All posts by Richard

Nokia N800 RSS Capability

I decided it was time to do an entire post using my bluetooth keyboard and my Nokia N800 internet tablet. Last night we had some friends over for dinner and everyone was amazed with both the clarity and size of my Nokia’s screen. Obviously that is the key point … my ease of viewing web based content as well as upgrading when new software is created for the Nokia’s Linux based operating system.

One change in my web browsing habits is that I’ve split up my RSS feeds. My work focused feeds remain on my PC; but my leisure based feeds are now on my Nokia. It’s nice to sit on my bed after a long cross-country ski with my feet up and read for fun. It’s just plain comfortable! Thus attached to this posting are eleven screenshots taken on my Nokia N800.  They demonstrate how easy it is to use and read RSS feeds via the Nokia. In my case I was leaving the frozen Northland for a trip via the NY Times Travel Section.

  • Screenshots
  • 00: Nokia Desktop
  • 01: Web Applications Menu
  • 02: RSS Application Start-Up
  • 03: RSS Menu – Feed
  • 04: RSS Menu – Edit
  • 05: RSS Menu – View (and zoom)
  • 06: RSS Menu – Tools
  • 07: NY Times Travel Section Feed
  • 08: Toggle to NY Times "Full View"
  • 09: Web Page Link / Galapagos Islands
  • My Earlier Nokia N800 Review (demo screencast)

I’ve yet to find an application out there which allows me to edit jpg files. More than likely, I’m not looking hard enough! Oh yes, one final point  … the RSS Feed Reader that came with my Nokia had no problems importing an OPML file. Thus, I was able to import feeds in mass via a file transferred over from my PC.
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Screenshot00 Screenshot01 Screenshot02 Screenshot03 Screenshot04 Screenshot05 Screenshot06 Screenshot07 Screenshot08 Screenshot09

Google Open Source Science Initiative

Stanford Professor Larry Lessig has led the charge to insure that basic access to scientific and other kinds of research are available without charge. His book on this subject, The Future of Ideas, is available for free download. You may also wish to watch his talk given at TED which was titled How Creativity Is Being Strangled By The Law. Obviously I resonate with these concepts, and my blog is focused upon that goal. Thus, it is with great interest that I learn via Rafael Sidi’s blog (Really Simple Sidi – RSS) of Google’s entry into this domain:

Quoted from Wired Magazine – January 18, 2008: "Sources at Google have disclosed that the humble domain, http://research.google.com, will soon provide a home for terabytes of open-source scientific datasets. The storage will be free to scientists and access to the data will be free for all. The project, known as Palimpsest and previewed to the scientific community at the Science Foo camp at the Googleplex last August, missed its original launch date this week, but will debut soon."

This initiative will be worth monitoring …
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Minnesotans at Play (-18F) … Pond Hockey

Even though the temperature at 8:30 a.m. this morning is -18F (-28C) at my house … with a windchill that is down in the -35F (-37C) range, the National Pond Hockey Championships march on (skate on?!). Take a few moments and enjoy Minnesotas at play … and actually teams from around the United States and Canada.  This is the kind of hockey that we all played as kids (at least us Minnesota folk).

Pondhockey

Can You Spot the Northstar Nerd?!

There are no prizes for winning this game, except increased knowledge!

Late yesterday afternoon I had to laugh at myself. I truly demonstrated that I was the "Northstar" Nerd. Here was the situation:

  • I had just finished a hard cross-county skiing workout (see Loppets for LindYun)
  • Upon finishing, I discovered that the lanyard from my thumb drive had been around my neck during my entire ski!

You may ask … why? Well, I was listening to the Car Talk podcast via my FM modulator in my car while driving over to the park where I ski.  As the podcast was not finished when I arrived, I left the thumb drive connected to the modulator, and started my workout … compete with disconnected lanyard around my neck!

Now how can this be educational for you? Do you time shift by listening to podcasts in your car? Although I was listening to CarTalk, lots of other knowledge based podcasts are available … for instance Harvard Ideacast. I’ve attached a few photos to give you a better understanding, but link to my Drivetime podcast post to watch a tutorial, and view some of my podcast links. The cost of an FM modulator is under $25 U.S.
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Legos (and Loppets) for LingYun

Last Fall when I visited the LingYun region of southern China, near the border with Vietnam, I was amazed to meet little children who hike for hours on mountains paths to reach rural schools. These same children then live in dorms … not getting home for weeks at a time. The living conditions for these children was saddening.

It was hard to imagine 10 to 12 year old children living away from home at such a young age. Thus, I'm expanding my dorm project to include Legos! These "dorm children" have nothing except what a small backpack holds. Wouldn't it be neat if in addition to rebuilding their dorm, we gave the kids some basic Legos to play with? … nothing fancy … just basic building kits. I've found Legos to be almost indestructible, and for children the fun of building is universal. When school and homework are completed for the day, these children could play with Legos! Last year I brought books to the school I rebuilt.  This year … Legos and Loppets!

If you have used Legos, please send them to me. I will take them to the children of LingYun. I have two requirements:

  • Legos should be in good condition
  • Legos should be basic construction pieces

You may either contact me by email for more instructions, or just send (or drop off) your Legos to:

  • Rich Hoeg (the Northstar Nerd!)
  • 3924 Wisconsin Avenue North
  • New Hope, Minnesota  55427

In addition, please consider a financial donation to help cover the cost of rebuilding the dorm. In the U.S.A., your donation is tax deductible via the China Tomorrow Education Foundation (CTEF). Here is background concerning the dorm rebuilding project:

Finally, I've attached two photos and a map from my recent trip to JiaYou. One photo shows me with the JiaYou kids; the second photo are some LingYun children who need your help.
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JiayoukidsLingyunkidsGuangzhou_2 Legos_4