Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Can't Sleep? Avoid These Worst Foods | Try these instead

Avoid These 17 Foods:
Chocolate - A chocolate treat after dinner isn't helping your REM sleep.

Alcohol - "... drinking alcohol before bed can make you more likely to wake up throughout the night and diminishes quality of sleep. We also know alcohol can lead to snoring ..."

Fatty Food - " ... high-fat foods take longer to digest, and often cause bloating and indigestion that interfere with a sound night's rest"

Dried Fruit - "Consuming too much dried fruit can bother your stomach and cause you to have gas and cramps during the night"

Hot Pepper - "Hot peppers are an easy way to boost metabolism, but consuming them late in the evening can trigger heartburn ..."

Hot Sauce  - "Hot sauce gets its heat from the compound capsaicin found in chili peppers ... Capsaicin can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to stay open for longer than usual, causing intense feelings of heartburn"

Peppermint - "... peppermint is a heartburn trigger. So, definitely stay away from it before bed!"

High-Sugar Cereal - "Eating high-sugar cereals will make your blood sugar spike and crash, which will affect your sleep."  ... Choose cereal with less than five grams of sugar per serving."

Pizza - "The combination of fat in the cheese and the acid in the tomato sauce can have a negative impact on your sleep quality"

Raw Onion - "Onions can cause gas that affects the pressure in your stomach," says Hayim. "As a result, the sphincter is forced to open, which allows your meal and acidity to enter back into your esophagus. Studies have found that raw onions can cause potent and long-lasting feelings of reflux in people who already have heartburn."

Caffeine - "Caffeine can stimulate the central nervous system several hours after consuming it ... If you're at all sensitive to it, you will probably lie awake." So skip the hot cocoa (chocolate can contain caffeine), the caffeinated tea, coffee, and soda. "Caffeine is a stimulant that may cause insomnia"

Ketchup & Tomato Sauce - "In addition to the acid that is naturally there, ketchup is usually preserved with other chemicals that make them even more acidic and may lead to heartburn." Watch out for tomato sauce, too: "Pasta and marinara sauces can contribute to indigestion and heartburn"

Cheeseburgers - "Fatty foods lead to more fragmented sleep, so you wake up the next morning not feeling refreshed."

French Fries - "Before bed, avoid foods coated in oil or that give a big 'crunch' when you eat it."

High-Protein or High-Fat meal -  "You may think a high-protein or high-fat dinner will keep you full all night, preventing you from waking. But research shows that eating a high-protein meal before bed can lead to sleep disturbances" ... And, like many other foods on this list, you may wind up with indigestion or acid reflux since you'll be lying down with a full stomach."

Matcha or Green Tea - "Green tea contains two other stimulants in addition to caffeine - theobromine and theophylline, which may cause increased heart rate, feelings of nervousness, and overall anxiety"
"Matcha, a type of green tea, also contains caffeine but is reported to have a less jittery effect compared to green tea." The health benefits of green tea are incredible though, so you should still enjoy it—but not after 3 or 4 p.m."

Water - "You should drink plenty of water during the day to stay hydrated." ... "But if you drink too much right before bed, you may find yourself awakening multiple times to urinate. Instead, start to taper off your fluid intake about three hours before bedtime." 

https://www.eatthis.com/cant-sleep-worst-foods/

 The 9 Best Foods to Eat Before Bed
Several foods may help you sleep, thanks to their content of sleep-regulating hormones and brain chemicals, including melatonin and serotonin.

Additionally, some foods contain high amounts of specific antioxidants and nutrients, such as magnesium, that are known to enhance sleep by helping you fall asleep faster or stay asleep longer.

To reap the benefits of sleep-enhancing foods, it may be best to consume them 2–3 hours before bed. This is because eating immediately before going to sleep may cause digestive issues, such as acid reflux.

 1. Almonds

Almonds are an excellent source of many nutrients, as one ounce contains 14% of your daily needs for phosphorus, 32% for manganese and 17% for riboflavin.  Eating almonds regularly has been associated with lower risks of a few chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This is attributed to their content of healthy monounsaturated fat, fiber and antioxidants.

Almonds, along with several other types of nuts, are a source of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin.  Almonds are also an excellent source of magnesium, providing 19% of your daily needs in only 1 ounce. Consuming adequate amounts of magnesium may help improve sleep quality, especially for those who have insomnia.

Magnesium’s role in promoting sleep is thought to be due to its ability to reduce inflammation. Additionally, it may help reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is known to interrupt sleep.

If you want to eat almonds before bed to determine if they impact your sleep quality, a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving, or about a handful, should be adequate.

2. Turkey

Turkey is high in protein, providing 4 grams per ounce (28 grams). Protein is important for keeping your muscles strong and regulating your appetite.  Additionally, turkey is a good source of a few vitamins and minerals. A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving contains 5% of your daily needs for riboflavin, 5% for phosphorus and 9% for selenium.

Turkey does have a few properties that explain why some people may become tired after eating it. Most notably, it contains the amino acid tryptophan, which increases the production of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin.  The protein in turkey may also contribute to its ability to promote tiredness. There is evidence that consuming moderate amounts of protein before bed is associated with better sleep quality, including less waking up throughout the night.

3. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is a popular herbal tea that may offer a variety of health benefits.  It is well known for its content of flavones, a class of antioxidants that reduce inflammation that often leads to chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.

There is also some evidence that drinking chamomile tea may boost your immune system, reduce anxiety and depression and improve skin health. In addition, chamomile tea has some unique properties that may improve sleep quality.  Specifically, chamomile tea contains apigenin, an antioxidant that binds to certain receptors in your brain that may promote sleepiness and reduce insomnia.

Those who drank chamomile tea also had fewer symptoms of depression, which is commonly associated with sleep problems.  Drinking chamomile tea before going to bed is certainly worth trying if you want to improve the quality of your sleep.

4. Kiwi
Kiwis are a low-calorie and very nutritious fruit.  One medium kiwi contains only 50 calories and a significant amount of nutrients, including 117% of your daily needs for vitamin C and 38% for vitamin K.  It also contains a decent amount of folate and potassium, as well as several trace minerals.

Furthermore, eating kiwis may benefit your digestive health, reduce inflammation and lower your cholesterol. These effects are due to the high amount of fiber and carotenoid antioxidants that they provide.

The sleep-promoting effects of kiwis are thought to be due to their content of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate your sleep cycle.  It has also been suggested that the antioxidants in kiwis, such as vitamin C and carotenoids, may be partly responsible for their sleep-promoting effects. This is thought to be due to their role in reducing inflammation.

5. Tart Cherry Juice
Tart cherry juice is high in a few important nutrients. An 8-ounce (240-ml) serving contains 62% of your daily needs for vitamin A, 40% for vitamin C and 14% for manganese.  Additionally, it is a rich source of antioxidants, including anthocyanins and flavonols. Antioxidants may protect your cells from harmful inflammation that can lead to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

The sleep-promoting effects of tart cherry juice are due to its high content of melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates your internal clock and signals your body to prepare for sleep.

6. Fatty Fish
Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, trout and mackerel, are incredibly healthy.   What makes them unique is their exceptional vitamin D content. For example, a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of salmon contains 525–990 IU of vitamin D, which is over 50% of your daily needs.

Additionally, fatty fish are high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, both of which are known for reducing inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids may also protect against heart disease and boost brain health.  The combination of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D in fatty fish have the potential to enhance sleep quality, as both have been shown to increase the production of serotonin, a sleep-promoting brain chemical.  Higher levels of vitamin D, have been linked to a significant improvement in sleep quality.

7. Walnuts
Walnuts are abundant in many nutrients, providing over 19 vitamins and minerals, in addition to 2 grams of fiber, in a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving. Walnuts are particularly rich in magnesium, phosphorus, copper and manganese.  Additionally, walnuts are a great source of healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids and linoleic acid. They also provide 4 grams of protein per ounce, which may be beneficial for reducing appetite.

Walnuts may also boost heart health. They have been studied for their ability to reduce high cholesterol levels, which are a major risk factor for heart disease.  What’s more, eating walnuts has been claimed to improve sleep quality, as they are one of the best food sources of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin.

The fatty acid makeup of walnuts may also contribute to better sleep. They provide ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid that’s converted to DHA in the body. DHA may increase production of serotonin, a sleep-enhancing brain chemical.

8. Passionflower Tea

Passionflower tea is another herbal tea that has been used traditionally for many years to treat a number of health ailments.  It is a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants, which are known for their role in reducing inflammation, boosting immune health and reducing heart disease risk.

Additionally, passionflower tea has been studied for its potential to reduce anxiety.
This is attributed to its content of apigenin, an antioxidant that produces a calming effect by binding to certain receptors in your brain.

There is also some evidence that drinking passionflower tea increases the production of GABA, a brain chemical that works to inhibit other brain chemicals that induce stress, such as glutamate.

The calming properties of passionflower tea may promote sleepiness, so it may be beneficial to drink it before going to bed.


9. White Rice
The major difference between white and brown rice is that white rice has had its bran and germ removed, which makes it lower in fiber, nutrients and antioxidants.

Nevertheless, white rice still contains a decent amount of a few vitamins and minerals. Its carb content and lack of fiber contribute to its high glycemic index, which is a measure of how quickly a food increases your blood sugar.  It has been suggested that eating foods with a high glycemic index, such as white rice, a few hours before bed may help improve sleep quality.

It has also been reported that white rice may be most effective at improving sleep if it is consumed at least one hour before bedtime.

Despite the potential role that eating white rice may have in promoting sleep, it is best consumed in moderation due to its lack of fiber and nutrients.

Other Foods That May Promote Sleep

    Milk: Another known source of tryptophan, milk has been shown to improve sleep in the elderly, especially when taken along with melatonin and paired with exercise.

    Bananas: Bananas contain tryptophan and are a good source of magnesium. Both of these properties may help you get a good night’s sleep.

    Oatmeal: Similar to rice, oatmeal is high in carbs and has been reported to induce drowsiness when consumed before bed. Additionally, oats are a known source of melatonin.

    Cottage cheese: Contains a significant amount of casein, which is a milk protein that is well known to sustain overnight muscle repair and growth when consumed before bed.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-to-help-you-sleep#section11

Causes of Interrupted Sleep

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-interrupted-sleep-causes

Friday, November 22, 2019

Subaru EJ swap write-up: ver. 2.0

A 1982 era Subaru Brat (pickup) would be a good candidate for a 1989 or newer Subaru EJ series engine (and transmission) ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Snipping Tool “Delay” option to capture screenshots, pop-up menus, & tooltips

Scroll down to find this:


"The importance of information is directly proportional to its improbability."
    Jerry Pournelle & Larry Niven - Lucifer's Hammer (1985)

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Ultraloq 5 in 1 Smart DeadBolt

True Keyless & Phoneless Entry. Manage & Control Access From Anywhere.
Also @ Amazon:

Ultraloq U-Bolt is a secure and versatile smart deadbolt that offers keyless entry via your Bluetooth enabled smartphone and code. You can share temporary codes and Ekeys to your friends and guests for scheduled access. The Bridge upgrade allows you to control the access to your door while you're away from your home and monitor all activity remotely.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Pistol Caliber Carbine Considerations for Home Defense

Check out the SIG MPX, Ruger PC Carbine, CMMG Banshee, CZ Scorpion, & Zenith Z-5RS (HK MP5 clone):

https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/pistol-caliber-carbine-home-defense/368259?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=gunsandammo&utm_content=pcc&fbclid=IwAR1pi-1SfX1EfATIQcdPxtMFZcet_2y0eRHl4iSUsmHOzWjmbTT6Q49g2cE

 

7 new ideas for your old phone if you buy the iPhone 11 or Note 10 - CNET

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/7-new-ideas-for-your-old-phone-if-you-buy-the-iphone-11-or-note-10/

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Raspberry Pi Internet radio

Take a load off the main system with Raspberry Pi Internet radio -

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/tutorial-raspberry-pi-vintage-radio - appears simple to do - uses headphone jack for audio out - can use Aux In of any radio ...
    Uses Pi MusicBox  -  Pasted from <https://www.pimusicbox.com/> which seems to work well, but doesn't work with Pandora.
Output goes to existing amplifier ...
Internet Radio with Raspberry Pi - https://www.open-electronics.org/internet-radio-with-raspberry-pi/ - more technical - appears very complete

https://bobrathbone.com/raspberrypi/pi_internet_radio.html  -  Documentation and Software downloads available
 
These projects depend on the MPD web radio tool which the Raspberry Pi apt-get can't download - they might work if you get MPD from github: 
https://contractorwolf.com/raspberry-pi-radio/  -  Looks like a good beginner's project


Also take a look at: Remotely Monitor Your Pi Processes and IP Addresses

Bypass Amp gauge on older cars to prevent fires

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Red-Dot - Reflex & other optical sights

In general terms, the Red-Dot sight uses an LED to create a dot that is reflected into the eye for the shooter to see.  The sight is designed to be aimed so that the dot coincides with the bullet at some point in it's trajectory arc. 

 

Reflex type sights are commonly use because of their low cost and effectiveness. 

 

EOTech holographic sights are often used by Marines in combat because they work very well (cost be damned).

 

Here are a few links discussing them:

https://www.dailyshooting.com/reflex-sight-vs-red-dot-sight/

http://opticgearlab.com/scopes/how-does-a-red-dot-sight-work.html  -  Look at the photo near "Where to Mount Your Sight" - it shows one way to mount multiple sight systems

https://www.burrisoptics.com/blog/sights/how-a-red-dot-sight-works  -  Red-Dot sights on handguns are becoming very popular now ...

https://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/2013/05/28/how-to-shoot-with-a-reflex-or-red-dot-sight/  -  Useful discussion on co-witnessing sights

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_dot_sight  -  C-More was one of the first to make these sights for handguns - they seem to have faded into the background recently

https://www.dailyshooting.com/best-red-dot-sight-for-ar-15/  - Selecting a Red-Dot sight for the AR-15

 

Red-Dot sights for Glock handguns:

https://huntingz.com/best-glock-reflex-sights-review/

https://thegunzone.com/best-glock-reflex-sights/

https://www.reloaderaddict.com/best-glock-reflex-sight-red-dot-optic-19-17-20-21-review/

 

 

 

 

Monday, September 16, 2019

Different views on fuel injecting classic cars (mostly Ford 289)

“ … Not sure about problems with the Holley kit, but think about it this way.  Once you go with a specific company’s "kit” that will change/limit what your future options are for the motor. Converting to a Ford EFI rig effectively turns your motor into a "89-93 4.6-4.7", with all or at least most of the possible add-ons and options. Plus there’s lots more experience / advice floating around for the stock system. “

“The other way is to convert it using all Ford parts from a 5.0 liter. You'll need the intake, injectors, throttle body, distributor, computer and wiring. Some of these you can buy used, some you should get new, so that will affect pricing.”

“The absolute cheapest way is a junkyard stock Ford EFI from a Mustang, they are everywhere. The easiest way is the Holley (Sniper or) Pro-Injection and you can get that for about ($800 -) 1200.00 bucks, I have used it and it works great (I have an older Pro-Injection 2 for sale for 300 bucks) for the price difference the Edelbrock will not perform much better than the Pro-Injection if at all, you are talking at most 10HP and the Pro-Injection on a dual plane manifold will give better low end.”

“I converted to an 88 Ford EFI system (speed density) and was very pleased with drivability, cold starts etc. My setup came out of a cop car and was low on power compared to my 289. I converted to Mass-air and currently have an intake, heads, throttle body, bigger mass-air meter and soon a cam and roller rockers. The 88 Crown Victorias are rated at less than 200 hp. My fuel economy went from 11-12 city / 17-18 hwy to 16-17 city and 22-23 hwy.  I think it will do better with new oxygen sensors.  I'd go with a mass-air setup (found on Mustangs) with the upper intake flipped like a Crown Victoria, this is essentially what I have now.  By rotating the upper intake the throttle cable is very simple to route and hook up.”

“Check out Mustang Plus's main web site. They did the exact thing you are thinking of. They show some good pics but leave a lot of info out.  Read up first, the process is the same for a 302 or 289.“

“My 289 had performer cam, hooker comp headers, dual plane intake, Pertronix ignition, and Edelbrock 600 carb. I dropped the stock Crown Victoria motor in with a new oil pump, new paint and the old headers. I think the reason it felt down on power is the restrictive 49mm throttle body and grannie cam.”

“Having experience with both systems, I wouldn't recommend the Holley Pro-Injection to anyone. The Ford system can seem a little intimidating, but is far superior.”

“I don't know that I'd even try to upgrade a 289 to late-model EFI. For less trouble (and money probably) you could do a TBI setup from Holley or someone else (I think there's at least 1 other on the market) or even a multi-point aftermarket set up made for conversions of carbureted engines. Easier yet would be to snatch an entire EFI engine/harness/computer from a late model Ford product and put it in your car. Lord knows that's been done enough times to make it pretty foolproof. I'd leave the trailblazing to somebody else.”

“I am in process of putting the Ford fuel injection from a late model Mustang on my 68 302. There are several issues that you need to consider:
  • First the HO 5.0 does have the 351 firing order.
    • You can use a 351 cam in a 302 if you want to go that route.
    • You can also use a computer out of a non HO T-bird or truck/Bronco. 
     
  • The other big issue is the distributor gear issue.
    • HO motors use a steel distributor gear, non HO motors us an iron one. 
    • The steel distributor gear will eat up an iron gear camshaft gear.
    • I am using an 84 EFI distributor out of a non-roller cam truck to deal with that issue.
     
  • If you use a stock computer wiring harness, order a wiring diagram from HELMS. They are the best, but you will still have to modify and trace some wires.  
  • You also have to route a return fuel line for the system and use high pressure line on the pump side with a high pressure pump such as a Bosch.
The first thing to do is a lot of research. I have gathered all the pieces I need short of a few from eBay or the Corral classifieds for about 200.00.
I still have to buy that high pressure fuel pump though, and it is a bit expensive.
Just do a search on the net with "classic Mustang fuel injection conversion" and you will find a lot of info.”

“There is a lot of misinformation out there with regards to doing this.  I have done precisely what you have suggested in a 302 in my 1970.
  • Don't worry about the firing order. Some have suggested rewiring the injectors to match the 289 firing order, but you will have much better running engine if you just leave it alone.
  • Ideally you would want to use the 351 firing order to keep the sequential nature of the Mustang HO EFI - However things run just fine without. I have tried it both ways. I now run a recalibration which changes my firing order to match the cam, but this is really unnecessary. 
  • Like another poster mentioned, you will need a cast iron distributor gear unless you have converted to a roller cam. You can buy just the gear from Ford, or get a distributor from a late eighties truck for instance.
The conversion for me was basically a bolt on. I would not go back to carburetion.”

“Look at all the companies that make performance parts for the Ford factory EFI systems and then how many make parts for the Pro-Injections systems. FYI the Holley Pro-Injection systems use late 80's Chevy Caprice and half ton truck parts with a Holley computer.  If you're dead set on throttle body injection pull the parts from an 89 Caprice donor.  After all our experience with the Holley Pro-Injection stuff we just wanted the truck to run again without more hassles.”

“Bottom line, you will be much happier with the drivability, cold starting, responsiveness, power potential and fuel economy with the Ford factory system, that's why it's so much more common than the Holley systems.”

“… so am I getting this right? In simple terms, the fuel injection manifold from a 90s 5.0 will fit right onto a carbureted 289 block, and make the 289 fuel injected?  Please help me figure this out I’ve been trying like mad to find an affordable fuel injection solution for my 67 coupe.”



DIY EFI (bought by another company – now seems expensive):
https://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2006/02/EFIConversion/
"The key is a modified single plane carbureted intake of your choice for fuel injectors and a GM style mass-air meter which sits on top of the throttle body. The mass-air meter ends up being inside the air cleaner housing and fully concealed.  The meter comes calibrated to the injector size you plan to run and then a converter box is supplied to transmit the proper voltage signal for the Ford computer.  As a result the system is deemed plug and play, requiring no tuning to get up and running.  Even more impressive is that Mass-Flo is now able to fuel-inject virtually any Ford engine"

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MegaSquirt projects: https://www.diyautotune.com/


MegaSquirt Carb to EFI Conversion – Part 1: TBI Fuel Only: https://www.diyautotune.com/support/tech/install/chevrolet-gm/carb-to-efi/part1/

Ford 351 fuel injection - using a GM TBI from a 350 powered vehicle - https://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum/bangshift/tech-section/all-about-efi/22044-budget-efion-a-351w-ford

"... while this project was performed on a wheezy, smog-era Corvette, the basics apply not only apply to any old GM vehicle but also to just about anything equipped with a carburetor."
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TBI Fuel Injection Conversion using a GM TBI EFI system!  http://www.gearhead-EFI.com/gm-ecm-pcm-conversion/tbi-EFI-conversion.html
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A Ford EFI swap on a 1964 Ranchero:  http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/FordEFISwap.htm
"The basic idea is to take the entire fuel injection setup - intake manifold and all - from a 1989-1992 Mustang 5.0 and drop it onto an earlier Ford 302 (or similarly compatible) engine. The 1989-1992 engines offer all of the desirable pieces for this swap, though various parts can come from earlier and later vehicles, these years are what contain the "complete" system you want to use. It's a mass-airflow style system and is readily adaptable for various swap situations."

Ford Flathead powered Trike

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Setting Up a Radial Arm Saw: 13 Steps (with Pictures)

https://www.instructables.com/id/Setting-Up-a-Radial-Arm-Saw/

NASA Considers Magnetic Shield to Help Mars Grow an Atmosphere

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a25493/magnetic-shield-mars-atmosphere/

Modular Safes, Specialty Safes & Lock Boxes - SnapSafe

https://www.snapsafe.com/

Hands-on with piCore 7.0: Tiny Core Linux for the Raspberry Pi

https://www.zdnet.com/article/hands-on-with-picore-7-0-tiny-core-linux-for-the-raspberry-pi/

The NSA Makes Ghidra, a Powerful Cybersecurity Tool, Open Source

https://www.wired.com/story/nsa-ghidra-open-source-tool/?utm_source=facebook&utm_brand=wired&utm_campaign=wired&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_fb&utm_medium=social

Amazon launches AWS Cloud9, a browser-based IDE for cloud developers

https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/30/amazon-launches-aws-cloud9-a-browser-based-ide-for-cloud-developers/

M1 Carbine Wildcats

http://looserounds.com/556timeline/carbine-wildcat/#502

Etch Metal Tools Easily and Permanently

https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/how-to/a21674/how-to-etch-your-name-into-your-tools/?src=socialflowFBPOP

10 practical Raspberry Pi projects suitable for beginners

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3043022/10-surprisingly-practical-raspberry-pi-projects-anybody-can-do.html

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Friday, August 16, 2019

Where should home security cameras be placed & pointed?

Where to place home security cameras, according to the data - Better placement means better protection.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/where-to-place-home-security-cameras/

"The front door, back door and first-floor windows are the most common entryways for criminals, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In fact, around 81 percent of burglars enter through the first floor, so put your cameras where burglars are most likely to enter.

...

Always put your security cameras up high on the outside of the home so that they are not easy to reach. A height of 9 feet above the ground is sufficient to stop a person of around 6 feet less from bashing a camera. Make sure the camera can be seen, though. The sight of a camera can scare off potential intruders."

 

Best Places to Install Home Security Cameras:  https://www.safety.com/security-camera-installation/

"Exterior: Front door ...

Exterior: Back & side doors ...

Exterior: Garage & driveway ...

Exterior: Yard ...

Interior: Common areas ...

Interior: Main stairway or hallway ..."

 

The best locations for outdoor CCTV cameras:  https://www.a1securitycameras.com/blog/best-locations-outdoor-cctv-cameras-2

 

Don’t make the mistake of positioning your Outdoor Security Cameras in the wrong place:

https://burglarfreezone.com/security-cameras/positioning-outdoor-security-cameras/

"Visible Security Deters Burglars"

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Use a Raspberry Pi for Network Monitoring

Turn Your Raspberry Pi into a Network Monitoring Tool:  https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/turn-raspberry-pi-network-monitoring-tool/

"Whether you want to keep an eye on devices on your home network or wish to monitor the performance of your website, the open source Nagios monitoring tool should be your first port of call. Although you’ll need a Linux box, the Nagios software is quick to install and straightforward to configure. ... Having a full system setup and dedicated to checking whether other devices have gone offline wastes space, power and hardware. Fortunately, we have a solution to this, in the shape of the Raspberry Pi."

 

Raspberry Pi as a Network Monitoring Node:  https://www.networkworld.com/article/2225683/cisco-subnet-raspberry-pi-as-a-network-monitoring-node.html

"We can install MTR for end-to-end testing.

We may want to perform a packet capture. ... we can use tcpdump to capture IPv6 packets. You can also use Wireshark or Tshark.

Install the NetCat utility (the Swiss-Army knife of all network tools)

Do some end-to end performance testing using the Iperf utility.

Use our favorite port scanner (NMAP) for testing.

Use the NetHogs tool to view the top-talker applications on the system.

Use the IPTraf utility to get another view of the IP Traffic on the system.

There are also many other network utilities that can be easily installed on a Raspberry Pi to monitor networks."

 

Install and Setup Shinken Network Monitor on Raspberry Pi:  https://www.instructables.com/id/Install-and-Setup-Shinken-Network-Monitor-on-Raspb/

"Why should a home have a network monitor? There are critical servers and services on a home network. Examples of critical servers include: ISP gateway, wireless access point, security system, and irrigation system.

Examples of critical services include: backing up PCs, ensuring Wi-Fi or Internet is operating at required speed.

To ensure critical services/servers are running, they should be manually checked at regular intervals, which requires a lot of time.

Alternatively, the servers should be automatically checked using a network monitor, which attempts to correct the issue and sends an alert if it is unable to correct.

Many excellent network monitoring applications exist. Examples are: SolarWinds, NetCool, and nagios. These applications are capable of monitoring, identifying issues, self-correcting and sending alerts.

Shinken is a Network Monitor that runs on any computer.  It is an open source rewrite of nagios in python."

 

Network Monitoring with Raspberry Pi, Part 1: Cacti:  http://www.greatwhitewifi.com/2016/02/12/network-monitoring-with-raspberry-pi-part-1-cacti/

Network Monitoring with Raspberry Pi, Part 2: SmokePing: http://www.greatwhitewifi.com/2016/02/12/network-monitoring-with-raspberry-pi-part-2-smokeping/

"If you’re planning to install both tools onto the same RPi, make sure to go through the Cacti install first.

...  there is a bug which causes SmokePing to not work unless sendmail is present."

 

How to Monitor your WiFi with Raspberry Pi:  https://netbeez.net/blog/wifi-raspberry-pi/

Raspberry Pi and Distributed Network Monitoring: The Platform: https://netbeez.net/blog/raspberry-pi-and-distributed-network-monitoring-the-platform/

Download the 'How to Monitor a WiFi Infrastructure with SSID Hopping' Webinar: https://resources.netbeez.net/webinar-ssid-hopping

 

Turn your Pi into a network monitor and I/O device:  http://www.raspberry-pi-geek.com/Archive/2017/21/Turn-your-Pi-into-a-network-monitor-and-I-O-device

"You can create Node-Red web pages to monitor network conditions like hard drive space, network, and CPU loads. Node-Red can also be used to read and set Pi GPIO pins using SNMP.

 

There are some great full featured networking packages like Nagios and MRTG that can be installed on the Raspberry Pi. If, however, you are looking for something smaller to play with, then Node-Red might be the answer. Node-Red is a visual programming environment that allows you to create applications by dragging and dropping blocks (nodes) on the screen. Logic flows are then created by connecting wires between the different blocks (nodes). Node-Red also comes with Web Dashboards that allows you to view data or control the app from your smart phone."

How to use Raspberry Pi to monitor network? (Nagios): https://raspberrytips.com/nagios-raspberry-pi/

 

Build a Raspberry Pi Scanner that Tracks the Devices Connected to Your Local Network (with a large display): https://makezine.com/projects/build-raspberry-pi-network-scanner/

Windows 10 IoT & ARM can run on a Raspberry Pi

Windows 10 IoT :

Windows 10 on the Raspberry Pi: What you need to know:  https://www.techrepublic.com/article/windows-10-on-the-raspberry-pi-what-you-need-to-know/

" ... this is no ordinary version of Windows but rather Windows 10 IoT Core - a slimmed-down version of the OS aimed at Internet of Things (IoT) devices and which can be downloaded for free."

 

How to install Windows 10 IoT Core on Raspberry Pi 3:  https://www.windowscentral.com/how-install-windows-10-iot-raspberry-pi-3

"It's not Windows 10 as we know it from PCs, tablets, or phones, but Windows 10 internet of things (IoT) Core is another branch of Microsoft's ubiquitous OS designed to be run on low-power devices.

. . .

Essentially it lets you use Windows technologies to build connected devices based on low-cost computing solutions such as the Raspberry Pi."

 

Windows 10 IoT Core examples (not exclusively Raspberry Pi):  https://www.hackster.io/microsoft

 

Download Windows 10 IoT Core for Raspberry Pi 2 / 3:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=55029

 

Windows 10 IoT - Suggested Prototype Boards:  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot-core/tutorials/quickstarter/PrototypeBoards

Includes: Raspberry Pi 2 (1.2 not supported) & Raspberry Pi 3B (3B+ is an unsupported technical preview)

 

Setting up a Raspberry Pi:  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot-core/tutorials/rpi

 

10 simple steps to install Windows 10 IoT on Raspberry Pi 3 B+:  https://www.ewebville.com/10-simple-steps-to-install-windows-10-iot-on-raspberry-pi-3-b/

 

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Windows 10 ARM:

How to Install Full Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi:  https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/install-windows-10-on-raspberry-pi,5993.html

"Microsoft offers an official build of Windows 10 IoT for the Raspberry Pi, but that OS is just for building maker projects and doesn’t have the ability to run regular apps or the traditional Windows GUI (graphical user interface). However, there’s a way to make a Raspberry Pi 3 / 3B / 3B+ boot into a full version of Windows 10 Professional that can even run win32 apps.

 

This process of installing Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi involves downloading the installer, drivers and the OS itself from a variety of unofficial sources.

. . .

Based on our extensive hands-on use, we can also say that running Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi is an exercise in frustration. Everything from the Start Menu to the Edge browser operates in slow motion."

 

You can now install full Windows 10 ARM on your Raspberry Pi 3: https://www.windowslatest.com/2019/02/12/third-party-woa-installer-raspberry-pi-3/

"Microsoft wants Windows 10 to run on every type of computing device and the company has been lately trying to make Windows more modular. Microsoft’s Windows 10 on ARM initiative brought the company’s desktop operating system to devices with Snapdragon chipsets.

 

It looks like you can now finally install a full version of Windows 10 intended for ARM devices on Raspberry Pi 3.

 

After launching Windows 10 on ARM for Lumia 950 and 950 XL handsets, the same group of third-party developers have also created WoA installer which brings Microsoft’s Windows 10 on ARM experience to Raspberry Pi 3."

 

Your Raspberry Pi 3 can now run Windows 10 ARM:  https://www.techspot.com/news/78736-raspberry-pi-3-can-now-run-windows-10.html

"I was able to get some simple x86 programs to run through emulation, such as HW Monitor and even Steam, but for day-to-day use, the performance may frustrate some. Boot times were in excess of 75 seconds and response times throughout were laggy."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

The new Cloud Clipboard for Windows 10

Windows 10 introduces a new clipboard experience:
"... Windows 10 introduces a new clipboard that tracks the text and images (up to 4MB) that you copy. Also, you can finally view and paste content from the clipboard history, and even pin items that you copy and paste more frequently.
In addition, leveraging the same cloud technology use to sync your Timeline content, your clipboard history can now roam and be accessible across all your devices."

Microsoft's new cloud clipboard lets you paste from a Windows 10 PC to an iPhone:

A step-by-step guide to getting the most from Windows 10's forthcoming cloud clipboard feature:
"The updated OS will offer a history of the text and images you previously copied via the new Cloud Clipboard feature. It'll even let you pin frequently used content to the clipboard permanently."


How the Cloud Clipboard feature works in Windows 10 October 2018 Update:

A screen-shot from the Windows 10 Tips tool:

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Display an Internet Connection status icon using .NET Framework 2.0

I was looking for something to display Internet Status whenever the system is turned on.  In Windows 10, desktop gadgets don’t work anymore.   This may work: 

Display an Internet Connection status icon using .NET Framework 2.0 - https://www.codeproject.com/articles/11045/display-an-internet-connection-status-icon-using-n

 

 

Monday, July 22, 2019

4 Smart Switches That Work With No Neutral Wire

This includes a good explanation of what is meant by a neutral wire and how it affects smart switches.
https://thesmartcave.com/smart-switch-with-no-neutral/

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Russell's Travel Center: Car Museum

Recommended by a friend on Facebook (he got some good pictures there):
https://www.russellsttc.com/

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Sense Power Monitor

Sense installs in your home's electrical panel and provides insight into your energy use and home activity through our iOS, Android, and web apps:  https://sense.com/thisissense


Monday, June 3, 2019

Can we still "Live and Let Live"?

Once quote from the article:
"Put differently, how do Christians love their neighbor when their neighbors hate their guts and openly wish to reduce them to second-class citizens in the public square?"

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/06/can_conservatives_afford_to_be_nice_anymore.html#ixzz5po9EBNxG 

Password expiration is dead, are passwords next?




https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/02/password-expiration-is-dead-long-live-your-passwords/

Automated password tools can change privileged passwords on a regular schedule.  For some,  changing once every 30 days is reasonable and for others, daily password changes make sense.
In either case, significant value comes from having unique passwords for every device.  It was normal for every server in an organization to have the same Administrator password or root password for Linux / UNIX systems).  Just giving each device a unique password makes a hacker's life more difficult as they try to move around your network.

The quote from the article "If a password is never stolen, there’s no need to expire it" seems to ignore the fact that in most breaches, the password was stolen or cracked MONTHS before that is discovered.  If you automatically change the password the day after it is cracked, the hacker may not have had time to elevate their privileges and create new credentials for themselves.  If they have created new credentials, an automated system may on-board the new account(s) and "rotate" or change the password(s) before they can make the most damaging use of it. 

There are also systems that can determine if a credential was created without using the "approved" process, and delete them automatically.

Attempts to access an account repeatedly, trying multiple passwords (to guess the correct one) can be  defeated by limiting the allowable # of sign-on attempts per hour or day.  Another effective technique is to limit signons to specific time-windows (your regular shift) and geographic locations (your home or office) - exceptions (like working from Hong Kong this week) can be setup to require manager's approval or some other secondary approval mechanism.

As for changing our personal passwords - try changing them every month, and use different UserIDs AND passwords of every app.  I also advocate long passwords made up of real words separated by special characters - "My@Camel$Smokes#Hash!123" is much harder to crack than "$i!!y-R@bb1t!" simply because of the number of characters.  Second factor (two-factor) authentication where the product sends you a code (that must be entered in a given time span) via a text message (or phone call) are very worthwhile and should be the standard already.

With the looming approach of Quantum Computing, many in the industry believe that cracking of passwords and encryption keys will become very quick - nobody is sure what will replace them ...


Sunday, June 2, 2019

Rotisserie chicken seasoning

Posted on FB by my oldest sister.
Rotisserie chicken seasoning
• ½ cup kosher salt
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 2 tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 1⁄4 cup onion powder
• ½ cup garlic powder
• 1⁄4 cup italian seasoning
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons dry mustard
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp dried pepper flakes

Mix well. Store in airtight container.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

The media will help the the mob of Dems running in 2020

"The Democrats don’t name each other Lyin’ Ted. They don’t break ranks during crucial votes, and they will not damage each other during their debates.

Read: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/05/no_fun_in_2020.html#ixzz5oxaaJ4YZ
Follow us: @AmericanThinker on Twitter | AmericanThinker on Facebook"

Sunday, April 28, 2019

LT1 Swap - wiring

Check for YouTubes from the same author also (check his Facebook page):
http://lt1swap.com/