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Online: hacks Archives Here’s a special post from Hackszine – great way to follow all the authors from our HACKS series…. Ed note: In this guest post, veteran Hacks series author Paul Bausch takes on a challenge that’s been on my todo list for a while, providing a solution that should be of immediate interest to all readers of this site and just might serve as a seed for future hacking around here. I have a shelf full of O’Reilly Hacks books across a wide range of subjects. So I went on a mission to gather the Hacks authors’ blogs using the tools I know best: Web Applications. I plugged the feeds into Google Reader, and renamed each feed the author’s full name. Here’s the list of feeds as OPML if you’d like to try it: Hacks Authors. I’ve only been tuning into this list for a few days, but I’m already getting to know these authors in a new way. Related: Phillip Torrone Editor at large – Make magazine. Related
10 Books You Pretend To Have Read (And Why You Should Really Read Them) Science fiction and fantasy offer a rich legacy of great books — but that abundant pile of reading material can also be daunting. So sometimes, it’s easier to fake it. We asked some of our favourite writers, and they told us the 10 books that everyone pretends to have read. From Asimov to Pynchon, science fiction contains some fantastic, ambitious works of genre fiction. Top image: Michael Whelan. 1) Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson Stephenson’s 1999 novel features World War II code-breakers and 1997 geeks in a complex, interlocking storyline. “It’s so long, and so dense. He adds, “So much information. 2) Dune by Frank Herbert The classic novel about a desert planet and the power of the Spice Melange. It’s hard to believe that people haven’t actually read this book — but Pat Cadigan, author of Synners, Dervish is Digital and many other books, says she believes a lot of people “probably think they have had the Dune experience from either the movie or the Syfy miniseries.”
store.boingboing Meet Cherokey 4WD, a versatile mobile platform compatible with most microcontrollers, and the heart and soul of your robotic vehicle. By assembling the included hardware and tuning the software, you will construct a rapid, rugged, outdoor-friendly truck controlled by an iOS app on your phone. Learn to install sensors on the robot to trigger specific movements and actions, and take your newfound Arduino expertise onto limitless future projects. Enjoy high-quality micro-speed motorsDrive your truck on rough terrain w/ its durable & solid aluminum bodyExpand upon the highly versatile modular designEasily control w/ your iOS deviceWrite your own code to take advantage of its ultrasonic sensor, BLE-ready microcontroller, IR sensor & LEDsStart your project immediately without the need for an additional motor driver or wireless shieldUse for educational purposes, robot competitions, home automation protyping or research projects
makercamp.com GRYNX Forging This Beautifully Intricate Sword Is So Damn Impressive Video: Do you remember the Green Destiny sword from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I didn’t. But that damascus steel blade finished with jade is so damn gorgeous and stunningly detailed that, after seeing the guys at Baltimore Knife and Sword make it, I don’t think I’ll ever forget it again. The whole build process is so intensive. From how they alternate and stack different metals; to folding the metal on top of each other; to etching out the design, carving the jade and adding the finishing touches, it’s one of the most beautifully intricate swords they have ever made. Tiny, Origami Robots Can Climb, Swim and Burrow By their very nature, robots are a little creepy, I think we can all agree on that. Entire genres of science fiction are dedicated to the idea, after all. And little robots tend to be even creepier, somehow — especially when they get down to the size of insects and start buzzing around in swarms. So how about a bug-sized origami robot that assembles itself and then swims, burrows, moves objects and flutters around like a deranged butterfly? DNews: Folding Nature With Origami One potential application is to someday deploy the ‘bot inside the human body, where — guided by magnetic fields — it could be used to scout around and deliver medicines to specific locations. Yes, creepy — but also undeniably cool. You really have to see this thing in action to appreciate it. Powered by a small magnet at its center, the robot uses its very asymmetry to tackle all sorts of tasks. Looks Good On Paper: Amazing Origami-Inspired Tech Sounds great! via IEEE Spectrum
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