Archive for the ‘electronics’ Category

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My laptop was almost stolen

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

At the airport in Accra, you go through security right at the gate. I went through security and did the whole routine. Took off my shoes, took out my laptop, put my bag on the conveyor, put any and all metallic objects in a small plastic container. Fed them through the machine and walked through the metal detector.

A security guard frisked me because the metal detector was broken. I went through that and went over to the machine and started to gather my belongings. The guy in front of me grabbed my laptop and tried to put it in his bag. I grabbed a hold on my laptop and held on to it. He gave it a pull and looked at me. I held it and looked at him. He let go and apologized saying he thought it was his.

Which would be a little more believable if he would have had a laptop to start with.

Posted in Africa, Freaking Airlines, I hate it here, electronics, oilfield, travel, work | No Comments »

4TB Hard drive

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Absolutely huge. I’ve been thinking about taking my HTPC, loading it down with terrabytes of space and load all of my movies into it.

I’m not sure if I can justify the 650 dollars at this point. I need a new reciever first.

Posted in Toys, electronics, projects | No Comments »

Computer controller router

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

 I’ve collected several tools over the past few years, But of all the tools I have, it is the only one that truly scares me. It spins at 40,000 RPM, it is loud, heavy, unwieldy and at night, it tells me to do things. Bad Things.

I’ve been looking at computer controlled systems like Shopbot, Plasmacam or Mechmate.  All cost about the same. Between 7,000 and 20,000 dollars depends on the options. I like the Mechmate the most because it has a DIY aspect to it and is a little cheaper and beefier. There was also a few little ones, But once I started pricing them out, the price difference for the added functionality of the larger units isn’t that bad.

I  just purchased a large bulk of the bits for the Mechmate that need to be pre-formed and precision cut. I’ve taken the first step into a much larger world.

Posted in Toys, electronics, woodworking | No Comments »

Computer repair

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

I’ve got a Toshiba Tablet PC that has had a noisy fan for a few years. It is annoying, but since we don’t use it that often and it is the heatsink fan on a latop, which makes it hard to replace.

But Margo needs a computer to take to school and it is too noisey for he to use in class. So I decided to treat it like any other noisy machine. I put a little 3 in 1 oil on the fan bearings. So far, it smells like 3 in 1, but the squeak has stopped.  So, Mission Accomplished.

I want to get a netbook, butI can justify the expenditure at this point. So I will just see how this one works out before I get something new.

Posted in electronics, life, projects | No Comments »

Mini Media Center

Friday, January 16th, 2009

I love Atomic Age Design.

Posted in Links, Toys, electronics | No Comments »

Electronic devices

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008


Electronic devices

Originally uploaded by Fronzel

I got the call to leave Bakersfield and go home. I may be going to Mexico soon, but for now I am home.

On the flight back I noticed this sign. It is actually, pretty hard to take a picture of this sort of sign. And I have no idea why the camera on my phone is worse then a 1 megapixel camera ever was.

Posted in Freaking Airlines, electronics, travel, work | No Comments »

I broke my camera

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

After almost a year of gallivanting around the world and being dropped, crushed, folded, spindled and mutilated, my Canon SD1000 died. I took it apart and found out the plastic was cracked around where the gears made the lens move.

So I need a new camera.

I just happened to see this for the Sony Ericsson C905. It takes great pictures and will automatically geotag. I considered just getting the Ericsson half so I don’t give money to Sony, but it looks like the Nokia N96 can do the same thing.

Posted in Toys, electronics, life, photography | No Comments »

Mecha Combat

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

This is pretty cool. Similar to the Tank Combat, but with robots! I think I’d rather them use IR instead of airsoft.

Still, I think I need to finish my tank first. I did find a DIY Lasertag system.  I think I might create a laser system to play with in the yard and a paintball system if I ever go play with the other guys that make tanks.

Posted in Robots, Tanks, Toys, electronics | No Comments »

Radio Controlled VTOL

Sunday, September 14th, 2008

I like things like this. Makes me wish I had the time to do it. Or the talent. Or the money. Or the ability to finish things.

Posted in Links, Toys, electronics | No Comments »

Little Bits

Friday, September 12th, 2008

These are pretty cool. They remove the hard part of electronic design. It would be neat if this could be used and pushed by teachers into school science programs and try to get more kids interested in electronics in time to be of use in the coming war between Man and the Brotherhood of Machines.

I’ve gotten some weird phone calls and had some weird conversations lately. The rumors are leaning towards them eliminating my globe trotting job. The really disturbing part is Margo and I were discussing it just last night.

I’m not too worried because there is plenty of work, and I could find a job within the company pretty quick. I just like being a gypsy. I’m not sure I could buckle down to being at just one camp. On the plus side, the manager here in Bakersfield is a friend of mine and has said he would rather me working here or rotating here then some of the other guys that do nothing but whine about being gone. Sure, I don’t want to be gone either, but incessantly whinging about being gone doesn’t help. It could be worse. I could be in Africa. Or the Middle East. Or most of Asia.

Posted in Toys, electronics, projects, science!, whinging | No Comments »

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