Author: Dave Farquhar

How big is an HO scale train?

Dave Farquhar model railroading
How big is an HO scale train?

HO scale is the most popular scale for model railroading, partly because its size represents a good compromise. It’s small enough that you can fit a decent layout in a reasonable space without it taking over your basement. But it’s big enough that you can see it. But how big is HO scale? How big is an HO scale train?

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Hole too big for screw in wall

Dave Farquhar DIY
Hole too big for screw in wall

What should you do when you have a hole in the wall that’s too big for the screw you need to use? Fortunately, there are at least four things you can do to fix the problem of a hole too big for screw in wall relatively quickly and easily.

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VMware Fusion screen resolution too small

Dave Farquhar Windows

Is your VMware Fusion screen resolution too small? Mine was. When I pulled up my Windows VM, Windows came up looking like everything was a 4-point font. I know I’m not 25 anymore, but I don’t think I could have read that at 25, even. Fortunately the fix is pretty easy once you know where to look.

I’m not sure how well this works in operating systems other than Windows, but if you run Windows 10 in a VM like I do, this seems to fix it.

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Tenable competitors for vulnerability management

Dave Farquhar security
Tenable competitors for vulnerability management

Tenable is one of the biggest names in vulnerability management, partly due to its sponsorship of several popular security podcasts. But due diligence requires taking a look at multiple solutions. So here’s an overview of Tenable competitors and my notes on them, having used each of them in the field.

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What are thermal curtains?

Dave Farquhar DIY, Saving money
What are thermal curtains?

What are thermal curtains? Thermal curtains are thick curtains with multiple layers of fabric and a layer of foam to help block the flow of heat. This helps you save energy, while also having sound dampening effects.

Thermal curtains work similarly to blackout curtains. But since their intended purposes are slightly different, a thermal curtain might have some shortcomings as a blackout curtain, and vice versa. If you want a curtain to do both, make sure it actually states that it does both. Otherwise, I recommend getting dark-colored thermal curtains. A blackout curtain may not block as much heat as you would like. Similarly, a light-colored thermal curtain might let in more light than you like.

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Where were Marx toys made?

Dave Farquhar Toy trains
Where were Marx toys made?

For a time in the 1950s, the defunct Louis Marx & Company was the largest toy company in the world. Marx’s headquarters was at 200 Fifth Avenue in New York City, in what is commonly known as the International Toy Center. But where were Marx toys made?

Not in New York City, it turns out. Marx had three factories in the eastern United States that it operated for more than 40 years in the region we today call the Rust Belt.

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Save money on model trains

Dave Farquhar model railroading
Save money on model trains

People frequently ask me how to save money on model trains. After all, I write about them a lot. And I’m pretty outspoken about being cheap. Actually, cheap might be a bit mild.

It turns out there are plenty of ways to save money on trains and some of them increase your enjoyment of the hobby.

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Is SEO dead? Not in 2019.

Dave Farquhar Wordpress
Is SEO dead? Not in 2019.

I saw a post on Linkedin last week proclaiming that SEO is dead and encouraging people to just write great content. Are they right? Is SEO dead? Here’s why I don’t think so. Not in 2019. Probably not ever.

Don’t get me wrong. SEO has changed. Old-fashioned SEO, which amounted to keyword stuffing and little else, is dead. But ignoring SEO is a shortcut and it backfires on you. It backfired on me.

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Qualys vs Nessus: Vulnerability scanning titans

Dave Farquhar security
Qualys vs Nessus: Vulnerability scanning titans

As a vulnerability analyst by trade, I spend a lot of time using vulnerability scanners. Qualys and Tenable are the two market leaders in this space. I’ve used both in the field. Let’s take a look at Qualys vs Nessus so you can decide which of the two is right for you.

A vulnerability scanner is an essential part of an enterprise vulnerability management program. Having the right scanner is essential because a vulnerability management program lives or dies by having data that is accurate and actionable.

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Cheap SSD drives: Where to buy them

Dave Farquhar Hardware
Cheap SSD drives: Where to buy them

Cheap SSD drives are relative. I fully expect platter-based hard drives to be cheaper than SSDs until 2021 or perhaps 2025. But there is a way to buy cheap SSD drives without sacrificing a ton of quality. Here’s how.

I’m a notorious miser but I’m also a tech enthusiast. The number of applications and windows I keep open frightens people. Over the years I’ve refined the secrets of running my computers harder than most people while spending a lot less on computers than most people. It’s a tricky balancing act. Using the cheapest SSD worth having is one of my best secrets. Of course, that means you have to find cheap SSD drives first.

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