Seasonal Gift List 2009

Latest items (not on Amazon list :)


Digital Oscilloscope DIY Kit from SparkFun. This kit includes everything you need to build your very own, fully functional, digital oscilloscope. Once you've got it up and running, the oscilloscope features up to 5M samples/second, 8-bit resolution, up to 50Vpp max input voltage, and more! And BNC Probe Kit is a necessary signal snatcher to go with scope.


Bluetooth® Portable Rotary Phone - Black or another color from SparkFun. Links nicely to your cellphone, lessens EMF on those incoming/outgoing calls.

SolderPro 50 Butane Soldering Iron Kit

Illuminated LED Eye Loupe

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Amazon wish list: http://amzn.com/w/1IMTKAY992X5M.

Book (before I discovered Amazon service):
The Book of Codes: Understanding the World of Hidden Messages (Hardcover) - Paul Lunde (Editor)

Power Supply for Benjolin and Zeitgeist

I just received a 25W AC - DC Triple Output desktop power supply made by MEAN WELL, Model: P25A13D-R1B. Data sheet at https://www.jameco.com/Jameco/Products/ProdDS/190960.pdf. I intend to power both my Benjolin and Zeitgeist from this AC-DC supply. I also ordered the 5 pin female DIN connector from Jameco-- take a look at either Jameco part number 15844 or 29399. They were cheap enough that I ordered one of each to have a choice for the final install. At of this writing Jameco has more of these power supplies in stock and Jameco prices are the lowest, and shipping w/in USA is good.

Below I cut-n-paste as email (Nov 8, 2009) from Rob to myself and others with good advice on power supplies:

Hi all,

My recommendations for a power supply for both the Benjolin and the
Zeitgeist.

Principally I do always recommend a desktop Plug-In AC Adapter power supply similar in looks to the ones used for laptops. These are the safest devices to use in terms of hazard of electrical shock. Regrettably they are a bit hard to find. But note that if you want to do circuit bending experiments, especially when they involve body contacts, then *always* use batteries!

A good choice for a desktop power supply is one that is sold by Mouser.com:
http://www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mean-Well/P50A13D-R1B/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtpk
qKkT5w3uiB%2fqpDJDtRebgXKIecL%2f1U%3d

(Regrettably it seems to be a non-stocked item and might have a delivery
time of perhaps up to ten weeks.)

A simple 5-pole female DIN connector can be used on the enclosure of a project to connect to this power supply. By using two female connectors on the back of every enclosure one can daisy chain the power to perhaps five to ten more boxes. Desktop power supplies are the easiest to share amongst several projects, which is a definitive additional value.

When putting a power supply into the housing of a specific project I would recommend a closed frame power supply like:
http://www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mean-Well/T-40B/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMu0oxGuRuN
KHzvx70GkCU%252bvmzt/DvjUqMo=

This is also a very good alternative to a desktop supply when putting this supply into its own plastic housing with several connectors to power several projects at once, thus turning it into a desktop power supply all by itself. Probably this power supply is the easiest available one, and so you might consider it if you do not succeed to find a suitable desktop power supply.

In essence it would be possible to use a frameless power supply like:
http://www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mean-Well/PD-2512/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMu0oxGuR
uNKHzvx70GkCU%252bv%252bAeyeoSWfsA%3d

but I do *not* recommend an open frame power supply for ány DIY project, simply as the maybe twenty bucks extra that you pay for a closed frame supply or thirtyfive bucks extra for a desktop power supply are peanuts when at a moment in the future it does actually protect you from electrical shockand saves your life! Never take any risk with AC power!!!

Regards,
/Rob

FROM fookie TO gaia online

I don't know bethlora at Gaia Online. She emailed a[at]pet-pals asking me if I were really her friend. Pondering this I wished I was out fishing for blues with my Cuban Yo-Yo under schooling menhaden in Greenport. However from my cave on Ludlow I joined GO instead and my avatar is ukutoro. To test the fun and secure a few more gold pieces to buy virt-clothes, I used some of my sign-up reward gold to buy a nixie tube lottery card. I tried my trusty fookie to pick the number and include the result below:

My fortune was a good Monday morning grounding and perhaps you will find the flaw in the lottery number.

I opened Fetch to make repairs to the PHP.

Thank you Gaia for this blessing and guidance.

.svg files

Someday I will do something with .svg files that can produce scalable images. Here's one I discovered today on wikipedia. Look at the source code of the image for the .svg details. Note the 'embed' tag was used to present the image. Created with Inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org/) is the attribution within the .svg code.

Hoffman Box - DIY in the kitchen

A Hoffman box is an enclosure used to secure electrical and/or network equipment, and is used in such things as a protected distribution system. - wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoffman_box


I am trying to perfect Pet-Pals for J2ME distribution on camera phones and I needed to pass a gnarly part of the Java Verified process performed by NSTL. To make my own Hoffman box I put the Nokia E71 into a small sauce pan inside a large sauce pan inside a larger pot with lids over all inside the oven. This combination gives great signal isolation. I do NOT recommend you cook a casserole at the same time.

Remote Testing aZza.jar, Fookie.jar and Fookie.wgz Nokia WRT

http://apu.ndhub.net/devices is terrific for remote testing on real devices.

[2009-06-21 testing]
* * S60 2nd Edition FP1
-
Nokia N70
357093003717992
+358504877457
SW 5.0705.3.0.1
Fookie - Unable to install. Invalid file.
aZza - Unable to install. Invalid file.

* * S60 3rd Edition
-
Nokia E61
356211000550494
+358504877460
SW 3.0633.09.04
Fookie - Invalid Jar file.
aZza - Invalid Jar file.
-
Nokia N80
352764013029256
+358504877447
SW 5.0719.0.2
aZza - Invalid Jar file.

* * S60 3rd Edition FP1
-
Nokia N82
358082012062382
+358504877446
SW 30.0.019
aZza - passes all tests
Fookie - passes all tests

* * S60 3rd Edition FP2
devices available later

* * S60 5th Edition
devices available later


[2009-06-20 testing]

Fookie.wrt Version 1.01wrt:
Nokia 5630 XpressMusic - S60 3rd Ed FP2
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic - S60 5th Ed
- Connected to Nokia 5800 XpressMusic from sandbox/10.76.1.29:Com7 via USB/serial
Nokia 6220 classic - S60 3rd Ed FP2
Nokia 6720 classic - S60 3rd Ed FP2
Nokia E71x - no SIM, proto (AT&T variant)
Nokia E75 - S60 3rd Ed FP2
Nokia E90 Communicator - S60 3rd Ed FP1
Nokia N78 - S60 3rd Ed FP2
Nokia N82 - S60 3rd Ed FP1

aZza.jar Version 1.02, Java Verified:
Nokia 5630 XpressMusic - S60 3rd Ed FP2

My WRT Resource Page

Code snippets table for common use cases with code example

CS001242 - Sending SMS messages in WRT - Does NOT work on my Nokia E71 - This code snippet shows how to send SMS messages synchronously and asynchronously using the Messaging Platform Service for S60 Web Runtime introduced in S60 5th Edition.

How to build a Web Runtime layout with Header and Buttons Bar a stepping stone to better UI

Remote Device Access Services - remote testing for short periods of time on real devices -- major boon. Try the camera on each device to get weird POV of the testing bench. And don't forget to DELETE/REMOVE your application after testing...actually it is sort of fun to test the other applications that developers have left behind.

Forum Nokia Device Specifications page. You can also look for which phones support WRT by selecting, "Web Runtime" from the filter.

Web Runtime API reference - very useful reference. I recommend novices build a WRT test application and discover the properties of each of them.
* * * Noto Bene: * * *
Some of the APIs might confuse you in Aptana emulator.
For example:
Web Runtime API reference > JavaScript widget object > openApplication()
audio recorder works :) within WRT sideloaded onto Nokia E71
but produced alert message ;( unable to show w/in emulator
// Recorder 0x100058CA
// Enables the mobile device user to record audio clips.
widget.openApplication(0x100058CA, "");


Web Runtime widgets - basic introduction page to WRT

I will try to update this page from time-to-time. - Steve, 2009-06-20

Buenos Aires Treasure/Scavenger Hunt Proposal

[This project did not get the green light but I liked the proposal - Steve]

On June 15th, 2009, twenty thousand (20,000) players will scour downtown Buenos Aires on a wild hunt for a cash prize provided by sponsor. Clues to the hidden treasure will be delivered to cell phones and wireless computers from the heavily branded world around the players. Statues will whisper secrets, billboard copy will deliver text, street performers share tips, a local newspaper club review contains a clue, and the sponsor will SMS text message hints for the game. Quick thinking players with fancy footwork have the best chance to win. Throughout the three-hour game, the sponsor's message will be delivered by product placement and ad-embedded scavenger clues directly to the tech-savvy players. Friends and family can assist on the web or by watching the game's live media coverage spotting the message their team may have missed.

Game Goal: The winner is the first team (or individual) to uncover the answer to 21 clues within the borders of downtown Buenos Aires.The game will have 5 easy clues, 5 medium hard clues, 6 very hard clues, and 5 brain-busting clues.

Players: 20,000

Teams: Players can form any size teams but 3 to 5 players per team is recommended.

Primary Game Device: Mobile phone with internet browser.

Secondary Game Device: Computer at local Internet cafe with one player in cafe communicating to other team members by cell phone.

Game end: At the end of the game all players will be notified the game is over. The sponsor may choose to add an invitation message for all players to meet at a specific location and party.

Game venue: To be provided by sponsor

Game prize: To be provided by sponsor

Swag: Sponsor and other companies can provide any number of smaller prizes to be placed directly into the hands of the players before, during or after the game.

Game liability insurance: To be provided by sponsor

Time limit: 3 hours. If the game play exceeds 3 hours, then sponsor can terminate game play whenever desired. The game engine logs will fairly determine and verify the winner of the game.

Technical details: Cutlass, Inc. in New York will coordinate Buenos Aires production through HS Latin America (www.hslatinamerica.com) and install its patented game software on Buenos Aires Internet Service Provider (ISP) servers in order for its game engine to respond to 2,100,000 hits from players in the 3 hours of game play.

Personnel provided by Cutlass: Game master Steve Bull (NYC), 1 production manager (local), 4 street assistants (local), 4 call center support (local), 4 street performers (local).

[I left out the money terms.]

Travel: Bull will arrive in Buenos Aires on June 9th and scout 50 clues with organizers on June 10th and 11th. For the final game only 21 of the best clues will be used.

History: The first Cutlass Treasure Hunt game was produced for Times Square, New York on 01/01/01. Cutlass Treasure Hunts are now the regularly featured game of choice on college campuses across the USA.

Cellphonia 4'3" Live @NIME2009

Call: 1.212.937.7725 to add your note (of silence)
Visit: http://cellphonia.org/433/listen.html to see the scrolling score and listen to the installation performance at The Miller Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University.
Commissioned by New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME)

Nokia WRTKit - getting started

For the longest time I could not find the WRTKit, although I could find tons of references to it. Finally I chanced on WRTKit folder (lots of useful stuff inside) as a part of the WRT RSS example at http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Image:RssLib.zip.

I then cut-n-pasted the WRTKit folder into my first "Hello World" example courtesy of WRT Effort http://efforts.embedded.ufcg.edu.br/wrt/?p=9#comment-101. While the example is not perfectly worded, it got me going. It almost always seems to be a part of the novice's task to discover what is obvious to the author.

The WRT Effort site seems to have a lot of useful samples, check out http://efforts.embedded.ufcg.edu.br/wrt/?cat=1 .

AZZA Progress Report

Here is how AZZA appears on Nokia E90 device. forum.nokia has a very nice testing platform for artist developers. Stay tuned for the relaunch of AZZA in Nokia OVI store.

Skerry Boat Building Progress Report

photo 2009-04-28
My son and I are building a double ended row and sailing boat from a kit provided by Chesapeake Light Craft. We are about half finished, the hull exterior has been epoxied and sanded and is now ready for paint. The interior is epoxied and partially sanded. My goal is to finish the boat this summer. An antique British Seagull outboard engine appears on a rolling hand cart behind the stern. My son's name is Frank and he is 17 years old.

The Skerry dimensions: 15'0" LOA, 4'6" beam, 5" draft, hull weight 95 lbs. The term "Skerry" is related to the Old Norse "sker," an Orkney word, the local name for a "rugged ... sea-rock, covered by the sea in high water or in stormy weather." It was also the name given (c 1540) to "little punts or boats that will carry but two apeece." (Quotes OED.) "Skerry" is now common in Irish, and is recognizeable in the Rosalie Fry children's book The Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry, the source for the famous John Sayles film The Secret of Roan Inish.

Cellphonia 4'3"

Scot Gresham-Lancaster and I just got the go ahead to produce Cellphonia 4'33" at NIME 2009 festival in June at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh.

Here is a performance of John Cage 4'3" at Barbican Centre in London

Orange New York Developer Centre

Yesterday, I had a very productive afternoon at the Orange New York Developer Centre, 2 World Financial Center. In the testing room, they have a setup with many different handsets and a 3G telecom network as if you were in the UK/France Orange region. I am putting finishing touches on a release of Pet-Pals for the re?-opening of the UK Orange app store and I needed to test against several different handsets. For a small shop like mine, this is a great resource that I thought to share with you.

Of course, you've got to sign up as an Orange developer but that's not so hard and I let the motivated sort that out.

Working in mysterious ways

This arrived in my email inbox from Kenya. I share it with you.

This is pretty unique - don't ask me how they do it. Place your mouse on the E below and drag to the U. Ev! en though you can't see Him, GOD is there for yoU Please forward this to everyone you know and something good will happen to you in the next hour... just watch and wait for it.

I am a keyboard fisherman picking apart the tangled net of the back story. I look beyond the source code horizon. Spring blessing.

WNYC Solicitation for Art

These are my iPhone submissions to WNYC Green Space artwork contest:


President Obama action figure, digital clock pet dog and plastic carrot on NYC counter top.


President Obama action figure, Chinese sculpture of accountant presenting a bill and Mexican bobble head turtle on NYC counter top.


President Obama action figure, solar panel, Kenya recycled bottle cap souvenir and street bottle cap as baby turtle on NYC counter top.

Organic Winter Wheat

Near Grant Nebraska, Terese and I have a field of organic winter wheat sprouting. Approximately: +40° 59' 60.00", -101° 45' 0.00"


Frank, our son, points to the green tufts.


Looking down rows not many weeds. North field fallow.


View North over native grass buffer strip.

How-to-Twitter and How-to-Make-a-Scene

I need a How-to-Make-a-Scene video and here are two videos to inspire me:




How Do You Use Twitter? from biz stone on Vimeo.

Caribbean Pirate by George Patience

Caribbean Pirate by George Patience

George Patience was a naive painter working out his shed in The Ferry, Little Exuma, Bahamas. I was a visitor in The Ferry making a documentary movie on boat builder and natural marine scientist Clarence Fitzgerald. I boarded on the couch of George and Gloria's tiny bungalow for 6 months in 1969. George painted using acrylic colors.



Even in those days, The Ferry had a very narrow bridge that serviced this tiny community at the Northwest end of Little Exuma island. Zoom into the map and notice the few dwellings at the cut between the islands, about 1/3rd of the way from Forbes Hill, Great Exuma to William's Town, Little Exuma.

Walter Lawson Brigham, R.I.P.

Walter Lawson Brigham work jeep

Walter was my friend. Walter was a master craftsman, boat builder and pillar in the community of Shelter Island NY. I enjoyed sailboat racing against Walter and his son Lawson at the Shelter Island Yacht Club for many years before we worked together. In 1972, Walter was my construction partner on the first house that he ever built and the first house I ever built at 10 Chequit Avenue. This house I designed for my father, Henry Nelson Bull and his wife, Janet Scellen. There are many stories I could tell you about Walter. I recommend you ask the locals as they can tell you even better ones.

Here is a rule that Walter taught me, "Measure twice and cut once." Whenever I admire the lines of boat, Walter will be with me.

Obit: The Suffolk Times