Obama Man by Greg Morton (Bob & Tom TV)

My Tivolution: Cash Cab

If you haven't already, set your favorite DVR (or tune in live if you absolutely must) to the Discovery Channel game show Cash Cab.  Hosted by comedian Ben Bailey, the show takes place inside a New York City taxi cab.  There are a couple of reasons I love the show.  

First, the technology required to overcome the logistical challenges of recording a game show live in a moving vehicle fascinates me.  As a former student of video production, I would jump at the opportunity to witness the show live from "behind the scenes".  Some of the secrets are revealed on the show's web site here.

Second, unlike any other game show I can think of, Cash Cab contestants don't have an agenda i.e., they aren't trying to get on a game show.  Statistically speaking, the show's concept seems to be a great way to get a random sampling of "the average Joe" contestant.  

Finally, Cash Cab contestants are constantly impressing me with their mastery of "general knowledge". The mainstream media tends to make me think we live in a nation of dunderheads, but watching regular people answer questions about current events, history, technology, etc.--and get them right--makes me feel a little better about how smart the American people really are.

So what's next, Discovery? Money Train on the subway? Cash Car in LA? Give me a call, I'll help you find the next concept. And if you need a host, I could make myself available.

Microsoft Surface In The Classroom

I've recently shared some articles about Microsoft Surface in the Check This Out section (on the right side of this blog).  Inside one of them is the video below, demonstrating an application of Microsoft Surface in the classroom.  The marriage between education and technology is a passion of mine, so this is pretty cool.

The Caring Diagram

Someone at work was discussing something with me today and I made the comment that there was no possible way I could care any less about the topic.  Actually, it was more of an announcement on my part.  My boss challenged my claim, saying that mathematicians once thought zero was the lowest number possible.  Then low and behold, negative numbers emerged.  Therefore, he posited, there is no way that I could say with absolute certainty that I could not possibly care less.

I decided to draw the diagram below to illustrate my point more clearly.

If one were to assume a scale of caring, shown in black, where caring more follows the positive X-axis, my level of caring would be where I've noted it in blue, down near zero (but not on zero). Thus, while there exists capacity to care both more or less (especially if we assume negative caring is possible), I have taken the position--with the blue arrow--that I can not and will not care any less, despite the capacity to do so.  

I hope that clears things up.  And if it doesn't, I really could not care less.

Zillow Releases iPhone App

I've been tracking real estate web site Zillow for a couple years now.  It uses property tax information, home sales data, user input, and other real estate information to display "Zestimate" home values on a Google-style satellite map.  When it first started, I looked up a few houses I knew the value of to check the site's accuracy.  It was good, but not great.  Over the years it's gotten better.  Recently, they just introduced an iPhone app that kicks the service up an extra notch.  I'm not going to abandon my cell provider just to join AT&T and get an iPhone, but still, this is pretty cool.

How Smart Is Your Dog?

My neighbors snapped this shot of their dog the other day.  Apparently this is what the dog does when they're not home.

Dangerous Bugs Hatching a New Role of Border Protection

Check out my friend, Luca Furnare, talking to the media in Seattle about what he does every day to keep us safe from an unlikely enemy.

Click Here For the Video

Welcome

Lately I've been craving a forum where I could share ideas unencumbered by a particular theme or topic. I've taken some creative liberties in the past and pushed the limits of what really ought to be at The Road Scholars blog or the Speed Bump Chronicles. I needed a place where I could post great articles about new technology or share my ideas about a topic, whether it relates to travel or not.  I wanted a place where I could post my favorite RSS feeds, even if they weren't about children or trying to raise them.  

This is that space.  It has no limits.

This is a place where my passions will come together--writing, technology, innovation, music, entertainment, humor, travel, family, politics, religion--no limits.  There's no need to sign up, and you won't receive a notification every time my online "profile" changes. Come by when you can and read what I'm sharing--and share your thoughts with me as well. 

Welcome, enjoy, and please tell me what you think.