Articles and advice on cycling, technology, home efficiency and more - 2009

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.

Nelson and Hattie Slater

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Nelson and Hattie Slater, ~1895.

Nelson Slater and Harriet

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Nelson Slater and Harriet (Hattie Gammons) Slater, ~1905.

Nelson and Hattie (Gammons) Slater

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Tombstone for Nelson and Hattie (Gammons) Slater.

Hattie (Gamons) Slater and friend

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Hattie (Gamons) Slater and friend in front of Hattie's home, circa 1890.

Four children of Nelson and Hattie Slater

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Tombstone in CT for the four children of Nelson and Hattie Slater who died in the same week of 1877 from Diptheria.

Nellie (Slater) and Robert Brainard

The Slater Family 11 Nov 2009

Pictured, Nellie (Slater) and Robert Francis Brainard, about 1895.

Remembrance Procession in North Walsham

North Walsham 08 Nov 2009

The Brownies were part of a procession from the War Memorial to St. Nicholas Church, in North Walsham this Sunday.

Same Product, New Look. Huh?

House and Home 08 Nov 2009

There was a little green label on a pack of tuna fishcakes I bought from Sainsbury's the other day. I only noticed it when I'd got home, and ...

Preston's Deputy Mayor in Poppy Row

The Swindells Name 05 Nov 2009

The city's deputy mayor John Swindells said: 'It's staggering, really, that this is happening at this time in particular. Read more: Veterans ...

Math Pattern

Showcase 😀 04 Nov 2009

Google's Spooky Robots

Web Programming 31 Oct 2009

Google has enhanced their robots.txt file, in a hope of getting more treats and fewer tricks. Let's see if the kids do as they're told! Judging ...

Content-Link Exchange Request

The Social Web 30 Oct 2009

I was emailed a proposal yesterday, whereby I would be given some unique content which contained a link to the company in question. Here is ...

North Walsham Met Mast Is Up!

Wind Turbines 25 Oct 2009

We got ourselves into the EDP (Eastern Daily Press) this Saturday, as the weather mast for the North Walsham wind turbine project was erected ...

Insurance Cashback? Avoid Yes Insurance!

House and Home 24 Oct 2009

Warning: Everything here is my opinion only. It is up to you to draw your own conclusions. Quidco is a great place to get cashback on all ...

Memcached and PHP

Web Programming 22 Oct 2009

There are plenty of resources out there on getting PHP and memcache to work together, and a basic installation and configuration should pose ...

A warmer winter may mean lower heating costs

Lower Energy Bills 22 Oct 2009

From Tri-County Times: Tips on how to lower energy bills: According to Consumers Energy, heating the home accounts for approximately 40 percent ...

Elm Planks For Good Shelves

Do It Yourself! 11 Oct 2009

Too often I've bought sheets of plywood in order to construct shelves of one sort or another. This time, though, to make some free-standing ...

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Become an Organ Donor 11 Oct 2009

The National Health Service is constantly asking for people to sign up to their organ donor register. At any one time, more than 9000 people ...

UStream Disconnects with Facebook

Computing 02 Oct 2009

UStream is getting into a bit of a muddle with its facebook connect integration. They have a flash chat app which sits above everything else ...

Twitter Doing Debug?

Computing 24 Sep 2009

Am I seeing things? Or missing something? There's what looks like debug output sat at the top of the timeline right now. Hasn't anyone in ...

100 Brilliant Minds in Clean Technology

Climate Change 12 Sep 2009

The Guardian has published a list of the 100 brightest European companies in the quest to solve the looming climate change crisis. Called ...

USB Microscopes

Photography 31 Aug 2009

Veho USB Microscope - VMS-004 Deluxe, £53.95 from Clickashop. Magnification: 20x - 400x Max, Capture Resolution: 1600 x 1200. USB Microscope ...

AVG Free Antivirus

Computing 22 Aug 2009

Here is the link to Grisoft's Free Antivirus software: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5 (link updated 20 August 2009). The software does ...

Blogged.com: Submit Your Blog

Blog Promotion 11 Aug 2009

It never hurts to submit your blog to a directory. Here is the submission page for Blogged.com.

Video Sitemaps For Google Search

Web Programming 10 Aug 2009

Read about creating Google video sitemaps

Give your model train's head lights a boost

Model Railways 10 Aug 2009

From Gadget Freak, the answer to flickering model train headlights: We have finally answered model train aficionados’ prayers by presenting ...

EcoCho: Carbon Neutral Search Engine

Climate Change 10 Aug 2009

Check out EcoCho.co.uk (or EcoCho.com in the US) for a green search appliance. It doesn't have significant traffic data, but does claim to have ...

HOT POLITICS

Climate Change 10 Aug 2009

Hot Politics is a site examining the politics behind the Bush administration's handling of climate change issues. It is a companion Web site ...

Rory Cellan-Jones Outfoxed By Twitter

Computing 30 Jul 2009

BBC Technology Correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones has, in his own words, been 'caught out by 02 new tweeting service'. He received a text message ...

Polar Opposite Tweets

Computing 06 Jul 2009

Two people, both of whom I enjoy following, tweeted rather different things first thing this morning. It made me smile... James Bowthorpe ( ...

Internet of Things, All A-Tweeting

Computing 24 Jun 2009

Superbly geeky news item on BBC1 last night, with @ruskin147 interviewing @andysc in his auto-tweeting home. @andysc = Andy Stanford-Clark ...

I Killed the Bird said the Wind Turbine

Wind Turbines 13 Jun 2009

This is the first time (in around a year and a half of operation) that we've seen any sign of death to bird life due to our wind turbine. ...

Access Tube Excavation

Environmental Research 03 Jun 2009

From Loughborough University - Experimental Sites, here is Julii manually installing an access tube, used for taking water measurements at various ...

Every Bing You Wanted To Know?

Computing 03 Jun 2009

Microsoft has released its new search engine into the wild, and is pumping some serious TV advertising dollars into the brand. Most of the ...

Fresh Start for Swinny.net @MediaTemple

Web Programming 31 May 2009

Swinny.net has been hosted on MyServerWorld.com (previously part of HostEurope, now Pipex) for many years, since 2001 in fact. Performance and ...

Norfolk Century (and Half Century) Ride 2009

Norfolk 27 May 2009

The British Heart Foundation is sponsoring this year's Norfolk 50 mile and 100 mile rides, starting and finishing in Norwich. The start for ...

PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter) Defined

Cycling 25 May 2009

PCD, or Pitch Circle Diameter, is the diameter of an imaginary circle drawn through the fixing holes of a chainring. Since it's not possible ...

Alert! Domain Renewal Group on the Prowl

Web Programming 20 May 2009

Be on your guard! The Domain Renewal Group sends renewal letters to domain holders, when domains are nearing their renewal date. The letters ...

What is Wolfram Alpha?

Computing 19 May 2009

In the hyped-up days of Twitter and Facebook, we are all looking for 'the next big thing'. If that next big thing is being described as a Google ...

Meccano Spykee Wi-Fi Robot

Robotics 16 May 2009

This must be the most fun, extravagant wireless webcam on wheels ever! Control Spykee using a local wi-fi signal or remotely via the Internet ...

Lego Mindstorms NXT

Robotics 16 May 2009

I decided to start a robotics section just to showcase this amazing bit of kit: the Mindstorms NXT, a pile of Lego that comes with a controller ...

The IET Virtual Library

Professional Development 16 May 2009

The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET, previously the IEE) has just added hundreds of expert reports from Faulkner to its online library ...

Green Shoots of Recovery

Finance 07 May 2009

This Bonsai went through a spell of complete neglect, and only a massive injection of water allowed it to start sprouting the smallest shoots ...

How To Select Your Oil Supplier

Heating Oil: A Buyer's Guide 05 May 2009

Ask Yourself, "How do I choose a supplier of domestic heating oil?" We've been asking visitors to our website for years for their suggestions ...

BBC Dig In!

Share Your Seeds! 04 May 2009

The BBC is giving away vegetable seeds! Just go to the DigIn pages and provide your home address (UK only). If you are under 16, you need ...

The Old Seeds Experiment

Gardening 30 Apr 2009

What to do with all those old seeds kicking about in the potting shed? Here's what I've decided to do with mine: I mixed them all up in a tub ...

The Laurel Hedge Must GO!

Gardening 28 Apr 2009

We have a thick, tall laurel hedge on our front border, and have decided to get rid of it. The laurel hedge is detrimental to wildlife, and ...

Our New Hedge Is Planted

Gardening 28 Apr 2009

Here is the list of bare root hedging that we've just bought from Felthorpe Nurseries: 5x Hornbeam @£0.65 each 10x Hazel @£0 ...

Pictures of George Brainard and Robert Brainard

The Brainard Name 26 Apr 2009

George Brainard, fixing his car: 1950 Robert Brainard and sons (Lauren and Larrie), 1963

New Piece of Coffee Drinking Hardware

Life at Mindcom 24 Apr 2009

This is the mug everyone will want in years to come, you mark my words! Blurtit while you drink!

OAuth so Awful!

Web Programming 24 Apr 2009

In the space of a fortnight, Twitter has suffered two nasty vulnerabilites that allow unauthorised account access. First it was a user's ability ...

Swinny.net Looks a Little Different

Web Programming 23 Apr 2009

This web site has been revamped - but only from the front end. I have tidied up the header and made the colour scheme more neutral. I have ...

Bulk-Buy Seeds at 50% Discount

Share Your Seeds! 10 Apr 2009

Our local garden centre in North Norfolk sells bulk quantities of seeds, at around 50% the per-seed price of seed packets. Quantities are in ...

Smashed Up Rear Mech

Giant SCR 1.0 12 Mar 2009

I've just managed to completely mangle the rear mech on my road bike. It's part of a Shimano 105 groupset, on a Giant bike and around a year ...

Heating Oil Ordered

Heating Oil: A Buyer's Guide 11 Mar 2009

1000L of oil ordered from Goff Petroleum ( Norwich : 01603 410861) which will deliver oil to all of the south east of England. The quote was ...

FEC0FF

Computer Programming 21 Feb 2009

body,table,tbody,tr,td,div,#Header,#Content,#Footer { background-color:#fec0ff; background:#fec0ff; border:0px; } As a tribute ...

Meter Readings Being Fiddled?

Electricity 21 Feb 2009

Our latest statement from Good Energy shows a three-month estimated consumption of 836kWh, at a rate of 15.16p/kWh. It then shows an actual ...

Wind Farm Radar Problems May Have Solution

Wind Turbines 14 Feb 2009

Cambridge Consultants (Cleantec) believes it has developed a solution to 'radar blindness' caused by wind turbines. Existing radar systems ...

Good Energy RHI (Renewal Heat Incentive) Scheme

Solar PV Electricity 14 Feb 2009

Good Energy announces its Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, so homeowners can earn cash back from their solar installations. They profile a ...

Not So Expensive Sofa

House and Home 10 Feb 2009

This is our old three-seater sofa that we want to give away. It sags somewhat and is patched up, but the frame is very solid.

Countdown to a Special Timestamp

Computing 09 Feb 2009

Have you noticed that we're perilously close to a very special timestamp: 1234567890! This will actually happen on:
Friday 13 February ...

For Nerds Everywhere: The Loser Quiz!

Computing 04 Feb 2009

52/100: my Loser Quix score; not exactly a crowning achievement, but at least I was honest. Honest, I was :)

Portable Bike Lane

Cycling 02 Feb 2009

Take your bike lane with you! It might not be as good as the real thing, but this laser light projection of a bike lane gives drivers a clear ...

Wood delivery from Richardsons

Solid Fuel Stoves and Central Heating 30 Jan 2009

Richardsons Timber Mill on Mill Rd, Edingthorpe: delivered 18 barrow-loads of logs (mixed), well-chopped, for £85. Soaking wet due to ...

Windows 7 Needs Its Tyres Kicking

Computing 17 Jan 2009

Microsoft has released its new Operating System, Windows 7, and you can now download it free of charge to try it out. You don't get technical ...

SANS Institute: Top 25 Programming Mistakes

Computer Programming 14 Jan 2009

The SANS Institute has published a list of the 25 most dangerous programming errors - and how to fix them. See CWE/SANS TOP 25 Most Dangerous ...

Energy Efficiency in TV Broadcasting

Computing 12 Jan 2009

Internet-delivered TV vs broadcast TV: how does the electricity consumption add up? Following on from the recent rather dubious claims that ...

Bad Installation Made Good

Solid Fuel Stoves and Central Heating 11 Jan 2009

A bad installation by a Norfolk stove company was made apparent to us when we asked a chimney sweep to clean the chimney. The installer cam ...

Google's Energy Consumption Analysed

Computing 11 Jan 2009

The Times reports on a study by a Harvard physicist: Revealed: the environmental impact of Google searches. The researcher claims that two Google ...

123-Reg Whois Privacy

Computing 11 Jan 2009

Be warned, if you purchase Whois Privacy (or domain privacy) from 123-Reg: they do not enable privacy automatically, so you need to go into the ...

The Register Plate

Solid Fuel Stoves and Central Heating 07 Jan 2009

The register plate is a sheet placed horizontally above a stove. The stove's flue pipe runs through it, and it is sealed all round the edges ...

Prince's Pension Plan for the Planet

Ethical Investments 03 Jan 2009

http://www.gaeia.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=186
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is to announce a green ...

Virgin Media 50Meg product - is it a revolution?

Internet Access: UK Broadband 03 Jan 2009

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3822-virgin-media-50meg-product-is-it-a-revolution.html
Broadband has come a long way in eight years ...

My Axe Is Broke

Solid Fuel Stoves and Central Heating 03 Jan 2009

My new axe was a Christmas present, and I've swung it no more than fifty times. Upon bashing it, the head stayed in the log as I pulled the ...

Cycling Resolutions: Twenty Reasons!

Cycling 03 Jan 2009

The Independent has published a list of twenty reasons for you to take up cycling this year. Like you needed an excuse, eh? The article is ...

Water Consumption

House and Home 02 Jan 2009

How much water do you use? Do you have any idea? According to Environment Agency figures, each person in England uses 148 litres PER DAY. ...

Red Tape Blowing In The Wind

Wind Turbines 02 Jan 2009

Windfarms are being held up by red tape. This is according to the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) as reported in the Guardian on 29 December ...