Have a horrible Halloween hangover? Best remedied with some horror hair-of-the-dog!Or should we say hair-of-the-werewolf? How far do we want to take this? Anyway, we recommend checking out this rad list of scary stories curated by Leah Schnelbach over at Tor.com.
Surely nobody knows the horror genre better than the horrors themselves!
From the 1920s through the ’50s, Universal Pictures’ horror films ruled the silver screen, giving us classic portrayals of iconic monsters from Count Dracula to the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Whether you’ve seen the films or not, you know the creatures—the sinister predator, the curious monster, the transformed traveler, the cursed immortal, the mad scientist, and the tragic experiment.
So if you want a stack of books to sustain you through the rest of the Spooky Season, we’ve got recommendations directly from the Monsters…
Both parties are going all out in the campaign’s final days to win votes from the Latino community in southern states like Florida and Texas. But these voters are not a monolithic voting bloc; they’re comprised of different nationalities with different ideas about what they want in a leader. MSNBC's "American Voices" host Alicia is joined by New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former HUD Secretary, Julián Castro, to get their thoughts on this voting bloc that could very well
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Whether you’re looking for a new role or just trying to expand your professional network, here’s how to use the website’s services to your full advantage.
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Bob Good, a Republican House candidate from Virginia who ousted his district’s incumbent GOP congressman at a party convention over the summer, is sticking to his guns in a close general election campaign.
You might think the probes in the picture are just funny looking alligator clips. But if you watch [tomtektest’s] recent video, you’ll learn they are really Kelvin probes. Kelvin probes are a special type of probe for making accurate resistance measurements using four wires and, in fact, the probe’s jaws are electrically isolated from each other.
We liked [Tom’s] advice from his old instructor: you aren’t really ever measuring a resistance. You are measuring a voltage and a current. With a four-wire measurement, one pair of wires carries current to the device under test and the other pair of wires measure the voltage drop.
If you wonder why that’s better than two probes, it all comes down to resistance in the test probes. Pulling supply current through the probe wires — which have some resistance — causes a voltage drop that affects the measurement. While the sense wire pair will also have resistance, the sensing current can be very small which means there will be correspondingly less error in the measurement.
We’ve seen these probes built from scratch, too. You do need a meter that will do the actual four-wire measurement, although a power supply and a voltmeter will do the job, too. If you don’t want to probe in real life, you can always do it in virtual reality. (Well, a circuit simulator, anyway.)
The researchers used a statistical model to extrapolate infections tied to 18 rallies, and the study’s figures were not based on individual cases traced directly to particular campaign events.
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Democratic candidate Joe Biden has taken some heat on social media for attacking President Trump's coronavirus plan, while leaving some with questions about what his own plan entails.
WiFi!? On an Arduino!? You shouldn’t have! The MKR1010 from arduino.cc gives the functionality of the Arduino Zero with the added bonus of a WiFi chip. It’s based on the low power Arm Cortex-M0 32-bit SAMD21, like in the other boards within the Arduino MKR family. The WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity is performed with a module from u-blox, the NINA-W10, a low power chipset operating in the 2.4GHz range. On top of those, secure communication is ensured through the Microchip® ECC508 crypto chip. Besides that, you can find a battery charger, and a directionable RGB LED on-board. The MKR1010 is specifically designed for IoT Projects and devices.
The Arduino Starter Kit provides an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It contains all of the essential components required to start programming with the Arduino Uno board, and a guidebook featuring 15 different projects, which are designed to evolve the user from beginner to professional level. The starter kit has been developed together with a series of video tutorials hosted by Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi.
This kit features 15 simple projects that show you how to use Arduino to turn an idea into reality. More importantly, it provides the basic knowledge and tools that can bring out your inner genius and fuel your creativity forever.
Easily plug into the back of your RGB matrix and insert or screw the power and ground cables onto either the Matrix Portal or the Matrix Bonnet, or whichever microcontroller-and-add-on you’re using for your RGB Matrix project.
Works with any/all RGB LED Matrices that are ‘HUB75’ style. Not for use with NeoPixel or Dotstar matrices.
Sometimes you need to sense pressure in a damp environment. And sometimes you need to know the relative changes in pressure as well as the absolute pressure. For the times you need to do both (or either), the LPS35HW is the pressure sensor for you. Combining protection from water intrusion with support for high precision relative and absolute measurements, this sensor will do what you need. With drivers for CircuitPython, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi, and support for I2C or SPI (Arduino only SPI support, for now) you’ll be measuring pressure in moist situations in no time.
The ST LPS35HW is a water resistant barometric pressure and temperature sensor that is also safe to use in wet environments. The sensing element is nestled safely in a ceramic package and is encased in a waterproof gel that prevents water that gets into the sensor from interfering with readings. It does not carry any ratings for resistance to moisture so you probably don’t want to take it to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but it should work well for normal wet situations like weather stations or high humidity.
Easy e-paper comes to your Feather with this breakout that’s designed to make it a breeze to add a tri-color eInk display. Chances are you’ve seen one of those new-fangled ‘e-readers’ like the Kindle or Nook. They have gigantic electronic paper ‘static’ displays – that means the image stays on the display even when power is completely disconnected. The image is also high contrast and very daylight readable. It really does look just like printed paper!
We’ve liked these displays for a long time, so wouldn’t a custom e-paper FeatherWing with buttons make a ton of sense? This ‘Wing is tested to work with all of our Feathers, from the ESP8266 to the M0. It has built-in memory buffering so it can work with chips as small as the ’32u4 and ‘328. It does use a lot of pins: the 3 SPI pins, and up to 4 control pins to manage the SD card slot and SRAM. Plus 3 optional buttons are available for Feathers with available pins.
Instead of throwing out the pumpkin seeds after a pumpkin carving session, try roasting them as a delicious snack instead! Rinse the seeds under cold running water before drying them and baking them in the oven until they're golden brown. You can add any sort of seasonings you desire, turning your pumpkin seeds into a spicy, sweet, or simply flavorful treat.
Remove the top of the pumpkin to access the seeds. If you haven’t already done so, use a sharp cutting knife to cut a circle around the pumpkin’s stem. Make sure the lid is wide enough for your hand to fit through comfortably. Remove the lid once you’re done cutting it.[1]
Use a large spoon to scoop the seeds from the pumpkin. The bigger the spoon, the more seeds you’ll be able to remove at once. Scrape the sides of the pumpkin to loosen the seeds and pulp, taking time to scoop out as many seeds as possible.[2]
You can also use your hands or an object from a pumpkin carving kit.
Place all of the seeds and pulp in a large bowl. As you’re scooping out the seeds, place the seeds and pulp in a bowl big enough to hold everything. Remove large pieces of pulp from the seeds as you’re placing them in the bowl, but don’t worry about separating every single string.[3]
If you’re removing the seeds from a smaller pumpkin, you may not need as large of a bowl.
Set the seeds in a colander and rinse them under cold water. This will help loosen the pulp and strings from the seeds, making it easier to clean them. Hold the colander full of seeds under the running water, using your hands to move the seeds around gently.[4]
Pull the seeds out of the colander and place them on a towel. Once the seeds are mostly clean, take them out of the colander and set them on a clean kitchen towel. If there are any big strings still attached to the seeds, pull these off if possible.[5]
You can also place the seeds on paper towels, though they may stick.
Pat the seeds dry using the kitchen towel. Spread the seeds out on the towel and gently blot the seeds to ensure they’re as dry as possible. Place the seeds in a bowl once they’re dry.[6]
Instead of blotting the seeds, you can also shake them in the colander to remove excess water.
If the seeds are still damp when they go in the oven, they won’t roast well due to the moisture.
Toss the seeds with oil or butter. Once the clean, dry seeds are in a bowl, pour cooking oil or melted butter into the bowl so that the seeds are lightly covered. Use a large spoon to mix the seeds around with the oil or butter so that each seed is covered evenly.[7]
Use canola oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil.
How much oil or butter you use will depend on how many pumpkin seeds you’re roasting, but it’s best to start with a small amount—you can always add more.
Add your desired seasonings. These could be seasonings such as Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper—whichever seasonings are your favorite. Sprinkle the desired amount of seasoning into the bowl of pumpkin seeds.[8]
Experiment with the type and amount of seasonings, sprinkling in small amounts before adding more.
For a simple yet tasty flavor, just add salt and pepper to your pumpkin seeds.
Consider adding seasonings like chili powder, Cajun seasoning, or crab seasoning for a stronger flavor.
Season with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a sweet snack.
Stir the pumpkin seed mixture thoroughly using a large spoon. Stir gently, making sure the pumpkin seeds are evenly coated with oil or butter and your desired seasonings. If you notice that many seeds don’t have seasoning on them, feel free to sprinkle a little bit more into the mixture.[9]
Preheat the oven to and prepare a sheet pan. Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper will prevent the seeds from sticking the best, though you can also use aluminum foil. Once the oven is preheated, you're ready to roast your seeds.[10]
Spread the seeds out evenly on the baking sheet. Pour the seasoned pumpkin seeds onto the lined baking sheet, using a spoon to spread them out. Try to make sure they aren’t clumped together and are laying flat so they roast evenly.[11]
If your pumpkin seeds end up layered on top of one another, try baking them in two smaller batches to promote even roasting.
Bake the seeds for 20-30 minutes, stirring them occasionally. Remove the baking sheet from the oven every 10 minutes and move the seeds around using a wooden spoon or other kitchen utensil—this will help ensure each seed roasts evenly. Once the seeds look browned, they’re done![12]
Eat the seeds warm or let them cool to room temperature. Once the seeds have been removed and the oven is turned off, use a spatula to scoop the seeds into a bowl or other serving dish. You can eat them while they’re still warm from the oven, or let them sit for a few minutes until they’re cool.[13]
Store the seeds in an airtight container for roughly 1 week. If you want to save your roasted pumpkin seeds, put them in an airtight container such as a mason jar, plastic bag, or piece of tupperware. The seeds will stay fresh for a week or so at room temperature, or you can place them in the freezer for up to a month.[14]
If placing the seeds in the freezer, they should be in an airtight container as well.
Write the date on the container so you remember when the seeds were roasted.
At a moment when the United States has pulled back from its allies, the former secretary of state lamented the Trump administration’s allergy to international accords.
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WiFi!? On an Arduino!? You shouldn’t have! The MKR1010 from arduino.cc gives the functionality of the Arduino Zero with the added bonus of a WiFi chip. It’s based on the low power Arm Cortex-M0 32-bit SAMD21, like in the other boards within the Arduino MKR family. The WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity is performed with a module from u-blox, the NINA-W10, a low power chipset operating in the 2.4GHz range. On top of those, secure communication is ensured through the Microchip® ECC508 crypto chip. Besides that, you can find a battery charger, and a directionable RGB LED on-board. The MKR1010 is specifically designed for IoT Projects and devices.
The Arduino Starter Kit provides an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It contains all of the essential components required to start programming with the Arduino Uno board, and a guidebook featuring 15 different projects, which are designed to evolve the user from beginner to professional level. The starter kit has been developed together with a series of video tutorials hosted by Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi.
This kit features 15 simple projects that show you how to use Arduino to turn an idea into reality. More importantly, it provides the basic knowledge and tools that can bring out your inner genius and fuel your creativity forever.
Easily plug into the back of your RGB matrix and insert or screw the power and ground cables onto either the Matrix Portal or the Matrix Bonnet, or whichever microcontroller-and-add-on you’re using for your RGB Matrix project.
Works with any/all RGB LED Matrices that are ‘HUB75’ style. Not for use with NeoPixel or Dotstar matrices.
Sometimes you need to sense pressure in a damp environment. And sometimes you need to know the relative changes in pressure as well as the absolute pressure. For the times you need to do both (or either), the LPS35HW is the pressure sensor for you. Combining protection from water intrusion with support for high precision relative and absolute measurements, this sensor will do what you need. With drivers for CircuitPython, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi, and support for I2C or SPI (Arduino only SPI support, for now) you’ll be measuring pressure in moist situations in no time.
The ST LPS35HW is a water resistant barometric pressure and temperature sensor that is also safe to use in wet environments. The sensing element is nestled safely in a ceramic package and is encased in a waterproof gel that prevents water that gets into the sensor from interfering with readings. It does not carry any ratings for resistance to moisture so you probably don’t want to take it to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but it should work well for normal wet situations like weather stations or high humidity.
Easy e-paper comes to your Feather with this breakout that’s designed to make it a breeze to add a tri-color eInk display. Chances are you’ve seen one of those new-fangled ‘e-readers’ like the Kindle or Nook. They have gigantic electronic paper ‘static’ displays – that means the image stays on the display even when power is completely disconnected. The image is also high contrast and very daylight readable. It really does look just like printed paper!
We’ve liked these displays for a long time, so wouldn’t a custom e-paper FeatherWing with buttons make a ton of sense? This ‘Wing is tested to work with all of our Feathers, from the ESP8266 to the M0. It has built-in memory buffering so it can work with chips as small as the ’32u4 and ‘328. It does use a lot of pins: the 3 SPI pins, and up to 4 control pins to manage the SD card slot and SRAM. Plus 3 optional buttons are available for Feathers with available pins.
Back in 2018, we covered [Igor’s] Easy-SDR project that aimed to provide open hardware extensions for the chap RTL-SDR receivers. If you haven’t been there for a while, it’s worth a look as there have been many recent updates. According to the author’s Reddit post:
Most of the devices are now prepared for installation in a metal case measuring 80 x 50 x 20 millimeters.
There’s a completely redesigned LNA design. Now, Bias Tee powered amplifiers are housed in a 50 x 25 x 25mm metal case and have N-type connectors.
There’s an added amplifier based on the PGA-103 microcircuit.
Added is the ability to install filters in final amplifiers (a separate printed circuit board, depending on the filter used).
A new device – SPDT antenna switch for receiving antennas.
The upconverter has been redesigned. Added intermediate buffer stage between the crystal generator and mixer.
RF lines in all devices were recalculated to correspond to the characteristic wave impedance of 50 Ohm.
Reduced size of PI attenuator PCB.
There is an emphasis on ease of assembly, so the projects generally have a gerber file and can use through hole or surface mount parts. They are also available live on EasyEDA if you want to make changes. Some of the designs, like the new upconverter, are SMD only, but for some devices these days that’s your only choice.
We were impressed with the instructions included with some of the projects. It should be very possible to duplicate these projects with just a little effort. If you missed our first pass at [Igor’s] great repo, you can still catch up. Since he uses EasyEDA, you might want to read our experience with that, too.
