Category Archives: Nerd Stuff

These posts relate to my nerdery (obviously). Computer stuff, games, movies, miscellaneous hobbies (nerdy, of course). Carr stuff is sort of nerdy, but I have another category for that.

Preoccupation with “Progress”

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We hear memorable sayings about living in the moment, the “now,” all the time. It’s good, solid advice. I often catch myself saying things like “I’ll feel satisfied when…” or “After such and such I’ll feel better.” This mentality robs us of our ability to appreciate what’s right in front of us. It’s misdirects our focus and attention. It can rob us of our ability to live in the present. Of our happiness.

This post may feel like it’s headed somewhere substantial, but I assure you it will be as superficial as usual. Let’s talk about my car (which is really more of a metaphor in this post). I am perpetually fixated on what parts I’m going to get, what I’m going to do and what it will be like “when.” What’s up with that? I have done a bunch of cool upgrade and all I can do is think about the next one. There must be some emotional component at play I’m not in touch with (spoiler: there is).

Realistically the Turbo S has all the power you’d ever need in a street car. But there I am online looking at the COBB AP, Kline exhaust systems and an IPD plenum. Why? So it will go a little faster? I don’t even open the car up as it sits. I live in perpetual fear of being pulled over or crashing; more power has got to the last thing I need, logically speaking. I have had some bad luck with car upgrades in the past and, again logically assessing the situation, I don’t know why I’d want to void my warranty and risk catastrophic engine failure to achieve a higher trap speed in a quarter mile I won’t even run. Insane.

Visually I’m super happy with my car. I love the black wheels, the carbon fiber accents and the ’16 styling in general. And yet… I look at rear diffusers, I consider putting in different door sills (With lighting? Yes please!), carbon fiber side view mirrors, a spoiler swap and maybe painting that rear valance… maybe I’ll just trade it in for a 2017. Again, I’m so fixated on going another round I can’t even appreciate what’s just been added, what’s right in front of me. All to common, I think.

So the question is “Why?” Is it the “more” mentality that seems to drive this generation? Is it the fear of missing out on something better? Other people have this stuff and they’re happy, right? Or maybe it’s just a hole – and emotional void – that I try to fill by dumping endless stuff into. And as I explore my feelings I begin to realize that I loath things. Not all things are bad, of course. But things are demanding. They need other things. They need your time.

Thinking about what’s next for my car isn’t limited to upgrades and modifications. No, it extends into worrying about what the next problem will be. It involves thinking about that little speaker buzz I couldn’t find, the clicking noise I imagine I hear, the fear that my boost level will drop, the transmission will fail, the car will literally fall apart. To what end? Every drive should be a chance to enjoy the car’s capabilities and performance but part of it inevitably ends up as a worry session. An opportunity to try and predict the most negative future I can imagine based off of fear. Fear controls. Things control. Somehow they have to power to grab our attention and shift it.

Things often distract us from what’s important. Every moment wasted thinking about my car is time I could have writing, reading, learning, spending time time with family, friends. Don’t get me wrong- a hobby is fine, probably even healthy. But when a pastime consumes you and tricks you into giving more time that it deserves and removes you from the now then you lose and everyone around you loses.

As I mentioned my car is a metaphor; you can substitute the idea of a car for anything, really. I chose a car because it’s clear to me that my car gets more than it’s fair share of my time. I see people who become obsessed with all kinds of things (some, like me, are not limited to just one thing): work, money, food, interior decorating, home improvements, Facebook, video games, health and exercise, travel, art, toys and phones. There are no end to worldly diversions.

So I’ve recognized a problem. What’s next? Far from being preachy this post is simply an exploration of my own feelings. None of these ideas are new to me, but I wanted to put them somewhere. I don’t have advice to dispense. After I finish this post I’ll probably look at carbon fiber car parts, see what’s new on Facebook and think about home improvements. Alas.

After I wrote this post I actually did a Google search for “living in the now” and found this TED talk. I’ll just put this here for later. Maybe what I’m really blogging about (saying) is that things can be an obstacle to our happiness. Duh. But it’s more than that. I’m also trying to convey that things can take us out of the moment. And being out of the moment can diminish our happiness.

But won’t being content and living in the moment rob us of our motivation? Maybe I’m misconstruing vision and progress as an obsession with material goods. Eh.

May 1, 2017: An Update- For the record I find that I become hyper-fixated on my car when I have something very stressful looming over me, as I do right now. 

Fit Bit Mini Review

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4/30/2017 – This post is part of a large release of “DRAFT” entries. Many of these these entries were never finished (and may still not be) or were composed but never published for one reason or another. If you run across one of of these in a strange spot or out of chronological order that may be one reason.

fit-bit-review-2006

Great way to keep track of activity levels. It doesn’t always recognize exactly what you’re doing but you can make manual adjustment.

Difficult to remember to input foods and liquids, but when you do it can be a very effective measuring device.

Not always comfortable, but fairly no invasive on the whole.

One time when I took it off to charge it the Fit Bit thought I went to bed. Hmm….

Heart rate seems fairly accurate (seems like it should have helped out with that sleeping issue “Oh, he’s dead… well, we’ll count that as sleep.”) but sometimes gets thing wrong.

The interface on the watch is simple. Interface on IOS is straightforward too. Very manageable in all regards.

Bluetooth synching can take forever if you don’t do it everyday.

Not a perfect device, but the best I’ve tried yet.

Platinum 5′ Lighting Cable- Nice!

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4/30/2017 – This post is part of a large release of “DRAFT” entries. Many of these these entries were never finished (and may still not be) or were composed but never published for one reason or another. If you run across one of of these in a strange spot or out of chronological order that may be one reason.

Platinum 5′ Lightning Cable

pt-platinum-lightning-cable

What a great lightning cable! The braided cable is extra durable. 5′ length is a nice upgrade over the standard 3′ variety and they are black too (an added bonus, in my opinion). I picked up two of them and they have been perfect for my vehicles where the cable gets pinched by the glovebox, center console or in between seats. Very nice quality.

Doom Review

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4/30/2017 – This post is part of a large release of “DRAFT” entries. Many of these these entries were never finished (and may still not be) or were composed but never published for one reason or another. If you run across one of of these in a strange spot or out of chronological order that may be one reason.

doom-ps4

This is a fantastic game. You wake up. One mission: Kill the demons of hell and escape. Lots of nostalgic elements (find the levers to open the pc-style doom doors). Fast paced. Difficult but not generally frustrating. Gory and intense. I recommend playing it in the dark.

9/10

GoPro Hero Black Review

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4/30/2017 – This post is part of a large release of “DRAFT” entries. Many of these these entries were never finished (and may still not be) or were composed but never published for one reason or another. If you run across one of of these in a strange spot or out of chronological order that may be one reason.

The Hero 4 Black is a very cool little camera with one very big problem. After borrowing my work’s Hero 3 I knew I needed my own GoPro. I picked up the Hero 4 and a few accessories. It does almost exactly what I need. Video quality is great. Audio is so-so. But the biggest problem is this: No screen means you can’t tell exactly what you’re filming. You can set up a wireless network (from the camera) to stream a preview to your phone however the audio then includes a helicopter noise. Absolutely ridiculous and there is no fix for this (it’s fine if you don’t need the audio and admittedly most of the time I don’t stream to my phone). Regardless- a cool little camera that has been a lot of fun. The Hero 5 is out now – with a screen – so I might need to go that direction.

gopro-hero-4

Don’t Run Your AC In the Winter

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4/30/2017 – This post is part of a large release of “DRAFT” entries. Many of these these entries were never finished (and may still not be) or were composed but never published for one reason or another. If you run across one of of these in a strange spot or out of chronological order that may be one reason.

I didn’t know this was a thing but it most definitely is. When you start your AC compressor in the cold it can cause serious damage. First thing’s first… what kind of idiot would run his AC in the winter?

Background: I’ve got an under-the-garage gym in my basement. No windows (which ironically would solve all of the problems associated with this issue as you will see). I only use this gym at night. I create a lot of body heat and the room often rises into the 80’s (from the 60’s) after only an hour or so without cooling.  I believe this makes me one of like 3 people in the USA who lives in a cold state who needs to cool a room late at night during winter. :/ Here again, a window would solve this in a heart beat. But alas.

Anyway, I am the proud owner of a Wiser Air thermostat (very cool- check it out if you’re looking for a smart wireless thermostat solution). It always worked great until one day the AC would no longer turn on. I worked with their customer service (excellent, BTW) on the issue with no luck. They graciously sent me a new thermostat and it worked just fine until I linked it to my phone. Then, inexplicably, it would no longer turn on the AC. However, that was the key to figuring out the problem.

The Wiser Air knows it’s not a good idea to turn on your AC when it’s below a certain temperature outside. And as soon as you link the thermostat to your phone app it knows what the temperature outside is! And voila- it won’t turn your AC compressor on. A Wiser Air tech pointed this out. That was how I learned you should never turn on your air conditioning in the winter. That leaves me with a bit of a pickle though- I still need to find some way to cool that room. No solution yet.

 

Razer Mamba Wireless Mouse… with Wires (WTF)

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4/30/2017 – This post is part of a large release of “DRAFT” entries. Many of these these entries were never finished (and may still not be) or were composed but never published for one reason or another. If you run across one of of these in a strange spot or out of chronological order that may be one reason.

I own a wired Razer Mamba and I really enjoy it. Why not take it to the next level? I thought and purchased the wireless version. I opened the box and was impressed by the presentation:

As I pulled everything out I became quite disenfranchised. What was this giant wire thing? It turns out that you plug the “wireless” transmitter into your computer’s USB  The Mamba is wireless in the sense that it communicates with the dock and it doesn’t have a cord that plugs into the computer (comical but frustrating).

Anyway, long story short…the wireless Maba has a cord that’s as least as long as the wired equivalent. I understand why (now); the wireless transmitter also serves as a charging dock. Maybe this is great for some people but I work at a laptop on a couch so it’s not viable for me to have a wireless mouse with a huge wired cradle.


Anyone need a Raer Mamba? $100 shipped anywhere in the USA. Brand new.

Will it Turn On? Powering on a Vintage Apple Powerbook 540c for the First Time!

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Back in January 2015 I opened my MIB Powerbook 540C. Opening a 20+ year old “toy” is exciting. But you know what’s even more exciting? Turning it on for the first time:

If you don’t want to watch the video I’ll save you a bit of time. First we actually pull off the shrink wrap from the manuals. We plug everything in and press the power button. The familiar Mac startup noise lets us know that we have lift-off. Everything seems to work great (although there is a line running through part of the screen). It’s easy to forget how loud hard drives used to be!

So what’s next for the 540c? Admittedly it’s pretty hard to use two-plus decade old technology for anything more than a nostalgia-high. The whole 500-series experience is pretty substandard by modern day benchmarks. Any applications or games can be easily emulated on current computers (one of the big reasons I haven’t been able to bring myself to purchase an NES Classic). So, to answer the question… I guess it goes back into storage for another twenty years.