Hi all. I spent 2 hours searching in the network, until find your forum! I think, I shall stay here for a long time! --------------- in work we trust
aribamnm
Sun Sep 30 23:45:13 2007

Ha!!! (The photos)
Lox: Sounds like a Lady thing then... All men are evil etc etc etc... :(
Nigel
Sun Sep 30 23:14:33 2007

Nigel: It's a strange situation. I have asked those friends that I used to see every night with Marta, if she was still there up north and if I could send them the parcel. The husband Bogio said it was ok, but the it is clear that after speaking with Paola (wife) he then told me that it was better not to send it without Marta saying it was ok to do it.... I do not think that she refused the parcel, she probably wasn't home, but my friends do not want to take any "responsibility"... I think they are just being difficult.. Oh well...
Lox
Sun Sep 30 22:16:03 2007

Hawkins get everywhere - http://picasaweb.google.com/brainwiped/Standfastfest/photo#5116091600989116642
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 21:31:14 2007

Rob: Yep zips are good, for the new ones, the actual ones have already been downloaded one by one... (how many "ones" have I written in a sentence?!?!?), As for the bread picture it's quite great, conkers is a game that I MASTERED quite quickly as the "House Shocking News" report I won the tournament hands down (but still I love the game).... :D
Lox
Sun Sep 30 21:00:43 2007

Oh and I had totally forgotten that we'd taught you to play conkers. I think you were losing at the start but changed sides halfway through.... etc. Also, I thought you might like the picture of your bread.
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 20:56:24 2007

By mail... hmmm. I think it might be better for me to zip them up and put them on the maison as a single file. You can then download it in one lump. Sound good?
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 20:55:28 2007

Rob: Totally great will wait for the others, I have already downloaded them all! :) Do you think it's possible to send them by mail or anything like that?
Lox
Sun Sep 30 20:52:40 2007

Glad you like them. :-) I'll get round to scanning some of the beer spitting BBQ...
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 20:47:57 2007

Rob: I AM IN TEARS!!!!!!! The conker shot is GRAND! :D
Lox
Sun Sep 30 20:45:47 2007

It's been a long time coming but I've gone a bit mad with the scanner
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 20:35:51 2007

Upload upload upload. *CACKLE!*
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 20:20:51 2007

Yes, Lox, scan scan scan... you'll see. Yes you will. HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 19:54:22 2007

A real mystery, Lox...Why would Marta "not want to receive it" if the items were hers already? Hmmm....
Nigel
Sun Sep 30 19:24:02 2007

Rob: Scan?! Are you allright?
Lox
Sun Sep 30 19:07:07 2007

I have a little doubt... I sent a parcel to Marta, there were some clothes inside, something that she left here a long time ago... The parcel came back and I asked my friends if I could send it over to them so that they can hand it to Marta who apparently was not at home to collect it. They replied that I should get in touch with her before sending it as she might not want to receive it... This little thing is really driving me crazy, and I am puzzled whether I should get in touch or not... :(
Lox
Sun Sep 30 19:06:47 2007

Scan scan scan... ooooh... Lox .... scan scan scan .... hahaha! John! scan scan scan....
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 19:05:24 2007

John: It's probably a Sangiovese grape made in Emilia Romagna (near Reggio Emilia) and it's bound to be NASTY! :D
Lox
Sun Sep 30 19:04:47 2007

Scan scan scan...
Rob Lang
Sun Sep 30 18:58:00 2007

I also found a rather nice red wine at M&S which I am now gently quaffling whilst cooking tonight"s dinner. Reggiano Rosso - apparently it is a new appellation, whatever that means.
John
Sun Sep 30 17:59:46 2007

Have just scoured my local supermarket for English apples - there were a few, but not quite the plethora of interesting varieties I'd hoped for, and not a russet in sight! Maybe they come later in the season? Anyway in the end I gave up at Sainsbury's and went to Marks and Spencers round the corner, where I settled on a variety called "delbard" which I hadn't heard of before, grown in Herefordshire. Tried one just now, it was very good. I have forgotten how much I love apples.
John
Sun Sep 30 17:01:20 2007

Speaking as one who officially retires next Saturday, I haven't a clue what you are talking about ...
John's Mum
Sun Sep 30 16:23:07 2007

No problem Lox - I well understand how business trips can be unavoidable some times.
John
Sun Sep 30 15:31:13 2007

John, JM: I am really terribly sorry, I was hoping that things were organized differently, but this trip seems a "must do" especially because I have just started and they need to show me the faces and the hows of this new job... I am really sorry, I hope that there will be another chance, I really wanted to meet Mary, it has bee so long since we last met.. .:(
Lox
Sun Sep 30 14:18:12 2007

Lox: ok well never mind then - at least I know now before I booked anything!
Mum: I'll have a think about it then... Maybe it is a bit daft to travel all that distance for just one day! If Chie was able to get the time off it might be different - we could spend another couple of nights somewhere en route and make it into a holiday... but I'm no good at travelling around by myself.
John
Sun Sep 30 10:12:35 2007

Lox: Oh what a pity, it's years since we met. John: If you want to alter your plans, I don't mind as I'll be in London end of Oct. Alternatively, you could have a fun holiday following the cruise liner up the coast on land!
John's Mum
Sun Sep 30 09:40:42 2007

John: Unfortunately it seems that I will be leaving for Asia during that weekend. I am sorry it seems an old nightmare (when I came to Japan and you were going to the USA) coming back!
Lox
Sat Sep 29 23:54:45 2007

Lox: I guess you're still none the wiser about whether or not you'll be free in the week beginning October 8th...? I have been looking at trains etc today, and I'm currently considering spending three nights in Italy (Monday the 8th in Milan, then Tue 9th and Wed 10th in Florence) so that I can meet up with Mum in Livorno on the 10th... but it's very hard to make a decision and actually book anything! If you do end up being around that week, then I'd probably like to extend my trip a bit to make the most of it, but if you end up not being there I know from past experience of attempting to go on holiday alone that I'll get bored very quickly by myself so would rather keep it short...
John
Sat Sep 29 17:13:51 2007

Hi chaps!
Well I've just been for a walk - as it happens just to Saisnsbury's to get some milk... Now I usually offer: "Anyone want to come for a walk?"; there is then a chorus of "Ooooh! Where?" I then say something boring (like the above) and am suddenly alone in my endeavour!! This way I get an hour or so of solitary contemplation (with a tiny horrible bit in the middle, I agree!)
Nigel
Sat Sep 29 16:36:48 2007

Sheri: Please explain MORE, now you got me totally curious!! :D
Lox
Sat Sep 29 16:14:24 2007

Hmmm... I'm actually a bit bored. I'm in that familiar state of weekend afternoon limbo where at the moment Chie is not making any particular noises about going out or anything, but I have a feeling she'll suddenly get bored any moment now and then suddenly demand I stop messing around on the computer and go somewhere. So I'm ending up just wasting time - I would do something more constructive, like writing some software perhaps, but it is really frustrating when I just get stuck into something like that and then suddenly get dragged away.
John
Sat Sep 29 15:39:02 2007

Nothing much, Lox. As I said, I decided to delete my last entry. I will replace it with another one. Comments were taking a wrong turn.
Sheri
Sat Sep 29 14:57:43 2007

Good morning Nigel! Yes, pretty gloomy here too... and it rained quite a lot overnight - it was so loud it woke me up (I think this has something to do with how our window sill juts out, and catches all the rain dripping off the roof)
John
Sat Sep 29 09:50:55 2007

Morning all!! Ahh!!! Dark and gloomy here!!!! :D Must be England!!
Nigel
Sat Sep 29 09:11:51 2007

Sheri: I didn't see the comments, I see that there is a blank entry... what happened?
Lox
Fri Sep 28 23:48:01 2007

Going to bedfordshire. Night-night.
Sheri
Fri Sep 28 23:15:02 2007

'k, Got it. Decided to delete my last entry. Will write a new one tomorrow. Will talk to you via Skype over the WE.
Sheri
Fri Sep 28 23:13:24 2007

Oh... It went about 15-minutes ago... If it hasn't arrived soon, I'll resend it!
All is quiet here now - just enjoying the silence of late evening...
Nigel
Fri Sep 28 22:59:48 2007

Sorry, I meant 'Nigel', not 'sheri'
Sheri
Fri Sep 28 22:48:06 2007

Sheri. That's odd. I didn't get it.
Sheri
Fri Sep 28 22:47:34 2007

Evening Sheri...
Yes, I just read it ... Very strange ... Actually I sent you an email about it ...
I feel the need for a stiff drink!! :)
Nigel
Fri Sep 28 22:40:55 2007

Lox, Nigel. Please read the comments to my last entry. I think I'll erase the whole lot. It's getting insane. What d'you reckon ?
Sheri
Fri Sep 28 22:18:05 2007

LOL LOL !!!!! :D
Nigel
Fri Sep 28 16:09:36 2007

Mmmm... hot wife!
Jimmy
Fri Sep 28 14:36:03 2007

MMMMMM. Freshly baked apple pie!
tom
Fri Sep 28 14:23:51 2007

Mmmm... cheese burger.
dsp
Fri Sep 28 13:13:00 2007

Seasonal fruits? I thought that strawberries and all vegetables grew all year 'round... ;D
Lox
Fri Sep 28 12:51:07 2007

Ah, the good old days of "seasonal fruit" !! :D How the world has changed...!
Nigel
Fri Sep 28 12:38:23 2007

("see good morning" should be "say good morning")
John
Fri Sep 28 12:24:09 2007

Was going to see good morning, but I appear to have missed that... Anyway, apples! Yes, we're right in the middle of British apple season now, so I heartily advise you all go and find a farmer's market or something near where you are and buy some of the world's greatest fruit.
John
Fri Sep 28 12:23:44 2007

Weather is shite, in italian we would say that it's so bad that makes you BARK. (Tempo da abbaiare)
Lox
Fri Sep 28 11:21:14 2007

'ello y'awl.
tom
Fri Sep 28 10:39:51 2007

Morning everyone!
dsp
Fri Sep 28 09:42:16 2007

Morning All
Kev
Fri Sep 28 08:43:49 2007

Morning Maisoneers!! :)
Nigel
Fri Sep 28 07:31:28 2007

morning....
Lox
Fri Sep 28 07:19:16 2007

I like mint jelly!
Lox
Thu Sep 27 18:14:10 2007

Mint jelly doesn't sound very appealing to me. Sorry to disappoint.
Travis
Thu Sep 27 17:48:21 2007

Mint jelly is made by boiling water, sugar and mint until set - like jam. Often with a neutral base of apple, which contains pectin, a natural setting agent, or lemon juice. No gelatine is involved therefore John can eat it.
John's Mum
Thu Sep 27 15:48:30 2007

John: Or some king of "Jelly" if a "Jolly" is out of the question? (Veggie jelly is so runny though isn't it?)
tom
Thu Sep 27 15:36:20 2007

Sleep required.
tom
Thu Sep 27 15:35:39 2007

John: Well I should demand some kind of "Jolly" if I were you - explain you wish to join the celebrations etc...!! :D
Nigel
Thu Sep 27 12:37:53 2007

We'll have no mint related elitism around here thanks very much. Not all of us have gardens!
John
Thu Sep 27 10:40:09 2007

None of the stuff in jars bears any resemblance to fresh mint from the garden.
Tim's mum
Thu Sep 27 10:08:56 2007

(and by the way Nigel, I haven't heard of any celebrations - there could be something going on in the US, but here in the UK it is very much business as usual)
John
Thu Sep 27 09:48:51 2007

I like regular mint sauce, in fact I had some just the other day on some carrots. Mint jelly, however, I haven't seen for some time... but I have eaten it in the past, so I believe that description is in fact accurate, for me at least.
John
Thu Sep 27 09:45:00 2007

Morning All
Kev
Thu Sep 27 09:29:51 2007

Hmmm... Mint jelly is not my favourite, Sheri :( Not even Lamb if I'm honest...
Nigel
Thu Sep 27 08:54:14 2007

Oh OK I get it now. :)
John
Thu Sep 27 08:36:13 2007

Why would that be Nigel?
John
Thu Sep 27 08:26:49 2007

Morning mint jelly eaters ! Morning Lox.
Sheri
Thu Sep 27 07:25:35 2007

Morning all!!
So John, any celebrations going on there at work?
Nigel
Thu Sep 27 06:58:59 2007

John: Windows?
Lox
Wed Sep 26 21:59:53 2007

Firewalls are interesting beasts aren't they? I mean, how many other pieces of software have the goal of actually reducing overall functionality?
John
Wed Sep 26 18:42:33 2007

Tom - Your SQL sucks! Go and configure a firewall.
dsp
Wed Sep 26 16:28:59 2007

Shame, Lox, that you're looking now. I sold my '89 Dodge with 180,000 miles on it just two months ago. It was my baby. It was sad, but it wouldn't make the cross country trek.
Travis
Wed Sep 26 16:06:22 2007

0 rows returned.
tom
Wed Sep 26 15:55:05 2007

SELECT * from "Likes_writing_SQL" ORDER by "Works_for_Google";
tom
Wed Sep 26 15:54:51 2007

By a cruel twist of fate I find myself writing SQL and I have really lost the will to live. I don't think I want to be a software engineer anymore.
John
Wed Sep 26 15:40:00 2007

Nigel: there was some much to do in our flat that I couldn't spend much time on the internet anyway. The only drawback is that I could no longer download kinky pics.
Sheri
Wed Sep 26 15:21:39 2007

John: "Manage without it" ?! You ?! Have you been abducted and brainwashed by aliens ? Are you ill ?! I hope you don't suffer from some kind of depression...
Sheri
Wed Sep 26 15:13:43 2007

Exactly. Personal life is easy. What about work? (I'm guessing John will have difficult doing without the Internet at work...!)
tom
Wed Sep 26 15:08:21 2007

When I went to Scotland I started off feeling compelled to use my mobile to check stuff on the Interweb, but then after a couple of days I just sort of got out of the habit, and once I got to Islay I couldn't really get a signal anyway. I think if you have something else to occupy your time with (e.g. a holiday), and you don't have any pressing need to do on the web (like work, for example) then it is actually quite easy to manage without it.
John
Wed Sep 26 14:41:42 2007

Hmm. Not me, Tom. I can manage without TV though. However Sheri has been struggling with the Internet lately... How was it Sheri?
Nigel.
Wed Sep 26 14:05:43 2007

Do you think you could cope without the Internet for three days? I'm not sure that I can in my work life, but personal life would be easy: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7013009.stm
tom
Wed Sep 26 13:52:21 2007

Sheri.... LOL! I've been in France for the last few days..
tom
Wed Sep 26 12:58:46 2007

Nigel: Exactly.
tom
Wed Sep 26 12:57:41 2007

No "family" seats in that one Tom!!! :D
Nigel
Wed Sep 26 12:51:52 2007

Tom. What kind of language is that ? Hold your tongue, would you ?! (Speaking French...!!! what next ?!!!)
Sheri ze Frog
Wed Sep 26 11:36:53 2007

Next car for me will probably be a Honda S2000...
tom
Wed Sep 26 10:41:07 2007

Bonjour, tout le monde!
tom
Wed Sep 26 10:36:50 2007

I say "Good Move" Jimmy! I think Rob might have a tiny Toyota... (?) I have a rather large Toyota myself, and despite that, it returns a very good MPG, is as green as a big car can be and as reliable as.. well, a really reliable thing... :)
Nigel
Wed Sep 26 09:59:42 2007

A friend of mine recently bought a Toyota Aygo, and he says it's absolutely brilliant. It only has 3 cylinders so it's relatively green, very cheap to fuel, and very very cheap to tax (in the UK anyway). With four of us sat in it, (and despite the low cylinder-count) the engine was able to accelerate us quite respectably. I'm probably going to buy a small car next year, and am giving serious thought to the Aygo. Prices range from about 7k-9k. I've just read the Parker's review of it, and it get a pretty serious thumbs-up.
Jimmy
Wed Sep 26 09:34:46 2007

Morning!! :D
Why does that not surprise me, Lox!! :((
As for the car, how about a SMART? OK, not hybrid but it makes some kind of statement! And they do some sporty ones too... Don't worry about carrying passengers... There is only one that matters!! :D
Nigel
Wed Sep 26 08:52:08 2007

Actually I do not even know my financial situation... Insurance companies have not paid anything yet... :(
Lox
Wed Sep 26 07:04:32 2007

"a" (damn!)
B. G.
Wed Sep 26 06:59:31 2007

I, I have an personal helicopter. No car needed.
Bill gates
Wed Sep 26 06:58:58 2007

Lox: I don't know your financial situation, but my father-in-law has a Prius. It's a hybrid and it's nice-looking.
Travis
Wed Sep 26 03:07:32 2007

They have an hybrid version!! :D I was looking for something like that...
Lox
Tue Sep 25 22:15:28 2007

LOL !!!
Nigel
Tue Sep 25 21:57:39 2007

I even looked at the Lada site....... :D!!!
Lox
Tue Sep 25 21:38:15 2007

A Lada... or a Trabant !
Sheri
Tue Sep 25 21:21:53 2007

I am still without a decent car... now I am looking for a new one, considering that Golfs are now taboo what do you think I should look for? I'd love an hybrid but they all look like shite... :(
Lox
Tue Sep 25 21:19:45 2007

Hmmm, no - it's the first I've heard of it!
John
Tue Sep 25 15:57:38 2007

You will be pleased to know we have survived the eleven mini-tornadoes that swept through our part of the East Midlands on Sunday night. Some trees down and roofs gone only about 5 miles away - doubt it even got reported on the National News!
John's Mum
Tue Sep 25 15:20:29 2007

niiiiiice ....
Jimmy
Tue Sep 25 09:49:44 2007

An office fan is a good idea as it enables you to direct a movement of air in your direction. great in an otherwise airless office. BAD though when someone with BO continually stands infront of it to cool themselves down... :(((((
Nigel
Tue Sep 25 09:23:15 2007

Incidentally, I'm commentator for a paper at the Florida State University Philosophy Graduate Student Conference (2nd annual...I was presenter at last year's). The paper I'm commenting on is "Dreams and Imagination", which challenges the suggestion that dreams (necessarily?) provide false beliefs. I don't know how novel the thesis is, but it's probably (mostly) true. This occurs Saturday.
Travis
Tue Sep 25 00:06:46 2007

Jimmy: I'm not saying that money is (logically) maxed out. It may be realistically maxed out, however. My point was that people are well aware of diseases that face so many and those who will give have given. This technological avenue might be what is needed to spur on more giving. That's my point.
Travis
Tue Sep 25 00:05:14 2007

I think a more telling link is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6908946.stm This gives a much more realistic overview than the presentation. For example the real aims and the current cost.
The language issues raised by Tom and Kev are still very valid, but I know very little of the common languages used in the target countries so maybe this is a minor point(?). And crucially, the network is fully controlled at the main node of the "mesh network" so may not be an Internet connection at all, just a school server.
It's a wonderful idea. I hope it can work and not be a huge waste of a poor government's money.
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 22:13:44 2007

The last thing the world needs is the Third World sitting inside getting fat playing computer games!
tom
Mon Sep 24 21:47:06 2007

Bloody hell you're a cynical bunch.
John
Mon Sep 24 21:32:39 2007

and does this $100 cover the tech support for when it will inevitably break?
Kev
Mon Sep 24 20:45:47 2007

.. and in English ???
Kev
Mon Sep 24 20:15:27 2007

Are they going to be able to use these computers before they have learned to read?
tom
Mon Sep 24 18:19:27 2007

:)
I'm actually impressed if the makers can get a graphic Linux and all that software (Firefox, a PDF reader etc) in to a 1GB storage space, and run it in 256MB using 433mhz, plus offer all that connectivity and video. I suddenly wonder if I've been suckered into paing too much for all my hi-tech gizmos!! ;)
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 16:12:27 2007

Yes, the idea is that charities and governments provide them.
John
Mon Sep 24 15:51:18 2007

Yes, that's a good point... Who is paying $100 per laptop? A subsistence farmer? Robert M.? Live Aid? The latter's water projects are marvellous proof of a low-tech solution to a widespread problem. OK, there are peoples just one step above base level. But I wouldn't feel comfortable making any poor person pay $100 out of the very little they have just for a PC. Their priorities are probably elswhere. If charities are supplying them...?
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 15:47:27 2007

Money for disease prevention isn't maxed-out at all, but that's quite a different issue. OK, so it's a good thing that people can use on-line resources, and communicate with the outside world. But *how* good? Is it really so good that it's the best way to spend $100 on each child? That is a hell of a lot of money!
Jimmy
Mon Sep 24 15:11:59 2007

Computers or disease prevention...well, I guess disease prevention is the nobler and more beneficial of the two causes, but let me raise two issues. First, if you're not one of us spoiled by technology, a computer might really be used for knowledge acquisition as opposed to wasting time. Second, I assume that receiving money for disease prevention is pretty much maxed-out. Computers and Internet for the masses is a situation that some wealthy people can get behind, it seems.
Travis
Mon Sep 24 14:37:41 2007

Ha! I would think that for a moment Jimmy (though that could, I realise, sound like a double-edged sword!!).

You know, despite mis-givings, I really hope the $100 laptop works. If for no other reason it proves that throwing technology at a problem does, really, help solve it. Maybe then people will be able to learn more effectively the causes of disease and it's propagation. Learn how to handle unacustomed rainfall in a drought area. Learn how not to victimise and torture... As long as we in the west don't simply use it as a wedge in the door of forcing poor people to buy some expensive infrastructure to run all this "free" IT... then it is a GOOD THING!! :)
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 14:32:08 2007

Buying computers for these kids could well be a cheaper and more practical solution than stocking a library for them. Possibly the reason your school didn't rely that much on computers was because (A) you had other resources like books and well trained teachers and (B) let's face it computers didn't seem all that important 20 or 30 years ago, and there was no internet to speak of, so you only had access to whatever information you could fit on a floppy disk (or reel of tape or punch card or whatever). Sure, where people are dying from disease and malnutrition there are more important things on their minds than reading about monotremes on wikipedia. However there are also billions of people in the world who are just about getting by in terms of basic human requirements like food and shelter, but are still very poor and have very restricted opportunities for education, and to communicate with the outside world.
John
Mon Sep 24 14:30:34 2007

... or course, you could always say that I'm the perfect example of somebody who's failed to reach his potential ...
Jimmy
Mon Sep 24 14:09:59 2007

Nigel, I think you're right, but that's not quite my point (which I seem to be making badly). Basically it's this: if these kids aren't reaching their potential, it's probably not due to a lack of computers. During my educational years (in the dim and distant past) the only class that required a computer was .. computing! And that was an optional class, and I only took it because I found I had a (minor) aptitude for the stuff. Pleny of kids around me who knew nothing of computers, seemed to be getting a perfectly good education, and looked perfectly likely to reach their potiential. So that's why I'm struggling to see an actual *human* benefit to selling millions of computers to children who live in countries with fundamentally poor education systems. I'm not for one moment saying "Their educaiton systems are bad so we shouldn't bother to help", more that I don't think it's the most effective way to help. Maybe disease prevention sould come further up the list than electronic gadgets.
Jimmy
Mon Sep 24 13:55:38 2007

I'm dithering myself because I can see both sides to this discussion. John is right - there are many people with untapped potential... But as Jimmy says this is a Western view foisted on a different belief system. As an example I recently bought an AlphaSmart 2000. These are education-aimed word-processor keyboards. Not full computers. I bought mine as surplus from the US for £10. It had been languishing on a school shelf for over five years. Thing is, it was totally unused; brand new. I doubt a school child had seen it, let alone used it. And it probably cost £100 even in bulk to the schools authority. Great idea, yes, but it didn't work in practise. This is not to say it isn't worth trying, just that even within a western environment the idea foundered.
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 13:42:19 2007

True enough, but will computers help? Will owning a computer really give them a better chance in life? How does a child really benefit from owning such a machine? I don't see any obvious connection betwwen owning a computer and having a better life. As I said, if there is a genuine human benefit, then fair enough ... I just don't see a very great benefit. In this country, our schools are stuffed with computers, but I think you'd struggle to make a convincing argument that they have improved educational standards!
Jimmy
Mon Sep 24 13:40:37 2007

It's about giving these people significantly better opportunities for education and communication, and I think this can really make a difference there. I'm pretty sure the distribution of intelligence around the world is even, it's just the opportunity to make use of it that varies. Most of our famous geniuses come from highly developed countries which actually only represent a small fraction of the overall world's population. So the natural conclusion of this is that we have lost many more potential geniuses in under-developed countries, where those people who might have contributed something amazing to the world spent their life struggling to make a living as a subsistence farmer, with no outlet to expand or share their great ideas.
John
Mon Sep 24 13:24:34 2007

I have my doubts about the project. If real human benefits can come from it, then fair enough ... but I'm suspicious that it's computers for computers' sake. Our society is full or electronic gadgets, and I really don't feel that they make anyone happier. Do we really want to thrust this techno-foolery onto the rest of the world?
Jimmy
Mon Sep 24 12:35:42 2007

The solution is to make it ubiquitous. If everyone has one, then there will be no point in stealing them or anything. Obviously that is a very ambitious and long term goal, but still I feel quite optimistic about the project.
John
Mon Sep 24 12:14:50 2007

Yes, I noticed the camera/microphone combo - quite surprising considering the 433mhz CPU. However I hope it can all work... It's not the technology I actually worry about, more local political machinations... Backhanders... Infrastructure, i.e getting the devices where they can be most use...
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 11:50:31 2007

Well I think one mile is the extreme case - I imagine the sorts of typical use cases will be kids within a school, or perhaps a village. I imagine the bandwidth is going to be an absolute dribble once you've got a handful of people sharing the connection, but a lot of the most valuable applications of the Internet (email and predominantly textual sites like wikipedia) can work quite well on a dribble. Plus I think the software supports communication and sharing just within these networks, and there are application where networking is still useful without any internet connection - for example, the laptops have microphones and cameras built in, I think, so they can act as mobile phones.
John
Mon Sep 24 11:02:24 2007

Do you mean "fantastic" in the literal sense, John? I agree it's a laudible idea - I just wonder if it will work in practice. 50-quid isn't much for a heck of a lot of technology. And if the networking is all peer-to-peer, how many can be online at once and what power output does each lappy have? You need a lot of power for one-mile tx/rx... Or am I missing something?
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 10:29:52 2007

Has anyone else read this article about the $100 laptop? Isn't it fantastic? I particularly love the networking model - they've got long range wireless networking antennae, and they share internet connections automatically. So if kid A is at a school where they have a fixed internet connection, theoretically kid B could be sharing that connection from up to a mile away, and kid C could be up to a mile away from kid B and still get connected. On top of that they can be charged up by solar power or even pedal power. It's a fabulous application of technology for a very noble cause, and I couldn't approve more.
John
Mon Sep 24 10:05:53 2007

It's also very quiet here in the office this morning - it is definitely a Sunday isn't it?
John
Mon Sep 24 09:48:00 2007

Same here, John... Except as I write, the sun is now shining!! (for how long though...?)
Nigel
Mon Sep 24 09:46:59 2007

What a miserable day it is here in London. Even though I had an umbrella I still managed to get decidedly damp on my way into work this morning.
John
Mon Sep 24 09:32:42 2007

Morning All! Alas Kev no fear of me overdoing it where Port Ellen is involved, I stuck to a very moderate dribble.
John
Mon Sep 24 08:07:43 2007

Morning All
Kev
Mon Sep 24 08:03:36 2007

John: I bet it is! :D
Lox
Sun Sep 23 23:21:34 2007

dont drink too much of that port ellen john or you will be "WFH" tomorrow ;)
kev
Sun Sep 23 22:52:42 2007

I bet my bottle is more expensive than yours Lox.
John
Sun Sep 23 20:51:50 2007

Me and Chiara are enjoying a very expensive bottle of Passito di Pantelleria, that we bought in Sicily, lovely sweet white wine, quite similar to Sauternes but more round and honey/fruity...
Lox
Sun Sep 23 20:20:31 2007

...and now whisky seems more appropriate - Chie and I are quite loving the most recent bottle of Port Ellen, which is coincidentally the most expensive bottle of anything I have ever bought!
John
Sun Sep 23 19:45:13 2007

I say!! Good idea, old chap!! I think I'll join you... :D
Nigel
Sun Sep 23 16:46:45 2007

It is quite a pleasant afternoon here in London for the time of year - methinks a gin and tonic is called for!
John
Sun Sep 23 16:28:39 2007

Back at home now after our stint at babysitting. Had to wake up a couple of hours earlier than we normally would on a Sunday morning, but other than that no great hardship!
John
Sun Sep 23 16:25:35 2007

Morning!! :)
Nigel
Sun Sep 23 11:13:10 2007

Too kind, John. I appreciate whatever you can do, but I've been managing...when I've been posting. School has been so time consuming of late it's quite ridiculous.
Travis
Sun Sep 23 00:50:01 2007

ooh... ooh. Controversial!!!!! !!!!!
Nigel
Sat Sep 22 21:43:41 2007

Well, the kids are all in bed and mostly asleep, so far it has all gone very smoothly. We even changed a couple of nappies. Don't know what all of the fuss is about, it's hardly brain surgery!
John
Sat Sep 22 21:17:15 2007

Test myfunction comment
TestName
Sat Sep 22 19:01:13 2007

Test myfunction comment
TestName
Sat Sep 22 19:01:06 2007

Good afternoon all!!
Thanks Lox!! Nudge-nudge-wink-wink!!
Been taking it easy today (as easy as you can with two energetic kids!) 'cause of a hurting back... :( I feel a film/DVD tonight might be in order...
Nigel
Sat Sep 22 17:02:26 2007

Right, I'm going off to my brother's house to babysit for my nephews and niece - so will be offline until sometime tomorrow... Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!
John
Sat Sep 22 13:44:47 2007

Sheri/Travis: I *think* I have finally got around to fixing that double posting problem. I'll see if I can add something to delete (well, it will probably be more like "hide" for technical reasons) all of those additional spurious entries you have built up... but it probably won't be today.
John
Sat Sep 22 12:57:33 2007

Welllllll, better if I send you an email... :P
Lox
Sat Sep 22 10:35:05 2007

Good morning Lox! Ah, it's no big deal... So, any idea yet on where you might be in the week beginning 8th October?
John
Sat Sep 22 10:24:56 2007

I see that the board has been under attack from several spammers recently...
Lox
Sat Sep 22 09:31:51 2007

Bienvenue etc Lox!
John
Fri Sep 21 23:19:07 2007

I am back from Paris finally!! !:D
Lox
Fri Sep 21 22:40:54 2007

Quiet today, isn't it?
John
Fri Sep 21 21:13:51 2007

Right then, I suppose it is now officially the weekend.
John
Fri Sep 21 17:40:03 2007

I somebody developing a new spambot? That will make the world a better place. (read that last part with extreme sarcasm and bitterness)
John
Fri Sep 21 13:41:41 2007

Test myfunction comment
TestName
Fri Sep 21 13:03:13 2007

Test myfunction comment
TestName
Fri Sep 21 13:03:00 2007

Morning..... ! :D
John: I remember back in the 80's David Lee Roth had something similar for a video, called: "Dave TV". A pointless remark but non the less appropriate!! :D :D
Nigel
Fri Sep 21 11:55:36 2007

Genius - there is going to be a TV channel called "Dave".
John
Fri Sep 21 11:11:47 2007

That message is pretty borderline as to whether it is one of those bafflingly pointless spam messages which doesn't appear to advertise anything, or actually a real person.
John
Fri Sep 21 10:46:24 2007

So I was off work and surfing and found this place and thought I would join up. I don't have much more to say right now except I need to start reading some of the older posts to get up to speed before I can start posting. Em
ememjammer
Fri Sep 21 10:44:17 2007

That probably proves my point, all too lethargic to respond.
John
Fri Sep 21 10:25:20 2007

Morning all. Is anyone else feeling thoroughly lethargic and generally dreary this week? Is it something to do with the change of seasons perhaps?
John
Fri Sep 21 09:19:19 2007

Morning All
Kev
Fri Sep 21 08:12:45 2007

I've been neglecting you, maison. My apologies.
Travis
Fri Sep 21 00:53:32 2007

Actually, Mum, please tell Cyberdad that I've just got Sawyer's Transport Tycoon to run on my laptop, Windows XP. A lot of the problems (like screen size) have beem fixed in the open source version of it. It's really good! :-)
Rob Lang
Thu Sep 20 14:21:35 2007

Mum, stop using the net and get back to your shuttleboard.
Rob Lang
Thu Sep 20 10:40:26 2007

Morning campers! MM: Hope you have a good trip. It sounds exciting!
Tim's mum
Thu Sep 20 09:09:59 2007

Morning All
Kev
Thu Sep 20 08:34:41 2007

AT SEA. Hi everyone. Having a lovely holiday, posting from the middle of the Atlantic. Cadiz tomorrow.
Mad Mumsie
Wed Sep 19 23:10:35 2007

What I would like Google to do is make their notebook mobile. I love the notebook and would love to get at my notes on the move. All I need now is someone in the firm who might be able to suggest it... if it's not already happening...
Rob Lang
Wed Sep 19 16:09:32 2007

Jimmy: let's not forget to put all our early worms in one basket given that a stitch in time prevents the kettle from being black.
John
Wed Sep 19 13:41:16 2007

Nige, learning from your mistakes is all well and good if you can identify the past as a mistake. I think many in China would argue that the benefit of industrialisation and the cultural benefits it holds far outweighs the environmental cost and only time will tell if they're right.
Rob Lang
Wed Sep 19 13:34:58 2007

Let's grasp the bull by the nettle, and roll some heads on thin ice. Perhaps we can even chuck some stones at people who live in glass houses ?
Jimmy
Wed Sep 19 12:41:27 2007

OK maybe "setting a good example" does sound a bit condescending, but in the absence of being able to force someone else to do things your way, then trying to do the right thing yourself, and hoping that the other guy will eventually see the light is the only option you are left with. I'm certainly no expert on the complexities of climate and how various chemicals affect it, but approaching modern consumption with a moderate attitude seems like a good idea no matter what. Being wasteful and ignorant to the consequences of your actions cannot be a good thing. It is a simple idea that stems from Buddhism, which, ironically (or fittingly), was at one time the most widespread system of belief in China.
John
Wed Sep 19 12:39:16 2007

It's an interesting set of points you make there Rob.
People have become rather too focussed on the CO2 argument (because it is, let's face it, politically expedient) at the cost of the much more harmful pollutants. CO2 is actually a pretty natural stuff - too much is bad for global temperatures as far as we're concerned, I know, not necessarily for other organisms though. Harmful chemicals and compounds cause more horrifying and debilitating problems, directly.
Having said that, doing *something*, whatever it might be, is still GOOD. Where I diverge a little from the point about cultural arrogance, is that I believe we *should* have learned from our past mistakes and be able to impart that knowledge to others. Knowledge is, after all, power...
Nigel
Wed Sep 19 12:35:07 2007

John I fo empathise with your position but saying that you're setting a good example is a bit arrogant. We should do it because we have a moral responsibility to do what we think is right, not to show the intellectually/morally bankrupt east how to do things. It's not quite what you're saying but it's a dangerous path. I've heard it come out of the mouths of politicians who assume that because we've already "had" our industrial revolution, we're somehow more advanced.

Furthermore, our industrial revolution served a population of around 20 million. The impact of CO2 from that activity (which was more to do with carbon pollution into the near-atmosphere, not greenhouse gasses in the outer atmos) is a drop in the ocean compared to the 1.3 billion population of China today. The damage we have done is mostly since the 1920s when electricity generation and the motor car took off.

If it makes you feel better, though, then it can only be a good thing. Releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere is not good but linking it directly to the climate change we're seeing assume the Earth's geo/ecosystem is far more simple than it actually is.
Rob Lang
Wed Sep 19 11:57:08 2007

Kev - an excellent idea. Put a ladder up the side of these chimneys, and space travel could be made more cost effective too.
John
Wed Sep 19 11:41:16 2007

Clearly the answer is to make very tall chimneys.
Kev
Wed Sep 19 11:36:39 2007

Yes, I feel if we sent all the hydrocarbons and CO2 to the moon, eventually it would warm up and, having many building-blocks for life, hey, we might create another species - given time. Once it has evolved we could then enslave it and force it to provide us with food and fuel. If they ever get shirty about this then we just have to tell them to be grateful they exist at all!!! That should do it!
Nigel
Wed Sep 19 11:30:37 2007

...or store it in the moon? I feel the moon is not really giving us much return on investment at present.
John
Wed Sep 19 10:38:18 2007

Alternatively, is there not some way on earth to just contain the smoke coming from fossil fuel power stations, perhaps condense it, and then pack it away somewhere in neat blocks?
John
Wed Sep 19 10:37:32 2007

If only space travel were not in itself a huge energy burden, then we could just do all our fossil fuel burning on the moon, where presumably it doesn't matter how much CO2 we pump out into the atmosphere, because there isn't really one to speak of, and even if that does bring about a change of climate on the moon - who cares? I guess then there's just the small issue of how you generate oxygen in the first place to allow things burn. Hmmmm.
John
Wed Sep 19 10:20:59 2007

I agree with you totally John. This also applies to the "Rain Forest" brigade. The proponents seem to forget that we became the industrial power we are (Ok "were") precisely by destroying all our own forests and environment. The hypocracy, for me, taints the arguments; understandable though they are. We would be wise to turn our technology to the problems and show that advancement can be achieved in a responsible way.
Nigel
Wed Sep 19 10:06:30 2007

I really don't like the "oh why bother, China are building 8 power stations a minute" argument - first of all it promotes lethargy, which is never a good thing. It's also passing the buck, trying to imply this whole global warming thing is their fault, not ours. China have only started this heavy industrialisation fairly recently - we here in the West were already doing a very good job of ruining the planet before they ever came along. Finally it is the sort of thing you find in the Daily Mail, which ought to be an instant warning sign in itself. I think we probably do have a rough patch to go through - China want to modernise, and it probably will be very difficult to stop them doing that in the easiest possible way - i.e. the way we did it here in the West throughout the 20th century. In the meantime we ought to be setting the best possible example here in the West, so when the Chinese people's quality of life actually improves to the point where they feel like the planet is worth saving after all, then we can give them a hand replacing their coal and oil fired power stations with the radical new form of ant based electricity generation that we've devised.
John
Wed Sep 19 09:48:28 2007

I just did a 14 hour day.
Rob Lang
Wed Sep 19 09:42:38 2007

Let's not get too gloomy over the whole thing chaps - my company are thinking big: huge solar arrays, electric cars, super efficient cooling for large computing resources. We've committed to being carbon neutral by the end of the year. Obviously that is only one company, but I think it makes a point, and hopefully others will follow.
John
Wed Sep 19 09:41:21 2007

Kev: I totally agree - Rob - you need to get away from Reading for a while!
John
Wed Sep 19 09:36:06 2007

Rob: Yeah. Replacing all my lightbulbs, trying to drive more efficiently, using trains (like the Eurostar today...)... and it's a tiny, tiny, tiny drop in the ocean. :-(
tom
Wed Sep 19 09:13:55 2007

Morning All
Kev
Wed Sep 19 08:16:23 2007

I think Rob needd to go and live in some countryside, cities and large towns are just depressing. I am lucky that I see the expanse of the North Sea every day on my travels. Open space is somehow good for the soul. Cant explain - just is.
Kev
Tue Sep 18 22:44:54 2007

Have just got back home. Rob - you seem all very doom and gloom today, is everything ok?
John
Tue Sep 18 22:16:36 2007

John, Good job your carbon footprint reduced that little bit. Now you just have to stop China building 2 hydrocarbon power plants a week...
Rob Lang
Tue Sep 18 20:09:17 2007

Well I'm back in the uk now. Holyhead has to be a strong contender for the most depressing town in the country. I've only got to wait about an hour here, but it is seriously sapping my will to live. Oh and I'll have to change at Crewe en route. I'm not sure I can bear it!
John
Tue Sep 18 17:14:26 2007

tom- I recently bought a bigger matress. I thoroughly recommend the experience (even though I don't keep money in it).
Jimmy
Tue Sep 18 17:12:47 2007

You're not alone. Neither do Northern Rock shareholders.
tom
Tue Sep 18 17:08:36 2007

I have no money.
Nigel
Tue Sep 18 17:05:40 2007

Buy gold and get yourself down to the dentists.
Kev
Tue Sep 18 16:38:40 2007

Which scares the shit out of me! I'm buying a bigger mattress I think...
tom
Tue Sep 18 16:20:59 2007

John, it's a nice idea but I think you'll find that all the banks rely on each other. That's why the BoE are worried that if one goes, it might be a house of cards. It's also why none of them truly know their risk exposure.
Rob Lang
Tue Sep 18 14:58:48 2007

TM: I must confess I had to read the captions :(
Jimmy
Tue Sep 18 13:28:41 2007

Right, well while you lot spend the afternoon stealing my great idea and becoming instant millionaires, I'm off to catch a ferry. Next post will be from the UK...
John
Tue Sep 18 13:23:35 2007

Interesting idea John. Perhaps the Banks could also use eggsinonebasket.com to identify To depositors which banks were inter-related and therfore offer betting returns, since you have your eggs all in one basket, but are supporting one bank in particular.
Kev
Tue Sep 18 13:06:38 2007

You could monetise it by a revenue share on interest with the bank receiving part of the saver's funds. For example, Mr Jones has 100 grand in bank A, but is a bit worried they might go a bit pear shaped one day. So he goes to eggsinonebasket.com, says he has savings with bank A, and then the site suggests to transfer some of their savings to bank B - being the bank which has the least dependency on bank A. 50 grand is then transferred into a new account with bank B, and that bank agrees to pay a small cut of the interest for the first year to eggsinonebasket PLC. Or better still, it could be an ongoing dynamic thing - you could just dump all your savings in eggsinonebasket, and then it could shuffle your money about as necessary, attempting to maximise interest and minimise risk - always making sure it is in two accounts with banks that are least inter-dependent.
John
Tue Sep 18 12:53:17 2007

Jimmy: It's a good job you can tell the difference!
Tims Mum
Tue Sep 18 12:50:47 2007

So this gives me a good idea for a new website (if someone hasn't already done this) to help reduce investment risk. If banks are indeed interrelated, it would be handy to have some way of making those dependencies public. Then you could identify the two banks which are least inter-dependent, and split your savings between them. You could all it eggsinonebasket.com or something similar.
John
Tue Sep 18 12:46:40 2007

Yep- and I'll bet *their* Internet access was working perfectly....
tom
Tue Sep 18 10:05:46 2007

Lol I am sure the Directors have already reallocated their personal funds to a safer haven :)
Kev
Tue Sep 18 10:03:25 2007

Shareholders are already fcked! Some small consolation for them is that the Directors are all now impoverished and won't be able to afford the repayments on their non-profit-making mortages.
tom
Tue Sep 18 09:51:32 2007

I totally agree Rob the BoE will keep it afloat until they can sell it off in a fire sale. Not sure who can afford ( or even want to take on the liability ) it in the current markets though. Shareholders will be fcuked though, Gordy wont let Mr and Mrs Retired Bogs loose their life savings. The Grey vote is very powerful !
Kev
Tue Sep 18 09:43:21 2007

Kev, you'd be surprised the amount that the Bank of England will pump into a bank to keep it going. The BoE knows what happens if one bank goes down, another two will go with it.
Rob Lang
Tue Sep 18 09:37:43 2007

Also notice how the Chancellor carefully crafted his words to say that "as long as NR remains solvent they will guarantee the funds..." Solvent being the key word here.
Kev
Tue Sep 18 09:35:53 2007

Lol don't hold your breath Tom, as soon as the next piece of bad news comes out they'll be straight back down again. I see the queues haven't subsided yet, and the Postal withdrawls will be going through in the next day or so, so when they announce the total of the deposits withdrawn......
Kev
Tue Sep 18 09:34:44 2007

I'm wishing I'd had an Internet connection to buy Northern Rock shares yesterday. They've gone up already. :-(
tom
Tue Sep 18 09:19:25 2007

If Northern Rock does go under and you've got a bank account in any high street bank or building society - you're screwed.
Rob Lang
Tue Sep 18 09:14:59 2007

Morning All
Kev
Tue Sep 18 08:49:54 2007

Sorry! Just discovered it was actually a groundhog!
Jimmy
Tue Sep 18 08:42:20 2007

... er ... nice beaver???
Jimmy
Tue Sep 18 08:40:31 2007

Here's a link to some pics of our USA hols, if anyone cares to view:- www dot flickr dot com/photos/10181782@N05/sets/72157602061504281/
Tim's mum
Tue Sep 18 00:59:33 2007

Yes, John it would much wiser to invest your 100 Euros in some overpriced Irish housing stock instead!
Kev
Mon Sep 17 20:11:09 2007

Pardon my interuption - Well judging by current market procedures John, you would probably have 99-euros change, but also a multi-billion-euro debt... :(
Nigel
Mon Sep 17 19:51:27 2007

dsp: I have about 100 Euros in my pocket, how much of a bank will that buy me?
John
Mon Sep 17 17:37:06 2007

Dsp: Mmmmmmmmm maybe not? The news arrived here in Italy as well, doesn't look all that good to me... :(
Lox
Mon Sep 17 13:30:45 2007

I think that the Maisoners should club together any buy out the struggling Northern Rock building society. Anyone else in?
dsp
Mon Sep 17 13:22:27 2007

Right, well I'm off to my training course now - four whole hours! I have a feeling I'm going to be very bored... Ho, hum.
John
Mon Sep 17 12:54:51 2007

Jimmy, MM: Thanks! Keep your finger crossed for me anyway! :D
Lox
Mon Sep 17 11:12:51 2007

Morning all!!
That sounded like an introduction from The Eurovision Song Contest, John!! :D
Nigel
Mon Sep 17 11:00:28 2007

Good morning from Dublin! I'm in the office here, although it occurred to me this morning I forgot to actually ask for a temporary desk. So instead I am camping out in the cafe. I guess there's no real need to have a desk though really - there's wireless in here, I have a chair and a table to put my laptop on and I'm very close to the coffee machine, so what more do I need really...?
John
Mon Sep 17 10:24:31 2007

Congratulations Lox- it sounds really good.
Jimmy
Mon Sep 17 09:49:57 2007

Good morning all. Last post before we depart for the high seas (not literally I hope). Super news about the job Lox, the very best of luck. I shall look forward to "hearing" all about it when I get back.
Mad Mumsie
Mon Sep 17 09:25:27 2007

Morning All
Kev
Mon Sep 17 07:59:39 2007

morning....
Lox
Mon Sep 17 07:33:29 2007

On the ferry now, out in the Irish Sea and it is actually quite windy! Nice sky though.
John
Sun Sep 16 18:24:02 2007

In Holyhead (ferry port in Wales) now. Sea seems to have calmed down now, but the bad weather earlier means my ferry will be a bit delayed. Oh well, not really in a rush so I guess on big deal really.
John
Sun Sep 16 17:08:29 2007

Right then chaps, off to get the ferry now, next post from Guinnessland!
John
Sun Sep 16 15:08:59 2007

Well, I'll be getting the ferry over to Dublin later on this afternoon, and it looks like there are almost gale conditions out in the Irish Sea at present! Apparently it is forecast to drop off later on in the afternoon, but there's a fair chance it's going to be on the choppy side still.
John
Sun Sep 16 14:20:04 2007

JM: The second part it's ok, but the first one was hard to guess! :D I am sure that Naples wll prove MUCH MORE challenging than ordering a coffee.. By the way it remembers me that I am still waiting for my friends to tell me some info about the trip that you are going to have soon... Sorry to make you wait so long... :(
Lox
Sun Sep 16 12:35:55 2007

Lox: didn't use online, used a business phrase book! Wanted to say Result! My respects, you clever lad. I'm not going to get far ordering a cup of coffee in Naples , am I?
John's Mum
Sun Sep 16 09:52:51 2007

I am totally behind you Kev! Whilst I'm not quite ready to give up my passport yet, I would be very happy if I never had to get on another plane again, and as already mentioned I am actively seeking alternatives wherever possible. You can even get to Japan by train and ship, although on the downside it does take at least a week, and as you go through Siberia you probably wouldn't want to be doing that in winter!
John
Sun Sep 16 09:38:29 2007

What!? I am puzzled is this (gay) guy bloating over the "hack" of the board (i.e. he posted on it)?
Lox
Sun Sep 16 06:59:06 2007

Hack again?!
paobingh
Sun Sep 16 04:58:39 2007

More travelling eh JH, personally I've decided not to renew my passport, no more Plane trips for me! I think I've used up more than my fair share of carbon emmissions in that respect. However that doesn't rule out other forms of travel. Perhaps a Michael Palin style trip would be acceptable? Maybe we should meet up in your London Whiskey Society club ( London Reform Club ) where I could challenge you to travel by train, by ship, by elephant and even by balloon to lots of other countries not yet visted ( around the world in 80 days ) ??
Kev
Sun Sep 16 00:15:38 2007

Lox: Three cheers for your new job! I knew things would turn out well in the end. I bought some sheets and pillowcases from JC Penney's with 70% off. Their cotton sheets are of a wonderful quality, certainly worth lugging back to the UK!
Tim's mum
Sat Sep 15 22:53:29 2007

Everyone: Thanks a lot for all the comments, I'll give it my best shot of course! Well next week it's still old job in Paris, but from the week after.... :)
JM: What online translator did you use for that phrase? What did you want to say originally?
Lox
Sat Sep 15 22:41:24 2007

Today I've found quite a neat little app on Facebook which lets you put pins in the map for places in the world you've visited (actually I had already written something similar myself a while back, but their version is a bit more advanced I suppose). It turns out I have only ever been to 11 different countries in my life to date (or 13 if you count Scotland and Wales separately!). It's not really a lot, when you consider the UN recognises almost 200 different countries in the world. I feel I ought to go travelling more.
John
Sat Sep 15 22:17:22 2007

No Mum, I shall look for one with sheep on again. :)
John
Sat Sep 15 18:10:54 2007

Lox : Risultare! Omaggio, mio bravo. John: The entire British Isles in under a fortnight? Can I expect a postcard with shamrock on it this time?
John's Mum
Sat Sep 15 18:05:53 2007

Lox!! Congratulations! And well done for taking direct action to change a situation you were unhappy about!!
dsp
Sat Sep 15 17:58:35 2007

Kev: drinking is not officially part of the course, however I do have a friend at the Dublin office, and so hopefully we might be able to go on a bit of a tour of Dublin's excellent public houses on Monday night.
John
Sat Sep 15 16:17:01 2007

Afternoon all!! :D
Hey, it's all going on today!!!! Welcome back T'sM
Lox: BRILLIANT WELL DONE!!! :))
John: Sounds pretty good to me!!!! (Jealous of course!!)
Me? Oh I've been painting my front-door... Hey-ho...
Nigel
Sat Sep 15 15:55:07 2007

Lox, sounds like this is just the ticket, a job thats a challenge rather than a chore. John, does part of your training course involve learning new techniques for drinking excessive amounts of guiness without damaging your liver ?
Kev
Sat Sep 15 15:37:10 2007

John, Kev: Thanks a lot, it will not be a walk in the park, because I have to learn a lot of new things, but that's also very challenging and interesting. I hope it all works out, surely it is something that will keep me extra busy in the next couple of years... better than biding my time as I was doing now anyways!
Lox
Sat Sep 15 15:28:10 2007

Really pleased for you Lox, that is absolutely great news...!
John
Sat Sep 15 15:17:20 2007

Well it's the chance that I was waiting for, I will work for a company that makes luxury bed linens, the "Prada" of bed linens (apparently). Finally I go out of textiles and get into the consumer world, much more challenging and hard, but at least I have some prospects for the future! Details will come once I resign from the present job (this will happen next week in Paris). I am overjoyed, although I cannot seem to express it properly!
Lox
Sat Sep 15 13:50:46 2007

Yippee, well done, Lox. Can you tell us about it or is it top secret!
Kev
Sat Sep 15 13:43:51 2007

I HAVE GOT A NEW JOB!!!!!!
Lox
Sat Sep 15 13:35:49 2007

Hello all! I'm in North Wales, stopping off here briefly en route to Dublin, where I'll be for the first couple of days of next week on a training course.
John
Sat Sep 15 12:56:38 2007

Welcome back to Europe TM!!! It seems that your trip was quite great, any pictures that you can let Tim share with us?
Lox
Sat Sep 15 08:03:38 2007

Oh, jetlag is a wonderful thing! Back home from the USA after a great vacation. Spent one week of it in the Pocono Mountains, rather like the Lake District only hot. I think I have gone deaf because there are no Cricket/chirpy things here.
Tim's mum
Sat Sep 15 04:17:34 2007

Oh Dr Lang, may your tongue be cut out .....
John's Mum
Fri Sep 14 18:05:20 2007

John got married to Chie then divorced to elope with a Pot Plant called Harry. He's very happy living in a green house outside of Beford. They're expecting fruit soon.
Rob Lang
Fri Sep 14 17:01:18 2007

Is John married yet??
Sarah
Fri Sep 14 16:31:41 2007

Soooooo true!
Sarah
Fri Sep 14 16:29:27 2007

He doesn't need them!!! :)
Mad Mumsie
Fri Sep 14 16:28:22 2007

You've not sprouted horns and a tail yet then Rob? ;-)
Sarah
Fri Sep 14 16:27:19 2007

I am busy, that was one at lunch.
Rob Lang
Fri Sep 14 15:59:03 2007

You are obviously very, very busy Dr Lang!!
Mad Mumsie
Fri Sep 14 15:47:28 2007

One for the crumblies
Rob Lang
Fri Sep 14 15:33:09 2007

Not much Sarah. John's had a sex change, Lox has been fired into space and Tim's admitted Blackpool is a dump. We're all still waiting for Tom to come out of the closet but then you probably are too! ;)
Rob Lang
Fri Sep 14 15:29:29 2007

Hi all, glad to see you're all still alive. Anything exciting been going on while I've had my head in a black hole for the last year or so?!
Sarah Rowan
Fri Sep 14 14:37:37 2007

Avoirdupois - you know it makes sense!! (stir-stir!) :D
Nigel
Fri Sep 14 14:11:02 2007

How many times have we made comments like "What size is a standard giraffe, and is there a gold one somewhere in Paris?". Well, I see the reference kilo in Paris has lost 50 migrograms (or thereabouts). I find it amazing that they still can't define the bloody thing!
Jimmy
Fri Sep 14 13:45:25 2007

Tom: I barely remember...
John
Fri Sep 14 13:13:56 2007

I have only one word to say on this subject John: Frederica.
tom
Fri Sep 14 13:01:19 2007

Still in Milan, but I managed to check the net... Well I feel kind of responsible for the sleepless nights that Tim might have had :D
Lox
Fri Sep 14 11:43:16 2007

(bet it didn't work though)
Jimmy
Fri Sep 14 10:02:56 2007

My favorite story about this was Simon Watson in his halls of residence. Every time his room-neighbors started knocking boots he would play nursery rhymes very loud on his hi-fi to kill their mood or give them strange long-term associations with nursery rhymes. Genius.
dsp
Fri Sep 14 09:28:01 2007

This harks back to Radstock. One for Tim, I feel:

Rob Lang
Fri Sep 14 08:56:58 2007

Morning. Last day at work for two weeks. Off on hols Monday morning.
Mad Mumsie
Fri Sep 14 08:11:36 2007

Morning All
Kev
Fri Sep 14 08:02:09 2007

Wasn't it just! Superb!!! ;)))
Nigel
Thu Sep 13 22:36:20 2007

Nigel, that was spectacular. The dancing was spellbinding, and the lyrics were deeply inspirational.

"How do I know you are not pretender?"

No wonder really that Finnland is so dominant in the global music industry.
John
Thu Sep 13 22:28:19 2007

OK, it's late; it's been quiet on the Maison; you need a laugh... May I recommend this YouTube video? It's totally safe for kids and Sainted-Grannies, but it just might make you laugh (or vomit!) :D
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8610362188397291938&q=%22I+Wanna+Love+You+Tender%22&total=52&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
Nigel
Thu Sep 13 21:10:09 2007

Too late suckers!
Jimmy
Thu Sep 13 16:43:59 2007

Ooooh!!! Naughty!! :D
Nigel
Thu Sep 13 16:07:01 2007

Sporting tip of the day: get down to Ladbroke's in the next hour or so, and put some cash on McLaren to be thrown out of the constructors' championship.
Jimmy
Thu Sep 13 14:21:03 2007

That won't work ... the strike isn't against eating pasta, only buying it. Which basically means that the pasta you don't buy today, you'll buy tomorrow instead. Lasagne anyone?
Jimmy
Thu Sep 13 11:15:14 2007

Lox, are you joining the Pasta Strike today?
John's Mum
Thu Sep 13 10:30:25 2007

Morning All
Kev
Thu Sep 13 08:01:29 2007

For fans of non-sequiturs, may I recommend Pokey the Penguin.
John
Thu Sep 13 00:01:58 2007

Kev: no. I watched a program about the effect Protestantism has had on history and modern day politics. It made me depressed.
John
Wed Sep 12 23:29:07 2007

Evening Kev!! Well actually...! Er .... no ... not here... :(
Nigel
Wed Sep 12 22:10:13 2007

Evening all, anything interesting going on ?
Kev
Wed Sep 12 21:58:09 2007

As you say Tom, at the later part he makes a salient observation. Thought-provoking.
Nigel
Wed Sep 12 16:20:44 2007

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6989327.stm (bear with it until the end)
tom
Wed Sep 12 14:05:37 2007

Sadly not. Unless Lilly Allen gives up singing and takes on a role with GMTV.
tom
Wed Sep 12 13:58:14 2007

I wonder whether (ha ha, I lilke that whether/weather) we are likely to hear the weather forecast given on the telly, using such descriptive prose.
Mad Mumsie
Wed Sep 12 13:50:14 2007

The RAF met forecasters.
Rob Lang
Wed Sep 12 13:24:18 2007

I just love the technical terminology. I wonder who thought up that one. :)
Mad Mumsie
Wed Sep 12 11:33:38 2007

It's a met term. MM, look away. The met term is "Fog Burns Off, Cloud Fuck Off". Burning off is a term used only for Fog and Mist.
Rob Lang
Wed Sep 12 11:17:44 2007

Oh goody, controversy. Punch up to follow? :)
Mad Mumsie
Wed Sep 12 11:02:13 2007

I'm not sure I would entirely agree there Rob - surely clouds must actually dissipate at some point? Otherwise there would be some corner of the world where all the clouds have gathered together, and the sun would never ever shine.
John
Wed Sep 12 11:00:31 2007

Picky!
Mad Mumsie
Wed Sep 12 10:58:41 2007

Fog/mist burns off, cloud blows away.
Rob Lang
Wed Sep 12 10:49:10 2007

Morning!! Thick grey cloud here :( Mind you, it looks like it might "burn off" by lunch.
Nigel
Wed Sep 12 08:52:20 2007

Morning all, nice sunny day in London.
Mad Mumsie
Wed Sep 12 08:39:50 2007

Morning All
Kev
Wed Sep 12 07:51:20 2007

Bloody Imperial measurements. Pounds and ounces are so illogical, but I was forced to learn them because that's how meat is sold. Then, just to make it worse, the shops are forced to sell in kilos. "Fair enough" I said ... and started to get used to the metric system. NOW they're gonna abandon it, and this means that our STUPID dual-system is going to run and run, thus guaranteeing I have to be able to convert between the two for probably the rest of my life. They should pick one system, and bloody well stick to it. AND ONTHER THING: I often see hideous hybrid sytems in shops, such as 0.5lbs. ARGH! Who exactly does this dual-system benefit? NOT ME.
Jimmy
Tue Sep 11 17:44:13 2007

When was the last time any of you saw three ripe barleycorns in a straight line? (This is to tease Lox and Sheri). Answer later.
John's Mum
Tue Sep 11 17:36:15 2007

Am I suppose those French road signs for Poids Lourds means legumes on the way to a religious shrine then?
John's Mum
Tue Sep 11 17:30:42 2007

ROFL !!! :D Nicely put!!
Nigel
Tue Sep 11 16:51:17 2007

Avoirdupois... to have some peas?
John
Tue Sep 11 16:02:24 2007

Well I know everyone here (except maybe nxjxhay...)can handle a little mental conversion, but "Avoirdupois" is such a noble and ancient method it deserves to be preserved... And besides, my brain has been programmed this way. I don't want a cumbersome extraction layer (or whatever) slowing me down!! ;)
Nigel
Tue Sep 11 15:23:37 2007

How about switching back to barter alltogether?
Lox
Tue Sep 11 14:51:39 2007

And I've always LOVED gold in any form!
Mad Mumsie
Tue Sep 11 14:46:56 2007

I think things went down hill when we abandoned groats for money, and leagues for measurement.
John
Tue Sep 11 14:43:19 2007

I couldn't have put it better myself.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Sep 11 14:19:38 2007

nxjxuyzhuy nxjxuyzhuy nxjxuyzhuy nxjxuyzhuy nxjxuyzhuy
nxjxuyzhuy
Tue Sep 11 14:12:50 2007

Nah, wish we'd never changed from pounds shillings and pence. Sensible money.
Mad Mumsie
Tue Sep 11 13:31:40 2007

I'm all for metric to be honest. (I don't have 12 fingers.)
tom
Tue Sep 11 13:07:42 2007