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I like dedicated servers

I’ve had some form of dedicated server on and off for many years.

I get cheap ones (from Hetzner, OVH or OneProvider). They’re really useful. They have fast connections, powerful CPU’s and plenty of storage. And they’re no more difficult to maintain than a VPS.

What do I use mine for?

  • Sharing big files. Especially big ones. I have a ‘cold storage’ folder on my S3-powered website for files that I’ve shared via email, Twitter, etc. down the years. I never delete those files. But I don’t want to pay the AWS storage/bandwidth fees for a 4GB .zip of football player images I once shared on a video game forum. My dedicated server can have those.
  • Backups. I can’t backup my entire media library. But the essential files on my Mac are backed up to the server.
  • Website hosting. VPS’s are very popular and capable these days. But you can’t beat a dedicated server. And once you start spending £30 on a VPS, you can get a lot more bang for your pound by getting dedicated hardware.
  • Video transcoding. The main reason I have my server is to transcode full quality HD and 4K BluRays to more manageable sizes.
  • VPN. I wouldn’t say I can ‘hide’ very well using the server as a VPN, as the IP address never changes and only I use it. But still, it gives me some protection.

Being ill in 1643 must have been awful

Whenever I’m unwell all I can think about is how horribly uncomfortable and boring it must of been to be ill for most of history.

I’m in a nicely warmed home with constant access to drink, food, painkillers, and the excellent TV documentary “The Vietnam War”.

And it’s still awful.

But at least I’m not lying on a sagging, bug-filled straw mattress in a drafty London house in 1643, while rats and smoke steadily seep through the warped wooden walls.

At least I have a bathroom a few yards away, instead of a reeking chamber pot that’s overflowing.

At least I have my phone, instead of my only entertainment being church bells and my wife reading me the Bible.

At least I have ibuprofen and codeine, instead of a delightful mixture of dried toad and mercury.

At least I’m taking in plenty of fluids, instead of having bloodletting to ‘balance my humors’.

It’s not so bad really.

I remember being so excited about the rise of tech. I was sure nerds would create a utopia – a fair, enlightened future built on logic and code. How naive I was.

My advice: never assume the new rulers will be better than the old ones – even if they’re ’your people’. Power always corrupts.

30-year-olds buy a cottage in the country and make it their whole personality.

And do you know what? I’d do the exact same thing.

Test post – please ignore

Welcome to the Markdown feature showcase! Below, you’ll find examples of all major Markdown elements. Use this to ensure your blog theme supports everything.

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Garth Hudson has died

My favourite recorded concert of all time is The Last Waltz (video / album) by The Band. Recorded in 1976, it was their farewell concert.

It may have been their farewell concert, but the Band were still looking young. Well, aside from Garth Hudson. He looked a decade or two older than the rest.

So if you would have told me when I was younger that the elderly-looking Hudson would outlive the rest of the band I never would have believed you. But he did. He died last week, aged 87.

A multi-talented musician, he worked with Bob Dylan, Elton John, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Leonard Cohen, Norah Jones, Ringo Starrr, John Hiatt, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Roger Water, Ronnie Hawkins, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, James Taylor, Traffic, Paul Butterfield and others.

As a fan of the Band it’s a sad day, for they are all now gone.

With his death I checked out an old Band Tumblr blog I followed. I was happy to see they’re still posting. They’ve posted about Hudson’s death.

In 1700’s London, if you received charity from your local parish you were supposed to wear a badge on your right sleeve with the initial of the parish. This was bitterly resented, as you might expect. #DrJohnsonsLondon #BookNotes

In one of his sermons from the 900s, Ælfric of Eynsham warns against over-eating and excess drinking at Christmas. Nothing changes, does it? #BookNotes #WintersInTheWorld