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I have delusions of possibly making an embedded thermostat solution that tracks energy usage, inside and outside temperature and humidity and possibly online weather forecasts for setting house temperature.  For this to work, I need to fully understand thermostat wiring.  It took a bit of looking around the net to identify thermostat wire colors, thermostat terminals and functions, so I thought I would summarize it in a post.  Read the rest of this entry »

With webOS, Synergy just happened.  You don't realize how nice this is, until you try a system that doesn't really have it.  Windows Phone 7 with NoDo (the current "up to date" version for the public) has this problem.  The update due out September or October called Mango, or Windows phone 7.5, enables more Synergy like features, such as multiple calendars.  However, Google doesn't allow you to select more than one.  But there's a hack for that.

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This post is for those who have ripped their DVDs and other video media and would like to load it onto their HP Touchpad.  I started to encode videos for the HP Touchpad using HandBrake, which had given me success for video targeting my Palm Pre.   I used iPad profiles, as the display size is exactly the same.  It seemed that no matter what I tried, the files would not show up in Photos & Videos app.  I tried quite a few options and then just gave up.  Many issues that I had with encoding video for the Touchpad seem to have been fixed with the 3.0.2 webOS update. Read the rest of this entry »

I did not use InstaPaper until I received my HP Touchpad and started using Paper Mache.  I had a few tips that I've come across while learning how to use InstaPaper that might be helpful for people in a similar situation.  This seemed to be easiest to share with a video, so that I what I made.  (Watching this full screen is much better.)

Also, I forgot to mention on the video, but you will want to install the Patch for Send To Paper Mache if you use the Touchpad.  Adds to InstaPaper, as there are no Bookmarklets on WebOS currently.

The AVR ISP II is a device to program an AVR microcontroller using a 6 pin header in a circuit. It does not contain any capability to power the circuit being programmed. This could be very handy.

Dave Jones at the EEVBlog has a video about adding power to the ISP cable, using an LM317 to provide both 5V and 3.3V. The issue with this, as he stated, was that the 5V source was very close to the required dropout voltage of the regulator to get the 3.3V. In addition, resistors are needed to set the voltage. This is my version of hacking on the AVR ISP II.
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I often read about GTD methodology. Getting Things Done. This was developed by David Allen and I believe still trademarked by him. The idea is ridiculously simple: record all your tasks. You are stressed when your mind keeps going through all the things that must be done. There is no way to keep everything in mind, all at once. You will forget some and then remember. When the memory comes back you will then stress about forgetting again. It can be a vicious circle that just adds to stress, but doesn't actually get anything done.

I've been asked by many people how I track tasks and I thought I would write it up on my site so I could just give them a link.
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One of the first things I did, as a kid learning to sew, is figure out how the lock stitch worked on a sewing machine. You had a bobbin of thread in the bottom and the machine wrapped the top thread around it without getting tangled up (for the most part.)

This image is the best explanation I have found for the process. Very cool to see how it works. The bobbin is feeding out the blue thread and the main green thread comes from the top. Compare this image to your sewing machine and you will be able to identify the portion around the bobbin that fills the role of the red section in that animation.

Here is the most ambitious thing I've made with a sewing machine.

I have been unable to find a pannier set that works exactly as I would like for the under-seat rack on my RANS Rocket. I like the panniers made by Arkel of all the panniers I have looked at and used.

I decided to make my own set tailored (quite literally) exactly to my needs and I borrowed quite a bit from Arkel's design work. Below is a description of the process for those who would like to do the same.
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I have been searching for a lightweight, waterproof bag to protect my Martin Backpacker Guitar for some time. Typical dry bags used for water sports are seriously overbuilt for bicycle touring and backpacking use, where weight is a very large factor. They use clear vinyl or heavier vinyl coated cloth and weight many pounds. My search for a waterproof bag to use with my guitar never yielded any results.

I ordered a set of front panniers and some lightweight waterproof bags to use in the panniers from Arkel. You can see the "roll over and snap" type closure of the dry bags I received. In these bags, I saw the perfect material to produce a travel guitar dry bag. I asked Arkel about getting a custom bag made, but they turned me down. Their supplier did not have the flexibility for a custom project. The design of these bags is dead simple, so I decided to just make one. This page is my first attempt at making the bag and shows a large collection of what not to do if you attempt the same thing. Hopefully there are enough tips that you will be successful. You should be able to follow this page to make waterproof bags for any shape you want to, even simple squares. Although, If Arkel carried the size I wanted, I would probably just purchase it from them as the cost for materials and time to build a bag makes their prices really reasonable. Just remember to leave the biggest side open! Read the rest of this entry »