Saturday, December 16, 2023
Flip Phone Screen Cracking May be Due to Stress From Hard Third Party Protective Cover
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Mini drone carriers
New Theatre Sydney 2024 Season
In the Foyer at the New Theatre. Photo by Marghanita da Cruz 2023 |
After some people watching in the foyer, we filled the seats in the theatre, wit the directors for next year on stage. The set was dressed for the last production of the year, THE BALLAD OF MARIA MARTEN
BY BETH FLINTOFF, which finishes 16 DECEMBER and is suitably ethereal.
The 2024 season opens with Homos, or Everyone in America by JORDAN SEAVEY (6 FEBRUARY,) then Atlantis by LALLY KATZ (19 MARCH), The Front Page by BEN HECHT AND CHARLES MACARTHUR (23 APRIL), Ink by JAMES GRAHAM (28 MAY),
Sunset Strip by SUZIE MILLER (9 JULY), Hangmen by MARTIN MCDONAGH (13 AUGUST), Wife by SAMUEL ADAMSON (8 OCTOBER), Shakespeare in Love BASED ON THE SCREENPLAY BY MARC NORMAN & TOM STOPPARD ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY LEE HALL (12 NOVEMBER).
That was a lot to take in. Each director was asked about the play and their approach. This is a little like asking a teacher what their star pupil is like. I wanted someone to say "It was the only play left, so I had to take it", but they didn't.
Plays for the year go through a selection process, and the rights have to be available. Like looking at clouds, reading a pattern into the selection of plays says more about the viewer, than what is viewed. In this case there are two about the print media: The Front Page and Ink, which neatly bracket the golden age of newspapers from the 1920s to the 1970s. Similarly Everyone in America and Wife explore sexual identity.
Normally I will try to find a movie or TV show to relate a play to, as an easy way to explain it to non-theater goers (those of us who are middle upper class but still use public transport, was we were categorized last night). This is going to be easy with the last of the season Shakespeare in Love, based on the film of the same name. That should provide the opportunity for the New Theatre to do what it does best, a big boisterous production.
Saturday, November 04, 2023
JLab JBuds Frames Bluetooth Head Phones Clip to Your Glasses
One problem is that the JLab Frames need a firm large spectacle frame to clip to. There area reversible rubber pads which can be adjuted for different size frames, but they were still loose on my ultra slim titanium frames. They worked fine on a larger pair of plastic frames. These units have the advantage they can be used on prescription glasses, and removed. But in place they still look dorky, and people looking at me on Zoom immediately commented on them. But that was a Mobile Learning Special Interest Group meeting, where dorky is a good thing. ;-)
Wednesday, November 01, 2023
Electronic Binding Death Benefit Nomination
This is to suggest the Australian Government permit and require superannuation funds to accept an electronic binding death benefit nomination, secured with two factor authentication, which do not lapse. I just asked two people to witness my form. They both commented that they should get around to doing this. But it requires filling out a paper form, getting two people to witness it, and then sending the paper form in. So I suspect few do, resulting in suffering and cost for their dependents. This could be changed to a simply click of a mouse on the fund's website.
Friday, October 27, 2023
Bose Frames Work Okay for Audio On The Go
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Audio Glasses Are Now Affordable But Not Great Sound Quality
One recent example I found widely offered online are the Lenovo Lecoo C8 Smart Sunglasses (mine were under AU$20 including postage). They arrived sooner than promised from Singapore. The box was a bit crushed, but the glasses were undamaged in the translucent plastic case they are supplied with.
Describing these are "Sport HiFi" is an exaggeration. They are robust enough for everyday wear, but not for sport. The sound quality from the inbuilt speakers is adequate for talking books, and phone conversations, but not music. The sound quality from the built in microphones is poor. The lenses are "Anti Blue", that is blue light blocking, but so are any dark sunglasses. The glasses have the advantage of using a standard micro-USB charging cable, rather than a bespoke one. They are lighter than Bose glasses, but with much poorer sound. The touch control on the side for volume works well. If you are uncomfortable with in, and over, earphones, then for occasional use, the Lenovo Lecoo C8 are adequate. There are alternatives, but not at such an affordable price.
Monday, October 23, 2023
New Plays Delve Deep into the Nature of Vanilla Slice
The shortlist was:
- Next To Godliness by Alastair Brown
- Chicken In A Biscuit by Mary Rachel Brown and Jamie Oxenbould
- Burning by Christopher Bryant
- The Mews by Joanna Erskine
- The Dragonfly by Simon Thomson
The winner is Next To Godliness by Alastair Brown. Two of the plays feature death, which is not unusual, but two mentioned vanilla slice, which is. We need more discussion of the merits, or otherwise of vanilla slice.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Solar Car Palaces to Save the Planet
Solar carport at Addison Road, Photo by Tom Worthington CC-BY 2022 |
I suggest encouraging, through legislation, marketing, and incentives, homes which have freestanding carports, covered with solar panels. This would have the advantage of lower cost, as the solar panels would provide the roofing. Also the carports could be prefabricated, for quick erection. The carports could also be designed with provision for batteries, electric car charging, heat pump hot-water system and air conditioner.
The capital, labor, and materials saved could be used to build additional accommodation for the homeless. However, there would need to be regulation, and incentives, to prevent homes simply getting larger. If garages were eliminated, along with underutilized Media Rooms, and spare bedrooms, enough additional accommodation could be built within a few years for all those currently homeless.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Code Embedded in the Floor of ANU Building
There are secret codes, provided by the Australian Signals Directorate, embedded in the fabric of the Hanna Neumann Building at ANU. But I wasn't aware of this happening with other buildings.
Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Canberra Counter-drone System for Ukraine
Ghost Gecko Concept |
Friday, July 21, 2023
Ghost Gecko Uncrewed Ground Vehicle
Ghost Gecko Concept |
The Ghost Gecko would be controlled by a hand held unit, usually carried aboard a nearby crewed Hawkei (but could also be operated remotely via satellite). The Ghost Gecko would be able to operate in convoy on road or cross country, in advance of crewed vehicles. It could remain active at one location, for weeks at a time, without the need for maintenance. Several Ghost Geckos could be controlled by one operator, from one station, and control could be handed off, to another location, or to a remote facility, when required.
The same controller, and operating procedures would be used for a waterborne version of the Ghost Gecko, based on a small Australian designed vessel. This speedboat sized craft could be towed behind a Hawkei, and launched from a civilian boat ramp or a beach.
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Off the Record at New Theater Sydney
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Smart low cost power controller/monitors for EVs?
* Back of the envelope calculation:
So it will take 2.6 hours to charge for an average day driving. Let us round it up to 3 hours. So in 24 hours you could charge 8 vehicles from one outlet.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Neighborhood Watch Needed for the Region
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Plan C for AUKUS Submarine Project: Buy Just Three Submarines Armed with Drones
The largest of the drones would be ocean going robot submarines, capable of conducting surveillance, launching weapons, and perhaps even carrying small raiding parties. The robot submarines would be small enough to be transported by cargo aircraft, and could be maintained from, and carried on Australian made high speed transport ships.
The smaller drones would be the size of mini, lightweight, and full size torpedos. Some drones would operate as smart mines, then attack as torpedos. Others would provide aerial surveillance, and attack. These drones could be launched from submarines, ships, and aircraft.
Monday, January 09, 2023
Entertainment Venue for Thousands Built from Shipping Containers in Brisbane
Eat Street is a rectangle about four containers wide and 11 long. The perimeter has a row of containers around all four sides, with gaps for people and food to get in. There is a main avenue running east west, also formed from rows of shipping containers. Six covered performance spaces have been made with steel spans covered with fabric and locked to rows of containers (as used for temporary construction buildings). This can be seem clearly from the air.
Each avenue is themed in terms of food, and has a stage. There are also bars. The designers have gone to great care to lay out facilities for ease of use, even with large crowds. Something made from shipping containers could look like a construction camp, or a prision, but this is bright, colourful, and fun.
Thursday, January 05, 2023
Virtual Bendy Busses for Canberra
Autonomous Bus, by ST Engineering, SITCE conference, Singapore, 2 November 2022 |
First published :33 am 29 Dec 22, as a comment on "Canberra's first of 12 electric buses charging up ready for next year", 28 December 2022, Lottie Twyford, Riot Act