I’m hooked on TiVo. If you’ve never used one, I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, the company’s insistence on charging monthly for TV schedule information, means that I turned to other sources when I got an HDTV and wanted TiVo-like features. Specifically I turned to MythTV (or MythTVHD if you prefer). Being a bit of a …
Category Archives: DIY
Frugal Photography
I’ve was thinking aobut putting up a blog devoted to DIY/cheap photographic equipment. It would link to the large number of DIY projects already on the web, and I’d add my own personal thoughts and ideas. I’m not positive it would be much of a resource though. If anyone’s interested in reading such a blog, …
The CREATE USB Interface
Ok, this looks kick ass. It’s an interface board to allow direct connection of sensors or other electronic inputs via USB (they also have a bluetooth version) without the need for custom device drivers. This is totally cool. I wish these had been around when I was a kid, I might have wrecked fewer controllers/computers/stuff. …
Setting up a small darkroom
Justin Ouellette from Chromogenic.net has very cool directions for setting up a minimal darkroom (negatives only) in your bathroom. I did this for a while in my old apartment, and it was a great way to save on black and white developing, as well as being a good segue into a full darkroom. I would …
Tools for more effective blogging
Last week I posted four suggestions for improving your blog (or website), this time I thought I’d recommend a few tools that go along with those suggestions. Screen Size Tester – check what your page looks like on different sized screens. While this tool does not simulate different browsers or include the blog explosion banner, …
Apple I: It’s alive!
I completed the Apple I replica (Replica I). I had a couple of false starts, and ended up redoing a few low solder joints, but all in all the assembly went pretty smoothly. All told, I probably spent 3 hours on the assembly, and didn’t really run into any real problems. Tom Owad’s book “Apple …
Apple I replica board has arrived
My Replica I board has arrived on thursday. I ordered the “barebones” kit with just the board and the rare integrated circuits (ICs) from Vince Briel — the creator of the replica I. Since then, I’ve been scavenging around the house and garage the parts I need to complete my Apple I. As of last …
Implementing shaded descriptions from my photoblog
I was asked how to implement the shaded description boxes used on the photoblog. Here’s a copy of the directions I sent him with links to the files needed if anyone wants to use it on their site.
Quest for clam sauce
In the early 1992 Stella’s Trattoria in Seattle’s U-district was a regular, late-night haunt for my particular group of friends. Dave Dawson had a habit of ordering the creamy, clam sauce and resulted in getting several of us addicted to the stuff. It was especially surprising when I became addicted since I generally dislike all …
Let them eat gumbo…
New Orleans wouldn’t be “the Big Easy” without New Orleans Jazz and it’s world famous gumbo. Here’s a recipe I’ve modified from foodtv’s Tyler Florence. I’ve switched it to use crab instead of oysters, because after all I’m a Marylander, born and bred. [Recipe moved to a static page]