Ramblings of a Technology Nut

2003-12-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

High Definition Television (HDTV) again

This is an update on my previous post about HDTV.

If you're a Shaw customer who is thinking about going HiDef, there's a new Digital Cable Terminal box available: the Motorola DCT 6200. So don't bother with the old DCT 5100's now, you may as well get the new box. They look very similar, so check the model number.

Here's some links about the DCT 5100 and the new DCT 6200:

Motorola High Definition STB (unofficial) FAQ
Motorola Guide to HD and SD Video Processing on the DCT-5100 (.pdf) (also applies to 6200)
Motorola High-Definition Cable Receiver DCT5100
Motorola High-Definition Cable Receiver DCT6200
Motorola DCT5100 product detail
Motorola DCT6200 Series product detail
Motorola HDTV Basics
Motorola HDTV Information

And in Victoria, Shaw is now up to 6 channels of HDTV (129, 130, 136-139).

Edit Dec 10, 2003: This just in... Shaw says they will be introducing the DCT-6208 around Feb 2004. If so, some people who would consider the DCT-6200 might want to hold on and wait for the DCT-6208, which adds PVR functions (digital recording of SD and HD).

Motorola High-Definition Cable Receiver DCT6208

2003-07-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

New Advanced PDAs

Some interesting new PDAs are on their way in the next few months. Here's two of them (not yet released). Unfortunately neither meet my "ultimate PDA" criteria of running embedded WinXP. Looks like I may be waiting a bit longer still.

Palm Tungsten T3

Sony CLIE UX50

2003-06-02T03:02:00.000-07:00

The (unofficial) InFocus X1 Projector FAQ

The definitive resource for InFocus X1 owners or those considering buying one.

OK, it's not quite there yet. In fact, it's just at the DRAFT stage still.

But that's what I hope my new InFocus X1 FAQ will become over the next month.

I spent quite a bit of time on it last week, and I plan to spend a lot more time on it. If all goes according to plan, by this time next month it should contain an astonishing amount of information about the InFocus X1.

I've become unexpectedly caught up in the hobby (or at least that's what we addicts-in-denial call it) of Home Theater. Not that I can afford to be, and not that I have a particularly impressive home theater. But that's really the point. You no longer have to be rich and you don't have to own top of the line equipment to have a very satisfying system. Front projection in particular has really come down in price, to a point where it is competitive with large screen TVs.

And besides just being a great source of entertainment, there is also a lot of technology involved, most of which I haven't paid much attention to until now.

At this point I'm caught up in the visual aspects: the projector and HDTV. But one day, if the budget allows, I may eventually shop for a new sound system as well. At which time I'll get serious about Dolby 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital and all that good stuff.

However, in the meantime I will be collecting all the information I can find about the X1 and trying to distill it down to something of interest to anybody with an X1 now or in their future. My motivation is to not let all my research go to waste benefitting only me. I may as well take the time to document it so that others can benefit as well.

Check back soon, there should be frequent updates to the FAQ over the next few weeks.

2003-05-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

High Definition Television (HDTV)

Earlier this month I took the plunge and added HDTV to my list of technology toys. It was a natural addition to my recent Home Theatre setup.

I needed another Shaw digital cable terminal for the theatre room anyway. But even just last month my only choice would have been to buy another Motorola DCT 2000. However, I was aware that some HDTV channels had just been added to the cable lineup (ch. 130, 136, 137, 138, 139) even though Shaw had not announced HDTV's availability in Victoria yet.

Those same channels had previously been introduced by Shaw in Calgary and Vancouver and HDTV was officially available in those areas. It seemed like all I needed was to get the HDTV digital cable terminal (the Motorola DCT 5100) and I'd be set!

But when I called the Victoria Shaw office they said they were still just testing HDTV here.

However, I discovered that a retailer in town actually had some of the new DCT 5100's in stock. I knew it would just be a matter of time until I could get it activated, so I bought one. Well after I brought it into the Shaw office they agreed to activate it for me, but warned me that they really were still just testing. The only other 5100's in town were in the homes of four Shaw managers and one unhappy customer who had picked up his box the day before. Shaw asked that if I experienced any trouble with it would I please be patient. Since I've been a beta guinea pig many times before, I had no problem agreeing to their terms.

As it turns out, after just one evening of difficulties getting Shaw to add the HDTV channels to my account, it has actually been relatively trouble free. There are a few dropouts, particularly audio dropouts with some of the demo channel material. And there still isn't a whole lot of content in true HD format yet. But when you see some of the programs that are in HD... well the clarity and resolution is nothing less than astounding! It looks even better than a DVD when projected to a 7 foot image, and really it has the potential to be much better but my projector resolution becomes the limiting factor.

I won't go into a long explanation of what HDTV is in this post (maybe I'll get back to it in a future post), but here's a link to a bit of an HDTV overview from Motorola.

If you are interested in more information about the Motorola DCT 5100, there are the usual guides and manuals but the best (most technical) document is rather well hidden. It used to be at that site for a little while, but for some reason Motorola took the link down. However, they didn't actually remove the document from the server and I know the URL for it. And you don't! ahahahah! OK, ok... I'll stop stringing you along. What you want is the Guide to HD and SD Video Processing on the DCT-5100 (and I suggest you right-click on that link and do a "Save Target As..." to keep a local copy in case Motorola decides to actually remove the document and not just the link). Believe me, if you are at all interested in the technical side of the DCT 5100, you want that document. I wish more products had technical documentation like this available to the public.

Edit June 21/2003: For some reason, Google has this post very high in the search results for the DCT 5100 and is sending me quite a few hits. I highly recommend that anybody looking for more info about the DCT 5100 also look at the Motorola DCT5100 FAQ.

Edit Dec 6/2003: See my updated post for new information. There is another DCT available on Shaw now, the DCT6200.

The bottom line is that I'm now one of the few people that actually has HDTV, I'm certainly one of the very few that can project it to a 7 foot or larger picture, and I love it!

2003-04-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

Ultra-Portable Computers

I'm still keeping an eye out for my ultimate PDA (should run XP), and in the process I'm running across some very interesting portables that are smaller than a laptop or notebook but not quite small enough to be a PDA. Here's a sampling:

Sony VAIO PCG-GT3/K

A combination PC/Video Camera

Sony VAIO PCG-U3

Vulcan Mini-PC

2003-03-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

InFocus X1 Projector

My new Home Theatre purchase, after extensive research, was the InFocus X1 Projector. It may not be a thing of beauty on the outside, but it projects a beautiful image.

My main criteria was affordability, and this projector fits the bill. It is one of the least expensive projectors available at this time, at around $2,000 Canadian. That may sound like a lot if you haven't looked at projectors before, but the price range starts there and goes up to $10,000 or more. A good Home Theatre projector can easily cost $5,000 without being extravagant. But I decided that for my first projector, I should stay at the low end of the price range so long as I wasn't having to compromise too much. And if I couldn't find something decent at the low end, then I was going to hold off until prices came down or until I won the lottery. I mean, it's not like I need a projector, this is a luxury item for me.

But the great thing about the X1 is that I don't feel that there are a lot of compromises. You get a heck of a lot for your money. I won't go into too much depth about the features and specs, you can read those for yourself at the product site. The highlights for me are that this is a DLP projector, so I don't have to worry about burn-in even if I use it for computer and video games (a drawback for CRT and Plasma screen technologies), and it includes high quality Faroudja DCDi signal processing, which is often not included in projectors costing much more.

But don't take my word for it that this is a fantastic bargain-priced projector, I urge you to read the review at Projector Central for an independent opinion.

Perhaps in awhile I'll write a more critical review on my experiences with the X1. It is not completely without flaws, but I'm very happy with it. Given a choice between this and a rear projection TV or CRT TV in the same price range, I like this. I'd even pick it over a more expensive Plasma TV. Of course, each of them has their pros and cons for a particular situation, but none of them can match my 7 foot (yes, that's 84" diagonal) widescreen picture. Not big enough for you? Just move the projector back a bit further. If you're looking for a movie theatre type of experience, you can't beat it.

More about Home Theatre coming soon. I've done a lot of research lately, and I'll try to share some of what I have learned.

2003-03-11T14:29:00.000-08:00

technut returns

Yes, I've neglected my weblog for over a month. I don't have a great excuse, but I think I can explain it. I've been distracted by several things.

For one, I'm a news addict. Especially television news. If there are any big stories, I'm glued to the TV. And Space exploration, manned or unmanned, is also one of my favourite subjects (lots of technology). So with the loss of the shuttle Columbia, there was lots and lots of news that I couldn't tear myself away from.

It also brought another of my interests into play, which is problem analysis and failure analysis. I've always been fascinated by shows that analyse why something failed or why an accident happened, but usually those shows come out months or years after the fact. The failure analysis of the Columbia has been played out in public in real time with an almost unprecedented degree of openness. Even though the investigation has mostly dropped off the news now, there is still lots of information coming out of NASA and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board hearings on NASA TV.

Another distraction has been my indepth research into a new purchase I recently made and the time I've spent with it since. I'll save the details for another post, but it has to do with Home Theatre. This is not a subject that I had looked at much (other than with envy) because decent equipment seemed out of reach for my budget. The good news is, as a result of all that research, I found something I could afford and it works great for my purposes. Stay tuned for more.

And finally, the distraction I'm almost ashamed to admit to, Reality TV. I can't get enough of it. And the networks have been loaded with it this season. I find Reality TV much more entertaining than scripted shows. It's not that I care who wins the money or who gets the guy/girl. But I find human nature and behaviour very unpredictable, especially compared to the logic-driven devices I spend too much of my time with. So I like watching how people react in a situation, no matter how contrived the situation is. Even if the situation is contrived, their reactions are real based on the situation they find themselves in. You can't fake a reaction. Even if you are faking a reaction that is different than what you are really feeling, that act of faking is still your reaction to the situation. You can't get escape it. Whatever you do, it is a genuine reaction.

I wouldn't dream of staring rudely and remarking on people's reactions in real life, but put it on TV and I can stare at it with fascination and comment all I want, and I feel pretty guilt free about it. That is, except for knowing that a lot of people look down their noses at people who enjoy Reality TV. But I'm not alone in my passion for it, all you have to do is look at Reality TV's rising Nielsen ratings to realize why the networks are putting more of it on TV than ever before.

So now that you know what distracted me, you can probably predict that I am still pretty distracted. Big news stories? We've got 'em with the Iraq situation. My Home Theatre purchase? Still loving every moment I spend with it. Reality TV? A bit of a lull for the moment, but that won't last long. And of course there is family life, which believe it or not has to take precedence over my weblog. But I will make more of an effort to add a new post from time to time, if for no other reason than to document my interests so that I can return to them later when I have more time.

2003-02-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

Shuttle Columbia Fails

Sadly, we were once again made brutally aware of how dangerous spaceflight still is.

Here's a few links to follow the coverage of the fault analysis and more:

SpaceChronicle
Space.com
Google News

And the official sources:

NASA main site
NASA Human Spaceflight
United Space Alliance - NASA contractor responsible for Shuttle operations

2003-01-25T23:48:00.001-08:00

US Congress relies on "foreign" BlackBerrys

An article that I found to be (unintentionally) rather amusing explains that the US Congress is intervening to try to prevent the foreign (Canadian) RIM Blackberry service from being shut down because Congress relies on their Blackberrys in order to stay in touch with each other.

The funniest thing is, I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of the members of the US Congress have no idea how to operate their Blackberry!

2003-01-16T21:48:00.000-08:00

Personal Robot

For those running out of ideas for new toys to add to their collection, eventually you have to get down to needing a robot, right? Well I really wouldn't know, I'm not to that point yet, but it does sound fun!

Here's a few places you can shop for one, pre-built or do it yourself.

Evolution Robotics

Home of the ER1

and future ER2

AmigoBot

Mr Robot

Home of RoboBug and other models.

This is just a small sample of what is available. There are MANY more companies and resources listed in the web directory here and here. If you have a yearning for your own personal robot, I'm sure you'll find one!

2003-01-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

January 9th to 12th was the annual CES exhibit in Las Vegas. I didn't go, so I can't report on it. But there are always a ton of new gadgets that get announced during the show, and although I haven't seen them I have been reading about a few of them.

Here's some of the items that caught my attention:

PRISMIQ MediaPlayer

With the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer you can play MP3s and DVD-quality video files, surf the web and chat with friends, enjoy household news-on-demand, all from the comfort of your home entertainment center instead of from your computer monitor.

SONICblue GoVideo D2730

SONICblue introduced the world’s first Networked DVD player, the GoVideo D2730. Besides top quality, standard DVD playback, the D2730 brings all the pictures, music and video clips stored on your computer onto your TV.

Tek Panel 300

From Hytek, the Tek Panel 300 is the most advanced all-in-one wide screen PC available today. An integrated Intel Pentium 4 processor and ATI Radeon graphics card with 128-channel TV tuner combine with the state-of-the-art 30" TFT/LCD screen to create the ultimate multimedia experience for you at home or at work.

RCA Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox

The first RCA LYRA portable to incorporate video playback, the palm-sized 20GB RD2780 RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox delivers a complete digital entertainment experience in the palm of the hand. About the size of a small picture frame with a 3.5-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD screen, the RCA LYRA Audio Video Jukebox also acts as a computer storage device, compatible with multiple audio and video codecs, and can be easily connected to most standard television sets.

I'll highlight more new products over the next few months, especially as they move from the 'announced' category to actually becoming available.

2003-01-07T23:37:00.000-08:00

Some Cellphones with Bluetooth and IR

As I mentioned in a recent post, I have decided for now to just look for a cellphone that will do both Bluetooth and Infrared. Here are some models I have found so far. They are all GPRS (GSM) models, I haven't been able to locate any 1xRTT (CDMA2000) phones that meet my criteria. But my search continues.

Nokia 3650

Nokia 6310

Nokia 6310i

Nokia 6650

Nokia 7650

Sony Ericsson P800

Sony Ericsson T68i

Sony Ericsson T39m

Siemens U10

Siemens S55

2003-01-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

Internet Traffic and Congestion

In my opinion, most performance problems on the Internet are not on the backbone networks, they are more likely to be on the user's route to the backbone or on the final hops to the destination host/server. However, it doesn't hurt to check on the peformance of the backbone networks, even if just to eliminate them as the cause.

There are many ways to check Internet performance, the most obvious being with Ping and TraceRoute utilities, but I'm going to point you at some web sites that regularly monitor the Internet (or parts of it) and can give you a quick overview of Internet congestion at a glance.

Probably the most well known such site is the Internet Traffic Report. From the front page you can drill down, for example, to sites within North America.

Some other similar sites are:

Internet Health Report
Internet Weather Report - Canada
Cable and Wireless - North America
AT&T Network Performance

2003-01-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

Micro PCs

I'm not in the market for one, but I can't ignore this cool class of computer hardware. They are desktop PCs (no integrated battery or display) but they are tiny compared to most desktop units, making them perfect for transporting from location to location, or for installation in a tight spot.

My definition of a micro PC is one that is capable of running a full blown version of Windows (or Linux if that is your preference) but it is even smaller than a mini PC (which is approx 1/4 the size of a maxi size PC). Because of their very small size, micro PCs generally do not support any expansion slots. Here's a PC size comparison (the micro PC is the little black box on the far left).

There are a number of suppliers of micro PCs, though you'll find many are just re-labeled versions of each other. In fact, I believe Saint Song is the manufacturer for several of the OEMs and distributors. There appear to be 4 or 5 SaintSong models with variations. I suggest you search the Internet and compare prices from a few suppliers prior to ordering anything.

Here's a few examples of the smallest PCs in this class:

Espresso PC

EZ GO EPC2

Cappuccino TX-3

Mocha P4

Despite their small size, you don't give up a lot, especially in the higher-end units. If you can't spare the desk space and don't need a laptop, then pairing one of these with a flat panel display makes a great combination.

2003-01-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

Destroying Your Data (intentionally)

If you are truly paranoid about disposing of your data, you might want to take a tip from some US Department of Defense documents. Here are excerpts from their policies for physical destruction of hard drives:

4. Physical Destruction Procedures:
Hard drives should be destroyed when they are defective or cannot be economically repaired or sanitized for reuse. As an added security measure, when practical, operable hard drives no longer deemed economically viable should be overwritten or degaussed prior to destruction. Physical destruction must be accomplished to an extent that precludes any possible further use of the hard drive. The following are acceptable means for destruction of hard disk storage media:

4.1. Physical destruction/impairment beyond reasonable use: Remove the hard drive from the chassis or cabinet. Remove any steel shielding materials, mounting brackets, and cut any electrical connection to the hard drive unit. In a suitable facility with individuals wearing appropriate safety equipment, subject the hard drive to physical force (e.g., pounding with a sledgehammer) that will disfigure, bend, mangle, or otherwise mutilate the hard drive so that it cannot be re-inserted into a functioning computer. Sufficient force should be used directly on top of the hard drive unit to cause shock/damage to the disk surfaces. In addition, any connectors that interface into the computer must be mangled, bent, or otherwise damaged to the point that the hard drive could not be re-connected without significant rework

4.2. Destruction at an approved metal destruction facility, i.e., smelting, disintegration, or pulverization.

4.3. Application of an abrasive substance (emery wheel or disk sander) to a magnetic disk or drum recording surface. Make certain that the entire recording surface is completely removed. Ensure proper safety measures to include protection from inhaling abraded dust and use of protective eyewear.

4.4. Application of concentrated hydriodic acid (55% to 58% solution) to a gamma ferric oxide disk surface. Acid solution use should be done in a well-ventilated area, and personnel must wear eye protection.

4.5. Application of acid activator Dubais Race A (NSN 8010 181 7171) and stripper Dubais Race B (NSN 8010 181 7170) to a magnetic drum recording surface. Technical acetone (NSN 6810 184 4796) should then be applied to remove residue from the drum surface. The above should be done in a well-ventilated area, and personnel must wear eye protection.
NOTE: Extreme caution must be observed when handling acid solutions. The application of chemical substances to remove data should be accomplished only by qualified and approved personnel.

And lest we forget those CDROMs you have lying around, here's their suggestion:

Acceptable means to destroy optical storage media:
Optical mass storage media, including compact disks (CD, CDE, CDR, CDROM), optical disks (DVD), and magneto-optic disks (MO) must be destroyed by burning, pulverizing, or grinding the information bearing surface. When material is pulverized or ground, all residue must be reduced to pieces sized 0.25 millimeter or smaller. Burning shall be performed only in an approved facility certified for the destruction of classified materials.

Yes, I'd concur that pulverizing the CDROM into dust should do the trick. ;-)

2003-01-03T21:42:00.000-08:00

TechTV

When I turn on the TV, one of the first channels I check out is TechTV (Canada). I find that watching their programs is a relatively painless way to learn about current and new technology. There is a heavy emphasis on computer hardware and software, but they also cover other areas of technology such as audio and video gear. And there is something of interest for everyone, from the technology novice to geeks like myself.

There are several programs in their lineup that I watch fairly regularly, for example:

Sadly, the worst shows on the channel are the ones provided for Canadian content, which bump off some better shows that are available on the US version of the channel. I sure wish they wouldn't do that. But don't let that put my fellow Canadians off getting this channel, the value of the good stuff still outweighs the bad.

On most cable systems this is a premium digital channel, but if the cost is not too incrementally high (it's less than $2/month extra on Shaw), then I recommend you add it.

2003-01-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Stuck Trucks

For something on the lighter side, browse through the Stuck-of-the-Month archives dating back to 1996.

2003-01-02T00:54:00.000-08:00

Ziff Davis Media publications and websites

PC Magazine, eWeek and ExtremeTech are a few of my favourites from the list of a dozen publications provided by this media company.

2003-01-01T23:28:00.000-08:00

CNET Networks publications and websites

Another large technology media conglomerate (similar to CMP) is the CNET group.

Of particular interest is the CNET website, but there is a lot of other technology-related content to explore, such as News.com and Download.com.

2002-12-30T23:44:00.000-08:00

Ultimate PDA + Cellphone

My search for a cellphone and PDA combination (as one unit or as separate components) has lead me to conclude that my ultimate PDA (something that runs Windows XP) is not yet available, but it is near.

So rather than compromise too much by getting a PDA running Palm OS or Windows CE/Pocket PC right now, I will instead hold off on a new PDA and simply get a new cellphone that will work well with my future PDA.

That means my new cellphone has to support Bluetooth to provide wireless connectivity between my PDA and the cellphone. The cellphone will in turn provide the Internet access (via either GPRS or 1xRTT) for my PDA. Incidentally, both GPRS and 1xRTT will eventually be superceded by even higher speed access protocols, but that is too far away for me to wait for it.

Because I may have to make due with my old PDA (a Palm Vx) for many months still, I want to be able to use my new cellphone to provide Internet access to the Vx. Since the Palm Vx does not support expansion cards (e.g. for Bluetooth), my only connection choices are a cable or IR (InfraRed). My current cellphone (an Ericsson T18d) does the job, but it uses a cable connection to the PDA. I'd rather use IR with my new cellphone.

So my cellphone requirements are shaping up to be:

1) must provide Internet access via either GPRS or 1xRTT
2) must support IR to my Palm Vx
3) must support Bluetooth to my future PDA

Expect another post real soon about some cellphone possibilities.

2002-12-29T13:57:00.000-08:00

DLP-based Projectors

If you're in the market for a projector for home theater or presentations, you should check out the DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology made by Texas Instruments. Amazingly, it is based on a rather physical model. It builds up a picture by using a chip covered with

miniature swivelling mirrors

and a spinning colour wheel.

Sounds primitive, but apparently it works very well. From what I hear, it provides the brightest and clearest picture available in a consumer projector.

One very nice (expensive) projector that uses DLP is the Marantz VP-12S2 projector, though there are lots of other brands at a variety of pricing levels.

DLP technology is also showing up in some rear-projection TV units, though I think a Plasma TV might be a better choice if you prefer a TV display rather than a projector.

2002-12-26T22:19:00.000-08:00

CMP Media publications and websites

This company has a wide range of technology oriented publications and corresponding websites. I find a wealth of interesting content in the Business Technology Group area, and in the Electronics Group area. I've already touched on the EE Times website in a previous post, and that's just a small portion of what is available. You could spend the rest of the day exploring all the content!

Another approach to browsing their content is to start with their "Community Sites":

CMP's Community Sites

Tools & Information for
Solution Providers

Where Telecom, Datacom
and the Internet Converge

Electronics Design

Information and Education
for Healthcare Professionals

The Business
Technology Network

Comprehensive
Windows Coverage

2002-12-25T22:46:00.000-08:00

How Christmas Works

This take on Christmas from the people at How Stuff Works. Supplement it with even more info from the site, such as How Christmas Trees Work, How Christmas Lights Work, and How a Christmas-light Tester Wand Works. Merry Christmas!

2002-12-24T00:27:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve Poem

Admin's Night Before Christmas
Author unknown

"T'is the night before Christmas" I thought with a frown,
I was stuck at the office. The network was down.
The routers were hung in the closet. All crashed.
Their tables had holes in the data. All trashed.
And remote distribution, it seems, just for fun,
Had erased DLLs Windows needed to run
On 84 desktops way down in accounting.
I sat stunned at my desk, my blood pressure mounting.

When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter,
I saw that our server had something the matter.
There was smoke coming out from the main hard disk drive.
"No Problem," I thought. "I'm all set with RAID 5."
But I discovered the system I'd thought was unstoppable,
Well its fancy disk drives were completely unswappable!
"No problem," I thought, "I've tape backup to thank."
And then I discovered my backups were blank.

The UPS burped, the lights all went out.
I started to scream, I started to shout
But nobody heard as I vented my rage.
My gurus were all on vacation those days.
And nobody's tech support answered the phone.
I was nose deep in trouble, completely alone.
When out at reception, I heard a soft knock.
As the hands touched midnight on my desktop clock...

"What's your problem?" he asked.
"Never mind, friend, I know.
I checked out your network five hours ago.
I did some proactive analysis, so
I knew this time bomb was going to blow."
Who was this guy? Who did he think he was?
He was dressed in red coveralls, white beard, black gloves.
His eyes had the twinkle of technical genius.
His warm smile cut down the distance between us.

He spread out his tools, and went straight to his work.
"Who designed this connection? Must be a jerk,"
He said with a :-)> as he quickly rebooted,
Uploaded some software, and smoothly rerouted
The LAN to a WAN that he quickly supplied
With a bandwidth at least 20 gigabits wide!
T'was wireless to bypass the Telco's fat toll.
And tech support? Elves, working at the North Pole.

"Now bridging, now routing, now Ethernet hubs!"
He chanted as each piece of hardware he rubbed.
"Cheer up, my good friend! Lose that mindset so tragic!
Technology often looks just like some magic
To people who don't understand what we do.
Now a switch, emulation, now middleware glue!
Look at the protocols, check one or two,
Debug a bit, test a bit, presto! We're through!"

My data was back! Every system checked out!
Tears of joy wet my face as I wandered about.
"How can I thank you? You must be Saint Nick!"
He said, "Really, my friend, it's not such a great trick,
If you don't give up hope, focus on what you're doing,
And read all your issues of NETWORK COMPUTING."
And I heard him exclaim, as his reindeer were coursing,
"Merry Christmas to all! Consider us for outsourcing!"

2002-12-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

Xmas Greetings!

Best wishes to everyone throughout this holiday season!
Enjoy your time with friends and family.

2002-12-22T22:06:00.000-08:00

JavaScript Tricks

JavaScript is a programming language that can be executed by your web browser to provide dynamic content on your web page. All modern browsers support JavaScript these days, though implementations vary a bit.

So you want to spice up a web site by adding a bit of JavaScript to the HTML code? Rather than start from scratch, there are a number of sites that offer free JavaScript code that you can just cut and paste into your web page.

Check out this example of a JavaScript effect.

There are many more scripts available. Here's some JavaScript sites that you can start with:

JavaScript Kit
The JavaScript Source
HotScripts.com
JavaScript City
JavaScript Examples

and if that's not enough then you can go through the list at the Google Web Directory.

Note: You may have also heard of Java. Although the names are similar, JavaScript and Java are two different animals. JavaScript is the simpler of the two to work with.

2002-12-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

Wrist Watch with Palm OS

Coming soon, a watch that is a 2MB Palm OS device! I don't know if I'd have the dexterity to actually use this, but I do like seeing so much functionality in such a small package. Check out the features, the specs, and the demo. Look for this to appear in stores under the FOSSIL or ABACUS brand names around mid-2003.

2002-12-21T02:18:00.000-08:00

Devices with Embedded Windows or Linux

Found two great related web sites today. One is WindowsForDevices.com and the other is LinuxDevices.com.

Each has news and product information about devices with these two families of embedded operating systems. Some examples of such devices are PDAs, tablet PCs, cellphones, set-top boxes, and other intelligent devices. If you love technology toys (like I do), you'll find lots of interesting information at both sites.

One rather unique example is the Personal Satellite Assistant being built by NASA to fly around in space and help astronauts. Guess which OS it runs... Linux.

p.s. Another site in the same family of web sites is DesktopLinux.com, also an interesting read.

2002-12-20T21:29:00.000-08:00

More Ultimate PDA

What do I mean by ultimate PDA? For me, it means a PDA that runs a full version of Windows (e.g. Windows XP instead of CE) so I can load and run standard Windows applications on it. And ideally I could put it in a cradle to hook up an external keyboard and monitor and use it as a desktop PC.

Although the ultimate PDA devices I've found so far do not include a cellphone function, I could probably live with having a separate cellphone so long as I can use Bluetooth to connect it with the PDA and get online.

Here are the two newest contenders for ultimate PDA.

OQO Ultra-Personal Computer

This one is definitely the size winner at just 4x2x1 inches, and yet it still manages to run Windows XP (at VGA resolution). A unique feature is that not only can it be dropped into a cradle, there is also a specially designed laptop case.

1GHz Crusoe TM5800 processor from Transmeta Corporation
4 inch, super bright VGA color LCD with Synaptics touchscreen
256MB onboard RAM
10GB hard drive
1394 FireWire, USB, audio
integrated 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless

Like the other contenders, this one isn't released yet but is expected to be available very soon.

Antelope MCC

This is an interesting one. There is a core computing module capable of running Windows XP that you then connect to a PDA display, or to a cradle, or several other accessory formfactors. When used as a PDA it measures about 7x4 inches.

1 GHz Crusoe Processor by Transmeta
256 MB SDRAM
10 GB 1.8" ATA-5 Disk
Silicon Motion Lynx 721 3D Graphics w/8MB
5.8" 800x600 backlit active matrix touchscreen

This is supposed to be available now, but is being aimed primarily at the corporate and military sectors first, with consumer/retail versions coming available in 2003.

For reference, the other two contenders I previously mentioned are the TIQIT eightythree and the NSC GXO.

2002-12-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

More PDA + Cellphone

I still haven't decided whether to go for a combination PDA and cellphone or to just get a new cellphone for now and then perhaps get an ultimate PDA later. So the research continues.

Here's a combination unit (with slide-in keyboard), but this one doesn't appear to be released just yet.

BSQUARE Power Handheld

And then there's this development design that may become a consumer device in the future.

Intrinsyc microPDA

For reference, here's a link to other combination units I've found.

2002-12-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

Lossless Audio Compression

I recently discovered there is a subculture of audiophiles who find some of the most common audio formats, such as MP3, deplorable.

MP3 is a "lossy" compression method (that's lossy, not lousy). The MP3 compression scheme uses perceptual coding, which means it throws away components of the audio that should not be perceptible to the human ear. However, there are some poor implementations of MP3 compression around, and it is probably safe to say that none of the implementations is perfect at maintaining complete audio fidelity. So there are going to be certain circumstances where a listener with a sharp ear may hear distortions of the original content.

For the average listener, a good MP3 encoded audio file sounds more than adequate. But for some audiophiles the very idea of some loss of fidelity is enough to drive them around the bend! For this group of audiophiles, it is essential that any compression used on their music is "lossless".

I was not familiar with any lossless audio compression formats, but of course a brief search turned up all kinds of information. A good starting point is the First Principles site. (For more information on MP3, there are good links at the MPEG.org site.)

Obviously the compression ratios of lossless techniques are going to be less impressive than lossy ones. It appears a typical lossless compression ratio is in the range of 2:1, where lossy techniques often achieve 10:1 or better. But if you're a fanatic about your sound quality like some of these folks are, then the extra compression is not worth knowing that you've thrown some audio data away.

2002-12-18T18:48:00.000-08:00

TIQIT eightythree

This is another contender in my search for the ultimate PDA (something that runs an uncrippled version of Windows). Similar in concept to the National Semiconductor GXO, this one is a bit smaller (6x4 instead of 6x7) but settles for a VGA resolution screen. However, they also managed to fit in a keypad.

300 MHz Pentium-class National Geode
4.0" 640 x 480 TFT (18-bit color) VGA LCD with touch screen and backlight
256 MB of SDRAM
5, 10 or 20 GB hard disk drive
USB port
PCMCIA / PC Card Type II slot
Docking station

Unfortunately, like the GXO, this one isn't available quite yet. Hmmm... maybe I should just get a cellphone for now and wait until later in 2003 for a new PDA rather than trying to get both in one package right now. If I'm patient enough for that!

2002-12-18T18:06:00.000-08:00

Internet Archive

A digital library of a variety of electronic media. For example, the WayBack Machine is an archive of web sites as they existed in the past... as far back as 1996. For example, you can watch @Home first thrive, then join with Excite, and finally crash and burn.

The Movies section has several major collections, including some computer-related series. The Texts section contains thousands of books and the Audio section has recordings of live concerts. Have a browse.

2002-12-17T23:40:00.000-08:00

Google Mirror Site

Not having much luck with your search? Maybe you'd have more luck if you try it drawkcab.

2002-12-16T02:24:00.000-08:00

Rock, Paper, Scissors

This old game is an excellent way to reach a decision when two parties can't agree. And now you can settle things via email. If you're not sure how the game is played, if you want some online practice, or you're looking for some strategy hints, check out the World RPS Society site. And the Google directory lists quite a few more Rock, Paper, Scissors resources. Play on!

2002-12-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

Knots

I was a boy scout a very long time ago and have had an interest in knots ever since. Not that I can remember many of them. That's why I appreciate the work that has been put into Knots on the Web and Real Knots, both very comprehensive directories of knot-related sites. If you want to learn more about which knots to use in which situations, are looking for instructions on how to tie a particular knot, want to do some decorative knotting, or just want to know how to tie your necktie, start your search with these sites.

2002-12-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

NASA Photo Gallery

The NASA website is full of interesting information, which I will post more about at a later date. But today I want to highlight their incredible gallery of images!

Some are of Earth (like that above), but there are also Hubble telescope images and pictures of various spacecraft and research aircraft. There are literally thousands of images, so there is sure to be something of interest to everyone. Highly recommended.

2002-12-13T23:33:00.000-08:00

Overclocking your Xmas Lights

OK, it's not really overclocking, but I still found this to be an interesting application of basic electronics.

Note that the project only applies to Xmas lights that are made from LED's, not from bulbs. An LED is a diode (a Light Emitting Diode), which only works when voltage is applied in a forward direction. But AC current alternates between positive and negative (forward and backward) voltage.

So the basic problem with the string of lights that this fellow bought is that they only light during one half of the 60 Hertz AC power cycle. This causes them to flicker significantly (they are off for half of each cycle) and they also don't shine as brightly as they would if they were powered during more of the cycle.

His solution was simple and efficient. He added a full-wave bridge rectifier to the string of lights. This essentially flips the voltage on the negative (backward) phase, causing it to be positive (forward) instead, which doubles the number of positive phases. The result is that the lights are illuminated twice as often so they appear significantly brighter, and they are now off only briefly during the zero crossings of the cycle which means they flicker much less visibly and at 120 Hz.

I'm just surprised that the manufacturer of the light string doesn't build in this cheap and simple circuit when they make the strings!

2002-12-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

Froogle - a new Google feature

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, here's another post about a Google-related service. This one was just announced today!

Froogle is a new service from Google that makes it easy to find information about products for sale online. Froogle applies the power of Google's search technology to a very specific task: locating stores that sell the item you want to find and pointing you directly to the place where you can make a purchase.

And yet another new Google page...

Google Zeitgeist

(don't ask... it's a German word that they define on the web site if you're interested)

This one is a year-end summary of search trends in 2002 as tracked by Google. Check out the top 10 lists and the Timeline. Also, on the Archive page there's a link to the 2001 version which makes for interesting comparisons.

2002-12-11T23:33:00.000-08:00

EE Times - a little heavy reading

The EE Times is an information source aimed at electronics engineers, so at times it can be pretty hairy to plow through. But they usually have some articles that I find interesting and mostly readable.

One section I particularly like is Under the Hood. They tear down portable electronic equipment to analyse what components it contains and how much it probably cost to build. The articles are just a small sample of a service provided by the folks at a company named Portelligent, but unfortunately the full reports at the Portelligent site are for paying customers only, so I'll have to live with the snippets that are published in EE Times.

Check it out, along with the rest of the EE Times Network.

2002-12-11T00:26:00.000-08:00

Google Labs (again)

I know I spotlighted Google Labs just 3 short weeks ago, but I have to bring them to your attention again because they just released two new proto-tools.

The coolest of the two appears to be Google Viewer which automatically pulls up the web sites from your search results one at a time. Nothing to install, and it looks something like this:

The other one is called Google Webquotes which tries to add context to your search results by including quotes about the web site from other web sites.

And since we're back on the topic of Google again (a favourite mine), if you use Google much at all then you'll appreciate the Google Toolbar. It looks something like this:

The Toolbar does require a small install, but the result is worth it if you can spare a bit more screen real estate at the top of your browser window.

2002-12-10T23:54:00.000-08:00

Lead the Pack with BetaNews

Do you like having the latest software before the next guy? Want to know what's about to come out? This site can give you the edge you're looking for with news of the latest beta and release versions of tons of software. Be sure to check out the FileForum section.

2002-12-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

PDA + Cellphone

How to best combine the features of a PDA and a cellphone so that you have a full-featured phone and an online PDA in one package? This is my quest.

My current cellphone contract has just expired, so I'm in the market for a new phone at the least. I'm not actually in the market for a new PDA right now, though that is always just one short drop to a concrete floor away. You never know, it could happen. ;-)

Here's a list of some devices under consideration, though unfortunately not all are available from service providers in my area (and some aren't even released yet):

Palm Tungsten W

handspring Treo 300 or 270

Kyocera 7135

Samsung SPH-i300

Sony Ericsson P800

Nokia 6800

HP Jornada 928

Audiovox Thera PDA2032

T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition

Nokia 9290 Communicator

RIM BlackBerry 5810

T-Mobile Sidekick / Danger Hiptop

Suggestions?

2002-12-09T02:48:00.000-08:00

Boating in Canada

Pleasure Craft Operator Card

Who needs one of these? According to the regulations, you need one if you operate any pleasure craft (ie. boats and personal watercraft) that are fitted with a motor and that are operated for recreational purposes in Canadian waters.

You may or may not need one immediately. The regulation takes effect as follows:
(a) beginning on September 15, 1999, to a person born after April 1, 1983 who operates a pleasure craft;
(b) beginning on September 15, 2002, to a person born before April 2, 1983 who operates a pleasure craft that is less than 4 meters (~13 feet) in length; and
(c) beginning on September 15, 2009, to a person born before April 2, 1983 who operates a pleasure craft of any length.

How do you get one of these cards? You write a test on your knowledge of boating safety. There are 36 questions, all multiple choice, with 4 possible answers for each question. You have 45 minutes to write the test. In order to pass, you need to score 75% (i.e. 27/36 questions). Once you get a card, it is good for life.

There are loads of organizations across Canada that can give you this test. They all (to my knowledge) charge a fee for this. Some offer an online exam option but they also require a registered proctor to supervise the test, which complicates things.

I don't have any personal experience or connection with any of them, but here's a good deal I found:

freecourse.ca - $20 test at a local testing center

Most of the organizations offer a pre-test course, which they also often charge a fee for. As an alternative, here's a few links to free online course material:

Canadian Safe Boating Guide (.pdf)
FreeCourse.ca (.pdf)
TheBoatCard.ca
BoaterExam.com

Yes, it seems like a hassle. But it's the law.

2002-12-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

Honda Robot

The most amazing humanoid robot I've ever seen is ASIMO. This thing walks and moves so smoothly you'd swear it is someone in a robot suit. See for yourself in the movie clips on the site.

2002-12-07T23:15:00.000-08:00

Endeavour lands in Florida

HoustonChronicle.com
After a record three-day weather delay, the shuttle Endeavour soared to a Florida landing on Saturday, bringing American Peggy Whitson and two Russian cosmonauts back to Earth after six months aboard the international space station.

2002-12-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

Rate my Kitten

(not actually my cat)

That's right... it's a kitten picture ranking site in the same flavour as the now famous Hot or Not site (for rating people's pictures).

Check out the Top 20 Kittens, and if you want more of this sort of thing go browse the directory of similar types of sites.

2002-12-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

Google PageRank Technology

(Google has a sense of humour)

Want an explanation of how Google decides which web pages are the best match for your search? There's the official version, which doesn't really say a lot. A much more revealing version is buried deep within the Google site. Here for your amusement is the unofficial version!

However, if you are serious about wanting to know more about the PageRank technology behind Google, fill your boots with the technical paper.

2002-12-06T20:12:00.000-08:00

Delays strand shuttle in orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (UPI)
For an unprecedented third day, NASA managers postponed the space shuttle's return to Earth on Friday, hopeful that a slow-moving cold front will clear Central Florida overnight and enable Endeavour to land on Saturday.

In 21 years of flying the shuttle and 112 missions, NASA has never before had to postpone a shuttle landing for three days.

2002-12-05T23:58:00.000-08:00

Dodge Viper

One of my favourite cars (a dream car really) is the Dodge Viper. I don't have to own one, I'd just enjoy it if I did. :-)
But for now I'm satisified with just looking at them. However, I don't like to see them in bad shape like those at Wrecked Exotics!

2002-12-05T23:20:00.000-08:00

Web Victoria

This site has quite a bit of local content for the Victoria BC area (my home town), for example, movie listings. It's not fancy, but if you live in Victoria this could be useful to you. In future I will list some other sites with more local content.

2002-12-04T22:42:00.000-08:00

RedFlagDeals.com

If you're Canadian and looking for a rebate, coupon, or a good deal (especially on computer-related items) then you should stop by this site. They may not have exactly what you are shopping for, but often there are general coupons for discounts, like $20 off any $100 purchase at a particular retailer. And don't forget to check the forums section. The items are posted and updated by users of the site. This site helps you find those distinctly Canadian online deals on the Internet.

2002-12-03T22:17:00.000-08:00

Universal Hint System

If you play computer games, particularly adventure-type games, UHS is the site for you! Next time you're stuck and need a hint, find your game in the list and you'll get nice slowly incremented hints that help you solve the puzzle yourself and don't give the solution away unless you really want it. I recommend the online version of the hints, they're free and don't require you to install any kind of hint-reader software.

2002-12-03T22:03:00.000-08:00

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

My favourite resource for movie information. It contains all the details you could want for thousands of movies, as well as having reviews, filmographies, rankings and more. Want to know what movies Clint Eastwood has acted in, directed, produced or even wrote music for? Which movies do the users of the site rank at the top?

Very cool, very useful, especially when you are trying to decide which video to rent.

2002-12-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

Google does more than just search the web!

Next time you are looking for information, don't just search the web. Another great resource for information is Google Groups which is an archive of the Usenet newgroups dating back to 1981. Or if you are looking for information on a recent news event, try a search at Google News. For a Yahoo-like directory of web sites sorted by topic, use the Google Directory (which is actually provided by the Open Directory Project). And finally, if you are looking for a picture of something, start at Google Image search.

But wait! There's more! Google also provides Google Answers, Google Catalogs, Google Special Searches, Google University Search, Google Wireless, and Google Translate Tool! Amazing, isn't it.

And last but not least, Google Canada.

2002-12-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

Endeavour Undocks From Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)
Two of Endeavour's crew performed three spacewalks to hook up the 45-foot girder and correct a design flaw in the air-conditioning lines.

The final spacewalk was especially dramatic. A railcar crucial for station construction got snagged on its tracks by a protruding radio antenna. John Herrington removed the obstruction and got the railcar moving again.

2002-12-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

technut Website Coming Together

I've spent a bit of time on the website today to add a navigation bar and a frames scheme. It's not terribly fancy, but it will do for a first crack at it. Still playing around with the colour scheme, but soon I will add other sections besides these Ramblings. It's a work in progress. Stay tuned.

2002-11-30T23:03:00.000-08:00

Origins of Words and Phrases

I've always been curious about where some of our expressions come from. They may be in common use and yet they obviously have a historic origin that is no longer relevant. The study of word origins is called Etymology. You'll find many interesting word and phrase origins at sites such as Origin of English Says, Origin of Phrases, Word Origins, or Etymologically Speaking. For more language-related sites see Richard Lederer's Language Links.

2002-11-29T23:21:00.000-08:00

HowStuffWorks.com

Quite simply one of the best sites for great explanations of all kinds of technology, devices and more. If you can't find some interesting reading at this site, you're clinically dead!

2002-11-29T22:48:00.000-08:00

Search these Ramblings

Today I added a new form to the page to allow you to search the past Ramblings. Note: the search results are only as current as the last Google index of this site.

2002-11-28T21:30:00.000-08:00

AT&T Labs Research

Another good research division site. Some really interesting stuff on the projects page.

2002-11-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

Turkey Bikini

In honour of US Thanksgiving and in anticipation of Xmas, here's how to make a turkey bikini:

Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.
Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan, position the foil carefully.
Roast according to your own recipe. Sprinkle paprika in your basting sauce to really give your bird a deep tan.
Serve, and watch your guests' faces.

2002-11-27T21:50:00.000-08:00

National Semiconductor GXO

The GXO is a cool conceptual device that I hope becomes reality, and soon! A compact portable about the size of a framed 5 x 7 photograph, think of it as the ultimate PDA.

Brilliant 6.3" 1024 x 768 superfine TFT LCD display with touchscreen
Full Windows XP operating system
10-gigabyte Toshiba hard drive
802.11b and Bluetooth connectivity
On-board digital camera for video conferencing
Built-in microphone and speaker; stereo headphone and handsfree headset connectors

National says there may be versions of it available as early as the second half of 2003. Perhaps I'll see you in the checkout line at the store!

2002-11-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

Sony VAIO W Series

An interesting new formfactor from Sony. This all-in-one computer has a 16:9 screen (perfect for watching DVDs) and foldable keyboard. Haven't seen one in person yet, but I like the concept and look.

2002-11-26T23:07:00.000-08:00

Jeers to Shaw

While I was setting up this weblog I discovered that the Shaw WebSpace that is provided with their cable Internet service does not allow FTP uploads from outside the Shaw network (i.e. from Blogger, which is what I use for this weblog).

So rather than being able to host this weblog on my own website, instead I had to use the free web service offered by blog*spot and then use frames and javascript tricks to ensure that the weblog is displayed as part of my website. Unfortunately this also means I'm stuck with having a blog*spot ad on my weblog page.

Very annoying, especially when I learned that Shaw have been promising since 2001 that
This issue is being addressed.

Suuure it is...

When I called the local tech support they told me that the restriction may be reviewed in 2003. I'm not holding my breath.

2002-11-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

Physics Quiz

Test your knowledge of Physics with forty true/false questions. Physics is not my bag but I managed a respectable 80% and, thanks to their explanations of the correct answers, I saw the error of my ways on those that I missed. Give it a try, and let me know how you score (via a comment).

2002-11-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

Endeavour Arrives, New Crew Aboard Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters)
On Tuesday, Lopez-Alegria and John Herrington will make the first of their three spacewalks to secure the new $390 million segment of a truss that will form the rigid backbone of the multi-billion-dollar station.

2002-11-24T22:20:00.000-08:00

All the news that's fit to print...

The shuttle is on its way to the space station, and Scientist Burns Penis with Hot Laptop (that's why I use a lap tray!).

2002-11-23T13:23:00.000-08:00

Shuttle launch status and crew

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP)
Conditions were expected to remain ideal Saturday for launching in Florida. But across the Atlantic, more rain and thick clouds were forecast.
...
In 21 years of space shuttle flight, NASA has had to postpone launches only a few times because of bad weather at the overseas landing sites.
...
Donald Pettit was assigned to the mission just four months ago. He was originally the backup for Donald Thomas. But on Friday, NASA said Thomas was removed from the flight because of concerns about the amount of radiation he would have received.

"It was an assessment of the radiation exposure he would have gotten on a long-duration mission," said NASA spokesman Doug Peterson. He said such assessments are based on the individual, his spaceflight experience and his personal background.

Cosmic radiation has always been a major medical concern facing astronauts who spend prolonged periods in space; it can raise the risk of cancer and other illnesses.

2002-11-22T00:57:00.000-08:00

Canadian Climate

Considering moving somewhere in Canada? If you're wondering what the climate is like, this is the site where you'll find the raw numbers (the facts ma'am, just the facts). It not only shows the normal climate for a region, it also documents the extremes you may encounter.

2002-11-22T00:15:00.000-08:00

Ethereal Network Analyzer

Ethereal is a pretty darn good packet capture/decoder, and most importantly it's free. You need the Windows distribution binaries and if you are planning to capture packets with a Windows machine, don't forget to install WinPcap.

2002-11-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

IBM Research

Many large companies have dedicated research divisions. This is IBM's and they are involved in a very wide variety of research areas.

I almost always find something of interest at research sites. Maybe you will too.

2002-11-21T01:26:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Research

These are the people Microsoft pays to be innovative.

For over 10 years we’ve focused on attracting outstanding people and creating an open and collaborative research environment with a research agenda driven by the researchers. During this time we’ve made enormous contributions to Microsoft products and services and to advancing the state of the art in computer science.

Be sure to check out the Projects, Topics and Downloads sections.

2002-11-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

Google Labs

labs.google.com is Google's technology playground where you'll find potential Google features that aren't quite ready for prime time.

2002-11-20T20:12:00.000-08:00

NASA clears shuttle for flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 20 (UPI)
NASA managers said Wednesday that they have cleared shuttle Endeavour for a second launch attempt on Friday, convinced that the spaceship's damaged robot arm will perform as needed during the upcoming space station construction mission.
...
The first launch attempt was called off three hours before liftoff when an oxygen leak was detected in the shuttle's crew cabin. During a hunt to find the source of the leak, the shuttle's arm was damaged.

2002-11-19T23:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first posting of my blog.