Make your own multigig home router with OpenWrt
With fiber internet, ultra-high download speeds are pushing the envelope in terms of home routers. While 1 Gbps Ethernet used to be enough, many ISPs are offering 2Gbps speeds - and up! Unfortunately, your standard home router these days usually only offers a single...
Airplanes, lightning, & the wild world of Static Electricity
Last time you were on an airplane, did you notice those little "antennas" on the backs of the wings? Turns out they're not antennas at all! And that's where it gets interesting... From balloons and carpet to winter afternoons and lightning, we've got ourselves a bit...
How to view blocked web sites on your phone or tablet
These days, darn near everything is censored - for your protection, of course! While you may be able to read whatever web sites you want from home, mobile operators are particularly fond of blocking certain sites. This is obviously particularly annoying for those of...
Convert files to the format you need in just a few clicks
You know the drill: You've got an image, audio, video, or document file. Either you can't open it, or you need to convert it to a different format to send to someone else. You could use complicated software, but why not do it in just a few easy clicks? With File...
Stop Razer Synapse installer from running every time
Razer makes some pretty nice stuff: Laptops, gaming gear, keyboards, and even some very nice webcams. Their Kiyo Pro webcam is particular awesome. Unfortunately, their software is nowhere near as good as their hardware. So, you might not want Razer Synapse to install,...
The Secret of electric cars, mowers, and power tools
Everything these days is powered by batteries: power tools, mowers, cars, etc. But why does this even work? A quick look at the power provided by lithium-based batteries should make even armchair techies cringe! Something doesn't add up... So, what's The Secret?...
Why hypersonic missiles DO actually matter
I recently had the misfortune to read an article on CNN entitled: What to know about hypersonic missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine I say "misfortune" because clearly, the individual who wrote it was trying very hard to downplay the significance of hypersonic weapons...
This common electric motor is SUPER easy to fix
The name "shaded pole motor" might sound scary, but these things are REALLY simple inside. So simple that if you have one, you can probably fix it yourself in about 10 minutes with a few simple tools. DIY, save some bucks, and Bob's your uncle. When they're used, how...
Windows is dying, AI is rising, and China is… BIG
Windows 12 has been in the news lately. Specifically, rumors are swirling that not only will there be a Windows 12, but it will be "AI-powered". Of course, this requires support preferably from Intel's next 14th-gen processors as well as from AMD's equivalent...
Thunderbird is getting a BIG upgrade
About 2.5 years ago, I wrote an article entitled Thunderbird 78: Change is in the air, but don’t panic!. At that time, Tbird was in a state of flux as it moved from a Mozilla project to community-driven (more or less) and then into essentially its own company. Well,...
What happens if we ditch Fossil Fuels?
These days, it's all about the green, reduced carbon footprint. While that all sounds nice, what would actually happen if we just ditched fossil fuels - coal, oil, and gas - overnight? It turns out it's WAY more complicated than you might think... Join me for a deep...
Make Android TV work with a USB Ethernet Adapter
These days, streaming is all the rage. Whether you have a smart TV, a streaming stick, Blu-Ray player, soundbar, or even some projectors, many of these gizmos come with Android TV built in. Too many of them also only have WiFi - no Ethernet jack to be found! This is...
Is your gizmo eating batteries? Try THIS!
A little while ago, my electronic lockbox / key safe started eating batteries. When I opened her up, I discovered the problem: condensation! Join me for a look at how you can save your own battery-powered devices from the scrap heap... And save some bucks in the...
Do surge protectors really work? Sort of…
With everything getting more expensive these days, you want to be sure your costly electronics stay protected. One of the most common ways is to plug them all into a surge protector. The question is: Do these things really work? The answer is, as usual: It's...
20 Windows tricks to save time (and sanity)
Most people are NOT power users. We all still need to get stuff done... After many years of watching eyeballs widen when I do something on a Windows PC, my wife suggested it was time to make this video! Without further ado, these are 20 time-saving tips and tricks so...
How to upgrade Ubuntu in place on WSL / WSL2
If you're using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you may be wondering how to upgrade your flavor of linux in place. Whether you're using WSL or WSL2, you could just go to the Windows Store and download the whole new shebang. In my case, I was using Ubuntu 18.04 LTS,...