Sunday, April 22, 2012

Coopetition in Monkey and Man

I coincidentally encountered  two really impressive video clips in the last 24 hours.

They say a huge amount about the nature of social existence.


There's so much to say about this, that I'm saying no more.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Force-Directed Layout


This weekend I began wrapping my head around d3.js and the development combo of javascript editing in SubEthaEdit combined with the Web Inspector, which the author of d3 calls the "best tool ever". Which is especially true combined with subethaedit's live javascript editing.

My big achievement was adding tooltips, and sized nodes and edges.
Dragging is iffy now, because the fat lines obscure the edges.








from
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!searchin/d3-js/selectors/d3-js/bwexq10i08I/TCsjz0qFM28J




nodes[0].firstChild.text = Kenneth
nodes[0].firstChild.href=(the URL)



Saturday, March 05, 2011

Thanks, python programmers...

I need to extract information from word documents.

So I went hunting and found a lovely library for writing and reading docx files: https://github.com/mikemaccana/python-docx

But it required the PIL library, and there is no installer for available for PIL and python 2.7 (which is the default on Snow Leopard).

So I went looking and found this crystal clear recipe for building PIL on Snow Leopard.
http://nyteshade.posterous.com/

Unlike most such recipes (in my experience), this just worked.

And then python-dox just worked.

So thanks!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

puzzle rocker

Gotta get a laser cutter....

http://www.shelter-systems.com/puzzle-rocker.html
Puzzle Rocker chairPuzzle Rocker pieces




Wooden Bikes


Wooden Bike Plans


The Wooden Bike Plans include patterns and simple instructions for making your own wooden bike and include a licence to make one.
Warning: This wooden bike is a proto- type and has not been tested to be safe and it is there for to be built and used at the risk of the user and or builder. The above bike worked well for riders under 140 lbs at slow speeds on a smooth road. Heavier riders, speed or bumpy road conditions are not recommended. Wooden members should be thicken to handle heavier loads. Some images of this proto type show screws but bolts should be used through out.

See Wooden Bikes for more wooden bikes

Human Powered Machines � Human Powered Network (HPN)

Human Powered Machines � Human Powered Network (HPN):

Human Powered Network (HPN)

A Project of Human Powered Machines (HPM)

Mission Statement: To promote decentralized fabrication of human powered transportation and infrastructure based on Human Powered Machines designs and methods.

HPN Purpose: To create an infrastructure that will facilitate a partnership that includes apprentices, CAT, HPM, and HPN colleagues, associates, and contributors.

Tiered System of Production

Upon completion of the Cargo Bike Framebuilding Apprenticeship Program, apprentices can become HPN partners upon approval of Human Powered Machines.

Human Powered Machines has created a system of tiers for those who have completed the HPM Apprenticeship Program. The purpose of this system is to allow apprentices to incrementally develop their shops and fabrication facilities. Through this system apprentices can begin to add value and generate income without large capital expenditures; for instance, an HPN partner with basic tools and a truing stand could purchase a complete frameset from HPM. They could then build their own wheelset and build up the frameset into a completed bike. Their labor, including wheelbuilding and installing components, is the source of their income. Over time, HPN partners progress from receiving completed bikes, and proceed in stages with fewer and fewer elements from HPM until they are constructing their own complete frames.

This system exists in strong contrast to the course of development of a typical beginning framebuilder, who is faced with needing capital for tools and equipment for a startup. Instead of being forced to begin from scratch, apprentices are trained thoroughly and have support from experts in many fields. They are also able to take advantage of continuous improvement across the network; when someone discovers a better or faster way of accomplishing a task, it won’t be long before everyone is aware of it.

The benefits of this system are manifold: products need not be shipped, the customer gets local fabrication with all the associated benefits, and users of our products are assured of getting the best the Human Powered Network, with its multiple partners, can provide.

More information and thoughts on Jan’s blog.

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