Plugable 10-Port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Hub with 48W Power Adapter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Works as a hub, but confuses my motherboard
On the upside, it works: once I’m booted, I can plug in devices (USB2 or USB3) and they’re detected by the computer. The charging ports behave as expected. The package is attractive and
functional. So there’s that.
But unfortunately I can’t boot my computer with it plugged in! I have to unplug it, boot, and THEN connect it. It’s possibly something to do with my motherboard (Asus Z87 MAXIMUS VI
FORMULA), or it’s possibly something to do with the way that the device identifies itself as a hub, but my computer just “hangs” at the POST screen if I’ve left it connected when I
press the power button: more than a little irritating!
The table clamp portion doesn’t open very far, and if you accidentally try (even gently) to open it further than its full extent, the foot pops off and never re-attaches quite as firmly
again. It’s a good little vice otherwise and it gets the job done.
A super-hardy, bulletproof lock with few downsides
This lock is pretty-much bulletproof. If you’re looking for the strongest possible lock for your bike, this is the one to go for (perhaps coupled with a flyout cable so that you can tie
your wheels together and to the lock). Note that this is a “short” D-lock, which is far safer, because a would-be thief can’t do the usual D-lock-breaking technique of using a car jack
on it, very easily, but it also means that you’ll sometimes find it difficult to fit it around both your frame and the thing you want to lock your bike to. Also note that it’s very
heavy, and that the mounting bracket doesn’t fit around the thickest of frames.
All in all, though, this is an ultra-hardy lock that should discourage all but the most-determined of criminals.
Focusing: How To Gain Direct Access To Your Body's Knowledge: How to Open Up Your Deeper Feelings and Intuition
Rating: ⭐⭐
Wishy-washy pseudoscientific nonsense, wrapped up in unengaging writing
I can’t imagine the person to whom this book would actually provide value. It’s full of wishy-washy, unscientific, and unverifiable ideas, all wrapped up in an unengaging and
badly-written package. There are a handful of good ideas, but they’re few and far between.
I’m out in Aylesbury today, so I’ll probably swing by the hashpoint late-morning/early afternoon, by car. Hopefully it’s possible to get to it without climbing through any hedges!
Expedition
I was in Aylesbury this morning for an interview, and I’d discovered last night that a hashpoint had appeared pretty-much right between my home and the place I was visiting. It
was off the major roads by a little way, but the day was beautiful and I relished the opportunity to go for an explore, by ZipCar and on foot. And that’s exactly what I got.
After driving through the village of Ford, I came to the end of a road and the beginning of a private driveway, and found a place to park. The locals looked at me strangely as I found
my bearings and set off up a bridleway. Suddenly, I realised that the hashpoint was off to my right somewhere, so I hacked my way through some trees to get closer to it. The hashpoint
turned out to be pretty-much exactly on the spot of a tree, at the edge of a field. Sadly, the tree was on the otherside of a barbed wire fence, covered in vines, but I was (with some
effort) able to lean far over to “touch” the hashpoint-tree, as shown in the photos.
Later, I got stuck in traffic and almost delivered the ZipCar back late, but just barely made it, vacating the car just as the (very prompt) next occupiers turned up. Phew!
Photos
ZipCar “Seashell”, my trusty ride for today’s expedition
I parked as close as I could before the start of a private road, and took a nearby footpath
“Turn right here”, my GPSr advised, to my horror
It wasn’t as overgrown as I’d thought, until I got close to the fence
Leaning forwards and reaching over at full stretch, I could just-about reach the hashpoint
Almost… just a few… more…
…there! A full stretch through some awfully prickly bushes, but I made it.
Found without difficulty, because the gods of GPS were shining upon me today and I was directed right to the spot. However… there was no log in there: the entire cache was empty!
Muggled, perhaps? Will attach a picture both as proof that I was there and so you can see that I’m not kidding when I claim that this cache is completely empty!
I’d hoped to collect all of the caches in this series today, but alas I was called away while on my way to the second. Great area, though: shall have to come back another time. TFTC!
Took me far too long to work out what I was looking for, here. Like “mandles123”, I even stopped and sat down to have a think about it for a bit. But after I walked away for a bit, and
then walked back towards the GZ again, by GPSr decided that it knew EXACTLY where to go, and lead me right to the cache. Wonderful spot.
Picked up Signal Football! Tag. Shall find him a new home next week.
Hunted for a bit among the nettles, but kept getting interrupted by passing cars and hikers: had to give up after people started looking at me with much suspicion. Maybe another day…
