Jonathan

A stroll along the canal

This evening I decided to take a stroll along the canal near Atherstone with my parents, brother Edmund and girlfriend Hana. It was a really nice evening for a walk and we covered about three miles.

I think I may have stumbled across a security problem in OS X on my Macbook. To recreate it, you need to satisfy the following conditions: Enable locking the screen after waking from sleep or screensaver Connect to an 802.1x-authenticated wireless network. Don’t set to remember password. Shut the lid to put it to sleepContinue reading “Mac OS X security flaw?”

Automated backups on Linux

In this article I will talk you through how to set up automatic backups from your Linux computer, to another Linux/Unix computer of some description. This works for OS X, too. I have tested these instructions on Fedora and Ubuntu. These backups will use rsync, a handy program for copying only the files that haveContinue reading “Automated backups on Linux”

Best of

This week, the Tuesday Challenge brief is not to take a photograph; but rather to submit the best photograph we’ve ever taken. Tough one. I’ve managed to whittle it down to two (the first of these Water pictures, and a portrait of my mate Fraser), but I can’t decide between them. So I’ve set upContinue reading “Best of”

Working in a riser

Today at work I had to install a switch in a rack in a riser. The riser goes from top to bottom of the building in question (5 storeys + basement). Access is through an iron door on each floor. There is a grille to stand on, but it was slightly wobbly and nowhere nearContinue reading “Working in a riser”

Fairy tales

“The theme this week is Fairy Tales. Interpret this in any way you wish.” I decided to set up a shot of me reading a fairy tale to a “child” in bed.

Reflecta DigitDia 5000 Slide Scanner – Review

I recently inherited a box of around 4,000 film slides and was asked to scan them in. I decided that my existing film/slide scanner, a Veho VFS-001, was not up to the task so I investigated alternatives, and eventually settled on a Reflecta DigitDia 5000 – which is simply a rebadged (and cheaper!) Braun MultimagContinue reading “Reflecta DigitDia 5000 Slide Scanner – Review”

The best Internet connection in the world

I ran a speed test from Namesco on my PC at work. It has a gigabit Ethernet connection but more importantly, it is served by JANET – the high speed academic network. As you see in the screenshot, it achieved 215 Mb/s download! The best Internet connection in the world? I think so.

Map of the Bristol – Bath cycle path

When I first started using the Bristol – Bath cycle path I was frustrated by the lack of decent maps. Most of the ones I’ve come across that show the exits of the bike path are schematics, like maps of the London tube. It can be pretty hard to figure out how that ties intoContinue reading “Map of the Bristol – Bath cycle path”

Viewfinder optional

From Stu’s Tuesday Challenge: Take a bunch of photos without using any kind of viewfinder or checking the images on the rear screen afterwards. Post your best one of the week! I had a barbecue with Hana and a couple of friends on Bristol Downs today. Seemed an ideal time to take photos, and whenContinue reading “Viewfinder optional”