Teaching Logs – I was Born BC (Before Calculators!)

 

Teaching Logs – Born BC (Before Calculators!)

There was a time—believe it or not—when doing a multiplication like 347 × 82 wasn’t a quick tap on a calculator… it was a mini project.

Yes, I was born BC – Before Calculators.

And in those days, we had two magical tools:

• Logarithm tables
• Slide rules

Both built on one brilliant idea:
Turn difficult calculations (multiplication/division) into easier ones (addition/subtraction)

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The Big Idea – Why Logs Work

The key comes from the mathematical rule:

log(a × b) = log(a) + log(b)
log(a ÷ b) = log(a) − log(b)

So instead of multiplying two awkward numbers, we:

1. Look up their logs in a table
2. Add them together
3. Convert (antilog) back to get the answer

Simple… well… eventually simple 

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📖 Logarithm Tables – The Original “Calculator App”

A book of log tables was an essential bit of kit—right up there with a pen and ruler.

To multiply numbers:

• Look up the log of each number
• Add the values (carefully!)
• Use the antilog table to convert back

Sounds straightforward… until:

• You misread a row
• Add incorrectly
• Or forget where the decimal point should go (a favourite mistake!)

But once mastered, it was fast and surprisingly accurate.

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📏 Slide Rules – The Engineer’s Superpower

 The slide rule—a beautifully simple analogue computer.

Instead of looking up numbers, the slide rule:

• Uses logarithmic scales
• Lets you physically add lengths (which represent logs)
• Gives you the answer instantly by lining things up

No batteries. No screen. No fuss.

Engineers used them to:

• Design bridges
• Calculate trajectories
• Even help send humans to the Moon 

And all with a bit of sliding wood or plastic!

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Why Bother?

You might ask: why go through all this trouble?

Because:

• Multiplication and division are harder operations
• Addition and subtraction are much easier
• Logs convert one into the other

It’s a brilliant example of mathematics simplifying the world

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Teaching Today – What We’ve Lost (and Gained)

Today’s students:

• Have powerful calculators
• Can compute instantly
• But sometimes miss the why behind the maths

Back then, you:

• Understood place value deeply
• Estimated answers before calculating
• Developed a real “feel” for numbers

And perhaps most importantly…
You appreciated just how clever mathematics really is

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Final Thought

When I tell students today about log tables and slide rules, I usually get that look…

“Sir… you actually did maths like that?”

Yes. Yes we did.

And somehow… we survived.

 Why the 360 Camera Rules Action Video

There was a time when filming action meant strapping a camera somewhere vaguely sensible, pressing record, and hoping for the best. Hours later, you’d discover you’d filmed your elbow, your shoe, or a beautifully crisp shot of absolutely nothing useful.

Enter the 360 camera — the new kid on the block — and suddenly, everything changes.

You Don’t Miss the Shot (Ever Again)

Traditional cameras force you to choose the angle before the action happens. Get it wrong? Tough.

A 360 camera captures everything. Front, back, up, down — the lot.

• Missed the moment? No problem
• Subject moved out of frame? Doesn’t matter
• Didn’t know where the action would be? Perfect

You simply reframe afterwards in editing. It’s like having a camera operator who never blinks.

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Perfect for Sailing (and Other Chaos)

From experience on the Thames, things happen quickly:

• A sudden gust heels the boat
• The crew fumbles a tack (never happens… obviously 😄)
• Another boat appears from nowhere

With a 360 camera mounted on the mast or stern:

• You capture helm, crew, sails, and surroundings all at once
• You can cut between angles later
• You can even simulate a drone shot without getting wet (or fined)

It’s a game changer for pmrsailing-style filming.

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The “Invisible Camera Operator” Trick

One of the cleverest tricks is the invisible selfie stick.

The camera stitches two lenses together so the pole disappears, giving you:

• Floating “drone-like” shots
• Third-person tracking views
• Smooth follow shots without another person filming

It looks like magic — but it’s just very smart engineering.

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Editing Becomes Creative, Not Corrective

With normal footage, editing is often about fixing mistakes.

With 360 footage, editing becomes storytelling:

• Choose your angle after the event
• Pan smoothly between viewpoints
• Zoom into the action
• Track subjects automatically

It’s less “rescue mission” and more director’s studio.

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One Camera, Many Jobs

Instead of carrying:

• GoPro
• DSLR
• Drone

You can often get away with just one 360 camera.

For sailing, holidays, teaching demos, even lab work — it’s incredibly versatile.

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It’s Not Perfect (Yet)

Let’s be honest:

• Low light performance can struggle
• Editing takes a bit of learning
• Battery life isn’t endless

But the advantages far outweigh the downsides — especially for action.

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Final Thoughts (From the River Thames)

For me, the 360 camera isn’t just another gadget — it’s a completely different way of filming.

It removes the stress of “getting the shot” and replaces it with the freedom to enjoy the moment… and sort it out later.

And when you’re trying not to capsize, that’s quite a useful feature.

 

The Magic of 1–4–5 – Playing in Any Key Without Panic

If you’ve ever sat at a piano (or organ… or synthesiser in my case) and thought:

“This piece is in E♭… I’ll just quietly close the lid and walk away…”

…then let me introduce you to one of the most powerful shortcuts in music:

The 1–4–5 Chord Sequence

Every major key has three workhorse chords:

• 1 (I) – the home chord
• 4 (IV) – the “move away” chord
• 5 (V) – the tension builder

Together… they are responsible for half the music you’ve ever heard.

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Why This Matters

Instead of memorising dozens of chords for every key…

You just think in numbers instead of note names

Example:

• In C major → C (1), F (4), G (5)
• In D major → D (1), G (4), A (5)
• In E major → E (1), A (4), B (5)

Same pattern. Different starting point.

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What This Means in Practice

Once you understand 1–4–5:

• You can transpose instantly
• You can follow singers (who always change key at the worst moment!)
• You can improvise with confidence
• You can play along with most pop, rock, blues, and folk music

It’s a bit like sailing…

Learn how the wind works once… and you can sail anywhere on the river.

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A Simple Exercise

Try this:

1. Pick any key (start with C if you like life easy)
2. Play:
   • 1 → 4 → 5 → 1
3. Now move to another key and repeat

After a while, your brain stops thinking:
❌ “C–F–G”
and starts thinking:
✅ “1–4–5”

That’s when things get interesting.

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Bonus Thought (From the Organ Bench)

When playing my Wersi digital organ, using numbers instead of notes makes:

• Key changes effortless
• Improvisation far less terrifying
• Accompaniment much smoother

…and most importantly…

 It sounds like you actually know what you’re doing 😄

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Final Thought

The 1–4–5 sequence is not just a trick.

It’s a language.

Learn the language… and suddenly every key becomes familiar.

Updating the SatNav & GPS – Are We Really Ready for the Holiday?

Before any sailing trip or driving holiday, there’s one simple check that often gets overlooked… your maps.

We all assume our SatNav or GPS “just works” – until it doesn’t.

Why Updating Matters

Roads change. Junctions get redesigned. One-way systems appear overnight. And if you’re heading abroad, the last thing you want is your SatNav confidently directing you down a road that no longer exists.

The same applies on the water – charts, hazards, and navigation markers can all change.

Car SatNav Checklist

• Update maps on your device (often via Wi-Fi or computer)
• Check European coverage (not always included!)
• Update speed limit databases
• Make sure postcodes/addresses work abroad
• Carry a backup (phone navigation app)

Brands like Garmin and TomTom regularly release updates – but only if you actually install them.

Marine & Sailing Navigation

If you’re heading to somewhere like Croatia as I am:

• Update marine charts on your plotter or tablet
• Check buoyage systems (IALA regions can differ)
• Download offline maps (signal can be patchy at sea)
• Test everything before you leave the UK

Apps can be brilliant – but only if they’re downloaded and working offline.

iPad & Backup Navigation

You mentioned having OpenSeaMap – good start 
But consider:

• A second app as backup
• Offline chart downloads
• A power solution (battery packs, chargers)

Because when the main system fails… it will be at the worst possible moment.

The Classic Mistake

You only discover your maps are out of date when:

• You miss a turning
• You end up in a dead-end marina
• Or worse… you’re navigating somewhere unfamiliar in poor weather

Final Thought

Updating your SatNav isn’t exciting.
But getting lost on the first day of your holiday definitely isn’t either.

When It’s NOT the Computer… It’s the Switch!

 

When It’s NOT the Computer… It’s the Switch!

We’ve all been there…

Web pages won’t load.
Emails refuse to send.
Everything feels just a bit broken.

So what do we do?

Reboot the computer.

Of course.

I did exactly that… and guess what?
Still broken.

Some pages would load. Others wouldn’t. Emails sat there stubbornly in the outbox like a dinghy stuck head-to-wind on a windless Thames.

At this point, it’s tempting to blame:

• The computer
• The browser
• The email software
• Or even “the internet” (whatever that means!)

But here’s the thing…

The Real Culprit: The Network Switch

After a bit of digging (and resisting the urge to throw the mouse overboard), I traced the issue back to the network switch.

Now, switches are one of those bits of kit we:

• Install once
• Hide away
• Completely forget about

Until they go wrong.

And when they do go wrong… things get weird:

• Some websites work ✔️
• Others don’t ❌
• Emails half-send 
• Connections drop randomly

Sound familiar?

The Fix

Simple.

Reboot the switch.

That’s it.

Within seconds:

• All web pages loaded properly
• Emails sent instantly
• Network back to normal

Problem solved.

Takeaway

Before blaming your computer:

👉 Check the whole system
👉 Think about what connects everything together
👉 And don’t forget the humble switch