News

Calmira, the Windows 95-like desktop for Windows 3.x, returns

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Calmira Reborn is fourth in the line of Calmira projects. It is a fork of Calmira LFN 3.32 by Alexandre Rodrigues de Sousa, itself a fork of Calmira II 3.3 by Calmira Online!, itself a fork of Calmira 2.2SR by Li-Hsin Huang. This fork does not place much emphasis on new features and instead focuses on fixing issues I’ve discovered with Calmira LFN while using it on my old computers. Calmira should ring a bell for most Windows users of the ’90s. Calmira adds a Windows 95-like desktop environment to replace Program Manager on Windows 3.x, along with tons of other features and niceties. It makes using Windows 3.x a lot less cumbersome, and I am definitely going to set up a new Windows 3.11 install in PCem to try this new release out.

A time warp 1974 Vauxhall Victor FE with just 86 miles on the clock has been discovered in a…

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A time warp 1974 Vauxhall Victor FE with just 86 miles on the clock has been discovered in a dusty garage.

The classic motor was bought brand new but was virtually unused by its proud owner, known only as Mr Milner.

Before the pristine car was locked away in an outbuilding, its moss green body work was oiled and the seats covered in polythene.

Bizarrely, a dozen empty red fuel cannisters along with a 1974 Haynes manual was put in the boot.

The car was found locked in a garage following Mr Milner’s death around ten years ago.

After being sold to a collector by the executors of Mr Milner’s estate, it was bought by The Great British Car Journey museum in Ambergate, Derbys., last November.

Staff have now posted pictures of the car on Facebook in a bid to discover more about its history and the mysterious Mr Milner.

Documents found in the glove box show Mr Milner bought the car from Mercury Garage, in Ilkeston, Derbys., on April 12, 1974.

Six years after the car was purchased, Mr Milner took it to Derby for Ziebart rust proofing.

It then had its cream leather seats covered in protective wrapping and a number of spare parts, including an exhaust pipe and fuel cans, put in the boot.

The car is thought to have sat untouched for decades before it was finally unearthed during a house clearance following Mr Milner’s death.

Richard Felkin, who bought the car from Mr Milner’s estate, said: “The car was originally found by Dez Dexter who does demolition work – we buy all the reclaimed bricks off him.

“He was asked to clear this land by the executor of the will for Mr Milner when he passed but he didn’t know the car was there.

“I was collecting bricks and ended up buying the car off him.

“When I found the car, all the chrome and lights had been removed and stored in the car.

“What couldn’t be removed was covered over to protect it.”

With no family or friends to ask, the museum is hoping those who lived nearby at the time may be able to provide some information about the car’s history.

The car has the registration plate SRB 705M and has a top speed of 110mph.

Museum founder Richard Usher said: “We would love to know more about this Victor and why the owner never used it.

“It really is a one of a kind story that we’re desperate to know more about.

“If the name of Mr Milner or the car description rings any bells, please get in touch with us as we would love to solve the puzzle of this mystery car.”

‘Share your Moodle love 🧡🎓’ competition: only 1 week left to vote

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by Aurélie Soulier.  

Hello Moodlers!

Are we in the Moodle for love?
We now have 14 brilliant entries for the ‘Share your Moodle love 🧡🎓’ competition. There’s one week left to vote!

We’d like you to vote for the Moodle course design(s) that you love. You have until Monday 13 January 2023 at 23:59 UTC to vote for a great course, and we have a prize for the winner and runner-up (and badges)  to be announced on 14th February 2023.

Head to the Competition Centre to read the rules and vote for your favourite Moodle course design, now.

Note: you need to self-enrol in the Competition Centre and remain enrolled for your vote to count! Vote are on each single entry (not in ‘list view).

Best wishes and good luck to all the 14 great entries!
Aurélie and the Community Sites team