From a friend..

I got this link from a friend in Canada (I dared not post it until after the election LOL!)

Additional benefit not mentioned:  a good sense of humor :-)

Enjoy:

I don't know what they have, but today's "all you need to know in 2 minutes" clips are really... appealing - check it out:  http://slatev.com/

Pyglet Hello World

Here's a simple "Hello, world" window using pyglet 1.1.2 and python 2.5.2 on Windows XP.

Qik update

I just watched how long my initial broadcast delays were (at night, looking like low load) - 23 seconds.

To see a little of how this was used in a conference, see http://www.headconference.com/qik/   

The interesting part was live during the conference, but if you go to the bottom of the list of videos to the "Welcome" video you'll get some idea.

Qik? What a Kick!

Tonight I was trying to find if anyone had succeeded in backing up their data store from Google App Engine applications.

In the process, I ran across an online conference which uses Qik - a video live broadcasting system. Curious, I went to the Qik site, only to find it's a live broadcasting system from your cell phone! My Motorola Q9c is one of the supported phones, so I tried it. Here's the result.

But to really get an idea of what this is like, you almost have to try it yourself.   The delay varies, but if you log in, then you see your video live, perhaps 3 or more seconds delayed.

The quality is as you might expect; it works.

Trip Fuel Costs

Overall, my trip to Colorado and the Black Hills (including all my scenic jaunts) was 3002.9 miles with fuel cost of $309.04.

My trip computer reports an average mileage of 44MPG -- but this doesn't add up; it suggests that the average fuel cost would have to have been 4.529 / gallon.

Clearly, I saw some of the least expensive gas prices I've seen. I would set my average trip gas price something like 4.05 - 4.20 per gallon (as low as 3.78; as high as 4.39, and most around 4.10).

If I guess the average cost:

$/gal	MPG
3.999	38.85774
4.049	39.34359
4.099	39.82943
4.149	40.31527
4.199	40.80112

That is, my real trip mileage is more likely somewhere between 39 and 41 miles per gallon.

It looks like my K1200LT trip computer is off by ~8%. This makes some sense, as I note the speedometer (at highway speeds) shows something approaching 10% higher speed than my GPS reports (I refer to my GPS speedometer when riding). This also suggests that my miles are about 8% less than shown on the odometer.

Badlands, South Dakota

Heading to the Badlands, I thought I'd see more scenery - so I took Hwy-44 out of Rapid City towards the east end of the Badlands - the Interior entrance, and then headed back west towards Wall on I-90.

It turns out this was a wasted ride. Temperatures peaked at 110 on Hwy-44; mostly it was between 99 and 103. The road was uneven. There were no sights (other than a distant periphery of the badlands).

At the Interior entrance, I loitered at the gift shop - it was air conditioned! I didn't buy anything, and headed west with the sun in my eyes. I made it at dusk to Wall. I decided to take the "fast" way home (it would shave 5+ hours from my travels, and I was ready to sleep in my own bed).

Next time, I'd either skip the Badlands (on motorcycle) - or I'd come from wall down through.

My last day, I went from Wall to home - 826+ miles..

---

This is at the end of Hwy-44 leg, just a few miles from the Interior Entrance; hints of the Badlands are in the distance:





Finally starting in:



What is this stuff made of? Something that looks like this close up:







As you look at this, imagine - if you will - the Plains Indians orchestrating a stampede accross the grasslands, towards the Badlands. You could have enough meat for the entire winter, the entire tribe ... I imagine.









Wherever there is an outcropping of grass, there be critters:

Mount Rushmore

Heading out of Custer Park, more critters. Asses? Yep!


I'll ride my pony instead, thank you!




It doesn't show here, but in the one-lane tunnel, Mount Rushmore is framed.
There were 3 tunnels like this on the twisty way up. If you look at the full sized picture, you can see the shadows of the faces.



I love the views from this lookout - I remember it from my childhood (happy family time). I'm really grateful to my parents for all the camping vacations out west they gave me. It's a gift that stays with me through the years, and comes back in surprising ways on trips like this.

My father has passed, but he was definitely with me again on this trip - I could feel him in me. (Yeah, he liked BMW motorcycles, so maybe he can feel being along for the ride too...)















Notice the "no passing" yellow line on the left of your lane there:


With an auto-timer, and that luggage rack, who needs a tripod?





This has changed so much since I was last here (in the 60's). I think this was more of a pilgramage for me - I didn't have so much interest in visiting the artist's area this time. I did buy some books about Indian life (by American Indians, of course) and joined the historic society so they could have a little money. I had buffalo stew, and was on my way towards the Badlands.






There was some nice artwork in the gift shops - including Indian Jewelry. I liked this:

Nick worked on Mount Rushmore for three years, starting when he was 17.