---
author: Chris Hodapp
comments: true
date: 2008-05-17 14:39:34+00:00
layout: post
slug: overdue-scrap-notes-20080501-0516
title: Overdue scrap notes, 2008.05.01-05.16
wordpress_id: 84
categories:
- Scratch
tags:
- electronics
- linux
- politics
- programming
---

**2008.04.30**



	
  * [Reaktor diary](http://reaktordiary.blogspot.com/): might be helpful as I learn to use Reaktor

	
  * Despite that this program is not open source but proprietary, it offers more comprehensible insight into its workings than any of the open source synth software I have tried so far.

	
  * Given, I've only used a couple premade instruments, but their internal structure is out-in-the-open in the form of modules, not as blocks of code that I would have a hard time finding and a harder time comprehending.


**2008.05.06**



	
  * [Chilling Effects Clearinghouse](http://www.chillingeffects.org/): "A joint project of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and (about a dozen schools).... Chilling Effects aims to help you understand the protections that the First Amendment and intellectual property laws give to your online activities."

	
  * [Linux Softpedia - EDA](http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Science-and-Engineering/Electronic-Design-Automation-EDA-/): looks like a good collection of Electronic Design Automation software for Linux

	
  * [Signs](http://www.iti.uni-stuttgart.de/~bartscgr/signs/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) (or [here](http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Science-and-Engineering/Electronic-Design-Automation-EDA-/Signs-7965.shtml)): "a tool for logic synthesis and gate level simulation... include synthesis of RTL-style VHDL circuit descriptions and a dynamic graphical netlist viewer..."

	
  * [KTechLab](http://ktechlab.org/): "...an Open Source Intergated Design Environment (IDE) for electronic and PIC microcontroller circuit design and simulation."

	
  * [Alliance CAD](http://www-asim.lip6.fr/recherche/alliance/): "a complete         set of free CAD tools and portable libraries for VLSI design... includes a VHDL compiler and simulator, logic         synthesis tools, and automatic place and route tools."

	
  * Octeon Plus - some chip, 4 to 16 MIPS64 core, 600-1000 MHz, 15-40W power usage... looks pretty fast ([Linuxdevices link](http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6961076616.html))

	
  * [Helpful link ](http://nomediakings.org/doityourself/howto_silkscreen_posters_and_shirts.html)about silkscreening/screenprinting from [nomediakings.org](http://nomediakings.org)


**2008.05.09**



	
  * "This Film is Not Yet Rated" ([IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493459/)) - some movie my friend Adam recommended; looks like the [full version](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-559517494445537267) is online, for now, at Google Videos

	
  * [Univ. of Manchester, Advanced Processor Tech. Group](http://intranet.cs.man.ac.uk/apt/) - good link for some software projects and papers relevant to processors

	
  * "In Defense of Lost Causes" - Slavoj Zizek ([Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Lost-Causes-Slavoj-Zizek/dp/1844671089))... maybe an interesting book from a "Slovene sociologist, philosopher, and cultural critic." who describes himself as a Marxist

	
  * "Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe" - Arianna Huffington ([Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Right-Wrong-Hijacked-Shredded-Constitution/dp/0307269663)) . . . just in case you needed more anti-conservative propaganda

	
  * Past public lectures from Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics are available [here](http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/Outreach/Public_Lectures/View_Past_Public_Lectures/) (though videos look like mostly Windows Media Player or Flash).

	
  * [SIMH](http://simh.trailing-edge.com/): software from the Computer History Simulation Project, able to simulate (not emulate?) a variety of rather old hardware, like the DEC PDP



**2008.05.16**



	
  * [Excerpts](http://www.relativitybook.com/resources/Einstein_religion.html) from Einstein's letter to Eric Gutkind on 1954-01-03 - expresses some of his views on religion pretty well... apparently lining up a bit with the "Deus sive nature" views of [Spinoza](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baruch_Spinoza)

	
  * [Reconfigurable computing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconfigurable_computing)... worth learning about.

	
  * [Microcode](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcode)... also worth learning about, particularly with x86

	
  * [FpgaC](http://fpgac.sourceforge.net/): "FpgaC compiles a subset of the C language to net lists which can be imported into an FPGA vendors tool chains... excellent alternative to VHDL/Verilog for algorithmic expression of FPGA reconfigurable computing tasks." . . . like an HLL rather than an HDL.

	
  * [Atmel FPSLIC](http://www.atmel.com/products/FPSLIC/): AVR microcontroller and SRAM-based FPGA combined on one die

	
  * [Achronix](http://www.achronix.com/): FPGAs running up to around 2 GHz

	
  * [OpenCores](http://www.opencores.org/): Designs and publishes core designs (for FPGAs, CPLDs, ASICs in general) under a license based on the LGPL

	
  * [OpenFPGA](http://www.openfpga.org/): Promote FPGAs in blahblahblah by trying to have open standards and information and practices

	
  * [Pragmatic Marketing](http://www.pragmaticmarketing.com/): I dunno, but I've read a few useful links here


**2008.05.16**



	
  * "Commonwealth - Economics for a Crowded Planet" - Jeff Sachs ([link](http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2008/03/common-wealth-e.html) at [marginalrevolution.com](http://www.marginalrevolution.com/))


