Hamachi - upgrade, lose features !

I've been using Hamachi for ages and think it's great. I'm not so happy about the new client. No longer able to install as a service unless you're a premuim user ? I don't think so. I'll just keep using the old client, or find a different solution.

older version link http://www.oldversion.com/download_Hamachi_1.0.2.3.html

syslog-ng magic

Just has some help setting up my ubuntu machine to do syslog work for my Sky netgear router. I installed syslog-ng (as it seemed like a good idea) and help was from (http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/linux-networking/74063-router-syslog-entries-your-syslog-howto.html)

and the entries I changed/added to /etc/syslogng/syslog-ng.conf were:

source s_all {
udp();
};

destination routermsg { file("/var/log/router.log"); };
filter f_router {host(192.168.1.1);};

#netgear router
log {
source(s_all);
filter(f_router);
destination(routermsg);
};

Serious about cutting your carbon footprint ?

One of the easiest ways is to reduce the population. I'm not talking genocide or anything, just get rid of child support and tax people a horrendous amount if they have more than 2 children.

Reduce the population, then there is less demand on the earth, more space, a better quality of living.

I suppose its unfair, but it is realistic.

So why am I doing this ?

I always wanted to keep a diary, but never had the time. I also don't like carrying loads of stuff around with me (apart from too many Mobile phones of course). I read recently that keeping a diary keeps you positive and upbeat as you can see what you've accomplished on that day, or at least remember the good times.

As both a realist and athiest I do sometimes find it difficult to be optimistic. I'm going to try to reflect this in my posts.

Security

So I got thinking about community again. I've been looking at getting some IP webcams so that if I'm away I can see the house and know its ok. Then I got to thinking how much community has changed (I was thinking this at 3:30am btw :P).

I talk to people in my community and they call their neighbours busybodies, or nosy and how everyone knows everything about each other. I wondered if this was an entirely bad thing. The best form of security is a neighbours twitching curtain in my view :P

I'd like to get to know my neighbours a bit more, we'll see how that goes.

Community

I'm thinking of doing a big BBQ this year, inviting all my old work mates, the people from the street etc.

I've always been paranoid about this kind of thing. Will people turn up or not, but sometimes you've just got to do it. Provided there is a BBQ involved it's got to be a win-win situation surely.

I Just got a new Webber Compact from go-outdoors (£39.99, bargain). It looks wicked, can't wait to try it out. I also got a Gerber Shortcut and clutch for £9.99 (half price, so I bought two !). I was going to buy it at full price the week before, so why not eh.

Charity

I want to give to charity. I've done well for myself at the expense of others, but to whom do I give money ? how do I ensure that it will be used wisely ? I dunno.

I considered donating for Africa, but then got put off after reading about drugs being stolen by the local gangs etc. I think clean water for Africa is a good one. I'm going to look in to that.

Here's a flame worthy sentence if ever I've written one. I'm fed up of children's charity's. Children have it better than adults in this new world in which we live. Yes, we should ensure that they are protected, but that should be done through law surely ? I don't want to eat my dinner then see horrible ads on TV designed to make me feel guilty. Stuff that.

Animals on the other hand don't have it so good. Medical experiments, abuse etc, they don't have it so good. But should they get my money more than a child in Africa ? What do I know ?

MacMillan nurses is one that we do donate to. If someone has cancer they should live out their life in dignity and be looked after, and we can't expect the NHS to do that for everyone. But Don't get me started about smokers who get cancer ...talk about asking for it.

Although I'll donate to practically any charity if someone I know is going to do a marathon, or half marathon etc.

Any ideas, let me know.

About Me

I always thought that I wasn't much good at things, that I'm not very clever. When I was at school/college I loosely ranked my friends based on their GCSE and A Level results and if they had a degree of not (not that I remember much of school).

When I started working it became how quick they were at a come back, I always hated that I never had anything witty to say until 5 minutes after the conversation, and even then what I would have said would have been ranked as average. So I live my life trying to figure out if I'm smart, or if I'm dumb.

Then I forget it, it's not like I can make myself any cleverer is it ? I try Scrabble, Suduku, crosswords & chess. I find I'm not great, but not bad. This is typical; the story of my life.

But its not all bad. For all my failures I have successes, I'm doing well for myself, I have a mortgage free house, a lovely wife. What more can I ask for, really ?