This is Almost Scary

On October 8, 2005, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will conduct the second Grand Challenge for autonomous robotic ground vehicles. Approximately 20 robots will navigate a course of more than 140 miles over rugged desert terrain in the southwest United States. The team whose vehicle completes the course the fastest—in less than 10 hours—will receive a check for $2 million.

Check out Dora which is Team Bonzai's entry into such an event. This is all apparently part of the DOD's hopes to have unmanned vehicles (1/3) of ground vehicles in combat by 2015. Am I over-reacting or is this the beginning of the Matrix in real life? Vehicles that can kill people designed by us to operate without us... I'm not sure how good of an idea this is, but seeing this thing in action is great. Check out the video of this thing maneuvering around obstacles with the help of only a few macs, some lasers to sense distance and a few other engineering marvels. No drive, no remote control - Beyond automatic. Fully autonomous.

I Suck

At blogging

Gavin de-Who?

I'm not sure who Gavin de Graw is, but apparently every girl between the ages of 14 - 16 knows who he is and one 30 something lady sitting next to me. Not only that, they know the words to each one of his trite songs. I was not impressed, even when he wandered the crowd in a seemingly impromptu moment after breaking a guitar string. It was lame. Jen and I left about 4 songs into his set and I couldn't help but be thankful that Howie Day had already played. I was however a bit distraught at the fact that he was not the headliner. If you don't know who Howie Day is, you need to check it out - do yourself the favor of hearing some quality music by a guy who's from our generation. Honestly, the guy just writes songs that I think are completely universal, and he is a great performer. So Now you know what I did on my Tuesday night, what did you do on yours?

Color Green

Color Green Ministries is a ministry network that seeks to connect speakers, artists, and creative-types with other ministries and under-resourced churches throughout the country in an effort to spread the gospel of Jesus. Check out the latest updates, learn about the heart of the ministry and read up on current friends of the Color Green (FOTCG).

http://www.colorgreenministries.org

Welcome Back

So the fourth of July has come and gone, nearly unnoticed except for my stellar tan from the weekend. I spent the majority of the weekend on a roll out mat on our dock sleeping beneath the blazing sun. And when I wasn't sleeping in the sun I was out in the water on a floating mat paddling my way around the cove soaking in rays. And when that got boring, which it kind of did by Sunday night, we went tubing and skiing. Which I finally managed to slalom! It only took about 5 trys which took about 40 minutes of being up and then falling, getting up again and then falling. It was a lot like the first time I rode a bike - perseverence was everything...

Anyway, it was a great weekend of relaxing with the family and of course Jen. The trip was topped off on Sunday night by 3 back to back to back games of adult sardines, wich my old crew, of which 2 are married now. It was fun watching significant others wander around in the dark through lots they had never seen in the day let alone maneuvered at night. Good times had by all and even better memories.

Off to a wedding tomorrow for my buddy Micah who is getting married in Grand Rapids. Should be a good time and is making for an extra short week.

Well more later I hope.