LEGO Robotics: Two good examples of biped walkers.

While poking around YouTube I came across two good examples of bipedal robot walkers using the LEGO NXT on MoveToDecaf's YouTube Channel.

The first video is of a biped robot named Little Joe:



The second video is of an un-named walker using the rocking motion of the controller for movement:



This is definitely inspiring me to get off my duff and start making more progress with my LEGO NXT system. I am don't think I will build a walker, but I hope to post a video of a rover of mine on this blog some day.

Cheers ~ Jim

Friday fun: Animator vs. Animation I and II

Here are two great works of animation from Alan Becker portraying the ongoing battle between animator and animation:

Animator vs. Animation:



Animator vs. Animation II:



Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh (Happy New Year) ~ Jim

Road trip to the end of Highway 109

For a while now I have been wanting to go out to Ocean Shores for a little decompression, so I took advantage of this holiday weekend and made the trip out there.

In the past when I have gone to Ocean Shores I always wondered where the road that heads North of the town would take me, so this time instead of just cruising around the town and/or driving on the beach I headed North on Highway 109 and had a blast

The drive on Highway 109 from Ocean Shores to it's end at Taholah is one of the most scenic drives I have been on, so I am really glad I brought my camera along with me. I took a bunch of photos with my Canon A630 and just posted them to my Picasa Web Album. I don't profess to be even a marginally good photographer, but I had a lot of fun and learned quite a bit while taking the shots. I plan to play around with both Picasa and Flickr for hosting future photos for my blogs. It's going to be a learning experience, but it's going to be a fun one.

From Seattle the drive itself is aprroximately 150 miles each way, and given the traffic and speed limits that translates into about 6 hours of driving time. Other than a cantankerous dog, and someone passing while on a bridge the drive was pretty safe and stress free.

If you decide to make the tip be sure to fuel up in Aberdeen/Houquiam because gas stations are a rarity on 109, and if you want to have a good burger on the way back then swing by the Sand Castle Drive-In in Ocean Shores.

Take a look at my web album, and feel free to leave a comment if you want.

Cheers! ~ Jim

Friday fun: Christmas with Click the Mouse

Yeah I know it's a commercial for Geek Rescue, but it's geeky and Christmasee, and that's what counts!



Nollaig Shona Duit (Merry Christmas) ~ Jim

Friday fun: Hyperactive Marienkäfer

I think you will enjoy these two videos from Minuscule featuring a hyperactive Marienkäfer (Lady Bug:)





Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: BYO USB Christmas Lights

Just in time for holiday season is this video from gigafide on converting battery powered Christmas lights into USB powered Christmas lights:



Be sure to check out the Tinkernut site for more cool projects. Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Simon's Cat 'Fly Guy'

I can definitely relate to this Simon's Cat video, but in my case only a lamp was damaged:



Have a great weekend ~ Jim

FYI: 2009 Colas For The Cosmos Binocular Giveaway

Just a quick FYI that I just posted an announcement for the 2009 Colas For The Cosmos Giveaway over at my Coudymidnights astronomy blog.

If you know of a child between 8 and 14 who has an interest in astronomy, but cannot afford their own astronomical equipment, then check out the post for details.

Cheers ~ Jim Cox

Friday fun: Thanksgiving Cranberry Slaughter - JibJab.com

Have you ever wondered what takes place in the making of cranberry sauce? Well thanks to JibJab.com the terrifying truth can now be told from the cranberry's point of view:



Hope you had a great T-Day! ~ Jim

Friday fun: Cats, Cops, and Computers

I just love this YouTube video of the (mostly) patient cop dealing with a overly friendly kitten while writing a speeding ticket. By the way, there isn't any sound with this dashcam video:



You can read more about the story behind this video in this KOMOnews.com posting, and check out this video of the cat and his owner (err.. human):



Some people think cats are brainless, but as this posting points out even a super computer with 147,456 processors and 144 terabytes of memory still runs 100 times slower than an cat's brain. So next time you see a kitten or cat doing something "brainless" just remember there's a exaflop processor with over 14 petabytes of memory behind those wiskers.

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Simon's Cat 'Cat Man Do' and Simons Cat (real)

If you are a cat person with access to a computer then I am sure you have seen Simon's Cat 'Cat Man Do' from simonscat:



Now check out this 'real' verion of 'Cat Man Do' by derrobsi:



Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Mac vs. PC ad - Webcam upgrade

This would have been funnier if they used duct tape:



Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Halloween computer pranks and tales.

Tomorrow is Halloween so here are some treats for for all you Geeks and Ghouls out there.

First off there is the "Virus of Doom Prank" from the Household Hacker Channel



Next is Howcast's "How To Play a Halloween Computer Prank"



Lastly some of you may appreciate cnet.com's "Spooky tech tales to make your computer crawl"

Have a great weekend and a scary Halloween ~ Jim

Friday fun: The History of LOLCats - G4tv.com

Here is the true history of LOLCats courtesy of G4tv.com:



Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Death Kite - A Charlie Brown Horror Movie

I think this is an appropriate Friday Fun clip given that Halloween is just a few weeks away:



Have a great weekend ~ Jim