Theirs vs Theirs -- Throwing Arms

Okay, there is a new throwing arm video on the net that you should see. No, it is not a trebuchet. It also isn't made of timber. Take a look here.



and yes, I'm also doing this to test embedded links.

Contrast that video with this one I shot a couple years ago:



as you can see the principle is the same, but the implementations are vastly different. (Neither of these throwing arms were made or contributed by the Dowdberry clan but we did shoot the 2d video.)

Political Perspective

I'm not known as a very political animal, and at 45, I'm not going to start being political now. But I am 45, so I can say a thing or two about Political Perspective.

The perspective I'm speaking of is not a candidates political point-of-view, nor is it my political point-of-view. Rather, it's the physical point of view involved in a candidate's website. I've spent this evening reviewing the "ISSUES" addressed by each of these candidates:

• Obama
• Clinton
• McCain
• Huckabee
• Romney
• and very briefly Duncan Hunter

and I can now say, without any hesitation or ambiguity, that Mitt Romney has the least readable website. I'm 45--did I mention that? And I had LASIK 8 years ago (maybe 9 now.) I'm also diabetic (yes, full disclosure). The age, the LASIK, and the diabetes have contributed somewhat to mild case of far-sightedness. I don't like wearing reading glasses (as my far-sightedness is mild) but I do frequently bump up the font size on any web page I'm reading. This is a simple matter of Ctrl-+ in Firefox (the only browser I use on a day-to-day basis.)

Unfortunately, when browsing to Mr. Romney's website, I find that all of the information is shifted and distorted. He apparently can't find someone that can properly build a useful web site. No, I don't expect the candidates themselves to be masters of CSS--but is it too much to expect them to hire someone that can?

I've put no links in this document (though there are many obvious ones possible) as I've not made up my mind on what candidates to support--you could call me an undecided. But I have decided that Mitt needs a new geek.

Geography Quiz

We have been consumed this week (especially this weekend) with this geography game:

Know Your World

Matt Fischer sent us the link and Joy has been striving to master it. I pretty much stink at it (in comparison to Joy.) Admittedly, she's invested a lot more time in it.

Pastor Dave,

I took a quick look at the Computer Science department curriculum at Colorado School of Mines (Mines) and at Abilene Christian University (ACU). In my examination, I compared their coursework with what I would expect an undergraduate degree in CS to provide/require for graduation. In each case, a sample four year program (as specified by the school) was reviewed.

I find that the ACU coursework is fairly typical of any college or university—it provides the standard core classes and has an additional subfield of study—software engineering. The “non” software engineering is more what I would call a traditional CS undergraduate coursework list. The software engineering variant trades off Calc 3 for Web Development and more applied software skills. Both seem prudent and effective. The student's interest should guide his selection in one area or the other (with the advice of faculty of course.)

I was a bit dismayed in Mines' CS undergraduate curriculum. They route all students through a common first year—basically an introduction to engineering. There would be no CS at all until the sophomore year (though clearly, you may need/want to write some software to aid in the calculus and physics courses required during the freshman year.) Additionally, much more applied science and engineering is required throughout the Mines' four year schedule. I can't honestly recommend this CS school for someone solely interested in Computer Science. If the student is interested in doing applied mathematics, engineering, and computer science then Mines may be the right school. If interested more in the “pure” computer science, this probably isn't the right school.

References:

Mines:

http://www.mines.edu/Academic/macs/Academic_Programs/cs.shtml

http://www.mines.edu/Academic/macs/Academic_Programs/Flowcharts/CS-flow-05-06.pdf

ACU:

http://www.acu.edu/academics/advising/plans/degreeplans2007.html

http://www.acu.edu/academics/advising/documents/ss0708/InformationTechnology/CS/compsc_sofeng07084.doc

http://www.acu.edu/academics/advising/documents/ss0708/InformationTechnology/CS/compsci07.doc

Debian's DansGuardian doesn't like gator

The term gator offends DansGuardian.

Online Shopping Woes....

'Tis the season...

• to lose your packages due to etail screwups
• find that missing package off the porch and in the snow
• re-order a better deal just in the nick of time

then, take a deep breath and...

• forgive
• remember the greatest gift
• spend time with your dearest loved ones (in person, on the phone, in a blog, exchanging photos, on a youtube video... whatever works.)
  

This entry was going to be a rant about my least favorite etailer... but in the end, it just seemed more important to re-focus on the Big Picture--Peace on Earth, Good will Toward All.

Hallelujah.

Wiimote Control Woolz!!!

Okay, in typical blogger fashion, I'm now going to advocate a new product--the Wiimote. There is a very ingenious fellow at Carnegie Mellon named Johnny Chung Lee. Johnny has produced the most amazing youtube video of his wiimote infrared camera interactive whiteboard. The Wiimote is the Nintendo Wii Remote Control (and really is called the wiimote.)

This is so cool and it will basically be my hobby and time sync until I have the demo running here at home.... and at work... and at LCHS.....

And even though Wiis are sold out nationwide, getting a wiimote is just a trip to the nearest retailer....

Watch his VIDEO. He has also done some other things with the Wiimote akin to Minority Report. See this very informative Finger Dance.

Rambling

Trying to think of something to write. Maybe a weekly round up....

• Spent some time working on ikeys, remote access, and vmplayer
• Met Martin Michlmayr, former DPL. Known as tbm in all the right places
• Spent some time educating staff at LCHS about email
• Need to spend some time streamlining what may be very fouled up machines at LCHS

The machines at school a r e s o o o o s l o o o o w that they are unusable.

The Famous Diary

LCHS went to see The Diary of Anne Frank at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. A couple of comments....

• If you live north of Denver as I do, getting to the DCPA is a snap. Just take Speer off I25 and look for the signage. It's just like going to Elitch's.
• The Denver Center (as the DCPA is usually known) puts on high quality productions.
• Bring $CASH$ for parking in their garage. It's quick, convenient, but non-free.

The 2007-12-07 performance was quite good. I'd never been to the Space Theater before. It's a theater-in-the-round and as the cast themselves said, it gives every section an entirely different show. Depending on where you are sitting, you may be face to face with the lead or face-to-tail with one of the supporting actors.... but they do tend to move around so you'll likely be adjacent to someone saying lines sooner or later if you are in the front row.

I mentioned above, "...as the cast themselves said...", and I should explain. After the shows (at least all of the matinees I have been to), a subset of the cast appears on stage to address a largely school-age audience and their questions. For about 15 minutes, anything goes--from

• How can I become an actor?
• Is that your real hair?
• Do you make a lot of money?
• How did you get the part--how many people did you have to beat out?

as well as any technical, directorial, etc questions.

This was also my first exposure to the play and I don't recall reading the book/play back in my youth. So, it was all good.

Tokyo Rocks... well Shakes

Just got back from a biz trip in Tokyo. Arrived late Monday, 2007-11-26 and experienced my first earthquake in a couple of decades. This was followed by another a few days later--2007-11-30.

The rest of the trip was largely uneventful--much as these two mild quakes were uneventful. Yakiniku (Korean BBQ) in Tokyo is a delicious alternative to more sushi. The Tacos at the Royal Host in Narita's Terminal 1 airport are edible and the burger there is actually quite good. There is no division between the smoking section and the non-smoking section. However, overall there was much less smoke on this trip to Tokyo than my trip two years ago. That's a good thing.

Turkeys for Thanksgiving

Okay, promised to put up some pix. See some of the play pix here and the full flickr roll on the left.

O. Henry, O. Kay

The Ransom of Red Chief was well rehearsed, well executed, and well received. Of course, I'm biased. Pix when I get back to the house.

*My wife was the director and impresario and my son was one of the leads.

Give One, Get One.... while their hot....

Okay, a week or so ago, I posted about the One Laptop Per Child XO and my initial impressions. Well now you can buy one at www.laptopgiving.org. Well, really you can buy two (and you get to keep one.) Or you can just make a donation. I've donated and my company has matched that donation so that more kids can get their hands on this computer.

For another take on this, see what a co-worker has written: Alex Chiang (truly a world traveler.)

Cold War Hero Receives Posthumous Award

Okay, that title was ripped straight from the newspaper, possibly the Pravda (though now defunct.) I'm referring to this man: George Koval. Many of you who know me, know that I'm also a spy junky. I've never heard of this guy before today. I did a research paper 26 years ago on the Manhattan Project and have followed the Cold War, spying, etc since then. This came as a complete surprise. Read the link above or check him out on wikipedia.

O. Henry

Mrs. Dowdberry is directing another play based on one of O. Henry's best known works The Ransom of Red Chief. One of the junior dowdberrys, Spencer, will be one of the leads. The shows are Friday, 2007-11-15, and Saturday, 2007-11-16, at 7pm at Calvary United Reformed Church. (This is not as per se a "church"-y play though.)

OLPC XO

I got my hands on an OLPC XO last night. It's a curious, interesting, portable, fun tool. And if no one else borrows it tonight, I'll flash it and see if I can get the mesh working.

You can get your hands on an OLPC XO too and do a good deed at the same time. See: http://www.xogiving.org/


As Ron Popeil says, in general, "It makes a great gift!"

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The One Laptop Per Child program tried to create a $100 laptop. It has created a very cutting edge $200 laptop and intends to put them in the hands of children all over the world. You can help by buying a couple (and keeping one of them.)

typologorrhea

I find myself at times just typing fanciful, farcical, non-sensical, valueless comments (in chats and email.... ) I've come to call this behavior typologorrhea. However, there is a blogger already using typorhea as his nickname and that's probably a more accurate term. I was surprised to find no Google hits for typologorrhea so I've just recorded it in my blog for posterity.

Alternate spelling would be tyoplogorhea (with one r.)

Muggledom

This muggle has been re-reading all six of the Harry Potter books over the last few weeks in preparation for tonight's release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. These books really stand the test of time.

Jim Dale's rendition of the books is absolutely magical. We've got the hardback and the CD set arriving tomorrow.

I'll let you know how it plays out on Monday the 23rd (though a couple of folks who received shipping mistakes have already given it high marks.) JK has a lot to live up to, but I think she's up to the task.

If I weren't a Muggle, I'd just accio Deathly Hallows and be done with it--but I won't download the pirated copy from the Internet.

Camp Geek

Spencer is at Rose Hulman's Operation Catapult for the next few weeks. He told us he is doing the POLYMER SYNTHESIS project. You can email him. He'll be back home in July.

This Dad thinks it sounds like a cool project.

SCIENCE RULES!!!!

Stuart made the local news today after visting the world famous Little Shop of Physics put on by Colorado State University this year.

Spencer visited CSU earlier this month for their Engineering Exploration Day held by the School of Engineering. This was his first college visit but most assuredly won't be his last. He's dragging in about 20 pieces of mail per week as a result of his PSAT test.