Rampant Random Introspective Thoughtstreams.

DayInReview: Wages in the service industry and car repair
The last few weeks a subtle grinding noise has started to come out of the rear of my car, it was actually kinda pleasant sounding in the same way that fans whirring are. But I'm sure Had to get my car repaired yesterday $300 for the rear bearings to be replaced (the wheel was surprisingly wobbly), which is kinda good news as I was fearing the axil, or CV or brake would have to be replaced. Materials cost like $100, $100/hr. for 2 hrs work. I wonder if this is market rate? I suppose I should start looking at other cars, and budgetting I think this car has another year or two before major engine work will probably push me to getting a new(er) car.

While waiting I stopped in to a hair salon and got trimmed at a 'salon'. She complemented me on my nice thick hair, while simultaneously running down the cloak were many curly gray hairs were coming from the back of the neck. It took her maybe 6 minutes (only 3 of it actually cutting), and she earned $6, I think a bit in a huff that I didn't tip her. While a haircut (which she recommends every 6 weeks) that takes 15-30 minutes costs $16. $60/hr? Two doors down was a barber shop, they charge $10 for a hair cut. Interesting the markup in styling/fashion.

I stopped into a starbucks anticipating they might fix the car, and found out that it's university central. Every other table was filled with people with tons of books, law, medicine etc.

Geek: HomeBuilt Projectors
The coolest thing about homebuilt projectors is bulbs are cheap enough ($30) to use on a regular basis, versus the $200 assemblies for portable projectors. The downside is not everyone has time to research parts or cut the wood. This place has many kits that only require assembly.
http://www.diyprojectorcompany.com

Geek: Projector Screen Contrast

while not exactly new, this is a different approach, using a semi-retroreflector on projection angles, and absorbs light coming from ambient incident angles. resulting in 10x higher contrast, and 2x brighter images. http://www.screeninnovations.com (no idea of cost), why is it they always use The Fifth Element for screen captures?

Geek: 15.4" 1920x1200 WUXGA LCD kit $710
Turns out somebody has cracked how to use an high res LCD panel with VGA or DVI. Though it was damn near impossible to find on google. While it's meant for use with homebuilt projectors (beyond HDTV res!), and uses laptop lcd panels. Half tempted to use it in a few projects, While initially one would be cool. It would require a small box for the controller card and power supply.

I bet there is a small market for people who are willing to spend money on this. I can't be the only person addicted to laptops and big desktop spaces. A secondary kit I'd like (which would be significantly more expensive and larger) is a breakout box that uses a PC-Card to PCI-Bus extender (made my magma typically for pro audio stuff), with a separate video card to scale up to 4-6 monitors.
http://members.cox.net/minoten/

Geek: articulating arm for LCD's and laptops

Looking for a friend, appears that they've solved some of the design goals that's interested me:
* using non-uniform spring to make the force required to counterbalance/lift continous throughout the motion range and counteract torque. Most cheesy mechanism use friction primarily.
*I think the mechanism also allows single handed useage and locks into place. (other models you have to use both hands, either a button or something),
* doesn't weigh as much as my desk -some of the cheap ones are heavy gauge steel and weigh like 30 pounds.

http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=B58815 $165 after shipping.

The arm can be used with laptops or table pcs when appropriate docks are provided Which is what I'm going to do with it, though I'm going to see if my roommate can fabricate me a simple clamp like dock instead of the rather hideous ones that motion sells, or that you find to mount in cars.

This is also an interesting and less complicated version if you use a desk. It's like an IMac base. $70
http://www.lapvantage.com/products#buy

Fresnel lenses as a collimated display

http://www.rickleephoto.com/rlcoll.htm talks about using it for flight simulators with conventional monitors, to push the focal depth out. While they use it flight sims, my concern is more eye strain, our eyes were designed to relax focusing at a distance, rather than close up. One of the reasons so many are nearsighted (and vision progressively getting worse) is due to this constant arms lenght focusing. I've played with this before but have have been completely happy with my results as the page magnifiers are relatively coarse optically. I've ordered one from www.3dlens.com which is highly recommended by the VR and homebuilt projector clans.

The geodesic like one used at Boeing is trippy buglike!!

Current Mood: geeky

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