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These pages are written and managed by John & Julii Swindells, and we take every effort to ensure their accuracy, relevance and engagement. If you don't think this is the case at any point, please contact us and explain where you think that we're going wrong. Otherwise, happy browsing!

Make Your Turbo Trainer Pay

Cycling 22 Jan 2010

Want to feel super-incentivised strap your bike into your turbo trainer? Try attaching a dynamo! The ETA (Environmental Transport Association ...

Saboteur Gets Knife In Back

Wind Turbines 22 Jan 2010

The saboteur that viciously brought down the Unity Wind Weather Mast at the end of last year must be really, really gutted now. Their actions ...

Dell's 1.3kg Netbook

Computing 18 Jan 2010

This is an interesting little number - the DELL Inspiron Mini 10v Black Netbook being sold by Maplin for £230 (while stocks last). Product ...

Microsoft Security Essentials Problems

Computing 18 Jan 2010

I haven't heard much in the way of praise or criticism of Microsoft's security essential pack. It claims to provide "real-time protection for ...

Official: Worst Short URL Ever

Computing 16 Jan 2010

Whilst thinking about short URLs for work projects today, my brain managed to stumble on one for swinny.net which I thought was really neat at ...

Mindcom Hits The Front Page!

Life at Mindcom 16 Jan 2010

Okay, we're only on the front page of a regional newspaper with daily circulation under 8000, but it's still pretty cool: Web Firm A Global ...

How to choose a low-environmental impact diposable diaper?

Child Help 15 Jan 2010

Background We live in the UK but are going on vacation to California for a month. Unlike previous month-long visits with toddlers, when ...

Climate Change Capital: Wealth Worth Having

Ethical Investments 12 Jan 2010

Climate Change Capital is an investment management company that aims to "channel significant amounts of capital into the solutions to climate ...

Wireless Headset (Stereo)

Computing 11 Jan 2010

I've just ordered a Plantronics .Audio 995 Digital Wireless Stereo Headset from Amazon UK, although the Creative Labs HS-1200 Digital Wireless ...

Satellite View of the Snow-Covered UK

Fun Stuff 08 Jan 2010

Here's an amazing NASA satellite view of a snow-covered UK: NASA's 1.5MB JPEG Image I've mirrored the image here, because of connection ...

Trampoline Safety Pads

Fun Stuff 31 Dec 2009

Our trampoline safety pads (which cover the springs) are badly degraded, so we've looked around for alternatives. Here are our findings: ...

High Performance Computing: A History

Computing 31 Dec 2009

Here's a recommendation from Amazon: As someone who has purchased or rated High Performance Web Sites: Essential Knowledge for Front-End Engineers ...

Car Fuel Costs: Volkswagen Passat

Family Car 27 Dec 2009

Here are our fuel costs for the 1996 Volkswagen Passat (1.9L diesel), showing the miles per gallon and cost per mile:

Robert Francis Brainard

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Robert Francis Brainard, about 1895.

Nellie (Slater) and her second husband

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Nellie (Slater) and her second husband, Thomas Murray, ~1910.