This section lists all blog posts, regardless of topic.
The planning begins!April 24, 2009
Here we are, approaching the summer of 2009, and while it's still unclear whether the trip will happen, it's time to start planning in the case that things work out! A lot of it depends on how easy going Eli is. So far he seems like a fairly typical newborn :) And of course, it will depend on where Meredith is at. Only time will tell.
As for the other guys, it sounds as though everyone else is out. So sad, really... but I guess that's life. Matt may join me for a bit he says.
Tonight I spent a couple of hours reading journals of people who have done it and following along their routes on Google Maps. I also watched a video on how to replace a flat tire :)
This weekend is supposed to be beautiful, so hopefully I'll be able to get out for a ride.
On Tuesday evening, Meredith and I went to Ziggies so that I could show her the bike I'm interested in. Since I'm not going to be hauling a lot of gear (support vehicle), the guys at the store recommended a road bike rather than a touring bike. (The other factor being that I'd like to do triathlons with it) The model I decided on was the entry level one, for about $950. I think it's
this one. I went with the white color so that I'll look spiffy in a red Canada bike jersey. Isn't gear fun?! Can't wait to get this road bike when it comes in. Apparently I'm a size 62 frame.
Smart alarm clockApril 21, 2009
Something that I've wanted to try for some time is to create a smart alarm clock that would determine whether you have an appointment the next day and wake you up in time. (I'm great at forgetting that I have a chiro appointment at 8:15 am)
The other half of this is to have the alarm clock speak useful information to you such as:
  | The current weather and forecast weather. |
| What appointments you have that day. |
| What birthdays of family or friends are that day, or what wedding anniversaries. |
| etc. |
I got a BlackBerry last month and realized shortly thereafter that it, in combination with its charging dock, make a great piece of hardware for implementing this alarm clock.
Here's a videoI also came across
this link today which is quite interesting.
Paper meets computerApril 16, 2009
I had an interesting thought today: Imagine, say 30 years in the future, you're sitting at your desk and in front of you is what looks to be an 8.5x11 sheet of paper. It's a bit thick, around 1/32 of an inch, and it's glossy. It's also flexible.
But this paper is special: You use it much like we use computers today, using your finger to navigate through menus, scroll through documents, etc. You can use a stylus to write information, or an on-screen keyboard that works like the keyboard on today's iPhone. You can even speak at this little piece of paper.
It has a very small internal battery, but it derives most of its power wirelessly from the table below it. Its onboard electronics are responsible for transmitting input to a computer somewhere else, which is responsible for actually running the programs. Screen updates are passed back wirelessly and rendered on the screen. And once the image has been rendered, it takes little-to-no power to keep it there.
The paper can be taken virtually anywhere, and it still works, so long as it has an energy source.
Throw it in your backpack, head off to classes, and you're set, with access to all of your lecture notes, the Internet / email, etc.
The devices are so cheap to produce that virtually every person on the earth affords them, and if one breaks, you throw it out and grab another one.
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