Kiva Loans - Eight Years Of Changing Lives

As it's November and I haven't blogged in ages, and it's been three years since my last foray into writing a NaNoWriMo, I decided that it's high time I start blogging again. 

So, to start things off gently, here's a quick recap of the loans I've given to Kiva.org, and through them have helped dozens of people to change their lives, $25 at a time.

Checking my stats, I see I have loaned over $3000 since I started giving to Kiva in 2008. 

Only 4 sectors have been so far omitted - honestly, I'm not sure that Personal Use and Entertainment should really be reasons for asking for a loan, but hey.

Though one or two were not fully funded and were therefore returned, I've made over 100 loans to 33 countries - nearly half of those supported by microfinance lenders and Kiva. (I'm not sure which country was included in the first list, but not the second. Maybe that's what happens when countries change names, or are annexed?)

Still have a long way to go to collect all the Activities achievements - nearly one third complete. Challenge accepted!

If you'd like to play this game - a game that changes lives for the better - you can too. Click below to start lending today.

Cast media from Windows netbook to Android tv box

Finally figured out a simple way to cast media from my netbook to my TV box. 

On the Android box:

1. Install AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (LITE or PRO) from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waxrain.airplayer&hl=en

2. Launch the app. Turn on DLNA DMR then set a device nickname. Apparently also works with AirPlay and AirTunes if you want to stream from an iPad/iPhone. 

On the Windows box:

1. Enable media sharing in Windows 10 from Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Media streaming options (requires admin access).

2. Install http://download.waxrain.com/AirPinPcSender/AirPinPcSetup.exe to send media from Windows to receiver.

3. Browse for media file on Windows machine; right-click and select Cast To Device or DLNA Play to > [your android device].

That's it!

Jelly Bean Keyboard - Cursor Keys

Ever wanted to add cursor movement keys to your text messaging experience? The Jelly Bean Keyboard includes this option, but it's somewhat hidden. Here's how to find and enable it.

First, download the app from the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jlsoft.inputmethod.latin.jbk43.free&hl=en

Next, go into the settings applet, then find "Languages and input".

Now look for Jelly Bean Keyboard 4.3 you installed earlier from the Play Store, and tap the gear icon next to that to enter settings for the keyboard.

Here's the confusing / hidden setting part. Across the top, there's a "Standard Settings" bar, and under that is stuff like Auto-capitalization, Vibrate on keypress, Sound on keypress.

To the RIGHT of "Standard Settings" is a "JBK 4.3 settings" item, which you can access by swiping from the right to the left.

Now scroll down until you see "Key layouts". Below that are options for keyboard layouts when you're in landscape or portrait orientation. Next is an option for "Show arrows" which you can set to Never, Portrait, Landscape, or Both.

The result? This:

New Year's Day

Been too long since I blogged here. Time to begin again.

All is white on New Year's Day
Like a dead channel, on the TV
I want to be coding
Be coding night and day
The more things change
The more they stay the same

I will iterate again
I will iterate again

Under a neon bulb
Group of devs chatter, in @s and pings
Bugzillas logged, JIRAs are too
The blogosphere says, says 
Say it's true, it's true...
And we can break through
Though platforms too 
Many spring from one 

I... I will write some tests again
I... I will write some tests again

Oh...
Maybe the time is right
Oh... maybe tonight...

I'll debug my tests again
I'll debug my tests again

And so we're told it's the container age
Transform and deliver your apps a new way
Still I want to be coding
Be coding night and day
The more things change
The more they stay the same

U2 - New Year's Day