Sean Dippold Aether Vault
Contents
Post #1 Create a book index from a PDF using Word manuscript
Post #2 How to download Facebook photos and videos
Post #3 Wm. L. Gilbert parlor clock dated 1881
Post #4 Mumbai India Best Travel Sights
Post #5 Chennai India best travel sights
Post #6 Free software alternatives
Post #7 Raspberry PI 3 with VGA monitor
Post #8 International mobile phone decision tree
Post #9 Facebook thinks it knows your political leanings and shows ads based on those assumptions
Post #10 Travel through New South Wales and Queensland Australia in 2 weeks
Post #11 Turtle Hospital in Marathon Florida
Post #12 Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Post #13 Fix for MacOS ghost volume NAS drive
Post #14 Sydney Australia for 3 days
Post #15 International travel with only carry-on luggage
Post #16 Sonos and Airplay with old audio equipment
Post #17 Thailand travel Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Post #18 Vietnam travel to Hanoi Halong Bay and Ho Chi Minh City
Post #19 Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai Thailand
Post #20 Cooking Class in Chiang Mai Thailand by Green Mango
Post #21 Whip light fixture
Post #22 Recommended short video - Input/Output
Post #23 7 day self-guided trip to Croatia
Post #24 Searching Google with a photo
Post #25 Scanning old photos
Post #26 Collegeville Perkiomen Bridge to Hoy Park via Perkiomen Creek Post #27 Smartphone Camera AlternativesSean Dippold Aether Vault
Post #28 Longwood Gardens 4 minute tour
Post #29 DIY badminton and volleyball polesSean Dippold Aether Vault
Post #30 iMovie quick start and file management
Post #31 Portable river dock DIY plans
Post #32 WWII Weekend in Reading PA
Post #33 Simplifying Tic-Tac-Toe
Post #34 Linksys DPC3008 with COMCAST vs. Verizon FIOS using Airport Extreme
Post #35 Denmark itinerary (7 day)
Post #36 Fish Auction in Skagen Denmark
Post #37 1967 Lock Haven State College Yearbook Praeco
Post #38 1963 Alfred University Yearbook Kanakadea
Post #39 1962 St Mary’s Area High School Yearbook The Bells
Post #40 1958 St Mary's Area High School Yearbook The Bells
Post #41 iPhone Prius connectionSean Dippold Aether Vault
Post #42 Simple password generator
Post #43 Prius door speaker replacement 2005 (2nd generation)
Post #44 Photo Assignment - Central Park
Post #45 Crashplan destination not found on Mac problemSean Dippold Aether Vault
Post #46 Rotate photos from Mac Finder with keyboard shortcutSean Dippold Aether Vault
Post #47 Password manager apps free and paidSean Dippold Aether Vault
Post #48 Open Source alternatives to OSISoft PISean Dippold Aether Vault
Post #49 Cocktail - Poinsettia
Post #50 Pine tree
Post #51 Indian onion relish recipe
Post #52 Vienna 3 day itinerary
Post #53 Berlin 3 day trip
Post #54 Army man 1 Post #55 Use folders instead of iPhoto
Post #56 Switching to a Mac
Post #57 Computer recommendations
Post #58 Sports, entertainment and video games
Post #59 Obitalk free landline phone
Post #60 Classifying beer
Post #61 Project manager job searching
Post #62 Print at home from an iPad or iPhone
Post #63 What did I learn from Thomas Dippold?
Post #64 Anders Zorn Mrs. Richard Howe
Post #65 Chip and Pin VISA card for travel
Post #66 Generator fuel line replacement
Post #67 Inexpensive Surefire replacement bulbs
Post #68 Rural internet and VOIP options
Post #69 Using Apple's free dictation on a Mac to transcribe a large amount of handwritten text
Post #70 Shipping packages from home using the US Postal service
Post #71 Used book selling on Amazon made painless with a smartphone
Post #72 Finding unbid items on eBay
Post #73 Best source for Quotes of the Day
Post #74 What makes a great bar?
Post #75 Creating an iPad case cover with found art
Post #76 Selecting an HD antenna
Post #77 Dress socks made in the USA
Post #78 Peel a pomegranate
Post #79 Copying photos from Mac to iPad
Post #80 Kid-friendly activities for the afternoon
Post #81 Multiple Airport Express wifi installation
Post #82 Are book fairs worth attending? Post #83 Connecting iPad/iPhone to an old TV with composite analog inputs
Post #84 Recycling old TVs
Post #85 Collegeville to New York via public transportation
Post #86 Mac file copy to FAT drives that ignores files greater than 4Gb
Post #87 Rate of return on replacing oil heat with geothermal
Post #88 Coat hanger AppleTV mount
Post #89 23andMe matching distant relatives
Post #90 Canstruction New York, NY
Post #91 Wholey's Fish Market Pittsburgh, PA
Post #92 Watching Maria Bamford
Post #93 Firewood in Garbage cans
Post #94 Shadow Puppet and Thomas Dolby's The Invisible Lighthouse
Post #95 When does it make sense to rent a car if you own a car?
Post #96 The most obvious sandwich I never heard of
Post #97 Why hasn't RSS changed the world of news?
Post #98 World's Greatest Farmer Showdown - Collegeville, PA
Post #99 Using Amazon wishlists and CamelCamelCamel to find the lowest price
Post #100 Netflix streaming recommendation - No Place On Earth
Post #101 Propagating the little rude plant...the voodoo lily
Post #102 BioLite stove for camping or outdoor cooking
Post #103 Why you should upgrade your iPhone every two years
Post #104 Geneva Labs Model S with Apple Lightning Connector
Post #105 Using Wordpress for a website
Post #106 Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Post #107 Refrigerator Half-Sour pickles easy, cheap, and delicious
Post #108 Packing light for international travel
Post #109 Apple TV audio to 1980's Kenwood amp
Post #110 Countries Visited Post #111 Socks made in the USA
Post #112 What to do with the free Apple stickers
Post #113 IOS7 Setting iPad iPhone Calendar color
Post #114 Migrating from Godaddy to Hostgator for Wordpress blogs
Post #115 DIY Home alarm system
Post #116 Replacing BMW Z3 convertible top
Post #117 Chainsaw iPad stands
Post #118 Pearl Street painting
Post #119 DVD ripping workflow for AppleTV
Post #120 Project - Solar USB battery charger
Post #121 Netflix Streaming Recommendation: Happy People: A Year in the Taiga
Post #122 Updating an old bicycle with chalkboard paint
Post #123 Smartphone Apps for travelers
Post #124 Replacing Cable subscription with AppleTV
Post #125 Netflix streaming recommendation : Into the Wild
Post #126 Backing up photos while traveling with an iPad
Post #127 Rosenborg Castle
Post #128 Cucumber avocado soup
Post #129 Reflection on 10th and Waverly place
Post #130 Nikon D7000 with Sony UWP-V1 Lavalier mic
Post #131 Doing Laundry
Post #132 Custom t-shirts
Post #133 Home video surveillance solution
Post #134 Reducing Home phone, cable, and internet costs by 33%
Post #135 Home Weather station to send data to Weather Underground
Post #136 Creating picture books
Post #137 DIY Passport and VISA photos
Post #138 Moving a Wordpress blog Post #139 Music Mix Party
Post #140 Timezone Tricks
Post #141 GSM phone for worldwide travel
Post #142 Recommended activities in New York City
Post #143 India Summary
Post #144 India - Driving
Post #145 India preparations
Post #146 Air Gutter Cleaner Pilot 1
Post #147 Laptop Theft POC
Post #148 New York City - Portland, ME - Salem, MA - New Paltz, NY
Post #149 Pittsburgh Trip
Post #150 Add Lat/Long to JPG and NEF on a MAC
Post #151 Travel Gadget mistakes
Post #152 Wireless Network Camera
Post #153 GPS for European road trip
Post #154 Converting LP's and Cassettes to MP3s
Post #155 Nikon D80 - RAW - SmugMug workflow
Post #156 Tourism near Collegeville, PA
Post #157 Travel Packing List
Post #158 Sweden
Post #159 Sweden
Post #160 Hudon River Valley - Rhinebeck and Hyde Park
Post #161 Best inexpensive wines in PA
Post #162 MacBook setup
Post #163 Luong Van Vo Bio
Post #164 Puppy
Post #165 Belgium
Post #166 Pechins Mill Holiday Punch Post #167 New Orleans
Post #168 Using Video from the Samsung Sports Camera
Post #169 Ridgway and Pennsylvania Wilds
Post #170 Dippy's miscelany of the England excursion
Post #171 A small tale from the small island of Britain
Post #172 seasons greetings from the Czech Republic
Post #173 Dippy eyes Prague
Post #174 stray Kittens
Post #175 Kittens again
Post #176 Fungi Fun ?
Post #177 Morocco photos
Post #178 Morocco photo mistake
Post #179 Alice the camel has 2 humps so Go, Alice, Go!
Post #180 Morocco - Palace of Glaoui Kasbah
Post #181 Tea in the Sahara - Morocco part 3
Post #182 Photo - Marrakesh, Morocco
Post #183 Rock the Casbah - Marrekech addendum
Post #184 Photo - Essaouira, Morocco
Post #185 Morocco GPS Waypoints
Post #186 Morocco "Planning"
Post #187 House projects updates May
Post #188 Let's see if I can keep this blog updated
Post #189 Photo - Pat and Sean
Post #190 Kat and Kat at Xmas
Post #191 3 entries from Spain trip
Post #192 Travel Log - Romania and Hungary
Post #193 Kathy's office when it was a kitchen
Post #194 Photo - Before the barn addition was torn down Post #195 December 2000 Holiday Letter
Post #196 NYC Apartment
Post #197 December 1998 Holiday Letter
Post #198 March 1996 Letter
#1
Create a book index from a PDF using Word manuscript
Publishers often ask non-fiction book authors to create an index of their work. Creating an index is a non-trivial task often performed by people who specialize in creating indexes using software designed for that purpose. Adding to the complexity is authors usually work in Microsoft Word while publishers work in Adobe PDF. The PDF generated as a proof will have different page numbers than the original Word document.
If faced with indexing a PDF book, there is a less painful method whose trick is to match the proof PDF page numbers with the Word manuscript and use the indexing features of MS Word.
Create a Word document with the same page numbers (a little tedious)
1. Make a copy of the original Word document to use for indexing. Make sure a page number is being shown on each page of this copied document. 2. If the PDF has more pages than the Word version, jump to step 4 3. If the PDF has fewer pages, reduce the spacing from double space to single space. This will prevent auto-pagination from adding page breaks where you don’t want them 4. With the copy opened in Word and the PDF opened, insert page breaks in the Word document in the same places as the PDF Insert, Page Break. Repeat until the Word document has the same page number marking as the PDF. 5. The keyboard shortcut for Page Break is fn+Shift+return on Mac and Ctrl-Enter on Windows.
Flag each word/phrase desired in the index (the laborious part)
1. Highlight the word or phrase to be indexed 2. On the References tab, in the Index group, click Mark Entry. 3. Repeat for the whole book including duplicates of word/phrases. The AutoMark feature will help find all entries for word if desired.
Note you can have more complex indexes (subentries, etc.) by marking things appropriately.
Generate the index (the quick part)
1. Goto the end of the document (to avoid harming the real page numbers) 2. References tab, in the Index group, click Insert Index. 3. If you go back and add or change index entries in the document, remember to click Update Index in the Index group on the References tab. 4. A variety of formatting options is available.
Provide the index to the publisher
1. Open a blank Word document 2. Select the generated index and copy it. In the blank Word document, Paste Values to avoid the index being recalculated on a blank document. 3. Save and provide this document to the publisher.
Versions of Microsoft Word
The menu commands vary between different version of Word. For example, Word 2008 on Mac uses Insert, Index and Tables to both mark entries and generate the index.
Other Tools Adobe Acrobat Pro – has an indexing feature but this has nothing to do with book indexs
Google Docs – doesn’t support indexing, only table of contents based on header levels
PDF Index Generator – $70 specialized tool for creating indexes from PDF files
Converting from PDF to Work is not likely to work cleanly due to PDF formatting
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2017/03/27/create-book-index-pdf-word/
#2
How to download Facebook photos and videos
Many people rely on Facebook to store photos, videos, and other information. However, this creates a worry that they won’t be able to get back their data should their account be hacked or Facebook goes out of business :). Facebook responded to this concern with an option to download “everything” you submitted. The limitation is photos and videos are not sent in their original full resolution so I wouldn’t rely on Facebook as primary storage. You could go to each photo or video and manually download but that can be time-consuming. Additionally, the download is actually a fully navigable website without distractions that shows some information you may not know Facebook has on you. Quick Instructions
1. Click in the upper right corner of Facebook then Settings 2. Click Download a Copy of your Facebook Data 3. You will be prompted for your Facebook password. 4. After maybe an hour, Facebook will email you a link that will allow you to download a single Zip file with your data. This download will also require your
Facebook password. 5. Once downloaded, double-click on the downloaded zip file which is usually named Facebook-userid.zip. This will expand the file creating directories and populating the directories (like a sub-folder called Photos) with your data 6. Double-click on Index.html. This will open your web browser and allow you to navigate what you downloaded. 7. To take your pictures or videos to other services or folders, navigate to the folder using Windows Explorer/Mac Finder. Results
After step 5
After step 6…some surprises looking at the ad info…. Not the full-resolution photo but possibly usable
Wow – long list of companies with my contact info
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Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2017/02/21/download-facebook/
#3 Wm. L. Gilbert parlor clock dated 1881
Background
This clock is an 8 day time and strike on the hour and a large nickel half bell. The height is 20” and the width is 13”. The door is etched glass while the case is walnut or aged oak. The pendulum is a unique column style. Called may be called a parlor, mantel, shelf, or kitchen clock.
The model name is not known but is similar to the”Bear” model. This was a lower-cost consumer model made in Connecticut and has a current value <$150. It was found in New Castle, PA and assumed to be owned by Roy Morrison Williams and family.
Winding The right winder is for time while the left for the bell. If you don’t want the hourly chime, simply don’t wind the left side. The right winder takes about 7 half-turns. There is no need to worry about over-winding as long as it is not forced. If the chime is out of synch with the hour, slowly move the hour hand to the hour matching the chimes. Then use the minute hand to slowly advance to the correct time stopping on the hour to allow the chime to ring.
The clock was serviced in the last 10 years and still keeps accurate time. The clock needs to be on a level surface.
References
Collectors Weekly – Gilbert Clocks Discover Clocks – Gilbert Clocks Antique Clock Guy – William L. Gilbert Clock Company History
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2017/02/18/wm-l-gilbert-parlor-clock-dated-1881/
#4
Mumbai India Best Travel Sights
Three days is sufficient time to sample the highlights of Mumbai.
Tourism usually starts in Colaba at the southern tip of the city. The video covers the key sights of the Mumbai including India Gate, the Jain temple and Hanging Gardens of Malabar Hill, a Dhobi Ghat (clothes washing), the Ghandi House museum, Dharavi slum, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Kanheri caves, and Crawford market.
While not covered in the video, recommended places to eat include Shamiana restaurant in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, and the Konkan Cafe at the Vivanta by Taj Hotel. Monkey on a cycle
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2017/02/15/mumbai-india-best-travel-sights/
#5
Chennai India best travel sights
Chennai India has some wonderful sights that could occupy 3 to 4 days of tourism. It is best to visit Chennai December through February when the temperatures average 80F/26C.
This video includes the best sights including the wide Marina Beach, the temples of Sri Parthasarathy, Kapaleeshwar, and Marundeeswarar. The British influence can be seen Fort St George San Thome Church, and Higginbothams Bookstore. Book lovers will enjoy the handmade books from Tara Books, and AMM Screens. South of the city is the Madras Crocodile Bank and the Unesco Monuments at Mahabalipuram including the Shore Temple. Uber is a convenient way to get around although an Auto rickshaw is worth doing at least once if you insist they use the meter.
Not included in the video is shopping at Pondy Bazaar, and the wonderful food of The Marina, ITC Grand Chola, The Raintree Hotels, Barbeque Nation, and Saravana Bhavan Restaurant.
Selling fish at Marina beach
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2017/02/12/chennai-india-best-travel-sights/
#6
Free software alternatives
I am happy to pay for quality software. More software companies are changing from a one-time purchase to a subscription-based payment approach that costs more over the long-term. There are many free alternatives available for well-known tools that provide 95% of the functionality. Since most people rarely use more complicated features, free software usually will meet their needs.
Free Alternative Paid Software MAC/PC/Linux/ Chromebook
Mac/PC/Linux/ Google Drive Microsoft Word Powerpoint Excel Libre Office if you want to install on the computer Chromebook
Mac/PC/Linux/ Draw.io Microsoft Visio Inkscape if you want to install on the computer Chromebook darktable Adobe Lightroom Mac & Linux GIMP Adobe Photoshop Mac/PC/Linux DaVinci Resolve Final Cut Pro Mac/PC/Linux Requires registration
Additional recommendations are available at Lifehacker. darktable – alternative to Lightroom for photo management
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2017/01/23/free-software-alternatives/
#7 Raspberry PI 3 with VGA monitor
An old monitor can be turned into a pretty decent computer and gaming machine. It is a fun project to do with kids. Parts and Materials
1. Raspberry PI Model 3 B – $40 2. Ableconn HDMI2VGAD Active HDMI to VGA Adapter Converter Dongle – $15 3. 4GB to 32GB microSD card – $5-$10 4. VGA monitor – usually free, preferably LCD to conserve electricity. Find out the resolution (like 1024 x 768) by searching the model number. 5. USB power adapter & mini USB cable 6. USB keyboard and USB mouse 7. Glue gun, small screws, and small pieces of wood or plastic 8. Optional for gaming – SNES Retro USB Super Nintendo Controller For Windows PC/MAC – eBay $6 Steps 1. Mount the Raspberry PI on the back of the monitor using risers, screws and a hot glue gun. See photo. There are cases available but this way makes the device
accessible and low cost.
Hot glue holding on PI to back of the monitor with wooden dowels
2. On another computer, install a free program called Etcher. This software will allow you to install a Raspberry PI image on to the microUSB card. 3. Go to the Raspberry PI website and download NOOBS (for new people) or Rasbian (a full-featured computer). Use Etcher to install the image file onto the micoSD card. 4. Raspberry PI expects the monitor to be HDMI but in this case it will be USB. Edit a file on the microUSB called config.txt. All of the settings are commented out using the # sign. 1. Remove the # from the line that says hdmi_safe=1 to enable the safe mode 2. We are going to edit this file again in the future but let’s first see if everything works. 5. Plug everything together with the last thing being plugged in is the USB power supply. See the PI Hardware Guide for instructions and pictures. Note steps 2-4 are similar to the software guide but easier.
6. Power up and you should see a working computer in about a minute.
Raspberry PI running in low resolution
7. It is likely the resolution is lower than the monitor supports (i.e. things are large). This step is a little more complicated and requires you to know the native resolution of your monitor. In this case, the resolution is 1024×768. You will need to review this document then pick the right settings for hdmi_group and hdmi_mode in the config.txt file.
1. Shut down the Raspberry PI and remove the microSD card and put it back in another computer. 2. Remove the # signs from these two setting rows hdmi_group and hdmi_mode 3. Change the numbers per the table here (see sections on hdmi_group and hdmi_mode) 4. In this case, for a 1024×768 monitor the lines look like 1. hdmi_group=2 2. hdmi_mode=16 5. You also have to take it out of HDMI safe mode that was turned on in step 4 AND enable HDMI_Force_Hotplug resulting in lines that look like this 1. #hdmi_safe=1 2. hdmi_force_hotplug=1 Please Note
1. Most HDMI to VGA converters do not work with Raspberry PI. Use the one above or make sure from this PI site it will work and could break the Raspberry PI. 2. A cheap HDMI monitor may be as low as $60. Still more expensive than a $15 adapter but it is likely to be larger. PI running full 1024×768 resolution
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2017/01/11/raspberry-pi-3-vga-monitor/
#8
International mobile phone decision tree
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/11/27/international-mobile-phone-decision-tree/
#9
Facebook thinks it knows your political leanings and shows ads based on those assumptions
Organizations who buy ads on Facebook target their campaigns based on various attributes you have entered and Facebook has calculated about you. So even though you may not have entered a political preference into Facebook, Facebook will allow advertisers to target ads based on their guess of your political affiliation. You can check and delete these ad preferences by going to https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences.
Example Facebook ad preferences page
What surprised me is Facebook guessed my political leanings incorrectly. I would rather not see ads targeted to me based on assumed politics so I deleted the preference. I deleted some other ad preferences that were humorous to disturbing like my assumed interest in “begging”, “camogie” and “hell”.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/11/17/facebook-thinks-knows-political-leanings-shows-ads-based-assumptions/
#10
Travel through New South Wales and Queensland Australia in 2 weeks
This is an overview of a 2 week trip through New South Wales and Queensland. The trip included Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Symbio Wildlife Park, Kiama, Raymond Island, Tilba, Phillip Island, Broken Hill, Silverton, and Melbourne.
Most of the travel was by rental car. A flight was taken to get from Melbourne to Broken Hill to get a taste of the outback.
A separate video for Sydney was posted a few weeks ago.
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Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/11/15/travel-new-south-wales-queensland-australia-2-weeks/
#11
Turtle Hospital in Marathon Florida
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/11/14/turtle-hospital-marathon-florida/
#12 Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/11/12/key-west-butterfly-nature-conservatory/
#13
Fix for MacOS ghost volume NAS drive Newer versions of MacOS (OSX) have a irritating bug where mounted volumes disconnect in Finder. Sometimes, when Finder reconnects, it creates a 2nd mount with a new name like volume-1 and the original volume path doesn’t work. For applications like Crashplan that use the Unix mount volume in the path, the application fails to see the volume is mounted. To get rid of the “ghost” mount, do the following;
Mount the volume in Finder (in my case, a QNAP NAS called \\qnap\homes)
Open Terminal
$ cd /Volumes $ ls Macintosh HD homes homes-1 this shows the ghost volume (homes) and the active volume (homes-1)
In Finder, Eject the volume this will remove the volume-1 working volume
In Terminal
$ sudo rm -rf homes this removes the ghost volume $ ls Macintosh HD shows no volumes mounted
In Finder, mount the network volume
In Terminal
$ ls Macintosh HD homes shows the Finder mounted volume is correctly named
A similar article for the same issue in USB hard drives.
Example screenshot showing volume path
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/10/19/fix-macos-ghost-volume-nas-drive/
#14
Sydney Australia for 3 days
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/10/04/sydney-australia-3-days/
#15
International travel with only carry-on luggage
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/08/12/international-travel-carry-luggage/
#16
Sonos and Airplay with old audio equipment
Audio equipment from the 1950’s to 2010 has generally been interchangeable. This meant you could buy speakers, amps, record players, and tape decks from different manufacturers to build a system customized to ones needs. In the last five years, digital music streaming, phone docks, and wireless bluetooth and wifi connectivity have exploded. These new music sources and playing mechanisms have complicated the landscape about what can and can’t be done with both old and new equipment. Furthermore, the new devices and applications are unlikely to have the lifespan of past equipment. Many also have a large investment in high-quality audio equipment that lacks the newest features.
To make sense of it all is much more complicated and inflexible than the past. Consider this model;
The following grid shows what is possible given the right accessory. Apple, Sonos, and other companies engineer in some level inflexibility to tie you to their commercial interests.
The table could be expanded to Windows PCs, Bluetooth, and Chrome Audio. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/07/12/sonos-airplay-old-audio-equipment/
#17
Thailand travel Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Thailand is only a $50 flight from Hanoi. We spent 24 hours in steamy Bangkok before taking another flight to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
Email viewers can view video with this link.
Bangkok sites include (* not in video);
Konichipan Bakery
Grand Palace
Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Chana Songkhram
Wat Pho
Bangkok National Museum
Jaywalk Cafe*
Madame Musur Bar & Restaurant*
Navalai River Resort ($80)*
Chiang Mai sites include (* not in video, **separate dedicated videos)
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Wat Phra Singh
Chiang Mai Sunday Walking Market
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Black Elephant Garden Bistro
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary**
Green Mango Thai Cookery School**
Wat Bupparam
De Chai The Colonial Hotel ($90)*
The Writers Club*
Flickr photos by Kathy Hunt for both Thailand and Vietnam
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/03/20/thailand-travel-bangkok-chiang-mai/
#18
Vietnam travel to Hanoi Halong Bay and Ho Chi Minh City
30 minute video of Sean and Kathy traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and then to Halong Bay.
Email viewers can use the direct video link is https://youtu.be/4IdN0gQLPN8
Ho Chi Minh City sites include
Rex Hotel
Ben Thanh Market
Ngoc Hoang pagoda (Jade Emperor Temple)
Temple Club*
Hanoi area sites include
Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Hoa Lo Prison (i.e. Hanoi “Hilton”) Ngoc Son Temple
Ngon Restaurant
One Pilar Pagoda
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Flag Tower of Hanoi and Highland Coffee
Garden Bay cruise on Halong Bay
Pearl Farming floating fishing village
Temple of Literature
Cafe Giang
Cooking class from Hanoi Biking Travel
Cha Ca La Luong (which is across the street from the original Cha Ca La Vong)
Golden Lotus Luxury Hotel ($60/night)*
Golden Silk Boutique Hotel ($55/night)*
* not in video
Flickr photos by Kathy Hunt for both Thailand and Vietnam
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/03/17/vietnam-travel-hanoi-halong-bay-ho-chi-minh-city/
#19
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai Thailand
The most enjoyable way to experience elephants is not by riding them but by spending time with them. Thailand’s Elephant Jungle Sanctuary has several camps created by native Karen tribes that allow you to get close and personal with these wonderful animals.
Email views can use the direct video link is https://youtu.be/7dFCckgUA7s
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/03/12/elephant-jungle-sanctuary-chiang-mai-thailand/
#20
Cooking Class in Chiang Mai Thailand by Green Mango
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/03/12/cooking-class-chiang-mai-thailand-green-mango/
#21
Whip light fixture
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#22
Recommended short video - Input/Output
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2016/01/02/recommended-short-video-inputoutput/
#23
7 day self-guided trip to Croatia
We jumped on buying an inexpensive flight to Zagreb, Croatia in early September. We had 7 days and only booked the first night stay in Zagreb. Once in Croatia, we booked our accommodations for the next night every day. Based on friends suggestions, we hit a lot of sights using a rented car (~$20/day). Here is the itinerary;
Day 1 – Arrive in Zagreb. Take Croatian Air bus to main bus terminal. Walk to the apartment. All the places we stayed were wonderful and inexpensive by US/Western European standards. Zagreb has a lot of sights including a cathedral and most importantly, a very large concentration and outdoor cafe culture. Dinner at Agava Restaurant. We decide it would be ok to come back another day before we fly home.
Day 2 – Bus back to the airport and pickup the rental car. 2 hours drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park. We rush a 2 hour hike at this natural wonder that does get a lot of tourist. Back in the car to Zadar to stay at another apartment in the center of the old city. Walking around is the thing to do here and everywhere with key sites being a Roman Forum, basilica, water organ, and good food at Konoba Skoblar.
Day 3 – After a cafe breakfast, 4 hour highway drive to the southern part of Croatia for the walled old city of Dubrovnik. First surprise is before we get there there is a border crossing into Bosnia where we happily get a passport stamp. Although AirBnB failed us, Booking.com landed us amazing centrally located 2 bedroom and thankfully air-conditioned apartment for two days. One could go on and on about this being one of the worlds most amazing cities especially when the hordes from the cruise ships leave. Be sure to find one of the 2 bars (one being Cafe Buza) located on the rocks outside the walls and just walk walk walk. The only thing we missed was taking the cable car up the mountain due to long lines of people from buses. While almost everything in Croatia is cheaper, parking is not. We found a parking garage that was $50/day. More than many rooms!
Day 5 – 3 hour drive up the coast to Split. Apartment a block away from the Roman palace and next to the fish market (this is a good thing!). Like Dubrovnik, just wander around through the hidden streets and shake your head how people built new structures within an 17 hundred year old Roman palace. We check out the beach which is more different than charming.
Day 6 – 45 minute drive to a small coastal island of Trogir. Very charming town and apartment. Climb the fort at dusk for pictures, see the cathedral, fishmarket, and enjoy walking the narrow streets.
Trogir, Croatia
Day 7 – 4 hour drive back to Zagreb to a different apartment and use a parking garage (reasonably priced). Hit the cafes and some museums (Broken Relationships, Old master, modern art) before finding the famous Tkalciceva street with all of the restaurants we missed the first day here. Early morning flight the next day. Driving in Croatia is easy but be careful of the trams in Zagreb.
Total driving – ~1300 km. / ~800 miles. A smartphone with cellular roaming on removes most of the stress (as long as you get data roaming from your carrier in advance). Paid AmericanExpress $20 total in advance for additional car insurance rather than Hertz.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/09/20/7-day-self-guided-trip-to-croatia/
#24
Searching Google with a photo
Most people search with Google using a search term. You can search using an image and Google will try to find something that looks similar. We had this old ceramic figure of unknown origin. While Google search did not match it, the results were interesting.
Simply go to Google Images and click the camera icon and upload the photo.
Google will then do a search for visually similar images. Additional keywords can be added to the search (like porcelain). While the search was unsuccessful, the results are interesting.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/08/30/searching-google-with-a-photo/
#25
Scanning old photos
Most people have albums and boxes full of old photos slowly deteriorating and being ignored in the digital age. The solution is scanning the photos into digital files, organizing those files, and making sure they are backed up. On the surface this sounds easy but one quickly finds there are an overwhelming number of choices that have trade-offs with cost, effort, and quality. Scanning Options – Prints
Cheap and Fast – Smart Phone – Scanner Pro will find the edges to make sure the photo is rectangular. Cost $0/photo Effort 15 sec./photo Quality – Lowest
Cheaper with less effort – ScanMyPhotos.com
<$.10/photo where you fill a box with ~1000 photos, ship it to them, and they return in 6+ weeks the photos and a DVD with medium resolution digital version. Helps to bundle the photos with a rubberband and put an index card with the year and subject. Requires photos to be out of albums.
High quality but takes lots of time – Flatbed scanner
Higher quality but shipped overseas – ScanCafe – they will also allow photo albums
Scanning Options – Negatives & Slides
Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner – uses a smartphone to capture negatives. Quality is just ok.
Medium quality but takes time – Dedicated negative/slide scanner
High quality but takes lots of time – Flatbed scanner that support negatives
Higher quality but shipped overseas – ScanCafe
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/08/12/scanning-old-photos/
#26
Collegeville Perkiomen Bridge to Hoy Park via Perkiomen Creek
Paddling from the Perkiomen Bridge in Collegeville to Hoy Park just prior to the SEI damn. Via canoe or kayak, a leisurely the trip takes slightly more than 2 hours. Generally, stay left when then the river splits. If the water level is 1.5 feet, there will be 3+ places where you may need to get out due to shallow water. Over 1.6 feet, there should be no extremely shallow water.
This is a Google Earth Pro (now free) flyover of a 3.5 mile segment of the Perkiomen Creek between the Perkiomen Bridge in Collegeville to Hoy Park.
It was created by doing the following;
1. Install the free Google Earth Pro
2. Drawing the a path down the river. Showing the properties of this path shows the length by canoe is 3.58 miles.
3. Recording a tour of the path. 4. Recording a movie of the tour.
Link to video on Youtube
Google Earth is a quick way to get a preview of where you are going and provide an accurate distance measurement. To add a voiceover seems to require following a set of points rather than a path.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/07/31/collegeville-perkiomen-bridge-to-hoy-park-via-perkiomen-creek/
#27
Smartphone Camera AlternativesSean Dippold Aether Vault
Smartphone cameras are improving every year making fewer people buy single purpose cameras. An iPhone used by a good photographer has better results than a DSLR shot by an amateur. Time investments in photography training and photo walks is likely to improve your photography more than a new camera. The basic test if you need learning is if you can’t explain any of the following;
1. Rule of thirds and composition techniques like leading lines 2. Depth of field and when and how to use 3. ISO vs. shutter vs. aperture and when you adjust each 4. Photo workflow 5. Bracketing and HDR 6. White-balance 7. Spot metering vs. other metering 8. manual focus and autofocus settings 9. fill flash vs. ISO vs. lighting vs. dedicate flash
However, the more training you get, the more desire one will have for a better camera. When considering a camera, it is important to consider if it is for stills only or also for video. Where a “real” camera is warranted is falls into several categories. Smartphones for still photos
Pros
Usually have it with you. What good is a camera if you don’t have it with you? Apps can improve feature, edit, and share immediately
Cons
Low light photos disappointing Fixed lens with limited wide-angle and artificial zoom Lack depth-of-field
Tips
Using the right app and post editing can improve on the cons
Best for – Everyday photography
Point and Shoot for still photos
Pros
Small enough to pocket but more features
Broad cost range $200-$2000 allowing the right fit
Cons
Must carry around Limited to no editing or sharing without another device like a computer or smartphone Need to match needs to huge variety of choices
Tips
Borrow other people and read reviews. It can be tough picking the right fit. Ignore most feature when selecting. Key things are wide-angle lens, depth-of-field, and reviews of low-light Need to learn all the features before the big trip
Best for – The big trip or event DSLR for still photos
Pros
Most flexible and highest quality Can build up lenses over time
Cons
Cost Must carry around and these babies are big and noticeable No editing or sharing without computer or iPad
Tips
Don’t buy without training and borrowing (or renting) Spend money on a good 28-300mm lens, later a 35mm fixed lens. Don’t overspend on camera body Take multiple classes and shoot all of the time
Best for – Professional or someone who loves to spend a lot of time on photography
Best Gear for Video
What matters for video is not the camera. All 3 of the above solutions can do terrific or terrible videos. Good video comes from 5 things;
1. Short takes. Watch TV and notice that a video clip is never more than 2-6 seconds. Don’t just let the camera roll. Nobody want to watch a long continuous shot.
2. Stable video. Use a tripod or set the camera/phone on a surface. If you have to hold the camera, very sable with arms tucked in and be conscious that stability of the shot is critical.
3. Good sound. Speak up and use an external mic. Sound quality is much more important than video quality.
4. Some kind of story. It can be a timeline of events but remember, shorter is better. Also, more people (even strangers) in the video is more interesting than a shot of a castle alone.
5. Use all of the composition techniques of still photography. Avoid panning or zooming.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/07/25/smartphone-camera-alternatives/
#28 Longwood Gardens 4 minute tour
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#29 DIY badminton and volleyball polesSean Dippold Aether Vault
The cost of a badminton or volleyball set increases with the durability of the poles that hold the net. Even kits over $100 have low-durability collapsable plastic poles. There are a bunch of plans on the internet but most use PVC, require ropes for support or simply look unsightly. Requirements
Movable / non-permanent poles for either volleyball or badminton No ropes or wires to strengthen the pole Attractive Materials
2 x 8′ 1-5/8″X8′ 16GA Line Post (galvanized pipe used for making chain link fences) $32
2 x 1-5/8″ Line Post Eye Top (end caps for line post) $4
4 x 2″ corner brace (connect post to net)$7
2 x 3/4″x5′ iron pipe (cut 10′ pipe in half) $13
2 x 44 lbs. lifting weight or umbrella stand (optional) – $20-$60 Tools
Stepladder level sledge hammer measuring tape Directions
1. Drive the iron pipe into the ground 20 feet apart using the sledgehammer while on a ladder. While driving it in, use a level on 2 sides to make sure the pipe is vertical. 2. If using the optional weight, place that over the iron pole. 3. Once the iron pipe is in the ground about a foot down, put the line post over top of the iron pipe and top it with the end caps. 4. Attach the net using the braces.
5. If there is a rattle with the outer pipe, use a small sliver of wood to shim.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/07/06/diy-badminton-and-volleyball-poles/
#30 iMovie quick start and file management
Apple’s iMovie can be confusing to use especially if you don’t use it often. Apple has changed the sequence of steps and the way files are organized. This outline shows how to quickly edit a movie and archive the files so as not to waste all the space on your Macbook drive.
Copying the clips to the computer
1. Create a folder under Movies (example 201506 wedding Sally video clips)
2. Insert the SD card with the video clips and copy all video clips to this new folder
3. Open iMovie and select File, Open Library, New and name the library the same as the clips folder (example 201506 wedding Sally). This library will eventually be a self-contained copy of all of your clips and the project and event work done in iMovie.
4. Create a new Event by clicking File, New Event naming it the same thing (201506 wedding Sally). iMovie will show a button to import and click that button. It will ask you for the clips and point to the folder created in step 1.
5. Create a new edit by clicking File New Project. When prompted for a name, use the same one again (201606 Sally wedding).
Editing a video
6. Drag clips from the Event in the upper left to the timeline below. Alternatively, click Edit, Select All and add them all in at once if most of the clips are good.
7. Play the video by hitting the Space bar. If there is a clip you don’t want, click it and hit Delete.
8. To shorten a clip in either the Event window or Project window, drag the yellow box.
9. There is a lot more you can do (title, volume, transitions) but the above steps are the basics.
Creating a video
10. Now you want iMovie to create a single video with all of your edits. Click File, Share, File.
11. It will take minutes to an hour to create this file. The progress can be seen in the upper right of iMovie with a pie-shaped status symbol. Once done, a popup will appear and you can then test and upload your final video. Rational for all of these steps
Following these steps creates 3 things to be backed up for future use.
1. The folder with the original video files untouched. In the future you may not use iMovie then this folder is your starting point for another application.
2. A single file with all of the videos optimized by iMovie plus all of your edits. This library file can be opened in the future if you want to create a new version of your video without redoing the editing.
3. A single file that is your edited video for sharing. This is what people watch or upload to Youtube.
Backup and Archiving
All Macbooks have solid state rather than spinning hard drives. The only downside to solid state is there is significantly less storage space. Because video takes up many gigabytes per hour of footage, a way to move off videos to a external drive or server is needed. In the above structure, simply move the file and folder. If in the future an edit is needed, move them back on to the laptop Movie folder.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/07/06/imovie-quick-start-and-file-management/
#31
Portable river dock DIY plans Requirements
A small dock that would float on a river whose water levels changes dramatically throughout the season. The dock needed to be light enough for 1 person to disassemble and carry away for the winter or when a major storm was predicted. Sourcing
A small number of inflatable docks are available for $600-$1000 but didn’t seem durable. Docks on wheels are also available if you provide the decking but again seemed expensive for what you get. Many people have posted their approaches to homemade docks but none met my requirement. An experiment with an old aluminum ladder failed as it had too much flex over the span. Instead, a dock that could be disassembled easily into 5 pieces was designed and turned out to be inexpensive. Materials
2 blue 55 gallon barrels with plugs ~$40
7 8’x 5/4″ treated decking wood ~ $32
2 8′ 2″x4″ treated ~$6
4 cambuckle tie downs ~$10
8 6″ lag bolts and washers ~$5
7 36″ 2×2 baluster treated ~$7
1 8′ 2×2 treated $8 exterior decking screws
4 8″ dock cleats – $16
Design The 2×4’s are the outside of the frame with the 36″ ballusters making up the cross members. The balusters are spaced so that the barrels are straddled. The balusters may seem undersized but they are light and the lag bolts are really providing most of the load strength. The barrels are strapped to the frame allowing them to be transported separately. The decking is separated into 2 sections to be easier to carry. The dock is tied to the shore with ropes and a locked chain to reduce theft. A removable ramp is used to get to the dock to but discourage people from the river coming ashore when nobody is in the area.
Video construction overview (5 minutes)
Design Caveats
The dock is somewhat latterly unstable. It is usable but expect movement if someone stands on one side. In this installation, a ramp connected to shore improves stability. Ballast weight could also be added if desired.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/06/13/portable-river-dock-diy-plans/
#32
WWII Weekend in Reading PA
The annual World War II weekend in June is a fascinating look into the planes and field camps of WWII. Hundreds of re-enactors setup realistic encampments with loads of memorabilia.
Some of the airplanes are the only ones still flying. Friday has less crowds than Saturday but the bigger airshows are on Saturday.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/06/06/wwii-weekend-in-reading-pa/
#33 Simplifying Tic-Tac-Toe
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#34
Linksys DPC3008 with COMCAST vs. Verizon FIOS using Airport Extreme
Verizon FIOS increased its monthly internet charge to $80 and wouldn’t budge on price. Coworkers reported COMCAST was ok as an ISP and it offered cable and internet for $55 a month. In this area, it is nice to have a choice. The Verizon disconnect was scheduled for 1 month after the COMCAST installation in to allow a period of testing. Historically, Verizon FIOS has been very reliable and has consistent 25/25 speed.
COMCAST offers customers the ability to buy their own equipment rather than do a monthly rental. The house is fully wired with ethernet and uses an Airport Extreme and and Airport Express to provide strong signal across 4 floor. The Linksys DPC3008 modem offers maximum speed for a low price of $75 but no routing or Wifi capability.
Verizon provides (early customers were able to purchase rather than rent) a combination modem, router, and wifi. With Verizon’s wifi disabled, the Apple Airports provided wifi.
Settings
Since all traffic traverses the Airport Extreme, the settings there are the ones to worry about. In short as follows;
Verizon – Airport Extreme routing set to Off-Bridge mode (i.e. the Verizon router routes all traffic and assigns IP addresses to devices in the house)
COMCAST -Airport Extreme routing set to DHCP-NAT (i.e. Airport Extreme routes all traffic and assigns IP addresses to devices in the house)
Conclusion
Trial period results by July. Comcast speeds are 25/6 but reliability is the open question.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/06/03/linksys-dpc3008-with-comcast-vs-verizon-fios-using-airport-extreme/
#35 Denmark itinerary (7 day)
See the highlights of Denmark. As this was our second trip to Denmark, some of the major sites near Copenhagen were excluded.
1. Copenhagen airport to Koge – 1 hour 2. Koge to Slagalese – 1.5 hours (no lodging) 3. Slagelese to Aarhus – 3? hours 4. Aarhus to Slagen – 2 hours 5. Slagen to Ribe – 3 hours 6. Ribe to Jelling – 1 hour (no lodging) 7. Jelling to Hillerod – 2 hours 8. Hillerod to Copenhagen – 40 minutes
Approximately 930 miles. Gas about $160 for 2.5 tank fulls. Copenhagen Koge
Stevns Cliff – natural site Slagelese
TRELLEBORG – archeological site Aarhus
Walk around Skagen
Hillerod
AirB&B
Boat – Entire home/apt in Strandgade
$164/night
Standard Double Room
Total cost: DKK 1,425
Standard Double or Twin Room
Total cost: DKK 1,198
Total cost: DKK 845 per night
House – Entire home/apt
Standard Room – Breakfast included. Special Rate
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/05/31/denmark-itinerary-7-day/
#36 Fish Auction in Skagen Denmark
The fishing boats arrive every weekday between 6:30AM and 7AM and quickly unload their catch. Forklifts transfer the fish to a building where and auctioneer takes about 20 bidders from pallet to pallet. Once the pallet is won, it is quickly moved again to trucks outside.
Open to the public but stay out of the way of the forklifts.
We had some difficulty finding the entrance but this map will help. Skagen fish auction map
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/05/26/fish-auction-in-skagen-denmark/
#37
1967 Lock Haven State College Yearbook Praeco
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/05/06/1967-lock-haven-state-college-yearbook-praeco/
#38 1963 Alfred University Yearbook Kanakadea
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/05/01/1963-alfred-university-yearbook-kanakadea/
#39 1962 St Mary’s Area High School Yearbook The Bells
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#40
1958 St Mary's Area High School Yearbook The Bells
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/04/27/1958-st-marys-area-high-school-yearbook-the-bells/
#41 iPhone Prius connectionSean Dippold Aether Vault
The 2005 Prius does not come with an auxiliary 1/8″ stereo input jack to send iPhone music through the car stereo.
Option 1 – FM transmitter
Pros – $40 or less, easy, works will all cars
Cons – No charging capability, low to terrible sound quality, will drop out especially in major areas with many radio stations, no integration to cars stereo controls (like skip)
Option 2 – Cassette adapter
Pros – $10 or less, easy
Cons – No charging capability, lower sound quality, not all cars have cassette decks, no integration to cars stereo controls (like skip)
Option 3 – 3rd party add-in iPod connection DICE iPod Car Integration Unit – discontinued
GROM Audio
Pros – Prius stereo controls work, Charges iPod, Good sound quality, can use old iPod/iPhone as dedicated device
Cons – Likely no longer available + DIY installation of 1-2 hours, iPod interface not supported on newer devices
Option 4 – 3rd party add-in 1/8″ input
Pros – Works with any device. Good sound quality but must set volume on phone, can use old iPod/iPhone as dedicated device
Cons – $150 + DIY installation of 1-2 hours, no charging Option 5 – 3rd party add-in for Bluetooth
Carstream BT101TOY – Crutchfield – $160 if DIY
MediaBridge AMBR1500TOY – $130 discontinued
GROM Audio Bluetooth adapter – not recommended – could not get to reliably connect
Pros – Works with any Bluetooth device. Good sound quality.
Cons – $100-$160 + DIY installation of 1-2 hours, no charging. Location of Bluetooth antenna can cause it not to be reliable. Option 6- Replace head-unit
Kenwood DDX371 ~$250 + $200 installation
Pros – Get a new system with additional features like DVD and touchscreen.
Cons – Cost – $200-$500, DIY for only the brave.
Recommendation
The 2005 Prius is an old car and the importance of audio has to be balanced with the value of the car. In my case, I installed two 3rd party options over the years and it was more pain than it was worth. The first was Option 3 (iPod adapter) that work well for 5 years but had no bluetooth or iPhone capability. The 2nd DYI lasted less than a year. I went to a shop that does installations (Best Buy) and was happy to have someone who installs all the time just take car of it. I could have economized by going with a non-touch screen unit and not installing a new hands-free microphone. I also utilized the USB connection to plug in a flash drive rather than an iPod. In other words, I can play music on the flash drive (which is always in the car) or via Bluetooth from my iPhone.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/04/15/iphone-connection-for-a-2005-prius/
#42
Simple password generator
On the internet, every password should be unique to each site that is storing your username and password. This protects you on other sites if one site has your password stolen. A password manager is a preferred method of securing all your unique passwords with one master password. However, many people have trust or cost issues using one of these services. A mnemonic password scheme is a simple alternative to remembering unique passwords that require no software.
Here is a simple one (but not the one I use).
Start with a base password “Iagl” – remember by “I am good looking”
Let’s say you need a password for Google. Take the first two letters and make them capital “GO” but let’s make them the first and last character of the password.
Now let’s add a number. Google has 6 letters so let’s pick “6”. So my password for Google is “GIagl6O” . My password for Facebook is “FIagl8A”.
A few sites will require a special character (like a “%” or “&” but not all support these types of characters in passwords. For those that require one, simply add one to the end and if your default password is wrong, you can add the special character.
Should my Facebook password be stolen, it is unlikely even a human can guess my Google password (unless they read this article).
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/04/13/simple-password-generator/
#43
Prius door speaker replacement 2005 (2nd generation)
20 minutes if you have done it before. 1 hour if you have all of the parts and doing it for the first time.
Replacement part is JBL Speaker 6.5″ 86160 AC280 Toyota Prius.
Search ebay using 86160 Prius Speaker.
Video overview made by using Shadow Puppet. In the future, I will see if I can find a tool that creates the video in landscape rather than portrait.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/03/28/prius-door-speaker-replacement-2005-2nd-generation/
#44 Photo Assignment - Central Park
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#45
Crashplan destination not found on Mac problemSean Dippold Aether Vault
Crashplan backs data to the cloud but also supports a local backup destination. Using a local destination allows a much quicker recovery (hours instead of days) because the local network is much faster than the internet.
Issue
Occasionally, Crashplan reports the Destination is not available even though the drive is shown connected in Finder.
Root Cause
Mac OSX can generate phantom drives confusing Crashplan.
Detection
Open Terminal and execute this command ls -laF /Volumes drwxr-xr-x+ 3 userid admin 102 Jan 15 20:40 3_TB_WD/ drwx—— 1 userid staff 16384 Oct 30 20:37 3_TB_WD-1/
The duplicate drive with the -1 indicates that there is a phantom drive. If you were to disconnect the drive and run the command again, you will still see the drive.
Corrective Actions
1. Disconnect the network drive in Finder
2. Open Finder and using Go to go to \Volumes
3. Delete the phantom drive
4. Reconnect to the real drive in Finder
5. Open Crashplan. Navigate to Backup, Destination. Click COMPACT. 6. At this point, Crashplan sees the drive and starts compacting and presumably when finished will back up
Preventative Measures
There doesn’t seem to be a way to automatically prevent this due to an underlying issue in OSX. Some users may not experience this depending on how they connect and if an application is writing when the drive is disconnected.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/03/22/crashplan-destination-not-found-on-mac-problem/
#46 Rotate photos from Mac Finder with keyboard shortcutSean Dippold Aether Vault
Windows Explorer will rotate a photo via right-click. Mac OSX doesn’t have this ability but it can be added with no additional software. Steps to setup
1. Add the image rotate feature as a service using Automator. Detailed instructions are available but here are the quick steps
2. Open Automator and select File, New and pick Service
3. Change to Service Receives Image Files in Finder.
4. Drag Rotate Images action and select the Options for the action and tell it to Show Action. Save the Action named something like Rotate Images.
5. Open System Preferences then Keyboard and select the Shortcuts tab
6. Set a shortcut like Option-Command-R for the Service Rotate Images
Using in Finder
Select one or more photos in Finder and press the short key. You will be prompted for the direction of rotation (right, left, 180) and it will be applied to all selected photos.
That is it! Now, why would you do this rather than use iPhoto? iPhoto doesn’t save the changes to the original file. If you were to take the original into another program, it wouldn’t be rotated correctly. Mac Preview does have the ability to rotate the original file. Preview is inconvenient if you are trying to sort and rotate a large number of files.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/03/21/rotate-photos-from-mac-finder-with-keyboard-shortcut/
#47 Password manager apps free and paidSean Dippold Aether Vault Almost every week you hear of passwords stolen from some website. Often people will use the same password for every site they use. Once the password is stolen from one site, hackers will try to use the password on a different site potentially leading to financial loss and identity theft for people who use the same password everywhere. Having a different and complex (not easily guessable by a computer password) is very difficult to do without some aid. Best Option – Use LastPass
LastPass is a website and set of apps and browser plugins that allow you to store passwords (and other text data) and be unlocked by a single password. It can automatically fill-in the password when you go to a site where you have a password. It can even generate complex passwords unique to each website. What if LastPass is hacked? It is really not an issue as your data is encrypted and LastPass doesn’t have the key.
Downsides – Lose your master password, you lose it all! Use on mobile cost $1 per month but is worth it. Free Option – for Mac/iPhone/iPad users – Apple Keychain
Apple products have a feature built is similar to LastPass called Keychain. It doesn’t have all of the features but if all of your devices are all from Apple, you can get this almost automatically.
Downsides – Stuck on Apple, difficult to see all of your passwords. Takes a techie to store other kinds of information. Free Option – Chrome browser – for all devices
If you can use Google’s Chrome browser across all devices, it has a built-in password storage feature. If you fully trust Google’s security, it is very convenient.
Downsides – tied to Chrome. Not easy to browse passwords. Other options
ClipperZ – Web-based solution that is my favorite. However, requires BitCoin purchase for a license.
Apps – A variety of apps that do this and even allow your fingerprint to unlock your data (LastPass also has this feature). One caution is they are often free but charge you a few dollars if you have more than 5 passwords. Stick to reputable developers as there is nothing from stopping a developer from sending password data to themselves. Norton Identity Safe is the only thing that seems to be free and from a trusted source.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/01/17/password-manager-apps-free-paid/
#48 Open Source alternatives to OSISoft PISean Dippold Aether Vault
OSISoft PI is the industry leader for operational historians. Historians take simple time-based data and store it for retrieval later. For example, a temperature probe sends the historian the value 10.1 degrees C at 2015-01-15 09:32:03 for storage. The probe sends an updated value every minute. Later, someone interested in that data trend retrieves the values from the historian and graphs it.
Most people familiar with computers initially view this as a simple task and are surprised to hear companies pay for software to store this data and that there are so few alternatives. There are some emerging Open Source tools that may evolve to a complete solution in the future. The current options are
Open Time Series Database – built on-top of big-data tools like Hadoop
Nimbit – Web-services oriented to internet of things
Mango Automation – Open source automation software that also includes a historian.
The key drawbacks to these tools over commercial software includes;
Interface variety – Drawing data from different kinds of system requires different interfaces. The Open Source tools tend to support web service interfaces which is good if the sending system is customizable.
Request modes and interpolation – Consider if for a particular data stream, a data point is stored every minute. When reading the stored the data, one may need a representation of the data for every hour or maybe to compare to another point at a certain second. For an end-user, this inconstancy adds a lot of work to the simply idea of showing a trend/graph of the data.
Large volume of data – Imaging thousands of sensors sending data every second or more and the system simply recording it. Most commercial historians only store the data to the right time precision as by the requirements for that sensor. While placing an algorithm saves on space, the data is harder to use as the data must be uncompressed before it is readable.
Trends in technology are heading in the right direction to allow many more uses for open source operational historian over commercial software. Storage space costs are dropping rapidly reducing the necessity to to use compression. Analytic tools are improving to help with comparative data analysis. Interface technologies are moving away from Windows OLE and proprietary interfaces to web technology standards like OPC UA.
Today, it is unlikely any OSISoft customer will jump of the Open Source trend. The startups are there first.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2015/01/08/open-source-alternatives-osisoft-pi/
#49 Cocktail - Poinsettia
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#50 Pine tree
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#51 Indian onion relish recipe
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#52
Vienna 3 day itinerary
Imperial Crypt – Want to see all of the royal coffins, go here? It is not creepy but that is a little disappointing.
Kunsthistorisches Museum – The not-to-miss art museum if you like art museums.
Schönbrunn Palace – Only 3% of the rooms are open to the public but they are the most impressive. Easy to get to via underground. Similar to the Palace of Versailles.
Vienna State Opera – A wow theatre with top performances. We get 200 euro tickets for 50 euros 2 days before the performance (7th row back) at the tourist office. Don’t be late or you will have to wait until intermission for your seat.
Café Griensteidl – A good place before or after the Spanish Riding School
Café Central – A classic cafe enjoyed by Lenin and Hitler.
Palmenhaus – Our favorite spot in Vienna, an iron greenhouse next to the palace that serves lunch.
Albertina – Another museum that is small on the inside than the large building would suggest.
Walk around and see the impressive buildings of the Rathaus and Hofburg Palace. The Spanish riding school is worth seeing but if you do a weekday practice session, don’t expect any tricks or choreography.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/12/08/vienna-3-day-itinerary/
#53
Berlin 3 day trip
Ramblings to no one
Berlin
Thursday November 27th 2014 – Sunday, November 30th 2014
I used the mTrip app ($5 per city) to plan the trip while we were there. The below content was created by logging in to the mTrip website, printing the itinerary, and pasting it in to WordPress.
Arrived by overnight train from Vienna (11 hours, 150 euros each)
Afternoon Brandenburg Gate
Pariser Platz – Mitte
Subway : Brandenburger Tor
Telephone : +49 (0)30 25 0025
Evening
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz – Tiergarten
Subway : Potsdamer Platz
Telephone : +49 30 25291425
Gemäldegalerie
8 Matthäikirchplatz – Tiergarten
Subway : Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park
Telephone : +49 30 266424242
Hours :
Tue to Wed, Fri From 10:00am to 06:00pm Thu From 10:00am to 10:00pm On weekends From 11:00am to 06:00pm
Friday
Morning
Museum of Photography
2 Jebensstraße – Charlottenburg
Subway : Zoologischer Garten
Telephone : +49 30 31864825
Hours :
Tue to Wed, Fri to Sun From 10:00am to 06:00pm Thu From 10:00am to 10:00pm
Afternoon
Reichstag
1 Platz der Republik – Tiergarten
Subway : Bundestag
Telephone : +49 (0)30 2270
Hours :
Everyday From 09:00am to 08:00pm
Museum Island
1 Bodestraße – Mitte
Subway : Weinmeisterstraße
Telephone : +49 30/2662987
Hours :
Tue to Sun From 10:00am to 06:00pm
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe 1 Cora Berliner Straße – Mitte
Subway : Brandenburger Tor
Telephone : +49 (0)30 / 26 39 43 36
Hours :
Apr 1 to Sep 30 Tue to Sun From 10:00am to 07:15pm Oct 1 to Mar 31 Tue to Sun From 10:00am to 06:15pm Dec 24 to Dec 26 Closed From 12:00am to 12:00am Dec 31 to Jan 1 Closed From 12:00am to 12:00am
Museum of Photography
2 Jebensstraße – Charlottenburg
Subway : Zoologischer Garten
Telephone : +49 30 31864825
Hours :
Tue to Wed, Fri to Sun From 10:00am to 06:00pm Thu From 10:00am to 10:00pm
Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof
126 Chauseestraße – Mitte
Subway : Oranienburger Tor
Evening
Mitte
Karl Liebknecht Straße – Mitte
Subway : Alexanderplatz
Alte Nationalgalerie
1-3 Bodestraße – Mitte
Subway : Weinmeisterstraße
Telephone : +49 30 2090-5577
Hours :
Tue to Wed, Fri to Sun From 10:00am to 06:00pm Thu From 10:00am to 10:00pm
Saturday
Morning
Camera Work
149 Kantstraße – Charlottenburg
Subway : Uhlandstraße
Telephone : +49 30 310077–3
Hours :
Tue to Sat From 11:00am to 06:00pm
Designpanoptikum
Afternoon
Berliner Dom
Am Lustgarten – Mitte Am Lustgarten – Mitte Subway : Hausvogteiplatz
Telephone : +49(0)30- 20269-136
Hours :
Mon to Sat From 09:00am to 07:00pm Sun From 12:00pm to 07:00pm
Sunday – leave via train to Prague (5 hours)
Morning
Hauptbahnhof
1 Europaplatz – Moabit
Subway : Hauptbahnhof
Telephone : +49 30 22605805
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Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/12/07/berlin-3-day-trip/
#54
Army man 1
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#55 Use folders instead of iPhoto iPhoto is a great entry-level tool for managing and editing photos on the Mac. Using iPhoto on large photo collections (>10,000) is risky as it stores your original photos in a somewhat hidden manner. The default settings for iPhoto lock users into using iPhoto even when they have outgrown of the tool. This lock-in exists in other software but can be avoided (or painfully undone) by organizing the original photos on the computer first before using a tool (even iPhoto) on top of the file structure. Basics – know how to file
A basic understanding of how to use folders and copy/move files is required. Regardless of system, most users should have a working understanding of how to copy photos off a camera and paste them into a folder location.
File Structure
Every photographer has their own opinion on how folders should be named and structured. There is no right or wrong answer except that the right answer is consistency. Pick a structure and stick with it.
Example 1 – Year \ Year-Month Event name \ photos
This structure is a good compromise in that it is easy to manage and has some structure even without using software. The quick way to add new photos is to copy the camera folder to the year and rename the folder. Once the computer is backed up, the camera can be erased.
Example 2 – Event name \ photos
This structure is simpler than the first but may become overwhelming when you get over 50 events. Example 3 – Category \ photos
Not recommended! This structure forces one to examine each photo and place in the right category (like flowers or relatives). Having a category view of your photos is highly desirable but that is what iPhoto, Picasa, or Lightroom are for. Add in the Software
It is possible to survive using just the above organization technique and things built-in to the operating system (Finder, Explorer, Preview). However, it is much more difficult to do editing, categorization, printing, posting online, etc. without some kind of software. What is key is making sure the software used is not controlling you. This allows one to start simple (say with iPhoto) and if needed, switch to another tool in the future. The Key – use references
There is one setting that is critical to set when you use the software the first time. That setting tells the software not to import your pictures (remember you are doing that yourself) but just reference the originals. iPhoto (beginner tool)
Picasa (intermediate tool)
No setting required. Picasa doesn’t attempt to manage your original photos. LightRoom (advanced tool)
No setting required. Lightroom by default behaves using this method. However, before using Lightroom, a decision is needed on structure as outline above. See the tutorial for a 18 minute overview. Getting an existing iPhoto library in the ideal structure
Lightroom recently came out with a plugin to assist with migrating from iPhoto. The tool is new and has had mixed response. iPhoto does have a way to migrate each event into a folder.
1. Create the base directory structure (example, list of years)
2. Rename each event in iPhoto to the new subfolder – Example – 201405 Birthday party
3. Make sure the computer has sufficient storage and click File, Export with these settings
While this gets your original photos out of iPhotos, any keywords, flags, and edits are lost.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/10/28/use-folders-instead-iphoto/
#56 Switching to a Mac Macs are becoming more popular as installing unique software on the computer is less of a need with functionality being on web sites. People are also becoming more concerned about security. Apple provides better support especially if you live near an Apple Store. Microsoft Windows 8 has also frustrated many Windows users with a dual interface that will hopefully be replaced in 2015. There are other options than a Mac if you don’t need a fully flexible computer.
Recommendations if switching to a Mac from Windows
Make Apple do most of the work for you. You are paying a premium for a Mac and should take advantage of Apple’s in-store support. a. Prior to going to the store, write down your list of needs. Example – portable, word processing, photos, email, and web sites. If you have some special thing you do (like print greeting cards or design buildings, list it) b. Go to the store and tell them you are interested in switching. Pull out the list and have them SHOW you how each thing is done on a Mac. For example, you may be used to Microsoft Word. While you can get Microsoft Word on a Mac, the free Mac word processing program (which can read and write Word documents) is likely all you need. Make them prove a Mac meets your needs. c. Consider a laptop rather than a desktop. There are really 3 main options. A cheap ($500) desktop called a Mac Mini. A really expensive ($1100-$2000 but beautiful) desktop called an iMac. Two types of laptops called a Macbook Air ($900-$1300) or Macbook Pro ($2000+). While all choices are valid, a Macbook Air is the most popular. A Macbook Air can be connected to full size keyboard, mouse, and monitor to behave just like a desktop. However, if you want support in the Apple store, it is easy to bring in the Macbook Air. d. Ask if Apple will migrate the data from your PC. Unless you are an expert, decide to bring in your PC and have Apple copy all the documents, photos, and settings to your new computer. e. Schedule one-to-one training. Once you have the new computer, you can sit with someone to ask questions and show how it is done. Consider doing multiple sessions so you can come back in a week and follow-up after using on your own. Have Apple explain what training and warranty you get and what costs additional. Apple’s extended warranty is expensive but if you want additional training and no worries, consider it. f. Ask about extras. What printer do you recommend (you don’t have to buy from Apple)? Do I need adapters to connect to my old monitor? What if I buy an iPhone or iPad at a future date?
Suggestions once you get the computer home a. Watch some of the videos from Apple on switching from a PC to a Mac. Consider watching these before you buy. There are a small number of differences. b. Difference 1 – No backspace, only delete on the keyboard. If you use an external keyboard, you can have a backspace. Delete and Backspace are almost the same thing but this may be the biggest adjustment when switching from Windows. c. Difference 2 – Menus are always at the top of the screen on a Mac while within the application window on Windows. Once you see it, you will get it. d. Difference 3 – No Start button. Common Application are always available at the bottom of the screen, there is a spaceship icon to bring up all Applications. e. Difference 4 – Typically don’t need to turn off programs or even the computer in a Mac. Just use it and don’t think about it. The little minimize buttons are on the left rather than the right. f. Difference 5 – You typically don’t need disks or to download software from a website to get more software. Simply go to the App Store icon, and select what applications you want. They install automatically. For most users, all the software you need comes with the Mac (spreadsheets, photos, word processing, etc.) so there is nothing to do.
While this sounds like a lot, the above steps are easier than going from an old Windows computer to a new Windows computer.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/10/23/switching-mac/
#57
Computer recommendations
A common question people in IT get is what computer to buy. There is no right answer but these general guidelines may be helpful.
Need – Reliable laptop to surf the net
Recommendation – A Google Chromebook by any manufacturer. $200-$300 gives one a simple-to use and secure system to surf the net. Downside? No software on the Chromebook itself, everything including your data is online. This is the trend so if you can live with it, it is a great choice.
Need – Simple content consumption (reading, movies, email) device that is secure, and highly portable
Recommendation – An Apple iPad. $250-$700 depending on size, speed, and if cellular internet is built-in. Downside? Lack of physical keyboard and mouse makes this less of a content creation device.
Need – Computer with all of the capabilities
Recommendation – Apple Macbook Air – $900-$1200. Superior design, software, and support (especially if you live near an Apple Store). Downside? Cost, Apple costs a premium (say $300 more than other brand).
Need – Want to understand computers, hack, start the next Facebook, or have fun with technology
Recommendation – PC hardware with Linux operating system ($100-$1500) – Roll up your sleeves and have fun and complete control. Downside? Commercial software not available or requires skill to get working. Giving Linux to someone who has no interest in computers is a bad idea.
Missing recommendations – A PC with Windows 8. ($300-$2000) A PC with Windows used to be the obvious choice. Windows and PC hardware are the most full- featured and least costly computer with all capabilities. Downside? Low margins on hardware make support poor and the Windows 8 operating system has 2 interfaces confusing even seasoned Windows users. It is likely Microsoft will fix the clunky interface in 2015 and PC manufacturers will provide support at a cost. Windows tends to be less secure as it is more popular and people tend to be sloppy securing the operating system. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/10/22/computer-recommendations/
#58
Sports, entertainment and video games
Many people are surprised to learn some people like to watch others playing video games. Even more surprising is that a select few make money playing video games live or online. Services like Twitch that post these video game recording online are valued over a billion dollars while services like Youtube are loaded with already played games. South Korea was recently profiled in the New York Times where the prize money for winning a video game was $1M.
This phenomenon is nothing new. People have been entertaining themselves with athletic games like baseball and football since the beginning of recorded history. People also enjoy watching athletic events when they can no longer play the sports themselves or like to see the top talent in a sport compete.
Sports is entertainment. Watching people engaged in sport, is entertainment. Sports are no different than video games.
Video games do lack the physical fitness that participation in many sports encourage. They jury is still out on the mental benefits of video games. The actual watching either type of event is just that, watching.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/10/19/sports-entertainment-video-games/
#59 Obitalk free landline phone
I replaced a “triple-play” FIOS package over a year ago with a cable/internet package. I still wanted to have a house phone but didn’t want to pay the high rates. I installed a ~$50 Obitalk device that connects into the existing home phone wiring to allow old phones to use voice-over-IP. I ported my phone number to Google Voice and configured the device to get phone calls from Google Voice. Basically, the house phones behave like any plain old telephone.
The setup worked well until early 2014 when Google Voice stopped supporting a specific protocol. Obitalk offered several 3rd party providers and I went with PhonePower. For roughly $40 a year, PhonePower provides both inbound and outbound calling and adds the benefit of 911 calling. Rather than port my phone number again from Google Voice to PhonePower, I simply told Google Voice to route all calls to the PhonePower number.
Unfortunately, the paid PhonePower service has been less reliable than Google Voice service. People complain the phone doesn’t ring and occassional calls will abruptly drop.
Obitalk announced renewed support for Google Voice opening the possibility of returning to a free and possibly more reliable service.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/09/30/obitalk-free-landline-phone/
#60
Classifying beer
The diversity of beer available is much greater than 20 or even 10 years ago. This makes answering the question “what beer do you like” more complex than in the past. Many will answer by stating a brand or certain characteristic like “hoppy”. However, there are some basic universal categories that help divide the beer world into groups of beer. Lager vs. Ale
Beer is made by yeast and there are two basic yeasts used in all beer. Ale has been around for thousands of years and ferments beer when warm. Lager is a more recent yeast (when recent is 500 years) that works under cold conditions. Bitter vs. Sweet
This simple chart shows the major categories of beer. Fruity vs. Malty A large poster image gives a more comprehensive picture.
In my case, I prefer Belgium style ales that are sweet and fruity. I keep track using a smartphone and the app Untapped. Here are my favorites;
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/09/24/classifying-beer/
#61
Project manager job searching
There are different levels of project managers based on leadership, experience, industry background, and skills. A project manager who has successful experience in billion dollar projects in niche fields will be compensated highly when unique opportunities arise.
1. Network
Not surprisingly that knowing people helps in future employment. Take advantage of Linked-In to keep track of people over time. More importantly, grab a coffee with people periodically.
2. Company job listings Most companies have online job postings. Many times these do not show up in general sites like Monster. It is a lot of work to register and look at these sites but they are often more useful than the large exaggerators. Consider smaller companies in the same industry.
3. Job sites
General sites
Monster
CareerBuilder
Linked-in
GlassDoor
Indeed
Industry Specific – IT
Dice.com
Industry Specific – Government
US Jobs
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/09/15/project-manager-job-searching/
#62
Print at home from an iPad or iPhone
Apple has a proprietary wireless printing protocol called AirPrint. There are 3 options to get AirPrint at home.
Option 1 – Purchase a printer with AirPrint built in. >$120. This is the easiest option but does require the printer be configured. If you are buying a printer anyway, it makes sense to include this as a required feature was it doesn’t increase the price. Example http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CJ1MTE
Option 2 Purchase a print server adapter to make your current printer. $90 http://www.amazon.com/Lantronix-xPrintServer-Home-Edition-Printing/dp/B008KCSPRK
Option 3 If you have a computer running all the time and is attached to the printer, $0 to $20 software will enable AirPrint. For Mac $20 http://www.ecamm.com/mac/printopia/
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Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/09/07/print-at-home-from-an-ipad-or-iphone/
#63 What did I learn from Thomas Dippold?
Thomas Millen Dippold died on June-26-2014 at his home in Danville, PA. He was a great lover of the outdoors, guns, and making things. As physical education and health teacher, Tom was always active both physically and mentally. Tom’s strong personality and directness made him strive to build roads, harvest 10 cord of wood a year, and fix almost anything.
I don’t know that I practice all of these lessons but understand their basis
Take care of your machines and start the complex ones regularly Hard work is a good for the body and mind Principle of the matter can narrow perspective The enjoyment of have the right tool for the job You can control a lot of your own life Read a book. Read lots of books. Tomato juice with beer and 8-O’Clock coffee can be a daily habit You can say you don’t like something (computers) and still have many It can be fun to argue and/or get someone worked up on an issue You can never have too many screwdrivers as long as they are distributed for easy access Disposable containers should be reused Give someone a tool Better to retired early and spend less to do so Diesel engines are better than gas engines Scrap lumber for 1 project makes 3 more projects Clean the chimney twice a year if you heat with wood Leftovers from dinner make breakfast Gas grills can be made to last forever Off-road, put it in 4-wheel drive Stick is more fun Some things found in the dumpster you can use your whole life (rope, cable) Rural internet sucks. Totally. A cell phone doesn’t work everywhere. Stream water is better for your house than well water. Turn off the gas line. Turn on the gas line. Have a good quality knife nearby A tree can kill you. Easily. Pay attention! Heat your pool while cooling your roof
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/06/26/learn-thomas-dippold/
#64
Anders Zorn Mrs. Richard Howe
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#65 Chip and Pin VISA card for travel
Credit cards with magnetic strips are becoming useless in Europe. U.S. banks have been slow to adopt the technology and it is difficult to obtain a card that works consistently in Europe. Early feedback is the chip and signature cards being adopted in the US will not work consistently in Europe.
1. Pay $25 for a membership in the United Nations Association of the USA for $25. This allows you to join the UN Federal Credit Union.
2. Become a member and apply for an account at the UN Federal Credit Union. The form is online but requires printing out the completed form and mailing the application along with a copy of your drivers license or passport, proof you are a member of the UNA-USA, and proof of your address with something like a utility bill. Once approved, you need to transfer money into the account. This step could take 3 weeks. 3. Apply for a Visa card like the no fee Azure card. Expect this could take a few weeks.
Decide if the debit card in step 2. is worthwhile taking along with the Visa card.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/03/26/chip-pin-visa-card-travel/
#66
Generator fuel line replacement
A squirrel chewed through a fuel line on an outdoor generator requiring a replacement. The cheapest and easiest source was eBay as there are suppliers who sell by the foot.
1. Use a micrometer or caliper to meassure the inner diameter (I.D.) and outer diameter (O.D.) of the damaged fuel line.
2. Since most precise measurement devices use decimal/metric inches (thousandth of an inch), use a conversion table to get the sizes in the closest fractional inches.
3. If the fuel line is old, you may not find the same outer dimension by searching eBay (example fuel line 3/16″ I.D.). If so, make sure you also get replacement fuel clips (example fuel line clips 3/16″). Select a seller that sells by the foot and order slightly more than you need as most of the cost is for shipping.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/02/22/generator-fuel-line-replacement/
#67 Inexpensive Surefire replacement bulbs
Surefire makes durable and bright flashlights for the military. The bulbs seem last only a few hours and and genuine replacements cost $20-$30. eBay lists direct-from- China (search for “Cree Q5 led bulb 1-Mode For Surefire”) replacement bulb assemblies for around $6 and an LED version for $9 including shipping.
The replacement bulb simply screws in but the length is slightly longer leaving a small gap slightly compromising the water-tight seal. The LED brightness seems to be similar to factory P60 incandescent bulb. The light distribution is different as is color having a blue hue.
One would expect the LED bulb to have greater longevity and battery life over the incandescent but this was not tested.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/15/surefire-replacement-bulb-inexpensive/
#68 Rural internet and VOIP options
The internet has become a necessity to most people in the US. Unfortunately, many places cannot get high-speed wired internet. Internet Options
Try to pick the highest option available in the table below for your location. Rural locations tend to have lower options as providers don’t want to invest in infrastructure for fewer users.
Type Cost/month Speed Latency Limitations More Info Fiber Optic $40-$60 Best Excellent Verizon Fios, others CableTV $30-$60 Very Good Excellent May slow down COMCAST, TimeWarner, etc. DSL $20-$40 OK Excellent low video quality regional phone company LTE/4G Wireless $40-$70 OK OK Data Limits Clear, ATT, Verizon 3G wireless $40-$70 Slow OK Data limits ATT, Verizon Satellite $50-$80 Slow Very bad Data limits, no voice Dish, HughesNet Dial-up $20-$40 excluding phone line Slow Bad Very slow, no voice numerous local ISPs
You can find what may be available at an address at broadbandmap.gov and dslreports.com. These don’t always provide an accurate list but are a good starting place before calling a provider. Data Limits
Most of the options beyond fiber impose some kind of data limits. For web usage, casual video and audio downloading, these limits are not an issue. However, services like Netflix, Pandora, video conferencing, large software updates and extended voice calls will quickly exceed the limits resulting in a slow-down of service or additional charges. Using Internet to reduce landline costs
Many people are getting rid of landline telephone service and opting to use their cell phones. Others want to use their internet connection to continue to have a traditional phone and have another option to their cell phone. Putting voice over the internet is called “voice over internet protocol” or VOIP.
For fiber optic, cable and DSL Numerous voice services that work like traditional telephones are available. Often the service provider of the internet connection will offer voice as a bundle for around $25/month. Vonage offers a similar service for about $10 per month. Services like Obihai and Ooma will provide indefinite phone usage for a one-time fee of around $50 but take some effort and technical confidence to configure.
For 3G, satellite and dial-up
If you have dial-up you already have phone service. It is likely the phone will not work while on the internet. There really is no voice option for satellite unless you went with a satellite phone costing dollars per minute of usage. If 3G cellular service is available, a mobile hotspot (also called a mifi) may be bundled with the normal cellular voice service to lower cost. There is also a service from AT&T that allows you to to get your home phone calls through cellular wireless rather than via a copper landline connection. At around $20 a month, the service may make sense if you have a cellphone contract already through AT&T. It is likely AT&T will not offer this with a cheap a pay-as-you-go plan.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/13/rural-internet-options/
#69 Using Apple's free dictation on a Mac to transcribe a large amount of handwritten text
Getting a large amount of handwritten text put in electronic form can be a daunting task. There are numerous transcription services that will take the manuscript and type it in. You can find people locally and overseas but to get a price, a certain amount of information is required. An alternative is to use the Apple Mac’s free dictation feature. Estimating the size of work
Scan a representative sample page and estimate the number of pages. For example, 30 books each averaging 125 pages with 115 words per page results in about 43,000 words. There also may be a surcharge depending on how quickly one could learn to read the handwriting and how accurate the result needs to be. A quick sample page typed into an analysis site yielded about 4 characters per word. In this example, a person in the U.S. estimated $4500 for the entire job. At 20 words a minute, the entire job may be done in 36 hours so $125/hr is very high. Offshore (India/Pakistan) rates are $5-$11/hr + shipping and $30-$50/hr. in the US and Canada. There is also a small risk you may not get the material back. Using Apple Mac free dictation feature
Apple Mac 10.9 (Mavericks) has a built in feature similar to Siri. It allows you to dictate anywhere you would use a keyboard. By default, this feature requires an internet connection and is only good for brief sentences (like Siri). However, there is an option that allows the dictation to work offline and continuously. Simply set the following System Preference and wait for the one-time download to complete.
Approach to using Dictation
No special software is required. The built-in TextEdit or Pages is sufficient. Simply open the document and press the keyboard shortcut to start dictation (also set in System Preferences – recommend hitting fn twice). In a quiet room, the built-in microphone works well but you may find better results with a quality headset microphone. A few recommendations;
1. Say “new paragraph” frequently so the document doesn’t look like a single blob of text.
2. “Period” and “comma” are also good.
3. Include the title and occasional page numbers (example new paragraph page 23 new paragraph).
4. Don’t try to correct on the fly or even worry about what the computer is doing.
5. Save your work and take a break every 10 minutes. This is also a good time to make any minor edits. You may want to do some measurements of word count and elapsed time to estimate the complete project. Results
~67 words per minute, ~2 minutes per page. Roughly 3 hours per journal or 90 hours for the whole project. Note this is a big contrast to the 36 hour transcription estimate. Likely the real result for both options would be in the middle.
Accuracy was pretty good meaning it was readable but with occassional mistakes Other Considerations
Record the dictation with a phone to have an audiobook, another electronic version (which could be sent to someone for corrections). Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/12/using-apples-free-dictation-mac-transcribe-large-amount-handwritten-text/
#70 Shipping packages from home using the US Postal service
Shipping packages through the US Post Office from your house can be affordable and convenient if you have mail delivery to your house. Going to the post office is a treat for many but it requires time and effort that may be avoided by printing postage at home. Steps to ship from home
Requires a computer/smartphone, a printer and a scale accurate to an ounce.
1. Goto USPS Click-N-Ship. The first time will require registration for a userid/password
2. Fill out the destination address and package weight information
3. Select shipment method and schedule a pickup. Only seems to allow priority mail and priority mail express.
4. Pay and printout the shipping label (that includes postage) and tape to the package.
5. Put out for your carrier. Ideally, ask the postman the best location to leave packages. Benefits/Downsides
+ There is a discount on online postage (%14)
– Some shipping options aren’t available (standard post and media mail). Standard mail never seems to be cheaper but media mail (books, DVDs) is often significantly cheaper (and slower). Selling on eBay and Amazon
If you a selling or returning on Amazon or eBay, both sites provide a similar service to print out postage. Due to the seamless integration with the selling process, this is a better approach than using the USPS website.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/12/shipping-packages-home-using-us-postal-service/
#71 Used book selling on Amazon made painless with a smartphone
Many people have a large number of books they no longer need. While the prices of used books have collapsed, there are still some that will make it worth your time to sell.
1. Install the free Amazon Price Checker on your iPhone or the Android version on an Android phone.
2. Find the UPC code on the back of the book. Scan it with the Amazon Price Checker.
3. Click the USED button in the app. Look for the lowest price. If the price is over a few dollars plus shipping, add it to the pile of books you want to sell. If not, consider marking the book in pencil to know it is not worth selling.
4. For the book to sell, click the and email to yourself. Open mail and click the link in the email and click the Sell On Amazon button. And fill out the form.
Consider a low price just to get rid of the book. You don’t want to be surprised by a book sale months later.
5. Amazon will email you when it is sold and allow you to print postage and a shipping label. Take it to the post office in a day and ship it Media Mail for the lowest rate.
6. When away from home more than a day, update your Amazon account to temporarily stop your sales. You don’t want to have a purchase made while you are away and can’t mail it.
This may all be done from a computer but the smartphone allows you to not move the books around.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/05/used-book-selling-on-amazon/
#72 Finding unbid items on eBay
Many items are up for auction on eBay go unsold due to being unbid. If you can find auctions about to end that have no bids, you may get a great deal. eBay’s search does not provide this capability but several 3rd party search sites do. NoBids.net seems to show the best results. Beyond patience, experimentation and using the “-” excludes certain keywords will narrow the search. Since this only works in real-time, you either have to come back frequently or just rely on luck.
Example search
“ipad” between $50 and $100 returns a lot of accessories like stands and cases. Using the search “ipad 16gb -screen -case -stand” narrows the results to a few items.
Example alternative is 0bids.com.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/04/finding-unbid-items-on-ebay/
#73 Best source for Quotes of the Day
The internet is littered with sites that promise daily inspiration or humor in the form of quotes. The most comprehensive and least obtrusive one available seems to be QuotesDaddy.com. Beyond providing a daily email, QuotesDaddy allows you to submit quotes and embed categorized quotes into your site.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/03/best-source-for-quotes-of-the-day/
#74 What makes a great bar?
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/02/what-makes-a-great-bar/
#75 Creating an iPad case cover with found art A cheap iPad mini case from Five-Below seems like a good deal until you realize itlacks character.
1. Find some art you like from a magazine.
2. Lightly spray the case with adhesive cement.
3. Place the art on the case and rub firmly.
4. Trim the excess of the art with a sharp knife.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2014/01/01/creating-an-ipad-case-cover-with-found-art/
#76 Selecting an HD antenna 6 months of living without cable has prompted us to invest in an over-the-air TV antenna. Living 20 miles outside of Philadelphia may provide the major networks if we can get a signal. Two years ago we tried a $40 Mohu indoor antenna with no success most likely as there is a large hill between our house and the city.
This time we decided to try a more powerful antenna that can receive channels from more than one direction without a rotating motor. The Antennas Direct DB8e Extreme Range Multi-Directional Bowtie UHF Antenna was selected and costs around $140. Mounting Location
Decided to try to get it working within the house rather than mounted outside. The so called attic placement is easier and safer with some loss of signal. Since we went with a more powerful antenna, the antenna is initially mounted on an old chair. Alignment
All TV antennas favor one direction. In our case, there are 2 cities within 40 miles that have stations but they are in very different directions. First go to antennaweb.org and enter your address. The site will list which stations you may be able to receive given the strength of your antenna.
To find the direction of the antenna, start with a compass to get the general direction. Place a TV near the antenna and set it to a channel in that direction. Digital TV will either work or not so it may be hard to get the position exactly right. Once satisfied, select auto-program on the TV and see what you get. If the antenna supports it, try adjusting the secondary antenna to another direction and see if you can get more without losing the ones you have. Signal Distribution The signal from the antenna won’t travel well through many connections or to multiple TV’s. Ideally, a pre-amplifier is installed near the antenna to gain additional channels and send the signal further into the house. To use the signal on multiple TV’s, a powered signal distribution hub (also powered) may also be used. DVR
Many people enjoy the time-shifting capabilities of a digital video recorder. Traditional DVR’s like Tivo will work but generally work with one TV and carry a monthly subscription cost for the guide. A new class of DVR/tuners is becoming available that allows both recording and distribution of channels and recordings over wired and wireless networks. The challenges with the new solutions focus on what devices to hook up to your TV and how easy it is for a novice to use. Examples are Simple.TV and Tablo.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/31/selecting-an-hd-antenna/
#77 Dress socks made in the USA
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/30/dress-socks-made-in-the-usa/
#78 Peel a pomegranate
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/24/peal-a-pomegranate/
#79 Copying photos from Mac to iPad
Many people are giving up their reliance on a traditional computer and instead using an iPad as their full-time device. When first released, the iPad required a computer to “sync” to. However, can now live on its own receiving updates from Apple and storing data without the need for a computer. Since the iPad has limited storage, some consideration needs to be made to whether some photos and documents need to live on the cloud rather than locally on the device. Option 1 – A lot of data and need easy cloud storage – Google Drive
1. Install Google Drive app on the Mac and iPad (requires a Google ID)
2. On the Mac, Copy your files to folders on Google Drive. They will be available on the iPad via the Google Drive app when an internet connection is available. You can select which files desired offline Option 2 – Limited amount of photos – i.e. easily fits on iPad
1. Turn on iCloud backup. This creates a backup of your data in the likely event something happens to the iPad.
2. There are numerous apps to do this but the best is the $3 PhotoSync. Basically, you install the $3 app on the iPad and a free app on the Mac. Then select the photos you want to copy over. Option 3 – If syncing with cable from Mac to iPad (easiest)
See this article or simply click “Sync all photos” in iTunes.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/24/copying-photos-from-mac-to-ipad/
#80 Kid-friendly activities for the afternoon
Eat install swing hike movies wii build rocket mow his mom’s lawn museum helicopter
ComicCon geocache geocache maintenance
Corn maze / fall festival canoeing
Dave and Busters
Arnold’s
Mini golf
GoCarts rock climbing
Horseback riding
Archery
Set train set
Setup computer computer camp pumpkin carving
Kite
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/17/kid-friendly-activities-for-the-afternoon/
#81 Multiple Airport Express wifi installation
Our house has about 15 wifi devices between phones, computers, tablets, security cameras and TV’s. The 2-foot stone walls and multiple stories require more than one wireless hotspot to get acceptable coverage throughout the house. Equipment
Currently using relatively old Apple Airport Express and Timecapsule (1st generation). These devices do have the N protocol but have limited antenna flexibility. Apple hotspots are generally about 2-times the price of other devices but generally easier to configure and paying $100 rather than $50 may be worth less aggravation. Recommend if possible staying with the same manufacturer for all devices as configuration can be significantly different vendor to vendor. Placement
Tried to keep each hotspot (HS in diagram) to 1 wall or floor distance from a device.
Configuration
Each hotspot is wired by ethernet.
Each hotspot is configured to be roaming except for the primary base station.
Changed each hotspot to use one channel (1 or 6 or 11) so there is no conflict. The automatic setting set by default may work just as well. Interference
While the above configuration provides a strong signal everywhere, radical network slow-downs happen occasionally. Interference caused by our geothermal heatpump is the main suspect as the most common interference sources have been eliminated. Typical culprets are
Cordless phones (use 900MHz versions to avoid problems) Microwaves More Details to troubleshoot signal issues
OSX Mavericks has a nice Wifi diagnostic tool that can help troubleshoot issue but the utility is a little hard to find intuitively.
1. Hold Option key and click the wifi symbol in the upper right of the screen 2. Click Open Wireless Diagnostics (likely will be prompted for your Mac password) 3. Click Window, Utilities 4. Click Wi-Fi Scan to show all Wifi access points and their signal strength and recommended available channels. 5. Click Performance to show a continuous graph of signal to noise ratio (SNR). Note how it changes as devices like microwaves are used to isolate the troublesome interference.
In this time period, the SNR was between 35 and 42. The reference provides a key to provide insight;
> 40dB SNR = Excellent signal (5 bars); always associated; lightning fast. 25dB to 40dB SNR = Very good signal (3 – 4 bars); always associated; very fast. 15dB to 25dB SNR = Low signal (2 bars); always associated; usually fast. 10dB – 15dB SNR = Very low signal (1 bar); mostly associated; mostly slow. 5dB to 10dB SNR = No signal; not associated; no go.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/09/multiple-airport-express-wifi-installation/
#82 Are book fairs worth attending?
Many cities hold book fairs where a large number of authors promote and sell their books. Book lovers and even casual readers will find some compelling reasons to attend.
Local books that are generally unknown to the mass market A chance to engage with authors and celebrities Impetuous to look at books you normally wouldn’t consider in a large store or website Access self- published books from interesting characters When attending keep in mind even the most notable authors are not really making money but rather seeking exposure and engagement with readers.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/07/are-book-fairs-worth-attending/
#83 Connecting iPad/iPhone to an old TV with composite analog inputs
Most devices purchased in the last few years do not support analog video. Apple quietly removed the ability to directly output composite and RBG video when it moved from the 30-pin connector to the Lightning connection on iPad mini, iPad 4, and iPhone 5. The Apple TV 2 and 3 also doesn’t output analog video. What do you do if you have an old TV or projector?
Lightning Digital AV adapter from Apple – $52
HDMI cable – $6
HDMI to Composite converter – $30
RCA audio-video cable – $5
The Lightning adapter is not needed for an Apple TV as it is natively HDMI. LCD prices have dropped dramatically and it may be a wiser to put the $35 towards a $200 new LCD TV.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/04/connecting-ipadiphone-to-an-old-tv-with-composite-analog-inputs/
#84 Recycling old TVs LCD TV’s use about half the energy of CRT televisions when on. However, most LCD’s use a small amount of electricity when off. Overall, LCD’s are more efficient and preferred by most people. Older TV’s also have a variety of toxic components and metals that may be reused. The are options to properly dispose of old electronics (e-Waste) driven by laws or promotion.
More Criteria Try information Worth something to someone Selling it online Gazelle Check website and drop Live near Best Buy Best Buy off Storing until drop-off County has eWaste drop-off Google event Can find no option Look for other services Example Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/02/recycling-old-tvs/
#85 Collegeville to New York via public transportation
Public transport
4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours, ~$34 one-way
Septa 93 bus to Norristown transportation center $2.25 (hourly)
R6 train to 30th Street Station $7 at peak (hourly)
BoltBus to NYC $22 (varies $18-24, hourly to every 30 minutes)
Subway in NYC $2.50 By Car
2 1/4 hours, 112 miles – Divide total by number of passengers – ~$53 one-way
Gas $8.70 Car depreciation $25.26 Street Parking (tough $0.00 to find) Turnpike Tolls $11.20 Bridge toll (Ez Pass) $8.25 * Insurance $0.00 Total $53.41
* Only charged into New York.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/12/01/collegeville-to-new-york-via-public-transportation/
#86 Mac file copy to FAT drives that ignores files greater than 4Gb
FAT formatted drives cannot handle files >4G in size. The below command copies all files preserving the directory structure but skips the files >4Gb on a Mac or Linux.
1. Open Terminal and use this command rsync -av –max-size=4G-1 /path/to/source/* /path/to/destination/ a – means archiving (keep files as-is) v – mean verbose and lists the names as they copy
-max-size=4G-1 – means only copy files < 4Gb in size
Windows users need to install rsync separately.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/30/mac-file-copy-to-fat-drives-that-ignores-files-greater-than-4gb/
#87 Rate of return on replacing oil heat with geothermal
Two years ago we replaced our oil-steam heating system with geothermal in a 1801 farmhouse. The installation of geothermal was a significant investment and required significant up-front analysis to determine if there would be a financial return on the investment. The financial aspect was not the only consideration for using geothermal heat but needs to be considered. Predicting Cost Benefit
A lot of data went into a spreadsheet used to calculate then expected return. Key data was the historic amounts of oil purchased, the degree days for the area of the house, and the monthly amount electricity the house previously used. With these trends, one may determine how much heating energy is needed by the oil system then how much the electricity is needed by the geothermal system. After tax rebates, the total cost of installation of a 5-ton system (and a lot of retrofitting) was
Investment Summary $43,850
The predicted yearly savings resulting in roughly a 9 year ROI. A simple financial model that ignored the cost of money was used but one would expect that to be accurate given the likelihood of energy prices to increasing faster than inflation.
Oil heating and water heating based on 2010-2011 $6000 usage and assuming $3.60/gallon Window AC electricity costs $1200 Calculate electric cost of geothermal heating and -$2160 cooling Cost per year savings $5040 Years to recover investment at 0% interest, no 8.7 increase in oil costs (inv/cost-year) Conclusion
Two full years have past since the installation. While last year was a harsh winter, I simply looked at electricity costs. The difficulty with electricity is filtering out non-heating and cooling costs. However, if you look at the trend and take the lowest monthly bill, that will give you the amount of electricity for other things. In our case, September has a low cost of around $130 per month. Subtract the cost from each month and assign each month to either cooling or heating.
Cost of heating Cost of Cooling (Oct-Apr) (May-Aug) ~$2000/yr ~$250/yr
The predicted a yearly cost of $2160 is very close to the actual cost per year of $2250. This does not include other factors like our house is more comfortable and more evenly heated/cooled and the positive environment impact of reduced energy usagage. The conclusion is we are on track to pay back on geothermal in less than 9 years and enjoying our house more.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/29/rate-of-return-on-replacing-oil-heat-with-geothermal/ #88 Coat hanger AppleTV mount
Several companies on Amazon sell a hidden AppleTV mount. The mounts allows the AppleTV to be attached behind the screen to improve the aesthetics of your TV. The Apple remote control will continue to work as long as the front of the AppleTV faces up to take at reflected IR signals from the remote. Alternatively, you can make your own mount. Option 1 – Cheesy but only 5 minutes
Tie the AppleTV to the vents. Use non-metallic ties and loop them carefully in the vents with the TV unplugged to avoid shock and damage. Clearly, this approach won’t hold up with any TV movement.
Option 2 – 10 minutes of 3d mental thought with pliers
Bend a coat hanger to create a study mount. Use the non-metallic ties to attach to the TV. Keep the remains for your next coat hanger project.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/24/coat-hanger-appletv-mount/
#89 23andMe matching distant relatives
Several years ago I paid ~$200 (now $100) for a DNA test through 23andMe.com. The company sends you a kit in the mail that you fill with saliva and return. Several weeks later, the results are posted online and are protected by userid and password. The initial results provide probability matches for things like diseases, physical attributes, and drug susceptibility. The site also attempts to match your geographic genetic origins and the genetic distance to others who have submitted their DNA.
My results seems pretty accurate and was pleased with the results. What I didn’t expect was the site information to be updated regularly as new research and matches became available. A possible 2nd cousin recently contacted through the site. The site blinds others from seeing your information until you provide consent. Time to break out the family genealogy and see if there is a connection.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/22/23andme-matching-distant-relatives/
#90 Canstruction New York, NY
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/11/canstruction-new-york-ny/
#91 Wholey's Fish Market Pittsburgh, PA
Wholey’s Fish Market in Pittsburgh is the best seafood store I have seen outside of Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo (and that is really for wholesale market). The fishmongers really know their stuff. This worth a stop if you are in the strip district of Pittsburgh. Quick, un-narrated video give a quick overview.
Taken with iPhone 5 and stitched together in 720p with iMovie Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/09/wholeys-fish-market-pittsburgh-pa/
#92 Watching Maria Bamford
Maria Bamford is very talented comedian who has had a rollcoaster career. She did an excellent set at NYU. This is not the show but gives you a good sense of her humor.
She posted a 9 short clips called Ask My Mom! You may recognize your Mom.
Maria was on the latest Arrested Development series on Netflix.
Some tough spots in life finds humor
My favorite song of her’s, Old MacDonald
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/09/watching-maria-bamford/
#93 Firewood in Garbage cans Problem
People who only have occasional files often don’t usually have a convenient way to store and transport firewood. It is no fun finding the right wood in a wood pile in the middle of windter. Solution
Fill outdoor garbage cans with a mix of small and large piece in proportion to a typical burn. Store the cans outside on their sides to keep out rain. Transport them to your house upright using a dolly. Any dirt from the wood stays in the can.
Store kindling in an enclosed container. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/03/firewood-in-garbage-cans/
#94 Shadow Puppet and Thomas Dolby's The Invisible Lighthouse
A recently released free iPhone app called Shadow Puppet allow you to quickly take several photos from your camera roll and overlay a narration. While most suitable for How-To videos, the below video shows some photos from a recent Thomas Dolby The Invisible Lighthouse show with a voiceover. The unscripted video was done in 30 seconds out on the sidewalk and picked up some street noise.
Your browser does not support the video tag
The simplicity and zero production time leads one to believe people will create more of these video explain things through pictures and voiceover.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/11/02/shadow-puppet-and-thomas-dolbys-the-invisible-lighthouse/
#95 When does it make sense to rent a car if you own a car?
Are there good reasons to rent a car when you own a car already? In short, it depends.
1. Being somewhere your car isn’t (travel) – Yes
2. Car in the shop (or know something is wrong with your car) – Yes
3. Car isn’t big enough for hauling people or stuff – Yes
Makes sense. In fact, clever people will buy a small car that meets 90%+ of their needs and rent on occcasion. Many people can occasionally make good use of a pickup truck. However, paying a premium for a truck, insurance, and poorer gas milage will be more than buying a small car and renting a truck on occasion.
4. Car failure rate based on age – Maybe
The BBC found that during the course of a year, a 3 year old car will has a 15-30% failure rate while a 10 year old car will have a 30-50% failure rate. But this is on vehicle inspection, not saying the car is broken down leaving one stranded. Our intuition says older cars break down more frequently but know of many stories new cars being lemons while some old cars going on forever. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to predict that choosing a rental car will be more reliable. There is some solice that if you are somewhere and the rental car breaks, it is the rental car companies burden but you will be kicking yourself for your own car.
5. Wearand Tear on the car (taking advantage of unlimited milage) – It depends on distance
Here is an example of real-life situation where it was slightly cheaper to use a rental
Download Comparing the cost of a trip using a rental car vs. personal car (Excel format) to try for your situation. 6. Range of electric car – Yes
If your main car is an electric car, it is likely to be unreasonable electric for more than 200 miles a day. This is often an excuse not to get an electric but as stated above, supplementing with a rental can make sense.
7. You own a gas guzzler – It depends
The above spreadsheet worked for the trip in question even though the rental car got worse gas milage. The reverse situation can be true too. Download the example spreadsheet to determine for your situation. Download Comparing the cost of a trip using a rental car vs. personal car (Excel format) to try for your situation.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/27/when-does-it-make-sense-to-rent-a-car-if-you-own-a-car/
#96 The most obvious sandwich I never heard of
Few would argue that the sandwich was one of the most important culinary creations mankind has ever made. There are so many combinations of ingredients it is hard to be surprised by a new variation, but today I stuck by the question, why didn’t anyone think of that until now?
What is the most notable food holiday in the US? Thanksgiving
Toasted and buttered bread sandwiched with
Sliced Turkey
Cranberry chutney
Moist stuffing (that is the innovation)
Served with a side of sliced apples and dipping carmel.
Messy and Amazing. T.E.D. stands for Thanksgiving Every Day.
Generoasta is a local coffee shop outside of Pittsburgh with an interesting twist. Every purchase gives the customer a coin in which they can choose which of 3 charities the shop will donate your portion to. Displays provide information about the charities that make your pick an informed decision and the charities change from time to time.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/25/the-most-obvious-sandwich-i-never-heard-of/
#97 Why hasn't RSS changed the world of news?
It has been generally understood that the internet would change the way written news is disseminated and consumed. What hasn’t been clear is what forms news would take. A distribution technique called Rich Site Summary (RSS) was introduced around year 2000 that has surprisingly not seen wide-spread adoption. Paper news reporting and consumption
Creating news information is basically a 3 step process
1. Writers work with publishers to decide what topics to write on (the topic)
2. Writers create the article and give it a headline
3. Publishers bundle the works of many writers into a single issue and distribute the content
Readers generally
1. Subscribe to the newspapers or magazines where they have interest and trust
2. Readers scan the headlines for articles of interest
3. Readers read the articles RSS follows a similar metaphor to paper Creators
1. Write content with a headline and date
2. Place the content on a internet site
3. The internet site updates it’s list of what is on the site in a common format (RSS)
Readers (same steps as paper)
1. Subscribe to the sites / publications they have interest and trust
2. Readers scan the headlines for articles of interest
3. Readers read the articles Benefits of RSS over paper
1. Anyone can be a publisher
2. No ads or other distractions until you are reading an article
3. Very easy for publisher to technically use RSS – simple, no licensing, no new software
4. Can be used beyond news – upcoming events, new recipes, what is on sale, etc.
4. Readers can be very specific to what content they want. Example – see just content from the New York Times business section, front page, and Lifehacker in one screen/view
Why didn’t RSS take over the internet
1. RSS is alive and used in many places that people aren’t aware. Apps like Flipboard are driven by RSS as are many news websites. It is just not obvious how to subscribe and view a RSS feeds.
2. There is no central company advocating for RSS. Both Twitter and Facebook have similarities (and in many ways weaker) to RSS but get more visibility as they are products and companies. Open technologies get far less popular attention.
3. While easy to use, RSS takes slightly more understanding that websites or Facebook or Twitter. Site that do have RSS capability (like MyYahoo) tend to downplay RSS for Yahoo content.
4. RSS readers are not shiny or eye-catching.
5. Google. Google had the most popular RSS readers (and it was free) but dropped the product in 2013 to focus on Google+ (even less well-known than RSS). It was surprising Google didn’t evolve the RSS reader to have more capabilities to keep readership and maybe use Google+. Google alternatives exist (example Feedly) but they are not as well-known as Google.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/21/why-hasnt-rss-changed-the-world-of-news/
#98 World's Greatest Farmer Showdown - Collegeville, PA
A yearly family event in October at an organic farm in Worcester township. Montgomery County, PA. Goats at Longview Center for Agriculture
Animals to view – chickens, alpacas, sheep, goats, pigs
3 food trucks + brick oven pizza stand
Wine tasting
Beer tasting from Victory Brewing
Viewing of “farmer” competition – pulling tractors, throwing pumpkins, eating turnips, etc.
Live music
Cost (2013) – $5 per person or $10 per carload
Tractor Pull at Farmer Showdown
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/20/worlds-greatest-farmer-showdown-collegeville-pa/
#99 Using Amazon wishlists and CamelCamelCamel to find the lowest price Problem
There are many things that do not need to be purchased immediately. It is also not clear what the lowest price for a certain item could be. One could spend hours researching best prices and still find it cheaper weeks later. The following technique requires almost no work and is likely to get you the best price for items you don’t need right away. Solution
1. When you want something, search for it on Amazon. Then click add to Wish List. Get in a habit of doing this for everything. A smartphone and the Amazon Mobile app make this convenient anywhere.
2. One time step – Create a free account on CamelCamelCamel.com. Follow the instructions to allow CamelCamelCamel to see your Amazon Wish List. You will get an email when the price of something you list drops in price.
3. You could stop there but if you want more control, read on. First, let is find the history of the cost of something using CamelCamelCamel at Amazon. Below is a price history for a rain barrel; History would suggest $199 is not the best price. Simply instruct CamelCamelCamel (CCC) to send you an email when it gets to $140 or even $130. Note the CCC is expanding this to search other sites so you just don’t have to buy from Amazon.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/20/using-amazon-wishlists-and-camelcamelcamel-to-find-the-lowest-price/
#100 Netflix streaming recommendation - No Place On Earth
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/18/netflix-streaming-recommendation-no-place-on-earth/
#101 Propagating the little rude plant...the voodoo lily
The voodoo lily has been out for spring through fall growing season. When the daylight decreases in October, it will start to wilt and yellow. Bring the pot in before a hard
freeze and place it in the basement and don’t water it. In March or April, it will flower in a very rude and smelly manner. In late April or May put it back outside for the summer and it will grow bigger.
New plants can be obtained if you separate the little bulbs from the main plant when they all wilt. Then just store them dry in the basement in a big pot with no soil.
The name voodoo lily refers to many species but most commonly thought of as the genus Amorphophallus.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/18/propagating-the-little-rude-plant-the-voodoo-lily/
#102 BioLite stove for camping or outdoor cooking
BioLite stove is a modern solution to an old problem; cooking over fire. In short, the BioLite burner was developed to efficiently burn almost anything for use in rural areas. The innovation is that the fire creates electricity using a thermoelectric generator that in turn drives a small fan. The fan increases the intensity of the burn allowing one to burn almost any material efficiently. As a bonus, surplus electricity can charge a cell phone or small light.
This means less fuel is needed and the fuel can be from waste materials normally thrown away. There is also a camping stove for people who aren’t cooking outside on a daily basis.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/17/biolite-stove-for-camping-or-outdoor-cooking/
#103
Why you should upgrade your iPhone every two years
If you have an iPhone on Verizon or AT&T on a 2-year contract, it is generally wise to upgrade the phone every 2 years. Sounds wasteful or financially irresponsible?
Executive Summary – The simple trick is to look at the total price per year rather than the price per month along with the features you need. Why Upgrade?
1. iPhones or really any phone cost much more than the price advertised. The latest iPhone costs about $650 but is offered for $200 with a new 2-year contract. You don’t own that phone until after 2 years. $20 a month of your phone bill is to pay the balance of the cost of the phone. What about a “free” smartphone? It is likely the monthly cost is the same so that “free” phone actually costs you $450 over 2 years.
2. Residual value of the latest & greatest phone is higher after 2 years than a cheaper phone. For example, the iPhone 4s came out in October 2011. If your 2-year contract happened to expire in October, you could have bought a new iPhone 5s for $200 and sold your 2-year old iPhone 4s for $155 on Gazelle.com. In other words, that new phone cost you $45 along with having higher value 2 years down the road.
3. The hardware cost of the phone is only about 25% of the total cost of ownership (barring you don’t break it or go over your monthly limits). Don’t think of the iPhone 5s as costing $200. Think of it as the latest iPhone costs you $1300 a year vs. keeping an old one for $1250 a year.
4. If you want to get fired up, after 2 years you are paying your carrier $20 for nothing.
The above overview applies to the most common carriers with the most common 2-year contract. If you really want to save money and don’t care about the latest technology, you won’t do a 2-year contract. Different path to lower cost smartphones
1. Use a carrier other than AT&T or Verizon. The other carriers can be significantly cheaper but how good the coverage is in your area will vary greatly. Key tip is to ask people who have that carrier.
2. Buy the phone upfront for a lower monthly cost. If you take care of your phone or don’t need the latest and greatest, you can even buy a used phone.
3. Get a pre-paid plan
Example – Mr. WiseCheap pays $700/year
1. Determine your target carrier by talking to your neighbors.
2. Buy a used iPhone 4s or 4 for $100-$150 matched to the right carrier. Note although they all look the same the same iPhone model will not work (or work as well) on other carriers. In short, the radios inside the phones are different between most carriers.
3. Choose a plan – example T Mobile $50/month
4. Break or lose your phone once a year. Go ahead, it is used and only cost you $100.
Many other options so be thrifty.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/16/why-you-should-upgrade-your-iphone-every-two-years/
#104 Geneva Labs Model S with Apple Lightning Connector
Geneva Labs sells high-quality amplified speakers for iPhones and iPods. Apple changed from the proprietary 30-pin connector to a proprietary Lightning connector making the Geneva labs systems unusable without some additional hardware. Options
1. knock-off 30-pin to Lightning connector – $7 – does NOT work
2. 1/8″ to 1/8″ male-to-male patch cable attached to the back of Geneva – $5 but no charging or remote control functions
3. Apple Lightning to 30-pin adapter – $30 – iPhone is viewable from front and the adapter holds up phone higher. Adapter must also be removed at the same time as the iPhone as the Geneva mechanically closes the connection slot. May require you to remove the case too.
4. Apple Lightning to 30-pin connector (.2m long cable) – $40 – iPhone not viewable from front as cable does not hold up the phone. Cable must also be removed before iPhone as the Geneva mechanically closes the connection slot but may also work with iPad 4 and iPad Mini.
5. Geneva wireless adapter – free if you bought after Sept.14, 2012, $40 if you own a Geneva system, $100 if buying outright. No charging, requires another outlet, and no Geneva remote control but works with most Bluetooth phones and computers. Note there is nothing special about this adapter and it is made by a different company. There are many other options in this category.
6. Bluetooth 30-pin adapter – $25 – may or may not work but avoids having something else to plug in
Recommendation from Geneva Labs – #3 or #6 Recommendation
Go with #3 or #4 unless a cheap version of #4 can be found.
Example of the knock-off adapter not working (#1) Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/15/geneva-labs-model-s-with-apple-lightning-connector/
#105
Using Wordpress for a website
Creating a website used to require a thorough understanding of HTML and how websites work. There also used to be a strong dependency between the content, stylistic look, and functionality of the website. In other words, to change the style or functionality forced one to change many parts of the site. Fortunately, middle layers have evolved to allow non-developers to create relatively complex sites that are easily changed without much effort. Of the options available today, the open-source WordPress tool has both broad support and is constantly improving.
1. Register your domain. Hover.com or use your host provider in step 2.
2. Choose hosting provider. But first, understand that Wordpress.org is software that is free to use anywhere. Wordpress.com is the same software running as a paid service provider (host). a. If you know you want to use WordPress only, WordPress.com is the easiest entry point as they setup everything but has a number of surcharges. b. If you want something that could go beyond WordPress, Hostgator.com is an excellent choice. It will also allow you to have complete flexibility (no surcharges) but is a little more complex to setup.
3. If you went with 2a., register and your site is ready. If you selected 2b., register and pay and the host will provide you with a login. Login into their site and only a few clicks will install WordPress for you (example from HostGator.com). For you techies, these couple clicks configures a MySQL database and the PHP infrastructure that is WordPress.
4. Now you have a live WordPress site and the fun begins! First realize you have a website which has many features one of which being a blog. Think of a blog as a feature of a website rather than the whole website (which it could be if that is the only feature you use). Wordpress (WP) started as a blogging platform so sometimes there is a misconception it can only do blogging. WP Posts are entries that are usually associated with a blog (time-based, by category). They could be used for things like company news or recipes. WP Pages tend to be more static but there is nothing that prevents you from creating a new page every day. So play around a little creating posts and pages.
5. Now that you have an idea of how posts and pages work, consider what you want your site to look like. Jump to the appearance section change try changing a Theme. You will see all the pages & posts on the site change at once. Very easy. The trick is finding the style and site design that works for you. There are numerous sites out there to show and sell your WP themes. Sometimes it is worth $50 to get something that looks great.
6. Next consider what functionality you need. Most functionality is added through WP Widgets or WP Pluggins. Widgets are little parts of a page or post that do something. Example – show weather, do a search, navigate by category. Simply drag and drop onto the template and they appear everywhere.
7. Plugins add significant functionality to the WP site. There are a few that are must haves while most others depend on what you want to do. a. Must haves
Akismet – Spam filter for comments (if you have comments turned on). Provided with WordPress but you must register to activate the services. b. Nice to haves
Insert Headers and Footers – Occasionally you do have to copy code into your site (example Google Analytics). This plugin makes it a copy-paste and no file coding.
Jetpack by WordPress – brings you some additional features
Google Sitemap – generates sitemaps Google can consume (improves your good search)
There is a lot of free and paid support for WordPress available on the internet. Don’t be afraid to play around as it is easy to undo changes. WP even versions your content so you can roll back to an earlier version!
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/15/using-wordpress-for-a-website/
#106
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
The best vanilla ice cream is simple to make. 1 cup + 3 tbsp sugar
1 vanilla pod
1 tablespood of vanilla extract (a little less if you want less vanilla taste)
3 tbsp water
3 cups milk (whole or skim work, of course whole is better)
1 cup whipping cream
Freeze the 2 quart bowl for 24 hours prior to the next steps.
Mix all of the ingredients in a saucepan and warm to melt the sugar. Remove heat. Take the softened vanilla bean out of the liquid and split in half with a knife and put the beans (black grit) back into the mix.
Allow to cool.
Place into the ice-cream maker and blend until firm (about 25-30 minutes).
Place the ice cream into a different container andplace in the freezer for a few hours before eating.
The Cuisinart mixer costs about $80. A half-gallon costs less the $2 compared to $4-5 for Breyers. This ice cream is better than Breyers. Recipe courtesy of Kathy L Hunt of KitchenKat.com.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/13/vanilla-ice-cream/
#107
Refrigerator Half-Sour pickles easy, cheap, and delicious
This is a quick way to make seasonal pickling cucumbers into pickles you can store in the refrigerator.
6 lbs (mini bushel) small, hard pickling / kirby cucumbers $1.50 at a farm stand in season 2 tablespoons dried dill unless fresh is available
6 garlic cloves chopped into large chunks
6 bay leaves
2 tablespoons black peppercorns
6 tablespoons kosher salt
3 tablespoons corriander seeds
2 cups white vinegar water
Place the other ingredients including the other 1/2 of the salt at the bottom of a clean 5 liter storage container.
Pack the cucumbers in by hand so the container has little remaining space.
Add the water that was boiled into the container and add the remaining salt.
Refrigerate for at least 3 full days before eating and they will last 2 weeks if kept cold.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/12/refrigerator-half-sour-pickles-easy-cheap-and-delicious/
#108 Packing light for international travel
Maximize the enjoyment of your trip by minimizing what you pack.
One carry-on bag is sufficient for 1-3 weeks of travel and maybe more. The key is packing clothes that work in any combination, layering, and doing some washing in the sink or in an apartment or hotel during the trip. A second, smaller bag serves as a day pack and to keep your valuables close yet it should fit in the carry-on bag if needed.
Put following in something like a Red Oxx carry-on bag. Note this bag is worth the $225 price if you travel a lot and want made-in-the-USA quality. To re-use this list,
select below and copy the list to your phone as a notes document (no app needed!).
7 underwear quick dry
4 t-shirts short sleeve quick dry 3 pants (jeans & khaki pants) – avoid pocket pants
2 collared dress shirts – quick dry or cotton
4 casual dress socks
1 hiking shoes that don’t look like hiking shoes
1 toiletries bag with no liquids
1 plastic bag with 3 oz. or less liquids medical kit pills if needed cables bag – charging adapters, cables, fitbit
AC adapter strip camera charger mini tripod extra iPhone unlocked laptop w/ AC if on business only
——–add for cold-weather only——–
1 zipper sweater (can act as layer 4)
1 sweater
4 socks wool
4 sock liners
1 underwear long pants- quick dry gloves
1 underlayer jacket (fleece or neoprene) hat (type varies for warmth or sun protection)
Carry in day pack – small triangle backpack iPad loaded with movies, books, magazines, reservations headphones iPad/iPhone cable & AC charger passports train tickets print-out of airline pass
DSLR camera
Carry on person iPhone or other smartphone belt wallet/purse car keys
1 dress shoe
1 pants
1 collared shirt – quick dry or cotton 1 tshirt – quick dry
1 jacket outer shell – for rain and cold weather (Gore tex-like or lighter if tropical)
Additions for female travelers
The Red Oxx bag may weigh up to 40 pounds so a backpack or roller luggage may be considered if you value your back. Instead of a day pack, bring 1 large purse of light, durable, yet stylish design like Elaine Arsenault. Neutral colors like black can both look formal or casual and help minimize clothes items. Remember, 3 tops and 3 bottoms equals 9 outfits. If you want to bring something back, consider clothes that go only 1-way. In other words, take old underwear and sock and discard them during the trip. Lightweight scarf for warmth or modesty in Muslim countries. Bring only comfortable shoes including 1 pair of comfortable tennis shoes.
Excellent article on Lifehack.org inspired this overview of my travel packing approach.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/10/packing-light-for-international-travel/
#109 Apple TV audio to 1980's Kenwood amp
The 45 watt Kenwood KA-400 integrated amp purchased in the early 1980’s for junior-high DJ’ing still works and sits in a kitchen to the stylish grimaces of its occupants. It almost went to be recycled due to the absence of a digital input needed by the AppleTV.
A cheap replacement amp with digital input and couldn’t be found new for less than $150. Instead, a $18 digital optical coax to RCA and $6 optical cable solved the problem to the chagrin of others in the house.
As the Kenwood has a switched outlet, there is no waste in power when not in use.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/08/apple-tv-audio-to-1980s-kenwood-amp/
#110 Countries Visited
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/06/countries-visited/
#111 Socks made in the USA Objective
Find everyday dress socks that are made in the USA. Previously, Gold Toe had many lines made in the USA but they are down to just two. Requirements
Made in the USA Black or Tan Not too thick, not too thin. <$5 ea. including shipping Options
All American Clothing – This company sells the best jeans. Will try the socks – $12 for 3 – free shipping if over $99
Carharrt via Amazon – Known for quality outer wear but need to test the socks. – $12 for 3 – free shipping
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/06/socks-made-in-the-usa/
#112
What to do with the free Apple stickers
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/06/what-to-do-with-the-free-apple-stickers/
#113 IOS7 Setting iPad iPhone Calendar color
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/05/ios7-setting-ipad-iphone-calendar-color/
#114 Migrating from Godaddy to Hostgator for Wordpress blogs Objective
Move 3 WordPress blogs from Godaddy to Hostgator due to Godaddy slowness and business practices. Keep Hover.com as DNS registrar. Method
1. Order baby hosting service from Hostgator 1 week before Godaddy host service ends. 2. Disable “automatic renewal” on Godaddy account. 3. Go into each blog in WordPress and Export the site to a local file on your computer, just in case. 4. Once Hostgator account is in place, request migration by supplying Hostgator with your Godaddy credentials. 5. Agree to pay ~$40 extra for 2 WordPress migrations as only 1 is free 6. Hostgator will provide notice that the copy is complete and to test that it is working. 7. To test requires fooling your computer to go the new site by adding temporary entries into a local hosts file. In other words, fool your computer to go to a different site. 8. Once satisfied that everything is working, log in to Hover and point the DNS entries to the 1 IP address provided by Hostgator. Remove the host file entry and wait <1 day. This can be a little confusing but to be clear, all the DNS entries point to the same IP address. The routing to the right site happens due to the next step. 9. On the Hostgator cPanel, use Add-on domains function to point the different DNS names to the right folder for the respective WordPress blog. If you want another DNS entry to point to the same blog, add another entry for that one with the same path. 10. Hostgator and Hover provide excellent phone and email support if trouble occurs.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/10/02/migrating-from-godaddy-to-hostgator-for-wordpress-blogs/
#115 DIY Home alarm system
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/29/diy-home-alarm-system/
#116 Replacing BMW Z3 convertible top
The convertible roof has leaked on a 2000 BMW Z3 for years. Here are some considerations when choosing to replace the roof.
1. DIY or have it installed professionally. DIY can save $800-$1300 but the install is complicated and easier done by someone who has done it before. There are DVD’s available that can guide you through the process. Recommend getting the DVD and getting a sense of what the work before committing to DIY.
2. Limitations of after-market convertible tops a. Material – There are a variety of cheaper materials available but the savings is $100 at most. Makes sense to use the material that most resembles the OEM product especially for future resale. b. Rear window – Our history has been the rear vinyl window is replaced every 5 years. However, the available after-market tops do not have a zipper installed window likely making window replacement difficult to impossible.
3. Costs a. Materials – $250 to $400 for after-market tops. OEM is ~$1750 from a BMW dealer. b. Labor Upholstery shop ~$600-800 BMW Dealer ~7 hours labor at ~$800
After-Market Materials http://www.autoberry.com/details.php?products_id=34 http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z3-Convertible-Top-Replacement-HAARTZ-GERMAN-Sonnenland-OEM-Material-/260968867128
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/29/replacing-bmw-z3-convertible-top/
#117 Chainsaw iPad stands
Challenge
All of those beautiful pieces of wood that don’t stack well can be quickly made into an tablet or smartphone stand.
Technique
My great lumberjack father provided some nice burl pieces. However, it was a struggle to find the right workshop tool to cut these irregular pieces. Finally, the obvious occurred; use a chain saw to cut the wood.
If they are small pieces, hold them down in a large vise like a Workmate.
Ideally, shape the parts on the uncut logs as the logs are the perfect vise.
It can be a little difficult to get the cuts the right depth and parallel to the base. Since it only takes 2 minutes to make one, make ten and pick the best. Note the void in some trees like above even avoids the need to drill a hole for a charging cable.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/22/chainsaw-ipad-stands/
#118
Pearl Street painting
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/22/pearl-street-painting/ #119 DVD ripping workflow for AppleTV
Purpose
Make DVD’s available to any TV in the house without the need for a DVD player on each TV.
Background
Don’t use this technique to steal content. Use this to backup DVD’s you own or for one-time viewing of rental DVD’s.
Tools
MacMini with external DVD player
Handbrake – $0
VLC – $0 – required for Handbrake to open DVD’s iFlicks – $20 (for Apple App store)
Optional – Mac DVD Ripper Pro – $25
Workflow
1. Insert DVD into Mac
2. Launch Handbrake and open source DVD
3. If movie, set file location to movie folder. If TV show, create a folder for the show
4. Set filename to movie title OR TV show name with season and episode shorted to S01E03
5. TV shows have multiple episodes on a DVD so select the titles, change the file name, and click Add to Queue for each.
5a. if subtitles are desired, select the language.
6. Start – recommend Normal settings, takes 20-30 minutes.
7. When complete, open iFlicks
8. Drag the file into iFlicks
9. Use iFlicks settings to only add meta data and add to iTunes
10. Key thing is to make sure TV Shows are marked as TV shows, not movies
11. The content is now available on Apple TV
12. For rented content, watch and then delete the file. Return the DVD.
Note: Steps 2-6 may be done in Mac DVD Ripper Pro if the DVD doesn’t work in Handbrake.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/22/dvd-ripping-workflow-for-appletv/
#120
Project - Solar USB battery charger
Requirement
Charge USB devices by the sun
Capture energy during the day even if target device is not plugged in
Materials
Switching Regulator $4
Solar panel $70 (1/3 of $200) – had these laying around – could have gone smaller
USB hub ~$2
USB battery pack ~$10 wire to solar panel (included in panel)
USB cable to battery pack solder
Velcro with adhesive
Design
Inspired by this Instructable
Plug in to the USB hub to charge or power devices.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/17/project-solar-usb-battery-charger/
#121
Netflix Streaming Recommendation: Happy People: A Year in the Taiga
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/15/netflix-streaming-recommendation-happy-people-a-year-in-the-taiga/
#122 Updating an old bicycle with chalkboard paint
Background
20 year-old Huffy 18-speed bike purchased at K-Mart for <$100. Requires new tires every 5 years.
Path forward
This bike was green and purple with pink brake lines. I initially considered putting stickers on it. I then remembered I had some old spray paint including blackboard paint. 15 minutes of spraying and 2 minutes of chalking give me a new-looking bike that I can change the style anytime.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/15/updating-an-old-bicycle-with-chalkboard-paint/
#123 Smartphone Apps for travelers
Forget planning your trip. You can make it up as you go along! A smart phone is critical if you are a traveler who likes to “wing it”.Go to the app store and install all of these apps (most are free) and drag them into a folder for quick access.
Booking
Kayak – flights, hotels, cars – global but first pick for the US.
Booking.com – hotels – first choice for Europe
Agoda – hotels – first choice for Asia
OpenTable – restaurants in the US
AirB&B – rent apartments / rooms from the locals anywhere
Recommendations
Yelp – Restaurants, Hotels – global but most effective in the US
TripAdvisor – best all around recommendations and reviews for lodging
WikiHood – takes your current position and shows you all of the WikiPedia articles about stuff around you. Recently started crashing when you go to the actual article but still fascinating.
Guidebooks
Tripso – free and works offline – download the city or country for a lot of WikiTravel information. Note you will see hundreds of Tripso apps that are specific to a place but all you need is this one. mTrip Guides – pay $5 for each location – offline – a little more polished but has gaps too.
Others – many disappointing apps and guides available as eBooks. Not sure if and when major guides like Lonely Planet will get their act together.
Getting around Google maps – Works well but requires an internet connection. Also great for public transportation.
OffMaps2 – Download maps and Wikipedia to allow usage when no internet connection is available. A few maps for free, then buy more.
Waze – now owned by Google, excellent GPS for driving but also requires an internet connection.
Communication
Skype – Pay $10 and you can call real phones anywhere in the world when internet is available goPostal – Upload your picture and text and GoPostal sends a real postcards via snail mail. $1.29 per card.
Google Translate – requires an internet connection but will convert any text to any language. iConvert – convert currency, liters, or just about anything else.
Free WiFi Finder Directory of free Wifi hotspots that works offline if you choose the download option.
Itinerary and important info
TripIt – forward the email of your flight, hotels, etc. and they the show up as organized plans in the app. Will warn you about changes to flights and gates.
Google Drive (or DropBox, EverNote, etc.) – Put copies of important documents (like a passport) and they are available offline. If you keep a diary, put it in a document and edit from anywhere.
All links are for IOS but most apps are also available for Android.
Related
How to get cellular internet outside your country.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/15/smartphone-apps-for-travelers/
#124 Replacing Cable subscription with AppleTV
Background
About a year ago I posted a article on reducing cable costs by replacing a landline phone service with GoogleVoice and replacing a DVR rental with a cable card. The voice system has worked well but the TV system never had a working DVR. This lead to more use of our 3 AppleTV’s and the realization that we don’t need a cable subscription. The final frustration was our cable service didn’t include the new FXX network the show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” moved to. Cable TV was canceled saving ~$50 per month and below is a description of the setup.
Requirements
Access to a lot of quality content (TV and movies) on-demand
Access to content we have purchased on DVD, home movies and iTunes.
Nice to Have
Access to news shows
Access to music & photos
Latest network shows
Not required
Live sports
Design
Hardware
3 AppleTVs (Gen 2 &3) accessing home network via WiFi (~$300)
3 32″ Sony TVs (~$900)
MacMini with 2TB of storage – always available on wired network (~$500) iPadMini (or other IOS device)
Software iTunes on MacMini
Handbrake IOS apps – PBS, 60 Minutes ($5), Vimeo, CanIStream.It, Remote
Subscriptions
Netflix ($8 streaming, $8 for 1 DVD at a time)
Internet connection 15MB/5MB
Other Ongoing costs
Electricity – to be measured iTunes purchases – example season pass to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia $22.
Use Case 1 – Streaming free/prepaid content
Simply use the AppleTV to watch programs on-demand. Roughly the use of the sources as follow;
Netflix – 75%
PodCasts (video) – 5%
SkyNews – 5%
YouTube – 5% – not AppleTV & Youtube
Weather Channel – 1% iTunes purchases – 5%
Use Case 1a – DVD from AppleTV
You can’t play a DVD directly on AppleTV. However, you can rip it with Handbrake and add to iTunes and then watch it from AppleTV. It is illegal to keep ripped DVD’s that you don’t own so the files should be deleted. Unlike music, video content tends to be watched once except for thing you really love. If you love and use it, buy it! If a one-time thing, rent it.
Use Case 2 – App to AppleTV
Unfortunately, many content providers are not on AppleTV but do have apps that allow you to watch on a computer, iPhone/iPad/iPod. Some of these providers enable Airplay which allows you to watch and control from the AppleTV. If an app doesn’t provide this, it gets deleted. Best so far are PBS and 60 minutes.
Finding Content
Someone mentions and old movie or show and you want to watch it. Simply use the app or website CanIStream.It and it will tell you how
Future?
The current solution doesn’t include over-the-air broadcast because the location of the house is obstructed by a hill that impedes the signal for an antenna. An Aereo subscription when available in the area may be evaluated but they way it would be setup is under the less convenient Use Case 2 unless a Roku box is added. AppleTV was selected over Roku as Roku only recently added the feature of playing local content via the Plex server.
Paying for content
The above scheme works as we are willing to pay for content. Many people are comfortable with a cable TV subscription model where channel costs (most channels do charge the cable despite advertising) are spread amongst all subscribers and there is a single monthly bill. Most cable TV providers also enjoy rental fees on the dated equipment they provide. However, good content costs money to produce and users of this scheme should accept that they may have a lower cable bill but also may have to pay $2 even for a 20 year old movie.
Free content – Theft and Persuasion
There are only two types of free content available. One may steal it (example BitTorrent) if can rationalize it within a moral framework (unlikely). More likely, people opt for free content supported by advertising. Advertisers do pay to persuade you and it does work so it is not really free.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/15/replacing-cable-subscription-with-appletv/
#125 Netflix streaming recommendation : Into the Wild
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/07/netflix-streaming-recommendation-into-the-wild/
#126 Backing up photos while traveling with an iPad
Problem Digital photographs can easily be lost while traveling due to theft, memory failure, or inadvertent erasure of a memory card. There are many devices designed specifically to make copies but don’t want to carry an additional device.
Solution 1 – Local copy on iPad
Simply copy the photos on a daily basis to an iPad or computer. An iPad’s small size makes it excellent to travel with but has limited memory especially given today’s hi- resolution cameras. Also, the iPad can just as easily be stolen as a camera.
Solution 2 – iPad + PhotoSync App + Google Drive or Smugmug
Assuming you are staying somewhere with WiFi, adding a backup to a cloud service provides extra security. Until recently, backing up was a painful task from an iPad. The latest version of PhotoSync provides an excellent solution and works with a variety of cloud services. Simply configure Photosync with your preferred provider (Google Drive is free) and tell it to sync. It is smart enough to send photos/videos only once provided you pick the same folder (like All Photos). If you pick a different folder on your iPad each synch, a new folder will be created in Google Drive and it is possible photos will be sent again. Since internet connections in hotels tend to be slow, plug-in the iPad and let the sync run overnight.
A recent experience was too many photos were uploaded exceeding the 15GB space allocation. In hindsight, Smugmug would have been a better choice as it offers unlimited storage with it’s annual membership.
Notes
Photosync does not currently support Pogoplug and the Pogoplug app didn’t work in testing. This is a disappointment as Pogoplug allows you to get the files back to your house.
This tip applies to taking photos directly on an iPad/iPhone.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/09/01/backing-up-photos-while-traveling-with-an-ipad/
#127 Rosenborg Castle
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#128 Cucumber avocado soup
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#129 Reflection on 10th and Waverly place
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#130
Nikon D7000 with Sony UWP-V1 Lavalier mic
Problem
The Nikon D7000 internal microphone has insufficient quality for anything beyond casual use.
Requirements
Easy to setup and use
Semi-pro to pro-level audio quality
Record to the camera to simplify post-production editing
Nice to be portable to possibly use on vacations
<$1000
Option 1 Boom mic
A boom mic would have the highest quality but requires more work to setup and adjust
Option 2 Lavalier mic w/ wireless transmitter There several brands in the $150-$250 price range but most reviews were negative. In the $500-$600 range are models from Sony & Sennheiser. Given the slightly lower price and generally positive reviews, the Sony UWP-V1 was selected.
Settings
Nikon D7000 Shooting Menu
Movie Settings
Microphone
Low Sensitivity (1)
– Note – normally use 720p 30 FPS as D7000 can only do 24 FPS at 1080p – makes no difference for audio quality
Sony Transmitter Attenuation
Set
ATT-003
Other references
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/06/30/nikon-d7000-with-sony-uwp-v1-lavalier-mic/
#131 Doing Laundry
Minimize effort
Minimize number of times to do laundry
Reduce dark color fading
Whites as white as possible
No ironing
Materials
All fragrant free liquid detergent
Oxiclean powder
Oxiclean spot spray
Woolrich Dark detergent generic bleach top-loading washer front-loading dryer
Storing Dirty Clothes in 4 baskets
Basket 1 – dress clothes – pants & dress shirts
Basket 2 – totally white clothes – tshirts, socks, dress shirts
Basket 3 – blacks / very dark clothes including socks
Basket 4 – everything elses – jeans, colored tshirts, etc.
Don’t do laundry for the basket until it is full (full meaning enough to fully load the washer)
Washing
Basket 1 – dress wear – if collars of shirts look dirty, pre-treat with Oxiclean spray – let soak for 10 minutes while loading. Add 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent. Run the washer on cold, normal or delicate (if you worry about those things).
Basket 2 – whites – load the washer with both bleach using the bleach cup and put 1-2 scoops of Oxiclean powder. Add recommended amount of detergent. Set water to hot, soak, and extra rinse. Once the washer fills and agitates for maybe 5 minutes, open the lid to stop the cycle. Let soak for 2-6 hours depending on how yellow the shirts are.
Basket 3 – load the washer, set on cold, and use Woolrich dark detergent.
Basket 4 – Load and set for normal, cold, and with 1/2 recommended amount of detergent.
Drying Basket 1 – dress wear – This is the one that takes all of the time. Put only 3 shirts OR 3 pants in the dryer at one time. Option 1 – best/cheapest – run for 10 minutes only, remove and immediately hang shirts on hangers or pants on pants hangers to dry. Option 2 – Run for full cycle using automatic setting but not the highest temperature.
Basket 3 – For dark dress wear (i.e. things you don’t want wrinkled), use the technique in Basket 1. For the rest, dry normally.
Basket 2 & 4 – use the dryer on automatic
Folding & Storage
Fold and put away as soon as dry. Often laundry can pile up at this stage and it is best to simply get it over with. Hang dress shirts. Rest can be folded with limited wrinkling.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/05/19/doing-laundry/
#132 Custom t-shirts
Requirements
1. small to large number of shirts 2. be able to provide artwork 3. color shirts 4. color artwork 5. reasonable cost
Solution
Upload artwork to Customink.com and order shirts.
Assessment
The website for selecting shirt, uploading the designs, and putting on text is intuitive, flexible, and easy to see what you are going to get. Once ordered, there is an email collaboration with an person acting as a designer. This person helps pick the right colors and handles providing a proof and order changes. They seem to work weekends to finalize the design and provide a proof. If took about 30 minutes to upload the order, 10 minutes to approve proofs and the order, and 5 days to receive the shirts. Selecting colors is critical. More cost much more money while too few may leave you unsatisfied with the design. The more you order, the lower the per shirt cost. Better to order 1 large batch than 2 medium size batches.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/05/18/custom-t-shirts/
#133
Home video surveillance solution
Requirements
No monthly fees
Be able to see from iOS from phone/internet
Inexpensive
Record to disk based on rules
Wireless
Mac compatible
Solution
Foscam FI8910W Pan & Tilt IP/Network Camera with Two-Way Audio and Night Vision – about $75 each – quantity 2 dynamic DNS service included with Foscam cameras
LiveCams Pro for iOS – $4
Vitamin d software on Mac – free for 1 camera monitoring – run when away
Assessment
Reliability of cameras is better when they are wired. Unclear why this is. Need to run Computer only for complex detection and recording. Uses about 1MBps of wireless but this didn’t seem to present any reliability problems. Not the best outdoor solution. Have used on an exterior porch with a 2 liter bottle with the bottom cut off over the unit. While not weather tight, this provides good protection but is of limited use at night. Using through glass window or plastic protector does not work at night due to infrared light reflection. Foscam seems to be compatible with most software. Configuring router and dynamic DNS requires some knowledge of IP networking. Foscam has a built-in web server allowing use without a computer. Computer only needed for complex monitoring. Foscam can email, send to FTP, etc. without the need for a 24×7 computer. Video quality is not HD. The positive to this is it uses less bandwidth and seems to be more compatible with 3rd party software. Given these are best wired to ethernet, the more expensive HD version may be considered if the software is known to be compatible. Most reviews of Foscam cameras are more critical of the HD version the the standard definition versions. The mounting hardware with the Foscam is quite good. Can be clamped or screwed into the ceiling.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2013/05/18/home-video-surveillance-solution/
#134
Reducing Home phone, cable, and internet costs by 33%
Objectives
Reduce monthly payments to phone, cable, and internet provider
Provide more flexibility of where to watch TV
Background
Landline phone + non-HD (1 TV with DVR rental) + 15/5 MB Internet on Verizon FIOS costs is $156 month breakdown as follows (Triple Play Package)
TV – $48 + $20 DVR rental
Phone – $33
Internet – $24
Taxes (a lot of which are landline) – $19
Requirements
Have a DVR
Keep existing landline phone number
Nice to have – multi-room access to cable (currently 1 room only)
Nice to have – remote access to cable stations (from internet)
Approach
Internet service – No change
Phone service – Transfer home phone number to Google Voice and install Obihai VOIP solution to allow GV number to work with old phones in the house.
Cable service – Reduce rental fees by using a cable card with a dual tuner IPTV solution that allows TV’s attached to a computer to receive channels, change channels, DVR, and provide program guide. Details below.
New Monthly Service
Verizon FIOS Double play (no contract)
$17 – DVR – will be returned so not in total
$4 cable card rental
$ Cable TV – PrimeHD
$ Internet – 15/5
$104 Total ($121 w/ DVR) – guaranteed price for 12 months – 2 year contract is $5 less
+ $1.75 per month fee (annual $20) for channel guide after the first year
One-time Costs
$1 to get a TMobile SIM card used temporarily with old, unlocked iPhone 3G
$20 Google Voice porting fee
$160 for a dual tuner IPTV solution HD Homerun with cable card
$40-80 for a Obihai VOIP device for Google Voice (if you want old phone system to work)
$20 for Verizon to send cable card Option 1 – $70 – EyeTV 3 software license used with old/unused MacBook – Not compatible with HomeRun HD
Option 2 – $400 – Windows machine with Media Center software
Option 3 – $0 use software included with HomeRun HD – not an option – no software included
Option 4 – $5 one-time cost for iOS EyeTV – unreliable application, similar products available on iOS also not reliable (InstaTV)
$200 – $600
Return on investment
4 to 12 months
Phone Service switch to Google Voice
1. Have an unlocked GSM phone (example – AT&T did this for free on an unused, out of contract iPhone 3G)
2. Order a TMobile SIM card from TMobile’s website
3. When received, put in phone, and activate the SIM from TMobile’s website remembering to transfer your landline number.
4. Wait about 24 hours for number to transfer. Make sure it works. You could stop now if you want to keep on TMobile. If you use almost no minutes, you can keep the number alive for about $10 for every 90 days.
5. Port your number to Google Voice account
6. Once the number is on Google Voice, setup call routing as you see fit. There is a limitation to Google Voice in that you can only route to a number once. In other words, you can’t route 2 GV numbers to one mobile phone. If you only have 1 GV account, this is not a problem and you are done.
7. Obihai sells products that allows your Google Voice phone number to be a real phone number. Purchase and install this product to allow plain telephones to send and recieve calls your GV phone number (which is now the same number as your original number).
Cable Service with reduced rental fees
1. Order a HomeRun HD confirming it works well with your provider (work with FIOS) to be installed near your router.
2. Order a cable card from your provider. Verizon charges a rental fee while others do not.
3. Run an ethernet connection from your router to each of your TV’s. Most suggest wifi will not have acceptable results for HD TV.
4. Option 1 – If Mac – install EyeTV and attach Mac to TV (HDMI is best route but may require an adapter). Note – Some stations are encrypted by your cable provider and will only work with Windows Media Center.
5. Option 2 – If Windows – Make sure your version of Windows 7 contains Windows Media Center and configure.
Positives
Reduced monthly fee by $50
Benefits of Google Voice like multi-phone and voicemail transcription
Possibility of move TV’s with no ongoing fees
Possibility of remote access to TV content
Possibility of saving shows to be available though AppleTV (EyeTV solution)
Negatives
Maintaining computer at TV (experience is DVR’s are unreliable but still probably easier)
3-5 hours of your time over a 1 month period
Wiring ethernet
Investment required of $200 to $600
No unlimited phone
Possibility of telemarketing calls to cell phone
Alternative Options being investigated
AppleTV – Can watch DVR or live shows using AirPlay if Windows Media center has AirParrot installed ($10). Sometime audio is out of sync and doesn’t work in full screen mode.
Use iOS device to receive TV in house – so far, apps are not reliable
Other internet device – results Roku – no channel yet?, others TBD
TIVO – really great alternative to HomeRun HD and device at TV but $20 subscription fee too high Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2012/09/14/reducing-home-phone-cable-and-internet-costs-by-33/
#135 Home Weather station to send data to Weather Underground
Requirements
1. Weather station should be reasonably priced but of acceptable precision – met
2. Data wiring to weather station – prefer wireless – met
3. Power wiring to weather station – prefer none – met
4. Weather station should not be unsightly (like placed in middle of the yard) – well
5. Preference is not to have a computer running 24×7 – met
6. Data should be sent to the WeatherUnderground.com – met
7. If software required, should work on Windows or Mac – met, not requiredSolution (bundled for about $460)
1. Davis 6250 Vantage Vue weather station with console/receiver ($395)
2. Davis 6555 WeatherLink IP ($295)
3. home made mounting pole and base
Siting
Siting the station near trees or structures lowers wind measurement quality. No location was available that met the tree guidelines. The station is mounted on a 5 foot steel pole.
Installation
The console sits inside and is attached to an Ethernet cable and AC adapter.
Register the station on Weatherlink.com using the included ID and key.
Register a new weather station on WeatherUnderground.
Go back to Weatherlink.com and add the WeatherUnderground station ID and your account password to the Upload section of WeatherLink.
It takes about 15 minutes for the WeatherLink site to send data to WeatherUndergound.com.
Follow a similar set of steps if you want data sent to Citizens Weather.
Note – The installation requires no software install even though the marketing materials suggest a Windows computer is needed. An internet connect web browser is all that is required as the Weatherlink.com site actually sends the data to other sites.
The Weatherlink IP package does include Windows software to do local analysis but is not required.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2011/03/21/home-weather-station-to-send-data-to-weather-underground/ #136 Creating picture books
Purpose
Create a picture book after a trip OR for a special event like milestone birthdayService – Blurb.com
Experience – Created ~ 5 books with Blurb.
Quality of book – Is very good.
Tools to build – Free software is flexible but very slow (example, inserting a photo)
Cost – Good – $40-$100
Delivery time – 2 weeks (a little long)
Service – Aperture using Apple.com
Experience – Created ~ 2 books with Blurb.
Quality of book – Excellent
Tools to build – Fewer templates but interface is faster. Requires a Mac and $75 Aperture software
Cost – High – $40-$150
Delivery time – 1 weeks (as expected)
Workflow
1. Use a tool to select photos to use
2. Find a way to sort the photos – Aperture used keywords
3. Create a book template in tool
4. Use Autoflow function to add all of the photos
5. Go back an modify captions, photo sizing
Tips
Doing selecting photos and page formats page by page can be agonizingly slow
Alternatives
CVS (tool and quality concerns), Lulu (tool concerns)
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2011/03/21/creating-picture-books/
#137 DIY Passport and VISA photos
Most in-store photo processors (CVS, Walmart, etc.) will take a photo of you and give you 2 passport photos. If you don’t need extra photos, this way is the safest way of getting photos that meet government requirements. When traveling internationally, it is always a good idea to have extra passport photos. Not only do some countries require the photos for visas, some parks (like Angkor Wat) also require a passport photo to include on your ticket.The quickest and easiest way to do it yourself is to use a free service like ePassportPhoto. ePassportPhoto gives you simple instructions to take, upload, and a simple tool size your photo online. You then download a 4×6 image that has 5 copies of your picture properly sized. Simply print this photo on your home printer or send to a service like CVS. 20 copies cost me $2. ePassportPhoto offers a $7 paid service were they will confirm your photo meets government regulations and sends you the photos in the mail. That service is probably worth the piece of mind if you are using the photo for your passport.
Note – different countries have different size regulations and ePassportPhoto will adjust for the country you need to comply with. This is something that CVS or Walmart don’t seem to offer.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2011/02/13/diy-passport-and-visa-photos/
#138 Moving a Wordpress blog
Problem
Had trouble updating the underlying GoDaddy MySQL to version 5.0 required by WordPress 3.
Solution Create a new WordPress site on same hosting server and migrate the data
Steps
1. Export content to XML in WordPress admin console
2. Create a new WordPress blog (which also creates a new MySQL instance)
3. Import the XML content into the new WordPress blog
4. If using a custom them, copy the contents of the theme folder in WordPress to the new WordPress site
5. On New WordPress site admin console, change path to existing WordPress URL
6. On Old WordPress site admin console, change path to a name like blog_old for the WordPress URL
7. Via a FTP client, rename the production blog folder to blog_old
8. Via a FTP client, rename the new blog directory to the production folder name
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2010/07/13/moving-a-wordpress-blog/
#139 Music Mix Party
Many times it is difficult to find new music. One idea is to host a mix-tape party. Invite your fellow music lovers to send 5-10 songs from artists loved but not widely known. At the party, play all of the submitted music and provide a print-out of the songs and artists.
Getting the music
1. Send out a message asking people to submit their songs. Recommend they send MP3 files as they do not contain DRM (digital rights management / copy protection).
Option a. – email the MP3 songs
Option b. – use a service like drop.io or yousendit.com to upload and send a link
2. Save each person’s submissions to a folder.
Organizing and Tagging the music
3. In iTunes, go to the Music view and make sure the column Date Imported is showing. Sort this column so the most recent song imported is at the topic of the list.
4. Select File, Library Import and select the folder from one person
5. You should see the songs from the person you just imported. Select their songs and click Ctrl-I (or Apple-I). This allows you to update the meta data about the songs. In the grouping field, put in text like “Sean’s picks” to identify those songs as coming from that person.
6. Do steps 4 & 5 for every person.
7. Now your iTunes library has all of the songs and each is marked with the person’s name.
8. Create a Smart Playlist. The filter should be Grouping contains “picks”. This playlist shows all of the songs sent in. Order the list as you desire by clicking the appropriate column.
Creating a printout
9. Ctrl-Click on the play list and select Export. This will save a file called playlistname.txt with all of the song information including whose pick it was.
10. There is a lot of unnecessary information in this file. Open the file in Excel or Google Docs and delete the unwanted columns (right-click on the column and select Delete).
11. Print out this list.
Play or Burn the MP3
12. After taking into account copyrights, click on your playlist and click Burn CD. Since you most likely have more songs than will fit on a standard CD, use the MP3 selection when burning. Note this will not play on standard CD players but will play in most computers and standalone DVD players (as long as they are in MP3 format). Play this CD at your party (or play the playlist through your computer or iPod).
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2010/06/21/music-mix-party/
#140
Timezone Tricks
Working with people in different time zones presents multiple problems. Answering the simple questions of what time is it now and what time is it at a future date and time can be confusing.
Trick 1 – Web solution http://www.timeanddate.com/
Here is an example of a link that will show a future time for the major cities worldwide http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?month=6&day=7&year=2010&hour=10&min=0&sec=0&p1=179
Trick 2 – Windows utility
A useful desktop clock called Qlock allows you to see the current time in cities of your choice as well as picking a future date and time.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2010/06/16/timezone-tricks/
#141
GSM phone for worldwide travel
Traveling outside one’s native country is often easier with a mobile phone. US AT&T users can use their phones outside the US but should expect to spend extremely high usage fees. Verizon/Sprint users are generally out of luck using their phones outside the US as the cellular technology is not widely used outside the US.
Guide to have a “local” mobile phone
1. Confirm that pre-paid SIM cards are available in the countries you are visiting. They are available in most countries but may be difficult for foreigners to get in some (example: India).
2. Purchase a Unlocked Quad-Band GSM phone before you travel. It is important that the phone have the following (most do not);
1. GSM – wireless technology used by most of the world and by AT&T and TMobile in the US 2. Quad-band – each country and carrier may use a different frequency – Quad-band covers all 4 types used around the world 3. Unlocked – many carriers sell their phones locked so they may not be used by other carriers
You can find phones on Amazon, eBay, and a variety of questionable websites. Expect to pay $50 to $200 depending the phone features and if it is used or not.
3. When you are in-country, look to buy a Pre-Paid SIM card. Plan ahead by using the Store Finder function on a local carrier website. Examples
US – TMobile provides at stores and box stores like WalMart – $10 give you a SIM card + 10 minutes of talk time. Additional talk time can be purchased for between 10 cents and 30 cents a minute. other
4. Insert the SIM card in your phone. Make sure you have a simple conversion plug so your cell-phone charger works in the country you are traveling.
Remember, calling back to your home country will be expensive. Use Skype for international calls.
Here is more info….
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2010/03/18/gsm-phone-for-worldwide-travel/
#142 Recommended activities in New York City
Museum of Modern Art a/k/a MOMA – www.moma.org – W. 53rd btw. 5th and 6th Ave. Whitney Museum of American Art – www.whitney.org – Madison and E. 75th St. International Center of Photography a/k/a ICP – www.icp.org – W. 43rd St. and 6th Ave. (is close to Times Square and across from Bryant Park and the NY public library)
Leica Photography Gallery – FREE! – Broadway and W. 3rd
Frick (mansion), Guggenheim (modern), MOMA (modern), International Photography (check what is showing), Leica (photo – check what is showing free), the Cloisters (medieval)
Natural History (dinosaurs), NY Historical (across the street from Natural History), Cooper-Hewitt (design – check what is showing), Morgan Library (old books), Intrepid (military aircraft carrier), South Street Seaport
2. See a Broadway show (or Blue Man group)
3. Grand Central Terminal
4. Ride the subways – get unlimited ride pass for all transit
5. Rockefeller center / Plaza / Apple Store / FAO Schwartz (all in same area)
6. Like Seinfeld – goto the Upper West side – see Seinfeld Diner, Columbia University, St John the Divine (world’s largest cathedral)
7. Walk around in the Village / SOHO
8. Shop
Macys
Strand (if you like books)
High-end shops on 5th Avenue Electronics – best is B&H near Times Square http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ (closed Saturdays)
Parks
Central Park – many free events too http://www.centralpark.com/events/
Stroll along Bleecker Street in the West Village, stopping by Murray’s Cheese, Amy’s Breads, Bleecker Street Records and sundry other shops
Meander down 5th Avenue, past Cartier, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Jeweler’s Row, etc. (I suggest starting at E. 59th, by Central Park, FAO Schwarz and the Apple store)
Below are some NY restaurant suggestions. The Upper West side neighborhood is 2 subway stops from Times Square. Unique experiences – authentic deli (like Arties), a world-class restaurant (like Union Square), quintessential NY seafood (Oyster Bar at Grand Central station).
MODERATELY PRICED (BETWEEN $10 TO $18 FOR ENTREE) THE UPPER WEST SIDE:
INDIAN:
Indus Valley – Broadway and W. 100th
ITALIAN:
3 different Italian restaurants. 3 different scenes.
Genaro – Popular w/ the locals and with Kevin Bacon-Kira Sedgwick (also locals but I just had to name drop) on Amsterdam and W. 93rd
Acqua – Italian on Amsterdam and W. 95th http://www.acquanyc.com/
Carmine’s – family style Italian on Broadway and W. 91st. Always crowded but also always good. http://www.carminesnyc.com/reservations/uwny.php
PERUVIAN:
Pio Pio – Amsterdam and W. 94th http://www.piopionyc.com
JAPANESE:
AsiaKan – Amsterdam and W. 94th http://asiakannyc.com/
SEAFOOD:
Well beyond the moderate price range but good for seafood.
Ocean Grille – Columbus and W. 78th (turn left out of apt. and walk south until 79th street then turn left onto W. 79th, cross over Amsterdam and follow W. 79th to Columbus. turn right onto Columbus and walk 1 block to Ocean Grille) http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/ocean_grill/index.php
GOOD SPOTS FOR A DRINK ON THE UWS:
Dive Bar: Not really a true dive (there’s a slightly aquatic theme) but my favorite spot in the city for a good beer and veggie burger. Amsterdam and W. 96th. http://www.divebarnyc.com/
Unwined: Wine bar on W. 95th between Broadway and West End Avenue. (Turn right out of my apt. and make a left onto W. 95th. It will be attached to Symphony Space on W. 95th) http://www.unwinednyc.com/
Cleopatra’s Needle : Live jazz plus big screen TVs with sports every night. Broadway and W. 93rd. http://www.cleopatrasneedleny.com/
BRUNCH:
Isabella’s – NY doesn’t serve alcohol until noon on Sundays so, if you want the complimentary champagne, Bloody Mary or Bellini with your meal, arrive at Isabella’s around 11-ish on a Sunday, put your name in for a table and then kill some time across the street at Greenflea flea market. http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/isabellas/index.php
DELI:
Artie’s – Broadway and W. 83rd http://arties.com/
PRICEY BUT EXCELLENT:
With the exception of Telepan, none of these are on the Upper West Side.
Telepan – Seasonal, local, organic cuisine near Lincoln Center. When I want to eat well but don’t want to blow too much money, I just order apps here. The egg in a hole appetizer is delicious as is the sticky toffee pudding dessert. W. 69th and Columbus. http://www.telepan-ny.com/
Red Cat – Generous portions of creative, wholesome New American cuisine in Chelsea. 10th Ave. and W. 23rd. http://www.theredcat.com/redcat.html
Tabla – New Indian overlooking Madison Square Park. E. 25th and Madison. www.tablany.com
Cafe Cluny – Fresh French/Mediterranean-influenced cuisine in the Village. W. 4th at W. 12th. http://www.cafecluny.com/
Union Square Cafe – A NY institution near Union Square. We usually order dinner at the bar as this is more casual than the main dining area. Also, if you enjoy white wine, splash out on a glass of Sancerre. E. 16th between Union Square and 5th Ave. www.unionsquarecafe.com/ Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2010/01/24/recommended-activities-in-new-york-city/
#143
India Summary
Fly to Delhi 2 hrs via i78 to Newark
Kathy bag weighs 48 lbs
Sean bag weighs 28 and could be carried on but was checked
Flight mostly full but had spare seat between us – 14.5 hour
Sky vodka for 12$ at duty free in New Delhi airport
Tuesday Aug 4
Lodi gardens
India gate
Parliment
Presidents palace
Jama mosque
Ghandis cremation site
Tipoff textile center design center
Delli hat
Drove past red fort
We’d Aug 5
Humayuns tomb
Alshar dam temple
Safdarjung tomb
Maurya sheraton Bukhara restarant
Pictures (kept) – 2331
145Agra 80Agra Fort 449Delhi Fatehpur 139 Sikri 608Jaipur 158Pushkar 115Rajasthan 338Taj Mahal Kuala 299 Lumur
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2009/08/22/india-summary/
#144
India - Driving
Our typical trip involves renting a car and driving to where we are drawn. The general advice for India is to hire a car and driver. We found that it is well-worth having a driver but this yields a different experience. road sharing – The roads in India are largely paved but shared with all types of things. Large trucks, tuck-tucks (3 wheeled motorized cabs), rickshaws, camel carts, cows, herds of goats, and lots of people. the unpredictable – Oncoming traffic will be in your lane even on the few divided 4 lane highways. People also walk out onto the road without looking. accidents – Our first day with a driver included being involved in an accident. Someone was in the middle the road and our driver tried to fit between the person and a truck. We hit the truck. Nothing that would hurt us but you could tell the back of the car was crumbled and the trucks fender was bent out. Our driver got out of the car and a huge mob formed. The mob was yelling and pushing him until what appeared to be a policeman arrived. Our driver got back in the car and the policeman asked to be let in. Our driver pointed to us and drove off. No insurance exchanged as many don’t have insurance. Most police don’t have vehicles. Several days later the car was fixed and the driver said he worked on it with a mechanic; cost was 5000 rupees (~$100). We suspect our driver paid out of pocket and the legal system is so slow, the authorities won’t catch up to him. logistics – Most essential thing is to have a mobile phone and know your driver’s mobile number. Simply call him anytime. The driver figures out where to stay on his own and has a 300 ($6) rupee per diem. Many drivers sleep in the car but we suspect ours did not. navigation – No GPS or maps are used. Simply find a road, and hope the driver knows where you are going. Our driver didn’t know how to get to a less traveled area but said he did. We had maps but he was more comfortable stopping and asking if we were headed in the right direction in each village. At one point we had to go another way as the roads were impassable for our Toyota Innova (cross of mini-van/ & SUV).
3 things needed to drive in India – Good brakes, a Good horn, and Good luck.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2009/08/05/india-driving/
#145 India preparations
Health – Shots for Hep A, Hep B, typhoid and polio, daily Malorin tablets (anti-malaria), antibiotics (Cipro) in case of traveler’s diarrhea, health & evacuation insurance selected from squaremouth.com
Technology – Macbook w/ Video out adapter & cables, iPhone, loaner GSM cellphone w/ prepaid minutes & local number in India, Belkin 3 outlet adapter
Photography – Nikon D80 SLR w/ wide-angle zoom, Canon Elph compact camera, extra SD cards
Hotels – 6 of 14 days pre-booked with initial one with airport pick-up – Ambassador Hotel (Delhi) & Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra)
Literature – Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, In Spite of the Gods (Strange Rise of Modern India)
Transport – flights to & from, in-country TBD, pre-paid parking at Newark ($10.75 a day)
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2009/08/02/india-preparations/
#146 Air Gutter Cleaner Pilot 1
•Overview
–¾” PVC Constuction
–Expandable via compression fitting (5ft extends to 13 ft)
–Hand valve
•Lessons Learned
–Pipe too wide – lowers pressure – thinner pipe
–Output fitting not narrow enough – smaller fitting –Valve at bottom convenient but lessons pipe pressure – valve near head with handle at base
–Need visibility to gutter – mirror
–1.5 HP compressor long recharge time – try larger compressor
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2009/05/18/air-gutter-cleaner-pilot-1/
#147
Laptop Theft POC
Requirements works with Mac works with standard hosting service only sends if owner says it is stolen sends WAN IP address; sends LAN or WLAN IP address, depends on conection; send AirPort information (SSID, BSSID), if the Mac is connected wirelessly; sends screen capture (format: JPG, size: resample to width 1280px, compression: 20%); sends iSight photo (format: JPG, size: original).
? password information for FTP send
Design
Server http to for client to see if it is stolen ftp to upload stolen information
Client
References http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/22/mac-automation-create-a-mail-triggered-spy-cam/ http://pixelspread.com/blog/94/scare-your-roomate-with-a-macbook
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Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2009/05/13/laptop-theft-poc/
#148 New York City - Portland, ME - Salem, MA - New Paltz, NY
New York City – Portland, ME – Salem, MA – New Paltz, NY
View Larger Map
US Open
Portland, ME
Portland Regency Hotel Siam City Cafe
Portland Museum of Art
Fore Street Restaurant
Becky’s Diner
Museum Portland Head Light
Portland Observatory
Twin Lights Park
Hugo’s Restaurant
Peabody Essex Museum
Hawthorne Hotel Salem, MA
Bella Verona Restaurant, Salem, MA
The Burying Point, Salem, MA
Mohonk New Paltz, NY
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2008/09/07/new-york-city-portland-me-salem-ma-new-paltz-ny/
#149 Pittsburgh Trip
Photos
Map of major sites visited
View Larger Map
8/8 drop-off Max at kennel 8AM 3PM – arrive at Courtyard Pittsburgh Shadyside 5308 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh Friday drive Pittsburgh stay at Courtyard Pittsburgh Shadyside Steelers vs. Eagles preseason gameAug 8, Heinz field, $28
8/9 Saturday Frick Tuesday-Sunday 10am – 5pm 7227 Reynolds Street , free (house tour $12)
Strip District
8/10 Sunday Pittsburgh Andy Warhol Tues-Sun 10-5, 117 Sandusky, $15 Carnegie Art Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat: 10-5,Thurs: 10-8. Sun: noon-5, 4400 Forbes Avenue, $15
8/11 Monday Pittsburgh Photo Antiquities, Mondays and Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, 531 East Ohio Street, $6.50 stay here http://www.summitinnresort.com/index.php?id=16
8/12 Tuesday Kentuck Knob Falling Water directions 1491 Mill Run Rd Mill Run, PA 15464 conf#65168
11PM arrive home
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2008/08/13/pittsburgh-trip/
#150
Add Lat/Long to JPG and NEF on a MAC
This technique uses Google maps to generate GPS coordinates and inserts the coordinates into JPG or raw photos.
Requirements
Mac
GPSPhotoLinker – free
KLMtoGPX converter – free
Procedure
1. Create a new My Maps on Google maps with the places you visited (can also use Google Earth)
2. Export the points to a .klm file
3. Convert the .klm file using the program KLMtoGPX converter 4a. Manual (easy but requires you to select each photo)
Run GPSPhotoLinker, Load GPX file, Load all photos, Select Manual tab, click each photo, select waypoint, click Save to photo
4b. For large number of photos – Use TextEdit to convert the Waypoint file into a Track file (both are XML) and set the time to be outside the time recorded in the photo (i.e. if the group of photos was taken between 9 and 10AM GMT, set the time on the two track points to be 8AM and 11AM). Click Batch convert and use the option Nearest Recorded Point.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2008/08/13/add-latlong-to-jpg-nef-on-a-mac/
#151
Travel Gadget mistakes
Background
When traveling, I usually bring a laptop, iPod, digital camera, and digital camcorder. For each of these, there are a variety of accessories for power, cables, and memory. On a recent trip to Ireland, I decided to bring a GPS unit for car navigation. After a long search, three options emerged; a. Garmin 670 with Europe & US maps b. Nokia N800 Internet tablet with Wayfinder maps and bluetooth GPS c. Macbook with Parallels, Windows Vista, a USB GPS, and Microsoft Autoroute for Europe
I ended up going with option b. thinking I would have the best of a. & c. with less travel bulk.
Results
The Nokia N800 is a fun little gadget and a close replacement to a Garmin unit. The interface is a little worse but it does allow you to do surf the web in a coffee shop then continue walking using the GPS. My wife thought having the GPS reduced the stress of car travel in a foreign country as she does most of the navigating. The N800 is less of a laptop replacement due to it’s awkward keyboard (external bluetooth could be used) and inability to connect directly to ethernet provided in most hotels.
Learnings – Connectivity
Free Wifi can be difficult to impossible to find outside major cities. The N800 came with a 30 day trial of Boingo Mobile (subsequent months are $8). Boingo allows you to use pay hot-spots around the globe like those at Starbucks or British telecom. It can be difficult to find the hotspots as Boingo only lists them online (which kinda defeats the purpose). Furthermore, this service is $40 a month if you use a laptop. Most mid-level hotels seem to supply only ethernet in rooms. A laptop or hub is needed.
Learnings – Backup
I typically try to backup digital photos on the road. Without a laptop, I couldn’t use a service like Jungledisk or even the laptop. If I stay with this non-laptop configuration, I could get a large SD card and copy pictures between the 2 SD slots in the Nokia N800.
While trying to backup, I mistakenly deleted all the files on a 2GB SD card. I did find a free utility that would recover the pictures but I required you to be logged in with Admin priveleges in Windows. Most hotels/internet cafe’s do not allow you to have admin priveledges so I sweated it out until I returned home. Undelete for an SD Card (or any disk) – free from Roadkil.net
Easiest would be to bring a laptop. Many of our frustrations could have been reduced if we brought a Macbook. Also, pictures and video could have been processed on the plane.
Here are all the Ireland expenses.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2008/03/23/travel-gadget-mistakes/
#152 Wireless Network Camera from Amazon user
1) Plug-in camera to AC and hold down the “reset” pin with a pen. My computer would not recognize the camera until I physically reset it.
2) Make sure camera switch is set to “wired”.
3) Connect the camera via Ethernet cable to you Mac.
4) Temporarily give your Mac the manual IP address 192.168.0.5 and subnet 255.255.255.0 in the Network Prefs.
5) Connect to the camera using Safari at address 192.168.0.253 – you should be able to see the settings page now. 6) Click through the setup but say “No” when it asks if you want to “go on the internet”. This will make it try to find your router (which is not on the network) so don’t do it.
7) Enter 192.168.0.253 in Safari once again and it should take you to the Network Camera page. You should have access to the camera controls after you click the “Single” tab at the top of the page. But we’re not done yet.
8) Click the Setup tab on right side of the tabbed toobar.
9) Click Static IP to load the static ip address page for the camera
10) Uncheck the “Enable” checkbox at the top. This is for Windows setup.
11) Enter an IP address in your wireless network. My network is 192.168.2.x so I gave my camera 192.168.2.253.
12) Enter your router’s address in the Default Gateway field. Example: 192.168.2.1. If you don’t do this, your camera will not be accessible from outside your wireless network!
13) Click the Wireless tab on the left navigation bar of the camera page.
14) For SSID enter the exact name of your network. This is the name you gave your wireless router when you set it up. It appears under the Airport signal strength menu with a checkbox next to it.
15) If you have security (and you should!), enter you WEP Key. Be sure to make the right selection for your wep key (ASCII, HEX, etc).
16) Click Save.
17) Edit other settings such as Date and Time
18) Disconnect the ethernet cable from the camera.
19) Flip the camera switch from Wired to Wireless
20) Unplug the camera power, replug camera power (to restart it)
21) The camera should now go through it’s blinking light procedure and if all is well you’ll get a solid green light.
22) Go to your Network Prefs and set your computer back to using your wireless router.
23) You should now be able to access your camera at the address 192.168.2.253 wirelessly now.
24) Your router blocks traffic from the internet to your camera so you cannot view the camera from outside your network. To access your camera from the internet you’ll neet to open a port on your router that maps to your camera. This can be done by setting up a “Virtual Server” (aka port forwarding) on the router. See your router’s instructions for mapping a virtual server to your camera’s IP and port.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2008/03/07/wireless-network-camera/
#153
GPS for European road trip
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#154
Converting LP's and Cassettes to MP3s
Objective – Convert LP records and cassettes into MP3 files on a Mac
Requirements
Macbook (includes a Line-In jack), if you don’t have a line-in, buy an iMic
RCA to 1/8′ line cable (Final Vinyl ($0) iTunes ($0)
Procedure
1. Connect receiver output to Macbook using RCA to 1/8″ cable – note a turntable requires applification through a receiver or pre-amp
2. Launch Final Vinyl
3. Play a loud passage of the cassette/LP and adjust the levels down if volume is going above red
4. Rewind/start from the beginning and click Record on Final Vinyl
5. When a side completes, click Record to stop the recording
6. Click the Final Vinyl Tools area and select Auto Mark to mark the individual song tracks
7. Confirm the markings and adjust if necessary. 8. Click on each track and select Save Track as and name corresponding to track number – i.e. 1.aiff
9. Repeat steps 4 – 8 for the other side and start your file name at the next number – i.e. 7.aiff
10. Drag all of the .aiff files to iTunes and find them at the bottom of the Library list
11. Select the files just imported and click Advanced, Convert to MP3
12. When the conversion is complete, delete the aiff file by pressing Apple-Delete
13. Highlight the remaining MP3 files and press Apple-I
14. Set the Artist, Album Artist, Album Name, Year, Category,and Total number of tracks
15. Select the first track, press Apple-I and set the track name. Click Next to do for all tracks.
16. Delete the original .aiff files created in steps 4-8
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2008/02/23/converting-lps-and-cassettes-to-mp3s/
#155
Nikon D80 - RAW - SmugMug workflow
Requirements
Nikon ViewNX (free)
SmugMug Mac Uploader and account
MAC – Change ImageCapture not to open iPhoto automatically
Nikon N80 – File Sequence Numbers ON, RAW only
Functions
Copy from Camera ()
Adjust RAW photos and create JPG files
Upload to SmugMug
Backup
Optional Enhancements in Photoshop Elements
Workflow
1. Plug in Nikon D80 to Mac.
2. Create a folder on the desktop with preferred name (example 200712 Bermuda). Create subfolders called RAW and JPG.
3. Copy the files from the attached camera to the new RAW folder
3b. If Geocoding, do now on the RAW files using GPSPhotoLinker
4. Open ViewNX and navigate to the RAW folder created earlier
5. For each photo, delete, or adjust exposure and white balance
6. File, Convert Files, JPG, size unchanged, Destination folder = JPG folder
7. Launch SmugMug Mac Uploader
8. Selected Files. Drag files in JPG folder. Create a New Gallery with name from step 2.
9. Click Upload. Goto SmugMug.com to organize
10. Backup the folder created in step 2
Optional Workflow Photoshop Elements steps use NEF (raw) file as a start, save DNG to RAW folder
Crop / Rotate
Adjust Levels
Adjust Colors
Remove Marks with Clone
Sharpen Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/12/08/nikon-d80-raw-smugmug-workflow/
#156 Tourism near Collegeville, PA
Museums
Collegeville – Berman Museum of Art Doylestown – Mercer Museum Philadelphia – Art , Mutter Boyertown – Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles West Chester –American Helicopter Philadelphia – Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Theater Phoenixville – The Colonial Theatre – Independent films, little town
Outdoors Independence Hall / Liberty Bell http://www.nps.gov/inde/Valley Forge National Park http://www.nps.gov/vafo/ Evansburg park (hike, horse) – http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/Parks/evansburg.aspx Perkiomen trail (Bike, hike) – http://www.montcopa.org/parks/perkiomentrail/ Zoo Norristown Elmwood Park – http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/
Shopping Eating King of PrussiaPhoenixville – becoming hip former steel town, shops, restaurants Skippack – many restaurants, some shops New Hope – cute shops on the riverLancaster – Amish
Comprehensive list from Philadelphia Inquirer
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Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/11/26/tourism-near-collegeville-pa/
#157 Travel Packing List
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#158
Sweden
Itinerary
Sunday2PM left Rhinebeck, NY530PM leave Newark airport (parked at FastTrack, will also consider ABC next time)Monday730AM arrive Arlanda airport Stockholm8AM – have bags and get taxi830AM – arrive, say hi to Christina and see her spacious and bright penthouse co-op10AM – leave to walk to Gamla Stansee
palace exteriorwatch changing of guard (too many pictures) walk along waterlunch at Cafe Novaacquire postcardsinterior of Stockholm cathedral (highlight is St. George and the Dragon statue) +return to apartment530PM – walk to water across from city hall (Stadshuset), see boat hotels730PM – arrive back at apartment830PM -goto dinner with Christina11-12 – chocolate, wine, and look at pictures with Christina Tuesday730AM wake up830AM – subway to Central Terminal915AM – bus (almost missed) to Nyashamn11AM – ferry to Visby, Gotland2:15PM – arrive Visby3:00PM – register at Hotel Villa Borgen4:00PM – visit several church ruins in the town, caffe mocha8:00PM – dinner at upscale pizza restaurant – beer, pizza, salad, french friesWednesday8:00AM wake up and continental breakfast (included) at hotel10:00AM walk around Visby, see 10+ church ruins, botanical gardens, get caught inside a cathedral by college student (it was closed but not locked)1:00PM get beer, cheese, cookies, and baguette at grocery store ($27)2:00PM car rental office wasn’t open but tourist office called them, rent car from used car rental place 250k ($37) for 1 day – used Opel 2-door, manual transmission3:00PM arrive at Jungfrau at Lickershamn4:00PM ferry to Faro4:15PM saw Ingram Bergman grave at Faro church5:00PM drive around Faro to see Raukar Limestone formations6:15PM ferry back to mainland Gotland8:00PM dinner at crepe restaurant in Visby Visby Creperie & LogiThursday6:30AM drive to ferry, drop off car7-10AM ferry, 12PM arrive in StockholmVasa museum – amazing 300+ ship recovered from the harbor
Kaffee Latte – coffee with milk at cafe on the way to the marketmarketItalian dinneropening of storewalked theatersubway back and watched 3 episodes of Freaks and GeeksFridaygarden & organic lunchNordic Museummall (N&K)Gamla Stanmovie Death at a Funeraltalk at houseSaturdaylunch outside Nobel MuseumRoyal Armory at the palace in Gamla Stan3PM City Hall (outside only as last tour is at 230PM)Nobel Museum (free due to 100 yr. anniversary of Rudyard Kipling)desert outside Nobel Museumhotel check in (Radisson Royal Viking)dinner at Christina’s (mushrooms & crepes)take luggage via subway to hotel9PM Ice BarSunday6:20AM – take express training next to hotel to airport 240kr for 29AM fly to Newark12:30 – leave parking lotView Larger MapVisbyCostsGoogle currency converterairfare – $700 per person – Newark to Stockholm directferry Gotland 250k ($40)one-way per person subway – 160k for 8 tripstaxi – airport to Stockholm 395k ($70) cafeNova lunch in Gamla Stan ($26) – coffee, hot tea, blueberry tart, cheese cucumber sandwich, spinach-cheese quiche w/ salad, Lingonberry juicedinner – Italian – 3 pasta dishes (cannelloni al funghi, bottle of wine, 1 salad – 900k ($140)lunch on ferry – greek salad, Coke, pom frittes, cheese sandwich – 170k ($16), beer 36k ($5)per night at Hotel Villa Borgen per night 990k ($150)dinner Visby – pesto crepe, cheese crepe, 2 beers 250k ($35)McDonalds – chicken+fries+coke=55k ($7.50) – did it because it as cheap and everywhere
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/09/19/sweden/
#159
Sweden
Itinerary
Sunday
2PM left Rhinebeck, NY
530PM leave Newark airport (parked at FastTrack, will also consider ABC next time)Monday
730AM arrive Arlanda airport Stockholm
8AM – have bags and get taxi
830AM – arrive, say hi to Christina and see her spacious and bright penthouse co-op
10AM – leave to walk to Gamla Stan see palace exterior watch changing of guard (too many pictures) walk along water lunch at Cafe Nova acquire postcards interior of Stockholm cathedral (highlight is St. George and the Dragon statue) + return to apartment
530PM – walk to water across from city hall (Stadshuset), see boat hotels
730PM – arrive back at apartment
830PM -goto dinner with Christina
11-12 – chocolate, wine, and look at pictures with Christina
Tuesday
730AM wake up
830AM – subway to Central Terminal
915AM – bus (almost missed) to Nyashamn
11AM – ferry to Visby, Gotland
2:15PM – arrive Visby
3:00PM – register at Hotel Villa Borgen
4:00PM – visit several church ruins in the town, caffe mocha
8:00PM – dinner at upscale pizza restaurant – beer, pizza, salad, french fries
Wednesday
8:00AM wake up and continental breakfast (included) at hotel
10:00AM walk around Visby, see 10+ church ruins, botanical gardens, get caught inside a cathedral by college student (it was closed but not locked)
1:00PM get beer, cheese, cookies, and baguette at grocery store ($27)
2:00PM car rental office wasn’t open but tourist office called them, rent car from used car rental place 250k ($37) for 1 day – used Opel 2-door, manual transmission
3:00PM arrive at Jungfrau at Lickershamn
4:00PM ferry to Faro
4:15PM saw Ingram Bergman grave at Faro church
5:00PM drive around Faro to see Raukar Limestone formations 6:15PM ferry back to mainland Gotland
8:00PM dinner at crepe restaurant in Visby Visby Creperie & Logi
Thursday
6:30AM drive to ferry, drop off car
7-10AM ferry, 12PM arrive in Stockholm
Vasa museum – amazing 300+ ship recovered from the harbor
Kaffee Latte – coffee with milk at cafe on the way to the market market
Italian dinner opening of store walked theater subway back and watched 3 episodes of Freaks and Geeks
Friday garden & organic lunch
Nordic Museummall (N&K)
Gamla Stan movie Death at a Funeral talk at house
Saturday lunch outside Nobel Museum
Royal Armory at the palace in Gamla Stan
3PM City Hall (outside only as last tour is at 230PM)
Nobel Museum (free due to 100 yr. anniversary of Rudyard Kipling) desert outside Nobel Museum hotel check in (Radisson Royal Viking) dinner at Christina’s (mushrooms & crepes) take luggage via subway to hotel
9PM Ice Bar
Sunday
6:20AM – take express training next to hotel to airport 240kr for 2
9AM fly to Newark
12:30 – leave parking lot
View Larger Map
Visby
Costs airfare – $700 per person – Newark to Stockholm direct ferry Gotland 250k ($40) one-way per person subway – 160k for 8 trips taxi – airport to Stockholm 395k ($70) cafe
Nova lunch in Gamla Stan ($26) – coffee, hot tea, blueberry tart, cheese cucumber sandwich, spinach-cheese quiche w/ salad, Lingonberry juice dinner – Italian – 3 pasta dishes (cannelloni al funghi, bottle of wine, 1 salad – 900k ($140) lunch on ferry – greek salad, Coke, pom frittes, cheese sandwich – 170k ($16), beer 36k ($5) dinner Visby – pesto crepe, cheese crepe, 2 beers 250k ($35)
McDonalds – chicken+fries+coke=55k ($7.50) – did it because it as cheap and everywhere
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/09/18/sweden-2/
#160
Hudon River Valley - Rhinebeck and Hyde Park
Hudon River Valley – Rhinebeck & Hyde Park
Things to Do
****/4 cooking a class at the Culinary Institute of America
****/4 eating & drinking (see below)
*** /4 mansion tours
*** /4 shop in Rhinebeck
*** /4 independant movie in Rhinebeck
** /4 Rhinebeck Aerondrome
NR hiking
NR show at Bard College
Things to Eat
****/4 Terrapin
*** /4Culinary Institute of America many others !
Places to Stay *** /4 Le Petite Chateau – large property with renovated farmhouse. Close to CIA.
** /4 Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn – in Rhinebeck, usually has rooms although they are in need of renovations
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/09/16/hudon-river-valley-rhinebeck-hyde-park/
#161
Best inexpensive wines in PA
Columbia Crest Merlot-Caberbet Columbia Valley Two Vines 2003 (WS-87) – $8
Lindemans Shiraz South Eastern Australia Bin 50 2006 (WS-87) – $8
Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon South Easter Australia 2005 (WS-86) – $5
Paringa Cabernet Sauvignon South Australia 2005 (WS-88) – $10
Yellow Tail Shiraz South Eastern Australia 2006 (WS-89) – $11
Fetish The Watcher Barossa Valley (WS-91) -$20
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/09/16/best-inexpensive-wines-in-pa/
#162
MacBook setup Software loaded on MACBook (2GB)
Firefox eMusic
Parallels with Visa Ultimate
MoneyDance ($29)
Chicken of the VNC
Photoshop Elements 4.0 (free with scanner)
SmugMug Mac Uploader
VisualHub ($29) video converter
MacTheRipper
HandBrake (DVD to Mp4 for iPod)
NeoOffice (MAC version of OpenOffice)
Caffeine
Alarm Clock (for traveling)
CanoScan (came with Canon scanner) deSEDG (changes MP4 header information in AVI files from Samsung Camcorder)
FDRTools (HDR photo converter) theGIMP
Google Earth iBackup
JungleDisk (Amazon backup service)
Last.fm
PhotoStudio (from scanner, will remove)
Retrospect Express 6.1 (from NAS device, doesn’t work)
Google Sketchup
Perian (watch Windows Media) – maybe another one ?
GPSPhotoLinker
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/05/21/macbook-setup/
#163
Luong Van Vo Bio
Born in 1944
Lived in country with mother.
Lived in Siagon to get better education with father. worked for French family in Saigon as did his father
Graduated from officers training school around 1965 as a warrant officier
Spent two and a half years being second in command of a 160 person army unit. Most of the time spent living in the jungle, guarding and finding mines on roads using waterbuffolo to find trip wires
Then in charge of a group that would be trained as helicopter pilots in Texas. Made sure they knew english prior to going to Texas.
Picture of Luong (an office) with an American cadet (future officer) in Texas.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/03/11/luong-van-vo-bio/
#164 Puppy
/etc/dhcpc/dhcpc-eth1.info
DHCPSNAME=’puppy’ answer to your first question is here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=55564
The relevant bit is this:
Try editing your /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf file and unremming/editing the line: send host-name “yourhostnamehere”;
Then do: sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart sudo ifup eth0
Edit /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf with this command: gksudo gedit /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/02/27/puppy/
#165 Belgium
Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2007/01/03/belgium/
#166 Pechins Mill Holiday Punch
Serves 8
Ingredients:
2 quarts eggnog 1 quart vanilla ice cream 1 cup rum 1/3 cup brandy 4 black cats plus 1 gray tabby cat 1 beige Shepherd-Husky dog ground cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
Pour eggnog, rum, and brandy into extra-large punch bowl. Spoon in ice cream, dog, cats and spices. Stir to combine and watch the holiday chaos ensue.
When reaching for a classic, refreshing beverage, consider the 15-year-anniversary fizz. Take one PMP (Project Management Professional)-certified manager, 15 years of outstanding service to his employer, Merck, a splash of vodka and a wedge of lime. Serve over ice.
Searching for something a bit saucy this season? The food-and-travel-writer toddy could be your drink. Gather excerpts from the Tribune Syndicate newspapers (Chicago Tribune, LA Times, et al), BackHome, Field and Feast, and Ed Hitzel’s Restaurant Magazine, and books such as Be My Guest: Entertaining through World History and Francine Segan’s The Opera Lover’s Cookbook and place in a medium saucepan. Add 6 ounces of brandy, 2 tablespoons of honey, and a few cloves. Simmer on low for 5 minutes. Serve warm. For more festive drinks, log onto klhsfakebeverages.com.
The fourth Christmas in ‘this 205-year-old house’ finds Sean cracking the editor’s whip, prodding the feline scribe Thomas Kat to pick up his quill and pen the yearly holiday letter. Since elderly Tom has instead opted for an afternoon nap, the other in-house writer must set aside her cocktail book and ponder the past 12 months at 85 Pechins Mill. As the opening recipes indicate, Max and the cats continue to enrich our lives. Sean celebrated a milestone at Merck this year while I just signed a year contract with the Tribune Syndicate. He continues in his role as information systems manager. In addition to writing I periodically act as a recipe tester.
Another year sees us making a small dent in our unending list of home repairs. Had some chimneys fixed. Ran electric to and painted the barn. Painted the porch. Expanded the garden. After four years of searching for an antique, mechanical doorbell, we found one in New Orleans that fit the bill and, most importantly, installed it at our house. No longer do friends have to invite themselves inside or call us on their cell phones to announce that they’re standing at our front door. Talk about milestones!
Wildlife continues to reign in Collegeville. October brought five wild kittens zipping about our porch. We caught, domesticated, and found homes for the cuddly quintet and now have their mother, an abandoned, domesticated, and recently spayed tabby, as our “porch cat.” In addition to cats Sean and I separately rescued two baby birds. Sadly, newborn birds aren’t as easy to nurture as toddler kittens. Sean also made a marsupial friend, an opossum who likes to hang out with him. Add the multitude of deer, raccoons, squirrels, birds and foxes and we feel as though we live on a nature preserve.
Eager to meet fellow readers, I started a literary fiction/modern classics book club this fall at a local independent store, Wolfgang Books. Alas, beyond Sean, who attends out of spousal obligation, and our friend Amy Gunn, there seem to be few fiction fans in town. Where there are readers is in Philadelphia, home to the bookish “Hip, Young and Well-Read” club on South Street. My nights with HYWR ended, though, once I established the other, more intimate group. Sean’s interests led him in a culinary, rather than literary, direction. After enjoying the fruits of his father’s labors for several years, Sean apprenticed with Tom Dippold then struck out on his own, making sauerkraut. In the fall he hosted a sauerkraut workshop a/k/a a team building exercise for his Merck colleagues, assigning them such tasks as shredding, stomping and fermenting cabbage. Along with Peabody Wine, look for jars of TKat Kraut at gourmet foods shops in your neighborhoods.
For us, no year is complete without a journey or two. This year our trips focused on revisiting beloved destinations – San Francisco, England, and New Orleans – or visiting friends and family in Annapolis, Rockville, and Patuxent River, MD and St. Mary’s, New Castle, and Pittsburgh, Penn. I took another cooking class, this time with friend Elizabeth Theisen, at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Sean attended a conference and had free lodging, courtesy of Kathy the slumlord (yes, I still have the tiny Manhattan studio apartment), in NYC. Together we spent a relaxing fall weekend in our favorite region, NY’s Hudson Valley. New Year’s Eve will find us in Brussels, Belgium, drinking beer, eating chocolate and researching food/travel pieces. Also in 2007 we will return yet again to New Orleans to volunteer with the rebuilding efforts and will visit friends with the State Department in Jakarta, Indonesia.
While Thomas Kat would no doubt conclude with more pomp and panache, I shall close by wishing everyone peace, hope, happiness and good health in the new year.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year! – Kathy
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2006/12/25/pechins-mill-holiday-punch/
#167
New Orleans
Low hotel prices in New Orleans in December prompted a last-minute vacation in the cresent city. Katrina left the tourist areas alone but significantly reduced tourism. We returned encouraging everyone to travel to New Orleans to enjoy the usual pleasures (food, hospitality, sites) with the added benefit of feeling that, in a very small way, your dollars are going to help this national treasure. Pictures
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2006/12/07/new-orleans/
#168
Using Video from the Samsung Sports Camera
The Samsung Sports Camera is a handy solid-state camcorder that produces MPeg4 video that does not work well with many video editors. The camera produces DIVX/XVid MPeg4 with a different fourCC signature (SEDG) forcing most software to use Samsung’s own video decoder (CODEC). While playback with Windows Media player works well if you have Samsungs codec, use of tools to edit and covert the video reveal a variety of problems.
Windows Movie Maker 2.1 – prone to crash Adobe Premier Elements 1.0 – does not accept clips Adobe Premier Elements 2.0 – accepts and previews clips but audio is dropped when rendering to a different format (like DVD) VideoStudio 9.0 LE (included with camera) – rendered video is shaky
Through trial and error (and no help from Samsung), the following somewhat tedious steps result in a quality rendering of the video from the camera.
1. Install the DIVX (tested) or the XVID (untested) codec 2. Copy the clips to somewhere so the originals are not lost 3. Use a file editor like UltraEdit to change “SEDG” fourCC codes of each file to “DX50” (for DIVX) or “XVID” (if you prefer the Xvid codec). I.e. Search all *.avi files the string “SEDG” and replace it with string “DX50”. There are utilities to do this for one file but none I found will work on multiple files. The camcorder creates a file every time the video is paused so there tend to be many files. 4. Import the files into Adobe Premier Elements. Add the clips to the timeline and use Premier normally. 5. For each clip (this is the tedius part), right click on the timeline and select field options. Check the Reverse Field Order checkbox. 6. Export to DVD (or whatever) and the results should be of reasonable quality.
Postscript 6/2007
After many years as a Windows user, Apple’s switch to standard Intel hardware tipped the balance and made me take the Mac plunge. The Samsung Sports Camera is even less Mac friendly but the solution on the Mac was much easier to find.
1. Buy and install VisualHub. At $23, it handles all conversion needs.
2. Not sure other codecs are needed. Since VisualHub offer a trial version, give it a try without the codecs. If it doesn’t work, add the Samsung and DIVX codec. 3. Batch convert all files into DV before using in iMovie. Selecting Advanced – Deinterlace may help with high speed movement flicker & Forcing ffmpeg Decoding in the Advanced panel.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2006/07/15/using-video-from-the-samsung-sports-camera/
#169 Ridgway and Pennsylvania Wilds
We discovered the lightly touristed town of Ridgway while attending a wedding in nearby St. Marys, PA. The Towers Inn is a Victorian-era mansion loaded with charm and history and is well-worth the stay. The town of Ridgway contains many similar mansions and quant shopping. Just outside of town is the vast Allegheny National Forest containing 500,000 acres of hike-able trails.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2006/07/01/ridgway-and-pennsylvania-wilds/
#170
Dippy's miscelany of the England excursion
Insertion of a wrong power adapter disabled our camcorder the day of our flight. I have complained about the thing for years so the error may have been subliminally intentional. Prior to departure, a lunchtime purchase of a solid state (no tape) Samsung SC-X210L turned out to be a good decision. Experiance with most digital cameras has been frustrating due to poor user interface design but this camcorder just works and is the size of a cigarette package.
Observations
1. Fuel (Gas or Diesel) costs about $5.25 per gallon (1 pound per liter) so don’t complain of $3/gal 2. A mid-sized Citroen Picasso diesel w/ manual transmission got about 50 miles per gallon so why aren’t there more diesels in the USA? Where is a diesel hybrid? 3. Traffic circles are scary at first but keep the traffic moving. Downside is the do take up more land but there are no traffic lights and fewer stops. 4. There is now space before a question mark and there is a space between … and a period. 5. When a change is required due to construction on a road or subway, the British put a lot more effort into providing explcit signs and people to assist with directions. 6. British roadsigns are confusing as they rely on you knowing the towns in between of where you are going. Despite owning 0 longitude, they never use N-S-E or W on a road sign. 7. Always keep an international calling card with you. 8. A digital photo of Google maps directions can help in a pinch. 9. Pack less clothes and wash some if you are in one place more than a day. 10. Write down the TV shows you discover (Sugar Rush, Little Britain) then struggle the rest of your life to get them legally in the US. 11. Buy the best map you can get. Take guidebooks from the libary.
Here are all of the digital photos. A smaller camera with lower resolution is better for travel than a bulky camera. Someday there could be a digital SLR with good manual control but it’s not here yet.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2006/06/04/dippys-miscelany-of-the-england-excursion/
#171 A small tale from the small island of Britain This first day of June finds us in England’s Cotswolds region, a lush area of old stone mansions, antique shops, abundant hiking trails and Winston Churchill’s childhood home, Blenheim Palace. Contrary to our usual practice of bumping into inexpensive, little guest houses, we have splashed out and are spending 2 nights at a lovely 16th c. inn in the sleepy village of Burford, a short drive from Churchill’s digs. As I type, Sean peruses the shelves of the Burford Library
(open from 10 AM to 1 PM) and plans our journey westward.
The trip began last Saturday in London. There we re-visited some favorite sites and explored a few “new” ones, such as the National Gallery, Tate Britain (16th to modern day British art), Portobello Road Market and the London Eye, the bicycle wheel-shaped ferris wheel built to celebrate the millenium. Notting Hill, sans Hugh Grant, is a lively, eclectic neighborhood and one that we very much enjoyed.
A few days later we drove to the beach, to the 19th c. resort town of Brighton. A little bit of the Jersey shore along the English Channel but with a fantastic India-inpired royal pavilion, appropriately named The Royal Pavilion, and immense, activity-filled pier jutting into the water. The weather has been pleasant enough to enjoy the beach but not so temperate as to don a bathing suit. Brrr….
Loving the pubs, the surprisingly good cuisine, sites and endless number of independent bookstores (Sean has been keeping tabs on the number of stores entered and number of books bought. Yikes! There’s blackmail material.)
The Burford Library beckons me back to the keyboard. Smitten by the area (and perhaps a bit too lazy to move my bag yet again), we decided to stay a third night in the Cotswolds at the Bay Tree Hotel. Thus far, we have had a peaceful journey. No flat tires (Romania), cockroaches (Costa Rica, Morocco) or days without luggage (Italy). Kind of dull for us, eh? Tonight, however, we’re putting a bit of color into our trip by attending the Cotswolds Olimpicks in Chipping Campden. Jousting, shin kicking and wheel barrow races are among the events. Hey, we missed the cheese rolling competition last weekend – we couldn’t stand to lose out on this!
Hoping that we don’t end up with bloody shins as souvenirs. . .
– stolen by Sean from 2 of Kathy’s emails
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2006/06/04/a-small-tale-from-the-small-island-of-britain/
#172 seasons greetings from the Czech Republic
Another pre-Christmas vacation, this time to Prague. Part pleasure, part business (I am writing an article on “Christmastime in Prague” for a culinary arts magazine), the trip is proving to be extremely pleasant, awe-inspiring, and easy. Usually our journeys are a comedy of errors – miss the flight, lose the luggage, get lost and get a traffic ticket. Yet, in Prague everything has gone surprisingly smoothly. Could we be starting a new trend? I won’t bank on it. The journey is not over yet!
We’ve rented a toasty, quiet and spacious 2-bedroom apartment in the Old Town section of the city for a mere $75/night. Five minutes from our front door lies Old Town Square where a large Christmas market is in full swing. Wooded stalls housing handmade crafts, Czech crystal, live animals (donkeys, sheep, miniature horses) and an assortment of Czech foods dot the immense ancient square. As we browse, we enjoy live traditional music and the amazing Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic architecture, styles that blend seamlessly together and provide an endless visual delight. After 2 days in Prague we’ve concluded that it is, by far, the prettiest city that we have ever visited. Our regrets to Paris, Venice, Budapest and the like but Prague is simply stunning.
Since I’m here to research the Czech holiday cuisine, we’re attempting to be more adventurous with our meals than usual. Thus far we’ve sampled hot spiced wine (which, as in New Orleans, everyone can drink while walking along the cobbled streets), bramborak or spiced potato pancakes, “karamel a mandelicky,” which is a delectable ring of dough baked and covered in carmelized sugar, roasted almond pancakes, some of “the best beer in Europe” and GROG! Not sure if I’ll swig down some absinthe, the quasi-hallucinogenic liquor banned in the U.S., but dumplings, fried carp, and goulash are defintely in our future. I am, however, trying to avoid the ubiquitous pig knuckles. (We really need to bring along some omnivorous friends to try those popular meat dishes. Anyone for a nice pork schnitzel?)
Contrary to the dire Yahoo! forecasts, the weather has been cold but nice. No snow. No sleet. No freezing rain. The citizens speak impeccable English and are friendly, helpful, and well-mannered. The streets are noticeably clean and neat. Everyone recycles obsessively. Drinking beer at breakfast is not uncommon yet we’ve not encountered any fall-down drunkenness on the streets. Food, books, and the aforementioned handicrafts are relatively inexpensive. Gosh, when are we moving?!
Later in the week we’ll visit the homes of two Prague cooks, check out the museum of Communism, attend a symphony performance and try to master a few more Czech words besides “thank you.” (spelled “dekuji” and pronounced “deck-wee.”)
More later . . .
-Kath and Sean Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/12/08/seasons-greetings-from-the-czech-republic/
#173 Dippy eyes Prague
Kathy will post a more eloquent story shortly but Sean needs to use up some time at the internet cafe too. In short, Prague gives Paris some competition in the “most beautiful” city category. While more compact, the sites are older and less grandly planned. However, this leads to a variety of periods (11th century until about 1920) to be blended to a more interesting effect. The best compliment you hear is that pictures from 150 years ago look like they were taken today.
We’ve increased our normal 3 cameras to 4 (video, 35mm SLR, big digital, little digital). Add a monopod and the asian tourist bow to us in respect. Will post some pictures but most go through several conversions at the apartment. Internet is about 2 kcz a minute (25 kcz/$ = $5/hr).
For once, Kathy slept in longer than Sean. What’s cool about where we are staying ? Well, it has a clothes washing machine that looks like a rock tumbler and the heat automatically shuts off at night. With two bedrooms and two sleeping lofts, it is more spacious than the $75 per night would suggest. Despite being built in the last 100 years, they took great care in detailing to make it look 200 years old. Most likely, it is in the old jewish ghetto that was raised around 1900.
This is an easy trip (no car, 1 destinate, western (almost EU) country). People very nice and we haven’t faked Canadian (although oddly every public telephone is maked “Fuck off USA”).
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/12/08/dippy-eyes-prague/
#174 stray Kittens Looks like Bloxp couldn't find the content. Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/07/27/66/
#175
Kittens again
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#176
Fungi Fun ?
Growing mushrooms always seemed like a dark art both literally and figuratively. fungi.com sells a numerous types of kits to grow a different varieties edible fungus. The “drill and plug” variety seemed inexpensive ($20) and straightforward. Tom Dippold provided 3 freshly cut 20″ oak logs. One hundred 5/16″ holes were drilled and mushroom plugs were tapped in place.
Keeping the logs moist and patiently waiting 12 months may prove to be the greatest challenges.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/06/19/fungi-fun/
#177 Morocco photos
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#178 Morocco photo mistake
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#179 Alice the camel has 2 humps so Go, Alice, Go!
Three weeks ago, when we first considered visiting Morocco, Sean had suggested an overnight amel trek in the Sahara Desert. Time and temperature constraints resulted in a camel ride along the Atlantic Coast’s sandy dunes.
Slightly afraid of heights and of riding atop large, ungainly animals, my stomach lurched at the sight of 3 white camels, all at least 9′ tall, plodding past a row of date palm trees to where Sean and I stood. One camel was much taller than the others; I could walk beneath him without ducking. He also was much crabbier. As he groaned, snorted and shook his massive head, I thought, “Whew! I am so glad that the short person – me – will get one of the small, passive camels.” Yes, I got the big, crabby one.
Named Gallelli, he was also the oldest and most experienced. He led Sean’s and our Berber uide’s camels through the dunes, over scrubby grass and past rows of budding argan trees (they produce olive-like fruit that provide oil for dressings) and grazing goats (goats climb the argan trees to eat the fruit). Contrary to my initial impression, Gallelli was quite sweet and, even at a gallop, provided a smooth, easy ride. By the end of our journey I was smitten.
If the camel ride, delicious food, gregarious people, inexpensive yet lovely crafts, ancient kasbahs, beautiful weather and overnight stays in riads (mansions built around a courtyard and garden) were the highlights of Morocco, Casablanca is the low point. It is not the dusty, romantic town immortalized by Bogart but rather a huge, industrialized city teeming with pollution and fast-moving cars. No major sites. No unique features other than nightmarish traffic that makes Marrakech seem like a country village. Along with the ever-present darting pedestrians and unsteady bicyclists/bikers toppling over amidst the speeding cars, Casablanca has thousands of lawless drivers who make their own lanes (7 lanes of cars on a street that supports 4), ignore lights, stop traffic to chat with drivers of passing cars and honk their horns constantly. We tried to avoid staying in the city but the top- rated seaside hotel 15 minutes north had no a/c and was crawling with roaches. Sadly, we learned this after checking in, eating dinner and returning to a hot, bug-infested room. After a heated debate we retrieved our bags and passports and drove ack to Casablanca for a cool, clean, roach-free room from which we could hear 3 muezzins compete for the faithful at 3 a.m.
-Kath
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/06/05/alice-the-camel-has-2-humps-so-go-alice-go/
#180 Morocco - Palace of Glaoui Kasbah
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#181 Tea in the Sahara - Morocco part 3
After a frenzied day of driving through the Atlas Mountains (containing the tallest peak in N. Africa) we arrived in the hot, dry Southern Oasis region and the former French Foreign Legion garrison of Ouarzazate. The town is now home to two major film studios, one of which, Atlas Film Corporation, filmed such Hollywood blockbusters as Alexander, Kingdom of Heaven and Sahara. We splashed out and are staying at a resort hotel overlooking the desert. So nice to sit by a pool with a cool drink in hand when it is 101 degrees.
We’re delaying our departure for another day so that we can prepare for our next arduous mountain pass. Yesterday Sean expertly navigated the narrow, winding road (sans guard rails), which I not-so-whimsically referred to as “Vomit Pass,” dodged geode/mineral sellers who wandered in front of the car and shared the road with small trucks loaded to the top with oranges and watermelons, held on by lone, white robed, head-scarved men clinging to the back and top of the vehicles.
We are enjoying our newfound Canadian citizenship although Moroccans assume that we are British. Most tourists are French and travel by tour bus. We have caused many heads to turn as we pass through small, dusty villages in our beat-up Citroen. It’s us, not the glamorous vehicle that appears exotic. Fair-skinned redheads are a rare sight in this part of the world. People are still incredibly gracious, friendly and willing to work with our limited French skills. Things – food, sites, souvenirs – are quite inexpensive so we really should not complain about the ocassional “hustler,” trying to give us an unwanted tour for the astronomical price of 10 dirhams (about 1 dollar). What we could complain about is the price of gasoline, 5 plus dollars/gallon. But why omplain?
We’re in the Sahara!
Kath
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/06/01/tea-in-the-sahara-morocco-part-3/
#182
Photo - Marrakesh, Morocco
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#183 Rock the Casbah - Marrekech addendum
I feel that we would be remiss if we did not share a bit more of the sights and sounds of Marrakech, especially after experiencing what we have come to think of as quintessential Morocco. Tonight in the vast town square, where Moroccans as well as tourists gather, we watched snake charmers entrance cobras, barbary apes dance to traditional folk music and thick, gray smoke rise from portable grills filled with meats and fish. We also witnessed a major accident in the souk – a cyclist ran over a woman carrying a small child. Motorbikes and bicyclists piled up on top of one another, traffic came to a standstill and absolute mayhem ensued. On a quieter note, we later sipped sweet, hot, mint tea and listened to the eerie sound of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer. The ubiquitous stray cats played at our feet, begging for scraps and providing almost as much entertainment as the performances in the street.
Until the next exciting town . . .
By Kathy
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/05/30/rock-the-casbah-marrekech-addendum/
#184
Photo - Essaouira, Morocco
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#185 Morocco GPS Waypoints
Since the driving is largely unplanned, a GPS could be of assistance. A GPS isn’t much help unless you have a paper map with LAT/LONG (most don’t) or a computer with an integrated map of the area. We are not willing to tote a laptop and digital maps of Morocco are rare and expensive. So we are left with using the waypoint functionality built into the GPS. I thought it would be easy to get a list of Moroccian waypoints but I was wrong. I came up with this process to generate waypoints of most of the cities in Morocco.
1. Using Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005, select cities in Morocco and choose Add Stop to Route. Save the map. MSS&T had 200+ cities and towns in Morocco (but no roads). Accuracy is unknown but assumed to be acceptable. The product is only marketed for US & Canada and only contains road in those countries. Here is the MSS&T .est file for Morocco with the stops.
2. Use freeware st2gpx to get the MSS&T .EST file in a more standard format (GPX). This is an XML file that can be editted with a text editor. For example, I removed the route section as it is of little use for an unplanned trip. Here is the waypoint list for Morocco (GPX).
3. Use freeware EasyGPS to send the waypoint data to the GPS. In my case, I have an Garmin eTrex that is probably about 3 years old. A paper map is still required and the best seems to be published by Michelin.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/05/24/morocco-gps-waypoints/
#186 Morocco "Planning"
We decided to actually do some planning for this trip. Now planning will be defined as packing earlier than the day of departure and having at least the first nights lodging and a car rented. The flight to Casablanca is direct from JFK and is only 7 hours. Was able to save about $250 per ticket flying on tickets purchased for Spain that were not used (i.e. went to airport a day late).
Travel Advice (remember, we prefer self-directed travel)
Frommer’s site is a great starting place to find operators and good deals. Once you find the operators, check out their website as some deals do not come up on Frommer’s. Frommer’s Budget travel magazine can also be good if you like to read paper.
Guidebooks – All guidebooks disappoint in one way or another. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are the most reliable while Eyewitness Travel Guides are the most visually appealing.
Cheap airfare – try many websites, try +/- 2 days, find the cheapest flight then book it at the airline’s site, try a consoladator (takes at least a day). Package operators can get you better deal but you are stuck with their itineraries. The “fly and ride” deals can be good. If you want everything planned but inexpensive, try Go-today.
Car rental – same as airfare although those memberships can save you. Book the smallest car you can get. A/C is not standard so remember to specify it if needed.
Where to stay – check out other travelers travel journals to find places. Many places cannot be booked online.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/05/22/morocco-planning/
#187
House projects updates May
Keeping up with blog – not a chance
Window panes in barn – partially done as of May measure some house windows for storm windows – not started clean basement – done setup workshop – almost done move unused furniture to barn – almost done plastic panes for foyer light (materials) – not started taxes – done clean-up behind barn – 1/2 done
Unplanned level lawn – done paint porch ceiling -done clean barn – done plant trees – done install raised herb garden – done
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/05/01/house-projects-updates-may/
#188
Let's see if I can keep this blog updated
Blogs everywhere that aren’t updated. Let’s see how I do posting life’s miscellany…
First, let’s challenge what projects need to be completed.
Highest priority house projects
Window panes in barn measure some house windows for storm windows clean basement setup workshop move unused furniture to barn plastic panes for foyer light (materials) taxes clean-up behind barn
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2005/01/03/lets-see-if-i-can-keep-this-blog-updated/
#189 Photo - Pat and Sean
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#190 Kat and Kat at Xmas
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#191
3 entries from Spain trip
After surviving a major travel mishap, i.e. we missed our flight, Sean and I landed in Barcelona, Spain on Monday 12/6. What a knock-out! Positioned on theMediterranean, the city of 1.5 million possesses some of the most beautiful architecture that we have ever seen. Gothic, Neo-classical and Modern blendseamlessly on the wide boulevards of the city.
We’ve rented an apartment in the heart of Barcelona, 5 minutes from the mile-long pedestrian walkway la Rambla. Possesing the quintessential 19th C. Europeanappointments, the apartment features high ceilings with ornate plasterwork, floor-to-ceiling Frenchdoors, tile and wrought iron balcony, bidet and no heat. It also has a small, electric space heater and free Internet access. As the days are warm (60’s) andthe nights are noisy (our central location provides us with a wide assortment of street sounds that any light sleeper like myself will highly enjoy), we aregrateful for those trappings of the 21st century.
Since arriving, we have hit some major sites, including the Picasso Museum and the modernist architect Antoni Gaudi’s Temple ex Piatori de la Sagrada Familia (Google this; you will be amazed), and enjoyed some of the local flavors, such as sangria, tapas and paella. We have passed, though, on the vast array of beef, bacalao (salted cod) and pork dishes. Seen a dozen back legs of pigs, complete with clovenhooves, hanging from shop or restaurant windows, ya seen ’em all.
Not surprisingly, the U.S. dollar continues to plummet. 1 Euro = $1.30 Somewhat surprisingly, we are the only U.S. tourists thus far. Lots of peopleout on the streets but most are traveling Spaniards.
On Thursday we’ll leave lovely Barcelona for a yet-to-be-determined location. More details later.
Adios Amigos!
– Kathy
We are sitting in the post office in the city of Zaragoza, 3 hours west of madrid. Internet cafes aren´t as common as we had hoped so we have returned to this P.O.. where 3 nights ago we waited for 40 minutes, with 41 people ahead of us, to buy stamps. If you don´t receive a postcard, you´ll understand why.
After much deliberation we decided to rent a car and head west to Madrid and Toledo. Some days we feel as though we´re in a Lonely Planet episode as we stumbleupon religious festivals, parades, group dancing in obsure town squares. As of late, we´re feigning canadian citizenship for saying that we´re from the u.s. has ended several otherwise pleasantconversations. not surprising, just startling when it first happens.
Spaniards definitely adhere to the notion of siestas. Each day at around 1, shops, cafes, etc. shut down and everyone disappears. Ñightlife, particularly inmadrid, is wild. Nothing stops until 5 a.m. We sidestepped Friday´s 5 bombings in Madrid and the bomb threat at the stadium by a few hours yesterday. We thrive on excitement!
Although the dollar continues to plummet, we´re making the most of our time and money. We have enjoyed Spain, though, far more than we had expected. Adios for now.
-Kathy and Sean
We´re spending a final night in Barcelona along the Grand Via in a turn-of-the-century hotel with innumerable crystal chandaliers, antiques and the all-important FREE INTERNET! As my hastily composed previous message stated, we have thoroughly enjoyed Spain. Although I could live without the popularity of bull fights (a bull fighting ring in every city and town that we visited), all things porcine and chain smoking, we both fell in love with this country. Spotless cities, well-preserved monasteries, castlesand churches, ancient fortified cities and fabulous art museums.
Some of the highpoints included strolling through the 1992 Olympic site in Barcelona, popping into dusty little towns with at most 400 inhabitants, visiting Cisterian and Benedictine monasteries where monks lived as they did 500 years ago, the plentiful art )an El Greco in every church!) and, of course, free Internet! No doubt we will miss the warm, sunny weather and the slower pace of life that Spaniards enjoy. Sean, however, will not miss the standard croissant-cafe con leche breakfast or ´driving Miss Daisy´ 1,000 miles in 4 days. I won´t miss the Museum of Pork where you can admire cured pigs legs and eat a ham sandwich all in one visit. Yuck!!
So, it´s adios to Spain. Talk to you when we return!
-Kath
P.S. If you do receive a postcard, please excuse my misspelling of ¨hola,¨which was a cross between hole and ole. Sleep deprivation. Gets me every time.
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2004/12/11/3-entries-from-spain-trip/ #192 Travel Log - Romania and Hungary
Statistics
Days there = 15
Distance driven – ~3000 km passport stamps = 7
Americans seen = 1 stand-up toilets = 2 rolls of film = 21 digital stills = 521 video = 51 minutes languages used = English, Romanian (2 words), Hungarian (1 word), German, French (3 words)
Summary by Kathy
We arrived on Saturday into Bucharest in southern Romania. Headed out Sunday afternoon with a rented car (hope it stays together) to Transylvania. Region is in bloom with wildflowers. Visited several castles and fortresses and all were impressive. Lodging has been decent except for one night in a Soviet-stylehigh-rise. Food is very inexpensive with a nice meal w/ wine running about $5.In the middle of the mountains, Sean hit a bad pot-hold and bent the wheel rim (a bad flat). Rode ona spare for 50 miles before finding a hotel with a vulcanizer (tire shop) next door. They bent the wheelback for…$2. Heading for Hungarian border tomorrow and hope tohit Budapest before the weekend. – SeanAfter 5 days in Hungary we are back in Romania, land of horse-drawn carts, triangular haystacks, friendlypeople and massive potholes. (Also home of some of Europe’s worst environmental disasters! Cough! Cough!) Yesterday “we” drove (Sean drove, I provided commentary – “Watch out for the pothole, dog, chicken,horse cart, hedgehog, etc.”) 9 hours from Hungarian wine country to Romania’s painted monastery region,just outside of Transylvania. So, so tired by the time we reached Bistrita, Romania. We were rewardedfor “our” efforts with a great $20 hotel. Yes, I realize that in the U.S. $20 hotels are far fromgreat. In fact, I think you might only be able to get $20/hour hotels in the States but here they are clean,roomy and have cable TV, queen-size beds and MINI bars! Today we visited two 16th century painted monasteries and an abandoned salt mine (don’t ask). As publicrestrooms are hard to find (only 7% of Romania’s rural pop. has running H20), I had an “out standing”bathroom experience this afternoon. Sean still chuckles over this. Well, it’s about time for dessert and espresso. Boy, do I love holidays! – Kathy
Links
Airline tickets well discounted from 1-800 335 9268 www.Tripmaker.com
Official (and pretty good) Romanian travel info at www.romaniatourism.com
General Romania info at www.roembus.org/english/travel/
More Romania travel info at www.enzia.com/Pages/menuf1.html
Dracula’s Castle (not really)
Bucharest’s Hotel Central and slightly better rates from notelnet.ro
Nice Romania travel log
Hungary info http://www.hungarytourism.hu/
Nice Budapest Hotel Victoria
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2002/08/01/travel-log-romania-and-hungary/
#193
Kathy's office when it was a kitchen
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#194
Photo - Before the barn addition was torn down
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#195 December 2000 Holiday Letter
Christmas in New York City. Harried shoppers trudge through Macy’s. Skilled skaters glide across the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center. Down at Times Square, cheerful volunteers ring Salvation Army bells. On Broadway, in the Upper West Side, Sean engages in the catch-phrase of the nineties – telecommuting. On the Lower East Side, Kathy flashes her press pass, gaining access to yet another wild NYC event. This time last year, I did a very impetuous thing. I applied to Columbia University’s graduate school of journalism. Touted as the best graduate J-school on the East Coast and one of the three best in the U.S., Columbia offered an intensive 10-month program emphasizing reporting and writing. Some of the “best in the business” have gone to or teach at Columbia. (“60 Minutes” Steve Croft and Pat Buchanan are among the alum) As you may know, I love to write and would love to write for a living. So at Sean’s urging, I applied. On a lark. Never thinking that I’d get into this heavy duty Ivy League. Much to my complete shock and Sean’s unabashed delight, I received not a slim rejection letter but a big fat acceptance packet. Oh dear. What had I been thinking?!!!!!!
I have asked this question often since August 1st – my first day in the master’s program. Since then, life as Sean and I knew it has changed drastically. Monday through Friday, I live in Manhattan, attending classes at Columbia and reporting on my beat in Queens. When possible, I trudge down to the Port Authority and catch a bus back home for the weekend. One day a week, Sean telecommutes from my tiny studio apartment on the Upper West Side. The rest of the time, he spends in Pennsylvania.
While ambivalent about my time at Columbia, I am delighted to be in NYC for the year. Between my school ID and press pass, I have gained free admission into every museum and gallery in the city. Together, Sean and I have gone to the opera, seen Shakespeare-in-the-Park, attended a live taping of National Public Radio’s “This American Life,” toured many of the famed city sites (including Coney Island), attended Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and eaten at dozens of fabulous restaurants and cafes. Through CSJ, I have seen the musical and interviewed the cast of “Chicago,” covered the Yankees ticker tape parade, rubbed shoulders with such luminaries as primatologist Jane Goodall, former mayor Ed Koch, film maker Jonathan Demme and commentator Andy Rooney and gone on a day-long “ride along” with the NYPD. On my own, I have whiled away hours in SoHo, Greenwich Village and all those spectacular museums.
In my absence, Sean has spearheaded a cutting edge Internet project at Merck. From August to November, he spent long, often aggravating hours at work, trying to coordinate the project, rally his team and get the blasted thing done. Fortunately, the end is near. Roll out is tentatively scheduled for January 2001.
All work and no play would make Sean a dull boy. (Oh dear. I see a plagiarism suit from Stephen King coming my way.) Still possessing a passion for wine, Sean produced over 19 cases this year. From Pinot Noir to Reisling, we’ve drunk it all. With wine at a minimum of $6 per glass in Manhattan, I am grateful to have such a prolific and tasteful vintner in the family. When not in the wine cellar (our basement), Sean tended the bountiful backyard garden. As a result of his green thumb, the garden yielded dozens of tomatoes, which Sean turned into great homemade tomato sauce.
Lest you think that a home in the country and a home in the city have ended our favorite pursuit, fear not! In February, we partied at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. In March, we watched St. Patrick’s Day fireworks over the River Liffey in Dublin then spent the next week driving through the lush countryside of Ireland. Over Memorial Day weekend, we hit the craggy but beautiful lava fields of Iceland (pictured on this card). Three weeks before leaving for NYC, we journeyed to Guatemala and Belize. Nothing like Central America in July — hot, hot, hot! Over Christmas break, we head to France, spending New Year’s Eve in Paris. Oh, if only Arthur Frommer or Conde Nast would hire me . . ..
Lest you also think that life has become way too good for us, rest assured — it still throws us those curve balls. Overwhelming stress at work. Serious illness in my family. The strain of residing in two locations. If nothing else, these events make us evermore thankful for the good times that we do have.
As always, we wish you good health and great happiness in the upcoming year. And if you’re thinking about a trip to NYC, give me a call. I know a great little place on the Upper West Side where you can stay for next to nothing!
Happy Holidays!
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2000/12/01/december-2000-holiday-letter/
#196 NYC Apartment Studio apartment
Double Bed
Futon (couch or double bed)
32″ TV w/ Cable, VCR, CD-stereo, DVD eat-in kitchen full bathroom (tub/shower) window air conditioner
1/2 block from 96th St subway (which has express line)
2nd floor, secure front entrance across street from Symphony Space nice neighborhood w/ shopping, restaurants, parks
Shops
Starbucks (B-way and 98th;B-way and 95th; B-way and 93rd; B-way and 86th)
Barnes and Noble (B-way and 82nd)
Zabar’s (B-way and 80th)
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/2000/03/02/nyc-apartment/
#197 December 1998 Holiday Letter
Throwing on your winter coat, you bound out the front door and jog to your mailbox. Your heart races from excitement (and from the effort of running down your driveway). Pausing in front of the mailbox, you wonder if today will be your lucky day. With trembling hands you open the door and reach inside. Has what you have been anticipating all year finally arrived? You rifle through the stack of bills, festive flyers and Christmas cards until you reach that last envelope. Your eyes dart to the left-hand corner of the envelope, to the return address. “YES!” You shout gleefully. Yes, it has arrived! This is your lucky day for in your hands you hold . . .
THE 1998 HUNT-DIPPOLD HOLIDAY FORM LETTER
Another year. Another career. Another chapter in the saga of the Hunt-Dippold family.
The cast of characters remains the same: Sean Dippold, Kathy Hunt, Max (lean, rambunctious Shepherd-Husky), Andy (fat, lethargic tabby), Stub (fat,lethargic Calico)
When we last heard from Kathy and Sean, Sean was slaving away at Merck as a project manager. New year. Same situation. (As you will recall, Sean is the consistent person in this story.) Over the past year Sean attended meetings throughout the US – Atlanta, Colorado Springs, New Orleans, Miami, Tampa and Puerto Rico. He also received two achievement awards that we squandered rather quickly. Last month he moved into his new office. For the first time in his career he has . . . a window!
Intrigued by the field of medicine, in January Sean entered a six-month Emergency Medical Technician program. Among the handy medical procedures that he learned to perform were delivering babies, pumping stomachs, taking vital statistics and using an automatic electronic defibrillator. He received his EMT certificate in May 1998. Since then, Kathy has plagued him with innumerable medical complaints. “My neck is stiff. What do you think that means? My side hurts. Do you think it’s serious? My head aches. What should I take?”
Besides venturing into the world of medicine (and hypochondriacs) Sean made a serious move into the land of fine woodworking. Refinishing furniture, building Mission- style tables and country kitchen benches were some of Sean’s finer accomplishments. Look for hand-crafted gifts under your Christmas tree.
As usual, life with Kathy is far from static. In January I followed through on a long agonized decision and left Salvation Army to finish my master’s degree. In May I graduated from PSU with a Master of Science in special ed. Unable to stay away from Philadelphia (and that 35 mile commute in standstill traffic), I accepted the position of social services coordinator at Overbrook School for the Blind. Overbrook is a 440 person agency serving those who are “dually diagnosed” as blind, deaf and mentally retarded. The position offers a tremendous amount of flexibility and autonomy. Unfortunately, it does not hold the emotional appeal that SA and foster care had for me. Volunteering at Cluster Outreach, a nearby food bank, somewhat satisfies my desire to aid the needy and neglected. It also gives me a cheap thrill whenever the food recipients mistake me for a client of the agency! KATHY IS ONE WITH THE PEOPLE! (Guess I should dress a bit nicer when I go there, huh?)
After years of penning short stories that I “wrote off” as hack fiction, I finally submitted one of my pieces to a literary magazine. Much to my delight, in September I was published in The Sun. Sean is continually encouraging me to bag the traditional work environment and spend my days writing. I have yet to feel 100% comfortable with this idea.
What would a form letter be without a section on traveling? (Not a form letter from Kathy.) From January through May we went on hiatus from vacations; I was embroiled in my thesis and a creative writing class at Ursinus College. In June, though, we were back in the air, back on the road. This summer I accompanied Sean on two Merck trips; eight days in New Orleans (where it was 98 degrees, 100% humidity) and seven days in Puerto Rico (where it was 98 degrees, 100% humidity). Summertime also meant shore time. In July I was a part of GCC alum Chris Fagley’s annual vacation in Ocean City, NJ. In August Sean and I spent a long weekend in Rehoboth Beach, DE with my childhood friend Jen and her husband, Craig. In October I cashed in my graduation gift from Sean – two weeks in Great Britain. We spent eleven and a half days in England, two and a half days in Wales. It was a lovely vacation, one of which I had dreamed since my early teens.
That about wraps up “The Hunt-Dippold 1998 Holiday Form Letter”. If you’d like to purchase the unabridged version, stop in at your local independent bookstore (if it hasn’t been forced out of business by that coffee peddling, pulp pushing Barnes and Noble) or visit our website at www.Seanisyellingatthedogagain.com.
Happy Holidays!
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/1999/12/03/december-1998-holiday-letter/
#198 March 1996 Letter
We are both busy with work. I have been working with the computers utilized by the field sales area at Merck. There are about 3000 machines that need continual hardware and software maintenance. The department is rather small (10 people); considering the scope of our responsibilities we all have hectic schedules. I do a fair amount of traveling to keep in contact with the people and their machines. Since June I have been to San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New Orleans. This is being written while I’m in San Fransisco.
As for Kathy, she is now the general ledger accountant at a large paper distributor called Unisource, located in Norristown. The company is growing rapidly and she is a lot busier than she expected she would be when she accepted the position last year. She has a very nice office and has even let me try her adding machine!
Despite our busy work schedules, we have been having fun traveling around. We’ve gone to Newport, NYC, many museums, French Creek Park, western PA, the mountains, and several beaches within the last year. We are going on trips to New Orleans and Cancun in April. We are also looking forward to going to Bermuda after Christmas.
We have not done any major improvements on our house recently. I have been doing some framing and insulation of the second floor but have yet to installed at installing the electrical work. Two cats still grace us with their presence. Andy Peabody and Stub Kolovos have had to share the house over the winter since it is too cold for Ms. Kolovos to be outside
Permalink: http://seandippold.com/1999/03/03/march-1996-letter/
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