Author: Dave Farquhar

Tales of computer retail past

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
Tales of computer retail past

Somehow I escaped doing helpdesk or phone support early in my career. But I didn’t escape selling computers at retail at Best Buy. And since this was the 90s, I have some good stories. Some of them happened to me. Some happened to coworkers. None of them should be true.

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How to dust your model railroad

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Toy trains

Depending on the look you’re after, dust can detract from your model railroad layout’s appearance. Dust especially shows up in photographs. Here’s how to dust your model railroad quickly and easily.

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Kevin Mitnick security awareness training – can you trust him?

Dave Farquhar security
Kevin Mitnick security awareness training – can you trust him?

A former classmate told me his employer is making him take Kevin Mitnick’s security awareness training course. “Is he really the world’s most famous hacker?” he asked me. “And if he is, why should I trust a word he says?”

Those are excellent questions. I happen to have reviewed all of Kevin Mitnick’s various courses for a previous employer, so I’m familiar with them. And I had to take Kevin Mitnick Security Awareness Training this year myself. I don’t agree with the life decisions Kevin Mitnick made that landed him in prison, of course. But overall, I had only very minor objections to his training. Here’s why.

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Foldingathome – how little is too little?

Dave Farquhar Health
Foldingathome – how little is too little?

Thanks to an influx of volunteers donating computer power to support COVID-19 research, the Folding@home project is now, in effect, the world’s most powerful supercomputer. But how much computer power is necessary to make a difference? After comparing notes with a couple of others, I think I have some answers.

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Why no Windows 9? The surprising reason

Dave Farquhar Windows
Why no Windows 9? The surprising reason

After the hugely popular Windows 7, Microsoft followed up with the terrible Windows 8, and the only slightly less terrible Windows 8.1. And then they came out with Windows 10, which, while not as beloved as Windows 7, certainly was better than 8. But they skipped 9. Why no Windows 9?

Believe it or not, the reason Microsoft skipped Windows 9 has nothing to do with Windows 7 or Windows 8. The reason is a decades-old shortcut that was beyond Microsoft’s control.

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Foldingathome with the Nvidia Geforce 210

Dave Farquhar Health
Foldingathome with the Nvidia Geforce 210

I installed the Folding@home client on every computer in the house with something newer than a Pentium 4 in it. But GPU power is much better than CPU power. Even my lowly Nvidia Geforce 210. Here’s how I fixed an opencl.dll not found error, though I never was able to get much use from Foldingathome with the Nvidia Geforce 210.

Both Nvidia drivers and the Foldingathome client are finicky. When in doubt, uninstalling and reinstalling can work wonders. But while I was able to get the client to recognize my Geforce 210, I was never able to get it to fold.

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What to do if you’ve been laid off

Dave Farquhar Careers
What to do if you’ve been laid off

Being laid off isn’t something that happens to everyone. But it happens to more than you would think. It’s about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s the key. Remember it’s not a failing on you. Here’s what to do if you’ve been laid off.

The keys to surviving a layoff is to burn as few bridges as possible, use the resources available to you, and try to land on your feet somewhere else. Here are some tips for doing that.

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History of Charter Communications

Dave Farquhar St. Louis
History of Charter Communications

Charter Communications is the second largest cable operator in the United States. The history of Charter Communications includes early financial struggles before emerging in recent years as the second largest company of its kind. Here’s a look back at its history.

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Is gigabit Internet worth it?

Dave Farquhar ISPs
Is gigabit Internet worth it?

Is gigabit Internet worth it? I want gigabit Internet. I wanted it for a really long time before I was able to get it. And not everyone can. Here’s why I want gigabit Internet and how I can justify it. If you can get it, it’s worth considering. Here’s why it might make sense for you.

If you’re working from home and have a modern enough home network, gigabit Internet can make a lot of sense. But a lot of home networks aren’t up for it, so you may be wasting money.
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Is it cheaper to build a PC?

Dave Farquhar Hardware, Saving money
Is it cheaper to build a PC?

Years ago, I was having lunch with a friend. “You probably don’t save much money by building a PC. I know when I build a mountain bike, I end up spending more.” His logic makes sense. But it’s worth exploring. Is it cheaper to build a PC?
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