The Evil Eyebrow

Month: March 2007

  • SpaceX Launch

    They counted all the way to T-0 and no launch. That’s disappointing. Thanks to Physics is Phun for for making sure I was online for the launch.

    The most priceless moment was the dude who was in the control booth about 2 minutes after launch time who said, very clearly, broadcast to everyone in the world, “Ohhh…fuck.” He seemed very disappointed, too.

    I don’t mean to make light. This is a fabulous project I want to see succeed, but you have to get levity where you find it.

    Update:At 20:16 EDT, the launch team is recycling the count to T-00:11:00. No idea when they’ll actually do that, though.

    2nd Update:At 20:4420:55 EDT I notice that we’re sitting at a T-00:16:00. Go SpaceX! We’re counting down.

    3rd Update:SpaceX Launch! We watched the webcast while it climbed from the atoll toward orbit. We saw the stage separation and heard the shouts of joy from the control booth. Fairing separation and more shouts of joy. We watched the second stage ascend with a view of the glowing engine bell then…[poof] no more webcast connection.

    Damn. I hope the vehicle is ok.

    4th Update:Quoting http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sfn_070320_spacex_falc1cntdwn.html

    0115 GMT (9:15 p.m. EDT Tues.)

    T+plus 5 minutes, 5 seconds. Telemetry has been lost, SpaceX spokeswoman tells reporters. The webcast provided by the company has stopped too.

  • PodCamp Atlanta 2007 Review

    PodCamp Atlanta 2007
    PodCamp Atlanta was a rockin’ good time!

    This unConference was centered around Podcasting and how to do it or do it better. There were endless networking opportunities and I met a ton of great people. Everyone I spoke with asked me the question, “So, do you podcast?” to which I answered, “Not at the moment, but I’m thinking about it.” The equivalent question from me received about a 50% yes rate, and another 30% “I’m learning how to podcast right now.”

    Blog your unConference!It is always interesting to be in a group of people where I am one of the least wired around. During sessions, at least 10 people were typing away on their laptops, uploading content, blogging about the conference. Me, I had a steno pad (but I took a lot of good notes). That’s how I roll.

    When I was at Dragon*Con last year, I had been mildly inspired to do a podcast concerning…something. I had no idea what. These ideas have solidified somewhat, and I’ve developed a punch list for accomplishing a regular-ish podcast. Keep watching this space for more.

    Check out the flickr for photos (including mine) of PodCamp Atlanta.

  • Clear Instructions

    I’ve had a persistent cough since a few weeks ago. Today, under nurse-practitioner’s orders, I filled my antibiotics prescription. I got home and opened the package to find the most clear drug instructions of all time.

    Drug Instructions

    This is much easier than “twice daily as needed.”

    Of course, they’re also clear about the side effects.

    Drug Side Effects

    Let me dig out my D20 and try not to roll a one…

  • This Week in Traffic: 19 March 2007

    Traffic Signal “Synchronization”

    This article discusses a city initiative to “synchronize” their traffic signals. As a traffic engineer, I try to avoid the term “synchronize” because that’s not what we do (I apologize if this is pedantic). To synchronize a signal network would cause all signals to be green or red or amber at the same time. What they mean is coordinate, and I heartily encourage them to do it. I only hope they realize that they have to maintain the coordination which requires funds for their signal engineers and technicians, indefinitely.

    Traffic Signal Coordination

    Here’s an article that treats the subject (see above) well. Not only do you have to go and program all these signals, but you need to adjust and maintain them over the long term. Traffic changes accumulate and what works this week may be terrible next year.

    Java Traffic Simulation (redux)

    This web app for a traffic simulation has been blogged about again.

    Copper Theft in Hawaii

    Copper has been trending up in the markets for the past few years, to the point where theft of home plumbing is a cost-effective business. Hawaii has been having problems with copper wire being stolen from the highways.

    Chicken Fat Jam

    Don’t count your chicken fat before it’s scooped off the highway.

    Comments about Driving Habits and Cats

    Title says it all.

  • "R2-D2, Where are you? I need you to deliver my mail!"

    Yesterday, driving to PodCamp Atlanta, I spotted my first R2-D2 U.S. Postal Service Mailbox.

    R2-D2 Mailbox outside Georgia State General Classroom building

    Apparently, this one is a bit early. According to the link above, they’re not supposed to be out and about until the 28th of March.

  • PodCamp Atlanta

    I’m off to the mixer before PodCamp Atlanta starts tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll meet good people tonight.

    For those of you interested, the pre-unconference get together is at Manuel’s Tavern at 602 North Highland Avenue, just north of Little Five Points.

  • This Week in Traffic (is boring)

    I mine several sources for the various items I put into these posts. This week, everything was blah, and unworthy of posting.

    Except for the group of grade-schoolers who built edible roads as an exercise in understanding transportation infrastructure.

    That’s a modelling technique I can really sink my teeth into (yuk yuk).

  • J.K. Rowling Set to Cash In

    It’s no surprise to anyone that J.K. Rowling is positioned to make a great deal of money from the 7th installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. USA Today had an article concerning the initial print run of 12 million copies for HPaDH, which is freaking huge! The same article says that the sixth book (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince) had an initial run of 10.8 million and sold 6.9 million in the first 24 hours. I’m going to go out on a limb and project that HPaDH will sell 10 million copies on the first weekend, which conservatively means she’ll rake in $30M by Monday.

    That’s a damn good pay rate.

    Two months ago, author Brandon Sanderson had some thoughts about the publishing industry and why most authors don’t make much money.

    But back to Ms. Rowling. I wish her all the best with the proceeds from her franchise. I hope that it does not quell the creative spirit that she has displayed with Harry Potter et al and that she manages to write more novels of equal quality for us all to enjoy.

  • "I Will Love You Forever, No Matter What" (addended)

    Timonthy McSweeney takes me back to those heady days of first love, and how all the possibilities were open.

  • Homeschooling Creationists

    I was poked over to GregLaden.com to read his post about the Homeschooling Creationist Fair of 2007 [thanks to PZ] and discovered a firestorm in the comments. It is some very interesting reading. You’ve got to read to the bottom to get some of the more “interesting” comments.