Technical details

[darkemeralds]

Productive weekend.



I replaced the wall outlet next to my front door with one of these brilliant things:


One outlet plus TWO USB CHARGING PORTS. Cool, huh?

First there was this:


Then this:


(My phone camera has been a lifesaver for print instructions that are too tiny for my eyes. Snap, instant upload to Google+, look at them on my computer.)

And then this!

The green LED comes on when something is actually charging. No phantom power trickling out when an attached device has finished charging. (The white thing on the left is my porch light controller switch)

Note: if this type of outlet is something you're interested in, read the specs. Some, including this one from Cooper Electric, are only powerful enough to charge smartphones and headsets, but not an iPad.





Next I winterized my bike. First some of these:


Then some of those:


And then this!







Then I rode over to my little tiny branch of Multnomah County Library and renewed my library card, which expired sometime in my 30s, I think. The place was hopping on a Sunday afternoon. As part of my plan for living on my retirement income, I have to quit buying books and music on a whim.

I got an app, then I got an ebook. The part of me that put on an ebook conference in 1999 is weeping with joy. Public libraries are cool. It's nice to be back.

Comments

[sasha_feather]

Those bike lights are awesome!

[darkemeralds]

Aren't they fun? They're just two strings of battery-operated fairy lights (not even rated for outdoor use, so we'll see how they go). I stuck the battery packs/switches behind the seat tube in a ziplock bag. It took about an hour to zip-tie everything down, but I was listening to a great Nerdist.com podcast (an interview with Daniel Radcliffe) while I did it, so, fun associations.

[kis]

The bike made me smile so much. Pretty!

[darkemeralds]

I took her out for a spin this evening after dark (which, you know...5:00 p.m.), and a couple of parents with kids walking in the neighborhood said things like, "Ooh, look, kids! A bike with Christmas lights!"

I'm like a rolling tourist attraction.

[ruric]

Those bike lights are awesome!

[darkemeralds]

Such a simple enhancement, really. No idea how it's going to do in the rain, but supposing it can weather a drizzle, it should keep me highly visible through the darkest couple of months.