Hardware Virtualization

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

    I’m a big fan of open source software, especially the GNU/Linux system, and I’ve been using it at home on my main computer for years now.  I’ve found excellent alternatives to (almost) every piece of software I used under Windoze with the exception of the neat little free 3D CAD software package from google called SketchUp.  Open source CAD software options seem to still be lacking in the GNU world, so I wanted a way to use this program when I wanted to.  Rather than setup a multi-boot situation (which prevents you from using all your normal apps while you are booted in the ‘other’ OS), I decided to try to setup a virtual machine.
A quick scan of the available software in the Ubuntu repository made me think VirtualBox looked popular, so I clicked ‘install’ to see what would happen.  After it installed (and I’d like to mention how amazingly easy installing Linux software has become — literally a single click from a menu and you are done — can’t believe it has progressed this far from the days of nightmarish dependency problems and configuration file hell).  When you run VirtualBox, you can create a new machine, and you specify how much memory and hard drive space to dedicate for it, then you install whatever OS you want on it.  I had an unused WinXP license, so that is what I created.  It figures out when your keyboard clicks and mouse motions are supposed to control your host OS or the guest machine.  Everything worked without a glitch, which was a very nice surprise.  Now, anytime I have the desire to use the evil OS which still has 85% of the desktop market share, all I need to do is turn on VirtualBox, tell it to boot up my WinXP machine, and boom, I have a Windoze box running right on my desktop, where I can still have all my nice, comfortable, better-society-friendly open-source applications running!

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SureFire Flashlight Clones

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

Several people have asked about the excellent and inexpensive flashlight that I have, so I figured it was time to compile the ‘best of’ information that I had.  Most/all of the research comes from my friend Mouth.  The flashlights we decided to go with have these features:

  • Use a Cree XM-L LED (this is the best LED I know of)
  • Use a “P-60” style drop in – size of reflector / lamp assembly, which is the most common  (this is a clone of the SureFire 6P lamp assemblies)
  • Use an 18650 rechargeable lithium ion battery (best battery I know of) which is roughly the size of 2 CR123 batteries.

Candlepower forums has a wealth of information if you have time to wade through the mountains of posts.

There are endless options when looking at these gadgets:

  • Modes: refers to how many brightness levels or flashing modes the light has.  For most of the P60’s, you can adjust, program, or change out a part to have a 1 mode (on or off), a 3 mode (3 brightness levels), or a 5 mode (3 brightness levels, strobe, SOS flash)
  • Orange Peel – Smooth: refer to the texture of the reflector.  Orange peel randomizes the light beam some.
  • Tail Switch / Foward Clicky, Reverse Clicky / Momentary / Tactical:  refers to how the switch works (if the mode selection is made on the on stroke or off stroke).  Some buttons are recessed so the light can sit upright on a hard surface, some are poking out so you can easily squeeze them with your thumb.
  • Protected Cell:  The rechargable cells are offered with a built in circuit to prevent overheating / charging too fast / discharging too fast.  These cells are a little bigger and sometimes don’t fit in bodies that aren’t over sized just a bit.
  • T6 and U2: refer to the ‘bin’ the LED was sorted to after manufacture.  The U2 is slightly ‘better’ quality.
  • Operating Voltage: be sure you match the power supply requirements with the battery combinations being used.  A single 18650 battery is 3.7 volts, but you might someday be tempted to use 2x CR123 batteries if your rechargeable cell is dead, which would be 6 volts.  If you used 2 rechargeable cells, the voltage would be 7.4 volts.

We decided to go with the L2 series from Solar Force.  They have a good reputation for a high-quality products and good prices.  There are also cheaper knock offs of the Solar Force products that are being sold… I suspect I have one of them (purchased from kaidomain), and the quality of it is good also, but not as good as the real deal (and the real deal is a copy of the Sure Fire).  The flashlights can be pieced together or purchased as a complete unit.  Here are a couple of good options:

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Hoodlums Fall Gathering 2011

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

Last week I realized that I could actually make the Hoodlums fall gathering this year.  I’ve been so busy with so many things that I assumed I’d miss out.  Bryson and I drove down to central Texas Friday afternoon and met the group for a fun weekend of camping, cooking, relaxing, and learning.  There were lots of kids this time, and I think they all had a blast too.

Bryson in a tree

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Pickled Peppers

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

Tonight, I canned 4 pints of peppers from the garden. Super easy to do, fill the jars with peppers, then fill with hot vinegar/water, then put in boiling water for 10 minutes. I hope they taste good!

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[Show slideshow]
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These Cops are Hurting People I Fought to Protect

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

Yes, more of this please! This is a check and balance that will actually work. Can you imagine the police getting rough with this guy? Not with that video camera in plain sight.
“How bad do things have to get before YOU do something?” –Michael Badnarik

via youtube

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State Fair of Texas 2011

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

One of my favorite things about living near Dallas is going to the state fair every year.  It is the largest fair in the USA, and I look forward to going every year.  This time, we sampled fried cookie dough, fried upside down pineapple cake for the first time.  Both excellent.  Of course we had the obligatory Fletcher’s corney dogs and tornado potatoes.  I also listened to the excellent band “The Killdares“, a local band that plays celtic rock.

Test Fitting New Cars

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We almost made it through all the booths without finding a new kitchen gadget or cleaning tool that impressed us.  Then we came to the “Grill It” booth.  This thing reminded me of Asian restaurant we would eat at in Miami where the grill was in the middle of the table.  I tried it out tonight and it does work well.  Very little smoking and great results.

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[Show slideshow]
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BO: Scapegoater in Chief

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

In Charles Krauthammer’s recent article “The scapegoat strategy” he brought up a discussion about how BO has failed to perform, failed to make good on his promises, and many people are worse off now than when he took office. BO’s reaction to his mess? Promise to do a better job? nope. Work harder? nope. Blame others? yes, more of that. Incite class warfare? yes, this seems to be the primary strategy.

In Obama’s telling, it’s the refusal of the rich to “pay their fair share” that jeopardizes Medicare. If millionaires don’t pony up, schools will crumble. Oil-drilling tax breaks are costing teachers their jobs. Corporate loopholes will gut medical research.

It’s crude. It’s Manichaean. And the left loves it. As a matter of math and logic, however, it’s ridiculous.

Judging from attitudes I’ve observed, this tactic might work, to a point. The same people who refuse to take personal responsibility for their own situation are more than happy to ‘go after’ the rich is some half-wit logic of why that is the right thing to do.

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Garden Update – October 15, 2011

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

Explosion of Growth!  I haven’t been in my garden all week and wow, I’m sorry about that because I wasted so much okra.  The plants were tipping over from the weight and I couldn’t get through the isles because they were everywhere.  I did get a good bit of peppers, finally.  Good to see my plants thriving for once!  The upside-down tomato planter things (topsey turvey) are junk.  The old ones are still usable, but the new ones are made to fall apart in a year or two.  I’m done with cheap plastic crap like this!

Okra Explosion

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A Post-Truth Society?

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

Are we living in a “Post-Truth Society” or have a “Deception Epidemic”?  Possibly.  The success of marketing and career politicians serves as a few examples.   Pamela Meyer brings up a very important point: “there are two players when I lie is told”.  Just like abuse, deception requires a willing participant!  Check out this TED talk video on the subject:

link to video Pamela Meyer: How to spot a liar

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Scott Adams Calls for New Government

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Brian Gallimore

He has advocated a better government using Internet technology and social media to influence the leaders within the current system, but now his position is bit more extreme:  (from his recent post The Leap Frog System)

 It’s time for a new system

He correctly identifies that the occupy wall street protesters are mad at the system, but I think he is way off when he says they will join forces with the tea party groups. The tea party groups are concerned with the preservation of the republic, and generally think the honoring the original framework is the way to fix it. From what I’ve gathered, the wall street protesters favor a more socialist replacement to our current system.
I can’t help but to wonder if this might be the start of something larger. I don’t think our economy is going to recover because all the underlying problems still exist like they did in 2008. The federal (and state, and local) governments are still unwilling to make meaningful cuts to their spending. Both sides of the political theater don’t seem willing to work for betterment of everyone if it would scar their ego a bit.
I also don’t think a constitutional convention is a good idea. We suck at picking leaders. What makes anyone think the group of people we pick to create a new system will 1) have the qualifications to do so, or 2) won’t be a victim of the corruption we are trying to fix?

http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/the_leap_frog_system/

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