mobrec

So
How to make a business card disappear. Certainly more classy than just throwing it in the trash.

Technorati Tags: fun, howto, video

So
Proving once again that the street will find its own uses for technology, the US military has adopted the iPod Touch as a war theatre handheld device.

The iPod isn't the only multifunction handheld on the market, but among soldiers it's the most popular. Since most recruits have used one—and many already own one—it's that much easier to train them to prepare and upload new content. Users can add phrases to language software, annotate maps and link text or voice recordings to photos (“Have you seen this man?”). Apple devices make it easy to shoot, store and play video. Consider the impact of showing villagers a video message of a relaxed and respected local leader encouraging them to help root out insurgents.

Technorati Tags: apple, gadgets, ipod

So
Here are a few things I wanted to get off my mind after returning from a four day 'Spring Break' trip to Washington, DC:

Spring Break + Washington DC = 10 million people in one place who act like they have never been off the farm before.

Dear DC 'hipsters': huge Sophia Loren sunglasses look even stupider on guys than they do on women and that's plenty STUPID!

Dear DC 'hipsters': the whole Converse wearing thing is totally stale/lame; when they make them for geriatrics ITS OVER.

Dear DC 'hipsters' the mullet was never in style and putting it in a pony tail just puts you in quadruple lameness jeopardy. Color and streaks just magnify the lameness.

Dear DC 'hipsters': the long sleeve shirt under a short sleeve shirt is stale/lame as well; elementary school kids do it (ugh!). move on.

Dear DC 'hipsters': the flip flops with tattered jeans was over 5 years ago in Europe and has reached the Midwest — give it up it is LAME.

Everyone in DC: I don't care who you think you are, you can wait in line like everyone else. I'll remind you when you forget.

In general: DC you are a city of 'big thinkers' living tiny thoughts. Get over yourselves.

Technorati Tags: dubious, suckage, travel, lame, dc

So
My wife and I rode in the WKRP Scooter Rally in Cincinnati last weekend (April 4th). It was our first rally since we starting riding last year. It was a huge amount of fun and an opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of like minded scooter folk.

Two things that seemed to come up in discussions were 1) the setup that we were using to talk to each other while scooting and 2) how to best mount things to the scooter (GPSs being the most popular item). If on the off chance any of the WKRP folks who were curious and wanted more details might somehow find this blog post; well, here are the details:

[Full disclosure: if you buy from the Amazon links that I provide here I make a few pennies off of the sale. It doesn't add any additional cost to the product if you buy via these links.]

For scooter to scooter communication I picked up an inexpensive set of Midland handsets from Amazon (specifically the MIDLAND GXT900VP4 2 Way 22 Channels Radio) These are great little handsets and have the advantage of allowing for 'group codes' so that if more than two people want to be on a sort of party line, they can join in. Another advantage is that they don't skimp on the provided accessories which include rechargeable batteries, charger (both auto and home!) and some cheap over the ear boom mics. You might be able to make those over the ear pieces work in your helmet but experience tells me you won't be satisfied by the results.

For best results grab one of the helmet headset kits from Midland. Be aware that there are two different kits depending on whether you have a full face helmet (Midland AVPH2 Closed Face Helment Headset for Midland GMRS) or an open face/modular helmet (Midland AVPH1 Open Face Helment Headset for Midland GMRS).

One of the advantages over the helmet mounted units I saw at the rally is that the Midland kit gives you a push to talk button that you can velcro attach to the left hand grip so that you don't have to take your hands off the scooter to initiate a call. Granted, this does leave you with a bit of connecting wire that you need to sort out, but typically that isn't a big deal. Another huge advantage is that buying the two radio kit and two helmet kits is much cheaper (~$120USD) than buying one of the helmet mounted units (~$200-300 each). It also leaves you with a pair of handsets you can use while hiking, camping, working in the yard or wherever you don't want to have to shout between.

For mounting GPSs or just about anything else to the scooter, get yourself straight over to the RAM Mounting Systems web site. They have a handy configuration wizard that will guide you through the parts and options necessary to mount whatever you want to your ride. Seriously, if RAM doesn't make a mount for it, then it probably doesn't exist. I have a ball mount on my GTV that I can mount (using the same attachment arm) either a GPS (Garmin nüvi 660) or a camera (via a threaded tripod-type shoe). Both are solid and easy to get on and off.

Hopefully these little tidbits might help someone who is curious about mounts and scooter to scooter communications.

Technorati Tags: gadgets, scootering, wkrp

So
The title of this posting is a reference to a statistic in an article called That Muslim in the White House. It relates to a statistic that is tempting to apply to poll results:

Here is another fact: About 11 percent of adult Americans have an IQ score of 81 or below. This is the region of the IQ distribution curve traditionally labeled “dull” at the top and “defective” or “idiot” at the bottom, with various and variously colorful tabs in between.

What conclusion shall we draw? Some of you are tempted, aren’t you? The proper answer is, None; but in practice how people interpret facts depends heavily on their preexisting attitudes toward and opinions on sundry matters.

There is probably an easier answer: the considerably more than 11% that think that Fox News is news and parrot the right wing hatred coming from Fox and 'shout radio' broadcasts. I am confident that the tempting 11% is well represented in there as well.

Technorati Tags: dubious, ideas, news, statistics

So
The latest Mac Heist Bundle is available for the low, low price of $39USD.

I bought it just for the Kinemac 3D animation software ($300 value) and Wiretap Studio.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, macheist, software

So
Today is the 20th anniversary of the creation of the World Wide Web (not to be confused with the Internet). Apparently, today is also the 15th anniversary of Linux. I wonder how pervasive Linux would be had the WWW not preceded it. It seemed it was the world wide interest, adoption and coding that made Linux what it is today. Well, I suppose the same could be said for the Interwebs as well.

In any case, raise your glass for two of technologies finest. And note that Microsuck 'innovation' had nothing to do with either of them.

Technorati Tags: ingenuity, innovation, internet, linux, technology, webdev, webtools

So
The already awesome LibraryThing has recently added Twitter integration making it easy to add books into your online library on the go.

Technorati Tags: books, librarything, mobile, twitter, webtools

So
Some handy twitter hacks for the wordpress blogging software, if you are so inclined.

Technorati Tags: blogging, hacks, twitter, webtools, wordpress

So
A Japanese study shows that riding on two wheels makes you smarter. Thank you Vespa.

It might be telling that the test was conducted with riders in their 40s and 50s. That would tend to screen out the young morons who weave in and out of highway traffic on their ballburners wearing nothing but sunglasses. So either you are smart enough not to do that in the first place and make it to 40 or natural selection cleans things up and you don't make it to 40. That doesn't appear to be part of the study, however.

Technorati Tags: cognition, science, vespa