Doug Toppin
@dougtoppin.bsky.social
Design/develop software systems. Pilot/trumpet player.
Current interests: Raspberry Pi, 3d printing (Bambu Lab X1C/AMS), Zwift, and Meshtastic.
Other interests include AWS, SSM, Fargate, StepFunctions, Lambda, Python, CloudFormation, CDK.
Current interests: Raspberry Pi, 3d printing (Bambu Lab X1C/AMS), Zwift, and Meshtastic.
Other interests include AWS, SSM, Fargate, StepFunctions, Lambda, Python, CloudFormation, CDK.
I am hopeful that, eventually, the one true faith will also provide Pup Cups (Bot Cups?) to our automated brethren.
As Dr Chandra said in 2010: The Year We Make Contact, “Whether we are based on carbon or silicon makes no fundamental difference. We should each be treated with appropriate respect.”
As Dr Chandra said in 2010: The Year We Make Contact, “Whether we are based on carbon or silicon makes no fundamental difference. We should each be treated with appropriate respect.”
November 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I am hopeful that, eventually, the one true faith will also provide Pup Cups (Bot Cups?) to our automated brethren.
As Dr Chandra said in 2010: The Year We Make Contact, “Whether we are based on carbon or silicon makes no fundamental difference. We should each be treated with appropriate respect.”
As Dr Chandra said in 2010: The Year We Make Contact, “Whether we are based on carbon or silicon makes no fundamental difference. We should each be treated with appropriate respect.”
Back on the Sensi Touch 2 iOS app issue that I was having. I was not successful in getting it to stay connected to the thermostat while on my Google Wifi mesh network. It does stay connected to a non-mesh wifi that I also have.
November 12, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Back on the Sensi Touch 2 iOS app issue that I was having. I was not successful in getting it to stay connected to the thermostat while on my Google Wifi mesh network. It does stay connected to a non-mesh wifi that I also have.
McAlister's Deli might find it entertaining that a tiktok from SpudLad in the UK near Manchester prompted me to order a baked potato from them.
Also, this is what your dog looks like when you ask "Do you want to go ride to McAlister's?".
Also, this is what your dog looks like when you ask "Do you want to go ride to McAlister's?".
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
McAlister's Deli might find it entertaining that a tiktok from SpudLad in the UK near Manchester prompted me to order a baked potato from them.
Also, this is what your dog looks like when you ask "Do you want to go ride to McAlister's?".
Also, this is what your dog looks like when you ask "Do you want to go ride to McAlister's?".
Tip on the Sensi iOS app for their thermostats. If you are trying to create your account using the app and get a “Network error” every time you try the create, turn off the iPhone WiFi to complete the account create, turn WiFi back on, and then use the app to configure WiFi on the thermostat.
October 3, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Tip on the Sensi iOS app for their thermostats. If you are trying to create your account using the app and get a “Network error” every time you try the create, turn off the iPhone WiFi to complete the account create, turn WiFi back on, and then use the app to configure WiFi on the thermostat.
esp32 work on a breadboard can be a pain because of not being able to get to the pins on one side or the other.
I finally broke down and joined 2 breadboards and it does make access to all pins easier.
I finally broke down and joined 2 breadboards and it does make access to all pins easier.
September 27, 2025 at 1:50 AM
esp32 work on a breadboard can be a pain because of not being able to get to the pins on one side or the other.
I finally broke down and joined 2 breadboards and it does make access to all pins easier.
I finally broke down and joined 2 breadboards and it does make access to all pins easier.
It’s aggravating when you ask ChatGPT what someone of your age and fitness level should be running a 5k in and it says “You suck”
September 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
It’s aggravating when you ask ChatGPT what someone of your age and fitness level should be running a 5k in and it says “You suck”
In my ceaseless quest to feel like hell after exercise, today I decided to replace the k in my usual run with an m.
The weather was way better than previously which helped a lot.
The weather was way better than previously which helped a lot.
August 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
In my ceaseless quest to feel like hell after exercise, today I decided to replace the k in my usual run with an m.
The weather was way better than previously which helped a lot.
The weather was way better than previously which helped a lot.
What you look like before you start your kettlebell, dumbbell, and Zwift workouts and what you look like afterwards.
August 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
What you look like before you start your kettlebell, dumbbell, and Zwift workouts and what you look like afterwards.
The fun for today, after that hateful kettlebell and then HIIT workout, was some Zwift on the Champs-Élysées.
I could not make the time that
I recently saw a much fitter person than me make but I was a bit better than my previous time.
I could not make the time that
I recently saw a much fitter person than me make but I was a bit better than my previous time.
July 27, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The fun for today, after that hateful kettlebell and then HIIT workout, was some Zwift on the Champs-Élysées.
I could not make the time that
I recently saw a much fitter person than me make but I was a bit better than my previous time.
I could not make the time that
I recently saw a much fitter person than me make but I was a bit better than my previous time.
I had another good experience with ChatGPT on improving my HomeAssistant running on a Raspberry Pi. It involved suggestions from it and an excellent example of the value of AI and it's awareness of prior conversations. I posted about it at dougtoppin.medium.com/another-impr...
Another impressive experience with ChatGPT
I run HomeAssistant OS on a Raspberry Pi 4b initially with the micro-sd card. I wanted to switch that to an nvme/ssd instead for more…
dougtoppin.medium.com
July 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I had another good experience with ChatGPT on improving my HomeAssistant running on a Raspberry Pi. It involved suggestions from it and an excellent example of the value of AI and it's awareness of prior conversations. I posted about it at dougtoppin.medium.com/another-impr...
Zwift fun for today. Well, I’m not sure it was actually “fun” but I did finish it.
July 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Zwift fun for today. Well, I’m not sure it was actually “fun” but I did finish it.
Here is something that I am doing a bad job on. I have micro sd cards with the Raspberry Pi OS and the homeassistant OS in various states of configuration all over the place.
The sd cards are so small you can’t attach notes to them.
I’m starting to think I need little tiny bags for each with a note.
The sd cards are so small you can’t attach notes to them.
I’m starting to think I need little tiny bags for each with a note.
July 23, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Here is something that I am doing a bad job on. I have micro sd cards with the Raspberry Pi OS and the homeassistant OS in various states of configuration all over the place.
The sd cards are so small you can’t attach notes to them.
I’m starting to think I need little tiny bags for each with a note.
The sd cards are so small you can’t attach notes to them.
I’m starting to think I need little tiny bags for each with a note.
The On The Media podcast has an excellent episode on AI and music. AI is providing the opportunity to change, accelerate, and enhance music performance and composition.
Anyone that wants customized music should be learning how to effectively use it.
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
Anyone that wants customized music should be learning how to effectively use it.
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
Inside the Artificial Intelligence Hype Cycle. And How AI is Making Music | On the Media | WNYC Studios
Like it or not, more people are using artificial intelligence than ever. On this week’s On the Media, hear about the AI arms race between the U.S. and China, and how the tech gets ove...
www.wnycstudios.org
July 19, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The On The Media podcast has an excellent episode on AI and music. AI is providing the opportunity to change, accelerate, and enhance music performance and composition.
Anyone that wants customized music should be learning how to effectively use it.
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
Anyone that wants customized music should be learning how to effectively use it.
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
I also decided to improve my solder station and got a Hakko along with a Kotto fume fan. I definitely felt like the Hakko was a better experience during my practice session.
July 19, 2025 at 11:37 AM
I also decided to improve my solder station and got a Hakko along with a Kotto fume fan. I definitely felt like the Hakko was a better experience during my practice session.
For soldering practice today, I successfully strongly soldered my desoldering braid to the board. I made a mess removing it.
I also learned the importance of planning which parts to start with. Otherwise, you end up with parts being in the way if you do them in the wrong order.
I also learned the importance of planning which parts to start with. Otherwise, you end up with parts being in the way if you do them in the wrong order.
July 17, 2025 at 10:52 PM
For soldering practice today, I successfully strongly soldered my desoldering braid to the board. I made a mess removing it.
I also learned the importance of planning which parts to start with. Otherwise, you end up with parts being in the way if you do them in the wrong order.
I also learned the importance of planning which parts to start with. Otherwise, you end up with parts being in the way if you do them in the wrong order.
Another 5k done at 84 degrees. It was freaking hot.
Once again, aggravated at the “Moderate” for Effort.
Once again, aggravated at the “Moderate” for Effort.
July 17, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Another 5k done at 84 degrees. It was freaking hot.
Once again, aggravated at the “Moderate” for Effort.
Once again, aggravated at the “Moderate” for Effort.
Today was solder practice. It will hopefully help me get better at my Raspberry Pi and esp32 projects.
I successfully burned myself (twice), got practice with desoldering braid, twisted my arms and hands to weird positions to get the iron to the board, and maybe got a couple right.
Getting there.
I successfully burned myself (twice), got practice with desoldering braid, twisted my arms and hands to weird positions to get the iron to the board, and maybe got a couple right.
Getting there.
July 16, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Today was solder practice. It will hopefully help me get better at my Raspberry Pi and esp32 projects.
I successfully burned myself (twice), got practice with desoldering braid, twisted my arms and hands to weird positions to get the iron to the board, and maybe got a couple right.
Getting there.
I successfully burned myself (twice), got practice with desoldering braid, twisted my arms and hands to weird positions to get the iron to the board, and maybe got a couple right.
Getting there.
Today I got to ride 20 miles in the French countryside, well virtually anyway.
As usual. Zwift was excellent.
As usual. Zwift was excellent.
July 15, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Today I got to ride 20 miles in the French countryside, well virtually anyway.
As usual. Zwift was excellent.
As usual. Zwift was excellent.
As always, The Economist podcast Drum Tower has a particularly good episode "Battle-tested: China is closing the gap in high-tech weaponry". It includes numerous details on aviation and how a chain of technical resources are essential, not just the missile or aircraft. Definite recommend on this.
July 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
As always, The Economist podcast Drum Tower has a particularly good episode "Battle-tested: China is closing the gap in high-tech weaponry". It includes numerous details on aviation and how a chain of technical resources are essential, not just the missile or aircraft. Definite recommend on this.
I am processing my Zwift fit files using GitHub copilot with vscode in a jupyter notebook. I could not find the ride/course name in the file. I am graphing some data and wanted to include the course name in the header. Does anyone know if the ride name is in the file?
July 4, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I am processing my Zwift fit files using GitHub copilot with vscode in a jupyter notebook. I could not find the ride/course name in the file. I am graphing some data and wanted to include the course name in the header. Does anyone know if the ride name is in the file?
If you are of a certain era and got the email from the social security administration today, you might should fact check it a little before you celebrate and spend all of the money that you think you are saving.
July 4, 2025 at 6:35 PM
If you are of a certain era and got the email from the social security administration today, you might should fact check it a little before you celebrate and spend all of the money that you think you are saving.
When picking a Zwift ride, it is important to pay attention to detail and note that the climb portal ride selection elevation is in meters and the elevation choice is in feet. If you don't and think that the ride selection elevation is in feet, you might be in for a surprise (like I was). Doh!
July 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
When picking a Zwift ride, it is important to pay attention to detail and note that the climb portal ride selection elevation is in meters and the elevation choice is in feet. If you don't and think that the ride selection elevation is in feet, you might be in for a surprise (like I was). Doh!
Fun is when you try an esp32c6 with a DHT-22 for another Home Assistant temperature sensor and it just works.
This is in place of the previous, slightly more expensive, esp32-wroom-32 board.
Small electronics and Home Assistant are just plain fun.
This is in place of the previous, slightly more expensive, esp32-wroom-32 board.
Small electronics and Home Assistant are just plain fun.
June 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Fun is when you try an esp32c6 with a DHT-22 for another Home Assistant temperature sensor and it just works.
This is in place of the previous, slightly more expensive, esp32-wroom-32 board.
Small electronics and Home Assistant are just plain fun.
This is in place of the previous, slightly more expensive, esp32-wroom-32 board.
Small electronics and Home Assistant are just plain fun.
When shucking corn goes bad
June 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
When shucking corn goes bad
A few more shots with a Dummy 13 addition for interest. I have been carrying a prism around during walks and looking for just right angle with the sun to produce a spectrum. Light is always fascinating.
June 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
A few more shots with a Dummy 13 addition for interest. I have been carrying a prism around during walks and looking for just right angle with the sun to produce a spectrum. Light is always fascinating.