Author: Dave Farquhar

Asymmetric attack examples

Dave Farquhar security
Asymmetric attack examples

In security, we talk about asymmetric attacks all the time. If you don’t know what that means, here’s an easy definition and some examples from the real world. We have to be careful not to conduct asymmetric attacks on ourselves, because frequently we inadvertently do just that.

An asymmetric attack is an attack that’s substantially more expensive to protect against than to launch. This makes them a common challenge in security.

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Can’t type in PyCharm? Try this first.

Dave Farquhar Software
Can’t type in PyCharm? Try this first.

PyCharm is a lifesaver for developing in Python, but it has a glitch. Sometimes, after you run a script, you lose the ability to type in the editor and make changes. Loads of web sites offer elaborate suggestions to fix the problem, when PyCharm doesn’t allow typing, but frequently, these complex solutions don’t work. Frequently they cause other problems. Try the easy solutions first.

The two easy solutions are to double-click on another file in your project, then double click on your script again. And if that doesn’t work, just exit PyCharm entirely and relaunch it.

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Normal GPU temperature

Dave Farquhar Hardware
Normal GPU temperature

What’s a normal GPU temperature? That all depends on your GPU and how you use your system, but I can at least give you some guidelines.

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Can you paint drywall without texture?

Dave Farquhar DIY
Can you paint drywall without texture?

Can you paint drywall without texture? Absolutely you can. I think it’s easier to paint without texture, as long as you prime it first. But texture can save you time in the long run.

There’s no reason you have to texture drywall. Texture is for making the wall look more traditional or to cover flaws, not to make the paint work better.

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Selling books on Amazon

Dave Farquhar Careers
Selling books on Amazon

I didn’t talk about it much, but I sold books on Amazon for extra money for a little over a decade. There’s a lot of hyperbole out there about selling on Amazon and online in general. Here’s some straight talk about selling books on Amazon from someone who did it.

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Surge protector vs power strip

Dave Farquhar DIY
Surge protector vs power strip

My home office doubles as the home for most of my retro computers. That means at any given time I have up to five computers set up in there. These means I need lots of power strips. Or is it surge protectors I need? Let’s look at the question of surge protector vs power strip, because there really is a difference. And that difference can cost you money. Sometimes a lot of money.

A power strip just extends your outlet so you can plug more stuff into it. A surge protector lets you plug in more stuff, but it also provides protection for what you plug into it, though the amount of protection varies.

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Are tenkeyless keyboards good?

Dave Farquhar Hardware
Are tenkeyless keyboards good?

I’ll admit it. I’m a keyboard snob. There are two reasons for that. My mind races much faster than most people can type, and on a good keyboard I could type at insane speeds in my prime. Secondly, I’ve had repetitive stress injury, and after a day of typing on cheap keyboards, I can feel it. I’m an extreme case, but if you’re asking about a specific kind of keyboard, that’s probably the opinion you want. So are tenkeyless keyboards good? I thought I’d hate them, but I was wrong.

Tenkeyless keyboards offer at least three advantages over a traditional keyboard. They’re cheaper, they take up less space, and they allow a better position for the mouse. If you’re not an accountant, they’re worth a look.

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Composite vs S-Video

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
Composite vs S-Video

Vintage computers and video game systems, as well as other consumer devices, often offer more than one video output option. Composite and S-Video are two of the most common options. Let’s look at composite vs S-Video, and why one is better than the other.

S-Video separates the video signal into two components, the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness), where composite transfers them both on a single wire. Separating the two gives a clearer picture, though the difference depends on how the circuit is implemented.

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How to keep paint rollers from drying out

Dave Farquhar DIY
How to keep paint rollers from drying out

It’s inevitable. You’re painting, and you reach a point where you have to let the paint dry, or you’re just out of time for the day. And cleaning your paint roller and tray is a pain. It makes the painting go much faster than using a brush, but it takes a lot longer to clean, too. Here’s how to save time and paint, cut down on how many times you have to clean the roller, and keep paint rollers from drying out until the end of the project.

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How can market penetration be achieved?

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
How can market penetration be achieved?

Being the best doesn’t make you the market leader. Being cheapest doesn’t either. What I’ve heard is that it’s usually the cheap enough, good enough solution that wins. But even that is an oversimplification. Here’s how market penetration can be achieved.

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