DataMike » texas http://datamike.net Interesting Tech Stuff, and Some Pictures Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:35:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 El Paso Panorama from Ranger Peak http://datamike.net/2009/12/el-paso-panorama-from-ranger-peak/ http://datamike.net/2009/12/el-paso-panorama-from-ranger-peak/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:53:43 +0000 admin http://datamike.net/?p=268 This panorama was stitched from 9 photos of about 180 degrees.  You can take an aerial tram from a parking lot to the peak for $7 and hike back down (or up if you’re nuts) in about 2 hours.  It’s not the longest tram (that’s actually in Albuquerque), but it is a pleasant view.  Off in the far distance is Juarez, Mexico.

el paso tramway panorama

A view from Ranger Peak in El Paso, Texas

]]> http://datamike.net/2009/12/el-paso-panorama-from-ranger-peak/feed/ 2 Why Fry’s Electonics is the Happiest Place on Earth http://datamike.net/2009/04/why-frys-electonics-is-the-happiest-place-on-earth/ http://datamike.net/2009/04/why-frys-electonics-is-the-happiest-place-on-earth/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:21:33 +0000 admin http://datamike.net/?p=111 The last two times I’ve gone on vacation, I’ve gone 2 hours out of my way to visit Fry’s Electronics. I’ve been to Fry’s in L.A., Phoenix and Austin. Each time it’s been a near religious experience. I’d sacrifice a goat, if I seriously thought it would get me one in New Mexico.

Imagine taking a Best Buy or CompUSA, multiply the floor space by 3 or 4 times. You’d have the usual white goods (dishwashers, fridges) and the computer systems and separate components. And, of course laptops, netbooks, mp3 players, and the usual apple crap. There’s the software and the computer books(but this time a real selection like Borders or Barnes & Noble). But also some real meat for an electronics tech: quality technical tools, RJ crimpers, digital meters, heat shrink tubing, oscilloscopes, discrete components (IC’s, transistors, they actually had a cross reference catalog),cool hobbyist kits like they had at Radio Shack back in the day, Parallax Stamp and Propeller kits. All of sitting on shelves like it was Wal-mart. Excuse me while I calm down… Please Fry’s come home. come home…

Valhalla

Valhalla

Valhalla ]]> http://datamike.net/2009/04/why-frys-electonics-is-the-happiest-place-on-earth/feed/ 1