Author: Dave Farquhar

Christmas village layout ideas

Dave Farquhar Model Building
Christmas village layout ideas

Setting up a Christmas village can be a fun way to decorate for the holidays. Some people set up rather elaborate and impressive displays. Here are some Christmas village set up tips and layout ideas from a model railroader.

Some people build villages with hundreds of buildings. Not everyone has that the space or budget for something like that. Even with a modest collection, you can set up a memorable village. Here’s how.

Read more

A quiet mechanical keyboard

Dave Farquhar Hardware
A quiet mechanical keyboard

I need a quiet mechanical keyboard. I also want it to be small, to fit on my laptop desk. And I want it to be cheap. And durable. I don’t want much, do I? I might as well ask for world peace while I’m at it.

The Velocifire TKL01 claims to be all of the above, and delivers more than I expected.

Read more

Commodore 64 connectors

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
Commodore 64 connectors

If you’ve ever looked at the back and wondered what all the Commodore 64 connectors are for, wonder no more. I’ll explain them to you.

Read more

What does a CISSP do?

Dave Farquhar security
What does a CISSP do?

A CISSP is a professional certification. To attain CISSP, a professional must pass a six-hour, 250-question test and must have five years of professional experience doing work related to computer security. But after attaining the certification, what does a CISSP do?

An easy question on the test would involve what you have to be concerned about when running network cable through an HVAC duct. A medium-difficulty question might ask whether the CDMA or GSM standard for cell phones is more secure, and why. A hard question or series of questions would involve reading several pages of executive summary about a data breach and making recommendations to prevent it from happening again.

Read more

Make your own Tootsietoy tires

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized

Tootsietoy wheels frequently go missing. Sometimes they dry-rot away. Sometimes kids played with them to death. Tootsietoys with missing wheels usually sell cheaply. Unused, old factory-stock Midgetoy tires are readily available and fit perfectly. But it can be fun to make your own. Here’s how to make your own Tootsietoy tires.

Read more

Mike Schmidt rookie card value

Dave Farquhar Baseball
Mike Schmidt rookie card value

If you’re curious about Mike Schmidt rookie card value, I have good news. Good news if you want to sell, that is. Mike Schmidt’s rookie card is one of the most valuable cards of the 1970s. Mike Schmidt needs little introduction to baseball fans, but if you’re not, that’s OK. Here’s what makes Mike Schmidt’s rookie card a great card.

Read more

How to get a job in information security

Dave Farquhar Careers, security
How to get a job in information security

I got involved in a pair of conversations in the last week. One person complained that there’s a job shortage in information security but she can’t get one. Another complained there’s a job shortage in information security and he can’t find qualified candidates to fill them. In that spirit, here’s my advice on how to get a job in information security.

Read more

Nano Metalfigs scale

Dave Farquhar Toy trains

Jada Toys, maker of diecast vehicles, recently started releasing diecast figures for various licensed properties, including super heroes, Disney properties, professional wrestling, Harry Potter, and just about everything else imaginable. As a toy train hobbyist, of course my first question was, what scale are they? So let’s work out Nano Metalfigs scale together.

Read more

Commodore 16 vs 64

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
Commodore 16 vs 64

The Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 certainly look a lot alike, but there were a lot of differences inside between the two models. And when it came to success, the two machines couldn’t be more different. The technical differences had a lot to do with that. Here’s a look at the Commodore 16 vs 64.

Read more

How a light socket works

Dave Farquhar DIY
How a light socket works

A light socket is a simple device that holds a light bulb and provides electricity. When the bulb burns out, you can easily replace it. Here’s how a light socket works.

Read more