A conspiracy I tell thee. Karma is conspiring against me.
Why? My car has broken down again* and I bet it's going to cost a gazillion pounds to fix. And I can't afford to pay for it because I've just paid for
It to be fixed the last time (two days ago)
My car insurance (yesterday)
Our holiday (today)
Which leaves approximately a lot of money in debt. It appears that unless I change my name to Earl, Karma is going to carry on being a right old sod.
* The ABS light has just come on. I can carry on driving it and it'll brake just fine, but it's still there, taunting me with it's yellowy glowiness. It knows something I don't, the bastard.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Ethics.
The "good book" I mentioned I was reading on the train in an earlier blog was The Rough Guide to Ethical Shopping. It was (somewhat surprisingly) mostly well balanced between the snap judgement idea of "ethics" and longer term ramifications, but I can't help but think it raises many more questions than any book could answer in 350 pages.
Of course all multi-national companies aren't inherently evil. They exist, and occasionally they do some very dubious things, but a lot of the big brands try to do something to counter this.
I am reminded of my struggle with Tesco. They exist, and me boycotting it really won't have much effect - in fact, I am certain that they have regained my missing profits through new customers many hundredfold over in the time I have been avoiding their doors. I mock people when they announce their intentions to shop their, and they usually reply that they have very little choice in the matter - that is both the point, and utterly incorrect. There are alternatives - they just might not always be seen.
I avoid Tesco for very petty reasons, but the more I learn of them, the more I become determined not to darken their aisles again. This is probably partly to justify within my own mind not returning there, but also because I genuinely don't like some of their practices.
But what are the ramifications of this? Do I roll these same personal judgements against other
businesses, and where do I stop?
Do I stop buying Organic veg grown abroad - or anything for that matter - because of the pollution caused by the transportation of something I really do not need?
Or do I keep buying it, helping to support the workers who produce what I want?
Do I stop buying it, because my custom is merely supporting a trade which destroys commerce on a local level, both within the farflung country and within these merry shores?
The truth of the matter is that I do try to buy local, and I do try to buy organic. We've started with a box scheme, and we walk to the butchers each week. We're lucky that we even have a Fishmonger on the market now, a trade which seems to be slowing dying off. We still shop at a supermarket - Waitrose - but only for bits and pieces we can't get elsewhere. I keep an eye on the country of origins nowadays, and am always surprised (check out the fresh herbs, they're always worth a giggle).
But is this necessarily the right thing to do? Sure, my food is fresher, better for me, and better for my local community. But what about the man I cannot see? I wonder if the missing penny from my custom will ever be replace, let alone a hundredfold over.
I simplify of course. I could add oil (the petrol for the delivery of my weekly box must come into cnsideration), cotton, man-made fibres, peat, free-range food, even rice into the mix, but I'm sure you get the gist.
We do define our own lines in life. I guess I'm just finding mine. I do know this, though: my line still does not go near Tesco.
Anyway, enough of this. Have a cat.
Of course all multi-national companies aren't inherently evil. They exist, and occasionally they do some very dubious things, but a lot of the big brands try to do something to counter this.
I am reminded of my struggle with Tesco. They exist, and me boycotting it really won't have much effect - in fact, I am certain that they have regained my missing profits through new customers many hundredfold over in the time I have been avoiding their doors. I mock people when they announce their intentions to shop their, and they usually reply that they have very little choice in the matter - that is both the point, and utterly incorrect. There are alternatives - they just might not always be seen.
I avoid Tesco for very petty reasons, but the more I learn of them, the more I become determined not to darken their aisles again. This is probably partly to justify within my own mind not returning there, but also because I genuinely don't like some of their practices.
But what are the ramifications of this? Do I roll these same personal judgements against other
businesses, and where do I stop?
Do I stop buying Organic veg grown abroad - or anything for that matter - because of the pollution caused by the transportation of something I really do not need?
Or do I keep buying it, helping to support the workers who produce what I want?
Do I stop buying it, because my custom is merely supporting a trade which destroys commerce on a local level, both within the farflung country and within these merry shores?
The truth of the matter is that I do try to buy local, and I do try to buy organic. We've started with a box scheme, and we walk to the butchers each week. We're lucky that we even have a Fishmonger on the market now, a trade which seems to be slowing dying off. We still shop at a supermarket - Waitrose - but only for bits and pieces we can't get elsewhere. I keep an eye on the country of origins nowadays, and am always surprised (check out the fresh herbs, they're always worth a giggle).
But is this necessarily the right thing to do? Sure, my food is fresher, better for me, and better for my local community. But what about the man I cannot see? I wonder if the missing penny from my custom will ever be replace, let alone a hundredfold over.
I simplify of course. I could add oil (the petrol for the delivery of my weekly box must come into cnsideration), cotton, man-made fibres, peat, free-range food, even rice into the mix, but I'm sure you get the gist.
We do define our own lines in life. I guess I'm just finding mine. I do know this, though: my line still does not go near Tesco.
Anyway, enough of this. Have a cat.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Email.
From: Kouros
Sent: 27 April 2006 16:31
To: AE
Subject: CW and Email
Hi AE,
Just so that you are aware, there is a file that AP has sent CW which he cannot get into (blog note: AP is on annual leave throughout the course of this conversation). I requested that he send it to me to make sure there is nothing wrong with it, and then I would send him back instructions on opening it - however, I am concerned that he did not understand.
I did talk him through forwarding the email on to me, but he did seem very vague when I spoke with him and the email from him has not arrived.
If he happens to speak with you, please can you ask him to send the file to me? I cannot check the details for him otherwise.
Best regards,
Kouros
-----
From: AE
Sent: 28 April 2006 15:10
To: AP
Cc: Kouros
Subject: FW: CW and Email
Hello AP
Can you please send a hard copy of this file to CW.
Many thanks
Regards
AE.
-----
From: Kouros
Sent: 28 April 2006 15:14
To: AE
Subject: RE: CW and Email
Hi AE,
Do we know what this file is yet? AP may have sent more than one file to CW...
All the best,
Kouros
------
From: AE
Sent: 28 April 2006 15:22
To: Kouros; AP
Subject: RE: CW and Email
Hello Kouros
No. AP, can you advise please.
Regards
AE.
*bangs head against keyboard repeatedly until the pretty stars arrive and everything is calm again*
Sent: 27 April 2006 16:31
To: AE
Subject: CW and Email
Hi AE,
Just so that you are aware, there is a file that AP has sent CW which he cannot get into (blog note: AP is on annual leave throughout the course of this conversation). I requested that he send it to me to make sure there is nothing wrong with it, and then I would send him back instructions on opening it - however, I am concerned that he did not understand.
I did talk him through forwarding the email on to me, but he did seem very vague when I spoke with him and the email from him has not arrived.
If he happens to speak with you, please can you ask him to send the file to me? I cannot check the details for him otherwise.
Best regards,
Kouros
-----
From: AE
Sent: 28 April 2006 15:10
To: AP
Cc: Kouros
Subject: FW: CW and Email
Hello AP
Can you please send a hard copy of this file to CW.
Many thanks
Regards
AE.
-----
From: Kouros
Sent: 28 April 2006 15:14
To: AE
Subject: RE: CW and Email
Hi AE,
Do we know what this file is yet? AP may have sent more than one file to CW...
All the best,
Kouros
------
From: AE
Sent: 28 April 2006 15:22
To: Kouros; AP
Subject: RE: CW and Email
Hello Kouros
No. AP, can you advise please.
Regards
AE.
*bangs head against keyboard repeatedly until the pretty stars arrive and everything is calm again*
Thursday, April 27, 2006
This.
For the first time this week, I drove to work, but more on that in a moment.
Firstly, it's no secret I am quite the fan of B3ta - I reckon most people who read this are likely to have perused it once or twice at least. In my honest opinion, it's gone a bit downhill - not a fault of anyone in particular, maybe just the regulars being either taken for granted or moving on to bigger and better hings.
This is probably the best thing I've seen there for a while. It plucks at the heartstrings, and I'm even allergic to rabbits so find it hard to feel sad for the fuckers when I run over them.
Back to the bike - As above, I drove to work today. It was nice waking up at the same time I would be getting on the train, and not actually getting up until I would have been nearing Salisbury. Swings and roundabouts.
In the end the bill came to £250 - for new shocks (both sides), springs (both sides) and top mount (whatever that is). The nice chappie at ATS knocked off the labour charge, probably because we had a good moan together about how everyone is so "service expectant" nowadays that when things are out of the service persons control the customer expects an above-relative kickback.
The irony is that because I gave him a shoulder to whinge on, I did get an above-relative kickback.
Meh. I make up for it in the day job. My favourites did include the day I taught someone how to use Google* but my number one spot is currently filled by today's experience. Before the bell tolled I spent a goodly portion of my working day trying explain to a sales agent how to forward an email.
Yes.
How to forward an email.
They had received an email from a colleague with an attachment they couldn't open. They couldn't or wouldn't tell me what the attachment was, so I asked them to forward it - expecting it was a PDF format, or maybe a spreadsheet, and I could give a relatively simple solution.
But no. They couldn't grasp the concept of clicking on "Forward" and then typing in my email address. And despite the fact that I did not send them the email, that they are not a direct employee of either myself or the company I work for, this was MY FAULT.
I don't claim to be an IT wizard. In fact, I know I am severely lacking. I am a whole evolutionary gap below Stu. But there is surely, in 2006, a base level of proficiency that is necessary before entering a workplace where you will be expected to use computers on a daily basis?
*breathes in*
Cnuts. The lot of 'em.
* I reckon he was just lazy, and wanted me to do the research for him. I sent him false data, and he was praised in front of the board for his hard work. Go figure.
Firstly, it's no secret I am quite the fan of B3ta - I reckon most people who read this are likely to have perused it once or twice at least. In my honest opinion, it's gone a bit downhill - not a fault of anyone in particular, maybe just the regulars being either taken for granted or moving on to bigger and better hings.
This is probably the best thing I've seen there for a while. It plucks at the heartstrings, and I'm even allergic to rabbits so find it hard to feel sad for the fuckers when I run over them.
Back to the bike - As above, I drove to work today. It was nice waking up at the same time I would be getting on the train, and not actually getting up until I would have been nearing Salisbury. Swings and roundabouts.
In the end the bill came to £250 - for new shocks (both sides), springs (both sides) and top mount (whatever that is). The nice chappie at ATS knocked off the labour charge, probably because we had a good moan together about how everyone is so "service expectant" nowadays that when things are out of the service persons control the customer expects an above-relative kickback.
The irony is that because I gave him a shoulder to whinge on, I did get an above-relative kickback.
Meh. I make up for it in the day job. My favourites did include the day I taught someone how to use Google* but my number one spot is currently filled by today's experience. Before the bell tolled I spent a goodly portion of my working day trying explain to a sales agent how to forward an email.
Yes.
How to forward an email.
They had received an email from a colleague with an attachment they couldn't open. They couldn't or wouldn't tell me what the attachment was, so I asked them to forward it - expecting it was a PDF format, or maybe a spreadsheet, and I could give a relatively simple solution.
But no. They couldn't grasp the concept of clicking on "Forward" and then typing in my email address. And despite the fact that I did not send them the email, that they are not a direct employee of either myself or the company I work for, this was MY FAULT.
I don't claim to be an IT wizard. In fact, I know I am severely lacking. I am a whole evolutionary gap below Stu. But there is surely, in 2006, a base level of proficiency that is necessary before entering a workplace where you will be expected to use computers on a daily basis?
*breathes in*
Cnuts. The lot of 'em.
* I reckon he was just lazy, and wanted me to do the research for him. I sent him false data, and he was praised in front of the board for his hard work. Go figure.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
On taking bikes on trains.
- It's much easier than you might think. Booking isn't really necessary unless you're heading into or out of a big city.
- The bays allegedly designed for two bikes to rest side by side are *tiny* though, and barely wide enough to get the handlebars in.
- People trying to get onto the same train you are trying to get off are *rude*. Think, people! If you wait for me to get off before barging on you would have more space than the two inch gap between me, the bike, and the cabin wall. Whatever happened to manners?
- Trains take bloody ages to get anywhere.
- And they are expensive too.
The car is still brokefied. Apparently the spring has damaged the shock absorber too - they were going to recommend replacing both shocks, until I pointed out this was done just a year ago. I hope that this won't make the pap-pap a moose to drive.
So for one more day at least I have taken the bike to work. It's actually mostly a pleasant experience, much more so than driving. But getting up at six to get to work for eight (and even that's a half hour earlier than my normal work hours) isn't funny, nor is the wearing of shorts when it's cold outside. I'm just glad it's not January.
On the plus side, I get to watch the deer on the way from the train window, read a good book, cycle past ducks swimming in the river and write a blog before I even start work. That's got to be worth something?
Monday, April 24, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Pap-pap.
Something on my car went "ping" and then "clunk". I'm not especially technically minded, but those didn't sound like good noises to me, especially since they seemed to come from the direction of one of the wheels.
I took it to the garage, and not wanting to look like a complete numpty I guessed what the problem may be - possibly something to do with the shock absorbers?
Well, it turns out I wasn't a million miles off, as a springy thing attached to the shock absorber had snapped and hung in a downwardly direction looking particularly sad for itself. Chappie at the garage suggested that it would probably not be sensible to drive it too far, and as I was not in much of a position to disagree, I didn't, and left the car with him to mend on Monday when the part comes in.
Which means I do not have a car to get to work with. Or to get home with. Or indeed to go pick the car up with.
I now have a couple of options :-
So I'm off to give my bike the once over. Fingers crossed I'll get to work on time* and that I don't get a puncture on the way**. I'm quite out of practice after plenty of promises last year to ride every day - I haven't ridden more than about 8 miles in any one session, and tomorrow I'll be riding closer to 30 (though hopefully with a snooze at my desk in between).
*Not really that bothered if I don't.
** Not really that bothered if I do, as would provide a nice excuse if I am late.
I took it to the garage, and not wanting to look like a complete numpty I guessed what the problem may be - possibly something to do with the shock absorbers?
Well, it turns out I wasn't a million miles off, as a springy thing attached to the shock absorber had snapped and hung in a downwardly direction looking particularly sad for itself. Chappie at the garage suggested that it would probably not be sensible to drive it too far, and as I was not in much of a position to disagree, I didn't, and left the car with him to mend on Monday when the part comes in.
Which means I do not have a car to get to work with. Or to get home with. Or indeed to go pick the car up with.
I now have a couple of options :-
- take the train, which goes miles out of the way and takes about two hours to get somewhere that's only a half hour drive away.
- cadge a lift from someone (reasonable, but I live a long way from anyone else in my office and they would need to go out of their way to pick me up - not something I like making people do).
- cycle. I guesstimate it's about 17 miles off road, over quite hilly terrain.
So I'm off to give my bike the once over. Fingers crossed I'll get to work on time* and that I don't get a puncture on the way**. I'm quite out of practice after plenty of promises last year to ride every day - I haven't ridden more than about 8 miles in any one session, and tomorrow I'll be riding closer to 30 (though hopefully with a snooze at my desk in between).
*Not really that bothered if I don't.
** Not really that bothered if I do, as would provide a nice excuse if I am late.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Herbs.
Or rather: Fake Herbs.
Fake Herbs priced about twice as much as it would cost to buy a pot, some seeds, and grow your own real ones.
Fake Herbs which are completely unusable, and actually don't look all that attractive.
Fake Herbs in the same aisle as the video explaining why you do not need to eat healthily or excercise regularly to lose weight, instead you only need to wear granny knickers.
Is it just me?
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Football.
Berlin's tallest building, a television tower, will have a giant 32 metre football placed on top for the World Cup.
As opposed to a normal-sized 32-metre football, of course.
As opposed to a normal-sized 32-metre football, of course.
Monday, April 10, 2006
How much?
For what I did with the rest of my day, read the post below. While I was relaxing in the evening, I made this.
I wish. It was made by a very fine artist called Bert Monroy who spent almost a year on the above image.
I've seen the image linked to as "How much RAM does this guy have?"... but how much time does this guy have? The detail on this is amazing, but it still highlights how the human eye recognises CGI as opposed to real images. I could not for an instant believe that this is real.
This isn't a case of suspension of disbelief. In the context of the movie in question, this image is real to me, but maybe only because I know it is unreal. CGI as well, I am aware from the outset it is also a fake, but because it is presented as an unreal image, rather than an attempt to recreate the real world my mind accepts it as true. It is a fiction. As our artists are becoming better (or at least using better tools) at recreating the real world are they losing the sense of detatchment we require to believe in their authenticity?
I wish. It was made by a very fine artist called Bert Monroy who spent almost a year on the above image.
I've seen the image linked to as "How much RAM does this guy have?"... but how much time does this guy have? The detail on this is amazing, but it still highlights how the human eye recognises CGI as opposed to real images. I could not for an instant believe that this is real.
This isn't a case of suspension of disbelief. In the context of the movie in question, this image is real to me, but maybe only because I know it is unreal. CGI as well, I am aware from the outset it is also a fake, but because it is presented as an unreal image, rather than an attempt to recreate the real world my mind accepts it as true. It is a fiction. As our artists are becoming better (or at least using better tools) at recreating the real world are they losing the sense of detatchment we require to believe in their authenticity?
Kouros Kourosism's Day Off.
What's that? How was my day, you ask?
I tend to waste random days off, usually sat in front of the computer reading some rubbish I would be better off not knowing, or worse still aimlessly wandering around the house looking for something to do. As much as I waste them they are bliss in that I am not in the office doing what I normally do.
*ponders the job*
Where was I? Oh yes... so today was a random day off - there was no particular need for it, I just felt like having one, and by having one I have the benefit that I only have a three day week to go back to. Lovely.
And even better... I didn't waste my day! After a slow start, I eventually caught up with an old friend and we went down the pub for some lunch, then took his two (massive) dogs out for a long walk. They're as big as me* and there are two of them, so they did most of the walking and we tried our best to keep them under control. I should probably explain that his family own a stupidly large house with a stupid garden attached... with a field attached to that. The dogs don't get a walk everyday but rather spend their life chasing rabbits and such like. They get more excercise than your average Labrador and so are quite strong as well as big.
While out walking we chatted a lot about both our plans, and him having just finished (or rather finishing) his degree he blinded me with science and then talked me out of doing something rather silly. I always appreciate him for his honesty and ability to prevent me from getting out of my depth.
That, and I appreciate his fondness of vampire ducks, but that's another story.
Now I am home, and about to start tea... the sun is shining, I have had a nice walk, the house is airing out and I feel... content.
So yes, it's been a great day, thank you.
* No, they weren't Scottish Terriers
I tend to waste random days off, usually sat in front of the computer reading some rubbish I would be better off not knowing, or worse still aimlessly wandering around the house looking for something to do. As much as I waste them they are bliss in that I am not in the office doing what I normally do.
*ponders the job*
Where was I? Oh yes... so today was a random day off - there was no particular need for it, I just felt like having one, and by having one I have the benefit that I only have a three day week to go back to. Lovely.
And even better... I didn't waste my day! After a slow start, I eventually caught up with an old friend and we went down the pub for some lunch, then took his two (massive) dogs out for a long walk. They're as big as me* and there are two of them, so they did most of the walking and we tried our best to keep them under control. I should probably explain that his family own a stupidly large house with a stupid garden attached... with a field attached to that. The dogs don't get a walk everyday but rather spend their life chasing rabbits and such like. They get more excercise than your average Labrador and so are quite strong as well as big.
While out walking we chatted a lot about both our plans, and him having just finished (or rather finishing) his degree he blinded me with science and then talked me out of doing something rather silly. I always appreciate him for his honesty and ability to prevent me from getting out of my depth.
That, and I appreciate his fondness of vampire ducks, but that's another story.
Now I am home, and about to start tea... the sun is shining, I have had a nice walk, the house is airing out and I feel... content.
So yes, it's been a great day, thank you.
* No, they weren't Scottish Terriers
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Meh.
These are the 25 most popular overall books at What Should I Read Next?
| I liked it! | I didn't like it! | I want to read it! |
| The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams |
| The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger |
| The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald |
| To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee |
| 1984 - George Orwell |
| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling |
| The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger |
| His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman |
| Animal Farm: A Fairy Story - George Orwell |
| The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien |
| Life of Pi - Yann Martel |
| Catch-22 - Joseph Heller |
| The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon |
| Lord of the Flies - William Golding |
| Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen |
| One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
| Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut |
| The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold |
| The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini |
| Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden |
| Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card |
| The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien |
| Angels and Demons - Dan Brown |
| Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk |
Eight different categories to try!
Buy your books at Amazon US or Amazon UK
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Follow-up.
A couple of posts ago, I had a bit of a whinge about how the media doesn't ever seem to follow up its own stories. A current case I mentioned was the Jyllands-Posten controversy.
Considering that it was obviously big news at the time, a World Event if you will, surely it would be sensible to have this on the headlines?
But perhaps not. Except for one small article in the Times, at least in the UK.
I don't want to get into the debate about which side of the line I put myself in this actual story - my only argument is that for better or for worse we should be shown how the story ends, not just how it begins.
Considering that it was obviously big news at the time, a World Event if you will, surely it would be sensible to have this on the headlines?
But perhaps not. Except for one small article in the Times, at least in the UK.
I don't want to get into the debate about which side of the line I put myself in this actual story - my only argument is that for better or for worse we should be shown how the story ends, not just how it begins.
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