Monthly Archives: December 2015

Building a better mousetrap

Posted on December 8, 2015 by robertwilkie

I got a kick out of this, the author started with the standard bucket with can trap, and went up to a slick dive board approach later on.  Mouse still got out of the, what looks like a 2 gallon … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life | Comments Off on Building a better mousetrap

Apps for stalking your kids

Posted on December 7, 2015 by robertwilkie

Well mostly stalking their phone.  Some of them look pretty good.  My 2 cents.  I let the kids know I have full access to everything as well so they don’t freak out too much when I start asking about stuff. … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc-Life | Comments Off on Apps for stalking your kids

Build for a desktop arcade

Posted on December 7, 2015 by robertwilkie

Nice build.  The one part I was interested in was the $50 kit for the controllers.  I was looking at MAME controllers once before, and with all those buttons and sticks was going to run me more than $50. http://makezine.com/projects/bartop-arcade/

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life | Comments Off on Build for a desktop arcade

Simple adjustable in-wall shelves

Posted on December 7, 2015 by robertwilkie

Nice build, the author uses a router to make the tracks in the board for the shelves.  My 2 cents, If you use something nicer than the “plywood” for the shelve bit, you could put these inside a bathroom or … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap | Comments Off on Simple adjustable in-wall shelves

Xerox, looking for 200 more call center folks in Rochester NY

Posted on December 7, 2015 by robertwilkie

Xerox is looking to fill 200 spots for call center work in Rochester NY.  I don’t think these are “new” jobs.  The articles I found are very careful to say they are not new.  Also one references there are currently … Continue reading →

Posted in Xerox | Comments Off on Xerox, looking for 200 more call center folks in Rochester NY

Open a masterlock with a little hammer

Posted on December 4, 2015 by robertwilkie

Too funny.  Basically the author is using a form of “bumping” to jumble up the tumblers in the lock and cause it to open.  You know I am trying this out on my locks tonight. http://sploid.gizmodo.com/how-to-break-open-a-master-lock-with-just-a-small-hamme-1745289745

Posted in Misc-Life, Security | Comments Off on Open a masterlock with a little hammer

Building a laser engraver on the cheap.

Posted on December 4, 2015 by robertwilkie

And cheap it is.  The Y is an old printer carriage, X is an old flatbed scanner.  An arduino with homemade motor controllers is controlling everything.  Hold on, I think he is using stepsticks…it seems to switch.  The laser is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, CNC/3D-printing | Comments Off on Building a laser engraver on the cheap.

Make an automated cat toy

Posted on December 4, 2015 by robertwilkie

Too funny, the author built a cat toy that moves the motor when motion is detected.  He is using an arduino like device called WIZWiki (New one on me).  It does with ethernet build in.  My 2 cents, I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, Misc-Life, robots | Comments Off on Make an automated cat toy

How to setup an RPi without a monitor

Posted on December 4, 2015 by robertwilkie

The write-up is for the new Raspberry Pi Zero, but…you do the same thing for normal Pi’s too. http://davidmaitland.me/2015/12/raspberry-pi-zero-headless-setup/

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, RaspberryPi | Comments Off on How to setup an RPi without a monitor

Make a Semi-Bivy out of a solar blanket

Posted on December 4, 2015 by robertwilkie

This is a nicer build than what I would do (tarp underneath and roll up in it).  Actually I wonder if a tarp would be a better solution since the solar blankets I know of are not very durable compared … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life | Comments Off on Make a Semi-Bivy out of a solar blanket