NorthStarNerd.Org

Engineering Pranks and Hacks

Here is the latest computer engineering prank from the hallowed halls of academic learning (via my son).

Find a friend's computer which is unattended, hopefully not an software engineering student. From the task manager turn off explorer.exe process and insert your favorite screenshot for the desktop image. Sit back and enjoy your friend's frustration! (and for this I am paying thousands of dollars per year in tuition for my son?!). Actually, GE has offered Erik (my son) a very nice electrical engineering co-op job ... thus some of the money must be well spent. Anyhow, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. At home on vacation enjoying time with my devious son who is also on Thanksgiving break from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. I plan to password protect my home latop ASAP!

And from MIT, learn about some classic engineering pranks ... such as how MIT students took over the Rose Bowl scoreboard to announce they were beating CalTech!

• Where the Sun Shines, There They Hack

Google Lego Engineering

I've been quiet with respect to Legos for much to long! However, as anyone who is involved with First Lego League knows, it's tournament time! It seems strange after all these years of coaching S.N.I.P (Super Nerds In Pink) to be a spectator on the sidelines ... however my boys are all off to engineering colleges around the USA. Thus, I decided it was time to do a few updates to my Google Custom Lego Educational Search Engine. After a few queries, I discovered that Google itself has finally caught the Lego bug. Here are the latest additions:

• Lego Engineering at Google
• NXT Unplugged (also Google content)

and finally a lecture that took place at Google

• Lego Engineering: From Kindergarten to College

The Lego Engineering lecture was given by the folks at Tufts University, who first defined this domain. To learn and see more with respect to Lego Education, link to my special section of my Engineering Learning Wiki, or just try the custom Google Lego Search Engine which I created last year.

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Lake Superior Wilderness Waltz

Enjoy a brief sojourn and Viennese Waltz with the Northstar Nerd and his wife as they hike the Lake Superior Wilderness (video link). While some folks may enjoy vacations to warmer climates, an off season get-away allowed Molly and me to hike for two days without ever seeing another person on the trails. You'll cover in about 2 minutes what took us 8 hours of hiking over two days!

A Superior Wilderness on PhotoPeach

Engineering Trivia

Tomorrow it's back to work after a mini-vacation that allowed me some time to hike in the Lake Superior wilderness. Before that return to work focused activities, I though I would let everyone know about a blog (EngCom.Net) which has a neat series on engineering trivia ... a good way for me to get serious once more, but not too serious! Although I don't normally review technology blogs which have a profit focus, in this case I'll make an exception. Given them a link, and test your knowledge!

However, if you need some more serious engineering, link to my engineering learning section. You'll find hundreds of links to engineering academic seminars, courses, custom engineering search engines and even Lego engineering!

 

Walking Across America

The byways and highways of America often lead to unexpected destinations. This is particularly true if you get off the interstate highway system and experience America at a slower pace. Thus, imagine the scene yesterday morning as my wife and I motored across northern Wisconsin on a gray and drab day ... all the leaves are down; a wet mist is blowing in off Lake Superior and the temperature is trying to exceed 40F. On my left I spy a lone hiker heading west ... walking against traffic. I quickly note that he is wearing a sign, however at 60 mph we zoom by too quickly to get a good read. Here is how the conversation goes in our car between my wife, Molly, and me:

• Rich: I'm going to turn about and head back. Let's offer that hiker a ride.
• Molly: Do you think that's wise? 
• Rich: He was wearing a sign. Even though I couldn't read it, I'm sure he's safe. This weather is ugly and he might like a ride to Duluth.

Anyhow, I turn our fire-engine red PT Cruiser around and we head back East on US Highway #2. Pulling over to the side of the road we discover, Dr. Colin Skinner, who is walking across America for the National Hospice Foundation. Colin is from the United Kingdom, and a gentleman who defines graciousness and dedication. As soon as I heard about his trek, no matter how lousy the weather might be, I knew Colin would turn down my offer of a ride ... after all ... he is walking across America, not riding. This segment was started in mid August, and he is on his way to Minot, North Dakota.

Here is where his trip becomes more personal. If you are not familiar with the National Hospice Foundation, they are angels in human form. When my Mom died last year, it was only through hospice care that my Mom was able to die at home with dignity. In my Mom's situation, it was the folks from hospice who immediately came over at Midnight to sit with my Dad and me through the night. They were worried about us. Here is my blog entry from that night my Mom died.

Thus ... to Colin ... a gentleman walking across America ... I say "thank you". Please support his efforts and cause.  Click upon any image to view full sized!