So people have been asking me "What are you talking about at Dragon*Con this year?" … [Read more...]
Atlanta Science Tavern Lecture
May 9, 2012 by
I've been invited to speak at the Atlanta Science Tavern on 13 June, 2012. I'll be speaking on "Hydrogen Cars, Ethanol, Wind Farms, and other Silly Ideas." You can sign up to attend here. … [Read more...]
Favorite iPhone/iPad Apps: Spring 2012 Update
April 21, 2012 by
It surprises people that, as a well-assimilated Apple fanboy, I didn't buy the first generation iPhone. I was in the store on launch day, I had one in my hand, my credit card was burning a hole in my pocket... and I left without one. I used my Treo for nearly another year until the 2nd generation iPhone (confusingly named 3G) was released. I wasn't … [Read more...]
An Afternoon with Micky Bly
April 5, 2012 by
On a beautiful spring day last week, I was lucky enough to meet Micky Bly, a 1990 Georgia Tech BSME graduate, and the man in charge of the Chevy Volt. His General Motors business card reads, somewhat splendiferously, "Group Global Executive Director, Global Electrical Systems, Infotainment, and Electrification." … [Read more...]
Buying a Coal-Powered Car
March 25, 2012 by
I'd read all the news stories about NHTSA-induced fires, laughed at all the jokes, and watched Newt Gingrich claim that "You can't put a gun rack in a Chevy Volt." (Wrong.) But I also read "Car Guys vs. Bean Counters" by Bob Lutz, who knows more about the automobile business than anyone alive... and who proudly declares himself to be the father … [Read more...]
How Doug Osheroff Changed My Life
February 14, 2012 by
Yesterday, I got to meet Doug Osheroff, Nobel Prize winner in Physics. At the reception before his lecture at Georgia Tech, I got to shake his hand and say "I'm glad to meet you. In 1981, you changed my life." You have to admit, it is a good way to hook someone into a conversation! … [Read more...]
Suggestions for Noteshelf
January 18, 2012 by
I own fourteen stylus-based notetaking apps for the iPad. (Yes, I'm obsessive. Trying to recreate my long-lost Newton experience.) I love Noteshelf for the iPad, but there are some parts of the user experience that could use some work. This post is aimed at Fluidtouch tech support. Fingers crossed! … [Read more...]
Hydrogen Hype
January 7, 2012 by
Car and Driver is the latest enthusiast rag to hop onto the hydrogen bandwagon with their article "What the H?" in this month's issue. I wrote this letter to the editor but, since I doubt it will be printed, I'm reproducing it here. … [Read more...]
Lunch with Nassim
November 11, 2011 by
Today, I was fortunate enough to enjoy lunch with Nassim Nicholas Taleb, his wife, and their son. (Yes, this is the author of "The Black Swan" among many other accomplishments.) It was an utterly indescribable experience. The best I can do is: Conversing with Nassim is like conversing with a swarm of butterflies. A swarm of glittering, … [Read more...]
My Talks at Dragon*Con 2011
August 28, 2011 by
Once again, I'm honored to have been asked to speak in the Space and Science tracks at Dragon*Con. Dragon takes over downtown Atlanta during Labor Day weekend. It's enormous. All the public reports of attendance are wrong... they admit to "40,000+" but that's low-balled to avoid fire code problems. But for those of you who don't know, there … [Read more...]
