Click here to view the embedded video.

It is pretty mesmerizing to see the absolute chaos that comes from such a tiny little bullet.  I like the ballistics gel shots the best.

This has to be one of the first “CAD Demonstrations” in history, and it is pretty amazing what could be done with 1963 computer technology (actually the rig they are on was built in 1958, predating the microchip).  From the description, this video depicts:

…the software Ivan Sutherland developed in his 1963 thesis at MIT’s Lincoln Labs, “Sketchpad, A Man-Machine Graphical Communication System”, described as one of the most influential computer programs ever written. This work was seminal in Human-Computer Interaction, Graphics and Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), Computer Aided Design (CAD), and constraint/object-oriented programming.

Here are both parts:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

They cover all of the basics for 3D computer modeling.  They have sketching, snapping, constraining, modifying, importing, and view manipulation down just as well as any modern CAD software (minus some of what amounts to special effects).  In fact, the stylus interface used is only recently coming back into style.  And there is some discussion about other human-computer interfaces they were developing at the time that we still haven’t quite figured out, like speech and handwriting recognition.  I guess hard problems are hard.

It’s particularly interesting to me the blend of parametric and direct modeling, being able to apply rigid constraints on the one hand and deforming the model dynamically on the other.  It seems like MIT Lincoln Labs had CAD all figured out a half century ago, and the rest has all been largely cosmetic.  You can even find Ivan Sutherland’s entire thesis on Sketchpad online here.  In it he details everything from constructing the “light-pen” to the different constraint solving methods available.

I especially like the first demonstrator’s objection handling.  Like in the second video (5:45) when asked about drawing non-linear models, such as an automobile, and he simply replies, “we are well on our way with surfaces.”  Brilliant.  I think I’ve used that exact line a dozen times, 46 years later.

I think it’s especially important to note how much enjoyment everyone seems to get out of this little experiment.  The guys on stage are smiling, the audience laughs as they play along, and now hundreds of thousands of folks are watching online.  People like things they are familiar with, and it is striking when something they have never actually experienced before hits that familiarity chord anyways.  There is an intrinsic attraction to consonance, and maybe some muster behind the notion that music is a universal language.

I like this picture. I took this picture. Now I’m using it to see if my Flickr account is actually linked correctly to Jabberwocky.

I did not vote for President Barack Obama.  Personally, I supported Senator McCain, while also following the Ron Paul movement with a lot of interest.  I do not vote strictly along party lines, but I do lean toward Republican politics.  That aside, I must say that President Obama is an inspiring individual.  I am consistently impressed by his speeches, and truly hope he can rise to the level of leadership that is now expected of him.

One indication that he may at least have the right intentions is the redesigned WhiteHouse.gov website, which could be an indispensable communication tool if used correctly.  Specifically, I envision a two-way flow of information, promoting transparency from the Executive branch, and involvement from the public at large.

Another point of note is the briefly outlined Energy and Environment Agenda.  It is a bold departure from traditional energy policy, including drastic measures:

• Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
• Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.
• Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars — cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon — on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.
• Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
• Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

I am rapidly becoming of the mind that Energy Policy should be one of the, if not the top considerations in American politics.  Many other common issues are linked directly or indirectly to energy, including foreign policy, national defense, the economy, the health system, and education.

There is a lot to be said on this subject, but to the point, nothing could transform me into a full-fledged Obamaniac more quickly than an aggressive and progressive overhaul of the nation’s energy policy.  If the new President can make real strides toward the goals he has outlined, well then I guess people voted for the right guy.

More than rocking harder than most mortals can, Umph seems to understand how the music world is changing.  While many bands (or at least their labels) are busy screaming and suing over “piracy,” effectively treating their fans as criminals, Umph is constantly experimenting with new ways to treat their fans better.  The band is almost continuously touring, and they are certainly most known for their stellar live performances.  They have had free, hour-plus long podcasts available for over two years.  They have embraced the taping community, and currently have over 100 full show recordings on archive.org.

And now, as I type this, they are releasing their latest venture into using “free” music to both promote themselves AND improve the experience for their fans.  Mantis is the newest album, released today (I actually got mine last night).  The interesting part of this album is the promotion the band ran leading up to its release.  Upon announcing the album, Umphrey’s allowed pre-orders, with one amazing twist; the more copies that were pre-ordered, the more content would actually be included in the album.  They explain:

The more fans that pre-order the release, the more bonus content we’ll unlock for everyone. We are leaving the amount of additional content and the makeup of some of that content entirely up to you. There are 8 total levels of material that could be unlocked containing over 45 unique & unreleased audio tracks, including behind-the-scenes perspectives, videos, and plenty of quirky surprises.

In one move they incentivize promotion by fans.  Every person who pre-ordered would get more for their money by making sure more people bought the album.  Having eight unlockable levels made it almost a game, and engaged fans in a way that bands rarely do these days.

It is refreshing to see a band, especially one of the most talented groups out there, recognizing that the changing landscape of produced music does not at all mean that “music is dying”.  Far from it.  Electronic distribution is opening whole new avenues for both bands and fans to enjoy, collaborate, and share in music.

thanks to my grandson and nephew we finally can use my christmas gift

Since they live 300 miles away, it was a little difficult to troubleshoot the process of getting the wireless network set up, and my second cousin George lives down the street, so he picked up where I left off.

It feels good to hopefully open them up to a bit of the wonders of the intertubes.

Infectious Art

I picked up the above design, Tea for Two, just before Christmas.  The artwork is pretty darn cool, and the sticker is better quality than I expected.  Affixing it to my iPhone was just as simple as they describe; I had to peel the sticker back a few times to get it correctly aligned, but it wasn’t fully attached until I firmly pressed it on.

I did have one small issue, however.  For some reason the perforation around the sticker was not completely cut in one area, and I ended up with a small tear in the sticker as I pulled it from the backing.  I suppose that is partly my fault, but I would also expect a $10 sticker to separate from its backing correctly.

Overall, I like the ability to customize my iPhone without any permanent changes.  The samurai and monkey are right up my alley, and it makes my toy a little more personal.  Infectious is quickly building their catalog; when I got mine there were around 35 designs to choose from, and now there is almost double that number.  If you want to add a little something to your phone, but can’t stand a bulky case (like me), stickers are where it’s at.

The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing, a 15-member panel, wants to raise the federal gasoline tax from the current 18.4 cents per gallon to 28.4 cents per gallon. Diesel fuel would see a raise of between 12 and 15 cents per gallon.

At the same time, the commission will recommend tying the fuel tax rates to inflation.

I’ve already read a few articles claiming that this us somehow “taking advantage” of the currently low price of gas.  What is not mentioned is how small a tax 18.4 cents a gallon is when the price is over $4/gallon.  A gas tax is a much more efficient system than tolls or excise taxes.  As far as I’m concerned, the entire transit system should be paid for by gasoline tax, including public transit, infrastructure improvement, and alternative fuel technology.  The tax could be 100% of the current price, and as we saw over the last year, people would still buy their gas.

Not to mention the other positives that come from the pressures of high-cost gasoline.  The Department of Transportation says Americans drove “100 billion fewer miles during the 12-month period between November 2007 and October 2008 compared with the prior year,” mostly as a result of gas prices.  How quickly will people return to their old driving habits if prices continue to drop?

Raising the gas tax is a good idea, but the change should be more significant, even if it were gradual.  I think a tax of 20% is not unreasonable; percentage taxes have the added benefit of pressuring conservation more when the supply is tight, exactly as it should.  And a significant amount of the tax revenue should be invested in emerging technologies that may someday make the gas tax completely unneccessary.