I’ve been so busy with work lately that I’ve seriously neglected posting here. So I thought I’d share links to some of the tools that have been helping me get things done. [Read more...]
Links of Interest – First Person Perspectives on Flying
December 12, 2011 by 1 Comment
Today’s Links of Interest feature videos that give you some amazing first person perspectives on flying. While each is spectacular in its own right, together this set takes you through an increasingly exhilarating exploration of man’s quest to soar through the heavens. Get a pilot’s eye view of what it’s like to fly a corporate jet, strap on a carbon-fiber jet wing and fly in formation with two jets, and base jump off of a mountain wearing only a “wing suit” and parachute:
1) A Day in the Life of a Corporate Pilot
Ryan Roth is married to one of my favorite business colleagues. He’s also a corporate pilot. Using a GoPro camera mounted on his forehead, Ryan gives us an up close look at his work day as he delivers a Pilatus PC-12 to a maintenance facility for its annual inspection.
2) Jetman Flies in Formation With Actual Jets
Swiss pilot Yves “Jetman” Rossy was featured on the cover of National Geographic in September of this year. He has designed his own carbon-fiber wing fitted with jet engines which he uses to race through the sky at speeds up to 184-189mph. In this video, he flys in formation with two jets. (HT: WIRED.com)
3) Sense of Flying
Espen Fadnes has been dubbed “The World’s Fastest Flying Human Being”. This video takes us to the top of a high peak in Norway to watch as Espen jumps off a cliff for a 155mph controlled descent to the alpine lake far below. Using multiple camera angles and top-quality production, I was absolutely floored as I watched his flight unfold. As soon as I finished watching it, I immediately watched it again. If you are going to watch one video in this set, this one is it.
Links of Interest – Home Technology
October 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
As we prepare for adding an addition to our home, new home technologies have caught my eye. In this Links of Interest, I highlight two home technologies which promise to help you save money and a social network designed specifically for your neighborhood.
Nest | The Learning Thermostat – One might wonder how a thermostat can be updated to the 21st century. Check out the Nest thermostat to find your answer. A team of former Apple engineers have created a consumer friendly “smart” thermostat. It learns your patterns of life, adjusting the temperature accordingly, all the while saving you money.
SWITCH Light Bulbs – SWITCH is looking to re-write the book on energy efficient light bulbs. Rather than using fluorescent bulbs, their bulbs use LEDs which emit a natural light, last longer and don’t cause a home environmental hazard if you break them.
Nextdoor | Your Neighborhood Social Network – Nextdoor is a neighborhood social network which may actually help facilitate what has become a rare occurrence in our modern world: real-world interaction with your neighbors. Just yesterday, I signed up to create a Nextdoor site for my neighborhood. I look forward to reporting my findings here on this blog. Until then, check out Nextdoor. Watch their 90 second video to quickly get a sense of how it works.
Links of Interest: Remembering Steve Jobs
October 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Like many people, I’ve been fascinated by Steve Jobs impact upon our world. With his passing last week, I’ve come across many good reads offering different perspectives on one of the greatest innovators of our time:
Steve Jobs and the Portal to the Invisible – Esquire
Originally published in October 2008 with updates in 2011, this article looks at various aspects of Jobs’ life and their influence upon his passions, drive and genius.
Xerox PARC, Apple, and the Truth About Innovation – The New Yorker
This piece by Malcolm Gladwell provided me with a clearer picture of Steve Jobs’ fabled visit to Xerox’s Palo-Alto Research Center (PARC). Reading it was like watching a dimly viewed myth materialize into reality.
The Wizard and the Mortal: Two Sides of Genius – NY Times
Many have likened Steve Jobs to a modern day Thomas Edison. This piece, by a man who wrote books about both men, does a good job of providing profound comparisons and contrasts between the two.
What are some great stories about Steve Jobs? – Quora
Here’s a great collection of user contributed stories about Steve Jobs.
LOI: Gorgeous Time-Lapse
May 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Last week we put our house up for sale. Now it feels like we’re living in a “Show Home”. Everything is in place and ready for visitors. It makes us enjoy our house that much more. Here’s a rundown of this week’s Links of Interest:
- HDHomeRun – This device will turn your Mac into a DVR. What’s more, you can download an app for your iOS devices which will allow you to watch recorded shows on your iPhone or iPad.
- Mississippi River Flooding: Residents Build Homemade Dams – A photo gallery of homemade solutions for the flooding along the Mississippi.
- Preacher now says end of world will happen in 5 months | CNN Belief Blog – If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
- The City Limits – Here’s a beautiful time lapse video (HT: Tim Challies):
LOI: Novel iPad Keyboard, Ergonomic Chair and More
May 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
After a hiatus, my regular Thursday Links of Interest column returns. This edition features a smorgasboard of links I’ve bookmarked in recent weeks:
- iKeyboard – Kickstarter – Cliff Thier’s concept for an iPad “touch keyboard” looks like it might be a winner. It sits on top of your iPad providing your fingers some much needed tactile response.
- SwingSeat – Ergonomic Back Support Office Chair – This chair swivels to adjust with your posture. The video on the site makes me think this will be my next office furniture investment.
- Facebook Loses Much Face in Secret Smear on Google – Apparently, the Facebook PR team had the brilliant idea of trying to place disparaging articles about Google in the press.
- Many iPhone owners run apps before getting out of bed – This article relates to my “Off” Switch post from last week.
- A Super Sweet 15 for Farragut teen – Knoxville News Sentinel – The mother in this article was recently apprehended by federal authorities while she was on the lamb in Arizona (or was it Nevada?). Read this article to find out where her media attention all began.
LOI: Instapaper Reads – Osama bin Laden Edition
May 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
True to form with my two posts from earlier this week, today’s Links of Interest are related to the news of Osama bin Laden’s death. The following are best suited for your favorite longform reading app:
- Killing bin Laden: Let’s call it a day – The Economist – The author considers the long-term effects bin Laden has had on the United States and whether or not he succeeded in his ultimate goal.
- The Most Wanted Face of Terrorism – NY Times – A retrospective on bin Laden’s rise to infamy.
- The Secret Team that Killed bin Laden – NationalJournal – A look at the soldiers behind bin Laden’s assassination.
- Don’t Get Cocky, America – Foreign Policy – “Al Qaeda is still deadly without Osama bin Laden.”
- Behind the Hunt for Bin Laden – NY Times – On the trail of the world’s most wanted terrorist.
And finally, if you’re tired of reading about Osama bin Laden, here are a couple of other good reads I’ve found this week:
- Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom – Guernica – “Each year at Disney World, thousands of interns earn academic credit for flipping burgers or parking cars. Ross Perlin learns about vague assignments, long hours, and the meaning of the phrase ‘protein spill.’”
- What Happened to Air France Flight 447 – NY Times – Nearly two years after Air France Flight 447 went down over the Atlantic, many questions remain as to what brought the plane down and why the investigation seemed to have lagged.
