The Life & Grumbles of Steve Forster

I have just upgraded my NSLU2 (Slug) to a go faster 266 mHz.

All it took was a nail clipper, some nerve, and instructions from linux.org/wiki/HowTo/OverClockTheSlug

cat /proc/cpuinfo

Processor : XScale-IXP425/IXC1100 rev 1 (v5b)
BogoMIPS : 263.78
Features : swp half thumb fastmult edsp

Hardware : Intel IXDP425 Development Platform
Revision : 0000
Serial : 0000000000000000

This is a dramatic improvement from the previous 131 mHz previously reported.

It was actually more difficult to open the case than to snip the required resistor with the clippers.
Before cutting the resistor check the diagram several times before committing the deed.

It was a relief when it powered back up, and I was able to post this

I am using Highslide JS to display my photos.

Highslide JS is an open source JavaScript software, offering a Web 2.0 approach to popup windows. It streamlines the use of thumbnail images and HTML popups on web pages.

The library offers these features and advantages:
   No plugins like Flash or Java required.
   Popup blockers are no problem. The content expands within the active browser window.
   Single click. After opening the image or HTML popup, the user can scroll further down or leave the page without closing it.
   Compatibility and safe fallback. If the user has disabled JavaScript or is using an old browser, the browser redirects directly to the image itself or to a fallback HTML page.

The script has an extensive API and allows for customisation.

Well after a no frills flight to Belfast courtesy of flybe we arrived at George Best International Airport.

On landing there was announcement from the Agricultural Ministry about the illegal import of meat and dairy products. I decided to risk not declaring my beef pastrami and danish blue cheese sandwiches that I had brought along for the match, thankfully all was OK, and they came in useful during the day .

The queue for the taxis was only about a dozen or so people, of which I would guess one third were Bears fans.

The taxis were nowhere to be seen, and while we waited my father enquired how long it would take to walk to the grounds. A local policeman suggested that it was 4 miles, so we decided to continue to wait.

Eventually we got to Stormont castle. As we were early, we took the opportunity to have a walk around the estate.

The walk from the main gate is uphill for about a mile. Near the top we had a brief rest at the statue of Carson.

The grounds are used by joggers and people walking their dogs. I must say we were made to feel very welcome and had a chat with someone who told us how to get to the grounds across the estate rather than going back to the main gate.

After following a winding path we arrived at the ground via the groundsman entrance, and then had to find some seats to watch the game. There was a stack of strategically dumped folding chairs at the edge of the boundary rope, so we reserved two before the masses arrived.

During the game we were chatting to a couple sat next to us when a gentleman came over and struck up a conversation about the game, and how he thought it was going. We had a chat for half an hour or so, and we later learned that he was Phil Simmons the Ireland Team Manager - a super chap and very friendly.

Bears were well beaten by four wickets. The details can be found in this Match Report

Despite the poor performance from the Bears, we had a wonderful day out, and let's hope that we can beat them in the return match on Sunday 25th May at Edgbaston.

Amazon have had a makeover on their website, and inevitably this has broken the amazon recommendation plugin that I use.

The original php code was



The image had the ASIN embedded in it, but after the changes, they have obfuscated the URL to make it harder for people to grab images for their own use.

After some help from the s9y forum I hacked together this temporary fix



I hope the author of the plugin has time to fix this properly, as I have only tested it with Amazon UK.

Warwickshire Bears are playing Ireland in the Friends Provident Trophy on 16-May at Stormont Castle in Belfast. For some strange reason Ireland are in the Midlands region, not quite a local cricket game, but i thought it would be a good opportunity to see some of the other County grounds.

I checked the prices of flights, and flybe were offering the flight for £18+tax each way. After getting approval from the other half for a day out I booked some tickets, and have invited my father along as well.

The weather forecast looks promising so it looks like we might have a good day of it