It’s been a while since I had a true ‘geek weekend’ where I just have a lot of fun playing with technology. My buddy Jason was kind enough to give me one of his extra Linksys WRT54G routers a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I’ve used it to replace my home-built linux firewall/router box. Being somewhat environmentally conscious, I’ve been concerned about the power I was wasting with the IT equipment that powers my home network (and this site). Up until now the Linksys device has been running a version of its original firmware modified by Sveasoft. While it was nice, it just wasn’t customizable enough for me not to miss the old linux box. To that end, I’ve flashed it yet again with another distribution called OpenWRT. My next project will be to get OpenVPN running on top of OpenWRT for secure remote access to my network.
I also decided to take the plunge and upgrade our copies of iTunes to the new version 7 despite Wil Wheaton’s experience with it. (don’t worry, he got it all back with a little help from Apple…) So far, no problems. I do have to say that I love the new cover art browser mode. It really is like a jukebox. (at least the kind that flip the album art…)
It’s been a while since I saw an action film that was actually fun and not just an excuse for bad lines and lots of stuff that goes boom. My friend Corbett and I watched a french film called District B13. It sounded cool, but I didn’t really know what to expect. Having seen it, I would definitely reccomend it. It’s a non-stop action ride that has fun being over-the top, but also surprises you with a few parts that actually make you think. Plus, the stunts are simply amazing.
Category Archives: Tech
A trip down memory lane…
I found a link to this site while browsing the news this evening and reminisced about my early experiences with computers. This guy has a very nice collection. With the exception of machines like the Altair and IMSAI which were a bit before my time, I’ve actually used many of the machines in his collection. My first was Tandy’s TRS-80 Model 1. Ah, the days of ROM carts, cassette tape drives and hours in front of the tube.
Scientists engineer cancer-busting T-cells
Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Engineered Immune Cells Beat Back Cancer
This is perhaps the biggest news I’ve read to date on cancer fighting technology. Aparently researchers studying a man whose immune system fought off cancer were able to isolate the genes responsible. They then introduced this modification into the white blood cells of other cancer patients. The results were astonishing. The modification enhances the T-cell’s ability to detect cancer cells and attack them. The experiment resulted in complete remission for 2 of the 17 patients in the test. That alone is pretty amazing. Thanks to my Mom for telling me about this story…