See here:
Friday, June 14, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
I sold my soul to Microsoft - again.
Last fall, Microsoft offered a Windows 8 upgrade for $39.99. "Great!", said I, because one of the IBM quad-core workstations in the house was getting rather long in the tooth with Windows XP, and I could either buy Windows 7 for a bunch of money, or simply jump to Windows 8 cheaply and be good for a while.
Yeah, right. The DVD arrives, and I discover that the hardware of the IBM 6221 isn't going to cut it with Windows 8, because of BIOS, CPU, and IDE controller obsolescence. So that computer will get Windows 7, which has no such pretenses. In the meantime, what to do with this Windows 8 DVD?
My own workstation is an 8-core, water-cooled IBM 9228 with a couple SSDs and a huge spinning-platter HD for file storage. It runs Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit perfectly, and does everything I could ask of it, lightning-quick. That includes Adobe Creative Suite 6, SolidWorks, Fallout New Vegas, NOAA Weather Research Forecast models, anything I can throw at it. It would be silly to mess with it, no?
Silly, but I did, anyway. That's me - if it ain't broken, keep fixing it until it is well and truly broken. Still smarting from the hardware issues that thwarted me from installing Windows 8 on the other IBM, I ran the Upgrade Compatibility Checker and found no issues. That was a good sign. I diligently backed up everything that meant something to my basement file server, then stuck the Windows 8 DVD in the big IBM, waiting for upgrade hell to break loose. It didn't.
The upgrade went on without so much as a hiccup. Since I really didn't want to spend a ton of money replacing my 28" LCD monitor with a touch-screen version of the same, I bought the Logitech T650 glass touchpad for the Windows 8 touch experience. That was a good choice, considering the new Start Screen of Windows 8.
All my applications made the move ok. All of my hardware made the move ok, from the HD TV tuner, to the USB Bluetooth dongle, and even the FireWire recording and audio interface. Windows 8 attempted to create another pagefile on the main SSD drive, but I quickly relocated that to the second SSD drive where it belongs, no problem.
The old Windows Start Button and Start Menu is gone. You have to use the pretty Start Screen to run things, or bring up the Desktop and use the old Taskbar icon trick to stash your favorite programs. I'm getting better at all the touch gestures needed to run the system, and can actually do everything from the touchpad, including a touch keyboard. I do still have my Microsoft Natural Keyboard and Logitech Trackball, because carpal tunnel. Otherwise, the transition really isn't as bad as I though it would be. Everything works, and Windows 8 does a better job of utilizing system resources, with
much lower CPU idle numbers than Windows 7. Oh, and it's a lot more colorful!
Microsoft is trying to force the PC world into adopting a tablet/smartphone mentality in how one accomplishes things. My desktop display looks like a spitting image of my Windows smartphone, that much is certain. How this desktop OS pans out for them is still up for debate. Microsoft recently announced they're coming out with Windows 8.1 later this year, and it will be bringing back the Start Button, among other things. I questioned the wisdom of removing it in the first place, but chalked it up to Microsoft creating a paradigm shift in an all-or-nothing effort to transform personal computing. To me, it's basically a Windows 7 pickup truck with a spiffy new paint job. I upgraded because I didn't know what to do with the upgrade DVD. If you have and like Windows 7, I'd recommend staying with it. If you're adventurous and want to try something new and different, give Windows 8 a shot. My 2009-vintage IBM is happy with it, purring (gurgling?) right along with nary a hiccup.
Yeah, right. The DVD arrives, and I discover that the hardware of the IBM 6221 isn't going to cut it with Windows 8, because of BIOS, CPU, and IDE controller obsolescence. So that computer will get Windows 7, which has no such pretenses. In the meantime, what to do with this Windows 8 DVD?
My own workstation is an 8-core, water-cooled IBM 9228 with a couple SSDs and a huge spinning-platter HD for file storage. It runs Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit perfectly, and does everything I could ask of it, lightning-quick. That includes Adobe Creative Suite 6, SolidWorks, Fallout New Vegas, NOAA Weather Research Forecast models, anything I can throw at it. It would be silly to mess with it, no?
Silly, but I did, anyway. That's me - if it ain't broken, keep fixing it until it is well and truly broken. Still smarting from the hardware issues that thwarted me from installing Windows 8 on the other IBM, I ran the Upgrade Compatibility Checker and found no issues. That was a good sign. I diligently backed up everything that meant something to my basement file server, then stuck the Windows 8 DVD in the big IBM, waiting for upgrade hell to break loose. It didn't.
The upgrade went on without so much as a hiccup. Since I really didn't want to spend a ton of money replacing my 28" LCD monitor with a touch-screen version of the same, I bought the Logitech T650 glass touchpad for the Windows 8 touch experience. That was a good choice, considering the new Start Screen of Windows 8.
All my applications made the move ok. All of my hardware made the move ok, from the HD TV tuner, to the USB Bluetooth dongle, and even the FireWire recording and audio interface. Windows 8 attempted to create another pagefile on the main SSD drive, but I quickly relocated that to the second SSD drive where it belongs, no problem.
The old Windows Start Button and Start Menu is gone. You have to use the pretty Start Screen to run things, or bring up the Desktop and use the old Taskbar icon trick to stash your favorite programs. I'm getting better at all the touch gestures needed to run the system, and can actually do everything from the touchpad, including a touch keyboard. I do still have my Microsoft Natural Keyboard and Logitech Trackball, because carpal tunnel. Otherwise, the transition really isn't as bad as I though it would be. Everything works, and Windows 8 does a better job of utilizing system resources, with
much lower CPU idle numbers than Windows 7. Oh, and it's a lot more colorful!
 | ||
| Kinda pretty, ain't it? |
 |
| 32 Degrees Celsius on a warm summer day - Nice! |
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Flying is inherently dangerous - or so I've been told.
I retired from Uncle Sam's Air Force in 2006. I had more than a couple thousand hours logged in WC-135, B-52, P-3, and Beech King Air platforms before I decided to call it quits. Why an Air Force guy managed to hop amongst all those platforms is a story that can't be written yet, but through it all, I was NEVER intercepted by hostiles. We planned for it, practiced for it, and landed with relief each time it didn't happen. That doesn't mean we weren't looking for trouble - we were just really good at avoiding it and getting the hell out of Dodge when we saw it.
Fast-forward to 2013. I decide that the winds are calm enough and weather nice enough to send Mr. Orville Wright out for a few lazy Figure 8s over the field across the road from my front yard. When I say field I mean several square acres, bordered by a retention pond to the south, the street to the north, and a few big maple trees to the east. Perfect, or so I thought. The plane's batteries were fully charged, off we go, into the wild blue yonder!
The launch went smoothly, I managed to get a couple of box patterns in and was working the Figure 8s pretty well when all hell broke loose. Unbeknownst to me, there was a Starling Interceptor Squadron stationed in the nearest maple tree, and Orville had penetrated both their Outer and Inner ADIZ something fierce. (It wasn't on the local GNC or ONC charts, my bad...)
They came out in a flight of 3, basically a flight lead and two wingbirds. Since I wasn't expecting them and was staying focused on keeping things airborne with the remote, I didn't even see them until they were on top of the plane. Flight lead starling lit the burners and bounced the Wright Flyer's top wing, sending it into a shallow right spiraling dive. That's when I actually saw the three birds for the first time, and couldn't believe my eyes. Friggin' songbirds are attacking a Wright Flyer - the audacity!
I had enough altitude to throw in some opposite rudder and throttle to regain straight and level flight. As I was climbing out of that little situation, wingbird #2 decided he was gonna biff the airplane's upper horizontal stabilizer. That was enough to totally discombobulate the plane, and down it went, although I was able to bring the nose up near-level just as it pancaked into the tall grass, preventing an awkward F-16 Lawn Dart moment for my watching neighbors (Whom I hadn't noticed until the mishap, either).
All 3 birds overflew the crash site, then returned to home branch for debriefing and logging of a confirmed kill. With my pride shattered, no thanks to the neighbors' laughter, I walked over to see if Orville and his flyer were damaged. Luckily, besides aforementioned pride and a slightly creased lower horizontal stabilizer, all was intact. I pulled hay out of the landing skids and Orville's face, and glared towards the maple tree as I walked home.
I'll be back across the street soon. With my 400-size helicopter. After I sharpen the leading edges of the main rotor, you little bastards!
Fast-forward to 2013. I decide that the winds are calm enough and weather nice enough to send Mr. Orville Wright out for a few lazy Figure 8s over the field across the road from my front yard. When I say field I mean several square acres, bordered by a retention pond to the south, the street to the north, and a few big maple trees to the east. Perfect, or so I thought. The plane's batteries were fully charged, off we go, into the wild blue yonder!
The launch went smoothly, I managed to get a couple of box patterns in and was working the Figure 8s pretty well when all hell broke loose. Unbeknownst to me, there was a Starling Interceptor Squadron stationed in the nearest maple tree, and Orville had penetrated both their Outer and Inner ADIZ something fierce. (It wasn't on the local GNC or ONC charts, my bad...)
They came out in a flight of 3, basically a flight lead and two wingbirds. Since I wasn't expecting them and was staying focused on keeping things airborne with the remote, I didn't even see them until they were on top of the plane. Flight lead starling lit the burners and bounced the Wright Flyer's top wing, sending it into a shallow right spiraling dive. That's when I actually saw the three birds for the first time, and couldn't believe my eyes. Friggin' songbirds are attacking a Wright Flyer - the audacity!
I had enough altitude to throw in some opposite rudder and throttle to regain straight and level flight. As I was climbing out of that little situation, wingbird #2 decided he was gonna biff the airplane's upper horizontal stabilizer. That was enough to totally discombobulate the plane, and down it went, although I was able to bring the nose up near-level just as it pancaked into the tall grass, preventing an awkward F-16 Lawn Dart moment for my watching neighbors (Whom I hadn't noticed until the mishap, either).
All 3 birds overflew the crash site, then returned to home branch for debriefing and logging of a confirmed kill. With my pride shattered, no thanks to the neighbors' laughter, I walked over to see if Orville and his flyer were damaged. Luckily, besides aforementioned pride and a slightly creased lower horizontal stabilizer, all was intact. I pulled hay out of the landing skids and Orville's face, and glared towards the maple tree as I walked home.
I'll be back across the street soon. With my 400-size helicopter. After I sharpen the leading edges of the main rotor, you little bastards!
It's that time of year again!
My basil plants started late, but have gone absolutely nuts. I figure it's all thanks to the mix of Miracle Gro, sterilized cow manure, and top soil that they're planted in. The plants have some leaves that are the size of tea saucers, so I couldn't wait any longer. I mean, just look at 'em!
It's no surprise that Wisconsin has an abundance of mozzarella cheese. My tomatoes aren't quite ready yet, but I found some nice heirloom varieties at the local Piggly Wiggly. A little garlic, some extra virgin olive oil, and I had a Caprese Salad fit for a king!
I will at some point add a balsamic vinegar reduction to the mix. That will happen later, because I'm not exactly suffering with what I have already. Well, that, and I already eated it...
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Frog legs are delicious!
But I'm gonna have to wait a few months before I can gig a batch. While definitely a bumper crop, these are a tad small right now.
The Wisconsin DNR says I don't need a license, and can catch up to 5 frogs per species each day.
I just want the big bullfrogs. The little peepers, green, and tree frogs just don't have enough meat on their bones, know what I mean?
The Wisconsin DNR says I don't need a license, and can catch up to 5 frogs per species each day.
I just want the big bullfrogs. The little peepers, green, and tree frogs just don't have enough meat on their bones, know what I mean?
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Fractional Distillation using a Reflux Column and Thumper
All in a compact little package, no less! See short & crappy video below:
There are 2 stages to this hybrid apparatus. The first stage boils the liquid, driving vapor up the packed reflux column to interact with the copper pads, and sending the concentrated vapor through the upper loop. This hot vapor bubbles through the drip finger into the second boiling flask (aka, Thumper Keg), using the excess heat energy it carries to re-distill the liquid contents and vapors in the thumper for higher quality. The second distillation forces vapors through the coil condenser, which has ice water running through the internal loop. The vapors condense to liquid, which you see accumulating in the addition flask at the end. The addition flask is pressure-relieved via the side vent, otherwise the system would blow apart due to increased pressure and no outlet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)