Davids Jewish Traveler and Hacker

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Traveling with babies
It is amazing how mch more complicated it is to travel once yiou have to worry about twins and a toddler. These small ones require much more normal infrastructure than our old couch hopping life. we will give it a go since we have an engagement party in Jerusalem but international budget/hosteling sem quite unlkely.

¶ 5:04 AM (0) comments

Friday, July 07, 2006

OK I am back running linux on my belt with the arrival of my replacement zaurus!!

The Sandisk 1Gig SD card breakopen USB key gadget is super fast and works great, my problems in booting Damn Small Linux with it were fixed by re-formatting to FAT16. DSL with its new MyDSL additions make it so I can have Mplayer and a few video's ready to load from my key in my wallet, I also have full access to my files on my zaurus when it is loaded as an SD card.

I installed an inline voltage regulator and can now safely crank charge my Zaurus and any other sensitive USB powered gadgets. This is Radio Shack 7805 +5vdc voltage regulator and was a stocked item.

I am getting tired of blowouts. Jerusalem is a massive blowout waiting to get your tire, glass and metal bits everywhere. I was able to buy very cheaply axles and skewers to switch my Dahon Boardwalk7 to quick release wheels, this will make repairs in the field easier. I still would like to get tough kevlar lined tires to prevent the pokes.

My dahon folding bike has cheap plastic pedals one of which has partly failed leaving me wit a very wobbly folding pedal. The bike shop in Portland Oregon where it was purchased is sending me a warranty replacement part but I anticipate several weeks of wait, I hope that the reoplacements are of better quality.

I am getting a strong desire to build a ultra light computer, something like is sold in the Damn Small Linux store. For about $200 I could get a loaded MOBO and 12 inch LCD plus a USB key for the hard disk this could all be booted to DSL. I am not sure why I need it but it would make a cool poor kids laptop prototype. If only money grew on trees.

¶ 8:06 AM (0) comments