Free Dungeons & Dragons Player's and Dungeon Master's Manuals

Download them here:

As Mike Mearls explained in Legends & Lore, the Basic Rules for Dungeons & Dragons is a PDF (over 100 pages, in fact) that covers the core of the game. It runs from levels 1 to 20 and covers the cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard, presenting what we view as the essential subclass for each. It also provides the dwarf, elf, halfling, and human as race options; in addition, the rules contain 120 spells, 5 backgrounds, and character sheets. 

But the best part? The Basic Rules is a free PDF. Anyone can download it from our website. We want to put D&D in as many hands as possible, and a free, digital file is the best way to do that.

I used to have some D&D stuff - that was before my Sportster Modem collection started.

Via LifeHacker

Job Search Site Feature

One of the most annoying things about the job search boards is seeing the same jobs over and over. If I built a Monster or CareerBuilder, I would allow the user to flip a toggle on each individual job posting so that it would be excluded from the query next time.

Be Afraid

Potentially bad news for your favorite Game of Thrones characters:

“I have a large number of important characters who I switch between to tell the entirety of the story, and that limits who I can kill … The viewpoint characters are meeting up with each other and being in the same point at the same time,” said Martin, “which gives me a lot more flexibility for killing people.”

George R.R. Martin via WinterIsComing.net.

But #1 in your hearts

People who work in the tech industry say my school is number eight on the list of best business schools.

Transmitting from an Undisclosed Location

I'm not at the home base, so posting will be limited - as you've already figured out. It also doesn't help that the network connection here drops between 7% to 11% of the packets, average pings are 400ms, and maximum pings hit 3 seconds. I'm hoping they upgrade to a Sportster 56K soon.

Leixen VV-898: A Review

VK3XRA has a review of the VV-898.

Baofeng BF-F8HP: High Power

So a there is a new kid on the block... the Baofeng BF-F8HP.

From the Baofeng Tech website:

• It has 3 Power Levels (1, 4, 8 watt) 
• A new 76 Page In-Depth User's Guide 
• It includes the High Gain V-85 Antenna to Optimize Performance 
• It is the only second generation BaoFeng with the Tri-Color Display 
• Full Accessory Compatibility with ALL UV-5R accessories 

Miklor has a review. He says it has the same chip as the GT-3. He also has output power measurements and they look good.

You can order one at Amazon for about $63.

Old School

Spent my day building a Windows 2003 Server with SQL Server 2000 (SP3a) on an old PowerEdge 2600. Good times. Don't be too jealous.

Xiegu X108: Testing Results

Some results of the testing... I'm having some difficulty parsing all of this. I'll leave that to the many people who are smarter than me.

"Overall, the test found that the main issue covers both hardware and software, but also more detailed.
The first round of testing yet found a fatal problem, the main problem is the following points:
1, CIV control part of the software is imperfect. (Software perfected)
2, USB port communication, computer recognition, online instability (already rectification)
3, PTT data interference. (Already rectification)
4, some bug (already rectification) software on the
5, optimization of protection mechanisms (already rectification) more than a few problems have been gradually rectification is complete, partial validation machines also made ​​the corresponding comprehensive reform, should be effective, The second round of closed beta has yet to be further verified. Including software on some issues, but also have made ​​the appropriate improvements. Meanwhile, No. 405, No. 406, No. 408 also conducted a precision CNC machine APC improved power control is more precise and stable, and optimized high VSWR protection mechanism to ensure safety when working under prolonged high standing state machine. At the same time, this also verified the reception performance measured X108, or good, with some large base station receives the comparison test results, are also remarkable, I also relieved. Launch is also to force, the indicators are in line with national standard requirements. Niece secretive nothing good question, and found the problem to be improved, which is the measured maximum use and harvest ah"

"USB port problems, one USB port instability, vulnerable to interference, one USB real-time communication interference received, the final decision to abandon USB real-time communication, retaining only brush machine functions. The online task is given to the AUX port, this interface can be extended out."

"USB port to keep the brush machine will use ah. X108 USB port is not simply a serial converter chip, but really USB, brush firmware with USB mass storage mode, and drivers and operating system independent, and do not want to change the structure of the main circuit."

Universal Converter Box

I ordered one of these from Amazon today. If it had Lightning and RS232, it would be perfect.

From xkcd.com