Thursday, June 30, 2005
It's said life is a series of ever revolving circles, and if today is anything to go by I have no doubts on that.
Seems I've landed the web authoring job at my company, pretty much as I did at my last place. Sure, there have been advances, I've long ditched the hideousness that is Front Page, but I won't be using my weapon of choice - Dreamweaver. Oh no, this site is maintained via CMS, which is kind of like using a glorified SiteBuilder.
It's going to take some getting used to that's for sure. Oh well, it's all experience and although it's little more than copy/paste for hours on end for most of the time, secretly I'm enjoying the diversion (shhh, don't tell anyone!).
Seems I've landed the web authoring job at my company, pretty much as I did at my last place. Sure, there have been advances, I've long ditched the hideousness that is Front Page, but I won't be using my weapon of choice - Dreamweaver. Oh no, this site is maintained via CMS, which is kind of like using a glorified SiteBuilder.
It's going to take some getting used to that's for sure. Oh well, it's all experience and although it's little more than copy/paste for hours on end for most of the time, secretly I'm enjoying the diversion (shhh, don't tell anyone!).
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Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Might be one of a series, depending on how artistic I'm feeling!Drawn in the style of Patric Nagel, who sadly died in 1984
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Sunday, June 26, 2005
- Useless::Redundant
- Radiant::Light
- W::M
- Unpaid::Labour
- Geek::7331
- Unfaithful::Mistrust
- Reboot::Reload
- No!::Yes!
- Squad::Plane
- Fetish::Leather
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Saturday, June 25, 2005
I was thinking of putting a Referrer script on this site, so people can see themselves and other sites that have visited me, but a scan of Google quickly made it apparent that this is the new tactic that spammers are using - it's even more prolific than comment spam, which is annoying enough, so I have decided against it.
On another note, I'm still getting those stupid, "Microsoft is an evil spammer" emails from that idiot, Robert Soloway of SPAMIS.
'Give it up' Soloway, Microsoft sued your butt, and quite rightly so. You're the biggest culprit out there, and by sending out these emails you're doing the very thing you are protesting about. So no, you'll get no support from me. I may not be a big MS fan, but I'm even less of a fan of you. Get real and get lost.
TAGS: SPAMIS | Referral Spam | Referrer Spam | Spam
On another note, I'm still getting those stupid, "Microsoft is an evil spammer" emails from that idiot, Robert Soloway of SPAMIS.
'Give it up' Soloway, Microsoft sued your butt, and quite rightly so. You're the biggest culprit out there, and by sending out these emails you're doing the very thing you are protesting about. So no, you'll get no support from me. I may not be a big MS fan, but I'm even less of a fan of you. Get real and get lost.
TAGS: SPAMIS | Referral Spam | Referrer Spam | Spam
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Friday, June 24, 2005
I found the about:mozilla easter egg in Firefox and fell upon the "Book of Mozilla"
Nice little gadget for Skype mobility.It's small and lightweight, just like using your mobile - only cheaper!
Full details here.
Someone has even produced a third-party plug-in for video conferencing called vSkype
Another resourceful soul has produced a hack that turns any phone number on a webpage into a "callto:" function so you don't have to key the number into Skype. You just click and call!
Plus there's also the Skypebox, for Skype calls on your landline. Neat huh?
It seems Skype has really captured the public's imagination. Oh.. did I mention it rocks?
Link to earlier post
TAGS: VoIP | skype
In an earlier post, I mentioned that the notifier had broken. Since Monday, I have been sending emails back and forth to Google in an effort to (1) make them aware there was a problem and (2) find a solution.
Until this morning I was just getting the standard responses, "clear your browser's cookies and cache, log out of your account, close all browser Windows."
In the end I used the power of Technorati search to locate all the other bloggers talking about this issue and a solution was found!
My thanks to Blast Radius for pointing me in the right direction.
TAGS: gmail notifier | gmail
Until this morning I was just getting the standard responses, "clear your browser's cookies and cache, log out of your account, close all browser Windows."
In the end I used the power of Technorati search to locate all the other bloggers talking about this issue and a solution was found!
My thanks to Blast Radius for pointing me in the right direction.
TAGS: gmail notifier | gmail
So there we were, the four of us, coming back from a stroll down the canal on a recon to Homebase and Sainsbury's when M turns back and says "What's that?... is it a...?"
To which I turn to see something bobbing in the water. A beaver? No... we're clearly not in Canada! A duck then? Nope, ducks don't "bob" like that..... oh my God, it's a Muntjac! Where the hell did that come from? This is a canal in the middle of suburbia, it's not native habitat!
And there it was, this little deer, doing "doggie paddle" in the canal. It swam a metre or so, got to the bank and scrambled up it, like it was a perfectly natural thing to do.
To which I turn to see something bobbing in the water. A beaver? No... we're clearly not in Canada! A duck then? Nope, ducks don't "bob" like that..... oh my God, it's a Muntjac! Where the hell did that come from? This is a canal in the middle of suburbia, it's not native habitat!
And there it was, this little deer, doing "doggie paddle" in the canal. It swam a metre or so, got to the bank and scrambled up it, like it was a perfectly natural thing to do.
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Thursday, June 23, 2005
A wonderful analogy of the current software patent debate is illustrated here. Software coders are writers after all. I'm suprised the parallels haven't been drawn before.
If the European Union tried to impose the same kind of legislation on writers and authors, people would think they were crazy, but somehow it's OK to gag software development.
I'm just waiting for someone to patent fresh air, then we'll all be doomed.
TAGS: software patent
If the European Union tried to impose the same kind of legislation on writers and authors, people would think they were crazy, but somehow it's OK to gag software development.
I'm just waiting for someone to patent fresh air, then we'll all be doomed.
TAGS: software patent
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Wednesday, June 22, 2005
For the most part, (thankfully) you can spot spam in your inbox from 20 paces, (it's not called "spam" for nothing). Most emails are mispelt, come from really odd domains, put "re." in front of email subjects that you never sent and occasionally drop entertaining clangers - like this one:
Please DO NOT Reply to this email, replies will NOT be delivered to us, read instructions below on how to contact us.
bla...bla..bla...
*** To be removed from our mailing list reply to this email directly, but if you wish to place an order then you must follow the instructions above.
For anyone considering a two or three-story house in Britain, a word of advice - don't. We seldom look forward to Summer these days.
In Winter you can't use the study on the ground floor without thermal underwear, gloves and a furnace and in Summer the top floor is uninhabitable. We could rent it out as a sweat box. You can feel the change in temperature as you move from floor to floor and you can open as many windows as you like, there is no "through draft".
Each floor has it's own microclimate...
Ground Floor = Winter: Arctic / Summer: Cool
First Floor = Winter: Chilly / Summer: Stuffy
Second Floor = Winter: Ambient / Summer: Sauna
The weekend was rough, but at least we "escaped" for a few hours to the cinema for a movie and free aircon.
Call me a partypooper if you must, but I for one am looking forward to the storms at the weekend.
In Winter you can't use the study on the ground floor without thermal underwear, gloves and a furnace and in Summer the top floor is uninhabitable. We could rent it out as a sweat box. You can feel the change in temperature as you move from floor to floor and you can open as many windows as you like, there is no "through draft".
Each floor has it's own microclimate...
Ground Floor = Winter: Arctic / Summer: Cool
First Floor = Winter: Chilly / Summer: Stuffy
Second Floor = Winter: Ambient / Summer: Sauna
The weekend was rough, but at least we "escaped" for a few hours to the cinema for a movie and free aircon.
Call me a partypooper if you must, but I for one am looking forward to the storms at the weekend.
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Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Without warning my GMail notifier stopped working this morning. It appears to be connected to the change in URL.
Google, in their wisdom have changed the domain from https://gmail.google.com/gmail to https://mail.google.com/mail. I have yet to find out why.
I've sent an email to the developers, but they've probably got a hundred more just like it!
There seems to be no official word yet about the fault nor a timescale on the fix, so I guess we'll just have to wait this out.
TAGS: gmail notifier | gmail
Google, in their wisdom have changed the domain from https://gmail.google.com/gmail to https://mail.google.com/mail. I have yet to find out why.
I've sent an email to the developers, but they've probably got a hundred more just like it!
There seems to be no official word yet about the fault nor a timescale on the fix, so I guess we'll just have to wait this out.
TAGS: gmail notifier | gmail
I thought I'd share this one with you. Made me chuckle.Our company is part of the Microsoft Partner Program, (don't blame me, I just work there!) So you'd have thought they'd have had someone's contact details on the database, wouldn't you?
Or maybe I've got them all wrong - maybe some idiot has gone and changed their name to "Generic Account" by deed pole and this has just been some terrible mix-up!
Today is the Summer Solstice, first day of summer and also midsummer (??) (No, I'm not making this up - honest).
All-couples day, Feast of Epona, Feast of St. John the Baptist, Gathering Day, Johannistag, Sonnwend and Thing-Tide are all celebrated on or around this day.
The Druids will have been out in force at Stonehenge (pictured) this morning to watch the sun rise, as they witness the wedding of the sun and the earth.
![Henge [Scanned]](http://photos13.flickr.com/18574738_900be60f9d_t.jpg)
All-couples day, Feast of Epona, Feast of St. John the Baptist, Gathering Day, Johannistag, Sonnwend and Thing-Tide are all celebrated on or around this day.
The Druids will have been out in force at Stonehenge (pictured) this morning to watch the sun rise, as they witness the wedding of the sun and the earth.
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Monday, June 20, 2005
Yes, I've changed the layout again. My 6-monthly "spruce". It was starting to look a little cluttered, so I've started again with fresh, clean code. It's taken me all night. I hope you like it, I thought the colour-scheme would be easier on the eye after the black and grey.
On the downside, I appear to have lost everyone's comments - bugger.
On the downside, I appear to have lost everyone's comments - bugger.
- Domesticated::Cat
- Cask::Beer
- Wayne::Wonder
- Insidious::Sith
- Cool!::Hot!
- Dishwasher::Powder
- Little house::on the Prairie
- Stepford::Wives
- Hung::Drawn
- Falling::Snow
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Thursday, June 16, 2005
You'd have to be mad to want one of these, (or sane, depending on your perspective!)
*Cue manic evil overlord laughter*
Get yours here
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Tuesday, June 14, 2005
It's very easy to send stuff over to your mother for mothering Sunday. If you're stuck - flowers - simple. Find a florist local to your mum and get them delivered, job done. Dad's aren't so easy, I mean, I can't send flowers, socks are the kind of thing your own mother sends you and aftershave?... so yesterday! So, I'm in a bit of a quandary, what do I send him?
I need sensible (yes THM, I'm talking to you) suggestions if you have any.
Something not too heavy, as I need to post it. Preferably funny or original. Ideas gratefully received. Ta!
I need sensible (yes THM, I'm talking to you) suggestions if you have any.
Something not too heavy, as I need to post it. Preferably funny or original. Ideas gratefully received. Ta!
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Sunday, June 12, 2005
1. The amount of "stuff" you own is indirectly proportional to the amount of time to have to pack it.
2. The closer you get to a moving date, the less fussy you'll be about keeping things. Things that were "Priority 2" at the begining, quickly get downgraded to "maybe it will be just easier to buy another", two days before moving out.
3. Only half of your time will be spent actually packing things logically, the rest will be spent on putting items into one of eight piles.
5. You'll "discover" things that were "lost", only to "lose" them again in the move.
6. Things wil dissapear before you move.
7. Face it... some items you are not going to find for months.
8. If you buy an item that has been "lost" when you get to the new house, you can guarentee it will turn up within the month.
9. You will never fail to be surpised at the amount of stuff you've got and even more amazed at how it all fitted into one house.
2. The closer you get to a moving date, the less fussy you'll be about keeping things. Things that were "Priority 2" at the begining, quickly get downgraded to "maybe it will be just easier to buy another", two days before moving out.
3. Only half of your time will be spent actually packing things logically, the rest will be spent on putting items into one of eight piles.
- Things that you've borrowed and don't actually own.
- Things that don't belong in the room and actually need to be logically packed with another room.
- Things you either need right up until the end or required within days of moving.
- Things you need, but can live without for a few weeks or months.
- Things you need on occasional basis like reference books. Study material etc.
- Things you can sell.
- Things you can donate.
- Rubbish.
5. You'll "discover" things that were "lost", only to "lose" them again in the move.
6. Things wil dissapear before you move.
7. Face it... some items you are not going to find for months.
8. If you buy an item that has been "lost" when you get to the new house, you can guarentee it will turn up within the month.
9. You will never fail to be surpised at the amount of stuff you've got and even more amazed at how it all fitted into one house.
- Wally::Stripey Shirt
- Phantom::Opera
- Slippery::Customer
- Fungus::Mushrooms
- Slot::Machine
- Type::"O"Negative
- Discharge::Release
- "We need to talk”::Skype
- On the spot::Fine
- Liquid::Latex
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Saturday, June 11, 2005
Most of these cats look knarked off... I wonder why?Update 11.06.05: Looks like this site is a victim of it's own success
as it's now unavailable.
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Friday, June 10, 2005
I have recently been speaking to a flickr friend, elfonse, who lives out in Singapore
Until I stumbled across this.
Until I stumbled across this.
Allegedly, it is correspondence between Chen and the media, as well as referencing that article that caused so much offense. It's sad that in this day and age there are still people out there who cannot speak their minds. Sure, if you want to keep your job and not get "Dooced", you have to be careful what you say, regardless of where you live, but we still shouldn't take what freedom of speech we have for granted. I am sure there are many fantastic stories to be told, that will never be heard because of censorship.
(*I'm sure a lot of you, like me, also know nothing about this, so I've spared you the digging!)
TAGS: acidflask
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Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Looks like the server hosting my comments has gone offline again (hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly).
One of the nice things about flickr is their community. As well as having a site to share your pictures, you can contribute to specialists groups. Many people post their pictures in group discussions. I was reading one such discussion the other week and came across this...
Now I'm sure it wasn't intentional, but by some bizarre fluke, the picture posted underneath the policeman contained a pair of feet - look where they are in relation to the bobby above!!
Well... it brought a smile to my face anyway.
Now I'm sure it wasn't intentional, but by some bizarre fluke, the picture posted underneath the policeman contained a pair of feet - look where they are in relation to the bobby above!!
Well... it brought a smile to my face anyway.
So here I am, sitting munching a lovely choc chip and orange muffin, thinking what a waste it is not to be eating it the way it was intended, with a nice hot mug of tea or coffee.
See, the powers-that-be have decided that we are not being conservative enough with our beverage-drinking and have reduced the daily delivery of fresh milk. The same people who probably never touch the stuff and prefer to use the excuses-for-drinks vending machine. Call me pedantic, but personally... I'd rather stick to the water from the tap, rather than stuff that's been sitting in a "jerry can" for a week!
Oh well, if I fall asleep at my desk this afternoon with a *thunk* and start snoring, I know what I can blame it on!
See, the powers-that-be have decided that we are not being conservative enough with our beverage-drinking and have reduced the daily delivery of fresh milk. The same people who probably never touch the stuff and prefer to use the excuses-for-drinks vending machine. Call me pedantic, but personally... I'd rather stick to the water from the tap, rather than stuff that's been sitting in a "jerry can" for a week!
Oh well, if I fall asleep at my desk this afternoon with a *thunk* and start snoring, I know what I can blame it on!
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Tuesday, June 07, 2005
According to the BBC, Bogus blogs have been popping up all over the place, hoping to snare the unwary. Another kind of phishing, I guess. Having never actually coming across one I couldn't say. Something to watch out for though.
In the midst of decluttering and packing up the house, I guess the last thing I should be indulging in is retail therapy.
So I guess I have been particularly naughty this week, having bought a scanner, (excellent value, good reviews) CD labels, (I have some, but they're packed - God knows where) and a Wacom tablet ("as new", half price). I know the last thing I should be doing is buying more kit, but I need something to do of an evening in an empty house* once I've watched the half a dozen DVDs that I put to one side and didn't pack.
(*OK, me and the cat, but he's not a great conversationalist and he treats the place like a hotel - typical teenager!)
So I guess I have been particularly naughty this week, having bought a scanner, (excellent value, good reviews) CD labels, (I have some, but they're packed - God knows where) and a Wacom tablet ("as new", half price). I know the last thing I should be doing is buying more kit, but I need something to do of an evening in an empty house* once I've watched the half a dozen DVDs that I put to one side and didn't pack.
(*OK, me and the cat, but he's not a great conversationalist and he treats the place like a hotel - typical teenager!)
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Monday, June 06, 2005
- Exhibit::A
- Evolution::Email
- Loser::Luser
- Hypnotic::Trance
- Unlikely::Event
- Interrupt::Request
- Ambivalent::Vague
- Rise and fall::Sting
- Indian::Head Massage
- Prophecy::Battlestar Galatica
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Saturday, June 04, 2005
I got the PC back the same day, with a new, beefier fan. The shop said it was dusty. Fair comment, but I'm surprised it was dusty enough to effect the fan in four months. Am I expected to take it to bits every other weekend? *chuckle*. Anyway, leaving it uncleaned was deliberate. Last time I cleaned it before giving it to them they could not replicate the problem. I clearly can't win! Anyway, new free fan and it's working nicely again, so I'm happy.
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Friday, June 03, 2005
The PC needs to go back to the shop again *sigh*
Sounds like the CPU fan is starting to bind. If I wasn't impressed with the shop before, I'm even less dazzled by them now. The PC has literally been rebuilt, the only original parts remaining being the drives. This was done four months ago at the end of January and the fan is already giving up. Anyway, the parts are still new, so it's going back to be fixed, even though I swore I'd never set foot in the place again.
It's really quite a sorry state of affairs. When we first moved to the area we were very much impressed with this shop. The two guys who ran it were obviously very knowledgeable about PCs and spoke to you like a real person. This really impressed upon me as most PC shops patronise you. They talk to you as if you know nothing about computers, regardless of whether you do or not. I liked them so much that I would by peripherals, media and cabling from them even though I could most likely get them cheaper elsewhere.
That was three years ago. Since then, the little shop has expanded and staff have come and gone. The owner now works almost exclusively from home and the shop is manned by a couple of young lads. One of them looks like he's just left school. Now, they probably do know quite a bit about IT, but their lack of experience is quite evident and it is having a detrimental effect on the reputation of the shop as far as I'm concerned.
If you haven't read the tale of my poor PC yet it's here:
Part 1:Gone to the docs
Part 2:What did you forget?
Part 3:Insult to injury
Part 4:Back with a vengeance
Sounds like the CPU fan is starting to bind. If I wasn't impressed with the shop before, I'm even less dazzled by them now. The PC has literally been rebuilt, the only original parts remaining being the drives. This was done four months ago at the end of January and the fan is already giving up. Anyway, the parts are still new, so it's going back to be fixed, even though I swore I'd never set foot in the place again.
It's really quite a sorry state of affairs. When we first moved to the area we were very much impressed with this shop. The two guys who ran it were obviously very knowledgeable about PCs and spoke to you like a real person. This really impressed upon me as most PC shops patronise you. They talk to you as if you know nothing about computers, regardless of whether you do or not. I liked them so much that I would by peripherals, media and cabling from them even though I could most likely get them cheaper elsewhere.
That was three years ago. Since then, the little shop has expanded and staff have come and gone. The owner now works almost exclusively from home and the shop is manned by a couple of young lads. One of them looks like he's just left school. Now, they probably do know quite a bit about IT, but their lack of experience is quite evident and it is having a detrimental effect on the reputation of the shop as far as I'm concerned.
If you haven't read the tale of my poor PC yet it's here:
Part 1:Gone to the docs
Part 2:What did you forget?
Part 3:Insult to injury
Part 4:Back with a vengeance
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