MIT Scratch robotic language: Getting Started

Scratch Getting Started v 14

MIT Scratch robotic language: Getting Started

LEGO WeDo Hungry Alligator Challenge:

Source: Learn Quebec: Hungry Alligator Challenge

Lewis Chew demonstrating LEGO WeDo robotic software

Lewis Chew modified the LEGO Education WeDo "Dancing Birds" model to "Ninjago Lasersaber swordfight" by replacing the dancing birds with Ninjago characters together with laser sounds:

Lewis built first Lego Education WeDo model - Alligator

Lewis has successfully constructed all by himself without help from parents nor grandpa, his very first WeDo model, the Hungry Alligator:

And here is another photo of the Hungry Alligator connected to a laptop computer loaded with the WeDo software:

Types of gears

Spur gear
Crown gear
Worm gear
Rack and pinion
Raxk and pinion animation

Spur gear

Crown gear

Worm gear

Rack and pinion

Rack and pinion animation

Song in memory of my father

Papa - by Paul Anka

Everyday my papa would work
To try to make ends meet
To see that we would eat
Keep those shoes upon my feet

Every night my papa would take me
Tuck me in my bed
Kiss me on my head
After all my prayers were said

There were years
Of sadness and of tears
Through it all
Together we were strong, we were strong

The times were rough
But Papa, he was tough
And mama she stood
beside him all along

Growing up with them was easy
Time just flew on by
The years began to fly
They aged but so did I

I could tell
Mama wasn't well
And papa knew
and deep down so did she, so did she

And when she died
Papa broke down and he cried
And all he could say was,
"God, why her, Take me!"

Everyday he sat there sleeping
in his rocking chair
He never went upstairs
Because she wasn't there

Then one day my Papa said, "Son,
I'm proud of how you've grown"
He said, "Go out and make it on your own.
And don't worry. I'm O.K. alone."

He said, "There are things you must do"
"Places you must see"
His eyes were sad as he
goodbye to me

Every time I kiss my children
Papa's words ring true
He said, "Your children
they live through you."

And they grow!
They'll leave you too"
I remember every word
my Papa used to say
I kiss my kids and pray
That they'll think
Think
That way

LEGO Education Simple Machines preliminaries

Have purchase online the LEGO Education Simple Machines Set and now awaiting collection from US. In the meantime some links to reviews and videos to prepare for its arrival:

Learning Simple Machines with LEGO Education by Featured Teacher

HomeSchooler LEGO Education Simple Machines Kit

LEGO Education Simple and Motorized Mechanism: 10% off

LEGO Education is offering a 10% off till end of this month (August 2013) for the LEGO Education Simple and Motorized Mechanism and all related products like:

Introducing Simple and Motorized Mechanisms Activity Pack
Advancing with Simple and Motorized Mechanisms Activity Pack
Pneumatics Add-On Set

Some Reviews:
LEGO Education–Simple Machines Kit Review

LEGO LEARNING WITH SIMPLE & MOTORIZED MECHANISMS

The Lego story - failures to success: get inspired

Watch the video below to learn how a huge success, LEGO, started and get inspired how the founders of LEGO never let adversities stop them from turning failures into success:

Lewis tackles first Lego Technic set on his own

Lewis at 6 years of age is now attempting to assemble his first Lego Technic 9393 Tractor set and have succeeded up to step 23, page 25. At this point, grandpa am guessing the "train" comprising of rack and pinion, rods, a pinion supposed to be the "steering wheel" is designed to convert the rotation of the "steering wheel" about a vertical axis to the turning of the 2 front wheel. Lewis seemed to have followed the instructions correcting.

Grandpa attempted to turn the "steering wheel" but the rods would not turn nor would the rack and pinion move. Grandpa think he has isolated the problem to this part::

"2 holes perpendicular axis" Lego Technic part

 which prevent the vertical rod from rotating.

Lego offers very good support and let us see how they respond to my query about this "apparent" problem which may either be a just a small mistake.

Grandpa has attempted to locate the parts list for Lego Technic 9393 and need to refer to this yellow "4 balls" part:

Yellow "4 sphere" Lego Technic part

Now let's see how Lego support respond to grandpa's query.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 launch date and bonus models

LEGO has announced the eagerly awaited LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robotic set will be launched on 1^st September 2013. Further, there will be 12 bonus models and the building instructions will also be downloadable from the same date. The 12 bonus models are:

ROBODOZ3R – created by Mark Crosbie
BANNER PRINT3R – created by Ralph Hempel
EV3MEG – created by Martyn Boogaarts
BOBB3E – created by Kenneth Ravnshøj Madsen
MR-B3AM – created by Kenneth Ravnshøj Madsen
RAC3 TRUCK – created by Laurens Valk
KRAZ3 – created by Marc André Bazergui
EV3D4 – created by Vassilis Chryssanthakopoulos
EL3CTRIC GUITAR – created by Daniele Benedettelli
DINOR3X – created by Lasse Stenbæk Lauesen
WACK3M – created by Martyn Boogaarts
EV3GAME – created by Ricardo Oliveira

These can all be built with just 1 set of the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Model 31313

This will bring the number of models that one can create with 1 set of EV3 to 18 including the 5 official models that has instructions that comes with the set.

Official models:
1. humanoid,
2. snake,
3. scorpion,
4. gripper and
5. tracker

Also detailed instructions for 12 bonus models:
1. arcade style game,
2. bulldozer,
3. shell game,
4. robotic scribe,
5. dinosaur,
6. electric guitar,
7. line follower,
8. forklift,
9. brick measurer,
10. racing truck,
11. prankster and
12. droid

About LEGO Minstorms

LEGO Technic & Mindstorms EV3 robotic construction toys

Hi grandchildren,

I have purchases some LEGO Technic toys for you and hope that you will have endless hours of fun with them plus also learn something for it.

Grandpa will also be going to United States sometime in the future and will likely bring back the LEGO Mindstorms EV3. Grandpa will play with it first and if you proved capable of playing competently with the LEGO Technic sets and can take very good care of it and not lose any parts, grandpa may pass the EV3 to you when you are ready.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3, successor to NXT 2.0

In the meantime, check these out:
LEGO Mindstorms building instructions
LEGO Mindstorms message board
LEGO Mindstorms community

Play with your LEGO Technic sets and become proficient in building models with LEGO Technic parts first.

Some videos for Technic and Mindstorms EV3:















Where to buy LEGO Mindstorms EV3: LEGO Store. Valley Fair Shopping Center.
How to get there: Walk from San Jose Mariott to San Carlos & Market, take bus 23 to Valley Fair Transit Center, walk to Valley Fair Shopping Center.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 unboxing & education core + expansion comments.

Lincoln as shark in fancy dress parade

Here are some photos of Lincoln dressed as a silver shark in a fancy dress parade in his kindergarten, proudly made by his grandpa (wanted gray colored paper but unavailable):

Lincoln was supposed to put his head through a hole into the body of the shark and view the outside through an open mouth, but I guess the mouth opening was too small. Either that or he found it uncomfortable.

Grandfather story 2: Risk sponsored US trip for free and fair elections

Hi grandchildren,

Tomorrow at Padang Merbok, there will be a Black 505 rally to protest the frauds and the cheating in the recent General Election. It is also to demand for free and fair election and to demand that the Malaysia Election Commission Chairman and Deputy Chairman resign for wasting RM6 million on useless "indelible" ink that was supposed to last at least 7 days but found to be easily washed off within the same day of application.

There were many other failures on their part that has caused the public to lose confience in the EC (their existence is dependent on them being able to have the confidence of the public). Further, Ambiga of BERSIH (a civil society to press for free and fair election) said that this failure of the EC alone is sufficient to ask the EC Chairman and Deputy Chairman to resign. In fact, she said, any EC worth their salt would have resign in shame without being asked.

Grandpa read news that a few Penang Members of Parliament and State Assembly representatives are not only willing to risk their elected positions and privileges, but will also sponsor a bus each to bus their supporters from Penang to KL for the rally.

Your grandpa missed the BERSIH 2 rally  held on 9 July 2011  to demand for free and fair election because grandpa didn't want to risk arrest and thus miss the trip to California for the Global Top Contributor Summit fully sponsored by Google which was slated for September that year.

Well, grandpa is blessed to have been invited again for the second Top Contributor Summit this year September to October.

However, if MPs and ADUNs are prepared for arrest and loss of elected positions and privileges, how can grandpa not participate too. If grandpa get arrested and missed the sponsored US trip, what is that compared with the sacrifices of elected representates?

Thus grandpa is committed to participate in the rally tomorrow. However, I don't think they will arrest grandpa. If any, they will probably only arrest the leaders and perhaps trouble makers. Grandpa certainly don't intend to cause any trouble.

So here it is. Here is grandfather story no. 2.

Update: DAP (Democratic Action Party Malaysia has issued a letter to its members stating that the party fully support the Black 505 Rally tomorrow and encouraging its members to turn up in full force:

Saudara/Saudari,

Untuk makluman, DAP menyokong sepenuhnya Perhimpunan 505 pada hujung minggu ini sebagai hak rakyat membantah proses PRU13 yang tidak bersih dan tidak telus. Hak berhimpun merupakan hak asasi dan pihak polis sepatutnya membantu dan bukannya menghalang ekspresi kebebasan rakyat ini.

Pada Sabtu ini, terdapat beberapa tempat berkumpul dan untuk ahli-ahli DAP, tempat berkumpul kita adalah di Jalan Sultan (depan Hotel Lok Ann)  bermula dari pukul 12 tengahari, dan semua ahli akan berjalan ke tempat berhimpun di Padang Merbok pada pukul 2 petang.

Para ahli parti adalah digalakkan memakai baju hitam dan menyertai himpunan rakyat penuh bermakna ini secara aman.

Dari:Ibu Pejabat Kebangsaan

致：

各报／电 子媒体新闻主任

民主行动 党全国署理主席兼蕉赖区国会议员陈国伟21-6- 2013（星期五）于吉隆坡发表文告，请刊 登，谢谢。

（吉隆坡21日讯）民主行动党全国署理主席陈国伟指 出， 民主行动党率领的“622黑色集会” 队伍集合地点为吉隆 坡苏丹街与茨厂街交界处的乐安酒店（Lok Ann Hotel）前面，而非早前所指 的半山芭。

他说，民主行动 党员丶支持者和民众，可以在6月22日中午时分， 前往该处与党领袖 们会合後，一起步行至吉隆坡默布草场（Padang Merbok）。

他吁请警方和市 政局，共同协助维持交通和黑色集会的秩序， 而不是“千方百 计”加以阻挠 ，毕竟宪法赋予人民自由参加和平集会的权 利。

也是蕉赖区国会 议员的陈国伟今天发表文告说：“因此， 我对全国内部安全与 公共秩序总监拿督斯里沙烈指倘若反对党坚持本 周六在首都主 办黑色集会而引发状况的话， 警方不排除寻求军方协助应对问 题的谈话，感到非常遗憾。”

他呼吁所有参与 者身穿黑衣黑裤，以便以这一类形式的集会， 强烈抗议选举舞 弊。

他说，这个集合 地点除了他本身， 民主行动党全国组织秘书陆兆福丶绿色盛会 主席黄德和全国青年团结 阵线（SAMM），也将于下午 2时 一同率领民众启步至默布草场。

Grandfather story 1: the "House" that grandpa help build

Hi grandchildren,

Grandpa's classmate suggested I tell grandfather stories to you all, so here it is, Grandfather story no. 1: the "House" that grandpa help build:

ACS Harvard House sports day booth

Nice? Don't know but if grandpa's memory is OK, then I remembered this ACS (Anglo-Chinese School) Harvard House won first prize for the booth decoration (plus design?). And that "handsome" boy just directly under the letter V of the signboard HARVARD, that is your grandpa.

Also, if grandpa remembered correctly, grandpa also design the booth. However, grandpa is not very sure because a schoolmate (TLM) mentioned in a Facebook comment in our private ACS Facebook that her House was also Harvard and she had been involved in the booth design, so perhaps it is TLM who designed it.

More grandpa stories. Look at this AutoCAD drawing of the above booth (of course during grandpa's schooldays, AutoCAD have not been created yet. Anyway, look at the drawing:

ACS Harvard House design drawn with AutoCAD

 Compare the 2. However, there is every possibility that I remembered wrong and those straight lines (rafia string) that together forming a parabola was not done for the booth but for another sport event at the Kelab Shah Alam Selangor and it was actually grandpa's schoolmate TLM who did the original design.

This event grandpa cannot forget - while constructing the booth, grandpa fell from a ladder and the sharp bamboo cut grandpa's left hand from near the elbow to near the base of the palm which needed not a few stitches.

The scar is still visible on grandpa's left hand, starting from the elbow and becoming faint as to render it not visible as it nears the palm.

So thare you are grandchildren, that is grandpa's first grandfather story to write down here for when you grow up further to be able to understand what grandpa is writing about.

Captain Lewis Chew landing at San Francisco International Airport?

Here is Captain Lewis Chew at the control of an Air Asia airplane:

Captain Lewis Chew

 

Actually, it is a photo of Lewis at Kidzania Mutiara Damansara.

Last September 2011, I landed at the San Francisco International Airport on the way to the Google Campus for the Google Top Contributor Summit, fully sponsored by Google.

This September-October 2013, I am scheduled to go to the second Google Top Contributor Summit again fully sponsored by Google. In all likelihood I will be landing again at the San Francisco International Airport.

So let's hope Captain Lewis Chew will grow up quickly in which case he may be the captain in this video of a Lufthansa Airbus A380 approaching San Francisco International Airport: for a safe landing:

Pilot's view: Airbus A380 approach and landing at San Francisco

Lincoln Chew reading Chinese book by himself

Lincoln Chew at only 4 years of age is now able to read some Chinese (Mandarin) characters all by himself:

Award winning design for Harvard House tent for Sports Day

Hi grandchildren,

Some comments in your grandpa's Form 5 Facebook group by grandpa's classmate/form mate reminded grandpa of the tent for school sports day in 1966 which grandpa designed and help build and which won first price. Grandpa had a big photo of that but unfortunately it has been lost. So the next best thing to do is to try to reconstruct it from memory using AutoCAD R14, an old CAD software which grandpa used many many years ago.

Those straight lines that formed parabolic "line" filling up the space in the facade were created using rafia strings. There should have been no blank space, would redo if I remember. Have forgotten how to change the background color to white and the lines to be black, so here it is:

Harvard House tent for ACS Seremban Sports Day 1966 which won first prize

Phonics and Lewis Chew reading short story

Lewis Chew's mother has done a good job of bringing up Lewis by reading to him at a young age and letting him get phonics lessons. Lewis Chew at 5 years can now read short stories as demonstrated by the video below:



I have also noticed Lewis can read the tabs and links and knows which one to click when I let him play some online educational games during their visit last Christmas holidays.

Lincoln Chew dancing at Hui Yong's wedding dinner

We were at Hui Yong's wedding dinner at the Palace of the Golden Horse recently. The food was really good and the red wine was free flowing but the best was at the end when all the children went on stage to dance to the music.

The one who shined was 4 year old Lincoln Chew, especially towards the end. He is that little fellow with checkered shirt. He was a real natural: