Hello esp32: getting started with the esp32 and micropython

The esp32 is a small 32 bit realtime microcontroller with 160mhz of processing power, several megs of flash and last but not least, bluetooth and wifi that’s available for about $6 a pop and can be programmed using both the Arduino language and MicroPython. Today we’ll be going through the setup procedures including how to flash firmware, getting your code onto it and the available peripherals and ecosystem. What esp32 should I buy?
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Fighting Scams

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash If you ever find yourself the victim of an internet scam, the first thing to realize is that it’s ok, and you are not the first nor last person to fall victim to a scam. Scammers trick millions of people successfully, and though it can be embarrassing, it’s important to take some steps after being scammed both to recover your money and more important to harm and stop the scammers.
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Crockpot Pork Tip Sirloin Roast

I regularly use the crockpot for larger cuts of meat, and it’s fantastic for both pork and beef. I’m going to show the process I used for a pork tip sirloin roast (think large tenderloin with a nice fat cap), but the same general method applies to other cuts and even beef as well, though you may want to change up the seasoning a bit. First we need to get a pan ripping hot.
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Cookies in the Apocalypse

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash So in case you haven’t read the news lately, apparently there’s a pandemic going on. Whether you’re sitting on a stockpile of toiletpaper and scarfing down freeze dried peas, or pacing panickedly hoping you can still find at least a napkin to wipe your butthole with, this seems an appropriate juncture to talk about sensible preparedness, isolation and planning for volatility. Sensible Preparedness and Cooking in the Apocalypse Keep some canned food around, few extra jugs of water and a couple of candles in the kitchen drawer.
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Moderating Communities

Photo by Anna Earl on Unsplash Moderating a community is more like gardening than it is like engineering. It’s an art of balance and having a light touch rather than having an iron will and designs for the future. Formal moderation is important for some communities and entirely unneeded for others. When a community decides to have moderators, it should begin by having community standards. What the law says and what a community says can and will differ when it comes to moderating content and setting acceptability.
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TS80 Soldering Iron

The TS80 is a portable, somewhat finicky Chinese manufactured soldering iron which is powered over a USB-C port. It heats quickly, holds its temperature very well, is extraordinarily handy and is one of my favorite soldering irons to date. If you’re still using an old corded unit and you’re like me and frequently doing small amounts of soldering in weird places, I encourage you to pick it up and give it a try.
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Ends vs Means

Photo by Dominic Romero on Unsplash Think of the most manipulative person you know. You know, the one who spreads rumors to create drama, or the person who knows just how to press your buttons to get you to do something you don’t really want to do unwittingly. It’s pretty easy to get a sense that the things these people do - even if they don’t result in any harm - are bad.
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Nuance, Binaries and Models

Cover Photo by Devin Edwards on Unsplash We’re surrounded by binary choices in our world: the light switch is on or off, we can have a glass of wine or not. We oftentimes want to apply this idea to other situations: our friends like us or not, our work is good or bad. The truth is very few things are actually binary, and almost everything in the world exists as a composition of states - in other words, reality is complicated.
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A Primer on Functional Debate

Debate not fighting All debates are arguments, not all arguments are debates. We aren’t here to address mindless shouting or simply attacking the other person. In a debate each side has a specific claim they’re trying to defend and advance, and is putting forward evidence for their side or rebutting evidence on the other side. Why debate? When two people disagree, why should they bother talking through the merits of each argument and trying to solve it?
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Understanding the power of Linux, as a Windows user

Coming from the perspective of a Windows user, Linux may seem entirely alien under the surface. Windows favors a batteries-included, gui driven workflow where programs tend to be all inclusive. Linux favors a command line driven workflow, where only the basics are available, and programs are small and meant to be chained together. The Kernel This disparate approach is due to many differences, but there are two main ones at play.
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