Iain Gowers's Blog full of lot blog

St louis versus Chicago cubs at busch

2011-09-24T16:31:00.001+01:00

St louis versus Chicago cubs at busch, a photo by Iain Gowers on Flickr.

Top of sears/whilmers tower chicago

2011-09-21T23:29:00.001+01:00

Top of sears/whilmers tower chicago, a photo by Iain Gowers on Flickr.

2010-08-10T21:01:00.003+01:00

Can you solve the mystery of the samsung blu-ray players.

Samsung released a number of blu-ray players the bd-p1600, bd-p1620 and the bd-p1650.

Last year they released a firmware update, just the update was for the wrong model or possible named wrong and the players freeze on start up.

Samsung solution is try resetting the player to its factory settings, but holding the FF button results in nothing.

I know the main board has a part number which is AK94-00163A. I cant find a replacement for these (at least one thats not over priced).

So there must be a solution....

2009-10-07T23:14:00.002+01:00

I got my Madonna Celebration DVD today.

Feel really cheated as its not widescreen on videos that it is.....

its terrible... its 2009, i can understand them doing this for the 2000 releases, but come on.

look at this.

the waist of screen space. Lots of people have blu-ray or HD upscalers, why should we pay for loss of 25% screen or for DVD players to stretch it so it just becomes poorer VHS quality. I can understand the older stuff, but even celebration is not widescreen but letter boxed. Why cant they have used anamorphic widescreen

thats very bad!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I will complain.

heres a bit from bedtime stories.

Bad warners!!! there a film company and all

ps anamorphic widescreen explained here
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articl...hic/index.html

2009-06-21T12:06:00.012+01:00

I brought a second hand car a few months ago. The car is a ford fiesta LX 2005 and its great but the stereo on board was really bad and wouldn't play CDR's or MP3 CD's. Its auto tuning is a nightmare and often I have to do this myself. It was a ford 4500 RDS visteon.

So I decided to take this to Halfords and get a new CD player installed. Only to find that initially refused to work on it. They later offered to saw into the dashboard and install the unit there.

The problem being is that the car has been supplied with a CD player that doesn't fit standard audio devices. It has a 3 part CD player or a large ICE head unit.

So off I went to Ford, who had no idea. I contacted three ford dealers each who told me different things and finally I contacted the radio manufacture Visteron. The UK office was no help at all, but eventually through 3 different offices world wide, I received an email that said "It seems that no instructions have been given to FORD dealers on how to service the B2YY radio". I was sent a set of instructions with the parts that need to be ordered.

So firstly here are the instructions

http://www.btinternet.com/~iain.gowers/blog/B2xxRadioSK2S6J18814AA.pdf

secondly the two parts required.

http://www.fordpartsuk.com/shop/fiesta_mk6_single_din_satnav_radio_bezel_rhd_350.htm

http://www.fordpartsuk.com/shop/fiesta_mk6_din_bezel_radio_mounting_kit_365.htm

and so finally I ended up with a new CD player

So if this was any help to you please let me know

2009-06-20T08:47:00.005+01:00

On the 18th June 2009, Network rail took questions on BBC' south east today, heres their responses to my questions.

Sent: 18 June 2009 23:11
To: SouthEastToday
Subject: Network rail

Hi,

I have a few questions about for Network rail.

Given the fact that most of the rail companies are franchises and any investment in new and improved tracks is unlikey to be in their benefits as these will be introduced normally after their franchise finished which leaves network rail as the only company who can spear head changes. Therefore I have three examples to ask.

1. Small change.

Everyday 100s of trains coming into Brighton from London. If a train that has to stop at preston park (a small station just before Brighton) is delayed all the trains (as many as 10) behind will therefore be delayed and this is something I see everyday Preston park has a 4th platform, the track space on the correct side of the track. Why hasn't this been proposed. If you added the delays per year that this costs a regularly commuter a days holiday.

<<It's an interesting point and should the level of traffic increase in the futer it might be something to consider. >>

2. Major Change

The track between Brighton to Three Bridges needs to doubled, why hasn't this been suggested or even brought to the public domain so that investment companies etc can discuss the issue.

<<This might be hugely expensive and would require considerable engineerring works to achive this.>>

3. Future planning.

My late father worked on a project called 'south east network'. One of the discoveries is that third rail trains (the vast majority of rail tracks in our area obtains the electricity by a track that rails along side the rail track) have never been tested at speed over 100mph. However its widely believed and stated by train managers etc that third rail trains can only do 100mph. Who will do this test? Its the right time as in few years all the signalling replaced and therefore new stock can be ordered?

<<This is a very technical question and would probably need an engineering to answer. >>

Kind regards

Iain

Flickr

2009-06-01T20:37:00.001+01:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

2009-05-16T23:17:00.002+01:00

our eurovision

top 5

1. UK
2. Finland
3. Denmark
4. Sweden
5. Spain
6. Malta

and we voted norway 22nd.

2009-02-27T14:08:00.000Z

I just had an interesting conversation with BT over my home hub and BT Fon.

I asked them why, despite signing up to BT fon, my home hub wasnt enabled. I asked them if there was a fault

They asked me to contact the openzone team and they explained, that my home hub was not registered with my telephone number (that suprised me, considering it set itself up).

They asked me to get the serial number which I found on the box and now I am all set and ready for it to go.

So if you want BT Fon enabled, you need to call

08000223322 choose opt 4 and have your serial number ready (its either on the unit or the box and it starts "SN: *CP").

interesting isnt it! I can imagine then that most peoples home hubs are not enabled!

iain

2009-02-18T15:39:00.002Z

This is my response to a complaint I made at the beginning of November 2008 regarding the changes being made to Brighton to London new rail timetable.

"Dear Mr Gowers

Thank you for contacting us about the timetable changes planned for introduction from 14 December.

I was sorry to learn that you are unhappy with the changes we are making with the introduction of the new timetable in December, particularly the withdrawal of the 1709 and 1734 service. I have checked and there is still a train from Gatwick Airport at 1740 arriving at Brighton at 1822.

Having said that, I need to say something about the general organisation behind railway timetable changes, to provide you with some background, and then, through this, seek to answer the points you have raised.

Because of the extent to which track is shared by different train companies, especially where we border with one another, no one company can impose its requirements on another or others. Instead, the process is co-ordinated by Network Rail (NR) through a continuous ‘conference’ process and it is NR who have to pull the various strands together. However, there is also an important role for the Department for Transport (DfT).

The DfT are involved because the timetable has resource implications in terms of the number of trains required, the power to run them, the staff to crew, clean and maintain them, and because successive governments have always taken the view that commuters should not have to pay the full costs of rail travel. Thus, over the years, the legislators have sanctioned various levels of subsidy. However, because this in turn involves funding from the tax-payer, and these funds are not unlimited, some ‘control’ has to be exercised over how the money is spent. This is where the DfT come in because it is through them that this control is exercised. In other words, they have to be afforded the final say.

The alterations we are managing in December have evolved from detailed research of passenger demand on the Brighton main line and its outer branches and are effectively the conclusion of a study called the Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy (BML RUS) upon which work first commenced several years ago. This was in response to a demonstrable increase in demand; indeed, over the last ten years, overall demand on the Southern network has increased by nearly 19%. Thus, because operational capacity at the London termini is already fully utilized at peak times, the overall aim is to increase the space available for passengers on existing routes by getting the very best out of the existing resources.

This is proposed to be done by the introduction of timetables that serve the maximum amount of people possible at the correct times, and by the sensible allocation of trains to meet this need. However, because, like most networks radiating from London, the Southern territory is an intricate web of interconnecting lines and junctions where the timetable has to be designed around crucial dovetailing of services on many different routes, any alterations inevitably have a ripple effect and this is why the timetable on one route cannot necessarily be insulated from changes to another.

Looking at your personal situation, this is particularly so on the Brighton Main line where a key building block in the BML RUS changes has been to capitalise on the existing pathways occupied by Gatwick Express trains into London by effectively stretching them so that they start of finish at Brighton. We’re going to do this with six Gatwick Expresses in each peak and they will run every fifteen minutes. However, because the line between Three Bridges and Brighton has only two tracks for most of the way compared with mostly four tracks to the north, we can’t fully integrate that frequency within the existing timetable. Having said that, however, there will still be a net increase in the peak flow frequency from and to Brighton at the rate of three trains per hour and an increase in seating capacity of just under 11%.

As you can see, the scenario on this occasion is very complex. Nevertheless, I hope this response has helped to clarify the rationale behind the changes and, if we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Regards

David Cotterell
Southern Customer Services"

2009-01-24T09:53:00.001Z

How to synch your Yahoo messenger with facebook via twitter so that it updates your status on all three.

1. On Yahoo Messenger install the plug in "Twitter synch"
2. On Facebook install the application "fwitter"
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=43032201758

make sure its set to update every couple of minutes.

notes: when updating via yahoo messenger, make sure that twitter synch is running first and then add your update.

2007-07-15T22:43:00.000+01:00

On Friday I meet Armistead Mauphine. When I was teenager living in the closet his books open my world to a life a job and friends with out feeling ashamed of being gay. He was charming and lovely... his husband sat beside him.

2007-06-18T12:18:00.000+01:00

For the last 3 to 5 years I have always assumed no one ever looked at my site. I got one or maybe two emails every couple of months and so I assumed per month it had less then 20 visits. Two weeks ago I moved the site over to yahoo, so I could take advantage of a few things that my bt one didn't offer. One of the added advantages to that has been the addition of site stats. So two weeks after the original move, my site actually gets more like 250 access every two weeks.... so that means I need to try and update some of it.....

2007-02-03T18:35:00.000Z

today my father past away at 8:30am. He has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma (a cancer caused by Abestos) back in July. He had originally been given 3 months, but had managed to make 6 months. Last saturday (27th january) we visited him in hostpital and he had been chatting away with us, but later that evening he feel asleep and during the week he slipped unconsious. My mother, sister and I never left him alone from last saturday.

he was a lovely gentle man, not of many words, but other the last weeks has told me he loved me, told my partner he was part of my family.

its all been heart breaking..

2006-08-05T20:41:00.000+01:00

Pride what a lovely day... Full sun shine.

threes nothing like being on float three hours of dancing. But the best thing is the people, waving, smiling, cheering when a song comes they like, dancing along, dancing to the music, dancing with you...

this year we had an inflatable ball, great fun.........

2006-06-20T13:24:00.000+01:00

I hate football.... i really dont understand the fuss about it... i dont have anything against it, but I will be doing anything but watching the matches...

now kylie and madonna... different issue

2006-06-18T11:41:00.000+01:00

So part of the attraction of Iceland is the geothermal pools and we go off to the blue lagoon the main one.. So I read before :-
http://www.visitreykjavik.is/yellowpages.asp?cat_id=111
that to enter any pool in Iceland you must shower naked before and there are strict rules to follow i.e.... Strip naked and lock your stuff up... Take costume with you leave in area outside, walk into the shower... Wash with soap.. Leave shower put on costume and then walk to pool. And then when you get out you do the same procedure and then dry in the drying area, before collecting your clothes......(and you mustn't get the floor of the changing room wet).
So off to the blue lagoon we go and yes it is exactly that (in fact I half expected it to be nude) and there signs there explaining all of the above plus the areas you have to wash (hair, armpits, groin, bum and feet am so kicking myself for not getting a pic of that). And yes while we are there some one trys to swim with out showering and gets grabbed back.

So yesterday we come back from our last tour and I realise that the main swimming pool (i.e. the old Olympic pool) is over the road from the hotel and as I missed my Saturday swim, I decided to do my swim before going home... So I went along... Same as blue lagoon... This time the showers and changing are massive and all open plan. Swimming pool is heated and out doors, its 50 meters and I can't train in that as I am used to 25 and its heated (to what I call ball dropping temp i.e. the temp you balls drop) so no normal swim. The pool has a lovely steam room, plus 4 little hot pots 38, 40, 42 and 44oc temp, a water slid which is rejaviks one and only and you get stuck half way.. A hole massive recreation area, plus a geothermal bath.. And a whole indoor area that was closed.... So I do my swim, splash, get stuck on the slid and I shower... Get it all right procedure wise and you know what for the first time don’t feel too self conscious walking round nude and in the shower.. Very freeing
So am showering away....Turn around to shower and hand taps me on the back.... And mature naked man is talking Icelandic to me...... No idea... He then says "would you like me to wash your back"... So a million and one thoughts ohh horror go through my mind... Mainly.. Doesn't he want the same in return... Is he being friend or picking me up...... and fortunately a friend calls him over........ Phew.........

2006-06-04T11:37:00.000+01:00

Mums going to iceland and we are off to bejams on friday... ok we are going to Reykjavik

2006-03-06T21:43:00.000Z

I got back from Dublin...... Which was very good. I did expect a massive town the size of Manchester or London... But it was much smaller... Still very nice....

I did get on garys nerves a bit constantly repeating Pam Am's joke about Ryan air...... oirla, aileen.......

didn't see any leprechauns..... The

2006-01-10T16:56:00.000Z

oh well back in the grey, cold and dark UK!!!

lovely.........

iain

2005-12-29T13:35:00.000Z

well just about to leave Hong Kong.

I wasnt impressed with Hong Kong, was expecting the same as singapore and whilst the island is much bigger, the people seemed less friendly.

far less to say here, did one small tour of the island, didn't see much that was interesting.

did fullfill a child hood dream and went to disney land..

anyway, now its time to head to a 14hr flight to the UK.

so not happy about that... 8 flights in all this trip... better plant a tree and all.

iain
x

2005-12-26T11:50:00.000Z

So I am now in Melbourne airport, on my way to Hong Kong.

I had lovely and relaxed time in Melbourne... Staying at my aunt and uncles in Fern Tree Gully, who was just the best and very hospitable.

Got to meet my cousin too... Plus too lovely cats Archie and Oscar.

I went in the town, saw the old gaol, the aquarium, the casino, where neighbours is filmed... Not bad for two days...

cool while we was there not more then 27oc...

but one again the best bit was my aunt and uncle laraine and ray.

on to Hong Kong... Our last stay (sniff sniff)

Iain

2005-12-23T00:12:00.000Z

So am just about to leave sydney. Had a lovely relaxing time. Finally got over jet lag and teh too of us, are now slightly sleepy as you would expect from anyone at this time of the year.

Didnt see any problems with race issues here. Spent more time shopping which was fun and finally caught up with my friend martin. We stayed near pier one, which means we was right under the bridge and failed to get gary to go up it again.

Highlights was going up to the blue mountain and taking the harbour taxi to watsons bay, which has to be my favourite beach in sydney.

over to my aunt and uncles in melbourne....

and to visiting neighbours

2005-12-19T08:25:00.000Z

Broome....phewww thats hot... 45oc at lunch time...We arrived at 4am at darwin having taking at midnight... had no sleep and then had to wait until 9:30 until next flight. the two of us was walking zombies.....

anyway lovely tropical resort... lots to tell and show when I get back.

what got to sydney yesterday and spent the day shopping.

off to try tia maria tim tams. still trying to get gary up that bridge

iain

2005-12-14T21:29:00.000Z

Just spent the last 5 days in singapore and I loved it. What a "anything goes" town!!!

nothing like going down orchard road in an open top bus and there playing kylie's celebration as part of their xmas music.

on my way to broome now in australia...

iain

2005-12-01T10:50:00.000Z

Today is world AIDS day. I always find it funny that people think its a 'gay' disease. The only reason why more gay men have HIV as it easier to catch if your gay, but that dosnt mean gay men take any more risk then straight people. HIV is on the rise in the hetrosexual community....

I lost two friends this year, one I knew was HIV and one, I was never sure. Its a sad thing, neither died from the diease, but I know it played a part, its hard disease, slowing the body, just wish it would go away.

2005-10-28T14:01:00.000+01:00

yeahhhhh

we got the stadium!!!!! finally!!!!!!!!!!

2005-08-08T12:02:00.000+01:00

well saturday was Brighton Pride, I have a fantastic time on a float again and all went really well.

I have also finished harry potter

2005-07-26T12:15:00.000+01:00

well here we go its a blog... I have been thinking about one of these for ages. I wasnt sure who would want to read my own dibble.... so if theres anything interesting in my life I will add it here....

anyway am stuck in the middle of harry potter 6 and each chapter seems to be getting bigger........