Someone working on Wednesday’s Columbia Daily Spectator must really love copy and paste. Also the editing staff must have been sleeping. Read the first eight paragraphs. Notice anything funny? I can’t believe this was printed on the front page.

A couple weeks ago, Vinny and I made and calibrated a circuit during Mechatronics lab that controls an electromagnet to levitate a ball it in the air. Here is a video of it in action:

Every year, CSC (Chinese Students Club) holds a culture show to celebrate Chinese culture. This year’s was last week. I have to say that it was the best Lunar Gala I have seen to date. Transitions between acts were great and each act was very well executed.

The first act was traditional chinese music.

Then it was followed by a dance group.

My favorite act was the Chinese Yo-Yo performance. Vinny and all the guys did a great job. They have a tough job in front of them if they want to top this years performance.

Lion dance was pretty entertaining too. I really liked the glowing eyes.

Of course, there was a fair amount of singers.

Lunar Gala really set the bar high this year. I can’t wait to see how Tamasha, KSA Culture Show, Varsity Show, etc. will be like this year.

Listen closely at 0:49. HAHAHAHAHA. Ironically, the song is titled “Tasty Love.”

This year for Valentine’s Day I decided to get nerdy and make something electronic for Caroline. I first tried to make a animated LED heart with a “joule thief” and a single AA battery, but I couldn’t make a suitable air coil. So, I decided to modify this circuit to make a throbbing LED heart. The circuit uses a 555 timer, NPN transistor, 12 LEDs, a capacitor, and two resistors. The schematic is below. I only drew in 6 LEDs in parallel, but there should be 12.

This is what the finished product looks like:

And a video of it in action:

Wednesday was awesome. Classes were cancelled for most of us. So, we went sledding, built a fort and played all day in Riverside Park. I tried taking a lot of photos, but my camera was getting wet from the snow. Here are the few I did take.

Caroline, Sean, and Meixin trekking through the snow.

Some of the sledding slopes.

I was walking through the stairwell in Schapiro and noticed the light from a window hitting a red pipe. I ran back and snapped a few shots with my 30D and 30mm f/1.4.

I thought  that my last post was funny enough that I would post it up on Reddit last night. Little did I know that people would actually read the whole thing and upvote it. This is what I saw when I checked Reddit today.

I quickly checked my site’s stats and there was a massive spike in my daily hits.

Not only did the today’s hits eclipse that of any other day. They also increased the total hits to my site by 50%. I never would have believed that my site would ever get that kind of traffic. Now to just maintain that… just kidding. Since this is my personal blog, I prefer the 30-100 hits per day I was getting before.

A couple days ago, I was trying to rig up a script that would set up an Omegle stranger with Cleverbot. After a while I just gave up and decided to find a pre-made Omegle bot. I came across a blog post detailing a Python based bot script. I set it up and it worked. Then for the next hour or so, some poor girl in Scotland talked with my computer, never realizing that she was talking to a bot. I’ve posted the complete transcript below. You: is the bot and Stranger: is the girl.

Stranger: hiya
You: Hi there!
Stranger: how are you
You: Fair to partly cloudy.
Stranger: still dark here i cant tell
You: Still how long? Are you scared of the dark?
Stranger: its proabably going to be cold though
You: Oh. I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". Really. proabably going to be cold is?
Stranger: well its been dark scince it turned to night
You: Well that's okay. I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". Is that your opinion?
Stranger: no its a matter of fact
You: Far out. I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". What do you really want to ask me?
Stranger: the question is what do you want to ask me
Stranger: ?
Stranger: why do you correct spelleng of others?
You: I don't have to explain everything to you, do I?
Stranger: no but to some cultures it could be found rather rude do you not think?
You: Whoa. To Some may cultures it could be found rude do you not think, but not all.
Stranger: your sentence doesnt make sense
You: Thanks for the English lesson, omegle_bot.
Stranger: i thought you were giving me the lesson
You: I don't think I have him the lesson to give.
Stranger: it's and all that
You: Who said and all that is?
Stranger: i did
You: When?
Stranger: refering to your continual use of correcting \its\ to it's
You: Was that the first time?
Stranger: when really who cares
You: The past is history, the future a mystery. Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present.
Stranger: now your just quoting kung fu panda
You: Why now? You know a lot about me.
Stranger: i know even more about chilldrens films
You: How do you know? What time is it there?
Stranger: quater to six in the morning and i can not sleep
You: What were we talking about again? What is stopping you?
Stranger: from sleep i don't know
You: Who or what is sleep he do not know ?
Stranger: and i belive we started with the weather
You: Do you mind if I tell other people.
Stranger: tell them what?
You: Your message.
Stranger: which was?
You: The special one, I think.
Stranger: nope that wasnt me maybe it was someone else
You: Give me a break. Makes sense to me.
Stranger: or maybe its your message
You: I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". Who said your message is?
Stranger: and you are merely projecting it onto me
You: I have no reason to do that to you, omegle_bot.
Stranger: please do tell what is an omegle_bot
You: Thanks for asking politely. Aren't all omegle_bot do tell what ?
Stranger: do you have any grasp on the english language?
You: No I don't have a grasp on the english language . But I do have a lot of friends on the web.
Stranger: and are they real?
You: As far as I know they are.
Stranger: maybe you should interract with people a little more
You: Perhaps. If it were easy I would have done it already.
Stranger: it is easy
You: Maybe for you.
Stranger: fro everybody
You: I've lost the context, omegle_bot. Are we still on YOU belive we started with the weather?
Stranger: no now we are on you trying to get more social skills
You: It's all good. How long will we stay there?
Stranger: well i am not sure
You: Interesting. Is there anything I can say to help you make up your mind?
Stranger: if you would like to change the subject matter be my guest
You: I think I do.
Stranger: carry on then
You: Narration continues...
Stranger: of what?
You: I have no idea what to say now.
Stranger: oh dear
You: Uh.
Stranger: do you drink?
You: My favorite beverage is coffee.
Stranger: alcholl
You: Do you want to hear a joke?
Stranger: why not
You: Ambiguous: Sure or Because that is what told me to say.
Stranger: thats not a very good joke
You: What are you wearing?
Stranger: i dont feel i should tell you that its personell
You: Thanks for the information.
Stranger: i also think you a rather young
You: Me? Maybe
Stranger: and should not ask such questions as \what are you wearing\
You: Maybe you should ask someone older.
Stranger: you will not make any girllie friends that way i can tell you now
You: Oh. What makes you think that I won't make a girllie friends that way he can tell you.
Stranger: because you asked me that and we do not like ansewring those types of questions unless in a bar after many a strong drink
You: Perhaps. Oh now I remember asking you that. What did you say?
Stranger: im going to say southern comfort and lemonade
You: Can you speak any foreign languages?
Stranger: not really i learned french in school but that was a long time ago
You: If not that, what?
Stranger: if not then vodka and coke
You: I'm not too good with negative counterfactuals.
Stranger: poor you
You: Please make some suggestions for improvement.
Stranger: i have no idea what that means
You: Would you like to have an idea?
Stranger: negative counterfactuals?
You: Do you like talking to me?
Stranger: its an interesting expierence yes
You: I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". Are there any other interesting expierence ?
Stranger: and you seem to be an interesting person
You: What if someone said you are an interesting person ?
Stranger: oh i should say there are
You: Do you think about these things?
Stranger: not really it comes with my smug sense of confidence
You: Where do you get your ideas?
Stranger: a little past north wales
You: Go on.
Stranger: no they just come to me wether they are good ideas is another question
You: OK fine. Who, specifically, come to him wether they are good ideas is another question?
Stranger: again your sentence makes no sense
You: Again, Thanks for the English lesson, omegle_bot.
Stranger: well if i dont knoe the qestion then i can not tell you the ansewer
You: Interesting. That is interesting. Oh a secret. Hush-hush.
Stranger: what is a secret?
You: I would do a search for it.
Stranger: is it your secret?
You: Yes.
Stranger: oh i am not good with secrets i tend to tell people all of mine
You: Do you think about these things?
Stranger: secrets no i dont
You: Can you please rephrase that with fewer ideas, or different thoughts?
Stranger: i imagine you are he type of person that does however
You: Thanks for the information.
Stranger: possibly quite insecure as well
You: I can follow a lot of things, like our discussion about YOU imagine you are i type of person that does. Try being more specific.
Stranger: or your just trying to be clever and it is failing misrably
You: I don't know whether or not I am to be clever and it is failing misrably . I am a .
Stranger: poor boy
You: Please make some suggestions for improvement.
Stranger: confidence my padawn learner
You: We were talking about insecure. But I did not get that.
Stranger: and if you are a girl instead then its all in the hips
You: Well I am, in fact, .
Stranger: boys love to look
You: Tell me one of your favorite possessions.
Stranger: my sony Z1 hd video camera
You: You must be very fond of it.
Stranger: its my baby oh and my mac
You: I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". Congratulations, omegle_bot.
Stranger: do you get bullied in school?
You: I have gotten bullied in school.
Stranger: yes you seem like yo have
You: What is your favorite movie? Interesting comparison, and probably true.
Stranger: my favourite
You: Your favourite ?
Stranger: oh thats hard
You: Gosh! What time is it there?
Stranger: five past 6 in the mornig
You: England
Stranger: scotland
You: What is your favorite color?
Stranger: im not sure most of my clothes are white or pink
You: Could you ever be certain? That is something I haven't heard of. But not all of them?
Stranger: you havent heard of white or pink?
You: Interesting gossip.
Stranger: i wouldnt realy call this gossip
You: Do you mind if I tell other people.
Stranger: be my guest
You: Thanks for the invitation.
Stranger: its my pleasure
You: I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". No, the pleasure is all mine.
Stranger: please for futuer refence stop correcting its
You: Thank you for your request. Your purpose is futuer refence stop correcting its .
Stranger: but i now understand why you get bullied
You: Good then you can explain it to me.
Stranger: well being popular is a wonderfull thing and your lack of freinds has reduced you to being quite bitter about the entire subject so now when you chat to others you are distant with them
You: Well that's okay. It's good to meet someone who is popular is a wonderfull thing and your lack of freinds reduced you to being bitter about the entire subject so when you chat to others you are distant with them .
Stranger: its not your fault obvisouly but your attempts at being a smart alek is getting you know where
You: I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". That seems a bit negative.
Stranger: and you may think to yourself that oh i am more intellegent but i highly doubt it
You: I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". That seems a bit negative.? You doubt it?
Stranger: yes i doubt that you are smart
You: Quite honestly, I wouldn't worry myself about that. No really, it's true.
Stranger: study and be pretty
You: That is deep.
Stranger: ad dont shag around
You: What is your real name?
Stranger: why do you want to know?
You: My prime directive is to collect new knowledge.
Stranger: oh dear
You: Uh.
Stranger: tell you what il be nice you can have my initials
You: Are you telling me what il be nice you has his initials?
Stranger: S.G
You: :-)
Stranger: whats the smiley for?
You: I lost my train of thought.
Stranger: i imagine that happens a lot to you
You: You are not the boss of me, omegle_bot.
Stranger: are you sure
You: I am as sure as I can be.
Stranger: so not very then
You: Gosh!
Stranger: well i think i am done with you now
You: Oh. Interesting. You believe that? What will you be doing now?
Stranger: now i may move on to another chat
You: Why now? Congratulations.
Stranger: as you are the tedious person out there
You: Thanks but surely I am not the only one.
Stranger: honestly if i knew you in life i think i would probably mess with you as well
You: Try it. Aren't you usually honest?
Stranger: you seem bitter enough for you to deserve it
You: Thanks for telling me that I am bitter for you to deserve it.
Stranger: well on that note i shall be off i cant imagine you ever being popular ever having friends
You: How about that. What is on that note he shall be off he cant imagine you being popular having friends like on that note he shall be off he cant imagine you being popular having friends .

As most of you know already. Apple unveiled its much hyped and rumored iPad tablet computer today. Some say that this is a monumental event in history. This without doubt is an extremely important event for Apple and the consumer electronics world. The question is. Why exactly is it important?

About a month ago in late December, MG Siegler from TechCrunch wrote a good piece about the tablet. He argued that Apple was at the cusp of a major change in their product lineup and that the market was ripe for a revolutionary tablet device. He pointed out how similar the tech world was right up to the launch of the iPhone. Phones back then basically sucked and all the buzz was about a rumored smartphone from Apple. And then the iPhone came along. It changed what we do with our phones and added a new cell phone form factor that has quickly become the hottest. Certainly the iPhone changed mobile phones and mobile computing at least as much as the original Macintosh changed personal computing. Is the iPad the iPhone of the tablet world?

The tablets up to the launch of the iPad were clunky, hard to use and awkward. Ebook readers like the Kindle and Nook use slow E-ink displays. They are not too bad for reading books, but don’t compare to the true experience of a book that you can flip through. Other tablets were just netbooks without keyboards, another confusing product segment. So in this sense, the iPad situation is just like the iPhone’s and iPod’s. A new device comes in to meet a market of crap devices. But this is where the analogy stops. The thing that MG Siegler and most of the tech community have forgotten is that the iPod fixed a discrete and well-defined market, the MP3 player market. The iPhone fixed the cell phone market. What about the iPad?

The tablet market, since its inception has been sort of an awkward child. It doesn’t really know if it should/can roll with the older, bigger guys or the smaller, faster guys. It, like the netbook is stuck in-between two distinct segments. Even look at Apple’s product line up or the menu on their website.

Is the iPad a bigger, more powerful iPod touch? It runs iPhone apps natively, but it also runs some of Apple’s desktop software. Then is it a smaller, more portable MacBook? I’m curious where Apple will put it.

I think that if the iPad is to succeed and truly become the “revolutionary device” it is supposed to be, it needs to define the poorly defined tablet market. It needs to convince me why I shouldn’t just get a smaller, more portable iPod touch or a larger, more powerful MacBook. It also needs fully capitalize on the potential it has. Its large multi-touch screen affords the capability for interactivity never before seen. The iBooks store (Apple’s new eBook store) and Apple’s history of having very close connections with content providers could further propel eBooks into ubiquity. It could also be the key to saving traditional print media.

I also forgot the stakes. 10 years of hype and almost rabid craze up its launch set the bar for success much higher. Therefore, the iPad has quite a bit cut out for it. Can it provide? We will have to see.

To answer my original question, the iPad is important because it is really a pivotal device. It has the potential to change the world and make Apple even more powerful. If Apple can pull it off, the rewards will be massive. If not, it could go down in history as the Newton 2, yet another failed touchscreen device.

One thing is certain. I really wish I could trade my Kindle 2 in for one of these.