Hey makers! Check out the FlyCamOne2!

Remember the Neuros Recorder2, the tiny MPEG4 recorder I’ve raved about?

Old and busted! The new hotness is the FlyCamOne2. It is a gadget with 640×480 video and audio recording, built-in camera, and an infrared motion sensor. It records straight to an SD card. Heck, it even charges from a USB port! And the whole thing is just 100 bucks!

This thing might be small enough to mount on my mythical weather balloon project.

Update: Nevermind….the FlyCamOne2 is old and busted, too. That didn’t take long. The new hotness is the Oregon Scientific Action Cam, which apparently has better video (and the upcoming 3K release supports 4GB SD cards). The 2K model can be had for $92 at Circuit City.

Check out the videos [warning: self-playing flash] from the ATC 2K, including this cool model rocket video.

A happy accident

Remember when I said Raleigh’s downtown was becoming a place known for happy accidents? I got to witness one Friday.

As I watched from my office window two people, apparently strangers, met on Hargett Street. When the scruffy, T-shirt-clad man stopped the better-dressed woman, I thought “oh, here goes. Another panhandler incident.”
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Something special

Today is special for some reason. Let me think….let me think…

Oh, yeah! Today’s our daughter Hallie’s sixth birthday! She made parents out of Kelly and me six years ago today. Now she’s a rambunctious kindergartener ready to take on the world. We couldn’t be prouder!

I pedaled my sweaty self from my office to her school today for a surprise lunchtime visit. Although I earned four bells on the MT.Net Stinkometer upon returning to the office, it was well worth it!

If you’re bored today, go back and reread the earliest details of Hallie’s life.

Dear fellow drivers

Dear fellow drivers,

In case you haven’t noticed, gasoline now costs $4 a gallon. At that price, I want to buy as little gas as I can. Therefore, when I’m first at a traffic light, don’t expect me to burn rubber the instant the light turns green. In fact, you may see me gradually accelerate my not-so-fuel-efficient minivan in order to conserve gasoline.

This is fine. Perfectly acceptable. In fact, you might save gas and money trying it, too! At any rate, we’ll both get to Capital Boulevard’s next red light (and the red light beyond that one, and the one beyond that one) in approximately the same time.

KTHXBYE,
Mark

in Rant | 110 Words

Newly-discovered planets

I’m always amazed when our scientists discover extra-solar planets, such as the one announced yesterday. Just a few years ago these kinds of discoveries were unheard of. I’m fascinated at how science can pick out these tiny specks orbiting stars that are light-years away.

On a related note, I’ve been unable to find a website listing of all discovered planets. NASA doesn’t seem to have a page, and the various universities and researchers tend to put out press releases with their announcements but don’t seem to collect them anywhere.

Anyone have a good resource showing all the known planets?

Update: Thanks to Wikipedia, I found exactly what I’m looking for: NASA’s PlanetQuest! PlanetQuest even has a widget for your desktop showing the latest planet count. Cool!

We’re up to 292 exoplanets now, for those of you keeping score.

Ty-ed up in red tape

My officemates and I were out on an afternoon walk around the city when I ran into N.C. Rep. Ty Harrell. Almost literally ran into him: he was walking out of the municipal building with a cellphone to his ear just as we were walking by.

Once he got through with his call he told us about his odyssey to get the appropriate ABC permits for his fundraiser tonight at Artspace. He apparently had to go to at least four different agencies to get approval – including one where he needed a background check!

“I had to prove I’m a state legislator,” he said.

Unbelievable. Who knew what kind of red tape would be involved in hosting a party?

If you’re looking for something to do tonight (and you’ve got a little cash to contribute to his campaign), stop by Artspace tonight for Ty’s fundraiser. We’re lucky to have guys like him serving the state.

I’m alpha civics geek!

I learned today that my Raleigh Neighborhood College class has voted me the class valedictorian! Not too shabby for a guy who barely got in, eh?

I’m humbled and quite honored that such a fine group of citizens saw fit to name me their leader. Indeed, I’ve learned as much from my classmates as I did the presentations. I will miss the weekly interaction we have enjoyed for the past three months. Raleigh has some sharp citizens, let me tell you!

On the other hand, there’s a good chance my sneaky classmates tapped me just so they wouldn’t have to speak at Thursday’s graduation. Heh.