This lil self-molding robot came out of a DARPA-funded project at MIT to build “programmable matter” (in a non-nanotech context free of grey goo risks). I keep seeing it hyped online as the first steps towards a real Transformer, which I guess is a neat link-bait hook, but no doubt leads to plenty of disappointed link-followers who click through only to see what amounts to a pretty slow robo-worm. But watch the video, because the legitimately exciting lede is getting buried: In order to build the worm these MIT poindexters had to invent a new kind of super-small gearless motor that holds its position even after power is removed, making for a sort of electromechanical e-ink. It’s a far cry from a Transformer, but really promising in construction, for example, where these tiny motors could control vents and blinds to regulate temperatures, controlling air flow and how much sun chines directly into a building, rather than clicking the HVAC off and on constantly to jockey the temperature.
(via The tiny transforming robot that can turn into (almost) anything – The Week)
Author: dave-o
STEAMPUNK III: Steampunk Revolution Launches Today! Features Fiction by Poor Mojo’s Giant Squid (as well as some humans)! #steampunk
We’re pleased as punch to note that today is the official launch (check out the cake!) of Steampunk Revolution–the third steampunk anthology edited by Ann VanderMeer (widely praised for the last two volumes in the series, as well as her past work for Weird Tales and on a slew of other anthos). This go ’round Ann is looking at the post-steampunk end of steampunk, the bits that push past the tight aesthetic focus on dirigibles, steam, brass goggles, and white people in Victorian England. According to Ann, breaking a genre’s most cherished conventions is about as punk as you can get, so that’s where this book aims to go.
Stories include an instructional tale for writers by our own Poor Mojo’s Giant Squid (written with an assist from Poor Mojo’s editors Morgan Johnson, David Erik Nelson, and Fritz Swanson), as well as fiction by Cherie Priest, Bruce Sterling, Jeffrey Ford, Lavie Tidhar, Jeff VanderMeer, and plenty more. Check it out:
For the squid-obsessed or steampunk-enthusiastic, I also have a different squid-themed story in the VanderMeer’s previous anthology Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded:
Does Cash Rule Everything Around Me?
Sorry for the late heads-up; we were traveling for Thanksgiving, and I’ve since had a congested baby (which is, bar none, the *worst* kind). At any rate, I continue to write a monthly column for the Ann Arbor Chronicle. This time around I talk about why I voted for Obama, how he expanded the electorate, if you can buy an election, and what we should maybe consider focusing on at the ballot box (*hint*: It isn’t just the economy).
The Ann Arbor Chronicle | In it for the Money: C.R.E.A.M.
. . .
Perhaps what’s most emblematic of the progress embodied by the Obama’s re-election is how he pulled it off. Often elections seem to focus almost exclusively on first solidifying support among the party faithful, and then with wooing “independents” (i.e., registered voters who show no party affiliation). What was extra-special about the Obama Campaign – and resulted in both a tidy majority in the popular vote and pretty stunning chunk of the Electoral College [5] – was how deeply it focused on expanding the electorate instead of wooing the independents. The campaign sought out citizens who were likely to support the president but had never voted before, and brought them into the conversation. From a marketing perspective, this is an entirely different activity from traditional campaigning, because you aren’t seeking to shift an existing behavior (“Buy Coke instead of Pepsi!”) but to create a new behavior (“Go to the gym instead of standing around drinking pop!”)
So, that’s one last nudge away from sanctioning bigotry and assisting persecution: Bringing the disenfranchised into the national conversation. I can think of nothing that better exemplifies what our democracy should be about than dropping millions of dollars on convincing people who don’t think their voice is valid or valuable that they need to join the conversation.
In the days following the election, as I heard both the Romney/Ryan campaign and Mitt Romney himself bemoaning – and even demonizing – this project of expanding the electorate, I was left to wonder what the hell country he thought we were living in. Just to review some basic American Civics: If you’re running for an elected position in a democracy and your opponent can rally more citizens who agree with his views than yours, it’s your views that are fucked up, not the People.
. . .
Perhaps what’s most emblematic of the progress embodied by the Obama’s re-election is how he pulled it off. Often elections seem to focus almost exclusively on first solidifying support among the party faithful, and then with wooing “independents” (i.e., registered voters who show no party affiliation). What was extra-special about the Obama Campaign – and resulted in both a tidy majority in the popular vote and pretty stunning chunk of the Electoral College [5] – was how deeply it focused on expanding the electorate instead of wooing the independents. The campaign sought out citizens who were likely to support the president but had never voted before, and brought them into the conversation. From a marketing perspective, this is an entirely different activity from traditional campaigning, because you aren’t seeking to shift an existing behavior (“Buy Coke instead of Pepsi!”) but to create a new behavior (“Go to the gym instead of standing around drinking pop!”)
So, that’s one last nudge away from sanctioning bigotry and assisting persecution: Bringing the disenfranchised into the national conversation. I can think of nothing that better exemplifies what our democracy should be about than dropping millions of dollars on convincing people who don’t think their voice is valid or valuable that they need to join the conversation.
In the days following the election, as I heard both the Romney/Ryan campaign and Mitt Romney himself bemoaning – and even demonizing – this project of expanding the electorate, I was left to wonder what the hell country he thought we were living in. Just to review some basic American Civics: If you’re running for an elected position in a democracy and your opponent can rally more citizens who agree with his views than yours, it’s your views that are fucked up, not the People.
. . .
Oh. My. GOD: IT’S *CYBER MONDAY*!!1!
I’m not really sure if Cyber Monday is still a thing or not, but the gift-buying season has clearly begun, and I’m still a guy who’s got stuff you might want to give to the Special Ones in your life.
SNIP, BURN, SOLDER, SHRED
As of this writing there are two (2!!!) copies of my geeky DIY book in the Amazon warehouse, but I’m told more will reach them soon–or you can buy directly from my publisher–use the coupon code SHRED and you’ll save 35 percent, bringing the paperback price down to meet Amazon’s. As a bonus, No Starch Press throws in DRM-free ebook version (including ePub, Kindle-ready mobi, and a super-slick PDF) for FREE. Want a personalized, autographed copy of the book? I can hook you up!
Amazon reviewers have scads of nice things to say about Snip, Burn–all of which please me beyond all proportion:
“A great book for parents looking for new ways to interact with their kids.”
“I highly recommend this book as I know you will also find some great projects to try out for yourself!”
“My husbands eyes lit up when he saw this book! He couldn’t get enough of it. ”
“Highly recommended by this high school music teacher. Great ideas for student projects or even at-home projects with your own kids.”
“I highly recommend this book as I know you will also find some great projects to try out for yourself!”
“My husbands eyes lit up when he saw this book! He couldn’t get enough of it. ”
“Highly recommended by this high school music teacher. Great ideas for student projects or even at-home projects with your own kids.”
“TUCKER TEACHES THE CLOCKIES TO COPULATE”
I’m not 100% sure you can even *give* a Kindle book as a gift; if you can, then you can give my celebrated steampunk novella.
“A hilarious and moving and filthy read. Highly recommended for people who like intelligent fiction that isn’t afraid to get dirty and weird at times.”
“Tucker is funny, and dense, and more than a little dark, and engaging, cover to cover. ”
“A fun and darkly funny story that’s also strangely poignant. Good whether you like steampunk or have no idea what the genre is. Read this one. You won’t regret it.”
“Tucker is funny, and dense, and more than a little dark, and engaging, cover to cover. ”
“A fun and darkly funny story that’s also strangely poignant. Good whether you like steampunk or have no idea what the genre is. Read this one. You won’t regret it.”
If Kindle-book giving is verboten by Amazon, I can go you one better: I’ll sell you DRM-Free ebooks in all popular formats or–for a premium–a limited edition, handmade print chapbook.
The illustrated ebook pack is the same as the Kindle version available through Amazon, but DRM-free, and in formats suitable for almost any device. Includes mobi, ePub, PDF (in several print-ready layouts), and digital extras(!!!) “Patrons” get an exclusive, handmade, signed and numbered print edition (like the one in the pic)! Details on Pick-What-You-Pay options
STEAMPUNK II: STEAMPUNK RELOADED and STEAMPUNK III: STEAMPUNK REVOLUTION
If you dig steampunk and *also* dig books *not* printed in some guy’s basement, check these out. (FYI, my story in Steampunk II, “The Bold Explorer in the Place Beyond,” is a prequel to “Tucker Teaches the Clockies to Copulate.”)
Nostalgia Hit and Non-Denominational Gift Giving Holiday Prep
Sorry for the long silent spell: family obligations, croupy babies, a big-deal election, and the kinda work that pays net 45 or better has kept me from my appointed rounds. In the meantime, a couple totally mundane updates.
First, nostalgia trip! My dad was cleaning out his home office and came across this little fella (as well as a smattering of very well-played with figures much the worse for wear):
{*squeeeeeee!*}
Also, I’ve begun Holiday Gift prep with two unbroken hours of zesting organic lemons (which also means I’m stocked up for Hot Lemonade and Bourbon Season–which is a much more narrowly recognized seasonal celebration mostly practiced within the confines of my home):
I’ll post the recipe some day soonish, since it’s easy (although a little time consuming), ripe for riffing, and the results make everyone *super happy*!
RECOMMENDED READING: Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike by Grant Peterson
Although this is framed as a manifesto by a former bike-racer-turned-designer/bike-populist, railing against what “racer mentality” has done to the otherwise universal American pastime of “riding bikes,” I’m *manically* recommending it to anyone who likes to pedal. It’s a great, great book: a quick, fun read composed of short, tightly focused practical articles. the book is *packed* with excellent advice on fitness, maintenance, bike fitting, and riding techniques. E.g., this was the first I’d heard about using your hips to assist cornering, and it’s *changed my life.* I disagree with him about helmets (since I started riding daily in a city full of drivers-from-elsewhere, I’m *deeply* committed to my relationship with my brain bucket), but his points about how to own a slightly larger slice of the road by giving the *impression* that you’re an incompetent rider has been revelatory.
I’ve never been tainted by the bike-racing headspace (I’m *waaaaaay* to lazy to be into competitive *anything*), but I read this book in a single day, and have been going back to it frequently since, applying Peterson’s tips to my bike, diet, and exercise regimen. Get a copy, read it, and keep it close at hand.
If there’s a whack-ass Yoda hat at the center of the Universe, then this is the point farthest from
A pal posted pics on Facebook of her two boys dressed as Luke Skywalker and Yoda. They looked *rad* as HELL, and I just basically freaked out, I loved the knitted Yoda hat so much. She obliged with the pattern she riffed on to make it, and I furnish that to you, here, now. Enjoy, my little yarn-crafters!
Ravelry: You Seek Yoda Hat pattern by Nancy Lutz
(thx, steph!)
So you like what you see? Wanna read more? #scifi #reading
On the off chance that you come here for the writing (as opposed to just gawking at the rad pictures of my beard, mushrooms, and no-arm Civil War dudes), you might be interested in a few new and classic writings I have on offer.
If you’re interested in the misadventures of a land-bound, advice-tendering Giant Squid, check out the story Morgan Johnson, Fritz Swanson, and I have in the new anthology Steampunk III, just hitting stores now:
For those thrilled equally by ingenuity and the human ramifications of very clever clockwork robots, check out my novella Tucker Teaches the Clockies to Copulate:
I reckon Mr. Nelson might be a bit wrong in the head, frankly, but the product of that disarray is quite lovely–tender, almost, but also sharp and perceptive.
A standalone prequel to this novella–featuring the parable of a tiny squid with big notions–is included in the VanderMeer’s Steampunk II anthology:
“Beautiful, often lyrical, frequently disturbing, always exciting, and occasionally even funny, but they’re also dense, literary, and trusting of the reader to be smart enough to ‘get’ it.”–New York Journal of Books on Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
I’ve been up since 4:20am on nothing but coffee, “Fun Size” Snickers, and positive baby vibes! Time for organic pizza and *more coffee*!!! *Whoooooooooooooo!!!*
(oh, and don’t forget to hit that No Starch Press LEGO promotion; scroll down one post for details)
ACT FAST and Save 40% on No Starch Press LEGO Books! #LEGO
My publisher, No Starch Press, is running a two-day promotion on *all* their LEGO books: Just shop through their site, use the coupon code BUILDIT during checkout, and save 40 percent: 40% Off All LEGO Books! | No Starch Press
No Starch has some *awesome* LEGO books, which I’ve talked about in the past (scroll down a bit to hit the LEGO book reviews). My top gift-giving picks are definitely Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide and Cult of LEGO for AFoLs (“adult fans of LEGO”), and all of Yoshihito Isogawa’s LEGO Technic Idea Books for *everyone.*