An Artifact from the Future

I just turned over a thousand miles on my smart! The car is still a lot of fun to drive and I've had no problems to report.

Everywhere I go the smart gets a lot of attention. I met my daughter at Firestone yesterday to get a tire on her car replaced. All of the guys from the shop came out to see the smart. They even asked to see the engine. One of them knew it was made by Mercedes and had a safety cage. They all seemed to like it but said it was too small to fit on their lifts.

I catch lots of other drivers staring open-mouthed at my smart like they've never seen anything like it before. I"m afraid I'll cause an accident! Lots of drivers give thumbs up or shout "I like your car!" I haven't had any negative gestures or remarks yet. Maybe it's because I'm such a positive person? People of all ages are always asking about the car in parking lots. I've given away quite a few of the smart handouts.

The positive reactions I'm getting regarding the smart are an indication that this country is ready for a change. People have started to think about ditching the SUV. They know that energy is important economically, environmentally and politically. They know we're headed for a crisis and something needs to be done.

When the iPhone first came out a reviewer described it as "an artifact from the future." It was a paradigm change, so far ahead of the competition it seemed like it came from a time machine.

I've seen the automotive future--I'm driving it.

Calcutipr update for iPhone is finally here.

After one week in limbo the update to Robert's iPhone app "Calclutipr" finally arrived at the iTunes store.

He's added the option to deduct tax before figuring the tip and the ability to split the check.

The program has a darker UI for those dark-lit romantic restaurants.

Calcutipr is a free app, click on the title of this post to go to the iTunes download page.

Jacaranda in Bloom

The Jacaranda trees are in bloom all over Pinellas County. This is a pic of ours taken today with the iPhone and the app Pano.

Calcutipr

Update due soon for Calcutpir.

My son, Robert's app for the iPhone is about to come out with an update. He's added the ability to split the check and subtract tax before figuring the tip. The UI has been upgraded and made darker, a nice change in dimly lit restaurants.

Calcutipr is Free. Check it out in the iPhone app store here.

Favorite iPhone Apps While on the Road

From the very first day I've been a huge fan of Apple's iPhone. I waited in line for the debut at AT&T in St. Pete, and I was at the Apple Store in Tampa for the 2nd generation rollout.

Since I travel for a living, I've used my iPhone in more places than just about anybody. So, what travel apps do I use the most?

Boingo Wifi $7.95 a month for unlimited wifi access around the world. I use this all the time while traveling. It works at most airports and hotels. I've used the Boingo international plan for my laptop, but it's expensive at $59 a month. I'm learning to do with the iPhone on trips.

Skype Yes, they finally came out with Skype for the iPhone. What can I say, it works. Get it now. I use Skype all the time to call home from overseas. Free

Flights Lets you track flight status and check schedules in the US and Canada. An essential aid for commuting pilots! $2.99

Aero Weather A great weather app for pilots. It even decodes METARs and TAFs into plain english (for non pilots). Free

iWeathr A web app that gives quick easy access to weather radar around the US. Free

Mobile Translator Translates from English to any of 37 languages. Needs a data connection to work. It can actually speak! $4.99

I've got 8 screens of apps on my iPhone. These are just some of the apps I use while on the road.

Enjoy!

Island of Electronicus

I remember this from about 1973. It was out at Tierra Verde. They played spacey music on Moog Synthesizers. The audience sat on pillows, there was a light show. They served soft drinks--no booze or drugs. It was an attempt to popularize and market Moog's synthesizers.

I met Bob Moog there at one of the concerts. I think that's me in the picture above, seated-second from left. Bob Moog is on stage at the right. Click this post's title bar to go to the source of the photo.

It only lasted a few months, I went two or three times. Each time they played louder and louder, they must not have used ear plugs.

Big storms in St. Pete today.

The view from our backyard of the leading edge of the storms blowing through today.

Taken with my iPhone with the app "Pano." A composite of 4 iphone images.

Taken just after the leading edge passed, the picture shows the inflow boundary.

Segway Puma

Segway and GM are partnering for a 2 seat version of the Segway called the PUMA.

Click the title of this post to go to their website.

It's a balancing two wheeler with seats for two and a roll cage. Specs are for a 35 mph top speed and a 35 mile range.

It would make an ideal neighborhood vehicle usable either in bike lanes or on streets with 35 mph or lower speed limits like the GEM and other golf cart type EV's.

Looks like it would be lots of fun!

Calcutipr

Good news

My son, Robert's tip calculator app for the iPhone just got published on Apple's app store!

It's a free program he wrote as a first step in learning to program for the iPhone and Mac.

He's looking at adding features and possibly offering a "deluxe" paid version.

Dad

My Dad passed away March 29th after a long battle with Parkinson's. He was 90. I'll miss him a lot.

He was the best father I could imagine having. He was a kind gentle man who didn't preach but lived his life as an example that I can only aspire to.

I remember observing and helping him build electronic projects. I learned to use tools, and work on the car. He never talked down to me, he was a wealth of knowledge and inspired my love of technical things. And German cars!

One of his great loves was building and flying kites. He's the only person I know who has built a complex parafoil kite from scratch, it flies great. I remember flying huge box kites with him on windy days in Colorado. The kites would pull so hard they'd break one-hundred pound test line. He wore heavy gloves and I think that the harder the kite pulled the happier he was.

When I got older and started sailing my Dad would crew occasionally. He wasn't what you'd call a natural sailor, but he would come along anyway just to be with me. He was my very first passenger when I got my pilot's license. He loved flying and always encouraged my aviation career. We went to a lot of air-shows and fly-ins together, including Oshkosh and Sun-and-Fun.

After my Dad retired, he and my Mom traveled the world. It seemed like they were always going somewhere. They took tours, cruises, and went to a lot of Elder-hostels together. Between his military career and their post retirement travels my parents have covered most of the globe and collected many treasured memories.

My Dad loved card games and was a very competitive bridge player. My parents played regularly and made many friends playing bridge.

Some time ago my Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Over the years his condition got worse and worse. Eventually he had trouble walking and started to fall. Trips to the emergency room became regular and my Mom became unable to care for him without help. We moved him into the assisted living facility.

At the very end my Dad went into Hospice. He left this earth with dignity and without pain.

I was flying a trip from Frankfurt when he passed, I got home late that night. When I saw my Dad before I left I didn’t know it would be our last time together. He wasn’t doing very well. Most of the time his eyes were closed and he wasn’t very responsive. He was weak and barely spoke.

As I was leaving I gave him a kiss on the top of his head and said, “I love you Dad.”

He perked up and said, “I love you too.”

Those were the last words we spoke to each other.

My Dad lives on now in our hearts and in our memories. I know that I’m a better person for knowing him. I’m proud to be his son. I love you Dad.

A Florida Smart Sunset

A Picture of our Smart Car in the Florida Sunset.

I used HDR techniques on a Nikon D40 raw file.