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Set up a new Security Key with PayPal

Tue, 30/10/2018 - 17:09 -- James Oakley
Symantec VIP

Two Factor Authentication

Two factor authentication (2FA) is a good thing.

A password is secure, as far as it goes. Only you know it. So only you can log in.

But if someone else learns your password, they can log in. So you add a second factor. As well as something you know (your password) you need something you have in order to log in. This may be your mobile phone, or a small gadget to generate a passcode.

This is an especially good idea for any website that may cost you something - mobile banking, for example.

Blog Category: 
Technology

Should Amazon be made to pay more UK tax?

Thu, 13/09/2018 - 12:24 -- James Oakley

Yesterday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, gave a speech at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference in Manchester.

In many ways it was a very fine speech. He spoke out for the needs of the poorer members of society with clarity, compassion and awareness of the issues:

Blog Category: 
Current Affairs

Stopping Word capitalising the first letter of 'the'

Fri, 03/08/2018 - 15:35 -- James Oakley

Here's a problem with Microsoft Word that's bugged me for ages.

Quotation marks in Word

Sometimes I write a document in which I quote either another document (a book, for example), or report direct speech. I might do this with single-quotation marks (') or with double-quotation marks ("). It's useful to have the choice here, because you sometimes quote a document in which something else is also quoted. Having single and double quotation marks allows or this to be made clear.

"She said, 'What's that you're eating?'"

as opposed to

Blog Category: 
Technology

Cold Brew Coffee

Thu, 19/07/2018 - 14:50 -- James Oakley
Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is usually prepared by chilling hot-brewed coffee. Cold-brew coffee can taste great if prepared well. Here's my very simple recipe and some commentary.

Blog Category: 
Coffee

LGBT - choose any 3

Mon, 09/07/2018 - 16:10 -- James Oakley
Protest

The BBC reports a fascinating development at this year's Pride march in London, which took place last Saturday (8th July 2018).

Here's the summary from the beginning of that BBC report:

Members of lesbian and feminist group Get The L Out demanded to march behind the rainbow flag, which marks the start of the event, organisers said.

The group argues the trans movement is attacking lesbian rights and said it protested to protect those rights.

Blog Category: 
Current Affairs

Kettle Review: AEG EWA7800-U 7 Series

Mon, 25/06/2018 - 13:10 -- James Oakley

Yes, I really am writing a review of a kettle.

For those who don't know, I love my coffee. A kettle is one of the most fundamental pieces of kit you need. The right kettle helps when it comes to brewing with a cafetiere, pour-over filter, chemex or aeropress.

Mid-Range

The AEG EWA7800-U 7 Series Digital Kettle is a mid-range kettle. What I mean by that is that it sits between the cheapest and the most expensive.

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