Wednesday, June 29, 2016

5 steps to make your backyard a parking lot

Here are instructions for how you can turn your entire backyard into a huge parking lot in just 5 easy steps. Steps 1-4 are absolutely required, step 5 depends on what neighborhood you live in.
  1. Don't think of the children
  2. Don't care about urban runoff pushing pollution into the rivers, lowering the water table and enhancing droughts
  3. Don't care about the heat island effect that will roast you in the summer
  4. Pour cement into your yard and keep on pouring until every square inch of grass is covered
  5. Look like a complete jerk compared to your urban gardening neighbors


Sunday, June 05, 2016

Alternate resume updates

The website I used to call my "Alternate Resume" just got three projects added to it that I'm really proud of.

The first is a way to see heart rates visually in real time using a laser and assorted junk. To learn more follow this link to the DIY Ballistocardiogram Bed. This was done with friends Brian and Sima.

Photo of the key setup

This is what the heart rate looks like on the wall


This is what the signal looks like (using open CV)

The second is a neat way of seeing and photographing stresses in plastic containers. The images are really cool, follow this link to see more birefringence effects in plastic.


The third is just one new story in a lifetime of playing in the snow. There is a video and a bunch of GIFs and you can read about how it came to be over here http://jonathan.lansey.net/pastimes/snow_heads/index.html




As always, feel free to share what you like and feel free to comment and question if you have any!