[Motorcycle Maintainence] Brake Pads

A month or two back, I purchased a set of brakes pad, one set for the front and one set for the back.

Fitting the pads at the back was a piece of cake, remove cover, remove split pins, pull out pins, remove pads, place new pad in the correct area, slide pins back in, replace spilt pin, replace cover, voila.. done...

I looked at the front pads, I looked from the top, from underneath... , poked them with a screwdriver, and promptly gave up.

Two months later, the pads are getting to the point where, if I don't change them they are going to do some damage.

OK, try again, I looked at the front pads, I looked from the top, from underneath... poked them with a screwdriver, called my son, who gave me a clue, "remove the caliper, and have a G-clamp ready", I thank him for his suggestion and start poking the pad with a screwdriver again.

Aaaah! The caliper is attached to the fork by two bolts, which I promptly remove, I find a small split pin, removed, and slide out a pin. The pads come out easily... I can see where the G Clamp comes in, I use the g-clamp to push back the pistons, initially I check to make sure that the brake fluid reservoir has sufficient space, then push them all the way in.

Put in the new pads, slide in the pin, replace the split pin, and mount the caliper on the front forks. Pump the front brake a few times.

Put my helmet on and go for a ride around the block, testing the front brake as I go.

Job well done, If I say so myself.

[Web] Interesting Copyright and plagarism search

A site that allows you to search for copies/excerpts of your page on
other sites

http://www.copyscape.com/

[Software] Convert Your Old PC Hardware into a NAS

NASLite-2 CDD is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) Server Operating System designed to transform a basic computer into a dedicated SMB/CIFS, NFS, FTP, HTTP and RSYNC file server.

 

Richard Game:

"It is software that allows you to convert an old PC into a mass storage device by adding one or more additional hard drives. The software replaces the normal operating system so you don't need Windows or Linux. Once the NAS server is attached to a Windows network each drive on the server is detected and labeled automatically within the Network Neighborhood.

Another attractive feature is that you are relieved of the normal operating system maintenance requirements for the server. For example, there's no need for Windows updates. On the downside, you are limited in your security and disk management options compared to a server running a full operating system "

 

http://www.serverelements.com/naslite-2-cdd.php

[WebTV] TV RSS Feeds

A great place for getting your television RSS feed ( a list TV programmes directing you to where you can download the applicable torrent file) is :

http://www.tvrss.net/

It not only has a selection of rss feeds but you can search current/historial feeds for your favourite programmes, download software to receive/watch your selected programmes, discuss all of these area with others and there looks like there will be a tutorial on how to (presumably) use associated software, how best to use the feeds, maybe what equipment to buy.

[eCommerce] eBay and e-Buyer step up

Both eBay and e-Buyer step the ante in the the eCommerce wars.

eBay introduces the concise and very usable eBayExpress, I've used the eBayExpress.co.uk site and found very simple and easy to use, less intimidating than the normal eBay sites.

eBuyer introduces eBay's PayPal payment system as an alternative payment to the normal credit card method, a plus to those of use not willing to give out our credit card details to unknown suppliers.

[WebTV] TV at leisure

I like watching TV at my leisure, that's why I had SKY+

I told it to record and then either watched my favourite programme in batches or when I had time, but SKY+ has a problem, there is only so much you can store on it, even with the latest SKY+ edition with increased hard drive space, there was also the problem that SKY+ only allow you to keep a programme for a limited time, so...

I bought a DVD Recorder, It's works Okay..ish, but getting the two to work together, nightmare.

So what to do?

OK, I've bought TV Cards and PVR's for my PC and recorded programmes to my PC to watch later, these are flakey and the compression is not so good.

Download TV programmes via BitTorrent and watch them on PC, - good Programme quality but the setup is still not ideal, I want to watch it on my 32" widescreen TV in my lounge, not on a 17" 4x3 monitor in my study.

Almost there...

Purchase a DIVx/Xvid Networked DVD Player (Kiss DP-1500), it does the job, I can watch TV programmes downloaded using BitTorrent to my PC and watch them from any room that I have the Kiss DVD player wired to the network.

Shame about the KISS DP-1500 player though.., when it doesn't like something, it decides to stop there and ...., after reboot/switching the unit off and then on... watch another programme instead...

I thought we had it...

OK, what have we learnt ? ...

• Download TV programme using BitTorrent Technology
• Store on PC / NAS
• Make available via network [ Ethernet - Fast ]
• Works best using PC / MAC
• Networked Player good but limited

My answer so far, buy a Widescreen TV with PC input, connect TV to a whisper quiet PC / Mac Mini / or standard PC in the cupboard , attach a wireless keyboard & mouse or a PCTV Remote Control, install up to date codecs and a good video player (one you are happy with) Windows Media Player comes as standard with Windows XP and codecs are available.

Relax, watch TV and wait until something better comes along.

[Games] Stickman Madness

How far can you get in Dragon Gamez's Stickman Madness

http://www.digyourowngrave.com/stickman-madness/

Web 2.0 style buttons

Make a cool web button in only 4 step!

http://www.mycoolbutton.com/

PRINCE2 project management resource

PRINCE®, which stands for Projects in Controlled Environments, is a project management method covering the organisation, management and control of projects.

PRINCE2 is a process-based approach for project management, providing an easily tailored and scaleable project management methodology for the management of all types of projects. The method is the de-facto standard for project management in the UK and is practiced worldwide.

http://www.prince2.com/