Somehow I had imagined they were some form of green vegetable - how naive of me!
John
Wed Oct 31 23:25:01 2007

Well... They were a sort of chocolate mini-roll with orange cream filling, and a ghastly green finger, with red finger-nail, half-buried in the surface. Coloured white chocolate was the concensus. I am reliably informed the whole hand was delicious! I abstained... :)
Nigel
Wed Oct 31 23:07:48 2007

I'm intrigued - what were the witches fingers made from?
John
Wed Oct 31 23:02:09 2007

"Kinds"?? Obviously I meant "Kids" !
Nigel
Wed Oct 31 22:36:29 2007

Evening John!! Sadly my day has been very boring... Work... Work... and a bit more Work. Highlight was coming home to find the kinds dressed-up for Halloween and eating "Witches Fingers" for tea! :D
Nigel
Wed Oct 31 22:36:02 2007

AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH! Thanks.
John
Wed Oct 31 22:31:41 2007

Has no-one else had anything to say all day...?
John
Wed Oct 31 22:27:45 2007

Well, yes Les Quebecois is one thing, but English speaking Canadians I wouldn't know how to tell the difference.
John
Wed Oct 31 10:33:48 2007

John, you'd soon know the difference between a French Canadian and an American accent. I hope.
Rob Lang
Wed Oct 31 10:09:13 2007

Mr.President: COME ON, NUKE ITALY IF YOU DARE!!!
Lox
Wed Oct 31 09:55:46 2007

Damned foreigners!
George Bush
Wed Oct 31 09:47:32 2007

"quite", not "quiet"....
Lox
Wed Oct 31 08:40:46 2007

John: I thought that Canadians spoke American english to be honest, but given that I am not a native speaker I will probably be the last one to realize the difference... Having said that I find Aussie and Kiwi English quiet intriguing...
Lox
Wed Oct 31 08:31:52 2007

Travis: I imagine it is similar to how the British cannot distinguish the accents of the Canadians from the Americans.
John
Wed Oct 31 08:28:16 2007

Morning everyone!
Lox
Wed Oct 31 07:29:03 2007

Interestingly, the wife of one of my professors is from New Zealand. Quite sure she's the only New Zealander I know. Her accent sounds very British to my untrained ear. I apologize. FotC guys don't sound SO British, however.
Travis
Wed Oct 31 01:45:50 2007

John: there was a humorous reference to that matter of accent on the FotC web site: "Some New Zealand accents attempted by British actors (episode 6) are inaccurate bordering on racist." Sheri: I take no offense. I do hope he's at least a serial killer who targets Communists. Unlike me.
Travis
Wed Oct 31 01:44:49 2007

Has anyone else been watching Flight of the Conchords on BBC Four? This week's episode just finished, and I found it oddly spellbinding. (Travis: I believe this is the same series that aired on HBO earlier in the year). This episode had lots of David Bowie impersonations in, and I found something oddly captivating about a couple of New Zealanders doing a British acent for the benefit of an American audience. I was a fan of their music for a while before they had a TV show, and I have to admit it took me a while to warm to their odd brand of TV humour, but now I am quite loving it.
John
Tue Oct 30 22:05:20 2007

B o r e d
tom
Tue Oct 30 14:00:30 2007

John, I have a comment for you in my latest entry.
Sheri
Tue Oct 30 13:11:08 2007

Travis. I borrowed your name for a character in my current script. Please, restrain yourself from drawing too many parallels...
Sheri
Tue Oct 30 12:57:29 2007

Agnostic Soccer? Atheist Soccer? Satanic Soccer (I think that one's a winner) ?
Jimmy
Tue Oct 30 12:34:20 2007

If I'm going to poke fun at right-wing Christian groups, I should even things up by suggesting a "Pro Islam Soccer" ... although how it would differ from other versions is unclear. Perhaps the women's game would be omitted.
Jimmy
Tue Oct 30 12:31:42 2007

"Pro Evolution Soccer" eh? It wasn't developed by Richard Dawkins by any chance, was it? Do you think there might be a "Pro Creationist Soccer", or perhaps an "Intelligently Designed Soccer" too? They'd certainly sell better to right-wing American religeous zealots!
Jimmy
Tue Oct 30 12:24:11 2007

Sorry to hear about your knee, Lox. On another note, some Reading peeps and I have set up another community (replacing something else) where I am now writing a blog and stuff. Feel free to come and join in. Integration into the maison front page will follow shortly.
Rob Lang
Tue Oct 30 12:11:52 2007

Morning folks! Sorry to hear about your knee Lox, that sucks. This morning I looked at my inbox and was very happy to see no new messages. Happy, because of the absense of the normal 300+ spam messages that would previously have been sitting there. Thanks Google!
Simon
Tue Oct 30 11:01:31 2007

Dsp: Or Pro Evolution Soccer! :D Honestly I hope that the thing is not that serious, I cannot see myself quitting on football just yet.. :(
Lox
Tue Oct 30 10:20:57 2007

Nightmare Lox! Thank goodness for Championship Manager.
dsp
Tue Oct 30 10:15:08 2007

Dsp: I can run into lamp post allright, but as far as kicking the ball it's concerned at the moment it's a major no-no... :( Well actually it hurts when I walk, but I did injured myself yesterday...
Lox
Tue Oct 30 10:05:31 2007

Actually isnt curling really bad for knees? You sort of slide down the ice on bended knee ?
Kev
Tue Oct 30 09:53:08 2007

Lox is your silly run effected? Can you still run into lamp posts?
dsp
Tue Oct 30 09:37:02 2007

John: I'd probably manage to destroy some other articulation even at Curling... Even WANKING is potentially dangerous!! I am really fed up about my physical condition, I hope it's nothing serious so that I can start working on improving, but still I am quite upset... :(
Lox
Tue Oct 30 09:22:19 2007

...and maybe you should consider taking up a less hazardous sport, like curling for example?
John
Tue Oct 30 09:15:32 2007

Poor old Lox - have yourself a good rest, and we'll keep our fingers crossed that the injury is purely superficial this time.
John
Tue Oct 30 09:15:00 2007

Morning all, sorry to hear about your knee Lox :(
Kev
Tue Oct 30 07:53:50 2007

Morning... I am quite upset, yesterday during the first match of the season I injured my operated knee again... It doesn't look "serious" this time, the knee did not swell or anything, but it's still quite painful... I was looking forward into playing again this season and it seems that all is finished already. .:(
Lox
Tue Oct 30 07:10:15 2007

Incidentally, that's progress.
Travis
Mon Oct 29 16:29:55 2007

Thanks to George Bush, we do not change our clocks at this point...wait a week or two.
Travis
Mon Oct 29 16:29:39 2007

Eeee... There was never any of that malarky with GWBasic... In my day...
Nigel
Mon Oct 29 14:54:07 2007

Shoddy programming...?
tom
Mon Oct 29 11:27:01 2007

Simon: agh! So far I have no new fires this week, but dealing with the aftermath of last week's is looking horrible enough by itself.
John
Mon Oct 29 11:04:06 2007

Morning all, exciting Monday so far - we've already had a fire drill. yay.
Simon
Mon Oct 29 10:52:56 2007

'ello.
tom
Mon Oct 29 10:49:43 2007

Morning chaps.
John
Mon Oct 29 10:19:22 2007

Morning
Kev
Mon Oct 29 08:13:13 2007

Morning...
Lox
Mon Oct 29 07:04:41 2007

I agree Tom/John - clock-changing is now outdated. It was usefu for a time when there weren't so many street lamps or paranoid parents worred about their offspring getting to school safely... Nowadays they just go in Mum's-Taxi.
Nigel
Sun Oct 28 14:43:00 2007

I agree John. Putting the clocks back/forward is daft.
tom
Sun Oct 28 12:44:41 2007

Mum - have just replied. Going out to do a bit of shopping now.
John
Sun Oct 28 12:31:58 2007

John - can you please check your emails for arrangements for next week. Ta.
John's Mum
Sun Oct 28 12:23:46 2007

John: Welll the talking nebatztag it's pointless allright, but it won't be the only pointless thing that I own.. I am afraid... :D
Lox
Sun Oct 28 11:55:13 2007

Lox: the Maison does now have a high level of bunny compatibility. A nabaztag is quite possibly the most pointless thing you could spend your money on, and yet even after a few weeks I am still rather enjoying the company of my new rabbit friend.
John
Sun Oct 28 11:53:17 2007

Mmmmm I feel the urge of buying a talking bunny now... I'll see if they sell them overhere....
Lox
Sun Oct 28 11:47:22 2007

So pretty much every part of the 'Maison for which it makes sense has an RSS feed now. I guess the next step would be to munge all of these feeds together to make one giant one for the whole site. Unfortunately though all the various scripts that run various bits of the site are not that well integrated, so this wouldn't be all that easy actually.
John
Sun Oct 28 11:44:58 2007

...and I've just ran it through a feed validator, and it validates OK.
John
Sun Oct 28 11:40:52 2007

You'll note if you look at the new RSS feed that it is very much tailored to be Colin-friendly - he only reads the title from each item, not the description, so I've bunged the whole text of the comment in there. I guess I really ought to make two feeds - one which is more like standard RSS and one which is the Colin-esque version... but I can't be bothered right now.
John
Sun Oct 28 11:39:36 2007

Right, should be working. So, as of the next comment posted on each of your blogs, a comments RSS file should be created, and from then on it will keep track of the 20 most recently posted comments to any entry on your blog. So to summarise you now have two RSS feeds your your blogs:

http://www.maison-de-stuff.net/yourname/rss.xml
http://www.maison-de-stuff.net/yourname/commentsrss.xml
John
Sun Oct 28 11:34:03 2007

Lox: I've added an RSS feed for comments for our blogs. So this means Colin can tell me when someone has posted a comment, as well as a new blog entry now.
John
Sun Oct 28 11:22:52 2007

John: What new feature will you implement if I may ask?
Lox
Sun Oct 28 11:08:18 2007

More precisely, comment posting may temporarily be broken.
John
Sun Oct 28 11:06:13 2007

Just about to make a small change to SBM - your blogs may not work temporarily...
John
Sun Oct 28 11:04:47 2007

I started re-adjusting them since yesterday... I agree that in the future they should find some automatic way to do it though...
Lox
Sun Oct 28 10:30:08 2007

So I have a couple of irritations with setting the clock backwards and forwards. Well, first of all I don't think we should be doing it in the first place at all, but that's another argument. The issue I have is why do you ever have to set the clock on a mobile phone? Why isn't there some equivalent of NTP over mobile phone networks? My phone has Bluetooth too - why can't I at least set it from the clock on my computer which definitely is using NTP? I also have two things set by radio signal - my alarm clock and my watch. For some reason there's no signal in the bedroom so my alarm clock didn't automatically re-adjust itself, and my watch only works on the US/Japanese signals. So what with my camera as well I have four different gadgets to fiddle about with and try to get the right time, all with different UI (my watch being particularly difficult one to guess your way through). Why isn't there a standard UI, or better still some kind of standard socket / wireless interface on all devices that keep the time that lets you attach it to some other device you know to be accurate (like your computer) and then just zap it with the correct time.
John
Sun Oct 28 10:24:02 2007

Ha - I enjoyed this article about 16 billion pixel version of Da Vinci's the last supper going on line - my favourite part was the insightful bit of technological analysis at the start of the article - "The image is 1,600 times more detailed than those taken with a typical 10 million pixel digital camera." Wow - 10 million times 1600 really does equal 16 billion.
John
Sun Oct 28 10:02:58 2007

Morning! Did everyone remember to set their clocks back then?
John
Sun Oct 28 09:55:07 2007

Morning everyone!
Lox
Sun Oct 28 09:08:40 2007

Morning all!! :)
Travis: The NFL has even made it on to the front page of the BBC News site!! :D
Nigel
Sun Oct 28 08:56:56 2007

Hey travis, not a particular Football fan or player myself ( far too dangerous for me ) but we have a couple of local teams here in Norwich - the UEA Pirates and the Norwich Devils, Pirates are the University team.
Kev
Sat Oct 27 23:08:37 2007

Couple of questions: anyone doing anything for Halloween? Anyone at all interested in the American football being played in your neck o' the woods?
Travis
Sat Oct 27 22:37:57 2007

I would go further, Kev... Cads and Bounders!
Nigel
Sat Oct 27 22:06:54 2007

Lox, feckers.
Kev
Sat Oct 27 19:27:53 2007

The alleged translation and TV appearance was a massive turndown... I managed to meet and talk to Uematsu, the composer, great guy, but it appears that the organization of the event got another Japanese interpreter (fuckers), and in the end he got all the limelight... My friends didn't know anything about it and they were quite sorry, as much as me. BUT, since they are co-organizers of the biggest event in Italy for comics, fantasy and games (held in Lucca next week), I have been invited for free there, and I will get the chance to be a translator for Uemastu san there... Oh well. :D
Lox
Sat Oct 27 19:05:17 2007

Richmond is very nice! Had a wander along by the river, then a stroll through the huge park, and then a couple of drinks and nibbles in a pub. Lovely.
John
Sat Oct 27 17:43:16 2007

We decided to go to Richmond Park in the end. On the way there now. Just passed through Clapham Junction - very exciting!
John
Sat Oct 27 14:39:37 2007

Working from home is a bit difficult, I don't have enough computers. I have RDP access to our servers in London and the States from home but for Dev I really need to be in the office :(
Kev
Sat Oct 27 14:14:52 2007

Poor old Kev - working on a Saturday! Don't you have some way of working from home? I've made myself a promise to have a complete break this weekend, although I did fit in an hour this morning just to check on stuff.
John
Sat Oct 27 13:37:31 2007

Afternoon - the office is quiet today - maybe I'll actually get some of my own work done instead of everyone else's :)
Kev
Sat Oct 27 13:16:00 2007

Hmmm... Yes, I know what you mean John. Well, it's raining here so the day has built-in limitations. The library might be on the cards later...
Nigel
Sat Oct 27 12:25:41 2007

Good day to you Nigel (I can't really say morning any more). Any plans for the weekend? I was really hoping to get out and see some countryside, but seem to have fallen into that normal weekend trap of indecision and suspect we'll end up doing very little.
John
Sat Oct 27 12:21:33 2007

Morning!!
Nigel
Sat Oct 27 11:57:57 2007

(was referring to Tom, probably doesn't make much sense now if you're only looking at the daily board).... anyway, morning all!
John
Sat Oct 27 09:30:25 2007

Lunatic!
John
Sat Oct 27 09:29:50 2007

Up at 0530 tomorrow to go climbing... night night all!
tom
Fri Oct 26 23:21:08 2007

Well, it's end-of-the-day Friday, I guess I'm all done then. It has been an absolute turd of a week, really looking forward to a complete rest this weekend.
John
Fri Oct 26 18:02:26 2007

John: Great advices as usual! I will see what I can do... I want to try to record the shows so that maybe I can even post something on youtube.. we'll see if I can manage... :P
Lox
Fri Oct 26 17:54:59 2007

Lox: that's great! (although I am concerned about the possible ego consequences which already seem to be manifesting themselves)... and don't worry about the Japanese - if you don't know what he said, just make it up! The amount of people in Italy who know any Japanese that you don't must only account for about 0.0001% of the population, so it's hardly significant! If I were you, I should think up some stock phrases to insert that seem plausible for a musical type of person to say in response to just about any question, like "I think my work is emblematic of our changing times" and the old classic "my inspiration is every day life". On top of that, if you've ever had any strong political opinions you'd like to voice publicly, now is your chance - and the best bit is if it backfires people won't even think it was you that said it.
John
Fri Oct 26 16:53:29 2007

JM: I think that just the fact that you can tell your friends that I came to your house SEVERAL TIMES, and that I am one of your younger son's best friends, and that I even cooked bread in your kitchen it's enough for the fans to get your house become a shrine to Loxness where the pilgrimage from Reading to Castle Donington can meet its ending point. Autograph is useless under these conditions... :D
Lox
Fri Oct 26 16:26:00 2007

Lox - can I have your autograph?
John's Mum
Fri Oct 26 16:10:57 2007

Need to tell you this!! A friend of mine asked me if I could help him with a Japanese guest that an association where he works invited to Italy. I accepted, he said that I need to help in a press conference and stuff like that.. So far so good, the guy is quite famous, he's the composer and director of all the musics that were made for the famous Final Fantasy game/movie and whatever else they made. Well I will be happy to meet the guy as I am a manga fan, but today my friend called me and told me that the interview it's going to be with MTV, SKY, the most important newspaper in Italy (la Repubblica) and RAI TV (Italy's national TV) and many more newspapers and magazines... I am starting to sweat cold, I wonder if I will be able to do it properly, I mean my Japanese is not THAT good... And I am going to be ON TV !!!! With a famous person!!! I'll make sure I'll take pictures with the new camera, what better occasion to use it for the first time?
Lox
Fri Oct 26 15:56:52 2007

Yea I was a bit confused by that last message from Tom too.
John
Fri Oct 26 14:44:50 2007

Tom: What?!
Lox
Fri Oct 26 13:49:13 2007

Oh. I do declare that I am sure that it is.
tom
Fri Oct 26 13:27:59 2007

John: Indeed, mai inglisc iz ghetting quait bed.. :(
Lox
Fri Oct 26 11:19:06 2007

Given that, in terms of my contracted working hours, I technically finished the working week part way through yesterday morning, I'm ready for a pint now.
John
Fri Oct 26 10:24:41 2007

Should that be "up" for a pint Lox? I'll attribute that error to your 67% non-British portion. :)
John
Fri Oct 26 10:23:36 2007

OK guys, the weather might be c..p -but hey - IT'S FRIDAY, :)))))
Mad Mumsie
Fri Oct 26 09:55:02 2007

Simon: Actually I was thinking the same thing... Oh well, I like to say that I am 33% British... :D... Anyone down for a pint this afternoon?
Lox
Fri Oct 26 09:44:58 2007

Morning all. Miserable in Reading too... Lox: Not only is your weather rather british, you're indulging in rather british conversation!
Simon
Fri Oct 26 09:42:56 2007

Morning all. Pretty dreary looking here too.
John
Fri Oct 26 09:40:55 2007

Quite bad here as well, misty and cold... Rather "British" I'd say...
Lox
Fri Oct 26 09:30:56 2007

Good morning. When I say this, I do not refer to the weather, which is cold and grey.
tom
Fri Oct 26 08:49:39 2007

Morning All
Kev
Fri Oct 26 08:12:26 2007

Morning.... Sheri long time no see... Good to have you back. What have you been up to mate? Is the move to the new flat finished? Did Brinsley already destroyed some new furniture or painted the new walls?
Lox
Fri Oct 26 07:27:13 2007

'lo guys. I met problems with my livebox (yes once again!) and finally decided to go to the shop and get a new one. Hence my silence. But, I promise, I'll catch up. I have a whole bag full of insanities, just for you. And I also have a great idea for a script which involves the lot of you (I mean, in terms of inspiration). I'll talk about it tonight, on my bit of space.
Sheri
Fri Oct 26 07:20:28 2007

You're an exchange student, John... etc
Rob Lang
Thu Oct 25 13:45:35 2007

Bravo John, did they invite you for a quick dram?
Lox
Thu Oct 25 12:54:51 2007

But your name is John.
tom
Thu Oct 25 12:22:40 2007

I psyched myself up beforehand by saying "COME ON SEBASTIAN!" to myself a lot, which also seemed to be remarkably effective. (apologies if for anyone who doesn't remember that TV ad and therefore doesn't get the reference).
John
Thu Oct 25 12:10:20 2007

Nice, John.
Rob Lang
Thu Oct 25 12:08:39 2007

GOOD MAN!
tom
Thu Oct 25 12:04:58 2007

Right, have done my presentation now and, to coin an Americanism, I absolutely rocked - one of my finest hours. Maybe sleep deprivation is the key to all future presentations I do.
John
Thu Oct 25 12:01:22 2007

Either that, or your presentation will be as bad as the last one and you'll end up drowning your sorrows in the W.S. bar!
tom
Thu Oct 25 11:54:26 2007

I received an interesting piece of spam today, it says that I'll be "seriously popular with a huge D**K".. Now I am thinking... HOW!?? Do I walk down the street with my pants down?!?!
Lox
Thu Oct 25 11:34:53 2007

John: Think about it, one of the founders comes to your presentation together with the Senior VP, then, dazzled by your skills and charms they make you TP (total president) of the UK branch and invite you at the whiskey society for a quick dram.
Lox
Thu Oct 25 11:33:30 2007

Apparently one of our founders is here today, the rest of my team are going to meet him while I'm going to meet the SVP. I feel like I've got a bit of a bum deal now!
John
Thu Oct 25 10:50:00 2007

If I was you John, I'd pop out and get some Marshmallows and some roasting sticks.
Kev
Thu Oct 25 10:40:42 2007

Hmmm, no more like trying to salvage our multi-million dollar project from the smouldering rubble...
John
Thu Oct 25 09:54:45 2007

Like catching up on your sleep?
John's Mum
Thu Oct 25 09:52:24 2007

I may have to tell the senior VP I'm going to have to cancel the presentation because I have more important issues to deal with. :)
John
Thu Oct 25 08:58:47 2007

Morning All
Kev
Thu Oct 25 08:03:23 2007

Ah incidentally, good morning!
Lox
Thu Oct 25 07:08:21 2007

John: Let us know about the presentation! Good luck with it!
Lox
Thu Oct 25 07:08:06 2007

Right, well I'm finally done for the day then - my grand total is 17 hours, which means I have actually fit in two days work today! If it wasn't for that presentation tomorrow morning I'd be taking the day off.
John
Thu Oct 25 02:08:26 2007

Still working, just passed the 16 hours mark. Brilliant.
John
Thu Oct 25 01:11:14 2007

Well, I'm back at home now but still have more work to do from here.
John
Wed Oct 24 22:48:06 2007

Tom, what course are you taking at college, something fun?
kev
Wed Oct 24 22:42:14 2007

John, 9 o'clock starts eh, thats practically the afternoon for me these days - how I miss rolling out of bed at 10 to 9 and strolling into the office;)
kev
Wed Oct 24 22:41:30 2007

I'm working - but on my college assignment.
tom
Wed Oct 24 22:14:24 2007

Still still still at work - now over 13 hours in the office...
John
Wed Oct 24 22:02:38 2007

Yep, absolutely every component of our system seemed to be on fire today. It's as though 0s and 1s had a falling out and decided they no longer wanted to be intermingled any more.
John
Wed Oct 24 21:30:01 2007

Mmmm beer, think a stop at the off license on the way home is in order. Some days nothing works :(
Simon
Wed Oct 24 21:02:43 2007

Still still at work... and I really need a beer.
John
Wed Oct 24 20:39:32 2007

Still at work too :(
Simon
Wed Oct 24 20:32:43 2007

Woo I left early tonight :) 7:15
Kev
Wed Oct 24 20:31:04 2007

Still at work... :(
John
Wed Oct 24 20:07:42 2007

On the way, gmail bounced the first one so sent as a "text" file.
Simon
Wed Oct 24 14:30:13 2007

So busy this week, and apparently on top of all the fire fighting I've got to give a presentation to one of our senior VPs tomorrow. I look forward to Kev receiving all the credit for it.
John
Wed Oct 24 14:20:28 2007

T H A N K S S I M O N
tom
Wed Oct 24 13:41:57 2007

Email is good. tom.rowan gmail
tom
Wed Oct 24 13:41:39 2007

Tom: Done, where do you want it?
Simon
Wed Oct 24 10:35:03 2007

Good point Rob!
tom
Wed Oct 24 10:16:21 2007

Morning all, yes it's a lazy morning today!
Simon
Wed Oct 24 10:15:59 2007

Tom: Isn't it called the O2 something or the other now?
Mad Mumsie
Wed Oct 24 10:12:33 2007

Tom, do you have .net?
Rob Lang
Wed Oct 24 09:46:45 2007

Can someone do me a favour? Can someone code up a quick commandline tool which takes a hostname as an input and passes this to the gethostbyname() function. Then all it needs to do is spit out the result. Nothing clever... I just don't have a windows dev environment here.
tom
Wed Oct 24 09:25:12 2007

MM: Doesn't that worry you? Greenwich: father of world time and now home of the Millenium Dome.
tom
Wed Oct 24 09:17:33 2007

Lox, don't get too cocky, don't forget world time is based on GREENWICH
Mad Mumsie
Wed Oct 24 09:13:58 2007

MM: Yes, it's nice that you admit that we are actually better than UK, I appreciate it. (am I still good at sarcasm?)
Lox
Wed Oct 24 08:50:34 2007

Jimmy: don't forget Italy are an hour ahead of us.
Mad Mumsie
Wed Oct 24 08:42:59 2007

Incidentally I checked the Canon website and the manual that I was looking for is there! :D That was quick!!! I asked for it less than 4 days ago!
Lox
Wed Oct 24 08:05:14 2007

... and I thought *I* was in early ....
Jimmy
Wed Oct 24 08:03:16 2007

Morning All, morning Lox
Kev
Wed Oct 24 07:52:33 2007

I am now at work... :(
Lox
Wed Oct 24 07:08:17 2007

Not me John!! The trick here is to father children. That way you can blag time off during school holidays! True, you have to run around looking after them, but that's small price to pay for not being at work! :D
Nigel
Tue Oct 23 21:08:59 2007

Anyone else still working?
John
Tue Oct 23 20:39:40 2007

(sorry)
Jimmy
Tue Oct 23 16:40:49 2007

HRESULT S_OK
Jimmy
Tue Oct 23 16:40:30 2007

Tom: bosses really need training don't they. After 20 years, my boss finally admitted that he missed me when I was on holiday. RESULT.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 23 13:07:54 2007

Jimmy: Nothing deeper, just a course someone sent to me to look at the other day. By visit us I mean there's one in Microsoft Reading coming up. If you want more information then please e-mail me, simonst at my obvious work domain and I'll see what I can find out - not really my area of speciality.
Simon
Tue Oct 23 12:23:14 2007

I've started to manage my boss. He says "do this, do that". I say "which of the other 'urgent' items do you want me to bump instea dof this?" He's learning.
tom
Tue Oct 23 12:00:54 2007

Prior to email, I can imagine that people would pick up your work load when you were out of the office for, say two weeks. Things needed to be done... now, there is an assumption that "hey, I sent you an email".. so you end up with twice the workload when you return.
tom
Tue Oct 23 12:00:00 2007

Jimmy's idea is a good one - I know that when my boss gets back from a week's holiday, he will have a huge number of emails waiting for him. Of course in the old days you would stand by someone's shoulder, and be told how busy or not they were, but email has overtaken the personal touch (!) and in some ways, as far as the bosses are concerned this must be better, because there is little time wasted on the pleasantries.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 23 11:42:23 2007

Actually I wish my inbox was full of mails... unfortunately I have little to do at the moment, although I am struggling to get some work assigned to me a way or another.... :( Anyways as I used to say to my assistants, PRIORITIZE. That's the real task nowadays, an individual that is able to prioritize correctly manages to do his job in a splendid and efficient way, someone might get pissed, but hey, attrition is part of the process...
Lox
Tue Oct 23 11:17:21 2007

John- the answer is pretty simple, I think. The trouble with e-mail is that people can effectively add items to your work-list, without any knowledge of how long that work-list is, or how complex the existing tasks are. Basically, there's no feedback. However, if (like parcel deliveries) you could "Track My E-Mail", then you'd find that your message was 20th of 25 items in the recipient's in-box for today, had been read, and flagged for follow-up.
Jimmy
Tue Oct 23 11:05:14 2007

Does anyone else find themselves totally buried by email, and think we need a completely different approach for how people communicate and generally get stuff done at work? My email is totally unmanageable, I have set up filters like most other people to filter out stuff sent to groups etc, but even then I had a ridiculous 15 mails with me on the to line waiting for me this morning - most of those which require me to do something or answer a question. There is no chance that I'm going to be able to deal with all of those without a few of them slipping between the cracks and being forgotten about, and then somebody somewhere is going to get annoyed that I'm not responding promptly. It just feels like there should be a radically better way of dealing with all of this.
John
Tue Oct 23 10:51:58 2007

Actually, Simon, is there somebody I can talk to? You know ... have a proper conversation etc.? A name? Phone number?
Jimmy
Tue Oct 23 10:34:17 2007

Simon- visit "Us" ? I know Direct insight are a MS partner, but does it go deepr than that?
Jimmy
Tue Oct 23 10:20:59 2007

Oh, and the move of one of my domains to Google apps went very smoothly, now I'm in the process of moving the difficult one (pnotepad.org)
Simon
Tue Oct 23 09:22:26 2007

Morning all. Jimmy: Little bit, but maybe you should come visit us: www.directinsight.co.uk/services/windows-ce-training.html
Simon
Tue Oct 23 09:20:52 2007

Who knows about Windows Embedded CE 6.0?
Jimmy
Tue Oct 23 08:55:50 2007

Good Morning! Traffic was oddly very clear this morning. Must be half term.
tom
Tue Oct 23 08:54:49 2007

Morning all - lovely day, for a Tuesday.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 23 08:47:48 2007

Morning! The day didn't started all that well to be honest... :( (see blog), but I'll try not to be brought down by it... :P
Lox
Tue Oct 23 08:32:03 2007

Hmm double post err.....
Kev
Tue Oct 23 07:47:49 2007

Morning All, yes the cache is the most likely cause.
Kev
Tue Oct 23 07:47:35 2007

Morning All, yes the cache is the most likely cause.
Kev
Tue Oct 23 07:47:35 2007

Yeah cache reload worked for me... :D Anyways do we get the counter or not?
Lox
Tue Oct 23 07:36:32 2007

Kev: could it just be a cached version of the old add message page - try reloading it....?
John
Tue Oct 23 00:11:38 2007

... just trying to post from Camino (Firefox base)...
Nigel
Mon Oct 22 22:39:51 2007

Hmm, when I posy from Firefox on my laptop I get the "we posted you spam to the board " message. I have been de-spamified :(
Kev
Mon Oct 22 22:17:46 2007

To complete your most agreeable suggestion, Kev, may I suggest a clenched-fist graphic with rampant thumb pointing earthwards, bobbing across the screen to the music of "Another One Bites The Dust!" .. You know, just to rub it in a bit?! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D !!
Nigel
Mon Oct 22 21:21:10 2007

I would just like to add a ;) to that last comment
Kev
Mon Oct 22 19:47:17 2007

Yes, good Idea Tom, Maybe john could get the board to post on the board whenever it kills a spam post, along with a quick summary of the spams contents ?
Kev
Mon Oct 22 19:38:29 2007

It would be great if that system reported the spam-killed stats onto the board... as a kind of goading!
tom
Mon Oct 22 17:19:54 2007

John: As I love statistics it would be great to have something that automatically reports (say once a month) the fruits of the spam fight... :P
Lox
Mon Oct 22 12:50:06 2007

Well there's always a chance the spammers will come up with a way round it, but then we'll just have to come up with something else. Incidentally I'm not actually tracking any of the spam we reject - I guess I probably should be logging it all somewhere, it would at least be interesting to have some statistics about how much we're throwing away.
John
Mon Oct 22 11:24:15 2007

Yeah great job guys, you know that I secretly love you!! :D
Lox
Mon Oct 22 11:18:18 2007

Morning!!
Yes, it is like a brreath of fresh air, John! Thanks to you and Tim!! :D
Nigel
Mon Oct 22 11:01:22 2007

Anyone want any viagra?
spambot
Mon Oct 22 11:01:12 2007

We haven't had any since the evil masterplan was implemented on October 3rd, right? That's getting on for three glorious spam free weeks.
John
Mon Oct 22 10:24:33 2007

BTW, at the risk of tempting fate, I would like to stand back for a minute and note that our latest anti-spam offensive seems to have been remarkably effective - thanks Tim for a top notch idea.
John
Mon Oct 22 09:33:24 2007

Yea Simon, you don't want to be overdoing the enthusiasm on a Monday morning - people will suspect you of embezzling or something.
John
Mon Oct 22 09:31:48 2007

Morning Everyone! (that's the enthusiasm for today out of the way)
Simon
Mon Oct 22 09:28:04 2007

Morning All.
Mad Mumsie
Mon Oct 22 08:53:15 2007

Morning All
Kev
Mon Oct 22 07:56:07 2007

Double post?!:(
Lox
Sun Oct 21 22:06:49 2007

Tom: Yes you are right! :P
Lox
Sun Oct 21 21:49:07 2007

Tom: Yes you are right! :P
Lox
Sun Oct 21 21:48:44 2007

If there is ANYTHING to talk about outside a book or film, then the item didn't do it's job!
tom
Sun Oct 21 21:44:19 2007

Evening all!!
Well I have to say that if an author has to "out" a character outside a book, then they haven't done a very good job of actually writing it in the first place...
Nigel
Sun Oct 21 20:39:13 2007

Too boring maybe?
Lox
Sun Oct 21 19:39:46 2007

Colin seems to have stopped reading the message board. :(
John
Sun Oct 21 11:48:14 2007

JM: I must join the fray I think... Yes Laurence is indeed a great name for a pet, actually a great name for anything! :D I like the idea that a turtle has my name though... makes a difference with the lifestyle that I am having now... :D
Lox
Sun Oct 21 09:27:49 2007

You are reading too much into it. Lox is flying all over the place, Laurence is just anglicised form of his name.
John's Mum
Sun Oct 21 09:08:54 2007

John: I think it's outrageous, who gives a damn if Dumbledore is GAY!?!?? I mean is it so important to make it into the news? Of for the fansites, but the newspapers...
Lox
Sun Oct 21 06:58:11 2007

Oh, but you're all asleep and you don't care.
John
Sun Oct 21 01:39:22 2007

So right now on the top page of the BBC new website is a story about some fictional character out of Harry Potter being outed as gay. WTF? Honestly, what has happened to the planet? On what grounds does that merit this level of coverage?
John
Sun Oct 21 01:38:28 2007

Where is everyone? Don't go pretending you're alseep, that's a poor excuse!
John
Sun Oct 21 01:33:42 2007

Of course, the greatest pet name ever is Chairman Meow, for a cat, as used by David Baddiel / Frank Skinner, if I recall correctly. One of my amibtions in life is to find a more compelling feline moniker than that - although I think I have my work cut out for me there.
John
Sun Oct 21 00:52:20 2007

I think the alliteration kills it though Bryan, as gratifying as Dave is for the name of a pet, the fact that dog also begins with a D places it in the same category as Bob the Builder, Postman Pat, or Polpot the Despot (ok the last example isn't really in the same vein, I just thought of it and rather liked it).
John
Sun Oct 21 00:42:08 2007

Or Dave the dog. Every dog I have ever seen is called Dave, John :-) (and I mean the four-legged kind hehe)
Bryan
Sat Oct 20 23:42:32 2007

"Laurence the turtle" does work rather well, in the same way Colin the rabbit does, or perhaps Steve the badger, or Frank the duck billed platypus. It is an interesting study of psychology, one Monty Python had a good stab at, that there are certain pairings of common place first names for humans that have some kind of comic value when applied to animals. However, some just don't work - Richard the cat isn't nearly as pleasing as Trevor the frog, or Neville the chaffinch.
John
Sat Oct 20 22:08:17 2007

Lox: funny that, I too have had a random hankering to visit Vienna of late.
John
Sat Oct 20 22:00:16 2007

Mum: not sure if I get it. If it is purely an issue of the cadence of the word, then it is an excellent choice, however I have a suspicion there's actually a literary reference that has gone completely over my head. I can but apologise for my ignorance!
John
Sat Oct 20 21:59:47 2007

Ok I am in Vienna, first time in my life... There are so many cities that I never actually seen but I have been several times, such e as Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna just to name a few... I can't wait to be back home I am getting quite tired of this whole trip... :P
Lox
Sat Oct 20 15:09:29 2007

Front page of my Inernet News today portrays a turtle to which has been fitted an electronic tracking device. It's so tempting to call it Laurence......
John's Mum
Sat Oct 20 10:27:01 2007

Ok leaving now! will post something from Wien when I get there... ciao ciao
Lox
Sat Oct 20 02:21:59 2007

John: In the lounge checking things... Good night everyone, or rather good morning because I take it that by the time you read it it's going to be Saturday... :D
Lox
Sat Oct 20 01:06:11 2007

Well, Colin has just gone to sleep, I suppose I should do the same. Good night!
John
Sat Oct 20 00:03:48 2007

Wow - that was a short stay in Japan Lox! Well, again, bon voyage, or possibly by the time you read this welcome home!
John
Fri Oct 19 23:39:23 2007

While most of you is going to be technically hitting the booze right now as I write, in Japan is 5,15 am and I am about to start preparing to go to the airport... Today, due to a crappy flight arrangement I am flying to Wien, then Bologna and the Florence... I am not looking forward to it it's going to be a long one....
Lox
Fri Oct 19 21:19:39 2007

Ladies and gentlemen it is very much beer o' clock. I'm off to meet Simon for an evening of pubbish indulgence, life is good!
John
Fri Oct 19 18:38:10 2007

Friday night!
John
Fri Oct 19 18:34:43 2007

I'll be able to tell you over the weekend if it works, just finished changing all my mail DNS so that I use Google Apps. Better than working this afternoon :)
Simon
Fri Oct 19 17:02:23 2007

Going through the stuff at the moment, the only thing you need to do for mail is change your MX records - that should be doable fairly easily? You can also set up mail.maison... by adding an A record.
Simon
Fri Oct 19 16:31:48 2007

Simon: hmmmm I've never really looked into Google Apps in that light - not sure if it requires any integration work with your domain - the hosts we use have lots of awkward non-standard things so it may be a pain.
John
Fri Oct 19 16:14:00 2007

Simon: We should definitely look into it... or better John COULD look into it... :D
Lox
Fri Oct 19 16:01:18 2007

Lox: Yeah, that's what it means. In fact, running my linux host has been such a pain recently because of mail servers that I've just decided I'm going to migrate all of my mail over to it. That way I don't need to run an mail system any more - phew!
Simon
Fri Oct 19 15:56:52 2007

Simon: That would be great to have our own personal maison e stuff/gmail addresses... If that what Google Apps do...
Lox
Fri Oct 19 15:38:11 2007

Also, I spotted John moaning about e-mail and gmail user names. Putting the possibility of IMAP to one side, John you really should know about Google Apps: www.google.com/a/ This allows you to have google apps for your domain, i.e. gmail, google talk and more. No more fighting for names!
Simon
Fri Oct 19 15:35:35 2007

AHHHHH That one!! :D
Lox
Fri Oct 19 15:29:52 2007

Lox: Sadly no, John said: Guys, there mere be a brief outage of message posting whilst I implement an evil masterplan.
Simon
Fri Oct 19 15:28:58 2007

And I have seen the Touch this morning, it's totally SEXY and I am going to buy for sure as soon as it comes out in reasonable sizes (from 80 gigs upwards...)
Lox
Fri Oct 19 15:07:10 2007

Nigel: I just "KNEW" you bought one... that's why I bought mine really! :D
Lox
Fri Oct 19 15:06:31 2007

Simon: I missed the evil masterplan... :( Are you by any chance referring my little trip around Asia? :)
Lox
Fri Oct 19 15:05:30 2007

Alright for you lot, I read the month's archive or so and need a new TV/Monitor, a Mac Mini, a Camera, a Crazy Electric Wi-Fi Rabbit, an iPod Touch, some Talc, Viagra, Hard Drugs, Young Escort Girls, a Slinky, Strong Bow Cider and Carlsberg plus a pint of Smithwick's, some Spam, a holiday, Toasties and an evil masterplan. And that's not even a whole month!
Simon
Fri Oct 19 15:00:20 2007

Funny you should say that Lox... I *have* in fact, just bought a new camera... :!! :D Peer-pressure in retrospect I suppose!!
Nigel
Fri Oct 19 14:56:44 2007

Honestly they could only be Swedish to think up something like that!
Lox
Fri Oct 19 14:54:09 2007

That's great, made my afternoon!
Simon
Fri Oct 19 14:49:11 2007

Here's one for all the drummers out there (just Simon really): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7h8qkMBE_E
John
Fri Oct 19 14:03:13 2007

John: Regarding peer pressure, when you came out with the new monitor, I felt that I had to buy a new one as well, but fortunately I was leaving for this crazy business trip and I had to subside...
Lox
Fri Oct 19 13:48:19 2007

John: I think you should buy a new camera.... That will jeopardize the marriage, but it's something that I really feel that you ought to do, and that above all DESERVE.... I mean I have heard a rumour that TIM is buying a new camera, and Nigel is currently bidding for one too on ebay...
Lox
Fri Oct 19 13:47:17 2007

John: I believe the are the same camera but a different name for it (wonder why)...
Lox
Fri Oct 19 12:25:13 2007

John: Yes, just sent you an e-mail. Been trying to call but can't seem to get you
Simon
Fri Oct 19 12:24:13 2007

Yea isn't Ixy the Japanese name for Ixus? Or is it something different altogether?
John
Fri Oct 19 12:23:15 2007

Nigel: I think it's the 850 IS or something like that...
Lox
Fri Oct 19 12:19:38 2007

I wonder if the 910is is actually called by a different name in Europe: 75 for example? Probably not, but it's worth checking. My own Fuji was s5600 in UK but s5200 in the US etc.
Nigel
Fri Oct 19 12:08:46 2007

Canon replied very quickly saying that since the camera is brand new they haven't got around pdffing the manual yet... they will let me know when it's ready.. .:D
Lox
Fri Oct 19 11:55:13 2007

Simon - if you're still reading - any further thoughts on coming in to London? Any chance of this evening?
John
Fri Oct 19 11:54:37 2007

It occurs to me I am very susceptible to peer group pressure, as I am now busily thinking about getting myself a new camera.
John
Fri Oct 19 09:35:26 2007

Yea, strangely my camera hadn't been released in Europe or the US, so the only place I could get an English manual was Australia. They were quite happy to help though, they just emailed me a PDF, so I guess it didn't really cost them anything.
John
Fri Oct 19 09:32:51 2007

John: Actually I emailed the american division and did the same thing... let's see if they can help...
Lox
Fri Oct 19 09:06:02 2007

Looks nice Lox. Not sure if it helps, but with one of my previous Sanyo cameras which was bought in Japan I emailed the Australian division and asked for an English manual .
John
Fri Oct 19 08:12:10 2007

the only problem is no english manual and from the US or EU site it seems that I cannot download it... :(
Lox
Fri Oct 19 06:39:37 2007

Here to be precise
Lox
Fri Oct 19 05:57:54 2007

YES !!!
she's here!
Lox
Fri Oct 19 05:36:21 2007

goodnight guys, will read you tomorrow I will also buy a new camera (I hope) since the last one got destroyed in Sicily this August.. :P Let's hope they have the model that I want! :D
Lox
Thu Oct 18 16:29:24 2007

:D :D :D
Nigel
Thu Oct 18 15:46:03 2007

Nigel you make a fair point, I just couldn't resist :)
Simon
Thu Oct 18 14:40:17 2007

... oh and remember, to remain OS "X" is needs the 10.* in there! :)
Nigel
Thu Oct 18 14:05:07 2007

John: No; no; no; no!!!
Simon: Be fair!! :D Leopard has broadly a similar functionality increase as XP to Vista. OS X 10.4."5" to "10" have been free though... Leopard is simply 10.5 but that just a choice of nomenclature! :)
Nigel
Thu Oct 18 14:03:37 2007

Apple OS point update for free? Hahahahaha.... Good one John.
Simon
Thu Oct 18 13:56:40 2007

Opinion seems to be divided. guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-50664,00.html
Mad Mumsie
Thu Oct 18 13:36:15 2007

Nigel: do we have to go out and buy it then? Or can we just upgrade for free? Do you know what the major differences are? Will Finder stop being crap?
John
Thu Oct 18 13:33:25 2007

Personally I think I probably "slurp" soup, much to my own disgust! :D
26th October is Leopard day then, chaps?!
Nigel
Thu Oct 18 13:25:19 2007

I tend to avoid the issue by using the more neutral verb "consume".
John
Thu Oct 18 13:00:17 2007

MM: Hmmm... http : / / answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=443388
Simon
Thu Oct 18 12:53:19 2007

Sorry to be picky (as usual) but don't you "drink" soup
Mad Mumsie
Thu Oct 18 12:33:43 2007

Then eat one, dear Liza, dear Liza, dear Liza...
tom
Thu Oct 18 12:14:15 2007

I have a sudden and inexplicable craving for a bowl of Cream of Tomato soup.
John
Thu Oct 18 10:46:07 2007

John: I'm told that this is a good 'how-to': www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2005/01/macminiinside/index.php
tom
Thu Oct 18 09:10:33 2007

Morning all.
Mad Mumsie
Thu Oct 18 08:28:30 2007

I'm at a wedding in Essex on Friday, so cannot attend the pub in London. I'd love to come along, but it'll take more than a couple of days' notice! How about the end of November?
Jimmy
Thu Oct 18 08:15:45 2007

Bon voyage Lorenzo!
John
Thu Oct 18 08:13:29 2007

Ciao Kev, all good? It is actually afternoon here, about to step on the plane... :P
Lox
Thu Oct 18 08:04:02 2007

Morning Lox, Morning All
Kev
Thu Oct 18 07:56:45 2007

Now posting from a lounge... Yes I am going to Japan next, no secrets there! So who managed to guess all my stops in the last two weeks?
Lox
Thu Oct 18 07:50:12 2007

About to leave another country to go to the last place of this busy business trip... How are you all?
Lox
Thu Oct 18 05:05:16 2007

I quite understand Kev! ...but it would be great to meet up at some point - I think it has been two years now...! Maybe I might venture up to your neck of the woods one day - is Cambridge somewhere convenient for you to get to...? I've never been, but have a suspicion it might be ripe for a pub crawl at some point.
John
Wed Oct 17 23:37:00 2007

John, unfortunately I am currently chained to my desk at the moment, things should quieten down in a few weeks though :) <--- I still have 18 days holiday left too!
Kev
Wed Oct 17 20:28:00 2007

Excellent Simon - looking forward to it. Kev/Jimmy - any chance you could be tempted into the big smoke Friday evening?
John
Wed Oct 17 17:20:58 2007

Friday sounds like a goer, I'll give you a call!
Simon
Wed Oct 17 17:07:35 2007

Actually I'm not sure I can do tomorrow - so Friday? Next week?
John
Wed Oct 17 16:01:41 2007

Simon - so - tomorrow? Friday? Failing that, next week some time perhaps?
John
Wed Oct 17 15:58:05 2007

No, the very same. Just too lazy to type that!
Simon
Wed Oct 17 15:47:38 2007

the Cheshire cheese, different to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese ?
Kev
Wed Oct 17 15:45:37 2007

Oh, hello SS. Was confused. I thought it was a Watson version. Still loving the Programmer's Notepad 2.
Rob Lang
Wed Oct 17 14:24:12 2007

My dad mentioned it, he used to frequent there when he worked in london. It's entirely possible I've already been with you, but those evenings have become a blur in my memory! I know we did Cittie of Yorke, but don't remember much else.
Simon
Wed Oct 17 14:18:41 2007

Well Cyberdad has got better over the years. Birthdays are easy, mine's the day before his. And as I was once informed, it is his anniversary as well.
Mad Mumsie
Wed Oct 17 14:05:07 2007

So Simon - why the particular interest in the Cheshire Cheese? I think I have covered it on a couple of my many tours over the past few years, although I'm not sure if you were on either of those - I think Kev was though. I rather like it - it has an entrance way down an alleyway, which scores it about a million points in my ratings system.
John
Wed Oct 17 13:56:24 2007

Actually MM I think the current expectation is around 5 annually. I am considering proposing a phased restructuring of this schedule, perhaps dropping one off each year until we get down to the more usual two.
John
Wed Oct 17 13:52:52 2007

Correct, the Steele variety.
Simon
Wed Oct 17 13:40:29 2007

I think I know where Lox is...
Simon
Wed Oct 17 13:39:59 2007

Oh dear, John, does that mean you have to remember three dates, and not the usual two.
Mad Mumsie
Wed Oct 17 13:38:00 2007

...and yes, a visit to the Cheshire Cheese sounds like a great idea. Any time but tonight is good for me (Chie and I are marking one year since we filled out some paperwork this evening).
John
Wed Oct 17 13:29:41 2007

This is Si Steele, not Simon Watson, right?
John
Wed Oct 17 13:27:53 2007

I think there may be some confusion over which Simon this is.
John
Wed Oct 17 13:23:36 2007

Please stop clogging up the 1-9. Hi Si! Great to hear from you!!
dsp
Wed Oct 17 13:12:54 2007

Damn tyre's out! Good to have you back on Si!
Rob Lang
Wed Oct 17 11:50:03 2007

Indeed! In fact I've been looking for an excuse to go and try the Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street for some food and drinks - anyone fancy doing that some time soon?
Simon
Wed Oct 17 11:48:35 2007

Hello Si! Long time no beer. Must remedy this!
Jimmy
Wed Oct 17 11:25:33 2007

Morning Colin, all. Way too long since I read this fine message board. I just skim read the last couple of days and the comments about the reaction to the iPod touch had me laughing so hard I got some very strange looks! Finally there are even decent maison RSS feeds - what is the world coming to?
Simon
Wed Oct 17 10:27:21 2007

Morning Maisoneers! :D
Nigel
Wed Oct 17 10:25:37 2007

Morning all.
John
Wed Oct 17 08:47:26 2007

Morning all.
Mad Mumsie
Wed Oct 17 08:31:53 2007

Morning All, Morning Colin
Kev
Wed Oct 17 07:53:16 2007

I see it has all gone quiet here this evening - I had started to worry that Colin had just got bored of checking.
John
Tue Oct 16 22:14:00 2007

Nigel: I never got to that part fortunately, but if it's true and I trust you 100%, it's great!
Lox
Tue Oct 16 18:07:59 2007

John/Lox: There are a few leyboard short-cuts, but to quit a rogue app you just go to the Apple menu and choose "Force Quit..." Otherwise it's press the old power button and hold for 5-seconds etc. Rarely need any of it though! :) The lovely thing about a real, major crash (very rare inded!) is that the Mac actually tells you it is in trouble and even tells you what to do! Marvellous!
Nigel
Tue Oct 16 17:09:06 2007

MM: I see. Well I suppose that gagging and tying them to the chair would defy the purpose of having them to use the computer.... :(
Lox
Tue Oct 16 17:02:09 2007

Yes I am quite proud to say that I don't actually know what the Ctrl+Alt+Delete equivalent is on the Mac (if there even is one).
John
Tue Oct 16 17:00:55 2007

JM: As you say, not an easy task. Lox: but that's you, not some nasty little 14 year old who doesn't give a toss because it doesn't belong to them, if you see what I mean.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 16:57:43 2007

MM: No worries there, it's quite rare (as far as my experience) for a Mac to screw up massively... I have used my MacBook for 10 months straight now, and I had to reboot because it crashed only twice so far (that is pressing the power on/off switch)..
Lox
Tue Oct 16 16:30:54 2007

Well done, MM, you have effectively quietened your offspring! What a wonderful threat.
John's Mum
Tue Oct 16 16:22:28 2007

Would you believe they have been bought specifically for an after school club, because they have some software that is not available on the Microsoft ones. Although one of the engineers is looking at it, never seen one before, we will not be supporting them. So if they go wrong....................
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 15:27:58 2007

Tom: :)
John: Mac Mini is a bit more difficult I think... Needs research, that one.
MM: So!! The invasion continues!! Mwuhahahahahah!!!! :D
Nigel
Tue Oct 16 14:44:47 2007

We've just had two MacBooks delivered to our office. Just thought you'd all like to know.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 14:36:10 2007

I may have to give in to peer group pressure and put some more memory in my Mac Mini then... Although I don't feel like it is particularly struggling at present - I mainly just use it for watching telly. As for the MacBook Pro, I though mine came with 2GB as standard - it seems like quite enough for now...
John
Tue Oct 16 14:25:09 2007

Yup. Remove battery. Remove four screws. Remove cover. Insert RAM. Replace cover, screws and battery. Power on. Happy Mac!
tom
Tue Oct 16 13:51:34 2007

Jimmy: You *are* a card!! :D :D :D
Tom: Yep, 2GB it is. I thought, well, as I'm not going to be changing computers for a while, I might as well give myself some more leg-room. Did you do the MBP yourself? I have to say the iMac was *very* easy to do...
Nigel
Tue Oct 16 13:46:56 2007

And in some cases, videos. Oh Yes
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 13:43:31 2007

Watch it Jimmy. Just remember a boy's best friend is his mother. We should NEVER be ignored. We hold the baby/toddler/school/ photos!!
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 13:42:42 2007

Nice Nigel! 2GB now I assume? That's what I've got in my MBP.
tom
Tue Oct 16 13:34:19 2007

Ive done that too! I had none to start with, so after the doubling I still have none. It was exceedinly cheap, took mere moments, and I didn't even need an iMac! In fact, it was so much fun, I think I'll do it again ...
Jimmy
Tue Oct 16 13:33:13 2007

I've just doubled the memory in my iMac - super-creamy, fast and easy!!
Nigel
Tue Oct 16 12:55:30 2007

(typical mothers!)
Jimmy
Tue Oct 16 12:49:54 2007

JM You are allowed to be prejudiced.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 12:32:28 2007

I am finding it very amusing reading Maison messages downwards, i.e. latest first. However, could our brilliant designer (ok, as his mum I am prejudiced, I admit it) work out some way of them appearing the other way round, to help the old eye-strain? After all, we don't read books this way.
John's Mum
Tue Oct 16 12:31:00 2007

We should have another Maison-Mac-Chat again.
tom
Tue Oct 16 10:49:53 2007

Nah - just fancied a chat! (I could do with a maison password BTW) I couldn't post for a while back there...
tom
Tue Oct 16 10:49:28 2007

Hey Tom - sorry I (well, technically Colin) got your message last night but it was a bit late so I didn't want to disturb you - did you still want me to give you a call...?
John
Tue Oct 16 10:46:08 2007

Hello all.
tom
Tue Oct 16 10:41:21 2007

MM: Ah.....
Lox
Tue Oct 16 10:39:43 2007

I know Lox dear - I just wanted to show off that I knew how to spell controversial ;)
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 09:45:03 2007

MM: Nope simply on the other side of the world... but I cannot say where...though I left PLENTY of clues...
Lox
Tue Oct 16 09:34:19 2007

Lox: Trust you to be controversial!
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 09:29:17 2007

afternoon!
Lox
Tue Oct 16 09:12:43 2007

When the moon shines, on the cow shed, and the working day is through....
John
Tue Oct 16 09:09:36 2007

Morning all. I thought my car was pulled by horses ;)
Mad Mumsie
Tue Oct 16 09:05:28 2007

I am a cider drinker... I drinks it all of the day...
John
Tue Oct 16 09:04:51 2007

morning all
Kev
Tue Oct 16 08:21:48 2007

Morning! :)
Nigel
Tue Oct 16 08:11:43 2007

Wheel rates. What's that about?
Jimmy
Mon Oct 15 18:05:44 2007

John, imagine a vehicle that is not pulled by horses....
Rob Lang
Mon Oct 15 17:15:50 2007

John, I have played with one - a chap has one here in the office. I nearly came. But 269 quid is just too much.
Rob Lang
Mon Oct 15 17:14:29 2007

John, if you start ripping classical music, you'll find that 16GB does disappear pretty quick.
Rob Lang
Mon Oct 15 17:13:47 2007

John: Strange, you asked me two days ago to send you my collection since you liked it so much..... :D
Lox
Mon Oct 15 17:09:26 2007

I struggle to believe there is more than 16 gigs of good music on the planet - or maybe you just have very bad taste Lox? :)
John
Mon Oct 15 16:53:44 2007

If I pod Touch was 80 gigs I would buy it straight away... as it is 16 gigs are to little for my music collection... and YES I like to carry it with me everywhere I go!!
Lox
Mon Oct 15 16:29:31 2007

John: I think we should call them "Carry with you telephony devices" (CWTD), it could be a good idea...
Lox
Mon Oct 15 16:28:32 2007

By the way, the iPod touch does look rather neat doesn't it - and yet they've basically reinvented the PDA haven't they?
John
Mon Oct 15 16:24:41 2007

What I envisage happening next is some kind of wireless version of a telephone, that is small and compact and you can carry around with you, and make voice calls with. I think I shall call this new invention a "mobility phone", although I have a feeling that could be abbreviated somehow.
John
Mon Oct 15 16:22:14 2007

So, I think my own temporary ignorance has inadvertently proved my point. Honest.
John
Mon Oct 15 16:18:53 2007

iPod Touch (new iPod) has Wi Fi. Idiot.
Rob Lang
Mon Oct 15 16:12:28 2007

Somebody is about to post that there is a version of the iPod which has wi-fi, and it's called the iPhone. Ok, ok.
John
Mon Oct 15 16:08:30 2007

Right. iPods are a good case in point. Why don't they have wi-fi? This was the one really neat idea of Microsoft's Zune (which appears to have flopped as everyone expected), to enable sharing of songs etc, although I think their brand of wireless networking was peer-to-peer rather than something that would let them download stuff directly off the Interweb.
John
Mon Oct 15 16:07:59 2007

Rob: me or John? I haven't been the same since I bought the mac too, but unlike John (who also bought a talking multiple vibrator disguised as a rabbit), I do not think that computers will die that soon...
John: Nope, but there is a stereo for the Ipod in my room.. ::D
Lox
Mon Oct 15 16:05:00 2007

Lox: any wi-fi rabbits?
John
Mon Oct 15 16:00:46 2007

He's not been the same since he bought a mac.
Rob Lang
Mon Oct 15 15:57:40 2007

I am posting from one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been to... It's not a 10 stars hotel, is a small hyper technological place that is well cool!!
Lox
Mon Oct 15 15:56:54 2007

Shut up you Luddite! In the future objects won't have to be fundamentally computers (at least not in our conventional sense) to be connected to the Internet. And It Will Be Good.
John
Mon Oct 15 14:46:50 2007

John: You are turning "designer" and that is BAD, we knew that your inherent gayness would soon catch up with the "real John" that we all like... I am afraid Colin will detonate tonight at 21:34 PM. It's our only hope...
Lox
Mon Oct 15 14:18:36 2007

Having got used to Colin's occasional murmurings over the weekend I somehow feel at a bit of