Dewey the Library Cat

by Ian Posted on June 29, 2009

A few weeks ago when we were shopping in Costo, we did our usual and looked through the book section. One book in particular caught our eye. It was called Dewey and is the story of a cat who lived in at Spencer Public Library in Iowa. I don’t normally read factual books, I’m more a fantasy or sci-fi fan.

Anyway, I started briefly glancing at it that evening and before I knew where I was, I was into the book. Dewey was adopted by the library staff after he was dropped in the book return one cold January night. It is a great book, with many funny antics and also a bit of an emotional roller coaster. The town was suffering during the downturn of the 1980’s and the arrival of Dewey proved to be a turning point for the library and the town. The writing is easy and very descriptive; you are just there in the story.

A book that I would most definately recommend. It took me a week, because I was busy and couldn’t get back to it, but I could easily have sat and read it all day.

Posted in Books | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Changing the IP address of a HP Web JetAdmin installation

by Ian Posted on June 29, 2009

If you’re not an IT person supporting printers using HP Web JetAdmin software, tune out now.

What, you’re still reading. I am surprised!

OK, here is some background. HP Web JetAdmin is software that monitors network attached printers and provides alerts when certain conditions are met. For example, if the toner is low or there is a paper jam, it can alert you, allowing you to be proactive with support. It means that you can purchase toners when alerted rather than holding a large stock or being caught on the hop when all the colour printers are out and no-one has mentioned it until 5 minutes before a critical print job.

Anyway, we had been using this software for some years at work without any problems. You would just get the alert email with a summary of the issue and a link allowing you to open the admin interface in a web browser. Recently, we had some major network changes which resulted in the IP addresses being changed for all our network devices (including computers and printers). After the changes, and rediscovering the new printers (some of their details changed as well), the Web JetAdmin software continued to work as before. Unfortunately, this also included the link to open the admin interface. It was still using the old IP address which was no longer valid.

After ‘googling’ for the solution without luck, I tried several approaches, some of which got me into a bit of a mess with the database. In the end I got the software re-installed, only to find it was still hooked into the old database and the old information.

Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Software | Tagged , | 2 Comments

SciFi series that have been and gone

by Ian Posted on May 27, 2009

I was reading the post on Red Monkey about Dollhouse the other night and it got me thinking about the scifi series that had been on over the years that I had watched and enjoyed. Of course there are the ones that Red Monkey mentioned: Tru Calling, Dark Angel and Firefly which are long gone, Terminator:The Sarah Conner Chronicles now finished and Dollhouse which has just started showing in the UK and has been renewed for a second season.

Then you have the classic Babylon 5 from the 1990’s. This ran for 5 seasons and spawned several films. I still love watching episodes of this when I get the chance. One of the things I liked about it was the long story arcs, sometimes across all seasons. Although they were individual episodes, they all fitted into the overall story. The characters were believable and watch able. I’ll mention the less than successful spin-off series Crusade. This failed due to studio interference and was cancelled before it even aired. Only 13 episodes were made.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | Comments Off on SciFi series that have been and gone

Mediaeval Baebes at The Stables

by Ian Posted on May 23, 2009

mediaeval baebes illumination tourLast night we went up to The Stables in Milton Keynes to see the Mediaeval Baebes on the last date of their tour to promote their new album, Illumination. It has been a short tour, only 5 dates. A big factor in this has to be the fact that Katharine Blake is pregnant with her second child which is due on 2nd June. I did wonder when I first saw the date if she would still be touring, but she was.

We bought a copy of the new DVD (Live at Gloucester Cathedral) that has just been released when we got there; I figured it would be quieter early on. It was a lot busier last night than when we were first here, but we still had good seats, the first 2 on the second row. While we were waiting for them to come on, we were looking at the selection of instruments on stage. On the microphone stands were their recorders. We tried to work out what was there. The closest to us, on the left end of the stage had a descant and what looked like a treble, further round there were what looked like other trebles and finally at the right side, where Katharine usually is, there was a descant, treble and what looked small enough to be a garkleine. As we have seen her play that before, it was a certainty that Katharine would be stood there. In front of the closest microphone was a drum and a violin. At the back of the stage from left to right there was a drum kit with a pair of large drums one on top of the other in front. Then there were a couple of stringed instruments, I’ll admit I don’t know what they were, maybe a mandola? Next to this I could see a bass recorder and something else a bit shorter, maybe a tenor recorder, it was difficult to see, and finally a guitar on the right.

Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Morally right

by Ian Posted on May 22, 2009

Yesterday, 21st May, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made the announcement to the House of Commons that the Gurkha Justice Campaign have been fighting for for years. All ex-Gurkhas who have served more than 4 years in the British Army will have the right to settle in the UK if they wish.

For the first time I had contacted my MP Andrew Selous, via www.theyworkforyou.com, at the end of April and asked if he could support the vote in Parliament calling for a fair deal for Gurkhas and had an email back that evening to say that he would be voting in support of the Gurkhas. Following the government’s defeat in the Commons over the issue, it was only a matter of time before they had to bow to public opinion.

Posted in General, Rants | Tagged , | Comments Off on Morally right

The Hunt for Gollum

by Ian Posted on May 17, 2009

The Hunt for GollumWe just watched ‘The Hunt for Gollum’. It is a 40 minute, unofficial, not for profit short film. It is only available to watch on the Hunt for Gollum website.

From the website: ‘The script is adapted from elements of the appendices of The Lord of the Rings. The story follows the Heir of Isildur; the “greatest huntsman and traveller in Middle Earth” as he sets out to find the creature Gollum. The creature must be found to discover the truth about the Ring, and to protect the future Ringbearer.’

It was made for about £3000, which is a long way from the $270 million budget that Peter Jackson had for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Considering this, it is brilliant. It doesn’t feel like it was made for next to nothing. It fits well into J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth that Peter Jackson brought to life and at times you forget that you are watching something else. The funding was raised by donations from fans.

The music was composed specially for the film and has the same feeling as Howard Shore’s original scores, which just adds to the total package.

If you enjoyed Lord of the Rings pop over to The Hunt For Gollum movie website (http://www.thehuntforgollum.com) and have a watch.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments