As an aspiring electronics geek, I am still collecting cool tools and techniques for my projects. While working on a weekend project, I stumbled upon a treasure trove containing meticulous (almost obsessively complete) advice regarding soldering and circuit board design. These videos were the perfect addition to my education, and even though I already had halfway-decent soldering technique, I have definitely improved as a result of the videos. It even inspired me to get some new tools, like a needle-tipped soldering iron and desoldering wick.

So, unless you’ve been formally trained in an EE course, I really recommend the Tangent Tutorials series of videos. Excellent work, Tangent!

RTFA: http://www.tangentsoft.net/elec/movies/

Tangent Tutorials
Getting Started Soldering

TT #1: Basic Soldering Equipment – My advice on the basic equipment necessary for DIY electronics work. 27 minutes.

TT #2: Basic Soldering Techniques – How to solder thru-hole components, plus basic advice for all sorts of soldering. 9 minutes.

TT #3: Surface Mount Soldering Techniques – How to solder surface-mount components using only basic DIYer equipment. Covers SO-8 chips and 2-lead parts in 1206 and larger size packages. 14 minutes.

RTFA: http://postgazette.com/pg/09014/941656-100.stm

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, at least for this week, wants to be known as Luke Steelerstahl.

“On behalf of the Steelers Nation, I’ve decided to remove the word ‘Ravens’ from my name just like the Steelers will remove them from the AFC Championship,” he said, referring to Sunday’s playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The mayor this morning began, but did not complete, a Verified Petition for a Name Change.

Civil court staff gave the petition a docket number but said they did not expect to file it, in part because it was not complete and they did not receive the requisite 108 check. Had Mr. Ravenstahl completed the process, a police background check and other steps would have followed.

Mr. Ravenstahl said the idea for the name change was not his own. Callers to the Star 100.7 morning show “called in and thought it would be a good idea to change from Ravenstahl, given we are playing the hated Baltimore Ravens this weekend, to Steelerstahl,” he said. “As soon as I heard it, I thought it was a great idea.”

Ha! This story is all sorts of win. Essentially, the Mayor of Pittsburgh, in the buildup to this weekend’s game between the Steelers and the Ravens, wants to change his last name – Ravenstahl – to switch the “Raven” portion for “Steeler.”

I first thought this was serious; I realize now that it’s just a joke, and all in good fun… I have to admit that it’s a great stunt…