How to create a solar powered website

Another of the projects we've been involved with during lockdown is looking at solar energy.

Our latest quest is to find the greenest website.

A test website has been set up.

Here's an example which tells you your IP address.
http://ip.amazingly.services/



The above is powered by the sun.

PHP - how to successfully export to CSV for Excel use [ANSWERED]

Audience: PHP developers
Concept: Exporting CSV for Excel so that it can be easily opened by users / data analysts.

The challenge is that if you are using utf8 or international characters (most global organisations or
websites do) then the issue of scambled characters comes up. Usually you see the euro symbol

e.g.

—

instead of en-dash -

or

’
instead of  '

in fact anything starting with â€

This is where the encoding of the file doesn't match what Excel expects, so there are 2 parts to resolving the problem. 

STEPS TO RESOLVE

1. Encode your CSV in UTF8 format - this makes it compatible with Excel's utf8 import routine

2. Give Excel a helping hand - tell it that the CSV is UTF-8 encoded


HOW TO RESOLVE IN DETAIL


1. ENCODE
Make sure your data is encoded in UTF8.
If you are getting data from MySQL, then use the following ....

    $mysqli->set_charset("utf8");


2. BOM
Then just before you write your data to your csv, use the contents of the enclosed BOM file and put them at the beginning.

  //get your csv file pointer $fp
  //...
  //write a BOM for Excel
  $BOM=file_get_contents('BOM');
  fwrite($fp, $BOM);
  // now write the rest of your data
  //... 

You will also need to download the following BOM file.

BOM file

PHP - how to increase memory limit for scripts [ANSWERED]

Quick one - assuming you are looking to increase the memory of a php script, there are many ways, but the most effective in script option is to use the following command.

 ini_set('memory_limit','512M');

or

 ini_set('memory_limit','1G');

Which hopefully are self explanatory. After all, '1GB' is 'one GigaByte' and 'M' is MegaByte. Or in more modern parlance, 134217728 Bytes is 128 MebiByte.

Setting the php memory limit by putting the above line in your php code will allocate extra memory if needed up to the specified size. I usually increase the value until the message goes away.

The error message is usually 

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 54 bytes)

This is 128 Mebibyte - the default limit in PHP

There are many other resources on the web which suggest setting the value to -1 but this means that your server will allocate an unlimited amount of memory. Never good to do this because if you script is using up all the resources, other processes might get frozen or locked out. If your script is running on a web server, this may give the impression that your website is down.

So, adjust in small increments.

[Answered] Where can I buy MonaVie Active in the UK

Following on from recent requests I wanted to share the latest information about MonaVie and international shipping, including London UK.

My post on ebay still stands and is reproduced here for your benefit.

Updated 3rd June 2018

MonaVie Active - 1 of 2 varieties available in the UK

How to buy in the UK

Monavie comes in 2 types

1. original (purple bottle - no longer available)
2. active (pictured)
3. reserve (gel pack, pictured below)

This guide lets you know which one is best for you and where to get it.

MonaVie Original (Essential) - blend of 19 fruits including acai

From external site:
MonaVie Essential® is an efficacious MonaVie juice that defends against the effects of aging while improving your overall health. Nourish your body with powerful antioxidants and nutrients.

Original / Essential is a purple bottle - contact master distributor Mark Hopgood -  text 07767875550 for details on a supplier near you. Only Monavie Active is being produced now.

MonaVie Active ( Green Bottle ) + plant derived glucosamine

From external site:
MonaVie Active® is a delicious fusion of 19 body-beneficial fruits and scientifically validated glucosamine. This delicious MonaVie juice targets joint mobility and flexibility while also promoting overall health and wellness.*

Active is a green bottle - contact master distributor Mark Hopgood -  text 07767875550 for details on a supplier near you. UK delivery is typically 3-5 days.

Reserve

A unique blend of superfruits containing botanical antioxidants that work together to provide the support your body craves.
Sweetened by nature, RESERVE™ delicious, sweet berry taste contains no added sugars, no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.

RESERVE is a handy pouch packed with fruits - contact master distributor Mark Hopgood -  text 07767875550 for details on a supplier near you.

Reserve Gel Pouch

Açai Berry, Dark Sweet Cherry, Blueberry, Concord Grape and Pomegranate. These power players owe their distinct red, blue, and purple hues to their high anthocyanin content.

Tags:

monavie

acai

blueberry

dark sweet cherry

original

active

reserve

jeunesse

antioxidants

anthocyanin

Text Mark Hopgood on 07767875550 for details on a supplier near you.

[ANSWERED] How to edit the hosts file in Windows (10)

If you are looking to edit your hosts file, here's how.

You will need to run notepad in elevated mode ( administrator access ) because the hosts file is an important system file and protected.

Here's how.

1. in the search bar type notepad and right click run as administrator

running notepad as an administrator (elevated priviledges)

2. click yes, then notepad opens in elevated mode

3. Locate the hosts file

File Open from Notepad and paste the following into the file name box
c:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts
then click open

4. Edit and save the hosts file

the hosts file ready for editing and saving

Best Present Ever ( over 10s only ) - Pass It On (share, like etc.)

bit.ly/2017BestEverPresent

Here goes....

inspiration:

and

Here's the basket items

1. AAA Batteries


2. Magnets

3. Unplated copper wire


4. Wooden Dowel for making the coil

[answered] how do i decide on a secure password? Pass! Google Chrome Extension

Since Adobe and Tesco were hacked it became apparent that there was a problem with the way people use passwords.

The top 10 passwords chosen by everyday people

include

1. names of pets
2. names of kids
3. sequences like 123456, 123
4. common passwords like letmein

Here's a formal list from the adobe hack. Recognise yours in there?

The Adobe Top 20 Passwords

1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. password
4. adobe123
5. 12345678
6. qwerty
7. 1234567
8. 111111
9. photoshop
10. 123123
11. 1234567890
12. 000000
13. abc123
14. 1234
15. adobe1
16. macromedia
17. azerty
18. iloveyou
19. aaaaaa
20. 654321

It's likely that the tesco list would read like this

1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. password
4. tesco123
5. 12345678
6. qwerty
7. 1234567
8. 111111
9. tescoes
10. 123123
11. 1234567890
12. 000000
13. abc123
14. 1234
15. tesco1
16. tesco
17. azerty
18. iloveyou
19. aaaaaa
20. 654321

You seeing a pattern here?

Anyway the solution to this is to generate a password that even a computer couldn't guess.

If you use google chrome theres an extension called Pass! which will generate a password for you using your email address and PIN - here's the link

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pass-secure-password-gene/necdcdkpkehcegpeghinfpbeplllkjai

This will generate a password for popular accounts that you can use and it looks like this...
Ac84aa87be81ab034f83f54583c6c1e2c
( 32 characters )

As long as you can remember your email and a PIN, the Pass! extension will generate and remind you. There's no need to remember passwords from now on.

Here's how to install..

1. visit the link

2. click add to chrome

3. click add extension

4. click the icon

5. enter your details and click generate button

6. your passwords are displayed - click the icon again to hide them

If your website is not listed, contact us to add it, or use the Gerneric Password.

Feel happy, be secure, download the extension now...

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pass-secure-password-gene/necdcdkpkehcegpeghinfpbeplllkjai