• tricksandtips ← these ARE the droids you're looking for (git help) ← what you are really looking for
• NASA Links: (from email today 2025.01.15)
  • http://www.nasa.gov http://science.nasa.gov http://plus.nasa.gov http://ciencia.nasa.gov

Order this flight bag: https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/flight-gear-hp-ipad-bag.html not sure what to put on the outside, I guess your name… but feel like it should be something clever too hehe.

Sony TV Settings

• Update the TV firmware first!
• Press the HOME button, then select [Settings] — [External inputs] — [HDMI signal format] — Enhanced Format

Whoa, http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-pancreatitis#1 could this be you?

• The Netgear ReadyNAS Duo is awesome. I want to upgrade the ram so it has plenty of space to play around. The $50 rebate visa I can use to quadruple the ram, so according to the compatibility list, I should buy this one from Crucial: Crucial 1GB 200-Pin DDR SO-DIMM DDR 333 (PC 2700) Laptop Memory Model CT12864X335 - Retail

• Your LCD TV has a burn in window because MythBuntu blanks out after 10 minutes of idle. Here is how to fix that: Fix Mythbuntu blanking

• Learn to read free for the kids here at Starfall

• Streamzap remote file for boxee http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=985454

• Some random notes while on the road:
  • Plano 3740 Waterproof Utility Box 32-8 is the one we are using for our parts.
  • /tmp/gpsdata is where I've been putting the static GPS from Las Vegas
  • bring some TZ 1/2 inch tape
  • 10 minutes rubidium warm up needs to be in the protocol before you turn on the novatel on the plane

• I brewed a Kolsch and a Marzen for Oktoberfest this year… they both are smooth and yummy (and that is before aging!) — David Lloyd Rabine 2008/09/06 13:42

• I had a Harp and a Pilsner in honor of the passing of Gary Gygax on March 4th, 2008. You sir, will be missed. (and on vacation: 1 beer (wed), then 2 small glasses (Saturday) of wine and then 3 beers yesterday (Sunday the 30th)) Did I mention that I mailed Gary a letter (when I was 12 or so!?) asking him how much damage a glaive (from Krull) would do and I believe his response was 3-12 damage. I don't have the letter, but it was really nice that he mailed me back!

• Satellite dish pointing… use this site to figure the location of geosynchronous orbit satellites: http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennasatelazposcalc.html

• Scoping out 65“ television upgrade, this one keeps coming out on top:
  • 1st pick: Sony X900F Series 65”-Class HDR UHD Smart LED TV B&H # SOXBR65X900F MFR # XBR65X900F
  • 2nd choice: Samsung UN65NU8000FXZA Flat 65“ 4K UHD 8 Series Smart LED TV (2018)

• Google is hiring (has 900 openings), APL, NASA Civil Service.
• DICE High Tech Career Center
• Finish your resume and get it reviewed
• Fix the drywall in the guest bathroom
• Killz and Paint the bathroom
• Insulate the fireplace
• Fix the leak in your car trunk
• Mail Leslie her old photo and a nice letter
• Mail Clairibel a LATE card
• Blog on wunderground?
• Make a building table for your airplane
• Begin construction on your plane
• Plant some vegetable seeds for a little garden
• Fix your computer
• Set up an auto-email from the UPS so when the power is off you get an email at least.
• Upgrade Archon to Slamd64 v12 (and fix ALL that will break)
• Write Elijah Cummings.. NO RETROACTIVE IMMUNITY! (NO ONE is above the law)
• CHECK: Dream Theater on ticketmaster DAILY so you can get tickets for May 26th as SOON as they go on sale.
• Watch Kindergarten Cop (1990)
• Write Grandma a nice card and tell her to expect a baby boy! (send her a late valentine's day card)
• Secure both your wireless networks.
• Order Tastey Bite Lunches (20% 25% off email!) by 2008/02/25
• Order APC UPS Battery
• Set up PC backup utility (backup pc?) on sage.
• Migrate stuff over to the new raid
• BRING BACK the USB/IDE/SATA adapter from work.
• Figure out who you are voting for tomorrow! (do some quick surfing about the board of education and delegates) done. — David Lloyd Rabine 2008/02/12 14:13
• Wake up early tomorrow and put in all of the drives into sage… you'll be able to configure remotely or whatever. done. — David Lloyd Rabine 2008/02/12 14:13
• VOTE on Tuesday! done! — David Lloyd Rabine 2008/02/12 14:13

• All of my photos and videos
• Movies of and pertaining to Sylvia

Since I've lived in Howard County, I've been very popular with the jury selection computer:

Washington Post had a good voter's guide online. Here is the 2008 Board of Education Link

• Thoughts on airplanes ← Flying!

I really like the scale RC airplanes out there, and have always been fascinated with the German aerodynamics of the World War II era. It seemed to be a golden age of innovation and aerospace engineering. After having flown a four cycle Piper Cub that my dad built, I really think four cycles fly more scale than the over powered two cycles. So planes I would love to build:

You can check out ratings of kits here at http://www.rcuniverse.com/:

• Do-335 and plans can be had here
• Focke-Wolf 190
• BF-109
• Mitchell B-25
• Mitsubishi zero
• Mig-15
• Curtiss P-40
• Junkers Ju87 Stuka Winter Painted Stuka (this Heritage kit looks great)
  • http://www.rcvengines.com/gallery/rcv60sp_stuka.htm
  • http://webpages.charter.net/rcfu/KitReviews/HeritageStuka.html

• How to run multiple instances of X-Plane 10 on one computer
• There is a free open source flight simulator you can download here: http://www.flightgear.org

• Understanding telescope magnification
• Canadian Astronomy "seeing forecast" explained

• make a log rotate and archive option for archon (/var is getting big fast)

• Your PC could use an upgrade… here is my current list for an upgrade
• I think I'm going to just get a used laptop, and rig it with more ram & network card: 1 Gig module & ASUS card
• This OTHER laptop: Vostro 1500 from dell, has goo everything and Windows Business Vista or XP Pro for $750.
• This Asus F3 Series F3KA-A1 looks like a good deal for $1000 laptop. Hmm, This one actually has XP by default (only 1 gig of ram, but you could buy more)
• When it gets under $500 to buy 2 TB of hard drives… DO IT (-8 (it was $629 or so… I couldn't wait)

Notes and Configurations 2014 and Beyond (private)

• Android Update to Version 5 my experience flashing my Nexus 4
• Kid Laptop Setup
• Media Encoding
• My Personal Computer
• Security Notes notes.
• Server Upgrade wishlist.
• Tricks and Tips

• To fix a grub (CentOS install) after windows wipes out the MBR… do this

• IRAD RTAI System for Work
• Flight Simulator Linux System
• Atom Based Mythbuntu 12.04 Install Re-install the local TV system.
• Ubuntu Server (hydra) Newest server in the house, hopefully a new beginning for email.
• Atom Based Mythbuntu 11.04 Install Latest try of Ubuntu reinstall
• Atom Based Mythbuntu 10.04 LTS Install Atom based Mythbuntu 10.04 configuration
• MythTv Homebrew Project ← My HDTV MythTv HOWTO (for me so I don't forget!)
  
• Archon Slackware 64 Setup ← Slackware has finally gone 64 bit and time for a fresh system install. (Using Slackware 13.0 x64)
  
• Sage CentOS 5.1 Setup ← Setup of sage, my CentOS experiment.
  
• Server Configuration notes for my Slackware (slamd64 actually) server install.
  
• Virg's Media Center

There was an issue with Seagate drives recently, but they shouldn't affect the ones I have. Here are the drives I use in my raid:

• 4 x (101923) Seagate Barracuda ES ST3500630NS 500GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200RPM Hard Drive w/16MB Buffer
• 1 x Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

• Henry Spencer created the 10 Commandments for C Programmers and I highly recommend that you read and abide by them.
• http://www.learnopenoffice.org/ ← is a tutorial site for working with Open Office. I don't use it enough to remember things, but this looks like a good set of tutorials that might help you remember.

• Code Links for Work

• http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20080803104017665/Scientific.html Science Software for Linux
• http://www.saga-gis.org/en/about/software.html SAGA is for geographical science work. Looks interesting for free.

• Battlefield 2
• Strategy Games

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabetical_list_of_open_source_games
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_commercial_games_released_as_freeware
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_freeware_games
• http://osswin.sourceforge.net/games.html

• Novatel SPAN GPS/IMU Processing

For the shore, here is a wireless that dad should be able to get http://www.lsbc.us/

• Task Plugin Test Page notes

Beer Brewed
Beer Recipes
Food Recipes
research
Wines Brewed
Wine Steps

Genealogy and Family History

• TV Remotes and Controls
• http://tvworthwatching.com/ ← heard this reviewer on NPR's Fresh Air where he picks some things that are worth watching on television (which he said has been tough since the writer's strike).
• Popcorn Hour Media Tank

• Copyright free movies online: http://romanoarchives.altervista.org/page66/page66.html

• Every year around March/April (first quarter) your mortgage payment will increase, and the amount sent to the clearing house account needs to be adjusted to match the new mortgage + T/I (taxes and insurance).
• NASA FCU Mortgage will not report late payments to credit bureau unless greater than 30 days late. (so this yearly event will not affect our credit)
• Flexible spending account.. you can do $5000 / year total. That's it. (This is a federal cap)
• 529 College Savings plan can be deducted from your Maryland taxes. ($2500 per child) (Tax Benefits for MD State Tax)

Well, Acura/Honda just will not bring a diesel to the states!? I am almost 100% highway miles, so a diesel would be great and a hybrid diesel would be even greater! I drive ~ 25 miles to work each way in ~ 30-40 minutes. My car is almost 100% commuter and small errands since we have the family truckster (van) so now my yearly milage is: (50 miles /day) * (5 days / week) * (~ 50 weeks) = 12,500 miles / year (average on my civic now is 228000 / 13 = 17,538 but it used to be my only car).

• 20 mpg car = 625 gallons / year
• 30 mpg car = 417 gallons / year
• 40 mpg car = 313 gallons / year
• 50 mpg car = 250 gallons / year
• 60 mpg car = 209 gallons / year (yeah, this is really starting to not show a lot of improvement at these lofty values)
• 70 mpg car = 179 gallons / year

Assuming a Civic Si versus an Insight, you're talking a difference of 167 gallons / year or ($3/gal) ~ $500/year assuming gas stays where it is. (actuall, the Si uses premium fuel also, where the Insight can take the cheap stuff)

Fuel prices can be found here for MD showing today (2010/07/06) so Civic Si would be 417 * 2.914 and Insight would be 250 * 2.673 so a net difference of $546.888.

Automobile?! (Lake… big lake). I am really waffling about which car should replace my 1997 Honda Civic Ex, but right now the two front runners are the Acura TSX and a Civic Si Sedan (4 door). They're both essentially the newer version of what I have (about the same size, a bit worse on gas… but hey… they're both great cars). I could get a used TSX for not a lot more than a new civic. I think anyway… people don't like the TSX because it is a little weak in the HP department, but I drive like a grandpa anyway.

• Acura RSX 2002-2004 is the one with the good gear ratios: http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=472588
• Honda Gear Ratio Calculator
• Honda Civic GX runs on natural gas, and you could fuel it at home off your gas line. our local Shell station stopped selling CNG!?
• Diesel Version of TSX comes out in 2009. As Marc put it FTW! — 2008/02/08 16:33 Automatic could not pass CA emmission standards so they nixed bringing it to the states (and I think the precious metals were too expensive in the catalytic converter (platinum))
• Diesel accord in 2010… maybe?! please! — David Lloyd Rabine 2008/05/07 14:29 dashed again!
• PLEASE bring me a Honda reliable diesel to the USA!
• This site showing future hybrid models, has given me some hope for excitement. From this list the two that pop out at me (not counting the E-Class diesel hybrid due to cost) are:
  • Honda Fit Hybrid to get ~ 65 mpg
  • Hyundai Sonata Hybrid to get ~ 40 mpg
• Honda Fit EV: Best EV to date… will not sell it to you!?
• Mazda 6 2014 is supposed to be diesel in this country.
• VW XL1 WILL be produced (03/04/2013). 2 seater, but hecka mileage! http://carlug.com/volkswagen/2014-volkswagen-xl1-revealed-geneva-motor-show/ Not actually sure if it will ever be for the USA (oh, just read it will be 100,000 EUROs… ok, never mind)

• Nissan Leaf considerations

Tax-able Status of SRECs

• On this page: http://www.srectrade.com/blog/tag/are-srecs-taxable it refers to this IRS section: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525/ar02.html#en_US_2010_publink1000229492 (Publication 525)
  • Search for this phrase: “Energy conservation subsidies”
  • You find this text as of today, 2015.10.21:

    You can exclude from gross income any subsidy provided, either directly or indirectly, by public utilities for the purchase or installation of an energy conservation measure for a dwelling unit.

• Maryland Renewable Energy Home
• http://www.energybible.com/ ← good stuff here (energy audit, appliance lists, etc…)

Conservation is the easiest way to cut back on costs and impact.

• A comprehensive home energy audit, which will pinpoint your leaks, runs about $400. But some states or utilities conduct basic audits for free or will reimburse some of that cost.
  • BGE Energy Audit

We should upgrade our appliances to be more energy efficient.

• washer / dryer
• dishwasher
• refrigerator

Master list of energy changes / modifications I would like to make:

• pellet stove $4k
• solar water heater $6k
• 6kw solar panels $40k (8.57kW replaces our current usage 100%)
• new shingles ?10k?
• tankless gas water heater (to heat the solar powered water) $2k - it was 2k after the $900 tax deduction, and it works great!

To buy the Civic GX, talk to:

I understand you’re interested in a Natural Gas Vehicle.  Try contacting Herson’s Honda.
To my knowledge, they are a dealer who will sell you this car.  You can have it serviced here.

Respectfully

Jason

O’Donnell Honda

• CNG Fuel Stations Around 21043
• http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08031/853554-28.stm ← Honda Civic GX compressed natural gas vehicle. There is a filling station in Columbia, and you can get the FuelMaker PHILL system from: Collazo Contactors Inc. (570) 992 3477 (they are in PA though.. maybe not help you out).
• Dealers that sell this vehicle as of today: — David Lloyd Rabine 2008/08/29 09:22
  • Potamkin Honda
  • Huntington Honda
  • John Holtz Honda
  • Ray Laks Honda
  • Honda City
• BGE Supports these Compressed Natural Gas stations in Maryland (as of today 2008/07/09):
  • Columbia Shell at 9101 Snowden River Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21046
  • Millersville Texaco at 8201 Veterans Hwy, Millersville, MD 21108
  • Timonium Texaco at 2415 York Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030
  • White Marsh Texaco at 10801 Pulaski Hwy, Baltimore, MD 21162

I read on Slashdot.org about the E-Fuel Microfueler, that allows you to brew Ethanol from sugar at home for roughly $1/gallon if you buy cheap inedible sugar from Mexico. Here is a link:

• http://gizmodo.com/384660/e+fuel-microfueler-turns-sugar-stale-beer-into-gas-for-your-ride

• Relative humidity should be between 30% and 55%

Thermostat settings (recommended) from this site: http://www.mge.com/home/saving/thermostat.htm

*Or as low as health permits. Check the owner's manual if turning down the temperature for more than 24 hours.

Here is a good article on pellet stoves (after seeing Matt and Beth's stove here in Astoria (he said they go through a ton a winter ($200)))

• Large list of stove manufacturers: http://www.woodpelletstoves.net/pellet-stove-manufacturers.html
• Harman Stove dealers near us: http://www.harmanstoves.com/myHarman.asp?zip=21043&id=18&dtype=1
• http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1566753-4,00.html
• http://pelletheat.org

Just doing the back of the envelope, and guessing where we'll be down the road (and inverter sizes) I think a 6kW system is probably about what we would want. BP says that's $40k after rebates and tax incentives…

• Local companies that can do water and electric install:
  • http://www.aurora-energy.com/
  • http://www.chesapeakesolar.net/
  • http://www.lba-renewable-energy.com/
• Big company BP Home Solar
• Link to state incentives for solar installation: http://www.dsireusa.org/
• Good solar sizer and cost estimate program here on this page: http://www.pvwatts.org/

Figure out a good panel size for us: http://www.solar-electric.com/solar_system_costs.htm

Our current (2010/06 & 2010/05 BGE Bills) show we use ~ 1000 kWh / month. Or 33.33 KWh per day. So divide by the number of sun hours / day we get (4.47 from http://www.bigfrogmountain.com/SunHoursPerDay.html) and multiply by 1.15 to get: 8.57 kw for total energy balance. Use this site for some more interesting numbers: http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/calculators/PVWATTS/version1/

So a 8kWatt array would supply us completely, that seems like in a few years that would be a good thing to do!

Well, our base load is higher than when I did these calculations, and if you take into account our shading due to close by trees, we should probably just pack as many panels on the roof and get what we can get. (2013/08/10)

• Installed 3 low flow toilets to reduce overal water consumption.

Searching for a little less costly way of having a cell phone.

• http://www.republicwireless.com/ ← $20 / month: uses wifi for phone calls, and Spring when not
• Versizon pre-paid UNLIMITED TALK, Text and Data is $50/month per phone… that's cheaper than what we pay now!?!

Investment Home

Retirement Home

• Live Shows or Concerts Attended
• Music You Should Checkout

Books to Read

• directtv

Spiaggia-Levantina

• Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)

• http://www.kayak.com/ shows you lots of combinations of what airlines will get you from where to where.
• http://www.tripadvisor.com/ is a great site that has reviews and ratings of hotels that seem real and so far have proved very useful.
• http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm - European train travel portal
• http://www.homeaway.com - Awesome way to find houses for rent while on travel
• http://www.vacationrentals.com - Last minute rental deals

• Italy 2009 Planning and plotting.
• Spain 2010 Mercedes is getting married, and we're going to make the trek to Spain to celebrate!
• Australia 2011 Planning and plotting.
• Aruba 2013 Planning and plotting.

Future trips, we'd very much LIKE to have:

• Pool
• Refrigerator
• Tub

• Papers and Publications
• Peroidicals

Home ToDo List

Yard Information

I asked my favorite vampyre how to find clubs to check out with my brother in Arizona, and here is what she came up with:

• We will be here at Tranzylvania this Friday night.
• http://pub30.bravenet.com/calendar/show.php?usernum=2497250522
• http://community.livejournal.com/azgoths/profile
• Arizona Goths Yahoo community
• GotBlack.com
• http://www.vamp.org/Gothic/clublist.html

• Bahia Gold Cigars (more than singles) or singles from Cigar.com

Will Gaming Computer 2016

Current

• Christmas 2018

Old

• David for no particular reason

Christmas 2016 Christmas 2015 Christmas 2014 Christmas 2012 Christine's 2012 Birthday Wishlist
Stefan's 2012 Birthday Wishlist
David's 2012 Birthday (42!)
David, for no particular reason, things that would fun to have.
Christine's Birthday Wishlist
Christmas 2011
David's Birthday
Virg's Birthday
Christmas 2010
Christmas 2009
Birthday Wish List
Christmas 2008
Christine's Birthday Wishlist
2008 Birthday or Father's Day or for no reason Wishlist
Christmas Wish List for 2007 (all done) ← All 3 of us are here now.
Christmas Wish List for 2006
Sylvia Wishlist ← Sylvia's 2006 Christmas list is here on this page

• Travel Checklists