Schoolhouse Earth is an organization dedicated to bringing the power of education everywhere. By using technology to build bridges between talented educators and eager learners, we deliver education anywhere it is needed: Rapidly, reliably, and powerfully.

On Friday, May 12, from 6pm - 8:30pm, we are having a Schoolhouse Earth Extravaganza!

This is going to be a fun, engaging, interactive event. You’ll get to socialize and meet new people, enjoy music and entertainment, learn about Schoolhouse Earth and the incredible upcoming Casino Party fundraiser, and have an opportunity to get involved! Regardless what your motive for being here, we promise a fantastic time!

If you’re interested in attending, please click here to RSVP, and I’ll send you the details!

My Dad has tricked out his motorcycle to look (and sound) like a Bull… complete with horns and other “bull” features.

The Modesto Bee is currently having a contest for best vehicle, and he’s in the running… so stop by and give him your vote.

Modesto Bee:
Click here to place your vote!

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Seeking children and volunteers for upcoming Lego Robotics classes!

On Saturday, April 30th, I’ll be teaching the next Lego Robotics class in San Jose at Xilinx. This class is open to 4th and 5th graders, with priority given to children of Xilinx employees and children who attend Xilinx-supported Oster Elementary school.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in participating in, or volunteering for either this or other such upcoming classes, email me and let me know!

“Wildly popular with hard-core technologists and hobbyists alike, this year’s Bay Area RoboGames drew over 465 robots with some 646 engineers at the controls.

Throughout the day on March 26, robots off all sizes, strengths and abilities took part in various competitions in the San Francisco RoboGames. Participating in the RoboMagellan event, Xilinx engineers Brandon Blodget and James Ogden entered their Spartan-3-based robot Xploradora.

Xploradora placed 3rd for a Bronze Medal!

RoboMagellan was a competition requiring robots to autonomously navigate varied, outdoor terrain. The timed event tested robot obstacle avoidance capabilities and required vehicles to maneuver between two objects — orange traffic cones — about a half-mile down steps, then onto a lawn and around trees.

Xploradora is a self-propelled, self-directing machine, outfitted with motors, encoders, five sonar sensors, a compass, GPS, and accelerometers. The robot is controlled by specialized Verilog cores, which are attached to a Microblaze processor with a combination of FSL and OPB buses. The high-level robot code then runs on Microblaze and communicates with the hardware modules.

The robot is equipped with GPS, an onboard compass, accelerometer, sonar distance sensors, a digital video camera, and a bluetooth interface for debugging from a laptop.

Xploradora is a fun demonstration platform showcasing FPGA-based robotics technology – and provides a first hand look at the usefulness and flexibility of FPGAs in robotics applications.

Click here for additional details about the RoboMagellan competition, and photos of the course and competitors.

Click here to go to the RoboGames web site and here to read about the event as covered in EE Times magazine.”

!!!! SKI TRIP !!!!

I’m planning this party well in advance, so that it can truly be the Mother of all ski trips!

The Vision:
* A weekend of skiing with a fantastic conglomeration of people coming together as one to mingle, play, soak, and stay.
* Rent a gigantic 6-bedroom cabin in Tahoe City with beds to sleep 30 people, spa, pool table, table tennis, in walking distance to the lake, and right down the road from great North Lake ski resorts.
* Flexibility for people to do what they want… ski, gamble, play in the snow… or just hang out in a gigantic cabin with other cool people!
* HUGE Saturday night event… don’t know what it’ll look like exactly… but fun activies, food, music… are all to be expected!

The Concept:
A cafe-like atmosphere and gathering of friends, sitting in a circle, sharing poems we wrote, drinking coffee.

The Rules:
You must bring a poem that you’ve written to share. (Or your favorite poem written by someone else… if you must).

The Inspiration:
There is a magic
In a good coffee shop
Inexplicable atmosphere
Calm, Soothing
People from all walks
Sharing space, Sharing time, sharing love
The warmth flowing deep inside
The perfect blend brought together
Drink it up

First, very special Thanks to my friend Dane (of http://www.business-opportunities.biz) for helping me set up this wonderful new site.

My purpose for creating this site is to support me in the fulfillment of my dreams, while at the same time sharing that with the world, with the hopes that it will inspire others to fulfill their own dreams.

Exactly how this site will look and operate will probably change over time, but will most likely revolve around the themes which define my life:

* Robotics - The pursuit of my dream to construct amazing autonomous robots, and to own my own business in the pursuit of that dream.

* Children - Sharing my inspiration with young people through teaching, sharing, and writing.

* Adventure - From skydiving to igloo building, there’s always something to explore or some stone left unturned.

* Creativity - Art, home decorating, snow sled construction… there’s always something new in the works.

* Making a difference - The profound opportunity to make a difference in the world.