The Truth about Quantum Computing
We hear a lot about quantum computers these days. They're supposed to work almost like magic. We're even told to choose a certain VPN because they're "quantum proof"! The trouble is, even most experts agree we're not 'there' yet. Far from being an impending...
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,...
Printout color is off? Fix it fast!
When you need a color printout, it's nice when the colors on paper look the same as those on your screen. Most of the time, however, that's not the case. Fortunately, there's a quick cheat you can use to get MUCH better print colors... And it only takes a few seconds!...
JavaScript: How to detect when an image is loaded?
Let's say you're writing a web app, and of course you're using JavaScript. So far, so good! But then let's say you need to load some images on the fly, and then do something useful AFTER each image is fully loaded. IOW, maybe you want to adjust the layout of the image...
Why phone SAR ratings are silly
The Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR, of a phone shows how much energy from radio frequency waves is absorbed by body parts - head, torso, whole body, etc. The idea is that phones can be certified as "safe", while also allowing some sort of comparison between...
Windows won’t boot after upgrade? Roll it back!
The Windows 11 22H2 feature release is out in the wild. Unfortunately, there are a few problems with it... On my modern laptop, I upgraded to 22H2 and everything seemed to be going well... Until I did a hard reboot a few hours after the upgrade was complete. I got a...
Hot to fix choppy audio in VLC
VLC media player is free, popular, and just awesome. It'll play just about any audio or video file you throw at it. For video quality, there's an easy fix for choppy vids in VLC. But what about audio? How do you fix choppy AUDIO in VLC media player? Believe it or not,...
When NOT to use Dirty Electricity filters!
Dirty Electricity is when all our wondrous gizmos generate noise that couples to the human body from the electrical wiring in our homes, schools, places of work, and so on. Fortunately, there are simple filters you can get that reduce the dangers from this type of...