Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Meaningful Diatribes

LiveJournal is down due to a massive power failure in their data center.
MySpace bulletins are offline for special maintenance.

It's a good thing I have this blog on which to post my meaningful diatribes.
...
This concludes today's meaningful diatribe.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Gizmodo.com had a contest to win an iPhone. The rules were to invent something original. The winner invented something that could never be made and that no one would want anyway. Good job, Gizmodo. [pout] I deserved that iPhone!

In any event - I want to share my invention with people in the hopes that one day it will be reality. I named it the GizLocker in an attempt to suck up to Gizmodo. It didn't work.



Abstract:
Car gadgets are becoming more popular, as are secure locations in which gadgets are not welcome. Ever get stuck carrying around your phone, camera, iPod, GPS, stereo's faceplate, and PDA all at once, just to find you can't bring them into the concert or courthouse with you? Leaving devices in the car opens them up to theft, heat, cold, and damage.

Invention Name:
GizLocker

Purpose:
The GizLocker is a small briefcase shaped device. It will protect, secure, and insulate gizmos from heat, shock, and theft. Inside, it will have a unique design that offers quite a bit.

Features:
  • Serious protection for gadgets
  • A strong locking system - either key or combination.
  • Insulation to protect gadgets from extreme heat or cold for longer periods of time than simple glove compartments.

Appearance:
It will look like an automotive toolbox from the outside and will be designed to be small and thin enough to fit under a car seat. The inside will be padded foam which will both help the gadgets "stay put" and assist with the insulation. It should be large enough to carry a Smartphone, Camera, GPS, and iPod all at once.

Options:
  • Optional external cable lock which can be inconspicuous like the Kensington style lock on laptops.
  • Optional external GizVolt port that will supply either 12V sockets or USB sockets inside the the GizLocker.
  • Both 12V "cigarette lighter" style plugs and solar panels available for the GizVolt port

Notes:
Photo credits: Sentry Safe (center item) and Brando Workshop (Bottom charger display)
Attempts to contact Sentry Safe on this have been unsuccessful. Their customer support number is perpetually on hold and they do not seem to have a marketing department available. If anyone has experience building heat-proof lock boxes, it's Sentry. They probably already have the patents to hammer this out easily.

Monday, July 9, 2007

Eight Simple Things

In his personal blog, another technology writer I admire tagged me to say eight random things about myself. Here they are:
  1. Blogging is my savior. I've had some serious personal stuff happen in the last year and I feel best when I am writing.
  2. Coffee is my lifeblood.
  3. My day job is a combination of the best and worst job I can get.
  4. I like watching "Cops" because I like watching stupid people get what's coming to them. Is that schadenfreude?
  5. Chocolate will be the death of me, too.
  6. Slow, dark, spooky music inspires me.
  7. I have not a single creative bone in my body, so compensate for it by making technical/analytical talent disguise itself as creativity: Blogging, juggling, etc.
  8. I used to eat, breathe, and juggle fire.
There's some insight into this here blogger. Anyone is welcome to comment about themselves - I'd like to know who reads this blog.