Request Day...

I've recently had a request for something not tech or internet related.

Chrystie has requested to see the interesting pictures that I have of Preston.

Thery're really more of a look into the past. A view of the way we were, or rather the way Preston was.

They're not really even incrminating or particularly embarrassing. At least not that I can tell. But I've been holding to these pictures for a while now. They should be enjoyed by all.

Without further adieu:

This one is a two-for, because it also has a young spry Jason in it as well.

To Twitter or not to Twitter...

I actually finished my Twitter experiment about 3 weeks ago. I haven't had a chance to write about it until now. I bet you've all been on pins and needles.

Here's the poop:

Pros:
If you want to really get to know someone and how they really spend their time, this is definitely a good way to do it. If they're faithful to the motto "tweet everything", then you'll be able to enjoy the ins and outs of their lives.

You also have the ability to get the stream of consciousness of large segments of people. Be they friends or your target market. I liken this to the band with a loyal following of fans who might want to see an impromptu performance be it a local club or online web cast.

Cons:
If you don't have a piece of technology that you keep with you all the time, you won't really get the full effect. I found that the mobile interface was great with my smart phone. But my wife pointed out that if you weren't tethered by something that had ready access, you weren't apt to go out of your way to tweet about the minutia.

It's also quite hard to decide whether to tweet before you go do something or after. Is it important to get the play by play or the synopsis of the thing you just did?

There's also the concern about privacy. You have to be careful who's following your tweets. For example you want to tweet that you're going out for the night. If you've left enough info about yourself lying around you may have a complete stranger decide to steal your stuff, because he knows you're gone. (I know a paranoid viewpoint, but stranger things have happened.)

Also, the Twitter web site/backbone seems to get "stuck" sometimes. It seems to get bogged down and unresponsive during peak usage. Only I'm not sure when that is, because it happened sporadically.

In total:
I stopped using Twitter after the experiment, because I ran out of stuff to tweet about. Nobody really wanted to know when I went to the bathroom. However, the things I learned about the people I was following was pretty neat. It was eye opening to see the rhythm of their lives.

I would also like to give special thanks to Brookie & Janae. They were kind enough to test it out with me, and it made it a much more worthwhile experience.

Okay, so I've been a little remiss about posting. I've been a little busy.

But to make up for some of it, I found this extra good post.

If I had 3 months to kill, I'd sign-up in a heart beat:
NASA Offers $5000 a Month For You to Lie in BedPublish Post

I'd like to build the world a printer, in perfect harmony.

I'd like the printer to print itself, a make another copy.

That's the song this company sings, let the world copy away.

A song of a printer that never goes away.

Facebook follies...

In my experimentation with Twitter I've created a Facebook account (gave into peer pressure). It's actually be a pretty good experience. I've found a lot of family/friends with relatively little detective work involved. It's like you're supposed to find people on Facebook or something.

It's also worthy to note that you can use Twitter on the Facebook page to update your whereabouts. I'll post something more in depth on both Twitter & Facebook in a short bit. I just want to make sure I give both sites/services a proper run through.

Hello All,

I've come across this service called Twitter. It's kind of like a way to mini-blog your life.

The idea is that you send 140 character (maximum) updates on your whereabouts, activities, and day dreams. People can "follow" you and you can "follow" others. And hopefully along the way people get to know you better by what you decide are important activities to twitter (not sure that should be a verb) about. Then you get to know what affects people in a daily unobtrusive way.

I'm trying to decide if it's technology that makes life better or noisier. I'm going to experiment with when and how to twitter and whether or not it's only useful for someone in high school.

In attempt to be fair about it, I'm going to try using it for 2 weeks and report back on the experiment.

Here's where I need your help. I would like to follow and be followed. It would be nice to have other experimenters try it out. And since following myself would be weird, I was hoping a few of you would like to see if it's worth the trouble to catalog your lives.

Below is a video that describes Twitter. At the very least it's a well produced and interesting video.

If you like it go to twitter and sign up. My twitter page is: http://twitter.com/hpractv

Afterwards I'll report the pros, the cons, and any meaningful observations. It's either a 2 week test run of an interesting idea or a cool way to get a play-by-play of people's lives that you care about, but don't get to hang out with all the time.

Another reason to go back to school...

You ever wonder where students come up with money to do these things?

I was always worried about where my next Whopper was coming from, or how I could get the gasoline in my car to magically reproduce so I could make it to class on time.

These students in Israel must be in a whole 'nother class of their own, if they can focus on these kinds of socially ground breaking technologies:

TAU student develops software that ranks facial attractiveness

Something you wish you could teach your kids...

I know that training your kids to do interesting party tricks is a favorite pastime of parents, but if you could teach your kids to be this obedient, the world would be a more civilized place.

I must have this thing for robots lately, but they seem to be what pop up most in the articles/news that I've been coming across.

This kind of stuff is making me want to move to Japan:

The creepiest universal remote. Ever.

Who knew the Postal Service was that cool?

You know I can' resist posting gems about Star Wars or the crazy stuff that comes from it.

This is another one of those less that practical applications of Star Wars imagery.

I'd also like to point out that R2D2 seems to be the most used icon when it comes to making stuff.

Make an R2-D2 mailbox out of paper

Almost as good as the electronic lawn-mowing robot dog

I think if I had some involved shopping task, I would try this out:

Robot babysitter keeps kids occupied in Japanese store

If it didn't threaten to crush my children, or maim them permanently, I would feel comfortable with letting technology keep an eye or cam on them.

The economic solution for your stun gun needs.

For the those of you with both a frugal and a paranoid personal safety side, this is the ideal solution for you: 950,000 volts in a 'Runt'

I don't personally jog alone, at night, in dangerous places, but if I did, you can bet I have one of these little bad boys with me.

To give you and idea the amount of power you'll be packing, the average police grade Taser packs a 50,000 volts.

So rest assured your potential attacker will be nicely incapacitated.

High tech and it's increasing role in our lives...

I came across this article and realized that there are a million uses for our everyday technology that we haven't even begun to tap into.

Why don't we live in a constant state of MacGyver-ness?  Is the everyday ballpoint pen being used to its fullest potential? Are you sure you can use your shoe laces as some sort of grocery carrying device?

I think we short change ourselves when forget that the items we use everyday can transform into something extraordinary.

The guy in this article does: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/18/german-trucker-uses-mobile-as-ear-warmer-court-believes-it/

Time in a bottle...or etch-a-sketch...whatever...

This is probably the best use of free time I've seen in a while.

If this guy could make the electronics a little smaller and refined, I'd try to talk my wife into buying one.

Etch A Sketch clock automatically draws, redraws time

For those of you who know me well, you know that I have dreamed of one day owning an electronic, lawn-mowing dog. Nay I even daresay that I've prayed for one.

For 2 reasons:

First, how cool would that be? No muss, no fuss and a great looking lawn all the time.

Second, how cool would that be?!!!

My dream will come to fruition. The next step towards that dream has arrived.

Here's the latest: Husqvarna introduces pricey solar powered Automower

If only I had the disposable cash to make this wish a reality.

This article is pretty funny: Thai monks told to behave on networking Web sites

I'm not sure if being a monk is like being a priest, but I would venture to guess that similar rules apply.

It also begs this question: If a monk could do that sort of thing, where would he take his date?

Lately, I've been trying to get in shape-ish. I've been exercising and trying to eat reasonably.

I've come across this "exer-cycle": 'HyperBike': Godzilla on two wheels

I can only believe that this would work if it made you want to get out of the public eye faster. I suppose it's possible to burn calories out of embarrassment.

I should have thought of projects like this one while I was in college: MIT students simulate life on Mars

I would have gotten to go on vacation on the school's dollar all in the name of science.

I could have simulated effects of low-gravity environments by staying at luxury hotels where they do everything for you.

If I only knew then...

Plug-in bouncer...

I found an interesting Do-It-Yourself project:  Homegrown security bot heckles vagrants, longs to be a real cop

I'm tempted to try it myself, but I don't think my kids will appreciate being the subjects.

I think he could market and sell these things as "Bar-bots".  Kind of catchy, eh?

Star Wars stuff is always cool...

I'm not sure I can think of anything to say about this one, that hasn't already been said.

But, I will say that I would be too amused by this desk to ever get anything done:  "Carbonite Desk"

I found this article on a giant "action figure" on eBay: Towering Gort

I can actually only think of one person of all that I know who would really want this.

In fact he's the only guy I know who even recognize who Gort even was before this article.