Test from nokia 6220

Test from nokia 6220, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Test message From newly arrived nokia 6220 handset. Getting used to the different keyboard layout. Photo resized on phone before emailed out to flickr.

Trench model continues

Having added filler to the polystyrene blocks, it was then a case of spraying with car paint (filer primer first, then Rover russet brown) to get the basic brown appearance. I'll apply a wash and drybrush later. The aim is to match the same muddy brown of the figures' bases.

I decided to use matchstick for the duck-boards instead of coffee-stirrers as the latter looked too wide at this scale.

A flesh wash over the matchsticks stains them, and raises the figures up, doubling as a fire step. Still a lot of work to do to make them look more realistic.

Figures, 25mm Wargames Foundry WW1 French.

Akto, an II

At the beginning of July, 2006, my Hilleberg Akto arrived. Last year I marked this with a post called: A Year With An Akto. So, what has happened in Year II? The only maintenance on the tent was the repair of a hole that appeared.

Kit

I pack the night before an early start, and find that laying my kit on the bed is a great aide memoir. I make piles of clothing to wear, carry and so-forth. Unlike what follows, which doesn't go into each nook and cranny of every pocket.

Footwear

My preference is still for the Scarpa ZG65 boots. I had swapped out the footbeds with the moulded superfeet. I use Nikwax cleaning products after brushing or washing off excess mud.

Recently I have tried the TNF Hedgehog XCR trail shoes, swapping out the laces with those from my old Inov8 Terrocs. I picked up some blisters in Dartmoor and tightened up the lace fittings on return, no problem walking in last week, but picked up 1 1/2 blisters on the return as I had forgot to change out of the Sealskinz socks I was using as camp shoes.

My favourite pair of socks are a black & grey pair labelled "Ultimax", and have a spare pair of socks in my kit. I find that the Air Force X-socks make my feet smell.

Pack

I am still using the Osprey Atmos as pack of choice. In fact, for overnights to longer, it is a comfortable pack that handles what I throw at it. I could shave some weight off by using a smaller pack for short trips, but I can't afford it and just tighten the straps on the pack.

I bought a new Camelbak hydration sack during the year, and now use the insulated one. I might be imagining that it keeps the cold water colder.

Poles are still the PacerPoles. They are good at doing the job, and I break them down after hikes, and sometimes at night too, to stop the mechanism seizing.

Kitchen

On my last two trips, I took the MiniBullDesign Blackfly 3 meths stove. I never liked the open fire meths stoves as they seemed too uncontrollable to me. This small stove uses two ends of a wick to boil enough cold water for a brew in about 10 minutes. Slower than my Primus Micron, but I can merely refill the fuel bottle at the end of a trip. I cannot do that with gas. After about 4 days, the size of a gas canister starts making it viable again.

The mug/bowl combo from GSI is great, and I've been using the folding spoon instead of the folding spork (photos). I still have food to sort, and haven't had a serious attempt at freezer bag cooking. I have a cupboard of supplies, and just grab what I need.

Bob kindly sent me an AquaGear water filter to test (and I've still got the write-up to complete). This lives in the side pocket of a pack, and I use it to drink at a packs-off stop. I also fill the hydration bag from it.

Sleep Kit

My bag is still the Cumulus Ultralight 350. It does the job. I can unzip it and use it as a duvet. I slide the Insul Mat Max Thermo Lite down the inside of the pack. It is full length and I didn't find it cold when out in the low temperature. Having failed to replace it with an Exped, I might try next year's Thermarest release.

After seeing an Ajungilak Air Pillow in use, I upgraded from rolling up clothing into and around a stuff sack. Mine now lives in a small waterproof Exped stuffsack.

From the washing line I have rigged from ties in my tent, I can hang a small torch, as well as the more Alpkit powerful headtorch (I've not used the e+lite since the meet at Brecon last year). My pack stays at the foot end of the tent, kitchen outside in the porch, and fragile things safely up at the head end.

Clothing

With Sunday's purchase, my base layer is all merino wool. Shreddies, long-johns and longsleeve t-shirt.

Beyond that, my trousers are Paramo, meaning I can leave the waterproof overtrousers at home. Above that is a TNF fleece, and Montane primoloft lined windshirt. Buff and maybe a bonnet live in the pockets, along with liner gloves and Garmin Geko 201. In the top of my pack is a Montane Quickfire waterproof jacket.

I replaced my 'Ultimate' hat with a cammo one from Mackays, and sprayed it a couple of times with Nikwax waterproofing. The brim keeps the sun and rain off, and it folds into my pocket.

Housekeeping

The first aid kit, toilet bag and lotion & potions make up most of the rest of the kit. The small containers that I got this year allowed me to take various items like germolene and soap in smaller bottles.

Hiking

Last year finished with illness outside Killin, the pain returned and I got little hiking done as I was concerned that whatever it was would return. A trip to the physiotherapist ruled out a hernia. I got some short walks in, and bagged no further Munros until late Spring. In early summer, I was signed off with cellulitis. As it was still itchy and swollen, I wanted to keep pressure off it, so used that as an excuse not to get much done before a trip to Dartmoor in the summer.

So, in the last year, despite illness, I have hiked 132km (80 miles), spent 7 nights in my Akto, and bagged 1 Munro. Not as good as I could have been, but my motivation has been hit by concerns about another bout of pains. The main lesson this has raised is, whatever you do, don't say you go hiking, as the medicos seem to jump on that as the causes of illness. For the pain in my side, it was caused by my rucksack. I tried to explain to the doc that the pains started in my flat, before I went near my pack. And the infection in my leg was due to a tick (there weren't any) or a midge (ditto).

Some pitches

And now, some pitches with the best all-round solo tent in existence. I store the fabric in its carry bag, and then put that inside an Exped compression bag. This lies across the rucksack, near the top. The peg bag and pole all fit into the supplied bag, and that goes inside the rucksack on the side opposite the hydration tube exit. When I pitch the tent, I make sure that no gust of wind can lift empty bags, so clip the compression bag to my rucksack, and put the empty tent bags into it as I am pitching the tent.

Happy trails.

Cloudbursting

I was never a Kate Bush fan, but this song came to mind when I was writing about last Sunday's trip out and realised I had lots of photos of clouds left over. Like on the trip to Lewis to see the folks, I seem to become fixated by the weather when it is important to the day's plans.

The photos are just taken with the point-and-click Canon Ixus 950 IS, and the only filters were the 'scenes' I played around with on the camera. The "Underwater" one does weird things with the light.

Cold Turkey

I've been away from the computer for over 24 hours. Though not exciting, I've been focusing on a wargames project that I said I'd get done during the holidays. A few of us at the wargames club are looking at recreating the horrific reality of the Great War trench warfare phase.

Stage One. Trimmed and glued polystyrene sections to 600 x 150mm MDF (nicely cut to size in B&Q). The sections will be at the end of the 600mm wide base-boards.

Stage Two. Coated polystyrene with filler.

They won't be as good as these ones, but the aim is to create a modular system of trenches for tense night-time raids across no-man's land.

Dealing in Smak

Dealing in Smak, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

I got some Smak yesterday from Asda. Better tasting than twiglets. Ztota jakosc wypieku.

Return to Sender

With a song in my heart, I'm just off the phone to my provider, and I'll be returning the Sony Ericsson c902 tomorrow.

After a couple of days of mediocrity, customising menus and a software upgrade, I gave up on reasons to keep it after it kept dropping signal strength when Darren called me earlier. A call that the K800i had handled with no problem was cracking up, and we were both in our respective urban abodes too, and not mobile. I'd seen the signal strength bars fluctuate from full to nothing when sitting on my desk.

So, I went to the local O2 shoppe and looked at some handsets. My needs were:

• keyboard visible for hot text action.
• 5mp camera with good reviews.
• lens cover to protect lens from scratches.

Amazingly, very few phones met that spec. Of the phones available to me, the Nokia 6220 was the only one. I went home, and looked at the writeup. Apart from build quality and a slightly weaker battery, it compared well with the c902 (here). Plus it is loaded with extras.

This is the last photo I will be taking with the phone as I decant back to the K800 for a few days. I have been with SE for my last 3 phones and my relatives seem to enjoy the cast-offs.

28mm with c902

28mm with c902, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Despite being told by phone that no new update was looking available, i installed the Sony Ericsson update suite on my pc and found, yup, an update ready to install. Photo cropped and saved at 800x600 on phone. Shame about my painting.

Birds down at the beach

Birds down at the beach, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

By late last night i had finished setting up the newly arrived Sony Ericsson c902. I took some photos indoors. I couldn't read the names of books on the shelves across the room. Hmm, i thought.

So i took some more, played around with the settings and generally lost an early night playing with the new kit.

This one is of a selection down at the beach. I've zoomed in and cropped the photo on the phone, saved as medium size and emailed to Flickr. I'll take some comparison shots with my Canon pnc. Except a dog just chased away the gulls.

Test from c902

This is the voice of the oystermnos ...mysterons ... blox ... New dictionary to train ... Not sure about camera on c902. Arrived on monday n been routeshog ... pottering during day. Finally set up email connection. Then sleep. Got some business to attend to on tuesday but may try some snaps with camera and write about Sunday's jaunt.

Soddit

Or... Didn't get there, so came back again. Or... Nature gets Napoleonic. --- update later ... updated

---

On Saturday the forecast was for intermittent showers. It looked variable, and had not changed when I looked again on Sunday morning. I packed for three days and headed out, stopping in Braemar for a shop and breakfast. In the gear shop, I bought a Patagonia merino wool long sleeved base layer in their sale (35 quid off) and wore it for the rest of the day: unlike the bacon roll from the Hungry Highlander, which lasted until the Linn of Dee car park.

Walking out, a bird of prey landed on a solitary tree, and young deer bounced around on their own in the valley and the plants shone in the cloud-focused sun. But these clouds came in and the 'shower' of heavy rain set the tone for the rest of the day. Plan H was to walk until the weather closed in. (maplink)

I sheltered at the Derry Lodge ford, and carried on, watching the clouds and not really wanting to spend three wet days in the Cairngorms. An hour later, I was further north up Glen Derry, and the rain came on as I reached the bridge. "Soddit", I thought, "there's a cracking pitch here, I may as well sit out the weather"

The rain stopped, the midges rose and I dosed the late afternoon away in my tent. I heard voices on the path and fought back my guilt, listening to the limited radio reception and reading about the poet William Cowper in the wee book of his poems I had grabbed as reading material.

A brew with my Blackfly3 meths stove, some more midge-spray, and I swapped one of the TNF Hedgehog laces with one of the laces that I had taken from my Inov8 Terrocs (in case you really, really want to know, it is the right shoe).

Up hill, along slope, down hill, and I was satisfied enough to swap out the other TNF shoe lace. At least I had achieved something. As the sun set below the mountains, I had my second "sod it" moment, and now with the midge-netting over my head, I broke camp and walked back to the car.

I had walked about 15km, spent about 6 hours in my tent and 4 hours walking. But more, I had reached the nadir where my head knows I can do something, so thinks it doesn't need to prove it by forcing the body to achieve the task. I think I am doing this for other people and not myself. I need to stop thinking about this.

Walking in the failing light, I stop thinking of these things as the trees closed in amongst me, and the primal fears of predator attack kicks in. My inbuilt jukebox starts to play a Creedence Clearwater Revival track, and I hum it back to the car and civilisation (speeding cars, pedestrians staggering in the road and news from Georgia).

Tir nan Og

Tir nan Og, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

The Cap'n announced a pod of dolphins to starboard... then paused and announced that that was on the right of the vessel. After that there was only a flat, clear sailing and the interplay of light and shade on the physical environment to amuse us. Or the bar, shop, tv, canteen and arcade.

Haste Ye Back

Haste Ye Back, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Heading east, i won't count the road signs that will carry the above message as i pass out of Gaeldom

They're GrrrrRevolutionary

As the Olympics starts in China, I can't help but notice that so many companies are advertising "Oriental" themed products. And then one that stands out is the Tibetan centred Kelloggs advert for Frosties. Tibetan monks feature. But no sign of the military watching folk.

Unlike other companies not worrying about embarrassing China, Kelloggs is blazing the way. Well done.

Any bets on it disappearing from the screens as the ad company gets a wee nudge from the weakwilled executives.

--> Previous posting

From Goat Island

From Goat Island, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Stornoway from Goat Island. Tide and sun are out. Cold Norse wind blowing. Sounds of seagulls and traffic rather that raiders going a'viking.

Happy Bunny

After the debacle with the iPhone, my phone provider stood by an arranged deal, and a new Sony Ericsson (1c2ses) C902 is winging its way to me. A 3g phone with unlimited Internet access and a 5megapixel camera. That's why I've been playing around with blogging bigger photos via Flickr.com.

Of course, I've read that some people have had poor experiences with their C902's, and the flash isn't as good as it could be. So far, I've been 'lucky' with my Sony Ericsson experiences. Or have others just been unlucky. That's the downside with reading online reviews.

Shopping list: a new "Body Glove" holder, and eventually a bigger M2 memory stick (I'll swap my existing 1gig card into it).

I can't see myself using the phone in any new and exciting way. I have a k800i already, so can listen to music through the built-in speakers, I can take photos with the camera, and can email them to the blog. I can also text, and even make phone calls. It isn't a convergent device like the iPhone, but I'll see if any new software is available for it. And in 18 months time, I'll see what the new communications technology and battery systems will allow me to upgrade to.

Blog Authoring Systems

I've just been through a list of blog authoring systems - okay, all of the ones listed in both articles (Tuesday and Wednesday) that work with Blogger. Some I downloaded, some I looked at the sites rather than install. Oh, and I didn't bother with the ones where money was to be paid. And I'm not after online ones or Mac/Linux ones.

My unscientific approach took a couple of hours, and what did I find? Well, the closest to stopping me use Windows Live Writer was Zoundry Raven. I liked the integration with the storage system.

But. And I'll be really shallow here. It looks like something from the 1990's. Sorry, but it had to be said.

So, for me, I'll be trying that Flickr integration tool out on Windows Live Writer when I get the chance, and that's it. I'll stick with WLW for now. But if anyone wants to show me what I'm missing elsewhere. Feel free.

Comments Race: Steward's Enquiry

Having previously declared the v8 of the comments (that's the one that receives the comments newsfeed from googleData), I've been watching the occasions when v2 (which uses gets the comments fed via the Atom system). Although I haven't been keeping an official score, I have found Atom to be more up to date with the latest comments more often than googleData. It could be that being on the west coast of Scotland, I'm nearer to the USA. Silly, I know, but as good a reason as any.

So, I'm declaring an end to this frivolity and code chasing. Atom's feed system (v2) has outperformed the runner up, googleData (v8) when it comes to the long haul.

Was it all worth it? Of course not, but that's technology for you. But comments are the social side of blogging, so being able to see a list of recent comments in a sidebar is important to me - if not to Blogger. Having to wait up to 3 hours for the feed to come through was simply unacceptable. A shame that no-one at Blogger saw it like that and answered my questions when they came back from their weekend.

In the interim, people like Darren are texting me to move to WordPress, and others are suggesting that I try non-Blogger commenting systems.I guess that it showed me a chink in the Heath-Robinson affair that is Web2.0. Imagine if your word processor was made up of components from different manufacturers - a spell-checker from X, word-count from Y, clipart from Z. Each needing separate downloads and installs. We'd think the world had gone feil!

My current state of affairs here at "Blogger" is:

• text written on Microsoft's "Windows Live Writer" or on my mobile phone. Rarely on Blogger's online editor.
• graphics held at Yahoo!'s Flickr and Zooomr, with stock photos at Stock.Xchng and some on Picasa when Blogger puts them there.
• video at Google's YouTube
• analysis through Google Analytic, Maps.among.us, ClustrMaps and FrapprMap
• posts converted to mp3 via Odiogo and translation available with Yahoo! Babel Fish
• a personalised radio feed with Last.FM and a shop at CafePress
• even the template in used by the blog has been pochled from the original

Each one will make a bit of money from advertisers when services are visited. Just look at WebWare.com to see the daily growth of social software systems. With the credit crunch hitting advertisers (or so reports ITV bosses), with 3G not available in most towns in the UK, will there be an investment in the system to get the Internet into our mobile phones, and so adverts into our pockets.

To be blunt, social software simply means more eyeballs on adverts and so more chance of the elusive purchase. In return we get all these services for free. After years of listening to commercial radio and watching commercial television, I'm more likely to buy a product based on personal recommendations, eg at a recent meeting or in a magazine review or via an online discussion, than in a plain advert that just gives me a product name and price. What I want are shops that present me with enough information to allow me to decide that I'll buy the product. I've seen too many online shops recently that have minimal information (thereby expecting the consumer to have wasted time on researching the product). Like the rest of us, retailers have access to a vast array of media hosting, so they need to get the finger out and start to use these to promote their products. Customers are tightening their belts. Will online retailers produce fresher media to try and close the sale, or will they still think of the online medium as a new form of paper? We are already seeing a return to the old "soap opera" format with the direct sponsorship of tv and online shows. Will we see the same format being applied to online services? Will the future see companies like Tesco sponsor (not merely advertise on it) the development of new social systems? Will HSBC build a rival to Paypal?

Test post from Blogger-in-Draft

Text can be added. Can I change the layout of image, so text can be formatted along the side. Yes.

Resizing image is easier, and the width space in the editor is better. I can also increase the height of the space.

Now, something that couldn't be done in the compose window in "classic" Blogger was to view an embedded YouTube video in the compose window. I had to preview it to see it running.



Now, in Blogger-in-draft the preview doesn't show the video. And it is merely a grey square in the compose view. It should play okay when I publish this meandering.

Other useful changes - well, strikethrough is now a format option. That's useful. And the links option allows links to other places on the Net. Although you can test the link, you still cannot select an option to open the link in a new window (most tabbed browsers open a new tab at that point). Some people see it as bad practice, but I'd rather people didn't get pointed away from my site. And I can't stand these wee snap-type windows that open. A waste of time unless you have the eyes of a hawk.

Of course, this is merely a draft. And I'm not looking at the changes in the rest of the system. Nor the improved HTML options. To be honest, it is the editor that is of interest to most people. That's where articles are created and the pages set out.

I think I'll continue to use Windows Live Writer as my primary authoring tool, unless I find something better. I'm just surprised that Google/Blogger hasn't picked up on this. Yet.

Leurbost road end

Leurbost road end, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Holding the video camera as my Dad drives and Mum narrates. She's had a request to send a video to a relative in Australia.
Maplink