Hobby Projects

I just recently found this gem of a site.  This is a great place for those interested in learning more about electronics to start.  The site is full of introductory tutorials on many subjects that are key for would-be circuit benders and hackers.  I definitely recommend you check it out!

http://www.hobbyprojects.com/

 - JM

Help the Maasai people!

If there is one this I am against, it is fat cats rolling into an area, buying everything, and kicking out the people who lived there since anyone else could remember.  That is exactly what might happen in Tanzania.  A bunch of rich Arab princes want to spice up their lives with some lion hunting, so the proposal to purchase a large land area is underway.  Unfortunately the area is already occupied by the Maasai people.  If you would like to help out in any small way, the least you can do is read more on the topic, and click the link to this online petition.  If enough people sign the petition, the president of Tanzania could actually reconsider this move.  So what are you waiting for?

Click here to sign petition

Posted: 10 August  2012
At any moment, a big-game hunting corporation could sign a deal which would force up to 48,000 members of Africa’s famous Maasai tribe from their land to make way for wealthy Middle Eastern kings and princes to hunt lions and leopards. Experts say the Tanzanian President’s approval of the deal may be imminent, but if we act now, we can stop this sell-off of the Serengeti. 

The last time this same corporation pushed the Maasai off their land to make way for rich hunters, people were beaten by the police, their homes were burnt to a cinder and their livestock died of starvation. But when a press controversy followed, Tanzanian President Kikwete reversed course and returned the Maasai to their land. This time, there hasn’t been a big press controversy yet, but we can change that and force Kikwete to stop the deal if we join our voices now. 

If 150,000 of us sign, media outlets in Tanzania and around the world will be blitzed so President Kikwete gets the message to rethink this deadly deal. Sign the petition now and send to everyone. 

Click here to sign petition

 - JM

Dreamland

Probably one of the creepiest places on the face of the earth.  This would certainly make a great set for a bloody B-rate horror flick.  These photographs were captured by photographer and science-fiction/fantasy writer Michael John Grist while travelling in Japan.  Truly a remarkable juxtaposition of what this site was originally intended as.  Some of the lovelier shots show how the surrounding nature is slowly reclaiming this Dreamland.

Michael travels around Japan and many other countries photographing various 'modern'  ruins.  A very cool way to spend one's time I say.  Check out his site for more brilliant photography and ruins!

http://www.michaeljohngrist.com/2010/09/nara-dreamland-japans-last-abandoned-theme-park/

 - JM

E-Waste abroad

The subject of e-waste landing in developing nations has been a growing concern of mine over the years.  I was aware of the growing problem in South Asia, though recently I have come to realize that this is also a major problem in Africa.  Ghana receives illegal shipments of electronic waste from developed nations.  The shipments are illegal because in most cases the countries sending the waste have policies which make it against the law to export electronic waste.  Instead, the shipments are sent as 'working electronics', regardless of the fact that they are broken and useless as consumer goods.  The result is the continued shipment of electronic waste to a country that is not equipped to deal with the problem.

(Image source: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00793/ghana-electronics1-_793581i.jpg)

There is a man who is attempting to bring awareness of this issue to the rest of the world.  His name is Mike Anane.  Mike is an environmental journalist who has made efforts to create awareness of the growing electronic waste problem in Ghana.  He is the founder of the League of Environmental Journalists In Ghana. 

I would like to see the UN take a firm stance on this matter as more awareness is raised.  Countries that are not willing to pay the necessary expenses to process these items should at the very least consider funding an environmentally sustainable solution abroad.  If developed nations were willing to consider this option, not only would it solve environmental concerns both at home and abroad, but it would create new opportunities for developing nations.

If you do choose to discard electronics make sure you consider where they will end up.  There are companies that have the ability to process electronic waste with 99% efficiency.  Some companies will even use the petroleum based materials from reprocessed plastic casings to oil the processing equipment.  We have the technology, we just need the willingness to invest and implement these solutions.  

 -JM

TV Tropes

For all those interesting in writing, this site is pretty interesting. It uses the term 'tropes' to describe popular literary themes which may or may not preexist in an audiences mind. This site is a great source for writers block and offers a cornucopia of plots twists, possible outcomes, and character dynamics that will give your written works that needed 'boost'. Check it out!

TV Tropes

- JM

Mobile Braille Phone FTW!

Now this is what I call a worthwhile technological innovation. A mobile device with a clever mechanism that allows for the spontaneous reading and writing of braille! Despite the incredible impact which mobile information technology has had on the globe, it impossible for a blind person to make use of a visual touch screen interface. This new device will change that.

(Click to read more)

Not only does this device allow instant braille I/O communication, but it could potentially be used as an aid for learning the braille language. Contrary to what some may assume, a small percentage of people who are blind are well versed in the use of braille. Learning braille is not a simple task, though this new braille phone could help increase the number of users. It warms my heart when I see technology used this way. Let's hope for more positive creations that increase our quality of life and bring us closer to a better world!

- JM

Biorock till the break of dawn!

Prof. Wolf Hilbertz had a dream. That dream was to save coral reefs from the ravages of pollution and industrial development. Working with his colleague, marine biologist Dr. Thomas J. Goreau, they struggled to find a means to assist with the regrowth of endangered reefs. Biorock was the fruit of these efforts.

Biorock is really just argonite. Argonite is a polymorph of calcite (calcium carbonate). Calcite is an essential ingredient in cement and mortar. We use mine it as limestone and use it across the global. Due to the incredible strength of Biorock compared to structural concrete, as a building material it could potentially shift our approach to building construction on a global scale. Additionally, the means by producing Biorock uses a high volume of CO2. Approximately 1kg of Biorock uses up to 6 tonnes of CO2. Needless to say, this innovation presents itself as a an exciting and worthwhile venture.

For more information on this incredible discovery check out http://www.globalcoral.org/.

- JM

A Quantum Leap In Quantum Computing

Good news to all those who dream of the possibilities tomorrow's computers may hold! A few good physicists have managed to create a nano-scale light emitter which could possibly lead to new photonic components. While still quite some distance from application, this is a groundbreaking development. For more details, check this article from Physorg.com.

If that wasn't enough, these guys also managed to increase the efficiency of their calculation methods dramatically. The result, needless to say, is a win situation for their continued research and future development. It really is exciting to witness the creation of a technology with equal or greater potential than the development of electronics. I only hope that we are able to see it applied in a way that will make the world a better place. There is much power in technology, and it is our responsibility to wield it properly.

(Canada) Internet surveillance act aims to protect children, critics question privacy ethics

Steven Harper is likely still recoiling from the barrage of criticism his 'Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act'. According to CBC News, "Section 17 of the 'Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act' outlines 'exceptional circumstances' under which 'any police officer' can ask an ISP to turn over personal client information."

Needless to say this is a very scary reality we are being faced with. The fact that this is being proposed initially as a means to combat internet pedophiles clearly shows that Mr. Harper is trying to sell this to the public by packaging it as something in our better interests. Clearly we need to safeguard children from abuse in any form, however this proposed act is not the way.

If the government is willing to work alongside the public and internet service providers, perhaps new innovative methods may be developed to achieve a solution that is in the best interest of the law-abiding public. Until that happens I am officially against government internet spying. If you feel the same way, please take a moment to sign this online petition and let your voice be part of the collective!

- JM

How to get angry

Today I realized that a surefire way to raise my temper in record time is by reading some of the comments people leave on Youtube. You won't find them on every video, but should the video be related to any sort of controversial topic, rest assured you will find the comment section thick with ignorance and blatant antagonism.

Some of you may think that this sort of behavior is trivial. It is just harmless internet trolling is it not? I would like you to consider the following. Imagine an extremist with a bias towards an issue that is based on ignorance and lack of educated considerations. That person jumps onto the internet and posts his extremist views for all the public to view. Those with polarized views immediately respond with slanderous exclamations rather than constructive debate. The poster responds with equal or exceeding hostility, and the exchange continues until total collapse or eventual admin banning. Does the original poster have a better or worse outlook on issues now? Does the poster leave his anger and frustration with his online writing? No. We just as much from the internet as we put in, and unfortunately it is difficult to control exactly what we extract.

Perhaps many people retain a sort of 'What happens on the internet stays on the internet' perspective. As you all know, the internet provides us with an identity screen of sorts. People tend to become much braver without fear of being identified ('Invisible Man', 1952). Perhaps this is something that we need to reconsider. Whether we like it or not, the internet is becoming a much more complex entity than anyone could have ever predicted. I prefer to view the internet (and all forms of communication) as an extension of ourselves. The internet's greatest strength is it's ability to connect people. If there was a standard approach to identifying those who use it, maybe we would have less outrageous and extremist behavior online.

Even while writing this, a part of my mind is screaming, 'What about privacy?!'. That would be a huge issue also. After all, internet privacy is what stops a lot of the flaming in online forums from spilling out into the streets. It is definitely a complicated issue, but one which I think will need to be addressed in the near future. In the meantime, for my own sake, I think I'll watch less foreign policy and public rights debates and more videos of cute kittens.

- JM

Triple-mode Transistors!

It never ceases to amaze me how fast computing technology progresses. Today I began to ponder the possibility of a multi-mode transistor and sure enough there are already researchers working on this. Researchers at Rice University have been investigating the possibilities of a triple-mode transistor since 2010. This article from www.physorg.com provides more details on the research.

Implementing this type of triple-mode transistor into computer science could result in a quantum leap for memory capacity and storage!

- JM

Hail to the swarm!

Well that settles it. I think I will be building a few of these in the near future! Imagine having a few hundred of these lit up with LED's in the dark!

This demonstration was carried out by a team of researchers at the GRASP Lab with the University of Pennsylvania. The vehicles were developed by KMel Robotics. For more information and videos check out this Youtube channel.

- JM

LASER HARP!

Immediately after I began to search for interesting Arduino projects, I found a great looking site called Hacknmod.com and this amazing example of how the only limit to the Arduino is your imagination. This guy built a laser harp! Honestly, this could be the one coolest things you see today.

Simply amazing! I am now officially determined to create my own laser harp and produce epic trance music. Look out Philip Glass, here I come!

- JM

The Arduino

Through my continuing study of C++ I have developed a keen curiosity with machine code and lower lever assembly language. A friend of mine recommended a curious little contraption called the Arduino. I must admit, the first time I saw a picture of this, one word came to my head. Smart.

Essentially, the Arduino is an open-source single board micro controller that allows easy interaction with low-level programming. It allows developers and hobbyists to explore and produce a wide range of functions. It is also a wonderful learning tool for individuals such as myself who wish to grasp a better understanding of low-level programming architecture. If you're interested in saving up for one of these, the good news is that you will not have to save for long. The Arduino Uno REV 3 goes for a mere $34.99 at Radioshack. The cost and versatility of this product has made it a success in the tech community.

I will be sure to share some of my learning experiences with this tool once I acquire one in the near future. Thanks for reading!

The Art of Artificial Intelligence

There is a common fear that the rise of artificial intelligence will lead to human enslavement. Fear is a funny thing. Fear can keep us out of harm's way, though fear can also block us from achieving our full potential. In the words of Paul Atredies, "I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer."

Perhaps what some of us fear is competition. Humans have had the upper hand for quite some time, though it is only a matter of time before a new challenger comes forward. I enjoy challenges. Those of you who enjoy competition, either through sports or intellectual activities, know the rewards of pushing oneself to the edge. There are some researchers who are doing just that with artificial intelligence. Cleverbot.com is a prime example.

Cleverbot is an application which prompts a conversation between a user and the artificial intelligence within the program. It was first developed in 1988 by Rollo Carpenter. The interactive web application was launched in 1997, and millions of conversations have occurred since. Imagine what a conversation between two Cleverbot applications would be like? A few people at Cornell's Creative Machines lab did, and the result was quite astonishing.

It will be interesting to see what happens when these programs are given bodies. Perhaps it will not be long before your morning latte is prepared and served by a Cleverbot equipped with enough wit to deal with even the worst morning person.

- JM

Programming

Recently I watched the film Pirates of Silicon Valley. The film was a dramatization of how Steve Jobs and Bill Gates started and eventually became major players in the microcomputer industry. To say the least the film was incredibly inspiring. I have since decided to commit myself to learning how to program.

One might ask where to start on such a journey. In my younger years I had a VIC-20 and played around with some BASIC programming, though more so just copying code from a book than designing and writing my own programs. Still, like anything in life, it was a positive learning experience. C++ is often recommended by experienced programmers as a good starting point. I have decided to learn this language.

That being said, I have found this gem of a site. Here you will find very useful and comprehensive tutorials. Everything you need to know is laid out in reasonable increments. My personal goal is to complete all the chapters over the course of 3 months of casual study in my free time. With these tutorials I have had no problem wrapping my head around the basic fundamentals of the language.

If you're also interested in taking your first step into the world of programming, I highly recommend this site!

Learn C++

- JM

SOPA

It would seem I have chosen a bad time to start blogging as it looks like dark days are ahead for the internet. The American government has just cranked up the fight against information sharing by introducing the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act). The good news is that the Obama Administration has taken a stance against this act, though with elections approaching it is still difficult to predict the long-term outcome of these events.

Information is such an interesting thing. I would go as far as to say that information is like magic. Magic should be for everyone. At least that is how I see it.

- JM

Snowball effect

Many of you might agree that the hardest part of doing something is actually doing it. So here I am, starting... and it is hard! When you consider just how many blogs are out there it is easy to feel like a drop of water in a bucket. I have decided to take the Zen approach. The ocean is made of many drops of water. Zen.

I'm not a Buddhist. I'm not really anything more than a person, like you, who sees a world worth experiencing. I like to share my experiences with others, as I enjoy when others share their experiences with me. I also like it when people try to shape the world around them into something better, though better is a perspective. What some might consider better, others might consider significantly worse. Suddenly we have hit a philosophic brick wall.

Nature vs. nurture. Where does our sense of better and worse come from? I'm not exactly sure, but I have come to develop my own over time, as you have surely done the same. I think it is better not to kill. I think it is better not to hate. I think it is worse to be suffering. I think it is worse to be alone. That sums about sums it up for me.

All that being said, this is about as philosophical as I would like to get. This is more of an introduction to you, the reader, as to who I am. The aim of this blog is simply to connect, share, and learn from the other drops out there.

- JM