Saturday, July 26, 2003
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Cameron enjoys Big Brother glory
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Cameron enjoys Big Brother glory: "Big Brother winner Cameron Stout awakes on Saturday to his first day of freedom.
The 32-year-old Scotsman seemed stunned at taking the £70,000 first prize ahead of Dubliner Ray Shah.
He promised to use his prize money to buy a new piano for his church, a new bathroom for his family - and a trip to Chicago for himself. "
The 32-year-old Scotsman seemed stunned at taking the £70,000 first prize ahead of Dubliner Ray Shah.
He promised to use his prize money to buy a new piano for his church, a new bathroom for his family - and a trip to Chicago for himself. "
The joy of LANs....
Here we are, Saturday afternoon, in Stoke. The server needed restting, the network was a bit whacky, no internet acces for 12 hours, but it all got sorted eventually.
I managed to get some sleep (yaaah!) but everyone else in the same room had to leave as I (quote) "snore like a bastard".
So, we have now got breakfast, I'm about to leech 14 gigs of movies and stuff of Maj and we're off to overclockers to spend some money later ;-)
Life is good....
I managed to get some sleep (yaaah!) but everyone else in the same room had to leave as I (quote) "snore like a bastard".
So, we have now got breakfast, I'm about to leech 14 gigs of movies and stuff of Maj and we're off to overclockers to spend some money later ;-)
Life is good....
Friday, July 25, 2003
Fabulous Scaryduck story today....
Scaryduck: Not Scary. Not A Duck.:
"It was on the first morning of the exercise that Lt Col Scary took us aside and explained the real reason he’d selected me, my brother and several others from our unit for this exercise, while all the other spotty erks were drawn from groups around London and Essex. He wanted us to break into the field hospital and kill all the doctors in direct contravention of the Geneva Convention. War is hell.
Holy poop, I was to be an assassin. Only we still weren’t allowed guns. We were, however, permitted by Her Majesty’s Armed Forces to point a finger at our intended victims and shout “Bang”. God help us if there’s a war."
"It was on the first morning of the exercise that Lt Col Scary took us aside and explained the real reason he’d selected me, my brother and several others from our unit for this exercise, while all the other spotty erks were drawn from groups around London and Essex. He wanted us to break into the field hospital and kill all the doctors in direct contravention of the Geneva Convention. War is hell.
Holy poop, I was to be an assassin. Only we still weren’t allowed guns. We were, however, permitted by Her Majesty’s Armed Forces to point a finger at our intended victims and shout “Bang”. God help us if there’s a war."
Music 'pirate' sweep nets all ages - RIAA subpeonas etc etc
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Music 'pirate' sweep nets all ages: "'The idea really is not to be selective, to let people know that if they're offering a substantial number of files for others to copy, they are at risk,' he said. 'It doesn't matter who they are.' "
So, read that again. If I offer files for uploading, I can be taken to court.
So, if I only download files, and then remove them from 'my shared folder' (if you're using kazaalite anyway), they are no longer available for others to download, or in the words of the RIAA 'offerer for upload'.
Legal bullshit aside, i think that means you can have as many pirate mp3s as you want on your machine, just don't let others access them and you won't be sued.
Handy.
So, read that again. If I offer files for uploading, I can be taken to court.
So, if I only download files, and then remove them from 'my shared folder' (if you're using kazaalite anyway), they are no longer available for others to download, or in the words of the RIAA 'offerer for upload'.
Legal bullshit aside, i think that means you can have as many pirate mp3s as you want on your machine, just don't let others access them and you won't be sued.
Handy.
Genetic engineering.....
LOL, TheFridayThing on genetic engineering:
Science has given us many wonderful things, like surgical cures for deafness and fast-streaming pornography, and that ear on the mouse thing was pretty cool, but there are some things in life that never needed its attentions.
Science has given us many wonderful things, like surgical cures for deafness and fast-streaming pornography, and that ear on the mouse thing was pretty cool, but there are some things in life that never needed its attentions.
Executive orders....
Section 5(g) of Executive Order 11905, signed by President Gerald Ford in 1976 (after the CIA failed for the umpteenth time to assassinate Castro), states: "No employee of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, political assassination."
In 1981, President Reagan broadened this definition with Executive Order 12333, which has never been repealed, and which states: "No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination."
Remember the last time a dictator's child was killed? Well, the dictator was one Col Gadafi of Libya and the outcome was, effectively, Pan-Am flight 103.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Robotic Nation, by Marshall Brain
Interesting article by Marshall Brain (the guy who started howstuffworks.com) about the use of robotics and their impact on the future in terms of employment.
Robotic Nation, by Marshall Brain: "The arrival of humanoid robots should be a cause for celebration. With the robots doing most of the work, it should be possible for everyone to go on perpetual vacation. Instead, robots will displace millions of employees, leaving them unable to find work and therefore destitute. I believe that it is time to start rethinking our economy and understanding how we will allow people to live their lives in a robotic nation. "
Robotic Nation, by Marshall Brain: "The arrival of humanoid robots should be a cause for celebration. With the robots doing most of the work, it should be possible for everyone to go on perpetual vacation. Instead, robots will displace millions of employees, leaving them unable to find work and therefore destitute. I believe that it is time to start rethinking our economy and understanding how we will allow people to live their lives in a robotic nation. "
New Scientist - Dr David Kelly
Finally a puiblication without a political agenda asks the questions that matter. (reg reqd, but it is New Scientist, you should be reg'd already ffs).
New Scientist: "Three questions leap out. First, why does Kelly's testimony to the select committee differ from accounts given by BBC reporters of their discussions with him? By the time Kelly gave evidence, he had reportedly been questioned for five days by his employer (the Ministry of Defence), named in public by the MOD against his wishes, and kept in an MOD safe house. During all this time, had the MOD forced him into some kind of deal?
Could it be that BBC reporters manipulated Kelly's views for their own ends? For one journalist to do this is plausible. But it seems Kelly spoke to three and gave a similar account to all of them.
Finally, in two of the BBC reports there is a sense that Kelly speaks not only for himself but for 'people in intelligence'. This raises the question of whether he acted alone or with the approval of others.
Answering these questions may go some way to explaining why a man who survived confrontations with the vicious, secretive regime in Baghdad was finally destroyed by a supposedly free and open society."
New Scientist: "Three questions leap out. First, why does Kelly's testimony to the select committee differ from accounts given by BBC reporters of their discussions with him? By the time Kelly gave evidence, he had reportedly been questioned for five days by his employer (the Ministry of Defence), named in public by the MOD against his wishes, and kept in an MOD safe house. During all this time, had the MOD forced him into some kind of deal?
Could it be that BBC reporters manipulated Kelly's views for their own ends? For one journalist to do this is plausible. But it seems Kelly spoke to three and gave a similar account to all of them.
Finally, in two of the BBC reports there is a sense that Kelly speaks not only for himself but for 'people in intelligence'. This raises the question of whether he acted alone or with the approval of others.
Answering these questions may go some way to explaining why a man who survived confrontations with the vicious, secretive regime in Baghdad was finally destroyed by a supposedly free and open society."
BBC NEWS | Technology | 'Critical' flaw found in Windows
BBC NEWS | Technology | 'Critical' flaw found in Windows: "Microsoft has issued a warning about a critical security flaw that affects most versions of its Windows software.
The flaw involves DirectX, an extensive collection of programming add-ons for Windows used by computer games.
If exploited, the flaw could allow a malicious hacker to run their own specially crafted computer code to plant a virus or even take over a machine.
Microsoft has given the flaw its highest severity rating. "
The flaw involves DirectX, an extensive collection of programming add-ons for Windows used by computer games.
If exploited, the flaw could allow a malicious hacker to run their own specially crafted computer code to plant a virus or even take over a machine.
Microsoft has given the flaw its highest severity rating. "
More like Belfast every day.
BBC NEWS - Three US soldiers killed in Iraq: "Since 1 May, when President George W Bush declared that major combat was over, US Central Command has reported the deaths of 80 American service personnel in Iraq. "
This kind of situation lasted 30 years in Northern Ireland.
"Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it".
This kind of situation lasted 30 years in Northern Ireland.
"Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it".
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
I have worked in computers for 13 years
I have used html, sgml, xml, vrml, C, C++, Java, VB.
I am currently responsible for delivery of technical data for the world's 2nd largest defence contractor's most advanced aircraft.
I am not a n00b.
So, why the sodding hell can't I get my amazon wish-list to sodding work?????
It steadfastly refuses to find my list when searching by my e-mail address, although it accepts said e-mail address no problem when it comes to logging in!!!!
I think it might be new account creation time :-(
I am currently responsible for delivery of technical data for the world's 2nd largest defence contractor's most advanced aircraft.
I am not a n00b.
So, why the sodding hell can't I get my amazon wish-list to sodding work?????
It steadfastly refuses to find my list when searching by my e-mail address, although it accepts said e-mail address no problem when it comes to logging in!!!!
I think it might be new account creation time :-(
Sometimes we find support in the strangest places.....
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Jackson attacks music piracy bill: "Pop superstar Michael Jackson has attacked a proposed bill in the US which would jail people who exchange pirated music online.
Two Democrats, John Conyers and Howard Berman, have proposed legislation which would make file swapping of pirated music and software a crime. "
Two Democrats, John Conyers and Howard Berman, have proposed legislation which would make file swapping of pirated music and software a crime. "
Irony-snorkel extension time.
Yahoo! News - Wolfowitz Warns Iraq's Neighbors Not to Interfere: "U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz warned foreigners Monday not to interfere in Iraq "
"I think all foreigners should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq," said Wolfowitz, who is touring the country to meet U.S. troops and Iraqi officials.
Jesus H Christ! I'm gonna have to extend my 'irony-snorkel' AGAIN!!!!
"I think all foreigners should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq," said Wolfowitz, who is touring the country to meet U.S. troops and Iraqi officials.
Jesus H Christ! I'm gonna have to extend my 'irony-snorkel' AGAIN!!!!
"OK class, settle down. Now, can anyone spell 'scapegoat'?"
BBC NEWS | Politics | Hoon in spotlight over Kelly naming: "Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was accused by several newspapers on Tuesday of allowing Dr Kelly to be named as a 'mole'. "
BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Cycling | Tour de France 2003 | Magic Monday for Armstrong
BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Cycling | Tour de France 2003 | Magic Monday for Armstrong: "Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong dismissed talk of his possible demise with a storming victory on Monday. "
I don't cycle, but I do appreciate sporting excellence.
Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer some years ago. He was given a 20% chance of survival.
2 years later he won his first Tour de France.
The year after he won his second.
Then his third.
Then his fourth.
He is currently trying to win his fifth consecutive Tour. This year he is under a lot of pressure from other riders, younger, keener etc.
Yesterday he put on a show and stormed to victory up a huge hill-climb to win by a huge margin on the day. After crashing. Twice.
An awesome sportsman in the old-fashioned sense.
Awesome (n) Something or someone who creates a feeling of awe in the observer.
Buy his book from Amazon.
I don't cycle, but I do appreciate sporting excellence.
Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer some years ago. He was given a 20% chance of survival.
2 years later he won his first Tour de France.
The year after he won his second.
Then his third.
Then his fourth.
He is currently trying to win his fifth consecutive Tour. This year he is under a lot of pressure from other riders, younger, keener etc.
Yesterday he put on a show and stormed to victory up a huge hill-climb to win by a huge margin on the day. After crashing. Twice.
An awesome sportsman in the old-fashioned sense.
Awesome (n) Something or someone who creates a feeling of awe in the observer.
Buy his book from Amazon.
BBC NEWS | Technology | France offers grants for games
BBC NEWS | Technology | France offers grants for games: "The French Government is offering four million euros (£2.9m) to help aspiring game developers turn their ideas into reality. "
What's another year?
Happy Birthday to me. 31. Woot!
/mutters
Must get an Amazon wishlist done......
/mutters
Must get an Amazon wishlist done......
Monday, July 21, 2003
Raised by Chaffinches
I can see this weekend getting very messy indeed ;-)
Raised by Chaffinches: "CHEEKY VIMTO
CHEEKY VIMTO IS THE ULTIMATE PARTY DRINK. EVER TASTED VIMTO? WELL THIS IS JUST LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL MIXED FRUIT DRINK. HOWEVER. THIS IS QUITE MIND-BLOWING AND DUE TO THE PORT CAN LEAVE YOU A LITTLE WORSE-FOR-WEAR.
INGREDIENTS
2 X SHOTS OF PORT
1 X BLUE WKD
DIRECTIONS
FIRSTLY POUR THE 2 SHOTS OF PORT INTO A PINT GLASS WITH A LOT OF ICE IN THE BOTTOM. THEN POUR THE BLUE WKD OVER THE TOP, CREATING A PURPLE DRINK, WHICH LOOKS AND TASTES JUST LIKE VIMTO."
Raised by Chaffinches: "CHEEKY VIMTO
CHEEKY VIMTO IS THE ULTIMATE PARTY DRINK. EVER TASTED VIMTO? WELL THIS IS JUST LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL MIXED FRUIT DRINK. HOWEVER. THIS IS QUITE MIND-BLOWING AND DUE TO THE PORT CAN LEAVE YOU A LITTLE WORSE-FOR-WEAR.
INGREDIENTS
2 X SHOTS OF PORT
1 X BLUE WKD
DIRECTIONS
FIRSTLY POUR THE 2 SHOTS OF PORT INTO A PINT GLASS WITH A LOT OF ICE IN THE BOTTOM. THEN POUR THE BLUE WKD OVER THE TOP, CREATING A PURPLE DRINK, WHICH LOOKS AND TASTES JUST LIKE VIMTO."
Is there any depths humans won't sink too???
Newsnight (tonight, BBC2, 10:30 if you're in the UK) has this story featured tonight:
Our film tonight comes from Tom Carver who has been investigating a mass sterilisation programme of native peoples in Peru. Peru is preparing to request the extradition of the former president Alberto Fujimori from Japan and opposition MPs are urging that he be charged with genocide.
More than a quarter of a million women were sterilised in painful operations which took place while he was president, according to official records. New evidence suggests many of the women were coerced.
BBC NEWS | Politics | 94-year-old peer passes driving test
I'm not convinced this is something we should be encouraging ;-)
BBC NEWS | Politics | 94-year-old peer passes driving test: "At 94-years-old, Lord Renton has become one of the oldest people in Britain to pass the driving test for the first time. "
London By London :: Sample Issue
London By London :: Sample Issue:
"If you do seek out this mobile comedy leviathan courier with his fascinating musical horn please let us all know if he makes a Tarzan like noise as you shove the horn up his arse."
LOL. LondonbyLondon is brilliant, and I don't even live there!
BTW, if you read it and see all the restaurant recommendations, well, a meal for 2 with wine up North is about 30 quid ;-)
"If you do seek out this mobile comedy leviathan courier with his fascinating musical horn please let us all know if he makes a Tarzan like noise as you shove the horn up his arse."
LOL. LondonbyLondon is brilliant, and I don't even live there!
BTW, if you read it and see all the restaurant recommendations, well, a meal for 2 with wine up North is about 30 quid ;-)
BBC NEWS | Politics | UK Guantanamo lawyer attacks US
Same old same old...
BBC NEWS | Politics | UK Guantanamo lawyer attacks US: " I don't know whether he's a religious tourist or a Taleban soldier or an al-Qaeda terrorist
Geraint Davies
'The United States not by one iota have acted in compliance with any international treaty, either by recognising competence, so-called, under the Geneva Convention, or recognising the rights of detainees not to be interrogated or by ignoring the question of torture. "
BBC NEWS | Politics | UK Guantanamo lawyer attacks US: " I don't know whether he's a religious tourist or a Taleban soldier or an al-Qaeda terrorist
Geraint Davies
'The United States not by one iota have acted in compliance with any international treaty, either by recognising competence, so-called, under the Geneva Convention, or recognising the rights of detainees not to be interrogated or by ignoring the question of torture. "
Will blogging change the world???
Well, that's what the BBC are asking here although I would have thought a better question might be "to what extent have blogs changed the world?"
One of the best examples of how some blogs have become an unofficial news source or even a unofficial 'watchdog' is the way the Dr Kelly story spread throughout the world in a matter of minutes and how some of us followed it on Technorati.
Also it is worth bearing in mind that journalists often write about subjects where we might know much more than them, so it enables us to act in a small way as a peer-review system.
One of the best examples of how some blogs have become an unofficial news source or even a unofficial 'watchdog' is the way the Dr Kelly story spread throughout the world in a matter of minutes and how some of us followed it on Technorati.
Also it is worth bearing in mind that journalists often write about subjects where we might know much more than them, so it enables us to act in a small way as a peer-review system.
What a weekend!!
Saturday was the day of the wedding of my brother, Ben, to his wife, Sara. I am happy to report that I had an amazing time, seeing old friends and family members and eating just enough and drinking maybe a little more than enough (for thirst is a dangerous thing).
He was married at Trinity Methodist Church in Clitheroe (my home town) with a simple (how fitting, arf!) ceremony and then posed for photos around the register etc etc..
We then all retired to the Moorcock Inn (commonly known as the Bride's Delight, arf, geddit, more.. Ok, I know, I know), where we had all our photos taken and sampled some of that 'beer' stuff I've been hearing so much about.
Basically, we all had a great time, got drunk (but not too drunk) eat great food, listened to 3 funny speeches from the father of the bride, the groom and the best man, and basically had the time of my life. It helped that I was accompanied by the most beautiful woman in the room (possible exception of the bride, it was her wedding day after all), and we woke the following day to a full breakfast with a view of the Ribble Valley laid out before us in glorious sunshine.
Ben and Sara fly off to Italy today on their honeymoon, which they are both looking forward to, but Sara more than Ben, as it will be his first ever time in an aeroplane (gulp).
So, if I ever do get married (that really is a huge if) then that's how I want to do it. No stress on the day, no hassle, just good times surrounded by good friends ;-)
He was married at Trinity Methodist Church in Clitheroe (my home town) with a simple (how fitting, arf!) ceremony and then posed for photos around the register etc etc..
We then all retired to the Moorcock Inn (commonly known as the Bride's Delight, arf, geddit, more.. Ok, I know, I know), where we had all our photos taken and sampled some of that 'beer' stuff I've been hearing so much about.
Basically, we all had a great time, got drunk (but not too drunk) eat great food, listened to 3 funny speeches from the father of the bride, the groom and the best man, and basically had the time of my life. It helped that I was accompanied by the most beautiful woman in the room (possible exception of the bride, it was her wedding day after all), and we woke the following day to a full breakfast with a view of the Ribble Valley laid out before us in glorious sunshine.
Ben and Sara fly off to Italy today on their honeymoon, which they are both looking forward to, but Sara more than Ben, as it will be his first ever time in an aeroplane (gulp).
So, if I ever do get married (that really is a huge if) then that's how I want to do it. No stress on the day, no hassle, just good times surrounded by good friends ;-)
Ananova - Kelly warned of 'dark actors playing games'
Ananova - Kelly warned of 'dark actors playing games':
"scientist said in the email that he was determined to overcome the scandal surrounding him and was enthusiastic about the possibility of returning to Iraq"
Hmm, do they sound the the terms used by someone contemplating suicide?
There's something very strange about the whole affair to be honest (I mean, I know there is, but there's something deeper. MPs have said he answered the committee's question quite calmly, he seemed upbeat about going back to Iraq. Although there was a media circus around him it would surely have blown over in a couple of weeks, and then he allegedly goes and ends his life.
Hmmm...
"scientist said in the email that he was determined to overcome the scandal surrounding him and was enthusiastic about the possibility of returning to Iraq"
Hmm, do they sound the the terms used by someone contemplating suicide?
There's something very strange about the whole affair to be honest (I mean, I know there is, but there's something deeper. MPs have said he answered the committee's question quite calmly, he seemed upbeat about going back to Iraq. Although there was a media circus around him it would surely have blown over in a couple of weeks, and then he allegedly goes and ends his life.
Hmmm...
