Category: General

  • ChatGPT is going to take my jerb!

    There’s a lot of talk about Large-Language Model AIs like ChatGPT these days. People say the days of computer programming as a profession are numbered. I’ve seen stories of ChatGPT doing a pretty amazing job writing and debugging code. I wanted to try it for myself. Is ChatGPT really going to take my jerb? One…

  • Spacewar!

    I made a simple implementation of Spacewar in Scratch.  Here it is:

  • Vacuum brewer danger: superheating

    A couple years ago, I read about a coffee brewing method called “vacuum brewing” or “siphon brewing”.  It uses two linked glass vessels, and a small heat source (an alcohol burner, for example).  Water is placed in the bottom vessel and heated.  When the water boils, the top vessel is connected and steam pressure pushes…

  • Tool tray for Roland MDX-40A milling machine

    A friend of mine bought himself a Roland MDX-40A desktop milling machine, with the optional ZCL-40A rotary axis.  It was from an E-bay seller.  It comes with a large assortment of tools and accessories.  But they all came in a bag.  Hard to find small items, and not very well protected. As one of our…

  • The lost truth about Martinis

    Myth: A Martini is any random concoction that strikes your fancy, served in a conical glass. Reality: A Martini is gin or vodka, with a hint of vermouth, typically (but not necessarily) served in a conical glass. It is not the conical glass that makes a Martini.  It’s the ingredients.  And the conical glass sucks…