So there I am, eating Cool Ranch Doritos at work… …noticing there is a correlation between “blue-ness” and “delicious-ness” Wait, blue is a color and a flavor? Yep. That blue stuff is awesome. Imagine how amazing this would taste: I bet it would destroy your taste buds. Like looking at a laser…do not recommend.

I shall call this “The Triple Threat”

Done, done, and done. All systems go. I dropped Ubuntu 10.04 LTS on the 17" Dell, via an old image-having CD I had in the man-lab. Updated via the manager to 10.10, on my makeshift table: No problem what-so-ever. Works like a champ. I snagged the 10.10 image from Ubuntu, and created a bootable USB. I backed up my photos on said drive…so that sucker is one sweet USB. I have been packing it in my pocket, in case anyone needs some Linux on the fly…not holding my breath however. Anyhow, my wireless card needed some update action…had to go manual on the little guy: So the secret is out…I keep my modem and router in a wire-jumble behind the TV. It works. As does Meerkat on my Mini 9…with which I’m posting this tale at this moment. So, I have a Ubuntu trifecta going on right now. Seems like they should have me on the payroll or something. Free shirt, or something. Not having Windows is prize enough.

I’m averaging somewhere around two pounds per week… Sort of gross; sort of impressive.

I’ve been busy. General business…not so much free time business. Here is a brief run-down of what is in the works: Item: Environment updates I am in the middle of re-purposing my computers. I have three flavors of Linux that I use on a regular basis. Gone will be that setup, along with all dual-boot machines. I am going to dedicate my Mini9 netbook as my ‘work at work’ machine…my old 17" Dell will become my bench computer for my electronics projects…and my slick 15’-er will be my couch computer slash backup unit. All will run Ubuntu 10.10 with Gnome for the time being. I am toying with online storage options, so that I can drop files to and from my Droid without using swantron.com’s server space. More to come on that. Action shot…updating the Mini 9 from Ubuntu 10.4 Netbook to Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop… Bonus from above…real time apt-get Arduino V0022 action Item: PIR sensor work on the Arduino I actually had a little POC put together last week, before the system reboot. I made a generic little alarm, using the passive infrared module and a piezo. Once I can get the Arduino IDE up and running on all three boxes, I’ll snap some pics, clean stuff up, and let it rip. Stay tuned. Item: General EE work. I’ve been tearing apart all sorts of stuff. Two CRT TVs, some media players, etc. I didn’t document much, but managed to keep from discharging some big ass capacitors. For the win. The goal is to locate points of failure, and swap out components on the board level. This all stems from the flat-iron failure…for which I’m searching for a replacement switch and diode. Pretty cool. That is about it. It looks like my wireless on the Mini is non-functional. Great. I’m off to track down an ethernet cord.

I’ve been busy. General business…not so much free time business. Here is a brief run-down of what is in the works: Item: Environment updates I am in the middle of re-purposing my computers. I have three flavors of Linux that I use on a regular basis. Gone will be that setup, along with all dual-boot machines. I am going to dedicate my Mini9 netbook as my ‘work at work’ machine…my old 17" Dell will become my bench computer for my electronics projects…and my slick 15’-er will be my couch computer slash backup unit. All will run Ubuntu 10.10 with Gnome for the time being. I am toying with online storage options, so that I can drop files to and from my Droid without using swantron.com’s server space. More to come on that. Action shot…updating the Mini 9 from Ubuntu 10.4 Netbook to Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop… Bonus from above…real time apt-get Arduino V0022 action Item: PIR sensor work on the Arduino I actually had a little POC put together last week, before the system reboot. I made a generic little alarm, using the passive infrared module and a piezo. Once I can get the Arduino IDE up and running on all three boxes, I’ll snap some pics, clean stuff up, and let it rip. Stay tuned. Item: General EE work. I’ve been tearing apart all sorts of stuff. Two CRT TVs, some media players, etc. I didn’t document much, but managed to keep from discharging some big ass capacitors. For the win. The goal is to locate points of failure, and swap out components on the board level. This all stems from the flat-iron failure…for which I’m searching for a replacement switch and diode. Pretty cool. That is about it. It looks like my wireless on the Mini is non-functional. Great. I’m off to track down an ethernet cord.

Winning.

Demolition phase: complete I feel like a space cadet…too many things in flight. Component central over here.

Katie’s flat iron failed…TO THE RESCUE! Pull that sucker apart… Burn mark…oh snaps…TO THE LAB! Blown switch…NOW WHAT! I’m going to try to bypass the switch, as it only functions to toggle a LED. Maybe I will find a switch that will fit the board…I have enough crap laying around this joint.

That title is misleading. Between shit-ass dogs and overzealous project managers, I am pretty much fucked. At least I have my lunch break to recharge the colloquial batteries. WiFi, Arduino, interesting view, and relative silence. it is like a little mini-vaykay. I wonder if anyone would notice a make-shift cubical in the mezzanine area…very tempting.