How much disk space do I have to devote to this subject ;)
My house is wired with X10, weeder, and Quazar 3108 connected devices. They're currently controlled by a piece of open source software called Mr House.
I could go on in detail all day... but I wont...
Ahhh, videos. Now I have quite a collection of VHS and DVD videos. Most of the DVDs have been ripped to hard drive to enhance my growing collection of TV recordings.
A quick check reveals that I currently have about four terrabytes (I had to write that in full so there can be no mistakes) of video material which is available from the PC in the lounge or the one in my home cinema. As a front-end I use MythTV, an open source PVR package. I also use MythTV as a back-end to record from Sky TV using a RedRat 3 to control it by infrared.
I wouldn't class myself as an avid gamer, but I like the odd video game. A few years ago I aquired an original 1980s arcade cabinet, complete with working controls. I fixed it up and put a PC in the back running a cut down version of Fedora Linux and X-Mame.
In addition to the dedicated arcade machine I also own a Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3 and X-Box 360. I only have a handful of games for each though.
A hobby of mine that's been with me since the early days has been programming. I was first introduced to the concept on a ZX81 that belonged to the son of my parents friends.
The first computer of my own was a Commodore VIC20 and I learned to program in BASIC on that. I later owned a BBC Model B Microcomputer on which I learned to be quite proficient in BBC BASIC and, because it had a macro assembler built into the language, I learned 6502 Assembly language too.
Since then I have owned and programmed an Acorn Archimedes A3000 (which tought me ARM assembly language), an Acorn Cambridge Workstation, a BBC 6502 second processor, a BBC Z80 second processor, a Psion Series 3 (I learned OPL on this), a Psion Series 3a, a Psion Series 5 and several PCs of various specifications (which I learned to maintain Linux on). I also own and have configured an O2 Joggler and an NSLU2 (known as the Slug) with GNU/Linux. I even briefly experimented with PIC assembler on a microcontroller development board and dabbled with an On-Hand wrist PC.
As well as those I also own a number of smart phones and PDAs.
Lancaster is ideally situated for trips to the Lake District. I might not be a strong walker but I have been on a few walks around the Lakes, the isle of Skye, Killin, Tiree (in the Inner Hebredes) and a few other places.
On occasion I have been seen dangling off the floor on the end of a rope.
I read occasionally, I have quite a collection of Terry Pratchett
books, and used to be interested in Douglas Adams
works. More recently I've read the
Just to see if I could, and without thinking I'd ever be good enough to be published, I started to write a science fiction novel. At the time of writing this, my novel is about 230K long, about 27881 words (roughly). It's not yet complete... but I think it's not bad.
In addition to everything else, I enjoy a really good cup of coffee. I even have my own espresso machine and coffee grinder. Atkinsons Sumatran Blue Lintong beans... Mmmmm...