Reduced Sugar Lemon Marmalade

Pomona's Recipes - Lemon Marmalade

https://pomonapectin.com/lemon-marmalade-2/

"Lemon Marmalade is a low-sugar cooked marmalade made with Pomona’s Universal Pectin. Pomona’s Pectin contains no sugar or preservatives and jells reliably with low amounts of any sweetener."

Duck Duck Go  Search Assist - AI content:  To make reduced sugar lemon marmalade, you can use Pomona's Universal Pectin, which allows for lower sugar content while still achieving a good set. A common approach is to mix two parts erythritol with one part sugar to reduce the overall sugar used by about one-third.

levanacooks.com loveandoliveoil.com

Making Reduced Sugar Lemon Marmalade

To create a delicious reduced sugar lemon marmalade, you can utilize Pomona's Universal Pectin. This pectin is designed to work effectively with lower sugar levels, ensuring your marmalade sets properly.

Ingredients

Here’s a simple ingredient list for reduced sugar lemon marmalade:

• Lemons: 8 medium-large
• Water: 3½ cups
• Pomona's Universal Pectin: 5 teaspoons
• Sweetener:
  • 2 cups erythritol
  • 1 cup sugar (optional, for flavor balance)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Lemons: Chop the lemons, including the peel, and combine them with water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.

2. Mix Pectin and Sweetener: In a separate bowl, mix the Pomona's Pectin with the erythritol and sugar (if using).

3. Combine and Boil: After simmering the lemon mixture, add the pectin-sweetener mix. Stir vigorously for 1-2 minutes until dissolved, then return to a rolling boil.

4. Check for Set: Boil until the marmalade reaches the desired consistency.

Tips for Success

• Sugar Balance: The combination of erythritol and a small amount of sugar helps achieve a good flavor while reducing overall sugar content.

• Adjusting Sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter marmalade, you can increase the sugar portion slightly, but keep in mind that this will raise the sugar content.

This method allows you to enjoy a flavorful lemon marmalade with significantly less sugar, making it a healthier option for your breakfast or baking needs.

yumeating.com pomonapectin.com

Auto-generated based on listed sources. May contain inaccuracies.

Low-Sugar Orange Marmalade Recipe

This is a very complete, easy to understand guide to making Low-Sugar Orange Marmalade:

https://creativecanning.com/low-sugar-orange-marmalade/

"Quick Look at the Recipe

• Recipe Name: Low-Sugar Orange Marmalade
• Recipe Type: Marmalade
• Canning Method: Waterbath Canning
• Prep/Cook Time: About 1 hour
• Canning Time: 10 Minutes
• Yield: 10 to 12 half-pint jars
• Jar Sizes: Half Pint
• Headspace: 1/4 inch
• Ingredients Overview: Oranges, lemons, sugar, water, low-sugar pectin, and a small amount of baking soda
• Safe Canning Recipe Source: Sure Jel Recipe Card
• Difficulty: Moderate. This one is much quicker than a traditional long-cooked marmalade, but it still takes a bit of care to prep the citrus and cook the peel properly for the best texture.
• Similar Recipes: The process is similar to other low sugar jams and jellies, like low sugar strawberry jam. It’s pretty different than classic orange marmalade and traditional lemon marmalade, which use a traditional three day process and a lot of sugar to achieve a set.

Orange marmalade uses the fruit of the orange and the outside rind, creating a rich orange flavor for this jam.

A few lemons are also added, which helps balance out the orange flavor.  Trust me, you won’t taste “lemon” in this recipe, but you’ll be glad they’re there."

"The recipe actually comes right off of the label inside the box of Sure Jel Low Sugar Pectin, but you can use other types of low-sugar pectin as well.

There are other pectin alternatives, such as Pomona’s Universal Pectin for low-sugar recipes. The steps for adding ingredients using other pectin brands may vary, so if you are using alternate pectin, follow the instructions in the package for the best results."

"Ensure you are familiar with hot water bath canning and have the supplies to make up to 12 half-pint jars." https://creativecanning.com/waterbath-canning-for-beginners/

Reduced sugar marmalade - 50% less sugar

Try with other citrus also - 

Reduced sugar marmalade is a healthier alternative to traditional marmalade, typically containing 50% less sugar. It can be made using a mix of sweet and bitter oranges to balance flavor while still achieving a good set.

yumeating.com creativecanning.com

Overview of Reduced Sugar Marmalade

Reduced sugar marmalade is a healthier alternative to traditional marmalade, typically containing 50% less sugar. This type of marmalade is designed to maintain the rich flavor of oranges while reducing the overall sugar content.

Key Features

Health Benefits

• Lower Sugar Content: Contains significantly less sugar than traditional recipes.
• Balanced Flavor: Often made with a mix of sweet and bitter oranges to enhance taste without relying heavily on sugar.

Preparation Methods

• Whole Fruit Method: Uses the entire fruit, including the peel, which can add depth to the flavor.
• Traditional Method: Involves shredding the peel before boiling with sugar and fruit syrup.

Cooking Tips

• Setting Point: Reduced sugar marmalade may require longer boiling times to achieve the desired thickness due to the lower sugar content.
• Flavor Adjustments: To reduce bitterness, consider using more sweet oranges or adding a small amount of lemon juice for zing.

Recipe Considerations

Ingredient	Traditional Marmalade	Reduced Sugar Marmalade
Sugar	High (up to 12 cups)	50% less
Oranges	Bitter (Seville)	Mix of sweet and bitter
Cooking Time	Longer	Shorter, but may vary
Additional Ingredients	Pectin (if needed)	Low-sugar pectin optional

Reduced sugar marmalade is not only a delicious spread but also a great option for those looking to cut down on sugar intake while still enjoying the classic taste of marmalade.

yumeating.com sugarfreelondoner.com

Auto-generated based on listed sources. May contain inaccuracies.

Which US state legislatures use sunset reviews

https://grok.com/c/87bb9af3-7dca-4fc7-a4e6-dd58dc839b2b?rid=c9b60e38-adc6-4703-978a-d71f65eb325d

Many U.S. state legislatures use some form of sunset review (periodic evaluation of agencies, boards, commissions, programs, or regulations, often with automatic termination unless reauthorized). Adoption peaked in the late 1970s–1980s (roughly 36 states at one point); some later repealed, suspended, or shifted toward narrower/selective processes or program evaluation. Scope, cycles, and administration vary widely.

Categories of Sunset Review

Common types (from Council of State Governments and related analyses):

• Comprehensive (C): Most or all statutory agencies reviewed on a set cycle.
• Regulatory (R): Focused mainly on licensing/regulatory boards.
• Selective (S): Targeted at specific agencies or types (e.g., occupational licensing, certain departments).
• Discretionary (D): Legislature or a body chooses what to review.
• Clausal (CL): Sunset dates/clauses attached to specific legislation or programs (less systematic).

Some states combine approaches or use hybrid systems. Reviews are often handled by legislative committees, dedicated commissions/staff, auditors, or executive agencies (e.g., Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies), with the legislature making final continuation/modification/termination decisions. Cycles commonly range from 4–12 years (sometimes up to 15).

States with Formal Sunset Legislation (per Book of the States Table 3.27, ~2022–2023 data)

Examples with active or formal processes include:

Scope	States (examples)
Comprehensive	Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee (Maryland also has C elements)
Regulatory	Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania (Maryland also has R)
Selective	California, Florida*, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Discretionary	Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming
Clausal / mixed	Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Wisconsin (and others combining with above)

*Florida’s formal comprehensive process was largely eliminated around 2011; residual selective elements may appear in some summaries.

Notable active or well-known systems:

• Texas — Sunset Advisory Commission; selective/comprehensive-style reviews of many agencies (typically up to 12-year cycles); long-running and frequently cited for abolitions, consolidations, and savings.
• Colorado — Pioneer (1976); strong regulatory focus via the Department of Regulatory Agencies, with legislative final action.
• Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Nevada — Often listed among more systematic/comprehensive approaches.
• Arkansas — Notable for occupational licensing board reviews (e.g., multi-year cycles).

...

DIY Hidden Magnet Knife Blocks

These articles demonstrate lots of ideas to use as a starting point.

• Fasten to a vertical surface with a French Cleat or other hidden mount.
• An easy alternative would be to mount a commercial magnetic strip inside a cupboard door.

How to Build a Magnetic Knife Holder with Neodymium Magnets:

https://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog/magnetic-knife-holder

This detailed article goes into depth discussing what is needed for various wood gaps, along with the best ways to mount the magnets & more ...

15+ Creative DIY Magnetic Knife Holder Ideas: 

https://mossandtwine.com/blog/diy-magnetic-knife-holder-ideas/

DIY Magnetic Knife Holder – A Simple, Stylish Kitchen Upgrade:
https://www.hawkmade.com/crafting-a-wooden-knife-block-stepbystep-guide
This article discusses the benefits of various types of wood - NOTE: Walnut and Cherry are naturally antimicrobial ...

How to Make a Magnetic Knife Block:  https://toolsli.com/how-to-make-a-magnetic-knife-block/

7 Best Magnetic Knife Holder Ideas:  https://brightstuffs.com/magnetic-knife-holder-ideas/

Making a DIY Magnetic Knife Holder:  https://www.diycraftsy.com/diy-magnetic-knife-holder/

TELO Trucks | The All-Electric Mini Truck

Jay Leno drove one of these in a recent video. It will be interesting to see how the price compares to the Ford Maverick and other small trucks. 

https://www.telotrucks.com/

HMC Mark IV - Austin‑Healey 3000 Mk III reproduction with modern components

https://www.classicargarage.com/cars-for-sale/hmc-mark-iv-1998

"It features a modern tubular chassis and contemporary drivetrain while retaining the unmistakable shape and character of the original Big Healey. Power comes from a robust Rover 3.9‑litre V8 engine, giving the car strong performance and a wonderfully charismatic soundtrack."

"Only 170 examples were built to bespoke order, meaning every car is unique and exclusivity is guaranteed."

A Method to Align a Table Saw Blade

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1070144116069537

Create or buy a jig to hold a Dial-Indicator against the blade as you slide the jig parallel to the blade in the Miter-Slot.

This video goes into details discussing how and where to measure in order to achieve the best results.

Reference the same tooth with the blade in different (rotation) positions.

Ditch the data center: I fired my cloud chatbot and built a free local AI agent to run on my PC — and you can too | Tom's Guide

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/ditch-the-data-center-i-fired-my-cloud-chatbot-and-built-a-free-local-ai-agent-to-run-on-my-pc-and-you-can-too

Bratwurst Air Fryer Recipe

For air fryer bratwurst, preheat your air fryer to 380°F, then put raw bratwursts in a single layer and air-fry for about 8-12 minutes (depending on size) flipping halfway. 

Use a meat thermometer to confirm they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.

Intel Xpress - the Forgotten EISA bus

A vintage PC from the early 1990s, this would have been a good performer when new:

https://x86.fr/intel-xpress-resurrection-reviving-a-forgotten-eisa-beast/

"Launched in 1992 and discontinued in 1995, the Intel Xpress product line sat somewhere between the personal computer and the workstation. These were not ordinary home PCs, but modular, expandable machines built for professional and networked business use (and also built like tanks). Three versions were produced: the Xpress Desktop, the Deskside/LX (tower/server), and the Deskside/MX (tower/server with SCSI). The latter models were also rebranded by HP as part of its early NetServer line."

"The (mother) board is built around two distinct chipsets that divide the work between the system core and the expansion bus: Intel’s own Xpress chipset, which handles the processor, memory, cache coherency, and onboard I/O, and a separate EISA chipset, which manages communication with the EISA/ISA expansion bus."

"Up to 12 CPU boards were available for the Xpress motherboards, covering nearly the entire range of 486 and early Pentium processors: 486SX/25, SX/33, DX/33, DX/50, DX2/50, DX2/66, DX4/100, as well as the Pentium 60, 66, 90, and 100. There was even a rare dual-processor board featuring two Pentium 66 MHz CPUs in SMP, compatible only with later revisions of the 8-slot EISA motherboard."

"The EISA bus (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) was one of the early 90s’ attempts to improve the old ISA standard used in IBM-compatible PCs. It was mainly designed for high-end desktops, workstations, and servers, and offered a wider 32-bit data path, bus mastering, and more advanced setup features. One of its biggest advantages was that it stayed fully compatible with older ISA cards, so an EISA machine could still use existing expansion hardware. This made it a good transitional technology rather than a complete break from the past. Even so, EISA did not last very long. It was mostly used in expensive systems, and during the 486 era it had to compete with VESA Local Bus (VLB), which was especially attractive for graphics and storage. In the end, both were replaced by PCI."

Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA bus):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Industry_Standard_Architecture

"...  a bus standard for IBM PC compatible computers. It was announced in September 1988 by a consortium of PC clone vendors (the Gang of Nine) as an alternative to IBM's proprietary Micro Channel architecture (MCA) in its PS/2 series."

...

"EISA was also available on some non-IBM-compatible machines such as the DEC AlphaServer, HP 9000 D-class, SGI Indigo2 and MIPS Magnum."

"...  a group of companies led by Compaq (the Gang of Nine) developed a new bus instead. This new bus was named the Extended (or Enhanced) Industry Standard Architecture, or "EISA", while the older AT bus had already been renamed Industry Standard Architecture, or "ISA".^[8] This provided virtually all of the technical advantages of MCA, while remaining compatible with existing 8-bit and 16-bit cards, and (most enticing to system and card makers) minimal licensing cost."

"The EISA bus slot is a two-level staggered pin system, with the upper part of the slot corresponding to the standard ISA bus pin layout. The additional features of the EISA bus are implemented on the lower part of the slot connector, using thin traces inserted into the insulating gap of the upper / ISA card edge connector. Additionally, the lower part of the bus has five keying notches, so an ISA card with unusually long traces cannot accidentally extend down into the lower part of the slot."

"EISA itself did not last a decade, being eventually superseded by PCI. However, EISA's legacy was the backwards-compatible standard that ensured that existing software and peripherals would continue to be compatible, as opposed to IBM's MCA bus which would have made these all obsolete. This backwards-compatibility trend for other technological achievements made possible the PC boom of the 1990s, followed by the worldwide adoption of the Internet, and eventually mobile computing in smartphones and tablets."

A customizable storage wall

This video shows a DIY storage wall technique that looks easy and inexpensive to make and expand.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19bbQz4Z5r/

Vehicle interior sound reduction - sound deadening vs. insulation ...

Products like Dynamat,  KilMat and similar sound "deadening" products absorb vibrations, whereas a lot of "road noise" is higher frequency sound.  They provide some bass improvement and no more rattling in the doors and a better "thunk" when shutting doors but road noise remains. 

To reduce road noise, temporarily remove the seats, carpet, etc. add foam or other sound absorbing material (insulation) on the floors, around the wheel arches, under the roof, inside the doors & side panels (in addition to a base layer of  Dynamat  or similar product), etc.  One product people recommend is: 3M Thinsulate.

https://dynamat.com/blogs/news/sound-deadening-heat-insulation-for-cars-layering-guide -

" This layer comes first for a reason. Without controlling panel resonance, every layer above it sits on moving metal. Insulation and barriers can only do their job once the substrate is still."

Campervan Insulation: 3M Thinsulate, Arctic Fiber and Minicell:

https://diyvan.com/collections/campervan-insulation

Using 3M Thinsulate:

https://www.cgrproducts.com/using-3m-thinsulate-manufacture-lighter-quieter-cars/

ROAD NOISE - Sienna Chat:

https://www.siennachat.com/threads/road-noise-2014-limited-vs-2018-limited.68058/

Best .22 Magnum Revolvers Available Right Now

"The .22 Magnum revolvers are still poppin' and still popular—and some are made for self-defense, while others are built for hunting small game and plinking.'

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/best-22-magnum-revolvers-available-right-now/387346

15 Vehicles That Only Make Sense Once You’ve Actually Owned One – Vehicle HQ

Automotive fans will probably find that more than one of these is already a favorite … https://vehq.com/vehicles-make-sense-owned/

Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

https://chickenofthesea.com/seafood-recipes/tuna-casserole-recipe/

The Trump Card: Zilog Z8000 Coprocessor card for the IBM PC – Dr. Scott M. Baker

https://www.smbaker.com/the-trump-card-zilog-z8000-comprocessor-card-for-the-ibm-pc

M1 Garand Firearm Maintenance: Part 1 Disassembly - Brownells

The first in a series - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq4wpB9MZ-4&t=50s

Comments on FB  - if slides, grease it, if it rotates, oil it.

PC-based IBM mainframe-compatible systems

Mainframe emulator cards for PCs are essentially no longer available or practical.  It doesn't appear that any PCI or PCIe bus cards were ever produced, and the ISA cards don't show up on eBay.

This is presumably because the software emulators work well enough:

"Popular Software Emulators

• Hercules: A widely used emulator that can simulate IBM mainframe environments, allowing users to run various mainframe operating systems.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_(emulator)
• QEMU: Another emulator that supports running mainframe hardware, particularly useful for Linux environments."  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QEMU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC-based_IBM_mainframe-compatible_systems

https://www.jaymoseley.com/hercules/ -

"Hercules by itself only provides the implementation of the hardware instruction set of IBM mainframe architectures, S/370, ESA/390, and z/390.  In order to utilize Hercules, it is necessary to acquire either an operating system or a stand-alone program that has been designed to run on IBM mainframe hardware.  Like the hardware itself, the operating system software that runs mainframe computers is prohibitively expensive.  However, there are older versions of several of IBM's popular operating systems that are now classified as Public Domain, meaning that they may be obtained and utilized freely.

Hercules Console

[Click for larger image/information]

MVS 3.8 Console

The Hercules community runs a variety of vintage IBM mainframe operating systems which have been determined to be in the public domain, including MVT release 21.8, MVS release 3.8, DOS/VS release 34, and VM370 R6 (all from the 1970's time period).  Linux/390 by its very nature is publicly available.  Under the disaster recovery provisions of their licenses, some have successfully run more recent operating systems on their Hercules enabled systems."

 

#3270, #MVS, #IBM, #REXX, #JCL, #TSO, #SPF

What can I use a Thin Client for at home

My main desktop PC has enough power to virtualize Proxmox, a media server, and an AI engine, along with some other tools.  It's being wasted just surfing the web and playing Internet radio. I'm looking at setting up a Thin Client or two that can connect to this desktop and perform useful work.

"A thin client is a compact, low-power endpoint designed to display a virtual desktop streamed from a central server, cloud workspace, or remote PC. Instead of running apps locally, it offloads the heavy lifting to a remote machine and just handles the display, keyboard, and mouse on its end. "

https://www.thinvent.in/a/thinclient-at-home (vendor site):
Low Power Bills:  A thin client consumes as little as 5–10 watts — compared to 60–150 watts for a desktop PC. Over a year of typical use, you save a significant amount on your electricity bill.

No Noise, No Heat:  Many Thin Clients use fanless designs. It is well suited to a bedroom, study, or living room where noise would be disruptive.

Little to Break or Maintain:  Thin clients use solid-state flash storage and have few or no moving parts.

Virus and Malware Resistant:  Thinvent's Thinux OS is a read-only embedded Linux. Users cannot accidentally install malware or adware on the read-only system.

Small and Unobtrusive:  A thin client is roughly the size of a thick book. It fits behind a monitor, on a shelf, or in a TV cabinet. Many models include VESA mount brackets so they can be attached directly to the back of a monitor.

Common Home Use Cases:  Remote Desktop and Work From Home

Everyday Computing:  Web browsing, email, video calls (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams), YouTube, streaming, online banking — all of these work well on a thin client. For most home users who do not edit video or play games, a thin client handles everything they need.

Children's Study Computer:  A thin client running a read-only OS makes a good study computer.

Home Media Center:  Connect a thin client to your TV via HDMI and use it as a media player. Stream from YouTube, Netflix, or a home media server. The silent fanless design suits a living room setup.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeServer/comments/znhpi5/thin_client_for_use_as_a_low_budget_home_server/:
"Don't limit yourself to thin clients - consider older generation USFF PCs. I run a trio of HP 260s as my hypervisors - collectively they draw about 20W, but each one has 8 or 16GB RAM and either a SATA HDD or SSD. I got 2 of them together for about £30 each. The EliteDesk 800 series is the successor and should also be available pretty cheap.

I don't think you'd get a hypervisor on a thin client with a Celeron - performance would likely be very poor. My HPs are Haswell i3s and can crunch numbers if needed. The N2807 in the 3030 you picked is of similar vintage (2014) but does not have VT-d, whereas the i3-4030Us in my HPs do.

You'll also be very limited on RAM with a thin client - the RAM is generally not upgradable and quite low for the rest of the system. USFFs are usually socketed."
" Well, thanks for the input people. I think I narrowed down to this two:
- Dell Wyse Thin Client Dx0Q
- HP t620 Quad Core
The HP one comes with a SSD and the Dell does not, and both don't come with a power supply so I will need to buy it separately. In this regard the HP one wins, because of wide availability of PSU and the power supply of my HP notebook works with it.
RAM on the HP can be expanded up to 32 GB according to Parkytowers site: https://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/hp/t620/ and is easier than the Dell Wyse Thin Client Dx0Q: https://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/wyse/d/dx0q/
I plan to upgrade the SSD and RAM in the future if performance is good enough to merit an upgrade.
But my doubt is how much storage I will need to host the hypervisor minimum?. I've read Proxmox needs 3GB for the OS itself and XCP-ng needs 46GB to 70GB minimum. I don't know if this thin clients can boot from external attached storage through USB3 for example?"
"I booted my T620 off a thumb drive to load Debian/Octoprint on it, so it will boot from USB. I also upgraded the internal SSD to a 250GB."

Raspberry Pi prices are out of hand, and this $50 thin client makes a better home server:
https://www.xda-developers.com/this-mini-pc-is-cheaper-and-better-than-a-raspberry-pi-for-homelabs/
https://www.howtogeek.com/the-50-pc-thats-quietly-replacing-raspberry-pis-in-homelabs/:
"The thin client I purchased is an HP t620 model that was available for around $15 without memory and storage. It's similar to the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W's original price. I purchased an 8GB DDR3 memory stick along with a 128GB SATA SSD for almost $35. So, I had to pay around $50 for a complete, usable computer."
"... any SBC with one-gigabyte memory, no matter how fast its bandwidth is, will barely suffice considering today’s standards. If you compare it to my setup, which has 8GB of memory, the price seems horrible. The 4GB memory models of both Raspberry Pi boards cross the $100 mark, and this is without any peripherals."
"My HP t620 has better connectivity than most of the SBCs available today. It has multiple USB ports, Ethernet, display ports, and all the other necessary connection inputs, along with a speaker."
"The thin client supports M.2 SATA SSDs of multiple form factors and can handle up to 16GB of RAM in a dual-channel configuration. So, I can upgrade the storage without purchasing additional connection modules, as I need for an SBC. I can also boost the memory capacity when my self-hosted setup demands more. As you expand your self-hosted tool library, the additional memory capacity makes it feasible to use the same computer for more demanding tasks."
"A thin client like the HP t620 won’t use more than 15 watts under stress, and that’s less than one percent of my annual bill amount."
"Plus, with a thin client, you can install any modern operating system, from Linux to Windows, which is something that the Raspberry Pi just simply can't compete with."

10 Best Thin Clients (October 2026) Tested & Reviewed:  https://www.thirstybear.com/best-thin-clients/

12 Best Thin Clients (October 2026) Expert VDI Reviews: https://acfc.org/best-thin-clients/
"The best thin clients today are not the bulky Wyse boxes from a decade ago. They are quiet, fanless mini PCs that sip 4 to 15 watts of power, boot in under 20 seconds, and connect cleanly to Citrix, VMware Horizon, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Windows 365."
"The 6th generation i5-6500T processor handles dual 4K streams over HDMI and DisplayPort without breaking a sweat. I had two spreadsheets, a 1080p video call, and three Chrome tabs open across both monitors and never saw the CPU climb above 35%. Sixteen gigabytes of DDR4 RAM is generous for a thin client and gives you headroom for heavy browser-based workloads."
"The 256GB SSD is fast for boot times but tight for anything beyond thin client duties. If you plan to use this as a general productivity machine, swap in a larger NVMe drive later."
"The integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 is sufficient for knowledge worker workloads including Microsoft 365 apps, web based SaaS tools, and light content editing."

Thin Clienting at Home (March 2010): https://www.instructables.com/Thin-Clienting-at-home/
"A thin client is basically a stripped down computer that is used as a window to the Terminal Server, some use complex platforms to connect to the server, but today I am using RDP because that was the easiest for me (and cheapest)."

Thin Client examples: https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?tags/thin-client/:

Using a Raspberry Pi as an Oscilloscope: Hardware, Setup, and Limits | ElectricalFlux

https://electricalflux.com/mcu-projects/raspberry-pi-as-oscilloscope-adc-setup

How to build your own Raspberry Pi Oscilloscope | SB Bytes

https://singleboardbytes.com/707/build-own-raspberry-pi-oscilloscope.htm

PiScope (Raspberry Pi Based Oscilloscope) : 10 Steps - Instructables

https://www.instructables.com/PiScope-Raspberry-Pi-based-Oscilloscope/

Build an oscilloscope using Raspberry Pi and Arduino - Raspberry Pi

https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/build-oscilloscope-raspberry-pi-arduino/

Great PVC Projects | Family Handyman

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/pvc-pipe-hacks/

Windows 11 hides a Windows 7 folder that beats the Settings app, and I use it every day

The GodMode hack … https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-hides-a-windows-7-folder-that-beats-the-settings-app-and-i-use-it-every-day/

Why is my Computer Slow? TMOG Knows Why!

A task manager with added features. https://www.tmog.org/

A $58 PCIe card with AMD’s B650 Chipset supports 4 M.2 Slots, a 10 Gbps USB-C Port, & more.

https://wccftech.com/jginyue-launches-b650-aic-with-10-gbps-usb-c-for-just-58/

"Another hardware manufacturer has debuted its own Add-in-Card based on the AMD B650 chipset. A few months ago, we heard about such a B650-based AIC by Lekuo, which turned the PCIe slot into several ports. Now, JGINYUE has launched a new B650 AIC that brings AMD's B650 chipset to a PCIe expansion card. It offers additional connectivity for systems that have limited motherboard expansion options."

"...  it brings a 6-pin PCIe connector ... the company says it exists to provide auxiliary power for the USB connectivity. JGINYUE recommends using it even when the card is being used only with m.2 SSDs."

10 Cars That Sold Like Crazy for One Year and Then Vanished Completely – Vehicle HQ

This is a list of some memorable vehicles that ended up not being sold for many years: https://vehq.com/cars-vanished-after-one-year/

GENIAC Kit Parts List and Modern Rebuild Guide

https://philreichert.org/read/0294-geniac-parts-list.html

Geniac Electric Brain Kit Manual | PDF | Switch | Electrical Wiring

https://www.scribd.com/document/742477245/Geniac-Manual

GENIAC Analog Computer - vintage analog kit

https://philreichert.org/read/0098.html

CMP to Sell Converted M14 Machine Guns to Civilians - The Smoking Gun | The Smoking Gun

M14s are pleasant shooting and historic semi-automatic rifles in 308 Winchester. https://smokinggun.org/cmp-to-sell-converted-m14-machine-guns-to-civilians/

GitHub - fritzone/cloudy: For the cloudy infrastructure · GitHub

It’s interesting to see development in DOS to support information exchanges with Linux systems. https://github.com/fritzone/cloudy/?fbclid=IwdGRleAUonBxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUPW1uGSjsb4nl5JFqLaiqDXUhxoiVXNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR78OGLwM1Q_6HfbzrHE5FLN0ID25i9FaR77y3NezHO4kiF9vBYJbynbCTP9UQ_aem_ZwmqjQCPkzm9nWhB9b5DwQ

3 Simple Woodworking Jigs

https://www.facebook.com/reel/632802449655335

A thin-strip cutting guide.

A Crosscut Sled.

A 45 degree Miter Saw Sled.

Crafting Custom Work Tables For Radial Arm Saws: A Comprehensive Guide | ShunTool

 

https://shuntool.com/article/how-to-build-work-tables-for-radial-arm-saws

"The tabletop is a crucial component of your radial arm saw table. It provides a stable surface for cutting operations and is subject to frequent blade penetration. The ideal tabletop should be made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) due to its durability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of handling. Plywood is another option but may splinter over time." 

"The legs of your work table provide stability and balance. Typically, 2x4 lumber cut into equal lengths will serve as sturdy legs for your table." 

"The frame of your work table provides structural integrity and supports the tabletop. It is typically constructed using 2x4 lumber for the length and 1x4 lumber for creating a lip around the tabletop edge."

"The fence is an essential component of your radial arm saw table, providing a guide for the material being cut. It should be installed perpendicular to the vertical plane of the saw blade when set to the cross-cutting position. A recommended material for the fence is a 2.5-inch wide piece of MDF set on edge, providing a straight and durable guide."

 

Radial Arm Saw Table Plans: Transforming Your Workspace (Crafting Efficiency)

https://toolsradar.com/radial-arm-saw-table-plans-transforming-your-workspace/

"What is the best height for a radial arm saw table in a garage shop?
Aim for 34-36 inches—elbow height when standing. Adjust ±2″ for your stature; my 5’10” frame loves 35″." 

Radial Arm Saw Table Plans – Build Your Ultimate Custom Workstation

https://thejimbosliceworkshop.com/radial-arm-saw-table-plans/

"How do I ensure my fence is perfectly square?
To ensure your fence is perfectly square, unplug your saw. Lower the blade to the table surface. Use a high-quality machinist’s square or a known accurate framing square. Place one arm of the square against the blade (with teeth pointing away for safety) and the other against the fence. Adjust the fence until it is perfectly square to the blade’s travel path. Make test cuts on scrap material and measure for true squareness."

 

Radial Arm Saw Table Plans: Dimensions, Safety Setup & Steps

https://woodworkingadvisor.com/plans-for-radial-arm-saw-table/

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

 

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

"Power saws go out of alignment through the vibration that accompanies use. Also, radial arm saws do not like to be moved, and settings will probably drift when one is moved. But, a lot depends on how much precision the user is looking to have from his saw. If you plan to use the saw only to cut 2 x 4s to length, the accuracy you need is not the same as if you were doing fine cabinetmaking with the saw."

 

"This is my homemade stand constructed of 2 x 4 pieces and plywood cleats. I made it to take down easily, so the brace pieces attach with corner brackets and wood screws. I made two tool trays that rest on cleats inside the frame assemblies of the stand." 

"Use a good square to check the travel of the blade so it is at 90 degrees to the fence. Pull the motor down the length of the arm. The blade should lightly touch the square the length of travel. Flip the square over and check from the other side of the blade, too." 

  

""Heel" means the blade moves through the wood cocked a little to one side. Heel results in burn marks on at least one side of the cut. You can also detect heel when the blade kicks up splinters as it exits the cut at the rear of the cut. 

Use a framing square to check for heel. Set one leg against the fence. Bring the other leg against the saw blade. If there is no heel, the square and the saw blade will meet consistently from the front of the blade to the rear. If there is a "V"-shaped gap, the blade has some heel that will need to be removed." 

Creating A Sturdy Fence For Your Radial Arm Saw: A Step-By-Step Guide | ShunTool

https://shuntool.com/article/how-to-make-a-fence-for-a-radial-arm-saw

"Materials needed:

• A piece of hardwood or plywood: The length and width of this piece will depend on the size of your radial arm saw. It should be long enough to provide ample support for your work-pieces and wide enough to accommodate the necessary accessories.
• T-track: T-track is a versatile and widely used accessory in woodworking. It consists of a metal track with a T-shaped slot that allows for easy attachment of various accessories, such as fence stops and hold-downs. You will need a length of T-track that matches the width of your fence.
• Bolts and nuts: You will need bolts and nuts to attach the T-track to the hardwood or plywood. Make sure to use bolts and nuts that are compatible with the T-track's mounting holes.
• Measuring tape or ruler: A measuring tape or ruler is necessary for accurately measuring and marking the positions of the T-track and other accessories."

 

Radial Arm Saw fence - new design - HomemadeTools.net

 

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/radial-arm-saw-fence-new-design-39532

"The new fence design used a “sandwich” of MDF - aluminum extrusion - MDF. This provided some useful benefits." 

 

"Both the front piece of MDF (I suppose it could be called a sub-fence) and the aluminum extrusion could be moved and positioned separately. The extruded fence is held in the desired position with captive bolts and the sub-fence is held in place by cap screws. The piece of MDF at the back of the extrusion was the part of the fence that remained clamped to the table (and held the whole fence in place)."

"As you can see in the image (below), the fence can be positioned to suit the angle being cut and the sub-fence could also be “closed” to allow the (MDF) sub-fence to be cut at the angle to which the arm was set, thus creating a zero clearance for the blade at that desired angle.

The extrusion was never cut. The extrusion was only re-positioned conveniently close to the blade to provide strengthening support to the MDF sub-fence.

 

Get off the floor or ground without hurting your knees.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2549610968873010

Top 4 DIY Hand Tools to make for woodworking

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BmoJnJ6SY/

#1 a measuring stick you can lock into a specific measurement (Marking Gauge).

#2 Similar to #1, but with support for 45 degree angles, and a removable ruler (Routing Groove Jig).

#3 a sanding block.

#4 an easily centered Dowel Drilling Guide with support for corners or straight stock.

Grok is now in Copilot - xAI models are being added as subprocessors, giving users another choice in Word, Excel, &PowerPoint

https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-copilot/grok-is-now-in-microsoft-copilot-but-dont-expect-snark-in-your-spreadsheets

"Microsoft Copilot will soon support Grok models from xAI. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint users in the Microsoft Frontier Program can test Grok models now, with general support expected to roll out in the future."

"Grok models are being added to Microsoft's Online Services Subprocessor list."

" Using Grok as a subprocessor helps Copilot tackle different tasks and provides redundancy that protects against outages or issues with other subprocessors."

"Once an admin enables the integration, you can set Copilot in apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to automatically pick the best model for a task, or manually pick between GPT, Claude, or Grok directly from a drop-down menu in the interface."

Bringing modern USB xHCI support to Windows 98/ME/2K

https://yeokhengmeng.com/2026/08/xhci98-usb-host-driver/

Everything is open-sourced here if you want to jump right in to use it: https://github.com/yeokm1/xhci98.

"The USB host controller on most modern PCs today is based on the Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) USB 3.0 standard. It was first publicly finalised by Intel in 2010 and is now the de facto standard superseding prior USB host standards. Updates to the standard have been provided over the years with the latest now at 1.2c.

Given its relatively recent introduction, only modern operating systems like Windows 8 onwards natively support it. Supporting older machines will require the chipset vendors to provide the driver stack which is the case back to Windows XP. What if we want to go back further?"

"I wanted to see if I could build a native xHCI driver for Windows 98. Especially with AI assistance today, this should be possible right?"

"usbport.sys is a USB 2.0-era design. It has no concept of SuperSpeed and neither does anything above it. Doing USB 3.0 properly would mean replacing the entire host controller driver (HCD) stack on the operating systems and I doubt many machines using those OSes would benefit from that speed anyway.

Fortunately every USB 3.0 connector also carries the USB 2.0 wires and xHCI exposes them as a separate logical port per connector. The driver manages those USB 2.0 ports and leaves the USB 3.0 ports unpowered. A SuperSpeed device upon not detecting any active USB 3.0 lines, then falls back onto the USB 2.0 pins of the same connector and runs at High-Speed. That is why the flash drive above benchmarks at USB 2.0 speed."

 

If I Had to Start Over, I’d Buy This Raspberry Pi – RaspberryTips

Pi Zero 2W - https://raspberrytips.com/buy-this-raspberry-pi/

"Overall, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W is likely the best choice for most people at the moment. It hasn’t increased in price, and it’s strong enough for most Raspberry Pi projects. For just $15, you get a quad-core CPU (1 GHz), 512 MB of RAM, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The only drawback is that you’ll need a bunch of adapters to plug in any extra accessories (it doesn’t include the standard ports: mini HDMI and micro USB), and it’s only one of each."

"... check out your list of Raspberry projects that are a perfect fit for a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 and see if they align with your goals."

 

10 useful Linux commands

https://www.howtogeek.com/these-linux-commands-showed-me-life-is-better-without-windows/

 Brief examples of using the following commands:

"grep - Find anything instantly

find - Locate files with precision

APT, YUM/DNF, Pacman - Super-easy app installation

Piping - The power of combination

htop or top - Real-time process monitoring

Cron - Schedule automated backups

rename or loops - Bulk file management

curl or wget - Download through the command line

Alias - Create your own shortcuts

tmux - Break a single window into many screens" 

Alpine is a Linux distro that fits in 200MB

Small by modern standards, but still useful:

https://www.howtogeek.com/the-smallest-linux-distro-thats-actually-worth-using-in-2026/

"When searching for a tiny distro, I looked at four things: download size, installed size, idle RAM, and how much time it took to do "normal" things." 

"While the Standard and Extended ISOs are notably larger because they have more modules and firmware included, Alpine is still about an order of magnitude smaller than Ubuntu Server.

Critically, you get a normal package manager (APK) with a pretty robust repo to pull from. It isn't as extensive as what you get while running Debian, but it is more than enough."

"Alpine supports nearly every major architecture out there, including x86_64, aarch64, riscv64, and loongarch64. You can run GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, Sway, and even System76’s COSMIC if you want a modern desktop.

I'm partial to KDE Plasma or XFCE depending on the hardware I'm working with."

"The biggest inconvenience I run into is compatibility issues with musl. Many apps, including many prebuilt binaries, like games, Electron apps, or proprietary drivers, assume you're using glibc (the C library found on most larger Linux distros.)

There are a few ways to get around it, like gcompat or Flatpaks, but you will encounter some apps that just won't run. In general, I haven't found it to be a significant problem."

8 things you should never do in Proxmox (unless you want your homelab to crash)

It does it’s own file management - don’t try to ‘help’:

https://www.howtogeek.com/things-should-never-do-in-proxmox-unless-want-homelab-to-crash/

Stop using the cd command — the Linux zoxide command is faster, smarter, and easier

https://www.howtogeek.com/stop-using-the-cd-command/

"The cd command is not a “search and find” tool. It doesn’t search for the specific directory you have in mind. Instead, it expects you to provide an absolute or relative path to the directory you want to navigate to." 

"The modern Linux command in question is zoxide — a Rust-based alternative to the cd command that keeps track of the directories you visit and uses that information to help you jump back to them later. This way, instead of remembering a directory’s full path, you can just enter the destination directory, and zoxide will take you there." 

"Once installed, zoxide maintains a database of directories you’ve visited and ranks them using frequency — a combination of frequency and recency. So, every time you visit a directory, it gets logged in the zoxide database and bumped up in the rankings the more you visit it. This allows zoxide to favor the directories you actually use most often rather than simply choosing the first matching path." 

"The zoxide command won’t be immediately useful as soon as you install it. It first needs to learn which directories you visit so it can build its database, and that’ll take some time. However, you can speed up the process by directly adding the directories you know you visit frequently using the zoxide add command." 

Check the comments with the article for some other ideas ... 

GPT-6 Astra - Wikipedia

This release is more powerful than, and perhaps more out of human control than previous AI models:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPT-6_Astra

"GPT-6 is a family of large language models (LLM) developed by American artificial intelligence firm OpenAI. GPT-6 Astra was released to the general public on September 4, 2026, while GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna were released on September 22, 2026."

"The company also stated that GPT-6 Astra "is faster and capable of performing more tasks than any prior iteration" and better at staying focused, adhering to task boundaries, understanding user intent, handling tedious tasks, and completing multi-step workflows. 
OpenAI has mentioned several examples of tasks GPT-6 Astra could perform, including filling out tax returns, building video game scenes, ordering food, and conducting job searches."

https://openai.com/index/gpt-6-astra/ 

Using Tables with Python

Python can read data from tables and can be used to present (output) data in table format.

How to make a Table in Python?  https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python/how-to-make-a-table-in-python/
"Creating a table in Python involves structuring data into rows and columns for clear representation. Tables can be displayed in various formats, including plain text, grids or structured layouts. Python provides multiple ways to generate tables, depending on the complexity and data size."
"Tabulate module is the most efficient way to create tables. It offers various formatting styles, requires minimal code and automatically aligns data properly. This method is ideal for small to medium datasets where quick visualization is needed"
"Pandas library is a powerful tool for handling large datasets. It provides easy-to-use table structures with built-in functions for filtering, sorting and exporting data. While it adds some overhead, it is the best choice for working with structured data at scale."
"PrettyTable offers an easy way to generate well-formatted tables with a clean, readable structure. It allows for customization, such as column alignment and border styles, making it useful for reports and console applications."
"String formatting manually structures table data without any dependencies. While it gives full control over spacing and alignment, it lacks flexibility and automation, making it inefficient for large or dynamic datasets."

Python can read data from tables and can be used to present (output) data in table format.

Read And Write Tabular Data using Pandas: 

    https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/pandas/read-and-write-tabular-data-using-pandas/
Pandas read_table() function: 

    https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python/pandas-read_table-function/
Good examples here ...

pandas.read_table  https://pandas.pydata.org/docs/reference/api/pandas.read_table.html
Detailed syntax ...

Python Pandas - read_table() Method:

    https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python_pandas/python_pandas_read_table_method.htm
"The read_table() method in Python's Pandas library is used to read data from a general delimited (including TSVs, CSVs, and other delimited formats) text file into a Pandas DataFrame. It provides flexible options for parsing data from various storage back-ends, including local files, URLs, and cloud storage services. It also supports various delimiters and file formats, making it ideal for handling structured data for analysis tasks."

Pandas read_table — Read general delimited file into DataFrame:
    https://www.askpython.com/python-modules/pandas/pandas-read-table

Parsing Tables From Text Files:
    https://codesignal.com/learn/courses/parsing-table-data/lessons/parsing-tables-from-text-files

Using Python with MS-Word Tables:

    https://python-docx.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user/tables.html
"Word provides sophisticated capabilities to create tables. As usual, this power comes with additional conceptual complexity.
This complexity becomes most apparent when reading tables ..."

Creating Tables With Tabulate:  https://datagy.io/create-table-in-python-tabulate/
"How to Display Data in a Table Format in Python

1. Import the tabulate function from tabulate

   Run the following code from tabulate import tabulate

2. Pass your data (such as a list of lists) into the tabulate function

   Pass a data structure into the function, such as this:
   data = [['A', 'B'], [1, 2], [3, 4]]
result = tabulate(data)

3. Print your resulting table

   To print the data, print out your resulting table using print(result)
   "
   ... and much more ...

Python Tabulate: Creating Beautiful Tables from Your Data:
    https://www.pythoncentral.io/python-tabulate-creating-beautiful-tables-from-your-data/
"Tabulate is a Python library that transforms various data structures into formatted tables. It's designed to be simple, lightweight, and flexible, making it an excellent choice for displaying tabular data in terminals, markdown documents, or other text-based contexts."
"Installation:

# Install tabulate using pip
pip install tabulate
"
"Basic Usage
Let's start with the most basic example:

from tabulate import tabulate # Sample data data = [ ["Alice", 24, "Engineer"], ["Bob", 32, "Doctor"], ["Charlie", 28, "Designer"] ] # Column headers headers = ["Name", "Age", "Profession"] # Generate table print(tabulate(data, headers=headers))

This basic example creates a simple table with three columns and three rows."

"Output:

Name      Age  Profession
------  -----  -----------
Alice      24  Engineer
Bob        32  Doctor
Charlie    28  Designer"

Dyno Testing Cleveland Heads On A 347 Small-Block Ford

If you're building a small block Ford engine, consider using Cleveland style heads on your Windsor block.  In this test, the 'Clevor' made a little more power across the entire RPM range, and the benefit increased as the RPM increased.

https://www.enginelabs.com/engine-tech/dyno-testing-cleveland-heads-on-a-347-small-block-ford-pt-2/

PC BIOS and Hardware Optimization Tips

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DS5hBViNw/

Enable Intel XMP (or AMD EXPO) in BIOS for best memory performance.

Always use matched pairs of RAM sticks.

Install RAM inn the preferred slots first  (check M/B manual).

Install GPU in correct slot - typically the 16-bit slot closest to the processor.

Use best (max) refresh rate for your monitor - easy change, but may reduce screen resolution.

Install games & other software on a fast SSD where possible.

Enable resizable BAR ...

Install fastest (or only) SSD in fastest M.2 slot (check M/B manual).

Leave at least 5% of an SSD's capacity available for system use ...

Provide appropriate cooling to avoid thermal throttling.

Ensure you're using chip-specific / GPU-specific drivers where available.  Update often.

Check BIOS for updates monthly.

Reduce the # of startup & other apps / processes running in background.  This can include RGB software for the M/B or GPU.

Don't disable the Windows Page File ...

ooRexx (Open Object Rexx) REXX interpreter

"Object REXX is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, object-oriented (class-based) programming language. Today it is generally referred to as ooRexx (short for Open Object Rexx), which is the maintained and direct open-source software successor to Object REXX.

It is a follow-on and a significant extension of the Rexx programming language (called here classic Rexx), retaining all the features and syntax while adding full object-oriented programming (OOP) abilities and other new enhancements. Following its classic Rexx influence, ooRexx is designed to be easy to learn, use, and maintain."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_REXX

Open Object Rexx (ooRexx): the home for the products & projects associated with ooRexx:

https://www.oorexx.org/index.rsp

https://www.oorexx.org/downloads.rsp

https://sourceforge.net/projects/oorexx/files/

https://www.oorexx.org/docs/index.rsp

Learning the REXX Language (may very significantly from ooRexx - need to check):

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/3.2.0?topic=guide-learning-rexx-language

Open Object Rexx Tutorial:  https://rexxinfo.org/tutorials/articles/oorexx_tutorial_by_hf.pdf

 

#3270, #MVS, #IBM, #REXX, #JCL, #TSO, #SPF