Musings of an aging computer nerd hitting 0x32
Maidstone streets
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A couple of pictures taken on the street in Maidstone, Kent.


Taken on my LG Renoir KC910 cell phone.
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Pixelmator 1.4 adds new paint engine
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Easy Steps to Rip a DVD to ISO in Ubuntu 8.10
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Need this when I make the Linux switch
An ISO file is the easiest and most universal method for backing up a DVD. The file is an archive file specifically for DVD VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS files, and is an exact copy of the disc. ISO files can be quickly burned to a new dvd using standard burning software, making it the optimal choice for storing backups.In Windows, third-party software is the only way to backup a DVD. Luckily, Ubuntu Linux has removed this need, and as a result, you can backup your dvds using a standard feature built into the OS –no software or Terminal required.
This tutorial is written using Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex. It will also work with 8.04.
Step 2: Right-click on the DVD icon and choose ‘Copy Disc’ from the menu.
Step 3: A dialog box will appear. In the drop-down box next to ‘Copy to…’, choose FILE IMAGE.

Step 4: Press the WRITE button.
Step 5: Choose a location to save the ISO.

Step 6: Wait for the progress bar to reach the end. It will say ‘Successfully Copied’. Close the window and remove the DVD.

Step 7: You can test the ISO and confirm it works using VLC media player. If you don’t have VLC installed, you can install it via the Terminal and this code: sudo apt-get install vlc .
Step 8: If you want to extract the VOB files from the ISO, right-click and choose ’extract here’. It will take about ten minutes, but the video_ts and audio_ts folders will be extracted to the same location.
Step 9: If you want to convert the ISO into a smaller file, such as an XviD or x264, you can either extract the VOBs and use DVD::RIP, or download Handbrake and rip directly from the ISO–both run smoothly on Ubuntu.
Fair Warning: In some countries, backing up DVDs you legally own is not legal–for example, in the US, copying a commercial DVD violates the DCMA. Be sure to check with the laws in your country before proceeding.
This tutorial was prepared for “Tech Source from Bohol” by Blair Mathis of LaptopLogic.com, your premier source for latest notebook reviews.
Latest pictures from my LG Renoir
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Things I've snapped in the last week or so on my LG Renoir KC910
Snow in York



Van Dog, Woof

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Grass is always greener

Grass is always greener
Originally uploaded by Alastair Montgomery
They say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, guess these goats agree.
I love tanks
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Maybe it is the big kid in me, maybe its all the cheesy war films I’ve watch but I love tanks and other military hardware.






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JPEG & PNG Stripper Removes the Metadata from Your Images [Downloads]
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Windows only: JPEG & PNG Stripper an extremely small portable application that strips the metadata out of JPEG and PNG image files.
Pictures from the weekend
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Here are some pictures I took over the weekend.

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Samsung NC20, one for the wish list.
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More drool worthy kit, just wish I could justify getting a Netbook o_0
Samsung NC20, 3G NC10 now available for pre-order in the UK
02-05-2009
The Russians have already declared their love, and soon you'll be able to get your mitts on the Samsung N20 and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. It's now available for pre-order from UK retailer BT Shop, priced at £390.98 ($565) VAT included, with a white model due out in February and a black iteration in March. Both models sport a 12.1-inch WXGA display, Windowx XP Home Edition, 1.3GHz VIA Nano U225 CPU processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Bluetooth, 3-in-1 card reader, 1.3 megapixel camera, and a 6 Cell battery -- no SSD option at the moment. Additionally, the shop is also showing a new NC10 equipped with HSDPA coming next month for £416.63 ($602) with VAT, which is £107 ($154) more than its non-3G equivalent. Not to worry, US readers, we're sure Sammy will be asking for your Benjamins soon enough.[Thanks, Darpan]
Last.FM Wallpaper
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I created this from the album art from my Last.FM account using the generator over at http://lastfm.alekc.org/. I then edited it a bit in Photoshop.
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