brainwagon

I’m curious: some of you are undoubtably unboxing and firing up you new gadgets, like computers, Wii systems (you lucky bums) and cell phones. How ’bout dropping a quick comment here and letting me know what new gadgets you are using? Oh, and hope you are having a Merry Christmas!

On this Christmas holiday, I’d like to extend my best wishes to all my readers and their families. Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!

Wow, three in three four days. This was pretty minor. I heard a door in our house rattle in a stacatto, but felt no rolling or other shaking. Nearly the same epicenter, measuring 3.5. Recent Earthquakes – Info for event nc51177121

A twin to the one we had a couple of days ago. Preliminary report say 3.6 (the other one was a 3.7) and it occurred very close to the same place that the other one did. Recent Earthquakes – Info for event nc51177103 [tags]Earthquake[/tags]

Here’s a pointer to a cool technique for scanning 3D objects. It’s cool in that it uses very simple equipment: a cheap webcam, a corner bracket (just a backing plate that forms a 90 degree angle and has a calibration target on it) and a handheld laser modified to cast a line. I’ll look at […]

Just a couple of seconds ago, I was cutting some salmon and we had a bit of a quake. Very little ground shaking, but all the windows rattled pretty well. Usually, I access the finger server to get real time updates when such a thing happens, but I found out that the USGS has discontinued […]

Boing Boing links to this CNN story about the Open Content Alliance: a group which is trying to scan and make available books of considerable historic and cultural value on the Internet. They are receiving a one million dollar grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to digitize collections at the Boston Public Library, the […]

The fromoldbooks blog had this nice engraving of the Nativity available for download (it’s from a book old enough to be in the public domain, so is free to use as you see fit). Someone might have a nice craft project that could use such source material. Nativity of Christ [tags]Public Domain,FromOldBooks,Christmas[/tags]

Mount St. Helens woke up with a bit of a rumble today. Here’s the seismograph. It’s not exactly unprecedented, but kind of cool. [tags]Volcanic Eruption,Mount St. Helens[/tags]

Well, one of the many Wii locator websites suggested that area Target stores might get them in today, but alas: it was not to be (bii?). It’s just as well. I came up with the following top ten reasons I don’t need a Wii. No need to setup protective batting cage around the plasma TV. […]

I must admit, I haven’t been a particularly active ham (in fact, I’ve been completely inactive for a number of years), but I was still pleased to see that the FCC swept aside the Morse Code requirement for all radio amateur licenses on the 12/15. FCC Eliminates Code Requirements for Amateur Licenses No doubt a […]

My mom has had a tough week. Send some good thoughts her way. Send any extras to my brother. Send the left overs to the rest of my family. This is just my way of saying I love you Mom, and I’m thinking of you. Feel better soon. Addendum: Mom is still in the hospital […]

Google has a patent search now. You can use it to find my sole issued patent. Or you could look up the Slinky Dog patent.

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey. Frankly, I think it far more likely that Charles VI is a pale imitation of me.

For some reason, I find this hilarious. [tags]Humor,Funny,Google Earth[/tags]