Happy New Year Travis! No plans... Just got the kids to bed, now a spot of relaxing wth maybe the odd celebratory tipple later... 3 3/4 hours to go yet... :)
Nigel
- Sat Dec 31 20:12:40 2005

John: You seem right about microwaves. But I'm pretty sure "we" have already determined that they aren't powerful enough to cause free radicals...they just bounce into stuff and get them moving rapidly. All: Happy New Year! Any plans??
Travis
- Sat Dec 31 16:34:14 2005

Happy New Year John!!!! Hope the celebrations in your neck of the woods are suitably unruly!!!!!
Nigel
- Sat Dec 31 15:57:45 2005

Well, I guess it is 2006 now then!
John
- Sat Dec 31 15:00:36 2005

Less than a minute now...?
John
- Sat Dec 31 14:58:53 2005

Well I'm going to pre-empt you all to saying happy new year - by virtue of the time difference 2006 is just a couple of minutes away here in Japan!
John
- Sat Dec 31 14:58:05 2005

Hi Tom. Yes, I try to do my best, but I know what you mean. I've not had any problems at the tip - I'm amazed at what goes in the cardboard-only recycling skip - they don't seem to mind too much all the polystyrene packing!! Perhaps someone is paid to sort it? My pet hate is those plastic shopping bags. I always segregate/sort so they go in the correct container. One local shop used to allow you to return them, but no longer.
Nigel
- Sat Dec 31 14:55:36 2005

I hope you recycled as much as possible? My mum was saying that her council DONT want them to recycle wrapping paper as a) there is too much sellotape and b) the shiny coated papers ruin the quality of the recycled paper end product.
tom
- Sat Dec 31 13:06:43 2005

Sorry, just realised that last post of mine was a bit scary!! :)
Nigel
- Sat Dec 31 12:21:15 2005

Yesss... Saahh!! No one gets past me... Ho no.... !! Actually had a wonderful trip to the corporation tip to get rid of all that Crimbo rubbish.. That was nice... :) On the edge... ho yes... on the edge!!
Nigel
- Sat Dec 31 11:36:06 2005

did you stay up all night on guard then Nigel? ;) now thats commitment -
kev
- Sat Dec 31 10:53:36 2005

Things are looking good!! No overnight spammers!! Congrats! And a Good Morning to all! :)
Nigel
- Sat Dec 31 08:53:37 2005

part two - Now, notice the grid on the clear front door of the oven? Apparently the size of the holes is in direct relation to the waveform size of the microwaves, preventing them getting through. Some perverted people have as their hobby, the challenge of making the most open grids which allow no microwaves to pass through, but are still.. er.. holey... A hobby with zero-tolerance of mistakes I should guess.. :*(
Nigel
- Fri Dec 30 14:49:42 2005

And well-deserved too, Sir!! Yes, funnily enough I was just pondering the fact that with the new design, the pull is no longer separated... As for microwaves... As I understand it, the frequency of the microwave actually excites water molecules within food to the point of cooking it. So, as we know, microwaving dry powder causes very little heat up, while a nice wet piece of fish cooks PDQ! I assume that any "excess" wave energy is absorbed by a some earthing circuit. to be continued....
Nigel
- Fri Dec 30 14:47:09 2005

Nigel, I remember doing a survey at school when I was 10 or 11 where we counted the number of ring pulls that had been discarded in a small area (say four square metres) of the school grounds. There were about a squillion, I believe, from which we projected that each person on the planet drank, on average, a hundred thousand canned drinks every day. I believe this seminal research was the turning point which convinced the beverage industry to adopt those ring pulls which you don't actually remove completely from the can. I'm still waiting for my Nobel peace prize.
John
- Fri Dec 30 14:04:51 2005

I was thinking about microwaves and all that earlier on today actually. Are they really safe? Aren't you basically irradiating all of your food? Does anyone know how long is required for the long term effects of that kind of thing to filter through? In other words, if microwaves really did cause a problem, have they already been around long enough that we would already know about it by know, or is there still a bit of a question mark over their safety?
John
- Fri Dec 30 13:58:25 2005

Ah! Well have you also noticed, John, how in recent years the old "pluck-and-pull" ring pull has mutated into the more mechanically efficient "pluck-lever-and-push-down" type? It's nice to know as we open a beer, what marvels of technology we are taking for granted... :) (Still too early :(( )
Nigel
- Fri Dec 30 13:57:38 2005

Nigel, it is interesting you should mention that (about ring pulls) as I read somewhere they were really difficult to make - getting that precision of thickness such that it doesn't just break when you drop a can or something, but it does easily open when you use the ring pull. Isembard Kingdom Brunel would have been proud!
John
- Fri Dec 30 13:44:11 2005

Eeeeekkkkk!!!!! Much like working in front of a CRT PC screen for a few years I suspect :)
Nigel
- Fri Dec 30 13:32:02 2005

John: I would like to challenge your theory about technology not damaging your internal organs - take the door off your microwave, stand infront of it and cook for 2 mins on power level 9
Kev
- Fri Dec 30 12:44:45 2005

John: It's good to know my frustration was not for nothing! I should imagine that a carefully imbibed beer along with a perfectly measured and heated bath would be the pinnacle of an otherwise lack-lustre day! I hope you were suitably relaxed and cleansed! I take your advice today and will leave all technology safely alone.. Except perhaps those highly complex ring-pulls... But that will be later... It's only breakfast here in the UK!
Nigel
- Fri Dec 30 09:07:29 2005

Ah, I have just found the level setting on our automated bath filling control. There is a little red mark on the level indicator, and I am presuming it is somehow dangerous if you have the level set to underneath that, so I have adjusted it from the silly default value to be well above that, with a good margin for error just to be on the safe side. That'll learn it.
John
- Fri Dec 30 03:53:06 2005

Now which of those buttons was "stop" and which was "emergency water eject"...?
John
- Fri Dec 30 03:43:49 2005

So our bath has an automated filling function - you just press the temperature you want and then hit go. You can then walk off and leave it - apparently it automatically stops when it gets to the right temperature/level. Chie is at work, but I'm feeling dangerous so I have randomly mashed the control panel (full of buttons I don't understand again) until water started coming out. It looks like we may not have to wait for the first trial run of the washing machine for flooding incident number 1! Better start rounding up those animals Noah...
John
- Fri Dec 30 03:42:33 2005

I'd like to add that beer seldom fails to saitisfy in the way technology often does. On the other hand technology does not destroy your internal organs (with the possible exception of your brain, of course).
John
- Fri Dec 30 03:29:09 2005

Nigel, you may take some small comfort from knowing that your frustrating day wrestling with technology has not been entirely wasted. Thanks to having shared it with us all, I have now come to the opinion that I should spend my day off doing nothing of any difficult technical nature, and instead lazing about and drinking! So in a way your disappointment has saved me having to experience the same... You're a saint, Nigel.
John
- Fri Dec 30 03:27:42 2005

Well you see... embarrassingly... being a techy-sort by ex-career and inclination, I should have the offending items working in the blink... The problem with the wireless print server just may be a hardware failure... As I mentioned it worked perfectly a month and a half ago. As for the phone... well it's my own fault trying to "modify" it to increase it's spec using those blackest of arts - hex editing.... All is back to normal now, but no mods have succeeded... As I said I'm embarrassed... :\
Nigel
- Thu Dec 29 23:01:48 2005

i have the deep set opinion that if you need to rtfm for a mass consumer item then it must be crap because if joe shmoe whose not technologically minded is expected to use it, it should be obvious how it works - intuitive is the word i am looking for. discuss ( if you can be bothered )
kev
- Thu Dec 29 22:44:42 2005

RTFM?
tom
- Thu Dec 29 21:41:48 2005

So true! A wated day is how I'd describe it!! Still not managed a print, nor taken a phone video!! If they hadn't cost so much I think I'd be taking MM's advice and chucking them a large distance..... :(
Nigel
- Thu Dec 29 20:23:11 2005

also why do we spend so much time trying to get these technological time saving wonders to work and fix them ehen they don't ?
kev
- Thu Dec 29 18:20:34 2005

Nigel. When a labour-saving or a computer device doesn't work, smash it on the floor, you'll feel much better...
Sheri
- Thu Dec 29 17:40:21 2005

Well, I've had one of those annoying days when nothing works at all... Well getting my wireless laser printer working for e.g. You see, all that's different is that I haven't used it for a month and a half... Then there's my mobile phone... All through Win XP I am duty bound to add, though the Mac wasn't any use either... Technology... Who'd have it?!?! :(
Nigel
- Thu Dec 29 17:11:07 2005

john; is there a red button with a skull and crossbones on it ( which is clearly recognisable as the international symbol for "press me" ) ? even if there isn't, i suggest that you stay well clear of the machine and not do any washing (or ironing either;dangrous too) i am sure chie will understand, esp if you keep retellling the washing machine incident emphasizing the screaming !
kev
- Thu Dec 29 14:13:09 2005

Well you know me Sheri, I'm living on the edge, like the carefree daredevil that I am. I'm going to use that washing machine and to hell with the consequences!
John
- Thu Dec 29 13:33:43 2005

John, if you fear to blow up the whole building with your brand new washing machine, I would strongly advice you - for your own peace of mind - to do the laundry in the good old washbasin... !
Sheri
- Thu Dec 29 12:32:55 2005

Nigel: I'll have to ask Cyberdad the answer to that one. and John: do I detect an excuse NOT to have to use the washing machine?
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Dec 29 12:02:44 2005

Ahhhh.... Washing machines.... What do they do then? ( ;)) )
Nigel
- Thu Dec 29 11:37:56 2005

Ah, you've got me worried now Lox! Maybe the guy was actually saying you absolutely must operate the "flibbety flap floo monkey waaa woo ticky tocky ticky tocky woooooooop walla walla bing bong chiminee wararablappy doo daa", every time you turn it on....?
John
- Thu Dec 29 10:35:56 2005

Well John look at the bright side at least you understood that it's something that you shan't do "under no circumstances"... If you understood that you had to activate the valve every time you did the washing it would have been worse! :)
Anyways we are waiting for the next nuclear washing machine incident in Japan after this post! :)
Lox
- Thu Dec 29 10:15:43 2005

The great thing is that when the person in the flat living below comes up to shout at me for having flooded their home, I won't actually understand a word they are saying either!
John
- Thu Dec 29 09:41:53 2005

So I'm back at home now, and a guy has just been round to install our new washing machine. He gave me a little runthrough of the do's and don'ts, entirely in Japanese, which I barely understood at all. At one point he said something like "absolutely under no circumstances wibble flabby floo flom flom wibbly wom wi waaaa wickety wimwa bracket valve". So I understand that there is something which I must under no circumstances do, but I'm not overly clear on what that thing actually is. Watch this space for yet another John Hawkins washing machine flooding incident!
John
- Thu Dec 29 09:39:30 2005

Today is my last day at work before the year end holiday. (Incidentally, it is lunchtime here as I write.) I get a whacking great SIX DAYS OFF - 2 days weekend, plus 4 days national holiday / company closure. Chie, on the other hand, only has two days off (she even has to work one day this weekend). So given that I don't really know anyone else in Japan I'm going to be at something of a loose end... Still, perhaps this might finally give me a chance to write the long awaited "message board v2".
John
- Thu Dec 29 04:08:51 2005

Kev - I'm fairly sure the phrase "borderline alcoholic" was originally coined in reference to you, sunshine! Or have you seen the error of your ways, now that my evil influence has been removed from your daily life, in all but a virtual capacity...? (Note to self, use message board to apply peer pressure to Kev and get him to drink more).
John
- Thu Dec 29 03:58:23 2005

It's snowing here in Florence, it's a rarity all in all I think it hadn't snowed in 5 years here... :)
Lox
- Wed Dec 28 22:21:34 2005

oops pda cache-doublepost-error. bbbrrr its cold outside tonight !
kev
- Wed Dec 28 22:17:33 2005

nigel: watch out or john will get annoyed - he after all, is supposed to be the only borderline alcoholic on the message board ;)
kev
- Wed Dec 28 22:16:30 2005

Actually I'm surfing from the LifeDrive upstairs as it's a no-go area downstairs - the kids are winning!
Nigel
- Wed Dec 28 18:23:15 2005

Ha! Wash do yoosh mean? Hic!
Nigel
- Wed Dec 28 18:20:58 2005

nigel: watch out or john will get annoyed - he after all, is supposed to be the only borderline alcoholic on the message board ;)
kev
- Wed Dec 28 17:58:25 2005

Mumsie: The iPod is amazing. If you're like me and can't stand music on the radio, an iPod to cassette player/CD player for the car is quite cheap and a life saver. My charge in the iPod lasted to and from my in-laws' place, a total of about 9 hours driving...and some charge to spare, so it's pretty amazing.
Travis
- Wed Dec 28 17:41:25 2005

Christmas weather check: Where I am, the temp was around 70 Farenheit...back "home", it was around 40 with rain. Bleah. Anyone had more Christmassy weather?
Travis
- Wed Dec 28 17:40:02 2005

Well, would you believe it, Nigel's on the Guinness already!! Splendid!! After an afternoon trying to find a decent pair of jeans in the sale - and succeeding in doing nothing other than getting stressed, I deserve one! MM: Well done on the iPod acquisition! Way to go!
Nigel
- Wed Dec 28 17:36:19 2005

Afternoon everyone. Hope you all had a good Christmas. We certainly did. We all got what we wanted, except I bought the wrong thing for my son in law so it has to go back. I am now up with you lot - Cyberdad bought me an IPod!! All I have to do now is learn how to use it. Boo was adorable, of course.
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Dec 28 15:05:29 2005

if -> of
John
- Wed Dec 28 13:25:17 2005

Was that some kind if experiment Tom?
John
- Wed Dec 28 13:24:48 2005

SPAM.
tom
- Wed Dec 28 12:45:54 2005

I just wanted to be the first to say Happy New Year.
tom
- Wed Dec 28 12:45:18 2005

I cross my fingers...
Sheri
- Wed Dec 28 12:38:12 2005

maybe you should just shut the board down - that'll learm'em!
kev
- Wed Dec 28 12:30:53 2005

Either that or the same people have turned their efforts to assaulting me by email instead - 158 new emails in my inbox - let's guess how many of those are spam!
John
- Wed Dec 28 12:04:44 2005

Well, so far, so good, it seems... Either that or the spammers are now all on their winter break...?
John
- Wed Dec 28 12:02:48 2005

Morning all! Nice sunny day here - no snow! Bloomin' cold though!
Nigel
- Wed Dec 28 10:40:33 2005

Let's hope it works now...
Lox
- Wed Dec 28 08:13:14 2005

Just testing my minor anti-spam alterations...
John
- Wed Dec 28 05:19:45 2005


John
- Wed Dec 28 05:17:54 2005

OK, I have taken a number of short term measures to try to fight back against the spam. On the assumption that this offensive has been somehow automated I have moved the add message page to a new location. I've updated the links I could think of, but of course I may have forgotten one or two.
John
- Wed Dec 28 05:01:24 2005

Guys, I speak American. Let me take a shot..."Fuck off, spammers." If that doesn't work, let me know. In other news, I got some cool stuff for Christmas. New Depeche Mode CD? Fantastic. Got a book and some other stuff...but my wife and I exchanged presents about a month ago. We're bad that way.
Travis
- Wed Dec 28 00:24:52 2005

Gosh these spammers are really breaking my balls.... We must do something guys!
Sheri: Leffe... mmmmmmmmmmmmm niiiice, after guiness is my favourite!
Lox
- Tue Dec 27 23:43:44 2005

Cheers Sheri!! Here's to your good health!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Tue Dec 27 17:47:51 2005

Cheers, pal ! I'm having a Leffe (Belgian monacal beer)
Sheri
- Tue Dec 27 17:00:04 2005

Well it was a nice sunny day here - no snow!! Are the rest of you okay? Rest of the UK looks a bt dodgy! Right then, time for some Guinness - purely medicinal of course! Brrrrr!!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Tue Dec 27 16:56:02 2005

well i got a bottle balvenie doublewood and a bottle of Bowmore darkest. i think i will be "playing" with these later on :)
kev
- Tue Dec 27 14:35:48 2005

Hiya everyone! Having a great day playing with Christmas pressies!! Just installing Civ4 ready to have my first game.
dsp
- Tue Dec 27 14:11:03 2005

Yes Kev, I think your picture sums up my intentions almost perfectly.... Eeeeeeeexcellent.
John
- Tue Dec 27 00:29:57 2005

ok, thats it I'm with john - release the hounds!
kev
- Mon Dec 26 23:21:50 2005

- knowing John he has a picture in his mind of the Spammers being ripped into little pieces "Mr Burns" style http://www.bartcop.com/burns-flying-monkeys.JPG
Kev
- Mon Dec 26 16:02:39 2005

I think John is referring to the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz - but I might be wrong.
Kev
- Mon Dec 26 16:00:50 2005

Pardon me for my ignorance. What is a "flying monkey"?
Sheri the Belgian Frog
- Mon Dec 26 15:44:43 2005

Sheri, I'd like to propose a solution involving flying monkeys. I'm not exactly sure how this will solve the problem, but it will no doubt prove an interesting avenue to explore.
John
- Mon Dec 26 11:32:47 2005

John, as our beloved CEO, what is your policy and what are your suggestions ?
Sheri
- Mon Dec 26 09:56:37 2005

That is tremendously annoying, isn't it? Thanks to all the regulars for percevering through all the spam, I will find a way to fix it some day soon and then this will all just be an unhappy memory!
John
- Mon Dec 26 09:55:08 2005

Time to do something about those bloody spammers, don't you think lads ? Let's hold a committee meeting to discuss the question in concrete terms and put solutions forward...!
Sheri
- Mon Dec 26 09:52:29 2005

merry christmas to you all ( except to the spammers who I hope have non-fatal but nonetheless painful christmas related injuries ! )
kev
- Sun Dec 25 22:46:42 2005

Joyeux Noël !!!!
Sheri
- Sun Dec 25 18:45:04 2005

Merry Christmas. I'm just eating breakfast...after noon. Had a long sleep.
Travis
- Sun Dec 25 18:17:51 2005

Happy christmas everyone! love ya mum xxx see you at lunch!
dsp
- Sun Dec 25 09:59:04 2005

Happy Christmas everyone! Lox, I hope your knee is better soon. I'm going to spend today with my gorgeous grandaughter and you all know who that is!!!
Tims mum
Up North, - Sun Dec 25 09:30:02 2005

Buon Natale a tutti!!! (it's pretty self explainatory)... :P
Lox
- Sun Dec 25 08:18:50 2005

An hour and change until Christmas Day. The same evening I drank Hobgoblin, my friend picked up a bottle of something that looked like an old bottle of whiskey or something like that. I don't remember the name, but it was beer...just very fancy. Like $5 per bottle. Anyway, today I picked up 1 six pack each of Shiner Blonde, Lone Star (for my father in law), and ZeigenBock. All made in TX, all for only $17. Less than a dollar per bottle, for quality beer.
Travis
- Sun Dec 25 04:54:51 2005

Merry Christmas everyone! It is about 10:30 AM here, so we've already woken up and opened our presents. Chie seems to want to go out shopping today but I've been putting up some very strong resistance to this on moral grounds - we just don't do that sort of thing back in England (partly of course because everywhere is closed).
John
- Sun Dec 25 01:40:50 2005

And just in case I don't get a chance later _ MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all!! :)))
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 24 15:36:38 2005

Afternoon all! (GMT time anyways!) Yep, round here Hobgoblin is only available in bottles - no draught or pump, . I like a lot of this brewery's (Wychwood) output. A rare one, called Whyte Wych (or similar), only comes out early summer - if we are lucky. I'm sure one year was missed. I particularly like this one, and Corn Circle too. "Blonde" beers you might say. Kev: Are you a cat by night perhaps? Could it have been a fur-ball??? :))))
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 24 15:35:44 2005

We've got to do something about these damn Americans. There they go again, spoiling it for all of us.
Travis
- Sat Dec 24 15:12:33 2005

there ya go, that'll be Johns fault taking about using wireless devices on the bog!
kev
- Sat Dec 24 15:05:22 2005

Et joyeux réveillon à vous tous, mes amis !
Sheri
- Sat Dec 24 09:19:53 2005

Maybe I should get wireless connection too...
Sheri
- Sat Dec 24 09:17:19 2005

JOHN, when posting from the toilet, does it facilitate your bowel movement... ? I wonder.
Sheri
- Sat Dec 24 09:14:42 2005

Now NIGEL, I followed your advice and got severely drunk. I have a tremendous headache and it is painful just looking at the screen. Bast...!
Sheri
- Sat Dec 24 09:13:41 2005

John: The masks are thre for a different reason, which is NOT to spread germs of flu while outside. It's a very Japanese thing to do, extremely polite, though I am sure that there are people with allergies too wearing them... :) As for the wireless connecction it ROCKS!
Lox
- Sat Dec 24 08:09:58 2005

In fact it appears from the web that Hobgoblin pubs are in fact pretty much limited to the South East of England (specifically Oxfordshire and Berkshire) and Tokyo! I can't see any mention of them anywhere else in the world. The beer does appear to have travelled further afield though, as Travis can attest to...
John
- Sat Dec 24 07:49:09 2005

Nigel, Travis - surprisingly there is a Hobgoblin pub here in Tokyo (in fact I've heard there are actually three of them). At first I thought it was a coincidence, but having been there recently it turns out to be actually the same pub, with the same beers. I ddin't think it was such a major thing in the UK, so I was a bit surprised to find it in Tokyo!
John
- Sat Dec 24 07:42:38 2005

Kev, Maybe you ought to wear some kind of face mask when you go to sleep to prevent this happening again? Lots of people here in Japan wear these white cloth face masks covering their nose and mouth, which are a pet hate of mine. Apparently this is because of some kind of allergy, but to me it looks more like there's some nasty disease going around or something. Either that or it is an excuse and these people are just plain ugly.
John
- Sat Dec 24 07:37:01 2005

Three hours to Xmas Eve. I head to the in-laws' place tomorrow AM and will be there until the eve of the 26th. I'll make the best of it. Going to try to introduce my father in law to some non-Texan beer. I'll let you lot know how it goes. Have an excellent Christmas, all.
Travis
- Sat Dec 24 03:10:50 2005

Nigel: Do you like Hobgoblin? I recently purchased a 20 oz. bottle and "enjoyed" it. It was a bit...virile. Tonight, the wife and I (sans kids!) went to the Fox and Hound (fancies itself an English style pub) and I drank Zeigenbock...which is, I understand it, only available in Texas. Had three pints and some chicken wings while watching my favorite basketball team destroy the opposition. Great night.
Travis
- Sat Dec 24 03:09:16 2005

morning john, i just woke nearly choking to death, a piece of fluff got stuck in my throat - v.unpleasant - merry chrimbo.
kev
- Sat Dec 24 00:59:36 2005

Well, it's the morning of Christmas eve here now. I had one of those "where the hell am I?" moments when I woke up this morning, and then shortly afterwards realised this is my new apartment, and therefore apparently where I live now! Still doesn't feel particularly Christmassy yet...
John
- Sat Dec 24 00:55:48 2005

Now it's Guinness and I'm listening to PlanetRock who are playing a "Yes" compendium. Anyone else remember the guys?
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Fri Dec 23 21:45:19 2005

A glass of Hobgoblin, my headphones on listening to my DAB radio (Joc watching "What Not to Wear") aahhhhh....... :)
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Fri Dec 23 21:10:43 2005

i liked the fruit guy better!
Kev
- Fri Dec 23 18:17:57 2005

Andre- I love your website. It's *utterly* impenetrable!
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 17:42:47 2005

merry, crimbo all. Also I just caught up with todays shenigans on the board, the Fruit Guy was hilarious!!!!!!!
Kev
- Fri Dec 23 15:49:16 2005

Merry Crimbo, Jimmy/MM !! (Still "working" here!) Weeeeeee Splat!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 23 15:33:29 2005

Oh yeah- and Merry Christmas everyone!
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 15:21:19 2005

Everyone n my office is playing it now ... and they're all fighting over my printed-out graph. Argh!
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 15:20:46 2005

Jimmy: you're right, that is soooooooooooooooo sad. It's only a game.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 23 15:00:02 2005

MM- I especially like the Gonzo game. I find that if I always use a 45 degree elevation, then I only have to vary the voltage, so I can draw a graph of distance versus voltage, and get a good bucket-range estimate. I use the fuse-box in the background as my distance marker. Now- I know this is sad, but at least I'm not doing it from a mobile computer!!!
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 14:58:24 2005

Well everyone, that's me done for this year. Have a great Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. xxxxx
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 23 14:58:06 2005

And get sloshed !
Sheri
- Fri Dec 23 14:52:48 2005

Nigel, too right you are! Let's get a beer...!
Sheri
- Fri Dec 23 14:42:23 2005

Sorry, meant to add this one as well. muppets.go.com/games/muppets-flyinggonzo.html Hours of endless amusement.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 23 14:34:26 2005

These are also fun: www.icq.com/friendship/pages/browse_page_7944.php AND crazyfrog.yourebustingmyballs.com/shoot_the_crazy_frog_mini_game/ AND
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 23 14:32:42 2005

Yeah, but it's nearly Christmas now! It's time to have a bit of fun ...
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 14:03:24 2005

Ok, anyone want to play a mindless, politically uncorrect game with an attention span of but two minutes, but which is never-the-less funny? Course you do! Go to - www.freesoft.sk/penguin.swf - Oh, if only more games were as easy as this...!!!!!!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 23 14:01:55 2005

John: I'm interested to know how the non-GPRS roaming WiFi works. Does the SSID stay the same as you move? Or does the network somehow swap seamlessly as you move?
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 23 13:32:47 2005

Yea but 25 quid a month flat rate use-as-much-as-you-want totally mobile internet? Does that exist in England yet? Isn't GPRS always by the second (and through the nose!). In reality the mobile bit is not such a tremendous selling point, other than the fact that due to an administrative oversight our flat doesn't have a phone line - as in there are physically cables missing, and an engineer will have to call to install one... So as that will apparently take a week or two, the mobile thing was our only real option for a connection from home...
John
- Fri Dec 23 13:19:35 2005

As for a purpose, Sheri. I'm not qualified to know what my own purpose is. If it's pre-ordained, maybe it's to bring up my kids who are destined for greater things... I hope so. I'm not important. Firemen are... Nurses in Hospices are... great scientists are... :))
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 23 13:18:34 2005

Sheri: I find comfort looking away from the "subjective" angle (i.e personal) and look more towards the physics of the universe and quantum mechanics. That usually burns my brain out... Then I resort to alcohol... :) The quantum foam on the top of my Guinness helps a lot!!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 23 13:12:11 2005

Fruit anyone?
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 23 12:49:12 2005

Metamorphic Rocks! (or couse)
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 12:07:37 2005

and ...
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 12:07:26 2005

Sedimentary Rocks!
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 12:07:13 2005

Igneous Rocks!
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 12:06:59 2005

wifi rocks!
dsp
toilet, - Fri Dec 23 12:05:17 2005

Lox. How about this: You shoot me while I shoot you. No more torture.
Sheri
- Fri Dec 23 11:52:55 2005

One more think, Nigel. "Hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied." For what ? Keep yourself occupied in order not to think ?! I can’t. I need a (cosmic) purpose ! Trouble is, I believe there is none. The universe is a fact. It’s there. Final dot. Why ? There is no ‘why’... ! Gonna get insane. Feel like a computer with a bug: error...error...error...error...error...
Sheri
- Fri Dec 23 11:49:05 2005

Kev : “having low expectations is the best strategy”. I must admit you’ve got a point, there, wise man. You too Nigel. “Great thinkers have pondered these problems for centuries and found no answers. I doubt I'm going to get that unique flash of inspiration!” True, I won’t probably never get ‘The’ answer. It infuriates me.
Sheri
- Fri Dec 23 11:48:18 2005

Ahh... "The Joy Of Gadgets"!! Need and Want are not the same thing though! I have a Palm LifeDrive now so I can browse wifi from anywhere (though not while actually moving I suppose). Of course I need this facility... Of course I do... Never know when it will come in handy... :)) Truth is I've tried it once away from home but the SSID kept rejecting me... (Maybe becuase I wasn't Windows etc...)
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 23 11:17:49 2005

"Compute on the move", that is, not "Computer on the move". damndamndamdamn
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 11:07:02 2005

25 quid a month?! That's a lot of cash for very little bandwidth! It would be cheaper to use your bluetooth mobile phone as a modem (and probably easier too, and more compatible). Do you really need to "Computer on the move"?
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 23 11:06:34 2005

It's not just wireless, it's totally mobile - I could walk down the street with my laptop and still use the connection. I can use this on the train on the way into work in the morning! Superbly it's a flat rate thing too - just something like 25 quid a month. Yea, it's dog slow of course, and is probably giving my brain problems, but I'm really impressed nonetheless....
John
- Fri Dec 23 10:57:00 2005

I am posting from the toilet! Oh joy....!
John
- Fri Dec 23 10:55:18 2005

Hi all, I am now in my new flat, am posting via a totally wireless internet connection thing we bought today which supposedly doesn't work with non-Japanese Windows. That learned em!
John
- Fri Dec 23 10:53:52 2005

Lox: and probably the odd bottle of wine, that he has developed a taste for. Can't remember which one off the top of my head, perhaps Cyberdad will remember.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 23 08:53:33 2005

Morning all!! All the way to 5pm for me today, though shouldn't be too busy... Hopefully! Lox/Sheri: Remember the words of Slartibartfast in Hitch-Hiker's Guide "Hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied." I work on the principle that great thinkers have pondered these problems for centuries and found no answers. I doubt I'm going to get that unique flash of inspiration! :))
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 23 08:49:24 2005

MM: Stacking on IrnBru for the red headed one? :) The "Lang Towers" is certainly a good place to go by the looks of it! :)
Lox
- Fri Dec 23 08:38:27 2005

Morning everyone. Last day for a week or so. Will probably skip off early still a bit of food shopping to do. Small person arrives tonight, with her mum and dad. Redheaded one is coming tomorrow with his lady.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 23 08:36:41 2005

Sheri: Interesting point. I think that we are all driven by different things, save for the natural survival instincts. The problem that I see is once again society which forces in our head certain values that have no real meaning in nature. So you get the people undergoing millions of plastic surgery, or stacking money as it makes them feel better. It's a lot easier feeling powerful because you have money and people to command, than look inside yourself to understand if you are happy or not. I am not able to do it for example, this is a huge problem for me as I realize that I go often astray and I end up feeling miserable even though for "society standards" I shouldn't be...
Lox
- Fri Dec 23 00:13:42 2005

Nigel: I think Aasimov was incredibly intelligent, but I, Robot (the book) was a bit boring so I listened to it on tape. I also liked the movie. And though I thought it wasn't anything like the book at first, I thought they did an excellent job of incorporating all the little stories into a coherent picture.
Travis
- Thu Dec 22 23:12:14 2005

Travis: about the documentary. It's a broadcast on BBC Radio 4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/briefhistory.shtml
Sheri
- Thu Dec 22 21:40:59 2005

Sorry Travis, I've not seen either. I don't seem to get to see much at all these days. Certainly nothing with any meaning - unless you count educational kids shows on TV! Last film I watched was I Robot, on DVD, a couple of weeks back. Though nothing much like the book, it was a good film for its type. The producers were even decent enough to state "Suggested by the Book by..."
Nigel
Oswestry, Still in front of a Mac! - Thu Dec 22 20:43:33 2005

Related question: I watch a lot of foreign films...anyone ever seen Oldboy or Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance? They're Korean films by the same director. Oldboy was pretty amazing...not quite finished with SfMV, but it's incredibly bleak...
Travis
- Thu Dec 22 19:50:31 2005

Sheri: Rest assured, the universe ceasing to exist is an incomprehensible notion...sure, we'll all die at some point, but the good ol' universe will chug on. Existence from non-existence and vice versa simply doesn't compute. Oh, what documentary is it?
Travis
- Thu Dec 22 19:49:31 2005

What?!!? Gimmee toys... More toys!!! :)) I have little money but in buying an iPod, for example, I spread a little of it to some far eastern country who did the manufacturing. True, I am a bit miffed some fat-cat somewhere got the lion's share though. Wealth is really only any good for providing health, shelter and food. If we spread it, it helps. Keeping it in a bank, or under the pillow makes it inert. (IMHO - no offence intended to anyone else :))
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Thu Dec 22 19:10:04 2005

i always find that having low expectations is the best strategy. that way when good things happen it seems better. Also i think that not following herd mentality avoids "needing" things that the other sheeple desire, ipods etc, hence attaining a certain level of personal wealth(modest) fullfills all my goals(in the having stuff direction at least ).
kev
- Thu Dec 22 17:00:45 2005

Another explanation: they're driven by a primitive, greedy impetus which dictates them to get more than what is sufficient. They are often very basic people with basic instincts.
Sheri
- Thu Dec 22 16:36:08 2005

Fact is, people like him don't want to stop, because they fear to get bored or to realise that, actually, it wasn't worth it... Or simply, they don't really know what they want...
Sheri
- Thu Dec 22 16:27:25 2005

Which makes me think about some people's attitude around me. I know someone who's awfully rich. Fine. But he wants to get even richer and keeps fighting for it. What's the point ? Why richer than rich ? Maybe it's a question of megalomania. It's like being caught up in a spiral. You cannot stop. He wants more and more and more. Silly, really.
Sheri
- Thu Dec 22 16:26:21 2005

Listening to a documentary about how the Universe will end, if it ever ends. Doesn't cheer me up and confirms me in my opinion that we are ingnificant and... puerile. What is the sense of all that ? Drives me crazy.
Sheri
- Thu Dec 22 16:12:32 2005

Just got rid of my mac and returned to the good old pc (brand new in fact, with a 19" flat screen). I was fed up with recurrent problems of compatibility. Mort aux Mac !
Sheri
- Thu Dec 22 16:01:58 2005

Ah, I see! Thanks! All is made clear. How absolutely top-hole! (wonder where they got that one from ?!?)
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Thu Dec 22 15:28:34 2005

Nigel: a bit like, rind the rindabite, and high nigh brine ki. I'm sure you get the picture.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Dec 22 15:22:24 2005

Nigel: It's how posh people speak. If you put your teeth together and say hello with a posh accent, it comes out hairlair
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Dec 22 15:21:12 2005

Sorry, MM, you'll have to run "HairLair" past me again...?
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Thu Dec 22 14:59:05 2005

John: There will come a time when the robots overtake us. Perhaps spam is the first line of attack...resistance is futile.
Travis
- Thu Dec 22 14:11:01 2005

I have just been told that the new expression for those who are a little older than others is "chronologically gifted". So "HairLair" from a Chronologically Gifted Mad Mumsie.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Dec 22 13:55:01 2005

Now my PS doesn't make any sense either!?!?! Ho-humm. John: Are you perhaps "Leaking" official work there? :))
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Thu Dec 22 13:43:52 2005

Ok, I agree; that didn't make a lot of sense !? :|
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Thu Dec 22 13:41:05 2005

Aaaahahhhhhh my eyes!!!!
John
- Thu Dec 22 13:40:18 2005

Oh dear, it appears the unfortunate Jekyll/Hyde thing has occurred again, and "right wing John" has reared his ugly head once more, akin to Kev's earlier prophecy about the "cull". I must apologise (and take a squirt of acid to the face to make ammends).
John
- Thu Dec 22 13:38:05 2005

I have long advocated the use of a device that attaches to a PC, and can be directed by software to spray acid at the user if they do something annoying. I think this would make interface design far easier, and could probably also help to alleviate problems to do with spam as well - when it appears somebody is about to email twenty thousand people, a popup box could appear asking if they are sure they want to do this, and advising that the consequences will entail a squirt of the old sulphuric in their direction. I think the standard "Are you sure?" type of message lacks impact without being backed up by the threat of severe facial corrosion.
John
- Thu Dec 22 13:35:26 2005

Hello! Nope MM, I'm still working too... :( Jimmy: Yep, a graphic password should defeat "bots" and the like. The actual physical spammers might spot it though. I guess a password is the only way round that.. (?)
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Thu Dec 22 13:34:48 2005

There could be a password for people that don't have passwords, and there could be a JPEG of it, so people would know what to type. That might solve the spam!
Jimmy
- Thu Dec 22 12:31:00 2005

I'm obviously the only one still working!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Dec 22 12:00:53 2005

John: You obviously have to start as Christmas tradition. I do hope you have a Christmas tree.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Dec 22 09:14:56 2005

John: I think that we can enforce a password based system, but that would prevent new users to join I think. The "click" delete process could be very good...
Kev: It's not a puss-ball it's a "sinovial liquid" ball (plus some blood every now and then... Unfortunately that part seems to be the slowest to recover...
Lox
- Thu Dec 22 09:06:37 2005

The spam is really getting bad isn't it? Maybe I might get some time over this non-Christmas weekend in order to do something about it...! I don't think we can actually write any kind of reliable automated spam filtering, we just need a system where we can very quickly and easily delete messages - preferably a single click.
John
- Thu Dec 22 08:56:59 2005

Well it's almost at the end of my last day at work before Christmas. I get one whole day off, although actually that is nothing to do with Christmas - December 23rd is a national holiday on account of being the Emperor's birthday. It doesn't feel at all like Christmas here, and I suspect it is going to be a very bland weekend. We're hopefully moving into our new place tomorrow though, so that at least ought to be nice.
John
- Thu Dec 22 08:53:50 2005

lox: ....but is the puss-ball gone? sorry for the morbid fascination but its sort of like picking at a scab!
kev
- Wed Dec 21 22:26:14 2005

Mmmm yep maybe it's not a bot after all, but in that case is extremely sad that someone waste time posting things on a random message board... Oh welll!!! Not that we do anything different! :)
Sheri + Kev: Leg is recovering slowly but recovering. The phisioterapy sessions are rather hard but I have gotta do them if I want to go back of the football pitch! :)
Lox
- Wed Dec 21 22:20:03 2005

Just post the ISBN Travis, and I'll add it to my Amazon cart... :)
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Wed Dec 21 19:45:45 2005

A robot or not? An interesting question that Turing tackled...and soon yours truly will complete a sci fi-esque novel tackling the same questions from a veiled philosophical point of view. It will likely be a worldwide best seller, doing especially well in countries where the per capita income falls below the poverty line. Order yours while supplies last! (Okay, some of that is false.)
Travis
- Wed Dec 21 19:00:43 2005

Everyone on this site will be OK then John.
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Dec 21 12:09:12 2005

I agree with that sentiment- all ordinary people should be culled immediately!
Jimmy
- Wed Dec 21 11:58:23 2005

Who needs bots when you have an army of people in China to spam for a living ? This might sound like I like spammers, which I don't, but these people do have jobs and an income because of this, so they are not evil spammers just ordinary people trying to look after their families. Wow I sound just like JH. ( although he would have wanted a cull first before coming round to the 'ordinary people' theory )
Kev
- Wed Dec 21 11:35:54 2005

Hi Lox hows the puss-ball on your new knee ?
Kev
- Wed Dec 21 11:31:23 2005

Lox: You can tell its not a robot because they will usually have several attempts which fail because of the message too big. A robot would not be able to tell.
dsp
- Wed Dec 21 11:28:49 2005

And how are you, Lox ? When are you going back to work ?
Sheri
- Wed Dec 21 11:22:34 2005

Sheri: Nooooo I would say that it's a random thing really, maybe a bot (automated script) that looks for possible places where to post crap...
Lox
- Wed Dec 21 10:46:37 2005

Is it always like that when Christmas is approaching ? I mean, spammers.
Sheri
- Wed Dec 21 10:25:24 2005

Lox: Mmmm, all this spam is getting rather boring isn't it? There's not much we can do about it unless we are prepared to start using some kind of login mechanism.
dsp
- Wed Dec 21 09:16:11 2005

And they think they're "the pulse of upbeat fashion"? Have they ever seen me out of a Friday night? There's only so much spandex and tinsel, I suppose ;) Right, on with the daily..... Morning all!!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Wed Dec 21 08:51:26 2005

Morning everyone.
Sheri
- Wed Dec 21 08:50:53 2005

Dsp: any chance of getting these people out of our way once and for all ? (electronically speaking!!) :) .... good morning everyone by the way!
Lox
- Wed Dec 21 08:24:02 2005

I have just realised what i want for Christmas, a vacuum cleaner :).... thanks Mr spammer.
kev
- Tue Dec 20 21:53:18 2005

In a disturbed sort of way, technically, I am on holidays too... :P
Lox
- Tue Dec 20 14:46:50 2005

I've been on my holiday break for nearly a week now...and don't go back until January 10th. Lucky me!
Travis
- Tue Dec 20 14:22:32 2005

Working up until Friday, may get away a bit early. Still I have just had 4 weeks holiday!
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Dec 20 13:30:52 2005

Nice Kev, nice!
dsp
- Tue Dec 20 11:23:44 2005

dsp: I havn't decided yet, might be today, tomorrow or yesterday! ;)
Kev
- Tue Dec 20 11:01:05 2005

All the way until 5pm on Friday for me !
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Tue Dec 20 10:58:30 2005

zzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Jimmy
- Tue Dec 20 09:49:57 2005

Hi dsp. Photos still on the cards - 350 of them. Cyberdad, whose camera it is, is still acclimatizing and hates the cold weather with a passion. He has also been extremely busy getting ready for Bethan's visit on Friday - christmas trees etc. he's told ME to be patient. Huh Fat Chance.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Dec 20 09:39:13 2005

When does everyone finish work for Christmas? My last day is tomorrow. Can't wait. Then we're going to our friends wedding!!
dsp
- Tue Dec 20 09:30:40 2005

MM - hope you and cyberdad are adjusted to the weather now. Can we see some pictures yet?
dsp
- Tue Dec 20 09:30:04 2005

Morning everyone! Hope the Christmas do went well Jimmy and that you don't have any flash backs of embarassing events.
dsp
- Tue Dec 20 09:29:35 2005

Morning Lox!!! MORNING JIMMY - Ooops, sorry shouldn't have shouted...!! Morning all!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Tue Dec 20 09:21:21 2005

Christmas bash last night. Still very wobbly ...
Jimmy
- Tue Dec 20 09:06:04 2005

I needed some Opetrol now that I think of that! Lucky me !!
For all the other normal people good morning! :)
Lox
- Tue Dec 20 09:04:50 2005

MM: You are a Lady...
Sheri
- Mon Dec 19 16:42:56 2005

I say, those russians are a pain in the arse. They are worse than me...
Sheri
- Mon Dec 19 16:39:42 2005

Lox: Sorry 'bout the slow response. I'm still on a ridiculous sleep schedule. Exams went well. I really only had one exam that I had to take. I just had to hand in two papers that went pretty well, too. The biggest hassle was a 7:30 am Latin final and then trying not to fall asleep while I waited till 1:30 pm to give a final exam to our Egypt class.
Travis
- Mon Dec 19 16:23:37 2005

Oooooooooh Jimmy, that's made my day. A long time since anyone has called ME a girl - its usually "oi you"
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Dec 19 14:42:29 2005

Good afternoon boys & girls!
Jimmy
- Mon Dec 19 14:04:23 2005

Thanks for your good wishes Nigel. Yes, digital is certainly VG. Cyberdad raves about the quality.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Dec 19 13:09:49 2005

Lox, Patience lad - I haven't seen them yet. Am still recovering from Jet Lag. Have told my "boys" don't tell me anything important that you expect me to remember, yet. It's getting better. We slept most of last night, but were awake VERY early.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Dec 19 13:09:02 2005

Welcome back MM! Thanks for the recommendations! This DAB malarky is rather good, isn't ?
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Mon Dec 19 13:02:50 2005

MM: Pictures? COme on I am waiting to see some NZ goodies!! :)
Lox
- Mon Dec 19 13:02:33 2005

Nigel: Try Saga radio, the music is entertaining! It's mainly 60s and 70s pop. Super. Cyberdad found it, and next to Classic FM it's his favourite listening. I'm not at home enough to know!
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Dec 19 12:52:39 2005

Afternoon all. Back at work, just finished checking all my e-mails, answering questions, the telephone, it's lovely being back, and the way the boss greeted me with a list of things he hadn't got "the strength" to do is entertaining. (Good ol' SAP).
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Dec 19 12:50:56 2005

A nice feature would be an emailed daily digest (in plain text).
tom
- Mon Dec 19 10:51:17 2005

Hello.
tom
- Mon Dec 19 10:50:35 2005

Ahhhh rewiting the board.... surely John will put a millions spyware, keylogger, DRM stuff and a site for the latest patches! :)
Lox
- Mon Dec 19 09:59:46 2005

John - none - feel free to rewrite away.
dsp
- Mon Dec 19 09:49:33 2005

Tim - I'm having thoughts about doing a serious rewrite of the board - there is quite a lot of "secret sauce" in the perl script at the moment, how much of that is actually needed...?
John
- Mon Dec 19 09:47:04 2005

By a crazy coincidence, I found out today that "maison de stuff" is actually a Chinese phrase, and translates roughly as "free advertising space for those wishing to sell industrial talc". Even more amazingly, that exact same string of syllables also means something in Russian - "Interrupt our conversations with your meaningless babbling in cyrllic and we really won't mind, honest!".

So there you have it, all just one big cultural misunderstanding!
John
- Mon Dec 19 09:38:57 2005

I know I've left it a bit late for my christmas shopping, but does anyone know where I can get some industrial talc?
dsp
- Mon Dec 19 09:28:14 2005

Morning everyone! And hello to all our friends in Russia and China.
dsp
- Mon Dec 19 09:26:28 2005

MM: Thanks! Yep the fact that I am STILL Suffering is a bit of shocker to me too, it has now been 20 days... :(
Good morning all by the way!!
Lox
- Mon Dec 19 09:04:17 2005

What?! Good grief! Well, morning all anyhow?
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Mon Dec 19 08:58:29 2005

Oh, I could become quite boring, but over here in Os I'm listening to Radio 3 Digital!! It's some harpsichord music and is as clear as a bell (or even a harpsichord!!). Never realised what I'd been missing. Splendid!!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sun Dec 18 18:15:46 2005

Sorry, I tried three times until I got a small enough post... :(
Nigel
Oswestry, - Sun Dec 18 17:45:48 2005

Bought a Digital Radio today - the only form of digital I can get here in the Marches. Freeview is a no-no. Well, isn't it splendid? Digital Radio rocks!! CD quality and all that! Also went along to : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/4534674.stm but my view is that all the ideas from MS are not up to much. Maybe the "where my family is" is a fairly good idea, but living in a smallish house is really unnecessary!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sun Dec 18 17:45:10 2005

Sorry, this message was too big.
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sun Dec 18 17:44:53 2005

Sorry, this message was too big.
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sun Dec 18 17:44:33 2005

Sorry, this message was too big.
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sun Dec 18 17:44:08 2005

OK, it's been fun but NO MORE BLOODY RUSSIAN, OK?
John
- Sun Dec 18 13:21:40 2005

Nice to have you back in Blighty MM... Actually I'm not sure if I'm qualified to make that statement as I'm not in the UK myself of course! But you know what I mean, hopefully...
John
- Sun Dec 18 11:24:58 2005

Lox: sorry to hear that you are still suffering, I must admit mine didn't last as long, but I'm sure the final result will be worth it. Are you doing anything nice for Christmas? Come to that what is everyone doing. Everyone will be at my brother's including Boo, the first Christmas when she will be more aware of what is happening. Super. Can't wait.
Mad Mumsie
- Sun Dec 18 10:18:26 2005

G'day. Well here I am back in good ol' London. It's bloody cold isn't it. We are just above recovered from the jet lag, although I can back with a virus of some sort and slept for nearly 36 hours. The thought of food made me feel really ill. Yes, we did take a few photos, close on 350, what a fun christmas this is going to be for everyone. My brother has one of those very large cinema type screens - there will be no escape.
Mad Mumsie
- Sun Dec 18 10:13:30 2005

Sheri: Mmmm let's say that I am CAREFUL with money... :)
Spammer: How about bugging off? We can't understand you anyways...
Lox
- Sat Dec 17 20:49:51 2005

Sheri: That's no good!! I can't translate that!!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 17 19:48:27 2005

Gluk gtog rut hyut sazrt bligut, Toyser ?
Sheri the Polyglot
- Sat Dec 17 19:01:01 2005

Well using Kev's translation site of yesterday, the previous gobble-de-gook spam translates as "????????????.??????????????????????????:)????????????????.????????????????????????" so clearly it can't be Russian!!!!!!
Nigel
Oswestry, On the Mac - Sat Dec 17 17:17:23 2005

That's a fraud !!! Nothing kinky about it !!!! I'm bitterly disappointed !!!
Sheri
- Sat Dec 17 16:15:15 2005

John : Is that toyser boy a close friend of yours ? I noticed it's not the first time he pays you a visit . I'm tempted to click on his link, but I'm afraid. What would I discover... ? Something highly reprovable ? I don't want to burn in hell....................... Oh, what the hell ! I'll click on it !
Sheri
- Sat Dec 17 16:11:14 2005

The injury is a cheap excuse, Lox. I didn't know you were so avaricious...
Sheri a.k.a. Ze Belgian Frog
- Sat Dec 17 15:55:04 2005

Blimey toyser, you could at least spell check your messages before posting them - honestly, you were really showing yourself up in that last one!
John
- Sat Dec 17 14:41:12 2005

This injury is preventing me from buying the usual Xmas presents.... Dunno if it's good or bad, I guess that I'll take back in January when I'll be more free to walk (and there will be sales too!!) :)
Lox
- Sat Dec 17 10:16:56 2005

Morning all. Saturday a.m finds me doing OT for the last time before Xmas. Not expecting it to be busy but... Travis: Well done. Hope they went well! Relaxing.... ah how I remember what that was like.... :)
Nigel
Wrexham, Worketty, work, work - Sat Dec 17 08:58:37 2005

Travis: How did the exams go?
Lox
- Sat Dec 17 08:21:54 2005

After finishing my final exams, I have been vegetating for the past few days. It has been enjoyable. Maybe I'll begin posting regularly again soon...don't want to rush it. It's something that must be eased into.
Travis
- Sat Dec 17 04:56:49 2005

Courtney? Sidney?
kev
- Fri Dec 16 23:43:53 2005

rodney? chesney?
kev
- Fri Dec 16 23:21:45 2005

how about Barney? ( bar knee lol )
kev
- Fri Dec 16 22:55:24 2005

Kev: So far no pictures of Frankenstein's knee, but if I have to chose a name it will go for IGOR :)
Lox
- Fri Dec 16 21:47:25 2005

Or Vladimir .... ;p
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Fri Dec 16 21:38:56 2005

how about Tony ?
Kev
- Fri Dec 16 20:53:50 2005

lox: I hope you have taken lots of photos your knee-puss-ball-fluidy thing. Have you given it a name ?
Kev
- Fri Dec 16 20:51:43 2005

Sheri: Well we all had a big laugh no more than that really... I was wondering where you had gone! I am planning to put the accounts of these 2 weeks soon, now I can sit for longer periods (more than 5 minutes) therefore I also have some time to write! :)
Lox
- Fri Dec 16 20:23:31 2005

Lox, I like the "no pictures, no cuttings" photography of you and Carmine. What did your Japanese partners think of it ?
Sheri the Belgian Frog
- Fri Dec 16 20:02:58 2005

Believe me Kev, the Men in Black are still there... Luckily things are a bit more realistic these days - and on the whole you guys are less subversive than a lot of the Internet!! A couple of casual staff in my office have been "interviewed" recently though... :/ There's an "official policy" of course, and I don't know if translating Russian comes within it! I don't *think* anyone followed me home... :|
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Fri Dec 16 20:01:03 2005

Hello everyone. I feel guilty for not showing up lately, but - quite frankly - I haven't got anything to say...! "For the better" you would say...
Sheri the Mean Belgian Frog
- Fri Dec 16 19:52:41 2005

Just think Nigel, posting that from a government computer a few years go would probably have ended up with you getting a visit from men in black suits! How times have changed. Although they never had google and online translators or proper internet then! Anyway....
Kev
- Fri Dec 16 15:49:33 2005

Government browser incompatibility, Kev. (Sensorship, obviously!) I just cut-n-pasted and this is how it appeared. Interestingly if you copy this gibberish and plop it into the translator it _will_ translate ok! Maybe this is one for John...? :))
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 15:32:24 2005

cleary I wrote russian, you have written gibberish, Is it me or do we how a browser incompatabilty ;)
Kev
- Fri Dec 16 15:15:49 2005

Or ... Êàê ÿ äîëãî åùå ðàç äëÿ ìîåé ðîäèíû. Ïåðåäàéòå Âîäêó. !! :(
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 14:49:02 2005

Hmmm... I see... So my planned reply of "Velcome Comrade!" now seems inappropriate :/ Ho well, back to the vodka...
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 14:39:17 2005

that may be so Nigel, however, before you hand out any white feathers look here http://translation2.paralink.com/
Kev
- Fri Dec 16 14:13:56 2005

Ah-ha! Your secret is out, Kev!! :)
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 13:56:18 2005

пожалуйста уйдите Вы глупый российский спамбот
Kev
- Fri Dec 16 13:50:36 2005

Hi dsp! Well, after the event, they told me he "hadn't been very well" and had gone home... Er... Somehow I felt no sympathy for him :| The second Doc said something along the lines of : "Of course, we need to control that pain so you can get your life back." Which is precisely what I needed, and why I feel for Lox.
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 10:09:05 2005

Monring - I am treated to vending machine coffee every day. Nigel - those mesh filter cups are raved about by several colleagues. Nigel - why were you refused to be even seen by the doctor? Seems a bit odd. Had you offended him?
dsp
- Fri Dec 16 09:45:31 2005

John/Lox: Yes, there's something undeniably splendid about Italian coffee! I think I know the contraption you mean, John. I visit Whittard's in the UK whenever I see one! I only have a filter machine at home - but being "environmentally responsible" I use unbleached filters... Trouble is they make all coffee taste the same! I'm "road-testing" a mug with mesh filter at the mo, to see how it compares... :)
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 09:37:06 2005

John: I do not drink a lot of coffee you know... I am more of a tea person (this feature comes from my British days of course)!! :)
Lox
- Fri Dec 16 09:31:45 2005

Nigel: it's a bit of an odd one, it looks like those stove top espresso makers. You know the ones - there're all metal, and sort of jug shaped, and are used by stylish Italians like Lorenzo... but it operates as a stand alone unit, in the same way an electric kettle does.
John
- Fri Dec 16 09:19:52 2005

John: Oh the luxury of a coffee machine! I think I've become "adjusted" to caffeine - it takes more than two to get me "hyper". Two just about wakes me up!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 09:01:20 2005

Morning! Yes, I agree Lox - I was refused any treatment by a Doc at Casualty and he wouldn't even see me - even though I had two prolapsed disks in my neck! Well the pain was appauling and I waited four hours to see another Doc. He thought I was demanding a second opinion and so was quite rude. When I explained I hadn't even been seen once he apologised profusely and immediately prescribed Codeine. Phew! Pain should not be dismissed.
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Dec 16 08:53:50 2005

Kev: Interestingly I have asked the doctor to give me horse painkillers.... :P
Lox
- Fri Dec 16 08:42:12 2005

John: On coffee, I guess it has to to with social "positions". Coffee is a legalized drug, pretty much like alchool, but the final use is different so is "good" to be on a red-bull/caffeine trip at work, but it's not good to be merry for having drunk a bit of alchool... The usual social straitjacket.
Lox
- Fri Dec 16 08:41:10 2005

John, Kev, Dsp: Painkillers didn't work UNTIL yesterday where this new pill was tested by myself (paracetamol) with quite good results... The leg still "kind of hurts" but not as much as the other nights. John is correct, pain is subjective and it's quite disappointing when I went to the doctor the first time saying that I had visited hell because of this leg. His reply was "did you have a fever? A very big swollen LEG? You know pain hasn't got any clinic relevance"... Thinking of it he is right (of course) but I cannot stop thinking that it's not relevant just because they cannot deal with it!
Lox
- Fri Dec 16 08:37:48 2005

Hmmm I guess nobody is up in Europe yet!
John
- Fri Dec 16 08:13:53 2005

On a completely unrelated note, why is it that it is unacceptable to turn up to work drunk, yet seemingly OK to wander round the office in a daze, whacked out on a caffeine overdose? I've just bought a new espresso machine to put on my desk, and in "trying it out" have had the equivalent of three double espressos. I definitely wouldn't want to be operating any heavy machinery in this state!
John
- Fri Dec 16 01:22:09 2005

Yep, pain is a very subjective thing. Nobody is in a position to say that whatever they are suffering from is more painful than what ails someone else. How can I really know that my ruptured spleen hurts more than your headache? There is no agreed metric by which to compare! I think any woman who automatically assumes that child birth is more painful than anything else a mere man could suffer from needs to get off her high horse a bit. This is not to say I don't have any sympathy for women in childbirth, but at the same time it irks me somewhat when I hear women using it to try and trivialise what Lorenzo is suffering from at the moment!
John
- Fri Dec 16 01:18:14 2005

Lox, why don't pain killers work? Are they not strong enough ? Perhaps those recent spammers on the board may actually come in useful - if you need some horse tranquilisers :)
Kev
- Thu Dec 15 13:59:24 2005

You are absolutely right John, I think to be able to draw any conclusions you would need a sample size of "at least" 200 women all who have given birth and have had knee operations. Until then I think Lox can quite happily point out this flaw in anyones finger pointing ! ;)
Kev
- Thu Dec 15 13:57:21 2005

Lox - hang in there buddy, it does sounds like things are starting to improve... and don't believe people when they say child birth is worse - they don't have your knee, do they?
John
- Thu Dec 15 13:00:02 2005

Lox: Have you seen Alfred Hitchock's Rear Window. Its about a fella who's recovering after an operation to repair an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and he spend his whole day convalessing in his room. His window overlooks other houses (like my room in Radstock) and he witnesses a murder. I recommend getting it out from the video library.
dsp
- Thu Dec 15 09:49:08 2005

Nigel: Thanks, painkillers won't work I am afraid, I have just to be patient and take the pain, I HOPE it will go away little by little!! :)
Rob: Mumsie is back from NZ? Any chance to post some of the nicest pictures? How was the trip?
Lox
- Thu Dec 15 09:21:57 2005

Mum is safely back in blighty.
Rob Lang
- Thu Dec 15 09:20:19 2005

My sympathies Lox. I know it doesn't help, but... at least things are starting to improve now, in terms of the movement and sitting aspects. So it's not static. Hopefully you've got some good pain-killers for now. Does it help to say at least now you're over the worst bit? Take it easy.
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Thu Dec 15 09:05:52 2005

John: Nope, the scooter was sold... I am planning to go out for a "WALK" today, just around the block. The crappest part is that I cannot sleep properly, now sitting has improved immensly. As for the pain issue EVERYONE is reminding me that it's nothing compared to birth-related pains, I am not quite sure if it is an attempt to make me feel better or not... Didn't go to the doc today as the physio yesterday said it would have been useless, the knee is swollen but it's a LOT better than before (in movements terms), so the doc would not drain the liquid again. What a shit period this is!
Lox
- Thu Dec 15 08:18:18 2005

I can't help but wonder if I've inadvertantly learnt the Russian for "industrial talc".
John
- Thu Dec 15 03:14:33 2005

John: Ha! Yes, that's a first for me too! I liked the "Family Guy - Take Me On" spoof of the A-Ha video!! And it's only Flash so loads a plays well. Wonder what it is they're actually beta'ring there? Probably in certain parts of the world broadband is fast and reliable. Here... well it max'es out at 2MB on the local loop so nothing is ever going to be flawless.. Good spot though!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Wed Dec 14 21:41:15 2005

I appear to have just stumbled across Google Video for the first time - blimey there's some crap on there!
John
- Wed Dec 14 12:49:04 2005

Lox - do you still have that scooter? I have an image in my head now of you riding it through the streets of Firenze with your knee all bloody and bandaged, screaming blasphemies as you go :)
John
- Wed Dec 14 12:06:41 2005

Nigel, you do realise that they just swapped your machine out with another one don't you - probably a hand-me-down ;). Lox: how do you get the the quacks ? I mean you knee is broke so you can't exactly walk or drive ? Do you get a lift ?
Kev
- Wed Dec 14 11:14:42 2005

Tweet-tweet!! :))
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Wed Dec 14 11:13:37 2005

John: Did you mean the 'chirpings' or 'cherchiiing' of another satisfied customer. Just think about your stock options.
dsp
- Wed Dec 14 10:53:49 2005

Would getting really hideously drunk/stoned help at all? Or would this conflict somewhat with your current medication...?
John
- Wed Dec 14 10:05:12 2005

Lorenzo - really sorry to hear it is still so crap... I'm really clutching at straws to think of any kind of silver lining to your current cloud. The best I can manage is that this experience will allow you to hold your head high among any other people suffering from accute incessant pain and proudly tell them you've had worse! Not sure if this prospect will really offer you any comfort, but it was the best I could do on such a small budget...
John
- Wed Dec 14 10:03:41 2005

Ah Nigel, how it gladdens my heart to hear the happy chirpings of yet another satisfied customer!
John
- Wed Dec 14 10:01:11 2005

You see, that's what I like about "remote maintenance" - went home last night leaving my PC running Win 2000, came in this morning and it's running XP !! Me thinks the government has got some new licensing deal from the Big SW Co.... Anywhichway, this means a slicker system to work on... Yay!!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Wed Dec 14 09:31:45 2005

Lox: I really hope things improve soon. I think in your shoes I'd be round to your Doctor's this morning. They never like someone groaning in pain sitting in their waiting room, frightening the other patients, and are bound to see you PDQ... :|
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Wed Dec 14 09:25:51 2005

G morning... Unfortunately the last night was rather terrible for me, though I can move the leg in a better way the pain has now grown to a sort of soaring/stabbing pain in the knee/muscles around it.... he result was so poor that I couldn't even sleep the usual 7am-10am as I have done so far. Tomorrow I will go to see the doc again I think...
Lox
- Wed Dec 14 08:10:18 2005

Lox is right when he says version control (CVS or whatever) ought to be a "basics of programming" thing - as much as I hate the phrase "no brainer" it is sort of applicable here. In fact I would go even broader than that - I think every file system should have version control built in as a primitve thing. Problems of overwriting files with bad data and errors relating to many people trying to use the same file are not limited to software developers. It's only a question of space, and given the now widely accepted observation from Tim that the storage capacity of the internet is actually infinite, I don't see that as a problem.
John
- Wed Dec 14 03:57:16 2005

True... But that's easy for them to say... !
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Tue Dec 13 23:19:55 2005

indeed!
kev
- Tue Dec 13 23:12:20 2005

CVS also allows you to maintain 'branches' so you can have differnet versions being concurrently developed. Without a tool like this it would be like dsp says almost impossible to keep track of any releases for a large project with multiple team members. Thats not to say of course you don't get merge smeg-ups - but at least all the code is in there somewhere and it can be retrieved and glued back together!
Kev
- Tue Dec 13 12:32:00 2005

Lox: For big teams, its biggest bonus is acting as the defacto current version. Without it, if more than one person has modified the same file, you have to reconcile whose version is the right one?
dsp
- Tue Dec 13 11:22:22 2005

Dsp: Thanks for the explanation... It's a sort of XP system restore, with the only difference that it's actually useful... It makes sense to have something like that, but I would have thought that it was "basic programming techniques" to keep track of all the versions of a file... I guess that working in a big team, maybe in different countries this CVS is vital... Interesting...
Lox
- Tue Dec 13 11:17:58 2005

CVS is a type of revision control system. Its like a file system folder where you can see the historic versions of files and see the differences made between versions. It is vital for grown-up software development because it allows a group of developers to 'check out' files to modify and then 'check in' their changes. If changes foul things up, then the file can compared against the last known working version.
dsp
- Tue Dec 13 10:49:35 2005

Hi Lox - sorry to hear you're suffering with your knee.
dsp
- Tue Dec 13 10:46:42 2005

Yesterday I have got all the blood and liquid out of the knee... It was quite painful but it seems to make things better instantly... Shame that it lasted 2 hours before yet more liquid re-formed :(( The doc says it's ok and has to do that, but I feel like a kid that was shown the candy store and then gets 1 gummy in the end... :(
Lox
- Tue Dec 13 10:37:40 2005

John: Sorry for beign crap but what is CVS? Programming language maybe? Any1 care to explain with a little detail for a geek wannabe like me? :)
Lox
- Tue Dec 13 10:35:50 2005

Ay, for analogue VGA you'd need a doobry.... :)
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Tue Dec 13 09:15:45 2005

Like it! Is that some kind of freak monitor socket?
dsp
- Tue Dec 13 08:52:48 2005

Nice John! Very Mac-Mini-Like! This format is certainly the way to go if you're not into games or graphic-intensive stuff. Makes HTPC's look very bloated!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Tue Dec 13 08:39:09 2005

Incidentally, if you'll permit me to drag out the rampant nerdiness a little longer, I've been paid my bi-annual bonus and am thinking of getting a new PC as a server in our new flat (hopefully moving soon if the contract works out)... I had a look at the AOpen MP915b (apologies I could only find pages in Japanese or French!). It is really tiny, and has been likened to a mac mini. As our new flat is not particularly spacious (being in Tokyo) I want something as small, quiet and inobtrusive as possible, and this seemed to fit the bill quite well.
John
- Tue Dec 13 00:01:47 2005

What was that evil thing we used to use at the 'tel Kev - MKS or something? It was a great day for the company when that got binned (at least partially) in favour of CVS!
John
- Mon Dec 12 23:54:32 2005

Yep, if I ever set up Johntel (TM), I think I would probably use CVS. It is just sort of neat. It also seems pretty robust, it scales relatively well and best of all is free! Having said all of that, I didn't ever try the kind of large scale project management stuff - braches and RIs, etc, so can't comment on how well it handles all of those.
John
- Mon Dec 12 23:53:24 2005

Hello. Yes, I am still alive. But working hard. At least I have a new PC to play with.
tom
- Mon Dec 12 17:07:45 2005

I'll vote for CVS, always seemed reliable to me once you get over developer incompetence ( is is that incontinence ? )
Kev
- Mon Dec 12 14:38:09 2005

I think MKMV might be moving to using one of the Open Source/ Freeware source systems.
Rob Lang
- Mon Dec 12 14:16:17 2005

Yes it appears to be a generally held consensus that Visual Source Safe is only really suitable to small scale projects - so generally not the sort of projects worked on by the company that wrote it!
John
- Mon Dec 12 13:47:06 2005

John, we use Source Offsite. We used to use the Visual Source Safe but it was terribly slow when doing cross-pond communications so we moved over to the equally flakey Source Offsite.
Rob lang
- Mon Dec 12 13:35:18 2005

Kev, Nigel, John, Dsp: The home surgery box will have to wait I guess... Will go to see the doc this night at 19:00, hopefully he'll work some magic and some of the liquid will be taken away from the knee... At the moment rest is like a dream for me, I'd gladly pay to get 8 consecutive hours sleep.... :( I like the Bill Gates thing up here! :)
Lox
- Mon Dec 12 12:43:33 2005

That'll learn'em
Kev
- Mon Dec 12 12:14:45 2005


John
- Mon Dec 12 11:52:52 2005

It's a good plan B Kev, but this time the main strategy is to actually apply through my company. It has been suggested that if the landlord doesn't want to play ball, the company will "buy him out", baseball bats and all.
John
- Mon Dec 12 11:38:15 2005

John; have you considered using the "bandages-can't speak-caught in a stretching machine-plan" to get your new place ? Although it could be a bit of a pain having to dress up every morning and evening so the neighbours didn't ever find out lol.
Kev
- Mon Dec 12 11:23:26 2005

Tim: regarding Christmas - it is sort of celebrated here, at least the commercial aspect of it, so some shops have Christmas decorations up etc, but there's no actual national holiday or anything. The main, more traditional, event here in new year, so Christmas stops very abruptly here on boxing day to make way for all the new year stuff. We don't have a tree, but this is partly because we are still in temporary accomodation. We found a more permanent place we liked yesterday, and hopefully, assuming we're not rejected again (!) we ought to be able to move in within the next couple of weeks.

As for the source control system, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say!
John
- Mon Dec 12 11:16:56 2005

John: A more nerdier question, if I may, what source control product do you use at work?
dsp
- Mon Dec 12 09:59:09 2005

John: Have you got your Christmas tree up yet? Is it celebrated in Japan? Or is Christmas a strange Gaijins custom?
dsp
- Mon Dec 12 09:58:43 2005

Hi everyone! How is your recovery going Lox?
dsp
- Mon Dec 12 09:57:19 2005

Yea Lox, bored to the point of insanity as you must be you just need to get as much rest as possible! Plus I would recommend you leave the home surgery kit in the box...!
John
- Mon Dec 12 00:08:13 2005

Take it easy, Lox. Hope things improve very soon.
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sun Dec 11 23:30:15 2005

lox; glad to hear that your knee is getting better, as for the small ball on your knee, will it have to be drained off at the hospital or will you be brushing off the home surgery kit? ;)
kev
- Sun Dec 11 22:29:51 2005

Ciao everyone, the knee is still holding in one piece, I wish I could sit down properly and sleep... These two "inconvenients" have prevented me from using the computer, as I am either too tired or too much in pain to sit (and I have to lie down)... Hopefully next week I should be better, I am going to get the stiches removed as well as some liquid that decided to form a nice ball above my knee... :P
Lox
- Sun Dec 11 15:09:31 2005

Actually Ben Folds on the first go, but no doubt will see what comes up with Cake next time!
John
- Sun Dec 11 12:13:58 2005

John, so was the first station you made 'cake' ?
Kev
- Sun Dec 11 11:49:34 2005

Tim - I had a quick go with that Pandora, and thought it was really good - thank you for the recommendation! I particularly enjoyed that whole temp folder business - I could thieve content without any real feeling of guilt attached! You can't help but wonder if they launched the service in full knowledge of this "flaw", and the fact that people would find it very easy to exploit.
John
- Sun Dec 11 09:59:02 2005

Sheri - that is a little sad to hear! At least on the plus side, hopefully in a couple of years your son will start to get all over-excited and hyperactive around Christmas time. You have that to look forward to!
John
- Sun Dec 11 09:54:32 2005

Hi lads. I made a christmas tree with my son. He is too young to marvel at it and I am too old, too disillusioned to enjoy it either. The child in me has died out.
Sheri the Belgian Frog
- Sun Dec 11 07:04:53 2005

Are any of you familiar with Paulaner beers? It was their hefe-weizan that got me interested in beer. I'm not sure, however, what my thoughts are on their Oktoberfest Marzen Amber. Wondering if any of you have had it.
Travis
- Sun Dec 11 03:32:10 2005

Well, a pleasant evening. I got the old hi-fi turntable and amp out of the loft and "digitised" a couple of LP records. Took a goodly time to clean the records first and get the recording levels right. Drank a little Guinness too for good measure, and it all seems to have come out ok. Next step is burning to CD... Used an audio editing prog called "Audacity" which is freeware for Windows, Mac and Linux! (audacity.sourceforge.net). Right... Goodnight!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 10 23:14:44 2005

Kev: Distant cousins, perhaps. Though obviously Apu has been far more successful in life, I'd say.
Travis
- Sat Dec 10 20:41:04 2005

Sophocles ? never heard of him, is he related to Apu ? http://animatedtv.about.com/library/graphics/apu_small.jpg
Kev
- Sat Dec 10 10:58:18 2005

Handed in my final Greek paper, examining the difference between Sophocles' and Homer's Oedipus story. Great stuff. Latin final Monday, Latin paper due Tuesday. Then...done until January 11th.
Travis
- Sat Dec 10 00:36:46 2005

Graf: How's the new iMac coming along?
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Fri Dec 9 19:44:01 2005

Evening All!! Kev: Yes-siree-Bob! Pandora is rather good, isn't it. Couldn't look at work but back home... splendid idea. Wonder how long before it gets "stamped on"?? It did come up with one or two strange choices (for example a delightful group called "Sodom" :( ) but at least that was just part of the learning bit. I've been spending the better part of free-time here recording old cassettes to MP3 format by connecting my old Cassette deck to the Mac. Worked well so far!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Fri Dec 9 19:43:06 2005

No need to go to all that trouble. Allegedly it dumps the mp3 files in your temp folder:- http://goto.cream.org/pandora
Graf
- Fri Dec 9 16:45:17 2005

Using a proxy server, it is possible to nap the mp3s being streamed between your browser and their server. Hack the planet!!
dsp
- Fri Dec 9 15:05:43 2005

dsp: this is the coolest site. Definetely show where things are going - centralised music stores, always on streaming music. Defintely a winner. I just love the way you put in an artist and then you get to hear other stuff thats similar, and you might never heard of the band before COOL. I think Nigel will like this alot !!!
Kev
- Fri Dec 9 14:55:05 2005

Hiya everybody hope your weekends are going to be great. If you're got a spare 5, check out this music recommendation engine, its great. You tell it a track you like and it will play similar tracks. Rock on. http://www.pandora.com/
dsp
- Fri Dec 9 14:23:34 2005

MM: I hope you are still able to enjoy all the wonders of NZ, and you are not suffering from "view fatigue" - you know, after a while you can just see so many amazing panoramas that they somehow lose their sparkle. Have you been taking many pictures? If so, would be great to see them at some point!
John
- Fri Dec 9 08:23:40 2005

Lox: Hope the knee continues to improve. It really does get better you know. Thinking of you.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 9 08:14:07 2005

(cont) It seems hard to believe that this time next week I shall be at work!!! in cold London. Ah well, Christmas looms and I'm really looking forward to that. I may post again, depends on facilities and time at other hotels.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 9 08:08:26 2005

Well, here we are at our southernmost point - Te Anau. at the base of a lake that is part of Fiordland. Tomorrow we are going on a coach trip to Milford Sound, then a boat trip up the Sound, which is supposed to be the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand. But then each area says the same. The weather is still superb, and we have only had two days rain the whole time we've been here. (cont)
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Dec 9 08:07:05 2005

Actually I ate really well yesterday - I went out for a curry at lunchtime AND was allowed to go home for dinner, which meant I could have two decent meals (that's two more than I'd had in the week up to that point!).
John
- Fri Dec 9 04:17:12 2005

John did you deliberatly not have anything to eat this evening so that you could build up to the conference call ?
Kev
- Thu Dec 8 16:03:05 2005

I've got a tele-conference to attend here in 5 minutes, which wouldn't sound odd, were it not for the fact that it is almost midnight here in Japan! Aren't timezones great? You'll be relieved to hear I wasn't daft enough to remain in the office up to this ungodly hour - thankfully you don't appear to need much more than a phone to attend. The thought of participating from a payphone in a noisy bar had crossed my mind, but on balance it probably wouldn't score too many brownie points...
John
- Thu Dec 8 14:56:31 2005

Any watch Space Cadets last night? May I recommend you watch it tonite. C4 9pm. It rocks. http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/S/spacecadets/
dsp
- Thu Dec 8 12:52:52 2005

Morning all! Starting to cloud over, here. Work slow - which is nice!!
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Thu Dec 8 11:03:56 2005

morning all - its bluesky-tastic here.
Kev
- Thu Dec 8 10:11:19 2005

Hiya everybody!
dsp
- Thu Dec 8 09:30:48 2005

Rob: Thanks a lot, and please say Thanks a lot to Mumsie as well... :)
Sheri: Maybe a Morphin based sleeping pill might do the trick... :)
I am watching a lot of TV (I usually ignore it so it's a bing change for me), and the quality of Italian programs is TERRIBLE. Incidentally I have managed to watch a SIMPSIONS episode where Omer BREAKS HIS CRUCIATE LIGAMENT, and sets up a nursery during the rehab !!! How lucky is that?!?!
Lox
- Wed Dec 7 14:15:06 2005

Lox, what d'you want for Christmas ? A cyanide sleeping pill to ease your pain or a butcher knive to chop off the prob. ?
Sheri the Mean Belgian Frog
- Wed Dec 7 10:38:39 2005

Lox, Just spoke to Mum in NZ and she sends her love! Get well soon. :-)
Rob lang
- Wed Dec 7 09:32:10 2005

How un-PC would _that_ song be right now?!?!?! :) Very catchy tho' :))
Nigel
Wrexham, working... - Wed Dec 7 08:53:32 2005

Why have I done that to myself? I can't get the bloody Bangles out of my head now!
John
- Wed Dec 7 00:27:52 2005

Or even Egyptian.
John
- Tue Dec 6 23:48:48 2005

Jimmy, Travis: Oh, it appears I don't really know that song very well then! Perhaps I was getting it confused with Manic Monday by the Bangles...? Personally, I always preferred Walk Like An Eqyptian.
John
- Tue Dec 6 23:48:21 2005

Hi everyone... Pain still there but at least the leg is less swollen. On Friday will do the first rehab session... Getting bored and tired of this injury especially because I cannot sleep at night AT ALL... :( oh well....
Lox
- Tue Dec 6 15:11:16 2005

Jimmy: You beat me to it. Yeah. I suppose the song isn't very deep still, just saying that sometimes there isn't any real reason why people do crazy stuff.
Travis
- Tue Dec 6 13:23:44 2005

John- The song wasn't about his personal dislike of Mondays. It was about a child who went on a murderous shooting rampage at school, and eventually gave the excuse "I don't like Mondays." Oddly enough, this sort of behaviour seems to have become almost commonplace (in the USA) these days ... hardly worth making a song and dance about (no pun intended).
Jimmy
- Tue Dec 6 09:59:57 2005

To continue. Lox if you are on the web, I hope you are OK and that the op. was a success. The weather is fantastic, John, it's just the place for honeymoon. Lots of empty roads, and interesting little settlements, you can't call them towns. Still I think my time is about to run out and its nearly dinner time.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Dec 6 05:59:32 2005

We are getting further and further south. Our southernmost point is Te Aanu, which is in three days time and I will post from there. I have no idea what latitude that is, perhaps someone can look it up, not far from Milford Sound. When I checked the monthly site for some reason there are no names dates or times showing on the site, so I can't easily check how Lox is, perhaps someone can do me an e-mail to mad mumsie, which I will pick up shortly.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Dec 6 05:57:33 2005

Ironically, however, if it wasn't for his stardom, achieved by songs like Monday, then he probably wouldn't have been in a position to do all his wonderful work for charity. So, indirectly, this comfortably-off Westerner whinging about the petty difficulties of life in the first world (i.e. not liking Mondays) has helped to pave the way for giving much needed relief to people with real problems in the third world. So next time somebody tries to trivialise the difficulties you face in your life by comparing you to someone in the third world, say "Aha! Bob Geldoff", and then you can whinge away to your hearts' content about your otherwise unwhingeworthy existence, safe in the knowledge that it could indirectly lead to a greater good.
John
- Tue Dec 6 00:47:50 2005

For some reason I am suddenly reminded of Vic and Bob's rendition of Michael Jackson's Earth Song - "What about chickens?" Oh how I miss R & M!
John
- Tue Dec 6 00:40:06 2005

Yes, the Boomtown Rats. It is a good song, but I always think it a little odd that this is probably Bob Geldoff's most famous track. You'd think the global champion of relieving famine in some of the world's most poverty stricken countries would be associated with something a little more, well, deep... Something that exemplified the injustice of the world, and the suffering of the underprivileged, as opposed to him just not liking Mondays.
John
- Tue Dec 6 00:38:12 2005

john;monotremes, is that anything to do with monotropic powder?
kev
- Mon Dec 5 22:23:51 2005

Tell me why! I don't like Mondays...actually I don't hate them, but that's a pretty solid tune. Wednesday is the last day for classes and then Final Exams begin Friday. Huzzah!
Travis
- Mon Dec 5 14:59:46 2005

Also: I *hate* Hibernate in Windows. If I want my computer switched off, then it should be switched off. If I want it on, then I'm prepared to wait for it to boot. But "Hibernate"?! No way! I've seen it get stuck in some stupid mode whereby it's hibernated while crashed, and you can't mend it by disconnecting the power! Argh!
Jimmy
- Mon Dec 5 13:25:50 2005

Oh dear. I really don't think I want to be reminded of the web-sites that I look at when I'm drunk.
Jimmy
- Mon Dec 5 13:05:29 2005

I love Hibernate in Windows - it is always highly amusing when I've used my PC whilst drunk, to then resume the next day and discover the odd websites I'd forgotten I was looking at. Last night, it transpires, I was heavily engrossed in a Wikipedia article on Monotremes, which I think are really cool.
John
- Mon Dec 5 12:45:57 2005

Me too, Jimmy. I have a system where i set up something easy to do on Friday so that I can come in on Monday morning and have something 'fun' ready to go. Today is not much fun but that's another story.
Rob Lang
- Mon Dec 5 11:02:44 2005

Actually, I quite like Mondays!
Jimmy
- Mon Dec 5 10:43:02 2005

Good morning all, how glorious it must feel for those of you in the UK to still have the thrills of Monday morning ahead of you!
John
- Mon Dec 5 08:35:54 2005

Hiya boys and girls. Just got a chinky on order and opened a bottle of red. Got back from a long weekend in Leeds, Abi is asleep and we're catching up on x-factor. Fantastic!
dsp
- Sun Dec 4 19:16:08 2005

Evening all (GMT anyhow...) !! I'm totally sober just now and probably will remain so for the rest of the day... :( I spent yesterday evening testing my supply of Guinness while recording music-cassettes into MP3 format. All very enjoyable, with the smug feeling my music-cassettes are now preserved for posterity... Today has been clearing leaves in the garden... :/
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sun Dec 4 17:31:01 2005

did you taste anything new and interesting ?
Kev
- Sun Dec 4 12:36:48 2005

John, you missed 'again' from the end of your last post lol ;)
Kev
- Sun Dec 4 12:36:03 2005

I went to a whisky society tasting here in Tokyo this afternoon, and now as a result I am *quite* drunk, which is great....
John
- Sun Dec 4 11:13:04 2005

Er... that should be 69p each track at Tiscali.... It's the Guinness talking.... :)
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 3 19:21:09 2005

Yes, Travis, I bought an iPod Mini just as the Nano came out so the Mini was suddenly so much more fiscally attractive!! I also bought an AirPlay module by XtremeMac which allows it to stream to any FM radio. Coolio! The best part about iTunes is being able to listen to 30 seconds worth to check tracks out. Incidentally, for Windows users I can recommend Tiscali Music. Their tracks are 60p each (£6.99 per Album) and in WMA format. I have an account there too, left-over from my XP days... :)
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 3 19:19:14 2005

I love my iPod Mini. Probably that and my laptop would compete for best purchase of the past year. Well, and my wife's VW. Can't say that I'm a fan of Cake, but iTunes is pretty amazing. I've only purchased a few songs, but I love being able to just get online at any time and legally obtain a quality recording of a favored piece of music.
Travis
- Sat Dec 3 16:06:11 2005

#It appears we have another firewall incursion from a low-level employee in sector 7G ... thats the third one this week# lol
Kev
- Sat Dec 3 15:46:20 2005

John, perhaps you should checkout iTunes whilst you are at work ;)
Kev
- Sat Dec 3 15:43:43 2005

Yes, I think I am consciously making the effort to try new stuff, rather than sticking to a few die-hards that I've loved for years. For example most members of The Tubes are in their mid-fifties now!! Even though I'm happy to try some new stuff I find a lot of modern music is purile and, well, to be intellectual about it, just plain "rubbish"!!! Finding quality amongst it all is very rewarding... By the way, my only real foray into Jazz is with Dave Brubeck... :)
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 3 14:22:43 2005

Yes, I probably ought to give iTunes a go. Most people, when asked about their music tastes, tend to say they are very diverse - in fact this response is bordering on being irritating because of it's ubiqutious neo-cliché status (I think I've just invented that phrase). Me on the other hand, I have very blinkered music tastes. My MP3 player has about 10 or 12 CDs worth of music on it, but only by three different artists -Cake, Ben Folds and Thelonious Monk. Recently those three are pretty much all I listen to.
John
- Sat Dec 3 13:55:56 2005

John: Ah! Thought I'd heard mention of them before, but couldn't quite remember where! This is becoming a great relaxing pass-time - strolling through the iTunes on-line store. I can listen to samples of something that takes my fancy. It makes picking up on new groups and styles a lot easier than it used to be. :)
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Sat Dec 3 13:21:07 2005

Hi Nigel - were you aware they are pretty much my favourite band...? I have all five albums, and have listened to them all to the point of wearing out...!
John
- Sat Dec 3 10:31:29 2005

Hmmm, just come across "Cake" on iTunes. They have "Comfort Eagle" and "Wheels". I must say - very good! Reminded me of all sorts of influences including (but not limited to..) David Byrne, Talking Heads, The Tubes (a favourite of mine). A very clever group who seem to have invented their own style and stuck with it.... One to watch... :)
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Fri Dec 2 21:54:55 2005

I hope someone is taking care of you. Where is Marta ? Is she in Vedano or by your side ?
Sheri
- Fri Dec 2 15:16:36 2005

I feel sorry for ya, Lox. Dunno what to say. I s'pose "Courage !" is in order. Two weeks ago I had a gastroscopy. It was hell but lasted only a few minutes. Tieni duro !
Sheri
- Fri Dec 2 15:13:46 2005

No doubt they have given you some pain killers, but probably they are only having a limited benefit... Presumably you could ask for some stronger ones, but again this will only help up to a point. Sometimes with pain it is more the duration than the intensity which is the problem - a dull ache which won't go away can be much worse than something intensely painful which only lasts a few minutes (like stubbing your toe). In the end the only real solution is to try and take your mind off it - maybe easier said than done. Again, watching films etc. I know it's not quite the same, but as you may already know I really really hate flying (it basically terrifies me), however I find a really good film helps to take my mind off it.
John
- Fri Dec 2 14:57:48 2005

Having suffered a gamut of sleep problems for a plethora of reasons this year, I've found generally a good rule of thumb is not to continue to try and sleep if it is clearly not going to happen. The most frustrating part is lying there thinking "why can't I sleep?". It's probably better to just get out of bed and do something else - watch TV (or better still rent some films), read a book, go on the computer, do some cooking... whatever, anything beats that horrible feeling of laying in bed but not being able to sleep. The additional activity will have the added bonus that it will help to tire you out, and so eventually you may be able to sleep after all. I asume you are off work for a while, and as such it shouldn't matter so much if you sleep pretty irregular hours...?
John
- Fri Dec 2 14:46:16 2005

You have every right to winge Lox - it sounds horrible! The closest I can compare to that is when I had my dodgy toes done, not as big a thing as what you've had done, but it was surprisingly painful and I had two or three nights without being able to sleep very well. Generally speaking though, I think that sort of pain subsides after a few days. Your body is used to cuts and bruises, but it is not used to the kind of intrusion that is necessary for surgery, and so you end up with a very unique and unusual kind of pain which is hard to ignore... but hang in there, I'm sure it will seem worth it in the end!
John
- Fri Dec 2 14:40:05 2005

Pain is getting unbeareable, it's alredy the second night of no sleep at all... :( Call the doc caus the knee is badly swollen but he said that it's better to wait until Sunday to take a look at it... I dreaded these moments, as I wish I didn't have the surgery now, but there is no going back I am afraid... Sorry for the usual winge but guys I can swear that it's nasty...
Lox
- Fri Dec 2 14:16:25 2005

I'd just like to point out that I have no dodgy ailments ...
Jimmy
- Fri Dec 2 13:12:09 2005

Kev - yea that's funny isn't it? I still have a little bit of a dodgy knee from the time I walked into that bollard thing outside our old office. Not to mention the occasional pain in my chest I get as a reminder of our company wrestling championships. As another interesting running theme there are three regular posters on this board (me, you and Jimmy) that know each other through a company which actually none of us work for any more.
John
- Fri Dec 2 03:55:09 2005

Really glad to hear you're OK Lox (albeit in a lot of pain!). I was a bit worried about you, especially given the tone of the last message you posted before going in for surgery! I suggest now that you approach this period of incapacitation by milking it for all it is worth. Have friends and family come over to visit you whenever possible, and then get them to run around doing errands for you like they're your servants. A particularly good ploy is to say "no, no, I'll do it myself", then start to get up and whince as though this action has caused you considerable pain, then collapse again in an exhausted heap. You ought to be pretty much guaranteed five star service over the next few days in this way!
John
- Fri Dec 2 03:48:48 2005

Kev: Being a man of the faith as I am, I always contend that there are no coincidences, just conjunctions of events with miniscule degrees of probability. Haha! I kill me.
Travis
- Fri Dec 2 02:46:32 2005

it just struck me, almost everyone posting on this board has dodgy knees, hips, feet or toes. can this be simply coincidence or is there a higher power at work ?
kev
- Thu Dec 1 23:52:14 2005

Nice one Lox! Take it easy!
Nigel
Oswestry, ... - Thu Dec 1 21:09:37 2005

Lox, glad to here it went ok. btw, did they make you walk home ?
Kev
- Thu Dec 1 19:43:58 2005

Thanks guys! :) The hardest part begins now with all the rehab and so on... Lucky me that there are painkillers that I can take.. .:P
Lox
- Thu Dec 1 19:01:25 2005

Lots o' rest, Lox