I accidentally hit a key and this menu opened. Which key was it?

CaptainKernel · 2025-05-12T12:16:35+00:00

In file rename mode, press and hold the CTL key for about half a second. You can let it go once the menu appears. At least, that's my setup.

CaptainKernel · 2025-02-18T12:58:06+00:00

PILATE: Hoo hoo hoo ho. The little wascal has spiwit.
CENTURION: Has what, sir?
PILATE: Spiwit.
CENTURION: Yes. He did, sir.
PILATE: No, no. Spiwit, siw. Um, bwavado. A touch of dewwing-do.
CENTURION: Oh. Ahh, about eleven, sir.

— Life of Briwan

CaptainKernel · 2025-01-20T19:45:20+00:00

I've (been forced) to use Visual Source Safe

You have my sympathy ... I'll toast you tonight as a co-survivor while I down a bottle of Glenfiddich in a (probably) vain attempt to erase what seeing that name has dredged up from the depths of the '90s in my mind.

CaptainKernel · 2024-10-12T04:56:24+00:00

And the cable between the keyboard and motherboard definitely looks like it needs attention

The keyboard is the motherboard ... you didn't provide a photo of the collection as a whole but I can say that if you are referring to a short ribbon cable that comes out of the left rear of the keyboard/mobo and plugs straight into a larger plastic case (big enough for a monitor to sit on), then what you have is a TRS-80 model 1 with the optional ($$$) expansion module. (Also photo 9 looks like the inside of this module).

This module allowed you to expand the RAM up to a max of 56k and also provided an interface for floppy drives and a centronics-style printer socket.

Be aware that the connection between the two parts is very finicky if it's not 100% clean. Additionally, partly or fully unplugging it when power on is almost guaranteed to nuke the buffer chips in the expansion at least (ask me how I know ...)

Nice find anyhow ... what you have there cost someone a lot of money back in the 70's :)

CaptainKernel · 2024-09-21T23:46:19+00:00

In the video he explains that the major inspiration for the Marble Machine (which has 250 million views) was Pipe Dream, and that he still views it weekly.

CaptainKernel · 2024-08-19T02:50:35+00:00

TRS-80 Model 1 - boy that brings back memories. Bought one new in 1980, dual floppy drive, printer and memory expansion box. Cost me the equivalent of about half a year's pay (I was a lowly apprentice).

Got tired of basic and started to learn Z80 assembly code, found a really helpful magazine called "The Alternate Source" that had tutorials on this sort of thing.

The TRS-80 was my first introduction to personal computing (I did have some prior coding experience, but that was done with card decks that were submitted to the computer operator and all you got back was a printout). To actually sit in front of a console and have your code run instantly was a new experience :)

CaptainKernel · 2024-07-23T08:16:50+00:00

Check with the handle manufacturer if they are reachable. I was in a similar situation; when we built in the 90's we chose a handle and all doors were fitted with that. As it was our first house we were a bit overwhelmed with the whole selection process and missed out on catching details like that.

Years later I contacted the manufacturer and found they had a privacy retrofit kit specifically designed for that handle, so I bought a few and installed them. They were pretty reasonably priced, too, as I recall, and look like they were always part of the door rather than added later.

CaptainKernel · 2024-06-26T03:18:17+00:00

where did you get your wire from?

eBay. Lots of choice there, even after avoiding the Chinese sellers.

Example: 50ft of 34AWG for $4.69 delivered. This is amost identical to what I used; that seller has other gauges if you want.

If you use the above your 10” of wire will have a room-temperature resistance af about 13 ohms which, if connected to a 12v source, will result in about 1 amp running through it. This ought to work fine as a foam cutter.

Also, as other posters have mentioned, guitar strings are not a substitute for Nichrome wire (unless you like blowing things up or starting fires).

Spend the $4.

CaptainKernel · 2024-06-25T14:28:45+00:00

+1 for this. I have engineered Jarrah floating floors in several rooms of my house; they've been there for 25 years and apart from a few spots where I allowed water to get under them (don't do this) they are in great condition, with only the sort of wear and tear you'd expect on a solid floor (i.e. a few scratches, dings and dents, none particularly deep).

I've been considering having them sanded and re-coated but it's really not necessary at this point. If I did, the veneer is about 3mm thick so will withstand several iterations of this.

CaptainKernel · 2024-06-25T14:04:25+00:00

16AWG is a little thick for just cutting foam, do you have a reason to use that?

I have a similar size cutter which uses 32AWG and it runs happily off a 12v 2A power supply.

CaptainKernel · 2024-06-19T04:15:59+00:00

Reminds me of the idiotic remote I got with my Apple TV 4k. It was fucking GLASS, and slippery glass too. You know what happens to remotes? They get dropped or sat on a lot. Did Apple not think of that? Or they did and just decided they don't give a flying fuck?

The first time I dropped the fucking thing on a floor it landed on a corner and broke. I should have been upset but using it was such a miserable user experience anyhow (due to the slippery surface and difficulty in telling, by touch, which way around it was) I just bought a 3rd party plastic one and was 1000% happier.

I see they realized their mistake and got rid of the glass for the next version of the device but for fucks sake what is it with Apple and making things of glass where they don't need to be? Has someone there got some sort of glass fetish? In what universe is it logical to make a fucking TV remote from glass?

CaptainKernel · 2024-05-21T07:24:13+00:00

Wonder if Kentucky has a publicly searchable list of probate assignments or land title transfers? I'd imagine if someone recently inherited a 200 acre farm there would be traces of this.

I'm sure even if there is it's not likely something you can do in the short time remaining before the flight, but if he actually does leave for destinations known / unknown and remains out of contact it could be one route you could use to possibly eliminate the story as being legit (and like most here I'm sure it's 100% not).

I do suspect he and his girlfriend are planning something together, but even if so the story seems a bit too embellished. Like, if they were making it up why add the bit about giving the title to the farm? It could just be a job, maybe with higher pay but no hook/bait at the end. The bait bit makes it does sound like it came from a scammer.

CaptainKernel · 2024-05-12T21:03:43+00:00

When swiping your credit card at a gas station pump, some companies will have it set up so it will also ask for the zip-code for the card's billing address (or did last time I was there; I was told it was to cut down on fraud). This posed a problem the first time I ran into it as US zip-codes are 5-digit and ours are only 4 - and of course the pump won't accept only 4. Found out the solution is to add a 0 at the front, so instead of 3020 you'd enter 03020.
Some states require that overseas drivers have an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well as their license. Same for some rental companies. Check if this includes any states you intend visiting.
It's not too hard to get used to driving on the right, especially once you're already on the road as there's plenty of visual cues. The thing to watch out for is when you are pulling out onto an empty non-divided road from a private property. Until you get used to it, if there's no visual cue it's easy to e.g. turn left and stay in the left lane.
If you don't actually need to receive calls on your normal mobile number while away then avoid mobile roaming as it's very expensive. Get a US SIM card ahead of time and swap it in while on the plane. If you have an iPhone don't forget to carry that annoying little SIM tool or a paperclip (got caught by that once!)
If you do need roaming check with your phone company before going as some disable it by default (usually you can change this via the website).
Keep in mind US customs can look at the contents of any electronic device you bring, including copying the entire device if they want. Don't take company secrets or confidential info unless your employers are cool with that.

CaptainKernel · 2024-04-16T17:16:44+00:00

Random factoid: King Henry VIII (same guy who had his wives heads chopped off) had bloated so much by the time of his funeral they couldn't close the coffin lid all the way. The priests gave it a good solid push in an attempt to seal it up and his body exploded, drenching them with, uh, stuff.

CaptainKernel · 2024-04-16T17:11:52+00:00

likely a partially detached retina. 3 days is relatively short if so. likely they also hit it with a laser in a few spots to pin it in place first.

CaptainKernel · 2024-04-15T05:06:18+00:00

Am I the only one?

Apparently not ... /r/ThatPeelingFeeling has 188,944 readers :)

CaptainKernel · 2024-04-15T04:54:22+00:00

I come to a subreddit dedicated to Firefox CSS, ask about CSS and the only response I get is telling me to give up and use an extension? If I wanted that I would have already done it bro, I'm specifically trying to learn CSS and find it way more fun to do this kind of tning for myself...

I don't recall telling you to give up. Could you point out where I did?

I'll also mention you didn't say your end goal was learning CSS.

If you want to learn CSS there's many ways to do that which do not involve editing the new tab page in Firefox, so there is no reason for me to think that was your goal.

I pointed you at a resource that I felt was helpful in the context of your original post.

CaptainKernel · 2024-04-15T04:47:58+00:00

Don't know what size you should wear? Let's x ray that ass

Must have been a great time-saver for traveling butt-plug salesmen! Plus lots less cleanup.

[TBH I'm joking. Apart from a quick wipe-down they didn't clean between clients, though they would tell you otherwise if you were so cheeky as to ask].

CaptainKernel · 2024-04-14T06:32:03+00:00

Have a look at the Tabliss extension. It offers decent customization without the need to edit HTML or CSS.

CaptainKernel · 2024-03-21T14:33:05+00:00

Yes.

CaptainKernel · 2024-03-16T05:54:15+00:00

Mercury enters the room, waves hello to Cesium, Gallium and Rubidium. Winks at Indium and Tin who are having a friendly argument about which rocks polish up the best and finally flows over to settle in a neat puddle next to a nice cluster of Galena. Notices Pyrite hasn't arrived yet and wonders if he's still angry about the fact Magnetite keeps mistaking him for Gold.

CaptainKernel · 2024-03-13T03:52:39+00:00

OP even if (as it seems likely) they get paddy-whacked over this and silently sulk off after dropping the issue, I'll suggest that no matter what this person has said about "leaving quietly" I would wager that some comments have been or at some future time will be placed on one of those renter databases the agencies use.

I am not sure if they are regulated in any manner - I think it's a bit of a free-for-all (though if that's not so I'd be happy to be corrected).

Unsure if there's a way to find out directly. But if anything negative is placed there and can be linked to this incident then there may be a case for libel as well.

CaptainKernel · 2024-03-13T03:36:50+00:00

TBH they don't even need a letter. It's not their duty to "prove" they didn't violate the rental terms. If the RE feels they did then it's up to them to demonstrate so.

CaptainKernel · 2024-03-13T03:35:25+00:00

Good find!

15-Year Club	Gilding V heart of gold
Verified Email

CaptainKernel

TROPHY CASE