09/04/08 10:05 - 75ºF - ID#45577

Progress

Have the matrix hooked up to the LED driver chip and that to the microcontroller. Will figure out how to program it tomorrow. Mmm, bitshifting.

Permalink: Progress.html
Words: 27
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: politics

09/04/08 10:52 - 68ºF - ID#45561

Election

This is a freaking 4 hour news cycle election.

I usually try very hard to stay out of commenting on politics on (e:strip), and confine my anti-religion rants to 2 or 3 per year, but I'm falling under the weight of an urgent need to talk about every little detail of the political season.

Aaargh. 2 more months to go.

Permalink: Election.html
Words: 57
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: politics

09/01/08 09:30 - 70ºF - ID#45534

Republicans Flailing

So, after a couple days of revelations about Sarah Palin, the nail in the coffin comes: she was a member of an organization that sought Alaskan sovereign nation status.

Yes, that's right: John McCain choose a secessionist for his running mate, and his slogan is "Country First". Clearly they didn't check Palin out at all. He just sort of panicked, I suppose.

Can you imagine if Obama had belonged to a 3rd party that in any (even minor) way challenged the US's legitimacy?

Alaskan Independence Party. Source:

Permalink: Republicans_Flailing.html
Words: 94
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: electronics

09/01/08 03:18 - 80ºF - ID#45531

Microcontrollers Part 3

I'm building a DIY version of this Tengu thing (

) for my first full project.

I've got the LEDs for the eyes in and programmable, and have the face matrix assembled but that's not yet programmed. It will eventually be hooked up to sensors to react to the environment as well.

So far this weekend I've spent a lot of time relearning C and especially pointers. Matrix and timings for the rest of the animations will be challenging, too. Trying to fit everything in a few Kb of space brings me back.

::Download Flash Video::

Watching myself on video makes me realize I really need to work on my um's. :(

Here's a video of what it should end up looking like, although mine won't look so polished:

Permalink: Microcontrollers_Part_3.html
Words: 136
Location: Buffalo, NY

08/25/08 03:03 - 67ºF - ID#45453

How To Break A Window

On a slight tangent from yesterday :)

Don't break a window with a brick and your bare fist. I'm an idiot.

Next time I'll wrap a shirt around my hand! I think taking a photo of my hand afterwards is due to Paul's blogging influence. He's my blogspiration.

Permalink: How_To_Break_A_Window.html
Words: 51
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

08/24/08 04:15 - 80ºF - ID#45439

Sad Day

So, my boss has been on sick leave for 6 weeks or so with cancer. It was actually treatable and I think his prognosis was at least somewhat hopeful. Last night was the first night he was home alone, and today no one could get in touch with him on the phone.

I volunteered to go to his house to check on him, but there was no answer and he is not well enough to drive so eventually I broke in through the window. He'd committed suicide last night and I found him on the floor.

I guess it was better that I found him instead of a family member, but still... not the way you want to last see someone. Too late for me to do anything about, I wish there was more I could do.

He was the best boss I've ever had, and a friend.

Goodbye, Luke.

johnallen writes at 05:39:16 08/29/08 - Comment #38342: Sorry man, My heart goes out to you.YOu did what you had to, and kudos for that. Fear is a very powerfull forces that drives mankind to the extreme - sorry you had to stumble upon this.

museumchick writes at 02:07:29 08/27/08 - Comment #38215: I'm so sorry Jim. It must have been so difficult to find him there.

jim writes at 11:23:08 08/26/08 - Comment #38164: That's why I held the brick and bashed the window instead of throwing it, so I wouldn't accidentally hit him inside since I didn't know if he was in there or where he would be. Turns out if I had thrown it I probably would have hit him since I ended up breaking into his bedroom :(

paul writes at 11:08:21 08/26/08 - Comment #38162: You don't have to answer this but I am curious so I am going to ask. How did he die? Hope not a brick injury to the head.

fellyconnelly writes at 06:01:22 08/26/08 - Comment #38153: Remember him for the great guy he was, and not for his last days.
I'm sorry for your loss and all you have been through.

metalpeter writes at 06:56:30 08/25/08 - Comment #38149: I really can't imagine thinking that Sure I'll go check on the guy and then finding him dead. I really can't. I Know I couldn't handle it, and I hope you are dealing with it the best you can. If it was me I think I would need professional help after that. If it was someone I really liked to I know I couldn't handle it. I wish you luck and all I can really say is it fucked up, it really is.

jim writes at 03:06:54 08/25/08 - Comment #38143: Enknot, you're giving me too much credit - I was just the guy who was there.

enknot writes at 02:52:03 08/25/08 - Comment #38142: That was brave and valiant Jim. I hope I would have acted with as much valor as you had I been in your shoes. I'm sorry for that poor mans and his loved one's loss as well, but I'm moved by your character.

dcoffee writes at 02:04:32 08/25/08 - Comment #38138: oh my god. I hope you're ok.

carolinian writes at 09:44:18 08/25/08 - Comment #38132: I'm sorry for your loss. The world needs good people and it's a shame when we lose them.

jon writes at 09:25:18 08/25/08 - Comment #38131: Sorry to hear this Jim. Such a terrible thing all around.

mrmike writes at 09:29:16 08/24/08 - Comment #38127: A good thought for him, and a few for you too. I can't imagine.

jim writes at 08:37:11 08/24/08 - Comment #38124: Thanks!

heidi writes at 08:02:18 08/24/08 - Comment #38123: My thoughts are with you.

libertad writes at 05:34:07 08/24/08 - Comment #38118: Very sorry Jim. I can't even imagine what this must be like for you. I'll keep him in my prayer tonight.

tinypliny writes at 04:41:34 08/24/08 - Comment #38115: Cancer is very stressful and hope is emotionally expensive. :(

jim writes at 04:39:02 08/24/08 - Comment #38114: Thanks, everyone.

tinypliny writes at 04:37:48 08/24/08 - Comment #38113: How sad!! :( I hope his family finds the courage to get through it all.

drew writes at 04:37:27 08/24/08 - Comment #38112: I've lost friends to suicide. It sucks. You have my sympathy.

jbeatty writes at 04:21:53 08/24/08 - Comment #38111: That is really terrible, I'm so sorry.

Permalink: Sad_Day.html
Words: 149
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: electronics

08/23/08 04:14 - 84ºF - ID#45424

Microcontrollers Part II

So, this is just the getting started lesson from this page:

although I did deviate in the programming a bit to use functions instead of nested if-blocks. It's supposed to be a bike safety light (although not in a pretty / finished package).

Nothing special, but it is flashy and blinky so I made a video of it working.

::Download Flash Video::

Permalink: Microcontrollers_Part_II.html
Words: 68
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: electronics

08/23/08 11:27 - 76ºF - ID#45421

Microcontrollers

I finished soldering together my microcontroller board and the prototyping shield which fits on top. The microcontroller board you can't see in this photo, it's the first layer.

Soldering is a lot of fun, it turns out.

Now, the little switch on top of that board I can read from inside of programs on my computer, like so:

Not bad for a first little project.

I'm going to construct some camera triggers, so that I can take pictures from sensors like motion, heat, laser, etc.