Navigation

Archive | General

Making Money – Terry Pratchett

By on October 6, 2007 in General

Terry Pratchett’s latest book featuring the Moist von Lipwig character who was introduced in the excellent Going Postal . I didn’t think that Making Money was as good as the other recent books in the Discworld series. For one thing it felt a bit short and rushed at the end. Was still a good read though. Looks like Moist will get another starring role in a book about taxes. Allegedly, Terry Pratchett said at a book signing in the USA that it would be called Raising Taxes.

Making Money cover Click Picture for larger view

BTW: I read this on my Sony Reader.

Car choices redux…

By on October 4, 2007 in General, Technology

I wrote previously about choices for a new car when my current leasing contract ends. I had a Honda Civic Hybrid on loan today for a test drive. I love it. It has a 1.4 litre petrol engine but it feels much more like 1.8 litre. It uses electric motors to assist the engine when required, and the batteries get charged when you brake or go downhill. The hybrid feels as responsive as my current 1.8 litre Renault Laguna, plus it’s really nice to drive. Weird getting used to the engine turning off when you stop moving! Going to call the leasing company and find out how much the 1.4 IMA EX version with built in Sat Nav costs.

Lobster boy

By on September 16, 2007 in General

A few years ago I was in San Diego and got the head burnt off me by the Sun. I learnt my lesson then and don’t venture out in sunny climes now without a hat. I’ve now learnt the same lesson for my arms and neck! During a walk from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco yesterday, I got sunburnt on my arms and neck a lot. Lobster Boy rides again! Next time I’m walking along the sea front in San Francisco, it’ll be Factor 50 sun block for me (next time will either be MacWorld in January 2008 or the Apple WWDC in June 2008).

Posted from my iPod touch.

Update: Pictures from said stroll along the sea front are available here.

iPod touch post

By on September 15, 2007 in General

So I read on TUAW that some iPod touch units were starting to hit the Apple stores in the USA. So I hightailed it round to the San Francisco store to see if I could get one. I did. A 16GB one. There are unboxing photos in the web gallery linked on the right. In addition to being an iPod, it’s also a WiFi enabled Internet device. If you are reading this post then it seems that I can post to this site using the built in Safari web browser. More details and thoughts on the device to follow.

Update: Post spell checked and categories set from my MacBook Pro a few hours after posting from the iPod touch.

Song of the Day: Back Chat (Live) – Queen

By on July 27, 2007 in General

The Song of the Day category is for listing any song or piece of music, that I’ve heard on a particular day, that has reached into my brain and lit up the pleasure centres! There won’t be a post every day I expect.

Today a song that I really enjoyed when it came up on random play on the iPod in the car, was Back Chat live from Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl. Brilliant stuff. John Deacon’s bass playing is superb. I love this track from the Hot Space album. I was at the 1982 Milton Keynes Bowl concert. Right at the front at Brian May’s side of the stage. He does a sizzling lead break in Back Chat 🙂

Canicula? Say what?

By on July 24, 2007 in General

Canicula. What does it mean?

Canicula is the Latin name of Sirius, The Dog Star.

Canicula
(||Ca*nic”u*la) n. [L.canicula, lit., a little dog, a dim. of canis dog;
cf. F. canicule.] (Astron.)The Dog Star; Sirius.

Sirius is in the constellation Canis Major and is the brightest star in the sky. More
info about Sirius can be found on Wikipedia.

Do you want some cheese with that…?

By on June 28, 2007 in General

Scivener may be a nice app. But it’s developer should dry his eyes. Jeez. The ADC Select membership includes pre-release versions of MacOS X. No promise is made about when versions will be made available. Attendance at WWDC is a separate issue. Many of the sessions at the conference discuss features that are in the latest Leopard beta so it makes sense for attendees to have access there and then. Apple have already said that they will post a Leopard beta for Select ADC subscribers in the near future.

New Queen & Paul Rodgers album and tour next year?

By on June 24, 2007 in General

Possibly. Paul Rodgers has been talking to Billboard.com. Apparently there are nine songs recorded for the new album. Some interesting insight into how Brian May holds the different layers of a song in his head and directs the recording of each bit individually. It then comes together in the edit. BTW it says in the interview that BHM has just got his PhD in Astronomy. According to Brian over on his site (see entry entitled Musing at Imperial College posted 18th June 2007), he has just finished the thesis but has still to submit it, do his defence and present to the Imperial College Astronomy Department. So still a bit of work to do. If you’re reading this, good luck!Anyone else doing a PhD should check out the PhD student comic strip. Actually that’s worth putting in your RSS reader even if you’re not doing a PhD.