Do you know where your towel is?

Douglas Adams
Credit: DNA Press Photos by Jill Furmanovsky

International Towel Day — Celebrating the life & work of Douglas Adams

25 May every year, is Towel Day

‘A towel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-boggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, & of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.’

‘More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: nonhitchhiker) discovers that a hitchhiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, washcloth, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet-weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitchhiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitchhiker might accidentally have “lost”. What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length & breadth of the Galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through & still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.’

‘Hence a phrase which has passed into hitchhiking slang, as in, “Hey, you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? There's a frood who really knows where his towel is.”’

‘(Sass: know, be aware of, meet, have sex with; hoopy: really together guy; frood: really amazingly together guy.)’

– Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

More about Towel Day
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2014/05/international-towel-day-celebrating.html

Towel Day
http://towelday.org/

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towel_Day

More about Douglas Adams
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2012/02/7-awesome-things-that-douglas-adams-did.html / Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Towel Day annual celebration 25 25th May tribute late author Douglas Adams 1952-2001 fan fans around universe proudly carry towel his honour I love Douglas Adams get involved help spread the word about Towel Day #towelday tweet blog post in forums share a link in Facebook events event organize Towel Day announce carry a towel where everywhere proudly show world observe observed Towel Day upload picture Facebook Flickr tag ittowelday group video on YouTube Adams author wrote Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul The Meaning of Liff The Deeper Meaning of Liff Last Chance to See stories television series Doctor Who posthumous collection his work unfinished novel published The Salmon of Doubt in 2002 Restaurant at the End of the Universe Douglas Adams Douglas Addams /

What Pebble had up its sleeve – two new smart watches & a new type of connected device (video) - update

Pebble’s big announcement is a Kickstarter project which includes two new smartwatches & a new type of device called Pebble Core (see below).

It's another Pebble success story, passing $US2 million in pledges around 2:17 after the project went live. Most popular – Pebble Time 2 with close to 2,500 pledges. No other perk had reached 500 pledges at that time.

Update 15:54 Sunday 29 May – a little over 5 days – pledges have passed $US9 million, from over 47,600 backers.

Pebble 2 – an update of the original Pebble smartwatch


Pebble 2
Credit: Pebble/Kickstarter

● monochrome e-paper display
● built-in activity tracking & heart rate monitor
● plastic body
● water resistance to 30 metres
● microphone
● battery life up to 7 days
● access to 13,000 Pebble apps & watchfaces
● ships September 2016
● $US99 – early bird – 1st 10,000 backers

Pebble Time 2 – an update of the Pebble Time Steel smartwatch


Pebble Time 2
Credit: Pebble/Kickstarter

● colour e-paper display – 53% larger than previous Pebble smart watches

● built-in activity tracking & heart rate monitor
● stainless steel body – a first for Pebble
● water resistance to 30 metres
● microphone
● battery life up to 10 days
● access to 13,000 Pebble apps & watchfaces
● ships November 2016
● $US169 – early bird – 1st 10,000 backers



Pebble Core – a new type of device aimed at runners & hackers


Pebble 2 + Pebble Core fitted with earphones
Credit: Pebble/Kickstarter

● track location, distance, pace

● emergency SMS with location
● syncs with your favorite fitness app
● stream spotify
● voice notes
● leave your phone at home
● pairs with Pebble watch
● optional wireless charging $US20
● 3G + Bluetooth + WiFi
● hardware expansion port
● 2 programmable buttons
● early access to the Core SDK
● $US69 – early bird – 1st 5,000 backers

Kickstarter project
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-2-time-2-and-core-an-entirely-new-3g-ultra?ref=nav_search / two new heart-rate enabled smartwatches entirely new 3G ultra-wearable go for a run ditch the phone project Pebble 2 Time 2 Pebble Core Pebble Core for hackers Pebble Health third and best Kickstarter project announce two new smartwatches entirely new lightweight hackable connected device replace your phone when you’re out running Pebble 2 Time 2 new smartwatches with activity tracking fitness tracker smartwatch have it all new Pebble smartwatches keep you connected notifications show your schedule perform simple tasks with the click of a button built-in activity tracking heart rate monitor updated suite of Health tools Pebble on your wrist Pebble 2 Time 2 standard multi-day battery life water resistance to 30 meters e-paper displays readable indoors and out Pebble 2 Time 2 work with iOS and Android smartphones prices Pebble 2 Time 2 Pebble Core ultra-compact ultra-lightweight Core armbands hip pouches hassles exercising with your phone connected control Core streams music Spotify syncs GPS data Runkeeper Strava Under Armour Record leave phone at home run phone-free Pebble Core first 3G truly connected ultra-wearable Pebble Core for Hackers Pebble you can hack it Core is a tiny hackable Android computer keychain magic button for anything call an Uber with a click track your pet Stream data from your car’s ODB port pilot a drone from the web early access to Core SDK Pebble original smartwatch Kickstarter community Pebble launched smartwatch industry first ever $10M Kickstarter campaign record $20M produced five amazing smartwatches widely acclaimed epic battery life thoughtful design making Kickstarter wearable history Pebble 2 Time 2 Pebble Core Pebble Core for Hackers Pebble Health Pebble Core ultra-wearable for running leave your phone at home adaptive goals and scheduling /

Pebble has something up its sleeve

Pebble Time & Pebble Time Steel
Credit: Personal Tech Reviews

Update: this is what Pebble had up its sleeve.

Web page of the Pebble smartwatch has a countdown timer &:

Wait for it ...
You're in for a treat on May 24th at 10AM EDT
Enter your email to get all the juicy details first.

Last time Pebble published such a cryptic message, the revelation was the Pebble Time smartwatch.

“10AM EDT”, is 10am on the USA east coast. If you're not sure what time that is where you live, check the count-down-timer at: Update: No countdown timer now, but read about current & soon-to-be-available Pebble products at:

https://www.pebble.com/ / Pebble smartwatch smart watch smartwatch smartwatches indie Kickstarter project Pebble improving product selling watches CEO Eric Migicovsky one millionth Pebble price cuts new feature boosted sales figures Google Android Samsung Galaxy Gear new products new software platform Google Apple smartwatches app smartphone smart phone Pebble's new software new framework interaction model apps main focus platform Pebble Steel investment year webOS TV tasked new software platform launch Apple Watch Google Android Wear platform second third generation Android Wear smartwatches third-party developers web-based emulator developers build test apps install software 6,000 apps watchfaces watch face current platform hardware software wrist /

Your jeans just had a birthday

Credit: Art of Style

A patent was granted to a Reno tailor named Jacob Davis (inventor) & Levi Strauss in San Francisco (who financed the patent application) for riveted work pants on 20 May 1873.

So say happy birthday to your jeans :)

https://timeline.com/blue-jean-birthday-32bfc4fb6a26#.6zgtd6qhz

Official “History of the Levi’s® 501® Jeans” at http://www.levistrauss.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/History-of-Levis-501-Jeans.pdf / blue jean birthday pockets Levi’s Levis were born today 1872 Reno tailor named Jacob Davis Levi Strauss San Francisco modification invented make work pants stronger apply for the asked Strauss willing to provide the funds Strauss agreed patent for Improvement in Fastening Pocket-Openings granted May 20, 1873 20 May 1873 modern blue jeans were born waist overalls modification that made all the difference small metal rivets fasten pocket seams in place find them on your jeans today invention Pacific Rural Press simple device seems quite effective manufacture overalls popular amongst our working men overalls are made and cut style best custom made pants nothing looks more slouchy workman pockets ripped open hanging down clothing apt to be torn ripped pockets Levi’s new work pants featuring rivets called XX reference 9 oz. XX denim make the pants rebranded as 501’s top-selling work pant for men United States of America patent public in 1890 other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon blue jeans became a staple of American fashion /

New MacGyver series in the works (video)

Credit: CBS/insidethemagic.net

This new series with have Lucas Till in the title role. No sign of Richard Dean Anderson, but, as can be seen from the image above, the Swiss Army Knife is making a re-appearance.



https://bgr.com/2015/10/05/macgyver-2015-tv-series-reboot/

https://bgr.com/2016/05/20/2016-macgyver-trailer-release-date/

http://www.insidethemagic.net/2016/05/cbs-retools-macgyver-in-new-series-this-fall/

And then there was this pilot, which had as its central character, the nephew of the character played by Richard Dean Anderson
/ MacGyver from your childhood you’ve been waiting for finally happening trailer new MacGyver TV series remember MacGyver 80’s TV show featured bright know-it-all dude knew how to make the most of any dire situation figure out a way to get out of it new MacGyver series in the works MacGyver episode first trailer new MacGyver show character Lucas Till MacGyver Richard Dean Anderson starring Addison Timlin Michelle Krusiec George Eads action movie takes place in our present young MacGyver secret organization many talents will be put to good use secret agent unlike any other MacGyver escapes perilous situations paper clip his trusty knife his wit CBS character movie air Fridays 8:00PM starting this fall /

Drone counter-measures in the works – update

DroneDefender from Battelle
Credit: gamesareasocial.com

Drones pose a number of threats. Fortunately, counter measures are in development.

DroneDefender, shown above, has two emitter aerials, one of which can transmit signals to disrupt control signals from the operator. The second aerial can transmit signals to disrupt GPS or GLONASS for drones in self-navigation mode.

Dronebuster operates similarly, but has the advantage of being smaller & lighter than DroneDefender, which can weigh up to 15 pounds (6.8 kilogrammes).


Dronebuster from Flex Force
Credit: Ars Techica

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/05/dronebuster-will-let-you-point-and-shoot-command-hacks-at-pesky-drones/

DroneDefender Web site
http://www.battelle.org/our-work/national-security/tactical-systems/battelle-dronedefender

Or this low-tech approach may still bear fruit:
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/in-netherlands-police-are-training.html / Dronebuster point and shoot command hacks pesky drones jammer gun exploits library drone control protocols anti-drone technology public safety military organizations drunken federal employee crashed a drone White House lawn Navy League Sea Air Space Exposition two slightly different approaches problem anti-drone device deployed in the hands of federal law enforcement military street legal version coming soon drone killer Sea Air Space DroneDefender system developed researchers nonprofit research and development organization Battelle DroneDefender two-pronged drone jammer disrupt command-and-control signals from a remote operator disrupt automatic GPS GLONASS guidance two triggers powered by a small backpack DroneDefender radio-frequency targeted simple optical sight range of about 400 meters Battelledirected RF energy weapon sends jamming signal Industrial Scientific Medical ISM bands global positioning bands 30-degree cone point of aim Department of Defense counter-drone gun Dronebuster CTO chief technology officer Flex Force Dronebuster drones interfered with firefighters California first-responders local law enforcement version Dronebuster federal government customers device broadband jamming DroneDefender much smaller DroneDefender aimed optical sights integrated radio frequency power meter signal analyzer trained device distinguish what kind of signal is being emitted from the drone telemetry remote video streaming control jamming technology illegal to use in the US new version developed Flex Force operates completely within FCC regulations drone targeted new device FCC license jamming C&C Dronebuster exploits weaknesses drone communications protocols Dronebuster's operator trigger fly home command drones land command cycling through command sets various drone systems GPS GLONASS jamming add-on card available only to federal customers pending FCC approval Dronebuster customers /

Storing energy with an electric rail car & a hill

electric rail car + rocks + hill = electric energy storage system
Credit: ARES/Wired

Electrical energy can be stored using pumped hydro. I.e. use electricity to pump water uphill in times of oversupply, run it down through a hydro-electric system in times of shortage.

Anything at the top of a hill contains a store of potential energy, which can be released by running it down the hill. Case in point, a company called ARES (Advanced Rail Energy Storage) plans to have a rail energy storage system in Pahrump, Nevada by 2019. Electrical energy can be stored in the system by powering the electric motors to drive the rail car up a hill. Energy capacity of the system can be increased by increasing the mass of the rail car. Among the cheapest ways is loading the rail car with rocks.

Energy stored in the system can be released by running the rail car back down the hill, using the electric motors to generate electricity. Same principle as regenerative braking in an electric car.

ARES’ pilot system is planned to have a capacity of 12.5 megaWatt-hours.

https://www.wired.com/2016/05/forget-elons-batteries-fix-grid-rock-filled-train-hill/?mbid=nl_51616

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/First-Grid-Scale-Rail-Energy-Storage-Project-Gets-Environmental-Approval-Fr / natural resource gravity local utility surplus electricity power electric motors 9,600 tons of rock concrete filled railcars up 2,000-foot hill railcar generate electricity regenerative braking energy used to move the train up the hill stored when it comes back down ARES pilot project demonstration track in California Pahrump $55 million energy storage system utility companies relatively minor adjustments electricity output input Nevada project power capacity 50 megawatts produce 12.5 megawatt-hours electricity energy electrical energy relatively large battery storage projects Fifty megawatts economies of scale ARES CEO James Kelly more efficient larger ARES rocks gravity low-tech cheap project on-the-ground electronics telecommunications equipment railcars specifications IHS Emerging Energy Research kiloWatt hour energy storage analyst GTM Research new technology simplicity ARES different scenario safety weight future of energy storage /