June 6th - Helen's birthday
By Ben Nitkin on
Helen turned 22 today. We're getting old. The group bought a birthday hat to commemorate the occasion and plan to pass the hat around for those with summer birthdays.
Escapades
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I learned Python a few years back, and just took a course in Java last year. I've also monkeyed around with Processing some. I enjoy programming, both as a useful tool and as a great way to screw around. |
 Fundamentally, I enjoy making things. I'm learning how to make things out of wood. |
I'm majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I prefer to call it SparkE, but people look at me funny when I do. At any rate, the projects below relate to electronics. |
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Odds and ends that won't be written about often, but merit mention. |
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 Over summer 2015, I volunteered with Bike & Build, an organization that arranges cross-country cycling trips that aim to involve young adults in affordable housing. Over the course of the summer, we bike cross-country, averaging 70 miles a day (the longest day is 116 miles.) Some days instead of cycling, we volunteer with local affordable housing organizations (usually Habitat for Humanity). On build days, we work on the build site from 8-4 or so. You can track my progress with Bike & Build's route tracker. Bike & Build also has a page describing my route. The articles below chronicle my journey in photographs. Hover over any photo for a caption or click to enlarge. I know that some images are sideways; I can't change that with the tools I have. You can click on the enlarged image to view the raw picture, and your browser should autorotate the picture. |
June 5th - Athens, GA
By Ben Nitkin on
Today was really nice. The church we stayed at organized a bluegrass concert (sorry, but I didn't take photos) after a potluck dinner.
June 4th - Biking Again
By Ben Nitkin on
Today's ride was nice, but early rain and a forecast for afternoon thunderstorms bagged the camera for the day.
I did get some nice shots of an abandoned train, though.
June 3rd - Three Homes at Once
By Ben Nitkin on
Today we worked in a small Habitat development. Helen told me the brief story: the city had brought in roads, sewer, and water for a contractor, but he fell through. They offered Habitat the proprrty for $29,000, and Habitat bought it. The subdividsion is mostly developed now and contains a mix of houses built by Habitat for Humanity and Homes for Hope.
I worked on siding the top of a houses front wall. Others installed subfloors or painted. Helen made a bus stop.
June 2nd - Handicap Ramps
By Ben Nitkin on
Today we worked with Rebuilding Upstate to build handicap ramps. Unlike Habitat, Rebuilding maintains and adds additions to existing homes. Our group divided in two and each built a ramp. My group built this long serpentine thing.
June 1st - Greenville
By Ben Nitkin on
Today's tide was around 70 miles and took is into Greenville, SC. Due to an unhappy accident, I had to ride in the van for the second half of the trip. (I rode down a driveway without a helmet. Oops.) I did get some cool pictures from the van, though. So it wasn't all bad.
May 31st - Hills.
By Ben Nitkin on
We biked another 50-ish miles today. The hills have been getting worse, but the group I was with was great. As usual, clock through the pictures and hover your cursor for captions.
May 30th - The End of the Firsts
By Ben Nitkin on
For a while, at least. The rode was around 50 miles, and nothing really striking stuck out. Still a nice day.
May 29th: 70 miles and clean clothes.
By Ben Nitkin on
May 28th - My First New City
By Ben Nitkin on
Today we biked 70 miles (mostly flat) from Charleston to Pinopolis. The latter is a small town full of wealthy folks' houses.