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Max the Magnificent
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Like the Sheldonian 'Bar-rollin' I am not an engineer either ( a retired ...
The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers
Clive Maxfield
6/8/2012 12:13 PM EDT
I just received a photo of the Transit of Venus from "Down Under" (Australia). The interesting thing is that in this image (see below) the dark spot that is Venus appears towards the bottom of the Sun (the way you typically seem to see it in photographs), whereas when I saw it with my own eye it appeared towards the top of the Sun (see my blog Hurray! I saw the Transit of Venus!)
Of course I'm in the Northern Hemisphere while they are in the Southern Hemisphere, but I'm not really sure why this would affect the way we see things like the Transit of Venus … maybe someone can explain it to me (using simple words so that I can understand).
Anyway, the photograph below was accompanied by the following cheery message:
Well, this message certainly captures all of the really important information I like to see (thing like "Famous Max" and "Excellent Writings" :-)
So thanks to Steve Barrett from Down Under – I really, REALLY want to visit Australia one day and blow the froth off a few cold ones (Crocodile Dundee certainly had the right attitude).
GOOD GRIEF!!! I've just discovered that there really once was an Ancient Order of Froth Blowers. This was a charitable organization whose mission (in addition to raising charitable contributions) was "To meet regularly in pubs or clubs to enjoy 'beer, beef, and baccy'" (where "pubs" means public houses or bars, and "baccy" means tobacco).
Sadly this organization folded in 1931. This makes me sad. Now, this may be a tad presumptuous of me, but I feel that we should keep the name and spirit (pun intended) of this organization alive, and as far as I can see no one else has "stepped up to the bar" as it were (sorry, I can't help myself).
Obviously I would feel a little silly leading an organization with a membership of one (also I'm already the head of several such organizations) … so would anyone else be interested in joining me on this enterprise? The duties aren’t onerous – all you have to do is quaff a few beers whenever you get the chance (quaffing is like regular drinking except you tend to spill more down your chest) and donate something to charity when the opportunity arises and you have some disposable cash to hand.
Maybe this will take off and become a worldwide organization (stranger things have happened), in which case we will, at some stage, need a committee in charge of perfecting a secret handshake, another in charge of designing the official T-Shirt, and yet another tasked with creating our official club song (things like tattoos and official undergarments can wait until our membership passes some predefined number … say three people).
We also need official titles. Since this is my idea, I call dibs on Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Froth Blowers Worldwide. And since all of this was (unbeknownst to him) sparked by Steve Barrett, I think it only "fair do's" to offer him the title of Commander, Antipodean Froth Blowing Legions.
What say you? Are you with me?
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
Last but certainly not least, make sure you check out all of the discussions and other information resources at All Programmable Planet. For example, in addition to blogs by yours truly, microcontroller expert Duane Benson is learning how to use FPGAs to augment (sometimes replace) the MCUs in his robot (and other) projects.
Of course I'm in the Northern Hemisphere while they are in the Southern Hemisphere, but I'm not really sure why this would affect the way we see things like the Transit of Venus … maybe someone can explain it to me (using simple words so that I can understand).
Anyway, the photograph below was accompanied by the following cheery message:
G'day to the famous Max. I thought I'd send you a photo of the event taken at about 10:30 in "The Land Downuder", in particular Brisbane. I didn't have all the correct gear but managed to catch this anyway. Brief technical info, Nikon D700, 70-200mm f2.8 VR, exposed and developed Fuji graphics film (we use it for our PCB manufacturing) was used as a neutral density filter – unfortunately not a good as proper photographic filters but did the trick well enough, ISO 200, 1/200th second, f8. The other spots on the sun are sunspot activity. Hope you enjoy it and keep up the excellent writings!
Well, this message certainly captures all of the really important information I like to see (thing like "Famous Max" and "Excellent Writings" :-)
So thanks to Steve Barrett from Down Under – I really, REALLY want to visit Australia one day and blow the froth off a few cold ones (Crocodile Dundee certainly had the right attitude).
GOOD GRIEF!!! I've just discovered that there really once was an Ancient Order of Froth Blowers. This was a charitable organization whose mission (in addition to raising charitable contributions) was "To meet regularly in pubs or clubs to enjoy 'beer, beef, and baccy'" (where "pubs" means public houses or bars, and "baccy" means tobacco).
Sadly this organization folded in 1931. This makes me sad. Now, this may be a tad presumptuous of me, but I feel that we should keep the name and spirit (pun intended) of this organization alive, and as far as I can see no one else has "stepped up to the bar" as it were (sorry, I can't help myself).
Obviously I would feel a little silly leading an organization with a membership of one (also I'm already the head of several such organizations) … so would anyone else be interested in joining me on this enterprise? The duties aren’t onerous – all you have to do is quaff a few beers whenever you get the chance (quaffing is like regular drinking except you tend to spill more down your chest) and donate something to charity when the opportunity arises and you have some disposable cash to hand.
Maybe this will take off and become a worldwide organization (stranger things have happened), in which case we will, at some stage, need a committee in charge of perfecting a secret handshake, another in charge of designing the official T-Shirt, and yet another tasked with creating our official club song (things like tattoos and official undergarments can wait until our membership passes some predefined number … say three people).
We also need official titles. Since this is my idea, I call dibs on Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Froth Blowers Worldwide. And since all of this was (unbeknownst to him) sparked by Steve Barrett, I think it only "fair do's" to offer him the title of Commander, Antipodean Froth Blowing Legions.
What say you? Are you with me?
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
Last but certainly not least, make sure you check out all of the discussions and other information resources at All Programmable Planet. For example, in addition to blogs by yours truly, microcontroller expert Duane Benson is learning how to use FPGAs to augment (sometimes replace) the MCUs in his robot (and other) projects.
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Max the Magnificent
6/8/2012 4:52 PM EDT
Check out this image: http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=73173
Do you think this was "Photoshopped" or is it the real thing?
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ost
6/14/2012 4:36 AM EDT
This local norwegian newspaper suggests that the size of the plane is ok.. http://www.aftenbladet.no/nytte/teknologi/Regnet-seg-frem-til-supermanebilder--2968980.html
Adjusting levels and zooming in on the plane reveals a bright aura. I guess this could be caused by reflections, but even the dark spots has this aura. It could be caused by some image optimization I guess..
What is left for doubt is some digital disturbances around the front of the plane. I can not explain any natural phenomena for that..
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Duane Benson
6/8/2012 7:14 PM EDT
The photo certainly could be fake, but it could be real as well. There are quite a few images of the International Space Station transiting the sun and I've seen one purported to be the ISS and Mercury transiting. Everything looks to be about the right size so I'm going to go with real.
As far as the Australian Venus transit photo goes, the sunspot pattern is rotated about 90 degrees from the Northern Hemisphere photos I've seen. I'm visualizing two people standing on the globe, one way up North here, and the other way South, both holding a camera pointed at the sun. I'm thinking they would be about upside down relative to each other and that would make the images upside down relative to each other. I'm struggling to visualize how it would flip at the equator though.
Maybe a better way to visualize it is to think of leaning back to look up at the sun and Venus. Then rotate yourself 180 degrees and look at it. This is giving me a headache so I think that means it's time for me to call it a day.
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David Ashton
6/8/2012 8:41 PM EDT
Count me in for the antipodean branch....
Ref the pics, Duane's explanation is good. The reason Oz is called "Down under" is that relative to you guys, we are standing on our heads. Actually, we are the right way up and YOU are standing on your heads. Either way, astronomical things look upside down to the other guys.
Now the big question is why the froth stays at the top of the glass for both of us....???
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Max the Magnificent
6/9/2012 11:22 AM EDT
The froth doesn't stay on top of my glass for long :-)
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Max the Magnificent
6/9/2012 1:21 PM EDT
You would be amazed how many people have emailed me saying that they would like to join my new incarnation of "The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers".
Just so there's no confusion with the original group, I'm contemplating calling us "The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers in the 21st Century", or perhaps " The 21st Century Incarnation of The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers". Maybe I'm overthinking this; perhaps the original name is the best. But we are nothing if not a democratic organization (just so long as everyone does what I say), so I welcome your input and suggestions with regard to what we should call ourselves.
Meanwhile, there's a bit of a back story going on. I sent an email to my friend Adam in the UK, which resulted in the following exchange:
Max: Do you want to become the head of the UK branch of my new club? Check out my blog (link to this column).
Adam: Sounds good to me, yet another thing I can do is addition to work (LOL)
Max: How often do you get a chance to put “Commander of the British Legions of The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers” on your business card?
Adam: That's true. Do I get to wear a fancy hat?
Max: Of course, otherwise what would be the point? (But you have to design it yourself)
Now if you wish to become Commander of any particular country, just let me know by posting a comment here and I will determine if you are worthy by the quantity and quality of the nice things you say about me.
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Max the Magnificent
6/9/2012 2:04 PM EDT
The conversation continued:
Adam: I think that as "Supreme Commander" you can supply the hats
Max: OK, in that case yours will be a Beanie hat -- the type with the propeller on top ( http://amzn.to/MneO1U )
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Duane Benson
6/9/2012 10:18 PM EDT
The concern that I have is that I'm not an ex-soldier and I'm not sure I know the meaning of this word "leisure" that the AOFB Wikipedia entry speaks of.
Given that, I may not be qualified to become a member.
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Max the Magnificent
6/10/2012 1:06 PM EDT
You have a bigger problem than not being an ex-soldier and having a small vocabulary (i.e. not knowing the meaning of the word 'leisure') .. the original society promoted "froth blowing amongst Gentlemen of-leisure and ex-Soldiers" ... I fear it's the "gentleman" part that would have let you down...
But fear not, because my new incarnation of the society will welcome anyone who satisfies the main requirement (which is to make sure my beer glass is never empty)
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Radionut
6/12/2012 2:52 AM EDT
Hi Max,
there's an official word for what you're suffering from in beer-parlance over here in England...
Silicacenophobia: fear of an empty glass
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Max the Magnificent
6/12/2012 10:16 AM EDT
Somehow I feel better knowing that this is a real, medical condition :-)
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pubcollector
9/12/2012 1:16 PM EDT
As Chairman of the Friends of the Froth Blowers, author of two 140-page books on the subject ("Of Fripp and Froth Blowers" - 2005 - and "The Zestful Gollopers" - 2012) and the Director of the new Froth Blowers Brewing Company I feel I might have seniority in this case - all the more so since I am over three scores and ten in age. For the modest sum of £9.00 (inc. postage) I am prepared to send you - or any other interested party - a copy of my more recent book.
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Max the Magnificent
9/12/2012 1:32 PM EDT
Hi David -- I see from your "pubcollector" page that you were "...brought up in Durham County and Sheffield, Yorkshire..."
I am from Sheffield "born and bred". I would love a copy of your book, but I'm now based in the USA -- can you email me at "max@CliveMaxfield.com" and we can talk about how I can arrange payment.
Re your being "Chairman of the Friends of the Froth Blowers" ... I see no reason why this should not include the new "Worshipful Ancient Order of Froth Blowers" because we need all the friends we can get :-)
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pubcollector
9/16/2012 11:13 AM EDT
Like the Sheldonian 'Bar-rollin' I am not an engineer either ( a retired English-teacher, in fact)and I am part of a Quaker family - so many of my cousins are, if not teetotal, not great drinkers - and vegetarians. I am unrepentantly carnivorous and beer-swilling. Therefore, "My friends are your friends and your friends are my friends" and "The more we are together the merrier we'll be."
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Max the Magnificent
9/17/2012 10:43 AM EDT
"My friends are your friends and your friends are my friends"
I'll drink to that! :-)
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Paul A. Clayton
6/9/2012 6:14 PM EDT
"The Rejuvenated Ancient Order" might be appropriate and sufficiently (faux-)formal. Avoiding explicit dating seems appropriate, especially as the 21st Century will be left in less than nine decades.
(As I neither drink beer not eat meat, I am unsuited to membership--and my charitable contributions have not been significant, so three strikes.)
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David Ashton
6/9/2012 8:52 PM EDT
How do you become an engineer without drinking beer? No slight intended, nor I hope taken, but I don't think I know one engineer who didn't drink more than his fair share of beer at least while acquiring the qualification....
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Paul A. Clayton
6/10/2012 5:47 AM EDT
I am not an engineer (nor ever likely to be so qualified) but merely a technophile (primarily with an interest in computer architecture), so your observation of correlation may still stand (though I must imagine that there is at least one engineer who does not consume alcohol [or even just beer--does non-alcoholic beer even count :-)], even excluding Muslims and some Baptists).
No offense was taken; curiosity is a proper human trait.
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antedeluvian
6/10/2012 8:32 AM EDT
David you are wrong. You do know at least one- it is I!
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Max the Magnificent
6/10/2012 1:08 PM EDT
Fortunately, my incarnation of the society welcomes anyone of good spirit and heart and character -- you don't have to actually drink beer yourself (all the more for the rest of us) -- you can sip a lemonade while blowing the froth off the top of your neighbor's glass while he or she isn't looking :-)
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antedeluvian
6/10/2012 1:28 PM EDT
However the mixture of lemonade and beer (a Shandy to the colonials) served at a temperature where the ice crystals are forming is absolutley perfect on a hot afternoon. And the froth is even thicker!Too bad there is no fizzy lemonade in this neck of the woods. Sprite and Ginger Ale are acceptable substitutes.
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Max the Magnificent
6/10/2012 1:45 PM EDT
@David: "How do you become an engineer without drinking beer?"
There are some questions that should not be asked because the human mind is simply not capable of rationalizing concepts of this level of depravity...
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Max the Magnificent
6/10/2012 1:03 PM EDT
"Rejuvenated" isn't bad -- I've also considered "The Worthy Order..." and "The Worshipful Order..."
You can still be a member -- even the rules of the original society said that being in possession of "a membership booklet and card entitling them to blow froth off any member's beer "and occasionally off non-members' beer provided they are not looking or are of a peaceful disposition".
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Max the Magnificent
6/10/2012 1:23 PM EDT
I've checked the dictionary and one meaning of "Worshipful" is:
"A formal title of honor used in announcing or mentioning certain highly regarded or respected persons or groups."
So on this basis I Think that "The Worshipful Ancient Order of Froth Blowers" has a nice ring to it...
The next step is to decide on our drinking song....
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Max the Magnificent
6/10/2012 1:43 PM EDT
@Antedeluvian: "However the mixture of lemonade and beer (a Shandy to the colonials) served at a temperature where the ice crystals are forming is absolutley perfect on a hot afternoon. And the froth is even thicker!"
So am I to take it that -- despite what you said before -- in fact you DO drink beer so long as it is diluted with lemonade (the English kind, of course ... not what the Americans laughingly think of as lemonade"
@Antedeluvian: "Too bad there is no fizzy lemonade in this neck of the woods. Sprite and Ginger Ale are acceptable substitutes."
I'm sorry? Are saying that you think mixing beer with Sprite and Ginger Ale is a good idea? I must warn you, Sir, that as liberal an organization as The Worshipful Ancient Order of Froth Blowers is known to be (we are famous for it in fact), your words are difficult to swallow (almost as difficult as the concoction of which you speak).
You are coming perilously close to volunteering yourself as the star of the show for the first annual "Tar and Feathering" party ... even worse, you will be obliged to cover all of the expenses :-)
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antedeluvian
6/10/2012 2:47 PM EDT
"Are saying that you think mixing beer with Sprite and Ginger Ale is a good idea?"
I crave the TWAOFB's indulgence and apologise for my perfidy profusely. I am not saying it is a good idea, merely acceptable. I might add that I have known colonials that used American Champagne (Coca Cola) as the mixer of choice. There I've committed heresy- start warming the barrel.
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Max the Magnificent
6/10/2012 4:46 PM EDT
Fortunately (especially for you) we are a very forgiving organization ... especially after we've blown the froth off the top of a few cold beers :-)
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David Ashton
6/11/2012 4:25 AM EDT
Well we could only invite him to meetings on hot summer afternoons, and just look the other way while he pours the lemonade in.... ;-)
An engineer who does not drink beer is one thing. A Zimbabwean who does not drink beer is altogether a horse of a different colour, however, I'm not sure what to do about that....
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antedeluvian
6/11/2012 9:37 AM EDT
I just knew that would put a ripple in the space-time continuum.
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Max the Magnificent
6/11/2012 9:55 AM EDT
@Antedeluvian: "I just knew that would put a ripple in the space-time continuum."
So that's what it was -- thank goodness -- I thought I'd eaten a bad prawn :-)
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antedeluvian
6/11/2012 10:29 AM EDT
Speaking of prawns, did you see that great South African sci-fi movie "District 9" (the aliens are referred to as prawns"? It does get even better if you have knowledge of SA.
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Max the Magnificent
6/11/2012 10:31 AM EDT
I'm ashamed to say that I have the DVD, but I haven't watched it yet (so many things to do, so little time to do them all) -- do you recommend it?
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antedeluvian
6/11/2012 10:41 AM EDT
I do reccomend it, but then again I pollute my beer...
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Robotics Developer
6/12/2012 11:45 AM EDT
I am not sure that you can truly pollute your beer. After all, we only rent it and that for a short time.
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Robotics Developer
6/12/2012 11:48 AM EDT
One interesting corollary for engineers (at least hardware types for sure) is we have the uncanny ability to detect free food even at great distances (I have been known to show up 3 floors away right at the time the leftovers are put out for general [or non-private as it were] consumption).
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Max the Magnificent
6/12/2012 12:13 PM EDT
We have strong survival instincts from our days as hunter-gatherers (dating back to the early days of the industrial revolution when we needed to feed our brains in order to have the strength to create modern civilization)
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