Month: October 2018
The brave new world of soldering iron software: work-around QuickCharge 3.0 charger issue
Recently I bought the TS80. I was sad to find that it does not do USB-C PD, only the proprietary Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0. I was even sadder to find that, although the OLED and software will work @ 5V, it will cowardly refuse to light the engine and make heat. I was even sadder to…
Of E-bikes and range and efficiency
So I decided to run a bit of a test for range. You see, the e-bike has a simple ‘5-bar’ battery meter, not really letting you know how much farther you could go before you are doing all the work. Unlike a car, the downside of running out of juice is not as terrible, you…
Blockchain is a stinking cesspool… Tell us what you really think!
Dr Nouriel Roubini testified today before the US Senate Committee on Banking. My favourite quote? Probably: “Actually calling this useless vaporware garbage a “s**tcoin” is a grave insult to manure that is a most useful, precious and productive good as a fertilizer in agriculture.” He suggests that “blockchain is the most over-hyped technology ever, no better than…
Skeeter + Bubba: two TCP options that might have reshaped the world
Deep in the lore of internet history, in IANA registries and mailing lists, lurks the tale of Skeeter and Bubba. Two innocent numbers that might have changed the fate of many had they been used. Legend has it that these two legendary rednecks names were to be used for an ad-hoc TCP encryption mechanism. Each…
Tales from the road: the worst airport queuing in the world, and Don eats a Cairo pigeon
Ok, I was reminded of this while discussing queuing theory and gear-lash today. My worst airport queuing experience ever. So I’m in Cairo. You know, Egypt, pyramids, that sort of thing. Obligatory picture from my hotel is below showing the iconic pyramids. Side note: we got into the hotel relatively late in the evening and…
