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Marx 1829 vs 333

Dave Farquhar Toy trains March 14, 2020June 6, 2026

The Marx 333 and 1829 were the largest O gauge steam locomotives Marx produced. But even though Marx’s competitors would sometimes make both a diecast and plastic version of the same engine, that’s not what Marx did here. Let’s take a look at the Marx 1829 vs 333.

The 1829 wasn’t just a plastic Marx 333. The design of the casting differs from the diecast 333, and it used a different trailing truck, since the 333 was a 4-6-2 Pacific and the 1829 was a Hudson. The motor was similar, and like the 333, it came in both smoking and non-smoking versions.

Timex Sinclair 2068: the ZX Spectrum’s ill-fated twin

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing March 12, 2020July 30, 2024

The Timex Sinclair 2068 was the US version of the much more popular Sinclair ZX Spectrum, one of the most successful home computers of the 1980s in the UK. The 2068 unfortunately didn’t match its British brother’s success.

Timex withrew from the US computer market in February 1984, soon after the release of the Timex Sinclair 2068, one of the early casualties of the home computer wars. The 2068 proved to be the last of Timex’s home computers.

How to make Hot Wheels go faster

Dave Farquhar Toys March 11, 2020March 14, 2020

I spent years racing Hot Wheels cars in the basement with my cousin. As kids, we didn’t necessarily know why this was, but some Hot Wheels cars were definitely faster than others, even if you compared two examples of the same car. But once you understand why, it’s possible to make a car fast. Here’s how to make Hot Wheels go faster.

The keys to speed generally are reducing friction and increasing weight. Some of these modifications are reversible and others aren’t, but they provide a number of options for increasing the speed of a Hot Wheels car.

What is a phreaker in hacking or IT terms?

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing, security March 10, 2020March 7, 2020

What is a phreaker in hacking or IT terms? Phreaking is largely obsolete and doesn’t happen much anymore, but it’s an important historical concept in computer security. While phreaking wasn’t the first form of hacking, it’s probably the first example of hacking in a modern sense.

Phreaking was hacking the phone system, usually to make long distance calls for free. Some people phreaked for the thrill of it, but many of them did it because they made more long distance calls than they could afford. Two famous phreakers from the 1970s were Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the co-founders of Apple.

Do programmable thermostats save money?

Dave Farquhar DIY, Saving money March 9, 2020March 7, 2020

Programmable thermostats used to be really expensive. But today, you can get one for as little as $25, about the same price as a non-programmable digital thermostat. But should you get one? Do programmable thermostats save money? Do they save energy?

If you have a conventional forced-air furnace and air conditioner, a programmable thermostat can save you $25 a month or more, especially in the summer and winter. But not if you have a heat pump. If you have a heat pump, you probably know it.

Train runs better backward than forward

Dave Farquhar Toy trains March 6, 2020February 28, 2020

What would cause a train to run better backward than forward? If it can go one direction it should be able to go the other just as easily, right?

When a train runs better backward than forward, that’s an indication of uneven wear. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an expensive repair though.

What is a multi core processor?

Dave Farquhar Hardware March 5, 2020February 29, 2020

What is a multi core processor? Why are they necessary? Multi core processors saved Intel’s bacon in 2005 when the Pentium 4 CPU failed to meet expectations, and they led to noticeable changes in the way computers are designed and marketed.

A multi core processor is a processor with multiple processor cores on a single chip. This gives improved performance, though performance doesn’t scale linearly.

Am I saving enough for retirement? Are you?

Dave Farquhar Investing March 4, 2020February 28, 2020

Am I saving enough for retirement? What about you? It’s not necessarily an easy question to answer off the top of your head. The answer is, most people aren’t. Here’s what you can do about it.

The average person doesn’t have enough saved for retirement. Increasing 401(K) or other IRA contributions is the best way to fix that, and the maximum contribution may be higher than you think.

Are stocks safe to invest in?

Dave Farquhar Investing March 3, 2020March 10, 2025

Are stocks safe to invest in? All the disclaimers that you see at the bottom of stockbroker web pages sure makes it sound like they’re not. But the alternatives aren’t necessarily completely safe either. Here’s how to understand how stocks work, and whether you should put your money in them, or elsewhere.

Fear of stocks generally comes from not understanding what they are or how they work. There are ways to make them safe, and with reasonable precautions, their higher yield makes them safer in some ways than traditional “safe” investments.

What are keywords for SEO?

Dave Farquhar Writing March 2, 2020March 2, 2020

What are keywords for SEO? They’re absolutely fundamental for understanding SEO, but I think many people overcomplicate them. Here’s an explanation for the rest of us.

Keywords are phrases that people type into search engines. Search engines use them to figure out what a web page is about, and then try to match readers with web pages.