While watching my computer and how it connects to the internet, I have noticed that my computer is usually connected to a Google server.  I don’t want my computer connected to anything unless I direct it to.  So, I am blocking Google from accessing the web with my computer.  Here is how I did it using Vista’s firewall:

Continue reading ‘Block Google Updater with Vista’s Firewall’ »

I am in the process of cleaning out programs from my computer that have been accessing the internet without my knowledge.

Google has installed its code in many places on my computer and I don’t want it.  Continue reading ‘Uninstall Google Add-on from Firefox’ »

On my Vista machine, I checked out my task scheduler and was surprised by all the Google activity.  Why is Google so active on my computer?

Continue reading ‘Google is Clogging Up My Task Scheduler’ »

Google is Clogging Up My Task Scheduler

I have been watching my computer lately to see what it’s doing on the internet.  I want to make sure I haven’t been hacked.  I’m surprised how many different IP addresses my computer connects to without my consent.  GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe is one of them.

Continue reading ‘Why is GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe on my computer?’ »

What is this IP that always appears connected to my computer?

Continue reading ‘What is IP 198.63.194.98? (Sun’s Java Automatic Updater)’ »

I’ve been relying on Microsoft’s Live website to function as my RSS reader.  It worked fairly well and I was happy with it, but Microsoft announced that they are shutting it down.  So I was forced to find a new way to keep track of my RSS feeds.

rssowl2

Continue reading ‘RSS Reader Review – RSSOwl’ »

Why would you want to know your latitude? If you have solar panels, you can use your latitude to know how much to tilt your solar panel to absorb the most direct sunlight.

Wolfram_Alpha_Latitude

Continue reading ‘How to Find Latitude on Earth’ »

Lock up your solar panels to prevent theft

Lock up your solar panels to prevent theft

Continue reading ‘Solar Panel – Prevent Theft’ »

Made a quick rocket stove with bricks.  Put a Peltier cooler on the back and got a fire going.  Measured the current, volts, and watts produced from a single Peltier cooler.  A cooling fan and aluminum heatsink with a 12V portable battery helped.

Peltier_Cooler_Rocket_Stove

Peltier Cooler (also called TEC or Thermo Electric Cooler) - resting against a hot brick

Video of experiment…

Continue reading ‘Peltier Cooler Generates Electricity’ »

Last updated on Sep-14-2009.

I am documenting the construction of my first wind turbine. I am not an expert, just learning as I go. I am not building a turbine from scratch, but instead trying to first succeed in mounting one to a tower and wiring it up to power small devices inside my house. Continue reading ‘Wind Turbine Construction’ »