Live Loud.

It can be argued that battery technology is by far the largest limiting factor involved in a wide range of applications, ranging from tech toys like cellular phones and laptops on up to hybrid and fully electric vehicles.  It’s interesting when you consider that mankind has developed the technology to fling people into orbit around the planet, but continues to be vexed by the limits of physics represented by the interior of a simple AA battery found at the local checkout counter.

While I’ve griped about this country’s general apathy concerning energy tech before, it is nice to know there are numerous startups floating around out there doing new and interesting things with what is available now.  I was flipping through Wired earlier and stumbled over a story about a company in California, Zero Motorcycles, which is building some pretty sweet electric street and motocross bikes. Although the batteries contained within continue to to be both cost and maintenance prohibitive, the bikes themselves represent a great step in the right direction.  Pretty damn cool, too - Check these out!

The "Zero MX" - Zero Motorcycles (Electric Motocrosser)
Specs: 23 horsepower; Up to 40 miles

The "Zero S" - Zero Motorcycles (Electric Street Bike)
Specs: 31 horsepower; Up to 60 miles @ 60mph

More Information :
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com

A friend sent over links to these crazy complex Adobe Flash projects last week.  Amazing stuff!  In case you are unfamiliar, Flash is a development environment for creating interactive, object-based animations or content.  Websites like YouTube are built on the platform.

If you know anything about Adobe’s Flash, you’ll notice the battles actually take place within the development environment and you’ll appreciate some of the humor and “weapons” even more.  I wish I was this creative – Check them out!

Animator vs. Animation

Animator vs. Animation II

Wit and wisdom from my first 30 years on planet Earth.

From the early years -

• Don’t touch an electric fence.
• Fruity Pebbles are the food of the gods.
• Dogs are great friends until they burry or eat your stuff.
• Transformers are WAY better than Go-Bots.
• Hospitals are a scary place to be stuck by yourself.
• Family is a wonderful thing.
• Ignorance truly is bliss.

From high school -

• Dating can be a painful, joyless endeavor.
• Life is better when your Mom doesn’t choose your clothes.
• Words can be hurtful;  Use them with care.
• Not all who wrong or disrespect you are your enemies.
• Popularity is irrelevant unless you’re the U.S. President.
• You are never, ever, as important as you think you are.

From college -

• The state takes your license away after 17 points; Who knew.
• Operating on little to no sleep makes one crabby as hell.
• Living with large, random groups of other people sucks.
• Caffeine isn’t an addiction; It’s a lifestyle.
• Pot and cigs smell horrific and make no sense.
• The debt is an investment in yourself; Don’t squander it.
• English profs are evil incarnate.

As a young adult -

• Your friends should not have an age limitation.
• Be the friend to others you would have them be to you.
• Forgiveness and forgetfulness are two very different things.
• Love what you do; Do what you love.
• Take time out to stop and smell the roses.
• The world is bigger than what you see on TV.
• Everyone walks their own path; Allow them to do so.
• Be yourself; Dare to step to the beat of your own drummer.
• Insecurities are like pimples; Everyone has them.

Looks like I’ve found my next cell phone!  I’m a big fan of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile platform and have been waiting for news regarding the release of Windows Mobile 7 – It appears as though that overhaul of the platform will continue to be in the cooker for some time to come, however.

In the mean time, Microsoft has officially announced a point release of the current version, Windows Mobile 6.5, which should be broadly available on mobile devices later this year.  While it’s not the big release I’ve been looking forward to, it certainly looks like a number of the new devices coming along later this year will keep me placated until then.  Among these I’ve singled out another device from HTC as my next mobile workhorse.

HTC Touch Pro2 Smartphone

• Windows Mobile 6.1
• High-Res 3.6 inch widescreen VGA display
• Slide out QWERTY keyboard
• Expandable memory
• Built-in 5mp digital camera

More Information :

Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Website
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile

HTC Website
http://www.htc.com

Mobile World Congress Website
http://www.mobileworldcongress.com

Around a year ago gasoline was running upwards of $4.00 a gallon and people everywhere were bloody outraged.  You couldn’t turn on the nightly news without some new story about evil oil companies or America’s continued growing dependence on foreign energy sources.  Filling the tank of your auto was only the beginning as a multitude of other interconnected affairs all suddenly became expensive and newsworthy; From heating your house to filling your refrigerator and everything in-between.  People everywhere, the politicians in DC included, were discussing the need to break the habit and start making a real effort to move toward what would almost certainly be cleaner and more renewable energy sources. 

Fast forward to today and, bleak economy or not, the one “bright spot” (as I’ve heard it called) is that oil prices, and thereby gasoline and heating costs, are significantly diminished from those highs a year or more ago.  Interestingly, though, so too is the microscope on the problem it seems. The unfortunate side effect is that without the pain associated with the dilemma, there is less incentive for the necessary funding to be put into the research that has to be done.

I find physics to be a fascinating topic and occasionally find myself reading through various studies related to the field.  I happened across an interesting project related to solar energy not long ago, and while arguments can be made one way or another about the viability of any one initiative, it is important to keep in mind that this is why we should be funding research.  At one point in time everything from televisions to computers were drawings on a chalkboard.  Is it not fair to say this should be going on NOW so we have a head start toward making these things practical?

More Information :

• EnviroMission Website
• History Channel segment on the “Solar Tower” concept
  

The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough.  On occasion, some may be correct.  But do not do their work for them.  Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal.  Don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say "yes".

- Keith Olbermann, Broadcast Journalist
from the Starbucks "The Way I See It" collection
http://www.starbucks.com/retail/thewayiseeit_default.asp

I had the pleasure of jotting down to Chicago with some friends a few weeks back to catch Lewis Black live at the Chicago Theatre for his latest comedy tour - titled "Let Them Eat Cake".  I've seen him live on stage a number of times now during previous tours and can tell you he never disappoints.

If you've never caught one of his shows live before then you are missing out!  Lewis Black is by far my favorite comedian because he has a unique knack for intelligent, observational humor delivered via a trademark rage.  I've never left a theatre following one of his shows and not heard the words, "He's funny because it's all true"!  Perhaps we should all be so angry...

The latest tour is ongoing and may be swinging near you.  If the live shows aren't your thing, then I'd definitely recommend grabbing a copy of his HBO special on DVD, titled "Black on Broadway".  Fantastic stuff.  He has written a few books, and has some audio CDs which are fantastic as well - Great for road trips, assuming you can laugh and drive at the same time.

Lewis Black - Official Website
http://www.lewisblack.com
Tour Dates
http://www.lewisblack.com/appearances.asp

Like death and taxes, I guess there are just some things you cannot avoid.  After a good long run, all things considered, my 360 has taken a seemingly predestined trip to console hell where it will join fallen brethren from the four corners of Earth.  Godspeed, dude.  Godspeed.

 
May 20, 2006 - July 10, 2008
RIP

I broke down and picked up a USB webcam several months ago - Mostly because I stumbled over a sale on the devices running at a local Best Buy, but also because I had been considering one for video conferences with colleagues while working on projects or for keeping in touch with friends and family.  Microsoft and other vendors have a fairly wide variety of models available for consideration.

This one, a LifeCam VX-3000 from Microsoft, has worked very well and I've been happy with it.  I'm not using the integrated microphone, however - I had a desktop microphone connected to the system already and it is easier to position independently for better audio.  Being a Microsoft peripheral, the LifeCam integrates very well with the Windows Live Messenger software which I use extensively. My office at home is lit mostly from a desk lamp and I was a little surprised at the quality of the video in such low light - Another bonus.  If you're in the market, give these a look.

More info :

• 640 x 480 pixel video resolution
• Capture up to 30 frames per second
• High definition photos
• Universal attachment base
• Broad IM software compatibility

 
If Jesus returns to earth, as many Christians believe he will, how will we know it?

In the midst of an information explosion and with a multitude of idiots with nothing to say clogging our airwaves, how would he manage to get even a few minutes of our attention?  God help him if he doesn't hire a really good publicist.  Trust me, he's dead meat without a real shark in his corner.

Considering the sea of hairless hoo-hahs and perfect tatas exposed by the drug-addled young starlets who are grabbing all of the headlines, Jesus certainly has his work cut out for him.  He might even have to get the attention he is looking for by immediately going into rehab.  He could say that returning was a real shock to his system and so he started self-medicating on various painkillers and cheap red wine.  Even if he does manage to grab a smidgen of our attention from online porn, eBay, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, and the whole hysterical cyberspace of bloggers, who among us is going to take seriously someone who looks like any other Hollywood model-actor wannabe?

Then there's the outcry he'll have to deal with from the Religious Right and the televangelists.  I can't see Jesus being really thrilled by the way they are representing him.  They are certainly going to savage the sweet-faced boy trying to put his hand in their till.

All I can say is, he better have one hell of a website.  And he'd better come armed with some bigger, better, and splashier miracles.  Just walking on water isn't going to cut it anymore.

- Lewis Black
from Me of Little Faith
http://www.lewisblack.com/me_of_little_faith.asp