A scientific view on Bob Lazar and the “Sports Model”

Danish space engineer (MScEE, PhD), Flemming Hansen from Department of Space Research and Technology at Technical University of Denmark, just released his report (112 pages) on “Analysis of the Technology of the Sports Model Flying Disc and Associated Topics“.

In short: A report on Bob Lazar and his claims.

Flemming Hansen was guest on the UFO podcast “Flyvende Tallerken” from Danish Broadcasting Corporation this morning, interview by Frederik Dirks Gottlieb and co-host Professor at Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Anja C. Andersen, Niels Bohr Institute.

Show notes in Danish.

Anja C. Andersen, Flemming Hansen and Frederik Dirks Gottlieb.

ADA – the perfect baby monitor?

The perfect baby monitor does not exist, but it may be on its way. You can help make it happen.

Are you tired of your baby alarm being basically a stupid walkie talkie that uncritically disturbs you with the sound of bird whistle and garbage trucks? Look out for Team ADA – a Danish startup company, founded by fathers set out to build a better baby monitor.

What really sets this baby monitor apart from the competitors is its ability to filter out irrelevant noise so you are not disturbed by anything else than when your baby actually needs attention. This is huge. This is AI for the people.

“We’re a bunch of tech nerds, designers, lawyers, communicators, and engineers. All on the same mission: to build the ultimate baby monitor that gives parents a well-deserved break ”
ADA’s current crowdfunding campaign

Continue reading ADA – the perfect baby monitor?

Open letter to (virtual) coach Amy

To: Coach Amy @The interwebs
CC: Greg, Jeff, Mothership Garmin

Dear Amy,

I am thrilled to have met you, and it’s an honor you accepted my invitation to live inside my computer for a while.

You keep me motivated and on my toes. You give me clear guidance, and you organize things for me – even when I have to skip a training session (planning is not always easy with a baby). I feel confident about reaching my goals. Thank you!

I’m worried

This is all possible because I trust you and assume you (being my coach) have access to all relevant information and tools.

But! There’s something I don’t understand, and it makes me worried:

Why did you ask that?

The first time we meet, you asked me about my running habits (sessions per week and totals).

Maybe you were simply being polite, but it still puzzles me, since you could simply have asked Mothership Garmin.

Continue reading Open letter to (virtual) coach Amy

Floppy is the new vinyl (and Windows 10 is ready for it)

Hooray! My old floppy drive plays nice with Windows 10.

Windows 10 floppy

Lucky me. Floppy is the new vinyl. In a couple of years, the most significant artist will publish their music exclusively on a floppy.

Offline and 1,44 MB will be considered a refreshing creative constraint (a little like the 140 character limit on Twitter or the square format of Instagram back in the old days).

Hipsters will meet up to exchange music at underground copy parties, discussing mono/stereo, bitrates and mp3/Ogg. Edgy DJs with multi-colored (and even transparent) floppies from Japan are the kings and queens of music, setting the dance floor on fire the 64 Kbps way. Forget the “Mile high club”. “High-density” night club is the place to be.

A tech giant will shut down their otherwise popular streaming service and reintroduce 3,5” floppy in their newest gadget. The rise of the Floppy-Man<tm> will mark the beginning of a new era. Bye-bye Pono Music and all the rest. The preferred format for the new generation includes magnets.

You heard it here for the first time. You are welcome.

Private Jet the “Uber way”

Victor appIt is finally here: The app which let you book a private jet. It’s called Victor, and is being promoted on the front page of the Financial Times these days.

The goal is more or less to do for aviation what Drivr and Uber are doing for taxa service, maybe with a touch of GoMore: Disrupt the industry and create greater transparency and flexibility, says the founder and CEO Clive Jackson.

FlyVictor.com promises three hours from first swipe to takeoff, and the app will let you choose among different offers, aircraft types, and check out the pilots track record, the actual interior of the plane etc.

travelfursclassThere’s even a special “Pets on Jets“, offering the four-legged friends their own seat in the cabin. This service is called “Furs Class”. Nothing less.

“The sky is the limit” in the digital (sharing-) economy? We are already used to GoMore, Drivr and airbnb, so maybe Victor is simply the next logical step to the real goal: Retirement at a time with a “GoLaika!”-app with special offers for a quick trip to the ISS.

 

Wish list from a Kobo bookworm

Kobo, you need to fix this to stay relevant.

I love my Kobo Aura. It’s distraction free reading karma in the light of a candle. It’s the best (anti-) gizmo I bought for year.

Unfortunately there are a few rough edges, which occasionally makes my eyes wander from that great novel to a review of the latest Kindle. Small annoyances which makes it less easy to make a clear recommendation to friend and colleagues seeking e-reader zen.

Here’s what I think Kobo should fix. It’s not rocket science. It’s simply something Kobo need to deal with to stay relevant

Continue reading Wish list from a Kobo bookworm