The Oracle

Surpass Hosting

2007-06-25T15:30:00.000+01:00

The host I was using up until my recent move was Surpass Hosting. Although I have decided I no longer need their services I have no criticisms of their service whatsoever; response to queries is lightening fast, server monitoring appeared diligent, and their pricing highly competitive.

Just to add that I am not gaining anything by writing this, but I do like to recognise good service when it is received!

Move to Google Apps

2007-06-25T15:25:00.000+01:00

Since my own server wasn't getting sufficient use I decided to move the domain to Google Apps and close down the standalone server. Not the most simple process in the world but gave me an education in more DNS related jargon and techniques. Old blog posts from the Wordpress blog will be migrated across as soon as possible.

Move to own server

2006-08-27T19:33:00.000+01:00

This blog moved to its own home on August 27th 2006.
See post: Fully fledged Oracle Studios says hello world! Good old WordPress.

K750i Photo Capability

2005-10-30T00:55:00.000+01:00

I recently got a Sony Ericsson K750i phone and it amazes me, with a little thought and planning...the quality of pictures that can be obtained from it. The second photo is edited of course!

Flagrant advertising

2005-08-07T23:14:00.000+01:00

Anyone else noticed that there are too many blogs which seem to be nothing more than blatant advertisements for some tawdry webstore or other? Especially on Blogspot. I suppose they also boost Google links and thus rankings when the crawler finds them. Despicable!

Red Bull Air Race

2005-07-19T21:15:00.000+01:00

Check this out; a low flying acrobatic display team. Soon to come to a country near you...
For those Brits among you, the Longleat venue (Aug 7) looks like a good bet, plus entry is free! Subject to a ballot for car parking spaces.

Test typing in WPM

2005-07-13T00:01:00.000+01:00

Useful site for briefly checking just how quick (or slow!) your typing skills have become after all that blogging (or lack of it!).

Beyond Megapixels

2004-05-11T22:58:00.000+01:00

I found this series of articles on digital cameras a few weeks ago - as the title suggests, there is more to a digital camera than the megapixel count which manufacturers constantly bang on about in advertisements. These editorials examine current digital photography hardware, including sensor size, build, weight, ergonomics and DSLRs versus prosumer cameras.
Part I
Part II
Edit: Part III Now Online

Adding a dash of simplicity to those inevitable reinstalls

2004-05-11T22:38:00.000+01:00

At one time or another, it often becomes necessary to install Windows XP on your computer, either after your system has been ravaged by the latest virus circulating the net, or when you feel that the system really is running too slowly and you can't figure out which 'useful' toolbar or 'tweaker' it was that you installed recently (Use Ad-aware to try and avoid this scenario). Whatever the situation, it helps if you can do the reinstall with a mininum of fuss, both by making sure you have a CD with all your latest (and reliable) device drivers on, and by combining your copy of Windows and SP1 i.e. Slipstreaming. Essentially this means that you don't have to update as soon as you have completed the install, except of course for the obligatory protection against such delights as the DCOM/RPC vulnerability - for more info see this Windows Security Bulletin.
Edit: You can of course now use SP2 - links will be similar; poke around on the sites already mentioned for details.

Another.com

2004-05-10T23:26:00.000+01:00

When at first you fail, try, try again.

Blogging Problems

2004-05-10T18:01:00.000+01:00

I originally intended to publish this blog on my own site, on BT's servers, however, despite entering all information correctly I seemed to enter a continual loop on the 'publishing' page whenever I attempted to post. I have therefore resorted to using Blogger's own hosting capabilities. If anyone knows how to overcome this problem, please post a comment, I would be very grateful!

Opening Post

2004-05-10T17:52:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone...
I started this blog simply as a way of becoming more in touch with the Web and as a way of easily recording comments regarding websites and life in general. However, being a student, I also have the burden of work and exams to get through. Let us see what happens...