Update on the accident

It has been 5 days since the accident, and most of the legal stuff has been sorted out by now. The good news is, we are getting $5,100 for our old van. We were told to expect between $4,000 and $5,000, so this was more than we had hoped for. Also, our uncle is coming today to drop off a jeep they used to use. We are going to use it until we can find a car of our own.

The insurance company said we only have until Tuesday with the rental car they are paying for - after that, we will have to pay for it ourselves if we want to keep it. Needless to say, we are all very stressed at having to try and find a van in three days.

Keep us in your prayers.

Spacedude

...Why I'm awake at 4:30...

Tires screeching, police sirens wailing. Don't you just LOVE car crashes? :P

At 3:30 AM, a maniac in a car tore (literally, TORE) through our fence and yard, smashed OUR car against the corner of our house (the house was unyielding and something had to give, so we now have a totaled car, no fence, and broken front house windows), drove across the road, destroyed the neighbors fence and promptly flipped over. They hit the telephone pole, but we still have Internet (obviously) and the phone.

We then were asked questions by two police officers (practically the same questions both times), both of which told us there would be traffic officers asking us the same stuff.

What's left of our fence is next to what's left of our car. We also have a CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION across our front steps and and all over our back yard. My Dad says we won't be using the front door for a while. My Mom says she wanted to start school early, but not THIS early.

So, I'm awake, and there's nothing I can do about it. Good morning.

Spacedude

Set review - #8256 TECHNIC Go-Kart

First off, check out the links on the top of my blog. You can click them to go to different posts, like ones on Mindstorms. Neat-o! I got them from my sisters' blog, you should check it out... if you like food and crafts. :D

Now, for what this post is really about. For lack of better (or any) content, I will be doing set reviews on Lego sets I purchase (or get for my birthday or Christmas). I will be adding a link to all set review posts with the other links on top.

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SET REVIEW - #8256 TECHNIC GO-KART

(picture is from the Lego Shop)

I would call this set an "impulse set". I got it last week, when we went to Shady Maple Smorgasbord. I saw it on the shelf and grabbed it. I built the Go-Kart the next day, which didn't take me very long. Building time was about 20 minutes (the Lego shop says it will keep you busy building for hours :D), and I must say, this is a well-designed model. Price was $14.99 for 144 pieces, which comes to about ten cents per piece. There have been cheaper sets, but it's not too bad. There is a piston on the back which moves up and down as you push the kart, which is very realistic. There is also front-wheel steering. The model is not minifigure-compatible, but then again, none of the Technic sets are. There is also a secondary model, a riding lawnmower. This is also very realistic, with front-wheel steering, but there is no piston. It also has no mower blade - disappointment.

In short, this is a nice little set. If you are a Technic lover, I would recommend buying it, if you have some pocket change. You can purchase it here, at the Lego shop.

Spacedude

Been busy...

Sorry I haven't posted for months, mainly because school has started and I'm very busy (mostly catching up on my math from last year).

Recently, my mom got "Web Design for Kids" to review from TOS. I had forgotten how fun HTML was, and I have spent the last few days making a website. It's not finished, of course, and won't be for 4-7 more days or more, but I have a few screenshots to share.

A very plain page, but still clean and nice-looking. Notice the button on the bottom, courtesy of "Spacedude Publishing". :D Also, the text at the top- "My Page"- marquees across the page. It's not the finished title either; one of the many things I have left to do.

Coding - it may look like gobble-de-gook, but it makes a very nice page...



My Web folder, which will be full soon... I hope...


Enjoy, and I will post a link to my site if when I get it done.

Spacedude

Organizing Lego Mindstorms NXT

Many people have Lego Mindstorms NXT Robotics Kit, including me. One of the problems is organizing all the parts. Some keep their parts in the box it comes in, but I dislike this for several reasons.

1. The box is too large.
2. It is made of cardboard, and can get beaten up very easily.
3. It has no way to keep it closed; if it spills over, you will have to search for an pick up all the parts again.

I use an old silver K'Nex box for storing my Mindstorms in.

















This keeps it all together and can be shut securely.

Inside I have several small containers and bags for wires, tread links, etc.


































This container is for the wires to connect the Motors and Sensors to the NXT brick.

















There is also a USB cable in here for connecting to the computer to upload programs, a large grey piece, the backing for the battery compartment which is no longer used, a paper clip for resetting the NXT brick, and a card. This is for a security system I found on the NXTlog. I sometimes put small pieces of projects in here, due to the center of it being almost completely empty.

This bag is for the tread links and sprockets I purchased from LEGOEducation.com.

















They are $12 if you wish to buy them... I would suggest it, it's not a waste of money.

This small container is for miscellaneous parts; A Zamor Sphere launcher, cage, and 7 spheres, a couple of spring-loaded missiles, some official Lego rubber bands, and some small tires that are great for caster wheels.

















Fallen asleep yet? If not, good. If so, please wake up! I'm not quite finished yet!

This is the transformer for my NXT brick's Rechargeable Battery Pack. I simply put a rubber band around the cord and place it in the box.

















Btw, if you check out the link, the second review from the top is mine.

This is my box after all the other "goodies" have been removed; I have no more organisation after this, I just try to put the NXT brick and motors on the top, if I can. I sometimes have half-built projects in here, too.

















I'm done my post about organizing Mindstorms, although after I get my 2.0 set I am going to have to think of something else, because, as you can see, it is pretty crowded in here already.

"May the bricks be with you"
Nathan / Spacedude1234567

Today's my Birthday!

Well, actually, tomorrow's my birthday, but we're celebrating it today.
I'm turning 15! Ahh! I'm old! :P

Raffle for prizes

>Rules and how to enter here<

The people at TheNXTStep are having a raffle Lego sets. Two winners will be chosen at random. The prizes depend on the amount of entries recieved.

The prizes are:
250+ entries: Each will receive a Mindstorms NXT 2.0 set
200-249 entries: One will recieve a Mindstorms NXT 2.0 set and one will get a Technic set of Lego's choosing.
Less than 200 entries and each will recieve a Technic set of Lego's choosing.


Check out the link above for rules, more info, and how to enter.

I, of course, am entering, because this might let me get a Mindstorms 2.0 set without having to save up $280.

Nathan