Friday, December 29, 2017

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

ssd for thinkpad t400s


Since I repaired the broken hinge on the Thinkpad T400s I want to improve its performance and prolong it as long as possible. I have notice the computer has became sluggish of late. I had tried to determine what could be the cause to no avail. I suspected that the harddrive may be on the last leg, as these 1.8" and 2.5" can exhibit this symptom. I decide to upgrade to a solid state drive (SDD).

Monday, December 25, 2017

asia trip, 2011 - hong kong


It is such a distant memory now. As far as I can recall this was my last top of my Asian trip in the winter of 2010 and 2011.

asia trip, 2011 - xian part 3


Most of these photos were taken in the Muslim Quarter in Xian, with many taken in the Muslim temple. The folks in the temple were camera shy but they were very kind. Muslim is one of many religious minorities in China.

asia trip, 2011 - xian part 2



The lighting conditions were most difficult at the terracotta warriors excavation sites. Given the significance and the extreme labor intensive excavation and restoration work that is on going for the decades to come, I feel each photo that I took is precious. My composition, setting of the DSLR, and the pressing of the shutter is so trivial compared to the men and women that devote their lives for the preservation of some of the most important history of humanity. Each of these clay figure is life size and uniquely made after a live person.

asia trip, 2011 - xian part 1

I cannot understate the significance of seeing many of these most historic significant sites, and recalling the Chinese history classes and text books. Of all China's provinces, Xian has to be one of the most significant.

shanghai thick wheat noodle with julienne pork - 上海肉絲湯麵 part 2

Since I set out to recreate this Shanghai thick noodle of childhood memory I have honed the techniques. There is really not much to it to prepare this delicious and hearty bowl of soup noodles.

Sunday, December 24, 2017

bimetal automotive gauges

My neighbor asked me to help him trouble shoot an intermittent problem with his auxiliary gauge cluster on his circa 1980s Isuzu Trouper. At times the fuel level gauge and the engine temperature gauge would stop functioning. The most peculiar symptom is they stop functioning and start functioning in tandem.  Seems simple enough, I thought until I have a chance to see the assembly first hand.