A nice birthday prezzie, a cassette drive emulator for the C64 (Tapuino) π
Really easy to use too, and while disk emulation is faster, there are some interesting tape loaders out there π
Cycle “Adventures” Volume 97
In this set of clips we have a good variety. Overtaking to turn left, impatient taxi drivers who can’t wait 3 seconds, a pointless bike lane, red light jumpers (car and bikes), some idiot handbrake turning in a car park, ignorant pedestrians acting like sheep, late decisions, drivers who think everyone else is psychic, some very loud quads, due courtesy from me, and an unbelievable, impromptu formation weave.
The main theme of this episode appears to be taxis. Some taxi drivers seem to have found their licences rather than passed any test.
It’s longer than average this time, with 26 clips. I normally wait until the midweek break at this point in my roster, but a week off has pushed things out of sequence. I’ll publish the next one before my long weekend to get back in step π
Posted in Cycling
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Fudge
I tried making fudge today. Failed.
Even on maximum heat, I’m unable to get the temperature above 110ΓΒ°C. It needs to get to 116ΓΒ°C or it won’t set.
I started on a low heat to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar, upped the heat when the temperature stopped rising and it was great up to about 108ΓΒ°C, lovely and smooth, but then the heat rise slowed to a crawl, even though the cooker was as maximum, and a significant amount burned to the bottom of the pan as I kept the heat up for longer than I should in the vain hope of getting the required temperature.
The final result is very soft. Really, really sticky. Tastes great though!
Any tips on increasing the temperature while keeping a thermometer in the pan will be greatly appreciated. Preferably without burning a large amount to the pan in the process.
Posted in General
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This Took Too Long
I finally got around to making a couple of Ingress Resistance animated “badges” in readiness for the Bristol event next month. A bit of a hack job with the cases, and would probably improve with practice; cut with a cheapo Dremel clone tool. The battery case is a cut down Arduino Nano box with the wires threaded through the sides, hot glued in and folded down after solder tinning. It works quite well really! I just wish I could have found smaller switches but no matter.
Posted in Ingress
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More Success!
Fixed 99% of the problems. I ordered a new flex cable, which arrived this morning, and fitted that more carefully, re-seated the fingerprint sensor and the rear panel clipped into place more easily than yesterday, and is now cleanly fitting. The only problem I have is actually within the screen itself, which is that the notification LED is very dim, but I can live with that.
Posted in Positives
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Success! (Mostly)
Replacement volume/power flex cable fitted. Not an easy task, not perfect but working 100%! For how long I don’t know, but as long as it lasts until Mid April, when I can get a replacement, I’ll be happy π
Posted in General, Positives
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That Was Quick!
Replacement part for my phone arrived this morning. I’m going to get some double sided tape before fitting!
Posted in Positives
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Sod It and Buggery! (Figuratively)
Today my replacement screen arrived. I got down to replacing it.
I tested it at this point and it was all working! π
The only problem was the buttons wouldn’t stick down. I tried replacing the back panel, pushing the buttons on the cable in as I was pushing. Big mistake I broke the power button! Γ°ΕΈΛΒ±
Replacement on order. Expected Saturday. Until then I’m without my trusty OnePlus 3 π
Posted in Negatives
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New Toy
“So what was the phone call about?” I hear you ask (I have very good hearing for things like this) π
This had arrived. It’s a Bluetooth controller I’ve seen used in a Mamemeister video for playing via emulators on an Android device, but it’s far more versatile that that. Tested wired up to my computer, with a C64 emulator on my (cracked) phone and Mame4Droid on said phone. It takes a bit of configuration but it’s a decent bit of kit. Apparently it’ll even work with the Nintendo Switch!
No time to really play until Monday but I’ll be putting it through its paces from then π
Posted in Positives
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[Expletive Deleted]
Cycling to work yesterday I notice a missed call from my wife. My phone is kept in an arm mount while cycling, so I pulled onto the pavement, took it out of the mount to call back in case it was urgent.
It was just a delivery (next post) but the trouble started when I went to put the phone back in the mount. It slipped. It was balancing on my lap but when I tried to grab it, it fell to the floor. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem but because it’s now unprotected I noticed something when I picked it up π
It’s still 100% functional but I don’t know how long it’ll stay that way. At first I ordered a screen protector but later did some searching and found a replacement screen, which appears to include the panel, for under ΓΒ£40. The panel means it’ll just mean moving the innards from the cracked part to the new part without any awkward heat gun procedures.
That’s due on Wednesday and as I’m off for the week I’ll have the time to fix it. In the meantime, extra care will be needed!