20 Mar 2005
A database to search on the counterparts of MD5 encryption. Although not true reverse engineering, this could be a worry as much as it is genius! By entering any word into the search box you are given the MD5 hash, this is also saved into the website database. If you enter an MD5 string into the search box and it knows the original string it will show you, try entering 9ed1ab4a0967b5b0c02502d7b8b2c68a into the search and you will see why it could be worrying if the database gets big enough. This is thinking outside the box!!
20 Mar 2005
Neil Hanson has written a very in-depth book that looks closely at the failed armada of 1588. The book is interesting to read and becomes increasingly more so as you progress. At the start it was a bit hard going but I wanted to know about the Armada and felt that I could benefit from knowing a bit of this history so it seemed wise to continue and I am pleased that I did as the story of the armada itself was great. The book covered facts about the superior English ships, gunfire and seamen and how they out-played a fleet that outnumbered them 4 to 1. If you ever want to learn a lot about history, this book covers a very wide area. This is to be expected when you consider the vastness of the campaign that Spain had put into motion for the ‘Enterprise of England’. If you have ever suspected there is such a thing as ‘no chance’, read this book and learn from the English Navy.
16 Mar 2005
I have written my first plugin for WordPress and I am pleased to say that all seems to be well!! You can find more details on the PXS Mail Form page. 10 people downloaded it during the first 30 minutes of it being mentioned in the WordPress forums which was a promising start. I hope it proves to meet peoples needs. To see the script in action and try out its verification functions, check the contact page on this site. The plugin is available to anyone that would like a copy!
EDIT: I forgot to mention on this page that the plugin was based on the design by Ryan Duff!! You will see this noted everywhere else though. Apologies for any feelings that may have been hurt! And just to further clarify… when I say ‘My First Plugin’… I actually mean… ‘The First Plugin I have Offered for Download from my site that I have made based on the layout of Ryan Duff’s plugin’… I know, it doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely but this is a political world we live in 
14 Mar 2005
Whilst in Jersey, ‘H’ and I completed another Cache. This time it was a webcam cache in which we had to get our picture taken. Thanks to Leigh for sitting there and taking the time to direct us around the square at 1 minute intervals, at least he was able to sit in the dry and warm unlike us! This was our second cache and we have plans to complete some more in the next few weeks. This post is also a test for a new Gallery plugin from geoffhutchison.net. With any luck the image of the cows will link direct to the gallery!
07 Mar 2005
What a film! A bit slow in places, confusing in others, definately not an ‘H’ film but I liked it. I would have to say that the main reason I liked this film was that it was focussed around a number of things I like and would really like to do. The lifestyle of the characters is pretty much what we are aiming for but perhaps on a slightly smaller scale with less funding!! I dont want to say too much about the film but although it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I am really looking forward to the DVD release.
‘H’ and I went to Cineworld in Jersey to watch it and were given the opportunity to have a VIP box as the heating in the main cinema was broken. We had a small room with its own sound system, telephone to the bar, volume controls and great big comfy seats… all in all quite nice… till the film started and the light in the ceiling stayed on and I got to see the film with a superimposed image of myself on it. The sound system was nowhere near the quality of the main cinema, admittedly it may have been a bit too loud as I had been playing with the volume controls while the ambient music was playing, no-one turned it down during the film so we got blasted big time! The seats were big and comfy so can’t complain about them!
To see what the film is about and get an idea of why I liked it… check out the trailer… well worth a quick look!
To see the poster and foreward…
Internationally famous oceanographer Steve Zissou and his crew — Team Zissou — set sail on an expedition to hunt down the mysterious, elusive, possibly non-existent Jaguar Shark that killed Zissou’s partner during the documentary filming of their latest adventure. They are joined on their voyage by a young airline co-pilot who may or may not be Zissou’s son, a beautiful journalist assigned to write a profile of Zissou, and Zissou’s estranged wife and co-producer, Eleanor. They face overwhelming complications including pirates, kidnapping, and bankruptcy.
28 Feb 2005
Many a happy memory of working in the engine bay of the Sunseeker was brought to light when Dave and I arrived at 8AM to go out and get the GPS positions of the race marks in the channel. The adventure started when one of the batteries was too flat to get the V8 going and Dave, being determined to use a powerboat instead of the yacht, dived in and started moving them around. We eventually left at 9AM to get some fuel and then head off on our mission. My job in the scheme was to take photos and get waypoints for each mark on my Garmin. An hour later and we had finished with all the information and photos that we needed, not too bad considering how cold it was when you got up to 40 knots… strangely only on top of your head though! On the whole, it was quite a pleasant morning. This adventure was followed by an hour and a half of trying to figure out how you convert GPS files between different formats then a nice lunch at the yacht club.
To see the fruits of our labour, have a look at this map of local race marks I have put together.
28 Feb 2005
Our first Geocache was a success… this time. ‘H’ and I ventured out into the wilds of Pleinmont again (too cold to stay last time!) to find the cache. After a lot off looking and scrambling through bushes, mainly by ‘H’ as she was the only one that could fit, we finally found the cache in the most obvious place! It was quite exciting to fill out the logbook and read the other entries that people had made. There were groups from as far as Canada in the book and quite a few little treasures that one could take. As it happened, we had nothing to leave and so did not take anything. On our next free weekend, we will try the other local cache. After that, we will have to venture off-island and maybe even make a cache of our own somewhere! My Garmin GPS has been working hard all weekend and is still on the first set of batteries.
22 Feb 2005
After my GPS arrived on Saturday, I wondered what I could do to test it out as a new toy, after all, needs some attention. The answer came in the form of Geocaching. This is essentially a high tech treasure hunt where you travel to a precise set of co-ordinates using your GPS to find the cache. As I understand it, a traditionally cache consists of a sealed container with a logbook and some small gifts inside. When you find the cache, you log your visit, take something out, put something back in then head home to register your find on the website! Amazingly, there are 2 caches listed in Guernsey and 3 in Jersey.
On Sunday morning, we headed out to find a cache at Pleinmont and found the exact spot successfully. Unfortunately, in our eagerness, we did not think to find out what it was we were supposed to find here and so after a very brief look in some bushes we went back to the car to warm up! I think another attempt will be made next weekend to try to cache this one! Also, as there is a plan to go to Jersey in a couple of weeks if the weather is nice enough… I think trying to find one or two of the Jersey caches is a must. I know the location of one in St Helier and it is walking distance from the marina. The other two could be more challenging… hopefully there will be one at the Yacht Club!
21 Feb 2005
Had a yacht race yesterday and did very poorly… so poorly that we did not even finish the race!! I guess that when even at the start you are heading the wrong way, you know you should probably give it a miss!! It was very cold and a couple of us got very wet legs… I guess changing our positions wasn’t the best idea if we were looking for consistency… oh well… another season to learn!! ‘H’s Dad took some photos at the start and in fact you can clearly see us heading along the start line instead of across it. Have a look at the gallery to see the set. There are some really great pics! This is my favourite, looks like we are going quickly with the bow buried in the sea!!
19 Feb 2005
I am truly astounded… no, I am in awe and cannot help but be absolutely amazed and grateful for the service that I have just received from GPS4Less.co.uk. Yesterday afternoon at about 4 o’clock, I ordered a Garmin handheld GPS unit. It arrived this morning (Next Day) at 10.30!! How did this happen? If I had been partying at some stage in the week, I would seriously question if I had ordered it much earlier… babbling and speechless so off to play…. thanks GPS4Less.co.uk.
