[BLU/Officers] Webcam for peering into things

[Brian DeLacey]

It's great that Shankar is back. I was about to propose a meeting topic
with Shankar's return:

IoT Redux: MicroPython, RPi Pico and AI

It fits with the spirit of the trendline (bargain computing - MicroPython
is MIT licensed, RPi Pico is $4 and AI? Priceless.

The Linux angle? MicroPython and the AMD Bargain Build would talk with the
RPi Pico nodule. Also, we'd show some TensorFlow on the "big silicon" - AMD
(offering some follow-up performance running "TensorFlow" stuff on
different AMD boxes.

And if Shankar wanted to weigh on the architectural considerations - of
both the AMD and the RP2040?

What do you think? Possible Meeting Timeframes? Interest?

PS - The KN95s have been good - I can't imagine that duration of wearing
though.  There are these now - thought not sure any happier for that
duration: 3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+ N95, 20/Pack. Price
increased from $37.97 to $50+ in last few days. Not sure if it's a
temporary surge or a reset.


On Sun, Dec 26, 2021 at 12:19 PM Kurt Keville <kurt.keville at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Unbelievable. I am so sorry for you. I will ask a guy I know about these
> rebreather masks that he bought for air travel. Much more comfortable but I
> am not sure the airlines recognize them.
>
> We'll make 22 a good start for you, Shankar. Brian, want to start a
> computer company? Get Bill Buck involved? We would have to move to Texas
> but I want to do that anyhow. :)  Be close to AMD...
>
> On Sun, Dec 26, 2021 at 11:55 AM Shankar Viswanathan <
> shankar.viswan at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On 12/14/21 17:01, Bill Ricker wrote:
>>
>> Safe Travels, Shankar!
>>
>>
>> Thanks everyone! It was a really hectic trip, but everything worked out
>> well. I was able to spend time with family that I've only seen on video for
>> the past 2.5 years.
>>
>> The travel though was really brutal. My itinerary was non-optimal due to
>> the last minute nature of my flight booking. This caused a lot of headaches
>> due to various COVID requirements of every transit airport along the way.
>> On the way back, the US changed the requirements of a negative test from
>> within 72 hours before departure to 24 hours before departure - later
>> amended to day before departure (to account for flights that may be leaving
>> late evening). But my flight was at 2:30am and nobody could tell me if a
>> sample from day X-2 would be acceptable where X was the actual date on my
>> ticket (nobody would guarantee results under 24 hours). It was also not
>> clear if a rapid test would be sufficient since my first layover point
>> (Dubai) required results from a full RT-PCR test. They also required
>> testing from one of the approved labs - which I can understand as there
>> could be rampant cheating otherwise. But the nearest approved facility was
>> 75 miles from where I was - and it was an absolute nightmare to get to in
>> torrential monsoon rains and flooded streets.
>>
>> In addition, since I had a 10+ hour layover at Dubai, they would not
>> consider me a "transit" passenger - which meant I had to also meet the
>> requirements of the UAE government as someone "entering" the UAE. This
>> required getting another test at the airport 6 hours before departure -
>> they won't even let you into the terminal building till you show a negative
>> result from that test. So I had to get to the airport 6+ hours before my
>> flight and wait outside in the parking lot till they emailed me the results
>> 2.5 hours before departure (going back home after submitting the sample
>> wasn't an option since home is 2 hours from the airport).
>>
>> The worst part is that interpreting the various rules is left to the
>> person at the airline checkin counter - my situation required speaking to
>> their supervisor's supervisor and begging them to let me on the flight as
>> there was no way I could satisfy all the rules given my long layover. In
>> addition, the could not verify the result from the QR code on my result -
>> the URL in the QR code did not work because the website appeared to be down
>> for maintenance at that early hour. I was allowed to board only after I
>> agreed to taking another rapid COVID test at the next hop - for which I had
>> to pay the equivalent of $50 (they didn't issue me the boarding pass for my
>> final leg till I got that result and I just barely made the flight).
>>
>> The second worst part was wearing KN95 masks for 42 hours straight - I
>> used a fresh one approx. every 8 hours. Only break was while
>> eating/drinking at the airports or the flight. Except one leg, the flights
>> were relatively empty so I didn't have to worry too much about someone on
>> the next seat being unmasked at the same time I was eating. I breathed
>> properly only once I got home - and it was a big sigh of relief after the
>> COVID test I took 3 days after my return came out negative (I had to wait
>> an hour in freezing cold in Cambridge to get the test).
>>
>> So, I highly recommend avoiding international flights unless absolutely
>> essential. Also, try to get the most direct flight possible - fewer (and
>> shorter) layovers the better.
>>
>> -Shankar
>>
>>
>>
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