[Dave Rice]

The TP-Link should be connected via Ethernet cable from the Virgin Hub to Port 4.

You then set it’s Operation Mode to Wireless Router and not DSL.

[Dave Rice]

Looking good Lee.

[Dave Rice]

I can see why they’d do that. Who knows what the Computing students would get up to.

[Dave Rice]

What server specs do you need?

[Dave Rice]

You can block anything, or part of anything, with the right hardware / software combination on your network. Be that (even part of) a url, port, application, ip address etc.

Level 7 packet analysis needs lots of hardware grunt but we passed that hurdle years ago. DNS blocking can deal with banned urls embedded in others,  like say “http://translate.google.com/translate?tl=it&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bannedsite.com%2F” would fail.

So if it’s been blocked properly you’ll not get around it.

But like Ed, my question would be why block Postbox?

[Dave Rice]

I’m getting fed up with journalists asking when the restrictions will be lifted. FFS it’s clear you cannot put a date on it and if they did the same journalists would probably crucify them.

Also fed up with the current success of the vaccinations being used to divert attention from the death rate. It seems clear that the Christmas mixing was a big mistake, as was predicted, as was the public being blamed for it.

I’m being lined up for meds for the ankylosing spondylitis starting in 8 weeks time. It will supress my immune system to some extent which is a worry. I’m going to ask my GP if that means I can be bumped up from Tier 5 to Tier 4.

[Dave Rice]

It’s not such much their contract phones, as ones that have WiFi calling due to their o/s or app that they don’t have to supply.

Three used to have their own app (which I used) but abandoned it when Android started to bake it it.

[Dave Rice]

Why no back ups? WTF is going on in big computing these days? It seems the most basic of procedures and policies no longer exist.

[Dave Rice]

Totally irresponsible.

[Dave Rice]

I’ll be trialling TP-Link’s Omada range. It’s very much like the Ubiquiti, but then it has to do the same things.
Prices are cheaper per unit but it works best with a (remotely accessible) hardware controller which evens up the cost per (typical) installation.

First impressions are it’s very good and (Covid allowing) it will be used in the Physio clinic (the project I built the NUC’s for). The wall plates are particularly useful, especially to upgrade an existing premises.

[Dave Rice]

£300 buys you a lot of camera for the other pocket LUMIX DC-TZ90 Canon Powershot SX730 HS Sony DSC-WX500 or even my Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ70 (same Leica DC Vario-Elmar 24-720 mm Lens as the TZ90) for £209

 

[Dave Rice]

They’ve been doing some real bargains during lockdown.

I’ve been (mostly) sticking to deliveries from my local small breweries, I’m pleased to say they are all still in business. The one down the road, Great Western Brewery seems to have taken advantage of not having to brew the same stuff all the time for it’s pubs in trying different brews – as the link shows.

If you like “proper” pale ale (not craft IPA) then the Hambrook Pale Ale is just like you remembered it should be (Hambrook is the village’s name).

Severn Breweries has stayed with the same beers but gone in with West Country cider makers (big and small) to offer ciders I’ll bet you never knew existed.

I’m still getting a monthly box from Beer52 and keep meaning to stop it, but they keep coming up with interesting stuff. Last month was Polish beers, all very good, this month it’s all from Melbourne. If I could buy the Oktoberfest box again I would.

[Dave Rice]

Yes, it’s a sense of finality that it’s really real.

I’m glad I waited a bit to have a think because I was going to say goodbye to him. Ridiculous now I think of it and what happened when a good friend was in this situation a couple of years ago. He’s far from dead or even not being able to interact with people. There will always be the elephant in the room but both Paul and I thought no need to let it get in the way.

However I am going to ask that he asks the family to keep me and / or Steve in the loop when the time comes he can’t talk for himself. That will be the time to say goodbye and the family can decide if he’s up to hearing it.

[Dave Rice]

I replied to him straight away in a generic sort of way as I want to think about it over the weekend.

[Dave Rice]

“Bad news Dave. Cancer spread to the liver and its terminal. Please inform the guys that I will be a missing perch on the Forumite tree.”

[Dave Rice]

Credit where it’s due.

What worries me being in Phase 5 but with health issues the Govt has scaled downplayed, is that after Phase 4 there will be a clamour to open right up again. We know that politicians in general, and Bojo in particular, only want good news and they have a history of doing this.

[Dave Rice]

Bob has been back on FB for a couple of days posting in his own style 😉 but he’s not posted any updates or messaged me. If I don’t hear over the weekend I’ll message him.

[Dave Rice]

EBay plays whack-a-mole with these so you’ll rarely find lots of feedback. I must have bought over 50 this way now (it’s my default way of getting office). I just get a feeling from the way the main bulk of the ad is written setting out the steps and the one I linked to fits that style (it’s probably the same seller all the time).

It goes like this: ebay or email message from seller. Go to setup.office.com and put in the key. MS works out what version it is and you choose the language and download – you’ll need an MS account for this.

Install office, try online activation and it will almost certainly fail. Use the phone activation and you’ll probably be asked how many times this key has been used, answer zero (probably why the online fails). MS reads out the installation key (make a copy of it to use if you need to reinstall) and off you go.

You may get a link to use a web based authenticator which TBH is a bit of a faff but then so is the phone activation. But I tend to use this even if it’s not in the instructions as it’s quicker. I’ve tried using old keys and totally made up ones in the app and it gets you nowhere, so I am pretty sure it’s just another semi-official method. Whatever, I’ve not had any issues once activated.

[Dave Rice]

E-Bay is generally OK for Office keys. Make sure you follow the instructions – phone activation is 99% likely. Some use an online app, this isn’t a fake key generator it just replaces the phone call. You still need to start the phone process and get the challenge key then put the authorisation key in.

I generally go for the instant delivery ones, and if I was buying now it would be this one.

I have had the odd issue, generally it’s because they have a “multi-install” licence and need to increase the number. Usually only takes an email to sort it out, I’ve never lost my money but use PayPal.

[Dave Rice]

If they were black or muslim the body bags would be piled high by now. What happened to “when the looting starts the shooting starts”?

 

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