The personal site of Martin Ogg: software, projects, and notes.https://www.martinogg.com/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/20260901-mrc-mastery-relationships-contribution-commitment/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/20260901-mrc-mastery-relationships-contribution-commitment/A personal framework for finding direction after financial independence through mastery, relationships, contribution, and commitment.Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/30-days-and-30-nights/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/30-days-and-30-nights/Following on from my previous post ‘The virtues of an early start’ I find myself on day 3. Getting back from work about 4:45 instead of 7:00, I find I havFri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/315-hours-of-playing-real-racing-3/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/315-hours-of-playing-real-racing-3/Since I got my iPad mini 18 months ago, one of the first games I played on it was Real Racing 3. A great game (despite its flaws) and I ultimately played the gaFri, 05 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/a-quick-and-dirty-profiler-class-for-c-on-psm-playstation-mobile-development/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/a-quick-and-dirty-profiler-class-for-c-on-psm-playstation-mobile-development/I’m helping out on a PSM Playstation Mobile project in C# and I quickly slapped together this profiler class whilst searching for some slowness in an update looSun, 17 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/about-site-change-changing-the-focus-of-my-blog/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/about-site-change-changing-the-focus-of-my-blog/I have decided to change the focus of this blog. I had hoped to make this into a personal development website initially, but instead I will make this just a sitWed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/achieve-the-best-results-by-getting-feedback-on-everything-you-do/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/achieve-the-best-results-by-getting-feedback-on-everything-you-do/Getting Feedback on your work is critical in life and acting upon it will improve yourself to reach your goals in whatever you do. I would like to talk about hoSat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/advertise-successfully-using-zero-cost-zero-effort-strategies/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/advertise-successfully-using-zero-cost-zero-effort-strategies/Increasing website traffic to your website is important. In my case I want to have a website that is useful to the people who read it and can provide meaningfulMon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/article-archive-page-added-add-your-own-archive-page-easily-code-included/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/article-archive-page-added-add-your-own-archive-page-easily-code-included/Last night I added an article archive page to this site. It makes it easier to navigate all the blog posts by listing all the blog posts by title on one single Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/atomic-habits-in-action-how-a-simple-to-do-app-improved-my-daily-life/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/atomic-habits-in-action-how-a-simple-to-do-app-improved-my-daily-life/Are you looking for a way to improve your productivity and make positive changes in your life? If so, you might want to consider using a to-do app like the one Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/beating-sad-this-year/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/beating-sad-this-year/Seasonal Affective Disorder is a recognised condition which affects many people in the world. The Winter time has less hours of daylight and worse weather, resuSat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/becoming-vegetarian/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/becoming-vegetarian/The last toastmasters meeting of 2009, the group is asked to introduce themselves and give their new years resolution. When my turn comes round I stand up, intrMon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/buying-a-new-mobile-phone-make-an-informed-choice/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/buying-a-new-mobile-phone-make-an-informed-choice/Recently I got a new HTC T-mobile G1 mobile phone. Its a touch-screen smartphone with a full qwerty keyboard and I am reasonably happy with it. Its not the lateMon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/continually-improve-yourself-make-your-own-bookmark-icon-for-your-site/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/continually-improve-yourself-make-your-own-bookmark-icon-for-your-site/Today I thought I would share the little revelation I had today about customising the bookmark icon for wordpress sites. Although its just a tiny change, its imSat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-1/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-1/This is a tutorial post about how to create a video DVD on your computer to play in a standard DVD player. I use only free software or shareware, on Windows. ThThu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-2/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-2/In this post series I talk about mastering a DVD from various DVD sources. This post talks about using VLC to view a DVD. var hupso_services_c=new Array("twitteSat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-3/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-3/In this post series I talk about mastering a DVD from various DVD sources. This post talks about using DVD Decryper to rip a DVD’s tracks to the computer. var hSat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-4/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-4/In this post series I talk about mastering a DVD from various DVD sources. This post talks about using ConvertVobtoAvi to convert from DVD file (VOB) to AVI whiMon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-5/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-5/In this post series I talk about mastering a DVD from various DVD sources. In this post I take you through using Virtual Dub, a free video editing package, to cMon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-6/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-6/This post begins from from here: Create a DVD tutorial in case you are lost. In this post series I talk about mastering a DVD from various DVD sources. In this Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-7/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-7/This post begins from from here: Create a DVD tutorial in case you are lost. In this post series I talk about mastering a DVD from various DVD sources. This is Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-8/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-8/I will use WinRAR, a shareware file archiving application to extract the files to a folder, then use VLC media player to look at the DVD as if you had created aMon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-9/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-a-dvd-tutorial-part-9/In this final post I will show you how to burn the image created in previous steps. I will use a piece of software called BwgBurn to burn (Burn the DVD image toMon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part1/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part1/For the last 2 months I have been using ANKI app to study Chinese vocabulary. Its a learning system for words and phrases using an electronic flash cards on PC,Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part2/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part2/This is a continuation from this post about creating your own ANKI SRS card deck for learning a foreign language. The following part is here Step 3 – CreaTue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part3/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part3/This is a continuation from this post about creating your own ANKI SRS card deck for learning a foreign language. The next part is here Step 5. Create the flashTue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part4/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-anki-deck-tutorial-part4/This is a continuation part from this post about creating your own ANKI SRS card deck for learning a foreign language. The final part is here. Step 6. Create a Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-your-own-anki-deck-with-automated-translations-and-voices-part-5/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/create-your-own-anki-deck-with-automated-translations-and-voices-part-5/This is the final post in a series about creating your own ANKI SRS card deck for learning a foreign language. This year I wrote about a method to create ANKI fThu, 08 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/creating-your-own-website-from-scratch-easy-interesting-and-fun/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/creating-your-own-website-from-scratch-easy-interesting-and-fun/I’ve had one or two questions from different people about how I put my blog website together from a technical perspective. While I would say this is far from beMon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/dont-ask-for-advice-instead-ask-how-they-got-there/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/dont-ask-for-advice-instead-ask-how-they-got-there/For this 365 days of blog posts thing I’m doing, If I have a random idea about what to write about when I’m walking outside, then I’ll write it on my phone noteSun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/earning-enough-savings-in-1-year-to-take-a-4-year-holiday/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/earning-enough-savings-in-1-year-to-take-a-4-year-holiday/What would you do if you knew you had enough free cash to last you Four years? Save it? Take a holiday? Buy a new car? Quit your job? Go travelling? What then iFri, 13 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/firstpostin3years/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/firstpostin3years/I noticed it’s been 3 years since my last blog post and I’d like to get back into regular blogging, so I’ll give a quick synopsis of events in my life over thatSun, 18 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/getting-back-into-developing-studynwalk/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/getting-back-into-developing-studynwalk/Ive recently restarted work on the StudyNWalk Flashcard app that I started a few years ago. Between that time and now parse.com became a thing, and then it didnWed, 21 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/google-maps-on-holiday/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/google-maps-on-holiday/I’d like to contrast the mobile technology I had during the first and latest time I was in Japan. It’s fun to reminisce! But having google maps was completely tFri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/googleplaypaidappsforfree/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/googleplaypaidappsforfree/As a developer and publisher of apps, I wouldn’t be impressed to hear that people are getting my paid-for apps without paying for them. After all, thats my hardSun, 21 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/happy-new-year-a-review-of-last-year-and-my-plans-for-next-year/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/happy-new-year-a-review-of-last-year-and-my-plans-for-next-year/Happy new year! It has been almost a year since I began looking at personal development, and I’d like to give a quick review of some of the stuff I’ve done and Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/how-to-retire-by-35/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/how-to-retire-by-35/TLDR; The way to retire earlier than usual retirement age is to build up a personal financial portfolio that pays you enough to pay for your outgoings. Lean FIRThu, 04 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/i-just-peaked-too-early-in-life/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/i-just-peaked-too-early-in-life/Do you ever look back at times in your life when you might have been happier or more successful than you are now? Did you make certain decisions or did certain Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/its-ok-to-fail/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/its-ok-to-fail/I’d like to talk about failure. Failing tasks can be embarrassing to the individual but more importantly it can cause severe problems, especially at work. I’d lMon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/my-first-role-at-toastmasters-and-i-screw-it-up/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/my-first-role-at-toastmasters-and-i-screw-it-up/Amongst ruining someone else’s speech last night because I didn’t time it properly, I kept on forgetting to turn the cards over to indicate the times during speFri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/new-site-theme-for-easier-navigation/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/new-site-theme-for-easier-navigation/Based on feedback from friends I have changed the theme on my wordpress blog to make it easier to navigate. The main focus of this site is the blog section so IMon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/one-year-of-daily-blog-posts/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/one-year-of-daily-blog-posts/Steve Pavlina completed one year of daily blog posts during 2020. I used to read a lot of his posts, bought his book and even signed up for a couple of his courMon, 25 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/organisation-for-youtube-and-app-recommendations/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/organisation-for-youtube-and-app-recommendations/I realised I missed out the Youtube and App recommendations yesterday, so I’ll do two of each today! Which actually gives me a chance to write about how I’m plaThu, 28 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/owning-and-driving-an-lpg-modified-car/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/owning-and-driving-an-lpg-modified-car/I’d like to give my experiences with buying and using an LPG car. The advantages are cheaper fuel and road tax and its better for the environment. Having a convThu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/personal-development-interviewer-youtube-recommendations/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/personal-development-interviewer-youtube-recommendations/Joe Rogan Podcast, Tom Bilyeu, Russel Brand https://www.youtube.com/user/PowerfulJRE, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnYMOamNKLGVlJgRUbamveA, https://www.youtThu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/photoreading-does-it-work/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/photoreading-does-it-work/I recently became aware of the concept of Photo Reading by Paul Scheele. I decided to have a more in-depth look and see how it works, and perhaps try out a few Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/react-native-projects-on-mac-cheatsheet/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/react-native-projects-on-mac-cheatsheet/I’ve been looking into React Native development recently and by lots of trial and error and searching Stack overflow, github and Facebook’s own documentation toTue, 04 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/retro-game-emulation-on-android-phones/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/retro-game-emulation-on-android-phones/I haven’t done a blog in a few days and also, these apps (and youtube channels) are all along the same lines so I’ll group them together. One of the reasons I aThu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2009-and-plans-for-2010-part-2-health/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2009-and-plans-for-2010-part-2-health/This post is a continuation from my previous entry about my review of 2009 and plans for the next coming year. The topic I’d like to cover now is Health. var huTue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2009-and-plans-for-2010-part-3-communication-skills-toastmasters/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2009-and-plans-for-2010-part-3-communication-skills-toastmasters/A continuation of my review of 2009 and plans for the coming year, focusing on communication skills and Toastmasters.Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2009-and-plans-for-2010-part-4-mind-set-beliefs-and-work-life/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2009-and-plans-for-2010-part-4-mind-set-beliefs-and-work-life/This post is a continuation from my previous entry about my review of 2009 and plans for the next coming year. Setting and achieving goals is something that hasTue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2017-2018-2019-2020/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/review-of-2017-2018-2019-2020/Because updates to this blog has been so sporadic, I thought I’d add in a few sentences for each year to remind myself what I did in them! An earlier post was tTue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/srs-flashcard-algorithm-bucket-srs/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/srs-flashcard-algorithm-bucket-srs/The Spacial-Repetition-System (SRS) uses the theory that the brain forgets information over time and must be ‘refreshed’ at determined time intervals in oThu, 14 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/star-wars-last-jedi-was-so-bad-it-made-me-never-want-to-go-to-the-cinema-again/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/star-wars-last-jedi-was-so-bad-it-made-me-never-want-to-go-to-the-cinema-again/A few points helped me come to that conclusion. The plot line was weak enough for me to not care at all about the outcome in the movie. It was all over the placSat, 13 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/switching-over-from-windows-to-linux-and-im-not-a-linux-geek/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/switching-over-from-windows-to-linux-and-im-not-a-linux-geek/After a failed attempt at using Linux 10 years ago, this year I finally plucked up the courage to try it out again. This time round it was a complete success anMon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/take-the-web-20-approach-to-life/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/take-the-web-20-approach-to-life/The web 2.0 phenomenon. Phenomenal! Where would we be without it? In no other time could we quickly share pictures, join clubs and check up on lost friends, eveMon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/taking-the-mvp-approach-to-product-development/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/taking-the-mvp-approach-to-product-development/For the last six months I’ve been making apps on mobile phone platforms and I’m seeing some early successes that push me to keep on going with it. Following theSat, 15 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/the-dream-of-owning-my-own-business-gone-forever/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/the-dream-of-owning-my-own-business-gone-forever/Work for the most important company in the world... your own. It was my dream for years, so why didnt I apply for it ? var hupso_services_c=new Array("twittFri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/the-virtues-of-an-early-start/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/the-virtues-of-an-early-start/Does your job have flexi-time? What times are you allowed to start in the morning? And what time do you actually come in at? I can honestly say I’ve had the mosWed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/the-weblog-hurdle-beating-through-the-pain-of-sporadic-and-deserted-blogs/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/the-weblog-hurdle-beating-through-the-pain-of-sporadic-and-deserted-blogs/As you may have seen, it has been some time since I have posted on my blog with any consistancy. I guess this is the fate of the majority of blogs; the writer hTue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/thoughts-of-studying-chinese-this-year-and-tips-to-begin-or-re-boot-your-studying-part-1/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/thoughts-of-studying-chinese-this-year-and-tips-to-begin-or-re-boot-your-studying-part-1/I’ve been living in Taiwan for 9 months now, studying at least a little Chinese most days and i’d like to give my thoughts on how its going and what advice I coThu, 05 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/thoughts-of-studying-chinese-this-year-and-tips-to-begin-or-re-boot-your-studying-part-2/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/thoughts-of-studying-chinese-this-year-and-tips-to-begin-or-re-boot-your-studying-part-2/This is the 2nd part of my Thoughts on studying Chinese this year and tips to begin or re-boot your studying (part 1). If you are looking to study a new languagThu, 05 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/thoughts-on-playing-elite-dangerous-its-basically-learning-to-code-all-over-again/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/thoughts-on-playing-elite-dangerous-its-basically-learning-to-code-all-over-again/In 2017 I bought Elite Dangerous on PS4. It was on sale and I had heard about the game beforehand. I’d actually played and completed a similar game called RebelSun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/toastmaster-for-the-evening/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/toastmaster-for-the-evening/The other week I was Toastmaster for the evening, at my local Toastmaster club. I’d like to articulate my thoughts about it as it might be encouraging to othersTue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/top-3-places-to-have-interviews/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/top-3-places-to-have-interviews/As an office worker I’m sure you know the drill for the interview process. Walk up to the huge office block, ask at ground floor reception for the company officSat, 14 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/using-agile-sprints-and-trello-boards-for-everything/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/using-agile-sprints-and-trello-boards-for-everything/In my adult life I’ve had a few cycles of not working and then working again over long periods. One of the issues I have is making good use of the time that’s nTue, 02 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/what-are-you-talking-about-a-valuable-tool-to-increase-your-ability-at-presentations/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/what-are-you-talking-about-a-valuable-tool-to-increase-your-ability-at-presentations/Do you feel uncomfortable giving presentations to others? Maybe you don’t like talking to large groups of people, where the focus point is you, but you have nevMon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/what-happened-to-3d-tvs-and-movies/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/what-happened-to-3d-tvs-and-movies/One major part of my university course was studying the concepts behind 3D graphics in video games. (mostly painful mathematics.) One thing I remember thinking Sat, 30 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/what-makes-the-giant-mega-corporation-company-entity-us-puny-humans/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/what-makes-the-giant-mega-corporation-company-entity-us-puny-humans/Should you join a work union ? I’d like to talk a little about a situation that has arisen at work recently, regarding working conditions . This expands into woTue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/why-everyone-should-read-this-blog/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/why-everyone-should-read-this-blog/Hi and welcome to martinogg.com This is draft 2 of my introduction. Let me show you what I wrote first time round.. “I am a computer programmer and have been woFri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.martinogg.com/blog/writing-a-good-blog-post-where-was-i-again/https://www.martinogg.com/blog/writing-a-good-blog-post-where-was-i-again/Do you find writing a difficult subject? Is the idea in your head but when it comes time to writing it down, your mind goes blank and nothing can kick start youSun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT