Obviously the antonym of inverse cant be verse since the English would language never rely on context to establish the meaning of a word.

According to the magnanimous synonym.com, it depends on the context, so it could either be direct or reverse.

When your “on the command line” or “in the shell” why is that no standard help operator? The lack of standardization can become really annoying

Some need –help, some like ? other a simple -h will do.

Granted, it’s not something that you run into everyday, but when it’s late in the evening, nothing can be more annoying when you just need to double check an operator on some obscure litte program.

Local shops wanted close to $100 for a mechanical USB switch, to share a USB keyboard and mouse between two computers. I accomplished the same thing with a cheap compact USB hub, an old keyboard and a 3 pole switch for less than $10.

The keyboard is wired to one of the USB hubs ports, the 3PDT switches the hubs two data lines plus the 5v+ rail. In an ideal world, the ground and shield should be switched too, but I only had a 3 pole switch and limited room.

I decided to put the hub inside the keyboard to reduce clutter, fitting everything in was the hardest part of the project, and not something I’d do again.

It works beautifully but there is a 10 second lag when switching to a Vista machine while it searches for the drivers for the mouse and keyboard, but it’s still easier than swapping the keyboard plug between machines.

]]> http://rivergum.net/projects/diy-usb-sharing-hub/feed 0 http://rivergum.net/musings/word-musing-infallible http://rivergum.net/musings/word-musing-infallible#comments Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:15:49 +0000 Peter Crouch http://rivergum.net/?p=126 While eating lunch today I found myself in deep thought and wondered since one could be infallible, could someone else be fallible?

Turns out yes, the direct antonym for infallible just happens to be  fallible – not a coincidence I’m sure.

“Dismantle your Maglite for, fun, curiosity or servicing”

Looking to take apart your Maglite? Cant figure out how to remove the switch? As I found out by destructively dismantling a Maglite, it’s very easy.

I’m been a avid fan of Maglites since I was given my first mini Maglite when I joined the scouts. To this day I’m impressed by the elegant simplicity of the engineering, the ruggedness and quite frankly the look. They’re practically bulletproof.

While they usually survive being dropped from a couple of meters, or run over, the biggest failing point is a common one amongst torches of flash lights world wide; poor immersion seals, leaking batteries and the associated corrosion. To completely remove the corrosion you need to strip down the Maglite for a thorough clean, but in order to clean all contacts you need to access the switch assembly, which as I found out when I wanted to take apart a Maglite, it’s easier said than done.

Please note; the following directions will only work on the newer models of Maglite. Newer model Maglites have a the letter “D” preceding their serial number.

Newer model Maglites have the letter D preceding their serial number

Older models with out the preceding D on their serial number have a threaded retaining ring that needs to be unscrewed from the top of the torch with a pair of needle nose pliers or specialised tools, there is also a milled grove for the switch assembly to be tightened down upon, this grove prevents the the swtich assembly from exiting from the rear of the torch so in complete contrast from newer models, must be pushed out the top from the bottom of the torch. The grub screw still needs to be loosened on the older models for the switch assembly to be removed.

The newer model Maglites have replaced this threaded retaining ring with a split ring that is impossible compress enough in order to remove while the switch assembly is still in place, and as you see below, means you must remove the switch assembly from the rear of the torch by pushing it down the barrel from the top.

Thanks to Jack, Rowan and Will for alerting me to this older model of Maglite and also answering my questions about the differences. Also, thanks to all the people who continue to send me their thanks for this article. I’m glad it has helped so many people.

The new models of maglites have split ring retainers

First off, remove the rubber switch cover.	Insert the allen key down the hole and loosen the grub/set screw until you encounter resistance or the switch assembly can be moved up and down inside the torch freely.
Push the switch down (in other words turn the torch on) then push it down the barrel with a long screwdriver or similar.	You should have something like this pop out the end.
This is the little grub screw you’re loosening.

So there you have it, one disassembled maglite. Much better than the old brute method and a lot less trouble if you want to put it back together again.

Make sure you’re ready for the assembly to come out the bottom, I’ve been told it can come out in pieces, this hasn’t been my experience unless the nut the the grub screw, screw into, has separated from the earth strap, but be prepared for it none the less.

Post script

In my original article, I questioned why anyone would need to dismantle their maglite, and I got a surprising amount of email telling me their reasons why they had take apart their maglite which has promted

I’ve always admired them, but like most with the tinkering gene, I’d always wondered how to take one apart but never got past how to remove the switch assembly. Every once in a while, when changing the batteries, give the switch body a a light-hearted prod to see if it would wanted to come out.

How I eventually found out about the Maglites secret, when I was building a dive light and thought a Maglite was the perfect light head for a canister style torch. So this led me back to a question that had puzzled me since I received a 4D cell light as a Christmas present, how do you remove the switch? Not being able to find any information online, I resorted to what everyone else seemed to do, who had used maglites as dive torches had done before me, bashed the assembly out with a stick. dismatle a maglite.

My presonal reasonI wanted to strip down a 2 cell maglite for a dive light I was building and I couldn’t find any glamorous (i.e. easy) way of removing the switch assembly. I ended up doing what every one else did, just stuck a large piece of dowel and bashed the assembly out the tail end of the light. Upon examining what came out (almost in one piece), the answer was so simple, stick a 1/8^th AF allen/hex key down that little hole in the switch, back off the grub screw located at the bottom of said hole until you encounter resistance, push switch assembly out the rear of the torch, and you have one maglite switch assembly. This little grub screw also acts as the lights grounding screw.

So that inspired this little article, showing you how to remove maglite switch assemblies. I must say, these things are superbly engineered.

No new articles, just more pictures but even if I do say so my self, some very nice ones.
This time around it's birthday creations and our wildflower run we did a few weekends ago. I had in my possession a hoya macro filter set and a polarizing filter. This equates to a lot of shall we say, extreme close-ups of poor hapless flowers.

In other news, fear the content onslaught. I thought I'd boot off the content that is coming soon with an article on how to disassemble a maglite, just what you've always wanted to know I'm sure.

To celebrate I've uploaded two new galleries, some awesome night shots of Perth taken on new years eve and pics from the trip I did down south earlier this year.