OutPut

FAA Hurricane Update

In the Know, During Inclement Weather

FAA Hurricane Alerts

Hurricane Ian Alerts Update

Materials – FAA Hurricane Update

Know What To Do Pre/Post Hurricane Ian – Before you fly, understand the current conditions in the sky above you…

FAA Hurricane Update. Remember, the drone industry is constantly evolving, growing and maturing. Drone enthusiasts will always want to fly, so be sure to prioritize safety. This year, the FAA has organized a safety awareness day for drone pilots, federal representatives, educators, drone hobbyists and more… On June 18, 2022, join your fellow drone pilots for FAA Drone Safety updates and drone safety days. To participate – look for ‘about drone day’, support, or host an event. This message is in reference to FAA notice number” NOTC2405. For those seeking more information or a drone piloting app, consider trying Airmaps.

Give Airmaps A Go

For those of you who are interested in learning more about open FAA communications, licensed drone updates etc. feel free to reach out to us or leave a comment below. Don’t forget to look up more information on Airmaps, download if you can. Great all-in-one app for drone flight and the need to stay safe. Especially for those flying during inclement weather, storms and night-time flight. I’ll post more FAA, FAA Hurricane communications in the future.

Galaxy Series Reset

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Reset

Samsung Galaxy Reboot, Reset, and Unplug

Galaxy Reset or New – Privacy, Backups, Access and More

Tech And Tools – Samsung Updates

Before we delve into our dual-SIM experiments, let’s address the Galaxy Series Reset. I wanted to share some Samsung Tips and Tricks that could help you remove unnecessary apps from your Galaxy series devices.

Let’s take a quick look at the world of ‘debloating’. We’ve seen an abundance of pre-installed native apps on various platforms, OS, iOS etc. It feels like were back in the 90’s with PC sales. This trend applies to both Android and iOS devices. Until we have a user-friendly Linux based mobile OS or an open-source mobile kernel that allows us to customize our devices based on our needs, we’re stuck with what we have. 

Mobile phones come loaded with Google bloatware and the same goes for iOS. When did Homekit, Health, Health Sensors and Siri start coming preinstalled and running constantly, making it difficult to disable them? It’s a challenge that won’t disappear with this Galaxy Series Reset. However, a I’ve been exploring new settings, OS-specific adjustments, and techniques to reduce bloat, limit Google access. Whether you have a new generation Samsung smartphone, Galaxy S22, 215g or 10, or a later model, we have some fresh methods to help you regain control of your device.

Diving right into it, whether you’ve got a new phone or not, a hard reset is required… Backup what you need and store it in a safe place. Most of the time it’s automatically saved somewhere, but we plan to take back that control and manually take steps to move the process forward. The time to de-bloat or de-bloat your device is right now.

Short Tutorial

Fresh Hard Reset on your existing phone or set up your new phone from scratch to begin the Galaxy Series reset. First, do not add or allow any Samsung, Google, or non-platform services that you do not want running regardless of their power status. A prominent red warning sign advises against signing in or allowing data transfer to any external services that are not native to the system or necessary. 

NEXT, let’s disable all permissions for apps, stop and remove permissions and alerts for any unwanted apps. This is crucial as we do not endorse the input/output of such apps. Particularly those that are third-party, external, and considered bloat that may track and access your data without your permission. Turn off all unnecessary apps or system apps. Additionally, rearrange your apps as you see fit, grouping Samsung native apps that are essential together in a separate folder with other Samsung or Google apps. Do NOT enable cloud services, sign in, or log into any systems that you may want to use later on, at least not yet.turn on cloud services, sign in or log in to those (any) systems you will want later.. so not just yet.

Wrap Up – Debloat Your Android Device

Finally, it’s time to reintroduce existing settings. We want to re-import contacts and any bookmarks or Same for any bookmarks or saved ‘behavioral’ help settings. Must Have’s  must go for the Google/Samsung requests to access the phone. These actions remain out of touch and are not allowed. Let’s clean up the home screen to your liking and add email accounts as well.  Browser settings when your ready, no go on Chrome, Google or Samsung Internet, we use brave with all turned off…

DON’T FORGET THIS, don’t forget to make sure privacy settings meet your needs. As usual, leave a comment below and let us know what you’re thinking?

Discover URL Fuzzing

FUZZER, THE FUZZ

URL Fuzzer Pentest

Who Called The Fuzz

Tech And Tools – FUZZ

“WHOOP WHOOP That’s the sound of the” FUZZ

As always, we continue our testing efforts testing apps, websites and consoles We begin with the The URL Fuzzer, GTMetrix, JMeter, LoadRunner, Selenium, validation tools, and Google Admin Console. Testing is currently in progress. As you read this (or when I wrote this post, and hopefully when you read it), testing is ongoing. We hope it’s within the same year (or at least not to far off).

Furthermore, it’s important to ensure that solutions protect our online investments. Pentest and vulnerability scanning tools could be the key to achieving this goal. For storytelling purposes, two test are currently running: one for Pentest-Tools and the other from Scantrics.io. It’s been a few minutes, and so far, there haven’t been any results. This may or may not be a good sign or an indicator of the final outcome.  Let’s also cover Selenium, LoadRunner, JMeter, QTP, HTML/JS ( /PHP Validators, Guru99 and a few others… but let’s start here.

Keep in mind that the tools mentioned are free, so consider this when reviewing the compiled and reported results form the services provider. Free tools may not always provide the complete pictures (meaning you have to pay the premium prior for the full picture), so take them with a grain of salt. It’s advisable  to use multiple tools or consider paying for premium services. Testing with a variety of tools, both free and premium, is essential. How about other tools and code snippets we use to help others? Do you fuzz? Screaming Frog or SEMRush? Email issues? MX Toolbox, flush your system and server cache often. Delete old accounts, clean up the clutter and fix email risks and issues associated with email services.

URLFuzzer, good to test the lite version… Scantrics, good to test lite version… Don’t forget to run your web entities through the toolbox, Toolbox – Google Admin

Sous Vide Smorgasbord

We Have A Sous Vide Smorgasbord

Annova Sours Vide - Smorgasbord

Food Success

Gear – Anova Sous Vide

Hungry? Prep, cook and serve using an Anova Precision Cooker. Work up an appetite while you prepare, cook and serve for an all day picnic. Fish, poultry, beef… Anova does it all

Put the Anova Sous Vide precision cooker, our review on the Anova Sous Vide to the test with fish, shrimp, lamb, beef, chicken, pork… even pork butt; a Sous Vide Smorgasbord. In just one day, prepare a feast for the masses or an all day picnic. Cook up 2+ pounds or more of our honey-glazed, thick-cut bacon, a BBQ-inspired beef brisket, Italian sweet sausage with all the fixins’… chil-i-lime, lime and garlic chicken, peppered beef burgers, and simple beef hot dogs.

Smorgasbord
Full Meat Plate

Full Meat Plate

Bacon, Dogs, Sausage

Tacos

Bacon, Dogs, Sausage

Bacon, Dogs, Sausage

Burgers, Chicken Patties

Machine

Although time is irrelevant when you’re having fun, are you new to precision cooking? Start early early enough for the beef to cook and the chicken to be prepped for a final sear. Have everything ready before ‘game time’. 

Typically a safe window is four to five hours, but those with experience may opt for a tighter window. With more experience and times, the window becomes more refined. Regardless of duration, the options are limitless.

Try it all reduce cooking times on the grill. No need to stick to just the grill or stove top. Whichever you have, be prepared. A precision cooker ensures perfection. When finished on a hot griddle or grill you become the chef at home. More on the griddle will be discussed later.

For now, the feast is prepared, with smorgasbord after smorgasbord being churned out around the 130 degree mark. With a few modifications and trial test runs, you’ll quickly learn how temperature and duration affect the outcome of your choice of protein or veg alternatives. See what works best for you. The most important thing to remember is to seal your bags appropriately. Season your entrees with the freshest ingredients you can find, including herbs and all the fixings. More about the sous vide and some brussels and bacon. This is a great way to switch up how, where, and with whom you cook. As for dessert, what’s on the menu?change up how, where and with whom you cook. What’s for dessert?

Just a quick side-note, if you have not tried to sous vide or have not thought about the usage of a precision cooker via a food water bath… I use it around the holidays to prep for meals. have a look around, some of the best food on the market has been sous vide, stored and seared at time of consumption. Now, I’m not saying I’m obverse to the process of using the cooking method in mass, I’m advocating for showing you that even your local, regional and global coffee shops, bars and gastropubs use the sous vide cooking method. The point, the method of cooking helps prep, heat, and serve at a very precise temperatures. Precision is key, we recently cooked a beef brisket for 3 days plus just to put this logic to test. Cheers

Samsung Galaxy 21 5G

Galaxy Update

SG21 5g

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

Lab Work – Samsung Galaxy 21 vs. iPhone Series Hardware

Our Samsung Galaxy 21 5G (S215G) Experience, more performance, less pain to privacy with optional dualSIM card capability. Choose wisely young Skywalker; Pain-to-Privacy, Cost-to-Performance, our take on the matter.

U-Turn Ahead

Update* The decision was changed, while we chose the S215G over iPhone11/iPhone12/S22 and the idea worked in theory… The reality here is dual SIM cards are a ‘go’ on S10 and S22, not on the S20. Quick U Turn here as the S20 swap takes place, swapped out for the S21. Ultimately, the choice is the standard size, S22+ or Ultra not an ideal size for our needs. Again, the device is not the latest, nor the greatest; it’s the best for our needs.

Galaxy Series 22 | 22+, here is the comparison page that’s nice to start with –
S Model Comparison – 22 Ultra, 22+ and S21

A Move Toward S21

After many, many, many months of testing. retesting, and learning more about eSims or (electronic SIM cards), we were able to maintain ownership of the latest software and hardware. After evaluating performance and cost, we ultimately decided on the S21.

The S21 coasts better battery life than the S10 with a dualSIM option or hybrid sim option allowing for multiple numbers on a single device. It also offers 5G cellular service, and upgrades to the hardware, display, camera, when compared to other S models.

Compared to other Samsung models like the Flip or fold, as well as devices from Pixel (Google), Xperia (Sony) and iPhone, the S Model remains affordable in a touch device-saturated market. It is top of its class in terms of usability, user experience, control, privacy*, and bloatware.

Comparables

When considering ROI, it is important to look at comparable ROI in the market in terms of price and performance. An emphasis is placed on privacy, with the goal being to maintain and secure the device without having to depend on Samsung, Google, or other third-party hacks for security. While this may require a lot of effort, the benefits in terms of privacy make it worth the pain. The balance between pain and privacy is becoming increasingly important and cannot be ignored.

Post updates, interested in more Samsung related materials, check out Samsung Next Generation phones, like the s10+ Damage Video and reasons to upgrade to the latest and greatest.Anyhow, check out comments, do you research… iOS 16 is out now, good luck!

Local Water Birds

Now, Pelicans, Herons, Storks and Egrets

Birds In The Water, Three Pelicans

A Study of Water Birds

Artwork – Water Birds Series

Bird Study, pelicans, egrets, heron, ibis and others around the shore

Hunting and Gathering, Around The Water
Bird B/W

Pelican B/w

On the Water

Heron On The Water

Birds Close Up

Heron Close Up

Highlighting various bird species through acrylics and photography. Below are a couple of shots of herons in and around the lake taken via drone – DJI Phantom 4 ProV2. For product information and technical specifications, visit DJI’s website. In the future, I will release a number of sketches, additional photos, and illustrations that will be available in print through Amazon eBooks and Print. Exciting things are on the horizon as we move into the latter part of 2024.

Birds, specifically ‘shore’ birds are one of my favorite species to cover. Herons, Storks, look (mostly) Jurassic or what I imagine life being like in those times. That said, I had followed a few Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias) and one, maybe more than one Shoebill Stork (Baleniceps rex) in and around the Florida waterways.

Now, there is a bit of a symbiotic relation to a family of ducks near by. Unfortunately, for the ducks at times, I noticed the herons’ (predators) came around duck seasonal migrations. There were enough small fish, turtle and such to sustain a Blue Heron or two, Osprey and Shoebill Stork. In that same vain, the birds took full advantage of a specific food source, duck eggs and ducklings in around the same waterways I was fishing. As you can imagine, the predators were looking for a vulnerable, nutrient-rich food source. I digress, the point, I had the opportunity to study, watch and learn large, solitary birds do what they do.

Stay tuned for more updates. You can also view my latest sketches and artwork on X @salleecreates for progression photos, or explore other pieces under the artwork category.

Study With HRCC Ham Study

Need Ham Study? Choose HRCC

HRCC Ham Courses

Get The Ham Radio Crash Course License Today

Materials – Ham Study

“Want to Get Your Ham Radio License?” HRCC- Ham Study, learn on your time, when you want and how you want. Give Crash Course a look-over.

Choose HRCC – Ham Study, let’s get started! I wanted to tee up another mini-series or online study tool. In this case, we will focus on the Crash Course, – a study tool/series for those interested in learning about ham radios, their operation, and the fundamentals needed to obtain a ham license.

Ever wanted to give HAM radios a try? Now is the time to try, both the crash course and a friend will help.

From an outsider’s perspective, this seems like the way to go. I have never used a ham radio before, and I don’t have anyone to guide me through the process. I believe this is a good starting point, a launching pad into the world of ham radio. For those interested in out lab work, we have included this in our ‘materials’ category for future reference, study. Once again, we are recommending this HRCC – Ham Study, specifically the  HRCC – Ham Radio Crash Course is the best option, give it a try. Finally, for those of you in the radio space, here is a quick how-to multimeter pamphlet. Learn how to better understand electric, waves, etc. how this might improve your ham radio hobby.

Apple Magic Mouse

Apple Mouse, Is It Worth It?

Apple Magic Mouse to Logitech M525

The So, So-Magical Mouse

Gear – Apple & Logitech Mice

Work mouse; and more on it’s back up/EDC Logitech M525, cause the Apple Mouse has been all but useless at times

Now, let’s talk about the Apple Magic Mouse…

First and foremost, I appreciate the design always a life-long Apple user. I tend to favor their aesthetics, its slimline shape, and gestures. Secondly,  it has a nice weight to it, not too light or heavy. The issue arises after after a few hours of work when we have to stop everything to charge the device and latest, it needs charging more frequently. As someone who has always used Apple products, this mouse seems to be less useful than an 80’s mouse. I’m not sure if there are bugs or battery issues, but it’s a hassle to charge. A BIG HASSLE.

The problem here is that the mouse has become unusable.

Apple & Logitech Mice
Apple Charge

Apple Charge

Logi Mouse

Logi Mouse

So, while we are currently charging the Apple Mouse (seriously, I’ve got the Logitech mouse on), clicking away… Thirdly, we got the Magic Mouse – Multi-Touch Surface a few months back and are increasingly learning to find something else to use. Love the gestures, but can’t use the mouse. Makes no sense. Again, love the gesturing, touch surface options, but every 8 hours I’ve got to plug this thing in. What about the next 4 to 6 hours? We are left with a paperweight for a good 1.5 hours while the device charges up.

Moving on to the M525, no gestures, just a Plain-Jane type of mouse… Bluetooth/USB if need be, heavier I’m assuming because of the batteries and a handy little internal storage area for the USB dongle when not in use. It has a a wheel, laser for tracking and it works. It’s a reliable mouse and remains in my everyday carry bag/desk for work. If you’re interested in Apple products, review etc., read more about our thoughts on the addition of a bluetooth keypad (side gamer keyboard), AppleTV 4k, MagSafe Pack, and Apple Services rendered.

Final Thought, in conclusion, if you want to over spend on an Apple mouse, get the trackpad, skip the mouse… always carry a secondary pointer device in case of emergencies. We do, and that is the Logitech M525. Buy one today.

Samsung Next Generation

S20 5g, Next Generation Samsung Galaxy Devices

Samsung S20

Samsung Next Generation – Samsung Galaxy S205G

Gear – Samsung Next Generation, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Series

Time to switch? Looking for Samsungs next generation phones? iPhone-to-Galaxy? Or LinuxOS? We think so. We test and make our decision., then we share why we made the decision we did. The decision is in. S205G over iPhone11/, Phone12, S21, or S22 the latest models. We are not talking about the latest Galaxy Series or the Z-Fold, or the iPhone 13.

It’s has taken many months, even years of practice to make the change. I encourage you to consider making a similar decision to switch. Practice makes perfect. Let’s stick with practice, practice and more practice! Nothing compares to MacOS and iOS. Yes, everything MacOS, iOS. So, what comes with the decision? UI familiarity, yes. Did I mention all the machines we use on a day-to-day basis are MacOS? Certified to service these machines? Most certainly. Comfortable fixing what we’ve always done. Safety, security, battery life, ease of use, and more. All true, including the use of iPhone and iOS products and services since 2006.

Blackberry Experience and Switch

Practice makes perfect. That’s a lot of practice in my opinion. Historically speaking, and assuming my memory is correct, we made the initial jump from Blackberry and Blackberry products specifically the Blackberry 8100 (’06) series and the 8300 (’07) series, to the iPhone. And the main reason for this switch? Touchscreen keys. At the time, the main issue was the incompatibility or lack of practice with onscreen-typing or touchscreen services couldn’t get on board with the Blackberry touch model (whatever it was called). Let me share a quick story…

Many years ago, I remember sitting in a multi-million dollar test lab (usability lab), testing the latest UI designs and services and a user was ‘testing’ via the Blackberry Storm… I’ll spare you the pain, but let’s just say that during that specific test, the Blackberry touch devices were out, and the iPhone was in. Specifically, the iPhone 3G. Early being an early adopter of technology, the Blackberry (the workhorse of many business years) failed the two tests performed in a controlled lab experiment. Fast forward to the present, specifically in relation to iOS/iPhones, it has been many, many years of practice, perhaps too many. I have included a link above comparing the iPhone 13, 11, and iPhone 6s for those who want a quick glimpse into how the iOS device ecosystem has evolved over the years… However, this is where those years of experience have come to an interesting fork in the road.

A Switch to the S20 5G

Sometime in the second or third quarter of 2017, the Samsung Galaxy lineup started to make sense. I road-tested the S9, S10 and quickly moved on to the 2002 model, the 205G. I carried a work phone with iOS, the Galaxy and a few laptops with various operating systems. Yes, it was a pain, but I’ll spare you the details. After enduring 100% travel, juggling multi-devices and staying in the same hotels, it was time for a change. A few months behind schedule, I finally made the switch to the S20.

Living life on the road, traveling for clients, nearly broke the iPhone spell. I had spent years and years dealing with expensive iPhones, constant turnover, and damage control. As mentioned before, I also spent a significant amount of money and time on testing, studying, and certifying myself in iOS products and service as well as fixing iOS devices. Before moving on, I want to emphasize that we didn’t buy new or directly from Apple, and saving $1,000 made a difference in this experiment.

Buying new may be your preference, but today it wasn’t ours and it won’t be moving forward. In fact, you can find many of our favorite devices second-hand or ‘renewed’ today. So to put it simply, you might be wondering how did we end up purchasing the S205G? ((Panic)) The process was lengthy and challenging. We felt the need to explore all available options. We wanted to make sure we were investing in the right product, choosing the best option for us. What better way to do that by testing everything on the market? We tried almost all of them. From basic, stripped-down Android/iOS and Linux and older phones like the iPhone 6s and 8s, Galaxy S9/S10, S20, vintage Nokia 3300, the LightPhone2, and ultimately settled on the S20 model.

Open Source or Linux Options

Honestly, let’s start with the Linux OS option first. Until we have a Linux – //liliputing.com/ based phone that can cater to the masses, consider Ubuntu Touch, Sailfsh or Pure. In terms of device options, the selection is quite limited – OnePlus, Fairphone, Google Pixel 3 (3a), Pine, and Librem. So, there are limitations.

Another important point is to do your research before making a purchase. Buyer beware, exercise caution, learn how to use command line code, service your own device, install different OS versions. Until Linux devices are suitable as ‘EDC’ (Everyday Carry) and not just for developers, the 20+, Ultra or the S21 series.

In conclusion, the main takeaway is this: we made the switch, but it may not be right or wrong. Choose what make sense for your budget, lifestyle and security needs. This switch was motivated by the desire for control, better battery life, screen, performance, and the dislike for SIRI. Samsung has shown consistent growth, while IOS tends to make frequent changes to buttons, connections, cases, and materials, along with automatic data collection features. This may be a  matter of preference, which applies to all devices. It’s remarkable how iOS has become so prevalent in just over 17 years. Lastly, I must emphasize that this is not a promotion for any specific devices or brand. It’s a reminder to thoroughly test products before making a purchase. I hope this article encourages you to take necessary steps to evaluate what’s available in the market.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide

Cook Perfect Entrees Meals and More with a Sous Vide

Anova Precision Cooker

Do You Sous Vide?

Gear – Anova Sous Vide

Anova Precision® Series Sous Vide – Have you ever tried using a sous vide machine? Let’s talk about the Anova Precision® Series Sous Vide.

Wait, what’s a sous vide? Interested in trying out the Anova Sous Vide? We decided to go with the Anova Precision® brand sous vide cooker. Specifically the 16-liter Anova Sous vide.

@IHR, we received a recommendation from a local restaurateur (awesome guy, with amazing dishes coming out of his kitchen) that the precision cooker is a great tool to enhance your cooking skills. You can find these Anova cookers at your local store. There are days when we all need a little boost in the kitchen, a special touch or magic sauce to create something extraordinary, especially for those of us who wish we had more culinary skills.  The precise temperatures provided by the Anova cooker might just be the secret ingredient you need. 

Cook At The Perfect Temps
Sous Vide

Sous Vide

Precision Cooker

Precision Cooker

Proteins? What kind Do You Prefer

Taco proteins – Beef, Chicken, Pork, Fish, Shrimp etc., Briskets, Duck, Corned Beef, you name it, this machine can handle it all. The only catch is time. If you can set aside time for prep, create your entrees and sides, vacuum seal the pouches and you’re done. Generally, we set aside 30-60 minutes for prep, and 2-10 hours for cooking. This of course depends on the type of beef, we’ve tried the toughest, most unfriendly cuts and this precision cooker machine surpasses expectations. Regardless of how long the meat bathes, the result is consistently excellent.

Vacuum Sealed, Perfect Cooking Temps

We say kick the tires, have at it. The sous vide makes it easy to prep both sides and entrees, and heat and cook dishes at an exact temperature. If you want, you can control the temperature at home or away with the Anova app (although we don’t use it now), which is helpful when starting down the path of bathwater cooking. Whatever meat, veggies, protein etc. are submerged will be kept at the temperature you want.

This beast does it all. If you have the time and patience to learn how this thing works, you can try a few cuts of beef or chicken, some cleaned/de-veined shrimp or a breast of duck. Just follow 3 easy steps, let the machine do it’s thing, and you’ll be upping your kitchen game from zero skills to an arbiter of food stardom. This machine does require sealed packaging, from zipper bags to vacuum sealed bags – check out Anova’s Vacuum Sealer or Amazon for an Anova Sealer.

It has been world changing for us. Listen, there are many kitchen gadgets, gimmicks, tricks, secrets, family recipes etc. that can spice up your game. Check out our brussels and bacon post, if you like bacon on veg. Or continue our sous vide experiments, smorgasbord and more. Don’t forget the clean up! We believe this sous vide machine is a long-term investment, and thought you might want to give it a try too.  It makes a world of difference, and here are some photos of our setup, prep gear, finishing and clean up.

*Don’t beat us up in the comments, we are simply stating ‘we’ wanted to be better in and around the kitchen; we needed serious help LOL. So we found some!

Play Dungeon Boss

Dungeon (D & D lite) Boss

Dungeon Boss Opening

D & D Fan? Let’s do Dungeon Boss

Lab Work – Utilizing Lord Zomm

Press you luck with Dungeon Boss, a great mobile D&D RPG alternative.

The goal is to assemble a team consisting of a healer, a tank (heavily defended character), a heavy hitter, and a Zomm (Mage). This strategy is highly effective in  Dungeons and Dragons if you are familiar with the game. The healer can both attack and heal as needed, while the tank, heavy hitter, and Zomm take down your opponents. The Zomm can crush your opponents. Earn a Zomm, find a Lord Zomm! A Zomm character is skilled mage, taking on ghouls, ghosts, skeletons, warriors and even poisonous jelly molds. Challenge yourself by facing boss battles, and remember to include Zomm, Chomps, NubNub and a variety of other characters in your lineup. 

Be The Boss
Decisions

Decisions

Choose Your Boss

Choose

Fight Sequence

Square Off

A Boss Win

A Boss Win

I may be biased, but seriously, you need a Zomm. This is D&D in your hands, anywhere, anytime… Explore Boss: Respawned. Or, go old school, learn how to play D & D, the original RPG. Get a group of superhumans maybe a mage, warrior, healer and knight and roll your way through the Lost Mines of Phandelver or trek around Icewindale in search of the Frostmaiden.

GTRacing Gaming Chair Update

GTRacing Repair Update

GTRacing Update Frame Fixed

GTRacing Chair Frame Blunder

Gear – GTRacing

So, here is the GTRacing Update. GTRacing Chair Parts Replaced.

It may be premature, but, good on you GT Racing! Dare I say GTRacing made it right? The chair is back together, holding weight as it should. No lean, squeezing, bending-feeling or crash. That’s good, we have a fix. In hindsight, while being desk chair free for a week or more, is not ideal.

The second “chair part”, the one not broken will be relegated to the game and electronics drawer. It goes with the other unused cables, plugs, charges, wires, random batteries etc.

While we have your attention, we will be trying other GTRacing parts, chairs etc,. A full listing will come, however, a sneak peek may serve its weight in gold here… Check out the latest merchandise after the GTRacing Update, and give us a shout if you would like to purchase our gear – new products next quarter.

Side note, with the GTRacing gear, we are looking to sort out some USB devices, stickers and magnets, depending on demand. Let us know what you think about the merch, or if you’re looking for something special, a one off, special order on GTRacing – https://gtracing.com/. If you’re interesting in our new chair, check out our new GTRacing chair sporting new GTRacing ergonomic mesh.

SPOILER – Fast forward, gear adjustment, learn about our new GTRacing Mesh back chair with the lounging feature and footrest posted 6/2024… enjoy!

NES Tecmo Bowl Video

A NES Football Classic

NES Tecmo Bowl

Lab Work – Tecmo Bowl Video

Tecmo Bowl – Epic Cut Scenes, Great Football-like Plays, Easy-to-Play, Play As The Most Famous Players of the Time.

Quick Take

Touch Down High Fives… Players like, Mike Singletary, Lawerence Taylor, Carl Banks, Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Jerry Rice, Jim McMahon and Walter Payton.. Who can forget this legendary football game?

First, let’s catch up on the Tecmo Bowl video. A classic NES football game… in my opinion, the first and best. Like racing games, there are only a few football games that stand out to me: Tecmo Bowl, the Madden Football Series, NFL Quarterback Club, John Elway’s Quarterback Football, College Football and NCAA College Football.

Maybe be there are more than I originally counted but that’s okay. The point is still relevant. Elway’s, Tecmo and Madden 2024… are on the Top 5, not necessarily in that order, but they represent over 38 plus years of football gaming. My only complaint is “the number of controllable ‘things’, from quarterback angle, running, speed etc.”, I prefer the simplicity of the earlier games, excluding Madden 2024. Sometimes that cut scenes and watered-down story lines get old quickly. Therefore, I find Tecmo Bowl and Elway’s more enjoyable these days(again, in my opinion you all might like prefer generational games like NCAA Football 2024, or Madden’24/’25).

Check out @nintendoComplete for Tecmo Bowl coverage, it’s peak coverage. Watch this video and others like it on YouTube Logo YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

Verify Web App Status With Downdetector

We Are Up And Running With Downdetector

Downdetector - Detect Real-time problems and outages

Web Servive Outage!

Tech And Tools – Downdetector, Starlink Teaser

Outage? What’s Up with What’s App? Binance? Online Bank Account? Internet? Online Games?

When the “internet-webs” fail, or aren’t operating as they should… well, the inter-webs has help. Check out Downdetector, great online resource for finding out what’s going on with the web(online games, apps; everything that uses the internet). 

An Insiders View
Downdetector

Downdetector

Downdetector Down Reports

Down Reports

Downdetector Reporting

Detailed Reporting

Downdetector Comments

Comments

More Reporting Detail

Aggregate reporting, reported outages, and a neat heat map of the world showing said outages, slowness etc. Next time you experience a snag in inter-web service, join the ‘outage club’ (a group that manages outage and communicates services issues for the latest, real-time outage reporting and monitoring service. We use it regularly, almost every week, and sometimes daily.  While waiting for Starlink to come on board and receive equipment the website is our go-to for web service, applications or website outages. Other tools in the developer kit, you may want to explore include the FUZZ or give Selenium a try if you’re ready for it. There are many, I’ve just provided a few we use locally to keep services and websites working in optimal capacity.

For a full list of websites, service monitors, check out the 404 list – which lists of all websites monitored by DownDetector. Don’t forget about the wayback machine, internet archive, we posted about the wayback machine about this awhile ago, which is relevant today as we reflect on technology and where it’s going today. As usual leave a comment below, let us know what you’re thinking?

MIG TIG and Power

The Power To Weld and Cut

Lincoln Pro MIG 140

MIG TIG – Welding with Lincoln Electric Pro MIG 140

Tech And Tools – MIG TIG and Power, Lighting Sticks

MIGs, TIGs, Power, Power Supply… MIG TIG and Power. Lighting axe? Lighting weld? Choose Lincoln Electric

Are we endorsing the the Lincoln Electric Pro 140? Yes, we are. Specs are provided below. It is 120volt, 140amp MIG Welder. Pricing may have changed, market availability as well, but we are sticking to our recommendation. We consider our selves ‘large stock newbies’ in the welding, tackling any project, big or small. MIG TIG and Power?

Lincoln Electric
Lincoln Mig Tig

Lincoln

Curbside Mig Tig

Curbside

Instek Power

Instek Power

GPS-3030DD

GPS-3030DD

So, the question arises, when trying something new, what is the best product for a wide range of steel product for a wide range of steel, what is the cost, and what is the warranty? The possibilities are endless. What do you suggest? We are open to your feedback. What are your thoughts?

Before you go, since we are on the topic of tools and needs, here are some other links to tools that you might need – Light Tools, Calipers, hand tools,  Weller 70w Soldering Kit, Telescoping Picker, and Kreg Tool. Let’s check ’em out!

The Ask: Can we weld both MIG TIG and power complimentary plasma cutter tools or additional add-ons? (Mitre Saw review coming soon). Which is easier to use, stick welding or auto feed welders? We need all the information! We are considering starting a new series on welding, mitre saws, and power supplies, focusing on more challenging jobs and scaling up from electronics to heavy stock steel possibly in the third quarter of ’22. Stay tuned.

As always, please leave a comment below and let us know you’re thoughts!

Play Super Off Road

Take A Chance At Duke’s Off Road Cup

Big Dukes – Play Super Off Road

Lab Work – Play Super Off Road

Might be Top 3. Go back and celebrate one of the best SNES games, play SUPER OFF ROAD, watch BIG DUKES – SUPER OFF ROAD.

Quick Take

Play Now! Play Super Off Road now! SOR is a RC Pro AM style game (a game similar to RC Pro Am) except, RC Pro is much more difficult. It’s all relative, and that hasn’t changed since my RC Pro AM days.

First, I can’t remember which course on Big Duke’s I liked the most, the water, the hay stacks… it’s been sometime… but my money was on the Blue Truck. Off Road was a great game, and the play-through is only a glimpse in time.

The game itself is still a masterpiece, still today, a fantastic game. It had a cool idea, a great racing theme, ease-of-use (relative to playing the game more than an hour or so). Control can be a little funky. But… a great implementation, design and truck racing game… more importantly you as the driver could improve the performance of the truck by investing in the following upgrades like Nitro’s, Acceleration (Engine), Tires, Top Speed, and Shocks. Hint – Nitro, Tires and Acceleration were my go to upgrades.

Watch this video and others like it on YouTube Logo YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

Office Chairs and Desks

Serta, Gaiam, GTRAcing, Office Depot and More

GT Racing Chairs

What’s in your office?

Gear – Office Equipment – Gamer Chairs, Yoga Ball Chair and Standup Desk

In this office life, take a look at what we use on a daily basis: our trusty driver (comfy gaming chair), adjustable desk, and Gaiam desk chair for guests. We’re blending the traditional office setting with new materials and comfortable options. 

Are you a GT Racing fan? Today is the day to trade up and move on from the traditional office executive chair, like the current ergonomic executive chair Serta Jennings – B/T Ergo Chair that’s sitting in the office right now. Today, we’re switching gears to GT Racing, the gaming chair of choice my choice for the future.

Office Updates
Desk

Adj. Desk

Gaiam Ball

Gaiam Ball

Serta Chair

Serta Chair

More information will be provided once it is received. Specifically, I am interested in the GTRacing GTX320-Black chair or see our commentary and reviews. The reviews are positive, mentioning features such as leather, good support, and comfort similar to a car seat (which is a personal selling point for me). The chair also includes height-adjustable arms, lumbar and headrest support, and can recline up to nearly 170 degrees. Unfortunately, shipping will take a few days, which is a bit disappoint. Nevertheless, I believe the new chair will complement the office space nicely. 

The current office setup includes a height-adjustable desk that can be raised and lowered with a manual paddle-like button. Additionally, there is a modern Gaiam yogi-chair balance chair, which is great for short-term sitting but may not be suitable for longer sitting periods. For extended coding sessions and conference/phone calls, a GT Racing chair may be more comfortable and supportive. It’s time for an upgrade to address back pain and improve overall comfort during long periods of sitting. The decision has been made – GT Racing the way to go.

Before you go, there is an update… we ran into a snag, GTRacing handled it see the GTRacing update here. Helpful when someone makes it right. For those of you who know of the issue and remedy, great; now you know why we chose a second GTRacing gaming chair. The GTRacing Mesh chair nearly 2 years later (updated 6/2024)! Good chair, comfortable, breathable, more durable that it’s predecessor. Finally, this one has a foot rest. Don’t forget about your furry office friends, like ours, Zeus and Ruby… they’re around here somewhere, 

Bootstrapping Astrononymous

A jQuery Journey, Research and Field Guide

Astrononymous Main

Learn JQuery with Astrononymous

Lab Work – Astrononymous

Become A JQuery GURU via Astrononymous (Astro-Non-Ymous)

*Please note, astrononymous.com is CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. This is a long-term guide in progress, a jQuery guide or study tool if you will. At the moment, most of the build stories, content remain in the backlog. However, the main Bootstrapped theme, index, and subpages are available or in production. This has a long-term build tag, so, patience is needed of course. Just need a little time “Scotty” (Startrek reference about not having enough power from the core power unit to speed off into space. For context, the famous character, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott Chief Engineer on the original U.S.S. Enterprise). Why is this reference relevant, it’s a reference to Scotty’s ability to make stuff work; make miracles happen. Check back in a few months, we should be up and running.

More jQuery development is on the way, as mentioned, it is a work in progress. I would be remiss not to redirect your attention to our other designs and website builds on X @salleecreates. If you are looking for more web work or other pieces of artwork, they can be found under the tag portfolio.

Learn More About Specific Design Solutions

See other examples of our work, including web, design, brand and more.

Project BurmPy Update

Learn Python With Burmpy

Burmese Python,BurmPy

A Burmese Python Code References

Lab Work – Projet BurmPy

Let’s cover Project BurmPy

Please note, Burmpy.com is CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Stuff is on the move, Project BurmPy has landed,  ‘moving around’ global elements. Same for the core Python section and guide section, along with its counterparts, Basics, Advanced, and DB/More.

BurmPy Build
BurmPy Home

Home

Core Code

Core Code

Hello World

Hello World

Adv Code

Adv Code

You’ll see however, that basic structure is there, BS V5 elements, usage etc. Scope out the main nav, content and secondary nav for secondary content. Time is always an issue, so I ask for your patience in providing the necessary time to sort out the most important Python elements. We groom said elements, and publish code as we build the site. Today, we have next steps as the intro, Core Python, Advanced and DB (more). Putting us in good shape so that we can deliver new content in a productive manner. Goal being deliverability, staying true to a deliverable schedule or track for now.

Development will continue, shipping pieces and parts on the regular and as we build, test and publish elements to the site (iteratively). Including the welcome content, ‘hello world’ and core code elements. That way we can build over time, add what needs to or removed what is deprecated (removed from the standard code) via Python.org. We do want to include this guide, same TWBS v5 elements as the others, those will also be groomed and updated on the site as we ship pieces and parts.

One final note, we may transition this into a WordPress CMS site for ease of use and content management, including updates on new code or removed (deprecated, no longer supported elements) Python elements/code. We could likely get the core elements up faster than hand coding the site. More to come.

Learn More About Specific Design Solutions

See other examples of our work, including web, design, brand and more.

Campfire Activities

Stay Warm, Stay Safe, When You Need It Most

1fyr Campfires

Bonfires, Fire Pits, Camp Fires and Lasting Memories

Lab Work – 1Fyr, Campfires and More

Lasting Memories: Do you miss those days down on the farm, sharing s’mores, fishing, fireworks, campfires and stories by the lake?

Way, way back when, farm fires i.e. bonfires at the fire pit, were a weekend treat. After a long week of hard work, sweat and dirt, a campfire by the lake was where we would be. Family, friends, most have come and gone. Remembering those days is just as important as looking ahead to the days we spend around a future fireplace, campfire, bonfire, or fire pit.

I wanted to do a throwback post about the days of the past, only to quickly refocus that energy on the future, a future time with friends and family. In the new year, stay safe, be well and enjoy time with the people you care about most. We thank those of you who support our efforts, our vision, our families. We will be bringing back 1Fyr videos once the pool cage is complete… It’s been along time, some 8 months since our last video post to 1fyr.com. So, if it’s a campfire that brings back a memory (a fond memory down on the farm), it did for us. Enjoy the New Year, be safe, be well. Happy New Year.

Find out more about 1fyr campfires, UST Blastmatch, what’s going on with the idea and more information on where it’s going.

We miss those days, sharing with friends and family around the campfire. In the meantime, here are some of our favorite stories by the campfire via YouTube, One, Alfie’s The Long Fire, or Dan’s  Self-Feeding Fire. Have a favorite story or campfire activity? Leave a comment below, let us know what you’re thinking!