Below you will find pages that utilize the taxonomy term “Geek”
Nearing the time for Advent of Code 2024 thinking of using Node NPM again this year.
Hopefully will complete more this year than before.
I’ve started playing about with Node JS to learn it enough to modify some legacy Lambda code.
One of the tasks I set myself was to write a Joke bot for Mastodon, which work out to be fairly easy with a couple of packages got and masto.
Dad Joke Bot the code is only 32 lines long, looking to expand it to be able to post images as well.
Do you ever use print() or log() to debug your code? Of course you do. IceCream, or ic for short, makes print debugging a little sweeter.
ic() is like print(), but better.
I got a cheap SPI TFT ST7735 Display module with SD Card reader off ebay, it had an unusual number of pins on the back.
It took a while searching about on the internet and some head scratching to find a library and work out what connected to what on the Pico.
This is what I found, and worked out.
| TFT Board | Raspberry Pi Pin |
|---|---|
| LED | 3v3(Out) |
| SCK | GP10 |
| SDA | GP11 |
| AO/DC | GP16 |
| Reset | GP17 |
| CS | GP18 |
| GND | GND |
| VCC | VBUS 5V |
Using that information I was able to put together this library based on a few others I found and a few test programs.
Something I did a few (8) years ago on the Arduino to display two-digit numbers on a 8x8 LED matrix, this is an update to do the same in Micropthon.
Numbers have been defined to 3x5 pixels, so for a two-digit number it fits into 8x5 LED grid with spacing, saving some LED Matrix space.
The code for this can be found here numbers.py
Just a short bit of code to test a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor module.
This version has just three pins VCC, GND and data, so easy to connect and use with the DHT library.
Found a LED Matrix with a Max7219 in my parts bin (box of random electronics in the garage) so looked into getting it working with the Pico and MicroPython.
This is an example why I love open source. The original library I found was functional but sparse, last committed to 4 years ago. There were a few forks, most not much activity. One had been active recently and had some major improvements in functionality so switched over to that fork. https://github.com/enchant97/micropython-max7219
Stumbled across a Python script to run a Mandelbrot set in ASCII in Python so I thought I would see how it ran on the RaspberryPi Pico.
After tweaking it slightly from the source it ended up like this mandelbrot.py
This results in the following;
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..........................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............................................
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.................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----------,,,,,,,,,,,,.................................
...............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------:i;;::::-------,,,,,,,,,.............................
.............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----------:::;ih$+;;::::-------,,,,,,,,,..........................
...........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------------::::;;+# hiiii :---------,,,,,,,,,.......................
.........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------------:::::;;i+hM MM #+;;:---------,,,,,,,,,,....................
.........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------------::::::;;ii+hH* $H+ii;:::---------,,,,,,,,,,..................
........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------------::::::;i+HhH *h++;;::::---------,,,,,,,,,,................
.......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------------::::::;;;+ *@ +i;::::::-------,,,,,,,,,,,..............
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------------::::;;;;;ii+hM@ $hii;;:::::::------,,,,,,,,,,,............
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------------:::;;;;;;iiii++h *h+ii;;;;:::::::----,,,,,,,,,,,...........
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------------::::;ii++ ++++++hhHH$@ @MHhh++ii;;;;;ihi;:---,,,,,,,,,,,,.........
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----------:::::::;;+H @MHhH$ # $@ h++ii++M$i;:---,,,,,,,,,,,,........
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------::::::::::;;;ii@ #@ $HH* $# #;:---,,,,,,,,,,,,.......
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------:::::::::::::;;;;ii+hM * i;::---,,,,,,,,,,,,,.....
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----:::::::::::::::;;;;;i++HHM# *+;;:::---,,,,,,,,,,,,,....
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----::::::::::::::::;;;;;;iiM #Mhii;;::---,,,,,,,,,,,,,....
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------::;iH+;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;iiiii++H$ Mh++;::----,,,,,,,,,,,,,...
.,,,,,,,,,,,,---------::::;;iH#++iiii++H*++iiiiii+++H$ $ H;::----,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
,,,,,,,,------------:::::;;;+h **M HhhM $HHMhhhhhhHM@ H;::----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
.,,,,,------------::::::::;;ii+hM# @@ #$HHHHM H+i;::-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
,,,,------------:::::::::;iiiihh$ $$* @ i;::-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,-------------::::::::;;iii+H * @ M+;:::-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,------------:::::;;;;i+#HhhhM$@ Mi;:::------,,,,,,,,,,,,,
----------::;;;;;;;iii+hH* * @ hi;::::------,,,,,,,,,,,,,
::::;;;iiMiiiiii+++++MHM $+i;;::::------,,,,,,,,,,,,,
*Hh+i;;::::------,,,,,,,,,,,,,
::::;;;iiMiiiiii+++++MHM $+i;;::::------,,,,,,,,,,,,,
----------::;;;;;;;iii+hH* * @ hi;::::------,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,------------:::::;;;;i+#HhhhM$@ Mi;:::------,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,-------------::::::::;;iii+H * @ M+;:::-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,------------:::::::::;iiiihh$ $$* @ i;::-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
.,,,,,------------::::::::;;ii+hM# @@ #$HHHHM H+i;::-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
,,,,,,,,------------:::::;;;+h **M HhhM $HHMhhhhhhHM@ H;::----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
.,,,,,,,,,,,,---------::::;;iH#++iiii++H*++iiiiii+++H$ $ H;::----,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------::;iH+;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;iiiii++H$ Mh++;::----,,,,,,,,,,,,,...
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----::::::::::::::::;;;;;;iiM #Mhii;;::---,,,,,,,,,,,,,....
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----:::::::::::::::;;;;;i++HHM# *+;;:::---,,,,,,,,,,,,,....
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------:::::::::::::;;;;ii+hM * i;::---,,,,,,,,,,,,,.....
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------::::::::::;;;ii@ #@ $HH* $# #;:---,,,,,,,,,,,,.......
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----------:::::::;;+H @MHhH$ # $@ h++ii++M$i;:---,,,,,,,,,,,,........
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------------::::;ii++ ++++++hhHH$@ @MHhh++ii;;;;;ihi;:---,,,,,,,,,,,,.........
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------------:::;;;;;;iiii++h *h+ii;;;;:::::::----,,,,,,,,,,,...........
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------------::::;;;;;ii+hM@ $hii;;:::::::------,,,,,,,,,,,............
.......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------------::::::;;;+ *@ +i;::::::-------,,,,,,,,,,,..............
........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------------::::::;i+HhH *h++;;::::---------,,,,,,,,,,................
.........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------------::::::;;ii+hH* $H+ii;:::---------,,,,,,,,,,..................
.........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------------:::::;;i+hM MM #+;;:---------,,,,,,,,,,....................
...........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------------::::;;+# hiiii :---------,,,,,,,,,.......................
.............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----------:::;ih$+;;::::-------,,,,,,,,,..........................
...............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------:i;;::::-------,,,,,,,,,.............................
.................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----------,,,,,,,,,,,,.................................
.....................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,......................................
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I amended the code to update the OLED I was using in the temperature sensor tests mand_oled.
Have been tinkering with temperature measurement using the Raspberry Pi Pico.
First with the internal temperature sensor and then using a TMP36 temperature sensor externally.
I wrote two classes to access these and return the reading.
Here is an example using the two sensors together temps.py
You will need to upload the two classes to the Pico first in a library sub-directory.
Here is how you would wire it up on a breadboard tmp36.fzz
Some components arrived from AliExpress recently so been able to play with an I2C OLED display with my Pico W.
Hello World Test
Code of this is here https://github.com/alastairhm/pico_w/blob/main/i2c_scan.py
And also used here to display the IP address after connected to the wifi https://github.com/alastairhm/pico_w/blob/main/wifi_oled.py
Next thing I’ve been playing with is internal and external temperature sensors, I will post about that soon.
Just before Christmas I got a Raspberry Pi Pico W to have a play with.
Looking forward to using MicroPython to do some LED flashing and other things.
Started a repo on Github for it Pico W Repo
A simple Python script to allow you to quickly search from the command line that I’ve been playing with on and off for a while.
https://github.com/alastairhm/searchit
It uses the Python Library Fire to automatically generate the command line interface which is something I stumbled across recently.
You either pass it a paramater for the search term or if one it not passed it used whatever is in your clipboard buffet.
Updating the parameter file you can add other search engines and pick which one to use as your default.
Came across this article of ways to Learn C on Linux which took me back to my 3rd real programming job.
It was with a software house mainly working with C/C++ on Linux/ Unix and embedded systems.
My first real experience use C/C++ in a professional environment, happy days with a good bunch of geeks.
If you’ve never tried it before it would be a good change from more recent languages to learn C for a challenge.
Been trying to relearn 6502 assembly language for fun, its a lot faster and easier than the first time on actual hardware when I was a teenager.
Been using a book I picked up from eBay Discovering BBC Micro Machine Code by A.P. Stephenson
Using BeebAsm assembler on my Mac with a BBC Micro emulator, rather than build in BBC BASIC one.
You can find my code at Github https://github.com/alastairhm/beebasm
This example draws a line of zeros to Mode 7, see screenshot below.
| [Unit] | |
| Description=Minio | |
| Documentation=https://docs.minio.io | |
| Wants=network-online.target | |
| After=network-online.target | |
| After=syslog.target network.target | |
| AssertFileIsExecutable=<%= @installation_directory %>/minio | |
| [Service] | |
| WorkingDirectory=<%= @installation_directory %> | |
| Environment="MINIO_ACCESS_KEY=<%= @access_key %>" | |
| Environment="MINIO_SECRET_KEY=<%= @secret_key %>" | |
| User=<%= @owner %> | |
| Group=<%= @group %> | |
| PermissionsStartOnly=true | |
| ExecStart=<%= @installation_directory %>/minio server --config-dir <%= @configuration_directory %> \ | |
| <% @cluster_fqdn.each_with_index do |fqdn, i| -%> | |
| <%- unless i < (@cluster_fqdn.size - 1) -%> | |
| http://<%= fqdn %><%= @minio_mount_partition %>/minio-data | |
| <%- else -%> | |
| http://<%= fqdn %><%= @minio_mount_partition %>/minio-data \ | |
| <%- end -%> | |
| <% end -%> | |
| StandardOutput=journal | |
| StandardError=inherit | |
| # Specifies the maximum file descriptor number that can be opened by this process | |
| LimitNOFILE=65536 | |
| # Disable timeout logic and wait until process is stopped | |
| TimeoutStopSec=0 | |
| # SIGTERM signal is used to stop Minio | |
| KillSignal=SIGTERM | |
| SendSIGKILL=no | |
| SuccessExitStatus=0 | |
| [Install] | |
| WantedBy=multi-user.target |
Looks like a cool project without doing a full arcade machine.
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Note: 1 of this post’s 13 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
Browse to install page http://localhost/install.php
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Note: 2 of this post’s 8 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
Running through the Docker Compose tutorial on http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/893685-introduction-to-docker-compose-tool-for-multi-container-applications/
docker-compose -d up
include docker
docker::image { 'jenkins': }
docker::run { ‘some-jenkins’:
image => ‘jenkins’,
ports => ‘8080:8080’,
volumes => ‘/vagrant/jenkins’,
use_name => true,
}
#include <LedControl.h>LedControl lc=LedControl(12,11,10,1); // pin 12 is connected to the MAX7219 pin 1 // pin 11 is connected to the CLK pin 13 // pin 10 is connected to LOAD pin 12 // 1 as we are only using 1 MAX7219
void setup(){ lc.shutdown(0,false); lc.setIntensity(0,8); lc.clearDisplay(0); }
Project to send scrolling messages to LCD Shield enabled Arduino Uno at Codebender. Codebender lets you code and program your Arduino from a browser.
#!/usr/bin/rubyrequire 'open-uri'require 'twitter'twitDM = "twitter_username"remote_ip = open('http://whatismyip.akamai.com').readold_ip = File.open('remote_ip.txt', 'r').readif (remote_ip != old_ip) thenFile.open('remote_ip.txt', "w") { |file| file.write(remote_ip)}client = Twitter::REST::Client.new do |config|config.consumer_key = "xxxx"config.consumer_secret = "xxxx"config.access_token = "xxxx"config.access_token_secret = "xxxx"endclient.update("D #{twitDM} My IP address is now #{remote_ip}")elseputs "IP addresses match"end
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Note: 1 of this post’s 7 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
Note: 1 of this post’s 4 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
Note: 1 of this post’s 7 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
Note: 1 of this post’s 4 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
# Find your Twitter Mentions and send them to Arduino on Serial Portrequire “rubygems” require “twitter” #https://github.com/sferik/twitter for config details require “serialport” #http://rubygems.org/gems/serialport require “pp”
prevID = 0 puts “Setting Up Serial Port” myport = SerialPort.new("/dev/ttyACM0",“9600”.to_i) sleep(10) while true puts “Checking for mentions” latestMention = Twitter.mentions(:count => 1)[0] if prevID != latestMention.id msg = latestMention.user.screen_name + " " + latestMention.text puts “-” + msg bytes = myport.write(msg) puts “-” + bytes.to_s prevID = latestMention.id else puts “-No new updates” end sleep 60 end myport.close
// Auto scroll a message on the LCD and receive new messages via Serial port. // Alastair Montgomery (c) 2013 // Version 1.02 // include the library code: #include <LiquidCrystal.h> #include <string.h>// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins // below for SainSmart LCD Shield LiquidCrystal lcd(8, 9, 4, 5, 6, 7);
# Find your Twitter Mentionsrequire “rubygems” require “twitter” #https://github.com/sferik/twitter for config details require “pp”
prevID = 0 while true latestMention = Twitter.mentions(:count => 1)[0] if prevID != latestMention.id msg = latestMention.user.screen_name + " " + latestMention.text #puts msg.size puts msg prevID = latestMention.id else puts “No new updates” end sleep 60 end
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// Auto scroll a message on the LCD and receive new messages via Serial port. // Alastair Montgomery (c) 2013 // Version 1.00 // include the library code: #include <LiquidCrystal.h> #include <string.h>// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins // below for SainSmart LCD Shield LiquidCrystal lcd(8, 9, 4, 5, 6, 7);
/* LiquidCrystal Library - Hello World Demonstrates the use a 16x2 LCD display. The LiquidCrystal library works with all LCD displays that are compatible with the Hitachi HD44780 driver. There are many of them out there, and you can usually tell them by the 16-pin interface. This sketch prints "Hello World!" to the LCD and shows the time. The circuit: * LCD RS pin to digital pin 12 * LCD Enable pin to digital pin 11 * LCD D4 pin to digital pin 5 * LCD D5 pin to digital pin 4 * LCD D6 pin to digital pin 3 * LCD D7 pin to digital pin 2 * LCD R/W pin to ground * 10K resistor: * ends to +5V and ground * wiper to LCD VO pin (pin 3) Library originally added 18 Apr 2008 by David A. Mellis library modified 5 Jul 2009 by Limor Fried (http://www.ladyada.net) example added 9 Jul 2009 by Tom Igoe modified 22 Nov 2010 by Tom Igoe This example code is in the public domain.http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/LiquidCrystal */
// include the library code: #include <LiquidCrystal.h>
// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins //LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2); LiquidCrystal lcd(8, 9, 4, 5, 6, 7);
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My first attempt at soldering after around eight years away from the soldering iron.
int numLed = 10; int ledpins[] = { 13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4}; int mask[] = { 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256,512}; int counter = 0;void setup() {
// initialize the digital pin as an output. for (int i=0;i<numLed;i++){ pinMode(ledpins[i], OUTPUT); digitalWrite(ledpins[i], HIGH); delay(250); } }
/* Binary Second Counter Created Alastair Montgomery 22/11/2012 */int ledPins[] = { 7,8,9,10,11,12}; int mask[] = { 1,2,4,8,16,32}; int ledCount = 6;
void setup() { for (int thisPin =0; thisPin < ledCount; thisPin++) { pinMode(ledPins[thisPin], OUTPUT); } }
Quick sanity check of my new Arduino board using a LED Bar Graph.
int led1 = 8; int led2 = 9; int counter = 0;void setup() {
// initialize the digital pin as an output. pinMode(led1, OUTPUT); pinMode(led2, OUTPUT);
}void loop() {
if (counter & 1) { digitalWrite(led1, HIGH); } else { digitalWrite(led1, LOW); }
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http://instagr.am/p/MOCHVnN-hg/
First boot of my Raspberry Pi.
Feel like I'm ten again sat in front of the TV with my Acorn Electron
It finally arrived, my Raspberry Pi, lots of geeky fun awaits.
Can't believe how small it is :)
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Finally got round to uploading some of my stuff to the GitHub site.
If you want a laugh have a look at my code alastairhm@github ;)
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
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myTable.row_count
myTable.column_countmyTable.rows.lengthmyCols = myTable.strings[0].lengthmyCols = myTable.row.cells.lengthclass Watir::Tabledef row_countreturn self.rows.lengthenddef column_countreturn self.row.cells.lengthendend
myTable.rows.each { |myRow|myCols = myRow.cells.lengthassert_equal(validColumnCount,myCols,"Column count mismatch")}
All I need now is a Missile command style game :)
The iPhone guys at work have been talking about a retro camera app for their phones, so I’ve decided to look at what’s available for the Android platform.
The second one I’ve checked out is Fx Camera
FxCamera enables you to take a picture with various effects,
The iPhone guys at work have been talking about a retro camera app for their phones, so I’ve decided to look at what’s available for the Android platform.
The first one I’ve checked out is Retro Camera
The free ad supported version gives you five retro camera types to play with, see example shots below. The application is a fairly chunky 6179 kb but can be moved to the SD card. It has a novel interface which replicates the retro camera but this reduces the viewfinder size which can be a problem. 
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
Created with the http://androidify.com/ App on my HTC DesireNote: 1 of this post’s 4 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
Installing Linux Mint 10 (Julia) on a VirtualBox VM with BTRFS filesystem.
Using the release candidate 1 CD
Initial install disk
Hard disk configuration
You have choose the advanced disk setup to create a small boot partition of either ext3 or 4 and a larger BTRFS partition.
Post Install
Post install after enabling the VirtualBox tools as detailed here.
Installing Websphere 7
Installing WebSphere 7 on Linux Mint 10, make sure the /bin/sh is
linked to bash not dash before you start.
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
Applications
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Noticed that I’m approaching the 9000th Tweet mark on my Twitter account, this is scary so I decided to map my Tweeting habits again using http://tweetstats.com/
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
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On Tuesday of this week I upgraded my mobile phone to an Android handset. After a long drawn out process of reading reviews and getting peoples advice from Twitter etc I finally decided on an HTC Desire.
I continued my experiments with homemade bread this weekend. Results shown below, looks better than week 2 but was a bit heavier texture.
This is the recipe I am playing with at the moment.
For your ciabatta you’ll need:
Check out how bakers can tell their Twitter followers that goodies have just come out of the oven by using BakerTweet.
Would only work if you had a favorite local baker you visited all the time?
BakerTweet from POKE on Vimeo.
I started learning Python last year to do some scripting at work for testing, I recently discovered the game libraries (pygame, pyglet, etc) so have started looking into writing a game.
This is something I’ve been wanting to do from an early age back when I got my first 8-bit computer and never had the time or the skills to achieve.
After just a week of using pyglet during my lunch hour at work and a couple of hours at night I’m well on my way to finishing my first game, a breakout/ arkanoid clone.
Enjoying every minute of it.
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
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Sometime your jaw just drops
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Easy Poster Printer is a free software program for the Windows operating system that enables a user to create a poster out of an image or photo that is loaded into the software. Veteran users might already know the concept that is applied to those images from services such as Rasterbator or Block Posters which we reviewed earlier.
I’m looking for a new Distro to run on my old PCs at home.
I have been thinking about running task on a Ubuntu Linux machine remotely using Twitter. Why you ask, due to firewall restriction where the machine is located I can’t get direct access to it but it has connection out to the internet.
I find myself often converting MP4 video files to divX and mp3 format to play on my LG phone.
#!/bin/bash
echo “MP4 Conversion”
for f in *.mp4;
do
echo “…Processing $f file…"
ffmpeg -i “$f” -vn -ac 2 -acodec libmp3lame -ab 128k echo $f|cut -d. -f1.mp3 > /dev/null 2>&1
mencoder “$f” -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=1 -oac mp3lame -lameopts vbr=3 -o echo $f|cut -d. -f1.divx > /dev/null 2>&1
done
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Might be worth a look.
If you’ve ever had to work with a database in Linux you most likely are aware of three or four tools that can handle the task: MySQL, PostgreSQL, PhpMyAdmin, and OpenOffice Base. These are all outstanding applications, but the first two are complex command-line only tools, the third requires a web server, and the last isn’t as robust as some admins will need. But there is another tool that is very flexible and makes creating databases a simple task.
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Looks good :)
Music Listen Stats from Last.FMNote: 1 of this post’s 4 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
First look at Chrome OS running in a VM by following the instructions on gHacks
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For the longest time I refused to see the value in Twitter. Over the last six months I have changed my tune on that. Now I use Twitter primarily as a PR tool for my articles. And since my renewed belief in micro-blogging, I have found plenty of tools with which to enact with Twitter.
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Caffeine
This is why the world produces more than 16 billion pounds of coffee beans per year. It's actually an alkaloid plant toxin (like nicotine and cocaine), a bug killer that stimulates us by blocking neuroreceptors for the sleep chemical adenosine. The result: you, awake.
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PhotoSketch is an internet-based program that can take the rough, labeled sketch on the left and automagically turn it into the naff montage on the right. Seems unbelievable but—as the video shows—it works:
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Only Gama-Go would be able to take a Cassette Tape and make it into a pun-based product that's both useful and compact. Plus, it's only $8. [Gama-Go]
A cool Adobe AIR appplication for Flickr, well worth a look.Note: 1 of this post’s 4 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
Just installed the Opera 10 Release Candidate
I have been using the beta versions since they came out and it has become my browser of choice at work and at home.
URL shortening is a great idea for Twitter’s 120 character limit but it does have its problems. Most annoying, you find an interesting link and click on it and get presented with the screen above. There is nothing you can do to get to the article you clicked on until the server load goes down.
Other problems include you don’t know what site you will end up on so can end up on a phishing site or something NSFW, although TinyURLs preview option kind of helps that problem.
I've installed Synergy mouse and keyboard sharing on my three active desktops so I don't have to use this keyboard much. If you use more than one desktop computer I'd recommend you install it, saves you having to change between input devices. You just move your cursor off the edge of the screen and you are controlling the pointer on your other machine.
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Linux has become so idiot proof nowadays that there is less and less need to use the command line. However, the commands and shell scripts have remained powerful for advanced users to utilize to help them do complicated tasks quickly and efficiently.
Time to do a bit of searching...
Update
Found this on the IBM site seems that sh is linked to dash instead of bash might be the problem. So I've linked sh to bash and going to try installing again.
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Tried the Live CD version of Ubuntu 9.04 on my new laptop (Compaq Presario CQ60-305EA) last night, screen redraw was painfully slow. It was almost like a window blind effect opening or moving a Firefox window.
Most confusing, wonder if it has problems with the NVIDIA GeForce 8200M?
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Been testing a new search engine http://www.nibbo.com/ so far I like it.
Its really a nice front end on existing search engines so you can search a number of things at the same time.
This covers converting from VirtualBox to VMWare not the other way around.
I’ve search the net and all the instructions seemed to be long winded using third party products as a middle step. Things have moved on this might be easy now.
With VirtualBox 2.2.2 you can export your machine as an Appliance using the Open Virtualization Format (OVF). The VMWare vCenter Converter 4.0.1 (free download) imports OVF Appliances.
Sounds too good to be true?
A Geek Chart is a web badge that shows where you share stuff online.
Each slice of the Geek Chart is a link to your profile on sites like Flickr, Twitter, Youtube and more.
Here is my chart.
Alastair_hm’s Geek Chart
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
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Filed under: Fun, Games, Social Software, web 2.0, Web
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My average MPG (UK)
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
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Virtual Machine basics
Virtual machines can seem juuuuust a bit too geeky for most otherwise computer-friendly people. That’s sad, because it’s an easy, free way to try or use a separate OS without messing with your hard drive.
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Extra Ice Mints
Originally uploaded by Alastair Montgomery
The new Extra Ice Mints, okay mints, excellent tin.
The tin would be useful for all those home electronic projects you’ve been meaning to try.
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Studio for me I think :)
If you’re interested in Linux then most likely you have taken a look at Ubuntu. And if you have taken a look at Ubuntu then you know there are a lot of derivatives out there that specialize in one cross section of society or another. But which one is right for you? That is where gHacks comes in.
Looks cool
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I want one of these
Video of the Eee Keyboard PC - http://tinyurl.com/cr789n
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
Construct is a free Open Source game maker program which will have you churning out hit titles faster than you can shake a stick.
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Another cool article from Life Hacker
Media files, data synchronization, and remote backups, oh my! Home computing has advanced to a point where it’s practical to run your own home server, and we’re running down the five best tools for the job.
I sat down and mapped out how all my internet feeds map together.
The main gathering point is my Twitter account.
I also seem to have a Twitter addiction which can be seen from this graph
November 2008 looks like when I discovered TwitterFeed to like my other post through to my Twitter account.
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
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Need this when I make the Linux switch
An ISO file is the easiest and most universal method for backing up a DVD. The file is an archive file specifically for DVD VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS files, and is an exact copy of the disc. ISO files can be quickly burned to a new dvd using standard burning software, making it the optimal choice for storing backups.
This tutorial was prepared for “Tech Source from Bohol” by Blair Mathis of LaptopLogic.com, your premier source for latest notebook reviews.
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Windows only: JPEG & PNG Stripper an extremely small portable application that strips the metadata out of JPEG and PNG image files.
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More drool worthy kit, just wish I could justify getting a Netbook o_0
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Maybe I will install this on my old laptop if/when I get a new one.
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My LG Renoir is in hiding after reading this.
Not happy to test drive this fugly version of the iPhone, the Mobile@Mail.ru crew have pitted the LG KC910 Renoir against all four elements: Ice, Wind, Earth, and Wine! OK, water, but wine too.
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I remember playing this old DOS game on a mate’s PC.
Need to download the Nintendo DS version :)
Arguably the best DOS-based shoot-em up in my opinion, Tyrian is now available for gamers on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux (and Nintendo DS, PSP, even Wii!), thanks to the dedicated efforts of the OpenTyrian team who modified the source code to use the cross-platform SDL libraries and of course, Jason Emery, who graciously offered Tyrian as freeware back in 2004.
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Much coolness
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Just need to devise a Python script to automate this for Windows now :)
Everyone knows that Google Image Search sports a drop-down menu for filtering results by small, medium, large, and extra large sizes, but if you’re looking for the perfect wallpaper, for example, the imagesize operator is even better.
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More info on CrunchBang Linux
CrunchBang, an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that sports a snappy, low-drag interface and is perfect for thumb drives, live CDs, or speed-obsessed Linux fans. Check out how it looks and runs in our screenshot tour.
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I wish I hadn’t just renewed my phone contract now. My LG Renoir now looks like the ugly cousin.
This is the Android-based, 3-inch Sharp touchscreen, General Mobile DSTL1. And it is everything the T-Mobile isn’t: A stunning design and features combination that may convince regular consumers to choose the Android platform over iPhone.
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Time to dust of that USB stick and browse in the shadows……
Windows only: OperaTor combines a thumb-drive-friendly version of the peedy Opera web-browser with transparent privacy through the Tor network.
I’m sure I can think of a use for this scratches head
If you are one of those Internet users living in their RSS feed reader you might like Folder RSS. Folder RSS is a folder monitor that creates a valid RSS feed that can be accessed using any RSS reader. The feed will contain the changes made to specified folders. The software program is fully portable and script driven meaning that it is necessary to write a short batch script or run the software from the command line to create the valid RSS feed. It should also be noted that the feed will be updated locally which is not a problem for desktop feed readers. The use of feed readers like Google Reader on the other hand would require to input the IP of the local computer along with the path to the feed making sure that the remote feed reader is allowed to access the file on the local computer.
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Some cool video cameras which are muscling in on the stills market. I'm a sucker for multi function devices, why carry a stills & video camera. Now they just have to integrate a MP4 player and cell phone into it. Watch this space.......
How cool does this look?
Having trouble figuring out how a touchscreen Eee PC could fit into your life? No worries, ASUS just did all the heavy synaptic lifting for you with the release of a near 6-minute video showing its new Eee PC Touch UI. A UI teased at CES and built specifically for ASUS’ new touchcreen Eees. All in all it makes a pretty case for why you should pick up a new Eee PC T91 or T101H convertible tablet later this year. Let’s just hope the processor can cope.
Originally posted at Engadget
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
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Something to add to your wish list?
The 56" Phillips Cinema Widescreen LCD is a 21:9 television hitting the streets of selected countries next month. If you want one you can pay an arm and a kidney and watch movies in the proper 21:9 aspect ratio without black barring it. If you don’t want one, forget you ever read this and save that precious brain-space for something useful. Like a tv theme song! Which reminds me – “thank you for being a friend…” Haha, marinate on that one all afternoon, suckers! philips cinema 21:9 ultra widescreen perfect for movie snobs [technabob] Thanks to Julian, who who thought about getting one until he realized he owned a movie theater. An adult movie theater. No, that’s not creepy.Note: 14 of this post’s 42 links are now broken — mostly dead 2008–2013 feed-syndication infrastructure (FeedBurner, Gawker, AOL’s old blog network, Pheedo, Yahoo Pipes). Left as originally published.
A platform game (also known as platformer) is a video game genre distinguished by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles. A very famous example of a platform game is the best selling video game of all time, which is the Super Mario Bros.
One sound you don’t hear very often these days, you’d to be something of a comforting sound back in the early days of the interwebs. Maybe its like a white noise machine or something.
Doodle’s Geek Monkey by Alastair Montgomery
Something else to add to my wish list.
The Neuros Link Media PC is an open source powered home entertainment computer which is designed to make you feel all […]224 words | permalink | No comments | digg this
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Not a machine I had personally but did play on a friends one every now and again.
VirtualC64 is a new Commodore 64 emulator for Mac OS X. It’s a promising project, let down by the fact that it’s still in beta but by the looks of things development is moving at a steady pace.
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Another Home Media solution for PC hardware
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Been using this for years, top download tip.
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The past ten years have completely changed the way we listen to music, watch movies and television, and take photos, and one thing is abundantly clear: The future of your media lies undeniably in the digital realm. Now you just need to find the perfect media center application to pull it all together. Earlier this week we asked you to 
Melt Mail is a free email forwarding service that creates a temporary email address that forwards all incoming mail to your real email address. To use it, just enter the email address you want messages forwarded to, select how long you want it to work, then hit Create. Melt Mail generates a random address that you can use with impunity to register on spam-likely sites, for example, and after 3, 6, 12, or 24 hours, the forwarding will stop. We’ve