Phurphuxake

2012 ticket fiasco...

2011-06-24T22:29:00.001+01:00

Seems a lot of folk are getting blown out/off trying to buy tickets for the 2012 London Olympics...

...yes it does look a bit like a Simpsons character...

Ice balls II...

2011-06-11T17:09:00.011+01:00

...and the quest for that perfect lump of ice to go into the gin & tonic goes on.

•••

The Muji ice ball mould (posted a few days ago) has had varying levels of success, with different mixes of water (plain tap, filtered tap, distilled, twice boiled distilled) and methods of freezing (straight in freezer, wrapped in freezer, in cooler bag in freezer).

The speed of freezing is producing cracked ice balls but by placing the Mujis in a cooler bag, the freezing process is slowed enough to result in a solid ball which, while clear towards the outside, is still featuring the spear-like 'air bubble tracks'.

It looks like an Xmas bauble but is in one piece and definitely melts at a far slower rate than your regular ice cube.

Twice boiled distilled water

Why all the fuss? Blame it on a G&T I had in Vegas in January this year at José Andrés' "e" restaurant...

It had a crystal clear ice sphere in it, more than likely produced using one of these... Ice Ball Maker

Another new gin, chin chin...

2011-06-11T16:27:00.001+01:00

From the makers of the world champ vodka, comes a Gin...

The Most Complicated Gin in the World...
It is a relatively unknown fact that gin is made from vodka. So, unlike other gins, our gin is truly single estate from field to bottle.
We press our organically grown cider apples, ferment them into cider, then distil into vodka then re-distil this into gin by infusing eleven carefully selected wild botanicals and our naturally pure water taken from our aquifer that runs underneath our orchards.
The result is our full bodied, sharp, yet fruity gin with tears and true provenance.
Our botanicals: Juniper, Coriander, Angelica, Liquorice, Orrice, Orange, Lemon, Hops, Elderflower and Bramley apple.
...to make the perfect gin martini and the ultimate British Gin & Tonic

For more info: Chase Distillery / Williams Gin

High Dynamic Range photos

2011-06-11T16:12:00.005+01:00

Have been experimenting with a bit of 'pseudo' HDR tweakery on my photographs using a bit of software called HDRtist Pro (£19.99).
The results can be quite good and as well as using multiple image exposures it can also edit single images to produce the effect of an HDR image.

I'm not going to go into the details of HDR, as there is plenty of info on the web, but the image above (with a vertical slice of HDR through the centre) demonstrates how dark areas in images can be 'brought out' to varying degrees.

A free version of HDRtist is available but it doesn't allow the same scale of manipulation as the Pro version.

Ice balls...

2011-06-06T13:39:00.001+01:00

Silicone Ice Ball mould

Bargain...

2011-05-11T12:18:00.001+01:00

Microsoft has paid £5 Billion for Skype...

Obviously nobody told them they can download it for free from the website..

Intermittnet...

2011-05-08T22:59:00.003+01:00

in·ter·mitt·net/ˌintərˈmitnət/

Adjective: Internet service prone to a being less than stable at irregular intervals; not steady; argh

On.
Off.
On.
Off...

Months of pretty much rock steady internet it's started dropping out again - hope I'm not going back to the frustrating experience I had before...

http://phurphuxake.blogspot.com/2009/09/two-weeks-broadbandless.html

Global conspiracy...

2011-03-24T15:56:00.000Z

Why do clothing manufacturers insist on stitching product care/information labels into the side seams of t-shirts?
'Seams' they always position these labels right around the point where the waistband of ones trews would be. And why use material for these labels with the abrasive quality of a coarse sandpaper?
Okay, it's not hip to wear shirts tucked in but, when worn as a base layer in cold weather, I'm sure I am not alone in secretly shoving my t-shirt down my trousers!

Yes, it is a slow day in the newsroom....

New gin in the cabinet…

2011-03-21T12:14:00.003Z

Sipsmith Gin

Spotted - new Mini mini SUV

2011-03-21T12:11:00.001Z

Life in the fast (mobile broadband) lane...

2011-01-21T23:24:00.000Z

Picked up a 3 Mobile MiFi the other day for use with a recently acquired Wi-Fi only iPad.

Visiting the in-laws at the moment where any mobile phone signal is a rare thing let alone a mobile broadband one. Took my T-Mobile 3G modem and the 3 Mobile MiFi to try and help them figure out a way around the lack of any broadband service over a landline. BT are being useless in even giving them a date that a service will be even considered. Villagers have discussed a community satellite broadband system, but it is only in a discussion stage.

The T-Mobile couldn't even get up a fast walking pace, O2 (on the iPhone) wouldn't get off the starting blocks but the 3 Mobile has surprised me by getting speeds of 2.5+ Mbps.

The inlaws were so surprised that it bettered by about 1Mbps their previous broadband service in their old property, they asked me to go online and get them the 3 Mobile USB dongle modem.

For once a UK mobile phone company has surprised me by actually delivering a decent service and coverage.

Thumbs up for 3.....

Grip, grip, grip....

2011-01-14T17:29:00.000Z

So the Nokians have proved their worth. We've had snow and quite a bit too.
The tyres gave so much grip it was almost like having four wheel drive - OK, I know I could have been halted by really deep stuff or extremes of the bad weather but the tyres were really such an improvement that I felt confident to tackle side roads where only 4x4s had ventured.
Big tick in the pleased box!

32000' over Glasgow. Release bombs!!!!

2011-01-06T01:58:00.001Z

So its a travelling I will go once again. On the road to Las Vegas and CES for the second year even though I said last year might be my first and last time.
Travel, by air at least, is becoming a real drag as I am sure my legions of readers will agree.
You, well I, take advantage of park and fly deals with airport hotels and cut out that "will-we-won't-we-make-it" lottery of driving down the same day as your flight. Travel the day before and have a cold beer and tasty snack in the bar then retire to your room for a restful nights slumber. Or not, if the air con system sounds like some throw back to a black country mill!
Ah well, just suck that up and rest easy in the knowledge that you can stroll to the terminal and check in.
Except for the increasingly personal level of undress that one has to undergo just to get into the departure area. Shoes off, coats off, small change and spectacles, testicles, watch and wallet in the tray before stepping through the portal into the next dimension. How long before we are stripped bare to outwit the Jibjabistanis? Too late I fear, as the US implement their Xray-O-Vision full body scanners. They can now tell which side you dress to!!!!
Delayed flight by 45 minutes (well an hour actually) and some lanky gibbon-like teenager in the seat in front all add to the pleasure of international air travel. I have to be careful not to fall asleep, even though my eyes feel like they have been irrigated with a cocktail of Vim and battery acid, for fear my snoring will set off the knee tap reflex of the person sat behind! Grab a paper or magazine and read dammit. Virgin have a quiet zone on some flights. Maybe they need a snore zone for us heavy sleepers?
Suck it up man!
So, I'll get in at 10.30pm (UK time) 2.30pm (local) and will have to struggle on for another 8-10 hours to slot into Vegastime with 4 hours sleep tacked onto a ten hour flight. Deeply joyble in the words of Mr Unwin....

Filthwizardry

2011-01-06T01:55:00.002Z

From our Motoring Editor, Buster Bloodvessel...

Don't go to kwikfit!
£468.00 for exhaust!
Guy lifted car (engine running) we walked underneath he put his hand over the exhuast pipe (engine running!)no doubt to help aid our hearing to any escaping gases and then burnt his hand.....
He then said (with a pained expression and one hand under his armpit) "It'ss aaa compeletee system umff" and to be fair it looked complete from the mainfold, Cat and box all one piece but only the box was "blowing" a bit.
"I'll get you a quote" we go to the office he gets on the machine and with one hand under his arm pit quotes me £400+ pounds i go "mmm" his grimey co-erks go "bloodyhell"!

I said "I only need the box" he says they can cut the box off the new system and I can hang on to it till I need to replace the cat.... - I said "you surggest cutting the new £400+ system in half"
With no doubt a slightly ironic - phased expression on my face (I couldn't wait to tell C there's £340 pounds of Cat and pipe under the bed)

I asked if they could weld a patch? all 3 filthwizards pipe up and say "were not allowed to weld here" (probably because they'd FACKING burn themselves!!!!!) I left on good terms saying I'd think about it and then ran to my car feeling I was going mad.

Then popped into my local garage had chat with a dude who said there thieving scum at KF (no sh#t) and you can buy boxes on there own from the main dealers for £60 and a sleeve kit to adapt it to the pipe, which I remembered from my days of working at Citroen.

I'm now going to have a beer and sit in a darkened room for a bit.

Nokians fitted...

2010-11-22T15:14:00.003Z

Back in February I posted about trying to get my hands on some winter tyres. Well, the long wait is over - I had a set of Nokian WR G2 winter tyres fitted to the car today.

Now to await the ice and snow....

Mitchell & Webb...

2010-08-17T21:18:00.000+01:00

...poke fun at modern computer stores....

Good job I'd finished my sake...

Arrggghhhh....

2010-08-17T14:52:00.002+01:00

Why, oh why, do shops insist on giving it's customers till receipts equivalent in length to the Dead Sea Scrolls?

I got behind in my shredding of these, so tackled the pile today and almost threw the shredder through the window in frustration, as these flimsy strips of paper refused to be fed into the shredders jaws!

Most shops aren't satisfied in handing you one of these mini toilet rolls - they seem to delight in two, three or more.
The further we seem to head into a cashless, paperless society the more paper we seem to waste...

Friendface...

2010-07-30T22:22:00.000+01:00

friendface - we own everything and everything is fine

┌──▄ Amazahzing Consortium ▄──┐ | MySpace Video

Flushed down the drain...

2010-07-16T00:04:00.003+01:00

I deleted my Facebook account at the end of May. I was getting fed up with the Twitter like outpourings of some of those in my friends list. And we know what I think of Twitter...

Seeing the Raoul Moat tribute page debacle unfold I'm glad I am no longer an account holder. The 'groups' that sprang up for the most pathetic cause célèbre exposed the dross of society.

Now we have the cretins who hail Moat as a legend and see him as some sort of modern day Robin Hood. He was a violent bully who shot dead one man, shot his ex, then shot a policeman in the face, blinding him for life. Not a legend.

This group, and the ones that have appeared since the original was closed, is like a fresh turd. It attracts the flies that swarm all over it in a frenzy - eventually the turd dries up and the flies go off to find another place to lay their eggs (or post their idiotic views).

While the internet is a good thing most of the time, every now and again this new media/social network crap bubbles up like effluent from a blocked drain...

Goodbye i(P)OS4...

2010-07-13T11:58:00.005+01:00

I have had enough.

My iPhone 3G has been pretty much fecked since I uploaded i(P)OS4 to it. Lost a couple of apps (Qik Video being one of them) and the benefits (if there were any) of the two "improvements" (mail and folders) that i(P)OS4 brought over the OS3 are certainly not enough for me to keep this updated software on my iPhone.

So today I am following the tutorial over on TiPb.com on how to downgrade your iPhone from i(P)OS4.

I am sure there are many iPhone users completely happy with i(P)OS4 but this one isn't. Hopefully a smooth downgrade will be possible.

Thanks Apple.....

FYI:
Downgrade/backdate/reversion, or whatever you wish to call it, went fine - the phone is back to being as quick as it ever was prior the mistake of updating to iOS4. Apps open almost immediately and writing an email is back to being lag-free.

This is NOT a crèche....

2010-07-13T11:21:00.002+01:00

Really pisses me off when yummy mummies decide to take over already cramped coffee shops with the perambulator equivalents of 4x4 off roaders. Tell you what, why not just block that seating area off completely - circle the strollers, wagon train like, to prevent anyone else from finding a seat. Leave the bloody machines outside will you!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Neat art...

2010-07-07T14:01:00.003+01:00

While I have resisted the urge or temptation to spend yet more money on some latest Apple 'must-have' gadget my interest is now and again piqued when I see some users making use of the iPad as a new form of art tablet.
One such example is Goro Fujita.

For now, no iPad for me....

Half price sticker placement - WIN...

2010-02-25T15:35:00.002Z

I have yet to spot another example of such complete Bookcover Burqaism on the shelves....

TwoSeatsBob...

2010-02-16T10:43:00.003Z

Maybe that could also be STFUBob, WhineyAssBob, SeatBlockerBob and a 100 other variables on the current farce rumbling around the internets regarding Kevin Smith and his fat lardy ass getting turned off a flight from LA to SF.
Smith claims he books two seats not because he is "Too Fat To Fly" but because he is anti-social and doesn't want to sit cheek by jowl with another fat flyer. Or a member of the human race.
This guy probably has enough money to charter his own plane to fly to SF. Then he could sit in splendid solitude while the rest of us have to deal with all the problems of modern air travel. But no, he prefers to book two seats. Then gets all arsey when he opts to fly standby then gets turned off that flight. If the flight was booked solid and some person trying desperately to get a flight for some emergency was told sorry flight is full, no seats available, would you give up your spare seat? Probably not, as you booked for your fat shadow.
Here is a tip AntiSocialBob - if you can't stand being around other people try driving. You have four/five seats to yourself. You can choose your own entertainment. You can stop to eat when you want and you have a better choice of food. You can set your own departure time. You don't have to deal with TSA. Get the picture yet Mr Director?

Or maybe just stay at home with your chubby little legs kicked back in your La Z Boy typing away furiously on your computer...

I'm disappointed that SWA is bending over backwards to placate this moron while all the time feeding the frenzy of his fanboys all screaming for SWA to be hung from the nearest hill.

They have a policy in place for safety reasons. Next time I am forced to sit next to an obese passenger I'll be asking to move because now I will just see flying fatties as selfish ignorant jerk offs like Kevin "SilentBob" Smith......

Macworld 2010 - "hugely successful"

2010-02-15T11:34:00.015Z

They were the words of IDG's expo 'main man' Paul Kent at the end of this years MWSF 2010.

I think "hugely successful" may be gilding the lily slightly - from just searching for figures on the net for previous years there is no doubt that attendance is way down - the hi-tech graph above shows it is.

The figures for 2008-2010 are approximate - 2008 was supposed to be up 10% on the previous year, 2009 figs don't appear to be released and this year the 20,000 is sourced from www.istockanalyst.com

If a drop of such a huge amount is considered a "success" then I wonder what a failure looks like!
With the demise of Paris and then London after Apple withdrew, I wonder how long IDG will maintain Macworld in it's current form?

My thoughts after MWSF 2009...

Ordering now for next winter...

2010-02-08T16:07:00.007Z

...was the reply when I tried to order a set of "winter" tyres from the UK importer. With a new set of tyres needed for the front of my car I decided on trying to source a set of Nokian WR G2 winter/all season tyres. I'd read good reviews on these tyres and contrary to what the dealer may think they are classed as all season tyres by the manufacturer, Nokian.

So, with the recent wintery weather we've experienced I thought a good set of winter rubber would be a good option over the all season brands usually sold here in the UK.
Tracking these tyres down hasn't been easy as it appears many other UK drivers are discovering the benefits of winter tyres. So I contacted the UK importer and was surprised to be told that they wouldn't be ordering any more until October! The impression I got was they believed the WR G2 was only for use during snowy weather.
My search goes on....

Nokian WR G2

Seasalt Steve?

2009-12-05T18:43:00.000Z

I'll have one for Xmas...

2009-11-25T14:45:00.002Z

LINK

And a follow up...

2009-11-05T01:07:00.001Z

ReTwotting I just twoted all over the place...

2009-11-05T00:41:00.002Z

Just cos I can...

Tis the season....

2009-11-04T12:44:00.000Z

...to get fat!!!

Starbucks Eggnog latte and Turkey Feast panini...

I wish..........

2009-09-21T13:12:00.003+01:00

Hoo bloody rah...

2009-09-15T15:28:00.000+01:00

My broadband/internet connection has just been restored!!!....

25 Days...

2009-09-14T17:10:00.002+01:00

...since I lost my broadband/internet.
Last Friday I was told that Pipex engineers were still trying to fix the problem. They hoped it would be sorted within 24 to 48 hours. I asked did they mean it would be after the weekend it would be fixed and when told it would decided enough was enough.
I called the cancellations department for a migration code but they tried to assure me they were doing all they could to fix the problem.
I have decided to move - I'll wait to see if they do fix my service by tomorrow (Tuesday) as promised but they have lost a customer. I have already contacted BT regarding moving my phone and line rental back to them and as I now have the MAC number as soon as my broadband is back up and running I'm moving.
Over three weeks is an unacceptable time to not have a service that is being paid for. Now to see if I can get that 'technical refund'.

I'm not completely happy with the result, as BT still has left the 'door' open regarding the PHORM Webwise snooping software partnership, but having dabbled with ISPs which have to rely on the one company (BT) which controls the infrastructure of the phone/internet system I have had enough of call centres in countries where the staff have 'westernised' names to help the customer understand them.

You know what I mean...

Spread the news...

2009-09-14T16:55:00.003+01:00

For a few years now I have been partial to a certain butter and buy it on a regular basis.
The butter is Bridel Brittany Butter with Sea Salt Crystals. My local Waitrose stocked it and recently I noted that alongside the Bridel butter was what appeared to be Waitrose's own version.

I muttered something along the lines of "I bet they stop stocking the Bridel..." and sure enough last week I noticed that the shelf label for the Bridel had been taken off.

I asked one of the staff if they were discontinuing this line but he stated after asking a 'manager' that it was a supply problem, and they had taken the label down to prevent confusion. (Yeah...)

Normally they leave the label up with a "Currently not available" sticker over it. No confusion there normally...

I have yet to check other Waitrose branches but this isn't the first time they have removed items from their shelves which I have developed a taste for...

Two weeks broadbandless...

2009-09-04T12:09:00.003+01:00

21 August 2009 - 4 September 2009

So today is the two week 'anniversary' of not having any broadband connection.
Two weeks ago the DSL light on my router went out and it is still out.
Several calls to Pipex/Tiscali/TalkTalk/whoever and two visits from BT engineers and a Tiscali Broadband engineer have not solved the issue.

My equipment is not to blame. Rebooting/reseting the router made no difference. Swapping to a spare router made no change. Changing the micro-filter made no difference. Pipex tested the line with a '680 error' reported (that's no dial tone to save you Googling it).
BT arrived eventually but could not help as the line was fine and he was told it was a line fault then departed after trying to confuse me with a shitload of acronyms/abbreviations (he succeeded).
Tiscali Broadband engineer arrived about 10 days later and said it wasn't my equipment (surprise) as his router failed to illuminate the DSL light, and went within ten minutes. Couple of days later another BT engineer arrived to fix a line fault but not a BB fault!

What? Wait, it was reported as a line fault NOT a broadband fault? I sense I'm getting stuck in a loop here....

He did go to the exchange and checked the "mapping" (OK) and the line (OK) and swapped out the BT socket (just in case) and now, today, I have been sitting around since 8am waiting for the broadband guy to arrive. Appointment was set for between 8am and 1pm and it is now 1215pm.
Wonder if he'll turn up at 1259pm?

Wonder if he'll get me back online?

Wonder if I'll still be relying on a 3G modem on my Macbook in an area where there is no 3G coverage.

Wonder where I will take my business to, once that little green light on my router starts to flicker and pulse again?....

Facebook - the truth hurts?

2009-09-03T21:00:00.001+01:00

Found this article in the Wall Street Journal which rings true for me -
http://bit.ly/iuTRk

Some of the commenters are obviously hardcore MyFacing Twattering saddos......

Where have I been?...

2009-08-15T11:44:00.003+01:00

Travelling.
Break.
Vacation.
Holiday.

Take your pick.

I missed this though -

Twitter Goes Down Again After More Cyberattacks...

Must have sent waves of panic thought the breasts of all those Twatters....

Awww.....

At Last....

2009-08-15T11:43:00.001+01:00

"PithHelmet 2.8.5 finally adds support for Safari 4."

LINK

Phucking Phuming @ Phorm

2009-05-14T15:39:00.003+01:00

I'm a Pipex customer.
Pipex was taken over by Tiscali.
Tiscali went bust and was eventually taken over by TalkTalk (owned by Carphone Warehouse).
TalkTalk (along with BT and Virgin) are linked to the Phorm advertising/snooping company.
TalkTalk have stated that customers will have an opt-in choice to be subject to their 'traffic' being monitored (rather than BT's opt-out).

Opt-in or opt-out, I want nothing to do with this and have written to Pipex requesting clarification of whether they will be subjecting their customer base to it.

Time to look for another ISP...

What is this butcher saying about his pies...

2009-04-06T11:36:00.000+01:00

I just twoted all over the place...

2009-03-26T00:15:00.001Z

Enough is enough...

2009-03-22T14:02:00.015Z

Back in January 08 I had a few words to say about the likes of Twitter and those who use it and similar micro-blogging tools.
Well, I have to say, my stance on these hasn't changed. In fact, I think my hatred of Twitter et al has actually deepened, with the news that UK politicians are now signing up for Twitter accounts, in order for us to see what they are wasting their time doing.
While the uptake on Twitter accounts is low (only 35 use it so far, 1 in 18 MPs) there is a site where you can read all their collective daily "Tweets" together - http://tweetminster.co.uk/
One Labour MP tweets so much I wonder if he gets any work done? Tom Watson [Lab] - West Bromwich East (1750).

More and more people are seeing the need to share the drudgery of their everyday lives, and maybe my voice is alone in the wilderness of internetwebland, so I will just have to tut and roll my eyes in frustration.
And live on in the hope that Twitter hurries up and dies...

---000--*U*--000---

On a side note, I did have a chuckle at the 'news' that Twitter were going to launch 'premium accounts' - Twitter Unveils New Premium Accounts - I watched in some amusement as the Twitterers "retweeted" this around the 'net (or the "Twittersphere", as they have named their corner of the 'net' ).

Many were completely fooled by this satire and I expect some were getting quite excited at the thought of having more than 140 characters to spell out their activities with.
100 pages of search results exist for "Twitter Unveils New Premium Accounts" and I suspect there would be more but it appears Twitter won't show up any more than 100 pages!!!

And still they post 'tweets' on it - 3 days after the piece was published!!!

A great joke on the Twitter users - but I wonder if it will backfire on the author when Twitter does introduce 'premium' accounts...

...and will he be offered a "secret "Black" account"?...

Oops...

2009-03-22T14:00:00.000Z

iWhat?
I wonder if anyone at Apple realised that this App Store application spelt out a rude word?
Apple is being a little odd with some of the apps it is approving or not approving on grounds of 'taste' so I wonder if this app logo slipped past those responsible?...

Omniweb browser...

2009-02-26T10:04:00.004Z

Omnigroup have now made their Omniweb browser free!

I used to use this browser until it had to be paid for, then I switched to Camino, which I have used pretty much as my default browser since.

So I was interested to see the news that Omnigroup had decided to make it available for free. Re-acquainting myself with it today, I am quite impressed with the speed it loads pages.

Safari 4 is still in beta and its option to view open tabs in a Coverflow format seems like a slightly slicker version of the 'preview' tabs which Omniweb and the "Speed Dial" open tab review that Opera uses.

I have used Camino for so long now that maybe a free Omniweb is a little late in coming but I'm willing to give it a chance again.

The Cavalry?

2009-01-16T21:31:00.007Z

I snapped this picture on Saturday as the Don't Bomb The BART demo made it's way along Market St before turning down 4th.

Hidden up an alley opposite the hotel were these cops on trail bikes - for some reason the image of the US Cavalry waiting to head the injuns off at the pass came into my head!...

Thieves Standing Around

2009-01-16T21:27:00.001Z

So, one of my bags must have been searched by the TSA on the way home. Items of toiletries had gone missing from a bag when I unpacked on getting home. No notice left in bag to show it had been searched. The bag was fitted with one of those combination TSA approved padlocks.
A USB cable for the Just Mobile Gum Pro battery pack I picked up in SF had vanished from the same bag. Do the TSA people just tip the contents out, kick it around a bit then put some back?
I have written an email to the TSA to complain but I'm not holding out hope for a reply...
Maybe TSA stands for Taking Stuff Arbitrarily?...

Don't bomb the BART demo...

2009-01-10T23:42:00.003Z

A large protest on Saturday - the anti-Israeli/US Gaza demo joined up with the protest about a youth who was shot by the BART police up in Oakland.

A new era?

2009-01-10T01:46:00.004Z

Macworld has gone out with a whimper. So many companies seem to be saying that next year they will be staying away. Is MWSF going to go the same way as Paris and London?
It may survive by becoming smaller, and filling the black hole left in the middle of the main hall by the departure of Apple, with all the z-lister companies who are normally relegated to the North Hall. Adapt or die?

Guess we'll have to see but I suspect this may be my last trip to SF.....

Kidnapped...

2009-01-08T02:21:00.001Z

Homeless guy with sign, "My wife has been kidnapped. I just need 99c
more to pay the ransom. "

9am demo in a drizzly SF...

2009-01-05T17:31:00.010Z

"Stop the bombing in Gaza!"...

I have to wonder if they are demonstrating in Gaza to ask Hamas to stop firing rockets at the Israelis? From my viewpoint I have to say that it goes both ways.
But then that's the great thing about living in a democracy guys - you get to shout your slogans, march along busy main streets and carry your banners with a police escort ensuring you are free to protest.

Some places the police would be beating your head to a bloody pulp with your own banner poles!...

Yeah.....

2009-01-05T05:31:00.005Z

Off the plane and first stop after hotel? Yep, good ol' Beard Papa for one of their Vanilla Bean Cream Puffs....

...well, two actually!

A380 in the flesh...

2009-01-04T08:42:00.001Z

At the airport...

2009-01-03T21:10:00.003Z

Sitting in my room after a few beers and a burger in the hotel bar. Managed to configure the MacBook to work with the T-Mobile 3G modem I bought a while back. Speed seems to be reasonable now that I am in a 3G area and the laptop has a USB 2.0 port to plug it into (old iBook didn't, so couldn't test it fully before)
Flight tomorrow to SF so time to get the old noggin down so I can rise early for the shuttle bus to the terminal...

Packing apathy...

2009-01-02T15:17:00.001Z

Sitting here looking at a pile of clothes, two cases and I just have no enthusiasm for packing today.

Better do something before tomorrow though!!

New traveling companion...

2008-12-30T20:37:00.006Z

So, today I picked up a new Macbook. The 2.4GHz version. I decided that with the exchange rate on the £ being so crappy right now there was no point holding off until I got to the US to pick up a new laptop.
I managed to get some educational discount on the purchase, as well as the reduction of 2.5% VAT, so the price came to £990.

If I had bought one on the other side of the pond then it would have cost the equivalent of £1199 (about $1730 with state tax).

My trusty 8 year old 600MHz iBook G3 is going to be wiped clean and handed over to my wife once I return from MWSF.

Macbook ✔

San Francisco Here I Come (2009)

2008-12-30T00:40:00.000Z

Passport ✔
Hotel booked ✔
Flights booked ✔
Airport parking/hotel booked ✔
Macworld pass confirmed ✔
Dollars collected ✔

To Do
Pack....

Groany Excessmas

2008-12-26T13:57:00.001Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

2008-12-25T00:20:00.001Z

Crime busters...

2008-12-23T11:11:00.002Z

Police in Finland believe they have caught a car thief from a DNA sample taken from a mosquito they noticed inside an abandoned vehicle.

Finding the car in Seinaejoki, north of Helsinki, police saw that the mosquito had recently sucked blood and decided to send the insect for analysis.

The DNA found from laboratory tests matched a man on the police register.

The suspect denies stealing the car and says he was just hitch-hiking a lift with a man.

The car was stolen in June in the town of Lapua, some 380km (235 miles) north of the Finnish capital, the AFP news agency reports.

It was recovered several weeks later in Seinaejoki, about 25km from where it disappeared.

Sakari Palomaeki, the police inspector in charge of the case, said it was the first time Finnish police had used an insect to solve a crime.

"It is not usual to use mosquitoes. In training we were not told to keep an eye on mosquitoes at crime scenes," he said.

"It is not easy to find a small mosquito in a car, this just shows how thorough the crime scene investigation was," he added.

A prosecutor must now decide if the sample is strong enough for charges to be pressed.

SOURCE

Pointless iPhone apps

2008-12-23T09:46:00.007Z

While having a look through the App Store I came across some totally useless and pointless apps. Worst thing about them is people are asking to be paid for this shite....

iFart - there are 19 other farting apps for god's sake!

Electric Smoke - what is the point? Come on tell me...
If you're so desperate to be seen smoking just go out an buy a pack of cigarettes. What next, the Nicotine Gum app?

What other 'gems' are lurking in the App Store?

I wonder what morons actually stump up money for these apps and exactly how genuine are the reviews?...

W00t......

2008-12-13T12:55:00.003Z

Never thought I would get excited at the sight of a petrol station selling diesel for under £1 a litre!!!

My local Shell has it for 99.9p!

Guess what?

The BP station only half a mile away is selling it for 104.9p - still trying to rip us off!!!

How not to eat porridge...

2008-12-13T00:04:00.001Z

...sitting in front of the computer while recovering from a bad cold - coughing fit while taking a spoonful of porridge. Result? Screen covered in oats and milk...

Storm in a teacup?...

2008-12-03T16:28:00.005Z

Spend a bit of time hands on with the Blackberry Strom, err Stroll, ahh, Storm...

The keypad is not as easy to get to grips with as the Apple iPhone. In 'potrait mode' the keys are double lettered ones as opposed to a full QWERTY layout and trying to type with any speed in the landscape mode was frustrating. The 'keys' glow blue when you press them as opposed to actually presenting a pop up letter like the iPhone. Not as easy to see IMO.

Obviously it beats the iPhone hands down with it's 3.2 MP camera with a flash, ability to capture video. Having to buy extra memory is a bit of a bitch - wonder how long before Vodafone throws in a 16GB MicroSD card to the deal?

Physically pressing the screen is a bit weird - wonder how long before issues arise with this?

Think I'll stick with the iPhone for now - nice young woman served me though ;)

Find .co.uk

2008-11-12T15:30:00.002Z

Found this tip elsewhere - if you hold down the .com key you will be presented with other country domain options if you have your keyboard preferences set to UK English.

Dry Starbucks...

2008-11-12T12:22:00.003Z

Called into my local and looks like the message about water waste has
filtered down from on high....
...the 'dipper well' was dry. No taps were running at all behind the counter. Coffee tasted just the same and so far I have not keeled over with some horrendous form of food poisoning...

obama - Obama x

2008-11-07T23:24:00.001Z

Seems that the iPhone has "Obama" in it's spell correction list - type "obama" and it suggests "Obama"...

EasyWriter app...

2008-11-05T18:25:00.003Z

At last I can type on my iPhone with a bit more ease than I could
before. I have grabbed the EasyWriter app from the App Store which
allows typing in landscape mode. For a short time it is available for
free and while it is only really meant to be used for email there is
no reason why it can't be used for other writing tasks.
One aspect of the app is that anything being worked on is saved until
it is sent to the mail app. So if you have to take a call you can be
safe in the knowledge that it will still be there when your call is
finished.

Next to easyWriter in the screengrab is another free (for now) app from Griffin Technology - iTalk - I have tried this app out and the quality of the recordings seems to be pretty good. I also downloaded the iTalk Sync app for my desktop Mac and syncing witht he iPhone is quick with a drag and drop file transfer function.

2008-11-05T16:11:00.001Z

Guess Obama won then?......

US 08 Election Results

2008-11-05T00:11:00.001Z

Phone Phun...

2008-10-27T00:30:00.002Z

...and phree at that - Maze Finger...

Phude...

2008-10-20T15:17:00.002+01:00

Cornwall to Calzone....

Scary thought....

2008-10-20T12:08:00.000+01:00

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

Weird cloud...

2008-10-19T14:56:00.001+01:00

According to the weather girl this evening this 'hole' in the alto cumulus cloud is caused by ice crystals falling from above the cloud layer and through it. The ice then evaporates before hitting the ground. From the photos sent in by viewers I wasn't alone in snapping this phenomenom...

On My iPod:

2008-10-16T17:38:00.000+01:00

"Some People Have Real Problems" by Sia

New MacBooks...

2008-10-16T17:23:00.005+01:00

Just been able to view one in the flesh - very nice.
May have to splash out for one to replace my ageing, though still serviceable, iBook. That already has a new home if I happen to get a new laptop.

Bit disappointed that the backlit keyboard is only available on the 2.4GHz model - does that mean the lesser models aren't used in the same sort of conditions? C'mon Apple...

And the pricing of the new range is getting a few folk pissed off - the only thing I can say is maybe the new unibody process is a factor for the increase in price - not that I am excusing Apple for the price hike. I guess carving solid blocks of aluminium is a bit more expensive than clicking together parts made from moulded plastic.

That being said I am veering towards the 2.4GHz model anyway - just to give me a bit more 'oomph' for the future. The old iBook is a 600MHz model and while it is happy working with 10.4, it does start to show it's age when things get busy.

Water waste or Whatta Waste revisited!

2008-10-06T22:11:00.006+01:00

Seems like my observation back in March of this year regarding the waste of water in my local Starbucks has also been noticed by others...

US coffee-shop chain Starbucks has defended itself against claims of a serious waste of water by leaving taps running in its stores all day.

A spokeswoman said the purpose was to clean utensils and the policy meant the company met health standards.

But environmental groups have criticised the practice, accusing Starbucks of wasting millions of litres of water every day.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7654691.stm

At least I am not alone...

My attempt at breakfast pizza...

2008-09-30T17:27:00.001+01:00

My iPhone is an atheist...

2008-09-20T00:39:00.004+01:00

The symbol for "Genius" option in iTunes 8 bears an uncanny resemblance to the symbol used by some atheists...

http://decoy.iki.fi/atheist/no-ghost-c-06.en.html

"Just get me to the church on time"...

2008-09-13T12:44:00.001+01:00

That is one way to ensure everyone arrived for the wedding on time -
hire a Routemaster double decker bus as your wedding car!...

Breakfast Pizza

2008-09-07T10:10:00.003+01:00

I have an urge for breakfast pizza.
Pizza for breakfast I hear you protest.

Don't knock it until you've tried it - if you can put pineapple and ham on a pizza base you sure as hell can put beaten egg, sausage, bacon, mushrooms and cheese!!!!

Now I think about breakfast a bit more - biscuits and sausage gravy...yum...

London 2012....

2008-09-04T14:22:00.002+01:00

Now that the 2008 Olympics are over we can look forward to four years of being bombarded with the London 2012 logo...

Well, I'm not going to suffer it alone - in case you hadn't spotted the blooper...

Thanks Darling.....

2008-09-03T15:12:00.002+01:00

... for opening your trap and sending the pound tumbling on the international money markets.
I decided to buy some now just in case there are any further drops in the pound against the dollar.
Today £1 bought me $1.70 compared to the $1.97 it got me just under a year ago...

God this coffee is strong...

2008-09-03T12:55:00.000+01:00

...there are a couple dressed in fifties rockabilly style attire and they have just sat down across from me......

Intel iMac - #2

2008-09-01T14:14:00.002+01:00

So, TNT have delivered my second replacement Intel iMac today.
Screen looks fine and no other issues appear to be obvious.
Now to find out if the Time Machine back up of my PowerPC G5 will install trouble free on the Intel iMac...

Great gadget but...

2008-08-30T14:44:00.001+01:00

...I need one just to open the pack!!!

Today I unpacked my new iMac...

2008-08-21T14:17:00.002+01:00

...then packed it back up again about 30 minutes later!

On starting it up I spotted a black mark on the lower left quarter of the screen. Not dead/stuck pixels as far as I could see but what appeared to be an upside down L shaped mark on the LCD screen.
After a few phone calls it is getting collected and replaced - so I guess another week to fortnight without a desktop machine.

LeRoi Moore - 1961-2008

2008-08-20T10:51:00.002+01:00

http://www.davematthewsband.com/news/

Thursday - iMac Day?

2008-08-20T09:11:00.000+01:00

Hopefully tomorrow will see the arrival of my 24" 3.06GHz Intel iMac.

IF TNT can find my house...

Bye bye iMac...

2008-08-07T15:16:00.004+01:00

TNT are picking up my G5 iMac for return to Apple this afternoon.

Wonder how soon the shiny new iMac will take to arrive?....

Or maybe they are not. Just got a phone call to say that the driver could not find my address!
So, TNT employ people with no ability to ask for directions? There is a Post Office/Store about 500 yds from my home on the main road through the village. The driver didn't think to maybe stop and go and ask? UPS seem to manage to find me...
I asked if they had sat nav? Apparently the drivers tend to ignore the satnav in small villages as they aren't accurate. Well, MY satnav seems to work on the postcode for my home.
Do they have mobiles? They had my home phone number but apparently TNT use phones which don't work out here in the sticks!
So, I have stayed in all day - now, due to trips etc., I am not going to be around until next Wednesday.

Great........

Traffic tourette's...

2008-08-07T14:27:00.001+01:00

The uncontrollable urge to scream obscenities at other drivers who infringe on your space (whether real or imagined).

Jay: Man that guy just cut you off.
Mark: That @#$% can't drive worth @#$%.
Jay: I see your traffic tourette's is getting worse.

Urban Dictionary

You don't say...

2008-08-07T09:51:00.002+01:00

MobileMe was launched too early, Jobs concedes

"This accessory"...

2008-08-06T17:33:00.006+01:00

...nag screen appears every time I plug my iPhone 3G into the Griffin AutoPilot in my car.
Pressing "No" dismisses it and allows me to play music.

It even connects to the integrated vehicle Bluetooth system allowing calls to be made/received (1) and charges the iPhone (2).
All this while still fitting into the Proclip mount that I originally got for my 4G iPod!

So, this accessory does work with iPhone......

MobileMe - perhaps, maybe...

2008-08-06T16:56:00.003+01:00

Never had any real issues with .Mac but since they revamped it into MobileMe I have been having problems. As, no doubt, have other .Mac users...

One thing is the 'homepage' fails to load without some "unresponsive script" error message popping up two or three times - doesn't matter what I am trying to access, mail, gallery etc.

BSW

2008-08-06T09:15:00.001+01:00

iStat Menus 1.3

2008-08-05T13:39:00.004+01:00

I found the iStat Pro widget by iSlayer to be a useful tool during my recent iMac problems and they have a neat addition to the menu bar - iStat menus 1.3 - it even got a MacFormat "Choice" award and five stars.
I like the ability to view the calendar and time zones from just clicking on the time icon in the menu bar. Maybe other utilities have this but I hadn't found one...

Update...

2008-08-05T12:42:00.005+01:00

Been a while since my last post so here goes...

iMac:
iMac has been back into Apple Store for the constantly running fan problem. Had a new fan fitted which failed to make any difference.
Eventually contacted Apple Support and, after another visit to the Apple Store with no fix, Apple have agreed to replace the G5 with a brand new Intel iMac. Thank the gods for Applecare...
As it was a straight like for like replacement I was offered the base model, a 20" 2.4GHz.
I decided to try for a paid upgrade to a 24" 3.06GHz and this has been accepted. So for the difference in price between the 20" and 24" I will hopefully be 'future proofing' my desktop Mac for the next few years.
The machine was becoming impossible to work on - the CPU fan was running at 4500rpm almost constantly. The ability to do any work was being affected by sitting 18-24" from the fan which was almost like sitting in front of a hair dryer. Even just using a browser would cause the fan to start speeding up. I even went back to Tiger to see if the extra load of Leopard was the cause but it still happened.

iPhone:
I finally gave in and bought a 16GB iPhone 3G in black - while the 3G cover is a bit sparse around where I live, if I travel 8-10 miles east, west or south I get into 3G-land.
One of the first things I did was apply InvisibleSHIELD to the back and Power Support Anti-Glare Film to the screen. The IS film was a bugger to apply and still has 'bubbled' areas around the corner cuts.
So far I am pretty happy with the device and wonder if the IS film will help prevent the rear case cracking that seems to be getting reported on various iPhone sites...

Highway robbery....

2008-06-15T13:38:00.007+01:00

The local Dick Turpin has his prices 7p a litre higher than the Shell pumps 500m along the road.

That's £6.26 a gallon...

Just put a gun in my face and ask me to hand over my wallet...

BP - Blatant Profiteering...

Éire says FU to EU...

2008-06-13T22:14:00.003+01:00

"Voters in Ireland have rejected the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty in a referendum by 53.4% to 46.6%.

The vote is a major blow to leaders in the 27-nation EU, which requires all its members to ratify the treaty. Only Ireland has held a public vote.

The European Commission says nations should continue to ratify the treaty, designed to streamline decision-making."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7453560.stm

Why won't the politicians get it into their thick heads the people don't trust the EU.

At least the Irish got the chance to tell the EU to feck off - something Brown and Nu Labour have denied the UK even though they promised a referendum in their manifesto.

http://www.libertas.org

http://lisbonvote.com/

BSW

2008-06-11T12:38:00.002+01:00