Preview our Autism Fairy Tale-Francesco the Autistic Puppet.

I am collaborating with a friend, David Grant, an author on a fairy tale involving an autistic character.
It has a positive message, and shows that people or characters with special needs can do great things.

Check out the book here--Francesco

Here is a link to the first book in the series a prequel to the book involving Francesco the Autistic Puppet:

link to–>Bellarina!

Dw. Grants Novel Bellarina

link to–>Bellarina!

We are splitting any funds raised to  help us to help autism and get our 501c3 !!

I have a preview the next book about an autistic puppet character who winds up doing great things a chapter per week starting soon.

 

Please buy both books, Bellarina now, and Francesco later when it is published to help us to help autism, plus the books are excellent and worth reading.

 

Here is a Brief summary Francesco the Autistic Puppet and info from the cover of the new Book:

 

Geppetto’s Autistic Puppet

 

By DW Grant

For Dave B.,

and the great big smile that comes up from his very large heart.

A summary of the second Chapter of the Book!
In a deep green valley in the Alps, between the Two Great Mountains, an old
toymaker searches the forest for the perfect piece of wood that may contain his
next toy. When he walks in the door of his shop with a twisted, knotted, and
impossible to carve old tree branch, his finished toys shake their heads. What
could crazy old Geppetto be thinking?
The old man knows exactly what he is thinking. He is thinking with his heart again,
this time about the sadness of his village. They need his creative skills, so the
wood he looks for must bottle up the magic in this next puppet and it must be
strong, and made from the most solid tree. Then he will attack the impossible
with his knife and chisel and create a miracle for those he loves.
Not long ago his valley was happy and joyful, and, like the smoke from their
chimneys, a song rose from every house. Farmers sang in the fields, and every
village shop was full of creative play and joy. Candles were made with waxy love,
cakes were frosted with sweet humor, and even their cheeses filled mouths with
a witty sharpness. The joy of caring for farm, family, and each other made each
day a holiday, at least before The Great War broke out.
The madness of The Great War stole the villager’s sons, and singers, killed the
song in their lives, and left their souls angry and bitter. A dark cloud rose from
devastated hearts instead of song. It hung like a heavy winter coat over each
person, making each once joyous service a task, and a burdensome duty.
Geppetto suffered a loss too, so he not only saw it, but felt it as much as any of
his neighbors. Pinocchio was gone too, and it grieved him to the deepest parts of
his heart.
Remember, Pinocchio became a real boy, but he also grew into a real man, and as
real men must sometimes do, marched off to a Great War with other sons, but
had not returned. Like the other fathers around him the old toymaker was proud,
but broken hearted. Was his son dead and gone forever? He was not sure, and his
prayers attacked Heaven often for the answer.
Good King Festweiller knew how his subjects were feeling too, for the halls of his
castle were cold and damp from the grief he was feeling for his own two sons. But
being a good and wise King, Festweiller cared beyond his own heart for the lives of his people, and he decided to create some magic of his own. One dark morning
he sent his messengers out to the villages with a proclamation and an invitation.
The members of his guard that were too old to march off to war visited each
village, and declared his solution.

Stay Tune for more previews from Francesco the Autistic Puppet coming soon!

Here is a link to checkout and purchase the first book in the series a prequel to the book involving Francesco the Autistic Puppet:

link to–>Bellarina!

Dw. Grants Novel Bellarina

link to–>Bellarina!

A New innovative bluetooth Padlock!!

The Quicklock Padlock is the smartest and most capable electronic padlock in the world. It ditches easily-lost keys and forgotten combinations in favor of NFC and Bluetooth technologies. SafeTech Products is launching a new evolution of safety and security through its NFC technologies, and with built-in data tracking, the Quicklock Padlock is more than just a smart lock—it can even be used as a portable inventory management or entry solution.

o-padlock-banner-3
 

One phone can be used to control multiple padlocks. Because a number of different NFC-enabled wearable tech items can be used to unlock the padlock as well (including fobs, rings, and keycards), the need for multiple keys is eliminated. AND, a single Quicklock Padlock can store up to 50 NFC fobs/tags with rights unlock it.

Here is an interesting video of the padlock in action:

 

 

Collaborating on a Book with DW Grant-A Fairy Tale involving an Autistic Character…Check out his first book!

I am collaborating with a friend, David Grant, an author on a fairy tale involving an autistic character. It has a positive message, and shows that people or characters with special needs can do great things.

Here is a link to the first book in the series a prequel to the book involving Francesco the Autistic Puppet:

link to–>Bellarina!

Dw. Grants Novel Bellarina

link to–>Bellarina!

We are splitting any funds raised to  help us to help autism and get our 501c3 !!

I have a preview the next book about an autistic puppet character who winds up doing great things a chapter per week starting soon.

 

Please buy both books to help us to help autism, plus the books are excellent and worth reading.

 

Here is a Brief summary Francesco the Autistic Puppet and info from the cover of the new Book:

 

Geppetto’s Autistic Puppet

 

By DW Grant

For Dave B.,

and the great big smile that comes up from his very large heart.

copyright@DWGrant 2014

Preview of Chapter 1–>

Chapter 1

Sit still my Children, and I will tell you an adventurous tail that breaks through hard wooden hearts, and a story about the magic of love with no limits. I hope you will see that true magic dwells deep in the heart, but sometimes it needs is a little love to find its way out. For there are secret pathways for love inside all of us, and if we love hard enough they open a way out for our love , and for the love of those around us. The star of our story is small, even smaller than you little Leonie, but you will grow much bigger and he will not. Our little troubadour can sing too, even better than you my good friend Andreas, even though he does not possess your charm. No, my favorite niece Marianne, he does not have your smile. No one’s smile melts my heart like yours, but I hope by the end of this tale you love him as much as I love telling his story to you. Oh, you want to know his name?! We will call him what his creator christened him, “Francesco! “ That name means “Free One” in the language of his Father, but here’s where the story gets sticky, like a hotcake covered in maple syrup. You like hotcakes, don’t you Lasanni? I can tell because your belly giggled when I asked that question. Maybe we eat one less hotcake at the breakfast table tomorrow, eh? No? Well, ok, then. We go back to the story. Here’s the sticky part: You see, he was not as free as his name. Oh, I know you may not understand that little Pachako, but maybe you will when the story has been told. Here’s where we start.

Checkout and buy the book to help us to help autism–>

link to–>Bellarina!


Clinck here to check it out–>Bellarina!

 

Our summary of Woosh Cleaner!

Whoosh! Tech Tag

We have run into Woosh! at a bunch of events over the years. We spoke with the Woosh! folks recently at CES 2015, and they sent us a sample to evaluate. We were impressed, it worked well, did some nice cleaning for a variety of our devices!

We have used it off and on for a few years as well. It is a cleaner, that helps to prevent fingerprints and it cleans devices as well.

I use it for cleaning tablets, phones, eye glasses and lcd displays.

According to Woosh!

What is WHOOSH! Screen Shine? WHOOSH!® Screen Shine® is the next generation screen cleaner that not only cleans screens but makes them shine like new and provides a resistance to fingerprints. In fact, WHOOSH! Screen Shine is the ONLY screen and device cleaner that is guaranteed safe for all screens, 100% non-toxic, and fingerprint resistant. WHOOSH! is perfect for multi-touch and regular monitors, mobile devices, and consumer electronics including Apple Retina® displays, TFT, Glass, LCD, Plasma, OLED, UltraHD, CRT, Eink, and Ultra HD screens. TV’s, etc.

The importance of Tech Hygiene

• Maintaining personal cleanliness doesn’t end with washing our hands anymore. It should extend to our screens & devices as we touch them all day long – We take them to bed, touch them right after we eat, and some people even use them in the bathroom. Research shows that 82% of mobile phones have some form of bacterial contamination. (Source: London School of Hygiene & Topical Medicine, University of London)

• WHOOSH! removes dirt, dust, grime, makeup and skin oils while leaving a nano-thin, invisible coating that resists fingerprints and dirt buildup. Safe for You and Your Family

• WHOOSH! ingredients are reviewed and certified non-toxic by NSF International so there are no harmful residues transferred to your fingers to worry about.

• WHOOSH! is alcohol and ammonia free. It does not contain acids, chlorine, solvents, petroleum distillates, phosphates, or VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds).

• WHOOSH! is also anti-static, and haze and streak free. • WHOOSH! is made with biodegradable surfactants. GUARANTEED – Safe for your Screens

• GUARANTEED Safe for your Screen – Won’t damage, etch or chemically harm ANY of your screens or OEM coatings. • The only screen cleaner that will stand behind the product with a “Safe for your Screen” guarantee.

• Should a screen get damaged using our product, we will repair the screen or replace the device at no cost. Great for Gamers • Allows gamers’ fingers to breeze across the screen faster and with less friction

So if you want to try some for your self there are a few varieties:

Product SKUs WHOOSH! Screen Shine is available in a variety of sizes and ships with a 6”x6” anti-microbial screen cleaning microfiber cloth:

• Pocket (.3 fluid ounces)

• On-the-Go (1 fluid ounce)

• Duo+ (one 3.4 fluid ounce bottle and one .3 fluid ounce bottle)

Retailers WHOOSH! Screen Shine is available online at http://www.whooshscreenshine.com and Amazon.com, and is also currently available at select retail stores including Fry’s Electronics and Restoration

SURE,
IT’S A LITTLE GROSS,
BUT HERE’S
THE GOOD NEWS…

We perform ATP tests
on phones and screens
regularly and the findings,
well, they’re gross

WHOOSH! quickly
and easily cleans
the grossness away,
leaving a fingerprint
resistant shine.
Use it every day

We like it, and it is a great product!

Cool Videos of 3d Printing from Youtube-Pretty cool, Eh?

3D PRINT

We are huge fans of 3d printing and really want to want to test and review a few of them:

Here are some cool examples in action!!

Makerbot Cityscape video–>

Ultimaker 2 – 3D printing timelapse of a beautiful Deer model

Solidoodle Timelapse of Dr. Who Chess

3D Printer Da Vinci Timelapse With GoPro

Time Lapse footage of an Afinia H-Series 3D Printer creating a Klein bottle sculpture. We know that black would have been more traditional, but this color looks much cooler!

We really want to be makers for autism education and fundraising events, really want to test and review a few printers, and do art for autism with them!

An a variety of things that have been made with a 3d printer–>

Top 10 Amazing Things People Have Made with 3D Printers

I am highly intrigued by 3d printing in both in business, general use in the home, and in education especially autism education.

We are going to be working with a renowned 3d printing company or 2 in the near future. We are looking forward to the opportunity and the innovation that we expect to get familiar with.

Here is a nice video highlighting amazing things created with 3d printing.

Manfrotto Fluid video aluminum monopod

We recently had the opportunity to review Manfrotto’s Fluid video aluminum monopod. To put it mildy, we were very impressed.

Fluid video aluminum monopod with plateIt was really easy to use and quite portable as well.

If I could afford one, I would buy one now and use it all of the time.

According to Manfrotto:

DESCRIPTION

The 562B-1 is a compact and high 4-section aluminium fluid monopod equipped with a 357PLV sliding camera plate adapter to adjust the camera’s center of balance. This fluid monopod is ideal for camcorders up to 17.6lb (8kg).

I really like the little feet on the bottom. I have used other monopod’s in the past, but this is the king or monopods, larger, more stable and it is easy to use. I am tall, over 6 feet, so I appreciate a monopod that extends long enough for me to use.

I tested the monopod with a Nikon J1, and it worked perfectly for all of the photo’s I had the chance to take with it. I also used it at CES 2015, and received all kinds of positive comments about the “cool monopod” according to other news folks and bloggers that I ran into at the event.

I also took it hiking and due to its durability it was effective as a walking stick as well on the trail too. I feel that anyone who is into outdoor adventuring, hunting, motorcycling or out door activities would love the Manfrotto  Fluid video aluminum monopod. I was really impressed with its design, durability and utility.

It combined a high level of utility with superb aesthetics and function.

That said, the panning action is smooth, and because it happens at the base, with practice, you have better control over the stability of the monopod while panning since both hands can create that movement, and you’re not having to use one hand to simply keep the monopod still while you pan with the other. You can, and should, use your whole body to make the pan. Tilt control is very nice as well and just as good as say a 701

The ‘bridging’ head is a great hybrid system, allowing quick release that us videographers are used to, plus the ability to click it back in place with quick fore and aft positioning.

The ball at the bottom is nice and stiff enough to let the monopod stand in place without holding on to it (but don’t walk too far away from it with your camera on it 🙂

For more information go to http://www.manfrotto.us/fluid-video-aluminum-monopod-with-plate

I wholeheartedly recommend Manfrotto for your tripod and lighting needs and am a huge fan.