Mission Impossible, Robot Style

August 17, 2011 | Author: James

Ah, the original Mission Impossible. Great movie, in fact, one of Tom Cruise’s best movies. Well I was on the web and came across a video that could be be the Mission Impossible in Robot worlds. Take a look:

Swarmanoid won the video award from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence for its Mission Impossible style demonstration of taking a book from a shelf.

Great video. The video follows a group of flying eye-bos, wheeled foot-bots, and gripping hand-bots. They all work together to “steal” the book.

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Brett Favre: ‘I don’t have that feeling’ to return

August 14, 2011 | Author: James

Well, we get our weekly Brett Favre Update. He’s not going to Miami and this is what he said yesterday:

QB Brett Favre told WGR-AM in Buffalo that he lacks the motivation to return for a 21st NFL season. Favre admitted it probably would have been a better choice to retire after his excellent first season with Minnesota in 2009, but felt he owed it to the team to return for one more season.

“I don’t have that feeling, that chip on my shoulder,” said Favre of the disappointing 2010 season. “I mean, I could easily talk myself into that chip on my shoulder like, ‘Hey everybody hates you,’ … I could motivate myself.”

Well since he has no motivation doesn’t mean he won’t be back for the 2011 season with some team. Only when the season starts with the Saints at Packers will we know he’s truly retired.

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HP Touchpad

August 14, 2011 | Author: James

I just purchased a HP Touchpad. Some people may ask why I didn’t just didn’t get an iPad. Well I already have an iPhone and iPod Touch. I felt that the iPad really wouldn’t bring me anything new. So here are a few features that I think got me to get a Touchpad over the iPad.

1. Facebook Photos
It’s nice to not have to upload photos from my external hard drive to my new Touchpad. Touchpad integrates with Facebook account and I have all the pictures I uploaded right on my Touchpad.

2. Just Type
The “Just Type” feature of webOS is similar to the iPad’s universal search bar. It lets you search by text in apps, contracts, web and the Touchpad goes further by letting you search for emails and Facebook status updates without having to go into that app. Awesome.

3. webOS
I’m very happy with webos so far. Being able to use flash within my browser, something that you can’t do within the iPad (unless you have an app). So games are possible within the webOS browser, but a little slow sometimes, but there are ways to overclock your HP Touchpad, which I plan to test out sometime over the next week or so.

4. Notifications
webOS (3.0) enables the subtle notifications pane into the tablet’s user interface. New emails, instant messages, calendar reminders and social networking updates pop up in a narrow bar located in the screen’s upper right hand corner ensuring no interruption in between. Very handy way to keep informed without having to be in that app 24/7.

This was created on the HP Touchpad.

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Google+ Favorite Features

July 12, 2011 | Author: James

Mute Annoying Posts

- On Facebook, you keep receiving updates from a post. This removes you from getting updates. Very slick.

Hangout
- So you have family in another state and want video chat with them? You can do it through Hangout. But Wait, you can do it with up to 10 people. Up to 10 people are allowed into a Hangout at one time. If anyone else wants to join, they are put on a waiting list. Whoever is talking at a particular moment is displayed in a large screen while small screens are below it. Just the other day, Facebook jumped on Skype to get it integrated into Facebook.

Notification Bar
- If you are on any Google-related page, while logged in, you’ll have a notification bar. So you’ll get up tot he second information on if something is happening in Google+. This features alerts you when someone has done some Google+ activity that involves you. Like commenting on your posts or tagging you in a photo.

Photos
- It’s not as clucky as Facebook. I’ve never used Picasa, but have enjoyed messing around with it since I joined Google+.

Circles
- Probably the best feature of Google+. It allows organization. Not everyone is my “friend” and it’s nice to be able to share stuff with only my real friends, family, or co-workers.

But will these features, and more features to come over the weeks and months be enough to get Google+ into Facebook status? Only time will tell.

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Google+… Can it Take Down Facebook?

July 12, 2011 | Author: James

That’s what every Tech person is wondering. I was able to get an invite last Friday afternoon when Google opened the floodgates again. (You can find me here)

Well, Google+ have a long ways to go before it will really be a contender. The main uphill hurdle is getting people to want to switch from Facebook. EVERYONE is on Facebook. Only curious people and tech guys are on Google+ right now.

At this point, I can’t see most of my friends having two or three social networking hangouts. If anything, Google+ can’t expect to get a lot of people to join at first, it’s going to take a year or two. Just like it took Facebook many years to get past Myspace and you know Myspace has gone to the curb when Justin Timberlake has part ownership now. Not even he can save Myspace.

My guess, yes Google will eventually over take Facebook as long as they keep it simple and clean. Probably take a couple years, but Google+ has a lot of potential. I’ll take a look at some of the cool features Google+ has in the next post.

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A Few Good Packers – Starring Greg Jennings

July 12, 2011 | Author: James

Greg Jennings doing a Packers version of A Few Good Men. Very very well done. It gives me chills.

Jennings could be a solid cameo actor in future films. Kinda like what Brett Favre did in “There’s Something About Mary.”

You be the judge:

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Packers receive Super Bowl rings

June 17, 2011 | Author: James

If there is any team that can’t wait to get the 2011 NFL season started, it’s the current Super Bowl Champions, the Green Bay Packers.

Ring looks pretty sweet, actually kinda bling out. The rings feature a Packers “G” logo with 13 diamonds to symbolize each of the team’s championships. Surrounding it are four more diamonds to symbolize its four Super Bowl wins. The ring symbolizes the end of the Brett Favre era. He say’s he definitely not playing professional football again.

Charles Woodson hard work had finally paid off:

“I feel like it’s my right to wear this ring,” Woodson said. “I feel like I worked very hard playing this game. I feel like every time I go out on that field, I leave it all out there on the field. That’s the way I’ve always played this game. I feel like I deserve to win a championship, I feel like it’s my rightful place in history to be a Super Bowl champion.”

Mike McCarthy talked briefly on the lockout:

“Everybody’s been separated too long,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s great to see everybody on a personal level. Everybody’s anxious to get going on the next journey.”

This team looks dangerous, I can’t see why they can’t make it back to back Super Bowls.

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Brett Favre Done Playing?

June 15, 2011 | Author: James

Is Brett Favre really done with football? He is 41 and will be 42 this August. I think he is.

Favre did say at his “Brett Favre 7 on 7 at The Rock” football camp in Southern Miss his playing days are definitely over. What is more interesting is that he doesn’t know what he’ll be doing next.

“I’m just one of the guys,” Favre said. “And I enjoy it that way. If anything, that’s what I want these kids to take away from this.”

One thing he did mention was he didn’t want to be tied down to a full-time coaching job. He likes being around Southern Miss, but doesn’t know where the road will take him.

At least, for the first time since 2007, we know what road he won’t be going down… a road that isn’t in the NFL.

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NASCAR 2012 Hall of Fame induction class

June 14, 2011 | Author: James

Your NASCAR 2012 Hall of Fame Class:

Darrell Waltrip – 3 Cup Championships, 84 Cup Wins
Cale Yarborough – 3 Cup Championships, 83 Cup Wins
Dale Inman – Crew Chief: 7 Cup Championships with Richard Petty, 1 with Terry Labonte
Richie Evans – 9 NASCAR National Modified Championships
Glen Wood – Owner: 98 Career Wins as owner

Very solid class. Fans of the pre-chase era will appreciate this class.

These five were selected from a pool of 25 finalists in a vote earlier Tuesday. The voting panel consists of 55 members and includes NASCAR officials, track owners, manufacturers, retired drivers, retired crew chiefs and media members.

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