If you define Hack as finding a creative solution to a problem then following the instructions for a hack in the book is still a hack. Since the problem one is trying to hack is learning how to hack. It *must* be considered a hack because from it one has hacked how to hack.:)
Over the years I've built up a *large* collection of (mostly obsolete) manufacturers data sheets and other reference books. These are of enormous help in identifying parts. So getting hold of and hoarding data sheets is a good habit to get into. Service manuals for various bits of kit are another really good resource as these tend to list obscure component codings.
Check out manufacturers websites:eg If you can get hold of an RS Components Ltd. CD ROM this has loads of useful information (including all their data-sheets)that may be of use.
http://rswww.com (may be out of date my cd is from 2002)
A major problem in identifying canniblized/bargain bag parts is that manufacturers tend to re-brand components with their own bizzare codes, I suspect these are what you've encountered.
The fun part is actually doing tests on the unknown IC to figure out what it can do (rather than what it was *made* to do). If you've got it off an old circuit board then you can make reasonable assumptions such as:
Analog, Digital or Hybrid. Its possible function PLL, OP-Amp etc. Power and ground pins. Inputs and Outputs. Reasonable signal/voltage levels etc.
Breadboard the sucker up, break out the test equipment and get experimenting. If you end up wrecking the chip it's no big loss, it's a *learning* experience.:)
if I've seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants
Apparently this quote of Isaacs was in reality a thinly veiled insult to Robert Hooke who was by all accounts a little on the short side.
Perhaps the parent poster *is* the reincarnation of Newton? The pomposity and self gratification seem to indicate that this is the case. I wonder if he or she will autograph my copy of Principia.:)
I get 99.99% of my electronic components and hardware from junked electronic/mechanical equipment. There are several benefits to this apart from the obvious one of cost.
You get pretty good at de-soldering.
You pick up design concepts from the way the stuff was built.
Fun finding out just *what* that unknown IC does.
Satisfaction in knowing that you are helping the environment by recycling potentially toxic materials and using them in your insane creations. Weather they're useful or not.:)
etc etc...
Re:Did someone say "brine?"
on
Brine on Mars?
·
· Score: 1
Weird city. I've just bought a Triops World kit. Added H2O only this morning. I'll have to name the critters that hatch after features on the Martian surface.
In theory X-rays etc are produced by matter in an accretion disk around a black hole. If a black hole did not posess such an accretion disk then gravitational effects would be the only sure fire way of detecting it (lensing, peturbation of planetary orbits). If by planetary sized you mean the event horizon having a radius on the order of the Earths. This would represent a truly massive (stellar) black hole, if you mean the thing has planetary mass, then you're looking (or not) at an object the size of a pea.
The real advantage of the "borrow and spend" scenario is if you *don't* get re-elected. The opposition then gets to pick up the tab. The borrowed debt millstone hanging over them like the sword of Damocles. Its whats known as a win win situation, even if you lose.:)
Hmm. I don't think fixed disks are going to be replaced any time soon. What could happen is wider use of clustering technology using computationaly fast diskless clients with loads of RAM, hooked up to a few server nodes with fixed disks for permanant storage and in case of power outages.
Why not just add a space telescope module to the ISS? Thats what space platforms are supposed to be for, or isnt the ISS flexible enough a system to handle this?
Re:I though otherwise, so did my physics teacher.
on
Comic Book Physics
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· Score: 1
Its just a trivial example of inertial damping field technology. Sheesh even Star Trek has *that*. So you would expect the highly advanced Kriptonians to possess it.
Perhaps I ought to qualify a bit more. When mobiles were less common in the UK they tended to be owned by annoying yuppie types who used to flash their phones at every available opportunity (like a baboon flashing its arse). Believe it or not some people even used to use *fake* mobiles and have *pretend* conversations (true):D. We just saw these dudes for what they were, dickheads, and all had a good laugh at their expense.
Now that mobiles are so common here they're just not as noticable. On the *very* rare occasion they go off in a cinema people don't get angry (if they notice at all) they just assume someone forgot to switch to silent running and let it go.
I suspect the same thing will happen in the states given time. What did surprise me. Is the sheer anger and depth of feeling expressed in these posts over such a trivial thing. Americans should learn to relax.:)
When traveling on public transport in the UK chances are if someones mobile rings the first thing they say when they answer is "I'm on the bus". 9 times out of 10 this is the case. Also its kind of cool to have the lamest ringtone you can find, even little old ladies try to outdo each other on the naffness of their ringtone.:)
Re:How about composting?
on
Space Burial
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· Score: 1
This kind of low impact burial is available in the UK. In fact once you get a registration of death certificate you could (in some local authorities) actually do what you suggested in your post. Not many people do though, prefering the traditional undertaker.:)
Re:Only so much carbon...
on
Space Burial
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· Score: 1
I once read that the worlds population would fit onto the Isle of Wight (small island off the south coast England). This agrees with your calculation.:)
Re:Only so much carbon...
on
Space Burial
·
· Score: 1
that is compressing them all under massive force
Wow. Rather than bieng blasted into space I want my ashes to be made into a synthetic diamond and made into jewelery or a substrate for a 81 GHz CPU.
Slashdot Mirror
The Outline of Wireless
... I remember it well ... *sigh*
Ralph Stranger (1942)
But I really cut my teeth on...
The Art of Electronics (1st ed.)
Horowitz and Hill (1980)
My first crystal set
The one book every Geek needs on their bookshelf.
Getting a Life For DUMMIES
If you define Hack as finding a creative solution to a problem then following the instructions for a hack in the book is still a hack. Since the problem one is trying to hack is learning how to hack. It *must* be considered a hack because from it one has hacked how to hack. :)
Over the years I've built up a *large* collection of (mostly obsolete) manufacturers data sheets and other reference books. These are of enormous help in identifying parts. So getting hold of and hoarding data sheets is a good habit to get into. Service manuals for various bits of kit are another really good resource as these tend to list obscure component codings.
:)
Check out manufacturers websites:eg
If you can get hold of an RS Components Ltd. CD ROM this has loads of useful information (including all their data-sheets)that may be of use.
http://rswww.com (may be out of date my cd is from 2002)
A major problem in identifying canniblized/bargain bag parts is that manufacturers tend to re-brand components with their own bizzare codes, I suspect these are what you've encountered.
The fun part is actually doing tests on the unknown IC to figure out what it can do (rather than what it was *made* to do). If you've got it off an old circuit board then you can make reasonable assumptions such as:
Analog, Digital or Hybrid.
Its possible function PLL, OP-Amp etc.
Power and ground pins.
Inputs and Outputs.
Reasonable signal/voltage levels etc.
Breadboard the sucker up, break out the test equipment and get experimenting. If you end up wrecking the chip it's no big loss, it's a *learning* experience.
if I've seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants
Apparently this quote of Isaacs was in reality a thinly veiled
insult to Robert Hooke who was by all accounts a little on the
short side.
Perhaps the parent poster *is* the reincarnation of Newton?
The pomposity and self gratification seem to indicate that
this is the case. I wonder if he or she will autograph my
copy of Principia.:)
I get 99.99% of my electronic components and hardware from junked electronic/mechanical equipment. There are several benefits to this apart from the obvious one of cost.
:)
...
You get pretty good at de-soldering.
You pick up design concepts from the way the stuff was built.
Fun finding out just *what* that unknown IC does.
Satisfaction in knowing that you are helping the environment by recycling potentially toxic materials and using them in your insane creations. Weather they're useful or not.
etc etc
Weird city. I've just bought a Triops World kit. Added H2O only this morning. I'll have to name the critters that hatch after features on the Martian surface.
In theory X-rays etc are produced by matter in an accretion disk around a black hole. If a black hole did not posess such an accretion disk then gravitational effects would be the only sure fire way of detecting it (lensing, peturbation of planetary orbits). If by planetary sized you mean the event horizon having a radius on the order of the Earths. This would represent a truly massive (stellar) black hole, if you mean the thing has planetary mass, then you're looking (or not) at an object the size of a pea.
Hi my name is Troy McClure you may remember me from such films as Your Friendly Neighborhood Drug Dealer.
Slightly off topic but ...
;)
This book (i'm currenty reading) should be of interest to Geeks looking for sex.
Growing up With Lucy
How to Build an Android in 20 Easy Steps
By Steve Grand.
Just a thought
Hmmm. Mixing ones metaphors. Bad.
A millstone hanging round ones neck.
Hanging over them like the sword of Damocles.
Need more caffine.
The real advantage of the "borrow and spend" scenario is if you *don't* get re-elected. The opposition then gets to pick up the tab. The borrowed debt millstone hanging over them like the sword of Damocles. Its whats known as a win win situation, even if you lose. :)
Hmm. I don't think fixed disks are going to be replaced any time soon. What could happen is wider use of clustering technology using computationaly fast diskless clients with loads of RAM, hooked up to a few server nodes with fixed disks for permanant storage and in case of power outages.
No problem. Just stop doing business through US banks. When the money stops flowing who do you think will back down first?
Why not just add a space telescope module to the ISS?
Thats what space platforms are supposed to be for, or
isnt the ISS flexible enough a system to handle this?
Sounds just like Essex then.
If god was so smart.
Why did he/she create Christian fundamentalists?
q How many Essex girls does it take to change a lightbulb?
:)
a Four. One to change the bulb and the other three to dance round her handbag.
i had better stop now
q What do Essex girls put round their necks?
a Their ankles.
Its just a trivial example of inertial damping field technology. Sheesh even Star Trek has *that*. So you would expect the highly advanced Kriptonians to possess it.
Perhaps I ought to qualify a bit more. :D. We just saw these dudes for what they were, dickheads, and all had a good laugh at their expense.
When mobiles were less common in the UK they tended to be owned by annoying yuppie types who used to flash their phones at every available opportunity (like a baboon flashing its arse). Believe it or not some people even used to use *fake* mobiles and have *pretend* conversations (true)
Now that mobiles are so common here they're just not as noticable. On the *very* rare occasion they go off in a cinema people don't get angry (if they notice at all) they just assume someone forgot to switch to silent running and let it go.
I suspect the same thing will happen in the states given time. What did surprise me. Is the sheer anger and depth of feeling expressed in these posts over such a trivial thing. Americans should learn to relax.:)
When traveling on public transport in the UK chances are if :)
someones mobile rings the first thing they say when they
answer is "I'm on the bus". 9 times out of 10 this is the
case. Also its kind of cool to have the lamest ringtone you
can find, even little old ladies try to outdo each other
on the naffness of their ringtone.
This kind of low impact burial is available in the UK. In fact once you get a registration of death certificate you could (in some local authorities) actually do what you suggested in your post. Not many people do though, prefering the traditional undertaker. :)
I once read that the worlds population would fit onto the Isle of Wight (small island off the south coast England). This agrees with your calculation. :)
that is compressing them all under massive force
Wow. Rather than bieng blasted into space I want my ashes to be
made into a synthetic diamond and made into jewelery or a substrate
for a 81 GHz CPU.