d3o the new Velcro

Just one in a while an invention comes along that just changes the rules. This is it, "3do" is a shock impact absorbing goo that modifies it'w own structure on impact. Soft and bendable most of the time but locks rigid under impact. This will change clothing in key ways just like "Velco" fastener did in the past.

Lets hope that this product of long hard work brings rewards to the inventor Richard Palmer as well as the exploiters. An example use is for Ipod protection with this goo can be see on Tech21 website.

Gannett

Advice about data corruption events

Detection – The following items should be seen as warning signs of possible data corruption
• Unexpected exits from normally stable work jobs; any process or database abnormalities should be cause for concern.
• Failure of routine process that scan or search data volumes and file systems ( e.g.: Fsck, backups, catalog processes )
• Hardware I/O errors regardless of whether they are recoverable or not. Especially San, i/o paths and memory

Awareness – these activities are seen as high risk activities for any storage environments
• Frequent reconfiguration or replacement of storage objects.
• Microcode/firmware upgrades ( HBA, switch, array )
• San, Switch and Storage reconfigurations.

Prevention – These activities can help early detection of corruption problems
• Perform test restores of backups, check restored data integrity is sane.
• Scheduled execution of file system metadata and database integrity checks.
• Have spare reliable, tested storage available for immediate deployment, for use in a crisis.
• Maintain records of all i/o path and system device configurations, ( e.g. San, network diagrams and configuration detail)

Investigation – Review these points in the event of a data corruption investigation.
• Retain all log files. Do not let normal daily roll over wipe the evidence (e.g. syslog, alert log, engine log, san switch logs)
• Facilitate early engagement between vendors of all interconnect components.
• Retain or capture copies of corrupted storage objects, the content, size and location of corruption will be used to form theories during investigations.
• Be proactive around scanning the wider estate for similar issues.

The above is very general high level advice. If you wish to obtain specific implementation advice on a per-platform, per-process, per-product or target environment basis please contact your technical support provider.

My Mac G4 moves data at 3,335,443.25 T.Byte a second

My Mac G4 can move huge a amounts of data in a flash. It says so right here in the activity monitor .. Wow, no faking no photo shop honest that what it says.

Gannett

Understanding 3d in 5 dimensions

A good way to understand 3D and animation is to look at a scene using the following five aspects. Understand how these work in any animation and the construction picture becomes clear.

Shape - What is the outline when viewed from all angles, how does the shape change over time ?
Size - What is the object size in relation to the environment and other shapes in the scene ?
Surface - What is on the surface and how does it handle the light ? Does the surface bend curve, grow stretch ?
Steps - Animation is movement. How does the movement break into steps ?
Space - What's in the the space around the object and how does it interact with its space ? What happens when the space around the object changes ?

Look at an animation or 3d scene using the definitions above. Study each aspect and separately and together and soon you will have insight.

Try it ...

Gannett

What's broken with 118800 ?

I had an scare raising email about the new 118800 mobile directory service and problems that might arise. It was incorrect in a number of ways but lets start with this anyway ...

" THIS MAY SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE FUTURE. IT WILL STOP UNSOLICITED CALLS/TEXTS FROM ADVERTISERS (WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TO RECEIVE IF YOU ARE ABROAD, FOR EXAMPLE!)

You may already have heard about this but early next week {11 July 2009} all UK mobiles will be on a directory which will mean that anyone will be able to access the numbers. { This is not what the service does } It’s easy to unsubscribe but it must be done before the beginning of next week to make sure that you are ex directory. You may want to suggest it to all your friends and family who have UK mobiles or they could be swamped by unsolicited messages and calls. Removal is recommended by the BBC.

How to remove your mobile number from the directory

To unsubscribe, you can either click on the ex directory button on the their web homepage , or you can text the letter 'E' to 118800 from the mobile phone you want to be made ex-directory. 118800 will send you an SMS message confirming you've been taken off. "

Going to the src we see on the service FAQ that might be lies but lets see.

"Will I get sales calls via 118 800?
We do not sell or pass data to any commercial organisations. So we think it’s unlikely you will receive many sales calls via our service. But we will monitor call patterns for any suspicious activity, investigate complaints thoroughly and de-list anyone we feel is abusing the service.
….
When someone is searching for me on 118800.co.uk, can they see any information about me?
No. All searches on 118800.co.uk are via our secure application that doesn’t show mobile numbers or names and addresses of individuals. Neither do we give prompts that could disclose personal information. We simply say whether we’ve found the individual and, if we have, we forward the enquirer's contact details. "

I would say that most unsolicited sales calls are made via random number diallers, some times from abroad, that will not be altered by either a new directory service or the TPS. A more likely problem with this service is when the directory information is insufficient information for the service to identify a person. I would not like to be the first “Jack Smith” or “Thomas Jones” listed for London.

Gannett

The first shall be last and the last shall be first ( in Excel )

I had a need in Excel to swap the words round in a field. The was for address book processing where I wanted to change a "Last,First" name into a "First Last" combination. The address book has been exported Both names were in the same column and the output was needed in another column.

The second column is a formula like this from cell B1.

=REPLACE(A1,FIND(",",A1),100,"" ) & " " & REPLACE(A1,1,FIND(",",A1),"")

Three are three parts to this formula each separated by &.
The first part takes the characters from cell A1 from the comma for the next 100 characters "First"
The second part is a Space character " ".
The third part takes the characters from cell A1 from the first character up the comma. "Last"
The result showing in cell B1 is the parts joined up, the action of the & between the parts. "First Last"

Uk Tivo Compared against a Humax Foxsat PVR

I used to have a Uk Series 1 Thompson built Tivo with Sky subscription and now I have a Humax Freedsat-HDR.

Lets compare some features.....

See http://www.spikynorman.dsl.pipex.com/posted/Humax_PVR_V_Uk_Tivo.pdf

Conclusions

The series 1 Tivo developed over the years since its release in 2001; the vibrant user community and speciality dealers helped modify the box with new hard drives up from twin drive 40GB to single 320GB, Ethernet, Cache card for faster EPG searching, Web browsing, Mode 0, remote access etc, all helped keep interest alive.

The Humax is a great box and wins on its HD capability and ease access via USB port and slim light form factor. The Humax could still learn a trick or two from the highly evolved Tivo. The most pressing areas for improvement for the Foxsat is the way the menus are accessed, a single menu access point and ability to play, delete, rename and examine from the same list of files are desperately needed. Tivo also has a single menu access and far, far better search the EPG functionality. The Freestat service needs more channels of course but pound for pound for me the Humax is now the way forward.

Gannett

Credit crunch alternatives

Cash is tight the economy is in the crapper so everyone is looking to save some cash. Lets look at some econo versions of popular ways to spend money.

TV tax. In the Uk your paying GBP 156 per year just to have a TV set and with that comes all the BBC channels and radio for free. So why pay another GBP 50 every month to get an advert laden set of repeats and dodgy US sitcoms ? Go for Freesat or Freeview and pay nothing more. Theres is HD for the big panel ( before the bailiff takes it ), and nothing more to pay. At GBP 50 a month savings will pay of that TV by next Xmas.

Good looking Fish. Just how much does that tank of fishes cost every day. There is the heat, the pump and the chems for the water tests. They needs replacing when they croak, and don't say that doesn't happen way more than you wished. All those medicine, special foods and plants will empty the bank. Get some gold fish they will use the same infrastructure but don't need heating in the house and will get by on a changed bucket of tap water ( with just a drip or two of tapesafe) now and again. They are colorful, active an just once in a while line up like chorus girls.

Great Malt A good quality dram and be froun from GBP 25 to GBP 2500 but these days cheaper sippings are in order. For just about GBP 16 there is a range of singles ( Speyside, Isley, Highland ) that can be bought from Morrsions supermarket. Believe me after a couple only the snobs can tell the difference, and a blind tasting will fool them most times..

Pension pot Dont' keep those insurance cats fat when the house is on the line. A paid for shack will keep you warmer in old age than any amount of paper junk bonds.

Cheep media entertainment The council Library, the library of friends and ebay will have better offers than Amazon. A books lasts longer too.

Keep trim out there.

Gannett