Finally have a nice minimal desktop that is functional. I am using a hacked version of Enigma and HUD Vision for Rainmeter V1 and the background came from here. I also use the RC of Fences by Stardock to keep the desktop clean. The Photo in the top left changes every 15 seconds and the meters to the top right are for iiNet and use the XML output of iiUsage.
With a new PC at home I have re-purposed my old desktop as a home server. For the OS I have used windows Home Server. I have read about it and thought I was time to try it out.
First the Desktop, as I wanted to place it in a cupboard the case had to fit… It didn’t… Time for Screwdrivers, Bits of plastic, ducktape and a Stanley knife. My wife is still concerned. 1. Pull everything out of old case 
As you can see from the pictures the case would not fit so I ripped all the components out and now the case lives in the garage as a spare. 
2. Sort out the motherboard mounting I used some old plastic containers and taped them together, that way there would be airflow behind the motherboard. I used some old plastic wall plugs for spacers and just pushed them into the plastic through a cross cut with the knife. Once that was done it was a simple job to screw the motherboard to the spacers. 
3. Position everything. I stuck the motherboard to the side of the cupboard so it was out of the way and placed the power supply at the back of the case, there is plenty of ventilation. 
4. Create custom HD mounts. To mount the hard drives I had the option of cutting out the metal on the case for the mount or using a old shoe box… I went the shoe box It was quite sturdy and worked well and leave me room for a few more drives, as you can see from the picture there is plenty of ventilation room. 
5. Tape on the lights and boot This is a blurry shoot of the cupboard with the door close, you can see the power and HD lights taped to the window so I can see what is happening with a glance. In all it is working well! 
If you are using the Amazing Grace theme for Wordpress the following hack allows you to change the image in the header bar to a flickr feed. Note: I have only tested in IE, if you have firefox and it does not work drop a comment. Modify header.php and place the following in the style tags near the top.
#portrait-bg { background:url(/images/bg-portraitB.jpg); }
#flickr_badge_image1 { position:absolute; left:14px; top:28px; } #flickr_badge_image1 img { border: none; width:283px; height:174px; }
Continue Reading »Well made it to Seattle, settlted into my apartment and missing my lugage It will be coming some time tonight apprently, gave me a excuse to shop anyway. One thing you have to love about the food in America is the size of the portions, I asked for a small chicken ceaser and it came on a plate 30cm across and piled up. So much for a light lunch.
“I have a new camera (Yes im a lucky boy Jane :D) It is a nice new Canon 350D one of there mid range Digital SLR cameras. Got it for a really good price at Dick Smiths after Christmas, which means I will really have to get my gallery organised, and a good back stratergy for all of my photos. Im using Photo Collector al lot more now for the copying as it is completly transperent.”
Continue Reading »“I have a new camera (Yes im a lucky boy Jane :D) It is a nice new Canon 350D one of there mid range Digital SLR cameras. Got it for a really good price at Dick Smiths after Christmas, which means I will really have to get my gallery organised, and a good back stratergy for all of my photos. Im using Photo Collector al lot more now for the copying as it is completly transperent.”
Continue Reading »“I have finally got around to doing some upgrades, and I now have m y reading/to read list on the left. I got the reading/read bits from Absoblogginlutely and have added my own hack. Modify: wp-content/plugins/amm/amm_extras.php to make a nicer ratings. I have replaced the rating() funtion with the below data. Change the bold text to what ever you like. function rating() { //HACK: For 6=Read, 7=Reading data if ($this->currentItem['amm_rating'] == 6 ) { return '**Going to read**'; } if ($this->currentItem['amm_rating'] == 7 ) { return '**Reading**'; } return $this->currentItem['amm_rating']; }”
With my new role come a lot of recording, now that I do not have a tablet PC (and the fact that tablet PC’s are not ’there’ yet) I am using a paper diary. Now thoes of you who know me, no I have not gone mad! To be honest it feels good to be writing again, I have a nice A5 diary with plently of blank paper it it. A monthly calendar to mark anything down I need to and sections for tasks and projects. Since I try to use the Getting Things Done methadology I am using some print outs to support this. The Diary has the following sections:
Continue Reading »“So, I ave a ton of photos, file, email, etc… How do you organise them in the system. Well here is the method I am attempting to use. This is more of a reference for me but hey, if you want to try it go for it. Photos I store them in a folder which makes up the date of the photo. Since most modern cameras use JPG, if the dat is set correctly the date and time of the photo is imbedded into the photo is self in the EXIF data. So I have the folders sorted by the following pattern. YYYY-MM-DD, this is the year, month and day in english. This has the advantage of a ever increasing number so they are sorted correctly. No You are saying how do I find photos, well.
Continue Reading »“We are nearly settled, I have now started work with a large consulting company and I’m based out of Canberra. with many thanks to my parents, Janes parents and Megan and Micheal we have had places to stay for the last few weeks. We are now tring to get a home in Ainsle in Canberra so my commute will go from walk-train-bus-walk (1.5hrs) down to walk(15 miuntes), I consider this a decent improvment! Photos will be coming as soo as I get my camrea out of a bag, and find my external HD. If you want to contact us just email and we will get back to you eventually.”
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