John Pultorak decided to build a real, working replica of the Apollo Guidance Computer - the ones that were used in the actual Apollo spacecraft.

"This report describes my successful project to build a working reproduction of the 1964 prototype for the Block I Apollo Guidance Computer. The AGC is the flight computer for the Apollo moon landings, with one unit in the command module and one in the LEM.

"I built it in my basement. It took me 4 years."

What a great project. Building one of these looks to provide useful insight into the entire computer system, from top to bottom and beginning to end.

This is the computer that got the first people to the moon and back. And you can make one yourself. Now that's cool.

(via engadget.com)

"Louis is here with the weather..."

The painful, awful, terrible weather.

"Maybe Louis, you can tell us what we can expect for the rest of the week..."

If you're ever having one of those days where you feel like the clumsiest person on the face of the planet, just click the link above, and find comfort in the fact that someone, somewhere has almost certainly had a harder day than you.

(I recall my time in journalism school, which is almost certainly where this tape came from, and it could be brutal at times. Broadcast news performance is an art, and artists are few and far between).

The other day I decided to change to using passphrases instead of single passwords on my Windows accounts. Aside from the minor headache of having to remember I made the change at all, it's been a good thing.

That is, until today.

This afternoon I decided re-enable my wireless sync with my Exchange server on my Windows Mobile 2003 smart phone (Audiovox 5600). I had disabled it when I changed the password the other day, with plans to set it back up when I had time. So I went to enter the new passphrase on the mobile device, but no workie... Apparently, while Windows and Outlook and Exchange-HTTPS and pretty much everything else in the Windows world supports passphrases that include spaces, not so on Windows Mobile 2003.

Apparently you simply can't enter spaces in the password box on the smart phone.

So, I have a choice to make: I can either change back to using passwords in order to allow my Windows Mobile device to sync with Exchange (one step forward, two steps back), or I can stay with passphrases and leave my Windows Mobile device crippled (don't even get me started on that one).

Needless to say, I am not very happy with either option...

Anyone have a solution? Am I missing something here? Seems to me when you create a password interface, you'd support what the back end system allows you to use?

National Geographic: Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy

"Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras—a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal..."

Makes me uncomfortable when I think about it for more than ten seconds. Anyone else feel the same?

Johan van Rooyen's Really Learn Spanish weblog includes a series of MP3 podcasts geared toward people who want to learn the Spanish language in the real world. I've just subscribed.

"A series of podcasts aimed at helping you in your efforts to learn Spanish using unconventional techniques I developed during the seven years I spent in Spain teaching English and learning Spanish."

Interviews, pronunciation explanations, and suggestions for how to learn all combine to help you grow in your acquisition of the language.

Very cool use of the delivery mechanism, and great content to boot. It will be interesting to listen to this new series over time. As of the time of this writing, Johan had released three installments in the podcast series.

(via blogyourway.com)

Mt. St. Helens continues to rumble and spew steam and ash, and Portland, Oregon radio station 1190 KEX posted a news story today with audio from the instrumentation used to monitor and listen to the mountain as it continues it's activity.

• Click here to listen to the seismic audio from 1190 KEX
• Click here for the story at the 1190KEX.com web site
• Latest Mt. St. Helens eruption information
• More St. Helens links than you could possibly ever need