| Headphone recommendations please, again |
[Mar. 27th, 2009|12:38 am] |
Offices are noisy; I work better without a constant background of speech; the off-again-on-again plan to make the office less noisy is off-again for the forseeable future. Wearing headphones for most of the day is an obvious possible answer, but the ones I bought after pondering in June aren't comfortable enough for that much use. I'm looking for circumaural closed-back headphones, and the Sennheiser HD280 has been recommended. Best price delivered seems to be about £80, which is OK if they're as good as people say and will last. I'm no audiophile (and may well continue to listen over A2DP for the ability to get up from my desk without unplugging anything) but I do want something comfortable which will isolate outside noise (or cancel it, but I've not tried that and don't know how well it works). I do need to minimise the leakage of my own music, hence closed-back. Compactness is not an issue, and they must go around my ears, not squish them. The HD280 looks good, so two questions: firstly, where can I try these out? (Clive, I think you mentioned somewhere, but my brain is a sieve.) Secondly, which others should I consider (and relative merits)?
Edit: Just tried an HD201 in the office; the bass is predictably weak, but more importantly the contact pressure gave me a headache just from 10 minutes. With that in mind, look at the HD280 spec, and hover over "Contact pressure". Hmmm. |
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| New wheels |
[Jan. 10th, 2009|01:45 pm] |
I am now the proud owner keeper (because of how the cycle scheme works) of a Ridgeback Velocity. It's lovely. The current weather isn't. What do the cyclists reading this recommend I wear to keep the wind (and rain) off my face? I was thinking of a balaclava, but as Susan points out, that would make me look silly, or worse. Some people seem to wear Biggles hats (the ones with ear flaps) and leave it at that, but when it's this cold, which it occasionally is around here, I want more coverage than that. Also, interposing very much material between my head and my helmet is likely to fail, because my head is too big. Edit: I bought a Buff. Somewhat overpriced, but it works. |
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| Dear Lazyweb: bike buying advice please |
[Dec. 28th, 2008|10:58 am] |
My bike is old (over 10 years), rusty, worn, bent, unreliable, possibly heavier than necessary and generally not fun, so I drive more often than is sensible (especially to work). This Christmas I've received some money towards a new one. I know Cambridge and the web are full of bike shops, but don't know which shops/bikes are any good, which is where I'm hoping you can help me. I have ( some requirements ) |
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| Dear Lazyweb: New Year's Eve |
[Dec. 23rd, 2008|02:33 pm] |
Susan and I have no plans for NYE. We're considering the Pembury, which I'm guessing will be open; will any of you be there? Do you have any other suggestions? |
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| Python bug? (urllib2.HTTPDigestAuthHandler) |
[Dec. 12th, 2008|10:10 pm] |
This script, when edited to fill in valid LiveJournal credentials (or InsaneJournal, if you change the URL and user list) fails for me in a very odd way. It fetches the first two URLs quite happily, and returns a 401 on the third after querying my password manager about 6 times. Even if you shuffle the user list around, increase the sleep, etc etc... I seem to be able to request as many such URLs from LJ as I like, in separate Python executions, or with different HTTPDigestAuthHandler objects, but any given instance of HTTPDigestAuthHandler will always fail on the third use. Failing on the second use would be more understandable, but three? WTF?
Edit: Filed as Python bug 4683, comments go there. |
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| Phobile moans again: satnav |
[Sep. 16th, 2008|12:03 am] |
Some recent bad experiences with satnav have prompted even more consideration of my choice of smartphone. My biggest complaint against my current setup is that starting TomTom, if the separate GPS receiver has been turned off, is a fiddly, glitch-prone, lengthy process; it usually involves turning both the receiver and the phone's Bluetooth function off and on several times. Once that's done, I have to wait for the receiver to get a fix, which can take several minutes if I haven't used GPS for a while. Also, my map is at least 17 months out of date, and the frequency with which it doesn't match reality has become just high enough to be annoying. The decision to buy a system that uses a locally-stored map seemed obviously correct at the time, when I didn't have an unlimited* data service (indeed, there may not even have been any sensible products that used an online map), but it's less so now.
What I would like, ideally, is a non-Windows smartphone with built-in GPS. Edit: Such devices seem to be able to obtain a fix more quickly than my current device, though they don't maintain a fix at all times as that would kill the battery. As previously mentioned, the Palm platform seems dead, its successor doesn't look likely to ship any hardware soon; I'd hoped the first Android phone (appearing in the next couple of months) would be worth looking at but apparently that might not even have GPS. [Edit: it will have GPS and is launching on Tuesday 23rd...] As far as I know, if I'm looking to buy within the next few months, that just leaves the iPhone. Unfortunately, its Maps application doesn't look suitable for dashboard use. It won't even follow the route as you drive, let alone replan if you take a wrong turn or give you voice directions (which I used occasionally, until TomTom inexplicably lost the capability recently). There are vague rumours that TomTom are working on something for the iPhone, but I'm not holding my breath. Even if true, I would expect it to still use a local map so you must pay them per-update.
( Table of options: Treo too buggy, iPhone too expensive and not hands-off )
I don't like any of those options. Does anyone have a better idea (other than a separate device or Windows)? :-( |
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| In which Sergei finally gets some armour |
[Aug. 2nd, 2008|01:17 am] |
Earlier today I looked up the date of my first LARP event. It was Foundation, just over two years ago. I was slightly surprised; I didn't think I'd been at it that long and still think of myself as a complete beginner who hardly understands any of the game. Nevertheless, I've caught the LARP bug and am likely to continue for the forseeable future, so I've decided that for my tenth event, I will actually get a proper armour physrep. Darkblade seem nice and sensibly priced, so I'm thinking about their Ryder armour and articulated vambraces, unless anyone has better ideas? I've already looked at the stands at events and the websites of LRPStore and Norton Armouries. I'd also appreciate any recommendations on where to find appropriate boots or boot-tops.
Edit: I now have some Elven Armour and Scales Greaves from Primal Forge, who were very helpful (answering questions and such) and shipped promptly. |
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| Next week (shortcipher in shocking case of organisational fail) |
[Jul. 17th, 2008|04:47 pm] |
I'm taking all of next week (21/07-25/07) as holiday. This is mostly to work on a side project, but if anyone feels like meeting up to e.g. see a film, or coming to visit, company would be appreciated at any time of day (except Friday evening), as Susan will be away and I don't intend to code 24 hours/day. Here are my contact details (or comment here). Films I currently want to see include The Dark Knight, Wall•E (seen) and Hancock. |
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| Headphone recommendations please |
[Jun. 25th, 2008|01:34 am] |
Further to my previous post, I now have convenient portable 3.5mm stereo output of music (phone/FM/PC) switching to phone calls (with a microphone for those). What I don't have is some headphones suitable for outdoor use. ( Complications )
Therefore, oh wise and generous friends-list, what should I use for my outdoor listening? Goals are comfort, sound quality, portability and road safety. Bonus points if they score sufficiently well on the first two that I'm happy with them for indoor use as well.
Edit: I bought the Philips SHE9600(s?). |
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| My shiny new email config |
[May. 12th, 2008|04:50 pm] |
For just over a week now, I've had a Gandi VM handling my email and a few other services. ( Braindump: spam filtering / other tweaks, mostly for my own reference )
On the subject of spam, I can't help but wonder if some sort of global education campaign would help: Newsflash: The Internet is no different from the real world: not everyone is honest. Stop buying from spammers and the spam will go away. Someone, somewhere, is buying this stuff. That person needs to be cluebatted, hard, because spammers are seemingly not in jurisdictions that care about spam, so the only way I can see to stop them in the long term is to remove their market.
I haven't yet found a sensible way to keep a central list of contacts on the server; LDAP seems to be serious overkill but it's all Thunderbird and others will support. Does anyone know of a tiny LDAP server or similar for this sort of situation? For the moment I'll stick with my Palm Treo's contact list (which integrates nicely with mobile email clients) and keep typing addresses into the desktops I use. |
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| Share a server with me? |
[Apr. 30th, 2008|05:05 pm] |
Further to my previous post about hosting, a friend's non-profit Xen hosting might be just what I'm looking for. Unfortunately, his server is full and he hasn't quite seen enough interest yet to start a second one. So, if you like the look of what's described there (that's about half the price and twice the RAM of most VM hosts, albeit with less of a guarantee about reliability), please contact him (#lamby-xen on irc.oftc.net). |
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| VM hosting recommendations please |
[Apr. 29th, 2008|11:14 am] |
At some point I'll probably want to host a machine somewhere. I think a small virtual machine in a UK datacentre is what I'm looking for. I've heard good things about gandi in France, is there something like that closer to home, and how much can I expect to pay? (Gandi's current pricing is temporary.) This would be to some extent my base of operations / private server as described in an earlier post; things I would want for this VM include:
- Proper virtualisation with full root access so I can run arbitrary software
- No obstacles to running either Ubuntu Server Edition or Debian (can anyone give me a good reason to stick with Debian proper rather than Ubuntu for this?)
- Sensible remote console, or at least automated remote reboot, just in case
- My own IPv4 address
- No ports blocked inbound or outbound (I'll do my own firewalling)
- Reverse DNS (do a reverse lookup and it says chris.boyle.name; might be useful for email authentication schemes among other things)
- A few (5? 10?) GB of disk
- Backup DNS elsewhere would be nice, but I do have somewhere I can use
- Backup MX would similarly be nice
Services I would run include:
- DNS
- My website, including HTTPS (hence wanting my own IPv4)
- My blog if InsaneJournal ever goes away (or becomes LiveJournal or otherwise objectionable), which would be slightly higher traffic than the main website but still very low in the grand scheme of things
- SMTP inbound and SSL authenticated relay, for me and maybe one or two others
- IMAP, ideally with encrypted storage that isn't decrypted until an authenticated connection appears (recommend some software?)
- Encrypted backup of my most important couple of GB of files
Encrypted backup is an interesting problem. Some of these files frequently change (development projects and such), so I want something rsync-like that sends only the changes, but I don't need to decrypt them on the server, I don't need the server to have the key, and if the encrypted data does not reveal the amount or layout of files, that's good too. (Purely as a matter of principle, it would make me feel smug if my backup system had the deniability property as a demonstration of the futility of RIPA: hand over one password, which reveals a few uninteresting files, and it's mathematically impossible to prove there's anything else there.) |
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| Laptop buying advice please |
[Mar. 18th, 2008|06:52 pm] |
So, Susan's laptop is dying, and I could do with a laptop-sort-of-thing sometimes, so we'll probably buy one soon. Budget is limited (£300 max), requirements are fairly basic (web, email, unhurried compiling of LaTeX and C). Does anyone have something like this they want rid of, or know where to obtain such? This could be either something very cheap and basic for the short term or something closer to the budget to last a bit longer. The ASUS Eee PC would almost work as the latter, but the keyboard and screen are much too small. |
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| A naive question about lorries |
[Jan. 24th, 2008|12:54 am] |
Prompted by my driving to Coventry and back today (I haven't done that for a while). I've never quite understood this one; someone explain it to me please? (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) gerald_duck, I'm looking mainly at you here.)
How, on $DEITY's green earth, have we ended up in the situation where all HGVs appear to be limited to very slightly different speeds around 60mph and it is legal (AFAIK) for them to attempt to overtake each other on two-lane roads such as the A14, painfully slowly, over the course of about a mile, jamming up dozens of following vehicles? The total time lost to occupants of following vehicles due to this phenomenon seems large. More importantly, so does the increase in accident risks, considering typical impatiently short following distances.
Have there ever been any attempts to get a law passed banning overtaking with a speed difference of less than ~4mph (at least, when there are only two lanes)? If so, what was the outcome? |
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| Shaving (a rant) |
[Dec. 20th, 2007|11:18 pm] |
Dear Lazyweb,
I wish my facial hair would go away. Recommend/disrecommend an electric shaver for me? ( Here beginneth the rant ) |
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| # A terrible disclosure has just been made |
[Nov. 23rd, 2007|10:55 am] |
I've been turned down for Pirates of Penzance at the Arts Theatre next term. Can anyone recommend any other interesting singing opportunities for a tenor after Christmas? They needn't actually be on stage, but bonus points if they're G&S or similar, because otherwise, given that three weeks at Minack would be rather too many days of holiday, my next G&S show will be this time next year. :-( |
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| Strange blank screen bugs, or, I want my /dev/tty1 back! |
[Nov. 16th, 2007|03:20 pm] |
Dear Lazyweb (or at least the geekier portions thereof),
My Ubuntu desktop at home has a strange problem (or rather, two possibly related problems) for which I'm hoping someone on this flist can give me a clue.
( Here There Be Monsters / Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here / etc. )
Edit: solved. I bought a new graphics card (still AGP 8x nVidia, but more features and more memory) and the problems went away. |
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| Newspaper wanted |
[Sep. 17th, 2007|02:56 pm] |
We're making a start on the painting (well, Susan is) and we could do with some newspaper, at least a box full. If you have some you want rid of, shout; I'll happily come and pick it up.
Also, we still have no net access. We're waiting for the router to arrive from Sky via ParcelFarce; let's see if they have a tracking number... |
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| Dear LazyWeb, |
[Sep. 6th, 2007|11:29 pm] |
DoeS aNyBody know a good LaTeX reference book? Ta. |
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| More heavy lifting needed |
[Aug. 22nd, 2007|10:50 am] |
Our shiny new washer-dryer was delivered today, but to the wrong room, which is completely my fault. We desperately need some help, preferably this evening between 18:00 and 18:30, to move it from the kitchen, through a slightly narrow door, over the large ridge of the front door, over some grass/concrete and into the utility room (well, the ugly concrete room where we're putting a washer-dryer for the moment). If anyone has a hand truck or similar they could bring along, I imagine that would be very helpful.
Edit: done, thanks. :-) |
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distracted
happy
thoughtful
lazy
confused
frustrated
geeky
hopeful
contemplative
rejected
busy
embarrassed