Just upgraded my desktop computer to OpenSUSE 11.3. It was very smooth and the changes look good. But not that much seems to have changed since 11.2 which suits me. Amarok has a better look for my podcast list with icons pics for each subscribed podcast. Flash broke in Firefox but works in Konqueror browser which I use more. Although may just need a few tweaks to get Gnash free (as in freedom) flash alternative to work well for sites I use

Yesterday I saw a small brown deer at site of some demolished flats near the National Museum storage building near site of old gasworks in Granton. It was 8.30am. The Forth Quarter park still is fenced off from road at West Shore Road where it ends in path to nowhere. [Update 2011: now ForthQuarter park open on to West Shore Road] But a footpath link through new housing has been opened off Marine Drive.

Work start the in last few months on tram works near start of cycle path near Roseburn. They have cut end of loop short so making it slightly more steeper. {Update, Oct 2011: now closed till 2012} Photo of how looked before: Loop in path at start of cycle path near Roseburn, which has since been altered to allow tram works.

Surrey Aerial Photos available [osm_map long=”-0.59″ lat=”lat=51.24″ control=”scaleline,scale” zoom=”15″ width=”500″ height=”450″ extmap_type=”OSM” extmap_name=”Surrey_Aerial_Photo” extmap_address=”http://gravitystorm.dev.openstreetmap.org/surrey/${z}/${x}/${y}.png” extmap_init=”numZoomLevels: 21, transitionEffect: ‘resize’, sphericalMercator: true” type=”ext”] Guildford Cathedral http://opengeodata.org/surrey-county-air-survey

Ordnance Survey have released some data for wider freer use. Streetview (raster data) which could already see on Where is the Path? website which used OS Open Space API but would often run out of allowed hits so won’t now I guess And with a new license can now be used more widely, and mashed up with a wider amount of data in wider settings and new datasets derived from it.

Last December 2009 the UK Department for the Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced proposals for the provision of free data from the Ordnance Survey. The consultation closes on the 17th March 2010. The consultation document is titled: Policy options for geographic information from Ordnance Survey Consultation. ISBN: 978 1 4098 2100 7. The DCLG announcement states: “The possible range of products under consideration for release as part of the ‘Ordnance Survey Free’ includes:

A few weeks ago I was looking at presentation notes on adding bio-methane to the domestic gas mix with the fossil fuel natural gas. http://www.sbgi.org.uk/ContentFiles/UN/Event%20Presentations/Gas%202009/3.%20Janine%20Freeman%20Presentation.pdf Also, see: http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/9122AEBA-5E50-43CA-81E5-8FD98C2CA4EC/32182/renewablegasWPfinal1.pdf And recently spotted offer Ecotricity: http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/green-gas-from-ecotricity-is-go! While I think bio-methane may only make a small contribution it will be interesting to see how develops. New supplies of Natural Gas from shale gas which has become accessible are pushing down gas prices in the UK due to the world market in LNG.

I have switched the GNU/Linux distro I am using after the graphics died after an update to the X server under Kunbuntu. I could have fixed it, but I used the opportunity to switch to OpenSUSE. I had intended to use OpenSUSE when I got my computer last year, but it came with Kubuntu so thought would give a go. Ulla’s laptop and the previous computer have had OpenSUSE on, and I had found it quite polished setup.

Links related to future energy debate: General: “Sustainable Energy – Without The Hotair” by David MacKay. David Mackay has recently become an adviser to govt on energy matters. I bought his book a few months ago and thought it was really good, still do, and it got me thinking about energy choices and investigating some areas not really examined before like the heat pumps. It is a good starting point to consider plans.

After windy day yesterday it is calm today and also sunny but cool as summer as come to an end, but I should get out after posting this. I am still cycling to and from work but not sure for how much longer, as a the other really felt need for a that. I had a late start to cycling this year as took a while to fix my bike and only because my missus helped me, to make sure I started for Bike to Work week.