One of my Favorite tech sites for practical uses of technology

A lot of technology I see is cutting edge. It has that "gee-whiz" factor that makes you glad you are a techie. However, many times the technology is so far ahead, that is has not had the cycle time to pervade into everyday use (or as I call it consumable uses, i.e. mainstream). Granted, this cycle time is getting shorter and shorter all the time.

That said, there are a few people out there that take their edgy work and make it practical for the everyday technie to consume and use. LumenLab is one such group.

They have 3 main components.

1. A DIY video projector (for under $300 you can have an HD projector if you can find the parts). Pretty slick in my book.
2. A small CNC device ($currently $599 from their kit).
3. A robotic assembly in a modular design.

All and all, these guys need some advertising, so I am doing my part. BTW, I am working on the projector now, need one more part and my father is looking at the CNC.

Thanks to Daniel for showing me this cool site!

~Jeffrey

reacTIVision - the future of DJ-ing with this very cool tech!

A colleague of mine (thanks Ian!) introduced me to reacTIVision, a component of the reacTable, a new synthesizer using a multitouch table (like a giant iphone, but in the size of a drafting table) and fiducial markers (squigglies).

Here is an example of fiducial markers


A better explaintation would be these YouTube Videos:



Bjork has it on tour even:



The basic gist of the software, is I want to use it for different applications other than the reacTable. Many people are looking into this for wearable tags and other such ideas. I am thinking of wearable tags that you can read with a cell phone so people in the club can know your "status", if you are looking for someone, or there to just "dance".

Interesting to couple this with augmented reality glasses (imagine projected images onto a lense so you see a HUD for the world around you).

You don't need the touch table to actually make it work. You can use a webcam, camera, or even a cellphone and create your own markers. I plan to check this software out one evening and I will let you know how I fair.

All and all, if anyone plays with this technology, let me know in a comment. I would enjoy perhaps collaborating.

~Jeffrey

First Round Draft - new upscale sports bar in Cape Coral

Ok, I have been to First Round Draft sports bar in Cape Coral and the place is great! It has water front tie ups, plenty of parking, and very nice decor (and it lacks the riff-raff of Stevie Tomatoes).

It is located on Del Prado (remember Candies? same place, new look and feel). Address:
1217 Del Prado Boulevard
Cape Coral, FL

Their happy hour stats:
$1 Bud Light and Miller Light drafts and $1.50 ShockTops (like Blue moon, I prefer ShockTop it is less heavy) from open to close seven days a week!
For drinks: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The appetizer happy hour is nothing over $5 at 3-7 p.m.

They have the NFL Ticket, and plenty of TVs (they did not get the MBL package this year, since they started late in the season, but I was assured they would next season).
They also have the The Big 10 Network as well.

My only wish, is they had wifi, but you cannot get it all.

The food is excellent, and priced fair. I had a burger and it was fantastic, my bride, a Buffalo chicken sandwich.

One last quip, "G", the inside bartender is a great guy. Tip him well! He will take care of you and has a great demeanor.

~Jeffrey

Breakfast today - Double yolks

I love the randomness of nature. Here is part of my breakfast today:



Nice little divergence.

~Jeffrey

Repost - How we should handle the bail outs of wall street!

My wife's aunt sent this to us. I thought it was pretty ingenious so I reposted it. I am sure it is an email going around and I have not done the math, but hell, once in a while you got to let loose. And beside, I believe in the message of the thing.

I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child.
So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It
Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000 ,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Buy a second home - stimulate the economy

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be there

Pay off credit cards - more disposable income to invest or purchase goods and services - timulate the economy

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up. Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion

We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington
DC.

And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

~Jeffrey