Nigel, agreed, usually the big names like sony and panasonic are the worst for not being multi-region. get a mustek or yamada every time.
Kev
- Sun Apr 30 19:25:46 2006
Hi Rob! You have my sympathies. Not a good situation... :(
Nigel
- Sun Apr 30 17:04:39 2006
Just realised my message there was next to useless... :) Funnily enough I found that the cheaper the DVD player the more regions and types it was able to cover. When I was feeling flush and bought a good quality Sony DVD recorder, that's when things became less straight-forward!
Nigel
- Sun Apr 30 17:03:39 2006
I'm working on Sundays because the system is an absolute mess and I'm one of two people who have to fix it. There isn't enough time and we need more days in the week. I'm less than impressed.
Rob Lang
- Sun Apr 30 16:51:04 2006
Hi John. Well certainly from *my* experience most available here do allow watching NTSC and PAL; as you say the Region setting seems the usual stumbling block. Though I suppose it's possible some don't. On top of this most modern tellys I've had allow NTSC or PAL60 (the hybrid) version as well as PAL 50.
Nigel
- Sun Apr 30 16:45:21 2006
Does anyone know if a "normal" DVD player (i.e. something you attach to a TV, rather than just a laptop or whatever) can normally play both PAL and NTSC? Or if it has a PAL output, will it generally only do PAL? I've just spent several hours making a slideshow DVD for my grandmother, who doesn't have internet access (funny that, being 86) but has recently got a DVD player... then I've just realised as I made it with some Japanese software, it is probably NTSC, and her player, being in the UK, is probably PAL. (at least there won't be a region problem, as Japan and UK are bizarrely in the same DVD region).
John
- Sun Apr 30 15:17:34 2006
Rob: How comes you work also on Sundays!??! Are you having huge amounts of troubles withthe site and all? Well look at the bright side, you WILL get paid for it, right?
Lox
- Sun Apr 30 09:48:48 2006
John: I always wanted a NAS drive myself, problem is I don't really have any use for it at the moment. When I will sent up my wireless network at home I probably will go for it though...
Sheri: Was it nice (the wine)?
Nigel: GUINNESSS... I love it! Don't tend to find it in this shitehole called Vedano Olona though! :(
Lox
- Sun Apr 30 09:47:55 2006
Morning all! Sheri: I hope you are recovering. Despite my own "over-indulgence", Murphy's doesn't seem to be too destructive, head-wise!!
John: Gadgets... ! like!! Yes, I always fancied a NAS drive. Linksys do a "box" to connect a USB drive to the network for about £50 in the UK. Like you though I've stuck with just the drive.
Breakfast - it's 9:22 in the UK at the mo!
Nigel
- Sun Apr 30 09:22:56 2006
Sunday. At work. Overtime pay had better be good! :)
Rob Lang
- Sun Apr 30 09:19:30 2006
Good day to all.
Sheri
- Sun Apr 30 08:03:42 2006
Sorry John, the headache was so unbearable that I had to lie down again. And yes, it was quite early! I couldn't sleep. I was going through one of those phases... Feel better now.
Sheri
- Sun Apr 30 08:02:16 2006
Errr.... doesn't that mean it is gone 5AM in France...!?!??
John
- Sun Apr 30 04:13:22 2006
Oh and as for the time, it is just after midday.
John
- Sun Apr 30 04:12:28 2006
Blimey Sheri - I didn't expect to find anyone awake this time of day (apart from Travis maybe?)... Sounds like you need to drink plenty of water!
John
- Sun Apr 30 04:11:53 2006
And hello, John. How are you today? What time is it now in Japan?
Sheri
- Sun Apr 30 03:56:48 2006
For f...sake! I've got such a terrible headache!!! I'm stupid, drank too much! Just looking at the screen hurts!
Sheri
- Sun Apr 30 03:54:24 2006
Mind you, thinking about it now, I do slightly wish I had gone for a networked hard drive now - that way, given that our internet connection is always on, presumably I could have made it accessible via the internet...
John
- Sun Apr 30 03:50:14 2006
Plus I've also been thinking I ought to do an occasional site backup... I suppose FTP is the best way to do this, but it has a nasty habit of "getting stuck" two minutes into an eight hour download (and normally about 10 seconds after you stop avidly checking it).
John
- Sun Apr 30 03:47:53 2006
I invested in a new gadget (of sorts) yesterday - recently I've got very paranoid about running out of storage, and not backing up my files properly... So I wanted to get a networked hard drive (because I automatically love anything which can have its own IP address) but in the end decided it wasn't really necessary given that it would only be me using it, so settled on a USB2 hard drive instead. The price seemed pretty good too - 14200 Yen for a 250GB, (currently that translates to 68 quid). It is purring away being reformatted as I speak. :)
John
- Sun Apr 30 03:31:17 2006
Cheers!
Nigel
- Sat Apr 29 22:28:37 2006
Well, Nigel, I'm with you! I run at this very moment on an honourable white wine. A sauvignon from the appellation Côtes de Duras.
Incidently, the best to feel tipsy is to skip a meal or, at least, to have an empty stomach. It works terribly well!
Sheri
- Sat Apr 29 19:36:51 2006
Well chaps... I have to admit to a surfeit of "Vino Noire" (OK Guinness!) up here in Oswestry. The only way to cope after an afternoon at the garden-centre with two rampaging kids!!
Nigel
- Sat Apr 29 18:19:43 2006
Bad, bad Lox!
Sheri
- Sat Apr 29 17:56:50 2006
Nice one Lox! I'm with Kev on that - if it's not encrypted then surely it must be "free to air"!!! :)
Nigel
- Sat Apr 29 17:08:32 2006
Borrowing Lox, borrowing!! Stealing is such an ugly word.
Kev
- Sat Apr 29 15:15:32 2006
Nigel: At that time I was in the irport stealing wireless connections all over the place!: :) Will post about Istanbul soon!
Lox
- Sat Apr 29 14:20:58 2006
John: It is perfect now, as for you joining the design team, I think that you should think it over very seriously, you have to depart from the thinking part of your brain and use only the "feelings" one, making you a much useless person and generally gay.
As for the download speed I am amazed, what is the speed of the connection that you have? I have spoken on the plane to Milan with a Dutch guy who woks for an Internet Provider, IPv6 is coming along apparently but it seems that the major companies are refusin it as it doesn't really add anything new...
Lox
- Sat Apr 29 14:20:25 2006
Right... Well... Better be going home then! :))
Nigel
- Sat Apr 29 12:56:42 2006
Morning all! Well, ok, I'm probably the only person on-line at the mo, having had to come in to work :( Still I'm hoping for a quiet, stress-free four hours then it's a long weekend! Now... Where's my cup of tea?!?
Wow! That's certainly an impressive d/l speed, John! Have you installed the file and it's not corrupted?!? And is that Paint Shop Pro X by any chance?
Nigel
- Sat Apr 29 08:58:35 2006
I've made some changes to all of our greymatter installations, so that effectively we're all using the same script now - this means I only have to upload one of each file (not four) when I make a change... However it should still be possible for us to have "local variations" in the way the most recent entries bit on the main page is generated. So for example, if Lox decides he doesn't want the date displayed with each entry, then that's fine, but I still could have the date there.
John
- Sat Apr 29 03:08:44 2006
I think maybe no-one else in the world is using the internet at the moment, that's the only conclusion I can come up with.
John
- Sat Apr 29 02:19:08 2006
...a 100mb file downloaded in about 20 seconds. Bloody hell!
John
- Sat Apr 29 02:16:23 2006
Wow - I decided to get the latest version of Paint Shop to try and edit those icons, and I got a download speed of over 5 Megabytes per second - I almost fainted!
John
- Sat Apr 29 02:15:25 2006
Lox - have had a go fiddling with the title / dat / icon ordering as you suggested... I might have a go trying to make the icons smaller too, then maybe we can compare and contrast... It could be like a design meeting at your company! Someone could ask for icons that are more "crunchy"...!
John
- Fri Apr 28 15:46:11 2006
Never though of that - Excellent! I'll get the LifeDrive out tonight and test the new mobiles page... :))
Nigel
- Fri Apr 28 15:43:39 2006
Well it's getting late here, so that's probably all I'll do for today on the website. It's still a bit rough around the edges, but the basic idea is there, and it just needs tweaking now. The main point being that I wanted to be able to look at the main page at a glance (or the new mobile page and see what's been updated - new entries, new comments etc.
John
- Fri Apr 28 15:39:40 2006
Wooo! I've had a make-over!! Looking good - Thanks!!
Lox: Are you in a hotel, restaurant? How's Instanbul?
Nigel
- Fri Apr 28 14:53:54 2006
John: Little request. Instead of having the space between the TITLE and the DATE, would it be possible to have it under the DATE? Thanks!
Lox
- Fri Apr 28 14:48:18 2006
John is playing heavily with the maison, now I have the icons too!!! Nice work thanks a lot... Marvellous!
Lox
- Fri Apr 28 14:43:12 2006
Wah, front page says "Could not open 00000000" all over Johns bit, is it just me or has John been 'fixing' I wonder?
Kev
- Fri Apr 28 14:23:34 2006
John: Yes please put the icons on my posts too, I like them! I wonder how you managed to make them but they are a good piece of work nonetheless. I'd personally stick only with the comments and pictures one, no need to have the date displayed underneath the entry. GRAZIE!
Lox
- Fri Apr 28 14:00:18 2006
Bye MM! Have fun! John: yes the icons look good, don't they? Lets you know at a glance what type of entry it is - i.e with a photo, old and archived etc.
Nigel
- Fri Apr 28 13:04:52 2006
Bye all. Off for a glorious weekend in the New Forest, with cadets doing Silver D of E. Had a good one.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 28 12:45:58 2006
I've spent the last hour or so tarting around with the greymatter scripts, to see if I can get some little icons to display on the main page in the "most recent" bit... If you do happen to be passing by the main page, please take a look at my little section and let me know what you think... I can do the same thing for Lox, Nigel and Sheri if you like it.
John
- Fri Apr 28 11:58:46 2006
There is nothing nicer, that alcohol, sugar, and caffeine, but perhaps not all at once. Although Lox's picture of chocolate and liquers sounds delicious, particularly if it was a coffee liquer.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 28 11:25:10 2006
Speaking personally, the only thing mentioned I wouldn't do is smoke. I do get a wee bit annoyed I can't kick the meat habit... And I really should develop a taste for drinks with less colour in them! (Tea, Coffee, Guinness, Murphies, Red-Wine!!!!)
Nigel
- Fri Apr 28 11:07:00 2006
I'm really the runt of
the litter here aren't
I? My diet is full of
fat, salt and sugar,
and barely a day
goes by when I don't
knock back a good
sight more than I should
in the beer/whisky
department...
John
- Fri Apr 28 10:52:21 2006
Tom: steady now! No
booze, no ciggies, no
caffeine... Is there
anything left? Boy, do
I feel unhealthy now!
John
- Fri Apr 28 10:46:51 2006
I have one cup a day in the morning when I get to work, and one on Squadron nights - something has to keep me awake.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 28 10:28:48 2006
I do!! And quite a lot! (Slurp!)
Nigel
- Fri Apr 28 09:05:45 2006
I no longer drink caffeine.
tom
- Fri Apr 28 08:58:01 2006
I like Starbucks, their almond croissants are superb, and they do ready to drink hot chocolate for granddaughters!
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 28 08:25:12 2006
I like Starbucks...but I almost never drink coffee anymore.
Travis
- Fri Apr 28 04:58:02 2006
Well, the water and milk are not quite right, and it's in an annoying starbucks paper cup.... but on the plus side the actual teabag was a fairly respectable English Breakfast, so all in all I'm not that unhappy with the results...
John
- Fri Apr 28 02:57:56 2006
Right, well I'm off to the Starbucks they opened in our office building a few months back, to see if I can get a decent cup of tea out of them. I don't rate my chances, but I'm going to give it a shot regardless...
John
- Fri Apr 28 02:41:02 2006
Well, I got some pictures up and running... :)
Nigel
- Thu Apr 27 23:53:50 2006
Thanks Lox! Much appreciated! :)
Nigel
- Thu Apr 27 19:59:20 2006
Nigel/Sheri: The entry gets delete if you close it (not properly deleted) but on the main page you will have the double entry nonetheless because the XML that generates the entries doesn't update backwards. Sometimes I make mistakes and a double post occurs, but if you close it it will not be accessible.
Lox
- Thu Apr 27 19:20:37 2006
Sorry, this message was too big.
Jacob
- Thu Apr 27 17:47:13 2006
Cheers for the email John - reply sent etc. Thanks!
Sheri: I thought it was just the Edit Entry template, but now I see what you mean. You can remove all the text, but will deleting the top, title, line remove it completely? Try removing John's test entry to see if it works etc (?)
Nigel
- Thu Apr 27 17:23:46 2006
John, what should I do to delete completely an entry (not only close)?
Sheri
- Thu Apr 27 17:16:38 2006
And I thought the English were disciplined hard workers!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 27 17:15:41 2006
MM - Ha! Very probably!! :))
Nigel
- Thu Apr 27 16:34:33 2006
Shame on you Nigel, where's all your devotion to duty - same place as mine probably.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 27 16:20:59 2006
I'd like to be played by Ru Paul. If I may be so bold.
Travis
- Thu Apr 27 16:09:11 2006
Kev. We'll see about that...!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 27 15:59:35 2006
Hi all! Back from the Jaw-Doctor and luckily no work required. Which is nice because I have no intention of going back to *my* work today!!
Kev: Who's going to play *me* in the film? Tom Cruise? Vin Diesel? No, no! Don't tell me Danny DeVito!!! Oh rats!
Nigel
- Thu Apr 27 15:38:52 2006
Nice work Kev - I like the way you turned your initial cynicism into a potential money spinner there!
John
- Thu Apr 27 15:18:49 2006
well, there ya go Sheri, you can have that one for free (unless it gets made into a hollywood blockbuster and so I therefore declare a 10% interest in idea now)
Kev
- Thu Apr 27 12:45:22 2006
Kev. That's a pretty good idea for a film script!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 27 11:47:08 2006
(to continue) for someone who doesn't exist!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 27 11:42:29 2006
Well sourced Kev.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 27 11:41:46 2006
Obviously all cut and paste fakes.
http://community.webshots.com/album/34800805HhLAKq
Kev
- Thu Apr 27 11:16:04 2006
Kev: Must have a wind up generator then. And those computer generated pictures of the blossom are amazing.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 27 11:03:41 2006
MM, you do realise none of these people ( including me ) actually exist and this is just all just John playing out a prank on Rob that went horribly wrong 8 years ago and hes had to keep it up ever since! He's not really in Japan, but instead, in a small room with a dozen computer screens somewhere in the depths of North Wales.
Kev
- Thu Apr 27 11:00:57 2006
John: it is amazing how is has gone world wide, when you think what it was like when you set it up all those years ago!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 27 10:28:57 2006
Travis: yes I never cease to be amazed by time zones - what with you in the US, me in the far east, and most of the rest of them in Europe, it means there is always one of us in office hours, always one of us asleep and so on... We circle the globe in roughly 8 hours jumps between each place.
John
- Thu Apr 27 10:25:09 2006
Sheri - yes I have got a bit behind with my blog - it is a sorry state of affairs... but in my defense I have been giving over my "web time" recently to setting up you and Nigel (and it's been my pleasure to do so!). It's a short term loss in terms of my own output, for a very worthwhile longer term gain (two new people to post!).
John
- Thu Apr 27 10:19:52 2006
Nigel - sorry I haven't checked my 'Maison account for the last couple of days... I'm going out after work (hopefully leaving soon), but if I'm awake/sober enough when I get back tonight I'll take a look...
John
- Thu Apr 27 10:16:51 2006
Since the agent is late I am having fun installing a lot of stuff onto linux (Ubuntu Badger), shame that it's so complicated at times... I wish I knew what I was doing in detail, at the moment I just cut and paste commands that I find on the net!
Lox
- Thu Apr 27 07:54:53 2006
Sheri: True.... But I have SOOOOO much to post... huge update is coming along with the exact detail of what happened during the 4 days holiday in Cinqueterre, plus lots of pics and then if that is not enough the account of the current trip to Istanbul... If only I had the time to post everything!!!!
Lox
- Thu Apr 27 07:50:37 2006
Morning all! John: I sent you an email too, with a couple of questions - if you get the time I'd be very grateful for a bit of advice!
I've got an exciting day planned... Dentist! Oh what fun!
Nigel
- Thu Apr 27 07:46:02 2006
And, Lox, it is not because there is new blood injected in the Maison THAT YOU SHOULD NEGLECT YOUR SPACE. You haven't updated it for ages! THE SAME GOES FOR YOU JOHN!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 27 07:22:01 2006
Lox: The place reminds you of Korea???!!! How incongruous!And I s'pose they all have slanting eyes? Have you ever thought to wear spectacles?
Sheri
- Thu Apr 27 07:18:09 2006
Ciao ciao, ready to get going for the day, here in Istanbul we are 1 hour ahead compared with Italy,hardly a considerable jetlag by my standards, still nobody seems to be up in pizzaland at the moment!
Lox
- Thu Apr 27 06:20:25 2006
Oh...4 hours ago.
Travis
- Thu Apr 27 05:35:36 2006
Thanks, John. Interestingly, I'm just about ready to wind down my day...and yours has recently started?
Travis
- Thu Apr 27 05:35:19 2006
On the subject of
work I am still on the
way there, and
therefore quite late!
Ho, hum...
John
- Thu Apr 27 01:25:48 2006
Nigel: sorry I still
haven't linked you from
the main page have I?
I will see if I can sneak
a few spare moments
at work today...
John
- Thu Apr 27 01:23:03 2006
Travis: congratulations
sir!
John
- Thu Apr 27 01:18:50 2006
Hello Lox! Thanks for posting the comment to my blog! All the way from Istanbul makes me proud!! :) Hope you're enjoying it out there!
Nigel
- Thu Apr 27 00:08:18 2006
As a matter of fact I am now posting from Istanbul, I believe the first post in the history of the blog made from this place. So far so good, the place reminds me of Korea, though they are distant quite a bit! Missed all the slagging of Marriage and all, I am completely on your side Johnnyboy!
Lox
- Wed Apr 26 21:08:50 2006
Well-done, Nigel. I look forward to the day when I get a "real" publication, meaning one directly in my field, but this is nice.
Travis
- Wed Apr 26 20:44:38 2006
Travis: I hasten to add the work I submitted was actually written-up by a staff writer, lest you think I'm a pro writer! (I am not!) Mine was just the background and a lot of questions! Still I did feature as 80% of a double-page spread! As a consequence I have a PDF of the spread for posterity!
Er.. Hence me getting sent a proof I suppose... (ever start waffling like I just did, and loose track of where you are going with it? It's been a daft day... )
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 20:30:06 2006
Travis: Ah, I see! I remember when I had something published in a computer magazine (the one and only time!) I received a "proof" for my consideration. To be honest I was so bowled-over at having my little bit of work chosen, I never imagined I'd be given the opportunity to see what they'd done to it! It was a one-off though sadly :(
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 19:59:22 2006
Nigel: Thanks. It's Surrey, UK. He's the chair of Russian (or maybe all foreign languages) there.
Travis
- Wed Apr 26 19:51:41 2006
Are you saying you have lost your biro, Sheri?
Travis: Well done! Way to go! Is that Surrey UK, or someplace your side of the pond?
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 19:49:55 2006
Chotto biru no kibun!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 17:46:25 2006
Arse Biscuits!
Jimmy
- Wed Apr 26 15:56:55 2006
I've just received the proofs from the InterTexts journal that will publish my book review. I should note that I'm the only student in the issue. All others are professors. Huzzah! One of your very own...well, a professor at Surrey...appears twice in the journal.
Travis
- Wed Apr 26 15:33:55 2006
Hi Tom! You up to anything specific? Security?
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 13:37:26 2006
Kev: If I tried that I'd probably make a mistake and end up with a t-shirt that said: *I'm a Gay Gin Drinker*. Nothing un-pc about all three, just only the last word applies to me!! :)
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 13:03:24 2006
John, I am sure that in Tokyo there are vending machines that give out printed t-shirts? You should get one to wear on the train that says something like "#I'm a Gy-gin but I'm o-k#'" or "I am Disease Free Certified". Any more ideas ?
Kev
- Wed Apr 26 12:47:00 2006
I recommend the train beer whether you want to be crowded or not!
Jimmy
- Wed Apr 26 12:36:59 2006
Arrh! These people! They have no bread, they complain! They have bread, they complain also! Never satisfied!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 12:16:55 2006
What are you complaining about! Want to give your job to an unemployed person?
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 12:12:45 2006
Hey all - I'm SO BUSY at work! :-(
tom
- Wed Apr 26 11:59:02 2006
I mean, kind of...?
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 11:34:34 2006
John, what you just wrote astonishes me. Are you telling us that they're racist?
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 11:33:22 2006
Kev: no talking to
myself required! No
self respecting
Japanese person wants
to sit or stand next to
a gaijin, given a choice.
They might catch
gaijin lurgee!
John
- Wed Apr 26 10:55:49 2006
Yes Jimmy: MP3 rules over the DRM formats. Get your WMA, burn to CD, rip CD to MP3. No DRM and you still have your song... Did I say that? "You 'ent seen me, right?"
Useless fact number 231,232 - Did you know the Buffalo which makes computer wifi etc is owned by Mitsubishi? Just a thought.
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 10:54:24 2006
John, on those busy commuter trains, have you ever just stood/sat there muttering loudly to yourself in "gyjin" so that people clear a nice space around you ? Rather akin to the "Train Beer" effect but not involving beer.
Kev
- Wed Apr 26 10:50:46 2006
Well I'm now hurtling
across Tokyo on a
busy commuter train.
It is actually a
slightly lonely feeling
that the continuity of
being able to post from
my mobile means that
to you guys it doesn't
make any real
difference... Do you
know what I mean?
John
- Wed Apr 26 10:36:21 2006
Bereft of life, it rests in peace.
Jimmy
- Wed Apr 26 10:32:25 2006
Maybe your WMA file
is pining for the fjords?
John
- Wed Apr 26 10:21:36 2006
Jimmy - yes you're
right, DRM probably is
a pile of pants, I just
wanted a cheap excuse
to tell the jam/CD
story!
John
- Wed Apr 26 10:18:00 2006
Jimmy: I hope you have made your feelings know to WMA
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 26 10:08:52 2006
That's *not* teething-trouble. They took my money and the DRM stopped the music from playing. I don't want to have to download a license - it's a stupid idea. Not more WMA for me. Ever.
Jimmy
- Wed Apr 26 09:48:07 2006
Buffalo is in fact a manufacturer of electronics here in Japan - so the other day I did quite genuinely almost buy a buffalo DVD player (in the end I opted for the I-O Data one instead though).
John
- Wed Apr 26 09:32:00 2006
Incidentally, was that a region 1 or region 2 buffalo?
John
- Wed Apr 26 09:30:14 2006
That's a coincidence - I once tried to put a DVD player in a buffalo. The buffalo wasn't having any of it though.
John
- Wed Apr 26 09:29:22 2006
I once put a buffalo in my DVD player, I just didn't know about this new fangled technology.
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 26 09:22:09 2006
...and two of those 5-and-a-quarter inch floppies in my toaster.
John
- Wed Apr 26 09:17:22 2006
I was so confused I put a couple of scones in my CD player!
John
- Wed Apr 26 09:15:42 2006
Welllllll.... I'm sure when CDs were first introduced there were a few teething troubles - especially after that bloke on Tomorrow's World confused everyone into thinking you had to put jam on them to get them to work.
John
- Wed Apr 26 09:11:26 2006
Morning Jimmy! Which vendor did you use? I used Tiscali for WMA and you can actually watch (in the log window) it download the music, download the album cover and then download your license. WMP will then show you how many times you can burn to CD, how many times you can copy etc etc. 69p a track too. When I used iTunes the software kept everything very secret. Didn't like that!
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 09:03:00 2006
I've just purchased a WMA single on-line. I thought I'd go into the whole thing with an open mind and see if the bloody technology would actually work. Payment worked OK, but the song was less successful. At first it refused to play, saying it had no license- but offered no help as to how I was supposed to remedy the situation. I read the on-line hlep but it offered no useful advice (typical). Then I tried it in a different player, and it actually sent me to a web-site to enter a password before it would play. Argh! Now it plays, I'm not over-impressed with the quality. The whole experience with DRM has been obnoxious in the extreme. I'm never gonna buy a WMA again.
Jimmy
- Wed Apr 26 08:53:29 2006
Sheri: because I've been married 35 years this year - I have two beautiful children (well one anyway) and a gorgeous granddaughter. The defence rests!
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 26 08:52:04 2006
Morning! well all I can offer to counter (4) John, is that I keep forgetting to put the MS Money password on a post-it note. So insecure you know... ;)
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 08:38:21 2006
Madam! Who are you to treat us with such uncivil manners?!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 08:34:24 2006
Wimps, the lot of you.
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 26 08:19:21 2006
Good luck then! And please send us a report!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 08:13:11 2006
Excellent Sheri - you have just volunteered yourself as a scapegoat in case I need someone to blame my bad attitude on! I now feel like I'm going in to battle with a full suit of armour on...!
John
- Wed Apr 26 08:08:13 2006
Yeah, I know that apprehension feeling only too well. Yet, I wonder if I had some sort of bad influence on you. You're not going to turn mean, are you?
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 08:04:42 2006
Sheri - it's not so much the smug couply element of it (they're actually very nice people) - more the likelihood that my significant other will afterwards say "Well, if they've got X, Y and Z, why haven't we...?".
John
- Wed Apr 26 07:56:48 2006
Correction: dislike OF ....
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 07:53:21 2006
I reckon I can buy off (D) with something relatively minor - like if I can weasel out of them that the guy never does any cooking or housework. (C) could be countered if it turns out there is a handy recession and deflation of house prices leading to negative equity. For (A) and (B) though I'm going to need to strike a rich seem of flaws - that's going to need one or the other of them to have had an affair, hopefully actually provoked by (A) or (B) in the first place. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for those skeletons in their closets to reveal themselves!
John
- Wed Apr 26 07:53:16 2006
Sorry, this message was too big.
John
- Wed Apr 26 07:53:08 2006
Sounds like Bridget Jones and her dislike for *smug married couples*...
Sheri
- Wed Apr 26 07:37:17 2006
I am going to have to
spend the evening
cross examining the
couple, scouring for
any flaws in their
seemingly idyllic
relationship, which I can
then later use as
bargaining chips...
John
- Wed Apr 26 01:22:47 2006
So after work today,
we're going for dinner
with another couple
who are friends of ours.
They are (A) married,
(B) have a kid, (C) own
a house and (D) she has
total control over his
money. I am so going
to get it in the neck
afterwards aren't I?
I think I might run away
and join the circus.
John
- Wed Apr 26 01:16:37 2006
Nigel - I'm going to pretend now I was waiting for the green light from you before adding the link to the main page (but in honesty I just forgot)... I will sort this out later on today as it sounds like you're all ready to go!
John
- Wed Apr 26 00:41:13 2006
Ho dear - this is going to clear the page... Thanks to that generous Mr Hawkins my new blog has begun, though there's no link yet on the main Maison page. Maybe I missed something, John? Kick my shins if so! Anyhow - www.maison-de-stuff.net/nigel - should do it for now!
Nigel
- Wed Apr 26 00:06:29 2006
Lucky jet-setter?! Mostly showing off!
Sheri
- Tue Apr 25 21:21:18 2006
You lucky jet-setter, you!! Oswestry for me!!! ;((
Nigel
- Tue Apr 25 19:36:13 2006
Been back today from the short holiday in Liguria (more info will follow soon), toorrow I am off to Istanbul,where I should be able to upload the pictures and all... Ciao for now!
Lox
- Tue Apr 25 18:09:42 2006
Many, many, many years ago I was in a stage show called "Lock Up Your Daughters" a restoration romp! One of the songs in this piece was called "I read it in the papers, so it must be true". Unfortunately that is what most people seem to believe, instead of realising that most of it is pure hype.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 25 17:15:39 2006
The web-site you link to really says it all in the sidebar text, doesn't it?
I see a flaw straightaway anyway... Yes more CO2 is beneficial to plants as they then fix this and crucially give off oxygen. A good thing. However as humanity is reducing greenery in general, there is less ability, globally, to do this fixing. So therefore more free CO2 to build up the greenhouse effect.
Geologically I guess it matters not one jot what we, as a race do. Over millions of years GAIA (controversial!!) will recover her equilibrium. However, if we care for our kids we should stop.. er... pooing in our nest!
(I am in no way affiliated to any New Age groups!!)
Nigel
- Tue Apr 25 16:51:05 2006
The writer of the article (Prof. Bob Carter) is in fact a sort of pro-oil evangelist. If you see this URL: http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=1134 you will find him listed. ExxonSecrets.org is a site whose objective is "Documenting Exxon-Mobil's funding of climate change skeptics." If you go to the URL I mention you will read direct quotes from the man himself, and I think you'll be able so see what a f*cking idiot he truly is.
Jimmy
- Tue Apr 25 16:36:00 2006
Hi Jimmy!! Yes, it wasn't so much the actual content that I found "interesting" but I thought the sober way it was put across is just the type of confusing "informing" someone, unable to check the sources, would find plausible.
I used to scoff at the Oasis album "Don't believe the Truth" but now I see what they could actually mean! How do we actually know what the truth is these days?
Nigel
- Tue Apr 25 16:34:40 2006
What an astounding load of crap! Talk about "Scientific brainwashing" ... that's exactly what this idiot is trying to do to his readers. He quotes figures from the "Climate research unit at East Anglia University". So I looked it up, and found the data to which her refers. Graph here: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/data/temperature/nhshgl.gif You can see that there was indeed a slight dip over the years he quotes, but it is very obviously part of a march bigger, upward trend. People who go spouting crap like that a nothing short of dangerous.
Jimmy
- Tue Apr 25 16:29:58 2006
Well, a quiet day at the Maison! I've been doing a lot of reading over the 'Net and found this interesting article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/04/09/do0907.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/09/ixworld.html -- No matter what your viewpoint it makes interesting - and sober - reading.
Nigel
- Tue Apr 25 15:49:28 2006
Cheers John! Much appreciated. I'll have a play later at home.
Nigel
- Tue Apr 25 14:06:04 2006
I'm going to have to go to bed now, even though it is before 10PM here. I very nearly had a rather unpleasant accident with FTP which could have ended up deleting quite a lot of content on the site... I think it's too dangerous for me to be near a computer when I'm this tired!
John
- Tue Apr 25 13:52:09 2006
Nigel - I have mailed you the rudimentaries...
John
- Tue Apr 25 13:50:41 2006
http://www.theregister.com/2006/04/24/toshiba_quantum/ -- Intersting! So Quantum Computing is being actively sold already?!? But that's what drives science advancement nowadays - profit.
Nigel
- Tue Apr 25 10:15:56 2006
Morning all! Thanks John - I'll take you up on the offer then, if I may. I think you have my email address so you can let me know the proceedures etc!! Much appreciated!
As for how my Spaces got hit - I'm not sure. Certainly no-one got my password (no keyloggers etc) I just reckon someone found an open "backdoor" somewhere and ran rampage. Others might have been affected too, I suppose. I don't think it was personal... After all I have never met Hitler... :(
Nigel
- Tue Apr 25 08:47:18 2006
Nigel - really sorry to hear your spaces account got trashed - how is that sort of thing possible in the first place...? I personally would love for you to have a blog hosted here, and please don't go thinking there is any kind of quality bar that has to be met - as you may have noticed, my blog often features little more than what I had for dinner! Tell you what, I'll just set up the relevant scripts/accounts etc anyway, and if you feel like using it at any point, then please do, but if you're not feeling inspired then it won't go mouldy either!
John
- Tue Apr 25 05:01:55 2006
Nigel: Obviously you've never read my pages :) I've got nothing going on...
Travis
- Tue Apr 25 02:49:39 2006
There's nothing I would like more, Sheri. It's just that I don't think I have enough "substance" to offer us all at the Maison.
I do have a new camera now - one I can carry more easily than my last one - so I'm trying to take more photos. I just need now to live a more interesting life!! :)
Nigel
- Mon Apr 24 23:33:26 2006
Well, why don't you join the Maison, then? John offered to *house* you too.
Sheri
- Mon Apr 24 22:21:57 2006
Evening Sheri. Hmmm. I've been "attacked" apparently. Didn't know I was sufficiently important, but it seems someone decided to "have a go" at my pages and basically "crapped" all over them. In disgust that such a thing should invade my space, I deleted the whole lot, rather than try rescue it just so someone could have a go again... I am in shock - dramatic though that sounds...!
Nigel
- Mon Apr 24 21:49:23 2006
Nigel, I can no longer get access to your blog. How come? Did you modify something?
Sheri
- Mon Apr 24 21:06:20 2006
Oxymoron: Is it strange that it is itself an oxymoron? "Sharply foolish" it means. We should probably rename palindromes.
Travis
- Mon Apr 24 19:21:56 2006
A tirade on jobs? I like it. I'm deathly afraid of what will happen should I not make it in academics. I don't think that I could take another sort of job (possible exception: writer). And from some of your struggles, I'm hardly changing my stance any time soon.
Travis
- Mon Apr 24 19:19:50 2006
John, it all works fine now. Thanks very much.
Sheri
- Mon Apr 24 14:47:57 2006
Kev- I see what you mean about recursion. Good point, well made.
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 24 12:49:31 2006
Jimmy: recursion is the Devils Spawn. Its written by clever programmers with no consideration for the dumb-wits that end up maintaining the source and inevitably fcuking it up.
Rob: Quit you job. I can wholeheartedly recommend being a bum like me, let the missus go out to work, after all whats the point in being married? ;)
Kev
- Mon Apr 24 11:45:00 2006
Just realised as I was
writing that - today
does in fact mark 6
months since I started!
John
- Mon Apr 24 11:15:13 2006
Rob - Sorry to hear it
is so crappy. If it
helps at all, in both of
the two 'proper' jobs
I've done I hated it to
start with, then things
gradually improved. I
wouldn't go so far as
to say I love my job
now, but 6 months in
I have at least stopped
hating it!
John
- Mon Apr 24 11:12:08 2006
Jimmy: Like your comments, even if rather philosphical for a Monday! I agree about iteration. The code as written might look less tidy but it's often much more understandable. Well, to an amateur like me! :)
Talking about Mondays... Work-wise this one sucks so far!
Nigel
- Mon Apr 24 09:27:24 2006
I'm philosophical today, aren't I?
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 24 09:16:33 2006
Rob- if the whole system is in such a crap state, then that should be obvious to everyone, not just yourself. From there it should be a simple matter to secure a mandate from management to overhaul the whole thing ... and you can then re-create it in your own (evil) image. If it's an important system and you can significantly improve it, this will transform you from code monkey to super hero.
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 24 09:16:04 2006
Anything that can be achieved with recursion can be achieved with iteration. If you're after all-out speed then it's often better to re-write the recursion as iteration (it avoids loads of stack-handling and parameter-passing). On the other hand, recursion invariably makes smaller, neater code (source, that is) and always strikes me as more elegant somehow. As my old Cybernetics lecturer always used to say: "To iterate is human; to recurse, divine."
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 24 09:11:22 2006
Morning Rob! From your description you have my heartfelt sympathies. Though I left the IT side here for roughly parallel reasons! Funnily enough. Once I'd left the whole IT shebang was outsourced to a big American company. Nothing to do with me I hasten to add!! I was but a minor cog in the machine. And it's not that things have improved now, it's more that we don't actually know at all what's going on! :(
Nigel
- Mon Apr 24 09:10:44 2006
John: When I was actively programming (a long while ago now!) I used to hate recursion. It was (is!) one of those incredibly powerful, but so hard to control processes. Always ran away with me and I avoided it like the plague!
Well, back at work after a break only to find my usual car-park has closed. A new shopping mall is to be built there. Oh, along with luxury flats!! Excuse me!! Where do the 250 people who used it daily actually go?!?!?!?! Of course my boss sneared at me... It had been announced in the local paper for the last week, every night!! Yes... But I don't live locally and have been off ten days. No one thought to email me!
Oh, and luxury flats in Wrexham?!!? Isn't that an oxy-whatsit? Or is it just laughable?
Nigel
- Mon Apr 24 09:03:56 2006
My new job is pants. They have a website with 16,000 files in it. Of which 2000 are actually used and 200 are actually useful. There are 2 of us to maintain, update and control all this code - none of which is commented or documented. Dave, the other, has only been at the company 3 months and I've been here 2 weeks. The only two people who understand how it works left. Oh, and it's written in ASP, which is the work of satan's bitch.
Furthermore, there is no business process here. Requirements are poorly specified and decided on the fly, business logic is non-existent, specifications are rarely written beforehand, updated or exist at all, bugs are passed on by word of mouth and make enormous assumptions, deadlines and scope are set without the recommendations of those doing the work and worst of all, there is a blame culture here that stifles getting problems sorted.
In all, I'm not impressed and not getting too comfortable.
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 24 08:59:35 2006
How very annoying.
John
- Mon Apr 24 08:41:44 2006
DongacB4SCG
- Mon Apr 24 05:28:15 2006
Donga9mA
- Mon Apr 24 05:28:13 2006
DongaaC7XB
- Mon Apr 24 05:28:01 2006
DongaDCx
- Mon Apr 24 05:27:59 2006
DongaiB6HD
- Mon Apr 24 05:27:50 2006
Donga3AeCc
- Mon Apr 24 05:27:44 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
DongawKB
- Mon Apr 24 05:27:40 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
Donga7RxABw
- Mon Apr 24 05:27:33 2006
Donga5NaC
- Mon Apr 24 05:27:25 2006
DongaKj7BC2
- Mon Apr 24 05:27:18 2006
On an unrelated note, I found a great article on recursion in XSLT at the weekend titled "Recursion Reminds me of Recursion). I never get tired of this kind of cheap nerdy joke - there's only one thing funnier than recursion based humour, and that's recursion based humour!
John
- Mon Apr 24 05:22:44 2006
Blimey, there seems to
be a lot of this about -
Chie had to go into
work at the weekend.
I have been mostly
fortunate thus far in my
new job with respect
to weekends. However,
my company instead
chooses to deprive me
of my free time en
masse every once in a
while by sending me to
America for two or
three weeks at a time.
I refused a trip this
week, so no doubt the
next one is looming...
John
- Mon Apr 24 01:10:25 2006
Bleah, Rob. I also had to run in to school to get some work done. The actual trip only lasted an hour, but I'll be writing this paper for most of the evening. What I wouldn't give for a real weekend off.
Travis
- Sun Apr 23 19:21:59 2006
Rob: Sorry you're working. What has to be done today that cannot wait until Monday?
dsp
- Sun Apr 23 14:14:37 2006
Arrg! We can't say anything!! So if I say DONGA or PANGA a few times, will the spam-bot spam itself? :)
Rob: Is this the new job? Are you enjoying it? (Despite working on a Sunday, obviously!)
Nigel
- Sun Apr 23 14:03:43 2006
You know whats really funny, first nigel mentions m s n . spa ce s, then John mentions b e t s, next day spam bot is spamming for spaces and cas inos. Lol. I conclude its probably one of Robs AI routines gotten loose on the Interweb!
Kev
- Sun Apr 23 13:16:27 2006
Sunday. Working. Arg.
Rob Lang
- Sun Apr 23 09:58:14 2006
Hmmm, I'm tempted to say a "Donga-Bot".
Nigel
- Sun Apr 23 09:51:39 2006
That's a sustained burst there of eight spammings, each coming in quick session with about a two or three second interval. I wonder what kind of evil machine they use to do that...?
John
- Sun Apr 23 09:43:04 2006
I'm pretty sure we get the spam no matter what we talk about on here...
John
- Sun Apr 23 09:41:53 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
DongapEB8A
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:33 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
Donga5mA
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:31 2006
DongaHx4A5B
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:27 2006
DongaWb7
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:24 2006
DongaFw9Cg
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:20 2006
DongaHAi6
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:18 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
DongabA5F
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:15 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
Donga7jCD
- Sun Apr 23 02:40:13 2006
It wasn't very busy today. I'm off to bed now. Sweet dreams!
Sheri
- Sat Apr 22 22:56:56 2006
Good man! Hey, you're doing okay... 12 comments on the first entry!! Lox's record may yet be broken!!
Nigel
- Sat Apr 22 18:09:14 2006
And I left a cheeky reply...
Sheri
- Sat Apr 22 17:24:34 2006
Sheri: Well I am just back from the library with my two children. While we were gone Joc, my wife, has sneaked out for coffee with one of her friends. So I am here, alone with two rampaging children as I write!!
I Have just left a cheaky comment in your blog!! :)
Nigel
- Sat Apr 22 15:29:32 2006
Nigel. You couldn't be more right! I have a beard!!!
Sheri
- Sat Apr 22 15:25:14 2006
Yes, I see, John. I can do that.
Travis
- Sat Apr 22 15:09:55 2006
Yes, well done Sheri! You are certainly getting the hang of it all!! Looking at your photo... Couldn't help thinking you need a shave!! ;)
Nigel
- Sat Apr 22 13:16:13 2006
Good work Sheri!
John
- Sat Apr 22 13:04:21 2006
I DID IT! I managed to create a new page and upload it!!!!! ALL BY MYSELF!!! I'M A BIG BOY NOW!!!
http://www.maison-de-stuff.net/sheri/sheriabriefhistory.html
Sheri
- Sat Apr 22 09:16:21 2006
Travis - at the moment you are editing your page by hand right? So when you want to make an update you edit and re-upload the index.html file I assume. What I was suggesting is that each time you edit the index.html file, you also manually edit and re-upload a small file called something like mostrecent.html, which perhaps lists the last four or five things you've added to your site. I'll then put in a bit of glue, which drags this file in, and displays it on the main page. Or alternatively you could just put anything in that mostrecent file -like a beer of the month or something.
John
- Sat Apr 22 08:08:21 2006
I'm certainly not about to go and mention anything to do with betting or gambling, or even online casinos, that would be downright foolhardy!
John
- Sat Apr 22 07:50:53 2006
lol, thats your fault Nigel mentioning msn dot spaces. All we need now is for someone to mention b e t s again! ;)
Kev
- Fri Apr 21 20:36:09 2006
I mean... I don't mind finishing off their code for them, but as I'm not actually a trained web-coder I do resent their inability to do the job correctly!!!!
Nigel
- Fri Apr 21 19:40:32 2006
Gawd - can't they even spam in proper HTML!?!?!?
Nigel
- Fri Apr 21 19:39:24 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
Donga2Jn
- Fri Apr 21 19:08:11 2006
Donga3gB
- Fri Apr 21 19:08:03 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
Donga3HtC
- Fri Apr 21 19:06:39 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
DongaFn8B
- Fri Apr 21 19:06:37 2006
Ah SAP!! What a .... er .... wonderful system (not!) When employers use Oracle or SAP you know you're talking serious training costs!! Not that other WAN databases are any better! Oh, and ... I'm not bitter!! :)
Nigel
- Fri Apr 21 17:18:44 2006
Ahh Lox, there's the magic word - SAP - what a wonderful system. My boss is still swearing every time he uses it - and he is usually on the machine next to me. I've learnt some very colourful language over the past year!, not that I know what it means, of course :)
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 21 16:59:09 2006
John: That's an excellent idea. Alas, I know how to do almost nothing. I've not doe any real tinkering in a year or so (when I attempted to learn XML). If someone has a nice, followable procedure online for setting up something like that, I'd certainly be interested in doing one.
Travis
- Fri Apr 21 16:49:17 2006
Hi Lox! Wow, your new set of photos are looking pretty dashed good! I'm about to post a comment I think!!
Just been out to one of the Seven Wonders of Wales with the family (yes, there are 7 apparently!!) The Llanrhaeadar Waterfall. Annoyingly we left in beautiful sunshine, we are now back and it's still sunny. But while we were there it was grey and overcast :(
Good site redesign John! That Flash "object" of Rob's scales well, doesn't it?
Nigel
- Fri Apr 21 16:28:50 2006
MM: Don't worry I will try to avoid them as much as I can..! :) So, is working with SAP so "shady" as you seem to hint a couple of posts before? I remember Rob working for a factory that was building missiles, but never mentioned you working for MI5 or the likes... :)
Lox
- Fri Apr 21 16:19:20 2006
Turkey then Lox, stay away from birds - the feathered kind of course!
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 21 16:03:20 2006
John: the mainpage rocks now!! Good work! Guys I'll be on the coast in Liguria for 4 days, then will be in Turkey for the reminder of the week, until next friday... I believe that I will post something from Instanbul though!
Lox
- Fri Apr 21 15:39:45 2006
Most of what I do is Classified - you know - if I tell you I'd have to shoot you. But I'll think about it. That would mean learning stuff wouldn't it. Hmmmm.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 21 15:35:43 2006
Mumsie - any chance we might be able to tempt you into writing some sort of blog...?
John
- Fri Apr 21 15:01:23 2006
Travis - or you could even use it for a "quote of the week" or something like that... Totally up to you - and of course if you want to keep it static that is fine too!
John
- Fri Apr 21 15:00:14 2006
John, as you rightly say, the whole page now looks "balanced" and very tasteful!
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 21 14:58:07 2006
Travis - let me know if you want any more text or anything in your little square on the main page - given the metrics of the rest of the page, it looks a little bare now! Incidentally, if there is some way (even by hand) you could construct a little "most recent" HTML snippet file, then we could easily have that automatically included on the main page like we're doing for me, Lox, Sheri and Tim at the moment (see here, here or here for examples).
John
- Fri Apr 21 14:57:11 2006
Rob - as a side effect of my fiddling about, your flash gizmo seems to work in IE now! (Maybe it did for the rest of you, but it never did for me before...). To be honest I don't fully understand the mechanics of these sort of embedded objects, so please let me know if I have transgressed any unwritten laws. It looks good to me, but I'm happy to change the corresponding HTML again if it is now wrong in some way... Incidentally - I have moved you to a central position in "the matrix" - that's where I think it looks most aesthetically pleasing...!
John
- Fri Apr 21 14:53:01 2006
OK I think I'm more or less done for the time being with fiddling with the main page - so far as I can see it looks OK in Firefox, IE (like anyone cares) and of course last but not least the little version of Opera which runs on my mobile phone. I know the 3x3 matrix thing might seem a little unwieldy at first, but I wanted to distribute the space on the main page a little more democratically - in two dimensions it looks less like a pecking order, if you see what I mean. I hope it's OK for all of you!
John
- Fri Apr 21 14:50:03 2006
Nigel: Very interesting stuff. I'm far less interested in archaelogy than in, say, philosophy, but I'm taking a course on Roman art and architecture next semester (requirement).
In other news, I participated in the Texas Tech Classics Graduate Symposium yesterday. I presented a paper entitled "Dionysus as Initiate in Aristophanes' Frogs." The paper went very well, and I dominated the Q&A phase, I humbly suggest. We then ate some incredibly good Indian food.
Today, I'm having lunch with a French professor of Russian (I believe?) who will discuss "the novel". Could be interesting.
Travis
- Fri Apr 21 13:59:09 2006
And me too Kev. Nigel: I had a good week, extremely busy, as we were with cadets, in the office by 8am and didn't finish until about 9pm, when I collapsed in my room with a brandy and ginger. Did I sleep well!
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 21 13:44:15 2006
now this made me laugh out loud...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4929026.stm
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/7049/cheriehair5jn.gif
Kev
- Fri Apr 21 13:13:37 2006
Morning all! Welcome back MM! Hope the trip was a success!! My last day when others are working and I'm not! Hope the weather brightens up!
Nigel
- Fri Apr 21 09:54:56 2006
My goodness that was a bit of a shock on a Friday morning - Everything had moved or was moving! Super.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 21 09:14:10 2006
Hi all. John (or Lox), how can I add a picture in the header template of my space? Which size and format?
What means FTP?
Sheri
- Fri Apr 21 08:28:04 2006
Wrap it in a DIV and set the width and height of the DIV.
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 21 08:24:32 2006
Have been trying to refactor the main page a bit, but without much success - Rob any chance you could offer some advice on how to get your lovely little Flash gizmo into more of a fixed rectangle...?
John
- Fri Apr 21 01:27:29 2006
Sheri - I wii try to sort out the link from the main page when I
get into work - I'm mid commute as I write...
Jnhn
- Fri Apr 21 00:32:51 2006
Hi Sheri! Archaeology-wise I love the Neolithic/Bronze Age boundary, and Roman Architecture. An odd mix, I know!
Nigel
- Thu Apr 20 23:39:24 2006
John. Just realised everything works fine. Please ignore my previous requests, except for the link and the adding of images.
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 23:23:59 2006
Nigel. You know, It's funny! Christelle, my wife, is a school teacher too. And I have a predilection for (ancient) archaeology! What is your favourite era?
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 23:12:57 2006
Argh!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 23:04:54 2006
And title in bold!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 23:02:43 2006
By layout, I mean feedback, date, image, etc... I'm lost! help!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 23:00:51 2006
And how could I have the same layout as yours and Lox's?
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 22:58:55 2006
John. I started with my journal. Could you please put a link to my bit from the main page? Many thanks.
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 22:53:21 2006
14?! That's... what?.... 75, proportionally speaking! Way to go!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 22:27:46 2006
Sorry, this message was too big.
Fred
- Thu Apr 20 18:00:46 2006
Afternoon all!! Go for it Sheri! Lok forward to your first steps! And a big thanks John for the offer of space. I must say it's a superbly generous offer!! I've been knocking around the Maison for over two years and it's nice to feel a part of the community here!
Remember I tried technologynow as a web-site? As Rob correctly pointed out it was bound to be "technology back then" as the nature of progress means on my resources I'm never going to be bang up-to-date. Well I also have the desmondbagley.co.uk and alefounder sites. The plans were to host photos on alefounder (family name) for all to see. The DB site is a tribute.
I started the MSN Spaces to see if I could maintain a "flow" . As you can see I struggle!!
May I ask you to keep the offer open John? I'll play with Spaces (by all means post a link to it!!) for now and see how my commitment goes!
Thanks!!!!!
Just been to the Vet with our cat - she's 14 and seems to be in good health! Mind you it cost £36 to find out!
Nigel
- Thu Apr 20 17:48:29 2006
John: Just replied to the mail, you are completely correct, better be on the safe side of things... fortunately I connected only once but .... I'll use the new settings anyways, hoping to have a better connection from home soon....
Lox
- Thu Apr 20 15:30:28 2006
Lox - I've made you a new FTP account, and emailed you the details... You might be better off using that for things like that net2ftp... (Maybe I'm just paranoid, but you never know!)
John
- Thu Apr 20 14:34:31 2006
Sheri: thank you for the correction. I'm a purist!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 20 14:24:38 2006
Nigel - let me know if you'd like me to set up a blog for you on the 'Maison too - it is almost zero effort for me having just done Sheri's, basically just a bit of copying and pasting. It's totally up to you though - I see you have quite a lot of posts on your Spaces account so I can understand if you want to stick with that, but, well, the offer is there!
John
- Thu Apr 20 14:06:17 2006
Sheri - I've set up a basic blog for you on the 'Maison - please check your email for details...
John
- Thu Apr 20 14:03:22 2006
Lox, Errr..... but doesn't that mean you're giving the password to some complete stranger...?
John
- Thu Apr 20 13:57:50 2006
I HAVE FOUND IT!! A webpage that allows me to ftp into "la maison"!!! Check it out! HERE
Lox
- Thu Apr 20 13:49:13 2006
Sheri/Nigel: There you go! You are part of the team now!! :) Come on, the system that we use is not a mindblowing one, but it's good nonetheless. I can help you if you need some pointers, and of course John, Rob and Tim are "za' mastarssss"...
Lox
- Thu Apr 20 08:20:46 2006
tHreshold (for the purists).
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 07:05:20 2006
No seriously, John. I didn't hope for that! It would be really great if I could have a bit of space on the Maison. Please, tell me how it works and what to do. I promise I will endeavour to reduce the usual amount of insanities below the treshold of tolerance...
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 07:02:49 2006
Oh nooooooooooooooooo, no, no, no, no! It's too great an honour, John! ........................................ I accept!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 20 06:47:53 2006
Sheri/Nigel: If either of
you would like a space
on the Maison, it
would be an honour to
accomodate you. We
basically have unlimited
space. I could easily
set up the same blog /
pictures system that
me an Lox use. Might
not be quite as neat
and tidy as MSN spaces
but at least you'd have
full control...
John
- Thu Apr 20 01:39:59 2006
Why don't you ask John to create a link leading from La Maison to your blog? You are like me, *une pièce rapportée* (an outsider), but we all form a community, don't we?
Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 20:57:18 2006
Hi Sheri! Yes I'm a bit new to the blogging game. I also find it hard to take good photos - John, Tim and Lox make it seem so easy...
And yes, I'm friendly!! A real pussy-cat!! :)
I must try hard to put some exciting updates into the new blog!!
Nigel
- Wed Apr 19 20:30:13 2006
Nigel. Not that I thought you were ugly! Just...... English!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 19:51:03 2006
And thanks for the advice. I'll think I'll opt for that server too.
Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 19:29:25 2006
Nigel. I visited your blog. You have a nice friendly look! I didn't imagine you that way! Pleasantly surprised!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 19:27:51 2006
Sheri: Do what I am currently trying... Go to MSN Spaces. They offer free photo-hosting and blogging. Their system is rather easy and very good. I'm loving trying it out...
If you want to see my first trial attempts then go to: http://spaces.msn.com/nigelka - n ot quite in John/Rob/Tim or Lox's league but I'm new to this and still experimenting! :)
Nigel
- Wed Apr 19 18:19:41 2006
Hello gang! Well I'm going to be a bit predicatable here and let you know I've been drinking!! Well, I'm off work so I'm allowed... Well that's what I tell my dearest!! Murphy's again I'm afraid!
As for the intellectual reading going on here... I've sadly not read any of the titles mentioned apart from tomes about ancient warfare. This because one of my interests is archaeology. I did try Kafka and Genet and Tolstoy... But sadly concluded that although I read a great deal and have something like 2000 books in my library, my brain seems unable to comprehend "proper" reading. Hey-ho.
This is not slur on anyone else, more an admission of my own failings, as I do recognise the power of the written word.
Sheri: Go for it and enjoy it!" That's what marriage and sharing your life with someone is about! I'm sure we should be so lucky!! :)
Lox: you're not miserable! You just speak your mind - something us Brits should do more often!
Nigel
- Wed Apr 19 18:15:02 2006
I'd like to create a blog. Anyone knows of a free server without adverts as a couterpart ? Any suggestions?
Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 18:12:36 2006
Travis: Mmmmm Interesting readings there! I know Locke quite well, I have studied a bit of philosopy in hugh school (only 3 years), he talked a lot about politics if I am correct, and he had quite a lot of influences on the American Founding Fathers, right? Actually if we owe America to him maybe he should be written off history books! :)) (joking here of course!)
Lox
- Wed Apr 19 16:03:10 2006
John: I don't know what to make of Kafka. I'm certainly not a fan. I have enjoyed some of his shorter works, such as The Hunger Artist and The Trial (?), but Metamorphosis does nothing for me (or did nothing a few years ago) and much of his work seems to have fallen short of its goal. Maybe, on the other hand, I'm just not of the correct mindset. I greatly prefer Poe's short stories.
You've not heard of John Locke? He was British, was chased from the country for controversial writings against the church (but he was very religious). In the same vein as Hobbes really.
Travis
- Wed Apr 19 15:43:56 2006
Travis: out of that list
I only really knew the
Kafka. He is to pseudo
philisophic literature
what Thelonious Monk
is to jazz. Although,
having said that, I
only know his work
from a somewhat
abridged version I read
a few years ago... but
I really digged on that
whole self loathing and
drowning in bureaucracy
thing. It is sort of
pertinent to living in
Japan!
John
- Wed Apr 19 15:37:05 2006
Ellis. Alive and loving it?
tom
- Wed Apr 19 15:25:47 2006
And Rob, have you done anything interesting for your birthday?
You seem like someone (for some reason) who may enjoy rollercoasters. So I'll tell my story. I have been on 2 rollercoasters in my life. Both were at Disney World. The one I went on this time is the Rock and Rollercoaster, featuring Aerosmith. It begins with a zero to 60 miles per hour (roughly 100 kmph) acceleration. Your picture is taken during this period. I look like I'm being shot...I'll have the picture posted soon.
Travis
- Wed Apr 19 15:03:21 2006
Sheri: That's one of the funniest things I've ever read. Thank you.
Rob: Cambridge Companion to John Locke, Metamorphosis and Other Short Stories by Kafka, Lucretius' On the Nature of Things, Daniel Dennett's Elbow Room: The Varieties of Free Will Worth Wanting, and Warfare in the Classical World.
I don't really get a chance to read non-academic stuff so I'm pretty excited about the range of selection.
Travis
- Wed Apr 19 15:00:58 2006
T-Boy, not surprised that you're a booky type, sir! Any books we might recognise or are they hugely academic?
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 19 14:10:22 2006
John, Sheri: Do not worry!! I am still miserable as you like me to be! :) The only problem is that I have got NO internet conection at home now, so I can use only the work one. I have lots of pictures to upload and no chance to do it unfortunately, and I keep postponing posting as I'd like to add some pics too... :( Is there an HTML based FTP client? I.e. a web page that will let me long in the maison server and upload from work? I think that I have just requested the usual impossible thing... :)
Lox
- Wed Apr 19 10:07:21 2006
Christelle has entered her ovulation phase. Coitus is brief and perfunctory.
Blasé Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 09:35:47 2006
What next!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 06:34:38 2006
Happy?! Now that's a thought!!!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 19 06:34:22 2006
Sheri: I second
that! The
daily commute
is becoming
quite tedious
in the absence
of any kind of
update from
Lox. Or does
the lack of
posts mean
that - gasp -
Lox is actually
happy???
John
- Wed Apr 19 00:27:50 2006
Sorry for the late response. I'm 27. Huzzah! Rob: My wife was kind enough to let me choose some books that I would read. I chose 5 or 6 that I consider excellent so I'm pleased. I got some money from my parents, which was nice. Then I got a massive piece of cake...and I ate it. I felt the sugar coursing through my veins...it was like injecting myself with the dark side.
Travis
- Tue Apr 18 23:32:52 2006
Lox. Try to update your blog more frequently! You've been silent for a week now! I want to know what happens in your miserable life...
Sheri
- Tue Apr 18 18:45:25 2006
Afternoon all!! Many Happy Returns Travis!!
Yes Sheri, Lox has the rioja description to a tee! And thanks for the understanding of my misspelling John! Yes, I rather like the stuff but Joc didn't, so I had to finish the bottle myself. Unusually for a rich, red wine I had no nasty hangover, tummy or anything. Splendid!
Well it's actually turning into a decent day here. Just been to the barbers and the walk back was very pleasant! Yes I'm off work! :)
Nigel
- Tue Apr 18 16:23:22 2006
Yay! Jon Ellis lives! <ll-cool-j>Something like a Jonathan</ll-cool-j>
dsp
- Tue Apr 18 15:43:25 2006
Did anyone else notice that Mr. Jon Ellis (the near mythical "silent partner" of the 'Maison) has made a website - http://www.deadspace.net
John
- Tue Apr 18 15:21:55 2006
Thank you.
Sheri
- Tue Apr 18 15:07:50 2006
No problem Sheri. Keep my address handy.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 18 14:06:30 2006
MM. I'm truly delighted. I'm working on a second (short film) script which, I believe, would be more your sort of thing than the script I wanted to submit to you last week. Could you wait a bit?
Sheri
- Tue Apr 18 12:53:07 2006
Sheri: Yes, I'll proof read the script, if its not too late. My email is jill dot lang at Barnet dot gov dot uk
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 18 12:09:10 2006
Happy Birthday Travis. Hope you had a good one.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 18 12:07:59 2006
Happy birthday T-Boy!!! how many? If I may ask... well I DID ask didn't I?
Lox
- Tue Apr 18 11:13:18 2006
Happy Birthday, T-Boy! Get anything nice for your birthday, sir?
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 18 11:06:07 2006
Tempting...
Sheri
- Tue Apr 18 09:43:05 2006
Sheri: Roja is the equivalent of Chianti and Bordeaux in terms of strenght and "roundness". It's a very interesting wine, I like it quite a lot, it's very warm (as you would expect from a spanish wine), round, a bit tannic. I like Sangre de Toro a lot too...
Lox
- Tue Apr 18 08:52:27 2006
Nigel. Sometimes I enjoy a playmobil *therapy* with my son. About the Rioja, how does it taste? I'm not accustomed to Spanish wines. Is it an *oxidized* wine ?
Sheri
- Tue Apr 18 07:15:51 2006
Happy birthday, Travis. How many candels ?
Sheri
- Tue Apr 18 07:11:20 2006
I'm back. I'm tired. I had an excellent time. Today is my birthday (well, the 17th is). I'm now thrust into the busiest week of the school year, unfortunately, with one fewer day to get things completed.
Travis
- Tue Apr 18 05:35:09 2006
I imagine the original naming of the product followed similar lines - originally they quite sensibly determined to spell it riocha, and then after a bottle or two of the stuff they thought "Hell, let's spell it with a j!". And why not.
John
- Tue Apr 18 00:44:58 2006
"Rioja" obviously - I can spell better when inebriated...!
Nigel
- Mon Apr 17 20:19:38 2006
Well playing Playmobil with my boy - also have a glass of riocha (pardon spelling!) He's winning! (medieval if you are wondering!) Safe journey Travis!
Nigel
- Mon Apr 17 18:13:52 2006
Well, I head back to Lubbock tomorrow (well, the 17th). I should be home by early evening. I will have pictures, but it will take a long time. I left my cam at home so I'm relying on other digital cams. Sheri: I'm not diabetic. I just believe that sugar is evil.
Travis
- Mon Apr 17 04:27:36 2006
Alas, no big parties or
eating marathons here
in Tokyo, 'twas a very
normal Sunday.
John
- Mon Apr 17 00:40:07 2006
... and a wireless LifeDrive ;)
Nigel
- Sun Apr 16 19:07:39 2006
Currently have about 20 people here eating me out of house and home! Luckily I have beer!
Nigel
- Sun Apr 16 19:06:19 2006
Happy Easter everyone.... I am stuck in a terrible eating marathon here at Marta's parents house... For lunch 3 pasta dishes, 3 meat dishes, 5 cakes and of course plenty of sliced meat (salami and the likes)... I am DEAD!! I have to start again in 5 minutes for the usual "dinner"... :(
Lox
- Sun Apr 16 18:33:36 2006
Oh not you again! Piss off!
John
- Sun Apr 16 14:02:15 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
PangRBo
- Sun Apr 16 13:58:55 2006
http://spaces.msn.com/best-online-casino-1/
href
PanggPC43p
- Sun Apr 16 13:58:48 2006
Hi dsp/john! Happy Easter! Yes, beer and gadgets - chap heaven! ;)
Nigel
- Sun Apr 16 10:56:09 2006
Happy Easter everyone! Happy shopping John. If you get all these items could you take a picture of all the USB cables and power adapters. You might need a USB hub to prevent you having to swap devices at an inconvient moment.
dsp
- Sun Apr 16 10:25:50 2006
Right, well I'm going out to do some geeky shopping today. On my list are the following items:
- An LCD panel.
- A networked or USB hard drive.
- A USB memory stick.
- A USB DVD burner.
- A fourway power adapter (OK not exciting, but necessary)
However, given that I am going with Chie, there is a strong chance I will be talked out of almost all of the above (with the possible exception of the fourway power adapter).
John
- Sun Apr 16 05:35:33 2006
Quite so Nigel - if they wanted you to have it that much then it would be the height of bad manners to refuse.
John
- Sun Apr 16 04:43:38 2006
Cheers John, will do! Well guys as I write this I've just cracked a tin of Murphy's - a departure from my usual Guinness but it was on such a good price at Sainsbury's it would have been rude...!
Nigel
- Sat Apr 15 17:19:39 2006
Nigel: well please keep me updated if any problems occur in the future then...!
John
- Sat Apr 15 16:23:10 2006
Yes, I remember the "chop, chop" too...
John
- Sat Apr 15 16:01:50 2006
.. something about "times money chop..chop.."
Kev
- Sat Apr 15 15:10:15 2006
Kev - do you remember the humorous message on our old firewall - was it something like "Sorry to interrupt your busy surfing schedule, but..."
John
- Sat Apr 15 15:08:16 2006
Hi all! What a busy Saturday this particular Saturday is. You'd think there was going to be some great national holiday, whereas in fact shops will probably be shut only tomorrow (Easter Sunday). Madness!
John: Well at the moment the work security software seems to have been modified and I currently can now post from there. Not sure if it applies to all *.pl files but the Maison is working.
I had to laugh last week - the new filter was stopping certain sites saying "malicious behavior detected" etc. One girl had a brilliant message: "Access to this site has been prohibited as it is catagorized as - - Useless." !!!!
Nigel
- Sat Apr 15 15:01:03 2006
I vaguely remember you telling me about the broom cupboard actually - that's quite a claim to fame! I went to visit a Japanese broadcaster this week, and stood in the studio where they film a sort of Japanese equivalent of This Morning, as it happens. I believe the show is called "SUPER MORNING!!!". I guess this is not that impressive to any of you, who, I'm guessing, don't regularly watch Japanese TV.
John
- Sat Apr 15 14:56:09 2006
John, I think he(Philster) had left the BBC by then. BTW I have visited the 'fabled' broom-cupboard. It really is a broom-cupboard!!
Kev
- Sat Apr 15 14:05:08 2006
Bizarrely, This Morning is listed on IMDB.com. How bizarre.
John
- Sat Apr 15 13:38:47 2006
Is that Phil as in the Schofster? I used to live near to him (in North London), apparently, but never actually saw him. Oh and I always half expected to see him on my visits to the BBC.... but didn't.
John
- Sat Apr 15 13:37:07 2006
Exactly John, Who needs to work when you've got Phil and Fern and Vorderloans to watch!
Kev
- Sat Apr 15 12:26:31 2006
Nigel - by the way, I've sort of lost track a bit about the situation with you being able to post from work or not... Did it just magically start working, or was that only a temporary thing? Do let me know if there's something I can do to faciliate you posting in the daytime!
John
- Sat Apr 15 12:12:40 2006
No probs Kev - I quite understand. I mean, that daytime TV isn't going to watch itself is it?
John
- Sat Apr 15 12:09:21 2006
Hi John, No I was just too lazy to visit and post!
Kev
- Sat Apr 15 12:06:55 2006
Great to have you back
Kev, did you go away somewhere...?
John
- Sat Apr 15 06:59:35 2006
Or even "good Kev..." Fingers on the blink again...
Nigel
- Fri Apr 14 21:18:09 2006
Sounds hood Kev! Keep away the purple stuff though, the windy repeats often cause building destruction and general firestorms!
Nigel
- Fri Apr 14 21:17:35 2006
nigel, i've become a bum and now hang around bus shelters in great yarmouth drinking ethanol based products. Work is for suckers. ;)
kev
- Fri Apr 14 19:16:25 2006
Am I the only one who's confused! Oh, and hello Kev! What you up to? Any work? Lottery win? Gigolo ambitions? I'm trying to entertain two kids... Currently trying a ScoobyDoo DVD.... Well it works for me!! Not sure about the others :(
Nigel
- Fri Apr 14 16:23:39 2006
nm Lox I think it was just me, however there does appear to be an anomilly with the posts I linked to in Johns section, the timestamps have gotten mixed up and it looks like JH has posted from the future! I am sure he will look into it when he gets some free time. ( Or just ignore it and hope it fixes itself! )
Kev
- Fri Apr 14 14:34:59 2006
Kev: I'd repair it but I am away from my usual comp and don't have an ftp client set on the laptop... :(
Lox
- Fri Apr 14 14:24:14 2006
Nope just me, working again:)
Kev
- Fri Apr 14 12:31:46 2006
Now I have broken the board. #hangs head in shame#
Kev
- Fri Apr 14 12:22:19 2006
John I denouce you as a Time Traveller. Your secret is out!
Nigel
- Fri Apr 14 10:35:08 2006
Right! I'm off! Adieu, monde ingrat et cruel!
Sheri
- Fri Apr 14 10:17:23 2006
Let me convert you all, you lost sheep...!
Sheri
- Fri Apr 14 08:06:10 2006
You see, a Christian mass CAN be fun!
Sheri
- Fri Apr 14 08:05:23 2006
And spotteth twice they the camels before the third hour. And so the Midianites went forth to Ram Gilead in Kadesh Bilgemeth by Shor Ethra Regalion to the house of Gash-Bil-Bethuel-Bazda, he who brought the butter dish to Barshazar and the tent peg to the house of Rashomon. And there, slew the goats, yea, and placed they the bits in little pots. Here endeth the lesson.
Sheri
- Fri Apr 14 07:08:06 2006
Sheri: I don't think there
are many christians
here. Japanese people
are hardly religous at
all, most people not
thinking about it at all
or adopting a vague
melange, a finger
buffet of christianity,
shinto and buddhism
as and when it suits
them.
John
- Fri Apr 14 00:54:00 2006
Incidentally, T-boy, are you diabetic? Cose you said you didn't eat sugar for two years...
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 16:46:14 2006
Have fun, Travis! But remember, Mickey Mouse is not real! It I prefer to warn you, lest you should be bitterly disappointed once you realise that!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 16:33:35 2006
Happy hols Trravis! I'm off work next week but I suspect I'll be kept busy... :|
Nigel
- Thu Apr 13 16:20:36 2006
Have a good one, T-Boy. Do some Chom Recruiting while you're there!
Rob Lang
- Thu Apr 13 16:07:01 2006
Yep, Nigel. I wonder too............... Lox, are you all right?
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 15:32:30 2006
Sheri: I don't eat chocolate, unfortunately. I love it, but I've done away with sugar for the most part for nearly 2 years now. As I said in a previous post, I shall be leaving in several hours to go to Disney World for a bit of a family reunion. Wish everyone the best.
Travis
- Thu Apr 13 14:58:49 2006
... and I thought you were so rugged!
Jimmy
- Thu Apr 13 14:57:20 2006
Er... Lox... Are you trying to tell us you dress-up in woman's clothing? No problem here... Just wondered! ;)
Nigel
- Thu Apr 13 14:03:48 2006
I'm a Lumberjack and I'm ok, I slepp all night and I work all day...
Lox
- Thu Apr 13 12:52:50 2006
Morning! All worketty-work here I'm sorry to say! No chocolate for me - don't particularly like the stuff. Yes, it's a shame the true meaning of Easter isn't more properly revered. Yet another corruption by businesses for profit. I'm not usually anti-capitalism per se, it's just... to coin a cliche "Is nothing sacred?"
Nigel
- Thu Apr 13 11:37:39 2006
John, on holiday too? I mean, I don't believe Christian Easter is celebrated in Japan, is it? How big is the Christian community there?
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 10:56:39 2006
Also, why do people say "Happy Easter" to one another, someone is supposed to have dies for crissake!
Sorry bad taste joke!
Kev
- Thu Apr 13 10:56:11 2006
About Easter, how come its a different time each year? Why isn't Christmas day treated the same ? Surely they should be relative to one another ? Another religious anonmily perhaps ?
Kev
- Thu Apr 13 10:50:34 2006
Lox: you need one of these
http://www.dataprobe.com/power/iboot.html
apparently it has a web interface that allows you to turn the PSU on and off ;) Quite expensive though!
Kev
- Thu Apr 13 10:44:55 2006
No actually, I don't eat a lot of choco during Easter... I don't like this christian festivity, quite as much as Christmas. It's all false and commercial, nothing to do with the original meaning that it had in the past.
Lox
- Thu Apr 13 10:42:48 2006
Sheri - clearly everyone
is already on holiday,
mentally if not
physically...
John
- Thu Apr 13 10:02:24 2006
I too have to admit to being largely ignorant to the fact that it was Easter... I don't think anything happens at all here in Japan.
John
- Thu Apr 13 09:33:01 2006
Helloooooooooo! Wake up!!!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 09:32:25 2006
Anyone else stuffs himself with chocolate at Easter?
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 08:51:43 2006
Easter? I didn't know Easter was coming up! I'm a bad, bad christian!............................................. But hey! It means it's chocolate time! Goody!
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 08:17:03 2006
Morning all, off to see Marta's parents this Easter, I have a nice 5 hours drive ahead of me this afternoon... :( What are you guys doing for easter?
Lox
- Thu Apr 13 07:48:42 2006
Morning everyone. Another glorious day.
Sheri
- Thu Apr 13 07:06:09 2006
Lox, indeed. I'l be in touch via email. All: I leave tomorrow evening for Florida. I will take my laptop, but I'm not sure if/when I'll have internet access. I imagine hotels have wireless connections nowadays, but who knows? I'll be back Monday evening.
Travis
- Thu Apr 13 00:48:44 2006
Lox: No, me neither. I don't think such software could exist. PDAs do this trick, but they're really just in standby all the time. A PC can be set to "Wake-On-LAN" so you can access it remotely. If you want to schedule a download for, say, in the middle of the night, you just leave the PC on. Certain dowload agents can turn your PC off when the d/l is completed. Logically when a clock is set to wake the PC at a given time, it must be some software running somehow continuously. Maybe specialised BIOS are available. Never seen one though. :(
Nigel
- Wed Apr 12 22:17:46 2006
Rob: I'd like to add an addendum to my previous shameful admission - in fact my ignorance of global affairs also stretches to the country I currently reside in. I hardly ever watch the new here, partly because of the obvious language difficulties, but partly because it generally fails to capture my interest. I am however dimly aware that the leader of the opposition has just changed, and apparently the new guy used to be in the same party as the current PM. Not that that really counts for much, given that the line between parties in Japan is somewhat reminiscent of the Judean People's Front / People's Front of Judea. Honestly - it really is that daft. I believe the current ruling party is something like the Liberal Democratic Party, who are opposed bya coalition of the Democratic Party and Liberal Party (i.e. the Democratic Liberal Party).
John
- Wed Apr 12 14:14:29 2006
Nope.
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 12 14:10:05 2006
I am looking for a program that let me set the time at which the computer will turn on by itself. There is an option in the Bios but that it's valid only for a certain date, while I'd like it to work continuosly (i.e. only setting a time, every day). Is any of you aware on the exsistance of such a piece of software?
Lox
- Wed Apr 12 14:05:26 2006
John: I see the opposition leader of Japan went under another storm of comedy again. What a fiasco! That's 5 leaders in what, 5 years now?
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 12 12:55:33 2006
John: Wait... There is still the re-count to be done, plus a lot of other scams that can take place and might change the final outcome... I would not be surprised if in 2 weeks time the tables are turned.. At that point I think that civil war would be the only possible outcome.
Lox
- Wed Apr 12 11:41:07 2006
Sheri - thanks for the
update on the Italian
political situation, I
have to admit a
complete ignorance
towards global affairs
since being in Japan.
Anyway, this sounds
like really good news
for Italy! Congratulations Lox and co!
John
- Wed Apr 12 11:32:23 2006
Sheri: Read the rules first, then all Chom Isis related posts are banned here... Other players read them too! :) Personal mails are better! Anyways I hope Travis and Jimmy (my previous partners) will join too... :D
Lox
- Wed Apr 12 11:13:36 2006
Anyway. Lox, will you be my partner in Chom 2?
Sheri
- Wed Apr 12 09:42:13 2006
Lox. *Start rebuilding* sounds like an utopia, given the state of you economy! Ours is not bad either (France 's national debt amounts to 1000 BILLION euros...! Hard to believe...!)
Sheri
- Wed Apr 12 09:40:37 2006
Sheri: The problem with Berlusconi is that he's very strong on the "lower" classes, his blatant lies have a very good grip on the less cultured masses. But it seems that these times are over, let's wait for the final verdict (it seems that they asked for a re-count of the votes), and though I do not like Prodi all that much, if we can get rid of Mr.B. then we can start rebuilding from there...
Nigel: Nope that wouldn't be the 2gb monster (wans't it the 4gb mosnter in Fat32?)... Anwyays the corrupted files are well below 100megs, but they are all zipped.. something dodgy happened there... :(
Lox
- Wed Apr 12 09:25:04 2006
Ok the call for players is on the Chom 2 website, so please follow the instructions there to sign up. Start date is 24th of April. Sheri, I'd recommend teaming up with Lox from the start - much easier to play your first game if you have someone you can trust showing you how.
On another note, it is great to see the old, mad dictator of Italy gone. Prodi certainly has his work cut out for him but at least he doesn't begin as corrupt as Berlusthingy did.
T-Boy, Fart in The Wind was also the first tentative name for the movie of the epic story of North Versus South.
Mumsie says hello, she's having a lovely time on camp in the West of England.
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 12 09:21:54 2006
So Tony Blair isn't so bad after all then? (I seem to be alone in actually thinking Tony's ok!).
Nigel
- Wed Apr 12 08:52:02 2006
IO SONO UN COGLIONE!
Sheri
- Wed Apr 12 08:47:02 2006
So that's it then. Prodi won. A precarious victory, but a victory. Still, I can't believe that half the Italian electorate voted for that mascalzone who rode roughshot over democracy. Are they brainless, cose you got to be brainless not to realise that he is a cynical mafioso who's only desire is to line his pockets! The Italian economy is heading for a disaster with him! I really don't understand.
Sheri
- Wed Apr 12 07:45:58 2006
http://casino-one.tripod.com
href
PangcXB
- Wed Apr 12 01:47:08 2006
http://casino-one.tripod.com
href
PangaC5HAN
- Wed Apr 12 01:45:44 2006
http://casino-one.tripod.com
href
Pang3mA
- Wed Apr 12 01:45:26 2006
Lox: Just another thought - did you try to move those 10gigs in one go? The phantom of the 2GB FAT32 limit just occured to me. Could be nothing to do with it - I might just be away with the faeries...
Nigel
- Tue Apr 11 21:54:20 2006
Fart in the Wind, interestingly, was the original title of Sir Elton John's Candle in the Wind. Just didn't flow very well.
Travis
- Tue Apr 11 19:24:31 2006
Prepare for the champagne!.................... But of course, I might be overdoing it! Will Prodi be up to our expectations or is it all tantamount to a fart in the wind? Meno male, anyway.
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 18:08:55 2006
Sheri: I am still waiting for the final-final-final-final results before starting the party!! :)
Lox
- Tue Apr 11 17:45:24 2006
I mean, to *cover* his dealings!
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 17:08:24 2006
Yepee! Berlusconi got it up in the arse! Italy's *ex-PM* (feels good to write it!) will no longer be able to enjoy court immunity by adopting, through the majority he no longer has, laws designed to protect his dealings!
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 17:03:35 2006
Rob: I look forward to it. I'll see about getting some more bloodthirsty Americans involved.
Travis
- Tue Apr 11 14:13:51 2006
Why not?! I will surely be a total failure, but if you do not fear to drag me around like a ten-ton weight, I'm in!
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 13:54:08 2006
Sorry, Rob. Ignore the last question. I used the link.
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 13:49:24 2006
Now you have to explain Rob. What kind of game is it?
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 13:48:27 2006
Please pass around.
No limit on number of players.
Start date 24th April.
No further information on the start state of the game will be given.
More info (as always) here:
http://www.icar.co.uk/chom2/
I will run it regardless of the number of players I get. The more the merrier, though!
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 11 13:34:51 2006
Rob:I AM IN!
Lox
- Tue Apr 11 13:30:34 2006
This might eb very dangrous thing to suggest but how many people on the boards fancy a game of Chom Isis 2?
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 11 12:56:46 2006
Nigel: I have tried all possible jack "insertions", but to no avail. The friend of mine who tested the PC said that it worked fine for them, but they had a bunch of updated drivers that he forgot to give me... To be honest I thought it was an hardware problem myself, but... As for the Hard Drive it was the external one that I use with Linux and Windows, but the main problem is that I MOVED instead of COPYING a LOT of data, so the NTFS to FAT32 switch was not "ideal"... That'll 'learn' me!
Lox
- Tue Apr 11 12:41:44 2006
Confusing a computer with a kid?! Lox, you NEED a shrink!
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 11:57:14 2006
As for your lost data Lox - are you still using Linux on one of the offending drives? Or are they both Windows XP?
Nigel
- Tue Apr 11 11:52:07 2006
Hi all! Got to say Lox, I think that if only one sound channel is working it's unlikely to be a driver problem. (Check the obvious balance slider in the volume control etc.) Sounds more like hardware to me... Maybe the 3.5mm jack plug is not pushed in to the right amount (too much or too little?)
Nigel
- Tue Apr 11 11:48:32 2006
Sheri: Already done... I have kicked the computer twice yesterday.. I felt really bad as if I have beaten a kid... :)
Lox
- Tue Apr 11 10:44:23 2006
Lox, I have a solution. Give it a kick with a cricket or baseball bat. It helps! (At least, for your nerves)
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 09:40:05 2006
Yep yep! Sacré Steve! I wasn't sure but it seemed to me pretty fishy too!
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 09:38:26 2006
As if that wasn't enough I lost aroung 10 gigs of data... I have "MOVED" data from my portable HD to the new computer's HD and a lot of files got corrupted... I can't believe my luck, though here it is my fault as I should have copied the things first... CRAP!
Lox
- Tue Apr 11 09:26:28 2006
I am getting extremely stressed... My new computer STILL doesn't work!!! After 1 month I get to install everything and all seems ok, I install everything correctly and basically the SOUND CARD (embedded) doesn't work!!! Only 1 channel is working (i.e. the left speaker on the stereo) and if I plug the jack into the old computer it all works perfectly... Now downloading YET more drivers, but I am NOT an happy bunny.. :(
Lox
- Tue Apr 11 09:25:10 2006
Dsp: Couldn't agree more, Steve is N.1 Spammer on this site... i have to say that the competition wasn't all that great, we have had SILICIUM sellers, PORN adverts and so on... Oh well!!
Lox
- Tue Apr 11 09:22:06 2006
Steve definately wins a prize for the most compelling spam advert I have ever read. His clever use of a problem targetting a site of geeky/techies is like showing me a red button I must not press. I have not pressed, and nor will I.
dsp
- Tue Apr 11 08:53:58 2006
Morning everyone. I say, those spammers are somewhat tedious... (mind you, I wouldn't be surprised if some amongst you consider me as a spammer too)
Sheri
- Tue Apr 11 07:22:55 2006
http://myblog.de/online-backgammon
href
PangwC9W
- Tue Apr 11 05:18:07 2006
http://myblog.de/online-backgammon
href
PangwEB6C3
- Tue Apr 11 05:18:01 2006
http://casino-one.tripod.com
href
PangRAz4x5
- Tue Apr 11 04:07:13 2006
http://casino-one.tripod.com
href
Pang3Rr
- Tue Apr 11 04:07:07 2006
Hi All. Help me please with my MSIE!
In my title bar instead of "Microsoft Internet Explorer" a title appears as an advertisement about a site i visited
"visit www.site353535.com and register for free". What can I do to restore my browser? And why on this site:
http://singles-sex-clubs.swingersdate.net (meet single woman)
I constantly see "cannot resolve host name"? Waiting for your reply.
Steve
- Tue Apr 11 03:37:10 2006
John: I would have done the same, incidentally I have finally brought back my new computer, and Windows started complaining about all the usual WDM shite... I PROTEST, and by the way it has been 6 months of work at MS and you haven't solved the IE problems YET!!! What do they pay you for!!!?!!??!?!
Lox
- Mon Apr 10 16:51:24 2006
Nice one! (lol etc.) Do you get it in the ear from Chie about DRM too?
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 10 15:15:30 2006
Chie just started up her PC, and it said to her "Windows has a serious error, please report to Microsoft". So she said "John...".
John
- Mon Apr 10 14:59:53 2006
Rob: no problem - glad you liked them! I thought my pictures were a bit random actually, but yea, I guess there are some nice moments captured in amongst all the gratuitous camel shots. The great thing about weddings these days is that of course loads of people have digital cameras, and the pictures are very easily shared. So I guess once you've merged together several people's you'll get a really good collection. Incidentally, let me know if you want higher res (1600x1200) versions of any of those pictures.
John
- Mon Apr 10 14:21:14 2006
Sheri: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4894544.stm
John
- Mon Apr 10 14:18:51 2006
Myspace is a bit different. See myspace dot com. Bleah. I know. Welcome back, Mr. Lang. Congrats again. I hope you got to see the People's Front of Judea's HQ. Sheri: if you can get me that short screenplay today, I can give you incredible feedback. I swear this to you. Lox, Rob, John all have my email address.
Travis
- Mon Apr 10 14:14:53 2006
John, what was that certain law about?
Sheri
- Mon Apr 10 14:12:45 2006
John, thanks for posting up your pictures from the wedding. They is beautiful. You've caught some diamond moments, there sir!
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 10 14:09:58 2006
Jimmy - thanks for pointing that out, it is bloody excellent news. That'll learn 'em - exactly the slap in the face those fascists at the home office need!
John
- Mon Apr 10 13:57:58 2006
Nigel, Rob. In short, I'd like to be able to copy the DVD's I'm renting, or those which belong to my friends. The point is, I'd like to get rid of all the rubbish which precedes the actual movie. You know, the adverts, the menu, etc... I know, I know, it's illegal, but, honestly, xxx it!
Sheri
- Mon Apr 10 13:39:02 2006
John- have you seen the news on the BBC site today? A certain law that has been pissing you off has just been chucked-out by the High Court on human rights grounds.
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 10 13:32:15 2006
Yes, I know what you mean, that certainly would make life easier!
Nigel
- Mon Apr 10 13:27:33 2006
Thanks Nigel. I'm still getting used to saying 'thanks' instead of 'Grazzi'. I wish English had a version of 'Prego' (no problem). It's such an easy word that is used everywhere!
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 10 13:24:40 2006
Oh, and welcome back Rob!! :)
Nigel
- Mon Apr 10 13:20:52 2006
Ah, well Sheri, that depends! Certainly Nero will copy DVD's - but if you mean copy DVD's which are copy-protected.... Well, there's plenty of software on the Internet that will do the job. As for watching and recording at the same time... Nope, not without some hardware help I'm pretty sure (John, Jimmy and Kev are the experts). I was able to do this using Hauppauge WinTV and one of their hardware capture cards... :)
Nigel
- Mon Apr 10 13:20:10 2006
Sheri: you can copy it to your hard disc and then burn it onto a new DVD. Of course, some modern DVDs have copy protection and that might make it difficult.
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 10 13:15:54 2006
More simply, how can I copy a DVD?
Sheri
- Mon Apr 10 13:13:36 2006
Well, Lox, I'm using this excellent Total Recorder software which allows me to record the radio programs I download from the BBC. Now, I'd like to do the same with DVD's, selecting and recording bits which interest me.
Sheri
- Mon Apr 10 13:11:34 2006
Rob: I will post my pictures soon (I hope), it was GREAT to see you and meet Kate fo