I spent a couple hours this AM trying to find a Linux driver for the spare USB Webcam that's lying in a drawer here... I couldn't find a Windows driver for it, much less a Linux driver (it's an Ariston - features interchangeable lenses - Ariston, unfortunately, is out of business, and their Web site is gone, drivers and all).

I bought a 12" thermometer for $11 at the local builder's/gardener's shop (called Orchard Supply). I mounted it on the fence where the Web cam would have recorded it (see driver problem, above), thus making for really cheap telemetry ($11 sensor, 2-year-old $89 web cam, $300 homebrew Fry's special PC).

So, I don't want to use Win 2K or XP: too expensive and I'll go nuts trying to keep security patches updated and re-formatting the HD and re-installing Windows after the latest virus. Linux is very appealing, but the time required is probably prohibitive. Mac OS X is already being used elsewhere at gulker.com, and it has lots of problems wih drivers for obscure devices.

So it's Linux (just byte the bullet) or maybe (dark horse, and really byte-ing the bullet), Darwin. I'll be thinking this through over the weekend...
Comments 10:02:21 PM    

His medium was old toys, found objects, a hot-glue gun and spray paint. In the hopes of moving him outdoors and away from greater damage to his room, I built him this bench with inexpensive materials (spruce and thin plywood). After John went off to college, it served as a potting bench in the side yard.

It stood for more than ten years in the dirt, and just this year collapsed under the influences of heavy pots, soil sacks and the rotting out of its untreated legs.

I picked up $10 worth of 1x4 Redwood at the local Orhard Supply, cut the rotten bottoms off, straightened and spliced one broken top support and then spliced new redwood legs over the old ones - results pictured here. During the boom years I would have just gone out and bought the top-o'the-line, pneumatic, self-leveling GardenMaster UltraBench. Nowadays, I'm happy to spend an hour-and-a-half and $10 to get the job done...
Comments 9:26:17 PM    

Chris Gulker's view from Silicon Valley - in words and pictures