VMware makes Workstation and Fusion free for everyone

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/vmware-makes-workstation-and-fusion-free-for-everyone/

Linux for Windows users

From a FB forum:

If you're looking for a Linux distribution that is most similar to Windows and also fully supports NVIDIA graphics, here are the best options for you:

Zorin OS – Zorin OS is the closest in terms of look and feel to Windows. It offers an interface that resembles Windows 7 and Windows 10, which makes it ideal for users transitioning from Windows. Zorin OS supports NVIDIA graphics well and comes with a tool to easily install the proprietary NVIDIA drivers. It's an excellent choice for those who want a familiar experience with solid NVIDIA support.

Linux Mint (Cinnamon) – Linux Mint is one of the most Windows-like Linux distributions, especially with the Cinnamon desktop environment. It provides a very user-friendly experience and a familiar layout. Mint supports NVIDIA graphics, and the process for installing the proprietary drivers is simple and integrated into the system. This makes it a top choice for users coming from Windows.

Ubuntu – Ubuntu with its default GNOME desktop is a bit different from Windows, but it can be made more Windows-like by installing the Ubuntu MATE or Ubuntu Budgie desktop environments. Ubuntu has strong NVIDIA support, and drivers can be easily installed via the Additional Drivers tool. It's a reliable choice for those who want solid support and a lot of resources.

Pop!_OS – While Pop!_OS, developed by System76, is not exactly Windows-like in appearance, it is extremely user-friendly, especially for users who need high-performance NVIDIA graphics. It offers built-in support for NVIDIA graphics cards and provides automatic installation of the proper drivers. For users who prioritize performance and ease of use with NVIDIA hardware, Pop!_OS is an excellent choice.

Summary:

Zorin OS is the closest to Windows in terms of design and experience while also providing full support for NVIDIA graphics.

Linux Mint (Cinnamon) is another excellent Windows-like option with solid NVIDIA support.

Ubuntu offers good NVIDIA compatibility but is less Windows-like than the other two.

Pop!_OS is perfect for those who need high-performance NVIDIA support, though it may not resemble Windows as much.

Schedule automatic iPhone reboots (sort of ...)

How to Automatically Restart iOS Every Day
https://medium.com/@bjammin/how-to-automatically-restart-ios-every-day-4b3bfdba7a90

"Experts ... say forcibly closing apps could stop criminals from monitoring …
Persistence is difficult on iOS, and restarting it will clean up running processes.

We could use the Reminders app to set a reminder and then go through the process of holding the buttons, swiping, etc. But, there's a better way.
Shortcuts app! We still get a pop-up prompt and still need to be there to hit "Ok." Apple probably doesn't want to allow scheduled restarts because of the risk of a phone turning off in the middle of an emergency. But I'm pretty happy with this one-click approach.

On your iPhone, open the Shortcuts App which should be installed by default. Then:

•     Tap on the Automation tab
•     Create Personal Automation (or click the plus if you have some)
•     Time of Day (or use another trigger)
•     set your schedule & tap Next
•     tap Add action
•     search for shutdown and tap add
•     Tap the word "Shutdown" and change it to "Restart"
•     Next
•     Done"

Workshop / workspace organization tips

On the topic of workshop or workspace organization:
Just a tiny chapter in the Lean Book of Excellence is 5S.
A series of steps to achieve organizational excellence which very few ever attain.  It is not easy - it is time spent up front to lead efficiency ongoing.
So here is what 5S in its simplest terms -

#1 Sort - only keep what is needed. All else removed.

#2 Set - every item has a place where it lives. 

• All like items in one place. 
• Label drawers/cabins on the exterior because once you 5S everything you will get really frustrated by not being able to find what you are looking for.

#3 Shine - clean up and use methods for keeping sets/items like hand tools, etc. from rolling around. (foam storyboards, socket trays)

#4 Standardize - If more than one station/workbench, use the same tool -mfg./model - where possible.

#5 Sustain - implement a plan to keep #1 through #4 from dissolving back into the chaos from which it came. Mainly, At the end of the day/project everything is back in its place.

Once done, clutter should be a thing of the past. Zero searching around for that special tool. 

Maverick Four-Cylinder Engine Buildup - Half-Fast Grabber

A Turbocharged Four-Banger Maverick Built On A Budget Offers Plenty Of Project Ideas

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/mdmp-1004-maverick-four-cylinder-engine-buildup/

Toyota Never Made a Six-Cylinder MR2, but You Can - Hagerty Media

Swap in a Toyota V6 fairly easily:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/toyota-never-made-a-six-cylinder-mr2-but-you-can/

How to Play Audio From Multiple Outputs in Windows 11

In testing, this doesn't significantly increase the volume of sound coming through monitor speakers via HDMI, but the sound does seem a bit clearer.  Using the headphone jack to drive proper speakers via a small amplifier is still preferable.

https://www.howtogeek.com/847605/how-to-play-audio-from-multiple-outputs-in-windows-11/

elementary OS - Wikipedia

This is a Ubuntu based Linux OS that is reputedly very easy for Windows users to learn.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_OS

Advancements in synthetic skin could lead to better prosthetics

New Electronic Skin Communicates With the Brain Just Like Your Actual Skin (from FB):
A team of engineers at Stanford University has created a revolutionary soft electronic skin that communicates directly with the brain, mimicking the function of natural nerve signals.
Unlike previous iterations that rely on external devices, this next-gen e-skin senses temperature and pressure, converting them into electrical impulses similar to those sent by human nerve endings.
This innovation follows other cutting-edge projects, like a spray-on skin for gesture recognition and a smart bandage that monitors wound healing. Engineers at MIT and Graz University of Technology are also pushing the boundaries with sweat-proof e-skins and hybrid materials that detect temperature, moisture, and pressure.
The Stanford e-skin is made up of layers just nanometers thick, using materials like the rubber found in surgical gloves. The final product, supported by a substrate to maintain durability, is as thin as a sheet of paper. Operating at just 5 volts, the e-skin offers safe, sensitive feedback—potentially transforming prosthetics by providing a realistic sense of touch. Future goals include wirelessly transmitting these sensory signals to chips embedded in the nervous system, allowing prosthetic users to move their limbs naturally. With ongoing research focused on enhancing these capabilities, the Stanford team is inching closer to making human-prosthetic integration a reality.

Image. Stanford University

US Special Forces Rifles

It appears that rifles developed in the 1980s, firing cartridges developed nearly a century ago are still what our Special Forces need.

https://www.twz.com/land/search-for-barrett-50-caliber-sniper-rifle-replacement-halted-by-socom

One reason for keeping the large 50 caliber round is that it has enough room to fit explosives or incendiaries when they would be most effective.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/mk211.htm

There is (always) some talk of moving to a smaller round.  A bullet doesn't need to be a specific diameter to hit a target with sufficient energy to destroy it.  Also, cartridge cases can get smaller as propellants get more powerful and gun metals get stronger.  Small lighter cartridges make it easier to carry more rounds, but they need to be as effective (or more so) than the ones they're replacing.  This article is about different military rounds, but it makes the point:
https://www.pewpewtactical.com/7-62-nato-vs-5-56-nato/

I find it interesting that the current Barrett 50 caliber used by our troops is semi-automatic.  In civilian distance competitions, Barrett's bolt-action rifles in the same caliber are more accurate.  Perhaps the rate of fire (and the demands of urban combat) is nearly as important as it's accuracy in current combat scenarios.
https://thearmsguide.com/14089/snipers-choice-bolt-vs-semi-auto-precision-rifles/
https://gundigest.com/article/bolt-action-vs-semi-auto-rifle-for-precision-shooting

Windows 11 Password Change—Microsoft Confirms New Security Move For Millions

Use the same passkey on multiple devices with third party product support.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2024/10/09/windows-11-password-shock-microsoft-confirms-new-security-move-for-millions/

DVD Drives Turned Into Microscopes

https://hackaday.com/2022/10/01/dvd-drives-turned-into-microscopes/

https://hackaday.io/project/184536-dvd-pickup-laser-microscope

https://kototoibashi.github.io/dvd-pickup-microscope-poc/

" This build requires two DVD pickups. By scanning once horizontally and once vertically and measuring the returning light from the DVD laser, an image can be created. For this build, the second pickup is used to move the object itself. The entire device is controlled by an Analog Discovery 2, although this principle could be ported to other microcontroller platforms. Thanks to the extremely fine laser in a DVD and the precise movements of the motors found in the control machinery, the images obtained using this method have the potential to be more detailed than comparable visible light microscopes.

While this isn't quite scanning electron microscope territory, it's good enough to clearly image the internal workings of a de-capped integrated circuit."

How to Send (and sometimes receive) text messages from a PC:

Send and receive text messages from your PC (Win-11):
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/send-and-receive-text-messages-from-your-pc-43189e43-8121-35f6-7930-db095bf938a4
"If you haven't already set up messages, do the following:
    On your PC, in the "Phone Link", select Messages. NOTE: To connect an iPhone, your PC requires BlueTooth with Low Energy!
    To start a new conversation, select New message."
  ...

Simple ways to send a text message from your computer -
Find out how to text from a computer with online texting platforms, browser apps, email, and other tools.
  https://simpletexting.com/blog/how-to-text-from-computer/
  https://www.maketecheasier.com/send-sms-from-pc/  

•     Send a text from an online texting platform like SimpleTexting
•     Send a text with messages by Google - for Android phones
•     Text from a computer with Google Voice
•     Send a text on a PC with Microsoft's Phone Link app and Windows 11
•     Text from a computer via email
•     Send a text using your wireless carrier's website
•     Text from a computer using free SMS websites
•     Text Sync Apps

How to send a text message from a computer:
  https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-send-free-text-messages-online/
    "How to send texts via iMessage (iOS, iPadOS, macOS) - This method typically requires an Apple device with a cellular connection. However, because it also relies on Apple's iMessage format, users can bypass a cellular connection when messaging another Apple device."

How to Email a Phone Number - Each carrier assigns an email address to each unique phone number:
   "You'll need the person's phone number and what mobile provider they use for email."

Sending texts via email - each provider has its own individual gateway email:+

  https://www.lifewire.com/send-email-to-phone-number-5442838

                             SMS gateway              MMS gateway
AT&T             @txt.att.net             @mms.att.net
Boost Mobile     @sms.myboostmobile.com   @myboostmobile.com
Cricket Wireless @mms.cricketwireless.net @mms.cricketwireless.net
T-Mobile         @tmomail.net             @tmomail.net
U.S. Cellular    @email.uscc.net          @mms.uscc.net
Verizon          @vtext.com               @vzwpix.com

How to Send a Text From a Computer to a Phone:

  https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-send-a-text-from-your-computer-4175099

$7 MicroMac project recreates a Macintosh 128k on the Raspberry Pi Pico | Tom's Hardware

https://www.tomshardware.com/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-pico/micromac-project-recreates-a-macintosh-128k-on-the-raspberry-pi-pico-hardware-costs-less-than-dollar7

Current requirements for model rocket motors

If you have too much current, the igniters often fail without lighting up the motor. You want something like an incandescent lightbulb, not like a fuse.
https://www.privatedata.com/byb/rocketry/Ignitor/igniters.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1UDzZn_f2PeuxTaFI_HJy2pcgNESeD95xvibVEFQfxU54R8hRpytIu9WU_aem_IJ4rwzWLxEgs1XpSvvidDQ

Capacitor Plague (1999 - 2007)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

Malwarebytes antivirus, etc.

Malwarebytes paired with Windows Defender is reputed to be a pretty good solution for home users.

https://try.malwarebytes.com/get-premium/

Why you should utilize DiskPart on Windows, and how to use it

https://www.xda-developers.com/why-use-diskpart-windows-how-to-do-it/

Automotive Night Vision devices ...

Night Vision in a Vehicle: Is It Worth It? (July, 2022)  

https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/night-vision-in-vehicles/

Night Vision for Your Car or Truck:  (Amazon search: "night vision camera for cars." )
https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/diy/a31936162/want-night-vision-for-your-car-or-truck-there-are-options-at-every-price-point/
"Unlike night vision on Cadillacs and BMWs, the Lanmodo (https://www.lanmodo.com/lanmodo-1080p-automotive-night-vision-system.html) unit is not infrared. It takes whatever light is left out there once the sun goes down and sort of multiplies it on the little screen. I was amazed at what it could see.
...
And while those infrared cameras see only in black and white, the Lanmodo broadcast in beautiful color."

"Anyway, night vision stuff is fun, but to be really useful, in my opinion, you would need to incorporate the large animal warning software offered by many carmakers. So yes, it looks like you're gonna have to buy that Cadillac." or BMW, Mercedes, etc.

NIGHTRIDE THERMAL INC., LEADER IN VEHICLE MOUNTED THERMAL CAMERAS
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/729943949/nightride-thermal-inc-leader-in-vehicle-mounted-thermal-cameras-achieves-iso-9001-certification
https://getnightride.com/
NIGHTRIDE for Daily drivers (expensive):  https://getnightride.com/pages/what-is-nightride  -  uses your phone for display
Product comparison (scroll down):  https://getnightride.com/pages/nightride-trailblazer-trailblazer-grille-mount-with-ethernet

https://www.amazon.com/REDTIGER-Screen-Parking-Monitor-F7N/dp/B0C6YBHKJ5/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LtE8qHvuiWz5u9I4MIaPtotIXCtxPJRsxYIZcaryP6DNMBjcJ_wSiGnXoQmnGkwxPyGs3I-NKMab7Q-nGpm9fim8ow_0ZFJqA0fd0AdyTich3M4ZWzo4f4UWNFQcTEn_XDec_bgTCgi52yMnVhHjEkpbzbfv6HGm9hOaLwxuEO1l6u0zRv9kG64p0NZtkrgc90StLcdmB9_l3ZguCWrppIlt_G1NOOsqRFBRsOUBeMhEyxgO-2VnKVpH96dYO_25YelcElzujN4kKdt-xxs9YK-TQQEbSmzmlZBkgUzy62Q.Isw9MCvA3qqPky8EObSelTrhZaxg5pRoXk5ePWp7UoY&dib_tag=se&keywords=night+vision+camera+for+car&qid=1726421180&refinements=p_36%3A9200-%2Cp_72%3A1248879011%2Cp_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&s=electronics&sr=1-1
3.18" touchscreen.
"... enhanced super night vision ensures visibility even in low-light situations"
"... designed to withstand a wide range of temperature. Whether it's scorching hot summers or freezing winters"
"Android and IOS users can connect to dashcam WiFi via the Redtiger app. Although the dash cam is installed wired, you can enjoy wireless control on your smartphone, quickly access your recorded videos"

https://www.amazon.com/AZDOME-Touchscreen-Parking-Monitor-Support/dp/B0CB65N6VH/ref=pd_ci_mcx_pspc_dp_d_2_t_1?pd_rd_w=kyRBa&content-id=amzn1.sym.568f3b6b-5aad-4bfd-98ee-d827f03151e4&pf_rd_p=568f3b6b-5aad-4bfd-98ee-d827f03151e4&pf_rd_r=AYD2QWGCPFX2A11B0NV5&pd_rd_wg=fMMPa&pd_rd_r=b222cd57-4cc4-4ef5-a060-c2132e426fcf&pd_rd_i=B0CB65N6VH&th=1
4" touchscreen.  so-so reviews, not a big emphasis on night vision.  It supports 3 cameras at once (2 could be used as side mirrors, or 1 rear and 1 driver or load)

Night Vision System with IP67 Rear Camera: "night vision is Integrated with 8" screen" ($427+)
https://www.amazon.com/LANMODO-Dashcam-Inside-Camera-Hardware/dp/B0BWRDLW8Z/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=30XH735ODOMU6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lUVzVEEN5lS9cnXYOvorruZo-mh35m26XNaUP_nhUehmq59R7HoZPIc7Fj71hJ0waiIahIUQQ0S-qdv54U2TtlHmCC0qp8Bw3SezacpFq3VOSycPKLfgBdqqHzCoFaQirJM8lhBaqbIrrk5yds4eSjBlNK8iS_b1BKCzofxj6ansqs3RikYDUUDK0Hz_OAtXWi8MfrpD-itCSc3-r_LFj-8f1OcpSTp75pOKJB5JlKL_8whAcVip8dlSbVsHnayunFE3ABucpv0apB1q6j4kW0VQXsiyVqKFXrvZsddh954.WqdbQzxrYjleuaILuncmXtzUUe95plYHDDrC8yaOd9U&dib_tag=se&keywords=night%2Bvision%2Bcamera%2Bfor%2Bcar%2Blarge%2Bscreen&qid=1726422146&s=electronics&sprefix=night%2Bvision%2Bcamera%2Bfor%2Bcar%2Blarge%2Bscreen%2Celectronics%2C152&sr=1-1-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.c3015c4a-46bb-44b9-81a4-dc28e6d374b3&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

"Lanmodo Vast M1 accepts 12V input voltage, for cars with 24V output voltage, the Vast M1 cannot be connected to OBD2 port for power supply, it must be connected to cigarette lighter with a 24V to 12V voltage converter."
"Lanmodo Vast M1 adopts low-light imaging technology. It needs faint light like moonlight or street lights to form clear images. It is not recommended to be used under totally dark environments."

(*) Upgraded 10'' Rear View Mirror Dash Cam Night Vision 1080P FHD Full Touch Screen Front and Rear View Backup Camera ($60):
https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Mirror-Camera-Recording-G-Sensor/dp/B07Z3LXZLH?psc=1&pd_rd_w=2jxby&content-id=amzn1.sym.ea1d9533-fbb7-4608-bb6f-bfdceb6f6336&pf_rd_p=ea1d9533-fbb7-4608-bb6f-bfdceb6f6336&pf_rd_r=4DY5KFEV5EJVKK8CCY9S&pd_rd_wg=grZN7&pd_rd_r=488af979-0525-4b74-8107-9b366c64d3e3&ref_=sspa_dk_detail_1

• 10 Inch" TouchScreen
• Both 1080P front and 1080P rear camera
• Super night vision - both 1080P front and 1080p rear view camera presents night vision in low light conditions ...
• Long 10 meters backup camera cable(33ft)
• 128G SD card max (not included)
• 24H Parking Monitor - Loop Recording, G-sensor detects locks the collision footage. An extra ACC hardwire kit is needed for this
• You can easily adjust the brightness by swiping the screen left or right.

Chevy & GMC LS Cylinder Heads compared

https://auto-guild.com/products/ls-cylinder-heads-poster

Riley's rebuilds - carbureators

https://rileysrebuilds.myshopify.com/collections/all

Satellite Communicators - back country support

ZOLEO Satellite Communicator - back country support

Satellite messengers (not a voice phone) like this are increasingly being used by folks driving or hiking far from cell-phone coverage.  This one is linked to your smart-phone for a familiar interface (use your phone's regular messaging app over the Iridium satellite network).  It includes GPS and a stand-alone SOS button.

(Note that you'll also have to pay a monthly fee to use the satellite network your phone connects to, just like you would a cellular network.)

https://www.zoleo.com/en-us/satellite-communicator

Available at Cabela's, Amazon, REI, Scheels, Walmart and other online stores.
"... ZOLEO, the affordable accessory that extends your smartphone messaging coverage to everywhere on Earth and provides a safety system you can count on."

Walmart:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ZOLEO-Satellite-Communicator-Two-Way-Global-SMS-Text-Messenger-Email-Emergency-SOS-Alerting-Check-in-GPS-Location-Android-iOS-Smartphone-Accessory/477349850?from=/search

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ZOLEO-Satellite-Messenger/dp/B07X59RH7T/
Others: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=satellite+phones&crid=2QYR2CEJ89MN1&sprefix=satellite%2Caps%2C163&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_9

Cabela's: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/zoleo-satellite-communicator
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Best Satellite Phones (and messengers) of 2024:
    https://gearjunkie.com/technology/best-satellite-phone

The 5 Best Satellite Messengers of 2024:
    https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-personal-locator-beacon

The best satellite phones for global calls and connecting outdoors:
    https://www.popsci.com/story/reviews/best-satellite-phone/
"Messaging vs. calling -

When you travel or go on outside adventures, having a fully loaded SAT phone may not be necessary. Opting for a more basic satellite communication solution also means saving money. 

You've already got a smartphone—what you need is another layer of communication safety outside the cell phone zone. 

If you want to keep it simple, consider a satellite GPS messenger. These devices allow you to send messages to family and friends, letting them know you are safe, and also have important extra safety features like GPS location and SOS signals."

6 Best Satellite Phones of 2024:
    https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/technology/best-satellite-phones

Emergency SOS via satellite -  Apple's iPhone safety feature:
    https://www.pocket-lint.com/apple-emergency-sos-via-satellite-iphone-features-explained/

• "Apple introduced Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 and 15 models, allowing users to contact emergency services in areas without reception.
•  This feature is for emergencies only and cannot be used for calls or other purposes. It will be routed to the appropriate emergency services or the AAA for roadside assistance.
• Satellite coverage is required to use Emergency SOS via satellite, and users will be guided through the process of sending an emergency text."
• "This is a messaging system - you can't use it to place calls or anything else - it's for emergencies only and will be routed through to the appropriate emergency services, or the AAA for roadside assistance."
• " The service was only available in the US and Canada at launch. This includes Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, but not Guam or American Samoa.
• It expanded to the UK, Ireland, France and Germany in December 2022, and then to Australia and New Zealand in April 2023, and by the end of 2023 the list will also include Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.
• ... However, the roadside assistance part of Emergency SOS is currently US-only, since it's in tight partnership with the AAA."

If you see SOS, No Service, or Searching on your iPhone or iPad:
   https://support.apple.com/en-us/120000

Use Emergency SOS on your iPhone - With Emergency SOS, you can quickly and easily call for help and alert your emergency contacts:  https://support.apple.com/en-us/104992
"When you make a call with SOS, your iPhone automatically calls the local emergency number and shares your location information with emergency services1. In some countries and regions, you might need to choose the service that you need.
...
On iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can even use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services when no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is available."

Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone:  https://support.apple.com/en-us/101573

Iomega Zip drives

Still handy today for small files if you don't want to use USB sticks:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zip_drive

" Zip disks must be used in a drive with an equal or greater storage capacity. Higher-capacity drives can read lower-capacity media. The 250 MB drive writes much more slowly to 100 MB disks than the 100 MB drive,... They can be formatted in any version of Windows as normal... The 750 MB drive has read-only support for 100 MB disks."

" Sales of Zip drives and disks declined steadily from 1999 to 2003.^[10] Zip disks had a relatively high cost per megabyte compared to the falling costs of then-new CD-R and CD-RW discs."

"... during their prime, Zip disks greatly eased the exchange of files that were too big to fit into a standard 3+1⁄2-inch floppy or an email attachment, and there was no high-speed connection to transfer the file to the recipient."

"New" Thunderbirds (2002-2005)

The new Thunderbirds (2002 - 2005): http://portholeauthority.com/thenewtbird/link/sitemap.html

2002 Comparisons:  http://portholeauthority.com/thenewtbird/facts/compare.html

The last Thunderbird:  http://portholeauthority.com/thenewtbird/2005/lastt-bird.html

Swiss Micros calculators - updated HP clones with RPN

These get great reviews on FB's HP RPN site (https://www.facebook.com/groups/hpcalc/):

https://www.swissmicros.com/products

" The DM16L is the programmer's calculator designed to display and work with numbers in hexadecimal, decimal, octal and binary, and convert numbers from one base to another. A number of specialized functions are provided to assist the programmer, including left- and right-shifting, masking, and bitwise logical operations."  https://www.swissmicros.com/product/dm16l

CHF (Swiss Franc) 149 = about $175

Console Mode: " Once the serial connection to the calculator is established, calculator responds to switching to Serial Console Mode..."

" The USB connection features a command line interface for saving and restoring complete calculator states.

Firmware update via USB is possible using the SwissMicros Firmware Update Tool (on Windows) or standard lpc21isp utility on Linux and MacOS."

Uses RPN - "The Hewlett-Packard Voyager series of calculators were introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 1981.^[4] All members of this series are programmable, use Reverse Polish Notation, and feature continuous memory. Nearly identical in appearance, each model provided different capabilities and was aimed at different user markets." 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewlett-Packard_Voyager_series

" HP-16C – computer programmer's calculator (1982–1989)."

" The HP Voyager series calculators are keystroke programmable, meaning that it can remember and later execute sequences of keystrokes to solve particular problems of interest to the user. These keystroke programs, in addition to performing any operation normally available on the keyboard, can also make use of conditional and unconditional branching and looping instructions, allowing programs to perform repetitive operations and make decisions."

From FB: " They are slightly different beasts. The DM41X runs the original HP-41CX ROM code on emulated hardware while the DM42 runs the "Free42" software emulator on the native hardware. The DM41X is much faster than an original HP-41CX, but the DM42 is way, way faster than the DM41X. For comparison, the DM41X takes 407s to solve the "N Queens" problem on a 7x7 board; the DM42 solves it in 16s on battery power, and 6.8s on USB power."

https://www.swissmicros.com/product/dm42  CHF 249 = about $293 

"The DM42, one of our flagship line-up of RPN calculators, is a true homage to the legendary HP-42S, widely regarded as one of the most desired calculators ever made. The DM42 is the most precise calculator on the worldwide market - second to none - and uses the powerful and proven RPN logic. The DM42 runs Free42, based on a decimal floating-point math library and IEEE 754-2008 quadruple precision decimal floating-point, encoding numbers in 16 bytes and giving 34 decimal places of precision with exponents ranging from -6143 to +6144."

https://www.swissmicros.com/product/dm41x   CHF 249 = about $293

"The DM41X, another member of our flagship line-up of RPN calculators, is a faithful recreation of the software environment of the HP-41CX, one of the most versatile calculators ever created and the first alphanumerical calculator, in a modern hardware architecture. Easily share or back up your programs or your entire DM41X environment and use hundreds of existing, professionally developed software applications with this rugged calculator sporting a stainless steel case and a Gorilla Glass screen.Like all SwissMicros calculators, the DM41X uses the efficient and time-tested RPN logic."

Can I Get Sound Notifications on Both iPhone & Apple Watch

How to Get Sound Notifications on Both iPhone and Apple Watch:
https://techwiser.com/how-to-get-sound-notifications-on-both-iphone-and-apple-watch/
"If your iPhone is unlocked, your notifications will arrive on the iPhone itself and will not go to the Watch. It makes sense because if you are using the iPhone, you should be able to see the notifications on the phone itself. You shouldn't have to look at your watch to check the notifications.
...
On the other hand, if your iPhone is locked, which indicates that you are not using your phone, the notifications will arrive on the Apple Watch provided it is unlocked.
...
But the problem arises when a user wants notifications to arrive on both the devices i.e., Apple Watch and iPhone. You may ask, why? Well, every user has different reasons. The primary reason being the sound of the notification is louder on the iPhone than on the Watch.

Sadly, Apple doesn't provide any direct setting to achieve this behavior. However, there's a workaround that lets you get notifications on both Apple Watch and iPhone."
"To get notifications on both Apple Watch and iPhone, you need to turn off the wrist detection feature. Unfortunately, you will have to sacrifice certain things after you turn off wrist detection:

•     Heart rate tracking and it's notifications are turned off.
•     Your watch will not lock or unlock automatically.
•     You will have to enter the passcode to authorize payments using Apple Watch.
•     Emergency calls will not be made in case of fall detection.
•     Some other activity measurements could also stop working."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"... by design, when using an iPhone that is locked, it will route all text messages notification alerts to the iWatch.  If the phone is unlocked it will not."

"You can turn off Apple Watch notifications and then get all your notifications on the iPhone by using the iPhone "Watch" app -> Messages -> Notifications Off"

"You can send Apple Watch Feedback and ask for a feature change
Https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html
They will not reply, but it does get read."

"     If the watch is on silent (which it can be if the phone has been switched to silent during the day, the watch stays on silent) you don't get anything.

On your phone, go to the Watch app. Go to General>Do Not Disturb>Mirror iPhone and turn it off. That way, your watch will not get switched to silent when your phone is. Also, go to Sounds & Haptics. Make sure that Haptic Alerts are enabled and that you have ticked "Prominent'. "

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Welcome to Apple Support Communities!  

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254308929?sortBy=rank

If we understand your post correctly, audible notifications on your phone randomly stop. W'ed like to help!

Let's check to ensure  that a feature called Deliver Quietly is off. When Deliver Quietly is on these alerts occur in the Control Center, but they don't appear on the Lock screen, don't have a banner or badge symbol, and don't make any noises. Check out the section, Manage notifications in the article below.

Use notifications on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. https://support.apple.com/HT201925

If the issue remains after following those steps, try the steps in the article below for issues with sound.
If you hear no sound or distorted sound from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch speaker. https://support.apple.com/HT203794 "

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities.

It sounds like you're having problems with Notifications and we're happy to help! If you haven't done so already, follow the steps found in the Apple Support article If you hear no sound or distorted sound from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch speaker. https://support.apple.com/kb/HT203794

If you're still having problems with Notifications, Connect iPhone to the internet (https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-to-the-internet-iphd1cf4268/ios), and then try the following steps:

1. "Make sure that the app supports notifications. Go to Settings > Notifications, select the app, and make sure that Allow Notifications is on.
2. If you have notifications turned on for an app but you're not receiving alerts, you might not have Banners selected. Go to Settings > Notifications, select the app, then select Banners.
3. Make sure that you're signed in to your Apple ID. https://support.apple.com/kb/HT204053
4. Make sure that Do Not Disturb is off. https://support.apple.com/kb/HT204321
5. If you've recently installed an app or restored from a backup, open the app to start getting notifications."

For additional information check out the Apple Support articles below.

• Adjust the volume on iPhone:
  https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-the-volume-iphb71f9b54d/ios
• Change iPhone sounds and vibrations:
  https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-sounds-and-vibrations-iph07c867f28/ios
• Use notifications on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch:
  https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201925

Router Wi-Fi Nightmare

https://riorouter.com/pages/chinese-router-security-risks

Rio - a router that promised enterprise-level security for the average homeowner.

Free Antivirus Download for Windows | ESET NOD32 Antivirus | ESET

Free trial …
https://www.eset.com/in/home/antivirus-for-windows/download/

Malwarebytes Free: Free Antivirus 2024 | 100% Free & Easy Install

Free version:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download

Malware protection. Better than Antivirus | Malwarebytes

Replace Norton?
https://try.malwarebytes.com/get-premium/

Antivirus & cyber security for Windows, Android or Mac | ESET

Replace Norton?
https://www.eset.com/us/mobile-protect-all-devices/

These Are the Top 10 Under-Appreciated American Cars of the 2000s

https://www.thedrive.com/news/27311/these-are-the-top-10-under-appreciated-american-cars-of-the-2000s

10 of the Biggest Car Tech Innovations Of the Past 75 Years

Tech that made our cars safer & more efficient:
https://www.motortrend.com/features/biggest-car-technology-advancements-since-1949/

Transfer Photos from iPhone to Windows 11

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Windows 11:
https://www.howtogeek.com/765820/how-to-quickly-transfer-photos-from-iphone-to-windows-11/
"right-click your iPhone in File Explorer and select "Import" to import them automatically."
"After Windows has found all the new photos and videos it hasn't imported before, it will show you how many can be imported.
If you want to experiment with Windows 11's (somewhat confusing) attempt to organize your photos, you can choose the "Review, organize, and group items to import option." However, we recommend doing a simple import: Select "Import all new items now," then click the "Import" button."
"If you'd like to erase all the photos and videos from your iPhone after you're done importing, place a checkmark beside "Erase After Importing.""
"Open a File Explorer window and navigate to your Pictures folder. In that folder, you'll find a dated folder that contains all the photos and videos that you just imported."
"If you notice a bunch of AAE files in the folder with the pictures, don't be alarmed. Those are special metadata files Apple uses to store photo editing info. They are useless on Windows, so it's safe to delete any .AAE files you find."

Import photos and videos from an iPhone to PC -

    (NOTE: Photos sometimes doesn't work without rebooting the iPhone and the PC):

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/import-photos-and-videos-from-an-iphone-to-pc-2e4e4db4-4c3d-041c-b88f-3ee4358dd95e

How do you hide your SSID?

https://moonlock.com/what-is-ssid?

Every New SUV, Truck, and Crossover You Can Buy with a V-8 Engine

Scroll down for more affordable options.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/rankings/g61600422/v8-suvs-trucks/

Wireless Carplay- A must have Feature | Toyota Sienna Forum - siennachat.com

https://www.siennachat.com/threads/wireless-carplay-a-must-have-feature.74558/

Reader Submitted: 5 More Unkillable Gas Engines With Bulletproof Reliability | DrivingLine

From the small-block Chevy to a Nissan straight six, and more:
https://www.drivingline.com/articles/reader-submitted-5-more-unkillable-gas-engines-with-bulletproof-reliability/

It Runs Forever: 3 Of America's Most Successful Unkillable Engines | DrivingLine

A selection of straight sixes:
https://www.drivingline.com/articles/it-runs-forever-3-of-americas-most-successful-unkillable-engines/

Bulletproof Engines: 4 More Unkillable Motors From Detroit, Japan, And Europe | DrivingLine

A V8, V6, and 2 I-4s:

https://www.drivingline.com/articles/bulletproof-engines-4-more-unkillable-motors-from-detroit-japan-and-europe/

Software similar to Norton Commander

Several software packages that look similar to Norton Commander and run on a variety of operating systems:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Commander

Midnight Commander for Linux

An updated clone of Norton Commander - possibly a good tool for Linux:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Commander

WordStar 7, the last ever DOS version, is re-released for free

"The preferred tool of Arthur C Clarke, Anne Rice and George R R Martin":

https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/06/wordstar_7_the_last_ever/

" Sawyer has taken the final release, packaged it up along with some useful tools — including DOS emulators for modern Windows – and shared the result."

(https://sfwriter.com/blog/?p=5806)

" The download is 680MB, but as well as the app itself, full documentation, and some tools to help translate WordStar documents to more modern formats, it also includes copies of two FOSS tools that will let you run this MS-DOS application on modern Windows: DOSbox-X and vDosPlus. Regular Register readers may recognize both from our story on how to run DOS on a 64-bit OS from last year. Sawyer also offers a handy command reference [PDF]."

" While it certainly has been abandoned since the end of the 20th century, the term "abandonware" isn't a legal one. It's not clear to us who owns the intellectual property. We doubt it's one of the surviving offshoots, today's Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, but it could be another offshoot, Software MacKiev. Either way, it's very unlikely that the owners will care."

Emmabuntüs is a Linux distribution geared toward those who don't know Linux

Try in older PCs or laptops:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/emmabuntus-is-a-linux-distribution-geared-toward-those-who-dont-know-linux/

AntiX Linux: Not Pretty but Highly Functional

Apparently a good O/S for older PCs & laptops:
https://www.linuxinsider.com/story/antix-linux-not-pretty-but-highly-functional-86942.html

Home Wi-Fi Issues? Three Words: Location, Location, Location - CNET

Look into mesh networking …
https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/home-wi-fi-issues-three-words-location-location-location/

Top 5 Smart Watches For Senior Citizens - spadeandco

Naturally, their product comes out on top.
https://spadeandco.com/pages/top-5-smart-watches-for-senior-citizens

Raspberry Pi Car Dashboard, etc.

DIY Raspberry Pi Digital Dash Cluster Build Guide (video + files):
https://www.beavismotorsport.com/RaspberryPiDash/

What is a PiDash? The RaspberryPi Digital Dash with TunerStudio (Feb 2023):
https://www.diyautotune.com/news/tuning-tips/what-is-a-pidash-the-raspberrypi-digital-dash-with-tunerstudio/
PiDash WiKi:  https://www.bartonekdragracing.com/encyclopedia/pidash-knowledge-base/
"10/03/2023 v1.6 is at 80% completion.  It boots up, loads TunerStudio. VNC is there so you can remote into it to tune your vehicle.  The "USB keyboard/mouse not working" is because the image needed updating.  BTW, the PiDash is moving to the NexGenEFI website.  I'll update this page with the link to the updated PiDash version."
https://www.nexgenefi.com/pidash/
PiDash 5:  https://pidashs.com/products/pidash
https://pidashs.com/collections/pidash

EFI Analytics:  https://www.tunerstudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133&catid=48

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data, not car - 7 Dashboards That Run on Raspberry Pi:
https://chipwired.com/raspberry-pi-dashboards/

These Free LinkedIn Courses Will Teach You How to Use AI | Lifehacker

https://lifehacker.com/tech/free-linkedin-courses-to-learn-how-to-use-ai

Back when folks installed PCs in cars (Carputer)

https://www.thedrive.com/news/culture/before-we-all-got-screen-fatigue-there-was-nothing-cooler-than-a-carputer

Open Source AI Tools for Linux

10 Top Open Source AI Tools for Linux (May 2024):
  https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/10-top-open-source-ai-tools-for-linux/

*** TensorFlow: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/introduction-to-tensorflow/
****PyTorch: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/linear-regression-using-pytorch/
    Keras: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-install-keras-on-linux/
    Scikit-learn: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-install-scikit-learn-on-linux/
    Apache MXNet: https://mxnet.apache.org/versions/1.9.1/
    Theano: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-install-theano-on-ubuntu/
*   Caffe: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-install-caffe-on-ubuntu/
    OpenCV: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-install-opencv-for-python-in-linux/
**  H2O.ai: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/best-h20-ai-alternatives/
    Fastai: https://docs.fast.ai/   -   https://github.com/fastai/fastai

10 Top Open Source Artificial Intelligence Tools for Linux (Oct 2023) no specific order:
    https://www.tecmint.com/open-source-artificial-intelligence-tools-softwares-linux/
     Deep Learning For Java (Deeplearning4j) - https://github.com/deeplearning4j
*    Caffe – Deep Learning Framework - http://caffe.berkeleyvision.org/
**   H20 – Distributed Machine Learning Framework - https://h2o.ai/
      MLlib – Machine Learning Library - https://spark.apache.org/mllib/
      Apache Mahout - https://mahout.apache.org/
      Open Neural Networks Library (OpenNN) - https://www.opennn.net/
***  TensorFlow - https://www.tensorflow.org/
****  PyTorch - https://pytorch.org/
      Apache SystemDS - https://systemds.apache.org/
      NuPIC - https://www.numenta.com/

Ubuntu - A guide to MLOps:  https://ubuntu.com/engage/mlops-guide
The state of AI in 2022—and a half decade in review (Dec 2022):
    https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai-in-2022-and-a-half-decade-in-review

What is Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI)?  A guide to the open source way for doing AI (May 2024):
    https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/what-rhel-ai-guide-open-source-way-doing-ai
    Granite (from IBM Research): https://huggingface.co/ibm/granite-7b-base
"Large Language Models (LLMs) and services based on them (like GPT and chatGPT) are well-known and increasingly adopted by enterprise organizations. These models are most often closed source, or with a custom license. More recently, a number of open models have started to appear (like Mistral, Llama, OpenELM). ...
LLMs today are large and general-purpose. Red Hat envisions a world of purpose-built, cost- and performance-optimized models, surrounded by world class MLOps tooling placing data privacy, sovereignty, and confidentiality at the forefront."

AI on Linux: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best Tools, Platforms, & Frameworks (July 2023):
https://markaicode.com/ai-on-linux-a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-best-tools-platforms-and-frameworks/
"What are the best AI tools for Linux?

•   Visual Studio Code is a free and open-source code editor that supports many programming languages ... It has many features that make it ideal for AI development. Visual Studio Code also has a large collection of extensions that can enhance its functionality and compatibility with various AI platforms and frameworks ...
•   PyCharm is a powerful and popular IDE for Python development, which is one of the most widely used programming languages for AI. ... PyCharm also has built-in support for many AI platforms and frameworks, such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, and more...
•   NumPy is a fundamental library for scientific computing in Python, which provides high-performance multidimensional arrays and various mathematical functions and operations. NumPy is essential for AI development, as it enables you to manipulate and process large amounts of data efficiently and easily. NumPy also serves as the basis for many other AI libraries, such as SciPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, and more. ...
•   SciPy is a library that extends the functionality of NumPy, by providing additional modules and functions for scientific and technical computing, such as linear algebra, optimization, statistics, signal processing, and more. SciPy is useful for AI development, as it allows you to perform various complex calculations and analyses on your data. ...
•   Pandas is a library that provides high-level data structures and tools for data analysis and manipulation in Python. Pandas is useful for AI development, as it enables you to work with various types of data, such as tabular, time series, text, and more. ...
•   Scikit-learn is useful for AI development, as it allows you to implement various machine learning tasks, such as classification, regression, clustering, dimensionality reduction, feature extraction, and more. Scikit-learn also has a consistent and user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to use and integrate with other libraries. ...
•   GCC is a free and open-source compiler that supports many programming languages, including C, C++, Fortran, and more. GCC is useful for AI development, as it allows you to compile and optimize your code for various platforms and architectures, such as x86, ARM, and more. ...
•   GDB is a free and open-source debugger that supports many programming languages, including C, C++, Python, and more. GDB is useful for AI development, as it allows you to inspect and modify the state of your program, find and fix errors, and trace the execution of your code. GDB also has support for various AI platforms and frameworks, such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, and more. ..."

"What are the best AI platforms for Linux?
AI platforms are software applications that provide a comprehensive and integrated environment for developing, deploying, and using AI applications on Linux.

•   TensorFlow is one of the most popular and powerful AI platforms which provides a flexible and scalable framework for building and running various types of AI applications, such as deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. It has many features that make it ideal for AI development, such as a high-level API (Keras), a low-level API (TensorFlow Core), a distributed and parallel computing support, a large collection of pre-trained models and datasets, and more. ...
•   PyTorch ... provides a dynamic and expressive framework for building and running various types of AI applications, such as deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. PyTorch has many features that make it ideal for AI development, such as a dynamic computational graph,native support for Python, a distributed and parallel computing support, a large collection of pre-trained models and datasets, and more. ...
•   Keras is a high-level API that provides a simple and intuitive way to build and run various types of AI applications, such as deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. Keras is compatible with both TensorFlow and PyTorch, which means that you can use either of them as the backend for your Keras models. ...
•   MXNet ... has many features that make it ideal for AI development, such as a hybrid symbolic-imperative programming model, a multiple-language support, a distributed and parallel computing support, a large collection of pre-trained models and datasets, and more. ..."

"What are the best AI frameworks for Linux?
AI frameworks are software applications that provide a specific and specialized environment for developing, deploying, and using AI applications on Linux. ...

  OpenAI is a research organization that aims to create and promote artificial intelligence that can benefit humanity, without causing harm or being misused. OpenAI has developed and released many AI frameworks for Linux, such as:

•         OpenAI Gym is a framework that provides a collection of environments and tasks for testing and benchmarking various AI algorithms, such as reinforcement learning, evolutionary algorithms, and more. It allows you to compare and evaluate the performance of your AI agents, and learn from the best practices and solutions. ...
•         OpenAI Baselines is a framework that provides a collection of high-quality implementations of various AI algorithms, such as reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and more. It allows you to use and modify the state-of-the-art AI methods, and apply them to your own problems and domains. ...
•         OpenAI Spinning Up is a framework that provides a collection of educational resources and tools for learning and practicing various AI algorithms, such as reinforcement learning, deep learning, and more. It allows you to gain a solid foundation and understanding of the AI concepts and techniques, and improve your AI skills and knowledge. ...

    Hugging Face is a company that focuses on creating and providing natural language processing (NLP) solutions and tools for various domains and applications, such as text generation, text summarization, text classification, and more. Hugging Face has developed and released many AI frameworks for Linux, such as:

•         Transformers is a framework that provides a collection of pre-trained models and pipelines for various NLP tasks, such as text generation, text summarization, text classification, and more. It allows you to use and fine-tune the state-of-the-art NLP models, and apply them to your own data and domains. ...
•         Datasets is a framework that provides a collection of datasets and metrics for various NLP tasks, such as text generation, text summarization, text classification, and more. It allows you to access and load the high-quality NLP data, and evaluate the performance of your NLP models. ...
•         Tokenizers is a framework that provides a collection of tokenizers for various NLP models, such as BERT, GPT, XLNet, and more. It allows you to preprocess and tokenize your text data, and optimize the speed and memory efficiency of your NLP models. ...

    Fast.ai is a company and a community that aims to make AI accessible and practical for everyone, by providing courses, books, software, and resources for learning and applying AI. Fast.ai has developed and released many AI frameworks for Linux, such as:

•         Fastai is a framework that provides a high-level API for building and running various types of AI applications, such as deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. It allows you to use and customize the best practices and solutions for AI, and apply them to your own problems and domains. ...
•         Fastcore is a framework that provides a collection of low-level utilities & tools for Python development, such as functions, classes, decorators, and more. It allows you to write and optimize your Python code, and enhance the functionality and compatibility of your AI applications. ...
•         Nbdev is a framework that provides a tool for developing and documenting your Python code in Jupyter notebooks. It allows you to write and test your code interactively, and generate documentation and web pages automatically. ..."

Door Locks, Digital Entry Locks, and other home security devices

For escape from a courtyard where the door and the gate are locked:

First, the simplest & least expensive solution is to fasten a pushbutton key safe somewhere inside the courtyard and install conventional locks on the doors:

http://www.amazon.com/AccessPoint-Original-Slimline-Pushbutton-Combination/dp/B000GTQU22/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1338987189&sr=1-1

 

To avoid being locked out, install knob or lever locks that either don't have a key, or a knob lock that unlocks when you turn the inside handle. 

• I almost never install key locking knobs/levers under a deadbolt anymore. One less keyhole to mess with when in a hurry, they have no security anyway, and harder to get locked out. 
• Non locking is called a passage function (or hallway/closet lock). 
• A keyed lever that unlocks when you turn the inside handle is called "push button locking" as opposed to "turn button locking". The ANSI designation is F82.

Regarding digital entry locks, I have never seen a residential one with a keypad on both sides, or a double cylinder deadbolt with a keypad. There is one commercial double keypad, Trilogy by Alarm Lock. Pure Junk ...

 

Most of the residential keypad units are also not well designed and succumb quickly to a variety of attacks all of which can be found on the internet. I would stay away from the Kwikset, Weiser, & Master. 

 

If you really want double cylinder deadbolts AND keypad control, you will need to go to a commercial solution with either an electrified mortise lock for the deadbolt, or a standard deadbolt and a special electric strike on the frame. Probably $1,000 per door installed.

 

What I use at home is Schlage. I have the Schlage Link (Now rebranded as Nexia).  You can get digital entry handles or deadbolts, cameras, an energy management thermostat, and other sensors all on a Z-Wave network. 

A Nexia Bridge connects to your router to allow you to control your home through a broadband Internet connection. It communicates wirelessly with many other Nexia-compatible Z-Wave products so that you have complete control over your home, whether you're at home or away. 

You can control the system via iPhone or a web browser and an annual subscription fee is charged, about $100.00.  You can set schedules, scenes, events, view the cameras, unlock a door, change the temperature, etc. 

 

Regarding keylocks, my short answer is Schlage, however the sliding door my be problematic. I need to see a picture & dimensions, especially of any existing lock that was provided.

STAY AWAY from the so called "Smart Key" products that allow you to rekey the lock yourself. There are some very well known attacks. 

For example, on the Kwikset, cut a key to all #4 cuts, and using a vise grip, insert the key and turn. The lock breaks and opens. 

Schlage had a similar product, but to their credit, removed it quickly from the market. Not so with Kwikset. 

With key locks, you get what you pay for. Good locks cost more.

A Dozen Things to NEVER Throw Out, According to Pro Organizers

https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/cleaning-tips/a61109797/things-professional-organizers-never-throw-out/

When It’s OK to Use AI at Work (and When It’s Not) | Lifehacker

https://lifehacker.com/when-it-s-ok-to-use-ai-at-work-and-when-its-not-1850683978

Democrats want their president to have more executive power, but not Trump (or any Republican)

https://redstate.com/joesquire/2024/07/02/trump-could-be-a-tyrant-so-the-democrats-want-the-supreme-court-to-stop-taking-away-executive-power-n2176254

"This Supreme Court term has been an absolutely stellar one for those who like the idea of the federal bureaucracy being restrained. It was also a big one for Donald Trump - not only did he win in the Fischer case, but he walked away from his own immunity case with more guaranteed immunity than I think even he was expecting.
This term's cases showed a conservative majority (and, at times, a coalition majority) that laws are being too broadly interpreted. The federal agencies of the executive branch are interpreting too much power from laws that are too vaguely written by the lawmakers of the legislative branch. As a result, our laws and regulations are being wielded with reckless disregard for the common man."

"But their frustration over the immunity case is directly at odds with their frustration over the Chevron case and others. They are torn between their love of executive branch power and their hatred of a potential Trump as the leader of the executive branch. ...
Their chief complaint about the immunity case is that it would grant Trump too much power as president. But their chief complaint about several of the other cases is that it takes away too much power from the executive branch."

"The immunity decision is much more narrow than the Democrats will honestly admit. The majority was clear in its ruling - absolute immunity extends only to official acts as president. In other words, if it isn't a power granted to the president via the Constitution or by Congress, then it isn't covered in the Supreme Court's decision.
So, with all due respect to Sonia Sotomayor, it's foolish to claim that Trump could arbitrarily assassinate political opponents and be covered by presidential immunity."

If that power existed, then the current president (Biden) could have Trump assassinated ...

"What the Supreme Court did in those cases restricted Trump from far more power than he gained in the immunity ruling because those agencies are within the scope of his office."

"The Democrats aren't mad because they think the rulings are bad. They do think that, but their anger is more over the fact that they are struggling to jail Trump before the election (that's been their strategy for beating Trump from Day 1) and the fact that they don't actually want the legislative branch to have to do work. They would rather Congress serve as a bunch of ideological figureheads while the executive branch does all the heavy lifting.

'

Mossberg 500 Persuader & Cruiser Reviews

Mossberg 500 Persuader & Cruiser | Gun Review:
https://athlonoutdoors.com/article/mossberg-500-persuader-gun-review/

Some folks rely on the distinctive "shuck-shuck" sound a pump gun makes as a deterrent.  My instructors advised trying hard to make no sounds until the gun goes bang if the situation warrants that.  Either way, a 12-guage pump shotgun is a powerful tool to end home invasions.

"Pump guns are noted for their reliability. You can depend on a manually operated pump, which is comforting when lives are on the line. In the unlikely event of a misfire, cycling the slide will quickly have you back in business."
"No other type of weapon has a longer record of proven battlefield success."
"The Mossberg 500 Persuader sports a conventional buttstock with a recoil pad. The pump-action forend on the test gun has an integral tactical light that throws a bright, high-intensity beam when the rubber insert on either side of the forend is squeezed. This L3 light from Insight Technology produces a tungsten-halogen beam rated at 125 peak lumens, with a battery life of 90 minutes of continuous operation. The L3 features a "temporarily on," a "temporarily off" and a "strobe" setting, and is operated by an ambidextrous pressure pad on either side of the slide handle.
...
The light is bright enough to temporarily blind your assailant, while giving you a clear picture of who's facing you and where to aim. If you feel you're in imminent danger and must shoot, the shotgun eliminates the need to "double-tap," or fire a pair of closely spaced shells, as you would with a handgun."
"The Persuader's 18.5-inch barrel gives the gun an overall length of just 38.5 inches, making it easy to swing in the confines of any room in your house. If you want something even more compact, the Cruiser, which comes with a pistol grip, measures just 31 inches overall. This length comes in handy for carrying the gun in your car or a truck and is ideal when there's little room to deploy a full-length shotgun."
"A tab on the left side of the receiver and to the rear of the trigger allows you to cycle the action to remove a loaded shell from the chamber. This tab also serves as a loaded chamber indicator—if the full-length of the tab is visible, the action is loaded, cocked and ready to fire. If the tab is retracted into the action, the chamber is empty."
"The receiver is drilled and tapped to allow mounting a scope or adding a Picatinny rail. A variety of sighting options are available, including ghost-ring aperture sights, laser sights and virtually any optic that fits a Picatinny rail. Both the Persuader and Cruiser shotguns come standard with a white-dot front bead."
NOTE: according to MidwayUSA, these models have been discontinued, but the Model 500 is still available in many variations.

You can convert any Mossberg shotgun (and other popular shotguns) with an 18.5" barrel and a weapon light like the Streamlight TL Racker Weapon Light:
    https://www.streamlight.com/products/detail/tl-racker
    https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69600-TL-Racker-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B07P9RSS32
    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102084710?pid=753201
    https://www.brownells.com/gear/tactical-gear/flashlights-accessories/tl-racker-shotgun-forend-lights/

Barrel:  

    https://www.mossberg.com/parts/type/barrels.html?mb_barrel_length=18.5%22&model=500

    https://www.brownells.com/gun-parts/shotgun-parts/shotgun-barrels/500-barrels/

Everything AI allows you to do in Windows 11 that saves you time | Mashable

https://mashable.com/article/windows-11-ai-copilot-saves-time

Build an your own cheap NAS (Network Attached Storage)

How cheap can you build a NAS (Network Attached Storage)?
https://www.xda-developers.com/how-cheap-can-you-build-a-nas/
"All you need to ensure is that you have SATA slots for your HDDs  ..."

How to turn an old PC into a NAS:  https://www.xda-developers.com/how-turn-old-pc-into-nas/
"Any old desktop PC will do, but the better the hardware the more capabilities you have."
"Plenty of people use old Raspberry Pis for media streaming without transcoding and with a hard drive attached for data storage."

"For a NAS, you'll want to pick up specialized NAS drives, but that's all ...
You'll just need to have enough SATA connections on your motherboard and space for the drives inside your computer.
If your PC has things like a DVD reader, you can even buy adapters from the 5.25-inch slots desktops typically use to get them to fit a 3.5-inch SATA drive."
"It could be good to also pick up an SSD for booting from. This doesn't have to be large, and in most cases, a 64GB SSD is more than enough. You can get a larger one and partition it if you'd like to use the secondary partition for caching, but you don't need to and you'll be completely fine without it."

"TrueNAS Core is technically more supported than TrueNAS Scale, and it's based on FreeBSD. Most people would prefer Scale for running actual apps, so if you want your NAS to be more than just storage, you probably don't want to go with Core unless you're comfortable doing some advanced tinkering. Core is very stable with wider documentation and longer support, but Scale will typically be easier, especially if you already know your way around Linux."

"TrueNAS Scale is a Debian-based (so, Linux) OS that you can install on a NAS, and it manages your Docker containers using Kubernetes. Containers are how you run most programs on a NAS, where a container is essentially an isolated digital island for an application to run in. To allow it to connect to other containers on the machine and to share data, you build "bridges" between these islands by allowing them to directly connect to each other. Containers are naturally isolated, which is great for security and means that applications only share the data that you let them share."

"OpenMediaVault looks dated, but it's very functional. You're not locked into using the ZFS file system meaning that there's a lot of flexibility in adding and changing drives around, and there's also no real hardware requirements. OpenMediaVault can run on a Raspberry Pi if you want it to, and it's a lot more straightforward and to the point in its UI. I find myself sometimes clicking around in TrueNAS to find options for things in a sea of menus, whereas OpenMediaVault is a lot more deliberate. It's different software for different people, but it's worth checking out too."

TrueNAS operating system:  https://www.truenas.com/
TrueNAS CORE Minimum Requirements -
64-Bit CPU | 8 GB RAM (16 GB Recommended) | 16 GB Boot Drive (SSD Encouraged) | At Least One Attached Disk | Network Port | Hardware RAID Not Recommended
https://www.truenas.com/truenas-core/
https://www.truenas.com/download-truenas-core/

Best hard drives for NAS:  https://www.xda-developers.com/best-nas-hard-drive/
Look for Western Digital WD Purple drives for under $100 ... some of the old 2Tb versions are available for less than $50.
"Alternatively, you can go for the affordable Seagate BarraCuda 1TB hard drive. While it lacks the high reliability or better storage capacity of the other drives on this list, it's an inexpensive option if you plan to use your NAS as a media server.
That said, if you're planning to outfit your PC with a quick and snappy storage drive, it's better to invest in a high-speed SSD instead. From ultra-fast PCIe SSDs to easy-to-carry external SSDs, there's quite a lot to choose from, too."

"...a great Google Photos alternative: Nextcloud. Nextcloud is a self-hosted cloud storage provider that you can access and automatically synchronize from multiple devices. I have all of my photos that I capture on my smartphone automatically back up to my Nextcloud instance, meaning I can then access those photos anywhere else really easily as well."

"Jellyfin is similar to Plex except that it's free and completely open source, but you can self host your own media with it. For example, if you have a lot of ripped DVDs and TV shows (I do), then you can host these and stream them to your devices in your home. There are a ton of automations you can set up with Jellyfin and many different applications that you can install to work with it, so be sure to do some digging into this one if you're interested."
------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative views -
Everything you need to build a DIY NAS and store all your data:
https://www.nasmaster.com/everything-you-need-to-build-your-own-nas/

How to turn an old PC into a NAS server:  
https://www.nasmaster.com/how-to-turn-an-old-pc-into-a-nas-server/

"An old PC is a perfect candidate for recycling into a NAS."
"A NAS is run continuously like a server. I recommend Seagate IronWolf or Western Digital Red (Plus) drives for NAS enclosures."

"Running a NAS is a great way to save money on subscription services. Have an active account with Spotify, Netflix, and Google Drive? Cancel them all and run everything from your single NAS server. This will cost a considerable upfront sum of money but will save you much more in the long term. Plex Media Server can catalog all your photos, movies, music, and shows for streaming to almost any device.

Then there's the potential for hosting websites from the server. Play Minecraft or some other online games with custom server support? That's possible too! Then there's security with some surveillance system apps on your old PC-turned-NAS. Last, you can use the NAS for storing data such as backups."

"It's possible to run a NAS with your existing copy of Windows. This is an OS you're perhaps most familiar with and it's good to go if already installed. Some issues with a desktop OS such as Windows are unnecessary bloat running in the background, slowing the NAS down, and Windows does not support RAID.

Luckily, there are a few server environments available without paying a penny! One of the most popular is OpenMediaVault. It may not have the flashiest user interface, but this robust OS has excellent hardware support and is incredibly easy to use. Another great OS is Unraid, which acts differently and more as just a bunch of disks (JBOD).
What is openmediavault (Free, Open Source)? https://www.openmediavault.org/
Unraid ($49, free trial) - a powerful, easy-to-use OS for servers & NAS: https://unraid.net/
"Unraid OS lets you use what you have to build what you want."
"Mix and match hard drives of any size to build your server and grow your storage capacity."

Finally, there's TrueNAS CORE. This is another free server environment that offers excellent performance and reliability. It's geared toward those with advanced knowledge and experience but can be mastered in a few hours with handy guides if you're building your first DIY NAS. TrueNAS SCALE is the better option for running apps."

Best NAS drives 2024: Reliable HDD, SSD, and M.2 cache: https://www.nasmaster.com/best-nas-drives/
"The best NAS drive would be one that's specifically designed for use in servers. You could go all-out and pay big bucks for enterprise-grade drives, but manufacturers including Seagate and Western Digital have NAS-specific HDDs and SSDs. Just don't go and use your old desktop PC drives."

"We'd usually not recommend an SSD for NAS storage since it's not the best choice due to how flash storage degrades over time through use. Mechanical drives are better overall and don't have a finite amount of data that can be written."

------------------------------------------------------------
How to Turn a Raspberry Pi Into a NAS for Whole-Home File Sharing:
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-a-nas-for-whole-home-file-sharing
"... a standard external drive will do the trick in most cases. However, since the Pi may not be able to supply enough power to all your drives, you may need one that plugs into the wall or a powered USB hub. If you want a cleaner setup, you can use an internal drive designed for network attached storage, but that would require a big enough case."
"A NAS-Friendly Case (optional): If you want your system to have a clean look, it may behoove you to get an enclosure that fits your Pi and connected drives. This will also help to organize the mess of wires and cables this project will create."

"Start by installing Raspbian with the recommended software as described in our beginner's guide (https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/beginners-guide-how-to-get-started-with-raspberry-pi#:~:text=How%20to%20Install%20an%20Operating%20System%20on%20an%20SD%20Card)."

"If you prefer, you can SSH into your Pi and perform these commands from another PC."
   {print the detailed instructions}

How to build a Raspberry Pi NAS:
   https://www.raspberrypi.com/tutorials/nas-box-raspberry-pi-tutorial/
"To SSH into the Raspberry Pi, you'll use the hostname you set in Imager. If you have issues connecting using this method, you may want to use the Raspberry Pi's IP address instead."
   {print the detailed instructions}

------------------------------------------------------------
How to Build a DIY NAS with TrueNAS CORE:
  https://www.storagereview.com/review/how-to-build-a-diy-nas-with-truenas-core

Ultimate DIY NAS Build Guide: https://www.wundertech.net/diy-nas-build-guide/
"This also allows you to customize the NAS device based on your overall budget ..."
"... my favorite feature of OpenMediaVault is how user-friendly it is and its compatibility with different types of hardware. Due to how easy it is to use OpenMediaVault, it's a great NAS operating system to learn on."

TrueNAS Core vs. Scale: Detailed Comparison:
   https://www.wundertech.net/truenas-core-vs-truenas-scale/

Everything you need to know to build your own NAS:
   https://www.windowscentral.com/heres-what-you-need-know-when-building-your-own-nas
"Rather than stockpiling a collection of external hard drives with precious backups and home media, building a network-attached storage (NAS) machine helps keep everything neat and organized as one reliable solution. NAS servers offer a fantastic way to share selected files and media to any compatible device connected to your home network ..."

Building a Budget Homelab NAS Server (2022 Edition):  Great write-up!

    https://mtlynch.io/budget-nas/