Using iPod shuffle with multiple Macs

With Ben's help, got the following scheme working. Put the Music folder and iTunes library on the disk portion of the iPod shuffle and then start iTunes by Alt-clicking to select the library on the iPod. This way I can download new content and synchronise it without having to constantly wipe the shuffle clean because of using a different iTunes library.

Ubuntu Linux

I finally decided to install Ubuntu on the family PC. It ran very nicely under Windows XP using a trial copy of VMware Workstation but not so well using the free VMware server. Since I didn't want to pay for VMware, I decided to set up a dual boot system. The install of Ubuntu was dead easy, but getting the Windows boot loader back so the rest of the family would see the usual boot up panel was trickier.

Why did I bother? I've had enough of Windows thrashing the PC when no-one is doing anything. This is probably either a virus scan or a virus, and it's not easy to tell which. Also, when I'm doing online banking, I feel as if someone might be looking over my shoulder the whole time (using a keystroke monitor). Ubuntu, and Linux in general, is less prone to viruses and other 'malware'. There is no need to give user accounts administrator privileges like you pretty much have to do on Windows and which enables a virus introduced by one user to infect the whole system.

Anyway, here's a screen shot.

Youth Hostelling in Tintagel

Last weekend a group of 22 of us rented The Youth Hostel in Tintagel for a long weekend. The view from the hostel was breathtaking and we enjoyed cliff-top walks and investigated some of the beaches and caves.

Bay below Tintagel Youth Hostel

We also spent a wet afternoon GPS caching but eventually retired for a cream tea.

The final morning was spent on a beach which had a large area of slate cut into interesting shapes by a large stream flowing down to the sea. The photo. shows Paul on the right and a friend of his, Robert, on the left standing on a naturally formed rock bridge.

Natural rock bridge

This series of shots was taken by our friend Simon and cleverly stitched together as a panorama.

Coastline near Tintagel

IBM Hursley Park

Nice photo. of Hursley House. My office isn't in the house, but I do walk along the path shown in the picture each morning.

Petition in support of Iraqi Christians

Further to my previous blog on this subject, you may like to sign a petition to the Prime Minister.

Snow!

Yesterday about 1" of snow fell overnight which is very unusual in the south of England these days. Our small snowman, pictured, used most of the snow in the garden but still standing today as the cold weather (-1°C) continues.

Twiglet pi

My wife and I are closet mathematicians, but the children, although good at maths, have never really been enthusiasts. So I was comforted when my older son noticed this pi-shaped specimen while munching a bag of Twiglets after Christmas.