Arduino + LEDs

October 2, 2016

Description Blinking a single LED is not all that hard.  But how do we go from there to driving 8 LEDs connected to an  Arduino board? Hardware Required There are a large number of similar boards on the market.  They either have a common ground or common Vcc pin (active low logic).   The exact pinout […]

Arduino + LED

October 2, 2016

Description Blink the on-board LED.  Make no mistake – this is an essential skill and a gateway to numerous challenging and creative projects. Hardware Required Arduino Board Circuit Arduino boards have a number of onboard LEDs: ON – Power indicator TX – Transmit (pin 1) – Used for programming and diagnostics (USB serial port communication). […]

Tropical garden plants

October 1, 2016

Propagation From easy to hard: Cutting Plant division Grow from seed Grafting (Trees) Cutting Take cuttings from new growth.  The part of the stem that forms new roots and shoots is called a node. These growing points produce leaves, flowers or shoots when the plant is growing normally but, if a bit with two or […]

Kerbal Space Program – How to get to orbit

September 30, 2016

In a nutshell, first we initiate a Gravity Turn.  We make sure not to exceed Terminal Velocity.  Then we need to get to orbit.  Learn to use the Navball.  When coming down we use Aerobraking.  That’s it, class dismissed. Gravity Turn Terminal Velocity How to Get into Orbit Navball Aerobraking Gravity Turn Getting to space […]

Kerbal Space Program – How to build a rocket

September 30, 2016

What engines to use?  How much fuel to take?  What shape should the craft be?  Stack decouplers or Radial decouplers?  Solid booster or Liquid Fuel Engine?  Let’s start with some basic concepts. Basic concepts Forces There are four forces acting on a craft when in the lower atmosphere within gravity: Thrust, Weight, Lift and Drag. Thrust and […]

Kerbal Space Program

September 28, 2016

Kerbal Space Program (KSP) is a space flight simulation video game where you design and build rockets (and spaceplanes) to launch cute little Kerbal creatures into space. This shouldn’t fly?! Kerbal Space Program is like buying a self-assembly Space Shuttle without instructions. And to make matters worse, the program does little to stop you from […]

The Dark Defiles

September 9, 2016

The dark defiles. They lead here, all of them. This is where they empty out, and he chose to follow them to their end. He was not brought here, he asked to come. The ikinri ‘ska.   The ancient, silent walkways at An-Monal, the stilled machines. The watchful spirits that lived in the walls. The […]

The Cold Commands

September 9, 2016

“Gifts at the crossroads are not cheap,” Hjel says quietly. “Everyone must pay. And most of us heal somewhat with time.”   “I am Welcomed in the Home of Ravens and Other Scavengers in the Wake of Warriors,” Ringil recited for him, hollowly. “I am Friend to Carrion Crows and Wolves. I am Carry Me […]

The Steel Remains

September 9, 2016

“I think you look on death as your friend, ” she murmured. “That is a strange friend for a young man to have.”  “The only faithful friend in this world, ” he said bitterly. “Death is always sure to be at your side.”   I see what the akyia saw, Gil. I see what you […]

Echopraxia

September 9, 2016

“The neurological condition of echopraxia is to autonomy (read: free will) as blindsight is to consciousness.” ― Peter Watts, Echopraxia “I’ve told you before, Daniel: roach isn’t an insult. We’re the ones still standing after the mammals build their nukes, we’re the ones with the stripped-down OS’s so damned simple they work under almost any circumstances. We’re […]