Friday, May 31, 2013
A week from Monday is our next scheduled meeting. Yeah, we could do "Open Hack" time again, and I think...
A week from Monday is our next scheduled meeting. Yeah, we could do "Open Hack" time again, and I think I could get something done with that, but really, can't we do better than that?
So, please come up with great ideas you'd like to see.
So, please come up with great ideas you'd like to see.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
I don't have Tasker, but I do have Atooma, and while I don't need anything to tell me my train is at ...
I don't have Tasker, but I do have Atooma, and while I don't need anything to tell me my train is at the station, having something awake my Bluetooth when I'm at work and shut it down when I leave made sense. So, it's useful to think beyond just apps with these things into capabilities. I'm sure it'll be cool when it's done and released.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
I use CGI.pm. I use it for a raft of personal code that I use daily, and for the apps I write for work...
I use CGI.pm. I use it for a raft of personal code that I use daily, and for the apps I write for work. I guess I personally want to join the 21st century, but I fear what the Lab'll make of it.
Google peppered the convention center with sensors for Google I/O. Want to make your own smart building...
Google peppered the convention center with sensors for Google I/O. Want to make your own smart building, starting with sensing air pressure, volume, brightness, temperature and air quality? You can pre-order 'em now!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
I want to own a fretless and learn how to play like this, but I don't think I have time to really spend...
I want to own a fretless and learn how to play like this, but I don't think I have time to really spend on it.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
My bike seat I'd dead and not going back together. Anyone have a seat they aren't using they can let ...
My bike seat I'd dead and not going back together. Anyone have a seat they aren't using they can let go of?
SparkPeople asks what motivates us to exercise, because taking up the health benefits doesn't work. ...
SparkPeople asks what motivates us to exercise, because taking up the health benefits doesn't work.
You know, come to think of it, I don't really know.
You know, come to think of it, I don't really know.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Was recently pointed to this Big-O cheat sheet. Honestly, most of my code's wait is waiting for other...
Was recently pointed to this Big-O cheat sheet. Honestly, most of my code's wait is waiting for other things to be done (memory, disc, network) rather than internal complexity.
I think....
I think....
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Android's camera takes bursts shots. G+ takes burst shots and unites them into an animated GIF. (pronounced...
Android's camera takes bursts shots.
G+ takes burst shots and unites them into an animated GIF. (pronounced like "Jif")
So, please enjoy this animted image of Purdue's Loab Fountain.
G+ takes burst shots and unites them into an animated GIF. (pronounced like "Jif")
So, please enjoy this animted image of Purdue's Loab Fountain.
All the racquetball I've played in my life was played between 2 and 3:30 this afternoon. I wasn't good...
All the racquetball I've played in my life was played between 2 and 3:30 this afternoon. I wasn't good but at least I had fun.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Venkatesh Rao wrote a blog post yesterday that divides projects into schlep work, puzzles, and packaging...
Venkatesh Rao wrote a blog post yesterday that divides projects into schlep work, puzzles, and packaging.
The schlep work is routine. It requires a lot of energy but not much creativity. The puzzle part requires creative problem solving. Packaging integrates everything into a useful form.
When I was in college, I thought that software development was 90% puzzle solving and 10% schlep work. Packaging would round to zero.
Now I'd say puzzle solving is 10% of the effort on a really interesting project, maybe 1% on a dull project. The rest is maybe 3 parts schlep work to 1 part packaging.
Computer science training prepares you for the smallest portion, the puzzle solving.
The schlep work is routine. It requires a lot of energy but not much creativity. The puzzle part requires creative problem solving. Packaging integrates everything into a useful form.
When I was in college, I thought that software development was 90% puzzle solving and 10% schlep work. Packaging would round to zero.
Now I'd say puzzle solving is 10% of the effort on a really interesting project, maybe 1% on a dull project. The rest is maybe 3 parts schlep work to 1 part packaging.
Computer science training prepares you for the smallest portion, the puzzle solving.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
First of all, the parallax page layout is wonderful. Second, the XBox One looks a lot like a piece of...
First of all, the parallax page layout is wonderful.
Second, the XBox One looks a lot like a piece of late 1970s stereo equiptment, and not in a good way. Of course, the box doesn't matter as much as the stuff it does, and there's no pictures of that.
I'll likely get one eventually, whether I want it or not, as I have gamer kids.
Second, the XBox One looks a lot like a piece of late 1970s stereo equiptment, and not in a good way. Of course, the box doesn't matter as much as the stuff it does, and there's no pictures of that.
I'll likely get one eventually, whether I want it or not, as I have gamer kids.
There is pretty color in the abandoned corner of campus. I'll enjoy it for now, knowing it'll look overgrown...
There is pretty color in the abandoned corner of campus. I'll enjoy it for now, knowing it'll look overgrown and scary by July.
Monday, May 20, 2013
The RPiCluster is a 33 node Beowulf cluster built using Raspberry Pis (RPis). During my dissertation ...
The RPiCluster is a 33 node Beowulf cluster built using Raspberry Pis (RPis). During my dissertation work at Boise State University I had need of a cluster to run a distributed simulation I've been developing. The RPiCluster is the result. Each RPi is overclocked to 1GHz and is running Arch Linux. This demo shows the RPiCluster running a parallel program I developed using MPI to control all of the RGB LEDs installed on each of the nodes.
More information:
http://coen.boisestate.edu/ece/raspberry-pi/
More information:
http://coen.boisestate.edu/ece/raspberry-pi/
Great idea, but I think he overthought it. You see, pure water is not a conductor, but what we have ...
Great idea, but I think he overthought it.
You see, pure water is not a conductor, but what we have is not pure water. So, you can complete a circuit via water. Dangle two wires about the level, using a low voltage, and when the water in the sump completes the circuit, have it do something.
Then again, you don't have to worry so much about corrosion if the wires never touch water, so maybe.
You see, pure water is not a conductor, but what we have is not pure water. So, you can complete a circuit via water. Dangle two wires about the level, using a low voltage, and when the water in the sump completes the circuit, have it do something.
Then again, you don't have to worry so much about corrosion if the wires never touch water, so maybe.
Trying the Google Play Music today. I get "HTML5! Web App!" but I can't map the hardware keys to control...
Trying the Google Play Music today. I get "HTML5! Web App!" but I can't map the hardware keys to control the app, which means I have to go back to that window on that virtual desktop when I need to pause. Frustrating.
Hangouts, phone calls and Google Voice Thanks for all of your feedback on last week's Hangouts launch...
Hangouts, phone calls and Google Voice
Thanks for all of your feedback on last week's Hangouts launch. I wanted to quickly talk about 1) making/receiving phone calls in Gmail, and 2) Google Voice support more generally.
1) Today's version of Hangouts doesn't yet support outbound calls on the web and in the Chrome extension, but we do support inbound calls to your Google Voice number. We're working hard on supporting both, and outbound/inbound calls will soon be available. In the meantime, you can continue using Google Talk in Gmail.
2) Hangouts is designed to be the future of Google Voice, and making/receiving phone calls is just the beginning. Future versions of Hangouts will integrate Google Voice more seamlessly.
Thanks for all of your feedback on last week's Hangouts launch. I wanted to quickly talk about 1) making/receiving phone calls in Gmail, and 2) Google Voice support more generally.
1) Today's version of Hangouts doesn't yet support outbound calls on the web and in the Chrome extension, but we do support inbound calls to your Google Voice number. We're working hard on supporting both, and outbound/inbound calls will soon be available. In the meantime, you can continue using Google Talk in Gmail.
2) Hangouts is designed to be the future of Google Voice, and making/receiving phone calls is just the beginning. Future versions of Hangouts will integrate Google Voice more seamlessly.
Bruce Sterling has the best description of Google Glass: Think of it this way: “Google Glass a partially...
Bruce Sterling has the best description of Google Glass:
Think of it this way: “Google Glass a partially crippled Android device that sits on my head for Google’s benefit, and has an interface about ten times weirder than Windows Eight.” You’re sure to figure that out eventually, so you might as well do it now and get ahead of the curve.
Think of it this way: “Google Glass a partially crippled Android device that sits on my head for Google’s benefit, and has an interface about ten times weirder than Windows Eight.” You’re sure to figure that out eventually, so you might as well do it now and get ahead of the curve.
One of the few things I remember from War in the Age of Intelligent Machines -- and as I type this, I...
One of the few things I remember from War in the Age of Intelligent Machines -- and as I type this, I find I barely remember it -- is how cities were developed in terms of defensive need. For centuries, the city is what you could put a defensive wall around. The "wall" in Wall St., for example, was the point of early New York where they put the barricade to protect themselves from the natives in midtown. The wide avenues of Paris were developed so that the riot-prone Parisians couldn't shut down the city by barricading the streets. I suspect the CCTV network of London is best seen in this light.
In all but a few contexts, the defense of a contemporary city isn't from outside -- WWII showed that static defense in the age of industrial warfare is a pipe dream, and the age of the ICBM makes it even worse -- so in one way or another, the Smart City can be seen as a city defending itself from its citizens. Which is weird.
Link via Bruce Sterling.
In all but a few contexts, the defense of a contemporary city isn't from outside -- WWII showed that static defense in the age of industrial warfare is a pipe dream, and the age of the ICBM makes it even worse -- so in one way or another, the Smart City can be seen as a city defending itself from its citizens. Which is weird.
Link via Bruce Sterling.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
My concept of body, for decades, was the first line from "Candy Says" by Lou Reed, and honestly, my first...
My concept of body, for decades, was the first line from "Candy Says" by Lou Reed, and honestly, my first step at Quantified Self, tracking weight, was entirely started by that. My mind was my good point, my body was the unfortunate thing that dragged out around.
I started listening to Ben Greenfield when he talked about the O'Reilly book on fitness. This one I stopped listening to do I could go back and take notes. Cognitive enhancement would be so good. Enhance my strength, not my weakness.
I started listening to Ben Greenfield when he talked about the O'Reilly book on fitness. This one I stopped listening to do I could go back and take notes. Cognitive enhancement would be so good. Enhance my strength, not my weakness.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
I just walked/ran for just about an hour on the complex's treadmill. That kicked my day's step count ...
I just walked/ran for just about an hour on the complex's treadmill. That kicked my day's step count to 7000, which is about 3000 steps higher than I get most days.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
We meet once a month. It used to be on Tuesday evenings, but we've moved to 11:30am-1pm, which is good...
We meet once a month. It used to be on Tuesday evenings, but we've moved to 11:30am-1pm, which is good for us, but it does mean that non-Purdue people are frozen out. This was pointed out to me at indy.js last night, when another attendee mentioned that this means he can never make it.
So, should we consider evening meetings again?
So, should we consider evening meetings again?
My Galaxy S3 in place in mt +Lifehacker inspired binder clip phone mount. Now with heat shrink to protect...
My Galaxy S3 in place in mt +Lifehacker inspired binder clip phone mount. Now with heat shrink to protect the phone from scratches.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Got my Raspberry Pi hooked up in my Wrangler. It begins it's humble life as a Bluetooth audio bridge...
Got my Raspberry Pi hooked up in my Wrangler. It begins it's humble life as a Bluetooth audio bridge. I'm psyched :) Anyone have interest in a write-up?
Loving to listen in. I can't always have it as my main screen, but I love to hear the future of Google...
Loving to listen in. I can't always have it as my main screen, but I love to hear the future of Google.
Melon is a headband that allows you to track and thus control focus. Focus and flow are what I search...
Melon is a headband that allows you to track and thus control focus. Focus and flow are what I search for 8 hours a day at the keyboard, so, if this is a thing, I think I'd love it.
Via Greatist
Via Greatist
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
When I get a Philips Hue system, I'm going to have to reverse engineer the protocol so I can control ...
When I get a Philips Hue system, I'm going to have to reverse engineer the protocol so I can control it via crontab. I have designs on making a Perl or Python module so I can connect it to a Google Calendar.
A tablet for hiking. Ken mentioned it today. I haven't hiked long enough and far enough in long enough...
A tablet for hiking. Ken mentioned it today. I haven't hiked long enough and far enough in long enough a time for this to be more than s curiosity for me, but maybe someone else can find some interest in it.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Amazing video. High Winds Create ‘Ice Tsunami’ On Mille Lacs Lake May 11, 2013 7:28 PM MINNEAPOLIS...
Amazing video.
High Winds Create ‘Ice Tsunami’ On Mille Lacs Lake
May 11, 2013 7:28 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – People living around Lake Mille Lacs knew the ice would eventually have to come off their lake, but they never expected anything like what happened Saturday.
Around 9:30 a.m., people watched in disbelief as ice crawled into doors and windows at Izatys Resort. Winds as strong as 40 miles per hour pushed the wall of ice onto the southeastern shorelines.
High Winds Create ‘Ice Tsunami’ On Mille Lacs Lake
May 11, 2013 7:28 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – People living around Lake Mille Lacs knew the ice would eventually have to come off their lake, but they never expected anything like what happened Saturday.
Around 9:30 a.m., people watched in disbelief as ice crawled into doors and windows at Izatys Resort. Winds as strong as 40 miles per hour pushed the wall of ice onto the southeastern shorelines.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
I have an inexpensive container for my Atari Punk Console. I have 100K pots. I have a PCB-mount power...
I have an inexpensive container for my Atari Punk Console. I have 100K pots. I have a PCB-mount power adapter. I just need to set aside time to solder it together.
Looked at the cut pieces of McD's straws on my phone clip and thought "hey, don't I have heat shrink?...
Looked at the cut pieces of McD's straws on my phone clip and thought "hey, don't I have heat shrink?" Now, it looks much less junky.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Kinda where I am. I've been doing some self-tracking for a while, and should start beginning to figure...
Kinda where I am. I've been doing some self-tracking for a while, and should start beginning to figure out what it tells me.
Mikel and Jason will be opening up the Stein Building again, asking for input from people interested ...
Mikel and Jason will be opening up the Stein Building again, asking for input from people interested in coworking spaces. They are also planning to show off the name and logo.
May 23, 6:30pm at the Stein Building. See you there.
May 23, 6:30pm at the Stein Building. See you there.
Of course, Vannevar Bush did it first. I think every change we can expect in the next 20 years came from...
Of course, Vannevar Bush did it first. I think every change we can expect in the next 20 years came from the minds of Tesla, Bush, Turing, Englebart and Xerox PARC and we're just catching up.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Jeff Ackerman (the now former president of the Purdue Makers Club) sent this around: Hello Makers, I...
Jeff Ackerman (the now former president of the Purdue Makers Club) sent this around:
Hello Makers, I just wanted to thank you all for making this past year so awesome for the Makers Club! As a club, we experienced tremendous growth in membership, had a ton of great workshops and events, raised funds, held a prototype Makers Fair, and started some awesome projects, such as the T-Shirt Launcher! It was a pleasure to help lead the Makers Club as President. I'd like to thank those of you that were particularly active in taking charge of activities and events; you really helped make this past year awesome.
I'm really excited to help the new Makers Club leadership team make next year even better! Keep on making cool stuff that matters!
Makers Space Google Hangout Tonight @ 7:30 pm
I'm working with Greg, the new Makers Club president, and others to start a Makers Space for the Purdue community to work on personal projects. I'm hosting a Google Hangout tonight at 7:30 pm to discuss the Makers Space to find out what tools and resources you want in such a space. All you need is a microphone and a Google + account to join in! If you're interested, please click the link below to join the hangout tonight at 7:20 pm so we can get everything situated:
https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/352d0092c82bf308be6539d8ba6443b3419ca53e?authuser=0&hl=en
Hello Makers, I just wanted to thank you all for making this past year so awesome for the Makers Club! As a club, we experienced tremendous growth in membership, had a ton of great workshops and events, raised funds, held a prototype Makers Fair, and started some awesome projects, such as the T-Shirt Launcher! It was a pleasure to help lead the Makers Club as President. I'd like to thank those of you that were particularly active in taking charge of activities and events; you really helped make this past year awesome.
I'm really excited to help the new Makers Club leadership team make next year even better! Keep on making cool stuff that matters!
Makers Space Google Hangout Tonight @ 7:30 pm
I'm working with Greg, the new Makers Club president, and others to start a Makers Space for the Purdue community to work on personal projects. I'm hosting a Google Hangout tonight at 7:30 pm to discuss the Makers Space to find out what tools and resources you want in such a space. All you need is a microphone and a Google + account to join in! If you're interested, please click the link below to join the hangout tonight at 7:20 pm so we can get everything situated:
https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/352d0092c82bf308be6539d8ba6443b3419ca53e?authuser=0&hl=en
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
I wear my FitBit assuming I'll watch the data afterward. So, I found out last night that it hadn't sync'd...
I wear my FitBit assuming I'll watch the data afterward. So, I found out last night that it hadn't sync'd in three weeks. I did a new Account Setup to it, and it seems it's better. But, it's annoying that there's three fairly busy weeks I have no data for, especially the half-mile walk from my parking space to my office.
Will have to make code to tell me "You haven't sync'd for n days. Please check your device."
Will have to make code to tell me "You haven't sync'd for n days. Please check your device."
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
I don't think I'll ever do voice control, but I love the idea of that much control over all that stuff...
I don't think I'll ever do voice control, but I love the idea of that much control over all that stuff.
Our next meeting is May 13 at 7pm. If you've been put off by our focus on electronics, this may be the...
Our next meeting is May 13 at 7pm. If you've been put off by our focus on electronics, this may be the meeting for you.
https://plus.google.com/events/cjai62eh6tqct4q972l172ie0tc
https://plus.google.com/events/cjai62eh6tqct4q972l172ie0tc
Monday, May 6, 2013
I suspect that this will be about as print-out-of-the-box as +Randy Herban's ... as +Mark Senn's Solidoodle...
I suspect that this will be about as print-out-of-the-box as +Randy Herban 's ... as +Mark Senn 's Solidoodle, and I'm not sure where this fits in the area between the 3D printer, the CNC and the laser cutter, but I'm sure that most people involved with Lafayettech Labs would be interested.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/otherfab/the-othermill-custom-circuits-at-your-fingertips
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/otherfab/the-othermill-custom-circuits-at-your-fingertips
One of the things we found at Saturday's Open Hack Day was that we had no available allen wrenches to...
One of the things we found at Saturday's Open Hack Day was that we had no available allen wrenches to adjust the Solidoodle. I also found that Harbor Freight was open that afternoon, so now, we have a set of allen wrenches for the lab.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Has anyone done a comparison between what the different wearable fitness sensors collect? I'm talking...
Has anyone done a comparison between what the different wearable fitness sensors collect? I'm talking Nike Fuelband, Jawbone Up, FitBit Flex Zip One etc.
I have a FitBit Ultra that's looking a bit battered, and I have been burned by leaving the unit on the wrong pair of pants on more than one occasion, so I'm liking the wrist band form, but that's not necessarily a seller.
I have a FitBit Ultra that's looking a bit battered, and I have been burned by leaving the unit on the wrong pair of pants on more than one occasion, so I'm liking the wrist band form, but that's not necessarily a seller.
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