Monthly Archives: July 2013

Adding Games to the RPi

Nice article, I’ll have to see if there is a tie in to Raspbmc for this, or do it myself http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/retro-gaming-on-the-raspberry-pi-everything-you-need-to-know-si/

Posted in RaspberryPi | Comments Off on Adding Games to the RPi

Write-up on how to setup wireless on RPi via cmdline

If you have a headless RPi, this will be very useful in going from wired to wireless.  It uses a text editor nano that I had not heard of before (VI is my cmdline editor). http://www.howtogeek.com/167425/how-to-setup-wi-fi-on-your-raspberry-pi-via-the-command-line/

Posted in RaspberryPi | Comments Off on Write-up on how to setup wireless on RPi via cmdline

Ouya will double your startup money for a video game

Ouya, the cheap ($100) video game system that came out of kickstarter, is proposing a double your money kickstarter project for video games.  Basically if you get your game funded by kickstarter, they will double it. I am mixed on … Continue reading

Posted in Software Development, Tinkering | Comments Off on Ouya will double your startup money for a video game

Another interesting composter

I think I would build the whole barrel ones instead of the 1/2 barrel like in this write-up.  But I do like the “rich water drain” at the bottom. http://m.instructables.com/id/Triple-Bin-Worm-Composter-Vermicompost/

Posted in composting | Comments Off on Another interesting composter

The Xerox Saga in Cincinnati Continues

It seems more info is coming out about how the City was overpaying Xerox for its parking contract, and knew about it. ttp://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/07/17/exclusive-emails-confirm-parking.html?page=all

Posted in Xerox | Comments Off on The Xerox Saga in Cincinnati Continues

Stage moving robot

Interesting robot that is using a wrt54G and an arduino for a controller, it basically can move stage scenes around (kindof like amazon’s shipping robots). http://rybitski.com/scenerymover.html

Posted in robots | Comments Off on Stage moving robot

convert a CFL into a portable light

Way more work that I would spend to make a light, but nice idea using a Joule Thief circuit (a fancy one at that). http://hackaday.com/2013/07/15/fluorescent-light-powered-by-battery/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hackaday%2FLgoM+%28Hack+a+Day%29

Posted in Cheap, Tinkering | Comments Off on convert a CFL into a portable light

Pay increase of 3.9% next year?

According to CNN we all will get around 2-3% pay increase next year.  I’ll believe it when I see it.  Most software development jobs seem to be pretty stagnant in pay lately, unless you live in one of the few … Continue reading

Posted in Software Development | Comments Off on Pay increase of 3.9% next year?

Turn a PC fan into a wind turbine

Good write-up that points out one of the issues with doing this with a PC fan, is the IC (integrated circuit) built into most of these fans will prevent good output from the motor.  I may have to try this … Continue reading

Posted in Tinkering, Wind | Comments Off on Turn a PC fan into a wind turbine

Make a magnetic stirrer

These are cool to show whirlpools (or fake tornados) to kids.  The write-up is pretty good on how to make one, but I like the 2nd version the author came up with better. http://www.instructables.com/id/Computer-Fan-Magnetic-Stirrer/ v2 http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-Magnetic-Stirrer-2S/

Posted in Teaching and Learning, Tinkering | Comments Off on Make a magnetic stirrer