tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399942008-04-25T15:24:54.812-05:00Sam-I-AmBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-30032888439905941712008-04-25T15:15:00.002-05:002008-04-25T15:24:54.840-05:00

Like a few other people, I couldnt help but notice that RoadRunner monkeyed with their service recently with the result that my day to day internet activity has slowed to a crawl. You know something's wrong when you go to search on google and get a rr.com page saying host google.com not found (and offering all sorts of sponsored links and searches). Today I reached my bullshit threshold and

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-13462674521203775622007-05-28T11:06:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:09:11.178-05:00

Yesterday I put the final piece in place to our solar powered lawn-mowing solution. At the old house, I used the reel-mower - not a terribly onerous task provided it was kept sharp. But at the new house we are on a corner lot, and inheriting our predecessor's love of lawn. We are slowly eating away at it with vegetable and xeric beds... but a lot remains. Too much to feasibly manage with the reel

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-78728260871084488252007-05-28T10:28:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:11:09.327-05:00

I stumbled on instructables.com looking for I forget what. They have a nice format of a series of illustrated and annotated steps. I was looking at electronic projects, but there's a broad range of crafty/makey topics.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1165390672903550302006-12-06T01:08:00.000-06:002006-12-06T01:39:39.556-06:00

As if to underline the already bleeding obvious, today my desk clutter hit the point of self-destruction when I exitted my chair and pulled the headphone cord with me. It snapped at the plug. Worse would have been to break the actual jack in the laptop (or maybe drag the laptop off the desk). It wasn't a happy moment though. I was undaunted. Radio Shack sold me a new plug, I scoffed at the

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1146118650642624682006-04-27T01:13:00.000-05:002006-04-27T01:17:30.666-05:00

Never sure if this is "work" or play. But I got tired of the pond weed look on this site and refreshed it. I mostly just switched a couple colors and a few graphics to make "Lentil 1.1". Maybe I'll even do the blog templates this time? nah... I'm sitting on that while I ponder migrating the blog - which will make me address the more difficult question of what navigation around a blog and its

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1137435606989092372006-01-16T12:17:00.000-06:002007-05-28T12:13:12.804-05:00

We are half-way through the mess of moving house - from Payne Ave, Austin, to just 5 miles north of there nr. N. Lamar @ Braker. So, some things are going to take a little while to settle back down while we reconnect services, unpack things from boxes, and deal with the 1001 tasks involved in putting our old house on the market. Apologies in advance!

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1129821670612963212005-10-20T10:21:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:12:54.176-05:00

This looks like fun: a computer programming board game

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1125349633730679192005-08-29T16:07:00.000-05:002005-08-29T16:07:13.773-05:00

A long train of thought (naps, forty winks, wombles) wound me up at the official wombles site, where I briefly wallowed in nostalgia. It has been speculated that the wombles were inspired by the art students at Wimbledon School of Art, just down the hill from Wimbledon Common - who were (and are) great scavengers. The same art school just happens to be my alma mater, so I'll stake my claim to

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1121529951345334462005-07-16T11:05:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:12:54.177-05:00

More tips and tricks for sound effect design than is reasonable to expect in one place: Favorite effects tips from the trenches.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1118116591261002682005-06-06T22:44:00.000-05:002007-01-11T00:55:05.103-06:00

Today I suffered my first injury by cheese. My left thumb aches and has swollen from the cut I received under the nail. It happened like this: At lunchtime I discovered the office microwave had been the site of a small explosion - probably featuring lasagna - and the debris had since baked on in a uneven patina of tomato red splotches. Not wanting to be a part of the problem in baking it on

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1114441546290561842005-04-25T10:01:00.000-05:002005-04-25T10:05:46.293-05:00

I was reminded to dust this off and publish this again. Its the beginning of a list of some of the varying uses and meanings of the word "piss", which I trust is a mild enough word to not offend even my american readers. The Piss List I'd welcome any input from either side of the pond, and any Aussie/Kiwi variants would also be interesting.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1110432945271583652005-03-09T23:35:00.000-06:002007-05-28T12:12:54.177-05:00

Ah. Not sure if this is work or play, but its great stuff: Vantage Graphics and Design - Mapping the sphere

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1109691309083553722005-03-01T09:20:00.000-06:002005-03-01T09:35:09.086-06:00

The wheel has turned again and my attention has moved on to Second Life Its a multi-user 3D digital world that's highly flexible and absorbing of free cycles (CPU and brain). For me, its a great way to learn a little about 3D modelling (there are in-game tools for creating your own objects) and yet another scripting language, hooking you into the game's 3d, physics-capable engine. Lots of

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1093529490032948082004-08-26T09:11:00.000-05:002004-11-11T22:26:46.346-06:00

I've been really getting into BEAM robotics.. most of the examples I've seen are mobile edge-finding / line-following / light-seeking critters. This is a whole nuther species - a solar activated chime - a very sweet idea.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1093450602109271202004-08-25T11:13:00.000-05:002004-11-11T22:27:28.053-06:00

still-warm doughnut hole salvaged nugget of fried goodness delectable void

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1090881702928612542004-07-26T17:41:00.000-05:002004-11-11T22:28:44.840-06:00

Constructing a solar engine using black polythene. Mechanical work from trash-bags and sunshine.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1085546078344987662004-05-25T23:34:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:12:54.178-05:00

They just have some of the best articles over on yougrowgirl.com This one (Getting her Goat) is a cracker - a recent transplant from NY city tackles her weed problem in suburban Boulder, CO by hiring a small herd of goats. Does it go without saying that I have been tossing around a similar idea for a while. My problem is grass though - not something goats are that keen on - they are

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1085541390047096362004-05-25T20:49:00.000-05:002004-11-11T22:30:23.200-06:00

For all sorts of reasons my laptop at home is still running windows 98. Mostly because I'm low on disk space and haven't the time or money to figure out an upgrade path. Meanwhile I've got a webcam and want to video chat across mac/pc platforms. Yahoo is kind of working, no audio and disappointing frame rates. AIM should work - I have the latest version (5.5 at time of writing), but I've since

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1084293569413552792004-05-11T11:39:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:12:54.178-05:00

This is a feature I've wanted for years. It makes lots of sense. I'm curious to see how it all ends up looking.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1082609496131774892004-04-21T23:51:00.000-05:002004-11-11T22:35:15.210-06:00

Bicycle Powered Generator Troubled Times: How to make an effective bicycle generator More bike/human power links It's another project I'll put on the end of a very long list. Last year I picked up a stationary excercise bike to this end - it has a stable frame and a built in fly wheel that I thought might get me part way there. Of course, efficiency is not a design concern for these

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1074315954272976322004-01-16T23:05:00.000-06:002007-05-28T12:12:54.178-05:00

An easy step-by-step for repairing or creating a book with a simple japanese style binding. I think I could manage this.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1073679002268247202004-01-09T14:10:00.000-06:002004-11-11T22:38:29.090-06:00

inluminent: Wireless old iMac via Linksys Ah ha. It was just a matter of trying some different keywords, and finally I have paydirt. This blog entry describes getting an old (no air-port, just ethernet) imac onto a wireless network the easy way. After much misinformation, this suddenly makes sense. I will be returning the access point (which came well recommended but how it was going to help

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1069221820355833522003-11-19T01:03:00.000-06:002004-11-11T22:45:51.263-06:00

Austin Cycling Association - Commuting This is a short piece on bicycle commuting in Austin that rings very true. I need to get me one of those horns he's talking about. The thing about sidewalks though.. if there's sidestreets and driveways I'll agree you're better off on the road. But on a long open stretch like where Lamar flanks Shoal Creek - you'd be a fool to risk the narrow lanes when the

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1065104940447811032003-10-02T09:29:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:12:54.179-05:00

Shopsmith Chess & Checkers Plans and instructions for making chess pieces by compound cutting on a band/scroll saw. They actually end up looking pretty nice, I might get to this one day.

Sam-I-Amtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339994.post-1064327404621979212003-09-23T09:30:00.000-05:002003-09-23T09:30:04.496-05:00

Whiskey Barrel & Barrel Heads Used and weathered/not-so-weathered. Whole barrels from about $55, plus barrel heads, staves, hoops etc. I want one, and I want time to do something with it :) Shipping from Kentucky

Sam-I-Am