Today's hack-a-day project was Pokétrace. Did you ever, as a little kid, trace stuff you liked? It's how we learn art! I made this as a way to relax for adult (and for kiddos, of course!). And to improve my art skills.

You can trace pokemon in your browser. Let me know if you want any generations other than the first one, or show me any fan art you make! I'd love to see it.

This one should work on phones and tablets. Let me know if you run into any problems.

You can save your finished pokemon as an HTML file, and it should save progress (but only on your computer).

Open offer: if you trace all 150 pokemon, I'll make it into a coloring book version for everyone. And if you draw fan art of all 150 pokemon, I'll send you a poster of your art! (as long as you don't live somewhere with crazy shipping for me)

Enjoy!

Today's hack-a-day project was the Cookbook 2.0. I wrote a collection of my recipes in 2020. I've updated it with what I've learned in the last 5 years. Among other things, it has 57 new recipes.

You can read it online in a couple formats.

Enjoy!

Today's hack-a-day project was the Pokédex -- the fictional companion that tells you about pokemon in the game. My main goal was just to get the info into a reasonable database format, but along with way I built a little viewer too.

The plan is to make some kind of art game where you do pokemon fanart, a coloring book, or even a tracing game in the coming days. And now I'm ready, with art of each pokemon on hand.

Today's hack-a-day project was the German Language Reader. It shows you the text of "German Legends" by the Brothers Grimm. Yes, the same brothers known for "Grimm's Fairy Tales" and perhaps less-so, the first dictionary.

If you highlight a word, you get the definition in english.

You can try it online. As usual, source code is on github.

I had hoped to have a German mode, but the German wiktionary API has been down for a week!

If you're technically inclined, it's not too bad to substitute in your own book. You'll need it in TXT format (to extract the words), and HTML format (to display).

I'm happy with this project, although I am posting it on the 10th, quite a bit late.

I had some minor help from Claude.

Enjoy!

I'm not sure what the correct name for these parts organizers is. I usually call them "Tackle Boxes", even though that's not quite right. People tend to use them to store tiny screws and so on. I use them for electronics.

Today I designed little paper insert to go into them (in CAD), so I can label which electronics are which and find them more easily.

Sadly, US letter is not quite big enough to cover the whole box.

Printable PDF is available in A4 or in US letter. You can also see the SVG I was given originally which inspired this.

I recomment holding the paper in place with double-stick tape. If you don't have that, the usual trick is to roll normal tape into a small loop facing outwards.

P.S., to crop a PDF from A4 to US letter (assuming everything fits on both) without inflating the file size, use:

# Keeps all physical dimensions the same
pdfcrop --bbox "0 0 792 612" smallthing-on-A4.pdf smallthing-on-usletter.pdf

I got a copy of The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book. It's a nice book that has 40 different one-page and two-page RPGs by a wide variety of authors.

I'm running a local event where we play a new game, and I wanted to quickly find which RPGs in the book are suitable for the number of players at the table. Unfortunately the indices at the back do not include this option.

Here's my custom index for the book. You can print it easily if you want (9 pages, one for each of 1-9 players).

I drive a 1998 Toyota Corolla. For reference, here is a guide to the rear lights.

Note that the brake light also serves as a tail light, which makes it easy to tell if it's out even solo.

To test the backup/reverse light, you need to put the car in reverse (but can keep the brake down). This needs a second person.

All the rear lights are easy and cheap to replace. (The front lights, only cheap.)

Here’s a list of books I read in 2024. The ones in bold I recommend.

Fiction:

• (Aether's Revival, Book 1) Aether's Blessing by Daniel Schinhofen
• Agartha Loop 1 by RavensDagger
• Agartha Loop 2 by RavensDagger
• All the Skills 3 by Honour Rae
• All the Skills 4 by Honour Rae
• Among Others by Jo Dalton
• Assistant to the Villain (Book 1) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
• (Androne, Book 1) Androne by Dwain Worrell
• (Androne, Book 2) Alliance by Dwain Worrell
• (Arcane Ascension, Book 4) The Silence of Unworthy Gods by Andrew Rowe
• (Arcane Ascension, Book 5) When Wizards Follow Fools by Andrew Rowe
• Astral Odyssey by Virgil Knightley, Jay Aury
• (Babel, Book 1) Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft
• (Babel, Book 2) Arm of the Sphinx by Josiah Bancroft
• (Babel, Book 3) The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft
• (Babel, Book 4) The Fall of Babel by Josiah Bancroft
• Beware of Chicken by Casualfarmer
• Blood for Power 1 by Scott W. James
• Book of the Dead: Awakening by RinoZ
• (Budding Scientist in a Fantasy World, Book 1) A Small Town in Southern Illvaria by Acaswell
• (Budding Scientist in a Fantasy World, Book 2) Society of Starry Eyes by Acaswell
• The Coworker by Freida McFadden
• Cultination Begins with Generosity by Plutus
• Dead Tired 1 by RavensDagger
• Dead Tired 2 by RavensDagger
• Delve by SenescentSoul
• Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harness
• (Discworld) Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett et al
• (Discworld) Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
• (Disinherited Prince, Book 1) The Disinherited Prince by Guy Antibes
• (Disinherited Prince, Book 2) The Monk's Habit by Guy Antibes
• (Disinherited Prince, Book 3) A Sip of Magic by Guy Antibes
• (Disinherited Prince, Book 4) The Sleeping God by Guy Antibes
• (Disinherited Prince, Book 5) The Emperor's Pet by Guy Antibes
• (Disinherited Prince, Book 6) The Misplaced Prince by Guy Antibes
• (Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes, Book 1) The Worst Ship in the Fleet by Skyler Ramirez
• (Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes, Book 1) The Worst Spies in the Sector by Skyler Ramirez
• Dungeon Devotee by Nixia
• (Dungeon Crawler Carl, Book 7) This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman
• Eight by Samer Rabadi
• Eight 2 by Samer Rabadi
• Eight 3 by Samer Rabadi
• (God of Density, Book 1) Dawn of the Density God by ToraAKR
• (Gods of the Game, Book 1) Krieg Chess by Phil Tucker
• (Gods of the Game, Book 2) Gods of the Game by Phil Tucker
• (Grand Game, Book 5) Wolf in the Void by Tom Elliot
• (Grand Game, Book 6) A Scion's Duty by Tom Elliot
• (Grand Game, Book 7) Ancient Debts by Tom Elliot
• Grimmwald by Jay Aury
• Heavenly Shae by daneislazy
• Hell Difficulty Tutorial by Cerim
• Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson
• (Immortal Great Souls, Book 3) LastRock by Phil Tucker
• (Industrial Strength Magic, Book 1) Industrial Strength Magic by Macronomicon
• (Industrial Strength Magic, Book 2) Sequel.exe by Macronomicon
• (Industrial Strength Magic, Book 3) Rival.EXE by Macronomicon
• The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
• Law of the Jungle 1 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Law of the Jungle 2 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Law of the Jungle 3 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Law of the Jungle 4 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Law of the Jungle 5 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Law of the Jungle 6 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Law of the Jungle 7 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Law of the Jungle 8 by Vasily Mahanenko
• Library System Reset (Book 1): Overdue by K.T. Hanna
• Library System Reset (Book 2): Damaged by K.T. Hanna
• Library System Reset (Book 3): Rebound by K.T. Hanna
• Machine of Death edited by Matthew Bennardo and Ryan North
• Magic's Mantle by Bruce Sentar
• Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey
• (Millenial Mage, Book 7) Eskau by J.L. Mullins
• (Millienial Mage, Book 8) Ironbound by J.L. Mullins
• Minute Mage 1 by Reg Rome
• Minute Mage 2 by Reg Rome
• Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta
• Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes
• (Murderbot, Book 2) Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
• (Murderbot, Book 3) Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
• Never Die Twice by Maxime J. Durand (Void Herald)
• Newt and Demon by Edwin M. Griffiths
• (Nothing Mage, Book 3) Syzygy by J. P. Valentine
• Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike
• Pale by wildbow
• Path of Ascension 1 by C. Mantis
• Path of Ascension 2 by C. Mantis
• Path of Ascension 3 by C. Mantis
• Path of Ascension 4 by C. Mantis
• Path of Ascension 5 by C. Mantis
• Path of Ascension 6 by C. Mantis
• Path of Ascension 7 by C. Mantis
• Press Start to Play edited by Daniel H. Wilson and John Joseph Adams
• The Primal Hunter 1 by Zogarth
• The Primal Hunter 2 by Zogarth
• Quest Academy (Book 1): Silvers by Brian J. Nordon
• Quest Academy (Book 2): Scavengers by Brian J. Nordon
• Quest Academy (Book 3): Saviors by Brian J. Nordon
• (Revelation Space) The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds
• (Revelation Space) Elysium Fire by Alastair Reynolds
• (Revelation Space) Machine Vendetta by Alastair Reynolds
• (Revelation Space) Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
• Royals of Villain Academy 1-4 by Eva Chase
• Seek by wildbow
• (Shades of Magic, Book 2) A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
• She of Many Dragons by Honour Rae
• (Stargazers War, Book 1) To Flail Against Infinity by J.P. Valentine
• (Stargazers War, Book 2) To Catch a Falling Leaf by J.P. Valentine
• (Mortal Techniques, Book 3) Spirits of Vengeance by Rob J. Hayes
• (Steerswoman, Book 4) Words of Power by Rosemary Kirstein
• (Strings of Empire, Book 1) The Wizard Corps by Guy Antibes
• (Strings of Empire, Book 2) The Cloister Wizard by Guy Antibes
• Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison
• Translation State by Ann Leckie
• (Undying Magician, Book 3) The Undying Caverns by Shane Purdy
• (Unbound, Book 1) Dissonance by Nicoli Gonnella
• (Unbound, Book 1) Silence by Nicoli Gonnella
• (Unbound, Book 1) Hunger by Nicoli Gonnella
• (Unbound, Book 1) Fury by Nicoli Gonnella
• (Unbound, Book 1) Threshold by Nicoli Gonnella
• (Unbound, Book 1) Expanse by Nicoli Gonnella
• Villain for Hire (Book 1): Bad Girls Abound by Jay Aury
• Villain for Hire (Book 2): Damsels and Deathrays by Jay Aury
• Villain for Hire (Book 3): Maidens and Master Minds by Jay Aury
• Villain for Hire (Book 4): Hell on High Heels by Jay Aury
• Villain for Hire (Book 5): Fembots with Benefits by Jay Aury
• The Villainess Is An SS+ Rank Adventurer 1 by Kaye Ng
• The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Nonfiction:

• Coders at Work by Peter Seibel
• The Madman's Library by Edward Brooke-Hitching
• To-Do List Formula by Damon Zahariades
• Veneering Made Easy by Herman Hjorth