Unfortunatly chase vehicles aren't an option on RAGBRAI, there are 10,000 riders and the route is closed to vehicles. The closest a chase vehicle could ever get would be maybe 10 miles to the rider.
I'd first like to thank the slashdot guys for posting this. Here are some of the things I've done since I sent them the original message. Second of all I work for the Register, so if this goes through hopefully I'll be able to ride RAGBRAI and not take vacation time for it.:)
I actually haven't found a digital camera that'll fit my requirements so I'm looking into an analog camera with an analog-USB adapter.
I'm looking at the:
SuperCircuits pc75wr analog camera --> http://www.supercircuits.com/
and the Belkin analog -> USB converter --> http://www.usbstuff.com/capture.html
Computer:
I'll admit it and get flamed here, but I haven't looked through the embedded Linux stuff on the web, but from looking at Palms, Handsprings, IPaqs, and Casio's line I haven't been able to find a handheld that will do both a USB connection and a PCMCIA cellular modem connection at the same time.
I think I found my computer base unit. It also includes a built in GPS system so if things go right there might be a map beside the picture with a big star that shows where the rider currently is on the route.
http://corp.intermec.com/products/6640.htm
Modem: I recently found out that one of the cell phone companies also helps to sponsor RAGBRAI so I might be able to swing a sponsorship for this portion.
I talked with a gentleman at MIT in the wearable computer club and the consensus is to be careful and get shock-resistant parts since I'll be on the bike.
Keep the suggestions coming, the more the better. (I don't want to use up my vacation to go on RAGBRAI!!):)
Even with a repubilcan president and a republican congress they'd still have to get it past the Supreme Court (and we all know the ACLU will take every single law like this to court).
Theoretically if there were a long string of Republican Presidents and Congresses (at least 25 years worth) they could change the Supreme Court by appointing conservative justices when current members retire. Even this has it's pitfalls as there are many justices who completely change their stances after about 5 years in the Supreme Court. Justices are also in for life after they've been appointed so there's no way to get rid of them other than killing them or letting them die off from old age. Rosevelt (FDR) tried to increase the size of the court from 9 to 13 so he could stack the court with justices more open to his ideas, and the whole idea promptly got smacked down.
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Unfortunatly chase vehicles aren't an option on RAGBRAI, there are 10,000 riders and the route is closed to vehicles. The closest a chase vehicle could ever get would be maybe 10 miles to the rider.
I'd first like to thank the slashdot guys for posting this. Here are some of the things I've done since I sent them the original message. Second of all I work for the Register, so if this goes through hopefully I'll be able to ride RAGBRAI and not take vacation time for it. :)
:)
I actually haven't found a digital camera that'll fit my requirements so I'm looking into an analog camera with an analog-USB adapter.
I'm looking at the:
SuperCircuits pc75wr analog camera --> http://www.supercircuits.com/
and the Belkin analog -> USB converter --> http://www.usbstuff.com/capture.html
Computer:
I'll admit it and get flamed here, but I haven't looked through the embedded Linux stuff on the web, but from looking at Palms, Handsprings, IPaqs, and Casio's line I haven't been able to find a handheld that will do both a USB connection and a PCMCIA cellular modem connection at the same time. I think I found my computer base unit. It also includes a built in GPS system so if things go right there might be a map beside the picture with a big star that shows where the rider currently is on the route.
http://corp.intermec.com/products/6640.htm
Modem: I recently found out that one of the cell phone companies also helps to sponsor RAGBRAI so I might be able to swing a sponsorship for this portion.
I talked with a gentleman at MIT in the wearable computer club and the consensus is to be careful and get shock-resistant parts since I'll be on the bike.
Keep the suggestions coming, the more the better. (I don't want to use up my vacation to go on RAGBRAI!!)
this shouldn't be a problem since I work for the Register. :)
Possible, but doubtful,
Even with a repubilcan president and a republican congress they'd still have to get it past the Supreme Court (and we all know the ACLU will take every single law like this to court).
Theoretically if there were a long string of Republican Presidents and Congresses (at least 25 years worth) they could change the Supreme Court by appointing conservative justices when current members retire. Even this has it's pitfalls as there are many justices who completely change their stances after about 5 years in the Supreme Court. Justices are also in for life after they've been appointed so there's no way to get rid of them other than killing them or letting them die off from old age. Rosevelt (FDR) tried to increase the size of the court from 9 to 13 so he could stack the court with justices more open to his ideas, and the whole idea promptly got smacked down.