Yearly Archives: 2012

Friday night – bits and atoms

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I started my vacation a bit early today buy taking a quick trip down and back to Boston today. Technically it was a work meeting but it was almost too fun for that. I met my friends Veena and Paul for a visit to a robotics company.. then a meeting at the center for bits and atoms at the MIT media lab. It was a fascinating day which began with human sized robots.. And ended with nano particles . Every time I visit MIT I’m reminded why I loved it there…

the high point was touring the Bits and Atoms fab facilities with Prof Neil G.. They had ‘one of every tool’… ohhhhh to be able to play there..

I’m feeling the fact that I left at 5:30 AM.. I’m going to sleep ..
nite all. nite sam
-me

Thursday night – Mel’s stuff

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Our friend and neighbor Mel passed away a week ago last Tuesday. (here’s his obit)  He’d been ill for some time but still managed to get out on his motorcycle.  I was over there tonight seeing if we could help Mel’s wife Jane with anything. We stood for a long time looking through  Mel’s motorcycle stuff.. the helmets and jackets he’d worn his tools..  It was sad and  nice seeing all these things that meant so much to him.

There’s going to be a gathering for Mel at Bridge Street Cafe this Sunday from 2-4 . If you knew Mel or his family please join us there..

nite all, nite sam

-me

Wednesday night – meetup

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Just got off a meeting of the vermont makers core group Tonight we used a google hangout .. Which i never had used. It was actually fun and reasonably easy to use. It was a little strange using a virtual meeting tool when we all live within 20 miles of one another… But the tool lets you add special effects like funny hats and halos which are much harder to do in person.

I just love this group of people.. They are all so dedicated to growing the maker movement here in vermont. We are planning the calendar of activities for the rest of the year and most of next year. We’ve got some fun stuff coming up. We discussed topics Including book clubs, an art show at burlington city arts, programs on amateur radio, sustainability, civic hackathons and a program with vermont librarians. If you’re interested, you can follow what we’re up to at http://vermontmakers.org .

Actually.. While I’m talking about our coming programs, we looking for some good books for our book club meetings.. Know any good reads on technology, creativity, making things , etc ? Wed love to get your suggestions.


Ok.. Been online all day.. Time to switch off..
Nite all, nite sam
-me

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Tuesday night – Hams

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I had an interesting treat tonight. I was invited to give a talk on innovation to RANV, a local Amateur Radio Operators (AKA HAM Radio) club. I used to be a ham radio operator when I was a kid… WN5IAU ..  or .- -. ….. .. .- ..- as I used to say.  There were about 25 of them gathered there tonight at the O’Brien Center in South Burlington. I’m used to giving talks to elementary and middle school kids.. sometimes high school kids.. and even less frequently college kids. it’s rare that I get to speak to a group of such.. uh… distinguished years. Lets just say It was so much fun being in a room with that many confirmed nerds.The Ham hobby has been on the decline for a while as kids turned away from science and engineering.. but as the Maker movement brings geekdom back in to the realm of cool . In addition to talking about the CoWe  talked about how the Maker movement might be a path for growth for the Ham community. While the allure of being able to speak to people over great distances has lost some of its allure in teh days of Skype .. there are certain things that Ham’s alone can do including using very high power transmitters or very high or very  low frequencies. There are also some very cool intersections with steam punk.. I’m going to help broker a joint meetup of some kind between the groups.

ok.. gotta go to bed…

as Hams say

73’s all, 73’s sam
-me