#ScienceLooksGood: Shuttle in NYC, Venus Transit

One reason that I blog about science and technology is so that it can be accessible to everyone. Photos are a great way to communicate the complexity of science without dipping too far into the details. Check out these beautiful photos of the Space Shuttle in NYC and Venus overlayed over the Sun!

Shuttle in NYC!

Picture courtesy of https://twitter.com/IntrepidMuseum/

Check out this amazing pic of the Space Shuttle Enterprise near the World Trade Center site.  The Enterprise never actually flew in space, but it was the prototype model that NASA used to run tests and prove the aerodynamics of flight for reentry. It's currently heading on a barge to the Intrepid Museum in midtown NYC.

Venus Transit!

Picture and video courtesy of Universe Today

This photo is a compilation of several photos of the planet Venus as it crosses between Earth and the Sun.  Due to the orbits and rotations of both planets, it is extremely rare for Venus to be visible between Earth and the Sun.  As a matter of fact, this will not occur again until 2116. More photos are available from NASA.

Gizmodo has a great article on the importance of the transit of Venus throughout history.  From the article:

Transits of Venus were scientific gold for early astronomers, who used them to derive an accurate measurement of the size of the solar system. By noting the time each planet took to go around the sun, and then crunching that data via methods developed by 17th century mathematician Johannes Kepler, these telescope-equipped boffins could determine each planet's relative distance from the sun, as measured in terms of astronomical units (the distance from the Earth to the Sun). Collecting such data during a transit was the reason Captain Cook was able to travel halfway around the world from London to Tahiti in 1769.

Conference Tech Lessons: Blogging While Brown 2012

Meeting people like the amazing Adria Richards is a plus for conferences. She approved of my C:\ shirt!

I came away from this weekend's Blogging While Brown conference inspired and willing to invest in myself to make this blog the best that it can be.   In the midst of this conference, I came away with several thoughts regarding technology.

Personal Interaction >>>> Virtual Interaction

One of the benefits of a conference is meeting people that you've only corresponded with online. The in person meeting makes a world of difference.   My online persona is a representation of me, but the in-person meeting is just as, if not more important. It must be apparent that your online persona is an extension of your personality, not something totally different.  Otherwise, you can come off as disingenuous and playing a role on the internet that is not real.  Personal connection matters.  You know that excitement when someone like Dr. Goddess, Luvvie Ajayi, or Slim Jackson interacts with you online? Yeah, that's magnified by a thousand when it's in person.

Technology is a Great Conversation Starter

When you're around people that are more successful than you and you're the new face in the room, it can sometimes be hard to approach people.  I was able to start a lot of conversations with talk about gadgets - cell phones, tablets, or my infamous gadget sandwich.   Nearly everyone was on some sort of device - engage people about them.

You NEED an Extended Charging Solution

In this era of social networking, you need access to a cell phone during an entire conference, which can sometimes last 10 hours or more, plus dinner, drinks, etc.  Having an extended battery for your phone is key. Fellow attendee BrothaTech had a several charging solutions for his gadgets. I've been using the uNU Power DX extended battery for my iPhone, and I never had my phone drop out.  Perfect for twitpics of people after they are ... a bit inebriated.

I had a great time at the conference, and I will definitely be attending next year!

Create the Gadget Sandwich: Blogging While Brown 2012

I'm about to start the second day of the 5th Annual Blogging While Brown Conference. I have a family of gadgets with me. Why would I do that, when I can technically do everything on the iPad?! Both iOS, Android, and soon to be Windows 8 (sorry RIM, the Blackberry Playbook is trash) are pitched to be the replacements for ancient things such as notepads, cell phones, and laptops. However, the following equation wins out:

Gadget Sandwich = Tablet + Laptop powered Cellphone + Notepad between two slices of Shareef

The notepad is the meat

Your notepad, which you won't actually use to take notes, rests on your lap as nothing more than a glorified stand for gadgets. This makes a perfect mini table for your tablet and phone - otherwise your gadgets may slip and slide all over your lap. If your notepad is large enough, you should still have some open space between the tablet and phone that you can doodle on.

The tablet and cell are ... more meat

You need to take notes, so fire up Pages or another word processing program. Don't use a simple text editor that doesn't support bullets. It's much easier to organize your thoughts, for example, by listing a question and all of the answers as a bulleted list under the question. Trust me, the organization helps when you're reviewing the notes later.

Viewing the thoughts of others can be just as important, if not more, than your own. If you're not telekinetic, you'll need to use Twitter to see what other people (not only conference attendees - other people contribute too) are sharing. Fire up twitter on the cell phone and follow the conference hashtag. Contribute to the discussions with summaries of the long form notes that you're taking on your tablet.

The laptop is the cheese (Optional)

The laptop is optional, especially because it tends to get hot and loud, but it can keep you charged up as a power source. I keep my devices plugged in even if they're fully charged, and I keep it in my lap because my USB cables usually can't reach if I sit the laptop on the table. With this setup, my devices can last way into the evening activities. It's even better if you're near a power outlet, because one plugged in laptop can power as many USB devices as the laptop supports.

Your hands and your lap are the bread.

Rest your gadgets in your lap, and rest your hands in top. Now make your sandwich and enjoy the meal!

Tech Connections: Blogging While Brown 2012

Blogging has been a great way for me to channel my passions online. This weekend, I'll be able to network with many other bloggers at the 5th Annual Blogging While Brown conference. Follow me on Twitter (@ShareefJackson) as well as the hashtag #BWB2012 for updates on the conferences. The first session on turning a blog into a book has been fascinating.

Technology and the Internet has evolved from being an escape from real life into a means to extend your persona and brand farther than your physical network. Invest in yourself and make it happen!

Technology Inspirations: My Dad

Everyone has someone in their life that has inspired them towards their passion. My dad has always been an ear for my constantly pestering questions about how things work - tech, music, life, anything. He's a professional DJ so is definitely an audio geek, and I always saw him adding to his repertoire. I carried his crates like a true roadie when he was vinyl only, and saw him transition to CDs and now his experiments with electronic media. He's served as an example of following what you love and not be ashamed to geek out over technology.

Check out this recent interview that he's posted online. He still loves what he does. Props to you dad. Love you.