Cafaro's Ramblings » Cars & Trucks https://www.cafaro.net A site to collect thoughts and figures of the moment. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:55:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Really not dead yet…. (Yes an update) https://www.cafaro.net/2012/01/17/really-not-dead-yet-yes-an-update/ https://www.cafaro.net/2012/01/17/really-not-dead-yet-yes-an-update/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:36:49 +0000 D-Caf https://www.cafaro.net/?p=257 So it’s been over two years since my last post.  Been very busy in my life and haven’t had time to do as much tinkering and computer stuff at home as I usually would.  That’s not to say I haven’t done anything, just haven’t documented it.  Here are a few things that happened in the last two years:

  1. I changed jobs, I now work in computer, network, and systems security full time.  I’m loving it!  Finally getting to really practice what I preach in the security field.  Georgetown was fun and a great time to grow my general systems experience, but I’m enjoying the focus on computer and network security.


  2. Got a new car, this actually happened about three years ago, but I never posted about it.  The Chevy Blazer was taken out by it’s imploding supercharger and deemed not worth my time, effort, and money to repair.  Given it was early 2009 and car dealers were giving away cars I got a great deal on a new 2009 VW Tiguan SE with AWD.  Still love the car and making small upgrades to it as the years go on to make it more mine.  I did actually stand up a page for that work here: My SUV Project (Tiguan).


  3. I made some network and computer upgrades at home as well.  I replace my original first generation MacBook Pro 15″ (Intel Core Duo 2Ghz) with a late 2010 model MacBook Pro 15″ (Intel i7 Dual Core) with HD display and 8GB of ram.  It’s currently triple booting MacOS X 10.6, Fedora 16, and Windows Ent 7.  I have a post on how to setup triple boot in the works.  I also upgrade my old Promise NS4300N 2TB NAS box with a new NetGear ReadyNAS Pro 6 12TB.  Much faster and a lot more storage plus so many options.  Finally I’ve kept the network up with technology and run full WiFI a/b/g 300mbps+ and GigE wired via NetGear WNDR4000 and assorted GigE switches paired with FiOS internet.  Finally I upgraded my workstation piece by piece to get it up to a Sandybridge i7 and 16GB ram so that I can build out a new HD+CableCard MythTV network using VMs, the NAS box, and the new Silicon Dust HD Prime. I’ll have a post later documenting my network general gear later as well as posts on how I setup MythTV.


  4. I’ve got a Barnes and Noble Nook Color as well.  It’s a great little device and hoping to take better advantage of it this coming year.  And yes, it’s rooted.  Running stock Nook Software but with the added benefit of sideloaded and standard android market apps too.


  5. And last but not least, still being a dad and husband working away enjoying watching the kids learn and grow (as I learn and grow).

 

]]> https://www.cafaro.net/2012/01/17/really-not-dead-yet-yes-an-update/feed/ 0 New Brakes installed https://www.cafaro.net/2006/05/31/new-brakes-installed/ https://www.cafaro.net/2006/05/31/new-brakes-installed/#comments Wed, 31 May 2006 19:25:03 +0000 D-Caf http://www.cafaro.net/2006/05/31/new-brakes-installed/ Well, I finally got my new brake kit installed on the truck. This is a set of SSBC 13″ slotted rotors with enlarged 3 piston aluminum calipers. This replaces the stock 11″ rotors with 2 piston steel calipers. This translates into more stopping power as well as more consistent stopping power. Of course, I’ve got the added grip of sport truck tires that have a larger contact patch than the stock tires. Without this, I would just be hitting the ABS threshold faster instead of stopping faster. Here are some before and after pictures.

Before:
Stock brakes

After:
The upgraded brakes
]]> https://www.cafaro.net/2006/05/31/new-brakes-installed/feed/ 0