In a galaxy near, near away...

some time ago (but in this galaxy) I used a raspberry pi (one of the first ones), an I2C analog to digital chip, a light sensor, and a relay to turn on solar powered security lights.  The only issue is as the raspberry pi is a computer it can do so much more; plus the SD card has a limit to how many times you can write to it which means it will die some day.

After some time with messing with electronics; I discovered and created a new method for this; a WAY simpler method to boot.  It just uses one transistor (an NPN), one 10K potentiometer, one 1K ohm resistor, one LED, one relay, and one diode (1N4007).  Today I got it installed and it works great.  I'll post some pics / make a video later.

the more I learn; the more I know nothing

(I'll post pics later)
so; for the past year or so I've been working on this robot of sorts; all done with an Arduino and this robot kit I got as a gift.  The kit came with 2 motors, a base with some cut holes, various bolts / nuts, 2 tires, and a back wheel that's on a track with ball bearings that can freely turn and ... well, that's about it.  Over the months I've accumulated several different sensors; including some sonar distance ones.

I was given some Arduino Nano clones and I have one setup with 8 light sensor/LDR ... i'll post later ... it's 1:34am and I'm sleepy.

New video update

So, I just uploaded my latest episode on youtube; I converted a portable DVD player into a portable raspberry pi.  Enjoy.

2017

Keeping up with tradition; it's been 4 years since the last post and ... I seriously forgot I even had this blog.  With that in mind, I might actually start posting more often but ... it might be really nerdy / geeky / technological.  I mean, heck, the only 2 people who follow this are my parents and THEY might even stop when they attempt to read this.  Now that that's out of the way; I find it's easier to talk / take pictures of stuff I'm working on than editing video so in between my youtube posts I'll post here what I've been working on including pictures, where to get the source code, etc.

Selected Lapse of Memory

Well, lets see, my last post was in 2009 so I guess it's time for another post.  I've become addicted to Minecraft AND the server/community which is re-creating a 1:1.228 model of the starship Enterprise from "The Next Generation" tv series of Star Trek.  I'm also in the process of making a stop-motion movie (which I really need to get myself back in gear) I'm sure there's much much more to talk about but I'm getting bored with typing.

long time no see

wow guess my daily blog isn't so daily after all.  oh well.  my computer lab is almost ready; still need to create a cement floor and paint and add ceiling board; then i get to install the electrical outlets and ethernet rj-45 plugs.

introductions

first and foremost, i hate having to use the shift key just for 'i' and the ending of sentences.  so don't expect to find many (except for the stupid (), +, and ").

that out of the way, let me attempt to briefly describe myself.

- have a bs in computer science

 - knows c, c++, perl, shell scripting, sql, php, javascript

 - refuses to do windows

 - been using linux since 1995, but now dual-boot ubuntu with my macbook pro

- currently living  in tanzania east africa and plan on spending the rest of my life here.

- am currently really into digital photography and will be posting photos here or somewhere

- you can find me here: 

2 01'26.22" S 33 52'49.68" E on google maps.

if you need to know more about me, i might answer an email.