Archive for May, 2012


BBS Documentary

A funny thing happened today while creating a new Twitter account just so I could test-drive the Twitter application for Google+. It occurred to me more than once that all of the hoopla over Twitter is pretty funny because in my early days of technology (really everyone’s early days if we’re old enough to remember the early days) while “Sysop”-ing a BBS, a “twit” was the last thing you wanted to be called. It was equivalent to getting kicked off of a system for being a download hoarder or using foul language in a BBS conference or just pissing off the Sysop for any number of reasons. For the purpose of this post, I dug up this old text file from a BBS Sysop in Vancouver of all places which is kind of entertaining.

A Sysop’s Peeves

So, to get to the point, I had to look up the reason they called this service Twitter and found that the reason they actually picked the name could’ve been as arbitrary as throwing darts at a phone book. They obviously had no experience with the BBS culture. It’s my opinion they would not have picked the name Twitter if they had any idea.

Anyway, so that’s neither here nor there and yet I still haven’t reached my point. The point of this story is that I ran across this awesome site that really took me down memory lane. In case you’re itching for the simpler days or just wondering what it was like before we had broadband, wireless, mobile phones, internet television, etc you might want to check out this site!

BBS Documentary

Cubify – Home 3D Printing

We’ve seen 3D technologies crash onto the scene in everything from re-released Hollywood movies and 3D video cameras for your smart phones to 3D television for your home entertainment center. Now, enter 3D printing technology for your home computer workstation. Grandma’s sewing machine has nothing on this new 3D home printer which is very reminiscent of the original HP LaserJet printers when they first hit the consumer electronic market in the 1980s and costing around about the same price. At just over $1200 dollars they are not going to be for every home, but I can see that this printer will definitely fit a niche of early adopters and home inventor’s that need a quick turn around for prototyping.

As reported on KTLA, there are already masses of independent trinket vendors jumping on the bandwagon to make everything from home grown cell phone covers to netted rubber or plastic gloves.

If I had $1200 to put down on one of these right now I’d be right there in line waiting for it to be released tomorrow, May 25, 2012. If you’re interested in pre-ordering your Cubify, visit their website and place an order today!

Much like the BMW i3 Concept car which features such innovative green technologies and urban driving advancements such as electric power, light weight construction materials and a dynamic instrument cluster that’s straight out of a science fiction movie the BMW i8’s augmented power plant doubles the horse power and it’s new aerodynamic look is sure to please sports car enthusiasts as one of the best looking new hybrids on the market. This concept car is due to hit the streets in 2014.

BMW took their EfficientDynamics series one step further by adding a “plug-in” 3 cylinder combustion engine which pushes the effective output of the combined power plant to 354 horsepower. The BMW i8 boasts all of the style, efficiency and state of the art technology and a whopping 87.12 MPG.  That’s savings you can take to the bank!

Well it just gets better from there.  Check it out on the BMW EfficientDynamics site.

Web Squad,

Web Design Las Vegas

Are We Becoming A Robotic Society?

I’ve posted more than once about the fantastic opportunities and the growing prevelance of robotics in society today most notably observable by the advances being made with the Google Self-Driving Car. This journalist believes the next president will come into office during the dawning of a robotic age.

Perhaps we are moving beyond the technology and information age into an evolution from mere automation to true subservient mechanical devices that will do our work for us.  Welcome to the “Robotic Age”.

Get Ready For The First Robot President

Web Squad,

Web Design Las Vegas

Kitty Playing With Big Fish!

Okay, I know you’re thinking that I must be stupid because everyone knows that dolphins are not fish. Well it did get you to check out this post though didn’t it!?

Anyway, if you watch the video I’m sure you’ll be happy you did!

Just a little reminder that in a technology age, nature never ceases to cause wonder and awe.

Can you say, Awwww? 🙂

New Testbed for Self-Driving Cars!

As a follow up to my posts about Google’s self-driving cars project I wanted to bring attention to this news article regarding a new billion dollar venture to create a city in the middle of America for testing automation technologies.

The point of the town is to enable researchers to test new technologies on existing infrastructure without interfering in everyday life. For instance, while some researchers will be testing smart technologies on old grids, others might be using the streets to test self-driving cars.

Read more here: Hobbs, NM, picked as site of scientific ghost town

ASUS PadFone

This is a great idea. A touch pad docking station for a phone. Now you can have the best of both worlds in mobile technology! Check out the ASUS PadFone.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us!!! Great interview! Although nothing is really resolved and there may not be any revelations in this video it’s important to see how much Wall Street continues to make life worse for America rather than helping anyone but the very wealthy that can afford to speculate on oil prices.

I think that it also underscores how pointless it is to believe that we’re really dependent on oil and rather that it’s Wall Street that is responsible for the ridiculous fluctuations of gas prices at the pump.

What will they do when they have to give up their little game of “bump the barrel” and other commodities like solar panels, organic fuels and hydrogen power become the primary sources of energy?

I say let them keep their oil!

Here’s a great idea I just ran across in my daily e-lunking adventures.  WikiPedia is offering their vast wealth of information in a personalized hard copy version for you at very reasonable prices.  If you’ve ever wanted to take WikiPedia with you on the road, here’s a great resource to check out.

Combine the advantages of up-to-date and in-depth knowledge with the convenience of printed books. Books are typeset and printed on demand based on your personal selection. Starting from US$ 8.90 you get your unique book and support the Wikimedia Foundation.

If you’d like to find out more about this service, please visit the PediaPress site.

Web Squad,

Web Design Las Vegas

Google Self-Driving Car In Las Vegas!

As a follow up to a previous posting regarding some of the cutting edge projects going on at Google these days, I am very excited to share with you this latest news piece covering the progress on the Google self-driving car project.  Las Vegas, NV has become the first public test bed for the Google self-driving car.

LAS VEGAS — Nevada drivers could soon be sharing the road with vehicles that don’t need them.

Department of Motor Vehicles officials said Monday they’ve issued Google the nation’s first license to test self-driving cars on public streets, after conducting demonstrations on the Las Vegas Strip and in Carson City that show the car is as safe — or perhaps safer — than a human.

Read the rest on New York Daily News, “Google’s self-driving cars get license for test drive in Nevada“.

Web Squad,

Web Design Las Vegas