Drive the Bronco - Ft. McDowell

 Ford is just a "wee bit" behind on building the new Ford Bronco.  As a result, FoMoCo has been sending out swag and other incentives to keep the hype going.

This week, they brought some Broncos out to let reservation holders drive one on some off-road trails at Ft. McDowell.

Nice fun event.  Easy trail drive. Less challenging than the Power Line Road I used as a shortcut between New River Road and Table Mesa Road a few months back. But fun. (Google lies, that Power Line Road was in no way an actual "road")

The Event had 7 Broncos, plus two displays. On of the 7 demos was a stick shift.  Also, one of the displays is a stick, so that gives them an extra manual if needed. I got to drive the display which was a 2-Door Black Diamond 7MT.

Almost stalled out once on a steep incline, but got it back down into 1st in time. Used Crawl to smash over some dirt/sand piles. Plenty of power with the 2.3 for off road use. Clutch felt smooth, though I would prefer a slightly heavier feel. Feels like a modern stock Mustang clutch.

NOTE: They are supposed to reserve the Stick Shifts for reservation holders that ordered a stick. Have a copy of your DORA or order sheet with you. (I had a copy on my phone)

They also give you a free Bronco hat. (I showed up wearing a Ford one)

I drove the Black Diamond pictured here.

There are a few uphills where you need to keep up your momentum. Also some sand pits. I never got stuck, so never got to try the rear locker, kept her in 4
-Hi the whole time and never played with any of the Goat Modes.

2021 LepreCon - Concert

 Another virtual convention, and another virtual concert.

A ship in harbor is safe..

 

 ... but that's never been what a ship is for:

 

 

Crew Dragon - 10 million streams

We watched the Crewed Dragon flight live, with 10 million of our closest friends.

That is, between NASA, NASA TV, and SpaceX livesteams there were over 10 million folks watching.  And note, that's devices, not people.  So the person count is far higher.

I of course, wrote a song.

Virtual Conventions

Thanks to all the restrictions, Sci Fi conventions are being cancelled left and right.  Several have moved into virtual spaces, using Zoom, and Facebook, and YouTube (and all three mixed together).

I was asked to do a concert for HELIOsphere.  Here it is in all it's ugly glory.


https://youtu.be/BeVVarKOEE0

16 Minutes

Columbia (STS-107) flew apart 16 minutes prior to her scheduled landing:

16 Minutes
Words and music (c) Mark E. Horning 5 Feb 2020

16 minutes from home, and the board is looking green
16 minutes from home, and the danger's still unseen
--Radar trace says she's right on track
--Coming home now, out of the black
--Once you commit, there's no going back...
16 minutes from home.
Just 16 minutes from home.

16 minutes from home, and the weather's looking great
16 minutes to home, where we all will celebrate
--Bearing eastward and homeward bound
--Families waiting down on the ground
--A sight that never ceases to astound...
16 minutes from home.
Just 16 minutes from home

16 minutes from home. When the alarm began to blare
16 minutes from home. They didn't have a prayer
--A leading edge that was compromised
--Fire blazing across the skies
--Just seconds of warning -  before they died...
16 minutes from home.
Just 16 minutes from home

16 minutes from home - so close... yet so far
16 minutes from home - they died to touch the stars
--16 minutes from home
--16 minutes from home
--16 minutes from home
16 minutes from home
Just 16 minutes from home

Fifty Years

Fifty years ago, the world watched in awe as three men rode into space on one of the most powerful machines ever built by man. Some days later, the entire world watched enraptured when one of those men stepped forth on another world. We returned five more times. And then.. stopped.


Fifty Years
(c) Mark E. Horning 2019

Do you remember - where you were that fateful day?
Do you recall now - how we said we're there to stay?
Red white and blue - blazing so proud against the grey.
Returned in triumph - then threw it all away.

--50 years... since those footprints in the dust.
--50 years...  they rode nine-million pounds of thrust.
--50 years.... we set our dreams aside to rust.
--50 years... broken dreams and broken trust.


Do you remember - when the future was foretold?
Do you recall when - we were willing to be bold?
The first footsteps - we thought were a foothold.
When we were fearless - against the dark and cold.

--50 years... since those first footprints in the dust.
--50 years...  she made nine-million pounds of thrust.
--50 years.... and nothing's left but rust.
--50 years... broken promises and trust.


Let me remind you - we held tomorrow in our hands.
It was a new day - amidst the rubble and the sand.
That brilliant sky road - leading outward to new lands.
When the future - It was ours... ours to command.

--50 years... there's still footprints in the dust.
--50 years...  looks like the future's been a bust.
--50 years.... of tears, despair, and rust.
--50 years... broken dreams ... broken trust.


Do you remember.. where you were that fateful day?

Mark's Coffee Cake

Modified from my 1969 Betty Crocker Cookbook:

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cups sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk
1 egg

Cut in the shortening into the flour and then combine the rest of the dry ingredients.  Mix then stir in the egg and milk.

Grease an 8x8 or 7 x11 baking pan.

"Topping"

2 Tbs butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnimon
1/2 cup steel cut oats

Put 1/2 the cake batter in the pan. 
Sprinkle on half the topping.
Add the rest of the cake batter
Sprinkle on the rest of the topping.

Bake at 370 for 25 minuts