Category: Miscellaneous

Check out the incredible videos of a table saw that can tell the difference between wood and skin. It’s something you have to see to believe; I recommend both the regular and super high speed videos.

The SawStop system works by recognizing the difference in the electrical properties of wood and a user. The system induces a high-frequency electrical signal on the blade of a table saw and monitors this signal for changes caused by contact between the blade and a user’s body. The signal remains unchanged when the blade cuts wood because of the relatively small inherent electrical capacitance and conductivity of wood. However, when a user contacts the blade while the saw is operating, the electrical signal changes because of the relatively large inherent capacitance of the user’s body.

In the videos, the saw blade is rotating at 4000 rpm. The blade is stopped in less than 5 milliseconds. It can make the difference between needing a Band-Aid or a hand surgeon.

Anna and I watched Lost in Translation (IMDB link) last night. I thought this movie gave a beautiful look at what it’s like trying to live in a culture that is unfamiliar and often times incomprehensible. I liked this movie particularly because it reminded of my brief experience when I visited Japan, although I think I had a much better time than either Bill Murray or Scarlett Johansson’s characters, then again I was only there for 10 days.

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an American movie star, whom, nearing the end of his career, has come to Japan to shoot Whiskey ads. Charlotte is the young wife of a hot new photographer who finds herself stuck in her Japanese hotel room as her husband works. Both of them struggle with the different culture and language barrier, however as they slowly get to know one another they find an unexpected friendship blossoms.

Marketed as a hilarious comedy, this movie is actually the bittersweet tale of two foreigners trying to find friendship in a land they can’t seem to meld with. Both characters go on a journey – it’s hard to explain exactly as this movie is better experienced than described.

It wasn’t just the fact that they were in Japan, I think they would have been upset wherever they were, they might not have recognized it however. Nothing around them is familiar. As a defense mechanism they revert inwards in an attempt to find peace and security but in doing so, they find is self-doubt and insecurity. Despite being at different points in their lives they find within each other a kind of soul-mate.

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson both did a tremendous job and it seemed more like watching two people live their lives than actors reciting a script. I enjoyed “Lost in Translation”.

Anna and I rented American Splendor (IMDB link) DVD over the weekend. I can’t really say whether I give this movie a positive or negative rating overall. I’m glad I saw it, but I felt that at times it was slow and never, throughout the film, had a point. It just sort of told the story of Harvey Pekar and his comic books and then ended. It did pick up midway through the film with scenes of Harvey’s actual appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman, and I found his nerd friend pretty funny with his love of all things nerdy – especially “Revenge of the Nerds”.

Overall I think you have to be a person that either loves underground comics, independent films, or just loves to watch movies to really enjoy this film. My recommendation: get it if you think you will like it, if you’re not sure, then you probably won’t. I know that seems odd, but based on my own reaction and the reaction of others that I know who have seen it, I think that’s a pretty fair way to put it.

I finally sold my old washer and dryer. I am very happy to have them out of the house. I’d like to say I am going to do something particularly special with the money, but in truth it will be going to my monthly bills. I am very happy though, to have the washer and dryer gone.

More importantly than my Washer and Dryer (boring) is the fact that Anna-Maria has made a triumphant return to Lethbridge and has no plans to leave again anytime soon. Anna-Maria was on tour for the last two months doing theatre performances in the French immersion and francophone schools all over Alberta. I’m so happy she’s back – I was wasting away and already I’m feeling (and looking) much better.

The Museum of Hoaxes has the Top 100 April Fools Day Hoaxes of all time. The picture here is ranked number 1 and it comes from the BBC news show Panorama. As part of the April 1st, 1957 broadcast they announced that because of very mild winters and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper crop. I remember my dad telling me that he saw this during a news clip when he was a kid going to see a movie. I guess in those days you got news at the theatres instead of worthless ads before the show.

With April 1st coming right up, I’m thinking of some possible pranks to pull, but alas I’ve come to the conclusion I’m not much of a prankster. Plus I’m going to Calgary with Anna-Maria to see the BareNaked Ladies or BNL, if you prefer. I saw their show the last time they were in Calgary and I must say, they put on a great performance. I’ll have reviews of this upcoming show posted here in the first week of April.

Victorinox has created a version of the classic Swiss Army Knife that has a USB key as one of it’s tools. This, for those that don’t know about USB devices – like my parents, would allow you to connect your knife to your computer and transfer data to and from your knife. So if you’re thinking about burning your favorite MP3’s to CD to take to a friends house, with this invention all you would need to do is download the files onto your knife and then plug it in to your pals computer. I already carry my knife with me everywhere anyway; this would be way more useful than say a corkscrew or nail file.

I’m glad somebody is finally (almost) doing something about the dihydrogen monoxide threat. Think about that the next time you buy Styrofoam cups and think you’re not putting yourself at risk.

“I’ll buy you an IPOD if you be my GF for one and 1/2 weeks – $300” reads the headline of an apparently desperate 24 year old single white male from New York City. His parents are coming to visit and he “needs” someone to play the part of the love of his life that he has told his parents so much about. Is it a real plea for help or a new marketing technique trying to increase the perceived value of an Ipod. You be the judge.

I have been making some subtle changes today. The Google Search is now customized with a graphical interface (as opposed to the default form) and I added a couple of links to webpages that I have created. I created them a couple of years ago before I signed up for New Media. Anyway I haven’t checked the page in any other browsers yet so if you notice anomalies with the Google Search on the left side of the page, please let me know via the comments. Thanks.

Paul Tyma is a frequent (and opinionated) computer industry speaker and writer. Paul has two articles which I think you should read.

The first is called “The Internet is full of Idiots”. It’s about Amazon.com book reviews. Paul is writing a book and guarantees that the reviews he will get on Amazon will be good ones, at least the first couple. How can he be so sure? Well he’s going to write them himself. (Read More)

Paul’s next article is titled, “I’ve invented the greatest compression algorithm ever”, and as Paul explains – he’s keeping it a secret.