Buzz Light Year – Fisher Price Power Wheels Hack
Yeah, I know it’s for toddlers, but really–how pointless to not have a reverse. Just so everyone’s clear, this was done with only the purchase of a DPDT rocker switch at RadShack for $3 or $4 (can’t remember). Everything else came from stuff I already had–so please don’t comment on how lame I am using solid core 14-gauge wire. I pulled it out of a chunk of Romex I had in the basement. I didn’t really want to go spend the cash on heat-shrink tubing, the proper hookup wire, connectors, and such. Here’s my philosophy on the matter: Whatever I used and however bad the solder joints look, they will still WAAAAAY outlast this $50.00 electric scooter. This is what I’m going for. A simple rocker switch...
Buried In Time – Running in Windows XP/Vista/7
This is the second game in the Journeyman Project trilogy. Â And, for me, the most memorable. Â The artwork seems a bit dated now, but at the time of release it looked beautiful to me. Â The acting didn’t bother me either…back then. Â Now, well, any time an actor (in this case the main character) stops to smack his lips between phrases, you know you’re in for a treat! Â The best part was the news editorial that was in no way editorial–the “news anchor” had no opinion of anything. Â He just reported what other people thought. Â Fortunately, the player may suffer through the video clips early on in the game and leave them far behind. All-in-all, though, the game excells in story–marginalizing even these...
Use Google SketchUp for 3D Drawings
I’ve never claimed to be an architect, but I love great tools that work well. Â One such tool belonging to that category is Google SketchUp. Â In the past, I’ve fiddled with 3D software before. Â I think that Blender is awesome…but it also has a steep learning curve. Â Almost a learning cliff. It honestly is just to much for my needs. Â Case in point, I wanted a quick floorplan diagram to post to the Studio Central forum for comments on my new home studio. Â Blender just isn’t the choice for that. Â Now, if I wanted to make a cool 3D animated cartoon over the next few years, that’s a different matter… [amazon-product]0470277394[/amazon-product] The image above was completed in about two hours total time....
Linux.com Article: Using Windows, Xbox, and iPod as Alternative MythTV Front Ends
Originally published at www.linux.com on December 09, 2008 at 09:00 AM; reprinted with the author’s permission. Digital video recorders (DVR) are becoming more and more mainstream. TiVo, in fact, has passed the truest test of any popular technology — having its name transformed into a verb. MythTV, a free and open source application that lets you turn a computer into a DVR, burst on the scene a few years ago, and has found fans among Linux users. However, with a little effort, it’s possible to run MythTV front ends on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Xbox, and even an Apple iPod Classic. When MythTV first emerged, only the bravest of the open source faithful dared to try it. Few had the specific hardware to make it work, let alone the...
New Article Published – Protect Your Network with SmoothWall 3
Once again, I have pestered the editors at the ordinarily refined Linux.com into publishing an article. I had a harder time getting this one right. I was stuck in a fiction writing mode–half of the sentences I wrote were in passive voice. Very frustrating–probably more so for the editors. http://www.linux.com/feature/154568 In any case, go check out the story–SmoothWall is an excellent choice for network border...
Establish Geek Cred – Read Science Fiction
Sails of Tau Ceti by Don Dixon www.cosmographica.com PETITION FOR TECHNOLOGY HERITAGE There is blight upon our land. Â Honest, hard-working, I.T. professionals are growing up with their creativity stunted. Â Their bright eyes should flash in the pale glow of indicators, basking in technology for technology’s sake; but instead, the young eyes are made dim with sadness being denied resources essential to their success and happiness. Who is doing this, you demand? Â Who could be so cruel to these innocent knowledge workers? Hollywood Professors School Teachers Cool Kids Whomever it is that codifies our beloved Sci-Fi into a rigid set of strictures. Â The ones who close it into a box and back it into a corner! Â Those few who examine it under a...
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