November 2008 Archives

This seems like a no-brainer, but all too often I'll be driving down the street when it's been raining all day long and I'll see someone's sprinkler system just doing it's job, keeping the lawn wet, when it's already wet from the rain.

Shouldn't there be a way to detect when it's raining? The brains of the sprinkler system are usually in the garage or close to the house, perhaps an internet hookup so it can query weather.com or send simple commands to the internet like ubiquity does. Seems like we could save some water that way.

It would be nice if programmable thermostats knew when you were home and when you were not. For example, if you are not in your house overnight, the thermostat stays off saving energy. Just a feature they are missing today.

Also, here in Minnesota, many people have fireplaces. The fireplace will heat up a room, and if the thermostat is in that room, it will never turn on, leaving other parts of the house cold. There is a need for multiple sensors all over the house to sense if other parts are hot or cold.

To take it a step further, perhaps a system that can heat certain parts of the house that you are located in. If you spend all of your time in one or two rooms, then only heat or cool those parts.

Sounds like a complicated system, but it would be extra savings.

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• Ecobee Smart Thermostat Can Adjust Home Temps Online [Energy Conservation]

Too funny... and no cut and paste either!

[via evmilk.com]

Servant Leadership is one of the best ways to lead others and create good example for your workers. ie, driving yourself to a meeting rather than taking a limo, flying coach to the bailout meeting rather than in your own private jet.

If they CEO's of the auto industry had displayed some servant leadership, perhaps others would be more inclined to help them. While I don't agree that they should be helped out, I believe that in times of cutting costs and weathering the economic storm, CEO's could set an example for their workers.

As an aside, in no way do they deserve a bailout as they knew about green trends in the auto industry abroad but chose not to follow. They must rebound and get on the ball.

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• Great Leaders are Great Stewards
• 10 Golden Qualities of a Servant Leader
• No Detroit Bailout

A couple weekend ago I had the pleasure of seeing SOS play in Miami. Again, I had high expectations for this supergroup. Miami is one of those places that doesnt get started until the sun comes up, so SOS did not go on until about 3am.

The music was just mediocre. Yes, they had some compelling tracks sprinkled throughout, but nothing that seemed cohesive and moving as a complete set. The funky house music is gone and has given way to the techy feel that is pervasive in today's dance music.

Of course, I missed their tag team set up on the terrace around 6am, so maybe they picked up the pace!

I wish I could see them again back in the hayday of 2006-2007 and even earlier parts of 2008. It seems as if music genres are cyclical, so hopefully the great SOS will come back for those who are longing for more.

After doing some traveling this past weekend, I encountered quite a few people that seemed to be sick. At the T-Mobile store it sounded like this lady had bronchitis. She just kept coughing right there in line. I wanted to say something to her, but instead I just left.

Even on the plane coming back home there was this lady in front of me who seemed to have a bad cough as well. Planes are even worse places to be around sick people. You're stuck in the enclosed space breathing the same air as everyone around now. An easy place to catch a cold.

We should learn and take notice from everyone in Asia. They are at least nice enough to wear masks around their mouths when they are sick and out in public. Or just take some cough drops with you so you're not subjecting everyone around you to your illness!

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• Cough Captured on Film [via UberReview]

Last Saturday evening I traveled to Chicago to watch one of my favorite groups, SOS, deliver a set at Vision nightclub. SOS has been my favorite group for years now and always goes above and beyond what I expect at any time.

Their performance Saturday was nothing less than spectacular. From opening to end, Desyn, Demi, and Omid worked together so well to create an awesome aural experience.

I'm always amazed how these 3 guys can coordinate their actions and sounds coming from 6 cdj's, 3 mixers, and effects all over the place. Must take a ton of practice. I managed to secure a position from above the stage to watch the magic happen. Blinking lights everywhere made it look like the cockpit of a space shuttle.

While the performance, mixing, effects, and layers of sounds were of excellent quality, the selection of tracks and music is changing from their typical soulful, playful and uplifting house feeling. Now I realize that the three guys each bring a whole different background of music, genres, and experiences to the table, however the impression that the music leaves on your soul is of a different feeling and character than past shows from these guys.

The music they were playing was a punchy, hard, in your face kudoosh that leaves you feeling overwhelmed by all the different sounds, layers, and effects coming from every direction. There were a few classics thrown in throughout the entire set and of course at the very end the epic house/disco feeling classic by Roman Salzger and Manuel Tur - Won't Change.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to such greatness and will continue going to as many of their shows as I can. However I miss that fun-loving, inspiring, and moving sound that leaves you just happy at the end rather than worn out by the barrage of kudoosh to the face.