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This section lists all blog posts, regardless of topic.
NOVA program on autonomous driving
April 10, 2006
A couple of weeks ago I watched a wonderful NOVA program on PBS that followed several university teams as they built the hardware and software necessary to compete in the Grand Challenge. To succeed, each team had to design a vehicle to traverse over a hundred miles of back country terrain, following a rugged trail that switchbacked through the mountains and looped back around to the starting line... all without a human driver or remote control.
I've always been fascinated by the problem of designing an autonomous vehicle, so I was like a kid in a candy store as I watched. The profiles of the team leaders were also a pleasure. The red team was led by a former military man, while the blue team was lead by a bright, friendly man with a Norwegian accent. I would love to compete in something like this some day. The Terrarium challenge that I competed in a few yeas ago had this sort of flavor to it, but on a much smaller and simpler scale.
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Music and the human brainApril 10, 2006
It struck me today that the human brain seems wired intellectually and emotionally to appreciate music -- melody, harmony, and rythm. When I'm sitting listening to say a pianist and saxaphonist playing together and it's stirring my emotions, I have to wonder what the evolutionist says about where this came from. Table and Chairs
March 29, 2006
A couple weeks ago Meredith and I went to Smitty's Fine Furniture in search of a chair to match our couch. No sooner had we found the chair, I was lured into the kitchen area by a cute little kitchen table and set of chairs. We had both items delivered last Saturday, and we couldn't be happier with them! [photo]
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