Installing Ubuntu Hardy on compaq 6910p

For the common Internet knowledge (we just spent 2 hours hunting for this information):

You must add debian-installer/framebuffer=false kernel boot option to install Ubuntu Hardy on compaq 6910p. Otherwise you get black screen on boot.

For more info:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

I hope this is fixed in Interpid. At least after installing and upgrading packages no tricks are needed.

Update 31.3.2010: This issue STILL exists in Ubuntu Karmic. Looks like i'll have to make a bug report when Launchpad is online again.

IL2 1946 on Wine

I just installed IL2 1946 on Ubuntu Hardy with Wine. No problems - it installs and runs just fine.

EDIT: I heard that network multiplayer works also perfectly. I haven't had time yet to test it.

New toy AGAIN

Today was a RC show by local rc dealer. We went to see it and after it went to the shop just to see what they have.
I won't explain this too long as we have to leave to a burlesque party soon, but i bought a new RC plane which was on sale. It's a Thunder Tiger Velocity EP, a flying wing much like Zagi but with a small fuselage. I paid 39€ for it, not bad. It's smaller than the aging Zagi 400 i have, and looks nice.
I've been looking for a replacement for my Z400 for long as it's "worn out". It NEVER got damaged beyond repair and i loved to fly it.

Here's a link with specs and picture:

http://www.modelflight.com.au/thunder_tiger/thunder_tiger_velocity.htm

First "flight"

I went to local football field to test-fly the helicopter. Yes, i broke it, although it never took off.

I should have spent more time with googling how to use the controls. This one is has 6 channel radio. It has 2 extra trim knobs and some kind of toggle switch. I didn't know what they do. More about them when i have done my googling. My previous "non-toy" helicopter was fixed-blade with 4ch radio. I was able to fly it without problem.

First i noticed that the rotor spins up VERY fast when giving any throttle. It's so strong that it turns the nose 45° when starting. After the initial jerk the throttle works like expected. Except - it won't take off even with 75% throttle. I know that real choppers have constant RPM and adjust lift with blade AOA. I have no clue how to do that with my RC chopper.

I also noticed, that switching the mystery switch on left spun up the rotor slowly - maybe it is some kind of startup switch? I'll find out later.

Ok damage pic:
The main gear was stripped, probably by the violent motor starts. I already ordered new one from dealextreme for $6. This (and 2-5 days of waiting) is the cost not reading the google first (the fine manual had nothing about the mystery controls).

Oh, it's a Belt CP: http://www.rchelicoptershop.com/catalog/ek1he014a-esky-beltcp-yellow-rtf-version-p-300.html?gclid=CJax48Dw0ZUCFQsZQgodkUrihw

I bought it from ebay, final cost after shipping and taxes was around 200€.

EDIT: here's (mostly) answers for my issues: http://helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=68558

New toy

I has new toy! Waiting for battery to charge and wind to settle down. More later..

Slot car racing

Today i constructed a huge Scalextrix track at our gentlemen's club. We have 2 large boxes of track parts and some more. It was surprisingly fun. I've driven on a 8 slot track also at Nokian Renkaat, but it was nice to create own track. You can see about half of it in the photo - large part of it is behind the table.

There was some really fancy power segment (what ever it is called) which had a lcd screen and could count lap times and total time for number of laps. Unfortunately for some reason i got only one car to work with it. The system also allowed racers to change track on special railway switch like segment. We timed 15 laps with it and i got the best time \o/.

After that we decided to race with 2 cars and changed the 'power segment' to more traditional one and removed the track change switches. Racing was fun & furious although we had to count laps manually.

Some time i got feedback from IRC that i should mount a video camera to a car. Why not?
I taped my old good Z150 phone on a car and set it to record video.

Here's the result. Don't mind the crashes. Turn your monitor 90 degrees clockwise before watching.