Author: Damien

I like messing with stuff and seeing what I can make it do. Computers, electronics, photography are my main hobbies, but I also enjoy bike riding, gel blasting and music.

The Subtle Art of the Kludge

Posted on By Damien No Comments on The Subtle Art of the Kludge
Damien, Technology

In my previous post about Linux from scratch I mentioned that the WiFi hardware on that particular model had less than ideal support. The laptop in question is going to be useful for me in my astrophotography project I’m working on, but I need to find some way of getting Internet access for the initial setup and software installation. Once it’s set up I’ll have no need for Internet, barring any software updates I might need to install. So, how do I get a computer on the ‘Net when it’s WiFi is unusable?

Read More “The Subtle Art of the Kludge” »

Linux From Scratch – Day 2

Posted on By Damien No Comments on Linux From Scratch – Day 2
Damien, Technology

So, after the previous session’s trials and tribulations, I was determined to make sure the next step ran as smoothly as possible. The most important task for me was to get WiFi working, and as mentioned previously I needed specific drivers for the Broadcom WiFi chip in the MacBook Pro. Ideally, I would just download … Read More “Linux From Scratch – Day 2” »

New Minecraft Launcher Deleted My Installations!

Posted on By Damien No Comments on New Minecraft Launcher Deleted My Installations!
Damien, Minecraft

Just recently a new version of the Minecraft launcher was released. I dutifully installed it, simply to get rid of the annoying message nagging me to update it. Imagine my shock when I started up the new version and discovered that my rather extensive list of installations was now almost completely empty! A quick browse … Read More “New Minecraft Launcher Deleted My Installations!” »

Fabricati Diem, Pvnc

Posted on By Damien No Comments on Fabricati Diem, Pvnc
Damien, Discworld

Some time ago I was surprised to read about a TV show being produced based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series of novels. As a big fan of Terry’s writing (particularly the Discworld series), I was both excited and apprehensive about this. Excited because I’d enjoyed previous adaptations of Discworld novels, and apprenhensive because this new … Read More “Fabricati Diem, Pvnc” »

Learning the “F Word” in Russian…

Posted on By Damien No Comments on Learning the “F Word” in Russian…
Damien, Odds 'n Ends

Back in the day I spent 3 years in the Australian Army Reserves. One of the few skills I’ve retained over the intervening 20-odd years is the ability to use swear words like punctuation. As awesome as this might sound, in normal company it’s a bit of a handicap. As a parent, you need to … Read More “Learning the “F Word” in Russian…” »