I posted previously about the free AI class taught last fall by Sebastian Thrun and Peter Norvig. It was a marvelous experience. I learned quite a bit, and completed all the homework and tests, with a perfect score on the final exam (which was not terribly hard). Well worth the time investment. The video format…
For the holidays, I asked my husband to get me an item from the Seattle Food Geek Gift Guide. I’ve been doing a great deal more cooking in the past months, so much that it has distracted me from other maker projects. At its best, cooking fulfills some of the same needs: learning something new,…
This week marks the beginning of Stanford’s introductory course in Artificial Intelligence, taught by Sebastian Thrun and Peter Norvig. This is the same course being given live at Stanford’s campus as CS221. Enrollment is free, and includes video lectures, quizzes, and (optionally) homework and exams. I have signed up for the full boat, they say…
I’ve been meaning to learn to sew for a long time. I knew the basics, of course, sewing on a button, fixing a tear, and making a (crude) hem. It was clear that learning to use a sewing machine would make things much easier and provide a useful option for projects. I love engineering, and…
Last weekend we went to Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science. This was a repeat visit for us, and I wondered if we would see anything new or just a repeat of last year. Good news: lots of new things and we all had a great time. The Faire has gotten a…
Day 3: Col du Lauteret to Alpe d’Huez to Freney d’Oisans. 48 miles. Total ascent: 5,448 ft For many of us, the highlight of the 5-day trip was the promise of a climb up Alpe d’Huez. This legendary climb with 21 switchbacks has long been associated with drama and skill at the Tour, and is…
Day 2: Col du Lautaret to Le Chazelet return. 20 miles. Total ascent: 4,721 ft Today we had our first encounter with the Tour de France. Stage 18 came right by our hotel, which sits at the top of Col du Lauteret and at the base of Col du Galibier. As a result, we needed…
Day 1: La Grave to Col du Lautaret with Briancon Return. 30 miles. Total ascent: 5,643 ft Today we met our guides and fellow riders in Grenoble. There are roughly 15 people in our group. There are 5 women, 3 of whom are riding, and except for me they are all with their husbands. Thanks…
In 2007 I began road cycling. I quickly fell in love with the sport and made lots of wonderful friends. I also began watching the Tour de France each July, an epic three-week bike race. It is probably the best-known bike race in America, thanks to Lance Armstrong, who won it a record-breaking seven times….
For everyone who has contacted me regarding the automatic LED stair project, good news: the official instructions page is now available. Here is the video of me using the stairs. Movie making is not my greatest strength, but I think this gives an idea of what the stairs can do. They are beautiful. I am…