This is the weblog of Brian Curd. A lot of it is written on the spur of the moment and any benefit you gain from it is worth exactly what you paid!
Yet another blog upgrade completed!
This time I chose a slightly different method which made things a lot easier. I used the WP Plugin called Wordpress Automatic Upgrade (WPAU) which is available as a free download here.
Everything seems to be working so I think I’ll leave it be for a while!
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Filed under: Hosting, Software, Techie
Have you heard about the Geograph British Isles project? it’s a great site which set out to accumulate photos from every square kilometre of Great Britain and Ireland - buildings, landscapes etc.
So far, about 70% of the squares are complete with at least 1 picture with the remaining blanks in some pretty wild places and mostly well off the beaten track - of course you may be lucky enough to find your area needs a little help. Multiple pics are allowed for each square so even if your area isn’t blank, you can still add photos.
See the site FAQ for details of copyright conditions. For those with an interest in such things all the source code that powers the Geograph site is Open Source.
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Filed under: Hobbies, Isle of Wight, Photography, Software
Riding with Robots on the High Frontier is a website with the tagline “Saddle up for a trip with the robotic spacecraft now exploring the wild black yonder!”.
It updates daily with superb photographs and animations from various exploration spacecraft.
Well worth a visit!
The Chasms of Cerberus
Sent by: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | From: Mars
Released: Aug, 2008 | Credit: NASA/JPL/UA | Image source
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Techie
Yesterday three of us were lucky enough to be invited to attend the Space: 08 event at the Barbican Centre.
The highlight of the event for me was the Masterclass conducted by Roger Shawyer the Director of SPR Ltd. After introducing himself and explaining his background in various satellite launch products, Roger went on the explain his EmDrive, a revolutionary propulsion system for both satellite launch and manoeuvring.
Now back on the Island with a net connection, I have done a bit of digging around on the web and found stacks of reports on the EmDrive, among them:
New Scientist raised a lot of comment - mostly negative, over its coverage and I think it’s fair to say that the scientific community are very skeptical of the whole idea. I recommend you at least have a read about it and then make up your own mind.
Were we, yesterday, in the presence of the man who will revolutionise space (and perhaps other) travel or were we listening to somebody who, despite apparently having a solid CV, has lost the plot? Either way Roger has convinced enough people (DTI, Smart Award etc) to financially support further R & D and of course publicise the device to people like me!
Personally I hope it works - perhaps then the web will be filled with the writings of detractors “eating” their words!
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hardware, Hobbies, Scams, Techie
Next year is the International Year of Astronomy and the Vectis Astronomical Society are intending to join the rest of the astronomy world by holding events throughout 2009.
As well as pavement astronomy, we are hoping to join together with other interest groups around the Island and provide talks and general sky watching.
Planning is at a very early stage but if you are holding any events on the Island during 2009, and are interested in having astronomy equipment brought to you, please drop me an email or a comment on this blog and I’ll start the ball rolling.
I’ll be posting details of planned Island events here as well as on the VAS website but if you are on the mainland and would like to find out what’s going on in your area please visit the UK IYA website.
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Isle of Wight, Seasonal
It seems the excitement of NASA scientists over the Pheonix findings may have been a little premature:
They reckon to have found perchlorate - also found on earth - and say:
“Finding perchlorates is neither good nor bad for life, but it does make us reassess how we think about life on Mars,”
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies
http://www.universetoday.com is reporting:
“It would appear that the US President has been briefed by Phoenix scientists about the discovery of something more “provocative” than the discovery of water existing on the Martian surface. This news comes just as the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) confirmed experimental evidence for the existence of water in the Mars regolith on Thursday. Whilst NASA scientists are not claiming that life once existed on the Red Planet’s surface, new data appears to indicate the “potential for life” more conclusively than the TEGA water results. Apparently these new results are being kept under wraps until further, more detailed analysis can be carried out, but we are assured that this announcement will be huge…
So why is there all this secrecy? According to scientists in communication with Aviation Week & Space Technology, the next big discovery will need to be mulled over for a while before it is announced to the world. In fact, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory science team for the MECA wet-chemistry instrument that made these undisclosed findings were kept out of the July 31st news conference (confirming water) so additional analysis could be carried out, avoiding any questions that may have revealed their preliminary results. They have also made the decision to discuss the results with the Bush Administration’s Presidential Science Advisor’s office before a press conference between mid-August and early September. “
Read more…
This might stir things up a bit!
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies
August is a good month for taking a look at the sky above you. There are three easily viewable events this year.
Please remember though, NEVER look directly at the Sun. Direct observation either with or without optical aid is to be avoided unless correct filters are used. Instead project the Sun’s image through a pair of binoculars or a telescope onto a sheet of white card at the focal point. Observation of the projected image is therefore perfectly safe.
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Isle of Wight, Seasonal
The Ventnor Winter Garden has recently had quite a few decent gigs but this time, at least for me, it has played a blinder!
On October 31st 2008 they have a triple bill “Classic Legends of Rock” concert featuring:
For somebody who’s tastes are firmly seated in the 70s this should be a real treat. I’ve seen Wishbone Ash a couple of times before and Focus once. Split (Groundhogs) was the first album I ever bought so I’m really looking forward to the 31st.
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Filed under: Isle of Wight, Music
You know the feeeling, you wait for ages for a bus then two come along together!
Well that’s exactly how I feel about WordPress! As I mentioned earlier, I hadn’t bothered with the last few upgrades and finally took the plunge with v2.5.1. Guess what? a few days later and along comes v2.6!
Anyhow, it’s now installed, again without problems and everything looks fine… let’s just hope it stays that way.
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Filed under: Hosting, Software, Techie
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