- Sun Nov 30 01:04:44 2003

Now there's a coincidence - Chie will be flying back from Japan at around the same time!
John
- Sat Nov 29 13:31:46 2003

Enough of this Vader! (Tarkin in SW-NH), have a great weekend everyone! I am back to Euroland tomorrow morning... :( Ciao ciao
Lox
- Sat Nov 29 09:09:30 2003

Still I guess that they decided to stay, so my only hope is that we will see the end of this thing asap... As for CIV 3 PTW it's a cool game and YES it's a good idea to make friends with the big shots... :)
Lox
- Sat Nov 29 09:08:26 2003

On the other side I guess that something mush have been done in Iraq and Afganistan, although the situation now it's rather messy. In Italy many people are against the use of military force to stabilize that country, expecially after all the dead soldiers and the daily attacks
Lox
- Sat Nov 29 09:07:29 2003

2. Bush - I agree he's a T***T, I was watching a special CNN report saying what they Bush family has done prior to the war. Apparently they have bought substantial shares in a company that supplies the american army, they sold all their oil companies and so on, this 6 months before they went to war
Lox
- Sat Nov 29 09:06:13 2003

the problem in the Yakiniku is that means "GRILLED MEAT" therefore I doubt that you might have had some luck with that type of restaurant... :))
Lox
- Sat Nov 29 09:04:10 2003

1. Veggies in Korea. I tend to agree that every foodstuff seems to be a distant relative of something that had finns, not that I care since I am not vegetarian though... :) Still if you ask hard enough you might get served something vegetarian
Lox
- Sat Nov 29 09:03:29 2003

Ciao Again Sorry for not having replied to all the stuff before but I am now in Japan and I am having troubles connecting as I do in Korea. Let's say that I actually have to work in Japan... :) So here we go:
Lox
- Sat Nov 29 09:00:28 2003

Have a bloody good weekend guys!
dsp
- Fri Nov 28 17:05:12 2003

Isn't it next to King's Cross?
Jimmy
- Fri Nov 28 16:58:50 2003

I've eaten a pancake
Scabz
- Fri Nov 28 15:34:55 2003

Anyone ever eaten a pancreas?
John
- Fri Nov 28 14:19:38 2003

That sounds nasty. In what way "Fluffy"?
Jimmy
- Fri Nov 28 13:53:25 2003

Careful, Alex is part of the BBC. The fluffy part.
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 28 13:15:45 2003

Jimmy, the BBC are the BBC. They are *never* happy.
Kev
At home on hols - Fri Nov 28 12:17:53 2003

How's life at the BBC, Kev? I thought MediaFear was all happy and well-behaved these days. Or it is something else ..?
Jimmy
- Fri Nov 28 08:41:35 2003

john,as you are already aware, beer *can* fix anything.
kev
- Thu Nov 27 21:38:50 2003

Sorry to hear it Kev! Let's hope beer'll fix it!
John
- Thu Nov 27 21:21:50 2003

Doh.
kev
- Thu Nov 27 21:01:12 2003

yep,just got back home, although stopped off at the offy and then curry house in that order. gggrrrrr shit day-feet hurt-hate BBC.
kev
- Thu Nov 27 21:00:32 2003

yep,just got back home, although stopped off at the offy and then curry house in that order. gggrrrrr shit day-feet hurt-hate BBC.
kev
- Thu Nov 27 20:58:44 2003

Wicked, wicked Kevin... Have you only just got back de Londres then?
John
- Thu Nov 27 20:51:44 2003

doh surfin maison again srry john.
kev
- Thu Nov 27 20:37:36 2003

mmmm curry. pangbourne tandoori has web access ;) mwhaaaaaa
kev
- Thu Nov 27 20:36:41 2003

I think the Theremin was used by Portishead as well John
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Thu Nov 27 17:45:52 2003

Nice to have that cleared up! Well, if I ever come across one, I'll let you know!
John
- Thu Nov 27 17:26:32 2003

http://www.thereminworld.com/learn.asp
Mark
- Thu Nov 27 16:55:03 2003

For anyone who knows him, Gary is building loads of rockets and stuff now - his website is www.rocketfire.co.uk
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Thu Nov 27 16:14:33 2003

Knowing what one is would be a helpful starting point!
John
- Thu Nov 27 16:00:29 2003

Hey John, Since you're good at finding things in London (ok, pubs).. how about seeing if you can find a double-antenna theremin in London?
Mark
- Thu Nov 27 15:54:16 2003

No, really! There's a page about it here.
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 27 15:19:57 2003

Sounds suspiciously like a strange game from India, where players have to hold their breaths while in their opponents' end of the pitch. To prove they're holding their breath, they must continuously chant the word "Cupboardy". Hence the name of the sport.
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 27 15:16:59 2003

I watched it. "No, you're right, he can't really do it can he". I think it's the Tom Baker voiceovers that make it.
Graf
- Thu Nov 27 14:31:30 2003

Whew. I've been working like a dawg!
tom
- Thu Nov 27 14:10:37 2003

I would make a reference to the stage hypnotist in Little Britain, and "cupboardy", but no-one else watches it so there wouldn't be much point.
John
- Thu Nov 27 13:50:52 2003

Or maybe even a collie!
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 27 13:08:25 2003

... or a colliery, perhapy?
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 27 13:08:07 2003

I quite liked the idea of a collary, myself.
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 27 13:07:46 2003

I think I meant to write "corollary" there.
John
- Thu Nov 27 12:09:02 2003

Just thought of a moden collary to the old addage "Never look a gift horse in the mouth":
Never examine the washing instructions on a free t-shirt.
John
- Thu Nov 27 12:08:03 2003

Naaah - you're thinking of PDQ.
Jimmy
- Wed Nov 26 18:03:33 2003

Wasn't LDR an American president? In which case, pretty much the usual mixed bag of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, etc.

- Wed Nov 26 16:51:00 2003

dsp: uni is cool...but expensive...workload is fairly minimal really, but as per usual been leaving work till last minute. Bit concerned over ur confusion between me and tom....lol
chris rowan
- Wed Nov 26 16:50:10 2003

Jazz? ACK! ACK! ACK!!!
alex
- Wed Nov 26 16:40:01 2003

Nik-naks? Well, the network card is ofter called the "Nic", so nic-NAKs would probably be error codes from the (said) net-card.
Jimmy
- Wed Nov 26 15:52:31 2003



- Wed Nov 26 15:48:38 2003

Does anyone know what a thermistor, or a LDR are made of? I have to teach A-level physics tomorrow
Scabz
- Wed Nov 26 15:47:35 2003

How can you not like Jazz FM? Surely only someone who doesn't like jazz could not like jazz fm....?!?!
John
- Wed Nov 26 14:50:30 2003

One for Alex. Just heard a news item stating that a large percentage of foreign visitors to Scotland think that the Haggis is an animal. Perhaps as with "Decimole" there is a genus for this rare beastie!!
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Nov 26 14:39:52 2003

Ack: expression of disgust at Jazz FM
alex
- Wed Nov 26 14:26:13 2003

I've often wondered if Nik-Naks are actually a reference to some sort of networking terminology.
John
- Wed Nov 26 13:59:54 2003

Yes- please explain that "Ack" business. Should I reply "NAK", perhaps? I've certainly not understood.
Jimmy
- Wed Nov 26 12:38:11 2003

no john its not leaking... although... hmmm whats that funny smell?? Smells a bit like GA........... .. .
kev
- Wed Nov 26 10:49:50 2003

When I said Tom I clearly ment Chris. Ha ha ha.
dsp
- Wed Nov 26 10:45:39 2003

Is it leaking everywhere then? When the gas men came round, did they have really big shoes and red noses? Were any of them humming doo-doo-doodle-doodle-doo-doo-der-der....?
John
- Wed Nov 26 10:35:29 2003

I am currently experiencing a minor gas crisis (and it's not the vindaloo sort). Hopefully I won't blow up!
Kev
at home, - Wed Nov 26 10:27:57 2003

Travis: omitting De Morgan's Law / Rule / Theorem from an introduction to logic sounds downright sinister to me. Somebody clearly wants to take over the world.
John
- Wed Nov 26 09:52:49 2003

What does Ack! Ack! Ack! mean...? Have you just received three datagrams over the network....? Mnph.
John
- Wed Nov 26 09:51:47 2003

Tom: How's the whole uni thing working out for you?
dsp
- Wed Nov 26 09:01:19 2003

i have people from other flats cooking me meals now...which is nice...
chris rowan
- Tue Nov 25 20:42:38 2003

Jazz FM? Ack! Ack! Ack!
Alex
- Tue Nov 25 19:07:36 2003

John, you're so bold: DeMorgan's is often referred to as a "Rule" or "Theorem"...though sometimes as a Law. I prefer to call it a theorem. Interestingly, I'm serving as Teaching Assistant to an Intro to Logic class this semester and the students did not receive this inference rule...intriguing.
Travis
- Tue Nov 25 18:59:10 2003

You are correct in that assumption - Radio 2's not really my bag. Actually, I don't really like Radio 1 either. When I do listen to the radio, it's mostly Jazz FM, with the occasional interlude of Radio 4, and that's about it really. All local radio stations are intrinsically apalling, so I avoid them like the plague.
John
- Tue Nov 25 13:46:27 2003

I'm sorry I haven't a clue has been on for a while now, Monday nights at 6.30. John, the other possibility could have been Roland Rivron's show Jammin where they do a similar thing but that could have been radio 2 and I assume you're far too young and funky to listen to that.
Alex
- Tue Nov 25 13:40:20 2003

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/clue.shtml
John
- Tue Nov 25 13:03:31 2003

Yes, I'm pretty convinced now it was I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. I've checked (with difficulty) the BBC website, and it's on Sundays between 12:05 and 12:30.
John
- Tue Nov 25 13:02:24 2003

It had all the hallmarks of I'm sorry I haven't a clue, but I didn't actually catch the name...
John
- Tue Nov 25 12:58:55 2003

One song to the tune of another? HAVE THEY BROUGHT BACK "I"M SORRY I HAVEN"T A CLUE"? Please say yes. Please say yes.
Mark
- Tue Nov 25 12:17:26 2003

Listening to Radio 4 on Sunday, I enjoyed very much Sandy Togsvig (no idea how to spell that) singing the lyrics from the Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK to the tune of "Bring me Sunshine", often performed by Morecambe and Wise. It was highly amusing. You just can't beat a lighthearted tuneful utterance of "I am an antichrist". Marvellous.
John
- Tue Nov 25 09:40:57 2003

Tell you what, I'll just have a conversation with myself today.
John
- Tue Nov 25 09:37:33 2003

Pleasingly, one set of bonus questions in university challenge was about De Morgan's Law. I think this must therefore be the first time I have yelled "NOT P AND NOT Q!" at my television.
John
- Tue Nov 25 09:09:35 2003

What was all that then....?
John
- Tue Nov 25 09:07:55 2003



- Tue Nov 25 03:32:51 2003

Reading were on University Challenge just now. Didn't recognise any of them.
John
- Mon Nov 24 21:06:24 2003

Yea, that's what I thought Simon.
John
- Mon Nov 24 18:28:36 2003

What is an industrial calc? Is it like a *really* big calculator?
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 24 16:46:24 2003

Do we have another Tom in our midst...? Or is it a pretend Tom...?
John
- Mon Nov 24 09:37:23 2003

The comment about the Industrial calc wasn't by me.
tom
- Mon Nov 24 09:11:37 2003

John san, have you check Email? I am still awake so could you try to call me?
little Hiroshima
- Sun Nov 23 16:33:44 2003

Nicely done Travis.
John
- Sun Nov 23 15:57:58 2003

I'm also having problems viewing the site using my brand new, sleek Sicilian style pizza with one additional topping from Pizza Hut for just $8.99 for a limited time only.
Travis
- Sat Nov 22 19:05:18 2003

...and Sylvia, that sounds highly suspicious. Why do I get the distinct impression you're not a real person, and this is some sort of scam?
John
- Sat Nov 22 17:25:38 2003

I didn't think you had an internet connection at home, Jimmy.
John
- Sat Nov 22 17:25:01 2003

I looked over Jordan and what did I see?
Coming for to carry me home,
A band of angels is coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.
Jimmy
At home, having just watch England win the rugby world cup, - Sat Nov 22 12:11:09 2003

I cant view your site on my SonyEricson P800 mobile phone. Seems there is a bug with styles or an GPRS connection problem.
Sylvia-Saint <Sylvia-Saint@Sylvia-Saint.com>
Germany, - Fri Nov 21 17:41:15 2003

Sounds like you're all there already.
John
- Fri Nov 21 17:24:31 2003

Is anyone pubward bound this evening?
John
- Fri Nov 21 16:39:26 2003

Spot the Jon Ellis look-a-like!
dsp
- Fri Nov 21 13:52:17 2003

Check out this funny piss take of the new Nokia game phone: http://www.sidetalkin.com/ It rocks!
dsp
- Fri Nov 21 13:51:19 2003

Rob: Do you have Civ3 PTW? I have it, but have never played a human player via t'Internet. Bet I'd whoop your ass!
dsp
- Fri Nov 21 13:23:53 2003

I think Bush may a prat, but he represents the most powerful country on the planet. Like playing Civ 3, you make friends with the strong ones.
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 21 13:21:27 2003

"Diss?" "DISS?" come on chaps, *please* There's no need for word like *that* !
Jimmy
- Fri Nov 21 13:05:22 2003

It's a very personal dissing based on my lefty tendencies. Anyone who likes fish bread, fish water, fish carrots, fish porridge, fish carpet, fish flavoured ice cream, egg sausage and fish, fish, fish, bacon, sausage and fish, sausage, egg, fish, fish, fish and fish, fish, fish, fish, fish (BLOODY VIKINGS!) will have a ball in that part of the world.
John
- Fri Nov 21 12:36:51 2003

We don't want to upset our little yellow friends. Who else provides us with such high quality industrial talc.
Tom
- Fri Nov 21 12:30:39 2003

John, you forgot "of course I speak for all the British when I diss Eastern foods". You're going the right was about getting the board knee capped. JESUS CHRIST!
dsp
- Fri Nov 21 12:29:52 2003

Lox: are you really finding vegetarian food there...? My experience of Korean food was that it was very meaty/fishy. I think the place we went to did what the Japanese call Yakiniku, not sure what the Koreans call it. Still, a bit like the Japanese, there has to be some bloody fish extract in just about everything, including corn flakes, orange juice and toothpaste. I doubt you can even buy salt in that part of the world, it has to be special "fishy salt", a bit like cheesey peas, I suppose.
John
- Fri Nov 21 12:25:39 2003

Yea I got annoyed by both sides of the argument trying to make out their view speaks on behalf of the majority British people. I get the opinion British people are split fairly 50/50 on the pro-Bush / anti-Bush issue. Clearly, given my downright leftiness I'm very much against the man, but I'm not going to go round pretending everyone agrees with me.
John
- Fri Nov 21 12:22:37 2003

Can't support the b'stard myself. It's not just Iraq (which, frankly, is more than enough) ... but the trashing of all the environmental treaties and agreements. I'm against the visit, the bloke, his actions and just about everything he stands for.
Jimmy
- Fri Nov 21 11:51:14 2003

On a Bush related topic, does any one enjoy a tipple of Black Bush? I do.
dsp
- Fri Nov 21 09:41:46 2003

dsp: No, semi-carnally
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 21 09:40:25 2003

LOX!!!! Fantastic to see you on here! You certainly get about a bit, what are you doing in Korea? I think most people don't mind Bush visiting, however those who like to complain will. And loudly. They also say things like "We speak for all Britons". Certainly don't speak for me, I feel we are doing what we believe is right.
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 21 09:37:03 2003

Cirrel Conolly?
dsp
- Fri Nov 21 09:27:25 2003

'morning all!
Jimmy
- Fri Nov 21 08:32:01 2003

BILL CONNELY!!! That was his name!
Lox
- Fri Nov 21 06:53:58 2003

I mean, you should send it to that scottish comedian (I forgot his name... crap!), you know that madman with the big hairdo.. Yes the one that is similar to Rob (or at least Rob used to be similar to him I always tought, now he's probably a respectable professional in the cybernetics world so the comparison might not apply anymore...)... I'll wait for a copy of the tape then! :)
Lox
- Fri Nov 21 06:50:19 2003

I've just finished reading that article John wrote about irritating facts, you know that you could probably write a good script for a firday night comedy show on that? It's absolutely great, the comments too are great.
Lox
- Fri Nov 21 06:50:06 2003

Ciao guys! To reply to everyone, I am here in my agent's office doing nothing at all, we had some appointment cancellations with some customers so.... As for the food it's great, most of it is vegetarian anyways, very spicy indeed. Kimchi is great. How are you all?
Lox
- Fri Nov 21 06:32:16 2003

Errr... John, don't you mean 'Bland' ? ;)
Kev
- Thu Nov 20 22:30:00 2003

What's the food like there Lorenzo? I went to a Korean restaurant a while back and found it pretty boring really, but I guess that was largely down to me being vegetarian. I love kimchi of course, though.
John
- Thu Nov 20 19:48:03 2003

Hi Lox!! Hope you are well! What are you doing in Korea?
dsp
- Thu Nov 20 09:17:29 2003

Ciao everyone! I appear to be writing from Korea... How are things in 'olde England'? Here on CNN they are complaining about the "warm" welcome that Mr. President got yesterday...
Lox
- Thu Nov 20 08:44:47 2003

A-ha! (an exclamation of realisation, not the name of a Norwegian pop group) I can use the quasi-Newton solver! It's not an optimiser - just a solver, but it *can* deal with a non-linear constraint set, which is more than can be said for ant colony optimisation (well, without heavy modification, that is).
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 20 08:23:12 2003

Tom Rowan shot my younger sister in the ass by accident.
Angry Brother
- Wed Nov 19 23:26:17 2003

Oh, I can see that TOM would only ever do that BY ACCIDENT. It would NEVER be ON PURPOSE.
Rob Lang
- Wed Nov 19 16:30:34 2003

accident....is that the sort of accident similar to getting shot in the ass with a pellet gun by ur older brother - accidentally
chris rowan
- Wed Nov 19 14:57:15 2003

Alex, when Robert gets that nerdy, a slower death would be in order!!
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Nov 19 13:58:06 2003

Don't worry, John, you'll get over it. Alex, that's lovely.
Rob Lang
- Wed Nov 19 11:17:30 2003

I appear to be in North Wales.
John
- Wed Nov 19 10:54:27 2003

I had a really disturbing dream last night that I stabbed Rob in the head with some scissors. It was an accident mind.
Alex
- Wed Nov 19 10:49:23 2003

Well! It you want to get technical, I'd use a least mean squares regressive technique. Or a negative feedback approach.
Rob Lang
- Wed Nov 19 09:06:55 2003

Hash table? Que? How will that solve my problems? Also: "Hill climb"? I'm looking for a valley, not a peak. Maybe it's just that you tend to use a "Merit function" and I use a "Cost function", but still ... you'd think that there'd be *some* agreement on a matter like this!
Jimmy
- Wed Nov 19 08:19:23 2003

If speed is of the essence just use a very large hash table.
dsp
- Tue Nov 18 16:47:18 2003

Hill climb, then Jim. Climb that hill.
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 16:23:46 2003

The trouble with a GA is that it's notoriously slow (specifically, they tend to be non-optimal). Also, I don't mind a local minimum, but I do need to get there fairly fast ...
Jimmy
- Tue Nov 18 16:15:00 2003

[geek] If it was a Blackbird SR71 coming down your chimney, I doubt Clare would be able to find it in the lounge as your house would be scattered over a square mile.[/geek]
Robert Lang
- Tue Nov 18 13:34:06 2003

John: Think of a number between 1 and 18,446,744,073,709,551,615. I bet £1 I can guess it.
dsp
- Tue Nov 18 13:26:07 2003

Incidentaly, I got a phone call from Clare this morning. A Blackbird fell down our chimney this morning and Clare found it in the lounge. I think it may have been startled.

And before the aviation geeks amongst us get excited it was a bird not the Plane variety. And before the perves get excited I mean the class of bird that has tits in it.
dsp
- Tue Nov 18 13:25:28 2003

I recently wrote an optimiser to select the optimal database to load data into. Very much like bin packing. Three simple states. Generate the set of all possible choices. Evaluate a score for each. Select the best score (notice the avoidance of highest/lowest). Then use it. Clearly a simple case where there's no further decisions to make.
dsp
- Tue Nov 18 13:20:27 2003

I'll fight you in the car park for a pound.
Gerard McKee
- Tue Nov 18 13:18:20 2003

I've been writing loan underwriting software. On a Sparc 2. Sparc 2. Yes. Like the really shit ones at Reading that they binned 6 years ago.
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 11:55:01 2003

I have really scared myself this morning - I've written a system which wraps (unsigned) 64 bit integers after just a few hours of running. There's nowhere else to go! My mind cannot comprehend a number larger than 18,446,744,073,709,551,615!
John
- Tue Nov 18 11:52:06 2003

Touché.
John
- Tue Nov 18 11:16:01 2003

[/smug]
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 11:00:15 2003

Fair 'nuff. I bow to your superior knowledge. Woe is you if you try arguing about Dynamic Neural Networks. Speaking of which, When are you handing in your thesis?
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 10:59:55 2003

Ok you could look at it either way, I agree... <smugness>But if it helps my side of the argument at all, I've had three papers published on this subject.</smugness>
John
- Tue Nov 18 10:54:25 2003

In the generic view, yes. However mathematics does not take the generic view. It takes the building blocks and then adds to them. We are arguing the same point, I'm just trying to show that GAs may be generic and they can be used to show hillclimbing but hillclimbing is the base mathematic form, not the other way round!
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 10:50:58 2003

No, no, no, the genetic algorithm describes the generic form. There are concepts that don't exist in hillclimbing that do exist in genetic algorithms. So you can describe hillclimbing as an instance of a GA pattern, but not vice verse.
John
- Tue Nov 18 09:52:50 2003

I think you've got that backwards, mate. A genetic algorithm is a more complex form of hillclimbing. Everything is essentially hillclimbing of a fashion. Hillclimbing is an application of feedback. So everything is feedback.
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 09:46:19 2003

Hill climbing is basically a genetic algorithm with a population size of one, and (implicitly) no crossover. I think I wrote about this in a paper published somewhere or other. When you look at it mathematically, just about everything ever turns out to be a genetic algorithm, even well loved search algorithms like breadth, depth and best first. These algorithms just have a reduced degree of randomness (i.e. none) compares to our standard understanding of what a GA is.
John
- Tue Nov 18 09:42:39 2003

Also the second part of the if line should be just "candidate" rather than "newcandidate".
John
- Tue Nov 18 09:39:38 2003

Ah, the tabs didn't really work. I'm sure you get the picture though.
John
- Tue Nov 18 09:38:54 2003

Here's your basic hillclimbing algorithm: candidate = GenerateAStartingSolution();
while (!IsSolution(candidate))
{
newcandidate = RandomlyMutate(candidate)
if (Fitness(newcandidate) > Fitness (newcandidate))
{
candidate = newcandidate;
}
}

John
- Tue Nov 18 09:38:09 2003

Shush, John, i am feining ignorance!
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 09:37:02 2003

Rob - I bet you know a million billiob things about this subject area! Aren't GAs (never sure how to pluralise that) optimisers? And Hill climbing? And what was that funny thing to do with something or other cooling down...?
John
- Tue Nov 18 09:32:03 2003

Sorry Jimmy. No idea.
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 18 09:08:02 2003

Good morning boys and girls. Does anybody know anything about optimisers? I don't mean the compiler sort, I mean the more mathematical lot, e.g. an algorithm that tries to find the "Best" values for a given situation ... and the user simply supplies a "Cost function". Admittedly, that's more a solver than an optimiser, but they're in the same league. Sort-of.
Jimmy
- Tue Nov 18 08:31:01 2003

I went to work today.
tom
- Mon Nov 17 22:55:59 2003

Awooga
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 17 17:47:28 2003

The former.
Rob Lang
- Mon Nov 17 16:36:47 2003

Is that a general warning to everyone that I am bored, or is it a warning that you are bored issued specifically to me...?
John
- Mon Nov 17 16:22:37 2003

John Hawkins Bored WARNING.
Rob Lang
- Mon Nov 17 16:05:38 2003

Aye. 'Twas a tad contrived and more than a little odd.
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 17 15:35:37 2003

Good work Simon, but I can't helping finding your usage of ejaculated highly suspicious.
John
- Mon Nov 17 15:26:59 2003

Does anyone know of any good free, preferably open source download managers?
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 17 15:21:03 2003

'I can verily say with true conviction, that it was my good fortune to be in receipt of your recent communication, John', he ejaculated
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 17 15:02:43 2003

Simon, top marks for use of "'Tis". There'll be bonus points if you can weave a "verily" into your next post.
John
- Mon Nov 17 14:51:34 2003

"Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Jimmy"
Kev
- Mon Nov 17 13:33:03 2003

An old email? Is that like in the return of the Jedi?

PIETT:It's an older code, sir, but it checks out.
Jimmy
- Mon Nov 17 13:21:32 2003

John,Cheers - 'Tis an old email address now but I can still collect them at the moment, I will reply from my new address.
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 17 11:30:56 2003

Simon, have sent you an email just now... Not sure if it is still the right address though! Well, I guess if you don't get it, we'll know...
John
- Mon Nov 17 11:07:06 2003

Ok John....Naaice!
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 17 09:35:40 2003

I'll bear that in mind Simon... I would really like to see where you are in Hungary and everything...
John
- Mon Nov 17 09:20:57 2003

Staying here this Christmas, but am coming back mid-February so hopefully we see you then, unless you can fit a quick visit in January? They have started doing economy flights now.
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Mon Nov 17 08:46:30 2003

Where are you around christmas Simon?
John
- Sun Nov 16 11:42:49 2003

Sorry to hear you can't make it John - hopefully we'll meet up sometime soon
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Sun Nov 16 07:21:44 2003

Sounds cool....if only we had that at Radstock!!
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Sun Nov 16 07:20:35 2003

We have just got a new game the our PS2 and it is one of the most fanstatic things ever. I am certain it is THE future of computer games.

I totally dig the dance mat games and this beats them hands down.

You get a USB web cam that plugs into the PS. The software watches you and there's 20 games you can play.

The best game is Kung-Fu. When you make movements the computer puts on Jackie Chan style 'swoosh' sound. Little men run on you smack them and get a satisfying 'smack' sound. It is fantastic and highly-addictive.

There are other great games, including a boxing game where you fight a robot.

These physically interactive games are the future!
dsp
- Sat Nov 15 18:32:38 2003

This weekend I am having a full blown nerd fest, and so far I am loving it. I'm making my own TV (in software of course).
John
- Sat Nov 15 13:52:01 2003

Apparently though, in the American/French system it is 10^24 (a thousand sextillions) whereas the British system says is 10^42 ( a million sextillions) ... apparently..... according to Google at least.
Kev
skiving off work., - Fri Nov 14 17:41:10 2003

Septillion seems to be derived from the same idea as are million and billion and trillion. Adding three columns to the left of the decimal, we'd get quadrillion, quintillion, sextillion, and then septillion. I believe you lot use decimals or periods instead of commas. 1.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000 I imagine.
Travis
- Fri Nov 14 17:31:14 2003

Could we suppose that the storage capacity of the internet is infinite? NOT THAT'S A STUPID THING TO SUPPOSE.
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 14 16:52:17 2003

What's Septillion?
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 14 16:51:43 2003

Did anyone a yottabyte is about 1.2 septillion bytes? Could come in handy. In about 500 years.
John
- Fri Nov 14 16:01:00 2003

Simon: sorry it doesn't look likely this year now - Chie has just gone off to Japan, which has pretty much finished up all of her holiday days for the rest of the year...
John
- Fri Nov 14 14:41:40 2003

The Transport for London Journey Planner is brilliant!
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 14 14:25:49 2003

John, John! - Are you coming to see us in Hungary?!
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Fri Nov 14 11:48:31 2003

Rob, I believe you omitted "Charles Paisley, the baby crusher", still nicely done, nonetheless.
John
- Fri Nov 14 08:35:25 2003

They were cakes really - momiji manju, which reminded me of The Brides of Fu-Man-Chu, an old film. I think manju is just a generic Japanese term for little cakes with some kind of filling. Momiji is the name of a tree, and thus this particular variety of manju are shaped like leaves from that tree. Not exactly sure of the english name of the tree. Kind of a willow or maple maybe?
John
- Fri Nov 14 08:20:35 2003

John: What were thoses chewy-biscuity things you brought to work once? Not only did they have a silly-sounding Japanese name, but you'd given them an even sillier English one (which sounded vaguely similar). Something about Fu Manchu???
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 13 13:21:51 2003

Yes I did partake in some Edamames last time we met John, I remember them being nice. I also love pistachios.
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Thu Nov 13 12:45:05 2003

From the BBC, Nokia's new N-Gage games can be downloaded anywhere thanks to a software crack. A spokesman says: "We have initiated an aggressive programme to stop the people behind these violations,".
Got me thinking: "There I was, threatening the kids, and up pulls a tank with Nokia written on it. Out gets a couple of Nokia boys and asks if I go round to see Mr Nokia. So they chain to the back of the tank and take me for a scape around to Nokia's place. And Nokia's there, in the conversation pit, with Sony, Motorola, a couple of game produces and a man they called Kikergarde who just sat there biting the heads of whippets.... etc"
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 13 12:21:09 2003

When I got to work, it said 7:35. And it wasn't joking! Alison had to catch an early train, so I dropped her off in Oxford about 7:15 ... so I'm now knackered. :(
Jimmy
Sadly not in bed, - Thu Nov 13 10:56:36 2003

I left Kate's at 7:05 and got into work at 8:55. Got knows what Thames trains are up to - I was on time today.
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 13 10:30:41 2003

When I left home this morning the clock said 8:57. On arrival at work, all the clocks said 9:02. As it can't possibly be more than a 30 second walk, either one of these clocks is wrong, or, more realistically, I was somehow abducted by aliens on the way in. They're damned efficient these days aren't they? An entire abduction, in broad daylight, in under 5 minutes. That is, unless it's actually Friday today.
John
- Thu Nov 13 09:29:42 2003

John, how's the commute to work?
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 13 09:18:29 2003

<grins> ( Hmm can't do Xml )
Kev
Home - Wed Nov 12 19:38:40 2003


Kev
Home - Wed Nov 12 19:37:50 2003

as usual you are wrong John, they may in fact contain a phrase not too dissimiliar to.. "puede contener las huellas de nueces"
Kev
home - Wed Nov 12 19:36:02 2003

I love the idea of packaging in Brazil with advice for nut allergy sufferers: "Warning! Contains Cirencesters!".
John
- Wed Nov 12 18:33:28 2003

Not sure about those. Personally, I prefer Brazils, which begs two questions: (1) Why don't you get 'em in packets in pubs? (2) Do the locals call 'em Brasils (local to Brasil, that is, as opposed to Brazil)?

Maybe they're not from there at all, and are in fact, from somewhere else entirely. Imagine this: the name "Brazil nut" merely denotes "Nuts from a distant land". Perhaps the Braz(s)ilians call them, say, Cirencesters.


Much like Einstein's famous E equalling M times C squared. I don't really think he intended to link mass to energy, but was merely trying to say "Listen guys, this number is really big!" He probably thought to himself "How can I express a really big number ... I know, I'll use c (which is pretty darn big). No! Wait! I'll square it ... that'll give 'em the idea". And so he did, and accidentally linked light speed to all sorts of things in the process. The Universe has never been the same since.


Does my rant have a moral? A point, even? How about: be careful what you do with your nuts!
Jimmy
- Wed Nov 12 18:00:57 2003

Pistachio nuts are, incidentally, also exceedingly nice in my opinion.
John
- Wed Nov 12 17:20:52 2003

They are very good with beer Tim! I think they fill the place that peanuts (particularly, say, the pistachio) occupy in Western culture. I think Simon may have had edamame, but I can't quite remember.
John
- Wed Nov 12 17:20:09 2003

Oh Aye! Made I laugh Ha Ha!
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Wed Nov 12 16:55:05 2003

I bet the silly cow that originally said it isn't.
Rob Lang
- Wed Nov 12 16:24:47 2003

Your lack of response made me research edamame myself. It looks highly appetising: http://agsyst.wsu.edu/edamhome.htm
dsp
- Wed Nov 12 16:16:57 2003

The majority of recent posters are in fact married.
John
- Wed Nov 12 16:10:07 2003

'You lot really need girlfriends' etc...
Rob Lang
- Wed Nov 12 15:58:36 2003

La.
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Wed Nov 12 15:40:55 2003

I'm sure there has to be a pun somewhere in the fact that Rob's literary tastes have become very high brow, whilst he recently sported a moustache, which is sort of like a very low eyebrow. Err.
John
- Wed Nov 12 15:10:32 2003

The best thing about train beer is that the licencing laws apparently do not apply to trains, so you can get beer after 11pm.
Graf
- Wed Nov 12 13:57:25 2003

... if I only had an optimiser.
Jimmy
- Wed Nov 12 13:49:48 2003

I don't partake in booze en route. I read quality books (Homer's The Illiad at the mo), or write Icar stuff (I'm writing an online version, you know) and sink away into my own little world. It's where I like to be. My job is quite challenging - this LISP-esque stuff is tricky.
Rob Lang
- Wed Nov 12 12:12:28 2003

Is edamame any relation to the popular cheese?
dsp
- Wed Nov 12 12:06:26 2003

One of my favourite things in the world is drinking sake on the shinkansen in Japan, surrounded by salarymen on their way home doing the same thing. Maybe some edamame to nibble on as well.
John
- Wed Nov 12 10:29:47 2003

Train beer is great. You get to sit down and relax, and have a drink. Everyone else assumes you're a nutter, and you get a load of seats to yourself. It's also a great environment for designing software. Get y'rself a notepad, and you'll be surprised how many superb ideas you have. As John Lennon might have put it: All you need is beer.
Jimmy
- Wed Nov 12 10:08:12 2003

You won't get any sense out of Rob. He's pissed.
dsp
- Wed Nov 12 09:55:58 2003

Rob - do you ever find when commuting you're overwhelmingly tempted to have some kind of alcoholic beverage on your way home?
John
- Wed Nov 12 09:41:42 2003

Errr, you haven't let the mindless banality of every day life kill off your imagination...?
John
- Wed Nov 12 09:22:33 2003

Icar is still fun. What am I doing wrong?
Rob Lang
- Wed Nov 12 09:15:37 2003

I second that. All my underpants are wireless and I am lovely and toastie!
dsp
- Tue Nov 11 20:07:00 2003

....although Jimmy, if you put the antenna in your underpants, you can keep quite warm.
kev
- Tue Nov 11 19:40:25 2003

gigabit networks are pants. wireless is best, although you can't make very good jumpers from them due to lack of wires.
kev
- Tue Nov 11 19:38:10 2003

I'd like gigabit ethernet, but only if it makes me warm! Can it be knitted into a jumper, for instance? Does it have a TOG value?
Jimmy
- Tue Nov 11 18:11:06 2003

I find myself bizarrely wanting to have gigabit ethernet, for no real reason. I've found a gigabit switch for 70 quid, and gigabit network cards are about 35 quid-ish each. No point, but there you go.
John
- Tue Nov 11 13:43:05 2003

It's sort of drizzly here, so not spectacularly cold.
John
- Tue Nov 11 13:36:22 2003

Is it just me, or is it bloody cold today?
Jimmy
In the freezer - apparently, - Tue Nov 11 12:32:29 2003

Did anyone know that *apparently* if you're paying off a student loan, you should get a discount on your income tax... Not sure how this works, but maybe there is more info at http://www.slc.co.uk
John
- Tue Nov 11 11:19:25 2003

incoming mail John!
alex
- Tue Nov 11 11:18:51 2003

Actually, it's just dawned on me what worries me more. John READ THE MANUAL. WTF were you doing reading the manual?!
tom
- Tue Nov 11 10:49:51 2003

FANTASTIC! It's like: "Before making a call on your new mobile, turn it off and lock it in a box."
tom
- Tue Nov 11 10:48:46 2003

Use ESP.
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 11 10:40:55 2003

What I particular enjoyed was this helpful message which formed part of the documentation for Symantec's removal tool:

CAUTION! Please read before proceeding: Before you download the tool to a computer, Symantec Security Response strongly recommends that you disconnect the computer from the network.

Errr, guys, I think there's a problem here somewhere...
John
- Tue Nov 11 09:32:50 2003

I finally got around to updating my anti-virus software last night, and discovered I had two files infected with W32.nimda.E@mm - it had probably been there for ages. I assume it had got in there back in the dark ages, when I was using dial-up and didn't realise I had IIS running. As far as I can tell, I have a completely clean system now, but I still feel sort of used and dirty.
John
- Tue Nov 11 09:31:21 2003

suckered me in, where'd I sign?
kev
at home... Mmm beer... - Mon Nov 10 20:59:34 2003

suckered me in, where'd I sign?
kev
at home... Mmm beer... - Mon Nov 10 20:55:46 2003

That sounds like a scam gone wrong.
John
- Mon Nov 10 20:39:58 2003

how can i save this page on my hard drive ?
Milking Tits <milkingtits@earthlink.com>
Germany, - Mon Nov 10 18:24:32 2003

Just a normal tache. Pics will be posted shortly.
Rob Lang
- Mon Nov 10 14:14:55 2003

Rob: Did you have a tache? (Handlebar?) Any pics?
dsp
- Mon Nov 10 13:58:10 2003

Hurrah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Nov 10 13:25:51 2003

The tache is dead. Long live the upper lip!
Rob Lang
- Mon Nov 10 12:15:57 2003

Bradley?
tom
- Mon Nov 10 10:41:56 2003

Stevenage?
John
- Mon Nov 10 09:03:02 2003

You really don't want to know where this message is being posted from.
dsp
- Sun Nov 9 23:27:24 2003

No. WEP is God. Really.
tom
- Sun Nov 9 22:42:37 2003

Definitely have to aggree too.
Kev
anywhere near *your* house on my PDA. - Sun Nov 9 11:55:28 2003

God yeah!
tom
sitting anywhere *near* my house with my libretto, - Sat Nov 8 21:13:33 2003

Lets have some house appreciation for Wireless Networking! God Yeah! This rocks!
dsp
listening to music from my server in my back garden, - Sat Nov 8 13:45:37 2003

Indeed it is, John. I just wanted to make you feel your lives were worth something. By contrast, the lemon flavored coke and pepsi (diet version, again) are terrible.
Travis
- Sat Nov 8 02:42:47 2003

You know this Prince Charles crap that's going on in the News? http://www.rowan.me.uk/?q=node/view/242
tom
- Fri Nov 7 17:30:44 2003

Lowly American? But surely you guys invented the stuff! Therefore, your opinion on the matter should be far more authoritative than our pitiful uninformed ramblings.
John
- Fri Nov 7 16:28:18 2003

How about vanilla pepsi? I've never had it...nor vanilla coke. But I've had both diet versions and find diet vanilla pepsi to be superior. But I'm a lowly American.
Travis
- Fri Nov 7 15:15:03 2003

Sorry, dsp, you're dead right.
Jimmy
Hiding in the wendy house, - Fri Nov 7 14:41:38 2003

Jimmy: You spelt Microsoft wrong.
dsp
- Fri Nov 7 14:20:23 2003

And what's more IT'S RED
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Nov 7 14:16:06 2003

John: Haven't you SEEN it yet. Lucky you. Must get Alex to send you that photograph, you know, the doily one, also gives a good shot (and perhaps it should be) of the aforementioned bit of fluff. *wonders" isn't there a word that goes before "fluff", beginning with a B. Maybe I'm wrong.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Nov 7 14:15:22 2003

Or was Rob referring to the National Trust...?
John
- Fri Nov 7 14:08:31 2003

I used to have NT-compliant facial hair, but then Micro$oft released a service patch, which broke everything. It just goes to show ... there's no pleasing some people!
Jimmy
In the garden, having escaped from Rupert Bear, - Fri Nov 7 12:41:15 2003

Fear not - it's NT compliant.
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 7 12:18:14 2003

I'm becoming concerned by this talk of Rob's facial hair configuration...
John
- Fri Nov 7 11:48:34 2003

No fluffy tail, but a bit of fluff under his nose!!!
mad mumsie
- Fri Nov 7 11:09:05 2003

Are you growing long floppy ears and a flufy tail?
John
- Fri Nov 7 10:34:23 2003

Just to spite you John, I had super-healthy Muesli this morning. HA HA.
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 7 10:17:12 2003

I'm slightly annoyed. I had become sick to death of eating toast, so for breakfast this morning I cooked up some hash browns. I enjoyed eating them tremendously, so much so I had a strange pang of guilt. However, as a result, my clothes now smell of hash browns, or a generic kind of oily baking smell.
To me, there's an almost biblical dimension to this story. I can imagine it now. "Verily thou shall knowest that though, in thine liking of the hashed browns, hast thou some nourishment, therein lies also many odours which shall linger about thou in an unpleasant fashion, and be generally a tad irritating, and remindest thineself of the indulgence thou hast gotten up to at breakfast time."
John
- Fri Nov 7 10:05:37 2003

In fairness, many Italian versions of things do taste better.
John
- Fri Nov 7 09:24:36 2003

Vanilla coke blows rabbits. But the girlfriend likes it [Jules]which pretty much means that I like it.[/Jules]
Rob Lang
- Fri Nov 7 09:06:47 2003

According to Lorenze our Coke tastes like sheeeeete - not like real Italian Coke.
dsp
- Thu Nov 6 23:47:35 2003

Secretly, I still like cherry coke. Lemon coke was foul though.
John
- Thu Nov 6 16:48:26 2003

Yes it is, it was just released within the last few months. Most people I've spoken to don't like it, but I thought it was OK at least. According to Lorenzo, they've had it in Italy for years, apparently.
John
- Thu Nov 6 16:47:53 2003

Vanilla coke floats my boat.
dsp
- Thu Nov 6 16:47:23 2003

Is vanilla coke out in the UK? What do people think of it?
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Thu Nov 6 16:33:32 2003

Deeed did deed da deed da deeed deeeed de da de da
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Thu Nov 6 16:33:00 2003

Please, god, don't send them to John. He has what police call 'Motive'.
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 6 16:01:41 2003

Alex, perhaps you should send the "doily" picture to someone who has FTP. I think the tash really sets the whole thing off.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Nov 6 15:37:06 2003

Unfortunately, Al, I don't have the ability to FTP upload. Which is a shame.
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 6 14:30:35 2003

I particularly like the one of you with the doily on your head. i think you shoud post that one up for everyone to enjoy
Alex
- Thu Nov 6 14:21:04 2003

Thanks, Alex! A lovely set of piccies!
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 6 14:18:21 2003

I'm still not sure about that maths teacher .... is his head supposed to be that shape, or is there an aspect-ratio problem? As for the mole, it's kinda hard to tell ...
Jimmy
- Thu Nov 6 13:47:40 2003

glad to hear it went ok Tom. i think doing the final filling at a later date is pretty standard.
alex
- Thu Nov 6 13:42:02 2003

You're right Alex. They're not too bad at all. Although she should only do half of it as it won't stop bleeding. It's been filled in with temporary goo, and I go back on Monday for the proper rubber goo. Apparently. And a bargain at £250 quid.
tom
- Thu Nov 6 13:29:44 2003

I have developed a habit of starting to sing the 'singing arab' song at random times. I am not mad honest *bleep*
Simon W
Szeged, Hungary - Thu Nov 6 13:00:37 2003

German eh, didn't you learn some of that at that place you went to for 5 years you know, skool. If they ask you for personal details, just remember, name rank and number
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Nov 6 12:47:21 2003

My baby daughter snores like a rhino!
alex
- Thu Nov 6 12:40:20 2003

tis done - on their way to the riw reading one
alex
- Thu Nov 6 12:37:45 2003

ENot my work one, so either of the others! Ta.
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 6 12:31:45 2003

Hey bro. i've got some lovely photos of you and Kate with bethan- which email addy do you want me to send them to? i'm thinking of using photoshop to paint out your dodgy tache though....German sounds fun!
alex
- Thu Nov 6 12:31:13 2003

My manager has just asked me if I would like to study German. I asked who she was and if she was pretty but aparently the company gives free German lessons in the afternoon. I'm going to the beginner class at 1! Nice.
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 6 12:17:39 2003

I've had more canals than Manchester. John, you still don't know what a prime number is, do you? Tim: I have a lovely desk - it's curved.
Rob Lang
- Thu Nov 6 12:16:39 2003

Good luck Tom. I've had 3 root canals and they're not that bad.
alex
- Thu Nov 6 11:51:29 2003

I have to go to the dentist. For root work. See you in TWO WHOLE hours. Arrrrgh!
tom
- Thu Nov 6 11:41:27 2003

You're right up to a point. There is an order within the class Mammalia that is called the Insectivora and it includes a real mish mash of species including hedgehogs and shrews. These are all animals that eat invertebrates, not all of which are insects so the order is a bit of a misnomer. Moles pretty much exclusively eat worms. And prime numbers of course.
alex
- Thu Nov 6 11:25:30 2003

I'm going to find a mole and force feed it a Yorkie.
John
- Thu Nov 6 11:22:44 2003

Isn't insectivore more of a lifestyle choice than a categorisation of species? For example, spiders eat insects, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't call them insectivores... Don't moles eat worms among other things? I thought worms weren't insects either...
John
- Thu Nov 6 11:08:00 2003

that looks positively terrifying! i think that teacher would give children nightmares
alex
- Thu Nov 6 10:18:18 2003

Sheesh, the amount of times I've had arguments with moles about prime numbers. They're a bugger for digging their heels in, them moles.
John
- Thu Nov 6 10:13:47 2003

Here's a picture of Decimole, and his steretypical maths teacher type friend. I've even managed to capture the subtitles for you, you lucky people.

John
- Thu Nov 6 10:12:34 2003

insectivores (hurrah! mtherhood hasn't completely fried my *whole* brain...)
alex
- Thu Nov 6 10:08:35 2003

I was worried about that when I wrote it... What are they then?
John
- Thu Nov 6 10:06:23 2003

Now they're talking about prime numbers... and Decimole was trying to eat them.
John
- Thu Nov 6 10:05:51 2003

ahem. moles aren't rodents
alex
- Thu Nov 6 10:05:25 2003

good suggestion john, but as she is now finally in the land of nod i'd hate to wake her
alex
yping 1 handed, can u tell? - Thu Nov 6 10:04:24 2003

Given that I'm writing a multiplexer (again) at the moment, I'm spending a portion of my working day watching TV (to check it's all working properly, honest). Currently there's a program on Channel 4 called Maths Mansion, presumably an "educational" program for kids. Here children are assisted in their grapsing of concepts like factors and multiples by a numerically informed rodent named "Decimole". I am deeply concerned about the future of all our children.
John
- Thu Nov 6 10:04:16 2003

Jimmy, I was just about to suggest nuking the site from orbit, but it seems Rob got there first. After all, it is the only way to be sure
John
- Thu Nov 6 10:00:09 2003

Could Bethan not perhaps take responsibility for the mouse, and you do the keyboard?
John
- Thu Nov 6 09:58:53 2003

i've got some really nice photos of rob, kate and bethan. i've been trying to email the damn things but its a bugger with only one hand
alex
in the kitchen, holding sleeping baby - Thu Nov 6 09:49:45 2003

How odd. But cool.
tom
- Thu Nov 6 09:35:21 2003

Rob: Welcome to your desk.
dsp
- Thu Nov 6 09:17:39 2003

Nuke the site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure
Rob Lang
At Work, Reigate - Thu Nov 6 09:05:21 2003

Help! I seem to have become trapped in the 1978 Ruper Bear annual. I'm trying to find my way out, but it seems my only hope is to survive to the end of the book. Unfortunately, Bill (the badger) has already been turned into a stuffed toy by the evil Toy Man, and I have a bad feeling that I'll not be able to negotiate the maze on page 80. Any suggestions welcome!
Jimmy
Trapped!, - Thu Nov 6 08:40:35 2003

Help!!! please. Do any of you smart people know any tricks to get AOL's browser to work with style sheets????
mysterious stranger <five20one@aol.com>
the yellow house at the end of the street, - Thu Nov 6 05:36:55 2003

try www.rac.co.uk, still a bit wordy and no pictures but....
kev
the eWeb, - Wed Nov 5 23:42:30 2003

Incidently, does anyone know of a really good route planner (for car travel) where you can put in the start postcode and the end postcode and the route is explained in simple girl-can-understand-them terms? Have tried the AA but they don't give left/ right directions... just road numbers, and the roads i wish to travel on this weekend seem to have no number (are very small... Would be grateful for suggestions.
Crystal <chrissi_m@hotmail.com>
still in my special place, hastings - Wed Nov 5 23:22:58 2003

I recomend ringing national rail and speaking to a person... they may be generally unhelpful, but at least they can give you the prices and times for all trains running around the time you want to go... of course they may not be from the right station ... ;-)
Crystal <chrissi_m@hotmail.com>
My special place, Hastings - Wed Nov 5 23:18:37 2003

You have a car.
tom
- Wed Nov 5 16:38:40 2003

You need the A-Team.
dsp
- Wed Nov 5 15:55:23 2003

The kicker is it's an advance ticket price - the only way to pay a sensible fare for train travel. So the implication is if I don't grab it soon, it'll disappear, and I'll have to pay a rediculous fare instead. Of course being a "special fare" it's more or less non-refundable, and I have no real come back if the journey all goes wrong, which it almost certainly will...
John
- Wed Nov 5 11:40:38 2003

Right then, here's a quandry for you. I want to go and visit my Dad, which means a trip to Bangor, and as Chie will be away at the time it'll have to be by train.
I've looked on the web, and found a (just about) tolerable ticket price, however the journey it has suggested has two changes, each allowing only five minutes. The first train is a Thames, and the second two are Virgin Cross Country services. Given that both companies are notorious for apalling punctuality figures, there really doesn't seem a cat in hell's chance that I'm going to make both of those connections. The second change is in Stafford, the middle of nowhere to me, and the train I need to get is seemingly the only one going from there to Bangor all day.
I'm not sure why they've suggested this route when it is so utterly prone to going tits up, and almost certainly is going to result in me being totally stranded in Stafford late at night, and ending up having to sleep on the platform or something.
John
- Wed Nov 5 11:37:48 2003

Sorry, this message was too big.
John
- Wed Nov 5 11:37:26 2003

My weekend name is Mandy.
dsp
- Wed Nov 5 10:29:40 2003

My mates reckoned Tom looked like the Shermanator. That would be a good name. Andy: What's your MSN name?
dsp
- Wed Nov 5 10:29:25 2003

yes.
spike
- Tue Nov 4 20:53:32 2003

Yes, Graf. Maybe you should.
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 4 14:46:31 2003

Tom seems to have changed his name on instant messenger thing to spike, for no readily apparent reason. Having said that, i've just realised how obscure my name on msn is, so maybe I should shut up.
Graf
- Tue Nov 4 14:31:00 2003

I'm very confused.
John
- Tue Nov 4 14:17:35 2003

Tom: Spike?
Graf
- Tue Nov 4 13:52:41 2003

He wanks as high as any in Wome!
Jimmy
- Tue Nov 4 12:33:06 2003

Can I be the first to say: Welease Wodger?
tom
- Tue Nov 4 11:44:20 2003

There are two things a man must do,
Before his life is done.
To write three lines in APL,
and make the buggers run.

Jimmy
- Tue Nov 4 11:43:55 2003

But Wobert, you don't have a lisp
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Nov 4 10:55:40 2003

This morning, I will mostly be LISP programming.
Rob Lang
- Tue Nov 4 10:16:45 2003

Kevin knows, I'm miserable now.
Jimmy
Under the bed, looking for Houdini the sock, - Tue Nov 4 09:27:44 2003

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: "Self-assembly" furniture is incorrectly named ... it never self-assembles, and *I* always end up having to do it.
Jimmy
Upside down behind the TV, - Mon Nov 3 13:18:43 2003

I'm proud of you, John. You've finally made the step from Software to Hardware. Haw haw.
Rob Lang
- Mon Nov 3 12:07:35 2003

I bought three furniture type things, and luckily all the right bits were there, and they were all (relatively) easy to assemble.
John
- Mon Nov 3 11:58:15 2003

John - Did you buy anything, and if so, did you check that all the nuts and bolts were there before you left the shop
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Nov 3 11:37:29 2003

Friday - went for curry followed by beers to celebrate with the daughter of a Japanese baseball hero (I think his team just won some tournament or other). Saturday I was babysitting my nephew. Sunday went to IKEA for the first time ever, which was a bit odd.
John
- Mon Nov 3 09:25:30 2003

Morning all! How was everyon'e weekend? I spent it restin' (not dead) and finished it by seeing Cabin Fever at the cinema - after which I felt wretched. How bout you?
Rob Lang
- Mon Nov 3 09:11:43 2003

'morning all!
Jimmy
- Mon Nov 3 08:31:37 2003

Pangers now is it...? Sounds very public school boy ish!
John
- Sun Nov 2 19:10:46 2003

Doh! beat me to FIRST post Grrrrrr. hello everyone ;)
Kev
Pangers - Sun Nov 2 18:51:39 2003

Hey everybody!
dsp
- Sun Nov 2 18:32:06 2003