwqINiva-Glm9IpQdOqLJTOA6gOS2-ItoUdD98js/s320/flywheel+spindle+2.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IX0_2z71F9H9xAt050JrqmUCcI-uwoSIUBswylUnk9dArVeemZPO7Trf_OrGTesNIYc92uagRwPotg7wzkgO4l3YNy9v-zw9vBXUj_93_lwHFs9CTsyT9kw301w2IVCV8CmepsvUjiOi/s1067/flywheel+spindle+3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IX0_2z71F9H9xAt050JrqmUCcI-uwoSIUBswylUnk9dArVeemZPO7Trf_OrGTesNIYc92uagRwPotg7wzkgO4l3YNy9v-zw9vBXUj_93_lwHFs9CTsyT9kw301w2IVCV8CmepsvUjiOi/s320/flywheel+spindle+3.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaF68IjmMHYwV6tVNREeaUgNuF5Siw_qU2fvSugd8aeg3F-EZhCYWyjnRCUivCOyjO-8OMEcE4mbJ4Fmsl7MT3YrAiodWpt4TmW66aTw4UpmeZQMkg-V5g6H4048nuqrI1feBtRr91QDu/s1067/flywheel+spindle+4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaF68IjmMHYwV6tVNREeaUgNuF5Siw_qU2fvSugd8aeg3F-EZhCYWyjnRCUivCOyjO-8OMEcE4mbJ4Fmsl7MT3YrAiodWpt4TmW66aTw4UpmeZQMkg-V5g6H4048nuqrI1feBtRr91QDu/s320/flywheel+spindle+4.png" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br />Once the loctite is set, mount the flywheel in the lathe chuck by the spindle. It’s nice to give it a slight “barel-shape” by setting small angles (5 and 10 degrees) on the compound, and finishing with a file and emery paper:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3cTCbcrXwBikuZq_R8Fm9kisLEyCnDkvGyktVDVsDOHgk2AODLsFkgvBqAau897Y1HGg5kehyphenhyphenXPrWK6u-XpdASujTk4uhVaIaI9ZYczE9xuA4kMcVDwk3_HluvJpTBiH9obOesvaNLLq/s1067/flywheel+spindle+5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3cTCbcrXwBikuZq_R8Fm9kisLEyCnDkvGyktVDVsDOHgk2AODLsFkgvBqAau897Y1HGg5kehyphenhyphenXPrWK6u-XpdASujTk4uhVaIaI9ZYczE9xuA4kMcVDwk3_HluvJpTBiH9obOesvaNLLq/s320/flywheel+spindle+5.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquSOnsCRLxFelfT4rF2JFrmKczMctv5qYOQ1_bpippcPoz8z4uEVimJpFeHhp6x2Xt1t4vsFG0CTdzQ_v-9O8wvQlFi2ndlp8mwLIi6AKiuIgOkr9I6lgLhFMoBkH3i0yNhj4PeM7xSjo/s1067/flywheel+spindle+6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquSOnsCRLxFelfT4rF2JFrmKczMctv5qYOQ1_bpippcPoz8z4uEVimJpFeHhp6x2Xt1t4vsFG0CTdzQ_v-9O8wvQlFi2ndlp8mwLIi6AKiuIgOkr9I6lgLhFMoBkH3i0yNhj4PeM7xSjo/s320/flywheel+spindle+6.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezgQ1tAl95mnrIny-JX1uUwV-2uqeKDE0i2GIqgqVrAeeW2TndDSvO3sVqoZUYoYtL2VKDirhDudutXhlA9HcBIcNIuuB_7at6OFRDnbfBFp_urEuYygSrW5JbS3g0Ddu3wIAzxPkYeIx/s1067/flywheel+spindle+7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezgQ1tAl95mnrIny-JX1uUwV-2uqeKDE0i2GIqgqVrAeeW2TndDSvO3sVqoZUYoYtL2VKDirhDudutXhlA9HcBIcNIuuB_7at6OFRDnbfBFp_urEuYygSrW5JbS3g0Ddu3wIAzxPkYeIx/s320/flywheel+spindle+7.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRkHa-JcVqULJsYe1ddFk0w7kZ_bZpGlQqYQydlcJtRfJ7r1Jhg7VKX0kzgzb7AI41qQbOjbRuj6z0BlikoWiNhEHyMBBVmTVdMPOMWiA6YXC95R24H9ODlb0gQ9M6752uDB74-NzgLCW/s1067/flywheel+spindle+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRkHa-JcVqULJsYe1ddFk0w7kZ_bZpGlQqYQydlcJtRfJ7r1Jhg7VKX0kzgzb7AI41qQbOjbRuj6z0BlikoWiNhEHyMBBVmTVdMPOMWiA6YXC95R24H9ODlb0gQ9M6752uDB74-NzgLCW/s320/flywheel+spindle+8.png" /></a>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0f139a81-7fff-17c2-25aa-01218e3fdb62"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">At this point you can choose whether to polish the parts or leave them with a morew “machined” look.</span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">Finishing/Assembly</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">To put it all together, screw the bearing cups into the inner cage, then squeeze the inner cage ring in a vice just enough to fit in the flywheel/spindle/bearings. This squeeze the outer cage ring and fit in the inner-cage/flywheel assembly. Adjust the bearing cups so that there’s little or no play but the freewheel spins freely, and center if needed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4TZ5iAWgF5EEp1ntKNojoCwvO1xS7hB2h0ll7IQ4H_53LTwEBnlf15HLHiYhZvpM3OToIiF1H7lErqKpvICBwRQaJEDsBnEjdPdN7ezAnP8FafyH6UbcXoPeig69LZozJGI5hE4is2xg/s1119/finished+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4TZ5iAWgF5EEp1ntKNojoCwvO1xS7hB2h0ll7IQ4H_53LTwEBnlf15HLHiYhZvpM3OToIiF1H7lErqKpvICBwRQaJEDsBnEjdPdN7ezAnP8FafyH6UbcXoPeig69LZozJGI5hE4is2xg/w286-h400/finished+1.png" width="286" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1c96f8f2-7fff-b286-8345-3b7663c7dd2f">I also made a stand using brass/aluminium and an extension rod to screw onto one of the spindles.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVso83hSl_BHuUc3XAzaYD4965w7KrM3AfQVMynDSdbm2y1B-vB8HxI9DV3tlNxyyjelsrQ5sKo63xxpljt_8GgN31YLKptRhFK4bXeuCT1szwXzsmbfOdQXLwyEvMz99LGSk9KIubOYgK/s1000/finished+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVso83hSl_BHuUc3XAzaYD4965w7KrM3AfQVMynDSdbm2y1B-vB8HxI9DV3tlNxyyjelsrQ5sKo63xxpljt_8GgN31YLKptRhFK4bXeuCT1szwXzsmbfOdQXLwyEvMz99LGSk9KIubOYgK/w640-h480/finished+2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div></div></span><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></span></div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-2381232125557677782021-01-05T21:09:00.003-08:002021-01-06T12:45:12.173-08:00Making a Toy Gyroscope on a Mini-lathe - Part 1
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6TO96rduIfk" width="320" youtube-src-id="6TO96rduIfk"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Change of pace for this post.)</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3b66e096-7fff-8e2c-d1fb-a71bfbd1cfbb"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last year I bought myself a Chinese-made mini-lathe (SIEG C3) to play with, similar to the small metal-lathe my father still has in his workshop. I've been doing a few small projects on it, including some spinning tops and simple tools, and decided to try making some toy gyroscopes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was inspired by the toy gyroscopes I had when I was a child: you would up a piece of string round the spindle and pulled to get them spinning. They used to come with a little plastic "Eiffel tower" that you would balance them on. I wanted to make something a bit more "serious" than those.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prototypes</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went through a series of prototypes, starting with some 1 1/2" diameter brass rod. My first attempt didn't have nearly enough angular momentum, so I switched to using much thicker slugs of brass. For the last prototype I bought a piece of 2" brass rod on ebay to use. I also decided they needed an outer cage to allow them to keep spinning when held.</span></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XWa5KFf3riiqWoK8ffHf4PkOAMNGiv-q_TtaePSHu5aC7dgsSwj5rN21cjQ-9U_sOpaDRYw2cyWMA6KqhhG5oWsIBLrBOZP2lBKmknVhumSR8p8W4ihwMeAd6BIXXuuqPX6pCnYvkSW3/s1000/prototypes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Prototypes" border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XWa5KFf3riiqWoK8ffHf4PkOAMNGiv-q_TtaePSHu5aC7dgsSwj5rN21cjQ-9U_sOpaDRYw2cyWMA6KqhhG5oWsIBLrBOZP2lBKmknVhumSR8p8W4ihwMeAd6BIXXuuqPX6pCnYvkSW3/w640-h266/prototypes.png" title="Prototypes" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tried various bearing options, including a simple point-and-cup bearing, miniature thrust bearings and regular cartridge ball bearings. In the end I find that the 1/4" ball bearings purchased from VXB worked best (about $3 each).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This page show the final version I made for my brother's birthday, using a 2" diameter flywheel. I also made a couple of smaller ones for my daughters for Christmas:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OvFAag2RzMHPkzn7tvynBENSkJ4wQXtppAWyqssX-uzqIu5CDZXEIOJM7aMamNQAmZYQdRPcXwDxBfsZ9BVeD0GpWh1t6-eWHd8N2kHuJDJCLdjSbf4fzf35lL6P10UPFGQ74Hw4mg7U/s1000/small+gyroscopes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OvFAag2RzMHPkzn7tvynBENSkJ4wQXtppAWyqssX-uzqIu5CDZXEIOJM7aMamNQAmZYQdRPcXwDxBfsZ9BVeD0GpWh1t6-eWHd8N2kHuJDJCLdjSbf4fzf35lL6P10UPFGQ74Hw4mg7U/w320-h240/small+gyroscopes.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Raw materials</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b2df25ac-7fff-a1fb-0a93-bf9576430e44"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The raw materials were:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2" diameter brass round bar for flywheel</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 1/2" OD brass pipe for cage</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3/8" brass bar for bearing cups</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4” stainless rod for spindle</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 X .25" OD/.125" ID bearings</span></p></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3T2nmuBv0EUPRI3qNXochp_dL_G85v9FXqzM5q1jFwYE7ioEe88_lhsWwSueepkTfJueLpvqlM_YjS5NxFD-5r3wZG2rn1cq2HkP0DQmr8IY24-tfNLF2XY_m89ytN5VM_aa4bgICmG-/s800/raw+materials.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3T2nmuBv0EUPRI3qNXochp_dL_G85v9FXqzM5q1jFwYE7ioEe88_lhsWwSueepkTfJueLpvqlM_YjS5NxFD-5r3wZG2rn1cq2HkP0DQmr8IY24-tfNLF2XY_m89ytN5VM_aa4bgICmG-/w400-h300/raw+materials.png" title="Raw materials" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-01114486-7fff-131c-3d71-48c3b1205e9f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Note, the dimensions for materials are in inches since that's easier to order in the US. All my working measurements are in metric however, which is much easier to actually work with.)</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part 1: The Cage</span></h2><br />
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cage is probably the hardest part to make. It consists of two brass rings with notches filed in them to snap together. The inner ring is drilled and threaded for the bearing cups.</span></p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First cut two rings from the brass pipe:</span></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpJ8bkptitWFWvV3jX49em061HoDNEF_tkov_t-rSbG_oz_bzSFRAdupUshNkVBQEBxkMQroHPRV_GqApQp4NDa7takTOmJwIacUPaihdkly7dhkmU1XJJG9budL2JqSekWED2QVXDaSO/s1067/cage+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpJ8bkptitWFWvV3jX49em061HoDNEF_tkov_t-rSbG_oz_bzSFRAdupUshNkVBQEBxkMQroHPRV_GqApQp4NDa7takTOmJwIacUPaihdkly7dhkmU1XJJG9budL2JqSekWED2QVXDaSO/s320/cage+1.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgFX3D2IOG7AW0iFmDb9BJKIm7O-cj3qoNF3yPnDX9Ie4ctfXqGv-YSCBx20IIAjIWOqHHYbxSZeP6xqUH68w7nE1UGo543ixSQ9y4raVAYgSqv-OMDRyJqBozf14vmWR64jG0LAd5GkS/s1067/cage+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgFX3D2IOG7AW0iFmDb9BJKIm7O-cj3qoNF3yPnDX9Ie4ctfXqGv-YSCBx20IIAjIWOqHHYbxSZeP6xqUH68w7nE1UGo543ixSQ9y4raVAYgSqv-OMDRyJqBozf14vmWR64jG0LAd5GkS/s320/cage+2.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHmaGewqpQwKyJWs0_zR-spZPEby4ecKIcf9uZkxajSXfpwZT4tdC5LpL6D213oZeWmPcrclN7eqQWgN9q9a4olkGwhmByOGN7zFyCJUXaZUu7CJ0kz9aC4X8PhIc0Fpeb4FOmrspMQsq/s1067/cage+3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHmaGewqpQwKyJWs0_zR-spZPEby4ecKIcf9uZkxajSXfpwZT4tdC5LpL6D213oZeWmPcrclN7eqQWgN9q9a4olkGwhmByOGN7zFyCJUXaZUu7CJ0kz9aC4X8PhIc0Fpeb4FOmrspMQsq/s320/cage+3.png" /></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f286bb60-7fff-08b4-e8c2-6ef509377281"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, face the sides of the two rings and turn them down to 8mm width. Make sure the sides are parallel:</span></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_X4Vi9pZ2r3d3NCDym6WBQcbOQE9NJLnyNNUlSr1qiQEfw4jOmlx03x6DgiKzN6x8Usj2qRN_y0fWRiAzv-mBvcntk55VDFz25wmwY2I7WUDsdu6OC4xkHVTayUeokapCuDOo08tuVb9E/s1067/cage+4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_X4Vi9pZ2r3d3NCDym6WBQcbOQE9NJLnyNNUlSr1qiQEfw4jOmlx03x6DgiKzN6x8Usj2qRN_y0fWRiAzv-mBvcntk55VDFz25wmwY2I7WUDsdu6OC4xkHVTayUeokapCuDOo08tuVb9E/s320/cage+4.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSHH_RQbPt-cd5w_Z4df6alPwZfNWmXhF_KN0Y1x9nEeg-T8CFh2yCLL_gTnTOdZp_Qg3zaNst7uFN9l1tchazsgck9pXn-f4wBVaa6M1n7Ow5PV777hboleELbMyOMiakuI0a3RW7b5U/s1333/cage+5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSHH_RQbPt-cd5w_Z4df6alPwZfNWmXhF_KN0Y1x9nEeg-T8CFh2yCLL_gTnTOdZp_Qg3zaNst7uFN9l1tchazsgck9pXn-f4wBVaa6M1n7Ow5PV777hboleELbMyOMiakuI0a3RW7b5U/s320/cage+5.png" /></a>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-365ae44f-7fff-2bd2-d0bb-7bcb633a4b65"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn the outside of the pipe off to make it round and get a nice finish:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y0HoPtxUpuwA5muCu8KwmtRgkL2DTEcTqVKxLmtzbRW2TBuV-Vc-ZWmo5ZcYhRrJp6vwryxryduSV9dR8KLms-rwLaDsSauibitsCRIT6odYp6FZJ66R718syWRvKYXatpuJK-4Lkebq/s1067/cage+6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y0HoPtxUpuwA5muCu8KwmtRgkL2DTEcTqVKxLmtzbRW2TBuV-Vc-ZWmo5ZcYhRrJp6vwryxryduSV9dR8KLms-rwLaDsSauibitsCRIT6odYp6FZJ66R718syWRvKYXatpuJK-4Lkebq/s320/cage+6.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwuVqSOV2bF7qvxV5mGWPEEv87kvbMzwI71MnzrKu1F9pjxz0PXHqcjhpkw7yomk17t1TGlRUnlB7L5WAQrWR733tJWHOW7PSymMSKPa-rqM6UQ02RsWsU2XJSO_lPlFIZm-AfLZ3iD3k/s1067/cage+7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwuVqSOV2bF7qvxV5mGWPEEv87kvbMzwI71MnzrKu1F9pjxz0PXHqcjhpkw7yomk17t1TGlRUnlB7L5WAQrWR733tJWHOW7PSymMSKPa-rqM6UQ02RsWsU2XJSO_lPlFIZm-AfLZ3iD3k/s320/cage+7.png" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now switch to the outside jaws on the chuck, and bore out the inside of the rings to the desired thickness (I did 2.5mm).</span></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPxa6Z4i9F46HPaB8kNonK94gKzsOzGgw2bWkhDjEtfGVxBIjr9N8K6ijqmGlJK5neqf9uCmiwTKhFZgqHhYHzeuibeyfjy4fzRGUfU_U0qQzRsBM_zqzZ5Y8zIrL38ryRsQ3RQ7MLkib/s1067/cage+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPxa6Z4i9F46HPaB8kNonK94gKzsOzGgw2bWkhDjEtfGVxBIjr9N8K6ijqmGlJK5neqf9uCmiwTKhFZgqHhYHzeuibeyfjy4fzRGUfU_U0qQzRsBM_zqzZ5Y8zIrL38ryRsQ3RQ7MLkib/s320/cage+8.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ2lb_rl9si6RrYoLU2_zUtX-lyYbyXEqpVgweFjzpramHBDDvINYvaIlhOXg07PpiupJQ-062FZSx8_hiwE4ABkq22E87fOYuLHbKjYk13nRRLz_mWU9xPHig09H8SoXgdjIF5uVWOGl/s1067/cage+9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ2lb_rl9si6RrYoLU2_zUtX-lyYbyXEqpVgweFjzpramHBDDvINYvaIlhOXg07PpiupJQ-062FZSx8_hiwE4ABkq22E87fOYuLHbKjYk13nRRLz_mWU9xPHig09H8SoXgdjIF5uVWOGl/s320/cage+9.png" /></a>
</td>
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</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8HhjNROGnHxzBAJ-P9EEJRqvCJ9r_fmMmq-Qe_GpT2_CCp4tsBnD1VtV7pgzq8HO9A1mDdVUTu1L4jWt4RUu2ZrxGbcnp0jE_qfEEuD7xMNOigAW79djXaL5nm-iH1SISr32WBQvSczT/s2048/cage+11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8HhjNROGnHxzBAJ-P9EEJRqvCJ9r_fmMmq-Qe_GpT2_CCp4tsBnD1VtV7pgzq8HO9A1mDdVUTu1L4jWt4RUu2ZrxGbcnp0jE_qfEEuD7xMNOigAW79djXaL5nm-iH1SISr32WBQvSczT/s320/cage+11.png" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-a938595a-7fff-4f13-00ac-aaf3dca59894"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Optionally curve the outside surface of the rings. For this switch back to the inside jaws and set the compound to a small angle (5-10 degrees). Finish with a file and emory paper:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8uDXgH0ZpaAyttnfmrzF0q86IL_wSibGp9FIwLW8t7eY0QcnRK1R9JYGd1RBBuv_GCJXxn5LAsJvsAUMQ_Dp9_tXHbYB6Y1TTTmVzCDCA2-HUctjv4v-yYBikkwmtVTpuV_bPCbmQqtV/s1067/cage+12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8uDXgH0ZpaAyttnfmrzF0q86IL_wSibGp9FIwLW8t7eY0QcnRK1R9JYGd1RBBuv_GCJXxn5LAsJvsAUMQ_Dp9_tXHbYB6Y1TTTmVzCDCA2-HUctjv4v-yYBikkwmtVTpuV_bPCbmQqtV/s320/cage+12.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIAQ9XIpVdpjLChwbsS7iY-vp1VAzgZOkEgRHcbQ2QzrpjZqYnPJ7yGuUu9n6OxPZEU-H6vpNtFAht8N2btXXRNSZ7_SjiBBfCTXTGlN_gnDlV3MCDQHUEp7OwE2wKgRyZOR0ffo1rmlm/s1333/cage+13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIAQ9XIpVdpjLChwbsS7iY-vp1VAzgZOkEgRHcbQ2QzrpjZqYnPJ7yGuUu9n6OxPZEU-H6vpNtFAht8N2btXXRNSZ7_SjiBBfCTXTGlN_gnDlV3MCDQHUEp7OwE2wKgRyZOR0ffo1rmlm/s320/cage+13.png" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigacSIB9FzkA9PCh5o4m6a9iHdv-HNuTOyPJ-CcZMy7bo9iIu2sG5NCIkK_2xZM3VdFRkwZhFmxv8HbUrNeigQzd27hEfQOZQ-y4o4_0xXCG0fcXV3EN0JF0M7UpebOT0-m-FybezFIYFt/s1067/cage+14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigacSIB9FzkA9PCh5o4m6a9iHdv-HNuTOyPJ-CcZMy7bo9iIu2sG5NCIkK_2xZM3VdFRkwZhFmxv8HbUrNeigQzd27hEfQOZQ-y4o4_0xXCG0fcXV3EN0JF0M7UpebOT0-m-FybezFIYFt/s320/cage+14.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvB6_vlUs4KqJic6zSZn0ht7VesvvewKBgD-01v5UVcyjMoq-PORJJLH8qFMdTBDwa-wIKFDVtfdTFacFPy77iOiRNKqFqOL_aFYsuOZcqjLLThoUsEFUIYiuBYzTTNXQwXs3Q6GPXD4-/s1067/cage+15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvB6_vlUs4KqJic6zSZn0ht7VesvvewKBgD-01v5UVcyjMoq-PORJJLH8qFMdTBDwa-wIKFDVtfdTFacFPy77iOiRNKqFqOL_aFYsuOZcqjLLThoUsEFUIYiuBYzTTNXQwXs3Q6GPXD4-/s320/cage+15.png" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Next we need to drill and tap the holes in the inner cage for the bearing cups (M4). It’s important to get these correctly aligned. This could be done with a drill press if you’re very careful, but I found it better and more accurate to drill and tap on the lathe using a 4-jaw chuck:
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIEMh4hev5qzXbVgj9IZTkJH8ktCg0rogFrcItYBj_WQ0pR1caj0ArNIws31XUHoMu4BGR53eM_cIJQAG9c6IQOhR9nqR0T2Wu8SReIIMXU8wpdJUi9ZRJirWLb4mAlCFbosf1bQB5Jhz/s1067/cage+16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIEMh4hev5qzXbVgj9IZTkJH8ktCg0rogFrcItYBj_WQ0pR1caj0ArNIws31XUHoMu4BGR53eM_cIJQAG9c6IQOhR9nqR0T2Wu8SReIIMXU8wpdJUi9ZRJirWLb4mAlCFbosf1bQB5Jhz/s320/cage+16.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcx84Saf6vt9gyjTivTEKKdGUjI0Q5tJ0T_djTktjUZMSaFg5phutyYGRiHrvhazwFhK_Oy2yRQOVrawxtxNnBr2hBi6x16TyG7SY7SrabKSSNvvOT82oPRVhoZekWzH5bS3-ZGg0s0YM/s1067/cage+17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcx84Saf6vt9gyjTivTEKKdGUjI0Q5tJ0T_djTktjUZMSaFg5phutyYGRiHrvhazwFhK_Oy2yRQOVrawxtxNnBr2hBi6x16TyG7SY7SrabKSSNvvOT82oPRVhoZekWzH5bS3-ZGg0s0YM/s320/cage+17.png" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AQjMXIxJA-pnBeAo_GzPv-HI7Bs7aiCjIz-rEX4V0p9JdppLYQV7Xx7KKzX3xLXBMc0MV7ahlsrJtVyO_ePbJj77d5kWWgSCI-Ah_i1N8mVQDHkwNj93GB-E-HmCdCmRUqbbBRzEOmat/s1057/cage+18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="793" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AQjMXIxJA-pnBeAo_GzPv-HI7Bs7aiCjIz-rEX4V0p9JdppLYQV7Xx7KKzX3xLXBMc0MV7ahlsrJtVyO_ePbJj77d5kWWgSCI-Ah_i1N8mVQDHkwNj93GB-E-HmCdCmRUqbbBRzEOmat/s320/cage+18.png" /></a>
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
I also used a tap-follower, which I had made for the purpose, to make sure the tap was straight. You can buy them of course, but they’re easy to make and a nice side project.
</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally we need to file notches in the two rings to make them fit together. These should be the same width as the rings (in this case 8mm) and slightly less than half the thickness of the rings, so that the rings are squeezed/stretched when together. The notches on the inner ring should be 90 degrees from the holes. The sides of the notches on the outside ring should be sloped slightly as they will go in when the ring is squeezed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKyaAcSi4WSreG-FGokA2cq2bG45rXex6EJ4KTNGo3DyqPykMZfPH0sjxlAH5ntsHGAmfSygqIHCP9L6g75Z7EV69DLij_IVUresa-SiAFGkLs5HgaEX1_N-9ej51gX80oS0MyzxHac4n/s1067/cage+19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKyaAcSi4WSreG-FGokA2cq2bG45rXex6EJ4KTNGo3DyqPykMZfPH0sjxlAH5ntsHGAmfSygqIHCP9L6g75Z7EV69DLij_IVUresa-SiAFGkLs5HgaEX1_N-9ej51gX80oS0MyzxHac4n/s320/cage+19.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6P6cMHLDpxg4AO3UqsYM-dDNe5_vOUI_1mYfFr50HgsFZpCJaLVbPvxa-pV459sb1_QoObUMPJzIYhISAcZDTKoO0JHYMxcooTkNwe5cC4sOorPCcCCbpxpdJpwlLjO1AKKqcscrTAiHK/s1067/cage+20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6P6cMHLDpxg4AO3UqsYM-dDNe5_vOUI_1mYfFr50HgsFZpCJaLVbPvxa-pV459sb1_QoObUMPJzIYhISAcZDTKoO0JHYMxcooTkNwe5cC4sOorPCcCCbpxpdJpwlLjO1AKKqcscrTAiHK/s320/cage+20.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOaB-qIICeN84kuG1qg4G4VTGLIKfjUckfh59tfSudSKLPF6MrkYza1KUAVUaeK_WHgzMBAzRAEXkkFvaDbyCDDXcsZK4Tdybx8kDynddaakZvMe8ND9yQx2zqRD_77AmTlx2jqekVQlf/s1067/cage+21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOaB-qIICeN84kuG1qg4G4VTGLIKfjUckfh59tfSudSKLPF6MrkYza1KUAVUaeK_WHgzMBAzRAEXkkFvaDbyCDDXcsZK4Tdybx8kDynddaakZvMe8ND9yQx2zqRD_77AmTlx2jqekVQlf/s320/cage+21.png" /></a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2PJu96twD89CaSjwjJK-vcpEMBwtsAScgPhZH0wwUx-novjUN-rg2S-J55Zy5ulryuv5afOg8Fl021c3bPMYNqvgu6UiAKQIhp3SzskSYP0UKeIKkoNXv4rZYrvhzBZmJ28FYf20Oi4P/s1067/cage+22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2PJu96twD89CaSjwjJK-vcpEMBwtsAScgPhZH0wwUx-novjUN-rg2S-J55Zy5ulryuv5afOg8Fl021c3bPMYNqvgu6UiAKQIhp3SzskSYP0UKeIKkoNXv4rZYrvhzBZmJ28FYf20Oi4P/s320/cage+22.png" /></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3c3c1a6d-7fff-b9c6-bfa9-b75646c0e07a"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can do a test assembly to make sure the parts fit, and make adjustments if needed.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put the outer ring in a vise and squeeze until it’s just wide enough to fit in the inner ring:</span></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizje_U3AhXjuvrL_VfZv-YGLQJR2y4wRJWbgaX_0q3OPoJw3RIVJ8Z7mXqvVwiqjMEX46SgH0q7hoNexcOVpV5WKS4Z6N5j2XL1k1OYXwLHklTsHMvfaXdwAyv4dxSQr-hHctziA8ZkF4l/s1067/cage+23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizje_U3AhXjuvrL_VfZv-YGLQJR2y4wRJWbgaX_0q3OPoJw3RIVJ8Z7mXqvVwiqjMEX46SgH0q7hoNexcOVpV5WKS4Z6N5j2XL1k1OYXwLHklTsHMvfaXdwAyv4dxSQr-hHctziA8ZkF4l/s320/cage+23.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg703Vhdfh7kg5aoT6LqC39usjSLx0gIM4YS0fU17vIfl1ZOr7pZVU_sWBjidAeepH4jzRJPdBB28UzaKcg82fiyU3zADmzwEboe3G90tHWf614NrQG0hOLNDIX-EcnD6vmfRS98hnSYplU/s1067/cage+24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg703Vhdfh7kg5aoT6LqC39usjSLx0gIM4YS0fU17vIfl1ZOr7pZVU_sWBjidAeepH4jzRJPdBB28UzaKcg82fiyU3zADmzwEboe3G90tHWf614NrQG0hOLNDIX-EcnD6vmfRS98hnSYplU/s320/cage+24.png" /></a>
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</table>
</span></div></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3c3c1a6d-7fff-b9c6-bfa9-b75646c0e07a"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Continued in ..
</span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://anthonykosky.blogspot.com/2021/01/making-toy-gyroscope-on-mini-lathe-part_6.html">Making a Toy Gyroscope on a Mini-lathe - Part 2</a> <br /></span></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">(the spinny bits...)</span></span><p></p>
</span></div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-79842811142141355112020-06-21T14:33:00.000-07:002020-06-21T14:33:43.412-07:00The Golden HedgehogOnce there was a Golden Hedgehog.<br />
<br />
He had prickles of gold which glinted in the sun. His fur was also golden, and even his snuffling nose was gold.<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f6D9hbx8nlr0O7IX0NSax3fAD_q-UHWIr5bplTGNAJgmaci0dO4a0uKJXhZh83eZ_oyGiSLdxU9TWEhfXUrAYMxzfU5XnBNaQznyVDgBcdbXLnc65siPcBvWoC9mWgmtiA0fpmUc957d/s1000/golden-hedgehog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1000" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f6D9hbx8nlr0O7IX0NSax3fAD_q-UHWIr5bplTGNAJgmaci0dO4a0uKJXhZh83eZ_oyGiSLdxU9TWEhfXUrAYMxzfU5XnBNaQznyVDgBcdbXLnc65siPcBvWoC9mWgmtiA0fpmUc957d/w500-h324/golden-hedgehog.png" width="500" /></a></div><br />
He lived in a forest, and, in other respects, he was much like any other hedgehog (other than weighing rather more). He ate a well-balanced diet of slugs, worms, bugs and other yummy creepy crawly things. He slept in a hollow lined with moldy leaves. In winter he would curl up and hibernate, and would emerge in spring, well-rested but hungry, and start searching for slugs.<br />
<br />
He was quite easy to spot, even amongst the thick undergrowth of the forest. But still, the hawks and the foxes and the other creatures that hunted in the forest would leave him alone, because, golden or not, his prickles were, well, prickly. The other hedgehogs in the forest did not treat him any differently or pay his golden prickles much mind. Hedgehogs are a very open and accepting lot.<br />
<br />
Now one day an Emperor was taking a walk in the forest. He had a large retinue that followed him wherever he went, and fauned on him constantly. He noticed the glint of gold in the bushes and told one of his servants to investigate.<br />
<br />
The servant returned. “It appears to be a golden hedgehog, your Eminence,” he said.<br />
<br />
“Bring it to me,” said the Emperor. “A golden hedgehog must be lucky. With it I will have great fortune and riches!”<br />
<br />
“But, Your Magnificence, you already have great fortune and riches,” said the servant.<br />
<br />
“No matter,” said the Emperor, “with a golden hedgehog I will have multitudes of grand palaces and castles!”<br />
<br />
“But, Your Awesomeness, you already have multitudes of grand palaces and castles,” said the servant.<br />
<br />
“With it, I will rule over the whole land, and all will bend to my will!” said the Emperor.<br />
<br />
“But, Your Superlativeness,” said the servant, “you already rule over the whole land, and all do bend to your will.”<br />
<br />
“Enough!” cried the Emperor. “The golden hedgehog must be mine! Capture it and bring it to me.”<br />
<br />
The servant found a cardboard box, and with the aid of a nice juicy slug as bait, he got the golden hedgehog into the box and followed the Emperor back to the palace. (Of course he poked some air holes in the box first, and lined it with soft leaves.)<br />
<br />
When he returned to the palace, the Emperor looked at his crown of gold and jewels, which suddenly seemed dull and ordinary compared to the wondrous hedgehog. “Destroy that,” he said. “I will have a new hat made, so that I can wear the golden hedgehog as a crown.”<br />
<br />
And so it came to pass. The Emperor wore the golden hedgehog as a crown as he ruled. When foreign dignitaries or princes visited, asking for trade, he would sneer at them. “What would we want from your puny land? Does your ruler wear a hedgehog of gold?” he would say.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, like most hedgehogs, the golden hedgehog had fleas. In fact, because they had to bite through the hedgehog’s golden skin, the fleas that lived on it had developed particularly strong and powerful bites.<br />
<br />
Soon the Emperor’s head was itching uncontrollably. Then his neck, and his back and chest started to itch. Before long the Emperor’s whole body was itching. He was too proud to take off the hedgehog, or to admit that he had fleas, and so he started to scratch and fidget constantly, even during important meetings and state banquets. Those who saw him thought their emperor must have some grave malady and started to wonder if he was fit to rule.<br />
<br />
Worse still, the Emperor was constantly distracted by the itching, and unable to think clearly. When asked to make a decision, he would blurt out the first thing that came into his mind. When the farmers came to tell him their crops were failing, he told them to plant daffodils instead. When the city planners told him the roads needed repair, he said “Dig a tunnel underneath”. When the treasurer told him that merchants weren’t paying their share of taxes, he said “just tax the poor.”<br />
<br />
There was discontent throughout the land. Soon enough the muttering turned to protests and the protests to a popular uprising. The Emperor was deposed and forced into exile in New Jersey. He fled the palace wearing only his pajamas, and leaving the golden hedgehog behind. In his place, the people created a new democratically elected parliament, who quickly established mutually beneficial trade agreements with neighboring countries, and built a new social welfare and public education system. The country became prosperous and the people were happy.<br />
<br />
With no further attention being paid to it, the golden hedgehog left the palace and spent the rest of its years living in the palace gardens, which soon became unkempt and overgrown, and were home to many particularly tasty slugs.<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-59137582090620986112020-05-12T22:33:00.000-07:002020-05-12T22:34:17.293-07:00The Tigers, the Crocodiles and the Grandmother<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I found this while looking through my Google drive at some half-finished stories. I wrote it a while ago, and put it aside with the intention of drawing some illustrations to go with it. Perhaps I still will sometime, but, since I haven't drawn any yet, I figured I should just post it as it is.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
At the time, I did send it to my parents and my mother seemed to like it a lot. I think she thought it was about her, but I'm not quite convinced myself. </blockquote>
<br />
Once upon a time there was a grandmother.<br />
<br />
She was a ferocious and brave grandmother, in the way that grandmothers can be.<br />
<br />
When she stood straight it was as if she had a steel rod in her spine. When she walked it was with big, purposeful strides. (She walked with a cane, but it was mostly for effect since she didn’t need it for balance.) She had a way of looking at people over the top of her half-moon spectacles that could make even a grown man’s knees turn to strawberry jello.<br />
<br />
The grandmother lived next to a forest, and her granddaughter lived on the other side. It was a Dark and Dangerous Forest. There were many Wild Animals: tigers and crocodiles and rodents-of-unusual-size. The last time her granddaughter had visited she had met a wolf, who had caused endless problems. But, of course, grandmothers do not know the meaning of the word fear…<br />
<br />
One spring morning the grandmother decided it was time to visit her granddaughter. She packed her purse with a ball of yarn, two knitting needles, a box of peppermints, a handkerchief, a thermos of tea and a packet of digestive biscuits. She checked that the stove was turned off, put out food for her cat, picked up her cane, locked the door of her small, cozy cottage, and set off into the Dark and Dangerous Forest.<br />
<br />
It was a cool morning, in early spring. The grandmother had not bought a shawl and was feeling the morning chill. After walking a little while, she sat down on a log, took out her needles and yarn and started knitting. Fifteen minutes later she stood up to assess her work, gave a curt nod of approval, and, wrapping a new, pink, fluffy shawl around her shoulders she continued on her way.<br />
<br />
At the edge of the forest two tigers lay in the sun. The first flared her nostrils. “I smell something coming,” she said.<br />
<br />
The second tiger jumped to the top of a rock and looked out. “It’s a strange animal walking on its hind legs,” she said. “It looks tasty,” she added.<br />
<br />
The two tigers crept silently towards the grandmother, invisible in the tall grass that grew along the edge of the forest. The smaller tiger circled round behind her to block her escape. Then the tigers emerged, their lips curling back to reveal their enormous, razor sharp teeth, their sinews tightening as they crouched back on their hind legs, ready to pounce.<br />
<br />
“Yes?” said the grandmother, “What can I do for you?”<br />
<br />
“You can prepare to be EATEN!” said the larger tiger with a blood curdling snarl.<br />
<br />
The grandmother looked sharply at the tiger over the top of the spectacles perched on the tip of her nose. “That,” she said, “is NOT a polite way to talk to an old lady.”<br />
<br />
“Oh,” said the tiger, feeling rather confused. “...um ...I mean, er, would it be ok if we ate you, please?”<br />
<br />
“Certainly not!” said the grandmother. “I didn’t go through all this trouble just to become kibble for a pair of overgrown cats with teddy-bear ears. The very idea!”<br />
<br />
“Oh, um, well…,” the first tiger trailed off and turned its head away, no longer able to meet her gaze.<br />
<br />
“And you,” said the grandmother, turning her withering look on the second tiger, “What do you have to say for yourself?”<br />
<br />
“Oh, well…, um..., it’s just that we were terribly hungry you see,” she said lamely, and looked away.<br />
<br />
“Yes,” added the first tiger, “all we’ve eaten since breakfast were two bison and an antelope, and... well... we just thought,...” Her voice trailed off.<br />
<br />
“I see,” said the grandmother. “You may have one peppermint each, but that’s all.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, thank you very much,” said the two tigers together.<br />
<br />
The grandmother pulled the tin of peppermints out of her bag, and handed one to each of the tigers. The tigers quickly left for the forest, to warn the other creatures of the strange and frightening animal that was its way.<br />
<br />
As she continued on her way, the grandmother heard murmurs in the forest around her. A pair of big-eyed lemurs peaked out from the high branches above, and whispered to one another that this was the strange creature that had frightened the terrible tigers. A snake hissed and slithered further up its tree for safety. Some monkeys put an offering of bananas on the ground ahead of her, to try make sure they were in her good graces, and swung away quickly as she approached.<br />
<br />
The grandmother stopped and sat on a low rock to drink some tea.<br />
<br />
A wide, muddy river ran along the far side of the forest. The river was home to large crocodiles with evil smiles who spent their days lying in the water pretending to be logs, and to logs that spent their days lying in the water pretending to be crocodiles. The crocodiles took little interest in the forest creatures, other than wondering about their nutritional value, and did not listen to their chatter.<br />
<br />
When the grandmother reached the bank of the river she looked upstream and downstream. There was no safe place to cross. “Hmmph,” she thought. “I shall need a bridge. I’m certainly not going to spoil a pair of perfectly good shoes and socks wading through this.”<br />
<br />
She noticed that the log nearest the bank had an unblinking yellow eye watching her. “You,” she said, nudging the log with her stick. “Time to make yourself useful.”<br />
<br />
“Yeess?” said the crocodile, raising its head from the water and revealing its mouth full of jagged, ugly-looking teeth. “How may I be of ssservice?”<br />
<br />
Two more crocodiles swam up, and looked her up and down, showing their ghastly smiles. “I wonder what this isss,” said one of them. “Not much meat on it,” said the other. “But ssoo sssuuculent,” said the first.<br />
<br />
“That’s quite enough of that!” said the grandmother, giving each of the crocodiles a sharp wrap on the nose with her cane. “I’ve no intention of being eaten by you or anyone else today. Is that clear?”<br />
<br />
“Yess ma’am. Ssorry ma’am,” the three crocodiles muttered, their smiles fading, and being replaced by more glum expressions.<br />
<br />
“Now you,” she said, pointing to the first crocodile, “swim over there with your nose to that bank.”<br />
<br />
“You,” she said, pointing to the second, “in the middle, with your nose to his tail.”<br />
<br />
“And you,” she said to the third, “turn around with your tail pointing this way. Quick about it! I haven’t got all day.”<br />
<br />
“Yess ma’am,” said the crocodiles, and, grumbling to one another, they lined themselves up, nose-to-tail across the river. The grandmother stepped onto the tail of the nearest crocodile, and nimbly trotted along their backs, while the crocodiles were still trying to think what to do.<br />
<br />
“Now,” she said, turning back to look at her makeshift bridge, “thank you for your assistance.” She gave each of the crocodiles a digestive biscuit. “And we’ll have no more of this talk about eating little old ladies,” she added. “Understood?”<br />
<br />
“No ma’am,” said the crocodiles sullenly, and they swam away munching their biscuits.<br />
<br />
It was almost lunch time when the grandmother reached the cottage where her granddaughter lived, and knocked on the door.<br />
<br />
Her granddaughter had just finished packing a basket with food, and was putting on her favorite red cape and hood, when she opened the door. “Oh Grandma,” she said, giving her a warm hug, “I was just coming to visit you.”<br />
<br />
“I know dear,” said the grandmother, “But it was such a nice day, and I didn’t want to put you through any trouble. Besides, I do need the exercise.” She looked at the basket. “Oh good,” she said, “I’m just in time for a picnic.”<br />
<br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-21294053357788528052020-02-01T18:15:00.002-08:002020-05-07T23:49:11.966-07:00The Old Oak Tree<div>
<br /></div>
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<div>
<br />
Once there was an old, old oak tree. It was tall and broad; its branches were twisted and gnarled; its bark was bumpy and knotted.<br />
<br />
It stood in the middle of a small forest, which the animals who lived there called simply “The Forest”. The old oak was by far the biggest and tallest tree in the forest. The animals called it simply “The Oak Tree”. It had been there as long as any of them could remember. It had been there as long as their parents, grandparents and great grandparents could remember.<br />
<br />
The oak tree looked after the animals of the forest. Its branches provided shelter from the rain in spring and the heat in summer. Its fallen leaves kept the earth warn and lined the burrows and nests of the animals in autumn. Its acorns fed the chipmunks and squirrels through the cold winters.<br />
<br />
In the high branches of the oak tree, an old Great Horned Owl had found a nest and moved in, while, a little lower, a starling had made her nest and raised her chicks, A chipmunk lived in a hollow near the base of the tree, which she filled with nuts and acorns to last the winter. And, amongst the oak tree’s roots, a fox made a den for herself and her family of cubs.<br />
<br />
The animals would not hunt or chase each other beneath the branches of the old oak tree, for they knew it was a special place. They would walk slowly by, greet each other politely, and sometimes would nod to the oak tree. Even the fox would stop to say “good evening” to the smaller animals as she left for a night’s hunting.<br />
<br />
The oak tree’s roots spread far and wide throughout the forest, for they had had many years in which to grow and spread. Through them the oak could sense much of what went on in the forest. In the spring it would feel snow melting, and the new life of the young plants that burst from the ground. In summer it would feel the earth dry and crack. In autumn it felt the warm leaves cover the ground, and the paws of the animals as they scurried back and forth, gathering food for the winter. And in winter, as a blanket of snow covered the ground, it felt the cold and the stillness that spread throughout the forest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87aKUVmyP_9F8jE_LsGHTLnnNXcei3lH-BuiSxM2MJlEfEXMSXn-mPsvwveo3_Lfak_8Axt86d5sSPPMPLMTQMrSV-HwM4lvAL6JbKT0PsiN1ccJnC_t6myzBYHaQKnIIbWBEJhHpuQw1/s1600/Acorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1000" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87aKUVmyP_9F8jE_LsGHTLnnNXcei3lH-BuiSxM2MJlEfEXMSXn-mPsvwveo3_Lfak_8Axt86d5sSPPMPLMTQMrSV-HwM4lvAL6JbKT0PsiN1ccJnC_t6myzBYHaQKnIIbWBEJhHpuQw1/s400/Acorn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
And so the years passed. The oak tree became older still, and, in its way, it thought and considered and pondered, until one day, as summer was coming to an end and the leaves of the forest turned to red and brown and gold, it thought to itself “It is time”.<br />
<br />
The oak tree dropped a single acorn in front of the fox’s den. “Please take this acorn,” it said to the fox, “and plant it at the edge of the forest where the stream runs.”<br />
<br />
The fox was proud to be asked to do such an important task. She took the acorn gently in her mouth and set out, with her tail held high.<br />
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She had been walking for some time when the fox picked up the scent of a young rabbit, and stopped, trying to decide what to do. “If I leave the acorn here the squirrels will get it,” she thought. “But I need to find food for my cubs. If I miss the rabbit I might not get another chance.”<br />
<br />
Just then the starling landed on the branches of a tree, just above the fox. “What are you doing?” she chirped. The fox explained about the acorn she had promised to plant, and the rabbit she needed to hunt. “I can take it,” said the starling. “I’ll fly it there”.<br />
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<br />
The starling swooped down, picked up the acorn in her claws and headed out to the edge of the forest where stream bubbled and burbled. Landing by the banks of the stream, she started to scrape and peck at the earth.<br />
<br />
The chipmunk appeared, emerging from the undergrowth, and asked the starling what she was doing. “I’m trying to dig a hole for this acorn,” she said, and explained about the old oak tree and the fox.<br />
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“Let me help,” said the chipmunk Together they dug a small hole, placed the acorn in in it, and covered it with earth. Then the two returned to the old oak tree together.<br />
<br />
Soon enough winter followed the autumn, and soft snow covered the ground. All the forest seemed to sleep, awaiting the arrival of spring. The snow melted, and the forest creatures emerged from their winter’s sleep.<br />
<br />
The horned owl, flying over the edge of the forest, saw the leaves or a young oak sapling, and returned to the old oak to tell it what she’d seen. The oak felt content.<br />
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As the year passed the owl continued to fly out to the edge of the forest, and report back. The old oak listened to all that the owl told it, and it reached out with its roots towards the sapling, and it waited. By the time winter came again, the young oak was already as tall as the deer that would come to drink from the stream.<br />
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The following spring, the young oak was taller still, and started to reach out with its own roots, exploring and searching. The old oak tree waited. A small robin landed on the young oak’s topmost branches and sang a song to welcome the spring.<br />
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As the spring turned to summer, and the summer to autumn, the young oak’s roots spread further until, just before the first flakes of winter snow started to fall, they touched and entwined with the roots of the old oak tree. It seemed as if a change came over the old oak, as if it had found something it had been waiting for a long time.<br />
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Throughout the winter the old oak told stories of the forest; of the plants, and the bees that carried pollen from one flower to the next; of all the animals from the mighty stag that had once run through the forest, to the tiniest beetles; and of the eb and flow of the seasons. The young sapling seemed to absorb these stories, as it absorbed the water and food from the earth. When spring came again, it seemed to those who saw it, that the young oak stood taller and straighter than before, as if it had a purpose now, and knew what must be.<br />
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And so the years passed, the forest spread, and the young oak tree grew tall and broad. In time it became taller than all the surrounding trees. One of the cubs of the old fox decided to build her den amongst its roots, and there raised her own cubs. A hawk built a nest in the high branches, and, when it left, a young great horned owl took up residence in its place.<br />
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Soon enough the animals became used to having two oak trees to look after the forest, sheltering them from the rains of spring and the heat of summer, giving them warm leaves to line their nests in autumn, and acorns to feed them through the winter. Perhaps none could remember a time when there was just one oak tree.<br />
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But still, the animals would always call the oak that grew by the stream “The New Oak Tree”. To them the older, gnarled and knotted tree that stood deep in the center of the forest was always simply “The Oak Tree”.</div>
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Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-78147408824732412062020-01-07T17:56:00.000-08:002020-01-07T17:56:45.159-08:00The Wizard's Hat<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was once a Wizard. He lived in a small town by the sea where he owned a wizarding shop. There was a sign over the door with “Wizard” painted in gold, curly letters. Inside the walls were lined with dusty shelves, overflowing with ancient books, and jars of spells and potions. The floor and ceilings were covered with strange, mystical symbols - pentagrams and octograms and other-sorts-of-grams. The Wizard himself lived in some small but well-appointed rooms above the shop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wizard was, for the most part, everything you might expect a Wizard to be. He had thick, bushy eyebrows, and a beard that flowed down to his waist. He had a wand that glowed blue in the dark and left a trail of sparkles when he swished it, and his robes were long, the colour of midnight, and embroidered with hundreds or silver stars and moons. His hat had a wide brim and would have, been tall and pointy, but, and it was a big BUT, the point always flopped over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course this is a big deal for a wizard. You wouldn’t go to a wizard without a pointy hat, and neither would I. When he walked down the street, children would laugh behind the Wizard’s back, and throw stones at him, not being the least worried that he would turn them into a newt, or a duck, or a bowl of clam chowder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wizard tried everything he could think of to make the point of his hat stand up: he starched it; he stuffed it with straw; he reinforced it with sticks and cardboard, but all to no avail. No matter what he did, his hat would not stay pointy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One day, while the Wizard was sitting behind the counter of his shop drinking green tea, the mail arrived. There was the usual collection of bills and catalogs, but, at the bottom was an invitation to sit on a panel on advanced disenchantments at the Annual North-East Regional Wizarding conference the next week. At first the Wizard was very excited. The conference was always a great place to see the latest wizarding parapharnalia, try out new beard-conditioning products, and catch up with old friends and colleagues, and to be invited to take part in a panel would be an honor. But then he hesitated; how could he take part when the point of his hat flopped over so. Sadly he decided he would have to decline the invitation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feeling despondent, the Wizard decided to go for a walk in the enchanted forest that bordered the town (in those days there were many more enchanted forests, and fewer enchanted shopping malls about). As he walked he tried to imagine what other wizards would say, seeing his floppy hat, and how he could possibly attend and be taken seriously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After he had been walking for a little while, the Wizard heard a sound of crying through the woods. He followed the sound till he came to a grass-covered glade. In the middle of the glade lay a white unicorn with rainbow tears flowing from her eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“What’s the matter?” asked the Wizard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“My hoof hurts,” sobbed the Unicorn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Let me look,” said the Wizard. He came closer and examined the beast’s hoof. “There’s a stone in it. I’ll soon have it out,” he said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He took out his special edition wizard’s swiss army knife (one big blade, one little blade, scissors, bottle opener, and a miniature, telescoping wand for emergencies) and removed the stone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Unicorn jumped up and started prancing round the glade. She popped a passing bubble with her horn. (Most evolutionary biologists believe that unicorn horns are a means of defence, but, the truth is, they evolved them solely for the purpose of bursting bubbles, which is a favorite pastime of unicorns.) She tossed her head and whinnied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a little while the Unicorn paused and looked at the Wizard. “You look sad,” she said. “What’s the matter?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wizard explained about the Annual North-East Regional Wizarding conference, and about his floppy hat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Unicorn thought for a minute. “You know,” she said, “we unicorns lose our horns every winter, and grow new ones in spring.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Of course,” said the Wizard who had studied unicorns and other mythical creatures in wizarding school (but didn’t understand about the bubbles.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I think I still have my horn that fell off last winter,” she said. “We could try that.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Unicorn left the glade, and returned a few minutes later carrying a large and very pointy horn in her teeth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We the help of the Unicorn and a roll of duct tape, the Wizard fastened the horn to his head. He put the hat over it. The point stood up, sharp and true. The wizard returned home with a spring in his step, to admire himself in the mirror.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, the following week, the Wizard attended the Annual North-East Regional Wizarding conference. He examined the latest wizarding paraphernalia. He tried out several new beard conditioning products, but decided to stick with his old standby. He spoke eloquently and authoritatively at the panel on dissenchantments. And, at the end of the conference, after the awards for most-innovative new spell, and for special services to wizarding where awarded, the organizing committee presented him with the annual award for pointiest hat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wizard proudly carried the trophy back to his shop, and placed it on the shelf behind the counter, between the books on dragon-calming and invisibility spells, so that it would be the first thing that anyone coming into the shop would see.</span><br />
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<br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-63089189000367692222019-10-18T23:41:00.000-07:002019-10-20T21:11:42.308-07:00The Emperor and the Bird<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A long time ago in a land far away, there lived a small bird.<br /><br />She was nothing special to look at. She had a small pointed beak, black eyes that moved constantly, and her feathers were brown and ordinary. She lived in an ordinary looking nest, in an ordinary looking tree. But she had the most beautiful voice in the whole forest.<br /><br />Sometimes the little bird would watch the bright blue jays and scarlet cardinals flitting from tree to tree, and she would wish she were as brightly coloured as them. Then she would sing a sad song, and all the forest creatures who heard her, the foxes and stoats, the chipmunks and field mice, would feel their hearts fill with mourning, and would cuddle up with their young in their nests and burrows.<br /><br />Sometimes the bird would watch the sunrise over the forest, and she would sing a song of joy at it’s beauty and splendor. Then the forest creatures would play and frolic in the fields, and they would go about their days with their tails held high and their ears pricked up, full of excitement about the coming day.<br /><br />Sometimes the bird would watch the sunlight glinting of the towers of the palace in the distance, for in those days the land was ruled over by a great and wise Emperor, and his palace was magnificent, with gardens full of fountains and blossoming fruit trees. Then she would sing songs of wonder, and the forest creatures would stop and gaze into the distance, their hearts full of curiosity and wonder at the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Now it came to pass that one day the Emperor decided that it was time to appoint a new High Chancellor: “For I am getting old,” he said, “and the work of an emperor is hard. I need help to rule justly and fairly”.<br /><br />Of course all his officials, advisors and noblemen argued that they should get the job. They all came before him, flattering and obsequious, deriding their rivals and making cases for why they should be they should be the new High Chancellor.<br /><br />“Very well,” said the Emperor, for he quickly tired of such flattery and noise. “In one month, any who wishes to be my High Chancellor may bring a bird to me in the Imperial Gardens. He who brings the bird that pleases me most will be my new High Chancellor.”<br /><br />At once all the advisors left to find the most fantastic birds they could. Some went to the markets to buy the rarest birds they could: bright yellow canaries, scarlet macaws, and beautiful peacocks with green iridescent feathers. Some chartered ships and sailed far and wide looking for even stranger birds. One bought back an ostrich from Australia, one a dodo from Mauritius, and one went as far as Norway and bought back a parrot with beautiful blue plumage.<br /><br />Now in the palace there lived a poor servant boy. He had been born on a farm, but he was lame and his family was very poor and couldn’t afford to feed and clothe him, and so had sent him to the palace to try to find work. There he worked in the kitchens, or ran errands for various lesser noblemen, and, since he worked hard and stayed out of trouble, he managed to get by. Still he watched all the important men and women coming and going from the palace, seeking audiences with the emperor, and wished for more from his life. “If I had a great bird,” he thought, “I could get in to the Imperial Gardens and see the Emperor myself. I would serve him well.” But he could not travel far and had no money to buy a bird from any of the merchants in the town.<br /><br />And so a month passed, and one day, being done with his chores for the day, the boy went out for a walk in the forests beyond the great palace. As he stood in thought, he saw the small brown bird alight on a branch near him.<br /><br />“If you were to come with me,” he said, “we could enter the Imperial Gardens of the palace. We might even see the Emperor. For he has decreed that anyone with a bird can come to the palace today, and he will choose whosoever has the bird that pleases him the most tho be his High Chancellor.”<br /><br />Of course the bird wanted to see the palace and the Imperial Gardens more than anything, and so she flew down to perch on the boy’s shoulder, and together they headed back to the palace.<br /><br />The Imperial Gardens were alive with the chatter of officials, advisors and noblemen, all clamoring for the Emperor’s attention, mixed with the squarks and cries or a hundred different birds from all corners of the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8vRi-KQh3R41ZfbjScx3z6igDEMqgvlfHjwsA0HMrd5LeWY7P3EYav3nlb6qqt0740iUx8f_H5_wZgz6keUigQLnJSnFe_i3jKzJJ9D92ssOkTwA89vUinCUtaEmSUkn-uBClv9WMO7w/s1600/emperor.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8vRi-KQh3R41ZfbjScx3z6igDEMqgvlfHjwsA0HMrd5LeWY7P3EYav3nlb6qqt0740iUx8f_H5_wZgz6keUigQLnJSnFe_i3jKzJJ9D92ssOkTwA89vUinCUtaEmSUkn-uBClv9WMO7w/s400/emperor.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />The Emperor walked amongst them looking at each in turn. He saw the peacock with its magnificent tail feathers. “Too showy,” he said dismissively, “it can hardly fly”. He saw the fat dodo, with its enormous, bulbous beak. “Ridiculous,” he said, “How does such a creature survive?”. As he approached the ostrich it put its head in the ground and turned invisible. The lovely plumage of the blue parrot caught his eye, but as he came to look he was surprised to see that it did not move. He prodded it with his finger and it fell off its perch, dead.<br /><br />And so he went from one bird to another, each more strange and marvelous than the last. But quickly he grew weary, for he found them all wanting, and somehow none pleased him.<br /><br />The small brown bird watched quietly from her perch on the boys shoulder, wishing that she could be as graceful, or as splendid or as exceptional as these strange and wonderful creatures, and she started to sing a sad and mournful song.<br /><br />Throughout the gardens, everyone fell silent, their hearts suddenly filled with a longing for things that might once have been, and things that could never be. The old Emperor felt a tear come to his eye.<br /><br />But then the bird looked out at the blossoming cherry trees and the sparkling fountains, and she sang a different song - one of joy and wonders.<br /><br />Throughout the gardens, all who heard felt their souls rise up, filled with joy. Suddenly the old Emperor felt the weight of the years of responsibility and lifted from his shoulders, and recalled the joy and vigor of his youth. He rose up tall and straight. “Where is the bird that sings this song?” he said. “Bring it to me.”<br /><br />The servants and courtiers rushed about, trying to find the source of the song, and finally the boy was bought before the Emperor, the small bird still perched on his shoulder.<br /><br />First the Emperor turned to the bird. “There is more beauty in your song than all these others put together,” he said. “Please will you come to live in my gardens, and sing your songs for me and my visitors?”.<br /><br />Then he turned to the boy. “You have shown more wisdom and judgement than all these others,” he said. “You will make a fine High Chancellor”.<br /><br />And so it came to pass. The boy served the Emperor as High Chancellor for many years, and helped him to rule wisely and well. When the Emperor finally passed, the High Chancellor remained, advising his heirs, until he too grew very old, and the people of the land lived happily in peace and prosperity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyqvYe_fvSf0TNqp0um64DjAFIo0ecf-VTxWLSCQW9LHJ7scg3S1i45Qa3gfBhgYt-HndoawAcxteqyfh-FNBPHWFAbw-qFBFbeKuqRnjYz34dcuxs1_mA4KFdttA1V3Pjxjn9bzMsLEz/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Tinos; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1000" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyqvYe_fvSf0TNqp0um64DjAFIo0ecf-VTxWLSCQW9LHJ7scg3S1i45Qa3gfBhgYt-HndoawAcxteqyfh-FNBPHWFAbw-qFBFbeKuqRnjYz34dcuxs1_mA4KFdttA1V3Pjxjn9bzMsLEz/s400/bird.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />In the Imperial Gardens, the small, brown bird lived out her life, singing her songs. She lived long and had many chicks, each of whom sang just as sweetly as she did. And they too had chicks, so that the air of the gardens was always full of song.<br /><br />Visitors would come from far away lands to seek an audience with the Emperor, and would walk amongst the Imperial Gardens, and always they would return home telling tales of the splendors and marvels they had seen, but, especially, of the songs of the Emperor’s birds.</span>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-62373602938427542802019-06-29T20:31:00.001-07:002019-06-29T20:31:51.566-07:00The Very Muddy Hippopotamus<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once there was a very muddy hippopotamus. She liked to spend her days wallowing in her favorite mud hole. She would roll in the mud. She would squish the mud between her toes. She would sing songs about the mud. She only left to go to the river and and drink, or to get food. And, whenever she left the mud hole, she would always be covered, from the tips of her ears to the end of her tail, in thick, gooey mud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other animals in the jungle were not happy with the hippopotamus. The birds, the swallows and flamingos, complained that she would get mud on their lovely feathers. The leopard complained that she would get mud on her elegant spots. The tiger complained that she would get mud over his splendid stripes. Even the antelope complained that she would get mud on her silky, fawn fur (before noticing that she was sharing a paragraph with a tiger and promptly being eaten).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">What the other animals did not know was that the hippopotamus had a secret: underneath the mud her skin was a bright, shocking pink. Of course the hippopotamus was very shy about this. “If the other animals see that I’m pink, they’ll all laugh at me,” she thought. And so, whenever she left her mud hole, she would make sure she was completely covered in thick, gooey mud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One day a fairy queen came to the jungle to see how the animals were getting along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the animals complained about the very muddy hippopotamus. The tiger complained about getting mud on his splendid stripes. The leopard complained about getting mud on her elegant spots. The storks and the flamingos complained about getting mud on their lovely feathers. Even an antelope complained about getting mud on her silky, fawn fur. (This was another antelope who was carefully staying at the opposite end of the paragraph from the tiger).</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fairy queen listened to all the animals grumbling, and then she waved her wand to create a magical hippopotamus washer. There were round, whirling brushes that would scrub the mud off the hippopotamus’ sides. There was another whirling brush that would come down from above and scrub the hippopotamus’ back. There were nozzles that would go back and forth, spraying the hippopotamus with warm, soapy water. There were more nozzles to rinse the hippopotamus with clean water, and more whirling brushes with towels attached to dry her off afterwards. There was even a conveyor belt which would carry the hippopotamus between the whirling brushes and spraying nozzles before she knew what was happening. (The fairy queen decided against including the magical under-body hot wax spray).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />And so, the next day, when the hippopotamus left her mud hole to go to the river, she stepped onto the conveyor belt and the magical hippopotamus washer started up. Suddenly there were whirly brushes scrubbing her and nozzles spraying her from directions. Before she knew it the mud was all gone and, the hippopotamus was standing, bright pink, in the middle of the jungle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />The poor hippopotamus was so shy and embarrassed that she wanted to run away and hide. But then something strange happened. All the other animals started saying “ooh” and “ahh”. The tiger said how splendid his black and orange stripes would look next to the pink hippopotamus. The leopard said how elegant his spots would be against a bright pink backdrop. The stork said how lovely it would be with her feathers, and the flamingo was particularly impressed. Even the antelope seemed about to say how well pink would go with her silky, fawn fur, except that she was eaten by a lion before she could speak. (The lion hadn’t been mentioned in our story so far because she’d been hiding in the tall grass waiting to pounce the whole time.)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that things changed for the hippopotamus. She would still spend most of her days wallowing in her favorite mud hole. She would still roll in the mud. She would still squish the mud between her toes. She would still sings songs about the mud. But now, whenever she left her mud hole, she would jump onto the conveyor belt of the magical hippopotamus washer, and then she would parade about the jungle, bright pink and as happy and proud as can be.</span></div>
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Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-64202660985768755222018-12-24T22:57:00.000-08:002018-12-24T22:57:18.032-08:00The Pigasus<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Sophie and Anthony</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sophie came up with the idea of a Pigasus, and it seemed like such a great idea that there had to be a story there. So I started with "Once there was a pigasus" and let it go where it would from there. Sophie thought it was good, and said she'd draw the pictures if I typed the story.</span> </span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It turns out that the pigasus had lots more adventures during her travels, which are only hinted at here, and Rose and Sophie have been asking me to tell them about them at bed times for a while now. Perhaps I'll write up some of those too, if Sophie is willing to draw some more pictures for them.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Once there was a pigasus. She was small and round and pink (except, or course, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">when she’d</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> been playing in the mud holes, when she was small and round and muddy brown). She had a round </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">snout </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">and floppy ears and a little curly tail. And, on her back, she had two large, white, feathery wings.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-afbb1e76-7fff-6033-5110-79de4172e54f" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Her name was Oink, and she lived in a magical land, full of magical creatures. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were unicorns, and griffins, and trolls, and fairies, and a magical slug named Erold. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, so far as Oink knew, she was the only pigasus.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This meant that Oink was very busy. When a princess wandered down </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">to the local frog pond, and a frog asked her for a kiss, she would invariably say “Not until pigs fly!”. At this point the frog would call up Oink, who would do a fly-over. “Oh well,” the princess would say, and bend down to kiss the frog. Then, in a poof of magic, the princess would turn into a frog, and the two would hop away to live happily ever after.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtC9tN-Zz3oeD9ewMDnYrafPP4-O_sOkvJmVYWgObx2jLSMbdyhRXdkDbEOkqqhr3Q-04F2xrbTdi2XUEjqNdK-H-i05H4ejemyIAwpkRy2RxlQq8EQEcHIGditBLHLaUyR0hZpZbAORe/s1600/pigasus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1001" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtC9tN-Zz3oeD9ewMDnYrafPP4-O_sOkvJmVYWgObx2jLSMbdyhRXdkDbEOkqqhr3Q-04F2xrbTdi2XUEjqNdK-H-i05H4ejemyIAwpkRy2RxlQq8EQEcHIGditBLHLaUyR0hZpZbAORe/s640/pigasus1.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This sort of thing happened very often, which meant that Oink </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">was always on call. But still she was lonely, and wanted, more than anything, another flying pig to play with.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And so, one day, Oink decided to set of in search of another pigasus. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">She packed up her belongings in a spotted red handkerchief, which she slung over her shoulder, and off she flew.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Oink flew many months; she flew many weeks (four weeks to the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">month you may mark). She flew over valleys and streams, forests and lakes, mountains and hills. She flew over the ocean to strange tropical islands, full of brightly coloured birds and screeching monkeys. She met flying horses, and flying squirrels, and even a flying penguin. (The penguin was in a hot-air balloon, but Oink thought that counted.) She was attacked by a huge giant with one eye, who tried to swat her out the sky, but fortunately the giant had very poor depth perception and missed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And so, one day, tired and hungry, she landed in a village to drink f</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">rom the public trough. The she noticed a poster on the wall:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">One Night Only</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">THE CIRCUS!!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Featuring:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Clowns</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Jugglers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Acrobats</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">THE FABULOUS PORCINI BROTHERS</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">FLYING PIGS!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Oink was very excited. Partly because she loved clowns and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">jugglers. But also because of the prospect of seeing flying pigs.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">She checked the date and time on the poster. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The circus was in a town five miles away and started in an hour. Though she was tired, she flew as fast as she could, and got there just in time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The huge circus tent was almost full when Oink arrived and took her seat. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ringleader entered, and, one after another he announced the acts, each one more fantastic than the last. There were clowns, who tripped over their enormous shoes, threw pies at one another, and landed flat on their faces. There were jugglers, who juggled balls, flaming torches, and then one juggler juggled two other jugglers, who in turn juggled flaming torches. And there were acrobats, and a lion tamer who put his head in the mouth of a lion, and then put the lion’s head in his own mouth.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then the light dimmed, the crowd hushed, and the Ringleader announced, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…. THE FABULOUS PORCINI BROTHERS!”.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtMrHI4Zw0AH1YJ1LPUA3IrX4tyXDBg79Uk-SoUZyDhpZph-YSMu3_QlOGhYzYdyDKr3gyCBsDJEWqNk1cO8EUKxIR1THS0YZ2asynC75suRXKN6zVsqbpyGdYEmasFidVhzhFYGl8NFO/s1600/pigasus3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtMrHI4Zw0AH1YJ1LPUA3IrX4tyXDBg79Uk-SoUZyDhpZph-YSMu3_QlOGhYzYdyDKr3gyCBsDJEWqNk1cO8EUKxIR1THS0YZ2asynC75suRXKN6zVsqbpyGdYEmasFidVhzhFYGl8NFO/s640/pigasus3.jpg" width="596" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The lights shone reached up to the top of tent where, balanced on a small </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">platform a hundred feet above the ground, stood two pigs. One pig took hold of a trapeze bar and swung from one side of the tent to another. The second pig took a turn, and the first caught him by the trotters and swung back again. The two pigs swung back and forth; jumping and twisting and turning somersaults in the air. They caught one another by the trotters, the ears, the tail.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Oink was spellbound. “They’re not actually flying pigs,” she thought, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“but they really are amazing”.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When the show was over, Oink went round to the trailers parked behind </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the big tent. She found one with “Porcini Bros.” painted in gold, curly letters on the side, and knocked on the door.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs9znbhqkHzuSq0lpAQpyXh5c-DVjR69uwnv_KCUoCscT5QTyjSQflFBdSn0MqD9dT1MXqa2D-C_4R_AM03UfIVrqzPNFxwSorKCuinsJrgAJ_BFbdn65jQqzGSJJVA3qO6b_OR0i7z2A/s1600/pigasus4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1000" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs9znbhqkHzuSq0lpAQpyXh5c-DVjR69uwnv_KCUoCscT5QTyjSQflFBdSn0MqD9dT1MXqa2D-C_4R_AM03UfIVrqzPNFxwSorKCuinsJrgAJ_BFbdn65jQqzGSJJVA3qO6b_OR0i7z2A/s640/pigasus4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A large, handsome pig opened the door. “Hello,” he said. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m Porkus Porcini. Can I help you?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I’m Oink,” said Oink shyly. “I’m a flying pig. I’d like to join your circus”.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And so Oink joined the circus. They found that a flying pig was very </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">useful in helping set up the big tent, and, before each show, she would check all the ropes and fastenings for the tightrope walkers and trapeze at the top of the tent. She would help with collecting tickets and selling lemonade, and occasionally helped out the clowns with her act.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">After the performances, she and Porkus would talk. She would tell </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">him of the magical land where she came from; the unicorns and trolls and fairies; and of all the adventures she’d had. He would tell her of life in the circus and all the they visited and the many different people for whom they performed. Soon they fell deeply in love.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then, two weeks after Oink had joined the circus, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Porkus asked her to marry him.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Yes,” said Oink, “But what shall we do for a ring?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I have one on the end of my nose,” said Porkus.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“That’s lucky,” said Oink. “I knew an owl and a pussycat </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">who had to sail away to look for one once. That was a year and a day ago and they’re still not back.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And so Oink married Porkus and travelled with the circus, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">and together they had many piglets, some with wings and some without, and lived happily ever after.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdWFyOe-H8-0y7C2F9m0Edwz1m7yeb62jw2q61ocxmYIJ6RuXro7WrCmCAUrDMuj39PrgrFITVKmXAsqtYG2xv1SCTFjr5w-9d1eWBBII2nO0tlJoTko0r1iyjk9zvGDQ3u0KwMZaQr0U/s1600/pigasus5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1000" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdWFyOe-H8-0y7C2F9m0Edwz1m7yeb62jw2q61ocxmYIJ6RuXro7WrCmCAUrDMuj39PrgrFITVKmXAsqtYG2xv1SCTFjr5w-9d1eWBBII2nO0tlJoTko0r1iyjk9zvGDQ3u0KwMZaQr0U/s640/pigasus5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-68349492935707353162017-11-10T23:18:00.001-08:002017-11-11T12:25:23.841-08:00The Princess and the Frog<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once upon a time there was a princess. She was everything that a princess should be. She was smart, and kind, and witty, and good-at-mathematics, and had impeccable table manners. She lived with her mommy and daddy, who were the King and Queen, in a great castle, with a moat filled with alligators, a courtyard with a burbling fountain, and lots of beautiful tapestries hanging on the walls.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-58e836dc-a9eb-ac3e-4b43-80ee0bddba47" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now one day the princess was out walking in the forest by the castle when she came to a pond. At the edge of the pond were some water lilies, and on one of the water lilies sat a small green frog.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The frog looked at the princess. The princess looked at the frog. “Ribbit,” said the frog.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh look, a frog,” said the princess. “I wonder if it’s an enchanted prince.”</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Ribbit,” said the frog.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCE0doiFU1nxGMZB1oGk0AsPgsjGpazoZlW-RhoIA_nKFWekA99o2KhDmEkXFR2yzreBR8p7oN3AMqQLqKvyp6bD_TksmUCljNDffQlhqkYaQtri8nc8bGTr1MZk8M-lUO7EKPqXd75Bj/s1600/princess-frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1000" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCE0doiFU1nxGMZB1oGk0AsPgsjGpazoZlW-RhoIA_nKFWekA99o2KhDmEkXFR2yzreBR8p7oN3AMqQLqKvyp6bD_TksmUCljNDffQlhqkYaQtri8nc8bGTr1MZk8M-lUO7EKPqXd75Bj/s400/princess-frog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well there’s one way to find out,” said the princess. She picked up the frog and, holding it in the palm of her hand, she kissed it gently between its two bulging eyes.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The frog looked at the princess. The frog said “Ribbit”.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The princess felt a little disappointed, for it was, it seemed, a perfectly ordinary frog. “Oh well,” said the princess, “at least you’re a nice frog”. She put it into her pocket (princesses always have pockets), and headed home to the castle for dinner.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now dinner in the castle was always served with a cloche over the dinner plates. A cloche is a big dome with a handle on the top, which waiters can remove with a flourish to reveal what’s for dinner. So, every night, the servants would place the dinner plates in front of the King, the Queen and the Princess, and off would come the cloches all at the same time.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sausages and mashed potatoes for dinner!” the King would say.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fried chicken and collard greens for dinner!” the Queen would say.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mac and cheese for dinner!” the Princess would say.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But this evening, as she headed down to dinner, the Princess had a frog in her pocket. Just as she was sitting down at the Royal Table, the frog hopped out of her pocket, across the floor of the grand room, and into the kitchens. The cook had just finished plating the dinners, was covering them with cloches when the frog hopped onto one of the plates. The cook wasn’t paying attention and did not see the frog. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so the Royal Diners were served, and with grand flourishes the servers placed the dinner plates in front of the King, the Queen and the Princess, and removed the cloches.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mac and cheese for dinner!” said the Princess.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fried chicken and collard greens for dinner!” said the Queen.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sausages and mashed potatoes and a frog!” said the King.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone turned to stare at the King’s dinner.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just then a fly, which had been buzzing around the chandeliers flew down and landed on the King’s nose. Now the king hated flies more than almost anything in the world (except perhaps collard greens). He loathed them. The made him want to scream and cry and throw a tantrum, which is not acceptable behavior for a king.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the blink of an eye the frog’s long tongue shot out, stuck to the fly, and returned to the frogs mouth. Sluerp.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The frog munched and swallowed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The frog looked at the King. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The King looked at the frog. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Ribbit?” said the frog.</span></div>
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Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-10198859166573744902016-12-10T09:58:00.000-08:002016-12-10T09:58:33.428-08:00The Odd Duckling<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">When I was young I remember hearing a story about an ugly duckling who grew up to be a beautiful swan. At the time I couldn't help wondering how a swan's egg would get mixed up with the duck eggs without the mother duck noticing.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had some trouble with the title for this story. At first I was going to call it "The Exceptionally Ugly Duckling", but that seemed cruel. Then I was thinking of "The Sixth Duckling" in deference to my favorite Orson Welles film, but that seemed dark. In the end </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I decided on "The Odd Duckling".</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once there was a duck, and her name was Quack. Now this a very good name for a duck, because when you say to the duck, “What’s your name?”, they can reply “Quack” and be right.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quack lived by a pond. She had a large and well-built nest in a clump of tall reeds, in which she looked after her five, pale green eggs. Every morning she would spend conscientiously sitting on her eggs to keep them warm. At 11am she would get up, count her eggs, and then waddle down to the pond for her daily exercise and her lunch. She would return an hour later, count the eggs again, and then return to sitting on them for the remainder of the afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now ducks are not very good at counting. You and I can easily count to ten, on account of having ten fingers and thumbs. In an emergency we can take off our shoes and socks, and then we can count to twenty. But a duck has just two wings and two feet, and consequently they have trouble counting to any number higher than four. Quack was no exception. Sometimes she counted four eggs, sometimes she counted five, and sometimes she counted six. Occasionally she even counted seven or eight. This didn’t worry her unduly: she assumed that this was just the way things were with eggs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One fine spring morning, at 11am, Quack got up from her nest and counted her eggs. This time it so happened that she got it exactly right: five. She spent a pleasant hour paddling in the pond and munching on duckweed before she returned to her nest to count her eggs again. Once again she managed to count the eggs exactly right: six.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course Quack was used to the number of eggs changing when she got back from the lake, and so this did not worry her. She might have noticed that one of the eggs was larger than the others, and that it looked like it was carved from a solid piece of onyx, flecked with red and gold veins that sparkled in the sun. But Quack was very short-sighted and not the most observant of ducks.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She did notice that one of the eggs seemed warmer than the others. Indeed, after sitting on them a little while, her bottom got quite uncomfortably hot, and she had to go back to the pond to cool off. Still, she assumed that the egg must have been laying in the sun, and did not worry about it. Ducks are not very smart animals, and Quack, as I’m sure you’re beginning to realize, was not the smartest of ducks.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so, one morning, a few weeks later, as spring started to turn into summer, and the wildflowers blossomed in the fields, the eggs started to twitch. Quack stood back and watched with pride as cracks began to appear and, one by one, the ducklings emerged.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first five ducklings were yellow and fluffy, and tumbled over one another like little yellow powder puffs. The sixth duckling was different. In place of downy feathers she had shining blue-green scales. Her eyes were like shining red jewels, smoke drifted from her nostrils, and her wings were golden but shaped like the wings of a bat. Even Quack, looking at her sixth duckling, could not fail to notice she was a little odd.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Say what you like about Quack, but she was a good mother. On seeing her seeing her six new hatchlings, Quack said to herself “These are all my ducklings, and I will love them all equally”. She called the six ducklings to attention and solemnly lead them in procession down to the pond. The sixth duckling did her best to waddle behind the other five. She landed with a splash in the pond, and a small cloud of steam rose about her as she paddled behind the other five.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, whilst this was happening, many miles away, in an eyrie high in the wall of a sheer cliff face, overlooking the ocean, a dragon was crying. The dragon sobbed huge, jewel-like tears the size of duck eggs. As each tear fell from her ruby eyes and hit the rocks below it shattered into a thousand sparkling fragments, to be followed a second later by the next tear.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dragon was sad because she had lost the thing that she cared for most in the whole world: her beautiful, precious egg.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The way it happened was this: the dragon was returning to her nest from hunting for cabbages one afternoon (dragons love cabbages), when she saw an eagle perched in her eyrie and pecking at her egg. She roared, and swooped down on startled eagle, spraying flames as she went. The eagle grabbed the egg in its talons and flew off as fast as it could, with the dragon giving chase. The two creatures raced for miles, swooping over the tops of trees, circling and then soaring above the clouds, until, exhausted and with its tail-feathers smouldering, the eagle dropped the egg.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The poor dragon watched helplessly as the egg tumbled through the clouds and disappeared from view. For days and weeks afterwards she searched high and low for any trace of the fallen egg, until, convinced that it must have broken into a thousand pieces, she returned to her eyrie to weep.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the egg didn’t break. It’s fall was slowed by a bunch of tall reeds and, miraculously, it landed unharmed in a waiting duck’s nest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back at Quack’s nest, things were not going so well for the sixth duckling. At first the five feathered ducklings had been very happy to have such an unusual and different sister. When a fox had come sniffing around their nest, looking for easy pickings, it had quickly run away with its tail between its legs. And when another family of ducklings had tried to make fun of Quack and her brood down at the pond, the sixth duckling had chased after them with sparks flying from her nostrils, so that they fled in terror, floundering and flopping, with stubby wings splashing wildly in the water.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But every day the sixth duckling grew bigger, till there was no room for both her and her siblings in the nest. She didn’t like to eat duckweed or the small fish that swam in the pond, but was always hungry for larger, stranger kinds of food. Worse yet, she caught a cold from spending so much time in the pond, and every time she sneezed she set the nest on fire. Poor Quack had to beat out the flames with her wings which were soon singed and black with soot.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quack reluctantly came to a decision: for the sake of the other five ducklings, she must let the sixth, odd duckling go. Sorrowfully she told her ducklings the news. She gave her sixth duckling one of her tail feathers to remember her by. The other ducklings gathered round offering goodbye hugs and pecks. One single tear fell from the sixth duckling’s eye, and lay, shining like a perfectly cut diamond, on the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so the strange little duckling with blue-green scales, ruby-red eyes and golden wings set out on her way. First she crossed the pond, and then followed the small burbling stream that headed out towards the neighboring forest. As she followed it the stream it got wider and more sedate, and was joined by more bubbling streams until it seemed more of a river than a stream. Some of the time she paddled along in the water, as her mother had taught her, but then she would try following her instinct and flying, and with a few beats of her golden wings, she was sailing above the silvery snaking river, watching it winding between the steep banks below.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first evening she slept in a haystack on a farm that backed on to the river. She was awakened in the early hours of the morning by shouts from the farm house, and was surprised to find the haystack ablaze. She waddled back to the river as quickly as she could. After that she slept amongst rocks, or on bare earth with nothing flammable nearby.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After many days of travel the river opened out into a wide, boggy wetlands through which she could no longer swim. She took to the wing once more, and found herself soaring above the marshland, then the beaches, and suddenly the glorious, wide open ocean.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For many hours the odd duckling flew over the ocean, entranced by the majestic waves and the far horizons, until, tired and hungry, she landed on a small islet. There she found some wild cabbages which she ate, ravenously, and she fell asleep on the sand beneath a swaying palm tree.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the weeks that followed she flew far and wide over the ocean, every day going a little further and feeling a little more brave. She had many adventures: she had tea with mermaids (though the tea tasted of seaweed); she played checkers with an octopus (though the octopus always won); and she flew above the clouds with an albatross (though the albatross kept complaining that ancient, grey bearded mariners were taking pot shots at him). And every day she grew a little bigger and a little stronger.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some weeks later, flying further than she ever had before, the odd duckling came to a range of high cliffs and landed on the rocky beach at the cliff’s base. From high above she could hear the sound of sobbing, and a tinkling that sounded like crystals or jewels breaking on the rocks above. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The duckling was curious and flew up searching for the source of the sounds. She found a ledge, high up on the cliff face, and on the ledge was a creature bigger than any the duckling had seen before. In spite of its size, the creature looking familiar, much like the reflections the odd duckling and seen in the pond long before. It had huge red eyes of flame, was covered with shining blue-green scales bigger than dinner plates, and its great golden wings unfolded to caste a shadow bigger than the biggest thunder cloud.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hello,” said the odd duckling. “Why are you crying?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The creature stopped, and stared at the duckling in surprise and wonder. “Who are you?” it asked after a long pause.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m a duckling,” said the odd duckling. “At least I think I am,” said the odd duckling. “Though sometimes I’m not sure”, she added doubtfully, and she proceeded to tell her long and strange story.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As she talked the creature’s eyes grew bigger and wider, until finally the odd duckling stopped and looked up at the huge creature which starred at her in wonder.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You’re not a duckling, you are a dragon,” said the creature, “and you are my baby!” With that the mother dragon wrapped her huge, golden wings around the baby dragon, and as she hugged her tightly, her heart filled with joy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From that day on the baby dragon lived with her mother, and she grew ancient and huge and wise, the way that all dragons do.</span></div>
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Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-40550935449662698242016-09-16T23:27:00.000-07:002016-10-28T23:55:26.740-07:00The Rabbit In The Moon<h2>
The Rabbit In The Moon</h2>
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A Traditional Folktale from Japan</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3jxN47XsWBM3HC42u3C8QOeJvc9oksK_X7tMynhnbLXNuqbRxOPSi95B6rFv1jcU7Rr0x_qrvJdFeFz2eIFxqkKFa5tlRmCfmTlX4uSQN_eKywM4NMdfP2OHWnTIxjrGN9BXlP2CP-dC/s1600/moon3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3jxN47XsWBM3HC42u3C8QOeJvc9oksK_X7tMynhnbLXNuqbRxOPSi95B6rFv1jcU7Rr0x_qrvJdFeFz2eIFxqkKFa5tlRmCfmTlX4uSQN_eKywM4NMdfP2OHWnTIxjrGN9BXlP2CP-dC/s400/moon3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>A Note on the Translation: </b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I made the Moon-with-rabbit above as a contribution to the birthday present for a friend, and wanted an authentic version of the story of The Rabbit In The Moon to go with it.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Variations of the story of the Rabbit in the Moon exist in many Asian cultures. In some versions the Old Man of the Moon is replaced by the Jade Emperor (Chinese) or Sankra the God of the Heavens (Indian). In some versions the additional animals change, for example a monkey, an otter and an jackal. A version of the story is included in the Konjaku Monogatarishū, a collection of Japanese stories from the Helen period. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">As is often the case with historical folk tales and fairy stories, contemporary translations and retellings have often been altered or sanitized to fit better with modern sensibilities and ideals. Despite extensive research, I was not able to find a modern translation of the story which satisfactory captured the original intent. Consequently I have provided a new translation which attempts to better capture the spirit of the earliest Japanese versions of the story.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: red;">(Note: May not be suitable for younger readers)</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">Long ago in Japan a monkey, a fox and a rabbit all lived together and were best friends.</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">Now the Old Man in the Moon looked down from the sky and wondered at how kind and gentle the three animals were, and he wondered which of the animals is the kindest. One day he determined to find out, and so he came down to earth and disguised himself as a beggar.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">“Please help me,” said the beggar to the three animals, as they gathered around a fire, “for I am very hungry.”</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">“Certainly we’ll help you,” said the monkey, the fox and the rabbit.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">First the Monkey went and gathered all kinds of good fruits and nuts from the trees and laid them at the feet of the beggar. “I can offer you these fruits and nuts,” he said.</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">Then the fox went and caught a large, tasty fish and laid it and the feet of the beggar. “I can offer you this fish,” he said.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">But the rabbit could only gather grass which the beggar could not eat, and had nothing to offer.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">When the rabbit’s turn came, the beggar looked at him expectantly, then at the fire, and then back at the rabbit. The fox licked his lips. The monkey started to chatter excitedly.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">“No Way! That’s fucking bullshit!” said the rabbit. “Screw you, I’m getting the hell out of here!”</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649">Before the beggar, the monkey or the fox could do anything, the rabbit hopped the the rocket-ship that the beggar had arrived in and took off. (Foolishly the Old Man of the Moon had left the keys in the ignition.) The rabbit flew straight to the moon where he lived for ever afterwards. The Old Man was stranded on earth, and was devoured by wolves a short time later.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a494df0-1fb5-b1f2-dfaa-dc86fd5ef649"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpny-RcgxUU42Ah9Ndrsd9V7EFJGT8yncg9R7nn-cxTauipQk8aS5LaQldEE4Kq7ZxPQvNPMwxyfH6DzUYlA1owArw4ObvWqxrMUdxPvixsZQHJWlqfYxaMj9aihFQSKotuUAtqXqVu84/s1600/moon-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpny-RcgxUU42Ah9Ndrsd9V7EFJGT8yncg9R7nn-cxTauipQk8aS5LaQldEE4Kq7ZxPQvNPMwxyfH6DzUYlA1owArw4ObvWqxrMUdxPvixsZQHJWlqfYxaMj9aihFQSKotuUAtqXqVu84/s400/moon-back.jpg" width="392" /></a></span></div>
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Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-86559797835839555072016-08-16T23:11:00.000-07:002016-08-16T23:11:00.465-07:00The Armadillo and the Porcupine<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once there was an armadillo named Arnold. He had a shell of tough armoured scales. He had armoured scales on his head and tail. He could also jump very high. He lived in a dark and mysterious forest. There were jaguars who lived in the forest, who liked to sit on tree branches and drop on animals as they walked underneath. But they never dropped on Arnold because they were afraid to bruise their noses on his hard scaly shell.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="armadillo.jpg" height="173" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MJ4-BH_-tgMOCLwDfZp9zzwBlR3FronJYyDEBmBbWgril12mFdCFl_b9eeCdlPnYoiLq0PeiSMlL-H9FtBvZx7uuRqHAfc4oJh2OqmG-fPfKzb8EGGbmjjImAVdHK-RZsZJCxXw2" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" title="" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the same forest there lived a porcupine named Pieter. He had spikes on his back. Sharp pointy spikes. Lots of sharp pointy spikes. The jaguars didn’t drop on Pieter either.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="porcupine.jpg" height="224" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uK3t7qaw6W29wlmRbq6W2Frk36GtnydPeArY_tioFIMskBY3RQMTIZzSocTBlDJ-XnXR4oSAdQTzSgr78Psc6_yIMhkELiieTAIfFvr0zYTQMnOBSVB2zE_VCCqzMweFDo3sLg6Q" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now in the forest there was a lake. The animals would come to the lake to drink water. Some would come to have baths. The jaguars would sit in branches of the trees by the lake hoping to drop on the other animals as they went to get a drink of water.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One day Arnold was walking along the trail at edge of the lake when he heard the sound of of crying from a small hole in the bank. He went up close to have a look, and saw a mouse, sitting in the hole and weeping.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What’s the matter?” asked Arnold in a kindly way. “Why are you crying?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m crying because I miss my wife and baby,” said the mouse. “They’re trapped in a hole in the bank a little up past that tree, and I can’t reach them because there’s a jaguar in the tree waiting to drop on me.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arnold thought a little. “I’m going in that direction along the trail,” he said. “Why don’t you walk underneath me? You’re small enough that the jaguar wouldn’t even see you and he wouldn’t drop on me because of my scaly shell.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So Arnold continued his walk along by the edge of the lake with the mouse scurrying underneath him.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now a little further along, Pieter the porcupine was walking along trail by the edge of the lake in the opposite direction, when he heard the sound of crying from another small hole in the bank. He stopped to have a look and saw a mother mouse and her baby hiding in the hole and weeping.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What’s the matter?” asked the kindly porcupine. “Why are you crying?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We’re crying because we miss our daddy mouse,” said the mother mouse. “He’s trapped in a hole in the bank past that tree over there, and we can’t reach him because we’re afraid the jaguar in that tree will drop on us.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pieter stopped and thought. “I’m going in that direction along the lake,” he said, “and the jaguar won’t drop on me because of my spikes. Why don’t you come with and walk underneath me.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So Pieter continued along the bank of the lake, with the mother mouse scurrying along underneath him, carrying her baby.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little while later Pieter and Arnold passed each other going in the opposite directions. They said “Good morning,” to each other. The jaguar watched from its tree, feeling hungry.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arnold came to the second hole in the bank. The mouse scurried out from between his legs and into the hole. He cried “Where are they? They’ve gone!”, and put his little head between his paws and sobbed.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, I didn’t see any mice on the way,” said Arnold the armadillo, trying to comfort him “so they must have gone on this way. You wait here and I’ll carry on round the lake to see if I can find them”. The mouse was thanked him profusely as he set out on his way.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile Pieter the porcupine had reached the first hole. The mother mouse and her baby ran eagerly into the hole. “He’s not here!” she cried, and the baby started to wail.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We didn’t see him on the way,” said Pieter sympathetically. “Maybe he went round the lake the other way. I’ll keep going and look for him.” The two mice waved to him gratefully as he set out on his way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So Arnold the armadillo walked round the lake in one direction, while Pieter walked around in the opposite direction. Eventually they met on the opposite side of the lake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="map.jpg" height="451" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fZJZqvcv0KijpdtrWZRCmuwyFc3nrAoZvR25bYkNatxX7hJKBTXsaHB7aOFTVzKFlZYtER4kD0fE-U4Sykswc6lVN_VMxtEyeReuQEG6iTSKf_wmvqk5eay3n47D3ybAHswDM45S" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Excuse me, but have you seen a mouse?” they both asked at exactly the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m sorry,” they both said, again at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I was looking for a mouse,” they both said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arnold held up a paw. Pieter paused. Arnold explained about the mouse in the first hole, and how he had helped him reach the second hole, and now was looking for the mother and baby mouse.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he’d finished, Pieter explained about the mother and baby mice in the second hole, and how he was now looking for the daddy mouse.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course they both saw immediately what had happened. They walked around the lake together till they reached the second hole.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The daddy mouse was pacing up and down inside the hole. Arnold and Pieter told him what had happened, and the three of them set off together, with the mouse scurrying beneath Arnold.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At last they reached the first hole again. The daddy mouse raced out from underneath the armadillo and into the arms of the mother mouse, while the baby gurgled happily. The mouse family were overjoyed to be together again.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They offered to share their cheese with Arnold and Pieter who politely refused. (Neither armadillos nor porcupines like to eat cheese.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pieter and Arnold walked off together chatting about the adventure they had had, and from that day forth they were always the best of friends.</span></div>
<br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-53601230285441603122016-07-30T09:39:00.001-07:002016-07-30T09:39:59.912-07:00The Wicked What<h2>
The Wicked What</h2>
<h3>
A bed-time story for Sophie</h3>
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© 2016, Anthony Kosky</div>
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Once upon a time there was a Wicked What.<br />
<br />
Now a Wicked What is a bit like a Wicked Which only even more more wicked and unpleasant.<br />
<br />
In fact, this Wicked What was especially bad because she hated it when people mistook her for a Wicked Which. She would travel around the magical kingdom where she lived, and whenever she met someone who would say “Excuse me but are you a Which,” she would turn them into a Newt. Or, if they were already a Newt, she would turn them into an Artichoke, or something even worse.<br />
<br />
And wherever she went, she would cast spells to make people grow warts on the end of their noses. Or, for those who already had warts, she would cast spells to make them grow noses on the end of their warts. Either way, it was very Wicked and made people very unhappy.<br />
<br />
Now one day she was walking through a forest (as her broomstick was being repaired) when she came to a bridge crossing a shallow stream. Just as she started to cross the bridge an Ugly, Hairy Troll jumped out from underneath and bared her way.<br />
<br />
“Who dares to cross my bridge?” said the Ugly, Hairy Troll.<br />
<br />
“Out of my way,” said the Wicked What, “or I shall turn you into a troll.”<br />
<br />
The Ugly, Hairy Troll gave her an ugly, hairy smile. “I’m already a troll,” he said.<br />
<br />
“Very well then,” said the Wicked What, “I’ll turn you into a Handsome Prince,” and she took her wand from her pocket and zapped him.<br />
<br />
The troll, who was now a Handsome Prince, looked at his reflection in the stream and screamed. “Waaaaah,” he wailed. “How can I go back to my Ugly, Hairy Troll Wife, and my Ugly, Hairy Troll Children. They’ll scream when they see how un-ugly I’ve become.” And he ran into the forest crying and gnashing his perfect, white teeth together.<br />
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Now, a little way away, in the forest there was a clearing, and in that clearing a beautiful Princess was having a picnic. She was singing cheery songs to the birds and little woodland creatures, and eating dainty cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches.<br />
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Suddenly the Troll stumbled into the clearing. “Oh, a Handsome Prince,” thought the Princess. “Would you like to join my picnic?” she asked politely.<br />
<br />
The Troll (or Handsome Prince) looked startled, but by then he was very hungry so he approached the Princess’ picnic blanket warily and sat down. Of course, though he looked like a handsome prince, he still had the table manners of a troll. So, pretty soon, he was shoveling the cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches into his mouth with both hands at once and chewing noisily with his mouth wide open. Then, when there were no more sandwiches left, he took the elegant cup of tea that the Princess had kindly poured for him, emptied the entire contents of the sugar bowl into the cup, drank it down in a single gulp, and let out a large and exceptionally smelly burp.<br />
<br />
“You do seem a little unusual for a prince,” said the Princess politely.<br />
<br />
“I’m a troll,” grunted the Troll.<br />
<br />
“You don’t look like a troll,” said the Princess. “Though you do rather act like one,” she conceded.<br />
<br />
The Troll explained sadly how he’d been transformed.<br />
<br />
“It must be that Wicked What causing mischief again,” said the Princess thoughtfully. “I’ve heard about her. I think it’s time to teach her a lesson.” And she set off into the forest looking for the Wicked What.<br />
<br />
She spotted her a short while later, trudging along the path through the forest and muttering wicked things to herself. The princes ran ahead and then stepped onto the path in front of the Wicked What just as she rounded a corner.<br />
<br />
“Excuse me,” said the princess in her most innocent voice, “but are you a Which?”<br />
<br />
“I’m not a Which, I’m a What,” shrieked the Wicked What, “and I’ll turn you into a Newt!”<br />
<br />
But, just as the Wicked What drew her wand and sent a blue-green spell fizzling towards the Princess, the Princess took a mirror from behind her back. The spell bounced off the mirror and hit the Wicked What square on the chin.<br />
<br />
A bewildered Newt lay on the ground at the Princess’ feet. Before it could collect its thoughts and run away, the Princess picked it up by the tail and dangled it in front of her face. “Oh no,” said the dismayed Newt. “Serves you right,” said the Princess.<br />
<br />
“Now,” continued the Princess, “I happen to have with me a de-newting spray from the royal wizard. I might turn you back into a What, if you promise to turn this poor Handsome Prince back into a troll and then leave my kingdom and never bother us again.”<br />
<br />
“Or,” said the Princess in a menacing voice, “I could just sit on you.”<br />
<br />
The Newt gulped, and promised to do as it was told.<br />
<br />
“Pinky promise?” asked the Princess. The Newt nodded again.<br />
<br />
So the Princess took a small aerosol can from her purse. She sprayed the Newt from its nose to the tip of its tail, and took a step backwards. After a few seconds there was a soft hissing noise and the Newt seemed to unfold into a rather sorry-looking What.<br />
<br />
The What muttered a spell pointed her wand at the Handsome Prince who had just come out from hiding behind a tree. With a puff of smoke, the Prince transformed back into an Ugly, Hairy Troll.<br />
<br />
The Ugly, Hairy Troll was so happy to be returned to his normal form that he tried to give the Princess a hug and a big, slobbery kiss, but she declined politely and the troll of ran off dancing and singing happily to himself.<br />
<br />
Then the What reluctantly handed her wand over the princess, shuffled away in a subdued manner, and was never seen again.<br />
<br />
THE ENDAnthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-24167906614794989742015-07-04T23:44:00.002-07:002015-07-04T23:44:45.035-07:00The Mouse and the Moon<span id="docs-internal-guid-34e724e1-5cde-c162-6b19-cc3046fa16eb"></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-34e724e1-5cde-c162-6b19-cc3046fa16eb"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© 2015, by Anthony Kosky. All rights reserved.</span></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-34e724e1-5cde-c162-6b19-cc3046fa16eb"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-34e724e1-5cde-c162-6b19-cc3046fa16eb"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived a small mouse.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now you’re probably saying to yourself, “That’s not a very interesting start to a story. After all there are mice in almost every place on earth, and mice, or their ancestors, have been around for a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hundred million years or more</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1943255337139996873#1" name="top1"><sup>1</sup></a>.”
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<img alt="guinevere.jpg" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/h1_9mxlKLY4u3qvE7YhvaxRat7DFVHiaXnO3pkyv6Ssm_xddumKVKPKvKm6fUdWxOQRd7IG-muXgpO_9mmJDESswsz55tG8HABy3EhoL_wNV95fY5KzlSOHDHIWaeUdu4enZ5bI" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; line-height: 1.38; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="140" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But this mouse was unusual. Her name was Guinevere and she liked cheese.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course now you’re probably saying to yourself “But all mice like cheese,” and you’re right. At least most of them do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But here’s the thing: Guinevere </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Really Liked Cheese</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I mean she really, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">really</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REALLY</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> liked it. Even other mice thought she was pretty fanatical about it. She had a large burrow with many rooms and tunnels, and it was always full of cheese. There was Havarti in the hallways, Chevre in the cellars, Brie in the bedrooms, Compté in the cupboards an Tomme on the tables. And of course there was chedder: chedder was everywhere. Guinevere collected all the cheese she could find. Once she rolled a whole wheel of mimolette all the way home only to find it was too big to fit in her hole, and it sat outside her front door for a month before she ate enough that she could fit it inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it wasn’t just that she liked to collect and eat cheese - she also studied it. Her thesis on Sheep Cheeses of the Eastern Himalayas was considered by many to be the definitive work on the subject, and her paper entitled “On the Benefits of Washed Rinds” had lead to a small revolution in the manufacture of goat cheese. She had served not once but twice as the keynote speaker at the annual conference of International Mouse Association’s Special Interest Group on Blue Cheese.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One warm, summer evening Guinevere was lying in a field of grass looking up at the sky -- she’d just finished her dinner of Fioré Sardo with a little fresh sheep’s milk cheese for dessert, and was feeling pleasantly drowsy -- when she noticed the moon hanging in the sky. It was aperfect, round, silvery disk, against a backdrop of black pricked with thousands of glittering st ars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="moon.jpg" height="187px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UNLcq9Gf-BjHRvawR9_lZ7DHrBgzGJyqn5K_qo1qBVg4Ptre_wbHVNIIf4YIHlPjvcgFi0ZSP0wk0kZmmdKfuLXF-1OsbKaLQ7HKUF7YFstZpC9X8_7-F26jQy-JqpuAJYUbMJU" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="197px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She remembered a nursery rhyme that her mother had sung to her when she was little.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The moon’s a great big ball of cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hanging in the starry sky</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It hangs upon a great cheese tree</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please don’t ask me why.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But I wonder,” she thought, “what kind of cheese is it.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At first she thought it might be a giant chevrot. “But surely,” she said to herself, “there aren’t enough goats.” She wondered if the craters might be the holes in a Swiss-cheese; perhaps a huge Gruyere. “But the colour is wrong,” she thought. The more she thought about it, the more puzzled she became, until she decided she just had to find out for herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-moon-1.jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oam3uomvD4LFkqlhDSQTY4sep-bRGe5VShE5oFRvWqo4XXMF2zcVY3_nOs3L5INg5sbg51P8_4v7kATjfzWRtfEkbfXIj7Vutt9e6dyXfSUWTHmyEdM9A86nc8COkxPOwtLQ-PM" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="609px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First she tried to reach up and grab a piece of the moon, but, even standing on tip toes she couldn’t reach it. “Oh well,” she thought, “I am a mouse after all”. She tried jumping as high as she could. She went to fetch a big block of Jarlsberg from her larder, another of Cheshire, and one of Camembert; piled them on top of each other, and climbed to on top of them, but the moon didn’t seem to get any closer. When eventually, tired and frustrated, she gave up, it was nearly morning. “Tomorrow,” she said, “I will get a step ladder’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next night Guinevere borrowed a step ladder; she dragged it to the top of the tallest hill she could find; she stood on tip toes; she put a cardboard box on the top step of the ladder; she stood on tip toes again, this time on top of the cardboard box. And yet, try as she might, the moon seemed just as far out of reach as ever.</span><br />
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<img alt="guinevere-stepladder.jpg" height="308" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/J3DQcVk-B-qhab7kD2yX-icjdPqhfg0cqb_CDg-1vP-AH1Z2BbtIYCWNRCTaImFlmKguMioKhqNjlRmntMadD1f07uhQdrWrmZE-H4kKZNtFHo1ZPfL0ezoVfAR04QLrEIq9FtM" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s odd,” she thought as she balanced on the edge of the box one last time, stretching out her paws as far as she possibly could, “but the moon seems a little smaller than it did yesterday”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following night Guinevere borrowed a trampoline from a friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She jumped. She bounced. She leaped. She went up …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-up.jpg" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fkelKRUCiZrKD01whRCiAUNJ5SbooR5LuEZHH3llOA4cMZL8NKQyZsEITDA31UhZ-So07majrbTbM3x5sYAXPWIzNsEHcHvH-j9MlP1so1GCskhXUiAdN2bNZqgqX5tV15-0Dnc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="142" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and down …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-down.jpg" height="177" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/s3kqSPRQGT48gE7uocyj_xiO6lDyXwGn7CtBC-4jTvE_LG6NEXy_Onycnrpkjvy82RHiDv5WbUFfR7Bm2fDGodfs4HOwX8blpzSerLkkQ8P5ZCGEahe86nFc3SdfV5Bk2T4cgZQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="200" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and up and down and up and down, getting higher and higher and higher. And yet, she still could not reach the moon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the time she was finished she felt quite queasy and dizzy. So much so that she had to make herself a midnight snack - a little Roquefort on a toasted breadcrumb - to settle her tummy. As she nibbled she thought to herself, “The moon really does seem a little smaller tonight, but how could that be?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The night after that Guinevere went to the forest. She searched for the tallest tree she could find, an ancient, towering oak. She climbed to the very top, and clutching tightly to the topmost branches with her hind paws, she reached up as high as she possibly could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-tree.jpg" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nxTQI4gFMaQ0TLWApkZbvhgJ3qwUjWz29nk_JRZTkd4Ax6FhJzb1vG5b7iWcD5yAZDvYeGH0qjlPylb_r3errqnXKgCa1cYY0EvQHUM3LcWnYUg0ukr3WLl8GqutkfHbUoyVv6k" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="275" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This time there was no doubt. Where the moon had been a perfect round circle, it was now an oval, as if someone had been eating away at one side of it, while leaving the other side alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Someone,” she said in shocked disbelief, “is stealing the cheese.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the nights that followed Guinevere tried everything she could think of to try to reach the moon. She climbed mountains and towers. She took the biggest ladder she could find and balanced it in the high branches of the oak tree. She even asked a bird to pick her up and fly her there, but the bird said she was too busy looking after her eggs. I’m sure if rocket ships had been invented then, she would have tried one of those too. But she still could not reach the moon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-bird.jpg" height="242" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yx1p-iYWcbD5BqqsbYYnt5e1V_hnB5yj-bS_uAYzHHYJxqZazcUvwVzqkocPSlyDfS7QCqOMHkjLufb1oD8Mj4Vcf1GIojf-KytEcXub7OzjjHENg0M67X5C1kJKbtM2JZGzax4" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yet clearly someone else was able to reach it. For, night after night, it got smaller and smaller, until half the moon had disappeared, like a Crotin that had been chopped straight down the middle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guinevere decided she must find out who was stealing the moon, and put a stop to it. She asked everyone she knew. She tried a private detective, Philip Micelow, who promised to investigate but came back empty pawed. She asked all the cheese industry insiders she had as contacts, but she could find no clue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-pi.jpg" height="221" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qYBm9HjIPGXXGjqwLhBbikQKLnXgG9tTgimH32Xz4QK9FZqcx7bALpY3gR8AkFErbgzd7ulqEwp6hc0OSNibSnhFZRgzt3VUPznZGSnPXlOWolzr9ZcRS8_IqRTnlhca7weHyZc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By now the moon was almost gone, only a thin sliver remained, and Guinevere was getting so worried that she almost lost her appetite. Even a particularly pungent Gorgonzola did little to calm her nerves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Perhaps it is the cats,” she thought to herself. “After all, they love to taunt us mice.” But no, she knew that cats had no interest in cheese.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Maybe it’s the rats,” she thought. “But no: the rats are greedy, and some of them are evil, but none of them are very smart.” No rat would be be able to steal the moon.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1943255337139996873#2" name="top2"><sup>2</sup></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So it must be a mouse,” she concluded. “But it’s much too much cheese for one mouse to eat, so they must planning on selling it or giving it to other mice.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then Guinevere came up with a plan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Maybe I can’t find out who stole the moon, or even how they did it. But if I can convince the Mouse Who Stole The Moon, and all the other mice that might want some of it, that it isn’t made of cheese at all, perhaps he will put it back. After all,” she thought, “I do have some influence.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-radio-show.jpg" height="173" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DpCqejdxeMGyuK33Qk5djeNnU2KhhmAHx37bvESpw1vqgg4OlcdMP6o-gR_UqpFk6bGmw1JKEKsRRxY0nuXWQQxreVn-P7o5pImQ7rHBERUnzoMnyje2eCM9REH86ijRkUBx69k" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next morning she phoned a radio talk show. “I’ve just found out,” she said, “that the moon isn’t made out of cheese at all”. Then she typed a long letter and sent it to all the major newspapers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That night the remaining sliver of moon looked a little bit wider.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next morning the New Mouse Times published Guinevere's letter in their editorial column. The headline read “</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shocking New Scientific Discovery: Composition of the Moon Mostly Rock</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That night the sliver of moon was a bit wider. “It’s working,” Guenevere thought, “but I must make it stick”. She stayed up late that night trying to come up with a new rhyme. The next morning she went to the school playground and taught it to the little mice playing there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The moon is just a ball of rock</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not a tasty treat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you bite it you will break your teeth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It isn’t good to eat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-playground.jpg" height="360px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZYK5AtJq5Vu8jIkY8kP9VoVotG4l4WpWdmljVw0kloCq3CHPIBweWekqWm7i8DfaBzu6I45cicaf_qoddoOmubEhQbqjL8BSHOJY9J1Nl0GPqhQW8ADNaFEgz81piHW1lrokrBs" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All day the children sang the song to each other. That evening they went home and sang it to their parents and grandparents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next day the parents called their nephews and nieces, cousins, and uncles and aunts. Soon mice everywhere were singing it to their children at bedtime, and the children were singing it to their friends at school next day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-bedtime.jpg" height="187" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/8tkSXBFg6rXVYob94bhBixrutPOipzIogPDS-MpRwzAgSe8QB1Ka0zwFoVeuA_EV7YDQJTxr0L0FhsVrwcSR6tA2rmvZs0VzhmbKG_zuQyvJEx79zY9i2RxmWFdynXSx_8NF9qk" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the mean time many important mouse scientists and scholars chimed in, agreeing with Guenevere. They didn’t want to seem left out, so they cited new evidence, trying to pretend they had also been part of the great discovery, or that it was what they had thought all along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-lecture.jpg" height="282" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/r_GnVAMe-jKGwIq8jX0eH0cPK_dz4x34mqirarcbpI1j7yc5lnwlj7v-qZdLwZMrirt-Q2HzQXVOzO5DoQUfeqaZD9SuO2rLrLX98PHL-DX3mV_qKvTSMr-1zAa8sCAZZLwbLzs" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And every day the moon got a little bigger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soon mice everywhere believed that the moon was not made of cheese, and, of course, all the other animals, and the humans, learnt it from the mice. And soon the moon was a full round circle once again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact Guinevere’s plan worked so well that, in a little while people forgot that they’d ever believed that the moon was made of cheese, and started to think it was just a silly story for children. And so it is that, even today, if you were to ask your parents, or your teacher, or a scientist from NASA, what the moon is made of, they’ll probably start talking about rocks, ice and mineral compositions. And, if you tell them it's actually made of cheese, they won't even believe it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="guinevere-moon-2.jpg" height="274" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HTUCBM5iCLxPYYS5MiS28GaB49vX5zxcApsNzMuL6N3LZkBkguMpFLe-twZ41csa5dSBJg6n4a2JmQsgAbkv9-jtNk915Jv4jkcNSEYQ7A_jE_sm5t2eKbwwH77DIO4XWoW0Zj8" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But You and I and Guinevere know the truth.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="1"><b>1 </b></a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/1949644.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/1949644.stm</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1943255337139996873#top1"><sup>↩</sup></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"><b>2 </b></a>The author would like to emphasize that these are the opinions or the character Guinevere and are in no way condoned by the author. Rats are not evil: they are highly misunderstood creatures and are, for the most part, good natured and kind. Now squirrels on the hand...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1943255337139996873#top2"><sup>↩</sup></a><br />
</span>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-1643823322433826282014-11-05T23:42:00.000-08:002014-11-05T23:42:00.819-08:00Octopusses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfWJca6nE-wXRAbW6CCosgmx19CharxkqdWH2FmH9AOffc0U0EGZA7kwdAjQG0u_A2yDMho36ws-3dk4fxWJmZx2iujaMudZkwFTDJZPDnfoNesVkqTv5gLUN_h5BIz_9vYGDxl0k8cT5/s1600/octopusses-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfWJca6nE-wXRAbW6CCosgmx19CharxkqdWH2FmH9AOffc0U0EGZA7kwdAjQG0u_A2yDMho36ws-3dk4fxWJmZx2iujaMudZkwFTDJZPDnfoNesVkqTv5gLUN_h5BIz_9vYGDxl0k8cT5/s1600/octopusses-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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These are some paintings I just finished for Rose and Sophie to have in their rooms.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEBQGlO5VpI_lGIAa09eQDN02EpGcLyqUiwAikwNyBH4m9YreSC28-m9VBy7te2_0GHz9dDPzcncUIPrlabDlMsLg2h0TVKxSpnEA7D7t3IVjRuajM36aaZXA_hpUC1LZl1UZJD_gwXoF/s1600/octopusses-1-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEBQGlO5VpI_lGIAa09eQDN02EpGcLyqUiwAikwNyBH4m9YreSC28-m9VBy7te2_0GHz9dDPzcncUIPrlabDlMsLg2h0TVKxSpnEA7D7t3IVjRuajM36aaZXA_hpUC1LZl1UZJD_gwXoF/s1600/octopusses-1-sm.jpg" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwpW-fy3Lo9zy2S33ICE-R5_uX3R_kPmj5hRC_2sN9nJ5sZ7NBYXpL1lEixZpPZLWQuqFp3eZZ629WMdlUwZf8ypHSD9wriN_ffzyP4gIh4DPDsRcz2_c4C0aJmTO_6j-KmduExYCN4bJ/s1600/octopusses-2-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwpW-fy3Lo9zy2S33ICE-R5_uX3R_kPmj5hRC_2sN9nJ5sZ7NBYXpL1lEixZpPZLWQuqFp3eZZ629WMdlUwZf8ypHSD9wriN_ffzyP4gIh4DPDsRcz2_c4C0aJmTO_6j-KmduExYCN4bJ/s1600/octopusses-2-sm.jpg" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-87758268490459777872014-10-12T23:03:00.000-07:002014-10-13T09:46:24.377-07:00The Turtle who was Pink and the Turtle who was Blue<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 11.960000038146973px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This morning Sophie asked for a poem and I asked which one she wanted, expecting it to be The Jumblies or something else from Edward Lear. Instead she threw me by asking for a poem about a pink turtle and a blue turtle. I was pretty pleased with what I came up with on the spot, and tried to write it down as soon as I had a chance. I was already having trouble remembering it all, but this was as close as I could get.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once there was a turtle</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and she was very blue</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She swam down to the ocean floor</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and wondered what to do.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-3c601d50-07e4-afda-08b5-b65948c9261e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was another turtle</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and she was very pink</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She swam into a deep dark cave</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so she could have a think.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All the other turtles</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who saw them said “Who knew</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">there are turtles who are pink</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and others who are blue.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The blue turtle went swimming</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">along the coral reef</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The turtle who was pink</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">came swimming underneath.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The turle who was pink said </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to the turtle who was blue</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s very good to meet you, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and tell me, how are you?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The turtle who was blue said </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to the turtle who was pink,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You’re a very pretty turtle,”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and she gave a turtle wink.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The turtles said “Let’s marry</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and swim to far away”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the pink and blue turtles</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">are happy to this day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="turtles-blue-and-pink.jpg" height="443px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/VwyvmvO0Ol7fJDMeWA53Bzl9AYfeUfxBv5Opvu6n5D2Ebzl2Zx1pUfnAJivJsvpYAWwj7200s83ED881oJYZvcOtgY2uNGBJznh4n4qy10Ur9fYIyOhw9HdsAe0q8GU-Zg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-60414385227442532062014-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:002014-06-09T00:01:07.037-07:00Tygers - Chapter 3<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I started wrote this in my journal a while ago, after Rosie wanted another Tiger story at bed time. I intended to add more to it, but never thought of anything good to add, so I figured I'd just throw in some illustrations and leave it as it is.</span></blockquote>
<br />
It was a sunny morning in early Spring. The streams were burbling happily to themselves, glad to be free of the winter ice, and feeling important because they were taking the melted snow water down to the river. The squirrels emerged, bleary eyed, from their tree trunks and tried to remember where they had hidden their nuts. And high in the branches a robin cautiously cleared its throat and tested its voice before commencing its morning song. It was on a morning such as this that two young tigers set out to explore the sights and sounds of Spring.<br />
<br />
They had been been walking for about fifteen minutes when the older tiger, Rosie, noticed a scufflement at the base of a moss-covered bush. They went a little closer to investigate a saw a small brown animal snuffling among the roots. It had a black, twitchy nose, two black twinkly eyes, and, covering its back were prickles. The animal paused to look at the two approaching tigers.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL-xF25DnETEtAjIaYJJXMXxtWsscYI_zzjVDfaVFMI4juRESsC9oAhV3SDdhnhlRKoCem0NDJf1FJsV8JCp0JDfQdSD2ahZvoHKidehwYdbva-RtoC5aRua9rGY93GXwN8Lm2J0ZHdDQ/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL-xF25DnETEtAjIaYJJXMXxtWsscYI_zzjVDfaVFMI4juRESsC9oAhV3SDdhnhlRKoCem0NDJf1FJsV8JCp0JDfQdSD2ahZvoHKidehwYdbva-RtoC5aRua9rGY93GXwN8Lm2J0ZHdDQ/s1600/01.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></a></div>
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"What kind of animal are you?" asked Sophie, the younger tiger, curiously.<br />
<br />
"Ah," said the animal impressively, "I is an Erinaceus Europaeus, of the order Erininaceomorpha." Then, as the tigers look confused, it added "What is commonly called an 'edge 'og. And what might you two stripey young ladies be, if I might be so bold as to ask?".<br />
<br />
"We're Tigers," said Rosie proudly. "I'm Rosie."<br />
<br />
"And I'm Sophie," said Sophie.<br />
<br />
"Bernard Tiggiewinkle Esquire. Delighted to make your aquaintance," said the hedge hog."I was named after Saint Tiggiewinkles 'edge 'og 'ospital where I was born," he explained. "Bernard is after Saint," he added.<br />
<br />
"Oh," said Rosie. "Why do you keep scratching yourself with your hind leg?"<br />
<br />
"Ah," said Bernard Tiggiewinkle, "that would be on account of these 'ere fleas itching something terrible. We 'edge 'ogs 'ave an awful lot of fleas."<br />
<br />
Both the tigers took a few steps back.<br />
<br />
"Not to worry missies," said the hedgehog. "'Edge 'og fleas is most particular. Not interested in other sorts of animals."<br />
<br />
"What are you doing?" asked Sophie curiously.<br />
<br />
"Looking for slugs," said Bernard Tiggiewinkle. "They're delicious," he said. "Look here's one."<br />
<br />
Bernard held up a large, semi-translucent, wriggling slug that seemed to ooze slime. The two tigers, who had moved closer after hearing that they were safe from hedgehog fleas, took a step back again.<br />
<br />
"Would you like to try one?" the hedgehog asked Rosie.<br />
<br />
"No thank you," Rosie said politely.<br />
<br />
"Are you sure? They're fresh. This one looks especially juicy."<br />
<br />
"No thank you," said Rosie again.<br />
<br />
"What about you, Miss?" said Bernard Tiggiewinkle turning to Sophie. "Very good for you slugs is. Highly nutritious."<br />
<br />
"No thank you," said Sophie as politely as she could manage.<br />
<br />
"Mighty fine slug this. Don't recall seeing better."<br />
<br />
"It's very kind of you," said Sophie, "but I'm really not hungry."<br />
<br />
"Ah well," said the hedgehog. "Suit yourself."<br />
<br />
"There was a loud slurping noise as the slug disapeared into Bernard Tiggiewinkles mouth. The two twitching antennae were the last part to vanish. There followed by a few minutes of munching and swallowing noises, and then a the hedgehog emitted a soft "burp".<br />
<br />
"As I thought," he said to himself. "Mighty fine slug that."<br />
<br />
"Well," said Rose politely, "it was a pleasure meeting you Mister Tiggiewinkle."<br />
<br />
The hedgehog nodded his head towards them in a formal manner before turning back to the bushes to search for more slugs, and the two tigers continued on their way.<br />
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<br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-79556910349583772892014-02-27T21:49:00.000-08:002014-02-28T08:34:44.264-08:00A Proposal for Assessing the Severity of Medical Conditions<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When visiting a doctor, which is something I seem to do a lot more often now that we have small children, I am struck by how often one is asked to quantify things using ill-defined scales or metrics. Most frequently a doctor or nurse will ask you to quantify pain or discomfort on a scale from one to ten. Now a person like me(*) will react by first wondering if this is a linear or a logarithmic scale? Then I wonder what it is it's actually measuring? Is it, for example, the total number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nociceptor">nociceptors</a> firing, or some other measure of brain activity.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually I'm forced to conclude that the scale is in fact an arbitrary judgement, similar to the scoring system for Olympic figure skating, which then begs the question of whether pain should receive a different score if, say, it's inflicted by a Russian or a Korean athlete.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course figuring all this out distracts from the task at hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In order to avoid such confusion, I'm proposing that the medical community adopts a system of scales based upon more tangible concepts, such as, say, living organisms. If using organisms the comparative values can take into account a variety of factors such as complexity, position on the food chain, and, most importantly, coolness.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5MOckUdHGh4Kr6FV4EI8mvzV7KttwrUc7Nz3UwQkzxar69rrITwM-yLsshqDz3XF_mLJP9Md-nM0VKxFxRSYTaZzKgMcRXBswy3_uz3CMN0PYkUFAuzygo2LM_vZRCucNrbgXoixKsZP/s1600/scale1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5MOckUdHGh4Kr6FV4EI8mvzV7KttwrUc7Nz3UwQkzxar69rrITwM-yLsshqDz3XF_mLJP9Md-nM0VKxFxRSYTaZzKgMcRXBswy3_uz3CMN0PYkUFAuzygo2LM_vZRCucNrbgXoixKsZP/s1600/scale1.jpg" height="106" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example, a particularly nasty virus has recently been working it's way around my household and I was the last member of my family to succumb. A few days ago, when my wife asked me how I was feeling, I said that on a scale from </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amoeba</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bengal Tiger, </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I rated as a </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sea slug</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I then went back to bed for the remainder of the morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following day I felt much better and rated myself, on the same scale, as a <i>pygmy tree shrew</i>. (The highest I seem to be able to get on this particular scale is about <i>Aardvark, </i>before some new blight is bought home from pre-school).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course it is quite possible to vary these scales in order to get a more accurate response from the patient. For example if a patient had an interest in architecture, one could ask them to use a scale from <i>porta-potty</i> to <i>The Great Pyramids of Giza, </i>while a chef might use a scale from <i>cheez-wizz </i> to <i>Piedmontese white truffles</i>. Some experimentation may be necessary in order find the optimal scale for each individual.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(*) I also feel that cheese should be ordered by volume, while my local cheesemongers want me to order by weight and do not seem to be aware of the density of individual cheeses. I've found that the best compromise to this problem is to order by specifying the angle to be cut from a wheel of cheese, which leaves the problem of whether to use degrees or radians.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-45391203371351678642013-10-20T14:04:00.000-07:002013-10-20T14:04:54.162-07:00Tygers - Chapter 2<p>
When Sophie the Tiger was big enough, she loved to go on adventures with her big sister Rosie. Rosie loved to teach Sophie all the things she’d learnt, like how to prowl, how to growl as ferociously as possible, how to catch fish and which ones are the tastiest, and the best places to lie in the sun on a warm day. Sophie loved to follow Rosie around and try to do whatever she did. But mostly the two sisters loved to be near each other.
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvJIgoA8wxHywOxN7lrMa3ktiMWnJEnOfbE3VntzQJeoOC1vb3J817aRQTXDa2VXe8aYAiTGPw99o-6sxxInYHPLGKIkiTQ2H2TCViiUBbjIDphBkU9Lt15mdZ1mpsNfQhtyMcILTyEL-/s1600/0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvJIgoA8wxHywOxN7lrMa3ktiMWnJEnOfbE3VntzQJeoOC1vb3J817aRQTXDa2VXe8aYAiTGPw99o-6sxxInYHPLGKIkiTQ2H2TCViiUBbjIDphBkU9Lt15mdZ1mpsNfQhtyMcILTyEL-/s400/0009.jpg" /></a>
<p>
One sunny autumn afternoon, after they had spent the morning practicing their ferocious growls on a small family of beetles (or perhaps it was a family of small beetles, I don’t quite recall), and the beetles had gotten so upset that they had scurried into a crack in the ground and refused to emerge until the following spring, Rosie and Sophie were lying on a grassy bank watching the stream flow lazily by, and wondering what to do next.
<p>
Rosie lay on her back in the warm grass, feeling the sun on her tummy fur. A mother duck was swimming downstream, leading her family of five fluffy ducklings. She gave a cautions “quack” when she saw Rose and Sophie, and lead her ducklings towards the middle of the river. The last and littlest duckling swam curiously towards the bank. Sophie turned and sniffed at the duckling who paddled away furiously to catch up with his mother and siblings.
<p>
“I know,” said Rosie, “Let’s go and look for dinosaur bones.”
<p>
Sophie jumped to her paws. “Are there any dinosaurs?” she asked, her ears quivering with excitement. “I’ve never seen one.”
<p>
“No,” said Rosie, “the dinosaurs are all gone. But some of their bones have turned into fossils. I learnt about them at pre-school when we went to the Hall of Science.”
<p>
“What’s a fussel?” asked Sophie.
<p>
“They’re things you dig up,” said Rosie, not being quite sure herself.
<p>
“You mean like a carrot?” asked Sophie. “I dug up a carrot once. But I gave it to a bunny rabbit.”
<p>
“I think so,” said Rosie. “Only I think you have to dig deeper. More like a potato.”
<p>
“Oh,” said Sophie, and thought a little. “They have potatoes at that people-village up in the hills,” she said. “Maybe they grow fussels there too?”
<p>
“Yes,” said Rosie. “They’re sure to”, she said. “Come on. Let’s go.”
<p>
And so the two tigers headed off together.
<hr />
<p>
Rosie and Sophie walked side by side along the path that ran by the side of the river. After a while the path became narrower and Sophie and Rosie had to walk one in front of the other. They came to a place where a narrow path lead off to the right. There was a post in the ground, and a board nailed to it upon which was written “Little Pig”. Underneath was a smaller board saying “No soliciting”, and underneath that was a piece of note paper, upon which was written, “No Big Bad Wolves”. Rosie turned to Sophie and asked “Shall we see what’s down here?”. Sophie nodded.
<p>
The path ended in front of a small brick house. On the porch, a small, pink pig sat in a rocking chair, chewing a piece of grass. “Hello little Tigers,” said the pig.
<p>
“Hello,” said Rosie curiously, “Do you live here by yourself?”
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAy1xO_cX_2tdF3vMUN3NtpgwPebYNgi6-_SG7WblmvxymJqHlO2h5jycB33wPo2rV8-JlRCRb06pW7YbVJCqRrDpOY_8K_kBjBirXtrT7V7864mLGTpxMiVuw52182rephwUoHK45eZXl/s1600/0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAy1xO_cX_2tdF3vMUN3NtpgwPebYNgi6-_SG7WblmvxymJqHlO2h5jycB33wPo2rV8-JlRCRb06pW7YbVJCqRrDpOY_8K_kBjBirXtrT7V7864mLGTpxMiVuw52182rephwUoHK45eZXl/s400/0012.jpg" /></a>
<p>
The pig explained that his two brothers used to live next door, but that their houses had been demolished due to not meeting the local building codes, and they had moved to Florida, so he was feeling a little lonely. “Would you like some tea?” he asked.
<p>
Rosie and Sophie followed the pig into his house. He made a large pot of tea and put out a plate full of scones with a bowl jam and and another of clotted cream.
<p>
“We’re looking for dinosaur bones,” said Sophie after she’d finished her fourth scone. “Would you like to come?” she asked, and licked a blob of clotted cream of her nose.
<p>
“Oh yes!” said the piggy. “I have a a very good nose for finding things that are buried.”
<p>
<hr />
<p>
The two tigers and the pig set off through the forest. The pig put his snout to the ground and sniffed and the tigers followed. They threaded their way between the trees and up a muddy river bank. Suddenly Rosie stopped. “Look!” she called. Sophie came to stand beside her and the pig scurried back to see what she had found.
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPZiISD8mPnOAqrNMQy7or3xDAOJTIdHUWQ3ZsE47vhL-wPmxbDS5iF2laXNuO7BBeVYoYsFQyo9RcpuDeJMWlvtuSL9W8C5bjaprH4uRYQacjBYJOeJyylRs2MHhJLBZEeE7CtXgCiWv/s1600/0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPZiISD8mPnOAqrNMQy7or3xDAOJTIdHUWQ3ZsE47vhL-wPmxbDS5iF2laXNuO7BBeVYoYsFQyo9RcpuDeJMWlvtuSL9W8C5bjaprH4uRYQacjBYJOeJyylRs2MHhJLBZEeE7CtXgCiWv/s400/0010.jpg" /></a>
<p>
Rosie pointed with her nose at the mud in front of her. “Tracks,” she said. The other animals peered at the paw prints in the mud.
<p>
“What are they?” asked Sophie. “They look like tiger paws, but they’re too small.”
<p>
“But they’re much too big for a kitty-cat,” said the piggy.
<p>
“Maybe a leopard,” suggested Rosie thoughtfully. “Let’s follow them and see where they lead.”
<p>
The two tigers and the pig set off, this time with Rosie in the front. The tracks continued through the trees for a little while longer and then climbed a hill. At the top was a mound of loose earth. The pig sniffed. “There’s something buried underneath,” he said. Sophie and Rose started to dig with their big front paws.
<p>
After about ten minutes, Sophie’s claw hit something hard. There was a small metalic “clink” sound. They carefully dug a little further and brushed the dirt away to reveal a large wooden box, fastened with iron straps and hinges. It was too heavy for either tiger to lift by herself, so Rose took one side and Sophie took the other, and together they lifted the chest out of the pit.
<p>
Fortunately there was no lock on the box. But the hinges had rusted and creaked loudly as the three animals pushed and pulled at the lid to open it. At last, with one last creak, the like swung open, and inside Rosie and Sophie saw the largest bone they had ever seen. It was a soft mottled white colour, smooth, and several inches longer than Rosie’s tail. Around one end was tied a paper tag on which the words “This dinosaur bone belongs to Baby” were written in large letters, and on the other side of the tag was written just “Baby” in big letters.
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHohOGwGXnxU4pHorXIziExR1UutQAa0oIL-fsDcVSAQk_2EUVP1bmC7frtWyZ3D0C31eKVO9UUStPz3wZsjlTh4DgNRrJMXoYLSFL2F3W3UHvUyME996xeRPTVWikZm-_IEVD3MYGbNG/s1600/0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHohOGwGXnxU4pHorXIziExR1UutQAa0oIL-fsDcVSAQk_2EUVP1bmC7frtWyZ3D0C31eKVO9UUStPz3wZsjlTh4DgNRrJMXoYLSFL2F3W3UHvUyME996xeRPTVWikZm-_IEVD3MYGbNG/s400/0011.jpg" /></a>
<p>
“Wow!” said Sophie, licking the tip of her nose.
<p>
“We’d better put it back,” said Rosie. “It belongs to someone else.” They put the bone back in the box, lowered it into the pit, and filled it up with earth until it was just as they had found it.
<p>
When they were done, Rosie and Sophie noticed that the pig was busy sniffing around the base of a tree and burrowing with his snout. After a minute he came up holding something black and wrinkly between his teeth. “Look!” he cried triumphantly.
<p>
“What is it?” asked Rose and Sophie together, coming a bit closer.
<p>
“It’s a truffle,” said the pig. “They’re delicious, and only we pigs can find them. C’mon!” And he trotted back to his home, holding the truffle proudly between his teeth, while Rose and Sophie followed curiously behind.
<p>
By the time Rose and Sophie reached the pig’s little brick house, he had already put on his apron and put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. The pig made three plates of fresh pasta and put shaved truffles and parmesan cheese on top. The two tigers were so hungry after all the digging they’ed done, that they both licked their plates clean. They both said “Yum!” and thanked the piggy lovingly for his hospitality, and then went on their way, purring softly to themselves.
Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-68970116702005083402013-10-03T11:40:00.002-07:002020-06-21T14:07:39.520-07:00Making Visual Studio Solutions, CMake and Cygwin Play Nicely Together<p>
I'm currently involved in development and maintenance of a set of command-line tools for analyzing Affymetrix micro-array data. The tools are developed in C++ and intended to be platform independent (compiled and tested on a couple of different Linux flavors, Windows using Visual C++, and OS X). We're working on version 2.0 which is the first major rewrite in several years.
</p><p>
Previous versions relied on separate Visual Studio solution files for Windows, and makefiles for Linux, which needed to be maintained in parallel. This was a pain, particularly in the Windows world: for Unix/Linux, Make hasn't changed much for decades, and if you learnt to use it in the 80's you'll probably still be able to get by. But, for Visual Studio things can change drastically between versions, so that the solution and project files in VS2008 and 2010 are completely different, and required a major transition. So, in version 2.0 we decided to switch to <a href="http://www.cmake.org/">CMake</a> to generate our build scripts across all platforms.
</p><p>
We've also been using Bamboo to run our continuous integration builds and nightly regression tests. For Linux this meant having Bamboo execute a bash script. So as to make things as uniform as possible between platforms, we opted to use a bash script under <a href="http://www.cygwin.com/">cygwin</a> to run the builds and tests on Windows.
</p><p>
I found a number of issues and complications in getting cygwin to work with Visual Studio 2010/2012 solutions and CMake - some I found details of on the web, and others required experimentation to fix. Since there wasn't one place I could go to find out all these things, and much of the information I found was outdated, I'm going to gather them all together in one place as a public service. The intended audience is people who are familiar with CMake and bash, but struggling with getting things working in the Windows world.<br />
</p><h3>
Setting environment variables for MSBuild/VC++</h3>
<p>
There are a bunch of environment variables needed for running Visual Studio solutions in the command line, which can be set by one of the bat files vcvars*.bat (see <a href="http://generally.wordpress.com/2006/11/28/building-visual-studio-solutions-using-msbuild-in-cygwin/" style="background-color: transparent;">http://generally.wordpress.com/2006/11/28/building-visual-studio-solutions-using-msbuild-in-cygwin/</a>), Since were doing 64 bit only, we want the ones called vcvarsx86_amd64.bat. We need to call the right one for the version of Visual Studio we're using:
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;"># Read vcvars.bat file to set Windows tools settings
CMD=/cygdrive/c/Windows/system32/cmd
# VS2012 version
#
${CMD} /c "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\VC\bin\x86_amd64\vcvarsx86_amd64.bat"
</pre><p>
Or for Visual Studio 2010:
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;"># VS2010 version
#
${CMD} /c "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\bin\x86_amd64\vcvarsx86_amd64.bat"
</pre>
<h3>
Running CMake from cygwin</h3>
<p>
First we need to pick the appropriate executables for CMake and CPack:
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;">CMAKE="/cygdrive/c/Program Files (x86)/CMake 2.8/bin/cmake.exe"
CTEST="/cygdrive/c/Program Files (x86)/CMake 2.8/bin/ctest.exe"
</pre><p>
We're doing an out-of-source build, so we use two environment variables, SRCROOT for the source directory (in our case an svn checkout), and CMAKEROOT for the build directory. We may have to create the CMAKEROOT directory if it's not there already:
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;"># Create cmake directory if not present
if [[ ! -d "${CMAKEROOT}" ]]
then
mkdir "${CMAKEROOT}"
fi
</pre><p>
In order to run CMake we'll need to specify the Generator, and to feed it the source directory in Windows path format. If you do "cmake --help" it will provide a list of available generators. In our case we want "Visual Studio 11 Win64". To get the directory name in the format CMake wants, rather than in cygwin format we use the "cygpath -w" utility.
</p><p>
<span style="color: red;"><strong>This next bit is important:</strong></span>
</p><p>
We now come to a particularly annoying and hard to diagnose bug (see <a class="external-link" href="http://www.cmake.org/Bug/print_bug_page.php?bug_id=13131" rel="nofollow" style="color: #326ca6; outline: none;">http://www.cmake.org/Bug/print_bug_page.php?bug_id=13131</a>): cygwin by default declares certain environment variables like TEMP and TMP. CMake will use certain environment variables, including tmp and temp, In cygwin this is fine and good, but Windows applications, and particularly MSBuild, do not distinguish between environment variables based on case. So when you run MSBuild after CMake in the cygwin environment, MSBuild will die because it sees that there are multiply defined environment variables.
</p><p>
The worst thing about this is that, once you've encountered the problem, simply undef-ing the relevant variables won't fix it. MSBuild starts some processes the first time it's run and those will continue to break. At this point you have to go into the Task Manager and kill any MSBuild processes before you can contiue.
The work around is to undef all the variables before the first call of CMake.
</p><p>
This is the code from our scripts which runs CMake:
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;"># Set the generator - VS2012 version
#
CMAKE_GENERATOR='Visual Studio 11 Win64'
# Have to unset some environment variables because of a weird bug with cmake under cygwin
# - see http://www.cmake.org/Bug/print_bug_page.php?bug_id=13131
unset tmp TMP temp TEMP
# Now call CMake
cd "${CMAKEROOT}"
"$CMAKE" -G "$CMAKE_GENERATOR" "$(cygpath -w ${SRCROOT})"
cmake_rv=$?
if [ "${cmake_rv}" != 0 ]
then
echo "CMake encountered errors"
exit 1
fi
</pre>
<h3>
Using MSBuild to build a Visual Studio solution file</h3>
<p>
CMake should create a .sln file and a bunch of vcxproj files (one for each target). First we need to pick the right MSBuild executable, and also decide on the configuration and platform for our build:
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;">
# This maybe system dependent
MSBUILD=/cygdrive/c/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v4.0.30319/MSBuild.exe
# We're going to do a 64 bit release build
BUILD_CONFIG=Release
PLATFORM=x64
</pre>
<h4>
Checking for errors in MSBuild</h4>
<p>
With Make in the Linux/Unix world, we can check the output value ("$?") to see if the build was successful. With MSBuild this doesn't necessarily work. Consequently, to check for a successful build we need to generate a log file, and scan the log file for an errors message - the log file should contain the line '0 Error(s)' if it was successful. (In the following the environment variable SLN_FILE is set to the name of the solution file).
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;">MSBUILD_LOG=msbuild.log
"${MSBUILD}" ${SLN_FILE} /fl /property:Configuration=${BUILD_CONFIG};Platform=${PLATFORM}
msbuild_rv=$?
if [ ${msbuild_rv} != 0 ]
then
echo "MSBuild ${SLN_FILE} exited with status '${msbuild_rv}'"
exit 1
fi
grep -q '0 Error(s)' ${MSBUILD_LOG}
if [ $? != 0 ]
then
echo "MSBuild ${SLN_FILE} detected errors"
exit 1
fi
</pre><p>
(The /fl option causes MSBuild to write a log file).<br />
</p><h3>
Using MSBuild to build a Project file</h3>
<p>
Our CMake scripts are configured to create a number of additional custom targets which are not part of the default build target (do not have ALL set), such as a target <em>regression</em> which will update the regression test data and run the regression tests. In Linux these translate to Makefile targets which are not called as part of the default target. In Visual Studio, these give rise to .vcxproj files which are not built by default when one builds the main project .sln file.
</p><p>
To build these we can call MSBuild directly on a project file:
</p><p>
</p><pre style="text-align: left;">
REGRESSION_PROJ_FILE=regression.vcxproj
#
# Build regression project
"${MSBUILD}" ${REGRESSION_PROJ_FILE} /fl /property:Configuration=${BUILD_CONFIG};Platform=${PLATFORM}
</pre><p>
And that's all. Hope this is useful to someone out there.
</p>
Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943255337139996873.post-18636205659975742212013-08-08T14:34:00.000-07:002013-08-08T14:34:07.544-07:00The Tyger - Epilogue<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Rosie got a bit older she became a Big Strong Young Tiger. She often went out for long walks in the forest with her little sister Sophie. Sometimes they would go out walking at night: even though it could get very dark in the Forest, the fireflies would Burn Brightly lighting their way.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">One evening, when Rose and Sophie were out walking, they came across a man with a big black bushy beard sitting under a tree. He was chewing on his pencil and looking despondently at a large notebook he was holding.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hello, I’m Rosie,” said Rosie.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And I’m Sophie,” said Sophie.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, hello,” said the man, looking up, “my name’s Bill.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What are you doing?” asked Sophie curiously, coming a little closer.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m trying to write a poem,” he said. “I’ve got a great beginning, but now I’m stuck.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well what have you got so far?” asked Rosie.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The man cleared his throat, and read.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tyger, Tyger, burning bright</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he said grandly.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rosie and Sophie waited expectantly. “Is that it?” asked Sophie after a while.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Er, yes,” said the man, looking a little embarrassed.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rosie padded around slowly to look over the man's shoulder at his notebook. "I don't </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>think</i> that that's how you spell 'Tiger'," she said.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I can’t think of anything to rhyme with ‘burning bright’,” said the man.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well...,” said Rosie looking around thoughtfully, “we’re in a Forest.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And it’s Night time,” added Sophie.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Forest … night... That’s it!”, cried the man, and started writing in his notebook furiously. After about ten minutes he stopped. “It’s done,” he said. “Would you like to hear it?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes, please,” said Rose and Sophie together. They sat down side-by-side to listen. The man stood up, cleared his throat again, and started to read.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino4Dz91xXXyD7UPg4xGitx6_CWjaGeKWw2cfyi04yH_lDxPwDk9oIqbwPGiOgxHnCILfhtBi5xuAzeraojPSYa1jfp26K6IzBbY-vPwuSzz-3xSpbEZQ_c3YpXlZfkbx1MlQ0QrVsc7XP/s1600/0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino4Dz91xXXyD7UPg4xGitx6_CWjaGeKWw2cfyi04yH_lDxPwDk9oIqbwPGiOgxHnCILfhtBi5xuAzeraojPSYa1jfp26K6IzBbY-vPwuSzz-3xSpbEZQ_c3YpXlZfkbx1MlQ0QrVsc7XP/s400/0006.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a few minutes he stopped reading. “That’s it,” he said, looking up. “What did you think?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, it’s a bit rude to tigers,” said Rosie.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I don’t like the bit about Stars and Spears,” said Sophie. “That doesn’t make any sense.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Humph,” said the man crossly. “What would Tigers know about poetry anyway?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So Rose and Sophie ate him. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234315751427583886noreply@blogger.com0