The counties and county towns of England. You may have heard of all of them, but now you can place their location in the country. Beetley is in Norfolk, on the right hand side of the map.
Real and unusual place names in Britain. (I live quite close to Great Snoring)
An uninformed and biased view of the regions. (Funny though, if you are from London like me)
Stereotypes. Amusing, and partly true.
Not a map, but the origins of some common surnames here.
We have to attend a funeral on Thursday morning, which will involve us stopping overnight in a hotel quite close to London on Wednesday.
So there will probably be no posts from me or comments on blogs I follow tomorrow or Thursday, just so you know.
Don’t worry about Ollie, he will be spending the night with neighbours who he really likes.
However, I will do my best to compile the recent serial into one long complete story, and that may be published later today or early tomorrow.
Ever since the introduction of the Block Editor, I have stayed with the Classic Editor, as I find it more user-friendly.
This morning, I wanted to reblog one of Stevie Turner’s posts, and when I did so, WordPress would only allow me to use the Block Editor to do that. Although I had an option to ‘Continue with Classic Editor’, that would not allow any potential edits later, unless I agreed to do them in the Block Editor.
Just so you know.
A great post from Maggie on the changes to WordPress plans!
NOTE: There seems to be some confusion about what plans are available. The documentation I see only shows two plans, others have been told that is not the case. I will update here if I learn more.
These two available plans seemingly impact only free users. Click on upgrades in your WordPress leftmost menu. If you are currently a paying customer, you may see other plan options. If you have a free blog, you may only see the two options described below. Is this WordPress trying to discourage free accounts?
By now, many of you have read about WordPress pricing structure and functionality changes recently put in place without notice. As a person who has a history in IT, I do understand the cost of staying in business. Disk storage cost money. So does staffing. I do not think any of us would argue that point.
Most hobbyist bloggers do…
View original post 468 more words
American blogger Ron Walker is something of a wizz wuith computers. His latest post has some great tips and information about password security, and why we all need it.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a reblog button, so instead here is a link to his informative and valuable post.
Despite my earlier post, and trying again to contact him by sending emails, I can still find no trace of fellow blogger, Michel.
https://raistlin0903.wordpress.com/
His blog is still online, but there hasn’t been a post on it since November the 25th, 2020.
It is so unlike Michel not to post, not to comment on the blogs he follows, or to reply to emails.
I have a bad feeling something awful has happened, and would dearly love to hear from anyone who has been in touch with him in 2021.
If you don’t want to reply in the comments, please send me an email (address on my About page) and I will keep your information to myself.
Thanks in advance, Pete.
There are lots of conspiracy theories surrounding the pandemic, the lockdowns, and the vaccination programmes. Some are more plausible than others, and a few are actually interesting enough to possibly be true.
One of the latter concerns the activities of the British Army’s Information and Technology unit, the 77th Brigade. Did any of us know that our own army had a skilled brigade that is targeting social media? Until recently, I had no idea. Add the resources of the government listening centre, GCHQ, and you have a powerful propaganda unit that can be deployed by the government to spread rumours, counter other rumours, and even manipulate message feeds, emails, and online videos.
This is from the Army website.
WHO WE ARE
77th Brigade is an agent of change; through targeted Information Activity and Outreach we contribute to the success of military objectives in support of Commanders, whilst reducing the cost in casualties and resources.
Our outputs are a fundamental part of the Army’s Integrated Action model.
Aside from the delivery and support of Information Activities and Outreach we have a role in planning and advising across the Army and wider Defence.
SOME OF THE WAYS WE HELP
Conducting timely and appropriate audience, actor and adversary analysis
Planning and integrating information activity and outreach (IA&O)
Supporting and delivering IA&O within pre-designated boundaries
Supporting counter-adversarial information activity
Support to partners across Government upstream and post-conflict institutional development/reform
Collecting, creating and disseminating digital and wider media content in support of designated tasks
Monitoring and evaluating the information environment within boundaries or operational area
WHAT WE DO
Audience, Actor and Adversary Analysis
Information Activity and Outreach
Counter-adversarial Information Activity
Support to Partners Across Government
Collecting media content
Disseminating Media
Monitoring the information environment
Evaluating the information environment
Advising and training on Human Security and providing support to current operations.
This is online for anyone to read, so they are not a secret unit. If anything, they seem to be very proud of their role.
I also found this article, by a journalist who visited the unit’s headquarters. It is long, but eye-opening.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inside-the-77th-brigade-britains-information-warfare-military
Well, I have just written about them online, so let’s see if they alter my social media profile, or ‘cyber-attack’ me in other ways.
It was nice knowing you… 🙂
General information for everyone. You may recall my updated post where I published the email address of a WP employee who is dealing with accessibility of the new Block Editor.
Well it goes to show that WP might occasionally read a post on here, as they have now removed the email address, and substituted a message that I have contravened their guidelines by publishing it. So we can no longer email the gentleman concerned. Sorry about that.
Just so you know.
I am reposting this from Ed Westen’s blog. https://deartedandjody.wordpress.com/
Solid advice and information about what the virus actually is, and what you can do to try to fight it.
Johns Hopkins University has sent this detailed note on avoiding the contagion:
* The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.
* Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.
* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.
* HEAT melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands, clothes and everything. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful.
* Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.
* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.
* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin.
* NO BACTERICIDE SERVES. The virus is not a living organism like bacteria; they cannot kill what is not alive with anthobiotics, but quickly disintegrate its structure with everything said.
* NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only between 3 hours (fabric and porous), 4 hours (copper, because it is naturally antiseptic; and wood, because it removes all the moisture and does not let it peel off and disintegrates). ), 24 hours (cardboard), 42 hours (metal) and 72 hours (plastic). But if you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose.
* The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial as air conditioners in houses and cars. They also need moisture to stay stable, and especially darkness. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.
* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin, eventually causing wrinkles and skin cancer.
* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.
* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.
* NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%.
* LISTERINE IF IT SERVES! It is 65% alcohol.
* The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.
* This is super said, but you have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And when using the bathroom.
* You have to HUMIDIFY HANDS DRY from so much washing them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better.
* Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.
As you will see, I have started a new fiction serial today. That doesn’t mean the photo-prompt stories are no more though.
I still have quite a few of your photos to get to yet, and they are all saved for future use.
I would like to thank everyone who sent some, and are still sending them.
The next round of those stories will be coming soon.
beetleypete 