Archive for March, 2008

Free Blues Backing Track MP3 Download

Posted by David Hurst in Guitar, Music on March 13th, 2008

I did a bit of Googling the other day for a free blues backing track that I could download in MP3 format. What followed was a succession of dodgy music files that sound like they were generated through the MIDI chip on a £3 sound card. So, I quickly knocked one up in Garageband using some samples from the Jam Packs.

Feel free to snarf it and have a play. Just load it into your favourite MP3 player and set it to repeat. The file is 12 bars and runs for 24 seconds, so you won’t get much of a solo in if you don’t switch repeat on. Key is A.

Positive comments may encourage me to come up with some more interesting backings.

Download it here: http://www.davidhurst.co.uk/downloads/Blues-In-A.mp3

4 Comments

Fender Classic Player 50’s Stratocaster guitar review

Posted by David Hurst in Guitar, Music on March 13th, 2008

There’s something special about owning a good quality instrument. It’s not snobbery - you pay more, you get more. What I can’t get over, is just how much you do get with the Fender Classic Player 50’s Stratocaster for such a reasonable price. I paid £400 for mine (although the RRP is £500), which is in 2 tone sunburst with a gloss finish maple neck. It compares very favourably with my brother’s USA Standard Stratocaster in terms of tone and finish. Read the rest of this entry »

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Secure Online Random Password Generator

Posted by David Hurst in New Launches, PHP, Security on March 3rd, 2008

Regular readers of my blog may remember, or have used, my secure random password generator class. For those who aren’t PHP proficient, or just can’t be bothered to create the pages necessary, I’ve implemented it into a new website: www.random-password.net. I hope it proves useful.

The benefit of my class is that it generates passwords based upon a pattern, and you can make it generate upto 99 random passwords based on your pattern in a single click. The random-password.net website also stores a convenient cookie, so that it will remember your pattern each time you visit.

Let me have any comments or suggestions please, and I love to hear from you if my work has helped you in any way.

3 Comments

Talking about SEO for Connecting Somerset

Posted by David Hurst in HigherSites®, News, Personal, SEO on March 3rd, 2008

I have been involved with Connecting Somerset’s Technology for Business Programme for almost a year now - speaking at various Connecting Somerset events throughout the county. The format is changing for the coming year, with events being formatted more like exhibitions, with break-out workshop sessions throughout the day. I will be running two introductory 30 minute SEO workshops during the day. The next event is at Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford on the 26th March 2008.

Connecting Somerset have produced an introductory video, featuring myself, which can be viewed at: http://connectingsomerset.pixellabstudios.co.uk/

I will shortly be posting more information on SEO on my blog, and launching a new SEO dedicated website for Higher Sites, which will feature a SEO podcast.

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Smashing my visitor stats record…

Posted by David Hurst in Personal on March 3rd, 2008

…I can barely believe it, but the stats don’t lie. 14,869 unique visitors in 29 days in February!!!

Thanks everyone.

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