Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

kabayiri

Generali wrote: »

...
Waaay back when 5 of us bought a proper Mini for £20 each which was a fantastic drive. Every time I see a beaten up mini carcass in a scrap yard I think about buying it.

I had a beat-up old custard yellow mini I bought off a gf ages back. I sold it to my housemate for £50 if I remember.

His mate dj'd on a local radio station several nights a week. They decided to do up this mini ; give it the works : racing spec engine; leather bonnet straps; green paintjob etc.

Being savvy, they created a radio car show around the project, and invited local enthusiasts to come along and talk about their cars.

That little mini became one of the best known cars in the city, and when they flogged it they did so for a handsome profit

(My part in this whole story is trivial as I read this back :rotfl:)

I always wanted the De Lorean that a guy owned. It wasn't a great car in truth, but to me it didn't matter.

michaels

kabayiri wrote: »

"Free" is available, but it comes at a cost of diy and complexity, and a small amount of risk.

http://lifehacker.com/178132/hack-attack-turn-your-60-router-into-a-600-router

DD-WRT is an open source implementation of firmware for your router.

It gives you a lot of configurability, but remember you might void the warranty on your router. Some people are nervous about flashing devices.

It wasn't originally geared towards the typical domestic user, and I think it still shows.

It's worth a read.

I have books on Linux Firewalls if you really wanted to go into security in depth. It's dull as ditch to read though!

I do have another router in the house that I have put DD-WRT onto but it is older spec and is currently in the garage looking after the solar inverter as a repeater. However google would suggest that there is no flash available for the BT home hub, haven't looked at the Sky one yet.

More likely I will buy a refurb unlocked BT box off eBay for £20 and flog the brand new sky router for 25 at the same place.

GDB2222

silvercar wrote: »

The real problem arises when the space left for the surviving spouse is not wide enough to take the coffin.:eek:

It may "just be a hole" but it needs to be level.

I think that a lot of these workers are grossly underestimated. This is not just really hard physical work, but there's skill involved too. Not least is ensuring that the hole is reasonably neat, large enough, and above all does not collapse ahead of time!

ivyleaf

Spirit That's great news about the car and your being able to drive :T:T

Re funerals, I was telling DS that you could get cardboard coffins these days and I liked the idea of having one when the time comes. He thought about it, then said "Sturdy cardboard." Cheeky so-and-so!

Though to be fair, he meant sturdy cardboard in general, not just for me

kabayiri

michaels wrote: »

I do have another router in the house that I have put DD-WRT onto but it is older spec and is currently in the garage looking after the solar inverter as a repeater. However google would suggest that there is no flash available for the BT home hub, haven't looked at the Sky one yet.

More likely I will buy a refurb unlocked BT box off eBay for £20 and flog the brand new sky router for 25 at the same place.

You could even run something like M0n0wall as a virtual appliance and route all traffic through that.

Sometimes, simplest is best. Go with what you know

I need multiple internet connections at times, so I don't think my personal setup suits most domestic use.

silvercar

michaels wrote: »

Thanks, I've now had a chance to see what this offers. I think I am OK for filtering, it is timed access that I want to achieve. ON the BT router I basically chose a device and set the times it can access the internet, the rest of the lan remains accessible at all times.

Edit: Seems I can get an unlocked refurb box that can do what I want for £20...but of course I would prefer a free solution!

Why can't you tell the kids that you don't want them on their phones/ tablets/ laptops for more than 2 hours each day and encourage them to exercise self control?

Generali

kabayiri wrote: »

I always wanted the De Lorean that a guy owned. It wasn't a great car in truth, but to me it didn't matter.

I've always fancied one of those jeeps that officers were driven in during the Korean/Vietnam wars. Again, not the best car but loads of fun.

A scorcher of a day today, the first time my car thermometer has read 40C this summer. We're waiting for the 'cool change' to come through this evening, basically a wind that comes up from the Antarctic every few days in summer that makes SE Aus so gloriously livable. When it does the temperature will drop from ~35C to ~20C in a matter of minutes <<contented smilie>>.

First day back at school today for the Generalissimos. They loved it. It'll be interesting to see how they cope with the transition to high school as we are very much the poor cousins in the area and many (most? all?) of their friends are off to very, very, very posh schools.

michaels

silvercar wrote: »

Why can't you tell the kids that you don't want them on their phones/ tablets/ laptops for more than 2 hours each day and encourage them to exercise self control?

I'm not there all day to police it and it is just easier if for example connection stops at 7.30AM to make sure DD1 has 40 minutes to get ready for school and it is off most of the afternoon/evening so homework gets done and there is less temptation at bedtime not to go to sleep.

DD1 is at new big school and seems to be finding lots of friends with million++ quid houses which even round here are not that common.

michaels

Day off today to take DS to allergy test and so booked gas service - not best pleased to get a text at 8.30 this AM to say engineer couldn't make it

michaels

I had a professional shopper fail today, was asked to do a TV piece on making the most of Black Friday and I had to admit to never having got a Black Friday bargain as I just find it incompatible with working plus I am mostly xmas ready already by then. Do any NP have any good Black Friday tips or mega bargains? I think the deals are less good now than when Amazon first started Black Friday in the UK or is it that I just miss all the good ones?