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Well a short post for people who wonder what I do at work. So I've been researching different programs to enhance our videoconferencing abilities like web based solutions and HD upgrades. But just came past the following:
"4D Immersive Holographic Spaces will be joint multi-view multimedia-rich spaces where people can immerse themselves in their physical full body size into a joint cyber-physical space with other people, and execute physical activities (e.g., physiotherapy rehabilitation), walk around people and observe detailed full-body social behaviors and communication cues of people in real-time, as if they were co-located in the same room, even though they are geographically distributed and thousands of miles apart."
Doesn't that sound like a logical next step for videoconferences? You basically take a 3D image of a location and send it to another, add audio and full motion video to it and it's basically what we do here right now just with fancier cameras and display screens. The geek in me wants to get involved. Summer project? Hmmm... ;-) |
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So I'm not in the habit of forwarding any of those chain letters, but in my last post I was asked about 'perpetual happiness' so the below is relevant for those interested.
( more here ) |
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1. Think of the first word that comes to mind when you think of me.
2. Go to Google Images (http://images.google.com/) and search for that word.
3. Reply to this post with one of the pictures on the first page of results (don't tell me the word).
4. Put this in your own journal so that I can do the same. |
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In my years of computer support I have actually seen someone do this... ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO9J5H9Nm4c |
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And another site...
"This is pretty nifty. Just enter your zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gas in your zip code area. It's updated every evening."
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx |
| » Gas price comparison |
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http://www.virginiagasprices.com/
In case you are hurting with the current gas prices. The above page works great. I started planning on my trips where to fill up on gas. Every little bit counts...
http://www.virginiagasprices.com/map_gas_prices.aspx
This one shows a map to easier find your area.
Apr. 23rd, 2008 @ 04:44 pm
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| » Skydiving? |
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Skydiving anyone?
http://www.skydiving.org.vt.edu/index.htm
We can get started right here at VT. First jump is $209, next ones get cheaper.
So who wants to get started?
Feb. 19th, 2008 @ 04:33 pm
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| » Snow! |
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We are in the middle of a 'snow storm' here in Blacksburg. Roads are not cleared but I had no problems going with about 15-20mph. No ice.
Let's see if anybody else shows up to work... ;-)
http://www.vtbcb.com/camera.html - that's what it looks like outside.
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lgantner/VT011708.jpg - snapshot from the stadium.
Jan. 17th, 2008 @ 07:45 am
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| » Bburg library |
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http://www.mfrl.org/
I just thought I mention how impressed I am with the Blacksburg library. I was looking around for affordable ways for movie rental. First I found Krogers, costs $1 for 24 hours, their movie selection is a bit limited but still not bad.
Then I stopped by the Blacksburg library and saw their DVD selection, quite big, also unique things like shows from the History Channel but also regular movies, I finally saw Live free or die hard, anyway- movie rental is free for a 7 day period. Rented now quite a few shows from them including cool IMAX DVDs, all for free.
So for anybody in and around Blacksburg, check out the library, they got a good selection and you can't beat their price. ;-)
Dec. 18th, 2007 @ 04:14 pm
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| » Rapier forum? |
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http://www.createforum.com/atlantianrapier/
Build this page this morning since I'm missing the active rapier forum. There was a lot of talk about recreating it- so I decided just to do it.
Let me know what you guys think. Changes? Good Idea? Bad?
Edit: Ok, so far I only heard good replies. If you like it, test it out, post, reply, let's get it started before we roll it out to the masses. ;-)
Dec. 13th, 2007 @ 01:38 pm
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| » How to? |
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A Big List of Sites That Teach You How To Do Stuff
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/tutorial_sites.php
Really good web sites and some entertaining ones. I.e Household Hacker ;-)
Nov. 29th, 2007 @ 05:21 pm
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| » To all the tourists... |
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We thank you for:
Feeding the crocodiles,
riding the sharks,
climbing the coconut trees,
rafting the waterfalls,
and driving fast over potholes
on overloaded golf carts.
The Belize Paramedics Team
Nov. 27th, 2007 @ 09:48 am
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| » Just got that in the mail... |
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READ THE TEXT BELOW BEFORE OPENING THE PIC ABOVE.
Family on holiday in Australia for a week and a half when husband, wife and their 15 year old son decided to go scuba diving. The husband is in the navy and has had some scuba experience.
His son wanted a pic of his mum and dad in all their gear so got the underwater camera on the go. When it came to taking the pic the dad realized that the son looked like he was panicking as he took it and gave the "OK" hand sign to see if he was alright.
The son took the pic and swam to the surface and back to the boat as quick as he could so the mum and dad followed to see if he was OK. When they got back to him he was scrambling onto the boat scared out of his mind.
When the parents asked why, he said "there was a shark behind you" and his dad thought he was joking but the skipper of the boat said it was true and that they wouldn't believe him if he told them what it was.
As soon as they got back to the hotel they put the pic onto the laptop and this is what they saw.
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lgantner/underwaterpic.pdf
Sep. 25th, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
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| » Happy Pirrrate day |
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Video conferrrencin' uses telecommunications o' audio and video t' be brrrin'in' scallywags at differrrent sites togetherrr ferrr a meetin', and a bottle of rum! This can be as simple as a converrrsation betwixt two scallywags in prrrivate offices (point-to-point) orrr involve se'errral sites (multi-point) wit' morrre than one scallywag in big as a galleon cabins at differrrent sites. Besides th' audio and visual trrransmission o' scallywags, video conferrrencin' can be us'd t' sharrre documents, computerrr-display'd inforrrmation, and wsmac kie wi' th' cat o' nine tailseboarrrds, and a courrrrse bottles of rum!
Aye! that's what me job is! What in th' name o' Davy Jones be yerrr job?
Sep. 19th, 2007 @ 01:08 pm
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| » Wow... just wow... |
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Bburg tech asking a remote site to confirm dual video:
"Can you see the computer screen in dual video mode?"
Remote tech: "Yes I can see your computer screen on your table."
Bburg tech leaves. Instructor starts teaching.
Instructor: "So as you can see on these slides..."
Remote tech interrupts: "I can't see no slides."
Instructor calls me: "We got a huge problem here. The remote site cannot see the computer anymore, they must have had a massive network failure. Please shut down and we'll reschedule."
Me: "There is no problem. The remote site tech just didn't switch his video. Let me do it from here..."
And it got worse from there...
This almost tops the story of the instructor jumping up in the air to be seen, instead of moving his camera... almost.
Sep. 12th, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
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| » Pennsic route? |
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I got a question mostly for the NoVa/MD folks, but any input is appreciated.
When you're going from DC/MD to Pennsic, do you have to cross any mountains or is it mostly flat land? Route I'm thinking off is mainly I-81 -> I70/76 -> I-79...
Reason: Currently I'm planning to go 460 -> I-77 -> 19 -> I-79, which is about an hour shorter but goes straight through WV. Now my car does not handle steep climbs very well, therefore I'm planning to nurse my car over 'easy', 'flat' roads.
Wondering if driving straight up I-81 and crossing the Appalachians in PY is better then going through WV. Any ideas?
Jul. 25th, 2007 @ 06:38 pm
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| » Glorius! |
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I was going through the ARMA archives yesterday and found this. Called the MasterCuts by Joachim Meyer, it's basically step by step instructions on how to perform 5 different diagonal attacks by using a traverse step forward from the high guard. Drilled them last night and while slower what I like they open up new options while in a fight.
I also found a copy of Sigmund Ringeck's commentary on Liechtenauer. Mostly describes the tactical situation so it ties it all together.
Can't wait for Pennsic to put it all to use...
Jul. 24th, 2007 @ 10:01 am
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| » Zweihander! |
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It was a quite productive weekend, mostly researching or better said geeking over 2-handed rapier combat. But first of all I'd like to fight like this against Kenji:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBkPBGsGRjM
Now I went through Liechtenauer and cropped it down to what we can actually use in SCA rapier and then I translated it into SCA terms. I created the page below to have one page for all my research, it's mostly intended as a list of links for myself but feel free to check it out:
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lgantner/twohander.htm
Now on to the cool part: I started drilling the 4 guards on a daily basis and they are intense. It's a very different fighting style from 'regular' rapier. You use your entire body to perform certain moves and even close up fighting works quite well. I do have to find out if 'half-sword' fighting is legal. Currently I omitted it from my translation.
Now at Assessment I used my dagger with my zweihander but I'm gonna go total 'period' now and only use the two hander by itself. The next few practices should prove how effective, if at all, it can be.
Next on the list is Henry Tobler's interpretation of the german longsword...
Jul. 17th, 2007 @ 08:33 pm
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| » The 7s... |
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http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lgantner/777.jpg
"... Amid all the 787 roll-out hoopla, perhaps the coolest event went unnoticed.
On Saturday night, Boeing had all of the 787 airline representatives at an
event at the Museum of Flight. At 7:07 PM, an Omega Air Refueling Services
707 landed in front of the crowd (after taking off from Paine Field in
Everett). At 7:17, an AirTran 717 landed. This continued until 8:17 when
an Air France 777-300ER landed. In the end, the 717, 727, 737, 747, 757,
767, and 777 were lined up nose-to-tail on the taxiway. It is the first
time Boeing has had every 7-series airplane in the same place (not counting
the 787, which couldn't make the flight, of course)..."
Jul. 16th, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
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| » Cousin Vinnie |
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( Good ole Vinnie )
Jun. 26th, 2007 @ 10:28 am
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| » Just got that in the email |
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( Ford beats Ferrari )
I like the 'slightly bent' part. ;-)
Jun. 12th, 2007 @ 07:43 pm
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| » I should feed BigMac more... |
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http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lgantner/Big_Dog.jpg
'Hercules was recently awarded the honourable distinction of Worlds Biggest Dog by Guinness World Records. Hercules is an English Mastiff And has a 38 inch neck and weighs 282 pounds.
With "paws the size of softballs" (reports the Boston Herald), the Three-year-old monster is far larger and heavier than his breed's Standard 200lb. Limit. Hercules owner Mr. Flynn says that Hercules Weight is natural and not induced by a bizarre diet: "I fed him normal food and he just grew".... And grew. And grew. And grew.'
Jun. 12th, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
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| » Tribute video |
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This is the CRC tribute video that one of my guys made. Most people in Bburg have already seen it but thought I share it here too with people interested. The black motorcade and helos are when Busch went past our building here.
May. 24th, 2007 @ 01:57 pm
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| » Burglar... |
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( Burglar! )
May. 9th, 2007 @ 09:41 am
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| » Widgets? |
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Do any of you Mac people have good tutorials on how to write Widgets?
I have a new OS X machine here which has this 'dashboard' feature. Now I figure that's a good tool to improve efficiency around here.
What I want to do is simple- create a widget that displays a webpage as its default icon. Aka when you toggle the dashboard and see the widgets then you see a webpage for that one.
May. 1st, 2007 @ 07:49 pm
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| » Shooting! |
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For all Blacksburgers: Stay away from Campus!
Today, Monday, 04/16/07- it's nuts out there.
Apr. 16th, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
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| » Massage? |
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Ok, quite a few people I know have been talking about getting massages and how much better you feel after getting one. So if you're in Bburg you can get a massage for very cheap. Read more below. Now it says it's a service to the University Community, but I would seriously be suprised if they turn anyone away.
( Read more )
Apr. 11th, 2007 @ 01:18 pm
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| » NotT satellite coverage |
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Night on the Town Satellite image
Link above is the satellite image for this weekend's site. May not be historically accurate but nonetheless pretty cool. ;-)
Zoom in for the greatest amount of detail. Google Earth is even better.
Apr. 11th, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
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ludwigvbs's journal
