Author Archives: robertwilkie

Smart Brake Light for cars

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

I like the idea, the author puts a simple LCD on the back window of his car to show things like braking fast, and other…err…signs to other drivers.  Down side it only works for the newer ford fusions via the … Continue reading →

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Text messaging sump pump alert

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

I like this solution, thought I am not so sure I would dedicate a RPi to it.  The author basically uses a 9-volt battery connector to test if the water has gone up too high (it shorts the connection).  And … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, RaspberryPi, sensors | Comments Off on Text messaging sump pump alert

4 ways to get diskspace back in Linux

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

Good article, thought very “Ubuntu” centric.  I did learn one thing from it, you should run bleachbit as root to get rid of copies of packages. http://www.howtogeek.com/185173/4-ways-to-free-up-disk-space-on-linux/

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Another article on the Health care mess for Xerox

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

Nevada doesn’t seem to let the heat off Xerox over the healthcare mess its in. http://vegasseven.com/2014/03/22/three-questions-broken-nevadas-health-insurance-exchange/  

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Backstage with Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

I read this article twice, and it reads to me more like a press release from the “office of Ursula Burns” than a journalist article.  I wonder it that was the case here. http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/03/24/backstage-with-xerox-ceo-ursula-burns/

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Dectectify for WordPress

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

Article goes over Dectectify, a plugin for wordpress that monitors your site for being hacked and security issues with it.  I have heard about this in the past but haven’t looked at it myself yet. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/wordpress-blog-couldve-hacked-detectify-saved/

Posted in Security | Comments Off on Dectectify for WordPress

Great, now 3D printed skimmers

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

Well not too surprising and its been done already.  But this time the folks are advertising it.  I love the “prevention” video at the bottom of the article. http://www.3ders.org/articles/20140322-gang-plans-mass-producing-atm-skimmers-via-3d-printing.html

Posted in CNC/3D-printing, Security | Comments Off on Great, now 3D printed skimmers

Nice intro to CNC

Posted on March 24, 2014 by robertwilkie

Mostly the article covers woodworking CNC’s, but its still a good intro article for those not familiar with the basics.  I like the recommended bits, Freud 77-202 or 77-204, the author uses, if you have money for them. http://makezine.com/magazine/cnc-routing-basics-toolpaths-and-feeds-n-speeds/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=%24%7Bfeed%7D&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+%24%7Bmakezineonline%7D+%28%24%7BMAKE%7D%29&utm_content=%24%7BGoogleReader%7D

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Several good spots to hide stuff

Posted on March 21, 2014 by robertwilkie

My favorite is the door storage one.  Some good ideas on how to camouflage or hide storage and rooms.  Some of the “ideas” thought are way beyond the average persons skill to build. http://makezine.com/2013/05/04/seventeen-sneaky-secret-hides/

Posted in Tinkering | Comments Off on Several good spots to hide stuff

Good intro on driving big steppers with Arduino

Posted on March 21, 2014 by robertwilkie

Nice video on how to drive a big stepper with an arduino and a micro step driver. http://makezine.com/video/driving-big-stepper-motors-with-arduino/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=%24%7Bfeed%7D&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+%24%7Bmakezineonline%7D+%28%24%7BMAKE%7D%29&utm_content=%24%7BGoogleReader%7D

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