I opened one of my two HP 35s to check how the batteries are connected. I'm glad I did as I thought the two were in series making a total of 6V when they are in fact separate, i.e. two separate 3V DC power connection on the pcb. I might have damaged it if I would have connected a 6V (4 AAA or AA in series) supply like I planned to to replace the two CR2032 3V batteries. So I'm happy to have averted damaging the calculator.

Using normal batteries instead of button batteries will mean less trip to the battery store.

I like the HP 35s even if HP never updated the firmware (it has some significant bugs). My HP 42s does remain my favorite HP calc for the moment. I'm not a fan of the newer ones with a more BASIC like programming language (even if I have two og them). I do plan in the long term to make my own HP like calculator combining the old RPN programming language with a new graphic display.

Out of curiosity, is there any calculator-like device that is easily hackable and can run Linux? Preferably able to run the scientific Python stack and sagemath?

In other news, I was able to buy a purse to replace the one whose strap broke, and I found an item in the grocery store that had been absent for a long time.

http://hackaday.com/2014/11/18/running-debian-on-a-graphing-calculator/

I don't know how well it works and what it can run.

I just got back from my visit with my sister and her new baby! It was totally worth the 14 hrs round trip of driving :). It also helps that I love Milwaukee. Anywho, I am still not wanting to have children, but I know I"m going to be an awesome aunt and spoil her rotten. Children I've found, and especially babies, are very needy and selfish ;)

TheJimz, Foxworks, Blarth, McHack. The generosity shown toward ELTERPRISE lately.

Many valid points but drastically breezes over the chemical componet of predisposed addiction. Good video though thanks.

Also I'm 40 something days clena and feeling better. Ive saved enough at this point that I could buy an N64 and get my retro on.

I call BS on that from personal experience, but we each find our own way :) If the "chemical component of predisposed addiction" is a constant, then how can one have vastly differing experiences when quitting? Anyway, I'm glad to hear of your success. Myself, I'm tempted to sue our government/tobacco companies for false advertising. I haven't gotten lung cancer/died/killed any babies yet and want my money back! :P

What made me happy today: starting South Park - The Stick of Truth. It is the first hearty laugh I've had in a while. Depression seems a little farther away as a result :)

Nyaaa!!! People already started working on Necrodancer fan art, the good style! Rule 34 rules, as usual, meow!

http://rule34.paheal.net/post/view/1589210#search=cadence

[url=http://www.google.gr/imgres?imgurl=http://rule34-data-003.paheal.net/_images/e1fc5b57030addd4449e6793f57fdba5/1599297%252520-%252520Crypt_of_the_Necrodancer%252520cadence.jpg&imgrefurl=http://rule34.paheal.net/post/list/cadence/1&h=850&w=850&tbnid=094G4vK4bS9LqM:&docid=tC4tvo64T1JZeM&ei=sBvXVa6QAcqX7Qa4zYqYDQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CCEQMygEMARqFQoTCK6o6tGYuscCFcpL2woduKYC0w]http://www.google.gr/imgres?imgurl=http://rule34-data-003.paheal.net/_images/e1fc5b57030addd4449e6793f57fdba5/1599297%252520-%252520Crypt_of_the_Necrodancer%252520cadence.jpg&imgrefurl=http://rule34.paheal.net/post/list/cadence/1&h=850&w=850&tbnid=094G4vK4bS9LqM:&docid=tC4tvo64T1JZeM&ei=sBvXVa6QAcqX7Qa4zYqYDQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CCEQMygEMARqFQoTCK6o6tGYuscCFcpL2woduKYC0w[/url]

There is a lot more jaw dropping fan made content, but alas, i am afraid i cannot post that here...

Free booze and food.

But seriously, my father invited me for dinner (stuffed peppers and a great Spanish wine) and I had a nice time specially since I wrongly thought he was inviting me because he had a problem with his computer. I had no good reason to think so, when he has computer problems he does not play with the puck as we say here. But my anxiety problems come with a side dish of light paranoia.


And Tarnicus last post also make me happy, I like it when the depression demon loose a fight.

I've been wanting to rent a car for some time now to take care of a backlog of business, family and personal tasks and chores etc. and finally got around to doing that today. So I've got a car for a week now and looking forward to the increased freedom and flexibility, not to mention the increase in motivation and productivity.

Watching Bill M and Dan A in Ghostbusters and eating potato chips for breakfast - not healthy but damn, that felt like a great way to start a Saturday! Now it's off to play Dragon Age 2 (with 3 waiting to be played after I finish 2).

My grandpa Kashi visiting for one last time before I go to university, chatting with him and seeing him light up when we practice speaking Hindi together.

Oh, and rebuilding my GOG library so I can finally play through the Baldur's Gate series of game, which I'm really excited for.

I'm down in Houston helping out with a training seminar for a big customer - myself, another independent tech, and a guy from the OEM (we've all known each other for 20 years now) came down at the request of one of the company's roaming engineers and we gave our second round of this new program. This isn't something we see a whole lot of within the industry; then again, this is a major player with a lot of branches scattered around the country, and they are sticking with just a single brand for this particular type of machine. I really like how they're taking a proactive approach to this stuff (maintenance training), getting feedback from all participants along the way, and adjusting the training program as we go.

And it's a good thing to finally meet some of these guys I've been working with over the phone, and also catching up with the guys I worked with for many years at the OEM.

Last, Texas is home to Whataburger, where I try to stop every time I come down this way. Makes the wife a bit envious since she grew up on the stuff. Greasy burger? Yep. Tasty? Oh yeah.

Lots of good fast food down in Texas. Last time, I drove through Texas, it seemed like I was in fast food heaven. I probably gained 5 lbs, just passing through. LOL The fast food in Texas is 1000 times better than the fast food in New Jersey.

Winning Saints Row 3 (thx Doc0075!)