NorthStarNerd.Org

New Year's Northstar Nerd Greetings

Over the Christmas Holidays the Northstar Nerd ventured deep into the northwoods of Minnesota near the Canadian border. I took this video of Poplar Creek, which I share as my New Year's Greetings. Take two minutes and enjoy a peaceful view of the deep forest ... miles from civilization. Expand either thumbnail for a full sized view (see all my content on BlipTV)
.

Northstar Nerd ... Com or Org?

Why not both?! Earlier today, I decided I wanted to take the big step of getting my own domains. After some quick research via my blog host (Typepad) to insure ultimate compatibility, I chose GoDaddy.Com. Some questions:

• Did I choose GoDaddy because of their photos of Danica Patrick?
• Did I choose GoDaddy because of their racy Super Bowl commercials?

I would like to think "not"! After all, I am a happily married man of over 25 years. In my case integration with Typepad and value drove the decision. My total cost for one year's registration for NorthstarNerd.Com and NorthstarNerd.Org and web site hosting (two months) was only $24.14 ... such a deal. Thus I invite you to visit (a work in progress)

• NorthstarNerd.Org
  (or)
• NorthstarNerd.Com

Music in Engineering

Google Search Bots are wonderful things ... they help me find great new content (at least to me) with minimal effort. A few days ago I scored and found some great new engineering courses from Georgia Tech on the subject of digital music synthesis. These courses plus a Rose Hulman class I already knew about on using LabView for Musical Signal Processing made me decide I needed to add a new section to the Engineering Learning Wiki. The new wikispace is Music in Engineering! Here are direct links to the newest content:

• Music Synthesis: Theory and Design - Georgia Tech
• Music Synthesis: Electronics - Georgia Tech
• Musical Signal Processing with LabView - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

If you've never used the Engineering Learning Wiki, link on over ... perhaps you can even add some content. No account is required, and you will not find a single advertisement.

Finally, link back to a post from over two years ago named Animusic. This computer generated music and animations will "wow" even the most jaded nerd.

Google Metadata Test Completed

Earlier this month I started a test of how Google indexes standard files found upon the web. The test is now complete with my new Northstar Nerd's Google Index Metadata Tutorial (opens in read only mode). To better understand the full test, and access the examples and source file, please link to my earlier post. (also includes a hi-res narrated version)
.

Upping the College Scholarship Ante

I recently had a Mom of a prospective Rose-Holman student contact me about the scholarship process. While this example relates to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, it really could be about any private college and the scholarship award process. Here is an edited version of my private response to her: (read original blog post by my son about his college selection)

Dear Mary Jane:

I had similar concerns (about Rose-Hulman's scholarship offer).  In fact, my son Erik had better offers from other schools ... some of which offered to pay for over 50% of his education.

However, I was able to get Rose-Hulman to increase their award. This is the approach I took:

1. I did NOT take the position that their award level was a mistake
2. I DID mention the other scholarship offers (by school name and amount)
3. I stressed how much Erik liked Rose-Holman (he did then, and is still very happy with his choice)

Now we get to the important part of my email (sent to the head of financial aide). I pointed out some aspects of Erik's background that were unique and unusual in a "good way". I pondered whether they knew these facts. I also discussed one or two items where Erik could have done better (always hard for a parent to admit shortcomings in their own children).

It worked, and our offer was increased. Basically I politely implied that the admittance and scholarship process was a competition to get Erik's acceptance. However, I communicated it in a manner that was both reasonable and allowed everyone to "save face".

Rich

Holiday Engineering ... MATLAB Meets Legos

It's quiet at work. 85% of the other techies are still on vacation. I assume they're playing with some of the new games they gave their kids! As many of you know, I have coached for many years for Lego Robotics. Anyone familiar with Mindstorms understands the relationship between Legos and Labview, but did you know that you can use MATLAB to program your NXT bot? Here are some links to get you started (remember to let your kids also use the Lego Mindstorms kit):

• Lego Mindstorms NXT in Teaching (using MATLAB)
• The NXT Step Blog (how I learned of the MATLAB content)

In addition, you should use my Engineering Learning Wiki Lego Section (and it's accompanying search engine). It focuses upon the educational use of Lego robotics. I will add the MATLAB instructions to both the wiki and search engine. (click to view the image at full size) (read my other Lego posts)
.

Orphan Train America

I just read the Orphan Train article via CNN ... in our materialistic society at Christmas ... take a few moments to pause and reflect. We do not have Orphan Trains in 2008, but the number of children who need help is amazing. Instead of purchasing another gift, please consider a Christmas donation to a local charity.

"They called it the Orphan Train. It carried scores of street urchins -- with no parents, no homes -- out of New York City between 1854 and 1929. At each station, the orphans would stand outside the coaches, wearing their best clothes, hoping they'd be chosen by inspecting families. Children not chosen would reboard the train and repeat the ritual at the next stop." Read More.

The Christmas Sky via Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope

Ah vacation ... before everyone else gets home ... what's a nerd to do? In my case, play around and install WorldWide Telescope from Microsoft Research. My initial research has shown that this free software is:

• Cool ... one can explore the heavens (take guided tours)
• Graphics intensive (my laptop is marginal for the task)
• Appears to allow linking to real telescopes

Here are two screen shots from my install. Click upon either image to expand.

Metadata Test in Progress

Following up from my earlier post: It's 10 pm ... Where Is Your Metadata? I've created some sample files where the document properties and metatags have been edited with ease of identification in mind. Once Google indexes this content, I will complete this post and explain my examples:

• Metadata-Example-Adobe
• Metadata-Example-Excel
• Metadata-Example-HTML
• Metadata-Example-Powerpoint

Post update on December 29th: Google has indexed my examples, and I've had the opportunity to create my Metadata Tutorial. Please note that the tutorial is a Powerpoint file which opens in a "read only" mode. I will provide anyone who desires the unprotected source file at no charge. The protection insures the tutorial runs as desired. I suggest downloading the Powerpoint file and running it off line (slide show mode).

• Northstar Nerd's Google Index Metadata Tutorial
• Google Search Results / Index for Metadata Example

Post update on January 1, 2009: (new version added)

• Google Metadata Narrated Tutorial
  (hi-res indexed version ... may take a moment to load)
  

Oxford Podcasts: The Engineering of Tolkien's Ring!

I've known about various Oxford podcasts for some time, but via Open Culture I learned last night of Oxford's new central podcast portal ... and it's cool ! Whether you want to learn about the relationship between J.R.R. Tolkien and the University of Oxford, or you want to focus upon engineering ... you'll find 470 podcasts available for download, and that number is growing. Better yet, you can easily subscribe via RSS to the different divisions and sub groups. I wish all schools constructed their podcast sites in this manner. It may have taken the venerable old Oxford longer to join the web 2.0 revolution, but now that they've done so ... wow! My congrats to the dons! Obviously this podcast portal gets added the my engineering learning wiki podcast section.

I've attached a screenshot below from the Oxford podcast portal. It shows how to easily filter the content for your desired interests.