Marx train set 452

Marx train set 452

A fellow Marx collector asked recently for information about sets containing the elusive Marx windup 490 (also sometimes called the mechanical 490), so I thought I would share what I know about set number 452.

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When Linux won’t boot off DVD or USB

I went to install Linux (Debian) on an old Asus socket 775 motherboard (a P5LD2) and had a litany of problems getting my installation media to boot. Here’s how I finally got it installed.

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Microsoft Security Essentials alerts – don’t call “Microsoft”

Last Tuesday night my oldest son came into the room and told me he thought one of our computers was being hacked. So I kicked into incident response mode and walked into the other room to be greeted with a computer loudly telling me that Microsoft Security Essentials was unable to clean a virus and to immediately call Microsoft.

Instead I immediately shut down the computer. Here’s why.

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Replace missing Lionel brakewheels with sew-on snaps

Replace missing Lionel brakewheels with sew-on snaps

I saw an old tip recently regarding using sew-on snaps to replace missing Lionel brakewheels. Reproduction brakewheels generally are available, but sew-on snaps work well, are readily available at any store that sells sewing supplies, and they’re cheap.

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Moving SSH off port 22 doesn’t do much for security

Moving SSH off port 22 doesn’t do much for security

A week or two ago, a stranger approached me with some advice about securing routers: move SSH off port 22.

Since arguing with strangers is what the Internet was apparently invented for, I’ll argue against the benefits of moving SSH off port 22.

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My first blog post for Qualys

A chance conversation with a Qualys customer a few weeks ago veered off topic really fast, but it led to another conversation, which caught a manager’s attention and led to my first  blog post for them.

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Rental property: a good investment

Is rental property a good investment? It certainly is if you do it right.

Here’s what you need to know.

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Cleaning Lionel track in a dishwasher

Cleaning Lionel track in a dishwasher

When faced with a big box of dirty old Lionel track, a common question is whether you can just clean it up by putting it in a dishwasher.

With a few caveats, the answer is yes, but I wouldn’t say I recommend it.

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Commodore 64 vs 64c

Commodore 64 vs 64c

The Commodore 64 went through a number of revisions throughout its long life. The most outwardly visible of those revisions was the transition from the tan, boxy C-64 to the thinner, lighter-colored 64c. If you’e wondering about the Commodore 64 vs 64c, here’s what you need to know.

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A 960 GB SSD for $188

If you’re in the market for a 960 GB SSD but you’ve been waiting for a deal, here’s one that’s been worth waiting for: an A-Data SP550 for $188. It’s remarkable only for the price, but what a price.

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