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Techno-tastic ChristmasDecember 1st, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins This weekends papers saw the normal list of ideas for Christmas presents rolled out each year, highlighting what's in and what's out. The Daily Telegraph provided a list of techno-tastic presents categories by age, see the usual suspects like the new iPhone, nintendo DS lite and Nintendo's Wii; but I was suprised to see "Ubuntu Linux" listed ... Ubuntu Linux Price: Free From: unbuntu.com "It's not really in the true spirit of capitalism, but the Linux operating system makes a great gift. Intsall it on a friend's PC late on Christmas Eve, and give them an alternative to Windows Vista." I think it's a great idea, but trying to work out the recipients reaction when they boot up their PC over the Christmas break and find a Linux operating system booting up! What's more interesting is that a main stream newspaper included a Linux kernal within a list like this. The acceptance of open source software seems to be making it into main stream computing with all sorts of ideas like the Coliseum Project by The Anvil Organisation who are working on a project to provide home uses with a Linux server with features including full Digital Video Recorder, Music Centre and Internet Gateway. 
October / NovemberNovember 18th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins October was chaotic, having finished massive amounts of work in September my body finally caved in and gave up on me, so was off work for a week trying to get back up to speed, but alas nothing is that easy as I had to return to work before getting much rest! The back log of work has been a nightmare and one of the staff (who had being on long term sick) resigned which added to the pressure of work. But we have managed to claw our way back and things seem to be getting a little better. We have won some good contracts and the project management has improved, which has taken some of the pressure off all the team. The end of the year seems to be drawing closer and we have settled back into the groove. November brought sad news, with my father finally loosing the battle against cancer and passed away on the 1st November. I was visiting a new client and took some photos before I heard, but have posted these on one of the gallaries (autumn) in his memory. It seemed fitting to dedicate these beautifull autumnal images to his memory. The house renovations are well on the way to being completed by the end of the month (see renovation project), just in time for Christmas! American GansterNovember 18th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins We went to see "American Gangster" last night, a true story of Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington) who turned the American ganster scene on its head in the late '60s and '70s. Without spoiling the film for those of you who have not seen it yet, there is a fantastic scene where Richie Roberts (played by Russell Crow) is interviewing Lucas when he explains his hatred for the police; "when I was six a watched a policeman ram a rifle in my brother mouth so hard it broke his two front teeth, just before he broke his skull with two gun cartridges!" The hatred of this menicing charactor who was a herion dealer in Harlem (New York) was incredible. Ridley Scotts powerful movie really opens the lid on the curruption within the New York drug enforcement agencies of the day ... Formula 1November 18th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins A dramatic end to the season and although Lewis Hamilton missed out on becoming the first rookie drive to clint the championship title, he should be proud of his achievements. What a fantastic season, knocking the Formula 1 paddock for six! More the pitty that the season seemed to be the most political in years with Ferrari Gate, etc., Lets hope next year we can see a sport the concentrates on the track rather than the off teh track antics of this season. The final straw for me was Maclaren contesting the race results of the final race over alleged breaches of regulations by BMW! If you want to keep up with the news before next season I can recommend the BlogF1. Cutting code, Lewis and Postman Pat!October 5th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins Being extremely by busy at work in recent weeks as I had to complete a six week job in ten days, nice to know I can sill do it but was a tough one to get done within the deadline! Anyway made it and did some really cool work with Pete Brill (.net Mentor), so will resume normal rant in due course. Just one thing to get off my chest this morning, what the hell are they doing in F1 this session, see recent blog about Lewis Hamilton on sidepod.com! Bernie, I know you want everything to go down to the final race but this is silly, don't remeber you doing this when Senna / Prost took each other out in Japan .... Oh! ... and one other thing, what is postman pat doing! Lets bring the country to its knees, crible small business, blah, blah, blah! Is this meant to win them friends or just hold the country to ransom, thought Maggie had stopped this sort of crap! BT Broadband Customer Support sucks!August 26th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins Clients often complain about technical support; this is often a result of frustration, technical ignorance, pressures of work, etc., I know that when a client has an issue we try to get the problem rectified as soon as possible. This weekend I needed internet access to work from home, but on Saturday I was unable to get a connection. My first port of call was to check tyhe router, cables and telephone conections. Once I had done this I re-booted the router, checked all the sttings and then contacted BT Broadband. This is where my problems started! OK, I know we all hate Indian call centers, but I really thought these had moved on! Alas NOT! The first technical support staff member asked me to check the router, cables, etc., My frustrations grew when the technical support asked half a dozen times what router I had, how many lights were on, how lights are normally on ... What made this worse was I could not understand his accent and repeatedly had to as him to repeat himself. The obtuse politeness didn't help either. There really is no point saying "sorry" unless it can be meant sincereley and the situtaion is not repeated. I was promised two times that an engineer would return my call and both times I had to phone them, no information was provided on what was going on leaving me frustrated an angry, grrrr! ... and now they have said they will send an engineer out on Wednesday, now that's what I call service! A policemans view ...August 13th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins I was talking to a motor cycle traffic policeman over the weekend and asked him about speed cameras amongst other things. I have to say he has changed my opinion on speed cameras and the various arguments for and against them. It was shocking to hear someone whose life is spent on the road to speak so openly. He spent sometime working with speed cameras and said that in the nine months he worked within the camera partnership, never once did he hear the words "revenue" mentioned. He also showed his irratation for the various speed camera detection systems, which in his opinion where an admission of selfishness (on the part of the driver). I have to admit that he has changed my views on cameras and the way our roads are policed. I mentioned the Highways Agency Patrols and he said that unfortuantly this was just a dilution of profession policeman that had previously being moved into other areas, like armed response. Seems we all give the police a bad time, but most of them are just trying to do a job :-) The person in question will no doubt recognise his comments, thanks! Alonso vs HamiltonJuly 24th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins We are all bad people according to the Bishop of Carlisle!July 10th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins Last weekend one of the lead articles adjacent to car bombs in London and Glasgow was about the Bishop of Carlisle who said that the weather we are having this year that is causing so much misery for people caught in floods is all down to our greed! OK, this will really pull in the crowds to churches across the country, or was he thinking of Sodom and Gomorrah! Charles Kennedy and the smoking ban ...July 10th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins Now I am only a mere mortal so although I am a smoker have to abide by the new regulations, but Charles Kennedy (MP) obviously thinks he is above the law having been caught smoking on the train down to the west country (perphaps he thinks he is still in the Houses of Parliment where MPs can still smoke in the members club). Smacks of hypocrisy! James May's colouring project (cont.,)June 29th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins The results were published in last weeks paper, I will leave you to come to a conclusion. Just what would our German friends think of this? Perphaps we should ask the Polish after their comments at the EU summit last week. James highlighted one particulat entry who sent in a bare outline with "like a w****r burning fossil fuels" scribbled on its roof, love people with a sense of humour, maybe we could hook them uo with the Polish! 
Fosters!June 29th, 2007Posted by Charlie Collins What is it about small dogs! 
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June 26th, 2007 |
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