GIS-Jim ramble

Robots will rule the earth!

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:01:45 GMT

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA has chosen the finalists for the Urban challenge have been chosen. The DARPA Urban Challenge features autonomous ground vehicles (Robots!) conducting simulated military supply missions in a mock urban area.

This team of robot engineers is my favorite.

They finished the original challenge in the Nevada dessert two years ago with the longest time of the robots that completed the race. But as you can tell speed is not on their mind. They fully except that this vehicle will be on the battle field assisting our troops in the down and dirty jobs. There is no fancy pants SUV here, just raw power and smart brains to get a job done. I really have to say that this stuff sure is exciting.

Fathers Day

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:03:04 GMT

Would love to get this for fathers day.

http://www.ulysse-nardin.com/e/collection.e/watchdetail.e.jsp?ID_Group=10000T&ID_Cat=100002

Coke or Soda?

Tue, 15 May 2007 17:53:04 GMT

Since it is getting hot out there its time to break out the map of Cocke or Soda. Incase you are traveling you need to know what to say.

For the map go here:

http://popvssoda.com:2998/countystats/total-county.html

Home to Work

Fri, 11 May 2007 21:58:08 GMT

Silly maps.

http://www.wayfaring.com/maps/show/28098

EarthData gets a big brother

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:54:30 GMT

http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/?duty=Show&id=17072&trv=1

Well it looks like Earth Data has been bought our by a really big mapping outfit. The website for these guys is very impressive.

Hacking Email

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:03:43 GMT

This advice for emails is really good. My favorites were:

2.Use BCC if necessary.
4.Don't forward chain letters.
5.Be professional.
8.Cut down on sigs.
9.May I quote you?
10.Don't use email when you are angry.
11.Get clarification.
12.Don't spam friends.
14.Respond to group email appropriately.
15.Don't respond to every group email.

Here is the whole article.

http://www.itsecurity.com/features/99-email-security-tips-112006/

I would have added the following.

If you receive an email and are in the (TO) list then a response is expected. If you are in the (CC) list then the email is for your information and you are not expected to reply. Our TS group uses this rule for their emails.

Dont send one word eamils. Use Messenger for comments like "Thanks" "Okay" "Come here"

100Gb hard drive

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:34:40 GMT

Christmas gift idea!

Mappers take note!

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:20:23 GMT

Some more stuff on India.

Tomorrow the city of Bangalore (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು), India, will be changing its name to Bengaluru, the city's name in Kannada, the local language.

Stolen from http://fantom-planet.blogspot.com/

Genesys Rocks!

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:45:16 GMT

Genesys made the news for its partnership with a British GIS company.

http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/dailynews/2006/oct/24/news3.html

Check out 'Maps of War'

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 19:05:56 GMT

This is a flash presentation of the peoples that have held influence over the middle east throught human history. I thought it was pretty cool.

You can view it at http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html

Whoa 840 is completed and its an interstate now!

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 19:27:49 GMT

Check out this mapping website for the National Geographic. It shows 840 as an interstate surrounding Nashville!

http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/

Robot Store!

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:57:59 GMT

The world's first specialty robot shop will be opening in Nagoya Japan in October. The Mainichi Daily News is reporting that the "Robot Mirai Department" store will be offering about 1000 robots and robot accessories. State of the art, two-legged walking robots will also be sold.

The store's feature product will be the walking "Nuvo" home robot. It is 35 cm (13.8") tall and can dance and respond to human voices.

Stolen from:

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/08/28/japan_robot_store/

Little political humor

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:19:27 GMT

Funny.

Geospatial term "world" 8th most used noun.

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:08:08 GMT

The list of top 25 nouns: time, person, year, way, day, thing, man, world, life, hand, part, child, eye, woman, place, work, week, case, point, government, company, number, group, problem, fact.

From: MSNBC:Obsessed with 'time'? Word is most used noun

I could get to work in ten minutes!

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 14:57:58 GMT

“Volkswagen is testing a robotic Golf GTI that blazes through the racetrack at up to 150 miles per hour. Using a combination of radar and laser sensors, along with a GPS system, the car is accurate to within an inch. VW engineers claim the car can drive faster and better than them at the test track in northern Germany.

Volkswagen has supported robotic car ventures and perhaps the most notable was the winning DARPA Grand Challenge team from Stanford University. Stanley, the team's Volkwagen Toureg, won the 132-mile race with an array of LIDAR, RADAR and GPS units. While the VW Golf has fewer sensors and is much faster than Stanley, you have to realize that it's racing on a closed track rather than dodging cactus in the desert.”

Stolen from:

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/07/04/vw_robot_golf/

I need a new box and this is what I want.

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 18:37:19 GMT

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/06/29/tyan_typhoon_personalsupercomputer/

TRANSFORMERS

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:08:16 GMT

WAHO.

The transformers will have a new movie in 2007

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/

UPDATE -

http://www.transformersmovie.com/

Mapping /GIS workers not making much

Fri, 19 May 2006 20:15:42 GMT

Found this story from Adeana’s blog and pulled out the interesting parts. Looks like we still have a way to go on getting local governments thinking that mapping is an important business function.

“A labor lawyer is expected be hired to negotiate a new contract on behalf of the town - with legal fees to be drawn from a $50,000”

“…part-time clerk at the Townhouse Road office. Residents approved a sum of $12,280 for the 16-hour[per/week] position”

“Meanwhile, plans to hire a Graphic Information System (or GIS) director at a cost of $15,120 drew mixed reviews from town officials and the public. Councilor Gary T. Williams said the director would create valuable aerial and topographical maps that could be used by the town's Planning Department. …GIS director would also be in charge of town-wide computer maintenance and maintaining the town's Web site.”

But Matson said the addition is too costly. "For that amount you could pay for every map from here to Tokyo," he said.

WOW. This guy has not been to many assessor offices to buy maps.

http://www.thewesterlysun.com/articles/2006/05/17/news/news4.txt

http://www.allpointsblog.com/archives/1452-Quote-of-the-Week.html

Why training is so important......

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 19:58:01 GMT

2006 March 30 GIS Monitor from GITC America

Daniel Burrus envisions what he calls "higher tech," which, he says, "is not the tool, it's how you use the tool — it's not the technology, it's how you are applying it." He also argues for "helping to change the way users think," so that they can maximize the use of the tool. "Most of the people with access to technology," he says, "are not fully utilizing what we've already paid for. Many people don't even know a lot of the features and functions that are already available to them."

http://www.burrus.com/

http://www.gismonitor.com/news/newsletter/archive/archives.php?issue 060330&style=web&length=full#autodesk

Men Are Just Happier People

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 14:10:39 GMT

— What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.

You can be President.

You can never be pregnant.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.

You can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

Wedding dress $5000; Tux rental-$100.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle! your feet.

One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You almost never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.

Your belly usually hides your big hips.

One wallet and one pair of shoes one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25
minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

Photo Album: 2004

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 21:19:30 GMT

2004

jim-n-cheryl-w-bubbles

Blog list: GIS Blogs

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:28:09 GMT

GIS Blogs

First
ESRI Mngr
Second
ESRI Mngr