Library of indecision

Do you have such a library? Maybe just a collection?

The indecision related to this blog is the decision of my post topic. Could it be that when indecision halts your writing you should just write about the indecision?

Seems like a cop out. However this is a personal blog with loose rules.

One of my minor ideas which remains less than minor was the naming of new products. Do you need a bomb in your bath?

You can now buy 2-pack unicorn bath bomb for about $12. Oh joy of effervescent unicorns. Why call this a bomb? It’s not very destructive.

Oh rub-a-dub

With that out of the way, what’s with my library reference? I have enjoyed libraries from a young age. I doubt it’s the smell of paper. I rather think it’s knowledge on a shelf. Also, they are normally quiet enough places to gather your thoughts. Today we carry connected knowledge in our pocketed smartphones. I do hope libraries will survive this smartphone upheaval.

I still recall the trip my Aunt asked me to join her on to a college library. It was a day trip and I think she just wanted some company. Not sure, but I think I had just started high school at the time. I was impressed by the number of books. I surprised myself when I found my name in the card catalog (are you old enough to have used a card catalog?). There was another well published guy out there with my exact name. I found that interesting but not his publications. Looking up my name in the card catalog - the precursor to googling oneself?

During my recent local library visit I looked up a book by Steven Johnson that I read about online. Steven Johnson hosted a PBS series called “How We Got To Now” back in 2014. (hey do NOT come here for the latest on TV) His book is titled “Wonderland”.

Now for my attempt to tie all this together. I believe these bath bombs relate well to Johnson’s theme in Wonderland. Here’s a quote from the book:

“Because play is often about breaking rules and experimenting with new conventions, it turns out to be the seedbed for many innovations that ultimately develop into much sturdier and more significant forms.”

Johnson describes many examples of play and delight driving innovation. I find this bath bomb an invention for delight. I'm not suggesting these bath bombs are going to develop into anything other than clean freshen people but who knows. Automating the social comparison of college students eventually developed into Facebook. I've heard that's a big thing. Maybe unicornbath will be the next big bomb.

Robot suicide

Is robot suicide a thing? In other words can a robot kill itself? Doesn't killing oneself require one to be alive first? Also, software crashes which have been happening since mankind started programing software were never called suicides. The robot in the story I read on CNN was an autonomous K5 security robot. Moving around autonomously based on various sensors requires well developed coding but I would not consider that coding at the level of Artificial Intelligence that some predict will doom mankind. (this prediction of AI ending human mankind might be covered in another post - interested?)

Steve was not designed to swim

It appears "Steve" the security robot was new on the job and still learning it's area. I guess it had not yet included those steps leading down into the fountain in its internal mapping. Some have pointed out that steps/stairs maybe our best defense against the future robot uprising. 

I wouldn't put my hopes on that. Robots come in all types so one skilled at climbing stairs or even walls might already be in the lab. A small drone can just fly up stairs. I'm thinking the control of battery supplies and recharging might be their weak spot.

Knightscope is the company that produced Steve, K5 security robot. On their FAQ page they state:

Knightscope was originally founded in response to the tragic events at Sandy Hook and the Boston Marathon. The founders believed that with a unique combination of hardware and software, they could greatly reduce crime… by as much as 50%!

Reduced crime is a good thing. Security robots on every city street - hmm, not the world I want to live in. It would be interesting to see what one of their security robots could do in Chicago's high crime areas.

After reading more about their robots, I would summarize their idea as enhanced surveillance on wheels. Since the 9/11 attack, we have gotten use to extra security at many locations. These robots at airports might be a smart addition especially watching the outside parameters.

So K5 Steve took a dive, twitter jumped on it and now we know more about these robots. 


Here's a business interview of the CEO I found.

but wait there’s more

electricity and the future of women

Nikola Tesla

No, not the inventor of the all electric sports car called the Tesla but it was named after him. Yes, he was an inventor. There are statues of Nikola Tesla around Niagara Falls (both Canadian and American sides). Westinghouse built North America’s first large scale AC power plant at Niagara Falls using Tesla’s patents.

Tesla interest and ideas certainly when beyond electrical power. He believe power would be transmitted wireless someday. He worked on a wireless controlled torpedo back in the early 1900’s.  He foresaw the coming of drones.

But wait there's more - 

Recently I stumbled upon an interview of Mr. Tesla that covered much more than electricity and wireless concepts. In it, he made many interesting statements about women and the future of mankind. These quotes are from a 1926 interview done by the magazine, Colliers. (link to article)

"It is clear to any trained observer," he says, "and even to the sociologically untrained, that a new attitude toward sex discrimination has come over the world through the centuries, receiving an abrupt stimulus just before and after the World War.”

"This struggle of the human female toward sex equality will end in a new sex order, with the female as superior.”

“...the awakening of the intellect of women.”

“Woman will ignore precedent and startle civilization with their progress.”

The end of the article describes his vision of a bee like society centered around queen bees. All these female bees buzzing around loaded down with pollen don’t seem to be having fun. Hopefully, Mr. Tesla was off the mark on his bee like society.

the SNL killer bees were fun

zoopraxiscope

Oh sure, today there will many people rediscovering the zoopraxiscope.  I don't know the percentage of searchers that click on the google logo and dive into its underlying story.  Since google search is widely used I'm sure there are more than a zoopraxiscope disc full of people learning about Mr. Muybridge's invention.

If he had really seen the future he would applied for a trademark on I-scope and better yet I-pad.  Predicting 130 plus years into the future is never easy. 

A similar device, a zoetrope can be traced back to ancient China.  My take-away (I love Chinese carry-out) is that we have a common desire to watch things move.

I'm not sure but I suspect the world's first couch potatoes watched zoetropes.  They probably had their wives or girlfriends spin the device.

C'mon baby spin the zoetrope again.  I'm too tired.

a zoopraxiscope disc found on wikipedia

Warning: Zoopraxiscopes should never be viewed while operating a motor vehicle.

another circus 

I typo a lot

The best invention since cut-n-paste is the spell checker. 

I’m a proud poor speller. Really are there many jobs opportunities for just spelling? I take my poor spelling as a sign of a good engineering mind. Now that I’m blogging I’m very thankful for the spell checkers. 

So taco me this, do you think the spell checkers could improve by noticing words that are spelled correctly but don’t make scents. Eggs easy over there kids, don’t be confused. The spell checkers doesn’t pick up “scents” as the wrong choice for “sense”. 

From coast to toast, an advanced spell choker would be a welcomed tool for loggers of words and writers of thought.

Please typo your toughs in the comment sexton.

Lisleman’s news that you don’t need

Would any of you like to sponsor this news? 

Yeah I didn’t think so. Great news - what we have all been waiting for - finally

McTV is here and in high definition 

“McTV” as in a private TV channel for McDonald restaurants.

found this on Jafabrit sometime ago

Oh no there are not putting the flat screens in the stalls.  McDonalds will be rolling out their own TV programming on the flat screens in the dinning area.  So get out of the drive-thru lane and get inside for exciting Mc-shows.

The nearby Mickey D's doesn't have the programming but they did put in a nice flat screen TV.  I've enjoyed CNN while munching on my fries.

And now this breaking news on dog poop -

AshPuppie Dog Poop Incinerator

I’ve done a couple of posts on inventions lately. I'm probably wrong but I think this high tech poop incinerator is an invention before it's time.


Well thanks everyone that's it for today.


Oh wait, this breaking news just in -

Woman charged after pelting husband with cupcakes

Lisleman is off to find any crumbs on this story.

greatest thing since

One of our stops on my King-of-the-road uncle trip was completely his idea. He wanted to visit some old friends who lived in Chillicothe MO. We spent one night there.

As we drove through the small town I spotted this great mural and quickly decided to loop around the block and snap a picture. As I have mentioned before I’m a big fan of public art. 

I guess we were traveling on hallowed ground for all the sandwich lovers of the world. Chillicothe MO. is the home of sliced bread. Almost had me running to grocery to get some peanut butter and jelly. 

Last week I remembered to check out this Chillicothe claim to fame. According to this wikipedia page it was a Chillicothe bakery that first started selling sliced bread in 1928. 

sandwich from Nutropolitan blog

This thin sliced story had my mind wandering around the many inventions we use in our daily lives. One great one fell right there in front of me as I opened a bottle of beer. The bottle cap bouncing and spinning away on the floor is both simple and efficient in preserving freshness. 

So is sliced bread the greatest thing since the bottle cap or is it the opposite? In other words was the bottle cap the greatest thing since sliced bread? 

Go ahead make a guess.

The answer is below. You can read it by highlighting the text under the golden bars. 

The bottle cap was patented in 1892, many years before the the Chillicothe Baking Company. 

What do you consider the greatest thing since sliced bread? 

Velcro is in my top ten.  The expandable waist band is on the list too.  Do you have an answer stuck in your brain yet?

another circus 

no chicken wings

Ever been to the Grand Canyon?

Have you seen the PBS series "The National Parks: America's Best Idea"?

I am fortunate to answer yes to both questions (I did write the questions). I would like to go back to the Grand Canyon. It is hard to describe. Maybe I don't know enough words meaning BIG. All Americans should have it in their travel plans.

I wish I could share a photo from our trip there but it was before the digital camera and I have not scanned those pictures yet. (side note - I don't think blogs would have become popular before the digital camera)

For those who have been there (others look up some pics), imagine what it would be like to fly over it with a jet pack wing? A what? 

I understand there is only one of them. I posted about this Swiss inventor zooming over the English Channel before.

Recently, he strapped on his jet powered wing, hopped on a helicopter and dropped himself over the Grand Canyon. (side note - he had an easier time getting permission from a Native American tribe than the FAA)

Reminds me of the Jetsons, Rocketman, James Bond, etc. (not chicken man)

The cartoon idea

The real thing

Hey for an extra A-Few-Clowns-Short point - What was Mrs. Jetson's first name?

another circus 

the third founder of apple

Hey this reminds of the fifth Beatle.

I found an interesting press release about a Apple documentary. Here's a short description from the documentary's web site.

“Welcome to Macintosh - The documentary for the rest of us.” is the first documentary of its kind to mix history, criticism and an unapologetic revelry of all things Apple into a movie experience.....

There is some trailers and clips available at their site.

Over the years (I started using a mac in the early 90's) I have read and seen many things about Apple but I did not know of this third founder. Steve Jobs is the most famous and Steve Wozniak (Woz) is known by most mac believers. I didn't even know there was a third guy involved at the start. His name is Ron Wayne.

Talk about wanting to KICK YOURSELF. This guy passed up a chance to be a billionaire.

From wikipedia:

He was given a 10% stake in Apple, but relinquished his stock for $800 only two weeks later because legally all members of a partnership are personally responsible for any debts incurred by any of the other partners.

He explains what happened in the interview video below. I guess you just can't predict the future and sometimes you don't want to take a risk.





One More Thing podcast #152: Ronald Wayne, medeoprichter Apple from One More Thing on Vimeo.


View my page on The Welcome to Macintosh Network

failure and engineering

While browsing wired.com, this honda ad attracted my attention. I agree with the message in this clip.

The best learn from failure.

The subject of inventing and developing covered in the clip also appeals to my engineering background.

There are plenty of business failures lately and I wonder if there are lessons being learned. I can only hope.

So far I just watched this one clip but it appears Honda is going to offer more - here's the link to their special power of dreams site.

looking back thinking ahead

When TV wasn't flat.



1938 Fax machine ??

from Chicago Tribune caption:
Words and pictures could be transmitted instantly by radio into the home in 1938 via a facsimile receiver.

Next month the US will transition to digital TV (DTV) -- well maybe -- now there some that want to delay it. Story on request for delay.

Bad idea to delay. The spectrum that this DTV change makes available has mostly been auctioned off already (billions of dollars). The plans for wireless broadband depend on some of it.

I have posted about DTV in the past -- first post on it
second post on it

Those pictures are from the Chicago Tribune site that has this interesting slide show.

Hey santa can i have one

I don't even own a motorcycle - but this one sure looks interesting. Recently, I rode my brother's ATV and that does some leaning. But nothing like this.

This invention looks like a big improvement on those corners.

Anybody know if this is coming to the US? The inventor (Brudeli) is from Norway - here's the web site.

winging it jet style

I suspect you may have seen a report of this. It's very interesting and I suspect it will be widely covered. A swiss pilot flew a jet powered wing across the English channel (22 miles of open sea).

After checking the various reports and video, I have an idea of how it works but still a few questions. Since turning his head alters the flight direction, how does he check on where he is headed?? Does he have radio contact during the flight?

One more - did 007 do this already in a movie??

Here's more info from the web:
The CNN report video below has most of the details of the channel crossing.

The National Geographic Channel has a special page with a collection of pictures and video.

Also there is the BBC report.

movie flash of genius

Saw the trailer on TV today and then searched it out on the web. I always find true stories to be more interesting and rewarding than fiction. Of course, Hollywood typically adds many things to the actual story for entertainment reasons ($$).

This movie, Flash of Genius, will released in Oct. and I am hoping to see it.

From the trailer you learn that this professor invents the delayed windshield wiper and basically Ford works to steal the idea away from him.

The inventor was Robert Kearns who passed away in 2005. Here's his obituary by the New York times.

I think many engineers can relate to this story.

Here's the movie site.

the lost wizard

Hey remember that earlier post about the high voltage sparks and the tesla coil? Well I found this video/documentary over at Google video about Tesla. It says it was on the history channel. I have never seen it before. It's very interesting. If you watch it you'll learn the connection he had to Chicago. I also learned that the FBI was watching him. Does not surprise me. Did you know the FBI had investigated John Lennon? Well now that I mentioned them here, maybe they will be checking me out next.