Thinker, Blogger, Hacker, Hiker.
The problem with the Tempora and GCHQ story – How do we communicate it?
The problem with the Tempora and GCHQ story – How do we communicate it?
3 August 2013
We know we're being watched by GCHQ. We've found out, via a whistleblower, that in the past few years, mass surveillance, for the purposes of later analysis, has been turned into reality, in the US and in the UK. The thing is, the general public is largely unphased. It's barely scraped public opinion. The average […]
2014: Oversight: Thank you for volunteering, citizen.
2014: Oversight: Thank you for volunteering, citizen.
2 August 2013
The "other" Pirate, Tom 'Mad Capn' Scott, better known for being a dystopian sci-fi futurist just released this video: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIuf1V1FhpY Oversight: Thank you for volunteering, citizen. So when are we getting this? My money is on 2014. We already have remotely monitored CCTV. Now Tempora and PRISM are in the open, society will be open […]
Winter hiking: Now and then.
Winter hiking: Now and then.
31 July 2013
When I first started winter hiking, I always took something to speed up my descent: For me, a high speed sledge descent was the only thing that made it worth it: These days, rather than taking devices to speed up my descent. I take devices to slow down my descent, or at least, make it […]
Howto repair the best phone in the world
Howto repair the best phone in the world
30 July 2013
Repairing Nokia 3310s, by swapping parts out with other broken Nokia 3310's, is childs' play. Almost anyone can do it. However, without a Torx screwdriver, back in 2008, I used hacksaw to cut a groove in the top of each screw, and then used standard electronics/jewellery screwdrivers to unscrew the screws and take the device […]
Some things you're not allowed to do in Peter and Paul's Fortress
Some things you're not allowed to do in Peter and Paul's Fortress
29 July 2013
When I visited Things you're not allowed to do in Peter and Paul's Fortress, St.Petersburg, back in 2006, there was a list of things you weren't allowed to do. Can you work out what they are?
A postbox in Sheffield
A postbox in Sheffield
27 July 2013
Recently in Sheffield, I saw this poster on a phone box:
The Ardwick Quarter at Dusk
The Ardwick Quarter at Dusk
26 July 2013
Summer is pretty. Recently, we've been having some great sunsets and I snapped this view down Plymouth Grove, silhouetting the old Plymouth Grove pub against the sky.
Howto access EZTV.it and FirstRow1.eu if you’re on Virgin Media, Sky, BT, TalkTalk, Be, Plusnet, O2, Orange or T-Mobile
Howto access EZTV.it and FirstRow1.eu if you’re on Virgin Media, Sky, BT, TalkTalk, Be, Plusnet, O2, Orange or T-Mobile
26 July 2013
You may be aware that in the last few days, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media, O2, Be, Plusnet, Post Office broadband, Orange and T-Mobile and others started to block EZTV.it and FirstRow1.eu in the UK because of a MPA/FACT court order. Why are they being blocked? The MPA – the US movie trolls industry body – and […]
David Cameron: Think of the Children!
David Cameron: Think of the Children!
25 July 2013
Obviously, "Think of the Children" and "Protect Us from the Terrorists" are continuing themes in government attacks on the internet but David Cameron's affection for Porn Blocking has been rationally critiqued, talked about by pudits, heartfeltly written about, politically critiqued, analysed for hypocrisy and embarrassed. Well now, Dan Bull, probably Britain's best political rapper has […]
A photostory: Bowfell and Crinkle Crags from Langdale
A photostory: Bowfell and Crinkle Crags from Langdale
23 July 2013
A walk up The Band to Bowfell via Climbers Traverse, then Crinkle Crags via Bad Step, descending back to Dungeon Ghyll. We parked at the National Trust car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll. More about The Lake District on Wikivoyage. I shot with a Canon 5D mkII with a 50mm f1.8. All photos are […]
British Muzkol Expedition Departs for Tajikistan: Unclimbed Peaks Await
British Muzkol Expedition Departs for Tajikistan: Unclimbed Peaks Await
20 July 2013
Two local mountaineers from Greater Manchester, left this afternoon to attempt to summit an unclimbed 6000m peak in a remote area of Tajikistan. Jonathan "Jonny" Davey and John "JP" Proctor flew out from Manchester this afternoon bound for Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan – one of the former USSR republics of central Asian, starting a […]
Morris Dancing: an underground Punk scene?
Morris Dancing: an underground Punk scene?
18 July 2013
Morris Dancing – middle age men with white hankies and bells? Ladies with silly frilly frocks? I contest these brave men and women are an underground punk music scene, the scale of which, is yet to be fully realised. For many over 35, "the system"expects them to submit to braincell-removing evenings of TV-absorbtion, whilst working pay off […]