JD's Attempt at a Blog

A blog about electronics, robotics, building, Arduino, programming, or anything else that I feel compelled to share.

ActiveRecord - where.not with boolean is somewhat misleading
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12/23/16

Just a random discovery that may or may not be a bug - depending on how you look at it. I recently came across an issue in an application where I was expecting my code to act a certain way and no, so I thought I wo...

Makeblock Bluetooth Tank kit
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03/23/15

When I found out that Radio Shack was declaring bankruptcy and closing down half of their stores, I naturally started visiting the stores on the closing list to see what was on clearance. Luckily, the closest store to...

Makeblock at Radio Shack
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12/31/14

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Radio Shack is now selling Makeblock robot kits. I have mentioned before on this site that the Makeblock kits are pretty awesome, so I am naturally happy about this. ...

Electric Ruby Gem
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08/14/14

When building projects with the Arduino, I often need to use a specific resistor value or calculate what resistor value I will need to power an LED or some other component. This usually requires me googling 'resis...

Atlanta Mini Maker Faire 2013
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09/23/13

This year's Atlanta mini Maker Faire is going to be held on October 26, 2013 at the Georgia Tech campus (just like last year). I have attended the last 2 years, and this year will be no different. If you want to s...

MakeBlock Robotics Kit
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03/03/13

For those who want to get into robotics but don't know where to start, let me point you in the right direction. I have been building robots from scratch for several years and have always been on the lookout for a ...

Birmingham Hackerspace
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04/24/12

For those around the Birmingham area looking to meet other hackers, check us out: We have met twice now and will again this week, hopefully we will find a space soon. If anyone is interested in sponsoring the g...

Arduino at Radio Shack
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03/23/12

At first, I thought the brand migration from Radio Shack to "The Shack" was going to be just a silly attempt to redefine a lost company. But in a surprising break from the norm, Radio Shack actually did s...

Lawnbot400
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03/23/12

The lawnbot400 is a remotely controlled lawnmower that can mow your grass while you sit in the comfort of your home. This was my first real robotic project that I used the Arduino for, and it has evolved from a fun...

Arduino Robotics
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03/23/12

I recently wrote a book titled 'Arduino Robotics' that goes into some of the fundamentals of electricity and electronics, followed by a couple of chapters on how the Arduino works with motors and sensors, a...