Other Stuff I'm Likely To Be Doing At Any Given Moment
I like most anything scientific or technical. Or weird, or strange, or unique, or electronic...
Obviously, cars are my main hobby. I simply love to work on, be around, talk about, and of course drive cars. Especially fast ones. :-) For some other fast cars, check out the this GM FWD Performance Website.
Industrial systems fabrication and maintenance is also one of my talents. I've always collected junk to play around with and this has led to some really strange and fascinating gadgets. Things such as a 3-phase converter made from old motor and capacitors, dishwasher turned partswasher, and my very Gothic air compressor! I am a master at reusing old junk, and making do with whatever is on hand.
Home repair is an importnat hobby for anyone to pick up. Service is so expensive you can barely afford to have it "professionally" done anymore. I do my own plumbing, electrical and HVAC work to save money, but mainly just so I will know it is done right!
Microcontrollers. I wish I had gotten into this years ago! Just about any circuit you can imagine creating with discrete components can be done with a MCU. I use the PIC series of controllers made by Microchip Technology Co, and the programming language PBP by Microengineering Labs.
The Internet is also an enjoyable way to pass time, for me. I've met several new friends here. The info is almost unlimited. Don't explore the Internet without a very open mind. What at first might shock or offend may in time become interesting, even entertaining.
If you are tired of annoying pop-up browser windows with no button bar and blinking, annoying, bandwidth-consuming ads in them, click on this link to learn more about Siemens WebWasher. This "local proxy server" blocks pop-up ad windows, and certain other advertising gimmicks. It isn't a content filter like "child-safe" browsing software, it is simply an advertising filter. It has worked great on my Win98/ IE computer. Occationally it will accidentally filter out a desirable object, but it can easily be deactivated/ reactivated from the taskbar. Free software to home users, works with Explorer, Navigator, Opera.
Animated cursors are fun. :-)
Click this image to download a .zip file of these and more animated Windows cursors and a few icons (size 21 kb). The engine cursor actually "runs" replete with overhead valves, exhaust, and splash lubrication. The cars are from actual digital photos of a 1981 Fiat Spider (Unfortunately you can't see the cool custom turbocharged twin cam 2.0l engine in the cursor image...) and a 1989 Buick LeSabre T-type coupe. Lights flash and antennae swing...
If you do decide to get this file, unzip it in the Windows Cursors directory. Typically that is C:\Windows\Cursors (duh...)
Then go to MyComputer, Control Panel, Mouse.
Click on the Pointers tab, than you can select the active cursors and choose the browse option. Select new cursor.
Click here for a self-extracting version (size 129 kb). If you do not know how to unzip a file, use this one. :-) Once Windows says "Download Complete" click the Open File button. This will start the self extracting archive program. When it says it is going to extract some files to your system and asks for the pathname, put in your C:\Windows\Cursors directory. It will put the files in the directory for you. Then go to My Computer, Control panel.........
