1. Get your hand straight in there and fish it out.
2. Quick wipe with towel.
3. Remove the battery as fast as you can.
4. Another wipe with towel.
5. Give the phone a good long shake until as much water as possible is removed.
6. Place the phone in a warm dry place such as in the airing cupboard (make sure it’s not so hot that it melts).
7. After 24 hours replace the battery and pray that all will be well.

If it’s an iPhone you’ll struggle to get the battery out in a hurry. Long term damage will be more likely.

My HTC Desire survived. Share your experience below.

The prescribed drugs have never provided a fully satisfactory solution to the problem.  We are just left to wonder quite how bad we might have been if we hadn’t taken anything at all.

Now, let me start by saying that I’m no expert when it comes to medicine or psychology.  I haven’t even devoted much time to the study of hay fever and this is in fact the first time I have written about it (but perhaps it won’t be the last).  I am simply writing what I know about my own experiences.

As a youngster I would spend much time hiding in a darkened room while others were enjoying the sun.  I used to dread family walks in the countryside.  I would find myself concentrating on the tarmac of the road rather than daring to look at the ‘beautiful’ fields and trees that everyone else thought so wonderful.

What about the idyllic family picnic scenario?  Does your wife continually tell you to come and sit down while you are desperately trying to hold your nose and your sandwich five and a half feet above the danger zone?

Why do they put pictures of flowers and pollen on the boxes of hay fever relief treatment?  Does that put anyone else off buying it or is it just me?

What is hey fever?

Hay fever is an over reaction by the immune system.  The nose detects pollen. The immune system sees it as a dangerous foreign body and reacts by over producing histamine. It is the unwanted histamine that results in a runny nose, streaming eyes, itchy throat and generally plays havoc with everything in the sinus area.

Hay fever is not really an allergy in the true sense of he word.  It is, as we have said, a malfunction of the immune system.   The drugs we are given do not cure hay fever.  Main stream medicine has no cure for hay fever.  All the drugs try and do is suppress the symptoms.

It is my view that we have been approaching the hay fever allergy from the wrong direction and that rather than taking drugs we should instead combat it with the power of the mind.

It’s all in the mind.

I will never forget how alarmed I was the first time I got hay fever from watching the TV.  I was perfectly okay until I joined my mother in the lounge to watch tennis from Wimbledon.  Seeing all that grass made my nose and eyes stream at full flow.

Could hay fever really be one of those ailments that is just ‘all in the mind’?  I was appalled at myself.

It starts to appear obvious that the nose is not the only culprit in the scenario.  It would seem that the brain also takes its cues from the eyes.

What’s one of the biggest causes of hay fever for you?  Is it the dreaded yellow fields of oil seed rape?  Anyone educated in agriculture will tell you that the pollen grains from this crop are too big and too heavy to be air borne.  (It’s big sticky pollen that relies solely on insects for its transport).

Do people educated in agriculture get up your nose too?

Oil seed rape DOES cause hay fever!  We know very well that it does.  But lets look at it again.  Is it our EYES and not our noses that are telling our brain about the problem?  If that’s all it is then surely we can tell our brain whatever we like!

The Eureka! moment.

That’s when the big breakthrough came and things started to improve for me.  If the brain could be fooled into thinking there was pollen around when there wasn’t any then surely it could be fooled into thinking there was no pollen when there was!

So, what are we learning?  Hay fever is not a proper allergy.  You can’t rely on medicine to cure something that isn’t a proper illness.  Hay fever is a conditioned response.  A conditioned response that our brain has mis-learned and we should therefore be able to un-learn it.  Shouldn’t we?

I want to see less focus on sprays and anti-histamines.  I want to see more focus from those who specialise in the likes of NLP, hypnotherapy and acupuncture.  This is the approach that I want to start learning about.  This is the route that I will be taking my kids on if they start to suffer this misery.

It’s too late for me.  Don’t get me wrong; I still suffer.  It’s just a hundred times better than it used to be.  I’m now in my forty third year and my over-active immune system is past it’s best.  Or maybe the mind control is working.  Who knows?  As long as I believe it is fixed.

With 3CXPhone for Android, users can make free phone calls via wireless and 3G (mobile operator permitting). Examples of Android based phones are the HTC Desire, HTC Hero, Sony Ericsson Xperia, X10 Mini and Pro, Samsung Galaxy S and the Google Nexus.3CXPhone for Android works with standards based SIP servers – including 3CX Phone System, Asterisk and popular SIP VoIP Providers. Unlike other “free” Android SIP phones, 3CXPhone is NOT locked down to a particular provider or PBX.

Users can pick and choose their favorite provider or VoIP PBX and switch at any time or use different VoIP providers simultaneously. 3CXPhone is available free of charge for commercial and non profit organizations as well as private users.

“Smart phones will soon be the defacto mobile phone and with a docking station will act as a desk phone in time. A VoIP PBX must embrace this technology and deliver seamless integration to provide true mobility to its users.” said Nick Galea, CEO, 3CX.  “Smartphone support is a key component of our strategy and the availability of 3CXPhone for Android delivers on this vision”. Nick Galea continued “We chose Android as our first platform – it is rapidly gaining market share because it’s open, standards based, vendor independent and evolving at a rapid pace. Android based Smartphones are available in different form factors and at competitive prices.”3CXPhone for Android is based on SipAgent, a popular SIP phone for Android that 3CX acquired in June 2010. SipAgent users are able to upgrade free of charge to 3CXPhone.

Features include:

• Fully supports the industry leading SIP standard
• G711 and GSM codec support
• Ability to transfer calls
• Choose between integrated or custom dial pad
• Record phone calls
• Force VoIP calls when available – with this feature you can automatically make free VoIP calls take priority over 3G
• Auto provisioning – SIP PBX’s or VoIP providers can automatically provision 3CXPhone for Android via multicast or HTTP

3CXPhone for Android is available for download here.

This configuration will pass Caller ID.

First we will configure the Portech MV-370.   This configuration will also work with Portech MV-372 and other Portech MV-3xx like MV-374.

Login to your Portech

Route

• Mobile To Lan Settings:
  

  Item	CID	URL
  0	*	192.168.x.x (your asterisk ip)

• Lan To Mobile Settings:
  

  Item	URL	Call num
  0	*	#

• Mobile
  • Settings:
    Mobile 1:
    Sip From: Tel/Tel (Not reg)
    CLID Presentation: On
    LAN Answer Mode: Income

• Service Domain
  You only fill Domain Server and Proxy Server with your Asterisk IP address:
  Domain Server: 192.168.x.x
  Proxy Server: 192.168.x.x

Again do the same for Mobile  2 if you are using the MV-372

• Port Settings
  Make sure SIP Port for Mobile 1 is 5060 (and port 5062 for Mobile 2) 

Don’t forget to save changes (should reboot after saving)

Asterisk/FreePBX

Login to your FreePBX and add SIP Trunk

Outbound Called ID: 0711111111 (put your GSM number here)
Maximum Channels: 1

Outgoing settings
Trunk Name: SIM1 (you may put anything you like)

PEER Details:
host=192.168.x.x (your Portech IP address)
type=peer
port=5060

Incoming Settings:
USER Context: 07111111111 (Your GSM mobile number)
Leave Incoming Settings blank.

Click submit (don’t forget the Orange bar on top after you make changes)

If you have the dual-sim MV-372, add another SIP Trunk for SIM2.

Outbound Called ID: 0722222222 (put your second GSM phone number here)
Maximum Channels: 1
go to Outgoing settings

Trunk Name: SIM2
PEER Details:
host=192.168.x.x (your Portech IP address)
type=peer
port=5062 (important)

Incoming Settings:
USER Context: 0722222222 (put your second GSM phone number)

Again apply changes.

In General Settings, enable Allow Anonymous Inbound SIP Calls

Now to make this work we have to create Outbound Route, so click Outbound Routes
Put Route name as you wish, I have called it GSM_1 (then you can add another and make it GSM_2)

Dial Patterns:  I have put 07xxxxxxxxx because I want only mobile numbers  to go through this trunk  (Portech). It’s all about good cost managment.

 Also don’t forget in order to receive calls you need to have Inbound Route setup on Asterisk/FreePBX. Create a new Inbound Route.  Set you destination to an extension or ring group or any other destionation you would like to transfer calls to. 

I have set the CID Lookup source to ‘Phonebook’ so that I can see who is calling.  This is a feature that would not work when I had the Portech coming straight in on a Ring Group.

Only thing you left to do now is click Submit Changes then Apply Configuration Changes and pray for this to work!

CREDIT: http://xtittle.blogspot.com/2009/02/updated-configuration-asterisk-freepbx.html

Here, French and Saunders compare the merits of their alternative filing systems.  Click on the image.

What is LLU?

In Local Loop Unbundling (LLU), a provider installs their own equipment in the BT exchange, allowing them to provide broadband direct to the end user. This hardware means that customers can expect faster internet speeds, and Ofcom believes that LLU will bring more competition and innovation to the broadband market.

Why isn’t everyone using LLU?

For one thing, LLU isn’t available to everyone. As more exchanges are unbundled, more people can switch to LLU – some through their current provider, others by switching to an LLU ISP.

Unfortunately, LLU providers have also faced a number of service problems; because it uses a different underlying technology to the more common ADSL connection, switching from ADSL to LLU is not always a seamless procedure – some people have been left without any connection at all for weeks on end. Being a relatively new technology has also meant that a few unforeseen problems have cropped up. Migrating away to other providers has also proved to be difficult for customers.

What is the switching process?

People don’t want to get stuck with a provider that they can’t leave; even if they’re happy with the service they still want the option of being able to switch.

Most people now know what a MAC code is. Migration Access Codes allow customers to switch to a new provider without a break in their connection. The use of MAC codes also means that switching has become cheaper as new ISPs just switch the connection over to their service in the local exchange.

LLU MAC codes do exist and increasing numbers of ISPs are now accepting them. They are in a different format to the traditional codes so not all providers will use them. However, having a LLU MAC doesn’t mean you won’t suffer downtime when switching provider.

If you’re switching from LLU back to ADSL, then your new connection will use a completely different technology so you will have to be manually returned to the BT network before your new connection can be set up, and there could be a charge for this.

Even if you want to switch from one LLU provider to another, you’ll still be restricted to those companies currently supplying broadband from your local exchange.

You also need to be aware that if your entire connection is switched over – that includes your line rental – then your phone line will have to be reactivated by BT if you want to return to an ADSL provider.

What if my chosen ISP doesn’t accept LLU MAC codes?

The best way to find out if they’ll accept your LLU MAC is to ask them before-hand by giving them a call.

If they don’t, and you definitely want to go with that provider, then your only option will be to cancel and disconnect your LLU line, and then have a new connection set up by your new ISP, and you will probably have to pay a connection fee for this.

CREDIT: http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/llu-broadband-migration-and-switching.html

Many school children these days have a bigger knowledge of computer-based activities than their parents.  Some parents just let the kids get on with it and others are so paranoid of the potential dangers that they refuse to allow their children to use the internet at all.  Both outlooks are cause for concern.

I have just returned from a seminar at my child’s school.  The accompanying paperwork says that the aim is to “give parents the confidence to be able to enjoy the internet safely”.  This is a commendable aim and exactly what is required.   The trouble is… I have come home somewhat disappointed.

Parents are at risk of being scare-mongered into keeping their children off the internet altogether.  The attendees were bombarded with dozens of statistics about the number of paedophiles and the number of searches for porn and the number of children with internet access.   Many parents attended the session because they were not very computer savvy and already had fears and concerns for their children who were racing ahead on the technology track.

Facebook was repeatedly targeted.  Cyber bullying is a major cause for concern and this was discussed at length.  I agree wholeheartedly that bullying needs to be addressed but banning your child from Facebook is not the answer.  By the end of the session some attending parents were getting very worked up and declaring that it’s plain and simple… “Facebook is pure evil and I wont allow it in my house”.

Of course Facebook is not at all evil.  The evil comes from those who misuse it.  Kids can be so cruel to each other.  Facebook, texting, forums and chat just supply additional mediums for them to express their cruelty.  We need to get the problem the right way up.   We need to address it from the perspective of the cruelty and teach responsibility with social interaction.  It’s too easy to blame the tools.

Another parent said that in her day things were so much easier.  She said that all they had was bullying in the playground and at least they could go home and close the bedroom door and get away from it but these days it’s all around… on the computer and on the phone and you cant get away from it.   I’m proud that my ten year old daughter sees it differently.  She says she would rather be bullied online than at school.  “Because” she says “online you can block them and de-friend them or report them.”  She understands the tools at her disposal and knows how to use them.

I drove home desparate to redress the balance so here’s my rant about the positives of Facebook!   Let’s take bullying in the playground.  If that’s happenning to my children then I have little or no visibility of it.  With Facebook, if I am in my child’s friend list, then I actually get to see who my child is interacting with.  I get to see who their friends are.   I get to see who the nice ones are and which ones we’d rather not invite round for tea!

Children should use the internet.  They should understand how to use Google, how to research and how to use to social and networking tools that are available to them.  Our fear of the internet must not cause us parents to deny our children access to it. 

One comment from a teacher who had been on a child safety course summed it up nicely:  We all know that we can’t live without water but water can kill us if we were to drown in it.  We must not deny our children water; we must teach them to swim.

Recommended reading:
The Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre
The CEOP’s Think You Know website

Baldrick, Vicki, Patrick and Nick

I can’t believe it is any kind of natural reaction, but that’s me, still SMILING while standing at the open door of an aircraft 12,000ft in the air!  What was I thinking?  It’s all a bit of a blur now but, Wow! what a rush.

Saturday 16th May at Hibaldstow Airfield.  Vicki and I were made very welcome by Mike and Rachael of Target Skysports.  We were called for a spot of training: how to jump out of the plane, how to fly, how to land, that sort of thing.  Family and friends gathered and then came the long wait as we waited for the weather to give an opportunity for another plane load to go up.

We were plane load 11 out of 12 but it was worth the wait.  We donned a  flying suit and harness.  Me in a lovely turquoise number with flying hat designed to make you look stupid in the video!   I was met by cameraman Wez who asked me a few questions for the film.  I was to be strapped to Nick (because he was strapped to the paracute!)  ‘Nick’ sounded like a good strong ‘being in charge’ kind of a name and I knew I could trust him.  Vicki was to be strapped to Baldrick.  Hmm…

The plane was small and felt quite cramped.  Perhaps that was because I was strapped tight to Nick.  At 12,000 we shuffled ahead of Vicki and Baldrick to the back door of the plane with cameraman Wez.  I still can’t believe I was smiling – every bit of  logic within me knows that you dont open the door until the plane is on tarmac.

We jumped.  We fell.  We went rather fast.  Camerahead Wez tried to keep up but Nick had a definate weight advantage with me strapped to him!

I remember having no real sense of how high I was as there was an awful lot of cloud.  Come to think of it, there wasn’t a huge sense of speed.  The only reference point I had got was Wez and he was falling at the same speed right in front of me with his thumbs in the air and a grin on his face.  Having said that, my face did feel like it was about to turn inside out.

We waved goodbye to Wez and opened the canapy.  What a contrast.  After the initial tug as we settled into the harness we slowed and gently floated in the sky.  Nick and I were now able to have a conversation.  He produced a pair of straps that he invited me to take hold of.  We pulled hard on the right and span around.  We pulled harder on the left and span the other way.  Excellent fun!  I think I enjoyed that bit better than the falling.  It’s good to be in control!

As we got below 1,000ft Nick took the reins so that my hands were available for waving.  I could see the assembled crowd.  I had no idea whether they could pick me out under my bright orange canapy but I waved anyway!

Back with my feet on the ground, Wez pointed the camera at me for a reaction.  Ten out of ten!  I looked round to see Vicki landing safely.  Excellent – We did it!

Would we do it again?  Oh yes!

Huge thanks to all those who turned out in the questionable weather to watch.  Many thanks to Stuart for putting the opportunity my way.  Thanks especially to all those of you who sponsored us.  Vicki and I are close to raising £1,000.  There’s still time for you to add to the total is you haven’t had an opportunity yet: Click here to give money!

Click here to join the Facebook group.

UPDATE: Vicki now has her pics so here’s one of hers.  See her blog.

Please please help me raise a heap of money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.  There’s not long left so I have to make a concerted effort to reach target (£800).

On May 16th I will be visiting Hibaldstow Airfield with a bunch of friends and we will be doing a tandem jump from 10,000 feet.  Jumping out of a plane will be a first for me so its all very exciting and a chance to tick another box of ‘things I ought to have done by the time I finish being 40′!

Many many thanks to those who have already sponsored me, particularly mum and Clare for getting things started so generously.

If you haven’t yet sponsored me then you are invited to do so by clicking on this link – markham.ph/sponsor-me

I will be arriving at the ‘drop zone’ at 13:00 on Saturday 16th May.  If you would like to come and watch then you would be very welcome to come along and join the ground crew.  Non jumpers on the ground include brother David, mum and dad, Jane and Stephen.  If you plan on coming along please leave a comment on this blog.  In fact leave a comment on this blog anyway!  Please give me whatever support you can!

That link again: markham.ph/sponsor-me

Thanks!

UPDATE (Wednesday 13th)  Sponsorship is now in excess of  £700.  If we can get over £800 then Vicki will jump too!!  How exciting

UPDATE (Thursday 14th) We have reached to £800 mark.  That means Vicki will be joining me and diving from the plane!  New target is £1,000.

Background

Impact
The damaged main data artery immediately affected vital services such as mobile phone cell sites, remote connections to traffic light signals and emergency services.  Needless to say, phone and broadband services were also affected.

I am an independant computer services technician working in Lincoln and the surrounding area.  I have had dozens of clients call me complaining of their lack of broadband connectivity (their phone services have been unaffected.) Confirmed affected areas that I have had first hand information about include Saxilby, Fiskerton, Sturton-by-Stow, Ingham, Glebe Park, Nettleham and Lincoln city centre.

Some of these clients lost their broadband on Saturday afternoon.  This would appear to be a direct result of the incident as you would expect.  More interestingly, other users had an uninterrupted service over the weekend but have experienced outages during Monday and today (Tuesday.)  This wouild imply that users accross the country are experiencing ‘planned outages’ in order to cope with capacity issues.  The problem is that no one is being advised of these planned outages.  Some BT reports have even denied that anyone outside of east London is affected.

Comment
Clearly such a huge incident is not going to be repaired overnight.  Imagine a colapsed service tunnel 32m below ground.  Construction workers will have to gain access, make safe and repair the area before any access can be granted to telecom engineers.  Once the engineers get on site the repair job is still mamouth.  In the mean time it would appear that the data can be re-routed.  But at what expense?  The capcity appears to be being borrowed from domestic users from what I can see.

If you have been affected by this issue then please leave a message detailing the extent of your outage and the ISP that you use.  Most of my clients use Tiscali Broadband but what about you?  What are you doing about it?  Will you expect to receive compensation from your ISP?

Update (Wednesday morning)
I have just been in touch with my contacts at Tiscali to try and get some more info.  The quote from their technical team is as follows:

“We identified a further issue yesterday morning (Tuesday) relating to the BT outage, there is a further two STM-4 (622Mbps) IPStream pipes down which is around 15% of our (Tiscali’s) overall IPStream capacity so this will be causing some customers to be without service across the UK. BT are working on resolving these two breaks but as there is 1186 cables to be repaired it won’t be a quick fix.”

It’s nice to be told ‘something’ but it begs more questions than it answers.

Update (Good Friday)
There are a couple of photos on Flickr now.   The big orange thing is the boring machine cutting through the cable tunnel.  Actually it’s a much tidier job than I’d imagined!  Still, it’s had a huge impact on our broadbnad service.  (Note that I have no way of telling whether these photos genuinely releate to this issue.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23919135@N00/

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