View on GitHub

Quorten Blog 1

First blog for all Quorten's blog-like writings

S-Video explained

quorten

2019-02-12

Categories: media-prog   apple-ii  
Tags: media-prog   apple-ii  

So, for quite some time, I’ve been doing a nifty trick with S-Video and composite video. I have this adapter plug that has a S-Video plug on one end and a composite video plug on the other end. I have no idea how it works, or whether it was intended to be bidirectional or not, but experimentally, I found that it is bidirectional. So, any time I wanted to connect an S-Video output to a composite video input or vice versa, I would use that cable, without thinking exactly how it works. However, especially when working with Apple II video output, I did prefer to convert composite video to S-Video because I noticed that television equipment displays S-Video with a higher resolution than composite video, even with the same video input signal. Now, this makes me wonder. How exactly does S-Video work? I consult Wikipedia, and lo and behold, I find the schematic diagram for my adapter cable right in there.

20190211/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video
20190211/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:S-video-composite-adapter.svg

Read on →

Interesting home inspection blog

quorten

2019-02-12

Categories: home-network  
Tags: home-network  

Learning from some coworkers, I found a good independent home inspection company called StructureTech, and they have a pretty nice home inspection blog. Here’s a random sampling of some of the articles I’ve read on their site.

So, one important thing that I wanted to point out that was good advice from the blog was window condensation and whole-house humidifiers. If you are experiencing window condensation, then your choices are to either try to better control the temperature of the window (i.e. get it warmed up) or to reduce the humidity of the air inside the house. The problem about whole-house humidifiers is that they can cause serious damage to the house if improperly installed. Specifically, it’s important to use automatic humidifiers that have an outdoor temperature sensor to adaptively decrease the humidity when it is really cold outside, in the interest of avoiding condensation damage at the exterior walls and attic.

20190211/https://structuretech1.com/blog
20190211/https://structuretech1.com/window-condensation-2/
20190211/https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/hvac/choosing-a-whole-house-ventilation-strategy_o
20190211/https://structuretech1.com/trampled-insulation/
20190211/https://structuretech1.com/humidifiers/
20190211/https://structuretech1.com/home-inspection/

Here is one of a multitude of proprietary software solutions for managing home information. Interesting just to look at.

20190211/https://www.homebinder.com/

Furnace inspections, is it necessary to have a professional do it? If the professional is doing most of what may be expected of them, the answer is yes, it is worth having a professional do it. The typical do-it-yourselfer is not going to do nearly as many things as the professional does.

20190211/https://structuretech1.com/annual-furnace-inspections/

Read on →

More info on controlling uneven foundation settling

quorten

2019-02-12

Categories: home-network  
Tags: home-network  

Surely, there’s got to be more and better ways to raise sinking foundations. Concrete jacking, well I don’t like that because you’re kind of ruining the soil beneath the house, and if that soil was high quality agricultural soil, it probably still is and you might as well want to leave it as is! So, indeed, there is a better solution. Hydraulic jacking with steel piers is indeed viable for houses, not just larger office buildings. This way, you don’t need to mess up the soil by pumping concrete into it.

20190211/DuckDuckGo control garage house settling at different rates
20190211/https://www.uswaterproofing.com/learning-center/what-are-the-signs-that-my-foundation-is-settling
20190211/https://www.uswaterproofing.com/learning-center/can-i-repair-my-sinking-foundation-in-chicago
20190211/https://www.uswaterproofing.com/learning-center/how-to-fix-structural-foundation-damage-with-hydraulic-push-piers
20190217/https://www.uswaterproofing.com/learning-center/how-does-structural-foundation-damage-happen

Of course, absolutely make sure your water drainage setup is the best it can be.

Antigens that cause latex allergies, info about Spandex

quorten

2019-02-10

Categories: raspberry-pi   mat-sci   3d-printing  
Tags: raspberry-pi   mat-sci   3d-printing  

So, I was wondering about a quick checkup on the causes of latex allergy. Indeed, this is not caused due to the primary latex chemical itself, but is caused due to an antigenic proteins found in natural rubber latex, intended by the trees as a means to keep the bugs away. Indeed, it does keep bugs away, but it also causes humans to tend to develop allergic reactions from long-term exposure to natural rubber latex. Luckily, natural rubber latex can be processed to remove this, and synthetic latex similar to the natural formulation need not contain any of this at all.

20190209/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latex_allergy

Another interesting material sometimes touted as an alternative, and general material to consider for chemical safety evaluation: Spandex. Spandex is made from polyether-polyurea copolymer. It looks like Spandex might not contain any chemicals with 5-member or 6-member carbon rings, so it could be that Spandex cannot easily transform into endocrine disruptors.

20190209/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandex
20190209/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ether#Polyethers
20190209/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyurea
20190209/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene_glycol

Let Grow article relatable to my blog

quorten

2019-02-09

Categories: misc  
Tags: misc  

So, normally I don’t take any notes from the Let Grow blog (formerly the Free Range Kids blog), but this time I found some articles particularly relevant to the typical subjects in my blog.

250 Things to Do Instead of Homework! Some of the subjects I cover in my blog are very closely related to some of the subjects in this list.

20190208/https://letgrow.org/250-things-to-do-instead-of-homework/

Out of a comment in this article came a discussion about Google controlling you through YouTube. Yeah, the argument is interesting and believable in some sense, but you know what? I think we kind of already know that people who are watching YouTube might just click through anything at random, regardless of how well planned out it is on the side of Google. It’s from a state of reduced consciousness regardless of the displayed content, simply a new form of watching random TV channels. So, in a sense, the purported claims need to be evaluated with a control group and an experimental group to validate the hypothesis presented.

20190208/https://letgrow.org/safety-tips-guaranteed-to-drive-you-insane/
20190208/https://www.wired.com/story/artificial-intelligence-yuval-noah-harari-tristan-harris/

Reflections on 3D scanning, WeWork, and newer ways of doing things

quorten

2019-02-08

Categories: home-network   3d-scanning   3d-scanner  
Tags: home-network   3d-scanning   3d-scanner  

So, one thing that has become markedly obvious to me, learning about WeWork (in case it wasn’t obvious enough!), is that the world we live in is always markedly divided into, at least, two different cultures: those who want to keep doing things the old way, and those who readily adopt the new way of doing things. But, the picture is not so simple as this may paint it. Often times, there are entire communities of people who only do things the old way or only do things the new way. That being said, I happen to live in a neighborhood where there is a good mix of people living in somewhat older and somewhat newer ways of life, even as next-door neighbors. Clearly, I’m not in the middle of a WeLive community where the administration and most of the residents are skewed toward only the newest way of doing things and living their lives.

The oft-repeated adage is “the grass is greener on the other side.” Indeed, I sometimes think that to myself. Wouldn’t things be so much better for me be if I was living in a community where people only did things the new way, the way that embraces modern technology to the greatest extent possible? And indeed, this is where I realize the folly in such a way of life. When you live in a community that only does things the new way, you can too quickly forget about the other communities that exist that only do things the old way. For those of us who have gotten far enough to read this article, clearly I need not explain the perils of living in a community that only does things the old way.

Read on →

Random ad against cauliflower

quorten

2019-02-07

Categories: random  
Tags: random  

Some random side ad had something about “begging all americans throw out this vegetable.”

Cauliflower?

20190207/DuckDuckGo beg all americans throw out this vegetable

Some interesting articles on personal finance

quorten

2019-02-07

Categories: twitter   personal-finance  
Tags: twitter   personal-finance  

Some interesting articles on personal finance that I’ve found from someone on Twitter, from links in the articles themselves, etc.

Increasing your income is an overlooked key to early retirement… well, no, I disagree. What we do agree on is that one of the first problems with people is that they tend to spend too much money and they increase their spendings when their earnings increase. So, yes, if you have spending fixed and out of the way first, it does make sense to look to increasing income as a second step.

20190207/https://www.businessinsider.com/financial-freedom-book-millennial-money-build-wealth-quickly-2019-2
20190207/https://www.businessinsider.com/i-retired-a-millionaire-at-30-but-i-now-know-success-isnt-about-money-2018-6
20190207/https://nypost.com/2018/03/03/my-quest-for-instagram-stardom-left-me-in-financial-ruin/

But you know what? I have my own opinion on the subject too. Let’s remind ourselves of one of the reasons why we work. One of the major reasons why we work is because we want to know that we are doing something that is appreciated by other people. Now, yes, on the other hand, if you want time for yourself where you are not influenced by other people, yeah having savings for your own living without an active source of income is good. But, in this sense, early retirement is not for everyone.

Wikipedia article on "steal the land"? No.

quorten

2019-02-07

Categories: random  
Tags: random  

Does Wikipedia have anything interesting on “steal the land”? I found no direct article, but found an interesting article on a book called “Steal This Book.” The book was about being a hippie, stealing your way through the world rather than paying. The book had to be self-published and carried through another publishing company as no reputable publisher wanted to be listed directly as the publisher. Also, the book turned out to be a bestseller book, despite having no advertising in newspapers accepted and spreading only through word of mouth. The author admitted that it was a little bit embarrassing to have such a political uprising book appear in a bestselling books list.

20190207/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steal_This_Book

Looking for switches and devices resistant to static electricity

quorten

2019-02-07

Categories: home-network   raspberry-pi  
Tags: home-network   raspberry-pi  

So, indeed, as I’ve stated, the problem with my smart switch hanging is due to static electricity. Static electricity from Ethernet cable ends rubbing against floors, carpet, tabletops, or other surfaces. Static electricity discharged to computers and conducted through cables. You walk across the carpet, you touch a computer, you get a shock, and the smart switch is hung with all lights but the system light illuminated to indicate this.

So, now I’m looking for products that are either switches designed to be resistant to static electricity or devices to protect against it. Essentially, “surge protectors” are the devices you use to protect against static electricity, in addition to other power surges that could go through Ethernet wires. However, good such devices are not cheap, which indeed does explain why such functions may be removed from a network device in order to cut costs. The switches that have documented specifications against static electricity resistance appear to be almost all larger enterprise-class style switches.

20190206/Google ethernet switch protect static electricity from port

Here is one switch that can withstand static electricity up to 6 kW. Alas, this is a “metro switch” rather than a conventional one of its size, so it may not be right for me.

20190206/https://www.dlinkmea.com/index.php/product/details?det=VWx4cGxNa21HS211a3g1RVJlQnVTUT09
20190206/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Ethernet

Read on →