Random Thoughts - Page 10 of 25

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019

Mochad, HA-Bridge and CM19a on Zorin

So, in ditching Windows I had to find a solution to my Windows-based X-10 home automation. On Windows I had a CM19a USB based transceiver for issuing X-10 commands to the X-10 modules controlling my house lights. I used a piece of software named Alex10 to command the CM19a, and a Philips Hue Bridge emulator (HA-Bridge) to allow me to give voice commands via my Amazon Echo.

The HA-Bridge software was a Java program with a web interface, so it ported over cleanly from Windows to Linux. What I had to find was something to replace the Alex10 software. Searching the Internet I found some software that did exactly what I needed, Mochad.

July 3, 2019July 6, 2019

Moving from Windows to Linux

I finally decided to drop Windows from all of my home computers (currently three systems) and move them all over to Linux. I had already moved two of them, one that I use for a home theater, and one I use for general work. The third was being used for general work and for controlling my old home automation system.

June 27, 2019June 27, 2019

Always Cut the Cards

I love the material of Larry Jennings. The first effect in “The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings” is the effect “Always Cut the Cards”, where the aces are lost in the deck by cutting, and then magically assemble back on top of the deck. In the book this is accomplished with a crimped card on the bottom of the deck and using Marlo’s Unit Upjog Addition.

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019

New websites

I recently helped some friends develop their websites. Both are wordpress sites, one was a redesign of a very old hand coded site with a custom coded CMS, the other a new site from scratch.

June 10, 2019September 1, 2023

Riffle Shuffle Stack

This is another method for stacking the deck for straight poker, dealing out five hands.

June 2, 2019June 2, 2019

John Day River from White Elephant Rance

Crickets, birds singing, and wind. I love being out of the city.

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019

Friday morning, White Elephant Ranch

May 31, 2019June 3, 2019

More from Condon, Or

There is something special about life in rural small (really, really small) town America. Watching kids play baseball, in a park with two diamonds, behind one grain elevators and the other nothing but open land as far as the eye can see. Or waking up and the only thing you hear is bird songs. No sirens, or cars, or planes. The most jarring noise is a hungry calf.

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019

Condon 2019

Some Condon Oregon junkyard photos from the White Elephant ranch. Also cousin Andrew hand feeding a calf born during the harsh winter.

May 14, 2019September 1, 2023

YAOS – yet another overhand stack

I found this in “Card Zones – The Immaculate Card Magic of Peter Duffie.” This book describes a stack for four hands and then gives the formula for other number of hands. Since I always demonstrate a five handed stack here are the steps.