The Daily Teaser — 3-8-2011

Hmmm …

Well, there’s a thing …

I’ve got to admit, I always like having one of a couple of different channels on at this time of the morning.

One of those, as you’ve probably worked out by now, is Yesterday, the history channel that airs on Britain’s free-to-air digital TV service.

They’ve got a fascinating programme on at the moment, I know that.

An American Future, a potted history of the USA presented by Simon Schama.

And reminds us that Thomas Jefferson, one of the USA’s founding fathers, and generally regarded as one of the proponents of freedom, kept a LOT of slaves.

There’s a possible irony, there.

As he’s now got to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s …

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes lets …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — who’s planning a short break — putting in her answers: and, along with leaving leaving us this post to ponder upon also bagged 5 out of 6. Let’s see how you do with today’s questions, shall we … ?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 3rd August, 1960, saw which African country become independent … ?

Q2) More to the point from which European country … ?

Q3) 3rd August, 1492, saw Christopher Columbus start his famed voyage to discover an Atlantic route to the East Indies: from which Spanish town?

Q4) That same day — 3rd August, 1492 — saw the King and Queen of Spain, formally expel which part of the population?

Q5) 3rd August saw a weather station in Leicestershire record Britain’s highest temperature: in which year … ?

Q6) And finally … 3rd August, 1977, saw the US Senate begin it’s hearing into which CIA project?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 2nd August, 1932, the discovery of the Positron, the antimatter version of the electron: by who … ?

A1) Carl D. Anderson.

Q2) Name either the antimatter versions of the neutron or proton.

Q2) The Antineutron and the antiproton, which is occasionally referred to as the negatron. (Unless that’s the head of the Transformers … )

Q3) 2nd August,1984, saw the European Court of Human Rights condemn the use of what, by British police … ?

A3) Phone tapping.

Q4) 2nd August, 1925, saw the birth of journalist and broadcaster, Alan Whicker: what was the name of his signature BBC series?

A4) Whicker’s World.

Q5) 2nd August, 1973, saw a fire kill 30 people at a resort on which of the British Isles … ?

A5) The Isle of Man.

Q6) And finally … 2nd August, 1869, saw Japan abolish its samurai/farmer/artisan/merchant class system: what was the Japanese name for this system … ?

A6) Shinōkōshō.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

The BT HomeHub: AGAIN

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve GOT to admit, I’m going to indulge in a bit of speculating, here.

Based on what’s very much a very lay understanding of a bloody complicated subject.

The BT router: or HomeHub, as it’s known.

You see, I’ve been having trouble with mine.

Usually, what’s supposed to happen, if I connect to the router wirelessly, is the HomeHub issued to all BT customers connects me up to the ’Net.

Except, of course, when it doesn’t.

As I think I mentioned, earlier.

You see, BT’s HomeHub has two different wireless networks, on top of the one we, as customers, use to hook up to the ’Net.

BT’s own Openzone, and the BT FON it operates in conjunction with Fon Wireless Ltd.

Well …

I say generates …

If I’ve understood what it does correctly, each Hub is contributing a bit of it’s signal strength to the two ‘extra’ networks.

Anyone who can pick these up — and has paid to use them — can access the ’Net with them, with whatever mobile device they happen to be using.

Now, here’s where I’m going into educated guesswork, ok, so stick with me, while I try and explain what’s going on, and why I think it’s happening.

Because what I’m thinking’s happening is that the BT FON signal is rather strong.

Or has got stronger over the past few months, or so.

You see, it’s for about the past six months to a year, I’ve had a problem

What’s been happening is that — whenever I’ve turned on Bruce, in the morning’s — just occasionally, my ever trusty Mac Mini’s Wi-Fi signal get’s hijacked.

By the BT FON signal.

Which results in a couple of things.

Firstly … ?

Quite a bit of creative swearing from Your’s Truly*.

And secondly … ?

No connection to my router!

The work-around I’ve come up with involves me switching off Bruce, and doing a hard reset of the HomeHubº — as many times as needed — until Bruce can happily wirelessly connect through the Router, as he should.

It wasn’t until meeting Grub this afternoon, in Brentwood Library that I thought to have a look on their ’Net connection, to see if I could google for a solution.

I double checked when I got home: and even sent an annoyed email to BT, to see what they said. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.

But, at any rate … ?

It seems BT had an answer — of a sort — on their website, ALL about it.

Basically, I’d have to go into my Network Settings — System Preferences>Network, in Mac OS X 10•6•8ª — then go to the AirPort section of the settings, and hit the Advanced button.

And then either re-arrange the displayed WiFi networks into the order I wanted Bruce to check for a signal.

OR — what I did — delete the BT FON from the list of network’s that Bruce would check on starting up.

»»·««

Now, hopefully … ?

Hopefully, that should resolve the issue for now.

I’ll probably start screaming my head off, if it doesn’t.

At any rate, one thing I think I WILL admit surprised me … ?

Well, it’s more of a customer service thing, really: given I’ve been doing some form of retail for most of my working career, I tend to spot these things.

The actual help page BT has up, that gave me the initial clues about what I should try, to try and solve this … ?

Only actually covers three operating systems: Windoze XP, Windoze Vista and Windoze 7.

I saw nothing, there, about how to resolve this problem under any of the recent versions of Mac OS X, nor any of the major forms of GNU/Linux.

GRANTED, they’re not as common as a version of Windoze: but from here, I can metaphorically chuck a brick to hit several OS X users, and a few Linux-heads.

Personally … ?

Not only am I surprised that the problem’s there in the first place — and surprisingly noticeable, even to non-BT customers, from what I can gather — but ALSO that BT haven’t issued the same advise for those of us NOT using Windoze.

Personally … ?

I’m blaming Bill Gates …

And BT …

* And frowning, temper tantrums and throwing things on ESPECIALLY bad days. I’ve got anger issues, what can I tell you … ? (And why have I got the feeling Dr Kevin’s reading this and planning to say something … ?)

ª You should be able to find the relevant Preference Pane in roughly the same sort of area in 10•4•x and upwards. I’m not too sure what the procedure is, in Ubuntu — or whatever flavour of Linux distro you use — is, but I’d imagine it’s not THAT different.

º Usually by pressing the Restart button: the bottom button of the four on the side of the HomeHub 2.

BT Home Hub 2: DRATTED thing … !

Hmmm …

DRATTED thing … !

Seriously … !

I’ve got to admit, I’ve accessed the net wirelessly now, for some time.

And for the most part … ?

For the most part, with little in the way of problems.

Until about … Hmmm …

Let’s call it about six months ago.

That’s when it seemingly all started.

At any rate, you’ll be probably be away — as have some of my friends — that I’ve had quite a bit of signal dropout, just recently, from my BT Home Hub.

Lord know’s why, but I think that Bruce — my Mid-2007 model Mac Mini, running Mac OS X 10•6•8 Snow Leopard — occasionally refreshes his Airport signal: and gets told by the router that he’s hooked up to BTFon, the BT and as you go service, instead of directly to the router.

Actually …

I’ve just looked up my relevant router, on Wikipedia …

And I have a nasty feeling I may have the model 2A: according to that … ?

It has trouble, when uploading files over wi-fi.

Wouldn’t you know it … ?

»»·««

About the only upside to all this … ?

Is the simple fact that — using the usual ethernet cable — things are at least loading up a bit faster …

Which means taking on an old workmate, called Cindy — over in New Zealand — at one of Facebook’s sillier games is a touch easier …

She’s STILL beating the poo out of me in Zuma Blitz …

But there’s alway’s next weeks tournament … !

The Daily Teaser — 2-8-2011

You know, I’ve got to admit, I couldn’t resist putting up this photo of Jude, I really couldn’t

I was over at Mum’s for Sunday dinner — on Sunday, obviously — with Anna, Ruth — Jude’s mother — and the little chap himself.

Who’s starting to show a distinct curiosity about gadgets, I know that.

And managed to change channels.

I’m just disappointed everyone else, bar me and Jude, wanted to watch the athletics.

Karate Kid 2 was on that night … !

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and along with giving this* scavenger hunt a mention — wish someone would one of those over here … ! — she also managed to bag 3 out of 5.

Let’s see — hopefully — how she, and you do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 2nd August, 1932, the discovery of the Positron, the antimatter version of the electron: by who … ?

Q2) Name either the antimatter versions of the neutron or proton.

Q3) 2nd August,1984, saw the European Court of Human Rights condemn the use of what, by British police … ?

Q4) 2nd August, 1925, saw the birth of journalist and broadcaster, Alan Whicker: what was the name of his signature BBC series?

Q5) 2nd August, 1973, saw a fire kill 30 people at a resort on which of the British Isles … ?

Q6) And finally … 2nd August, 1869, saw Japan abolish its samurai/farmer/artisan/merchant class system: what was the Japanese name for this system … ?

And here’s yesterday’s question’s and answers …

Q1) 1st August 1855, saw the first ascent of the second highest mountain in the Alps: what’s that mountain’s name … ?

A1) Monte Rosa.

Q2) 1st August, 1981, saw the first broadcast of TV station, MTV: which US band featured on the first episode of MTV: Unplugged?

Q2) Poison.

Q3) 1st August, 1914, saw the start of World War 1, when Germany declared war on Russia: which famously neutral country’s Army mobilised, that day … ?

A3) The Swiss Army.

Q4) 1st August, 1980, saw Vigdís Finnbogadóttir become the world’s first democratically elected head of state*: which country was she President of … ?

A4) Iceland.

Q5) And finally … 1st August, 1960, saw Pakistan name its federal capital: which city is it … ?

A5) Islamabad.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

* Holiday, Debbi … ? Or did you see this article, as well … ?

The Daily Teaser — 1-8-2011

Hmmm …

I’ve got to admit, I’ve got a cheeky copy of The Masque Of Mandragora gently playing in the background.

Dodgy politics, evil alien entities, seriously iffy court astrologers …

And all of it filmed in 20th Century Portmeirion, dressed up as a small 15th century Italian dukedom.

Rather nice to see it, after all these years.

SAYING that … ?

I might just hit the pause button.

Just so I can give myself time to enjoy it, properly.

I mean, it’s not that often I get to see the more rural bits of the Village, after all …

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbiº, bless her, putting in her answers: and managing to bag six out of six.

Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 1st August 1855, saw the first ascent of the second highest mountain in the Alps: what’s that mountain’s name … ?

Q2) 1st August, 1981, saw the first broadcast of TV station, MTV: which US band featured on the first episode of MTV: Unplugged?

Q3) 1st August, 1914, saw the start of World War 1, when Germany declared war on Russia: which famously neutral country’s Army mobilised, that day … ?

Q4) 1st August, 1980, saw Vigdís Finnbogadóttir become the world’s first democratically elected head of state*: which country was she President of … ?

Q5) And finally … 1st August, 1960, saw Pakistan name its federal capital: which city is it … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 31st July, 1975, saw the birth of actress Emilia Fox: what’s the name of her character in the series, Merlin … ?

A1) Morgause.

Q2) More to the point, which Jackal is her father … ?

Q2) Edward Fox, who famously played the Jackal, in the 1973 version of The Day of the Jackal.

Q3) 31st July, 781AD, is the date of the oldest recorded eruption of which volcano?

A3) Mount Fuji.

Q4) 31st July, 1658, saw Aurangzeb named as emperor of where … ?

A4) India.

Q5) 31st July, 1976, saw NASA release the famous — or infamous — Face on Mars photo: the Face is in which region of Mars … ?

A5) Cydonia.

Q6) And finally … 31st July, 1998, saw the UK government announce a total ban on landmines: which member of the Royal family championed this … ?

A6) Princess Diana.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a tune from Oliver, as it’s Lionel Bart’s birthday …

º Yeah, I couldn’t resist putting that that Baltimore question in, Debbi, shame you couldn’t make it …

* Head of State, or president, as opposed to female Prime Minister, who usually — elected or otherwise — is just the head of government.