Author: Thomas

Maker Manifesto

Make something. Now. That’s the message of this great book. It will motivate you to take control of your maker destiny and explore your creative talents. Meet someone, learn something, go somewhere… Mark Hatch captures how and why so many of us join the maker movement. His calls to action about life-long learning, sharing, and… Continue reading Maker Manifesto

Design Excercise 1

Design a tandem tricycle with an optional third rider.     One possible solution, inspired by a toy at a neighboring kindergarten in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  

Wir Sind Groß

Immer da, wenn alle Stricke reißen Einfach so, wir müssen nichts beweisen Ich trete die Pedale, du hältst mein Rücken Fahrrad aus’m Park erst morgen früh zurück bringen Zeit ist knapp, wir sind verschwenderisch Man sagt, nichts hält für immer, doch ey warum denn nicht Was sagt der Rest der Bande, macht es Sinn? Wie’s… Continue reading Wir Sind Groß

Math Practice – #2

Number Theorey?, Pure Math?, Charles Babbage GIVEN: At Charles Babbage’s Wedding (fictional) the tables are labeled ‘A’ to ‘Z’. Each of the center pieces is an arrangement of golden spheres. These golden spheres are arranged on the tables as follows: FIND: How many golden spheres are there on Table ‘F’? How about on Table ‘P’?

Math Practice – #1

Flow, Related Rates, Geometry, Caclulus, Control Volumes, Volume, Rate, Unit Conversions GIVEN: A rectangular tub is being filled with the drain open. PROBLEM: The tub begins empty. More water is entering the tub than draining from it. If 1 gallon/minute is flowing into the tub, and 0.5 gallons/minute are flowing from the tub; FIND: How… Continue reading Math Practice – #1

David Foster Wallace on the Radio

In tribute to the first time I ever heard David Foster Wallace’s voice: Language usage and more, you can listen too: http://www.bu.edu/wbur/storage/2001/03/theconnection_0330_2.mp3   original link at:  http://theconnection.wbur.org/2001/03/30/english-language-usage For a whole bunch more visit: http://www.dfwaudioproject.org/interviews-profiles/

The Brothers Karamazov Book Review

The Brothers Karamazov is a classic and favorite book of many friends. Breaking open a 700+ page book may find you speeding through the beginning, thirsty for progress. However, along the way you’ll settle into the world that Dostoyevsky has created, grateful for its depth and bredth. Filled with fully developed characters, passionate dialogue, and… Continue reading The Brothers Karamazov Book Review

The Squeeze Philosophy

The Squeeze Philosophy: Minimize the bad, maximize the good, overflow with happiness.

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Categorized as Humor

A Short History of Nearly Everything Book Review

Bill Bryson at times has a voice so similar to Douglas Adams that occasionally I felt as if I were reading the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. This book is great, period. At it’s best, it’s equal parts education and entertainment, rare in science writing. At it’s worst, it’s informational and dense, but never for… Continue reading A Short History of Nearly Everything Book Review

Engineering, Design, and Technology Booklist

The Following is a booklist from Mechanical Engineering Magazine: Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas by James Adams FLying Buttresses, Entropy, and O-Rings: The World of an Engineer by James Adams Engineering and the Mind’s Eye by Eugene Ferguson Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman The Existential Pleasures of Engineering by Samuel… Continue reading Engineering, Design, and Technology Booklist

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Book Review

This book changed my life. It is the reason I’ve started writing book reviews and using affiliate links. I’ll take a kick-back for someone buying a book that changes their life for the better! This book is beautifully done at every level. Simple, beautiful, and properly proportioned before you even crack it open. It’s readable… Continue reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Book Review

MSOC TED talk

After using the awesome language learning app Duolingo, I started to wonder how such a great app could be free. I googled “how does Duolingo make money?” and found my way to this incredible TED talk:

Senior Design Project (prototype 3.0) – the final prototype

After completing the construction and testing of the “second prototype” (2.5), it was time to design, fabricate, and test the final prototype. Here are a few pictures of the final design: Check out the design optimization: and a progression of the designs through the year: Further details of the project can be found at: Bike… Continue reading Senior Design Project (prototype 3.0) – the final prototype

Labview Proportional Control Code Example

The following are a few highlights of a simple control system built this spring. As can be seen in the picture, a power source was used in conjunction with a LabVIEW DAQ and a thermocouple module with a digial output module (for pwm for the fan). A computer fan and a type K thermocouple were… Continue reading Labview Proportional Control Code Example

Senior Design Project (prototype 2.5)

Mechanical engineering students are required to complete a senior design project. What follows are a few highlights of our group’s progress so far. For a site devoted to the project, visit: Bike Brake WordPress Our project was to replace a traditional bicycle brake with a device which would slow the bike down, and capture energy… Continue reading Senior Design Project (prototype 2.5)

Arduino Regenerative Bike Brake Code

Arduino Code The following is a prototype program for a device used on a bicycle with a generator for a brake.  Essentially this is a regenerative brake for a bicycle which charges a USB battery (one of the new mobile charger batteries).  Thus, when you’re braking, you can charge this mobile battery up full which… Continue reading Arduino Regenerative Bike Brake Code