My Tweets for the week 2009-12-06

by Ian Posted on December 6, 2009
  • This year's Music Centre Christmas meal and singsong on Sat. has just been cancelled ;( There weren't enough of us that could make the date. #
  • RT @makedaisychains: Katharine Blake & new recorder..! http://bit.ly/6XLh5T #
  • RT @DLDUNSTABLEDIE: Christmas Tree Carols and Torchlight procession at The Square by Methodist Church, Dunstable Friday.http://bit.ly/67EzPn #
  • Finished wrapping son's birthday presents and now eating limited edition Mars Dark. I love dark chocolate. #
  • End of term concert at Dunstable Music Centre tomorrow. 9:30-12:30 at Manshead School. #
  • Amazon UK canceled my order for Raymond E Feist's new book 'At the Gates of Darkness'. Supplier said it was discontinued! Re-pre-ordered it #
  • Check out 'At the Gates of Darkness (Demonwar Saga 2)' by Raymond E. Feist (Hardcover… http://bit.ly/7gG0qI #
  • Back from the Christmas Tree Carols in Dunstable. It rained, but was a good time. It took Basil Brush 3 attempts to turn the tree lights on. #
  • Gave in to temptation. Another dark chocolate Mars bar. Mmmmmm #chocolate #
  • Off to the Dunstable Music Centre end of term concert at Manshead School. Starts 9:30 this morning. I hope my recorder practice was enough. #
  • Dunstable Music Centre concert went really well. There was a great turn-out, had to put out extra chairs at the interval. #

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Emily Smith and Jamie McClennan

by Ian Posted on December 5, 2009

The Sunday following our trip to Classical Spectacular, we headed up to The Stables in Wavendon, Milton Keynes to see Emily Smith in concert.

I hadn’t really heard of Emily Smith before September. The brochure from The Stables arrived and I was looking through it to see who was on and the write up caught my eye. I typed in the link to her website and then listened to the tracks on the jukebox, I was hooked. We ordered her latest album ‘Too Long Away‘ and then became annoyed as it looked like the date she was playing was the same as the Classical Spectacular, typical! It was a couple of weeks before I realised my mistake, they were Saturday and Sunday, and ordered tickets for The Stables. She was playing Stage 2 at The Stables, which was going to be a new experience for us.

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Classical Spectacular

by Ian Posted on December 4, 2009

Better late than never! I will finally get round to finishing and posting this!

Last Saturday A couple of weekends ago, we went down to the Royal Albert Hall in London to see the Classical Spectacular concert. We got the tickets back in April as it always sells out very quickly. It seemed a long way off at the time.

Anyway, on Saturday we went to the Music Centre as normal for the first two sessions and left at break time to take the instruments home. Then we drove over the Hemel Hempstead to catch the train. It takes about 25-30 minutes, which is similar to the time it would take to get to Luton Parkway station, however Hemel is much quieter and there is a huge carpark, so parking is never an issue. After buying our tickets, we only had to wait about 5 minutes for the next train to Euston; we were able to get seats without problem. The train was quick and clean, only stopping at Watford Junction on the way to Euston.

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Posted in General, Music | 1 Comment

The Geek “Must Do Before You Die” Checklist

by Ian Posted on September 21, 2009

Vijay (Scanman) tweeted ‘The Geek “Must Do Before You Die” Checklist‘ this morning.

Done #
 Item Web Reference
1. Add a Third Monitor http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/17960-13-adding-monitor
2. Build a Linux Firewall http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1524
3. Build a Network File Server http://dailycupoftech.com/howto-install-freenas/
x 4. Build a PC http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/
5. Build a Robot http://www.hiskey.us/PhysicalComputing/Week10.aspx
x 6. Build an HTML based Website using Notepad http://www.w3schools.com/htmL/
7. Bypass a Computer Password on All Major Operating Systems http://www.joetech.com/2009/01/29/how-to-crack-the-account-password-on-any-operating-system/
8. Bypass School or Work Website Blocks http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
x 9. Carry a Computer Cleaning Arsenal on Your USB Drive http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
x 10. Compile a Linux Kernel http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/compiling-linux-kernel-26.html
11. Control Your House Lights with a Computer http://www.instructables.com/id/Control-lights-in-your-house-with-your-computer/
x 12. Convert Cassette Tapes to Digital Audio Files http://lifehacker.com/software/mp3/alpha-geek-how-to-digitize-cassette-tapes-222394.php
13. Crack a Wi-Fi Password http://docs.lucidinteractive.ca/index.php/Cracking_WEP_and_WPA_Wireless_Networks
14. Create ‘Hello, World’ in at Least Five Different Programming languages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabetical_list_of_programming_languages
15. Create a Disposable E-Mail Account http://dailycupoftech.com/2009/03/14/create-a-temporary-e-mail-account-on-your-domain/
16. Create a Recovery Drive Image of Your Computer http://dailycupoftech.com/2008/05/06/free-or-open-source-imaging-solutions/
17. Create a WordPress Plugin http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/wordpress/creating-a-custom-wordpress-plugin-from-scratch/
18. Create a WordPress Theme from Scratch http://www.wpdesigner.com/2007/02/19/so-you-want-to-create-wordpress-themes-huh/
19. Create an Add-On for Firefox http://lifehacker.com/software/programming/how-to-build-a-firefox-extension-264490.php
20. Create an SSH Tunnel http://www.ehow.com/how_2036605_create-ssh-putty.html
21. Create Music with Keyboard http://thebatman.net/keybored/
x 22. Design and Build a Circuit Board http://www.olimex.com/pcb/dtools.html
23. Do Cool Things to Altoids Tins http://www.squidoo.com/altoids-tins
24. Download a Video from YouTube http://keepvid.com/
25. Download Wikipedia http://download.wikimedia.org/
x 26. Execute a Shell Script http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/unixhelp/scrpt/scrpt1.2.html
27. Find a Users IP Address on AIM http://www.elitehackers.info/forums/archive/index.php/t-2827.html
28. Find a Website IP Address Without Web/CommandPrompt Access http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
x 29. Flash System BIOS http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1605
30. Hack a Pop Machine http://skattertech.com/soda-machine-hack/
31. Hack a USB Drive Startup File http://dailycupoftech.com/usb-drive-autoruninf-tweaking/
32. Hide a File Behind a JPEG http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/hide-file-in-picture/
33. Homebrew Hack Game Systems http://www.3stepads.com/2009/03/05/learn-unlock-wii-system/
34. Increase Wi-Fi Range http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000451
35. Install a Content Management System for a Website http://dailycupoftech.com/2009/04/24/cms-roundup/
x 36. Irrecoverably Protect Data http://www.truecrypt.org/
37. Jailbreak an iPhone http://lifehacker.com/398906/jailbreak-iphone-20-with-pwnagetool
x 38. Know the Meaning of Technical Acronyms http://www.techterms.com/acronyms.php
x 39. Know Who Mulder and Scully Are http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulder_and_Scully_(song)
40. Learn and Write Javascript http://www.yourhtmlsource.com/javascript/basicjavascript.html
x 41. Learn At Least One Fictional Language http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_constructed_languages
x 42. Learn Hexadecimal and Binary Number Systems http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.aspobjID=DIG1102
43. Learn How to Convert a DVD to x264 (or XviD or DivX) http://howto.diveintomark.org/ipod-dvd-ripping-guide/
44. Learn How to Hot Wire a Car http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Hot_Wire_Your_Car
45. Learn How to Install Mac OS X on a PC http://dailyapps.net/2007/10/hack-attack-install-leopard-on-your-pc-in-3-easy-steps/
46. Learn How to Reset RAM http://www.yousaytoo.com/sudjarwo/how-to-reset-ram-in-a-computer/29133
x 47. Learn Important Keyboard Shortcuts http://ow.ly/548w
48. Learn the Fastest way to Kill a Computer http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1720
x 49. Learn to Identify Keyloggers http://www.ghacks.net/2007/06/28/how-to-defeat-most-keyloggers-on-public-computers/
50. Learn to Identify Major Constellations http://www.sky-watch.com/astronomy-guide/major-constellations.html
51. Load Rockbox onto an MP3 Player http://rockbox.org
52. Lock Your Computer with a USB Drive http://lionjkt.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/how-to-lock-your-computer-with-usb-drive/
x 53. Make a Cat5 Patch and Crossover Cable http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/save-money-how-to-make-your-own.html
54. Make a Laptop Cooling Pad http://www.instructables.com/id/Lazy-mans-laptop-cooler/
55. Make Your Office Ergonomic http://www.ergotron.com/tabid/305/language/en-US/default.aspx
56. Mod a Flash Drive Case http://www.instructables.com/id/Metal-USB—Flash-drive-case-mod/
x 57. Monitor Network Traffic http://www.slac.stanford.edu/xorg/nmtf/nmtf-tools.html
x 58. Mount and ISO in a Virtual DVD Drive http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/mount-an-iso-image-in-windows-vista/
59. Move Completely To Open Source http://www.osalt.com/
x 60. Permanently Delete Data on a Hard Drive http://www.dban.org/
61. Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account http://www.facebook.com/group.phpgid=16929680703
62. Pick a Lock http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/mitguide/
63. Play a Geek Practical Joke http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/news/2008/03/pranks08currentPage=all
64. Play Retro Games without Retro Consoles http://www.ladyada.net/make/fuzebox/index.html
65. Put LEDs Inside a Light Bulb http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/06/make_a_led_bulb.html
x 66. Put Open Source Firmware on a Router http://kamikaze.openwrt.org/docs/openwrt.html#x1-40001.1.1
67. Read 1337 At Normal Speed http://www.wikihow.com/Read-and-Write-in-1337
68. Recover Deleted Files http://lifehacker.com/393084/how-to-recover-deleted-files-with-free-software
x 69. Recover Master Boot Record http://www.ntfs.com/mbr-damaged.htm
x 70. Register Your Name as an Internet Domain http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/registerdomain.shtml
x 71. Remotely Control a Computer http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1441
x 72. Replace a Laptop Keyboard http://www.refurbished-laptop-guide.com/how-to-remove-a-laptop-keyboard.html
x 73. Replacing a Laptop LCD http://www.fonerbooks.com/laptop_4.htm
x 74. Retrieve Data off Hard Drive http://laptoplogic.com/resources/5-ways-to-retrieve-data-off-a-crashed-hard-drive
75. Rip Streaming Videos http://applian.com/download-videos/
76. Run an Operating System from a USB Thumb Drive http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
x 77. Run Multiple Computers with one Keyboard and Mouse http://dailycupoftech.com/2007/02/19/multiple-computers-1-keyboardmouse-no-kvm/
x 78. Run Operating System inside a Virtual Computer http://linuxvirtualization.com/
x 79. Run Your Own Ethernet Line http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/ethernetcables.html
80. Screw with Wi-Fi Leeches http://tech.nocr.at/hacking-security/baffle-wifi-leeches-with-an-upside-down-ternet-2/
81. Setup a Computer in the Cloud http://howto.opml.org/dave/ec2/
82. Setup a Streaming Media Server http://www.n00tz.net/2008/07/vlc-media-server-ubuntu-hardy/
83. Setup a VPN http://www.computernetworkinghelp.com/content/view/41/1/
x 84. Setup an Apache, MySQL, Mail, PHP server on Windows and Linux http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html
x 85. Shrink a Website URL http://internet.suite101.com/article.cfm/shrink_a_link_with_free_url_shorteners
86. Soldering Glasses Together http://www.ehow.com/how_1315_weld-glass.html
87. Strip Windows DRM http://undrm.info/remove-DRM-protection/FairUse4WM-freeware-DRM-removal-Windows-software-Strip-copy-protection-from-WMV-ASF-WMA-Windows-Media-Player.htm
88. Surf the Web Anonymously http://www.torproject.org/
89. Survive in a Linux Argument http://www.linux.com/articles/feature/
90. Tethering a Smartphone http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2276/smartphones_bb_treo_tether_modem_usa_carriers/
91. Turn a Laptop into a Digital Picture Frame http://repair4laptop.org/notebook_picture_frame.html
92. Turn Webcams into Security Cameras http://www.simplehelp.net/2006/09/27/how-to-use-your-pc-and-webcam-as-a-motion-detecting-and-recording-security-camera/
93. Unbrick a Smartphone http://www.howardforums.com/
x 94. Understand What ‘There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1’ Means http://www.tech-faq.com/127.0.0.1.shtml
95. Unleash a Laser Pointer’s full potential http://hacknmod.com/hack/6-fantastic-laser-pointer-projects/
96. Unlock an iPhone http://www.pcworld.com/article/137223/how_to_unlock_an_iphone.html
97. Upload a Video to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watchv=qFyIT7rVZ0Q
x 98. Use a Camera in Manual Mode http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-camera-modes
99. Use Bittorrent Effectively http://infinitium.blogspot.com/2005/03/js-essential-howto-guide-bittorrent.html
100. Wire a Home Theatre System http://www.prillaman.net/ht_info_8-wiring.html

I seem to have done 33 on the list. Some of the items haven’t been relevant e.g. Build a network file server – I have a file server with RAID array already and so didn’t need to create my own. For others, my definition may vary from that listed – by the list I haven’t installed a content management system, but I would class WordPress as a CMS.

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The Magic Lantern by KK and the Steampunk Orchestra

by Ian Posted on September 6, 2009

About 10 days ago I received an unexpected email from Kevin “KK” Kerrigan thanking me for the review of the the Mediaeval Baebes album Illumination, that I wrote back in October. In his email KK mentioned that he had produced the album and sure enough, in the credits for the album there it was: Produced and Mixed by KK – A 21stCenturyGenius Production. OK, now he had my attention, just as well I hadn’t deleted the mail as spam.

KK let me know about his new album, The Magic Lantern and asked if I was interested in listening to a copy. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t heard of him before, so I started checking out the website link on his email, 21stCenturyGenius. He has worked with many artists including Bjork, Kylie, Britney Spears and of course the Mediaeval Baebes.

I googled ‘The Magic Lantern & KK‘ and found some samples on the Amazon website. After listening to the short samples, I liked what I had heard and went back to investigating KK’s site more. While reading the FAQs, I followed the link to KK’s blog, Thoughts from KK.. and got sucked into reading the posts there. I also checked out KKthemusic, which has details of his previous albums. Anyway, I emailed back and a couple of days ago the album arrived. I didn’t really get chance to listen to more than a couple of tracks as during the last couple of days I have been busy in the school installing software of the new computers that were installed over the summer and come the evenings I have been shattered.

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Carrying a monopod on a bike

by Ian Posted on July 24, 2009

When I replaced my monopod in December with a Manfrotto 681, it didn’t occur to me that I would have to find an alternate method of carrying it while cycling. My previous monopod, Velbon UP-4DXII, had a handle on the tilt head and I used to slide this through one of the connection loops for the harness on my LowePro Toploader case. I could then tuck the other end into my belt and it stayed out of the way for cycling.

My Manfrotto monopod with the 234RC head doesn’t have a handle, not that you need a handle to pan with a monopod. It is also longer as it is in 3 sections not 4. This meant that I had a substantially larger item to carry, with no way of attaching it to me. I started in my usual way, by turning to Google. It didn’t seem too common an occurrence; I found a few suggestions of tying the monopod to the frame, but nothing from anyone who had done it. Then I came across this monopod quiver on a motorbike, that got me thinking.

bike pump holderI had also been looking at the pump holder on Jo’s bike. The pump clipped in and was held in place with a velcro strap. If I could find the right diameter….no, that wasn’t possible, bike pumps are small and lightweight, not built like a section of drainpipe. So thinking about the monopod quver than I had found, I started experimenting to find a support for the bottom of the monopod. I cut a section of plastic waste pipe, yes, white is a lovely inconspicuous colour and attached it to the frame with cable ties. I had to play around with the positioning, to get it as low on the frame as possible without the pipe fouling the pedal. There wasn’t a lot of room to play with as the monopod also added to the space taken in this area due to the leg clamps. As a temporary solution at the top end I used a piece of rubber and a strap to prove the concept. It worked! Due to the minimal surface contact between the pipe and the bike frame, the pipe was liable to twist around the frame if knocked, so you had to be a bit careful. I found this while out testing it and added some rubber between the pipe and the frame to reduce the slip.
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Posted in Photography | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment