Queen's Diamond Jubilee visit to Manchester

I few snaps taken today, as the Queen visits Manchester in the North West for her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

These were taken during her visit to the town hall.

Postcode demographic profiling - CheckMyArea.com

Postcode based information for all postcodes free – any UK post code area described

Hmmm, looks pretty interesting, trying to derive one of the 54 standard geodemographic information about the area, based on postcode, credit and other sources.

List of sources mentioned are:
Census
Register of court judgements
Insolvency records
Lifestyle information collected from questionnaires
Credit scores

It makes for some interesting reading, especially what assumptions are made from the census.

Netgear WGR614 v6 DSL (cable) Wireless Router

For sale: my Netgear router, £10 from Warrington (pickup) - surplus to requirements as I've moved, and I'm not on cable anymore.

My Netgear WGR614 v6 DSL Wireless router (cable router suitable for VIRGIN cable internet):

Key Features
Wireless Technology: Wireless G
Wireless Speed: 54 Mbps
Port Speed: 10/100
DLNA Certified: No
USB for File Sharing: No
Built in Modem: No
Connectivity: Wired & Wireless

BMI Body Mass Index reference chart

I've just come across a quick lookup chart for the BMI (body mass index)



The traditional way of calculating it is:


English BMI Formula
BMI = ( Weight in Pounds / ( Height in inches x Height in inches ) ) x 703

Metric BMI Formula
BMI = ( Weight in Kilograms / ( Height in Meters x Height in Meters ) )

Skoda Fabia Brake Disc and Brake Pads change

Skoda Fabia Brake disc and pad change.

A recent much needed brake disc and brake pad change, and a dry day gave me the chance for a spot of motor DIY.

Front brake pad comparison

My EBC brake pads from Brakes4u.co.uk

(Ultimax)

New pad (left) vs old pad (right).






These pads were sooo thin, and brittle, they flaked off once removed.

---

Front disc comparison.

(might aswell change the disc and pads as a complete job)










Front discs fitted.

---

Rear brake pads.

New pad (left) vs old pad (right)

---

Rear disc fitted.

---

Here's a picture of the old parts.






The discs had plenty of "meat" on them, but the pads were completely shot.

Lightroom 4, now available

Adobe download link

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Create amazing images that inspire, inform, and delight. From first look to final image, Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 4 software provides powerfully simple one-click tools and cutting-edge advanced controls for every step. Easily organize, perfect, and share all your photographs.

It’s significantly cheaper than prior versions: the full program costs just $149, while the upgrade costs $79.

SUBARU BRZ, and TOYOTA GT 86 (Hachi-Roku)

Subaru BRZ 2L Turbo

The 2013 SUBARU BRZ PREMIUM at roughly $24,000 comes with

• 2 litre flat 4 boxer engine
• 200 hp and 151 lb ft of torque
• Torsen limited-slip differential
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Tilt-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather shift knob and handbrake
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Aluminum pedal pads
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Standard Navigation
• Curb weight of 2689 lbs, 1220kg

The $27,000 SUBARU BRZ Limited has in addition:

• Leather Alcantara upholstery
• Rear lip spoiler
• Front foglights

and more.



Read more via MotorTrend

2013 Subaru BRZ - U.S. Model Features

Body Style		2-door Coupe
Drive Type		Rear wheel drive
Grade		Premium		Limited
Engine		2.0L DOHC flat-4 with D-4S port/direct injection
Transmission		6MT	6AT	6MT	6AT
Exterior	Head Lamp	High intensity discharge
	Front Fog Lamp	n/a		Standard
	Door outer handle	Body color
	Door outer mirror	Body color		Body color w/ mirror heater
	Rear garnish	Body color
	Rear spoiler	n/a		Standard
	Windshield glass	Green laminate with top shade
	Wiper	Designed blade
	Tire size/type	215/45R17 Summer		215/45R17 Summer
	Wheels	17-in. aluminum		17-in. aluminum
Interior	Instrument Panel & upper dash surface	Soft touch composite
	IP center cluster	Black		Silver
	Leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake lever	Standard
	Pedal pad	Aluminum
	Door inner handle	Chrome
	Seat material	Fabric		Alcantara + Leather
	Air conditioner	Manual		Auto 2-zone control
	Tilt and telescopic steering wheel	Standard
	Gauge cluster	Analog speedo and tach, digital speedometer with red illumination on a black panel with silver rings
Audio/Nav	8 speaker audio system	Standard
	Navigation	Standard
	Roof Antenna	FM/AM/XM
Safety	VDC	Standard
	Brake (front/rear)	11.6-in Vented Disc/11.4-in Vented Disc		11.6-in Vented Disc/11.4-in Vented Disc
	Side and curtain airbags	Standard
Fun to Drive	Paddle shift (sport shift)	n/a	std	n/a	std
	LSD	Standard
	Front/rear stabilizer	Standard
Other	Front seat heater	n/a		std
	Smart start/entry (keyless go)	n/a		std
	Anti-theft sys	Immobilizer		Immobilizer w/alarm
	Spare tire	T135/80D16
	Cruise Control	Standard

A view of the Toyota Subaru engine is:

TOYOTA GT 86

While I was looking around on the net, it occured to me that this engine bay looked very familiar.

I then looked up the TOYOTA GT 86.




The MotoTrend.com Roadtest of Toyota GT 86 quickly confirmed what I thought



.... they share the same engine.

Skoda Fabia Brake discs and pads information

Skoda Fabia Brake parts information, Brakes, prices, buying cheap

prices correct as of 12th February 2012



Skoda Fabia vRS

Front Brake Discs Solid or Vented: V No of Holes/Bolts: 5 Diameter (mm): 288 Height (mm): 34 Thickness New/Min (mm): 25 -- 23	Rear Brake Discs Solid or Vented: S No of Holes/Bolts: 5 Diameter (mm): 232, 233 Height (mm): 40 Thickness New/Min (mm): 09--07
Front brake Pads (image from Brakes4u (DP1479) DP1479 : FRONT Ultimax pads - Lucas Calipers	Rear brake Pads (image from Brakes4u (DP1497) DP1497 : REAR Ultimax pads

Brakes4u Skoda Fabia Brake Parts

Model	Year	Front Original Quality	Front Upgrade Quality	More Front	Front Shoes	Rear Original Quality	Rear Upgrade Quality	More Rear	Rear Shoes
1.9 TD	2000->2010	DP1329	DP21329			DP1497	DP21497
1.9 TD VRS (130)	2003->2007	DP1479	DP21479			DP1497	DP21497

Ebay brake sets

• ClickAMotorPart - Complete set of BRAKE DISCS and BRAKE PADS : £84.99
  
  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKODA-FABIA-VRS-1-9-2-0-FRONT-REAR-BRAKE-DISCS-PADS-/300422660903?
  
• ClickAMotorPart - full set of BRAKE PADS for Fabia vRS : £39.90
  
  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKODA-FABIA-VRS-1-9-2-0-FRONT-AND-REAR-BRAKE-DISC-PADS-/390189421989?
  
• ClickAMotorPart - FRONT brake discs and pads setup : £57.99
  
  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKODA-FABIA-VRS-1-9-TDi-2-0-FRONT-BRAKE-DISCS-AND-PADS-/390189421938?
  
• ClickAMotorPart - REAR brake discs and pads setup : £29.90
  
  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKODA-FABIA-VRS-1-9-TDi-2-0-REAR-BRAKE-DISCS-AND-PADS-/300422660982?
• AutoSparesGB - REAR brake discs and pads setup : £24:00
  
  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170549508291
  
  
  

Reference Information

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=101
288x25mm (1LN/1LP) (for Lucas caliper) - these are the ones for Fabia vRS
without pad wear indicator

62.6mm x 131.4mm x 18.8mm

---

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=360
52.9mm x 87mm x 17mm - these are the ones for Fabia vRS

---

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=99
256x22mm (1LQ/1LR) (for FSIII caliper)
without pad wear indicator

---

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=97
239x18mm (1LB/1LM) (for Bosch caliper)
without pad wear indicator

Roast crispy pork belly with egg fried rice

Information from BBC SATURDAY MORNING KITCHEN with KEN HOM

Ken Hom

Overnight preparation time

Over 2 hourscooking time

Serves 4-6 people

 

Ken Hom's classic crispy pork takes time to prepare but demands no great skill.

Egg fried rice is a great way to use up leftover rice.

 

Ingredients

For the pork

• 1.5 kg/3lb 5oz boneless pork belly, with rind
  
• 4 tbsp coarse sea salt
  
• 2 tbsp ground roasted Sichuan peppercorns
  
• 2 tsp freshly ground white pepper
  
• 2 tbsp five-spice powder
  
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
  

 

For the egg fried rice

• 400g/14oz long-grain rice, cooked according to the packet instructions, drained and chilled
  
• 2 free-range eggs, beaten
  
• 2 tsp sesame oil
  
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 2 tbsp groundnut or vegetable oil
  
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  
• 2 tbsp spring onions, finely chopped
  

 

Preparation method

1. For the pork, pierce the rind side of pork with a sharp fork or knife until the skin is covered with fine holes. Insert a meat hook into the meat to secure it.
   
2. Bring a large pan of water to a boil and, using a large ladle, pour the hot water over the rind side of the pork several times. This is best done suspending the pork above the sink. Set the pork belly aside.
   
3. Heat a wok until it is hot, then add the salt, both peppers, five spice powder and sugar and stir-fry the mixture for three minutes. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
   
4. When the mixture is cool enough to handle, rub it into the flesh side of the pork. Hang the meat to dry for eight hours or overnight in a cool place or in front of a fan. Alternatively, place the meat on a wire rack set above a roasting tin.
   
5. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Place the pork on a wire rack, rind side up, over a deep roasting pan filled about one third with water and roast for 20 minutes.
   
6. Reduce the heat to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and continue to roast for two hours. Turn the oven back up to 230C/450F/Gas 8 and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the meat from the oven and allow the pork to cool.
   
7. For the fried rice, mix the eggs, sesame oil and a pinch of the salt in a small bowl and set aside.
   
8. Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat until it is hot. Add the groundnut or vegetable oil and when it is very hot and slightly smoking add the cooked rice and stir-fry for three minutes or until it is thoroughly warmed through.
   
9. Drizzle the egg mixture over the rice and continue to stir-fry for 2-3 minutes or until eggs have set and the mixture is dried. Add the remaining salt and pepper, continue to stir-fry for two minutes then toss in the spring onions. Stir several times and turn onto a serving dish. Carve the pork into bite-size pieces, arrange on a platter and serve immediately with the rice alongside.
   

Dominic the Donkey - Radio 1

Hey Jude - Beatles

A great easy tip to help remember the lyrics of the classic song from the Beatles!

Revo VAGCOM Butt Dyno dynoplot6 dynoplot4

I've jsut come across a spreadhseet created by the guys over at Ross-Tech

The spreadsheet plots theoretical horse power (hp) and torque (tq)



A link to their spreadsheet - often referred to as the "Butt Dyno" is:

Butt Dyno, http://www.ross-tech.net/vag-com/examples/dynoplot6.xls

Sensible Soccer Nostalgia - A great game from the past, not forgotten

A friend of mine mentioned a football computer game that we used to play from our younger days, Sensible Soccer on the Amiga.

The sense of nostalgia, and fond memories that even the name brings back are immense.

I can't remember playing any other football game that comes close to the balance of simplicity, intuitive controls, and un-capped levels of fun and laughter when playing against your friends when they all join in for the impromptu "world cup tournaments" that we'd host in each of our homes.

Fantastic memories !

And to top it all off - it looks like you can play it online ?!?? !

www.sensiblesoccer.de

Confessions of an Aca/Fan: Transmedia Storytelling 101

Confessions of an Aca/Fan: Transmedia Storytelling 101

I've just read a Henry Jenkins article, as suggested by PHONAR, discussing Transmedia.
A very interesting and insightful article, mentioning how the art of story telling and involving the reader in more than one way through different entry points in media.

It mentions Star Wars and The Matrix as fine examples of transmedia.

Excellent !!!

Chilli oil burn remedy

Joseph Bloggs: Avoiding chilli burn

Luke Schneider Photography: Head shots: What I've Learned (A long post,but wor...

Link back to http://lukeschneiderphotography.blogspot.com/2011/07/head-shots-what-ive-learned-long.html

Head shots, while seemingly simple, can be quite difficult depending on the person being photographed.

Head shots have the power to get people very interested in what someone has to say or offer, or quickly turn someone away based on the quality of this one "simple" photograph. If you haven't seen truly amazing headshot work, do your self a favour and take a look at Peter Hurley's Portfolio.



Luke Schneider Photography: Head shots: What I've Learned (A long post,but wor...:      

Official Google Blog: Rain or shine, see the weather in Google Maps

Google maps has a WEATHER LAYER for instant up-to-date information on the .... WEATHER !

Official Google Blog: Rain or shine, see the weather in Google Maps

Capital cities of the world

I've been playing Google's app "Beat The Buzz", and one of the challenges is to type as fast as possible, the Capital Cities of the World.

I've googled and found via http://geographyfieldwork.com/WorldCapitalCities.htm a list of 200.

Capital City	Country
Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates
Abuja	Nigeria
Accra	Ghana
Addis Ababa	Ethiopia
Algiers	Algeria
Amman	Jordan
Andorra la Vella	Andorra
Ankara	Turkey
Antananarivo	Madagascar
Apia	Samoa
Ashgabat	Turkmenistan
Asmara	Eritrea
Astana	Kazakhstan
Asuncion	Paraguay
Athens	Greece
Baku	Azerbaijan
Bandar Seri Begawan	Brunei
Baghdad	Iraq
Bamako	Mali
Bangkok	Thailand
Bangui	Central African Republic
Banjul	Gambia
Basseterre	Saint Kitts and Nevis
Beijing	China
Beirut	Lebanon
Belgrade	Serbia
Belmopan	Belize
Belfast	Northern Ireland
Berlin	Germany
Bern	Switzerland
Bishkek	Kyrgyzstan
Bissau	Guinea-Bissau
Bogota	Colombia
Brasilia	Brazil
Bratislava	Slovakia
Brazzaville	Congo, Republic of the
Bridgetown	Barbados
Brussels	Belgium
Budapest	Hungary
Bucharest	Romania
Buenos Aires	Argentina
Bujumbura	Burundi
Cairo	Egypt
Canberra	Australia
Caracas	Venezuela
Cardiff	Wales
Castries	Saint Lucia
Cayenne	French Guiana
Chisinau	Moldova
Colombo	Sri Lanka
Conakry	Guinea
Copenhagen	Denmark
Dakar	Senegal
Damascus	Syria
Dhaka	Bangladesh
Dar es Salaam	Tanzania
Dili	East Timor
Djibouti	Djibouti
Doha	Qatar
Dublin	Ireland
Dushanbe	Tajikistan
Edinburgh	Scotland
Freetown	Sierra Leone
Gaborone	Botswana
Georgetown	Guyana
Guatemala City	Guatemala
Hanoi	Vietnam
Harare	Zimbabwe
Havana	Cuba
Helsinki	Finland
Honiara	Solomon Islands
Islamabad	Pakistan
Jakarta	Indonesia
Juba	South Sudan
Kabul	Afghanistan
Kathmandu	Nepal
Kampala	Uganda
Khartoum	Sudan
Kiev	Ukraine
Kigali	Rwanda
Kingston	Jamaica
Kingstown	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Kinshasa	Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia
Kuwait City	Kuwait
La Paz	Bolivia
Libreville	Gabon
Lilongwe	Malawi
Lima	Peru
Lisbon	Portugal
Ljubljana	Slovenia
Lome	Togo
London	England
London	United Kingdom
Luanda	Angola
Lusaka	Zambia
Luxembourg	Luxembourg
Madrid	Spain
Majuro	Marshall Islands
Malabo	Equatorial Guinea
Male	Maldives
Managua	Nicaragua
Manama	Bahrain
Manila	Philippines
Maputo	Mozambique
Maseru	Lesotho
Mbabana	Swaziland
Melekeok	Palau
Mexico City	Mexico
Minsk	Belarus
Mogadishu	Somalia
Monaco	Monaco
Monrovia	Liberia
Montevideo	Uruguay
Moroni	Comoros
Moscow	Russia
Muscat	Oman
Nairobi	Kenya
Nassau	Bahamas
N'Djamena	Chad
New Delhi	India
Niamey	Niger
Nicosia	Cyprus
Nouakchott	Mauritania
Nuku'alofa	Tonga
Ouagadougou	Burkina Faso
Oslo	Norway
Ottawa	Canada
Palikir	Federated States of Micronesia
Panama City	Panama
Paramaribo	Suriname
Paris	France
Phnom Penh	Cambodia
Podgorica	Montenegro
Port au Prince	Haiti
Port Louis	Mauritius
Port Moresby	Papua New Guinea
Port of Spain	Trinidad and Tobago
Port Vila	Vanuatu
Porto Novo	Benin
Prague	Czech Republic
Praia	Cape Verde
Pretoria	South Africa
Pristina	Kosovo
Pyongyang	North Korea
Quito	Ecuador
Rabat	Morocco
Rangoon (Yangon)	Myanmar (Burma)
Reykjavik	Iceland
Riga	Latvia
Riyadh	Saudi Arabia
Rome	Italy
Roseau	Dominica
Saint George's	Grenada
Saint John's	Antigua and Barbuda
San Jose	Costa Rica
San Marino	San Marino
San Salvador	El Salvador
Sanaa	Yemen
Santiago	Chile
Santo Domingo	Dominican Republic
Sao Tome	Sao Tome and Principe
Sarajevo	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Seoul	South Korea
Singapore	Singapore
Skopje	Macedonia
Sofia	Bulgaria
Stockholm	Sweden
Suva	Fiji
Taipei	Taiwan
Tallinn	Estonia
Tarawa Atoll	Kiribati
Tashkent	Uzbekistan
Tbilisi	Georgia
Tegucigalpa	Honduras
Tehran	Iran
Tel Aviv	Israel
Amsterdam	Netherlands
Thimphu	Bhutan
Tirane	Albania
Tokyo	Japan
Tripoli	Libya
Tunis	Tunisia
Ulaanbaatar	Mongolia
Vaduz	Liechtenstein
Vaiaku village	Tuvalu
Valletta	Malta
Vatican City	Vatican City
Victoria	Seychelles
Vienna	Austria
Vientiane	Laos
Vilnius	Lithuania
Warsaw	Poland
Washington D.C.	United States
Wellington	New Zealand
Windhoek	Namibia
Yamoussoukro	Cote d'Ivoire
Yaounde	Cameroon
Yerevan	Armenia
No official capital	Nauru
Zagreb	Croatia

To type out a few cities the quickest, it's probably best to type cities with the fewest number of letters...

Capital City	Country
Apia	Samoa
Baku	Azerbaijan
Bern	Switzerland
Dili	East Timor
Doha	Qatar
Juba	South Sudan
Kiev	Ukraine
Lima	Peru
Lome	Togo
Male	Maldives