Monday, December 31, 2007
Weird
Technology
Bloke rigs his mobile phone to his laptop to use as a modem, downloads loads of stuff and runs up a £27,000 bill in one month. What I find amusing is not only is he daft enough to do that but considering there is a fair chance that the "20 or 30 TV shows and four albums" were not from a legitimate source, he may have left himself open to being done for piracy too....
Labels: Stupid, Technology
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Interesting
Music
Friday, December 28, 2007
Amusing
Arty
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Movies
Maybe not the best 19 movies you didn't see in 2007 but a few tips on ones to take a look at anyway.
Labels: Movies
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Tis the season
Some people think it's a bit strange to want to spend Christmas on your own, to not see or speak to another living soul (unless texts or blogging counts). Me, well I quite like it. I think back to how I spent 31 previous Christmas days and things aren't much different. Less watching of crap TV and more playing computer games really.
Today I've played games, spent an hour relaxing in the bath with a glass of port (stop looking at me like that - I won it in a raffle a couple if weeks back) and sent a few xmas texts. I've just finished putting my mallard on a bed of potatoes and stuffed with a slightly zesty version of this classic stuffing (which I've just invented and hope tastes ok) in the oven. Shortly the green beans and sweet potatoes will go in and the Christmas pudding is already sat soaking up the extra brandy I added (all the better to make it go woooosh).
I've had a little dance to this and I've now got this playing. Soon I shall loose all ability to type as the the port, wine and xmas pud floating in a sea of brandy take affect. Not a bad Christmas I think although truth be told it would be nice if Miss C were here rather than with her family....
So Merry Christmas to the readers I know I have - Bunni, Mr P and Meesha plus the other few nameless folks out there. Hope you are all doing something that makes you happy today.
Now back to the wine...
Today I've played games, spent an hour relaxing in the bath with a glass of port (stop looking at me like that - I won it in a raffle a couple if weeks back) and sent a few xmas texts. I've just finished putting my mallard on a bed of potatoes and stuffed with a slightly zesty version of this classic stuffing (which I've just invented and hope tastes ok) in the oven. Shortly the green beans and sweet potatoes will go in and the Christmas pudding is already sat soaking up the extra brandy I added (all the better to make it go woooosh).
I've had a little dance to this and I've now got this playing. Soon I shall loose all ability to type as the the port, wine and xmas pud floating in a sea of brandy take affect. Not a bad Christmas I think although truth be told it would be nice if Miss C were here rather than with her family....
So Merry Christmas to the readers I know I have - Bunni, Mr P and Meesha plus the other few nameless folks out there. Hope you are all doing something that makes you happy today.
Now back to the wine...
Labels: Personal
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Killing time
This week was supposed to be a week of relaxing and being productive. I managed the relaxing. Actually, I became a bit bored on several occasions and then I remembered free online movies.
So far (probably much to my ISP's annoyance at the amount of data I'm downloading) I've watched Shoot'Em Up, V for Vendetta and Underworld: Evolution.
Shoot'Em Up doesn't take itself seriously for 1 minutes. It's about a bloke that goes around shooting stuff - a lot. Some of the scenes are just plain daft but I still found it entertaining - he kills two people with a carrot!
Underworld: Evolution follows straight on from the first film but isn't as good in my opinion. The storyline is worse (reminded me of Blade or Buffy where the bad guys get progressively stronger and more bad guy like each film) and the action not always believable. I know it's a film about vampires and werewolves but shooting someone in the head at point blank range five times and them not even having as much as a headache or scratch seemed silly.
The best of the three by far was V. I've never read the graphic novels or heard much about the film but it was a real treat. I know the movie studios say piracy is killing cinema but the very first thing I did after watching the film was go online and find the DVD online to buy. I've not ordered it yet but I'm just waiting for the Xmas rush to finish....
So far (probably much to my ISP's annoyance at the amount of data I'm downloading) I've watched Shoot'Em Up, V for Vendetta and Underworld: Evolution.
Shoot'Em Up doesn't take itself seriously for 1 minutes. It's about a bloke that goes around shooting stuff - a lot. Some of the scenes are just plain daft but I still found it entertaining - he kills two people with a carrot!
Underworld: Evolution follows straight on from the first film but isn't as good in my opinion. The storyline is worse (reminded me of Blade or Buffy where the bad guys get progressively stronger and more bad guy like each film) and the action not always believable. I know it's a film about vampires and werewolves but shooting someone in the head at point blank range five times and them not even having as much as a headache or scratch seemed silly.
The best of the three by far was V. I've never read the graphic novels or heard much about the film but it was a real treat. I know the movie studios say piracy is killing cinema but the very first thing I did after watching the film was go online and find the DVD online to buy. I've not ordered it yet but I'm just waiting for the Xmas rush to finish....
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Interesting
A view of British vs American women. I like how he thinks that spending 700 quid a month on beauty stuff is perfectly normal. I also like the put down from one of his ex's in the comments.
Labels: News
Maybe I just learn to live in a blur?
Although I'm off work all this week and supposed to be relaxing, it's been a bit of an infuriating day really. After spending faaaar to much time playing certain games (see post below) I went to see my opticians.
Long story short. I was ordering contact lenses online (because it's cheap that way) but they refuse to send any if you've not had a checkup in the last year. My old opticians wanted to charge a lot more than I expected for that so I went to Specsavers. Nice folks and over the last couple of months I've had several sets of lenses to try as they adjusted the prescription for maximum comfort/vision. Finally they got it right and three months worth of lenses ordered and paid for. End of story.
Well unfortunately not. I put in the lenses and the vision in my right eye is awful. I pop to see them and they suggest trying anther lens in the pack in case it was a dud. No different so I pop back. They've ordered me a replacement (with the same prescription) just in case both lenses so far were wonky.
Shock horror it still didn't help.
*Sigh*
So I go back today and sit for the sight test.
"Can you read the second from bottom line"
"No"
"Middle line?"
"Nope"
"Top line?"
"Sort of...."
"Well your prescription has changed an awful lot"
When I ask exactly how my eyesight has so dramatically altered in about three weeks and how I can still get great vision by mixing and matching some of the previous lenses they gave me, he seems at a loss. Bottom line - I have to go back with a wiped clean slate and start the whole process from the beginning as they can't figure out the mess they made. Urgh!
Long story short. I was ordering contact lenses online (because it's cheap that way) but they refuse to send any if you've not had a checkup in the last year. My old opticians wanted to charge a lot more than I expected for that so I went to Specsavers. Nice folks and over the last couple of months I've had several sets of lenses to try as they adjusted the prescription for maximum comfort/vision. Finally they got it right and three months worth of lenses ordered and paid for. End of story.
Well unfortunately not. I put in the lenses and the vision in my right eye is awful. I pop to see them and they suggest trying anther lens in the pack in case it was a dud. No different so I pop back. They've ordered me a replacement (with the same prescription) just in case both lenses so far were wonky.
Shock horror it still didn't help.
*Sigh*
So I go back today and sit for the sight test.
"Can you read the second from bottom line"
"No"
"Middle line?"
"Nope"
"Top line?"
"Sort of...."
"Well your prescription has changed an awful lot"
When I ask exactly how my eyesight has so dramatically altered in about three weeks and how I can still get great vision by mixing and matching some of the previous lenses they gave me, he seems at a loss. Bottom line - I have to go back with a wiped clean slate and start the whole process from the beginning as they can't figure out the mess they made. Urgh!
Labels: Personal
Games
Monday, December 17, 2007
Gadgets
Dawn of the dead
When I was younger I used to spend loads of time in my mum's garden - pruning, planting, taking cuttings and that sort of thing. I had fairly green fingers. Now they seem to have gone brown. Far from being a stunning display of flowers, bits fall of my Christmas cactus every time I poke it. And having nudged my aloe vera plant, the whole thing fell off this morning leaving me a pot of bare soil.
Must be something that happens with age.....
Must be something that happens with age.....
Labels: Personal
Friday, December 14, 2007
When the working day is done
My last day of work in 2007 today. Actually, my last hour and a half and bloody hell is it dragging. I was going to fill some of the time up going to an 'IT Forum' meeting for a bit of a laugh but the thing is if you tell people you are going to go to a meeting, you should probably check what time it actually starts. I'd missed most of it before I even noticed...
Still, an hour and a half and I'm officially in Christmas mode - not that Christmassy I'll grant you but more so than last year. Then I went the polar opposite from other years as it was my first xmas on my own. No decorations, no cards, no presents, no turkey (curry ftw) - no Christmas really. All very "Bah humbug" I know. Think I was just reveling in my new freedom.
This year I think there may be Christmas dinner. Maybe even a small tree? And mulled wine but that goes without saying.
I was going to waffle on about Christmas consumerism (linking to stuff like this) and how bad it is for the environment but I've faffed about so much that it is now time to go home anyway. But still, don't be too wasteful this year - that's not what makes a good festive season folks.
Still, an hour and a half and I'm officially in Christmas mode - not that Christmassy I'll grant you but more so than last year. Then I went the polar opposite from other years as it was my first xmas on my own. No decorations, no cards, no presents, no turkey (curry ftw) - no Christmas really. All very "Bah humbug" I know. Think I was just reveling in my new freedom.
This year I think there may be Christmas dinner. Maybe even a small tree? And mulled wine but that goes without saying.
I was going to waffle on about Christmas consumerism (linking to stuff like this) and how bad it is for the environment but I've faffed about so much that it is now time to go home anyway. But still, don't be too wasteful this year - that's not what makes a good festive season folks.
Labels: Personal
Thursday, December 13, 2007
It's that time of year
I don't normally do presents but still....
You may as well have a go at this as well - elf yourself.
(xmas tree thanks to The Presurfer)
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You may as well have a go at this as well - elf yourself.
(xmas tree thanks to The Presurfer)
Labels: Amusing
Environmental
A long but interesting (and depressing) read - China's pollution problem goes global.
Labels: Environmental
In the news
Hehe.
"The 31-year old man wasted no time in arriving at the house, took off his clothes and threw them through the window before entering.Can you really be charged with misusing a phone though?
But it was the wrong house and the householder did not see the funny side. The police were called and the man arrested for being unlawfully on a property."
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Animation
Monday, December 10, 2007
Animation
Arty
Weird
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Games
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Video and animation
In the news
I saw this story the other week but didn't really go much into the background. Then I read the transcript of the police call. Hero or villain - opinions seem divided?
Labels: News
Monday, December 03, 2007
Weird
NASA has apparently done research into the best sexual positions whilst in space.
"The other six needed a special elastic belt and inflatable tunnel."Sounds kinky to me....
Labels: Weird
Amusing
Environmental
He returns
Back from holiday and back at work. Least I've just been easing back into work today and have spent a bit of time trying to sort out recycling in the building. I was amused to hear how someone in another department had thrown a hissy fit at the introduction of recycling (and the dissapearance of their desk bin), thrown rubbish all over the floor and is now facing disciplinary action. Academics - always the professional grownups!
The holiday was great in case you are wondering. No stress, no big plans just pootling about during the day and sitting about drinking wine and eating meringue in the evening. We stayed at Park Farm Holiday cottages which were lovely. Also had a day trip to Blenheim Palace although I found the best bit of that was reading a letter from Winston Churchill's headmaster informing his father that Winston had fallen off his tricycle and suffered "mild concussion of brain".
And my birthday? Well, it was just like the other relaxing days we had but with more presents and more pampering. Actually forgot it was my birthday for most of it. Still trying to forget I'm 33 though....
The holiday was great in case you are wondering. No stress, no big plans just pootling about during the day and sitting about drinking wine and eating meringue in the evening. We stayed at Park Farm Holiday cottages which were lovely. Also had a day trip to Blenheim Palace although I found the best bit of that was reading a letter from Winston Churchill's headmaster informing his father that Winston had fallen off his tricycle and suffered "mild concussion of brain".
And my birthday? Well, it was just like the other relaxing days we had but with more presents and more pampering. Actually forgot it was my birthday for most of it. Still trying to forget I'm 33 though....
Labels: Personal