Documental.ly http://documental.ly Most recent posts at Documental.ly posterous.com Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:12:00 -0800 Browse the censored internet on your iPad http://documental.ly/browse-the-censored-internet-on-your-ipad http://documental.ly/browse-the-censored-internet-on-your-ipad

File

 I'm trying out 'Covert Browser' on the iPad. It's not a cheap app at £1.99 but I can't find anything else Tor enabled in the official app store.

If the integration of the open source version of Tor is working correctly then this app should offer not only unmonitored Internet browsing but also access to content that is blocked because of your ip's geographical position.

I have just tested the app on my iPad by watching a video from ColbertNation.com. Normally blocked in the UK, the site loaded fine and the videos i tried played without delay or issue.

Although the app has a few things it needs to iron in the design department, I can see this becoming a handy tool for anyone with an iPad that doesn't want to mess around with VPN's and proxy's and would much rather just click on an app.

If you do live in a country where content is regularly blocked it may be worth you opting for something less browser based by adding some VPN settings into your phone from RaptorVPN.com

For more information on Tor visit TorProject.org

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:01:00 -0800 Celebrate the Mundane http://documental.ly/celebrate-the-mundane http://documental.ly/celebrate-the-mundane

Photo

I could make a quick coffee in the morning. I have a quality bean to cup machine that can grind, brew and pour a fresh cup in no time at all.

I prefer the ritual of hand grinding though.

While I weigh, grind & shape a cone of coffee grounds in a pre-heated dripper, I can't help but feel solace in that moment.

Nothing else exists.

We have so many rituals in our life but doing something in a ritualistic way, can become systematic, automatic and before you know it the day has gone & you don't remember living it.

Rituals give us a sense of security or certainty and of course this is very comforting but when you are present in what you are doing, you are recognising the meaning in that moment.

When sat in the maelstrom of your working day, lost in the feeds, trying to make sense out of the noise, don't judge the person sharing their cup of coffee or their lunch. As is often said, "It's the little things."


"What we call little things are merely the causes of great things; they are the beginning, the embryo, and it is the point of departure which, generally speaking decides the whole future of an existence. One single black speck may be the beginning of a gangrene, of a storm, of a revolution."
~Henri Fredreric Amiel


One single black coffee, and its creation, empties my mind, restores focus and clears a path towards.. I hope.. great things.

Celebrate the Mundane. There's meaning there if you want to find it.

 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:35:08 -0800 Boost your WiFi for 20p http://documental.ly/boost-your-wifi-for-20p http://documental.ly/boost-your-wifi-for-20p
Photo

If like me you rely on a 3G MiFi to get a decent internet connection both at home and while mobile, I highly recommend you get one of these little suckers.

If I hang my MiFi in a window, at home or on a train, it can make the difference between a an Edge/3G signal or 'full bars' on HSDPA.

You can find a packet of 'suction hooks' in varying sizes in most pound shops. I got 5 for.. You guessed it, a pound.

(Be warned, some air stewards can get a little nervous when you hang a solar charger in your window mid flight.)

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:21:00 -0800 On Air Sign http://documental.ly/on-air-sign http://documental.ly/on-air-sign

Photo

Certainly one of my favourite gifts over Christmas was my LED lit 'On Air' sign. It arrived via international post just in time and yesterday I received the customised front you see in the photo saying 'documentally ON AIR.'

So I don't have to get up and switch on the mains power adapter, I've bought a remote controlled mains plug. This allows me to turn up to four devices on and off from the comfort of my desk.

When not being photographed, the sign sits in the window of my Garden office @Docuden facing out and warns those approaching that I'm 'on air' and not to disturb until the light goes out. I may be streaming live video, recording audio into Audioboo, or recording video to edit later. It has also come in handy when being interviewed on the phone.

It certainly looks less suspicious than a 'Do Not Disturb, I'm in the shed.' sign.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:54:08 -0800 Fixing Things http://documental.ly/fixing-things http://documental.ly/fixing-things

Kindle_light_01

Last night I crawled into bed with my kindle and couldn't help but notice my little reading light was lying in two pieces on the bedside table.

I assumed that like me, my little boy has a keenness to take things apart to see how they work. At two and a half though, taking things apart means snapping them in half.

For how incredibly useful the little light is, It's not an expensive piece of tech. It was a present but I think you can buy them for about seven quid. Never-the-less I just spent a good chunk of an hour fixing it.

Why fix it?..

Kindle_light_02

I feel we live in a pretty disposable society. You only have to go down your local Tip (Recycling Centre) to see that. The act of repairing something, no matter how cheap, has a lot of other value attached to it apart from the obvious saving money benefit.  Learning new skills and helping the environment for starters. Not to mention the feeling you've achieved something. A small win over the god of chaos and whoever the patron saint of binning perfectly good stuff is. For this reason I like to at least have a go at fixing stuff.

There are lots of things that I can't fix. Our education and banking systems. Most cars. And yesterday evening I had some digital kitchen scales in bits on the kitchen table. No matter what I did the display still kept giving me an error message. I salvaged some parts and the rest had to be chucked.

My best investment this year has been a glue gun. I am not exaggerating when I say It has saved me hundreds of pounds in the few months I have had it.

On the whole, fixing stuff is incredibly rewarding so if you get the chance please give it a go. At the very least you will see how stuff works.

Kindle_light_03

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:16:40 -0800 Tools for life from Elemen'tary Design http://documental.ly/tools-for-life-from-elementary-design http://documental.ly/tools-for-life-from-elementary-design

Screwdrivers

Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all. ~ Thomas Carlyle

Growing up in the countryside, my play area had more than it's fair share of shacks, sheds and shelters. The tool shed was my favourite. Old tools and new. Some ancient and still going strong. Older and stronger than a lifetime.

I built my own tool kit early on. First with hand-me-downs from my Granddad and duplicates found in the rusty nail filled shed draws dotted around our small holding. Then as i got into electronics, I filled the melamine draws of my bunk bed with soldering irons an tiny screwdrivers, bought with my paper round money. They were pretty naff and would break often. I would learn quickly that cheap tools were not an investment.

In my early teens I was allowed alone into our nearest city, Coventry. The bus would terminate at Pool Meadow. A bus station with neither a pool or a meadow. It was however in easy reach of Exchange and Mart, RS Components and Tandy. These were my toy shops. I'd stand looking at the tools and gadgets behind glass or piled high on racks, badged with over sized neon cardboard stars displaying prices I could sometimes afford.

I remember buying a small vice which attached to my bed via a suction cup. This was the foundation stone for my budget workshop. With this cheap vice as a centre piece I could pretty much justify the purchase of any tool I coveted.

Then I would make stuff. I started small, soldering bugging device kits bought from the back of comics. I would then work wood, building insect houses and the occasional slingshot.

With basic skills in electronics and woodworking I found I could dismantle my third hand oversized 70's TV that dominated my bedroom and even get it back together again. The same went for radios. I'd only do basic stuff, upgrade a speaker, or fault find a circuit board malfunction.

This stood me in good stead when later in the 80's I got a job with a Rugby company called Hahn & Kolb. I had somehow managed to blag a job in R&D of the Laser department. We designed, built and tested YAG and CO2 lasers for marking and cutting.

Shortly after arrival I was given a catalogue and told to order and assemble a tool kit. I could not believe my luck. This was a German company and the catalogue only showed precision high quality tools. I could order anything, within reason. And I did.

With the assistance of Alan, the oldest serving engineer, I spent more than the equivalent of two weeks wages that day. This was extra to my wages. A glorious bonus I hadn't been told about. Alan would trace his finger across the pages in deep concentration occasionally letting our an approving "Mmmm" and I would order what he was pointing at. In my mind the company had gone crazy. In the company's mind, an engineer was only as good as his tools.

When they arrived the next day, I was informed these tools were mine and mine alone and for the next few hours I calibrated and set up a Yttrium Aluminium Garnet Laser in order to etch my name into the various metals.

When I left the company two years later to go to University, my tools left with me. Some have since got lost, a couple have broken when I have used the wrong tool for the wrong job, but many are still going strong.

I am still passionate about quality tools. Tools that have the potential to outlive their owner. Tools you can hand down to younger generations. I still have some of my Granddads tools.

Today I got these screwdrivers as a gift. British made, a custom design. Recycled Beech with brass ferrules and stainless steel bit holders. To most people looking at the photo it's a couple of wooden screwdrivers with removable bits.  To me these are tools that can build, fix and make things for longer than a life time. These are tools I can pass on.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:48:06 -0800 A new social web? http://documental.ly/a-new-social-web http://documental.ly/a-new-social-web
A_new_social_web

Just working on a presentation I am giving tomorrow at IdeasTap London.

I thought it would be remiss of me not to mention some of the federated social networks that are out there. Especially as there seems to be more and more conversations cropping up about decentralised social platforms.

..and when twitter is down i'm Documentally on Status.net

We back up data.. Why not social networks?

These are my life rafts. Should the corporately run social ships start to lilt..

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:34:18 -0700 They don't build them like they used to. http://documental.ly/they-dont-build-them-like-they-used-to http://documental.ly/they-dont-build-them-like-they-used-to
Photo

I am on my 4th boiler in 5 years. The boiler in the photo belongs to my Gran and I can remember it humming away in her kitchen for.. well.. as long as I've had memories.

It's certainly older than me.

In fact I'd love to know how old it is. It's a freestanding Glowworm. If you happen to be a boiler spotter or just respect great engineering, please let me know the name\type\age.

It's a little tatty and if there are dials and panels still around, I'd be keen to restore it. It's served the family well and the least I can do is attempt to restore it to its former glory.

Winter is coming and quite understandably my 86 year old Gran is rather attached to her Glowworm.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:33:00 -0700 Mobile Images from The London Conference on Cyberspace http://documental.ly/mobile-images-from-the-london-conference-on-c http://documental.ly/mobile-images-from-the-london-conference-on-c

I'm once again traveling light. That means no proffesional camera.

I have my Laptop, iPad, two iPhones, all the cables to keep things charged, battery backup and some overnight stuff.

It's certainly a weird feeling but I have gotten use to the limitations of photographing with a mobile phone and find the iPhone 4s more than adaqate for swift image grabs of the world around me as I record audio with Audioboo and create other web based media uploading as I go.

As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have a team of snappers doing their thing i felt i'd shoot straight and convert the images to B&W. I am using the normal iPhone 4s camera app and opening the images in Pixlr-o-matic. This means that I still have all the images in standard format on the phone. It is a little time consuming as it's not the fastest working app but I am saving at the largest resolution allowed. If you keep the images styled the same across the day it doesn't look too shody.

I have another day at The London Conference on Cyberspace so there will no doubt be more images and audio coming out. I have started a Storify containing some of my postings and will continue to post things there.

The final blog post is on my main blog.. OurManInside.com

Thanks to @VodafoneUK for the loan of the phone and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for inviting me to be a part of the conference.

 

 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:41:00 -0700 An Interview from the Elevate Festival 2011 http://documental.ly/an-interview-from-the-elevate-festival-2011-e http://documental.ly/an-interview-from-the-elevate-festival-2011-e

I've just had a few great days at Elevate 2011 (Elevate the 21st Century) At one point I was ushered in to a room inside the 'Green Academy' (one of the sponsors) and asked a few questions. This is an extract from the interview.

I didn't know what was going to be asked so it may well have been inevitable that my words would slip into a bit of a mini rant.

There was a lot of passion and discussion in favour of choice at Elevate. More choice when it came to the platforms we use to communicate. More choice when it comes to our web infrastructure.

I have decided that while not allowed to partake in G+ with the name I would like to use. My commonly know moniker of Documentally, I shall share on Diaspora.

If you want to connect I am here.. https://joindiaspora.com/u/documentally

If you are not on diaspora and would like access. (Think of it as a back-up to your more invasive social platforms). Drop me a comment, hinting cleverly at your email address or DM me  on Twitter.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:31:07 -0700 A Question.. http://documental.ly/a-question http://documental.ly/a-question
Photo

I just got an unusual email from a friend. Not totally out of character, just unusual.

This is the question:

Is it possible to save the world? If so, how? And would it be worth doing if it were possible?

I'm currently sat in a cafe with my Gran I have the seed of a response I'll pen when at my computer.

How would you answer it?

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:40:00 -0700 Testing Luma http://documental.ly/testing-luma http://documental.ly/testing-luma

If you are still saving up for the iPhone 4s (or waiting for the 5) Some of the new features will most likely be attainable through already available apps. Afterall, Apple tend to aquire/borrow/rob/evolve ideas already out there.. Luma is a free app for the iPhone that gives you a few filters, allows you to turn off auto exposure and focus, but more importantly gives you some basic image stabilisation. So far I have been impressed with the results.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:44:03 -0700 Wetting the babies head. http://documental.ly/wetting-the-babies-head http://documental.ly/wetting-the-babies-head
Photo

My late Mother bought me this malt and I saved the last drop to drink to the safe arrival of our little girl.

As I know very few people in this part of the country, I sit here with the family asleep upstairs, raising my glass to my little girl, to you, and all the Mothers of the world and what they do.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Sun, 02 Oct 2011 03:08:00 -0700 The Ada Lovelace App/Comic from @DaveAddey & @SydneyPadua http://documental.ly/the-ada-lovelace-appcomic-from-daveaddey-sydn http://documental.ly/the-ada-lovelace-appcomic-from-daveaddey-sydn

Photo_1

Just spent a very enjoyable chunk of time trying out a preview of an app celebrating the origins of Ada Lovelace. It's a comic/app telling the story of her time with Charles Babbage and her work as the first computer programmer.

I have learned a vast amount in a short time thanks to the added notes painstakingly curated that appear on tilting the comic.

Photo_2

It's Ada Lovelace day next week is today! and I think this is great addition and tool to her online remembrance. I'm now also intrigued to investigate some of the fictional Steampunk story lines that have been born from the unlikely partnership of Lovelace and Babbage.

A great educational iPad app, styled beautifully, functions well and is certainly worth a download.

The Lovelace & Babbage app is now live! http://j.mp/lovelaceapp

Make sure you check out the site http://findingada.com

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:59:02 -0700 A new way to embed an Audioboo http://documental.ly/a-new-way-to-embed-an-audioboo http://documental.ly/a-new-way-to-embed-an-audioboo
New_audiobooembed
I can't remember the amount of times I have pestered Audioboo for features I think they should implement.

They put them on the 'special ideas board' of which I feel I now have my own section.

Many of the ideas the community put forward seem to be implemented. Many of mine must be a bit too weird as i think they are still on the ideas board. (Like a twitter on/off option on the posting page)  I guess what I feel I need from an Audio platform may not be in the interest of the majority. ;)

Still, I got this sneak peak image of a work in progress feature they are still building and I'm sure the Audioboo crew won't mind me sharing it here as it is due to be released next week. 

For a while I have wanted a little more than just a player on my blogs and asked if it was possible for a map and image to also be a part of the html5 embed.

It looks like this is just what they are doing. Although I think I wanted fancy (and on reflection), unnecessary animation when the image appeared. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when you click on the image and map marker and imagine it will also work seamlessly with the iPad.

As a small company running a massive platform they must be weighed under with just keeping the whole thing going. So I love the fact this new feature is on the horizon. Audioboo is still my favourite tool/platform and I don't just want them to survive. I'd like to see them go from strength to strength.

Too many platforms (Seesmic video, 12 seconds, Phreadz) fall by the wayside tearing our content from the hearts of our blogs. Leaving gaping holes where content used to be. I'd be more than a little gutted if this happened to Audioboo.  I am sure this new embed code will go a long way to enthusing existing users and enticing more new audio bloggers into the fold.

My Audioboo's are on Http://Audioboo.net I listen to a lot of other people's.

Please leave a comment linking to yours if you think i'd like to subscribe.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:00:00 -0700 Teen Tech - Teenagers meet science, engineering and technology. http://documental.ly/teen-tech-teenagers-meet-science-engineering http://documental.ly/teen-tech-teenagers-meet-science-engineering

The energy in the room is amazing. The kids and their teachers are sucking up everything the industry geeks are throwing at them. There seems to be just the right balance between sat down thinking and hands on experimenting.

It's mostly the latter.

When I walked in, the 'Ideas Fountain' was empty apart from a QR code hinting towards the day's activities. Now it's crammed with post-it notes, all holding ideas, inventions and innovations from the minds of the teenagers attending.

From voice activated toilets to metal detecting phones. There's also an unhealthy smattering of jetpack related inventions floating round.

Who knows.. Perhaps one of these guys will go on to develop the first commercially available commuter jetpack. Looking at the ideas faling out of their minds and into the conversations at this Teen Tech Event I wouldn't be surprised if when they do, it has lasers on it.

 

If you want more information or think you would like to participate in a Teen Tech event visit TeenTechEvent.com

I am also compiling a Storify of the day here.. http://storify.com/documentally/teen-tech

 

Thanks to @MaggiePhilbin for inviting me.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:42:00 -0700 Pondering the Do Lectures. One hell of a trip. http://documental.ly/pondering-the-do-festival http://documental.ly/pondering-the-do-festival

Photo

For two nights after the Do Lectures I've had restless nights.

It's as if my brain has been rewired and I'm working out the bugs.

The last time I felt like that was after I tried to re-integrate back into society after 10 years (on and off) of travel.

Having very few people to talk to back then meant much of what I learned had to be mentally filed away so I could once again conform to the norm.

This time though, I can bounce ideas off all sorts of different thinkers. We are after all hyper connected. And in my networks I have all kinds of people who don't conform to a standard way if thinking.

If the Do Lectures experience could be distilled, suspended in blotting paper, cut into small squares and consumed on the tongue. It would be illegal.

...................

I have blogged in more depth here: http://ourmaninside.com/2011/09/21/the-do-lectures/

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:21:14 -0700 Google Norman Scarth? http://documental.ly/google-norman-scarth http://documental.ly/google-norman-scarth
Photo

I've seen a few of these signs mysteriously pop up along the A1 so i'm snapping this while on a dog waIk in order to remind me to do what it says.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:31:00 -0700 Trey Pennington http://documental.ly/trey-pennington http://documental.ly/trey-pennington

Treypennington

Death is trending.

I guess it's inevitable. I just wish there was something to punctuate the death at the moment. It's all I seem to be blogging about recently.

Today Trey Pennington took his own life. He leaves a large family and countless 'friends' behind. Some will call that selfish, some will understand the complexities of depression and know there is no rationale for a mind in the space that Trey's was today.

You can judge the guy all you want in his darkest hour. I will only remember him as how I briefly knew him. Warm, giving, compassionate, sensitive, driven, and incredible genuine for someone ultimately selling ideas.

When i first met him at the Like Minds conference in Exeter I immediately measured him with the marketeers measuring stick I sometimes mentally carry around when I am feeling cynical.

It was after only a couple of brief conversations I had to take him aside and thank him for showing me how naive I was at judging people who worked in his field. I told him he had altered my perceptions and that I felt honoured to have met him. I know he was moved at what I said, as he told me and I believed him.

I wish I was able to reference some of the unrecorded conversations we had. But the context and content has been forgotten. All I seem to be able to do is recall how they made me feel. As a result Treys death has affected me quite deeply.

What kind of connections are we making in these channels if we fail to see a friend in need? Just because someone doesn't reach out does not mean we can't reach in.

RIP Trey. I'm raising a glass to you but my thoughts are with your family. I hope that knowing how appreciated you were by those you came into contact with will help them heal their hurt.

..and finally, read this blog post

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally
Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:43:00 -0700 Remembering Tony Sale. http://documental.ly/remembering-tony-sale http://documental.ly/remembering-tony-sale

Anthony Edgar (Tony) Sale Born 30th January 1931 - Died 28th of August 2011

I first met Tony Sale when showing Stephen Fry round Bletchley Park.

These photos were taken on that day.

Tony used to be the chief scientific officer at Mi5 and during his retirement headed the re-build of Colossus and campaigned for Bletchley Park.

A truly amazing man.

The National Museum of Computing have set up a rememberence page. Please take the time to show your apreciation of this amazing man.. http://www.tnmoc.org/rememberingtonysale.aspx

If you google him you will see he was certainly one of a kind.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1266517/Docu-Avatar.png http://posterous.com/users/15VJxQVE9bP Documentally Documentally Documentally