Workstation Time Capsule

 

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I’m trying to sort out something on my computer that I would rather not have to do. I’ll ‘work’ like a madman searching here and there for an answer - I Google and Bing over and over again seeking a solution. I’ll download that application, or that one, even that one, but each time there is a snag. If I try a free one, I can find I’m in real trouble. Halfway through the download, I discover my computer is being given a facelift that I do not want. I have to abort immediately. Thankfully I wriggle out of the situation, and I am greatly relieved that my computer has not been infiltrated by a bug, or a worm that chews bits away until it is completely useless.

Well, a few days ago I made a number of video clips using my iPhone 4s. The idea was to try linking them together by using Windows Movie Maker, but unknown to me iPhone videos which are in Quick Time format, are not compatible with Windows AVI videos. Of course I should have suspected that an Apple product would not be compatible with a Windows one. So I downloaded a trial version of AVS Video Maker specifically designed for Apple MOV files. Horror of horror, to orientate my videos the right way up, it was necessary to rotate them clockwise 90 degrees! A great struggle ensued as I wrestled with the problem. This was hard work! - Not at all fun as I had hoped for.

Even if I pay for a Quick Time Pro application, I’m not convinced that I shall be able to rotate my clips so that I don’t have to cock my head to one side to see them properly. The answer, of course, is to make sure that when I take more video clips with my iPhone I must have the home button facing me to my right. That will orientate the phone correctly, but unless I purchase a full version of AVS Video Maker, it will be of no avail, since the trial version can only produce watermarked videos, and many of the functions are missing. This all seems like hard work.

John 6:29, 29

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Apps for iPhone 4s

Applications for use on iPhones are available through iTunes. If your phone is operative, you will already be signed up to iTunes where ‘Apps’ are available. Open the ‘App Store’; select the ‘Search’ option, and key in suitable words to describe the sort of application you want; for example ‘bible concordance’; then press the search button. About 19 apps will become available. Flick through them to find the one that most fits your original need. To see if it will be suitable, open the page by tapping your finger on the screen, and sample pages will appear. Simply skim through them as you would photos by pulling or pushing them from side to side. Have a look at the Reviews section by tapping your finger in the upper part of the screen. If you think the application fits the bill, you can download it to your phone by tapping the ‘Free’ box, or if it is not free, the box stating how much has to be paid before downloading can take place. You will already have an arrangement with iTunes for making payments for downloading Music, TV Programmes and Films.

I think being able to immediately gain access to the sort of information you want via your chosen application is tremendously useful. In this day and age, which is fast-moving, finding what you want quickly is important. If I were both a gourmet and a travelling salesman I would download the Great Britain and Ireland Michelin guide 2013, so that wherever I went I would be able to locate a good restaurant. As I cruise my boat on open water, I downloaded an excellent app that provides marine weather forecasts for free. It is simply called ‘Marine Weather’. If you are into playing games, there are a few sailing apps, such as ‘Top Sailor Sailing Simulator’ or ‘SailBlaster’. The latter does not have such a good writ up as the former. Since I am not into playing games, I can’t give an opinion. Apps that I particularly like are my ‘Kindle’ for reading E-books supplied by Amazon, and the ‘Flyto Chart Navigator’, which has every chart for navigating around the UK; it has road maps too!  

Link

IPhone Nautical Chart Navigator

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/iphone-nautical-chart-navigator.html

Autumn Garden Photos

 

British Summer Time officially ends on 28^th October when the clocks are set back one hour. At this time of year deciduous trees start losing their leaves, and during the process they often take on the most glorious colours. There is an Acer tree at the bottom of my garden that has been turning into a flaming bush, or that’s what it looks like when the sun shines and the wind vibrates its leaves. Windy it has been too for the past few days, to bring about the magic as the boughs sway to and fro.

Two days ago I thought I would test the camera of my iPhone 4s to see how good it was. In fact, I was not disappointed, because it managed to take sharply focussed photos of flowers and shrubs that were being flung about by the wind. The video camera was equally good, but it lacked the optical zoom facility of my Sony Cyber-shot camera, on the other hand it has a higher resolution at 8 megapixels. Lighter and less bulky than my camera, the phone conveniently fits into my shirt pocket, where it is ready for instant use.

 

Web Links - Christian Sailing

Just over two years I was in Chichester Harbour aboard ‘Ladybird’. She was anchored off East Head when a flotilla of dinghies crewed by youngsters arrived on the scene. They carried out a number of manoeuvres, including sailing different courses relative to the wind, reefing, beaching their boats and anchoring off for lunch.  I was impressed with the way their CYE* Sailing Centre instructors supervised and managed them.

Most of the under-mentioned URLs come from my old Small Sailboats website, but encouragingly I have found a number of new ones to replace those that no longer function.

Note

Here’s a link to my blog article that refers to the time when ‘Ladybird’ was anchored off East Head:

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/cruise-photos.html

 

Christian Sailing Links

http://www.cirdantrust.org/  Cirdan Sailing Trust.

http://www.christiansinsport.org.uk/networks.asp?itemid=69&section=25 Christians in Sport – Sailing

http://christianyouthsailingsociety.com/home.cfm Christian Youth Sailing Society

http://www.cye.org.uk/  CYE Sailing Centre*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elida_(ship)  ‘Elida’ – Sailing for Jesus

http://www.fact.org.uk/ Fact.

http://www.kingfisherproject.org/ Kingfisher Project

http://www.morningstar.org.uk/about-us.html Morning Star Trust

http://pacificmaritimeministries.com/  Pacific Maritime Ministries

http://www.pathfindersonwater.org.uk/  Pathfinders on Water.

http://www.quantpole.co.uk/about.php Quantpole - Christian Sailing Holidays on the Norfolk Broads

http://www.medinavalleycentre.org.uk/  Medina Valley Centre.

http://www.serendipitysailing.co.uk/  Serendipity Sailing

http://www.westwardquest.co.uk/ Westward Quest.

 

Monument to Damien Hurst

Damien Hurst’s latest travesty has today been erected at the picturesque North Devon seaside town of Ilfracombe. His 66’ high bronze statue representing ‘Verity’, the Roman mythological goddess of truth, points her sword of truth to the sky. She stands unashamedly naked, facing the sea in defiant gesture; her back is towards the town. Seemingly, a post-mortem has taken place without her knowing, revealing that she is pregnant. Her side has been cut away to show her secret and rather nauseating inward parts. Before being unveiled she will be given the scales of justice to hold them ignominiously below her buttocks.

‘Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.’ (Philippians 4:8) 

Links

Will Damien Hirst's bronze statue Verity regenerate Ilfracombe?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19881524

VIDEO & PHOTOS: Damien Hirst's Verity statue hoisted into place on Ilfracombe Pier

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/RISES-Damien-Hirst-s-Verity-statue-hoisted-place/story-17089477-detail/story.html

Damien Hirst's Naked Statue Verity Hoisted

http://news.sky.com/story/998364/damien-hirsts-naked-statue-verity-hoisted

"Verity" - 65 Foot Bronze Pregnant Woman Sculpture

http://threadsofspiderwoman.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/verity-65-foot-bronze-pregnant-woman.html

Veritas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veritas

Matt, the Goddess of Truth and Justice

http://www.kenseamedia.com/egyptian_gods/maat.htm

Web Links – possibly of general interest to those who sail

Continuing the presentation of web links copied from my old Small Sailboats website, here are a few more.

http://www.ukho.gov.uk/ProductsandServices/Leisure/Pages/leisure-products.aspx  Admiralty Leisure Products.

http://www.woodenboat.net.nz/Stories/Sculling/scullone.html A Lesson in One-Sculling.

http://www.baysidewoodenboats.com.au/ Ross Lilliston Wooden Boat Plans.

http://www.noonsite.com/ Cruising Sailors' Web Site.

http://www.david.chesworth.btinternet.co.uk/DataIndex.htm Dinghy Database.

http://www.east-anglian-sailing-trust.org.uk/ East Anglian Sailing Trust (for the disabled sailor).

http://www.stevproj.com/EMotorIdeas.html Electric Motor Conversion.

http://www.viborgsiden.dk/fdf/sejlads/english/index.html FDF Sailing Centre Viborg.

http://www.gpsu.co.uk/ GPS Utility.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm Hull Identification Numbers - HINS.

http://www.voyageurs.co.uk/ Irish Voyageurs.

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/howto/junkrig/index.htm Junk Rig from Polytarp.

http://oneoceankayaks.com/smhydro/hydro.htm Kayak Hydrostatics.

http://www.lifejackets-uk.co.uk/index.htm Life jackets/buoyancy aids.

http://www.landlpardey.com/Where/Where_2004_December.html Lyn and Larry Pardy.

http://www.maritimemissions.org/ Martime Missions.

http://www.ntta.co.uk/ National Trailer and Towing Association.

http://www.angusbeare.com/Home/tabid/93/Default.aspx Natural Light Photography.

http://www.oceanweather.com/data/ Ocean Weather.

http://www.hallman.org/bolger/ Philip C. Bolger.

http://www.alternatifraft.com/ Rafting, Kayaking and Adventure in Turkey.

http://www.rayeo.com Ray Electric Outboards.

http://www.rnli.org.uk Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

http://seriesdrogue.com/vs/ Series Drogue Sea Anchor.

http://www.jesterinfo.org/howtoscull.html Sculling a Boat.

http://www.smallcraftadvisor.com/ Small Craft Advisor Magazine.

http://www.selfsteer.com/ Self-steering.

http://www.rnyc.org.uk/sailing/tides.html Tidal Prediction Tables.

http://www.watermakers.ws/ Water Maker.

http://www.hpwatermakers.co.uk/HPUC.htm Water Maker - HP .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wturn/tags/watertribe Water Tribe Photos.

http://www.weather.co.uk/ Weather Company.

http://www.woodenboat.net.nz/Stories/Sculling/scullthree.html Yuloh.

http://wxtide32.com/ World Tides.

 

‘Monstersaurus’

‘Monstersaurus’ is a book written for children by Claire Freedman, and it is wonderfully illustrated by Ben Cort. First published in 2011 by Simon and Schuster, 1st Floor, 222 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8HB, it follows the very popular, ‘Aliens Love Underpants’ by the same author. These types of books are adored by five to six year olds; they appeal to both boys and girls.

Here’s an extract from Claire’s website’s telling of her passion for writing:

‘For me, writing is the best job ever. I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I love to create worlds for young children to enjoy and escape into – whether the stories are educational, bedtime, problem solving or just plain good fun. It’s also very exciting to see the first picture roughs, as my wonderful, talented illustrators bring the text to life.’

Why I am featuring Claire’s books is because I came across ‘Monstersaurus’ at my daughter’s house. In her lounge she has a bookcase full of children’s books for her three boys. Up until the present time, stories from them have been read to the children by their parents and me and my wife when we have had opportunity.

Today, I found one of the boys studying Claire’s ‘Monstersaurus’. Like his brothers he is at the stage of almost mastering phonics and he can sound out simple words. He can just about recognize and say a three letter word without sounding individual letters. In time he will be able to read longer words composed of two or more syllables. Eventually he will grasp clauses and phrases, and so on. With practice he will become fluent, being able to read with comprehension and expression. At least, that’s my hope!

Reading is a key factor to gaining knowledge, and a child without the ability to read has little hope of academic achievement. Dyslexia is a curse, because it can hold back a child’s development. As a victim of it I suffered to the extent that I could not read or understand the easiest of books until I reached the age of ten. Even today, I struggle with certain words. If only when I was young I had had wonderful books like Claire’s, readily available in a bookcase, things may have been different. 

Links

Claire Freedman’s Website

http://www.clairefreedman.co.uk/  

Claire Freedman – Simon and Schuster Books

http://authors.simonandschuster.co.uk/Claire-Freedman/21552315

Claire Freedman, Children’s Author

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/author/1424/Claire-Freedman.html

Amazon - Claire Freedman Books

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=claire+freedman+books&tag=googhydr-21&index=stripbooks&hvadid=5170254526&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1196352518300082582&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_4uar16iogx_b

YouTube Official Trailer – Monstersaurus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lKF0Gmv9Ao

 

QR Code Reader for iPhones



Note

I have been forced to remove my QR scanme unique code marker that was displayed above. This was because someone successfully set up spammed email notifications informing me that it had been scanned. It's a shame, because I can no longer keep the scanning application on my iPhone; therefore I am unable to scan Quick Reader codes or Barcodes.

Below, is the original blog.

I recently upgraded my iPhone 3G to a 4S. This enables me to can scan barcodes and QR codes to obtain information about products or people using the system. Likewise those who have similar phone scanners can obtain information about me and my blog. I can choose to make my unique QR code available as an avatar image, a ping image on a website, or as a printed image, perhaps on a business card or a letter heading.

These abstract, two-dimensional unique pattern codes can also be a means of linking users to social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I am not a fan of these, but I subscribe to Twitter, as I believe it is the least intrusive of the three. Now and again I do a ‘Tweet’ or a ‘Re-Tweet’ - if I feel there is good reason to do so. I have yet to make my first scan, which in due time, will be archived with others on my phone for future use. By clicking any one of them I shall have immediate access to information about the product or person represented by the QR code or barcode. 

Links

iTunes Preview of their Quick Scan – QR Code Reader

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quick-scan-qr-code-reader/id483336864?mt=8           

How to use QR Codes on Your iphone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rqbRtwSEPg           

Web Links – Environmental

Until recently when I looked at what used to be my old Small Sailboats website I didn’t really appreciate how many links there were to boat related websites. Thinking about it, maintaining the links pages was the most demanding part, because old sites disappeared and new ones appeared. Every link had to be reviewed on a monthly basis if I was to keep my website in tiptop shape. Doing a daily blog was far less demanding and a hundred percent cheaper!  A blog through Blogger is absolutely free, whereas a website requiring space on a server had to be paid for, and there was a fee for renewing the domain, i.e., the name and address of my website.

Some web links were not directly related to small sailboats, e.g., I had a number that pointed to Environmental sites – websites primarily supporting polices and practices for conserving the planet and its wildlife. Because the oceans of the world cover over 70% of the world’s surface, quite a few of these sites were about marine creatures and their habitats, while the others were concerned with preserving and improving land based environments.

Here is a list of links that did not fall by the wayside since I last maintained them in 2008:

http://www.bayjournal.com/ Bay Journal.

http://www.birdsareforwatching.org/ Birds are for Watching .

http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/ Christian Ecology Link.

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/ English Nature.

http://www.dragonet.com/fhp/indexX-225.html Enviro-Gen 12 Saltwater Generator.

http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~liz/home.html Environmentally Friendly Home.

http://www.enn.com/ Environmental News Network.

http://www.foe.org/ Friends of the Earth.

http://www.habitat.org/env/ Habitat's Environmental Initiative.

http://www.lnt.org/ Leave No Trace.

http://www.kaimakana.org/ Kai Makana - Ocean Education through Action.

http://www.mcsuk.org/ Marine Conservation Society.

http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nwr/ga_okefe.htm/ Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/ Ocean Wanderers - Seabirds.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

http://www.birdlife.org/action/campaigns/save_the_albatross/index.html Save the Albatross.

http://www.sas.org.uk/ Surfers Against Sewage.

http://www.proafile.com/ Sustainable Green Boat Building.

http://www.wdcs.org/ Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society .

 

http://www.wwf.org/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF UK).