Making Math Interesting...No, FUN!

Don't like math? I bet there is somebody out there that doesn't. If it's you and you don't think you'll ever find math fun you should check out this blog I found.

vihart.com

A self described recreational mathemusician Vi puts together her mathematical interest into some wonderfully fun videos. Whether it's on paper or balloons or music she takes math to a level I challenge you to not find interesting or fun.

She has a thing for Harry Potter too. So if you don't like math maybe you'll find her musings and music on Harry interesting.

Puppy's Make Me Happy

It is hard to watch this video and not smile.

These guys are the masters of the fun music video. You may remember their smash introduction to the video world with the synchronized treadmills or their giant Rube Goldberg device. Well now they've gone and added the unpredictable puppy. Enjoy.

Often when we think of cars we think "what else can they come up with?" Okay, maybe you don't, but I do. Cars are cool. I think of them as works of art.

BMW has blown my mind with their latest work. Watch the video below and tell me it's not one of the coolest things you've seen.

Stair Fun

I found this very clever. But maybe we could just take out the escalators. That would guarantee 100% stair usage.

Dual Screen Necessity

This is cool.

Look what's coming. I think I'm going to need one of these.

I have two 24" monitors at work and can't imagine working again without them. I figure the more work space the better. One monitor is for my email and database information and the other is my working desktop for active programs. The bummer about using laptops is that this is much harder to achieve. This new invention will be huge and will change the face (literally) of the laptop as we know it.

Images of the Ideal Bike

For a few years now I thought it would be fun to build a bike.  Inspired by the coolness of Jesse James and what he does with metal at West Coast Choppers my dream to build a bike was born. Over the years I have seen many bikes, met a few builders and have attended a number of bike shows - throughout that time the image of my bike has developed.

I appreciate many styles and makes of the chopper.  Matt Hotch of SoCal (Fullerton) has a cool modern style that I like;  Zero Engineering has a junkyard cafe-racer uniqueness; Billy Lane of Choppers, Inc. has a rugged, rough-hewn style that is cool; Jesse James has raw chopper stylings that will stand the test of time.  All of these guys have influenced the bike that is in my head. 

Kevin Alsop of Big Bear Choppers has kits for bikes which would take a few of the difficult steps out of the process of building my own bike.  First, my mechanical experience is very limited, although my aptitude is high.  Second, I question the whole licensing issue in the State of Oregon and have a little research to do.  Big Bears kits come ready to assemble minus the paint and are also ready to be licensed as a motor vehicle.  Kevin comes close to my ideal with the Screamin Demon but at my age I think a softtail is probably a necessity.

Recently though I saw the bike in my head already exists.  Want to see it?  This blew me away.  All but one small feature is almost exactly how I picture my future bike.  Maybe I'll bypass all the heartache, fun, and satisfaction of building my own and just jump into the fun of riding by buying one of these.  The only thing that stands in my way is the lack of $20K in disposable funds.

Well here it is in all it's coolness and black.

Those of you paying attention are wondering what change I would make to this thing of beauty... I want spoked wheels.

For more images and information of the bike check out the link here.  Or if you're feeling generous you can order it for me ;-) as an early birthday gift.  To the fella's at South Side Kustom's - Nice Work!

For now I will stick with the nimble, quick, and fuel efficient Buell that I ride.

These 3 Things

These are the three technologies I am enjoying:

1. itunes Genius - it's like having Pandora for my music collection
2. Google Chrome
3. The Linksys router Joe gave me.  Geek friends Rock \m/[>.<]\m/

New Imager

Over the last couple months we noticed that our little camera has not been focused on its job. Many of our precious images have come out a little blurry. So the Pentax Optio S5i has been retired. This little 5mp tyke has served us well for the past few years. I hope its replacement serves us as well.

The new kid on the block is not what I had planned on buying. The big daddy-o Nikon D300 plan has been put on hold since the orthodontist has entered our life. So for now I am pleased to say that Canon has provided us with a more than satisfactory stepping stone in the new PowerShot A650IS.

So far I love this camera. The flip out viewing screen is both versatile and practical. The 12.1 megapixel images create large files but are amazingly clear.

This morning Alex was being Alex which gave me an opportunity to test out some of the abilities of the new imager.

Record Breakers?

Guinness World Record Attempt
Largest Kazoo Ensemble
August 2nd, 2008
Hillsboro Civic Center Plaza

No talent required. Sign-in and pick-up your free kazoo starting at 10am in preparation for the record-breaking head count at noon. There will be food, activities for the kids, entertainment and lots more!

For more information visit www.unitedway-pdx.org

We'll be there if you want to join us.

Childhood Home

Google Earth is cool. Right? Yes it is. But another cool thing Google has is Street View on their maps. With this tool I found the childhood home where I lived in Navato, CA. It looks a bit different from when we lived there but not much. With Street View I can also take a virtual drive down the street to see the houses of old friends and old enemies. I guess turning 40 soon has made me a touch nostalgic.

Rush on TV

Today I watched The Colbert Report during my lunch hour to catch Rush's (not Limbaugh) first American TV appearance in over 33 years. Here's a couple things I noticed.

• Neil's drum kit is amazingly huge. Ginormous if you will. Matt you must check it out.


• They still sound amazing.


• No canes or wheel chairs, however, one confirmed bald spot and one that might be covering his.


• Alex brings his own fans (see barbie dolls on his pedals). A little strange.


• Geddy still plays keyboard, bass, and vocals... awesome.

The quote of the night comes while Stephen was asking about the bands influences... "You are known for some really long songs. Have you ever written a song so epic that by the end you have influenced yourselves."

If you are or were a fan at one point and haven't heard the new album Snakes & Arrows go get it. It is great.

And before I forget, the meal served during this moment of coolness was a delicious Tillamook Bacon Cheeseburger and Walla Walla Onion Rings from Burgerville. My annual trip across the street for some yummy goodness.

For Matt

We are looking forward to tomorrow night!

What Are We Complaining About?

Anyone drink at Starbucks? or any other coffee shop of that nature?

Yes?

Then what are you complaining about?

Gas?

Well if gas is $4.16 a gallon, a gallon of coffee is $11.84. That is taking a 20oz. regular coffee at $1.85 and multiplying it out to a gallon. A 20oz. latte at $3.40 would be $21.76 a gallon. Wah, gas is expensive. I agree, and don't like anymore than the next. Yet we don't blink at a coffee, which we can make at home for pennies on the dollar, costing more than the gas we put in our car which we can't make at home (yet).

I look forward to the future innovations in the fuel market. Knowing the power and torque an electric motor can put out I'd love to have a fully electric car like the Tesla. Maybe if each major city put in a nuclear plant we could have electric recharge stations that make an electric car more practical and affordable.

GM is making strides with the Hydrogen car. Check this out:

Success!

It didn't kill me today.

Today I rode it without incident, injury, or helicopter rides.

Two years passing and a bright sunny day brought up the courage and desire to try again. Granted I didn't go far or fast. I didn't need to yet. I just needed to ride it without killing myself.

Success!

And for you wondering... I had Kathi's blessing.

And for you who don't know... it's this:

Where's Waldo?

Okay menches check this - http://whereonearthiswaldo.wordpress.com - Melanie Coles, you Rock!

I love this idea. A 55' Waldo placed on a random rooftop to then be found on Google Earth. Yes. That is great. When I have a bit of free time I will look for Waldo.

Speaking of Google... This week during lunch one day I mapped Fullerton on Google maps and then turned on Street View and virtually drove around Fullerton looking at how our old stomping grounds had changed. Good times.

I love technology.

New Toy

I bought this...
This being the Sig Sauer P232.

As perfectly described on Sig Sauer's website:

The SIG SAUER® P232 is our smallest and lightest pistol. Chambered in .380ACP and featuring a fixed barrel blowback action, the P232 is one of the most reliable back-up pistols available with a well-earned reputation as a rugged, accurate shooter. Its proven design of perfect balance, smooth contours and rounded, snag-free edges make it ideal for personal protection. It’s the pistol’s small size that makes it easy to carry concealed whether in a discreet holster, purse or on the ankle and yet the outstanding ergonomics of the grip design allow for comfortable shooting even in large hands. At under 18oz in the Blued version, the sleek single-stack P232 is a pleasure to carry throughout the day. No wonder it’s one of the premier off-duty guns carried by federal agents and law enforcement professionals today.

It is being shipped from Texas and I should have it by the end of the week.

Dinner In The Sky

Okay so check this out. My sister Mo sent an email out today with pictures of this event. Unreal. How would you like to eat here?

Click on the link above and check out the pictures page. Very cool idea.

If my quick in the head addition and currency conversion is accurate you would be looking at a $15,000 bill.