Excel Trick

If you need to add the current data and/or time in Excel, there are two ways. One is to use the now(), date() or time() functions if you want the date and time to always be your current PC time (i.e. a dynamic date). However, if you want to just enter a static current time, such as a manual time stamp for an entry, you can use Ctrl and “;”. As per the manual:
Current date - Select a cell and press CTRL+; Current time - Select a cell and press CTRL+SHIFT+;Current date and time - Select a cell and press CTRL+; then SPACE then CTRL+SHIFT+;

Password recovery for Windoze NT, 2000, XP, 2003, and Vista

If you need to recover a computer password try http://www.loginrecovery.com/. A friend bought a used laptop recently that was demanding an Admin login; he used this site's service and they e-mailed the password within a couple of days.

Jogging Stroller Handle Mark II

Tina and Dale witnessed the failure of my home-made jogging stroller handle when they visited. Today I did a retrofit with a different design shown below. It hasn't been road tested yet but I have high hopes!

Hello, World

Today I managed to wire up and program my AVR microcontroller based POV to control a lcd display. Hurray!

A little trivia for you, when you take a beginner's programming class, one of the first things you often learn is to print "Hello World" to the screen. I haven't figured how to print a space yet, so the comma was substituted.

Converting a bike trailer to a jogging stroller

Kirsten wanted a jogging stroller so I did this quick mod to our bike trailer for her to try out. I Simply made the handle with some aluminum tubing and UHMW supports screwed to the trailer frame, and I repladed the trailer hitch boom with the salvage bike fork. The bike fork was the right size, I just drilled one hole for the pin.

Part Deux

Success on the secord LCD, even after reversing the power polarity and creating a puff of smoke. Lucky, lucky!

mwuh-ha-ha-ha!

How Sweet it is

I am sure this picture is unimpressive to most of you. Just an LCD module with some question marks on it. Well, it is very sweet to me. I was interested in an LCD display to interface with an AVR micro-controller to potentially use in a number of projects including Grant's camera timer.

Retail for a LCD like this is over $20 US plus shipping, but through handy Ebay, I can get them for $3 US plus $3 shipping. $3 to ship from China!

So I got it within 2 weeks and today I tried to test it. Can I just say it took a lot of research and I was stumped about 5 times. Then, as with many of my projects, presto, it all came together and I have ??????????????????? on the screen, and on purpose!

Of course it all seems somewhat elementary now...