What's Doing

As I’m known as someone who has a bit of inkling into the world of technology friends and family often ask my advice. After they have signed the non-disclosure agreement and agreed to my very reasonable fee structure (available on request) they get the benefit of my "wisdom".

This weekend was no different. We spent a lovely time with the Lewis family, and the IMOT decided to quiz me about his domestic computing set up over a couple of cold drinks. He was insistent that he had a touch screen in the kitchen connected to a computer in the study (upstairs) so that he could play his MP3s in either room. He was a little distressed when I suggested that the only sensible solution, currently, was to have two computers linked via a network. Outraged was none too happy either, as she didn’t wish to give up the counter space in her kitchen. I mentioned that he could get a wireless MP3 player, perhaps a Squeezebox but that wasn’t really good enough. For starters it doesn’t have a touch screen.

Well, I think I’ve found what you are looking for IMOT. Yesterday Bill Gates demonstrated the home PC of tomorrow.

There are two problems with this, of course. Firstly its a Microsoft product so it’s going to cost you and not really work until version 4 or 5*. Secondly, and probably more importantly, it’s only a pipe dream and no one is making it yet.

Still, it won’t be the first time someone wants technology today that isn’t going to be built until tomorrow.

* This isn’t a dig at Microsoft (well, not much) because the same is true of every other company’s vapourware.

Chris Applegate has an interesting take on the home secretary’s latest ID card justification. Well, at least we know now how to deter anyone wishing harm on the country – unless they are a member of the cabinet of course.

[Courtesy of the ever vigilant Simon Brunning]

Oh, and in case you thought that death would be an escape, think again.

It’s all tinky winky’s fault. We went to see the very pregnant Palmers at the weekend. Whilst we were there tinky winky (or Tim as he is sometimes known) whipped out his camera and took a few snaps of the boy wonder. He then put them on his website and sent me an email that same evening.

SWMBO took one look and proclaimed that the pictures were much better than any I had taken to date. Click on the thumbnail to see a sample (cut down from it’s original 3 megabytes though). She insisted that I rectify the situation immediately. I, however, could put a fairly accurate price on the equipment that tinky winky had been wielding and was a little fearful of parting with that much cash.

She worked on me though. Wore me down. Relentless she was. And I buckled, because I know my place. I didn’t go the full monty though, I got the slightly cheaper version. Think of it as flexing my independence muscles. We are now the proud owners of a Canon EOS300D.

Which is nice.

So, seriously, how do we stop dangerous loony?

ID cards will stop terrorism because everyone can be identified, unless they are visiting the UK for less than three months. Say hello to (as the Reg says) "away day terrorists"

We also discover that the legislation will include provisions for public services only being available to those with ID cards (thus making them compulsory for poor people) but we won’t be forced to carry them all the time – until they amend the bill of course. Any bets on how long that will take?

Doomed. I’m off to Fax your MP to let my elected representative know what I think.

The Home Secretary has started to fast track ID cards. Bah bleeding humbug.

Here you go – rockers Marillion back in charts. I, of course, bought three copies. Bloody marvellous single.

Friday night is a funny old thing. A few years ago I wouldn’t be seen dead at home until well after the pubs had closed. Today? Well today is a different kettle of fish.

I’ve finished all of my chores (apart from unloading the last lot of baby gear from the steriliser), got a nicely chilled nelson on the go, the stereo is playing the new Marillion album and I’m surfing this here intarweb. Which all adds up to my own version of bliss. You may think it’s sad – and you may well be right – but I’m happy, and that’s what counts.

Perhaps this could be the way we all celebrate England’s national day.

As a very well written chap once said;

"Cry God For Harry! England and St George!"

Happy St. Georges day everyone. It’s not usually celebrated much but there seems to be the start of a movement (in the media at least) to mark it more notedly and I fully support it.

There is, of course, then the question of how to mark our national day. The Irish get drunk, the French storm their prisons, the Australians hold a barbecue but what should we do? My suggestion, and one that I’ll be carrying out tonight whilst SWMBO is out with the girls, is to form an orderly queue for a cup of tea. Alternatively I could down a few nelsons and start a fight.

Maybe there is a third way …

According to a Mori poll the public of this great country are ‘happy to carry ID cards’.

Dear sweet lord. Has no one read my previous posts? The only bright spot in this sea of idiocy is that "almost half those surveyed said they would not want to pay for the cards." Tough luck suckers, you’re paying regardless. Even if the lovely government types issues you a card without a fee you still have to pay for the implementation through taxation – and it isn’t going to be cheap.

Pack your bags SWMBO, we’re moving to somewhere less insane.