11th
October
2009
Proof that the cream rises to the top in entertainment: this evening my son spent far too much time discovering Monty Python skits via YouTube. Why, back in my day, we had to wait for the local television station to broadcast them, once a week. Kids have it too easy. At least he’s showing good taste. He could have decided to look for Red Foxx monologues.
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posted in economy |
10th
October
2009
Time to feed the fires of conspiracy theory. Here’s one: the price of fever thermometers is being driven up by hoarding, in case of an influenza pandemic. There; my part is done.
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posted in health |
9th
October
2009
My new resolution is to cease looking outside and wishing that the rain would go away. I don’t really want that to happen. Today has been a parade of efforts to remind me about how important that rain is.
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posted in education |
8th
October
2009
The rule of thumb for our pandemic is clear; don’t get sick. Makes sense to me. After all, the flu isn’t supposed to be fun. No malingering allowed. Keep your hands clean. Cough somewhere else.
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posted in health |
7th
October
2009
Sorry about that, family dog, but the manner in which we take you for a virtual walk in nasty weather changed today. After months of anticipation, Google Streetview went “live” in parts of the city this morning. From now on, the pretend promenade will have scenery to go along with the soundtrack of our lives.
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posted in technology |
6th
October
2009
Free software is wonderful. Imagine finding the perfect tool for your task, and not having to leave money on the table for license fees. Go GNU, etc. Except that for those who have to live in a world with Windows, there’s a dirty little secret. More and more companies are monetizing their gift to the world, by signing deals with the dark side.
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posted in computing, economy |
5th
October
2009
Are you particular about what you read? Not in the context of subject matter, but in the context of physical media. Would you read a newspaper that had been printed on glossy paper, or a magazine printed on cheap newsprint? How about a paperback book that is oversize? Or the really big question, the one that the major publishing houses are trying to get their greasy fingers around: would you read an ebook?
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posted in technology |
4th
October
2009
A moment of introspection, please. This evening, I finally sat down and watched the documentary released back at the start of the summer, with those old musical friends, the Moody Blues. For an hour, I sat in among six hundred thousand others and listened to a concert that almost was lost to history. The Isle Of Wight, in August 1970, wasn’t even on my personal radar.
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posted in music |
3rd
October
2009
Here’s a trick for anyone using a netbook. Since your machine doesn’t have an optical drive (by definition) but some software will only load if there is one, simply install an emulator. I’ve started using a freeware program that does a great job: Virtual CloneDrive by Slysoft.
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posted in technology |
2nd
October
2009
I’ve been playing with my first personalized Sidebar Gadget, and I love the concept. My weather server (once I find the missing link) will generate an XML file containing a data set, and upload that file to a web server for public access. Then, a little “gadget” that someone developed will display my local temperature and windspeed sets in something approaching real time. It will. I believe.
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posted in computing, media |
