Doug Aamoth…

Derrick Pitts, lead astronomer at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, talks about the telescope used in the Bloom Observatory. The 10-inch refractor telescope has been around since 1934, and was built by Carl Zeiss Jena and shipped over from Germany.

Here’s more from the Franklin Institute’s web site:

The original observatory, opened in 1934, had two telescopes. The 10-inch, f/15 refractor, built by Carl Zeiss Jena, employed the latest optical and engineering techniques available in pre-World War II Germany. The 24-inch reflector telescope, manufactured by J.W. Fecker of Pittsburgh, was a convertible Newtonian/Cassegrain instrument with focal ratios of 14.4 and 7, respectively. The reflector was used for deep-sky observations, including the first recovery sighting of Comet Halley in the fall of 1985. City light pollution eventually rendered it ineffective, and the scope was moved to the Institute’s Space Command exhibit.
Bloom Observatory was renovated in 2006. Nationally-recognized telescope mechanic, Christopher Ray, of Ray Museum Studios and a professor of Mechanical Engineering from Swarthmore College, completely rebuilt the Zeiss refractor, upgrading it with modern PC-controlled DC-servo drives to achieve GO-TO pointing accuracy of better than 0.2 arc-seconds on both axes. The upgrade enables visitors to see not only the only the usual, but also thousands of faint objects (down to about magnitude 13)–despite high levels of ambient light pollution.

Joel N Bloom Observatory [FI.edu]

More geeky Philadelphia stuff…

Dell’s got a $60 price break on its 19-inch S1909WX LCD monitor, which brings it to $89 with free shipping. The monitor has a 1440×900 resolution, DVI and VGA inputs, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m2 brightness, and 5ms response time.

User reviews on Dell’s site are pretty positive even when the monitor is priced at $149, and $89 seems like a downright steal for just about any 19-inch monitor so if you’re looking for a new (or additional) screen this one might be worth scooping up.

Dell S1909WX [Dell.com via dealnews]

I know what you’re thinking: $20 is far too much for a skewer. And normally I’d agree with you, except that this skewer is called the “Swashbuckling BBQ Sword” and features a handsome fencing grip.

I’d submit that it needs some sort of handsome leather sheath, but other than that it looks perfect for just about any outdoor grill. Just make sure that if you dress like a swashbuckling pirate while you’re grilling, you try to avoid getting your billowy pirate shirt too close to the open flame.

The Swashbuckling BBQ Sword is 19 inches long, features an “easy-grip wood handle with metal hand-shield,” and costs $19.99 from ThinkGeek.

The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is currently running a Star Trek exhibit with all sorts of whimsical items from the various TV shows and movies. A few devices, in particular, look mighty familiar to present-day gadgets.

Please observe the two Engineering PADDs (personal access display device) in the above photo. I’ll be damned if those don’t bear a striking resemblance to Amazon’s Kindle and Kindle DX e-book readers. The PADD, however, is set way, way off in the future — circa 2375, according to the little sign there. It appears that in the future they have color e-ink, too.

Then below we have a Cardassian Data Clip, described as a “portable storage and data processing device”. It’s roughly the size and shape of a 2.5-inch portable hard drive enclosure.

And this “data display panel” could double as a digital photo frame or, perhaps more appropriately, one of those 7-inch USB LCD monitors. Except this one is much cooler looking and wireless.

Starfleet Communicator? Hello Motorola Ming. The Ming has a stylus, though, which Kirk would have lost on day one. “Captain’s log… I’ve… lost… my… po-king… apparatus!”

And last but not least, there’s the Tricorder, “an advanced scientific device used by Starfleet personnel” to monitor medical conditions and search for signs of life, among other things. Kinda resembles a wireless router, which is used to search for and monitor advanced scientific stuff like LOLcats and hot deals on Wolf T-shirts.

Star Trek: The Exhibition [Franklin Institute, Philadelphia]

More geeky Philadelphia stuff…

If you’re thinking of scanning all your old photos using a traditional flatbed scanner, let me be the first to tell you what a royal pain in the ass it is. I’ve done it a few times in my life and I put it up near the top of the list of things I don’t want to do, right underneath “helping someone move”.

This “photo converter” looks a lot quicker and more convenient. It’s not a scanner, though — it actually takes a photo of your photos using a 5-megapixel digital camera and then zips the file into your computer via USB.

You’ll notice a single button marked “COPY” which ought to be straightforward enough. You load your photos into one of three trays — 3×5, 4×6, or 5×7 — drop it into the box, and hit the button.

No lifting the scanner lid, aligning the photo just right, scanning it, and then cropping or rotating the finished image file because the picture moved when you took your hand off of it.

This thing is just $50, which is down from a list price of $200. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but that actually seems like a fair price.

Hammacher Schlemmer Photograph Converter [Buy.com via dealnews]

EA is going the online-only route this year for the computer version of the Tiger Woods golf franchise, called Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online. That’s good in the sense that it’ll be Mac compatible too, updates should be automatic, and you’ll be able to play from any computer.

It’s bad in the sense that you’ll need to be connected to the internet to play the game. While EA doesn’t come right out and say it, this is almost surely to prevent piracy. Expect other game developers to keep a close eye on how well this online-only thing works for EA. If it works, it may reinvigorate the PC gaming market somewhat in the face of certain developers going console-only and it’ll certainly make for a decent Mac game.

The graphics look okay, although it’ll be interesting to see how many visual corners are cut in order to deliver a browser-based experience. Pricing hasn’t been set yet, either, but don’t expect to pay $19.99 and be done with it, as EA says that the game “will be offered through a multi-tiered subscription in fall of 2009.”

Translation: This is the last Tiger Woods game we’re making for the computer and we’ll just keep updating it constantly. That’s actually not a bad idea, as many people have complained that some of EA’s other sports titles seem to merely feature incremental tweaks and roster updates year after year. Those subscription prices will need to be low, though, as we’re all used to paying $20 to $40 per year for PC versions of EA Sports’ boxed games. I love the Tiger Woods games but I’d be a hard sell to even pay $5 per month for an online version. I might go for $2.99 per month. Might.

Full press release:

EA Revolutionalizes Sports Gaming with Ground-Breaking Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) Online

Authentic Golf Simulation Streamed Directly to Your Browser

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 29, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that EA Tiburon, the development studio of the best-selling* golf simulation Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) franchise, is introducing an innovative and ground-breaking new product – Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) Online. Available this fall, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online is an authentic golf simulation experience that is dynamically streamed to a web browser and requires no game installation, no disc, and no additional peripherals. This game is easily accessible and available anywhere, via a web browser and an internet connection.

“Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online is for anyone who loves golf and is on-the-go,” said Executive Producer Mike Taramykin. “Whether you have ten minutes on your PC in the office, or hours on your Mac at home, this is a golf game that makes time for you. With Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online, golf lovers can satisfy their golf fix anytime.”

Stuck at the airport waiting for a flight? If you have an internet connection, just open up your computer and fire up Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online! The game is literally just a click away and has high resolution 3D graphics, delivers a feature rich experience and will be regularly updated with new features.

At launch, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online will include several world class championship courses, such as Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass and St. Andrews, while additional new courses will be available on a regular basis. In addition, a fully stocked schedule of tournaments and multiple community features, allowing fans to connect and compete with friends, makes Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online a community for all golf fans. This community will help shape the game’s evolution, including features such as new course additions, pro shop items, and even tournament conditions.

Your time is at a premium and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online is designed to work around your schedule – suspend play and resume from the exact same point at a later time. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online will be the most accessible and feature-rich golf video game experience available on any personal computer.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online will be offered through a multi-tiered subscription in fall of 2009.

[via Joystiq]

If you’re a stickler for clean floors (note: I am not) but you can’t afford a live-in maid to clean them every day (note: I can not) and you’re not afraid of robots (note: I am, deathly) then perhaps you need a Roomba.

Woot.com has the iRobot Roomba 535 for $149.99 with $5 shipping. That, my friends, is an excellent deal as this unit goes for $250 and up just about everywhere else. This is a new unit that Woot’s selling, too, not a refurb.

The 535 comes with a recharging station so it’ll clean the floor and then find its way back to said station when it’s all done. It also comes with a “Virtual Wall Lighthouse” which is a little base unit you put on the floor next to a doorway to keep the Roomba in a certain room while blocking off other areas of your house.

iRobot Roomba 535 [Woot.com]

Yow. When I first saw the above video I was like, “Who the hell’s been following me around on the weekends and filming me?” Then I was like, “Oh, that’s not me. It’s a guy named Damien Walters. Also, I tend to sit quite still most weekends.” At any rate, this is Parkour meets Ninjitsu, meets advanced gymnastics (the kind used in fights between Ninjas and Pirates, not the Olympic kind).

[via Geekologie]

If you think you’re ready for some “moderate outrage,” strap in. Those are the exact words that Fortune columnist Stanley Bing has just used to express his feelings about the “brand intrusion” that Microsoft’s impending “Bing” search engine has just dumped on his proverbial doorstep.

In a passionate press release, Bing the Author shakes a stern finger at Bing the Search Engine yet makes an appeal to Microsoft that he might personally become “the logo, corporate symbol, and spokesman” for the new search engine.

According to the press release:

“For nearly 25 years, I have jealously guarded the value of my brand,” Bing (the original) continued. “For several years, it was threatened by the enormous reputation of Rudolf Bing, the fictional presence of Chandler Bing and the high-profile persona of Stephen Bing. This, however, is the worst challenge the Bing Brand has faced to date, particularly in regards to my search engine optimization positioning.”

In conjunction with these statements, Mr. Bing has offered to open discussions with Bing the Search Engine and its representatives to iron out differences and challenges to each respective brand. “I think we’re a lot more powerful together than we are apart,” he added. “At least I’m pretty sure I am.”

Bing (Stanley) indicated that the shape and specific nature of the merged branding opportunities have yet to be hammered out, but that he is available from the second week in June onward, for the most part, and would be willing to consider “any reasonable offer” for his services, or simply to provide no services, if that’s what seems best.

Strong words indeed. Full press release below:

LONG-TIME FORTUNE COLUMNIST AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR STANLEY BING CONDEMNS ‘BRAND INTRUSION’ BY NEW MICROSOFT SEARCH ENGINE, ALSO TO BE NAMED ‘BING’

OFFERS SERVICES TO NEW ENTITY FOR ‘ANY REASONABLE OFFER’

NEW YORK, May 28 /PRNewswire/ – Stanley Bing, FORTUNE Magazine columnist and best-selling author, today expressed “moderate outrage” at the branding of the new search engine to be offered by Microsoft, also to be called Bing. At the same time, Bing the Author took the unusual step of offering an initial olive branch to Bing the Search Engine, proposing that the two powerful brands merge into one for which Mr. Bing could be the logo, corporate symbol and spokesman, to the extent that it fits in with his other duties.

“This is an unprecedented case of brand intrusion by one of the most powerful and wealthy corporations in the world,” said Bing the Author, as opposed to Bing the Search Engine, which, unlike Mr. Bing himself, cannot be called for comment because it is not a person. “At the same time, I believe I can propose a solution to this problem that will work to the benefit of both Bings, me and the other one,” he added.

Mr. Bing (the Author) issued these statements in reaction to the announcement, made today by Microsoft at the D: All Things Digital conference in Carlsbad, Calif., that the software giant is set to launch an $80 million to $100 millioncampaign for Bing, the search engine it hopes will help it grab a bigger slice of the online ad market. This huge campaign will be conducted by JWT, the massive advertising agency, and is viewed by many to be an attack on the market position of Google, long the search engine leader. Little notice has been taken to date, however, of the serious implications for Mr. Bing or, for that matter, any other Bings, which Mr. Bing made clear he doesn’t care about.

“For nearly 25 years, I have jealously guarded the value of my brand,” Bing (the original) continued. “For several years, it was threatened by the enormous reputation of Rudolf Bing, the fictional presence of Chandler Bing and the high-profile persona of Stephen Bing. This, however, is the worst challenge the Bing Brand has faced to date, particularly in regards to my search engine optimization positioning.”

In conjunction with these statements, Mr. Bing has offered to open discussions with Bing the Search Engine and its representatives to iron out differences and challenges to each respective brand. “I think we’re a lot more powerful together than we are apart,” he added. “At least I’m pretty sure I am.”

Bing (Stanley) indicated that the shape and specific nature of the merged branding opportunities have yet to be hammered out, but that he is available from the second week in June onward, for the most part, and would be willing to consider “any reasonable offer” for his services, or simply to provide no services, if that’s what seems best.

Mr. Bing began his column in FORTUNE in 1995. Prior to that, he was at Esquire Magazine for 11 years, where he built a considerable following. He is also the author of numerous books and is the host of a popular web destination on CNNMoney.com and writes regularly for Huffingtonpost.com. He has been cultivating the Bing brand since 1983.

Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. It has been establishing the Bing brand for approximately two hours.

See Bing the Author’s accompanying post over at Fortune.

UPDATE: Microsoft responds via its Live Search blog:

Dear Bing (the Author),

We couldn’t help sit up and take notice of your offer of services from one Bing to another. We were moderately surprised and mildly excited. As you might have guessed, today is quite a big day for us. Even so, we dropped everything when we saw your press release this morning. After an emergency meeting (three people were invited, all declined), we’ve decided to take you up on your offer. We’re not certain what exactly this would involve. We’re not certain it would pay much (nothing, actually) but we look forward to starting a dialogue and hope we can work together soon. Let’s do lunch. In the meantime we are sending you a case of moderately priced cigars.

Your pals,
Bing.com

After hearing Brad Paisley say that a Fender Telecaster “is nothing more than a cutting board, a baseball bat, and strings,” Zachary Custom Guitars decided to put that idea to the test — minus the part about the baseball bat.

The result: a guitar body made from a $25 butcher block from Ikea. The finished guitar costs slightly more, at $2675, but you get a maple neck, bois de rose fretboard, and all the other stuff that makes an electric guitar and electic guitar. Not to mention the fact that it’s made by hand.

The 40mm “SPAR” butcher block is made of solid birch and is 40mm thick — which is, coincidentally, the exact thickness of Leo Fender’s early prototype guitars.

Ikea Butcher Block Tele Guitar [ZacharyGuitars.com via Ikea Hacker]