Importing all the old blog posts

.eleventy.js

@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@ const { DateTime } = require("luxon");
 const { buildSrc, buildDest } = require('./paths');
 
 module.exports = function (eleventyConfig) {
-  
+
   eleventyConfig.addFilter("readableDate", dateObj => {
     return DateTime.fromJSDate(dateObj).toFormat("dd LLLL yyyy");
   });
 
+  eleventyConfig.addFilter("dateComparison", (dateObj, compareWith)=> {
+    return DateTime.fromJSDate(dateObj) < DateTime.fromISO(compareWith)
+  })
+
   eleventyConfig.addCollection("posts", function (collection) {
     return collection.getAllSorted().filter(function (item) {
       return item.inputPath.match(/^\.\/src\/blog\//) !== null;

src/_assets/scss/_thoughts.scss

@@ -32,3 +32,24 @@
   font-size: .75em;
   margin-top: 2em;
 }
+
+.thought-lead-image {
+  max-width: 550px;
+  border-bottom: 5px solid $themeGreen;
+  margin-bottom: 1em;
+}
+
+.old-thought {
+  border: 2px solid #ccc;
+  max-width: 550px;
+  padding: 10px;
+  margin: 1em 0;
+
+  strong {
+    font-weight: bold;
+  }
+
+  p {
+    font-size: 60%;
+  }
+}

src/_assets/scss/main.scss

@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ blockquote {
   font-style: italic;
   margin: 1em 0;
   padding-left: 1em;
+  @media (min-width: 630px) {
+    max-width: 575px;
+  }
 }
 
 .breadcrumbs {

src/_includes/layouts/post.njk

@@ -9,8 +9,20 @@ layout: layouts/base.njk
   </nav>
 
   <h1 itemprop="name">{{ title }}</h1>
+  <date>{{ date | readableDate }}</date>
 </header>
 
+{% if date | dateComparison('2009-12-31') %}
+<div class="old-thought">
+  <p><strong>Welcome to the archive</strong></p>
+  <p>This post is old… It's probably been exported and imported from at least three different blogging platforms over the year. That probably means that there are broken images and links. If the post is technical in nature, any adivce is out of date and irrelevant. Or more likely, it was the wafflings of bored-past me with too much time on his hands. If it is the latter I would probably cringe if I re-read it. But it's here because it's part of my past, not my present.</p>
+</div>
+{% endif %}
+
+{% if leadImage %}
+<img src="{{ leadImage }}" alt="" class="thought-lead-image" />
+{% endif %}
+
 {{ layoutContent | safe }}
 
 <a href="/blog">Back to all posts</a>

src/blog/2006/how-to-mess-up-a-story-by-dell.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: How to mess up - a story by Dell
+type: article
+tags: tech
+date: 2006-08-20 15:52:00
+---
+<p>The problems with Dell computers:</p> <ol> <li>Support  </li><li>Spam  </li><li>Pre-installed software  </li><li>Price Strategy  </li><li>Exploding Batteries  </li><li>Personal vrs. Business  </li><li>Adverts  </li><li>Deals </li></ol> <p><strong><u>Support</u></strong></p> <p>They had it coming. They think they could cut their support cost by 4X without any consequence??? If you phone up Dell you get a very charming Indian who cannot speak English... clever!  You are treated as a techo-dummy and sometimes you would of think that you are speaking to one of these automated machines as the nice Indian repeats everything you say and he says three or four times...</p> <p><strong><u>Spam</u></strong></p> <p>If you buy a Dell don't sign up for the newsletter!  You used to get 1 email a month, now they will often send out 2 or 3 emails a day some of them may be on the subject of computers</p> <p><strong><u>Pre-Installed Software</u></strong></p> <p>The first thing you should do with your new Dell is format it. It is the only way to get rid of the freeware Dell puts on it. Some of this software includes the 'Dell Toolbar', the 'Dell Internet Search Feature' and various other Dell rubbishware...</p> <p><strong><u>Price Strategy</u></strong></p> <p>Dell makes its money by sell stupidly cheap hardware... No I don't think so!  It makes money by sell the basic hardware cheaply and then charging and arm and a leg for those small upgrades that it recommends you buy!</p> <p><strong><u>Exploding Batteries</u></strong></p> <p>There is no point in denying it Mr. Dell... Many other companies have done it too, letting their batteries explode. So look back into history and learn from it. Also using the Sony batteries isn't a grand idea.</p> <p><strong><u>Personal vrs. Business</u></strong></p> <p>The Dell Dimension and the Dell OptiPlex are pretty much the same thing, however the Dimension is meant for a home desktop whereas the OptiPlex is branded for businesses. If anyone is buying the OptiPlex for a business they are getting seriously ripped off, they are the same thing!</p> <p><strong><u>Adverts</u></strong></p> <p>When the slogan "Don't buy a PC, buy a Dell" was introduced the adverts were good and business went up for Dell, they sold many a computer and life was good for them.  Now, hands up, how many people can remember the last Dell advert they saw on the TV?</p> <p><strong><u>Deals</u></strong></p> <p>If you buy a Dell now you can't help but get the feeling your going to be duped.  Will they drop the price of this next week?  Will they double my RAM? etc!  Its annoying</p>

src/blog/2006/internet-help-desk.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: Internet Help Desk
+type: article
+tags: personal
+date: 2006-08-21 16:32:00
+---
+<p>Found this clip on Google Videos today, the funny thing is that it is so true.&nbsp; My work experience was in the same kind of thing...</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-2623267891280338203&#038;hl=en-GB">http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-2623267891280338203&#038;hl=en-GB</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31453821-115617793956461021?l=www.jamesdoc.co.uk' alt='' /></div>

src/blog/2006/moving-only-temp.md

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+title: Moving (only temp)
+type: article
+tags: personal
+date: 2006-08-24 19:43:00
+---
+<p>Due to the fact that Blogger has become blogger beta and is therefore rubbish... Live Writer can't publish to it... So if you want to read the latest blog check it out at <a href="http://jamesdoc.spaces.live.com/">http://jamesdoc.spaces.live.com</a> which Live Writer can publish to! Oh and if someone can tell me how to create a heading in blogger it would be appreciated! [Don't worry, found it!]</p>
+<p>Update: currently blogging at <a href="http://jamesdoc.com">jamesdoc.com</a>.</p>

src/blog/2006/nigels-eco-friendly-store.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: Nigel's Eco Friendly Store
+type: article
+tags: personal
+date: 2006-08-19 15:39:00
+---
+<p>Reading through the paper magazine today I came across the advert section and this photo caught my eye.&nbsp; It is a bamboo computer screen, key board and mouse. Why you would want that I have no idea, however I found it amusing and decided to see what else they had to offer.&nbsp; All three of these were sold seperatly at a cost of:</p> <p>-&pound;220 for a 15" Monitor</p> <p>- &pound;25 for the keyboard</p> <p>- &pound;18 for the mouse</p> <p>Now I know it looks good and all the rest but what is wrong with buying a &pound;3 mouse from Argos???</p> <p>I contiuned to look on this site for a little bit longed and found some ultimatly silly things such as Solar Power Headphones (&pound;25) a solar mobile phone charger (&pound;40) etc.&nbsp; However a few things did strike me as being 'quite cool!' The <a href="http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/water-powered-calculator.html">water powered calculator</a> (&pound;7) looked very good, no more bateries and then there were the kids toys which were great! You can get a <a href="http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/Helicopter.html">solar powered helicoptor</a> (it doesn't fly, the rotors just go round.) That is brilliant, and it comes in different colours! Maybe I just get excited to quickly?</p> <p>More infomation can be found from <a href="http://www.nigelsecostore.com">www.nigelsecostore.com</a>.</p>

src/blog/2006/the-problems-with-computers.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: The problems with Computers
+type: article
+tags: tech
+date: 2006-08-23 14:21:00
+---
+<p>There is only one main problem with mine at the moment... IT DOESN'T WORK. Both my CD/DVD trays have vanished from explorer... They are in the device manager just it appears that the drivers for them have become corrupted for no apparent reason at all... How annoying is that?</p> <p>So according to Nick all we need to do to fix the problem is to repair Windows. Okay so what we do here is put the XP disc into the tray and reset it.&nbsp; It boots up copys some files across, resets itself and then the stupid machine can't find a file called 'ASMS' whatever that is.</p> <p>To get arround this problem we go over to the MS support pages do what they tell me to do to correct the error and then spend the next hour or so trying to do it AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK... WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT???</p> <p>&nbsp;Well Nick is coming over this evening to see if he can get it to work properly, I won't be happy if I have to re-install; I don't have a proper backup of my files!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31453821-115634289980218333?l=www.jamesdoc.co.uk' alt='' /></div>

src/blog/2006/usb-toys.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: USB Toys
+type: article
+tags: tech
+date: 2006-08-21 13:19:00
+---
+<p>I have just found something great... Room Defender. Admittedly the original incarnation of this toy was a bit weak, it shot foam disks at the target thanks to a motion sensor and a turntable.  This device plugs into your main supply, so no wasting bateries</p> <p>However the newer version comes out of a small company Japan. This has the same idea as the room defender however it plugs into USB port on your laptop or computer and it is called NailGunner.  This toy fires household nails!</p> <p>You can also add to it a 1GB memory card that stores MP3 files to play back when it's firing and a 1 megapixel camera to take photos of the target.  The screensaver incuded with the toy displays a legal warning that the Japanesse company is not responsibe for any injury caused.  The product is currently selling in Japan only for 11,499 Yen which comes to about &pound;80.  Included in the package is legal insurance!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31453821-115616634465306357?l=www.jamesdoc.co.uk' alt='' /></div>

src/blog/2006/where-i-live.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: Where I Live
+type: article
+tags: personal
+date: 2006-08-02 12:47:00
+---
+<p>I live in a small place called Worthing that's population includes lots of old people and various chavs. Along with the chavs and the old people are several multi-storey car parks, 1 cinema that's falling down, another one that was put up in the dark age and lots of concrete building in the town.</p> <p>For those wishing to get to Worthing I recommend the train. Although not technically a stop, the main Worthing train regularly breaks down in Lancing giving the visitor the chance to be attacked in a place fuller of chavs than Worthing. You can also come by car, just be aware that your car has to be up to spec in order to survive the large amount of pot-holes in the road. This rules out most of the Worthing buses. In addition the main road into Worthing is fairly rubbish, as much of it is pot-holed and often closed due to various incidents such as chemical spills. Before deciding to go along this road you are advised to get in contact with the local police station giving them details of when you are planning to depart, arrive and whether you'd like your remains to be buried or cremated.</p> <p>Also on the travel front I feel that it would be a good idea to point out that when you hire a car from some certain places in Worthing they are normally cheaper than normal for a good reason, this is because they are missing some of the extras you would expect from other cars such as power steering or brakes. </p> <p>At the top end of the hotels is Hotel Palfvi a Spanish style hotel that has been tastefully restored to a very Spanish style. You get all you would expect from this five star hotel, such as air con, cable tv and spa. However watch out when in the bath for the wiring is visibly faulty, in fact a small sign above the pumping mechanism warns that it must not be operated without a uniformed member of the local fire brigade.</p> <p>If you do get in to trouble in Worthing and require assistance you can call 999. Please state clearly your problem and say who you want to respond; the police, hospital or the arson squad. You won't actually be talking to a real person, a tape will record your message, it is checked once or twice a week so be careful. </p> <p>The entire region is closed on Wednesdays, and often takes an extended lunch breaks on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays... The rest of the week is spent like most other places as long as you don't mind opening your windows in the morning as listening the mating cry of a seagull or 2. </p> <p>A further note to visitors: behind the great town of Worthing lies what are know as 'The Downs' a great oxymoron, such as Microsoft Works (that is another story). Worthing prides 'The Downs' as the highest mountain range in Sussex, however they are not even close to being a mountain, just a pain to walk up. Those who are interested in outdoor sports can enjoy various sports on the downs such as being pushed down in a large plastic ball or cycling down the hill at break neck speeds, only to be caught by the brick wall that was created to stop cyclists cycling down the hill... </p> <p>Just outside of town lies the interesting Worthing countryside which attracts many scientists who have come to study the rare variety of insects. The most popular for lab testing is the evolved species of tick. These ticks have a very large bite which can leave the inflicted person suffering from headache, dizziness, fever, neck stiffness and itchiness; which are by extreme coincidence the same symptoms you get after listening to the Worthing Symphony Orchestra.</p>

src/blog/2006/windows-live-writer.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: Windows Live Writer
+type: article
+tags: tech
+date: 2006-08-14 14:33:00
+---
+<p>Having just been away at Soul Survivor for a week, which was great,&nbsp;I've come back home to find that this program called Windows Live&nbsp;Writer has been made, and I have to say that it is very good!&nbsp; You&nbsp;can input your details and it will publish a blog to any number of&nbsp;blog services such as&nbsp;Live Spaces and Blogger.</p> <p align="justify&quot;">With it you can put in <a href="http://www.yfriday.org.uk">links</a>, which looks at your IE history.&nbsp; You can put in images&nbsp;which look very good and you can put effects on them and stuff! And finally using the power of Windows Live Local, the mapping system you can put maps in if you want to!&nbsp; </p> <p></p> <p>Yer so that is Windows Live Writer and I highly recommend it!&nbsp; lol.</p> <p>Other interesting news:</p> <ul> <li>New Relient K album in Novemember  <li>yFriday will have 3 live tracks on the up coming Emerging Cultures album in October  <li>onehundredhours will release an album by this time next year  <li>Tim Hughes has an album coming out in October  <li>Delirious? will be releasing their live DVD, CD and book in October  <li>In SG:A Doctor McKay may well be dupilcated so there are two of them  <li>Season 9 of SG1 will be on the shelves on October 3rd</li></ul>

src/blog/2007/2006-roundup-looking-to-2007.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: 2006 Roundup looking to 2007
+type: article
+tags: personal
+date: 2007-01-01 20:03:00
+---
+<p>Well!&nbsp; 2006 has been pretty exciting! Loads of stuff has happened to me this year, and I've changed quite a bit over the last year!&nbsp; This year started with my mock exams for GCSE's and now 2007 will also be starting with my Politics exam for A Level on the 11th!&nbsp; The exams have only just begun!&nbsp; I've had my GCSE's this year and I did fairly well; 1 A*, 5 B's &amp; 3 C's, which got me successfully into my new collage which has probably the biggest change for me!&nbsp;Moving out of St. Andrews into collage at BHASVIC, it was quite a shock to the system, but nevertheless a&nbsp; great experience and I'm still really enjoying it (apart from Politics!)</p> <p>Whilst I was at St. Andrew's I had the chance to participate within Young Enterprise; Print Your Mind which was a great laugh, and defiantly an experience I will not be forgetting in a hurry!&nbsp; My work in PYM actually helped me to get a job working within my old school; Downsbrook Middle School, designing and maintaining their website which has been hard work and looks like it will go on for a while.</p> <p>This year I brought my saxophone which has been great playing with the youth group and over Christmas with my church band.&nbsp; My plan for '07 is to get it to BHASVIC to start playing with the collage groups.&nbsp; Also my music collection has grown on epic proportions meaning that I am in the process of looking for a new place to store my CD's! Top CD's of 2006 are: Universal, Love &amp; Radiation, Cut &amp; Move, Now is the Time and Back holes &amp; Revelations.</p> <p>I don't think I could round up 2006 without mentioning my friends, friends from school, collage, church, Hebron, and various other friends that I have made along the way!&nbsp; I won't list everyone, but this year wouldn't of been the same without them!&nbsp; They have helped me through this year and made it great!</p> <p>Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all have had a great 2006 and will have a brilliant 2007!</p>

src/blog/2007/a-tech-blog-not-really.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: A tech blog? Not really...
+type: article
+tags: tech
+date: 2007-05-30 23:08:00
+---
+<p>It has been a while since I had a bit of a tech blog so this is going to be one of them! Long over due I belive! And there has been quite a lot of interesting stuff happening in the world of tech. There was a time when I used to love MySpace... I have since seen the light there and realised what a nasty site that is and was planning to completely abandon the whole social networking website stuff however Facebook has kind of sucked me back to it! Facebook has the same idea of MySpace however instead of allowing the users to design the layout of the page it is predesigned with a nice MySpace blue... But the real news regarding Facebook is that they have allowed third party applications onto it. What this means is that you get some new toys in Facebook! You can add your Last.fm recent play list or an RSS, or one of the best ones you can add a YouTube video. Yes, I know you have been able to do this in MySpace for donkeys years, however there is no messing about with HTML or other forms of code, very nice! <p>So what about MySpace? Well Apple Computers have taken a stand against MySpace now which is brilliant! At the Apple stores across the world there is free internet access so people can come in, play on the internet and walk out, or as Apple have been finding walking in, playing on PhotoBooth (taking photos of themselves) and then spending the next few hours on MySpace. So in response Apple have blocked MySpace! This is probably something to do with the fact that the people who come in and mess around on MySpace are probably never actually going to by an Apple computer, instead they are going to go online and buy themselves a cheap Dell which won't hold up to the armies of spyware that hides below the adverts on MySpace. <p>Other news is that YouTube is about to go on a serious upgrade. The video player that is currently being used is going under a massive overhaul adding more features to give it the functionality of the Google Video Player meaning you can start loading the video from anywhere in the file, not just the beginning. Also you will be able to see 10 other related videos by hovering your mouse at the bottom of the video to bring up an OSX style dock of videos. It does look rather swish! <p>And on the slightly less serious side of things LG have just put in a patent for an iPod dock that is built into a washing machine... I'm not convinced... mixing more water and electricity... its just wrong! Also the ModBook is going to be available very soon - its a tablet Mac...</p>