Lee.org

Watchmen – Pretty good. Though I was expecting more given the original graphic novel; it’s really hard squeezing all that amazingness into a movie. You know, after another viewing, I really like it. It’s more elegant than I initially thought. Update 1-30-11: after a few more viewings, wow, what a fantastically produced film

Big Lebowski – I’m only barely getting how my friends feel that this movie is mythic. Maybe it has to sink in. It was good nonetheless.

Zombieland – great zombie fun

Moon – I don’t know, I found it to be a bit predictable and slightly contrived. Of course the contrived part wasn’t the main storyline but the hints and clues we get to see. But it was good. update 1-30-11. I caught a few bits of it a few days ago and it felt like a much better film. Maybe I should see it again!

(audiobook) The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life By Ben Sherwood. I gave up on it. It’s full of sensational anecdotes that don’t give me a real feel for how to survive. You could distill the book down to “Stay alert, don’t freeze up, be lucky.” He’s more interested in telling gossipy stories about people that beat the odds (IE, were lucky) than looking at the secrets and science that could save your life.

I started skipping around and heard bits like “A human jaw generates 64 PSI when it masticates, a tiger generates 900 pounds of force… ” Um, choose your units dude, especially when it’s important for the story. “A plane had a mid-air collision and there were no survivors. Local townspeople were looking through the wreckage and heard moaning, it was [the woman who survived].” Umm,  you just said there were no survivors. There were LOTS of annoying bits like this. And lots of anecdotes that don’t illuminate a point. And lots of “the moral of the story is, be lucky” stories.

In Lucknow India, I saw a kite about 50 feet up that was flying without any wind. I think the pilot was yanking the string to keep it aloft but I can’t google up any reference to such kites. Have you heard of such a thing?

65 days after I left 3 SWARM robots in a room in Kanpur India, packed and ready to ship, they have been delivered to me here in San Francisco. I took delivery at 1pm today.

This has been such an ordeal. Ask me to tell you about it. I’ll teach you about the 50% rule and demonstrate the use of multiple four-letter words.

I am looking for VoIP telephone service for a business I’m working for. Can you recommend a provider? They have 4 phone lines and want to keep similar services but save money. (though some bells and whistles would be nice too)

There’s gonna be a Neumann Prep Reunion June 26th. I might attend… haven’t made up my mind yet. For more details, get on the Neumann Prep Reunion Facebook Group

————————————————–

Wendy ParkerApril 5, 2010 at 5:52pm
Subject: Invite
Your Host: The Neumann Prepsters
Host’s Message: Seriously, this event is gonna be AWESOME.

We’re transforming the old gym into the hottest hot-spot ever.

Includes: 2 Full Open Bars, ’80s DJ, Hors d’oeuvres, Dinner, Desserts, Old Friends & Special Surprises!

COST:
$75 / person if paid before 5/20
$100 / person if paid before 6/20

Please see the EVENT WEB PAGE for info & payment details.
What: Neumann Prep “Junior Citizen Ring Dance” Reunion
Where: The School Formerly Known as Neumann Prep
970 Black Oak Ridge Road,
Wayne, NJ 07470-6306
When: June 26th, 2010, 8pm
More info:
Brought to you by the Class of ’90, this trip down memory lane is open to EVERYONE who ever went to Neumann Prep. We want to tear the roof off that mother. So break out your Dippity Doo and your Aqua Net and join us for a spectacular evening. It could very possibly be the best night of your life.

WHEN?
Saturday
June 26th
8pm – midnight
After-party at HoJo’s (or whatever it’s called now)

WHERE?
The School Formerly Known As Neumann Prep.
In the Old Gym.
But don’t let that scare you.
We’re turning it into the hottest club in Jersey.

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO THERE?
With 2 full open bars, amazing appetizers, a smorgasbord to salivate over, delectable desserts, a stellar dance floor with an incredible DJ spinning all your 80’s faves, photo booths, old friends, lots of laughs, special guests and wild surprises… what AREN’T we going to do there? We’re gonna reclaim that school, by golly! Breakfast Club style.

PAYMENT INFO:
RSVP and Pre-Registration a MUST!
$75 per person if paid before May 20th
$100 per person if paid before June 20th
No paying at the door… sorry.

TO PAY BY CHECK, make it payable to:
Wendy Parker Events / Memo: Neumann Reunion Payment
1226 South Crescent Heights Blvd.
LA, CA 90035

TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD, go to:

(link) http://www.facebook.com/l/14e94;www.wendyparkerevents.com

Click on the “Buy Now” button.

This will take you to the paypal page and you can either:
1. enter in your paypal login info
2. Click on “continue” if you want to pay via credit card
Please follow the instructions to process your payment.
All credit cards are accepted.

If you have any questions, email us at neumannreunion@gmail.com

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS INVITATION to any of your classmates that weren’t included on the guest list.

It’s Easter so I called lots of family. My dad asked me if I went to church. Of course I said “no.” I asked him back and he said…

“I went to church today. I couldn’t tell if the priest was a pedophile or  embezzler.”

Hahah!

Of course we then discussed the plight of the church, how the present scandal was nothing new and how the vows of chastity had been manufacturing pedophiles for centuries.

Yesterday I played lasertag with Marc Hertlein at Ziggy’s SF Lasertag. It was great fun!

After, I went over to Mark Alexander’s where we  throughly enjoyed dinner, sake, music and the best of times. I now need to enrich my sake and Cornelius collection!

With a sensor and some processing power, it shouldn’t be hard to make a toaster that can actually make perfect toast every time. I’m astounded that such a product doesn’t exist. It wouldn’t be expensive in large quantities.

Possible sensors include

• visual camera
• infrared camera
• gas sensor – Sparkfun has $5 alcohol and carbon monoxide sensors. I wonder what burnt toast “smells” like.
• standard “darkness” knob
• ambient thermometer

Possible controls include

• shutting off at the right time
• a bell to alert the consumer of soon-to-be-done toast and done-it’s-getting-cold toast
• delivering different power levels to different parts of the bread (eh, sounds expensive and not useful)
• changing the wattage, allowing “keep warm”, “warm throughout” (no more lava pop tarts!), and “crisp” settings

Hurdles

• Easy to use interface
• Technical challenge: it’s never been done!
• Really, it’s never been done?

I should make this.

PS. Ha, this fancy $130 toaster sucks. I can do better.

local version:

I’ll be at the Switchboard Music Festival in San Francisco this weekend. Join me!