I like to podcast, when time permits (May is almost here!). I also like to listen to (a vast number of) podcasts. Audio fiction has been a saving grace of my time in grad school. I have not had time to do much in the way of leisure reading for the last 3 years.
I am not going to go into all the fabulous sources of “reading” material at this time. Right now I just want to call out this one particular story.
A popular topic of conversation is about the future of humanity. How will we evolve? Will we ever leave this comfortable little bubble of life we call earth? How will we get ourselves there, where ever there is.
Will we ever get there?
This is one of the more enjoyable stories on this topic. Depending on your perspective it could be hopeful, tragic, enthralling or terrifying. Maybe some of all.
I’m going with hopeful.
Wind from a Dying Star by David Lavine.
My thanks to all the great folk at Escape Pod for continuing to provide some of the best audio fiction around.
Notes from Knut: The SunCat Batteries – DIY prototypes
Excerpted from the blog post:
“At home i always have some batteries lying around, either rechargeable or normal ones. Usually they are empty, but i’d like them to be always fully charged. I could use a normal charger and there is a lot of solar devices that charge rechargeable batteries. I wanted it simpler; why hasn’t anyone made a battery with integrated solar cells? The idea of the "SunCat" batteries where born.”
This quote, titles and associated ideas are the property of the original poster. I make no claims to ownership or involvement and wish him the best of luck in his endeavors.
Please visit the original post to read the whole article and see some pictures of the prototype.
It seems like such a simple idea. Has no one thought of this before? I’ve seen bags and backpacks with solar cells, I even have a small solar “pod” with interchangeable charging tips to power a variety of small electronic devices.
With the increasingly cheap availability of the technology why not package rechargeable batteries with their own solar panel? Some of the comments on Knut’s post are less than polite but others make the point that this is a fabulous idea. There may be some issues with the design but it’s an initial concept that the guy put together, pretty much off the top of his head. A little more development and I think he’ll be onto something very cool.
This is just such a cool video that it must be shared.
Thanks to Overwatch from memepunks for this find.
Moving from water power to steam power, Steampunk is the next “thing” in genre related work. While it’s not a new concept the theme is starting to become much more visible in books, comics, games and music. While this band is a new find for me they have been around for a while now. Please check out Abney Park for some great visuals and some great music.
I’m afraid that this link was lost in in my admin functions until today. The post itself is dated but the show did go out in time last month.
On April 1st, 2007, the extraordinary podcaster Joe “Mason Rocket” Murphy left us and left the world a sadder place for his passing.
Odds are good that if you are listening to my show then you have probably listened to one of the many shows Joe was involved in.
Like all of Joe’s fans I had come to know him through his podcasting ventures and had found in him a kindred spirit and one of those people who seems like the best friend you’ve never met. Fortunately I was given the opportunity to meet Joe last year in late March. I was traveling to Arizona and had made arrangements to stop by the Draco Vista studios and visit.
When I arrived I learned that just a few days prior Joe had entered hospice care.
Mike and Lorrie graciously invited me to go with them when they went to visit Joe that evening. Tired and worn as he was he still greeted me with a smile and handshake. We only had a few moments but I will remember them for a long time indeed.
I remember Joe.
Below is a link to the direct download of the memorial show just released at the Joe Murphy Memorial Fund website. Please visit the site and “tell everyone you know”.
Show number 3, where I bring news of artificial skin and a new bionic hand, has come to light.
There’s a promo for a really great podio book, the Failed Cities Monologues and the latest iteration of the semi-regular feature “the question”.
Artificial skin link 1 and link 2.
iLimb, Bionic hand
Failed Cities
Thanks for stopping by and visiting.
Carry on.