#raspberry pi pico battery

[elcereza]

Raspberry Pi Pico: Vale a pena aprender?

Aprenda como usar todos os periféricos do Raspberry Pi Pico, Como instalar bibliotecas no Thonny IDE e ainda veja um comparativo do Pico/Pico W com ESP32, tudo em um único post. Mais completo que isso somente o datasheet.

O Raspberry Pi Pico desde o lançamento vem sendo muito desejado por muitos projetistas, mas será que realmente vale a pena aprender? Neste post você vai aprender tudo sobre ele. 1 Surgimento do Raspberry Pi Pico Quem acompanha a empresa Raspberry Pi, sabe que todos seus lançamentos tem um preço base para um determinado produto e o propósito disso é democratizar ao máximo o acesso aos produtos…

Ver no WordPress

[ctommy-chileno]

I have the power to make a music box with Butch 4 Butch as the song but I lack some resources and a gf

[quartz-components]

Raspberry Pi Pico W has been designed to be a low cost yet flexible development platform for RP2040, with a 2.4GHz wireless interface and the following key features:

RP2040 microcontroller with 2MB of flash memory

On-board single-band 2.4GHz wireless interfaces (802.11n)

Micro USB B port for power and data (and for reprogramming the flash)

40 pin 21mmx51mm ‘DIP’ style 1mm thick PCB with 0.1″ through-hole pins also with edge castellations

Exposes 26 multi-function 3.3V general purpose I/O (GPIO)

23 GPIO are digital-only, with three also being ADC capable

Can be surface mounted as a module

3-pin ARM serial wire debug (SWD) port

Simple yet highly flexible power supply architecture

Various options for easily powering the unit from micro USB, external supplies or batteries

High quality, low cost, high availability

Comprehensive SDK, software examples, and documentation

Dual-core Cortex M0+ at up to 133MHz

On-chip PLL allows variable core frequency

264kByte multi-bank high-performance SRAM

[onedirectdeals]

SUNFOUNDER Universal Maker Sensor Kit Compatible with Arduino Mega/R3/R4 Minima/WiFi Nano, Raspberry Pi 5/4B/3B+/Zero 2 W/, Pico W, ESP32, C++, Python, MicroPython, Beginners & Engineers

Price: Buy Now Last Updated: Product Description Batteries ‏ : ‎ 1 9V batteries required. (included) Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 24.89 x 16.51 x 6.35 cm; 771.11 g Date First Available ‏ : ‎ 8 May 2024 Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ SunFounder ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D3GWJK82 Item model number ‏ : ‎ DE-A-Maker Sensor Kit Country of origin ‏ : ‎ China Guaranteed software updates until ‏ : ‎ unknown Delivery information::…

[adafruit]

double your pleasure, double your fun, with double-proto-picobell

yesterday we made a single picobell prototyping underplate: plug your rp2040 pico into the double-headers to get a quick prototyping area plus labeled pins, stemma QT and a reset button. great for when you want to use our prototyping picobell (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5200), but want to go solder free. its a great match for the pre-soldered-header version of the Pico H (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5525) and Pico W H (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5544)

only thing better would be to double it up! this new design clone-tools the left side to the right, and connects all the pins through. this would let you plug in a pico on the left, and one of our picowbells - like say our Adalogger bell (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5703) - on the right. or swap locations, either way. since we dont need two reset buttons, we made the new half with an enable/disable switch connected to the EN pad of the pico to shut down the 3.3V buck. and since we don't need two QT ports either, we swapped that out for a battery JST PH port - hat tip to CoreElectronic's LiPo Expansion for the idea! (https://github.com/CoreElectronics/CE-PiicoDev-LiPo-Expansion-Board-for-Raspberry-Pi-Pico) Just like our Feathers, if you plug in a classic 3.7V Lipo battery the circuit will hot-swap over to it when the USB power is removed, and charge back up when the USB is re-inserted - there's two LEDs to let you know when the battery is charging and complete. there's also a jumper on the bottom if you want to disable charging, say cause you want to use an AA battery pack.

[draegerit]

Ein erster Blick auf den Melopero Cookie RP2040: Raspberry Pi Pico meets micro:bit

In diesem Beitrag möchte ich mit dir zusammen einen ersten Blick auf den Melopero Cookie RP2040 werfen. Dieser Mikrocontroller ist ein Mix aus Raspberry Pi Pico, BBC micro:bit und auch der Calliope Mini findet sich irgendwie hier wieder.

Diesen Mikrocontroller habe ich im Onlineshop von Botland.de für knapp 16 € zzgl. Versandkosten erstanden. In diesem Shop bekommst du diesen Mikrocontroller derzeit zum besten Preis.

Warum noch ein Klon?

Die große Frage, welche man sich zunächst stellen kann, ist "Warum noch ein Klon?". Diese Frage ist berechtigt, denn, dieser Mikrocontroller mit dem RP2040 Chip, einigen Anschlüssen und einer LED-Matrix ist jetzt nicht das neueste und bringt auch nicht soviel zusätzlichen Spaß. Theoretisch könnte hier der Beitrag enden, jedoch möchte ich diesem eine Chance geben und einmal ins Detail schauen.

Pins & Anschlüsse

Vor allem, wenn man sich das Format etwas genauer betrachtet, dann finden wir die Pins rings um den Mikrocontroller angeordnet, welche man mit Krokodilklemmen oder Bananenstecker (3 mm) abgreifen kann.

Batterieanschluss & USB-C Schnittstelle

Am Mikrocontroller findest du den Pin VBAT über diesen kannst du deinen Mikrocontroller via Batterie zu betreiben. Der Hersteller gibt hier an, dass die gleichzeitige Verwendung beider Stromanschlüsse dazu führen kann, dass entweder deine Batterie oder dein PC zerstört werden kann. Ich würde sogar so weit gehen, dass eher der Mikrocontroller zerstört wird!

Features des Melopero Cookie RP2040

Der Mikrocontroller bietet wie erwähnt einige Features, welche wir bei anderen bereits finden. Zu diesen Features zählen: - eine 5x5 RGB LED Matrix, - zwei Taster, - eine USB-C-Schnittstelle, - einen Qwii-Anschluss, - Kontakte Abgreifbar via Krokodilklemme& Bananenstecker, - zwei Löcher zur Montage Abmaße des Mikrocontrollers sind Ø 50,8 mm. Technische Daten des RP2040 Chips Verbaut ist ein RP2040 Chip von der Raspberry Pi Foundation, welcher nachfolgenden technischen Daten hat: MikrochipRP2040, Dual-Core Arm Cortex M0+ mit bis zu 133 MHzSpeicher SRAM264 KBFlash2 MBSchnittstellenUSB 1.1 2x SPI, 2x I²C, 2x UART 3x 12-bit ADC (Analog Digital Converter)En/Ausgänge26 Pins 16x PWM ChannelSensoren & AktorenTemperatursensor Timer

Pinout & Aufbau des Melopero Cookie RP2040

Auf dem Mikrocontroller findest du diverse Aktoren, welche du recht einfach programmieren kannst. Die LED ist als einzige von diesen mit "21" beschriftet.

Aufbau des Melopero Cookie RP2040 Qwiic / Stemma Anschluss Über den Qwiic / Stemma Anschluss kannst du spezielle Sensoren und Aktoren in Reihe schalten und einzeln adressieren. Die Kommunikation läuft dabei über I2C. Jedoch sind derzeit die Sensoren & Aktoren für dieses Ökosystem recht teuer, sodass sich ein Wechsel, nach meiner Meinung noch nicht lohnt.

Einrichten und Programmieren des Melopero Cookie RP2040

Wie üblich, kannst du deinen Mikrocontroller in MicroPython, CircuitPython sowie in der Arduino IDE programmieren. Ich möchte im Nachfolgenden den Mikrocontroller in MicroPython programmieren. https://youtu.be/3M3b8clU-FU Der Hersteller hat zu diesem Mikrocontroller eine offizielle, englische Dokumentation bereitgestellt, wo gezeigt wird, wie dieser geflasht und für MicroPython eingerichtet wird. Flashen des Mikrocontrollers für MicroPython Das Flashen des Melopero Cookie RP2040 für MicroPython ist sehr einfach, unterscheidet sich jedoch deutlich vom Raspberry Pi Pico. Denn man muss bei verbundenem Gerät die Taste "BT" (grüner Kreis) & "RS" (roter Kreis) drücken und die Taste "RS" loslassen, dann wird das Laufwerk eingebunden und wir können die Taste "BT" loslassen. Also eigentlich sehr einfach.

Wenn das Laufwerk eingebunden ist, dann musst du nun die entsprechende UF2-Datei mit der neuen Firmware auf diesen kopieren. Die Firmware bekommst du unter http://www.melopero.com/Melopero_Cookie_RP2040.zip. In der ZIP-Datei findest du die Firmware für CircuitPython und MicroPython sowie eine Bibliothek mit Beispielen für C++.

Programmieren in der Thonny IDE

Den Mikrocontroller kannst du nach dem Flashen dann zum Beispiel in der Thonny IDE programmieren. Dazu musst du zunächst den Interpreter einrichten.

Im Programm klickst du unten rechts auf den derzeit ausgewählen Mikrocontroller und wählst aus dem Menü "Konfiguriere den Interpreter ...".

Im neuen Dialog wählst du dann als Erstes den Eintrag "MicroPython (RP2040)" (1) aus. Danach den Port (2). Solltest du mehrere serielle Geräte an deinem PC angeschlossen haben, so schaue einmal in den Geräte-Manager, um den passenden zu finden. Die Auswahl bestätigen wir mit der Schaltfläche "OK" (3). Wenn du nun in der Taskleiste auf die Schaltfläche "Stopp/Restart ausführen" klickst, dann sollte in der Kommandozeile die nachfolgende Ausgabe erscheinen.

Programmieren der Taster & LED

Wie oben gezeigt findest du auf dem Mikrocontroller zwei Taster und eine kleine SMD LED. Als erstes möchte ich dir zeigen, wie diese programmiert wird. Mit den Tastern A & B möchte ich zunächst die LED AN & AUS schalten. #aus dem Modul machine die Klasse Pin laden from machine import Pin #Modul time importieren import time #die LED ist am GPIO 21 angeschlossen #und wird als Ausgang definiert led = Pin(21, Pin.OUT) #die Taster sind an den GPIOs 10 & 11 #angeschlossen und werden als Eingang #definiert buttonA = Pin(10, Pin.IN) buttonB = Pin(11, Pin.IN) #starten einer Endlosschleife while True: #Wenn der Taster A gedrückt wird, dann... if buttonA.value() == 1: #LED aktivieren led.on() #einlegen einer kleinen Pause, #damit entprellen wir den Taster time.sleep(0.5) #Wenn der Taster B gedrückt wird, dann... if buttonB.value() == 1: #LED deaktivieren led.off() #einlegen einer kleinen Pause, #damit entprellen wir den Taster time.sleep(0.5) Wenn wir den Code auf dem Mikrocontroller ausführen, dann können wir mit den beiden Tastern die kleine SMD LED Ein- und Ausschalten.

Programmieren der 5x5 RGB LED Matrix

Mit der Firmware zu MicroPython bekommst du Module zum Abfragen der Taster sowie für die RGB LED-Matrix. Diese Module müssen nicht zusätzlich installiert werden und du brauchst diese lediglich importieren und kannst diese verwenden. Für die Programmierung der 5x5 RGB LED-Matrix hast du fertige, kleine Funktionen um entweder einzelne LEDs anzusteuern oder auch Scrolltext auf dieser auszugeben. Das finde ich besonders gut gelungen. #Importen der Klasse Cookie_RP2040 aus dem Modul melopreo_cookie from melopero_cookie import Cookie_RP2040 #Text für den Scrolltext msg = "Hallo Welt!" #erzeugen eines Objektes vom Typ Cookie_RP2040 cookie=Cookie_RP2040() #LEDs löschen cookie.clear_screen() #setzen der Textfarbe als RGB Wert #Der letzte Wert bildet die Helligkeit ab! cookie.set_rgb_color(0, 0, 255,0.05) #setzen der Hintergrundfarbe cookie.set_rgb_background(0,0,0, 0.1) #anzeigen / abspielen des Scrolltextes cookie.show_message(msg) Mit diesem kleinen Code erzeugen wir nun die Laufschrift "Hallo Welt!" auf der LED-Matrix. Die Farbe für den Text habe ich in Blau gesetzt. Read the full article

[techbyrish]

Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU featuring the Quectel EG25-G 4G LTE cellular module in PicoCell 4g

Introducing the revolutionary PicoCell 4G device, powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU and featuring the Quectel EG25-G 4G LTE cellular module. In today’s world, where connectivity and innovation are key, this cutting-edge technology seamlessly combines the power of the RP2040 chip with the connectivity prowess of the Quectel EG25-G 4G LTE module. The PicoCell 4G is not your ordinary device; it transcends boundaries and redefines the way we connect, create, and communicate.

With its Multi-Constellation GNSS support, the PicoCell 4G can quickly and accurately determine your location, regardless of where you are. It acts like a bridge connecting people worldwide with call and messaging coverage that knows no borders. The EG25-G variant is like a world traveller, supporting a wide range of LTE FDD and TDD frequencies, UMTS options, and GSM. In simple terms, it keeps you connected no matter where you go. Are you seeking a dependable and swift wireless connection while on the move? Consider the PicoCell 4G as your solution. This adaptable device functions not only as a communication tool but also as a high-speed data server that supports technical features such as HTTP and TCP/IP. With the convenience of its dongle feature, you can enjoy lightning-fast LTE speeds of up to 150Mbps (DL) and 50Mbps (UL) while on the go. Essentially, it’s like having your high-speed internet connection that can be easily carried in your pocket. Perfect for the Tech-Enthusiast Attention tech enthusiasts!

The PicoCell 4G is specifically designed for M2M and IoT applications and acts like a superhero for connected devices, guaranteeing their optimal performance. It comes with a diverse antenna that provides a strong signal even in challenging situations. You can customize it to meet your specific needs with additional GPIO options. It is also energy-efficient, ensuring that it won’t run out of power when you need it the most. Furthermore, it features a status LED that offers real-time updates on network and satellite connections, making it easy to stay informed. It supports Quectel Enhanced AT Commands, which makes controlling your devices a breeze, ensuring that everything is effortless. Hello, the PicoCell 4G is a powerful device that caters to M2M and IoT applications with its exceptional features. It is powered by the plate number 1 chip with a 32-bit dual ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller and 8MB flash, and equipped with the Quectel EG25-G 4G LTE cellular module, supporting nano SIM cards. The device features dual Type C interfaces for programming and accessing the 4G module, a 3.2” Touch Display with a resolution of 320x240 pixels, driven by the plate number 2 Display Driver and plate number 3 capacitive touch controller. It comes in a range of vibrant RGB colours and offers additional GPIO options for peripheral connections. Furthermore, the device includes boot buttons for Pico, a power button for manually turning the 4G module on/off, an onboard microSD card for data logging, a battery connector with a charging circuit for portable use, a 3.5mm Audio Jack for headphones, and even includes speaker support for attaching a speaker. Additionally, the device provides indicator LEDs for board supply, module power, network status, and system status. The PicoCell 4G is an exceptional device optimized for M2M and IoT applications. It offers worldwide coverage and supports MIMO and DFOTA. With a multi-constellation GNSS receiver, you can track precise locations with ease. The 4G module supports various network bands and different speech codec modes. It has low power consumption for efficient operation and delivers LTE Max. 150Mbps DL/50Mbps UL data speeds. The PicoCell 4G is a game-changer that’s here to redefine the way we connect and create. Check out the Product Page and join the journey to experience connectivity without limits.

TO KNOW MORE : bit.ly/3RalKua

[ella-fan]

Uncovered Raspberry Pi Pico👇

Engineered by the Raspberry Pi company, the Raspberry Pi Pico stands as a distinctive microcontroller board within their range of offerings. In a manner akin to products like Arduino and ESP-32, the Pico was purposefully crafted for the management of electronic components, excelling in executing uncomplicated tasks within fundamental electronics projects, setting it apart from the comprehensive capabilities of a full-scale Raspberry Pi computer.

Unveiling the Essence of the Raspberry Pi Pico

The Raspberry Pi Pico emerges as a minimalist, economically-priced, and high-performance microcontroller board centered around the formidable RP2040 chip. Notably, the RP2040 constitutes an in-house microcontroller chip originating from Raspberry Pi Ltd., orchestrating the functionality of various other boards founded on the RP2040 architecture, alongside the Pico.

As the official RP2040 board from Raspberry Pi, the Pico boasts an embedded 2MB QSPI flash memory, catering to code writing and loading. Encompassing a total of 40 pins, the Pico offers seamless interaction with a diverse array of electronic components, with 26 of these pins assuming multifaceted roles as GPIO pins. A comprehensive exploration of the Raspberry Pi Pico's pinout is readily available for further scrutiny.

Diverse Iterations of the Raspberry Pi Pico board are on offer: the standard Pico (featuring unpopulated pin holes), the Pico H (with pre-soldered pin headers), the Raspberry Pi Pico W (equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities), and the Pico WH (amalgamating wireless connectivity with pre-soldered headers).

Powering the Raspberry Pi Pico: A Deeper Insight

In contrast to its Raspberry Pi single-board computer counterparts, the Pico showcases a notably frugal power consumption profile. It demonstrates versatility in operation, sustaining voltage supply within the range of 1.8V to 5.5V DC. This adaptability enables utilization through either a 5V USB port on a computer or a pair of AA batteries, affording users the freedom to select their preferred power source. The Pico accommodates power input via both the micro-USB port on the board and GPIO pin 39 (VSYS), further amplifying its accessibility and ease of use.

[techcree]

Ist das endlich die Lösung für alle unsere Pico Probleme?

EnkPi Boards werden derzeit auf kickstarter ausgelobt und könnten viele unserer Probleme in verbindung mit dem Raspberry Pi Pcio/Pico W lösen.

Alle Infos zu den verschiebenen eInk Boards sind derzeit auf der Kickstarter Projekt Website zu finden. Wer etwas Mut hat und das Kickstarter Risiko kennt könnte hier etwas ganz tolles bekoommen. Warum? Es gibt über einen Raspberry Pi Pico und auch den Pico W eigentlich nicht viel zu bemängeln. Es ist ein oder das günstige Entwicklerboard aus dem Hause der Raspberry Pi Foundation UK. Es dürfte kaum einen Tüftler geben, der nicht von seinem Pico oder Pico W schwärmtt. Der Microcontroller erlaubt uns schließlich bereits in der Grundausstattung schon die Realisierung vieler Projekte.

Und seit dem die Pico Variante mit auf der Platine verbautem WLAN Modul am Marktt ist, dann nennt sich der Pico eben Pico W, hat dieses preiswerte kleine Teil sicher nochmals an Attraktivität zugenommen. Allerding gibt es immer noch ein paar Themen die sich nach wie vor als etwas hinderlich, ja nachteilig herausstellen. Eines der Themen wäre da bspw., dass der Pico W zwar über eine RTC (Real Time Clock) verfügt, sich aber mangels einer Onboard Batterie ohne Stromversorgung die Zeit schlicht nicht merken kann.

Und auch das mit dem WLAN ist so eine Sache. Zwar ist es kein Problem über die Thonny IDE (Entwickler-Software für Python) einen Pico W zu programmieren und zu betanken. Auch lässt sich das Script für den Betrieb als Mini-Webserver ausführen und man erhält dann auch die ihm zugewiesene IP Adresse unter der die Website des Picos aufrufbar ist. Ohne die IDE aber können wir einen Pico nicht in einem WLAN zuordnen oder gar die IP Adresse uns anzeigen lassen. Was fehlt ist ein Display. Und es fehlen ein paar Knöpfe mit denen man ggf. eine WLAN Anmeldung per Push-Methode oder gar über Eingaben umsetzen könnte.

Jetzt könnte das EnkPi ändern. Zwar gibt es bereits viel Zubehör für den Raspberry pico und Pico W, doch diese Boards mit eInk Display haben noch mehr auf der Platine verbaut. Da wäre ein Buzzer, eben der so fehlende Batteriehalter für bspw. die RTC Funktionoder gar ein SD Karten Slot. Das und noch etwas mehr. Zudem soll das Board, welches es mit eInk Display in vier größen geben soll unter anderem auch Micropython programmierbar sein. Und das wäre ein echter Hit.

Das hört sich fats schon zu gut an. Wer sich traut dieses Projekt zu unterstützen kann dann im Mär 2023 ggf. schon sein EnkPi bekommen. So jedenfalls wird dies aktuell angeboten. Allerdings ist der Preis derzeit recht hoch. Gut es sind viele Bauteile verbaut und wenn das Display Board leistet was wir uns davon erhoffen, mag sein es könnte halbwegs gerechtfertigt sein. Am Beispiel eines 4.2" LCDEnkPi Borads wäre das inkl. Versand nach Deutschland immerhin satte 84 Euro. Sehr viel Geld ist das bei aller Liebe schon.

Andere köcheln derzeit auch an solchen Lösungen und persönlich hoffe und vermute ich auch stark, dass wir in Kürze von Pimoroni etwas genau in diese Richtung hören werden. Alles andere würde mich wundern. Allerdings dürfte noch interessant sein, dass bei Micropython gerade das eInk und das Thema PicoW Anmeldung in einem WLAN ohne IDE ein offenes Thema ist. Es wird zwar daran gearbeitet, doch mir ist derzeit völlig unklar wie EnkPi das bereits für Microphython gelöst haben will.

[maverickuk]

I love those flip style clocks, like the one from Groundhog Day. Why? I'm not sure exactly, they're just very cool looking and fit into that facinating retro futuristic electromechanical niche.

We've got one of these at home to show the time and date. The clock is just a standard quartz rotary type, but the day name, day number and month use flippers.

After years of faithful service our clock started to fail at triggering the flippers. After cracking it open I determined it was due to the clock failing to send the flip signal at 12 o'clock.

I decided to put my new Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller into action by creating a pacemaker!

An LCD screen allows the current time which is set when power is connected

Then at midday and midnight it triggers a relay that activates the flipper mechanism in the clock

Currently it's got a fairly high power draw, which I plan to reduce using longer sleep periods on the Pico. Also I'll remove the LEDs from the relay and turn off the LED light on the LCD.

I've ordered a Li-ion battery pack and charger which I'll be attaching and then fitting the whole thing into the clock.

It's been a great project to work on this and it's not over yet. It's amazing such a cheap little board as the Pico is capable of such useful things. Love it!

[findingmyrib]

G3 Powerbook to Raspberry Pi conversion idea

I need to get to bed but I think when I get up I'll start researching how to make an adapter to attach my G3 Powerbooks keyboard to a Raspberry Pi. Did a little reading and it doesn't look too impossible, more time consuming than anything else. Either build an adapter to go to the Pis GPIO pins or use a microcontroller to convert it to USB.  USB is probably ideal, letting me expose the GPIO pins somewhere.  Might use an Arduino, or to keep it all Pi stuff, a Pi Pico(which isn't an SBC, it's a microcontroller). And the display... I'm really thinking that should just be replaced. If the existing one is VGA with a different connector to suit a laptop, it wouldn’t be too terrible to interface with it, but if it’s anything proprietary that would be a nightmare. And I could maybe get something higher resolution if I replace it. Finding one that will fit might be a challenge but if I can pull that off, that would be ideal, hopefully, something HDMI so I don't have more adapters to build and stuff into the thing. Run one of the Pis HDMI ports to the internal display, run the other to the side of the case so I can drive an external display. And figure out how to route the HDMI audio to either the exisiting speakers or suitable replacements, along with a headphone jack. Then I’ll have to sort out the power situation. The existing AC adapter is dead, though I have a thought that I could buy a USB wall charger, take it apart, stuff it into the case of the existing one, and replace the laptop end of the cable with a USB cable. I’m thinking if I can figure out a way to run two USB power banks in a way I can hot swap them, that would be an amazing battery solution. Current bank goes low?  Swap it without having to power down. With the size and capactiy of a lot of powerbanks these days, and the power requirements of a Pi 4, I could probably have some pretty impressive battery life. Who knows, maybe I could even replace the existing long dead battery for even more power. This would make for a genuinely useful laptop, for probably more money than I’m expecting, and I’d learn a lot in the process. It wouldn’t replace the Ryzen laptop I have on the way from Amazon, but it would be fun to play with. If I have the space, I might even be able to get one of the motherboards for a Compute Module, some of those even have M.2 slots and that would be a great storage option. Or I could go with a PCIe slot option. Lots of stuff to research and think about. I’ll probably do a bit of research to nail down what my theoretical options are, ensure they would support at least minimally useful capabilities for me, and then if I’m still on board with this idea, start gutting my Powerbook so I can figure out how much space I have to work with to nail down how to approach this project in detail. It’s not a modern paper thin laptop, but it’s still a laptop and that means limited space to work with. Hopefully enough space to do all this and maybe even include sufficient cooling to overclock it a bit. I’ve got my Pi 400 at 2.25ghz, and that’s passively cooled. So I could probably at least get that far. And then set up OS9 in an emulator and make people think I’m actually running ancient hardware.

[onedirectdeals]

GeeekPi Raspberry Pi Pico/Pico W UPS Power Supply Uninterruptible UPS HAT,Support 18650 Lithium Battery Charger Power Bank Power Management Expansion Board for Raspberry Pi Pico/Pico W

Price: Buy Now Last Updated: From the brand We are GeeekPi, a team of professional electronic creators. We specialize in designing and producing DIY manufacturing accessories such as Raspberry Pi accessories, arduino kits, electronic modules, LCD displays, cases and heat sinks and more. Create endless possibilities with these components, leading you into the world of electronics and turning…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

BOING BOING GIFT GUIDE 2017

Here's this year's complete Boing Boing Gift Guide: dozens of great ideas for stocking stuffers, brain-hammers, mind-expanders, terrible toys, badass books and more. Where available, we use Amazon Affiliate links to help keep the world's greatest neurozine online.

Gadgets + Gear

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Books + Music

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Home + Kitchen

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Toys + Games

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Naughty + Nice

Gadgets

CORY

Edu-Toys Night 'n Day Mechanical GlobeElenco's Night 'n Day Mechanical Globe uses a system of translucent, exposed gears to rotate an internally illuminated globe that displays the seasonally adjusted, real-time night/day terminator as it spins.[Read More]

BUY

XENI

iPhone 8 PlusNow on its eighth numbered generation, the iPhone remains my entire creative studio and almost everything I need to do my work: it replaces my fancy camera, my audio gear and everything else I had to lug around. This thing really is everything. I go big on screen size and storage capacity, with that in mind: the Plus, and 128 GB.

BUY

DAVID

Audio Technica AT-LP60Forget those vinyl-destroying, vintage-inspired all-in-one units. They're all crap. The Audio Technica AT-LP60 is a fantastic beginner (or revivalist) turntable for the price. Its built-in pre-amp means all you need to do is plug it any powered speakers with an audio input.You won't find a better turntable than this for under $100 unless you hit the second-hand market.

BUY

MARK

Flitt Flying Pocket Selfie Camera Drone ($100)I honestly didn't expect that this tiny fold-up drone would perform as well as it does. It does a great job of hovering in place, and is easy to control with a smart phone. It's the first drone I can fly without crashing it into a wall or getting it stuck in a tree.

BUY

ROB

Kano Computer KitBuild your own computer and learn to code art, music, apps, games and more with the Kano Computer Kit, an introduction to the bare metal you just won't get with crap-laden commercial machines. Hundreds of schools use them, and Includes everything you need, including the Pi that acts as its brain, case, speaker, wireless keyboard, RAM, and cables. And unlike most edumuacational computer gear, it looks absolutely cool as heck.

BUY

JASON

An airbag for your motorcyclistDo you love your motorcyclist? This simple, tether activated airbag inflates less than .10 of a second after a rider becomes separated from their bike. Helping to secure the neck, and protect the torso and internal organs, the Helite Turtle, is a top choice for next-generation motorcycle safety.

BUY

DAVID

Kindle E-reader loaded with free classicsFor $50, the entry-level Kindle E-reader is priced right, and comes in black or white! This model has a 6” display and the battery lasts for ages between charges. (If you want to get fancy, go for the Kindle Paperwhite with a built-in reading light so you don't bug bedmates.) Load it with free classic books from Project Gutenbergbefore gifting!

BUY

MARK

Igloohome Deadbolt2 ($238)The Igloohome Deadbolt2 has a programmable keypad instead of a keyhole. It took me about 20 minutes to install on my door. You can send your friends or other people single-use PINs. The smartphone app can also be set so the door unlocks when you touch the keypad - no PIN needed.

BUY

MARK

Mixcder Wireless & Wired Over Ear Headphones ($80)I bought these relatively inexpensive headphones for my daughter, who wanted wireless headphones for when she paints and sculpts. These are comfortable, have good sound quality, and pair easily with an iPhone.

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MARK

PacSafe Transit Travel Hoodie ($130)The thing I like about this pocket-covered hoodie is that the interior pockets have little line drawings indicating what you should put in them - pen, eyeglasses, tablet computer, phone, passport, earbuds, wallet, etc. I like having a garment that tells me what to do, it keeps life simple while traveling.

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Elf ear earbudsOnce hard to find, these low-end but unique earbuds are now at Amazon. For elves who can't quit their record collection even for a moment, they're still, sadly, only available in lily white. But cheap, at just $13.

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Raspberry Pi 3 Model BThe best $35 you can spend on a wee yet straightforward and accessible barebones computer, Raspberry's Pi is now in its third generation and lives atop a vast and growing ecosystem of accessories, cases and general craziness to have fun with. The latest flagchip model has a 1.2GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU with twice the Pi 2's performance, integrated WiFi and Bluetooth, and backward compatibility with earlier models.

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Black & Decker CHV1410L 16-volt Lithium Cordless Dust Buster Hand VacStill the best selling hand vac for keeping your office, home, workshop or hackerspace tidy. CHV1410L has strong suction, and a bagless dirt bowl that's easy to see and empty. Holds a charge for up to 18 months when it's off the charger. High efficiency Lithium ion chargers protect it by automatically shutting off when the battery is charged, so you can store it on the charger.

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ArduboyBeautiful 1-bit graphics in your wallet! Arduboy is an open-source platform to create and share games and the hardware is made to the dimensions of a business card. Best of all, this tiny toy is only $50. Want more? The PocketChip, at $70, plays Pico-8 games with a dazzling 16 colors; the dev community is more mature and there are countless games already.

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Second-gen Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inchWith the lastest 12.9" model I've changed my mind about Apple's biggest iPad. Its unmatched pencil latency and powerful processor leave Microsoft (and even Wacom) trailing, while markedly improved third-party applications make Photoshop less critical, at least for me. Finally.

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The EC Artists Library Slipcase (Vol 3 $54)This high quality box set of four hardbound books has 904 pages of the very best comics of the 1950s. Volume one of this series is out of print and sells for over $250. Volume three is just $54. With art by greats like Wally Wood, Joe Orlando, John Severin, and George Evans, this set is a must-have for comic book aficionados.

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Canadaland Guide to Canada (Published in America), by Jesse Brown and friendsBrown finds plenty of hilarious awfulness in Canada's past and present, especially in the way that Canadians talk about themselves when they expect Americans might be listening to them. From Justin Trudeau (who talks about refugees abandoned by Trump but takes no action to improve their lot, because he's too busy taking away the citizenship rights of naturalised Canadians with objectionable politics, greenlighting climate-destroying pipelines for the Tar Sands, and making the most of the sweeping surveillance powers he promised he'd abolish after taking office) to Rob Ford to Quebec separatism and the long, deplorable traditions of drunken, racist Canadian leaders who are remembered as wise, even-handed leaders, Brown punctures ever bubble that Canadians have ever blown over the border toward our American cousins.

I laughed aloud at many of these jokes, and they got under my skin, in just the same way that a perfect Samantha Bee rant will. This is a book of weaponised jokes about a country that has spent more than a century burnishing its credentials by blithely asserting its moral and temperamental superiority to its erratic and flamboyant southern neighbour -- and every shot hits its mark. [Read more]

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Briggs Land Volume 1: State of Grace, by Brian WoodStories matter: the recurring narrative of radical Islamic terror in America (a statistical outlier) makes it nearly impossible to avoid equating "terrorist" with "jihadi suicide bomber" -- but the real domestic terror threat is white people, the Dominionists, ethno-nationalists, white separatists, white supremacists and sovereign citizens who target (or infiltrate) cops and blow up buildings. That's what makes Brian Wood's first Briggs Land collection so timely: a gripping story of far-right terror that is empathic but never sympathetic.

Briggs Land builds on the empathic -- but not sympathetic -- portrayals of far-right separatists in Wood's seminal graphic novel DMZ. It's timely: the Trump era has been a moment of uneasy glory for white nationalists and their fellow travelers, who, having long craved the spotlight, aren't entirely sure what to do with it.

Briggs Land is also in development as an AMC TV series, further evidence of its zeitgeisty nature. Being a Brian Wood comic, it's also gripping as hell, a nonstop crime novel that involves rogue FBI agents, ruthless skinheads, closet racists and overt ones, doting parents who also happen to be unspeakable monsters. [Read More]

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Kindred (Graphic Novel), adapted from the novel by Octavia ButlerKindred is the story of Dana, an African-American writer married to a white man in 1976, who finds herself being violently yanked through time and space to the side of her distant ancestor, Rufus, the son of an enslaver who lives on a plantation in antebellum Delaware. Rufus -- a self-destructive, traumatized and spoiled child -- periodically puts himself in mortal danger, and when he does, Dana is torn from 1976 to save him, and is stranded in the violent, totalitarian south until she experiences mortal terror, whereupon she returns to her present, only moments after she left. Luckily for Dana, mortal terror is a commonplace occurance for black people in Delaware in the 19th century.

Dana's relationship to Rufus, and to Rufus's freeborn, African-American friend Alice -- whom Dana knows to be her ancestress -- is wrenching and claustrophobic, as she is enlisted to help Rufus sexually assault and eventually enslave Alice, revealing the deep violence lurking in Dana's own distant past.

For many years, Dana and her white husband, Kevin, are stranded in history, together and separately, and this affords Butler a chance to add yet more nuance to her tale, weaving in the point of view, privileges and horror of a white ally who, nevertheless, enjoys a measure of safety his black wife cannot claim.

The graphic novel adaptation is extremely faithful to the Butler novel, and does brilliant things with color-palettes, using different tones to demark the present and past, and also the belowstairs and abovestairs places in the lives of the enslaved people. The lines are vigorous and rough, conveying emotion and urgency.[Read More]

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The Magic Machine: A Handbook of Computer Sorcery ($4)This 1990 BASIC programming book is long out-of-print, but is still valid and a great way to explore fractals and artificial life. I loved this book when it came out and just bought a replacement for my lost copy. Use copies are cheap on Amazon. Get it for a smart kid in your life.

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Voyager Golden RecordIn 1977, NASA launched two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and 2, on a grand tour of the solar system and into the mysteries of interstellar space. Attached to each ofthese probes is a beautiful golden phonograph record containing the story of our planet expressed in music, sounds, images, and science. It’s a message for any extraterrestrial intelligence that might encounter it. And now you can experience on Earth as a lavish 3xLP Box Set or 2xCD-Book edition.

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The Photographs Of Charles Duvelle - Disques OCORA And Collection PROPHETDecades before the term "world music" became common parlance, Charles Duvelle was traveling the globe recording the sounds and sights of indigenous people around the world. To enable us see the world through Duvelle's eyes, Sublime Frequencies' Hisham Mayet in collaboration with Duvelle released this magnificent tome contains field photographs from 1959-1978, a deep interview, a report he prepared for Unesco in 1978, and two CDs of music that will move you.

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Art Sex Music by Cosey Fanni TuttiThe stunning memoir of musician, artist, and cultural provocateur Cosey Fanni Tutti is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of avant-garde music, performance art, underground culture, radical living, and female empowerment. Best known as co-founder of pioneering industrial groups Coum Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle (famously called “wreckers of civilisation” by a British MP), Cosey has also explored the fringes of sex, music, and creativity as a pornographic model, video artist, electronic composer, and, yes, writer. This is her story so far and it’s a doozy.

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Little Book of Wonders: Celebrating the Gifts of the Natural World by Nadia DrakeNational Geographic contributor Nadia Drake’s science writing sings with knowledge, rigor, and her own infectious curiosity. This slim and delightful book is no exception. A lovely miniature wunderkammer of Earth’s magical places, startling phenomena, and amazing wildlife, it pairs beautiful photos with Nadia’s poetic and informative captions that spark the imagination and instill a sense of wonder about our world.

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Dalí: The Wines of GalaFirst published in 1978, Salvador Dalí’s The Wines of Gala is a stunning and strange guide that groups wines “according to the sensations they create in our very depths” such as “Wines of Frivolity,” “Wines of the Impossible,” and “Wines of Light.” Featuring more than 140 of Dalí’s surrealist illustrations, this is the most bizarre, sensual, and sensational book about viticulture and libations that you’ll ever experience.

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THEFT: A History of Music, by James Boyle and Jennifer JenkinsTheft traces millennia of musical history, from Plato's injunction against mixing musical styles to the outrage provoked by the troubadours who appropriated sacred music and turned it into bawdy songs about wanting to have sex with hot teenagers (a trick Ray Charles repeated hundreds of years later!); from the racist outrage over rock and roll's challenge to white supremacy to the fights over sampling and the exploitation of African-American musicians who were ripped off 40 years ago versus the interests of their musical progeny whose sample-based music has been distorted and even outlawed by the same musical corporations that screwed the R&B artists, in the name of defending those artists (!).

Jenkins and Boyle are two of the staunchest defenders of fair use and remixing -- their first comic, Bound by Law, was a kind of Understanding Comics for the legalities of fair use -- and it shows: Theft is as laden with visual, textual and musical references as a Dizzy Gillespie solo, an early Public Enemy wall-of-sound, an illegal Girl Talk mashup.[Read More]

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The Free, by Lauren McLaughlinIsaac West is a mixed-race kid who never knew his dad; he and his sister have raised their alcoholic, abusive mother as much as she's raised them. But Isaac has a plan: his little sister Janelle is smart, better than he'll ever be, and he's going to get her out of their mutual hellhole and into a private school -- and to make that happen, he's graduated from petty theft into grand theft auto, under the supervision of his high-school auto-shop teacher, a cut-rate Fagin who trains and oversees a gang of junior car thieves.

It's this teacher who insists that Isaac should plead guilty to beating a man comatose in a car-heist that went wrong, though the kid who actually did the beat-down was the teacher's cousin, a hulking giant of a kid who has already got a conviction under his belt and faces being tried as an adult if he goes down.

For Isaac, it's an easy choice: spend 30 days in juvie, complete his rehab program, and in return, he'll get enough to send Janelle off to private school. All he has to do is survive, and he's been doing that all his life.

From here, McLaughlin has all the elements for a tight, claustrophobic novel that veers between the terror and camaraderie of incarceration; the brutally honest drama therapy group that Isaac must attend if he's to be released; the mounting danger to his sister and all of the repressed feelings and guilt that weigh Isaac down.

While there's some revenge and redemption here, mostly what there is is unblinking reality, a willingness to confront the impossible without denying it. The kids in Isaac's world are in trouble, and that trouble isn't going to get better for most of them, and maybe not for Isaac. Some of those kids are pretty terrible, but even at their worst, they're still kids, and still rounded people with their own virtues and stories.

I don't know when I've read a more empathic novel, and it's been a long time since I read one that was more sorrowful and joyful at the same time. [Read More]

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The Complete Elfquest Vol. 4Fresh out in November, this volume contains some of the most exquisite and touching episodes of Wendy and Richard Pini's Elfquest saga, a great alternative to genre fantasy and its grim 'n' gritty modern counterparts. One of America's best indie comics, it's illustrated by Wendy's wonderful artwork – even at its most lighthearted, unanswerable questions of identity, family and freedom lurk between the lines. (Newcomers should not feel they have to start at the beginning, but it sure helps.)

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The Hardware Hacker: Adventures in Making and Breaking Hardware, by Andrew "bunnie" HuangThe book draws heavily on Huang's own hardware projects, which have included substantial manufacturing in south China, with many hard-won lessons about how things can go wrong and how to make them go right. This is more than a checklist or memoir: it's nothing less than a masterclass in modern manufacturing, and even if you never plan on manufacturing anything, reading these chapters will explain the material world around you like few other texts.

This dovetails neatly into a meditation on the differences between Western and Chinese approaches to "intellectual property" and the way this has informed the manufacturing processes whose outflows are all around us. In these chapters, Huang proves himself to be a thoughtful and incisive critic of law as well as technology, and the thorny questions he raises show up the normal discussion on these subjects up for a shallow scrape over the surface of something deep and difficult.

Huang uses these broad legal and technical passages as a foundation for the second half of the book, which lay out the detective work that Huang did to realize his various hardware challenges, from stick-on soft circuits to an insanely clever device that circumnavigates the law through tight and unsuspected secret creeks that allow him to enter territory that no engineer has ever seen by legal means.

The book concludes with its most speculative and future-looking chapter: a disquisition on the similarities (and differences) between computational bioscience and hardware hacking, based on his work with his "perlfriend" -- his perl-hacking, bioscientist girlfriend -- on hacking genomes. [Read More]

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New York 2140, by Kim Stanley RobinsonIt's 2140 and trillions of dollars' worth of the world's most valuable real estate is now submerged under fifty feet of water, resulting from two great "surges" where runaway polar melting created sudden, punctuated disasters that displaced billions of people, wiped trillions off the world's balance sheets, and turned the great cities of the world into drowned squatter camps.

But it's 2140, and the cities are coming back. The combination of financial speculation, desperate refugees willing to do anything to find shelter, and new technological innovations are spawning "SuperVenice"s where boats replace cars and high-rises connect to each other with fairytale skybridges, and pumped-out subway stations become underwater leisure clubs. No SuperVenice is more super than New York City, where the boats ply midtown Manhattan's skyscrapers and everything from Chelsea down is an intertidal artificial reef where, every now and again, hundreds of squatters die as the buildings topple.

The forces of finance are deeply interested in the intertidal zones. These great cities were once the world's ultimate luxury products and now they're marine salvage, waiting to be dredged up from the tidal basins, dusted off and monetized. Yeah, there's millions of inconvenient poors hanging out in them, but they're a market failure, producing suboptimal rents on some seriously distressed assets that need a little TLC, capital infusion, and ruthless securitization to bring them back.

Robinson is a master of turning stories about zoning disputes and local politics into gripping, un-put-down-able adventure tales (his novel Pacific Edge remains the most uplifting book in my library). New York 2140 is a spectacular exemplar of the tactic: the financial shenanigans form a backdrop for submarine drone-wars, black-ops kidnappings, private security assassinations, non-state actor cyberwar and economic terrorism, buried treasure hunting, and big, muscular technologies from giant dredging barges to aerosolized diamond sprays. [Read More]

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WAKE UP!, by Rick Lieder and Helen FrostLife is a continuing cycle of newness, then growth, and then gone: then birth and growth again. Photographer Rick Lieder started thinking about that theme of new life and new beginnings several years ago, and WAKE UP!, published by Candlewick Press, is the result. Working with his collaborator, poet Helen Frost, our book is about opening eyes—our own, first—and pointing to the world that’s right here, containing us all. Helen and rick are both based in the US Midwest, so we started there, with a world that we didn’t need to travel far to explore, only wake up enough to actually see. [Read More]

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Penguin Galaxy Boxed Set, introduced by Neil GaimanLast October, Penguin released its Galaxy boxed set, a $133 set of six hardcover reprints of some of science fiction's most canonical titles: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin; Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A Heinlein; 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke; Dune by Frank Herbert; The Once and Future King by TH White; and Neuromancer, by William Gibson.

The series is curated and introduced by Neil Gaiman, whose essay on the charm and value of science fiction appears at the start of each of the handsome volumes. It's a fine essay, placing each book in its historical context, and turning a writerly eye to their construction and techniques, as well as some of the memoir that makes Gaiman essays such fine reads (see, for example, his 2016 essay collection The View From the Cheap Seats).

As nice as that essay is, it's eclipsed by the gorgeous design, courtesy of Spanish designer Alex Trochut, whose impressive CV includes a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package. Trochut does away with fussy book-jackets and prints his titles straight onto the books' boards in stylized, embossed gold leaf type -- with clever type-art for every cover. [Read More]

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Brutal London: Construct Your Own Concrete CapitalBrutal London: Construct Your Own Concrete Capital tells the stories of nine of London's greatest brutalist structures (with an intro by Norman Foster!), including the Barbican Estate, Robin Hood Gardens, Balfron Tower and the National Theatre -- and includes pull-out papercraft models of these buildings for you to assemble and display. [Read More]

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SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL v.1: Earth Girl Made Easy, by Cecil CastellucciLoma Shade, as her own unique character, was a way of being steeped in the world of Shade the Changing Man, while being its own thing. Some people say that Shade the Changing Girl seems to be a direct sequel of the Milligan run. I say not so. I’ve always approached it as a kind of side-quel. Creator Cecil Castellucci wanted to take care to have nods and echoes to them both, but to be able to stand narratively on its own. It was a way of striking out in a new direction while plucking elements from the Ditko original and the Milligan run.

Our Shade the Changing Girl is a way of changing the changing.

The body of a teenage girl was a great place to start that change. The body of bully was the way to take it to the next level. The idea of a real alien, who moves like a bird in human form was the best way to express it. Add in Marley Zarcone’s wongld. They are blooming and bursting with feelings and big body changes. They are confident and awkward. They are experimenting with identity. They are constantly changing.

When we are teenagers, we are figuring out how to become who we are. To throw down and figure out what it really means to be human and to break free from our parents and to think for our selves. This is why Castellucci loved writing Shade, because as an alien, she mirrors our own growth in this world. She can see the quotidian with eyes that we can’t see the world with. She has to figure out how to transform herself from who she was to who she isn’t. And through her we dive deep into her attempts to discover the meaning of humanity. Loma Shade is changed profoundly by being this mean girl and having to navigate the fall out of living in Megan’s body and in her world. [Read More]

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Paper Girls 1, 2 and 3, by Brian K Vaughanhttps://boingboing.net/2016/12/14/brian-k-vaughan-and-cliff-chan.html https://Paper Girls stars an all-girl cast of newspaper delivery kids for a fictional Cleveland newspaper, circa 1988 -- they are instantly and wholeheartedly likable, like the Goonies or the cast of Stranger Things. They convene on November 1, when the mean teenagers of Cleveland are still out an about and making mischief, picking on the likes of them, and they band together in mutual self-defense.

Then things get weird.

The girls are assaulted by a group of costumed teens, who rip off a Radio Shack walkie-talkie that one of them saved for months to buy. The girls chase down these goons, ending up in a partially built house, whose basement holds a spaceship of some kind, or maybe it's a time-machine -- and after a flash and a bang, they emerge to a transformed neighborhood, overcast with a tornado out of which flap huge, monstrous dinosaurs ridden by lance-wielding, argot-speaking warriors who kill and kidnap all they meet.

Before long, the girls are hurled into a mystery tale of Vaughnian complexity, chased through time and space, meeting ambiguous heroes and villains, including several who may be clones of them -- or older versions, or neither. (Don't foreget books Two and Three) [Read More]

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Bitch Doctrine: Essays for Dissenting Adults, by Laurie PennyIf you've followed Penny's work, you'll know that the thing that sets her apart from other enraged columnists is her empathy: her ability to understand the self-serving rationalizations, radioactive bullshit, and emotional damage that drives men to threaten her with rape and murder for pointing out that things aren't exactly fair.

But while Penny is perfectly capable of understanding her ideological opponents -- better than they understand themselves, without a doubt -- she doesn't offer them any sympathy. This sympathy -- no less well-informed, no less analytical -- is reserved for people who are getting the shittiest end of the stick: trans people, people of color, poor people, disabled people, other women. Even when she feuds with them, even when she is laid low by anger from her allies, she does the hard work to look past her own hurt feelings, to the missteps that let her to a place of conflict.

Penny is a bridge between two modes of political writing, a hybrid that gets the best of both and offsets their deficits: on the one hand, she's clearly in the Hunter S Thompson gonzo tradition (her adventures running down violent neo-Nazis in Greece are a match for anything HST wrote about Hell's Angels or police detective conventions); on the other hand, she's got the scholarly habit of finding and presenting an issue from every side, even the ones she disagrees with. But while the gonzos reduce their opponents to caricatures, and while scholarly work can dissolve the point of view into a view from nowhere, wishy-washy and free from any kind of thesis or real muscle, Penny is able to forcefully convey her point of view, and back it up by showing that she understands exactly what her opponents are thinking, and why, precisely, they are full of shit. [Read More]

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Lizard Music, by Daniel PinkwaterLizard Music is a novel about Victor, a kid who falls asleep while doing a model airplane and wakes up when the local TV station is going off the air, who discovers that the true late-night programming comes from humanoid lizards who live in a secret nearby volcano and worship Walter Cronkite.

Victor travels to the land of the lizards with the Chicken Man, a recurring Pinkwater character: a kind of hobo figure whose pet chicken is wise beyond her years and dander. What happens next will... Well, it will make you weirder.

No author has ever captured the great fun of being weird, growing up as a happy mutant, unfettered by convention, as well as Pinkwater has. When I was a kid, Pinkwater novels like Lizard Music made me intensely proud to be a little off-center and weird -- they taught me to woo the muse of the odd and made me the happy adult I am today. It's one of those books that, in the right hands at the right time, can change your life for the better and forever. [Read More]

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Landscape With Invisible Hand, by MT AndersonIn 2002, MT Anderson blew up the YA dystopia world with Feed, his zeitgeisty, prescient novel about "identity crises, consumerism, and star-crossed teenage love in a futuristic society where people connect to the Internet via feeds implanted in their brains" -- in his latest, Landscape with Invisible Hand, Anderson takes us to a world where neoliberal aliens have sold Earth's plutocrats the technologies to make work obsolete and with it, nearly human being on earth.

Now we all have to live with that reality: former superstar luxury car salesmen, bank tellers, teachers, programmers -- everyone except for a tiny elite of financial engineers, really -- have been replaced by technology sold by the vuuv (that's the alien race) to the world's 1 percenters when they inducted the human race into the galactic prosperity sphere.

Landscape is told as a series of acerbic, short vignettes -- latter-day Douglas Coupland riffs -- in the voice of Adam, a teenager living in a rotting suburban home amidst the remains of his rotting suburban life, scrounging for rice and beans and painting, painting, painting, the only escape he has. Each chapterlette opens with Adam describing a painting that sets the scene, part of the blasted, wasted dystopia that 99% of the human race lives in while sneering aliens and financial executives tell them to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, get jobs, and stop looking for handouts. [Read More]

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Stories of Your Life and OthersTed Chiang's writing is rare and precise, weaving threads of science fiction into something so haunting and humane I've woken up dreaming about it more than once. Here you can read most of his published work, including the novella that was recently filmed as Arrival and is currently in U.S. theaters. But my favorites are the Borgesian "Tower of Babel," about an engineer breaking through the vault of heaven, and "Division by Zero."

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The Power, by Naomi AldermanIn The Power, a day dawns, not so long from now, in which every 15-year-old girl finds herself with the power to deal out electric shocks, emanating from an unsuspected organ called "the skein," which rests along the collarbone. What's more, any woman can do the trick, once a 15 year old shows them how.

Chaos. Glorious chaos.

The world's sex-slaves kill their pimps. The women of Saudi Arabia foment revolution. Women whose husbands beat them strike back. Girls whose fathers rape them find themselves able to defend themselves -- with lethal force, if it comes to that.

Concerned parents ask to have their boys separated from the vicious girls who stalk them through school. Mean girl cliques take on a new, deadly overtone. Law and order teeters.

Against this background, a cast of characters: Roxy, the daughter of a ruthless British gangster; Joc, the daughter of an ambitious midwestern politician; Allie, a much-abused foster kid whose foster father has a surprise in store for him, and Tunde, a Nigerian lad whose workshops of storytelling through digital photography just took on a new significance.

Through these characters, a plot as intricate and fast moving as any thriller, with lots of grace notes and seeming detours that converge with the main storyline, giving it energy and velocity.

And throughout, when you're finished, the realization that there was so much more going on, stuff I can't discuss without spoilers -- a story within the story that is chilling, thrilling, disturbing. [Read More]

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Archangel, by William GibsonFrom the start of its run in 2016, Archangel went from strength to strength, packing in so many goddamned O.G. cyberpunk eyeball kicks per page that it felt like some kind of cask-strength distillation of all the visual and action elements that gave the original mirrorshades stuff its dark glitter.

Now that the comic's run is done, the five-issue tale is revealed as a masterful, beautifully plotted war story set in three different wars: WWII as we know it, WWII as it might have been, and a distant all-out nuclear conflagration that may or may not have been an inside job.

This is a time-travel story, but it's one that sets out to break the genre's conventions: it opens with the ruthless son of America's power-grabbed president-for-life traveling back to Berlin at the end of WWII to murder his grandfather and take his place. Take that, grandfather parodox.

Hunting the president's son and his goons is "The Pilot," a USAF ninja in a camouflage suit who must prevent Junior from destroying another world without giving Junior the chance to detonate the belly-bomb all US armed-forces members must have implanted when they enlist. Thankfully, it has a 30 foot range.

Archangel is visually stunning, with all the dark romance of war-torn Berlin as a setting: deviant cabarets, black marketeers' dens, chop-shops, makeshift Soviet command-posts and secret airfields. Then there's the futuristic world of Junior and the president, seen in a cramped bunker in which a rogue scientist is scrambling to support The Pilot from the distant future and a different timeline. [Read More]

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Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches, by John HodgmanMy first impression of Vacationland was that I'd found a modern version of Steve Martin's classic Cruel Shoes. Hodgman is so very witty, and as he sets up his memoir -- the story of how he was a weird kid raised by loving but largely unconcerned parents -- he has so many tinder-dry asides and beautifully turned sentences and jokes with long fuses that unexpectedly detonate paragraphs later that I was really getting ready to relive my own childhood.

Right as I was getting comfortably settled into Vacationland, I discovered that Hodgman had smoothly transitioned me into some really profound emotional truth -- it's where he starts talking about his mother's untimely death and how he reacted to her terminal illness -- and then back into that dry, comedic mode, slipping the knife in and pulling it out so smoothly that I hadn't even noticed until the blood started to drip. That kind of maneuver requires both a steady hand a very sharp knife, and Hodgman has both.

This sneaky book pulls that move over and over, using comedy and narrative confidence to make important points about privilege, self-delusion, parenting, death, birth, cities, alienation, love -- the whole gamut.

All without ever losing the comedy, which is funny stuff, and it's not a spoonful of sugar that helps all that serious medicine go down, it's perfectly blended into those serious themes.

This isn't a book like Cruel Shoes: it's the book Cruel Shoes gets to be when it grows up. [Read More]

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Sport-Brella XLPortable wind, sun, and rain shelter that's easy to set up. Can you open an umbrella? Can you drive a couple stakes into the ground? You got this, then. Haul it to the beach, outdoor gatherings or events, camping, sports, and you feel like you have a little private room outdoors. Comes in 6 different colors. Provides UPF 50+ shade. Opens to 9 feet wide, has a metallic undercoating for additional sun protection, internal pockets for stakes, valuables, and gear, plus top wind vents and side zippered windows for efficient airflow. Water resistant, weighs only 11.5 pounds. I first saw someone else on our local beach use it, and asked them where they bought it. Amazonned one for myself. Now I use it nearly every weekend, and love it.

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3" Glass PyramidMade of "optically clear crystal" and three inches tall, Amlong's Crystal Pyramid is the best Crystal Pyramid. My bacon is fresh, my airspace dangerous, and my undertakings favored.

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OXO Good Grips Solid Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop ($15)The old ice cream scoop we had wasn't really an ice cream scoop. It was a disher, and was more suited for scooping mashed potatoes than ice cream. When the trigger mechanism on it finally broke, I happily got rid of it and replaced it with the OXO Good Grips Solid Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop($15). This surprisingly heavy scoop is made from a solid chunk of stainless steel with a comfortable rubber grip, and comes with a pointed end that digs right into hard ice cream, especially if you run hot water over it. It's supposedly dishwasher safe but why put it in the dishwasher? Just rinse it and dry it with a towel.

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Brondell SourceI bought the Brondell Source in 2015 and it alleviated allergy symptoms; here's the latest model, adding a touchscreen, remote control and an adjustable air quality sensor. Rids the air of dust and dander and tiny particles you don’t need to be breathing—but also filters volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Three-stage advanced purifier system includes certified True HEPA and Granulated Carbon technology. Glowing light indicator tells you when it’s working. One time my dog farted a particularly noxious plume and this thing kicked into high gear with an emergency red glow. That’s when I knew I’d be giving it a five star recommendation.

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MARK

Lynx Sonoma Stainless Steel Countertop Natural Gas Smoker ($2500)This capacious, ultra high-end smoker has a digital control panel, smoker chip box, an instant-reading meat probe. It's got built-in Wi-Fi, of course, so you can monitor the process wherever you are.

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JASON

Wise Owl Camping HammockThe comfort to weight ratio of a good camping hammock is off the charts. Durable and easy to set up, you'll be happy anyplace you can find two appropriately spaced trees.

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XENI

Cuisinart 14-Cup Food ProcessorThe latest model of the best food processor for people who are serious about broadening their happy foodie horizons. Shove entire fruits and veggies into the giant feed tube. Listen to the 720-watt motor fill a 14-cup work bowl with steel slicing and shredding discs. It still comes with a free recipe book.

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Toys and Games

ROB

Rainbow SlimeA glittery additive mixed with kid-safe Elmer's glue, Rainbow Slime is what you make of it. Fun when forming and flexible when dry, the results are beautiful, weird and extremely cheap at $6 or so.

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JASON

The Intellivision Flashback ConsoleRemember the unlucky kid with the parents who got them an "Intellivision" instead of an Atari? Make someone that miserable again! With games no one can remember except maybe that OK one with a snake that couldn't touch its tail but isn't SNAFU, the Intellivision really sucked.

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DAVID

Ejector Seat Button For Your CarA perfect stocking stuffer, this very clever eject button fits into most automobile cigarette lighter sockets. Unfortunately, the product listing clearly states that it's "designed for show only." It is a functional cigarette lighter though so I guess they mean it won't actually trigger your ejector seat.

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DAVID

Swish card gameA beautiful and deeply compelling card game, Swish is challenges your spatial perception to find matches of balls and hoops on transparent cards. It’s a wordless game of pattern recognition that has entranced my entire family including our youngest child, age 8.

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ROB

Bulk Generic LegoYou can get 1000 random pieces of off-brand building bricks for less than $30, guaranteed to "fit tight" and come with "less filler" than the even-cheaper bulk buys.

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MARK

Palomino Blackwing 602 Pencils ($23/doz.)This is a faithful reproduction of the Eberhard Faber original, which is no longer being made. Blackwing 602 have dark, soft lead (the motto printed on the pencil reads"Half the pressure, twice the speed") and features a unique eraser holder. I've been using them for years.

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JASON

Make your own Crazy Aaron's Thinking PuttyThe one thing my 10-year-old enjoys more than making her own floam or slime is playing with Thinking Putty. Textured quite like the legendary Silly Putty of yore, Crazy Aaron's putties come in a rainbow of colors and styles. This set lets you design your own! I am pretty sure Mark could be easily distracted by a can of magnetic Thinking Putty.

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ROB

Copic Ciao Marker SetAt about $200, a full set of 72 Copic markers is a pricey proposition. But that's because they're the absolute best, with perfect colors, easy blending, and a big brush tip good for detail and wash alike. Dip an elbow in the water with a relatively inexpensive 12-marker set; great deals on partially-used sets can also be found haunting eBay.

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JASON

Because cats are totally down with the Dark SideYoda and Chewie as mice for your cat to attack, because all cats align with the Dark Side. Except for Loth-Cats for some reason, but I wouldn't exactly trust them either.

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JASON

Star Wars Viewmaster gift setI am not sure how the whole putting gifts in a sock thing works, but this Darth Vader themed Viewmaster Viewer looks like it'd fit in a traditional Christ inspired gifting sock. Star Wars Viewmaster reels are always pretty sweet. This also makes a good Hanukkah day 4-7 gift for kids who can pull off the entire 8-day challenge. My kid starts getting a hug after day 3.

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JASON

You sank my holiday experience!While it doesn't look much like the genre-defining 'This game isn't as much fun as a commercial made it look' toy of our youth, Electronic Battleship is now more exciting looking while boastin' the same old lows in game-play disappointment! Eeeeelectronic Battleship is no more fun than regular old Battleship, which is also a pretty god damn boring game. This is an excellent gift for someone you do not like, but want to appear you gave a cool gift at opening time.

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JASON

Prison Life RobloxKnow a kid that just can't behave? Maybe a co-worker? Make sure they understand a life of crime will come to no good.

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ROB

Mysterious and Indistinct ShirtFabulous yet classy, the Mysterious and Indistinct Shirt is a premium youth tee and "wears rough and tough for kids who play the same way."

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DAVID

MastermindInvented in 1970 by an Israeli telecom expert, Mastermind is still the terrific game of strategy, logic, and deduction that you might remember from childhood. True, the packaging lacks the Bond-inspired photo of the dignified man and woman that appeared on the original box, but the game is just as elegant and addictive.

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CORY

Largemouth bass sandalsYou will look amazing in sandals that look like gasping largemouth bass, seriously (max size is a Men's 10, so only the dainty of feed need apply, e.g., not me). [Read More]

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ROB

Blank Playing CardsMake your own games! Or just stare at them. Whatever.

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Naughty + Nice

MARK

Wink Plus ($79)In William Burroughs' novel Naked Lunch, Steely Dan III from Yokohama was the name of a stainless steel sex toy. The USB-chargeable Wink Plus vibrator from Crave is probably not what Old Bill Lee had in mind, because it is quite small, but it is made from stainless steel, and packs quite a vibrational wallop, with five intensity levels and two patterns.

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ROB

Wolf Crotch UnderwearWith a "convex design, large space and breathable," the 3D Wolf Head Crotch Underwear "make man looks sexy and wild" and can be yours for as little as five American dollars.

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JASON

Spend your holiday season TwistedThe Twisty Glass Blunt is a brain-hammer. Fill the glass chamber with your favorite herb, screw in the brass mouthpiece, and you are prepared to smoke a lot of weed. Perfect for a day at the beach, or an outdoor music festival, the Twisty Glass Blunt is an absolute favorite. I've got the mini as well.

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JASON

Poop emoji Santa HatWar on Christmas? Christmas seems to be integrating into todays meme-filled emoticon world. Now your Santa can proudly display his favorite emoji, or perhaps this is mean to signify something else.

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https://boingboing.net/2017/11/25/giftguide2017.html

[gersart]

Playing with a pico projector... I hate to think I need to buy ANOTHER raspberry pi, but both of mine are currently in use for other projects. The goal is to have a completely enclosed project in a box, which means getting another battery, too. http://bit.ly/2Sbmz92

[draegerit]

Kreative Experimente mit dem Raspberry Pi Pico Inventors Kit

In diesem Beitrag m��chte ich dir das Inventors Kit für den Raspberry Pi Pico von der Firma Elecfreaks vorstellen. Das Set beinhaltet fast alles (leider nicht den Mikrocontroller), was du zum sofortigen Starten deiner Entwicklung mit dem Raspberry Pi Pico benötigst.

Disclaimer: Dieser Beitrag über das "Raspberry Pi Pico Inventors Kit" wurde von mir verfasst, nachdem ich auf das Set aufmerksam wurde. Ich möchte darauf hinweisen, dass ich das Set von der Firma Elecfreaks gesponsert erhalten habe. Diese Entscheidung beruhte auf meiner eigenen Initiative, nachdem ich auf das Produkt durch TikTok aufmerksam geworden bin. Mein Ziel ist es, meine ehrliche Meinung und meine Erfahrungen mit dem Set in diesem Artikel zu teilen. Die Tatsache, dass das Produkt gesponsert wurde, beeinflusst jedoch nicht meine Bewertung oder den Inhalt des Artikels. Meine Rezension basiert auf meinen eigenen Erfahrungen und Beobachtungen während der Nutzung des Raspberry Pi Pico Inventors Kit.

Das Inventors Kit im Überblick

Schauen wir uns zunächst einmal an, was in diesem Kit enthalten ist. - eine Anleitung auf Englisch für MicroBlocks & CircuitPython, - ein Modul mit 5 mm, grüner LED, - ein Modul mit 5 mm, roter LED, - ein Mikrofonmodul, - ein Lichtsensor, - ein DHT11, - ein Drehpotentiometermodul, - ein OLED Display, - ein Ultraschallabstandssensor, - ein DC Motor, - ein Regensensormodul, - ein Servomotor Typ SG90, und natürlich - das Modul WuKong2040

Raspberry Pi Pico Inventors Kit von Elecfreaks

Anschlusskabel für den WuKong2040 Zusätzlich bekommst du noch passende Kabel für den Anschluss an das WuKong2040 Modul und ein Micro-USB Datenkabel.

WuKong2040 für den Raspberry Pi Pico

Der Hauptakteur des Kits ist das Modul WuKong2040. Auf dieses Modul wird der Mikrocontroller Raspberry Pi Pico oder Pico W gesteckt und du kannst dann über Stiftleisten die Pins abgreifen.

Zusätzlich ist auf diesem noch: - zwei RGB LEDs, - zwei Taster, - ein Piezo Buzzer, sowie - ein Sockel für eine LiPo 18650 (nicht enthalten)

Die LiPo Batterie kannst du bequem über das Modul laden, dazu leuchtet dann die kleine SMD LED neben dem USB-Anschluss in Rot zusätzlich ändert sich die Farbe der POWER LED in orange / rot.

Das Modul WuKong2040 ist auf einem Techniksockel montiert, so dass du diesen theoretisch auf Sets von Klemmbausteinhersteller wie Lego integrieren kannst.

Aufstecken des Raspberry Pi Pico auf den WuKong2040

Bevor du deinen Mikrocontroller auf die Buchsenleiste des WuKong2040 steckst, solltest du ein leeres Programm auf diesen spielen. Denn solltest du diesen bereits für andere Projekte verwendet haben und ggf. GPIOs definiert haben, kann es passieren, dass dein Mikrocontroller zerstört wird.

Programmieren und Stromversorgung

Das Modul WuKong2040 verfügt über eine Micro-USB Schnittstelle, über diese wird lediglich das Modul und der Pico mit Strom versorgt. Zum Programmieren des Pi Pico musst du den Mikrocontroller direkt mit dem PC verbinden. Damit du nicht ständig das Kabel tauschen musst, empfehle ich dir den Einsatz einer LiPo Batterie Typ 18650.

Programmieren des Raspberry Pi Pico Inventors Kits

Das Kit lässt sich in MicroBlocks, CircuitPython & MicroPython programmieren. Du kannst dieses auch in der Arduino IDE programmieren, dafür musst du lediglich deinen Mikrocontroller (den Raspberry Pi Pico) etwas vorbereiten, siehe Raspberry PI Pico in der Arduino IDE programmieren.

Da sich das Set an Anfänger richtet, möchte ich dir hier die Programmierung in MicroBlocks zeigen. Mit dieses Onlinetool kannst du deinen Code mit Blöcken aufbauen und so kommst du schnell zu einem Ergebnis, ohne dass du dich erst in eine Programmiersprache einarbeiten musst. Ein weiterer Vorteil von MicroBlocks ist, dass du eine komplette Bibliothek erhältst, um die Sensoren & Aktoren anzusteuern, aber dazu später mehr. Erste Schritte in MicroBlocks mit dem WuKong2040 Bevor wir mit komplexen Schaltungen und Programmen starten, verschaffen wir uns zunächst einen kleinen Überblick über MicroBlocks mit dem WuKong2040. Dieses kannst du entweder herunterladen, oder du nutzt dieses wie ich im Browser Google Chrome. https://youtu.be/8ieqfCKzUOs

Aufblick & Zwischenfazit

Wir haben uns zunächst das Inventors Kit von Elecfreaks angeschaut und den WuKong2040 mit dem Raspberry Pi Pico verbunden. Im nächsten Beitrag werde ich dir zu den jeweiligen Sensoren & Aktoren kleine Beispiele zeigen. Diese werde ich in MicroBlocks erstellen, damit du diese sehr einfach nachbauen kannst. Read the full article