Video: Maker Faire - Sand Painting

Computer control, sand and a large ball bearing turn simple movement into art at Maker Faire 2008



iPod Ready Video

Audio: LIVE from the Library - May 8, 2008

Listen to the audio from my most recent LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar.

Listen: LIVE from the Library - May 8, 2008

LIVE from the Library - May 8, 2008

My twice-monthly Internet Seminar from the Sherman Oaks Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library

Event: small is beautiful: an approach to design and business @ Machine Project

small is beautiful: an approach to design and business
8pm, Thursday May 8th
FREE

monome is brian crabtree and kelli cain, a small company creating adaptable, open-source hardware interfaces used by musicians, artists, and tinkerers world-wide. they will discuss their progression from art practice to sustainable business, emphasizing minimalist design, transparency, and local, responsible production methods. their philosophy on sharing information has both fostered an enthusiastic user community and inspired similar endeavors by like-minded designers.

Machine Project
1200 D North Alvarado
Los Angeles, CA, 90026
213-483-8761

[Map]

Fire Fighting Robot Demo from Maker Faire 2008

Another in my series of video from Maker Faire 2008 in San Mateo, California.

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From the Maker Faire Program Guide...

Tony Pratkanis is a proud five year member of the world famous Homebrew Robotics Club of San Jose, CA. His interests include robots, computer programming, and social insects—especially ants.

Web Site: http://www.formicite.com/bots/



iPod Ready Video

Maker Faire Photos

100_5435
Originally uploaded by dewelch

I took much more video than photos at Maker Faire this weekend, but here is a selection that I did manage to shoot.

Video will be coming out about 1 every day or so, depending on my schedule.

Click for more photos!

Fossil Fool at Maker Faire

iPod Ready Video

From the Makers Faire Program Guide....

About the Maker(s)

Paul Freedman [paul@fossilfool.com]

Fossil Fool / Rock the Bike!

Paul is a bicycle designer and inventor who has worked for 6 years in the Bay Area bicycle community. He invented the Down Low Glow, neon lights for bikes, and has sold nearly 2000 sets to bikers around the world. He also led the nonprofit Worldbike.org to a successful distribution project in Kenya and an appearance in the Smithsoniana.
www.fossilfool.com

Audio: LIVE from the Library - April 24, 2008

Listen to the audio from my most recent LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar.

Listen: LIVE from the Library - April 24, 2008

Video: LIVE from the Library

Watch the most recent LIVE from the Library, our twice monthly Internet Seminars.

Audio: LIVE from the Library - April 10, 2008

Listen to the audio from my most recent LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar.

Listen: LIVE from the Library - April 10, 2008

Elsewhere Online: Google Earth Integrates Street View

This is the first notice I have seen of this new version of Google Earth. If you have been to my Internet Seminar at the Library or watched it online, you have heard about some of the great things that Google Earth can do. I'll be downloading and installing this new version right away. It should tie in nicely with my on-going Walking Van Nuys project.

Google Earth Integrates Street View [Featured Download]

Windows/Mac/Linux: Google Earth has updated and integrated Google Maps Street View, meaning that not only can you soar over the globe with Google Earth—you can also hit the streets and look around when you get tired of flying. In addition to Street View, Google Earth 4.3 promises time-lapse videos of sunrises and sunsets, improved speed, and better 3D graphics. It's also added new first-person controls so using the software feels closer to what it feels like to play a video game. Google Earth is freeware for all platforms.

Google Earth [via CNET]

(Via Lifehacker.)

Places LA: Star Party with the Sidewalk Astronomers

An evening out with the Sidewalk Astronomers (sidewalkastronomers.us) at Hansen Dam, in the North San Fernando Valley.


iPod Ready Video

Video: LIVE from the Library - April 10, 2008

Video from my latest LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar

Video: Dorkbot SoCal Meeting - April 5, 2008

A short video from this weeks Dorkbot SoCal meeting.

Speaker Description:

Thomas Edwards is a technology artist who is a recent transplant from Washington, DC (where he co-founded Dorkbot DC). He will be presenting "Phy2Phy", his campaign to link physical objects to other physical objects using the Interent. Phy2Phy concentrates on de-localization of interaction through the use of affordable hardware devices, and parallels the displacement of his own recent transcontinental journey.

Other speakers included Damon Seeley from Electroland, Gilad Lotan, and the guys from Makeway Racing.

Photos:



More Photos

Link: iPod Ready Video

Audio: LIVE from the Library - March 28, 2008

Listen to the audio from my most recent LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar.

Listen: LIVE from the Library - March 28, 2008

Video: LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar - Thu, March 27

Here is the video for tonight's Internet Seminar at the Sherman Oaks Branch of the LA Public Library this Thursday, March 27.

Elsewhere Online: AT&T's Spam Filter Gets A Bit Too Aggressive

This story from TechDirt lays out yet another reason I recommend that folks DON'T use the email provided to them by their ISP. My typical recommendation right now is to get a Gmail account instead. It also points out why I want to manage all my SPAM on my end, without pre-filtering from an ISP. I will gladly manage my spam if it helps to insure that I see as many of my "real" messages as possible. Again, Gmail's tools work pretty good in this regard.

Having an alternative email account also insures you will keep the same email, even if you decide to leave your current ISP. Witness all the folks holding onto AOL accounts just to keep their AOL email address. Thank goodness at least that is free now.

AT&T's Spam Filter Gets A Bit Too Aggressive

You can certainly understand why ISPs offer spam filters. It's a service for users who don't want to be totally bombarded with spam. But what I've never understood is that these ISPs rarely give the user a chance to circumvent the spam filter themselves. If most people want to ignore it and assume all spam is spam, then so be it. But what if some users want to make sure no legit emails are getting through? Witness the latest chatter about AT&T's "upgraded" spam filter that is apparently eating up a ton of legitimate emails with no indication to the receiving party. It's surprising that AT&T would do this, knowing (as it must) that back when Verizon became too aggressive with its spam filters, it lost a class action lawsuit and had to pay out a few million dollars to annoyed users. Either way, it's a reminder not to use your ISP's email solution.

(Via Techdirt.)

Video: Inkjet Printer Clogs

Some of my clients, who use their printer infrequently, are having trouble with clogged inkjets. Here are a few tips to prevent it or recover from it if it occurs.



iPod Ready Video

Elsewhere Online: Your Dog Wants A Robotic Tennis Ball Slingshot

Sometimes technology can be the coolest thing. Creativity, in all of its forms is so neat. What are you creating?

Your Dog Wants A Robotic Tennis Ball Slingshot

This is Jerry. He’s a dachshund, and he has the best damn dog toy in the world:

I was hoping the robot would try and chuck the little puffball dog that shows up two minutes in, but no dice. Guess I’ll have to wait for version 2.0 and the sequel.

VIA [ Digg ]

(Via BotJunkie.)

Elsewhere Online: Google Sky Now Available Through Your Browser

Several months ago, Google included a view of the sky, as well as the Earth in their free Google Earth software. (Download) Now word comes from Slashdot that they also offer a web based version of the Google Sky information.

This is an amazing collection of astronomical information, all provided in the familiar and easy-to-use interface used for Google Earth and Google Maps.

Google Sky Now Available Through Your Browser Ars Technica brings word that Google Sky, formerly only available as an extension of the Google Earth software, is now accessible through your web browser. The interface of Google Sky is quite similar to that of Google Maps, complete with search and alternate views by spectrum. The story also mentions (and more importantly, links) ten of the more interesting sights. We discussed Google Sky's initial release last year. Quoting: "Visible light only shows us a small picture of the entire universe; non-visible spectra such as ultraviolet (UV), infrared and X-ray hold a whole other world of information. Here is where Google Sky becomes very cool. There are three more sections that highlight fantastic images from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the GALEX Evolution Explorer (UV), and the Spitzer Space Telescope (IR). What makes these very cool is that under each selected body there is a slider that will change the displayed image back and forth between the visible and invisible spectrum."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

(Via Slashdot.)

LIVE from the Library - March 13, 2008

Elsewhere Online: Design LEGO creations on your iPhone or iPod Touch

Are you and iPhone or iPod Touch user? Do you have a love for Lego, too! Here is the perfect apps that allows you to play and design with Legos wherever you are.

Design LEGO creations on your iPhone or iPod Touch

LEGO-touch is an application for designing LEGO creations on your iPhone or iPod Touch. From the website:

View, post, build, or edit other LEGO maniacs projects. Create your own LEGO characters in pals, post your LEGO self to represent in share. Play and download different LEGO games or challenge anyone to a build-off! Personalize your bricks with color-slider and more...

The community aspect of this software seems pretty interesting to me; collaborative designs, perhaps! - Link.

(Via MAKE: Blog.)

Try turning it off and on - via Utterz.com

Try turning it off and back on

Mobile post sent by douglaswelch using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

Just what is Twitter? View this Twitter in Plain English Video

Librarian in Black points to this new video from the Common Craft show. You might remember them from the "RSS in Plain English" video I posted here before.

If you have ever wondered what Twitter is all about, or tried to explain it to someone else, this is a great place to start.

Twiter in Plain English

Another great explanation video from CommonCraft: Twitter in Plain English.  Twitter seems to puzzle many people, micro-blogging, useless "lunch was good" updates, and so on - so this would be a great way to show you staff how exactly this tool works.  Then follow it up by showing them how libraries are successfully using Twitter to do various tasks.

(Via LibrarianInBlack.)

Douglas guests on Monday Night Tech -- STP’s MNT 013 - Vista and Printers

I had a chance to "sit in" again with Dean Jensen over at the Monday Night Tech version of the SoHo Tech Podcast this week. It is always a great time and lets me talk about a wide variety of tech issues.

Listen: STP’s MNT 013 - Vista and Printers

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STP’s MNT 013 - Vista and Printers - Recorded March 3, 2008

Small Office Home Office Technology Podcast

MNT Episode 013 - Vista Rant and Printer Review

Recorded on March 3, 2008

Introduction

Member of  the Tech Podcast Network at http://www.techpodcasts.com

Member of  the Blubrry Network - http://www.blubrry.com

GoToMeeting Sponsorship

Try GoToMeeting free for 30 days!  For this special offer, visit http://www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts

GoDaddy Sponsorship 

For a discount on web hosting plans use the code pod64

For 10% off any order use the code: blu64

Live Recording from Talkshoe

The next STP’s Monday Night Tech will be on Monday, March 17, 2008

• Special Guest this Episode - Douglas Welch from http://welchwrite.com  


• Windows Vista Rant


• Opening a Blister Pack - Example: http://www.nitro-pak.com/product_info.php?products_id=502


• Blister Pack Openers - Example: http://www.myopenx.com/


• Printer Review: Epson Stylus CX9400Fax

Contact Me

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/Dean_Jensen

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690971206

Email Address: SOHOTechPodcast@gmail.com

Voice Mail: (651) 204-6612

Mailing List: http://groups.google.com/group/SOHOTechPodcast

(Via SOHO Technology Podcast.)

Podcasting Now from BarCampLA-5

Click to Play

Editing video on Nokia N95

Click to Play

Editing video? Ok. On a phone? Wha??!?!?!?

Audio: LIVE from the Library - February 28, 2008

Listen to the audio from my most recent LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar.

Listen: LIVE from the Library - February 28, 2008

Video: Flip Ultra vs. Flip Comparison

Eric Rice put together this short, but detailed comparison between the Flip Digital Video Recorder (which I highlighted a few weeks ago) and the Flip Ultra.

LIVE from the Library - February 28, 2008

Video from my latest Internet Seminar