Like a thunderstroke: a way to adjust the focus ring on the Vision Command camera that doesn't involve cutting up any LEGO. Hooray! I haven't implemented the control yet, but it's coming.


posted by Kyle Beatty at 10:43 PM

To the loyal viewers (you know who you are): Thanks for the alerts and trouble reports. I blame McAfee anti-virus. I don't have any actual evidence except that the webcam troubles began when I installed it and went away (I think) when I uninstalled it. Holy Moses, what a fiasco.
posted by Kyle Beatty at 3:48 PM

Hey Manjit and Vince, I can't get that South Park song (the one that blew up the mascot) out of my head. Who was the original artist? Minnie Something? I curse you. Dood'nt doodn't: dew oo ...
posted by Kyle Beatty at 3:52 PM

Future toys for the webcam: bird feeder cam, cable car cam, LED lights, Magic Eight Ball, rover cam, trebuchet for Tohunga, remote light control.
posted by Kyle Beatty at 3:56 PM

I've set up a server that will allow the house automation to be controlled from the internet. I'll have to put up a page to make it usable. Watch this space. It may be possible for viewers to turn on the lights only when they are needed.

The Monster Inc toys are spiffy optical illusions. When viewed from the front, they are nondescript but when lit from behind they take on a convincing 3D effect.

The Star Trek edition of Weakest Link was pretty amusing. Wil Wheaton was so not cool. And the most fatiguing part: during his exit interview, he claimed to have been putting on an act as an annoying young actor but hoped he didn't come off as too big a jerk! Argh! And his charity? The EFF! Jesus! Everybody else was playing on behalf of blind orphans and pediatric this and social that. Apparently they generated the highest score ever. In spite of William Shatner's horsing around. Actually, the most painful aspect was that LeVar Burton beat Robert Picardo.
posted by Kyle Beatty at 11:19 PM