September 2011 – Personal blog of Peter "Sci" Turpin

Twitter Updates for 30-09-2011

I need a new RSS reader. Most of my feeds haven't updated for months with Thunderbird. Something's borked. 09:37:35, 2011-09-30
@Toumal I can think of worse you could do with such planes. :P in reply to Toumal 11:27:41, 2011-09-30
Phoned Edwards Vacuum. Should have the E04K datasheet on its way to me shortly. 11:28:44, 2011-09-30
Politicians are managers. If things are left to run smoothly, they have nothing to do. They get blamed either way though, so why fiddle? 11:59:03, 2011-09-30
Glad to see number of shocked retweets now using the words "if true" in them is rising. 12:02:09, 2011-09-30
Despite an apparent 28c out, the workshop remains at 17c. Time for the fan heater if I intend to do casting today. 12:19:50, 2011-09-30
@meekoblue They probably promote as each one's killed. Soon it'll just be the intern calling himself leader & talking to the stationary. in reply to meekoblue 12:50:18, 2011-09-30
Received the datasheet from Edward. There's 5 different compatible pump fluids! Hopefully there's a cheap option in them. 13:35:21, 2011-09-30
Bad Sci, you weren't looking on ebay for that. But how often will you chance over a £30 diffusion pump the size of a beer can? 14:05:56, 2011-09-30
@ThoughtDemon Likewise. 2hrs sleep. ;_; in reply to ThoughtDemon 14:43:45, 2011-09-30
@robbiepoho Thankyou for being the only other person who noticed that brief sta (@YouTube http://t.co/feOPhE2t) 14:46:12, 2011-09-30
@LupusLondonwolf Ignore them. Or alternately give them the address of a chip-van lay-by and a pack of White Lightning. in reply to LupusLondonwolf 14:55:54, 2011-09-30
Almost done fitting in the new wiring to the heated cabinet.. 16:07:47, 2011-09-30
Dripping with sweat. Guess all the heat's up on the ceiling. Need to rig a ceiling fan. 16:21:20, 2011-09-30
@antlercat Look into medical assistance maybe? Maybe move home & recover or such? :( *hugs* in reply to antlercat 16:38:28, 2011-09-30
Off to pick up momma-cat. 16:58:38, 2011-09-30
Okay, if I suddenly drop offline it means I've wired this thing wrong and have tripped the circuit breaker again. 19:48:13, 2011-09-30
Awesome, it works! 19:52:19, 2011-09-30
That fan's bloody noisy though. Let's see if something's loose.. 19:55:31, 2011-09-30
Marginally better with some grease on the bearings, but something's worn or loose. Will investigate later. 20:03:24, 2011-09-30
Too tired to go to the meet tomorrow. Or the hackspace. Will do the space another day. Not got the tools together yet. 20:06:43, 2011-09-30
Drilling holes in the backup fan. It's from an old oven. When the metal gets hot it smells like biscuits. 20:29:52, 2011-09-30
Circulation fan replaced, it's a nice quiet hum now. 20:46:24, 2011-09-30
Feels strange that we took it upon ourselves to remove one of the most primal functions of life from another creature. (spaying the cat) 20:53:26, 2011-09-30
She's a bit bemused but doing fine btw. 20:54:17, 2011-09-30
Portal 2 soundtrack part 3 now out! And FREE DLC next week! 21:20:42, 2011-09-30
The Friday Update is recorded, time to head indoors and shower then edit & upload it. 22:40:19, 2011-09-30
@ioerror But.. that's the guy from "The Jewel of the Nile", isn't it? in reply to ioerror 22:42:10, 2011-09-30
To the Deepcore! (@YouTube http://t.co/ahchzUac) 23:21:20, 2011-09-30
@Thevgm01 For making Diamond White Cider? (@YouTube http://t.co/ahchzUac) 23:22:08, 2011-09-30

Twitter Updates for 29-09-2011

RT @southsouth: Extraordinary, if true: '100 NYPD Officers Refuse to Work in Support of #OccupyWallStreet Movement.' http://t.co/41de6wa … 00:05:46, 2011-09-29
If the 100 officers refusing to work to support #OccupyWallStreet is true and does grow, they'll call the National Guard in SO FAST. 00:12:34, 2011-09-29
Kept thinking "Home Guard", but knew it wasn't right. 00:13:14, 2011-09-29
Going to bed now. Have spent far too long researching tiny camera modules. 02:12:55, 2011-09-29
@sevenhelz Many things, I hope which would include puppies! in reply to sevenhelz 02:15:47, 2011-09-29
@sevenhelz http://t.co/22B3Vx8R in reply to sevenhelz 02:18:54, 2011-09-29
@penguat @karaspita Red or white? Afraid it would only be stuff from my local though. in reply to penguat 14:47:55, 2011-09-29
Why can't more couples be the deadly assassin team sort instead of either passive aggressive or overly saccharine? 15:09:14, 2011-09-29
@mothdust He's classier than you think. That's a bottle of wee. in reply to mothdust 15:32:20, 2011-09-29
Kids next door are barking and squawking today. 17:31:22, 2011-09-29
Oh wait, they've started shouting "lesbians" again. 17:31:45, 2011-09-29
Favour-errands done in time to close up the workshop again, having done nothing productive for myself today. 17:32:42, 2011-09-29
Running behind, but heading out now. 18:40:35, 2011-09-29
Home, full of good foods and wine 23:43:44, 2011-09-29
Must bed soon so can take cat to vet tomorrow morning. 23:44:33, 2011-09-29
Hmph. Youtube Subscriptions is totally dead. Errors all over the place. 23:45:53, 2011-09-29

Twitter Updates for 28-09-2011

Statistically, since I must know at least 100 Americans, at least one of them is in jail. 00:08:02, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Yup. I'm thinking of having some stew before bed. Also browsing the ebays. in reply to sevenhelz 01:17:03, 2011-09-28
Found some "spares or repair" VGA video glasses on ebay. Sounds like bad connections. Waiting for reply from seller. Am hopeful. :3 01:18:45, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Chicken & veg. The pearl barley in the lamb one won't be done soaking it up til tomorrow. in reply to sevenhelz 01:36:17, 2011-09-28
@tara I was actually hoping the link was a food-based website.. :( in reply to tara 01:40:33, 2011-09-28
Totally over-planning. Is unlikely headset, if I bid & win, will have 2 driver boards. Stereo vision is very unlikely as a result. 01:58:29, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz I'll look forward to that opportunity! in reply to sevenhelz 02:06:41, 2011-09-28
Trash-talk from Soo there.. (@YouTube http://t.co/m55b4GMa) 03:01:15, 2011-09-28
Time to pass out.. 03:03:55, 2011-09-28
@penguat @karaspita It's still tomorrow, right?? in reply to penguat 13:17:24, 2011-09-28
I believe there are many common trends in human behaviour that are repressed by societal structure, & repressing them may be unhealthy. 14:00:49, 2011-09-28
I suspect that a cause for many unpleasant aspects of life may be found in the ignoring of these common human trends. 14:02:16, 2011-09-28
Not all of these trends may be healthy in themselves, but repressing rather than finding a channel for them seems more unhealthy. 14:02:59, 2011-09-28
@jackalesque It is? in reply to jackalesque 14:03:16, 2011-09-28
@jackalesque Trouble is it's all organic processes, so none of them are absolutes. It's all trends, varying in strength & frequency. in reply to jackalesque 14:08:08, 2011-09-28
@jackalesque The concept of "human universals" seems to have good guidelines, but the name is misleading. in reply to jackalesque 14:08:48, 2011-09-28
nice day out. Going for a walk round the block. 14:09:11, 2011-09-28
Popped into the local charity shop earlier. Got a "mini bank" coin-sorter for £5. Works, but needs calibrating. 16:48:25, 2011-09-28
By calibrating I mean the collection tubes are too long. Will need to shorten them on the lathe. Otherwise fine. 16:48:54, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Anger would be the most obvious example. The rest are more ephemeral. Not quite sure how to define yet. in reply to sevenhelz 16:50:33, 2011-09-28
@penguat @karaspita Nom. :3 in reply to penguat 16:50:46, 2011-09-28
A little Plusgas and the mains fan housing opens up ready for cleaning & respraying. 16:53:05, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Mmm, gender and cultural bias do give different exceptions & enforcements over who's ok to do what. Not all just human it seems. in reply to sevenhelz 16:54:59, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Is a good point, but hesitant of focusing on minorities first. "The exception does not make the rule" and so on. in reply to sevenhelz 17:03:32, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz However good for use in comparing to wider social trends. Will think on. in reply to sevenhelz 17:04:00, 2011-09-28
Suddenly realising my internal monologue has taken a Salarian tone of voice. Very peculiar. Will have to analyse later. 17:05:03, 2011-09-28
Note to self: Fan is; ebm W2S130-AA03-01. 230v~ 50/60Hz, 45/39W 17:07:23, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz The realisations you come to on your own are often more secure than those you're simply informed of. :) in reply to sevenhelz 17:08:31, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Also I find it reassuring. It suggests being part of a "correct" or at least seconded conclusions. in reply to sevenhelz 17:09:29, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Truetrue, but I prefer doing the initial groundwork myself. in reply to sevenhelz 17:11:21, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz I am, though my main concern is bias in internet feeds. They rarely link to opposing opinions unless complaining. in reply to sevenhelz 17:12:24, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Depends if I'm looking for social connections or research. in reply to sevenhelz 17:18:04, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Googles searches are usually fine, but google itself does have biases. I place as "future concern" for using it currently. in reply to sevenhelz 17:19:10, 2011-09-28
@sevenhelz Sure thing, tho may not check right away. Already supposed to be working. ;) in reply to sevenhelz 17:25:07, 2011-09-28
*cough* getting kinda high on paint fumes here :P 20:09:40, 2011-09-28
@ladyuhuru The Long Now Clock prototype is just outside that hall IIRC. Mechanical binary computer. in reply to ladyuhuru 21:08:08, 2011-09-28
Bother. Spray can ran out. Well, it looks better than it did. 21:09:18, 2011-09-28
All showered and clean. Phew. Think I'll get myself a cup of redbush shortly. Closing up the workshop at 9pm latest is a good idea. 22:20:28, 2011-09-28
There seems to be a mobile lump under the skin on my bad ankle. My mind says "chunk of cartilage", but is probably just paranoid. 22:32:35, 2011-09-28
If you want spoilers, look up "Sanctum Strawberry Fish". (@YouTube http://t.co/zf2mCwAz) 23:26:08, 2011-09-28

OpenCV in citizen media 3D compositing?

Last week someone put an interesting item onto Hack-A-Day; someone who’d built their own “CT Scanner”. And functionally it is. It takes x-ray images from all angles around an object, which they then scan into a computer and let it turn the platen images into a 3D model. I believe the latter was done using OpenCV scripts.

The recent and ongoing Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City have generated a large amount of citizen-media footage (albeit released without sound in many cases, to avoid breaking outdated wiretapping laws).

If key events observed from different positions could be found to align the timelines of footage, it seems plausible that the same scripts used in the CT scanner could be used to assemble a crude animated 3D model of the events as they unfold.

For purposes of evidence gathering and contextualisation of the news stories, it seems this could be a very useful tool, rendering isolated and often repeated footage into singular but multifaceted logs of events from every recorded angle.

I doubt it would be of high quality, due to all the variables and low-quality of the footage used, but it could perhaps knit together the results with the events that preceded them, and at least help in giving a more rounded view of events.

Twitter Updates for 27-09-2011

Uploaded a video of the kittens we need to re-home: http://t.co/Mo651Bv8 00:03:38, 2011-09-27
Added some promotional annotations to the kitten video. http://t.co/Mo651Bv8 00:20:17, 2011-09-27
I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/BjA7dLfN Male Pole Dance 00:58:39, 2011-09-27
Impressive moves! Glad there are places that'll teach this to men! (@YouTube http://t.co/BjA7dLfN) 01:00:15, 2011-09-27
@sevenhelz Yup! in reply to sevenhelz 01:03:04, 2011-09-27
@inmywindow Asking myself the same thing.. in reply to inmywindow 02:06:34, 2011-09-27
I uploaded a @YouTube video http://t.co/qF6T02Ch Kittens need homes 02:08:17, 2011-09-27
@inmywindow I think I need some fruit juice or something in reply to inmywindow 02:16:19, 2011-09-27
@inmywindow It's very hot at the moment :P in reply to inmywindow 02:16:35, 2011-09-27
I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/aekyrmjp George Takei reassures humanity 12:45:42, 2011-09-27
@MindCharity It specifies coffee but says it's the caffeine, so tea should do the same, right? #CoffeeCabalConspiracy in reply to MindCharity 12:48:32, 2011-09-27
New blog post: OpenCV in citizen media 3D compositing? http://t.co/6TJDYfx6 13:39:05, 2011-09-27
Wonder how many police encourage the idea of meeting a fine/arrest quota so people get angry at the system instead of them personally? 13:59:54, 2011-09-27
Heatwave or no, the workshop was cold enough the silicone didn't cure properly. As a result it's tacky all over & won't come off. 16:02:19, 2011-09-27
@EccentricWander The axle? in reply to EccentricWander 16:05:23, 2011-09-27
Okay, daubed the failed casts with catalyst. Hopefully firm it up enough to remove it. 16:59:04, 2011-09-27
@PoisonedAl Sure you'll be happy to know I'm imagining the locker-room scene from Baseketball now. in reply to PoisonedAl 17:14:39, 2011-09-27
I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/dsZSTjte Bananas — That 1 guy 17:16:46, 2011-09-27
@EccentricWander Should be able to just fit a new axle. Or at worst, fit a new wheel. Local shop'd be £30 or so. in reply to EccentricWander 17:23:32, 2011-09-27
House smells of lamb stew and banana bread. 22:38:45, 2011-09-27
Fresh banana bread, straight from the oven <3 23:14:59, 2011-09-27