Notes from Smiley Riley
 

September 10, 2011

Wienermobile

We saw the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at a gas station in Texas. It looks like a hot dog. It really does. The guy was driving all over the country, and noticed me walking around. He said, "MOAH...
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September 4, 2011

Things I Learned How to do This Summer

I had a HOT, but interesting summer. THis summer I learned how to do a few new things, including: Airbrushing, taught by this artist in his studio: Building a super fast remote car, taught by a Texas...
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September 4, 2011

Bucky Ball Creations

As bizarre as my hobbies are, I really enjoy building with bucky balls. Here are some recent creations. A small pig like creation: A capsule using all or almost all of my buckyballs: A ninja star: Hope...
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April 23, 2011

Sky Watch Unit

Plano TX police had an open house, where I got to go up in one of their sky watch units. These are parked as remote observation units around the city. Also had some adventures with handcuffs....
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January 24, 2011

Pinewood Derby - take 2

I recently finished my pinewood derby car. This year I did better than last year because now I can go to the district finals. My design was based on an airfoil, and I made the car myself....
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January 17, 2011

Stop Action Animation - that's better

Here's a better animation, than my prior one, I think. I used a cool program called iStopMotion, from Boinx software. Dad says iStopMotion got good reviews, and I enjoy working with it. It allows me to see...
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January 16, 2011

Stop Action Animation - simple

I like stop action animation, and worked on this one in Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. It is using a camera and software from Intel, that is not produced any more. This clip is pretty...
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December 19, 2010

Texas ICE (trademark)

Claire and I went to see Texas ICE (TM) at a big resort building near DFW airport at Gaylord Texas. It is a way for people to see (fake) snow and (real, sculpted) ice in TX. There...
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October 10, 2010

RipStick - better than a board

I got a RipStick at a garage sale this month, and I think it works better than a skateboard. The hardest part is learning how to get it started. Once a kid on my street taught be...
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October 9, 2010

My Advertising Project

In school I've been working on an advertising project and a chocolate unit. So, I created this video of a commercial I wrote for a new candy brand I designed. Hope you like it. By Riley...
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July 10, 2010

Lego Design Contest

I entered a Lego Design contest with my bendable Lego creatures. I made the chain mail from a chain and sproket system that worked like a bike chain on a Star Wars Lego kit. I like them...
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July 10, 2010

The Soda Shop

We found a fun part of Dallas when Pop and Hilda visited, called the Bishop Art District. Nice local businesses, and creative shops. The street has a mural that I like, from an old repair shop. The...
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May 31, 2010

Chain Mail Creatures

I got some chain mail lego pieces for a Star Wars kit. I've been playing with it and like how chain mail can bend about. It lets me make shape shifting creatures. Here is a creature I...
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April 11, 2010

Face Painting with Pat

Grandma Pat visited us recently, and practiced 2 face painting patterns on me. They were great, and had other kids around Dallas asking me "where did you get your face painted? I want one like that, too"....
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February 13, 2010

Race Videos

I had a chance to race my pine wood derby car. Claire and Dad shot some videos. My car is the black one. I had 6 races. Here they are in order. My car's name was "Lightning...
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January 24, 2010

Pinewood Derby 2

You saw my rough cut Pine Wood Derby Car in my last post. Here are the fininishing steps I took. After sanding to a smooth finish, I painted with a high gloss Yellow, in very thin coats....
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January 3, 2010

Snow in Texas

When I found out it was snowing in Texas, I was amazed. I wanted to go out right away. Claire was really excited, too. She didn't even want to eat breakfast. She just wanted to go out...
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January 1, 2010

We are shredders, dude.

I didn't glide as much as I should, but for my first day skateboarding, I think things are going well. I learned that balance is key. If you click these links, you'll see me and Dad in...
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December 24, 2009

Pinewood Derby Design

I am building a car. A small car, but a car. It's my Pinewood Derby car for scouts. To figure out how to make it to travel quickly, we looked at the Boy's LIfe . com. It...
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November 22, 2009

What's the word for cowboy in Chinese? In Japanese? in Korean? in VIetnamese?

When I first heard we might move here, I asked my dad if: 1) I could keep my bed? 2) Are there even any Asians in Texas? This is what some people think about Texas: But it...
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November 9, 2009

A boy and his Sharpie

I had the opportunity to decorate my new room recently. We painted it blue but I thought I needed a little more art. When dad saw it he said, "Did your mom think this was a good...
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April 26, 2009

New Projects

I've been saving money in my piggy bank (including a birthday check from grandma Pat) and I eventually had enough to buy a [ginormous] Lego set. With it I can fire new Lego Cannons, attach new hook...
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April 11, 2009

Cards Game - Triple

I had a triple at the Cardinals' Game today: 2 grandpas plus a Pujos grand slam on the way to a Cards win over the Astros. Here we are in the stands together: I had a great...
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March 31, 2009

Tic Tacs

I like Tic Tacs. I love Tic Tacs. Here is part of my current inventory. When dad runs out, he comes to me to get extra, I used all the different Tic Tac flavors that I have,...
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November 30, 2008

Cahokia - Once larger than London.

I've been learning about Native Americans at school, which I've enjoyed a lot. During Thanksgiving break I went to explore Cahokia Mounds. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and in the 1100s it had more people...
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November 17, 2008

The strange boy who craves carrots

My biggest fall harvest this year was carrots. I love carrots. I crave carrots. I adore carrots. They make me see very well. We should have thinned them earlier in the year - we let these grow...
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October 26, 2008

Pere Marquette

Dad and I went hiking this weekend. Here's a view as I'm taking a rest at the top of the trail, on McAdams Peak. It was pretty up there. For scale, the brown rectangle in the river...
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October 4, 2008

Cat name vote now in - thanks!

We had really great name suggestions for our catamaran from the McKinneyTree. In our first round of voting, we picked Cat-A-Tonic, Feline o'Mine, MeWow, Pounce d'Leon, Macavity, Tigger, Dream Kit, Cat-Cat, Hello Kitty and Jolly Cliley. Without...
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September 6, 2008

Will work for food

Our garden is growing well. I give it water and fertilizer because the soil still is not very rich. Hopefully over time our mulch will help. Our new wire fence is keeping the rabbits out. In this...
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August 1, 2008

Lightning in a bottle

This lightning is so cool, it is a purple color. Claire and I played with this plasma lamp in the science center. I like the way you can see the individual arcs of light here. Oh, oh....Claire...
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