Blog
Why Is The YouView App Slow?
I've had a YouView box for a while and was excited when YouView finally announced that their app would be available for Android phones1 but I imediately noticed that the app was very slow to load the TV guide. The app shows about 10 channels at the same time for about a 1 hour period - surely it shouldn't take so long to download the small amount of text that is required to display what's on TV for the next few hours?
Build the Titanic
I recently decided to get back to building the wooden Titanic model that I started over 10 years ago, when I was a teenager. I collected 100 issues of the Build the Titanic magazine over 2 years, at a cost of £3.99 per week but I only built as far as issue 40. I was missing a few parts but luckily I found second-hand magazines on eBay with the parts that I needed. Now, I have finally recommenced building the model and this weekend I finished painting the hull. I have now completed up to issue 50, so only 50 more to go!
Ten Years of Web Programming
Ten years ago I began learning how to create dynamic websites. I had previously played around with HTML and had been programming using mainly BASIC and Visual Basic for several years.
The NO2AV Campaigners Don't Like Free Speech or Debate
It's getting closer to the AV referendum next month and both the Yes and No camps are campaigning vigorously. The official No campaign is more interested in scaring or misleading voters (those links are just two of the many examples).
Cardboard Artist Automaton
I recently completed the artist automaton model by cardboard model company cool4cats. This model is extremely clever in it's design - turn the handle and the artist actually draws. He doesn't draw exactly what he sees; he obviously has a dirty mind. The model kit is comprised of 20 A3 sheets of printed card. Each part is numbered, and marked with cut & fold lines and the model comes with a detailed step-by-step instruction booklet.
PTLLS Micro-Teach Session
I completed my PTLLS micro-teach assessment yesterday; this involved teaching a 30-minute lesson with my peers as the students. I decided to choose a subject from my area of current teaching - the binary number system. I teach binary numbers to my 2nd years but had to make a few changes to the format to suit the PTLLS class.
Stirling Engine
Yesterday, I built a small Stirling engine from a cardboard kit. The kit included 4 cardboard pages of pre-punched parts, metal base plates & plastic side strips, a foam displacement piston, a few metal rods & plastic bearings and a latex glove.
Cool Posters - The Oatmeal & Scratch Map
Check-out my two cool posters: How A Web Design Goes Straight To Hell from The Oatmeal and a Scratch Map which I will scratch every time I visit a new country - I've got a lot of countries to go!
Magic Crystal Garden
Here's a time-lapse video I made of a Magic Garden kit, with pictures taken every 10 minutes over approximately 24 hours.