http://corz.org/windows/software/accessories/KDE-resizing-moving-for-XP-...

Not really KDE's innovation, but as I've recently had to go back to using Windows for my new job, this is an amazingly welcome tool. Operation in a windows VM is just about as transparent as can be, and will be using this all day tomorrow :-)

http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm
http://toocoolmotorcycleschool.com/modules/tinycontent/content/Basic%20T... (via http://www.toocoolmotorcycleschool.com/)

One of the most difficult (according to what I've read online) tests for a motorcycle is the "Box", also known as the "figure 8". After someone mentioned to me that figure eights are really hard, it took me quite a while to finally track down the exact definition of this test. There are two sizes used by the MSF, 24'x60' for learning and 20'x60' for the actual test.

So I pushed my zx750 out to an empty parking lot (3.5 blocks is LONG way to push 450 lbs!) to learn to ride around. My first session ended after about half an hour when the little bit of gas I had in the tank (left over from the guy I bought it from) got low enough that the low-fuel indicator came on. I pushed it back home, and went out to buy a gas-can and some fuel. Re-fueled, I headed out again, only to get about 15 minutes (I did much better this time!) of riding in, when suddenly my #3 and #4 carbs started pouring gas. =(

Me and a friend spent a few hours last night pulling the carb assembly off of the bike to take a look at it, and while we did resolve an issue with choke-slide being rather sticky (all gunked up and was bent at one end), we couldn't find any sign of blockage from the outside. As it was getting rather late, we decided to replace everything we'd removed and call it a night. Once back together, we decided to try and start it up to see if we'd manage to knock clear whatever was wrong... only to find the bike refused to do more than turn over. =( We tried disconnecting the ignition box to let it turn over w/o spark (hoping it would clear and/or prime itself), but with no luck.

Now, for anyone else who has a 1987 Kawasaki Ninja zx750r, here's a tip about this one specific model/year: There is no on/off/reserve valve, or petcock. The Haynes manual neglects to note that the '87 zx750 instead has a vacuum operated fuel valve with a single push-button. The valve is operated by the vacuum hose from the #2 carb, which I discovered was left unconnected last night and thus why it wouldn't start. After talking with a motorcycle mechanic, we're pretty sure the button is so that you can manually allow flow to either prime the carb or, more likely, to drain the gas tank w/o removing the valve from the tank. Searching around just now I was able to find the same diagram my mechanic pulled up: http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/model_years/2935-kawasaki-1987-ninja-750r...
According to that page, they've discontinued this particular fuel valve ("TAP-ASSY,FUEL"), but you can still get a new diaphragm for it ($20!). I'm going to ask around, but from the pictures I've seen, I think that if I want to, I should be able to replace this valve with more standard petcock style from a similar model/year: http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/model_years/2875-kawasaki-1987-ninja-600r...

I bought my first motorcycle the other day, and brought it home last night! :-D It's a Kawasaki Ninja zx750r. The previous owner did a thorough job of cleaning the carb and the jets, and re-tuning the jets to eliminate a dead-zone in the throttle. You can also see in the picture the upgraded direct air-intakes. :-)

Anewt: Almost No Effort West Toolkit
http://anewt.uwstopia.nl/

Very simple, designed to add ON to your existing code and/or allow you to develop things your own way. Very nice :-)

An interesting top-list of anime:
http://www.squidoo.com/top-anime-list

http://www.partselect.com/
Seems to have just about every part you'd ever really need for most appliances. I'm probably going to need to order a new heating element and/or socket for my stove-top.

Also, this is awesome for diagnosing:
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/range/diagerange.php

Hardware

Platform

After a lot of research into various ARM chips (mostly Atmel's AT91), audio codecs and the various support I would have to design just to use them, I've ultimately decided that it will be far more cost effective for me to use a pre-made platform ...

http://cq.cx/pcb-router.pl