Friday fun: Underwriters Laboratories Turkey Fryer Demonstration

It's "Deep Fry Your Turkey" season, but instead of showing the usual video of someone torching their backyard I thought I would post this video from safetyathome. While it's not funny, it is informative:



I hope you had fun, and safe Thanksgiving ~ Jim

Friday fun: What will your people do when the network does down?

Progress on the Arduino is null at the moment, and I really couldn't find anything for tonight's post. Then I came across this add from Cisco that does a pretty good job of explaining why network uptime important:



Have fun, and have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Arduino 101 Accelerometers

It was back in 1982 that I started working in the field of electronics. My first job in this field involved the testing of accelerometers for use in both military applications such as missiles, and for commercial applications such as oil exploration. I find it very interesting that as I am just starting to work with the Arduino that I come across this video from makemagazine on how to add an accelerometer to your Arduino project.



The accelerometer used in this project is the Memsic 2125 (.pdf) from Parallax, and it costs around $30.00 US which is pretty reasonable. As is discussed in the video accelerometers can be used in a wide range of projects, and given the cost I think some where down the road I will be picking up at least one.

By the way, here is the Arduino tutorial for the Memsic 2124 accelerometer: http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/AccelerometerMemsic2125

Well, that is it for now. Have fun, and have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Arduino 101 - The Button

My Arduino microcontroller board arrived late this week, so I didn't get a much of a chance to play with it. This next Arduino 101 video from makemagazine adds a proto-board and a button. It's a long video, so hang in there:



You can find out even more information this Arduino project at: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/02/howto_tuesday_arduino_101_the_button.html

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Arduino 101 - The LED

Well my curiosity got the better of me and I finally decided to order an Arduino microcontroller board. It should arrive some time next week. If you are not familiar with the Arduino the take a look at this introduction video from makemagazine:



You can find out even more information about the Arduino at: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/02/howto_tuesday_arduino_101_blink_an_led.html

While looking for Arduino videos I came across another introductory video, "Intro to the Arduino", but it was just a little too goofy even for a Friday Fun post though you may want to check it out.

I guess I am going to have to brush up on my C programming, and that's a good thing. I will also be checking out the Processing language too. I'll try to post more as I make progress with the board, and hopefully I'll post more than once a week.

That's it for now. Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Mysterious Lightbulb Hack

Here's a great project from Kip Kay that's perfect for all you Uncle Fester wanna-bees - The Mysterious Lightbulb Hack:



For more great projects check out Kip Kay's Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/Kipkay

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Evil Mouse Prank

So you have an old ball (analog) mouse, a pager motor, and coworker who's in need of some serious pranking? Well makemagazine has a great project for you - The Evil Mouse Prank :



Check out the PDF for this project at the URL below:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/04/weekend_project_evil_mouse_prank_pd.html

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Ghost Phone

Friday fun for this week is another great weekend project from makemagazine that is ideal for this upcoming Halloween - The Ghost Phone:



Build one of these and you'll have lot's of fun, even when it's not Halloween. You can find the PDF for this project at the URL below:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/05/weekend_project_ghost_phone_pdf.html

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

CircuitCellar: Sci-Fi Inspirations

Just a quick note that the latest issue of CircuitCellar arrived in the mail a few days ago, and as always it was loaded with lots of geek goodies! One of the treasures in this issue is the PRIORITY INTERRUPT column by Steve Ciarcia entitled "Sci-Fi Inspirations" where he writes about how the original Star Trek influenced many technologies that we take for granted today. Some good examples are the Cell Phone, the PDA, and Large-View Screen.

Give the column a read, and I think you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Cheers ~ Jim

Friday fun: USB Motion Detector

This week's Friday Fun features a USB Motion Detector project from makemagazine that with a little extra tweaking and coding could be put to use this coming Halloween:



You can find the schematic and other information here: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/02/weekend_project_usb_motion_detector.html

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Klingon Opera

For this weeks Friday Fun video I present "Klingon Opera" which is something best viewed with nothing in your mouth (otherwise you may blow it out your nose):



I told you so, but you didn't listen to me and now you have soda and/or Cheetos all over your monitor! :-)

If you want to find out more about Klingon opera then I suggest you start here: http://www.u-theopera.org/

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Wireless Covert Listening Device

Here's a great weekend project from makemagazine for all you snoops out there - A Wireless Covert Listening Device:



Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Road trip to Yakima via Chinook Pass

Last week I took some time off to celebrate my birthday, and while I didn't get to take as many road trips as I would have liked to I was did get one good trip. After a somewhat slow morning on Friday, Sept 10th, I decided to just get out of the house and go. Not really having a plan I grabbed my GPS, camera, and cell phone, and took off to parts somewhat unknown.

I left the house around 10:30 in the morning and my first stop was the Pick Quick Drive In located in Fife Washington where I had a great burger. While there I found out that after 61 years Pick Quick is finally going to open another restaurant. Here's a link to the article from The News Tribune

From Fife I headed East to Enumclaw and from there I continued on Highway 410 over Chinook Pass to Yakima. Once in Yakima I stopped at Miners Drive In for another great burger. Yeah I know, but what the Hell, I had to have a reason to go to Yakima and Miner's is as good a reason as any.

On the map I created for this trip I use Charlie's Cafe as a reference point since there are about 15 different ways to get to that section of Highway 410 from where I live, or at least that is what my GPS kept telling me. I haven't eaten at Charlies, but the reviews I came across for the place seem to indicate it's a great place for breakfast.

Along the way to Yakima I saw some really beautiful scenery, and I glad I took my camera along to capture some of it. Here is the link to the photos that are now up on my Picasa album. I hope you enjoy them. I wasn't very creative with the captions for each photo, but there's enough there to tell you where the shot was taken. One thing that helped with taking the shots on this trip was a monopod that I purchased as a birthday present for myself just a few days before I took the trip. It really helped steady the camera, so there are fewer blurry images this time around.

Well that's it for now. I hope you enjoy the photos and find the map informative. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Cheers ~ Jim Cox

Friday fun: National Lampoon's Vacation Trailer

For the last seven days I have been on vacation, and this trailer for "National Lampoon's Vacation" seemed appropriate for this weeks Friday Fun:



It is especially appropriate given the road trip I took today. I will post about the trip later.

Have a great weekend ~ Jim

Friday fun: Make a Jam Jar Jet

Here is an oldie but goodie from makemagazine! Check out the Triple-J or the Jam Jar Jet:



This project is a lot more interesting than the CD/DVD parts container that I posted last week, but it is also a lot more dangerous. Be smart, be careful, and don't be stupid. Do not attempt this unless you know what you are doing and understand the risks to yourself and others.

Have a great weekend ~ Jim