Tag Archives: technology

Chewing Up Books

Chewing Up “The Armored Saint” by Myke Cole

Leave a comment
800px-Myke_Cole_by_Gage_Skidmore
Courtesy of Wikipedia

About a year or so ago I happened upon this thing called “Book Bub”. This is an e-mail subscription where I get notified daily of e-books on sale for very low cost and in some case at no charge. It’s pretty damn awesome, if you ask me. The biggest drawback: I keep ordering these free books because they look interesting! 

Now, because of this, I have a plethora of options to read digitally that I never get around to reading. Well, last week, I was caught at work without a book to reed during my breaks and lunch. As a result, I opened my Kindle to see what magic I had downloaded previously due to Book Bub. I found “The Armored Saint” by Myke Cole. This book, dear reader, is why you read. This book: amazing. A quote:

“It is a person you love. Not a name. Not a she or a he. A person in all their shining glory. There is a thing in us, Heloise. A seed. It makes us who we are. It is our core. That is the think that we love. It alone exists. It alone is holy. It has a home, no name. It is neither male nor female. It is greater than that.”

As always, possible spoilers ahead, though I try to avoid major revelations.

30337680

Continue reading Chewing Up “The Armored Saint” by Myke Cole →

Hobbies & Technology: Why Opposable Thumbs are Cool

In Which We Are Almost Back To The Future

Leave a comment

Marty McFly: where are you now? People have wondered for decades now when Marty McFly will make himself known to the world. People have wondered when he will appear in his DeLorean, straight out of 1985.

Well, okay, maybe not. But, people have wondered when we would have hoverboards. My friends, the time is nigh. They do exist, and with a little financial backing via Kickstarter, Hendo will make them commonplace! 

If you’d like to learn more about the Kickstarter determined to make our dreams real, click here and go back… TO THE FUTURE!

Hobbies & Technology: Why Opposable Thumbs are Cool

In Which We all Say “i-Limb Here We Come!” (or “Resistance is Futile” – Take Your Pick)

Leave a comment

I am a firm believer that cyborgs are walking among us. The way I see it, there are two kinds:

  • Those with cybernetics built into our bodies
  • Those who can no longer operate without some type of electronic device on our person (ahem, cell phones)

That said, medical and technological advancements are amazing. A few years ago, the i-Limb (or as I like to think of it, the first step toward joining the Borg Collective) was introduced. Take a look at the video below and tell me it this doesn’t make you wonder if amputation might be a good thing:

Hobbies & Technology: Why Opposable Thumbs are Cool

In Which We See Really Real Fake Faces

1 Comment
ecorche_wip_1a
Courtesy Chris Jones’ site, linked here and at the end of the article

Technology is growing at ever larger leaps and bounds. Every day, we awaken to something new and exciting to push this envelope or that one. Two of my best friends are involved in the graphic art, ranging from freelance website design, to theme park animation creation, to graphics on TV shows around the nation. One of them happens to be a multiple Emmy award winner.

With all due respect, this video outstrips them both:

And then there is this:

(To be honest, it’s not just the artistic quality and realism, it’s also the humor and the music.)

The ability of our graphic artists to compose computer generated models that look so amazingly real is mind boggling. I find myself transfixed by their skill, and the results of their work. I can’t wait to see what get get next!

Source material found here and here.

 

Hobbies & Technology: Why Opposable Thumbs are Cool

In Which The Sky is No Longer the Limit

Leave a comment
buy-store-acc818a6cd2cd94337e6f45d3bc53dd4
Image courtesy of DJI


As a child, I loved toys. As a red blooded American adult man, I love toys. This is likely because I never actually grew up. (You’ve got nothing on me, Mr Pan.)

  • Playstation? Check!
  • Blu-Ray player? Check!
  • Fancy dual monitor gaming computer rig? Check!
  • Sports car? Check!
  • Uber-complex SmartPhone? Check!
  • Personal high-flying drone with an eye in the sky? Che…. heeeeeey now wait a second! Where is my personal high-flying drone with an eye in the sky?!

You see the problem here? I haven’t managed to grow wings (yet), so one would think I had found an alternative method to flying that doesn’t involve gripping the armrests in an airplane until my hand imprints are permanently etched for all mankind to see. I’m a sad panda, for I haven’t found this alternative yet.

UNTIL TODAY!

I have come to the inescapable conclusion that I must have my own personal high-flying doohickey right this moment, sleep be damned. Why is this such a cool doodad? Watch the video in the link below and you’ll have a better idea, let me tell you.

(Note: donations accepted if you would like to help out a poor Texan in desperate need of a new toy.)

As an amateur photographer, I like to take pictures and find myself wondering what the best angle should be. I’m limited though, to options like eye-level (I’m not tall) or lower then eye-level (did I mention I’m not tall?) or possibly climbing-dangerously-high-on-that-bench-over-there-and-climbing-on-the-fence-behind-it-eye-level.

Behold and imagine, then, what aerial photography could do for me.  Watch the aforementioned amazing video linked below and wonder as I have what joys this would bring to us all.

In seriousness, this is pretty dang cool, and I want one. Don’t make me  stamp my feet and throw a temper tantrum…

For more coolness, check out this here link.
Quote of the Day

Oh My!

Leave a comment

 

Let’s face it: the words “NASA,” “space” and “dinosaur” don’t go together nearly as often as they should

– Robert T Gonzalez

Quote and image courtesy io9.com.

Related articles

 

General Growlings

True American Hero: Neil Armstrong

Gallery Leave a comment
Neil Armstrong circa 1969

Neil Armstrong, a great American hero, passed away today at the age of 82.

I’m not old enough to have been around when Mr. Armstrong first set foot on the moon, but he still managed to capture my imagination and admiration. When we look back at what he accomplished, that he left the planet and actually stepped foot on something other than planet Earth, we can only hold the man in high esteem knowing that he did so with a computer with less power than any of the SmartPhones on the market today.

As a child growing up, outer space captured my imagination. Mr. Armstrong was a hero to many like me, people who will never have the chance to do what he did. He should be applauded for a life spent pursuing a dream that so many of us have.

Wil Wheaton said,

“I met Neil Armstrong once, at a dinner to honor Jimmy Doohan in the early 2000s.

He was not much taller than me, but he was a giant of a man.

I don’t remember what I said to him, or what he said to me, because all I could think the entire time was “This man has walked on the fucking moon.”

Rest in peace, Neil. Because of your bravery and your courage, an entire species will forever look into the night sky and see not a mystery, but a destination.”

Mr. Armstrong, you will be missed.

Related articles