Linux for Makers, by Aaron Newcomb

Mark Frauenfelder 11:53 am Wed May 30, 2018

I've had very little experience with Linux but now that I'm using Raspberry Pis (a cheap single board computer that runs Linux) I need to know how to use Linux. Online how-tos are good, but Linux for Makers, by Aaron Newcomb, is better. In fact, this book is pure gold. It assumes zero prior knowledge of Linux. Everything is clearly explained. I learned how to install Raspbian Linux on an SD Card (Raspberry Pis use SD cards as their hard drive), log the output of a script, schedule jobs with cron, use lots of different commands, write scripts, use PI with IFTTT, and lots more.

Vintage Polaroid camera modded with a thermal printer and Raspberry Pi

College engineering student Sam Zeloof, known for converting his parents' garage into a semiconductor fab while in high school, transformed a vintage Polaroid camera into a digital camera with a thermal printer scavenged from a receipt machine. Press the button and the camera spits out a photo print from what was formerly the film cartridge… READ THE REST
Coffee ice cream recipe

I've been making ice cream at home for the past couple of months and have been doing a lot of experimenting. (You can read my recipe for low sugar vanilla chocolate chip ice cream here.) Here's Anne of All Trades' (I subscribe to her excellent YouTube channel) recipe for coffee ice cream. It looks great! READ THE REST
Basements turned into "secret fantasy worlds"

We covered Jason Shron's basement recreation of a VIA traincar almost 10 years ago, but his effort—staggeringly completist thought it is—is now just one among many examples of "secret fantasy worlds" built in the basements of otherwise unassuming homes. The Guardian's Amelia Tait takes a trip through some of the most amazing, starting with his.… READ THE REST
These 10 awesome upgrades for your car are all now an extra 20% off

With all this sticking close to home the past six months, let's face it — your vehicle is probably feeling…well, a little neglected. Hey, with all that time sitting around in the garage, yearning to get out and go…we get it. The Boing Boing Store's Three-Day VIP Annual Sale is a great opportunity to show… READ THE REST
This leather-adorned 3-in-1 wireless charging station will keep your Apple products eternally juiced

With more and more of our everyday carry items needing a steady supply of power, it's worth considering some easy daily solutions for keeping all of those devices charged up at a moment's notice. If you're an Apple acolyte, that could mean you've got an iPhone, AirPods and an Apple Watch on you at virtually… READ THE REST
This 1080p pocket-sized projector may just be your new media hub at home or on the road

Pocket-sized projectors have really grown up in the last few years. Previously under-powered and under-resourced, manufacturers have upped the game on these handheld projectors, with many now offering brighter, clearer images, increased functionality and connectivity as well as the ability to effectively become a portable home media center. And with movie theaters still mired in… READ THE REST