I have been so busy with work and caring for Sera that I have not recorded any of my Internet wanderings. However, there are a few sites from this week that are worth taking a minute to share.
Remainders: 29 March 2025
Category: remainders
Remainders: 22 March 2025
Ex Post Facto: I started this remainders a couple-three weeks ago, then did not give it much attention, then did a rush of searches for a variety of reasons that finally gave me a few entries.
I then became extremely busy for a several days and wound up working the weekend. Therefore, I did not close out my remainders list properly. So, I have now updated it (Monday 23 March 2025).
- I stumbled on a weblog where I found mention of a Linux-based mobile phone. The operating system is called Mobian and it looks interesting.
- I need some kind of PDF tool (other than Acrobat). BlueBeam might be a solution.
- By the time this posts, the Sasquatch Stomp will be done. I am writing this days before the event. I wonder (before the fact) if I participated?
- Mido makes inexpensive chronometers that are based on a solid movement (ETA 2678). I expect one will wander into my life at some point.
- My buddy got me looking at Hanhart watches. Steve McQueen wore a Hanhart chronograph. They also make a solid field watch. I like tool watches (but am not particularly enamored with divers). I want a field watch, but the Hamilton Khaki line is built on a Powermatic movement that does not allow after-factory regulation. The Hamiltons are very classy looking, but are not acceptable.
- I have a couple of military masts for portable operations. HamStop makes 3D printed standoffs for the hanging of antennas from these masts. I think one or more of these will wind up in my inventory.
- The Dirty Dozen was not only a movie, but a reference to the dozen watchmakers who built wrist watches for British troops in WW2.
- The Timor has been reissued as a homage to the field watches of WW2. It is based on a Sellita SW216 or SW260 caliber (movement).
- I eschewed learning the EPA Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) for many years. However, it turned out to be a useful tool for a couple projects the last year or so. There is an open source version as well as the version directly from FEMA. This is the core site, best I can tell.
Remainders: 01 March 2025
- I found a very good tutorial for getting Windows (11), a Digirig Mobile, and Winlink talking to each other and working. It is found on N1SPW‘s website. There are other goodies for ham radio operators there, too.
- After an abortive attempt to get my ham radio software working with a Debian 12 Linux install, I am going to give Linux Mint 22 a try.
- This post on Groups.io has directions for getting a Digirig Mobile and Lab599 TX500 working together.
- Calibre is an ebook library manager that I used years ago, until I drank the Amazon Koolaid. I recently learned that Amazon will cease the download to your PC option on 26 February. That means there will no longer be a way to download a copy of a book you paid for to your personal library. Further, it means (IMNSHO) that Amazon will now be renting eBooks and not selling them, at least for all practical purposes. I think this will lead to one of my rants…
- One of my concerns is the loss of the information contained on the Internet. Kiwix is a partial solution to that problem.
- I recently acquired a Fujifilm X100vi camera. My experience with its predecessor, the X100V, was extraordinary. The X100 series of Fuji cameras are highly desirable, as evidenced by the inflated prices over the last few years. I was on the fence about the upgrade, but love the new XTrans V sensor in my X-T5 so much that I decided the upgrade was worth the expense. One of the first things I did was to change the default 2.4GHz WiFi to the 5GHz band. This will speed up image transfer to my iPhone quite a bit (remains to be tested).
- This is an excellent table of Nikkor lenses and the compatible hoods.
Remainders: 15 February 2025
I have been busy the last few weeks. The weblog took a hit as a result, as well as my documentation of websites I have visited.
- Roberts built a nice webpage dedicated to the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm zoom lenses. It is definitely worth keeping around for review if you are a user of manual focus lenses. Vivitar made lenses for a wide range of cameras. I have a few of them.
- I know I have posted the link to the Tamron Adaptall-2 webpages before. But, this is such a good resource that it bears repeating.
- It turns out the Olympus OM-3 and OM-4 bodies have a small physical sensor on the lens mount to detect when the lens is removed and force a reset of the spot metering system. Tamron redesigned the Olympus OM mount to prevent damage to this sensor and labelled it OL, replacing the original OM designation, at least on later versions of the mount. Documentation is here.
- My buddy sent me contact information for a couple of watch makers, Watch Tech and Watch Doctor.
- Like all of the professional cameras, Olympus offered interchangeable focusing screens for their OM-series bodies. This link is a list of them and what they offer.
Remainders: 11 January 2025
- Vintage Watch Services is a Swiss watchmaker who does restoration of vintage wrist watches. His YouTube channel is a deep dive into the restoration process and is fascinating.
- QLog looks to be a solid amateur radio logging software that runs under Linus and other operating systems. I am confident that I will end up with a Linux box again, probably as my main computer.
- This brace from Animal Ortho Care has potential for helping with Sera’s recovery. She ruptured the ACL/CCL of her left knee on Thanksgiving Day. She will have surgery soon.
Remainders: 21 December 2024
- Dan Schimpf Software produces an excellent journaling/writing tool called MacJournal. When I was keeping an electronic journal, that was the preferred tool.
- I am considering a knee brace for Sera. Animal Ortho Care makes custom braces.
- My buddy got me started looking at watches because he knows I like mechanical things. The Caliber Corner has lots of data about watch movements.
- Project Farm is one of my favorite YouTube content creators. He/they also maintain a website as well. He uses good practices to measure the performance of various tools and other useful items. They are not laboratory-grade tests, but they are based on good practice.
- This Penco Drafting Pencil looks like a good addition to my EDC. I am not currently carrying a pencil and they can be handy.
Remainders: 07 December 2024
It is the first day of the week, Sunday 24 November 2024 and I am beginning this week’s (ha!) list of remainders.
- MrLeica is a YT content creator and blogger who treats Leica cameras and glass, among other things.
- Andrews Leatherworks makes some fine looking holsters.
- After a couple of decades of being afraid to eat ham and bean soup (DiL… “Oooh, that’s bad, Dad!”), I found this recipe. I am going to try the the trick of using canned navy beans and washing them before making my soup to see if I can avoid a disaster (so to speak).
- As part of their holiday sales event, Simpleshot (makers/purveyors of slingshots) did something I really do not care for — they shared my contact information with other small business in the outdoors market. I forgive them; it is easy enough to unsubscribe. One of the new vendors is Wazoo Gear. It made me chuckle when I free-associated “out the wazoo!”. Their offerings look OK to me. Simpleshot is recommended too.
- Apple Music and its predecessor, iTunes, continues to lose the album art for my music collection. I have thought for a while now that I might want to disengage from the music connection to Apple. This list of music players might be an option.
- Here is another set of iTunes alternatives. I think there might be a full entry on my love/hate relationship with iTunes and Apple Music.
Remainders: 23 November 2024
It is Sunday, 10 November 2024, as I begin to write this entry. I was working on my image library a bit ago and the topic of exiftool came up again. It is a tool used to read and write EXIF data store in image files. EXIF data are stored with the image and record the settings in-camera used to make the image. This provides a record of camera settings for the photographer to use for whatever purpose.
- I used to write
DOSbatch files, a script of commands to be executed in sequence to accomplish more than one task that are repeated on one of more files. this list comprises the commands available for a WindowsCMDshell. - Project Gutenberg belongs on everyone’s bookmark list. At least it should be if you read.
- Satellite Map provides a real time display of Starlink, OneWeb, and GPS satellites.
- Starlink has a new, small system called the Mini. It has all the performance of the larger units at a much smaller size and power requirement.
- Warlander Enterprises makes some very nice blades.
- The New American Standard Bible is one of my preferred translations. This Cambridge is very interesting.
- New music arrived this week. One album, The Company You Keep by John Gorka, was part of the arrival. He is a favorite singer/songwriter and has been for a decade or more. The song Let Them In was written by him based on a poem. It was covered by David Wilcox, another old favorite, more than 20-years ago. I did not realize that Gorka wrote the song (but not the poem).
- Quartzfest is coming soon!
- LT Wright Knives hit my desktop a couple of years ago. They were recently promoted by SimpleShot, a slingshot (catapult) company that produces very nice slingshots. Both make excellent products.
Remainders: 09 November 2024
- Campcraft Outdoors makes some very interesting waxed canvas camping gear.
- I have a Tamron 103A, 80-210mm f/3.8–4 Zoom Adaptall 2 in my inventory. I think this is a pretty good lens, but it needs a hood to have the best contrast. I ordered one from KEH this week.
- I have been thinking a lot about my EDC kit. This YouTube Video is an example of a well thought out kit that clearly serves the needs of its developer.
- I will need hearing aids some time soon. I will spare the details. One consideration is that I love music and will want to listen to it and have some enjoyment from my decent systems. This thread offers some insight.
Remainders: 02 November 2024
Well, another week, another list of remainders…
- Here is a lovely recipe for a white chili.
- Mark’s story is inspiring.
- I need a soft start circuit for the air conditioner in my camper. I thought I was going to have to find one that fits into the mechanical compartment, but this plug-in might do the trick.
- I have the f/1.7 instance of the 50mm Contax, but the f/1.4 version appears to be a suitable object of lust.
- I rediscovered MFLenses.com this afternoon. I have a lot of vintage manual focus lenses in my collection.