Thoughts

Backing up

Posted on by JC

How often do you backup your PC? Ever? I know a lot of people that loose so much data from their PCs be it their documents, music or pictures or their entire system due to anything from a virus, and spyware to hardware failure or spilling something on the PC.

I dont really know the best way for backups but will explain how I’ve got some of mine setup. I’ve worked with the theory its better to have multiple copies of something than one.

Entire PC

I’ve 2 backup hard disks that i’ve backed my PC up to. I’ve done this using the program “symantec Ghost” which takes an image of the computer and stores it in a file.

If your PC dies, you can “restore” the PC to that days image with all programs and settings all there. Any new files including documents, new email will not appear to be there and should be backed up reguarly.

I tend to update the image once every 3 to 6 months. I keep the old ones, and usually delete the old ones when they are over 2 years old or replace the PC.

Documents

I back my documents up to an external Hard drive as well as to an offline location. I have my files copied to the external drive once a month and online generally once a week.

I use a program named “SyncBack Pro” – There is a freeware version aswell but is a lot slower but does the job.

I use hosting from Powweb as they give so much space and bandwidth to use and have provided a good service to me for several years. I’ve used their services since around 2000 where they offered about 300MB of space that over time has grown – last check it was closer to 300GB of space – I’ve used around 40GB of space with backups and websites.

Syncback can be setup to run in the background where it can backup any files changed on your PC to an online copy assuming you have an internet connection.

Backing up online is only really recommended if your on a fast broadband connection as upload speed is often limited – it is not the same as your download connection speed thats usually advertised.

Costings:
• 320GB external Hard disk – around £ 70
• Syncback pro – Around £ 36 (Freeware version is free)
• Ghost – Around £40 (often cheaper if bought with anti-virus)
• Hosting = $140 for 2 years = £100 for 2 year (around £ 4.20 a month)

Totals ish:
• Initial Cost: £ 250 (including 2 years hosting)
• Continued costs (annual): £70 (hosting) [After initial 2 years]

Links:
• Symantec Ghost
• Sync Back
• Powweb [hosting]
• External Hard drive

Music to refresh the memory

Posted on by JC

Have you ever just listened to music and all feelings inside seem to stir – memories of past, and how things could be come to light.

I was just browsing on Spotify music to chill out too – I typed Meditate and in the first few songs were ones I’ve always liked but never really knew what they were called.

I laid back and listened and just felt a kind of peace, a posativity and power that roared within that so much more is possable.

Its something I needed, and was looking for but didn’t realise – A reminder of a passion lost.

Its strange that from a chill out song, there was so much power projected through it all.

I go through a lot of ups and downs in life, weekly changing goals of what I’d like to acheive but always do fall back to whom I have grown to be in some way.

Twitter

Posted on by JC

I’ve been bugged to get a twitter feed by many friends but I don’t really see the point apart from sticking a status message every so often. I don’t see why people would be particulary interested althou several people do seem to have added my feed to there pages.

Is it a way to have a coversation to many over an insecure communication medium that anyone can read… probably…

Anyways:
• Twitter

Frequency Unheard

Posted on by JC

A friend send me a link to a site I actually wish he had not – Sounds i’ve heard places all over and I’d say “ow” but it doesn’t quite cover it. A high frequency sound that apparently if your over 25 shouldn’t be able to hear – makes me feel ill when I hear it.

LINK: The Teenager Sound Test

There is a lot of equipment that sends out these high tones, but at the moment some shops are putting them outside to stop “youths” hanging around – it hurts, maybe its a human rights issue.

Different equipment that makes these sounds: Lights, Computer monitors, TVs, security cameras among other things. Friends used to laugh when I said I could hear the lights but it actually hurts – right behind the eyes and back of head and often the feeling of sea sickness too.

I recall a few months back while I was helping deliver leaflets I heard one of these noise makers in someones garden… Took me a while to figure where it was coming from. Some people use them in gardens to keep animals out – I found it an annoyance and animals can usually hear a lot better – is this a case for animal cruilty?

Be glad if you can not hear them.

Career Change… Maybe

Posted on by JC

I’ve always done something with computers, I’ve always been able to work with them, learn how to fix and adapt quite quickly to what I’ve been needed to do.

I’ve tried the IT technician route fixing and maintaining things, programming, Web Development, graphics, encryption and want to try something new that will stretch me.

I’ve realised so much over the past few years that I can do a lot more than i’ve ever given myself credit for. I have so much more potential and i’ve not been tapping into it expect for set bursts where i’ll get loads done and then back to normal – I think I need to change that normal a little.

I’m looking into courses to become an electrician. Electric circuits and how things work, and can be fixed have interested me for a long time and at school I enjoyed it but was good with computers so followed that path. Now i’m looking back and wondering what else I was good at and trying that too.

I’ve looked for part time courses in my area but so far no luck, everywhere there is a course is at least an hours drive away from home. To work around my current employment seems difficult. I’ve seen some express courses where its around 3 months – 3 to 4 weeks full time and the rest part time.

So I guess partly IT based as in technology and electics but a change of direction.

The Banana

Posted on by JC

I’ve heard a few things about bananas and its use and supposive history. I’ve not researched it so what I say here is probably hearsay…

Is it an energy food or something that helps you rest… some ingredients give energy, others help you relax – it contains minerals, fits nicely in the hand and is easy to eat for young and old with its squishyness.

Is it a genetically made fruit? well in theory everything is but man made genetically over many centuries? I don’t know but its like a super fruit providing so much for people.

Random banana rant over…

Contact Lenses

Posted on by JC

Over the last few years I’ve needed to start wearing glasses – first it was for using a computer screen and now its more just in general. It seems to help with balance as everythign stays on the same level (sight wise) – its not a strong prescription, but enough to make a difference.

I am a lot more active than I used to be, I enjoy a variety of sports and fitness things aswell as continue to work and go out with friends. I don’t put my full in in the sports at the moment as keep worrying that i’ll break the glasses and when I remove them all balance is gone so its just not a good idea. Hence Contact lenses idea.

I tried contacts twice before, once was a coloured pair before I needed glasses and that was just to make my eyes glow under UV light which for the event we were doing was great. The other was some time in 2004.

I’ve always had difficulty putting things in my eyes. It often takes a while to put eye drops in – bouncing off my nose into my eyes seems to work best so contact lenses where I acutally have to stick finger in eye should be interesting if possable. I think it will take a long time to be able to confidently do it.

Many friends have contacts now, and I look forward to when I can just put them in and enjoy the day without having glasses in the way and the freedom to try things I wouldn’t do because of fear.. Will I still have that excuse when the glasses are gone?

I’ve an appointment on Tuesday to help me with them. lets see how it goes.

Spurts of interest

Posted on by JC

Hi, As you’ve maybe noticed I’ve not update for a week or so… I don’t seem to think in this way all the time and try to explain what i’m doing, thinking to people so they understand – I do it all in spurts.

I can think sometimes and it all comes to me and I can write, at the moment it seems that its closer to 2 weeks chat and then 2 weeks quiet. Strange but true.. Anyhow, that means in that way there is going to be more over the next week or so 🙂

Wind and roof

Posted on by JC

Why is it that whenever I find the time to go check the roof that the winds get strong or it pours down with rain or snow.. its quite annoying.

I apparently have an aerial on my roof somewhere but I get no decent signal when I plug in to the jack in the wall for freeview so I wonder if its actually connected.

I’ve found a lead that goes outside that looks like an aerial connection but don’t know if its connected anywhere so would like to see.

I’d also like to clean out the drain area along the top and just be nosey as to whats up there but need help with the ladder and lack of wind and rain beforehand.

I hope I don’t find missing tiles or problems up there but I guess we’ll see another day.

Musical Noise

Posted on by JC

I like a variety of music, often I am unsure as to the type or genre of music in particular. I listen to the words of many and how they are to shape a mood.

I find music is a place to allow an expression of power and feeling through rhythem and words. You can often feel the emotion of the singer(s) through the tones they use and words chosen to express.

I often listen to dance music, some is considered trance, electro, among other things – I like the way the beat is generated and tones work around to create a kind of motion in the wind that if listend closely is like a journey that you can allow your mind to follow and explore.

A lot of it is repetative but calming at the same time. I’ve noticed that if you truelly do listen to music the backing rhythems are generally in blocks of 8 beats and then it repeats. The tones may change but the pattern remains.

I like it 🙂 Its all good – different people have different views on the Good part but someone must have liked it otherwise it wouldn’t have been saved.