David Caputo is a quick study.

 
I recently cobbled together a BEAM style walking robot using the unique staple circuit known as the “bicore” and a single servo. The bicore is a really neat little circuit that powers a whole slew of different bot designs in the BEAM Bestiary. Its funny because I have been tinkering with the Arduino to try and build some simple bots and have realized that it is way more power and a bit unnecessary for what I want to do. The BEAM system caught my eye when I was looking through an old issue of MAKE Magazine because they are simple, cheap and the designs tend to be very clever. They use very simple pieces in interesting ways so that the whole becomes much great than its parts. Though I do not have an advanced understanding of electronics I can understand most of the principles that make up the bicore. There are countless pages detailing different designs but the thing that always impresses me most about the majority of the designs is doing a lot with a little. By building on a simple design people are making really cool robots!I would highly recommend starting out a Solar Roller or Pummer if you are looking for a simple, low cost and fun way to get into Robotics! Click here for a Tutorial on how to make your own! 

I attended The New York Internet Marketing Meetup last night and saw a pretty informative lecture on SEO. It was given by John Murch from SEO Drop. He gave a quick overview of what he does with some useful tips and tricks. One of the things that I thought might be helpful for those of you out there who have no idea where to start with SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization, is an ebook by Google.Why should you know about SEO and why is it important? By fine tuning your site you can increase your position in search listings. So if you are currently on the 4th page of a google search for “Dog Tuxedos” you should take a look at the guide and your site. You may be able to organize it better, write in better keywords or some other simple steps that will bump you up to the first page and even the first position.

Above Sea Level? American Sign Language? Argininosuccinate lyase? Nope. What does the title of this post refer to? For me it refers to a phrase buried deep in my past when I used to use AOL. You would constantly see this pop up in chat rooms and, although I am no longer a user of chat rooms, I am sure it still does today. Age / Sex / Location. I made a little php page in honor of this memory from my early years on the world wide web. Just a random little thing that can help you out if your ever caught in a chat room and posed that brain teaser of a question.

http://davidcaputo.net/ASL/ 

It would seem that these three priori are the basis of forming any sort of relationship with someone, fantasized, virtualized or otherwise. You can build an entire drama around an individual by knowing these 3 facts. How old are you, are you male or female and where are you right now. My iPhone is constantly asking me for the later of those three whenever I open a new app. Even if that app really has no feature that would, at first glance, need my location. I am waiting with trepidation for the day that it asks me for the other two pieces of information.

Kroosh and I should be heading over to NYC Resistor to check out Craft night. I am hoping to buy a little time on the laser cutter (LAZZZZZOOOOOR) to get a few pieces cut for a little lighting project I have been thinking about. The space collectively purchased a 35 watt Epilog laser. Occasionally there are classes that go over the basics of designing for and using the laser.

If you have not checked out Resistor you definitely should. The best way to jump in would be to take one of their fantastic classes I mentioned above. I have taken a few so far and they are really fun. Lots of good ole friendly people hacking interesting things and sharing what they know.

I have heard very good things about the Arduino classes (If Funky, Get Loopy) but I haven’t seen any posted in quite a while. You have to keep close tabs on the class list because they have a tendency to fill up very quickly.

Happy Hacking!