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Bloody Windows Spyware

By on February 5, 2006 in General

A guy I know, but haven’t seen for ages, arrived at my door the other day and told me his Windows laptop was displaying ads and stuff after his kid went to some site on the Internet. I was just heading into the office so couldn’t fix it. I’ve decided I’m not going to either. I don’t need that crap in my life anymore. I’ve told him to take it to a PC shop and get it fixed.

I felt bad doing that. I’m sure it’ll get easier as I do it more and more. I’m not fixing anybody else’s PC just cause I happen to know them a bit. Or even worse, because they are a friend of a friend.

Here is the best solution.

Dvorák – Slavonic Dances

By on January 29, 2006 in General

One of my reflex actions in the morning is to turn the radio from BBC Radio 4 over to Classic FM as soon as I hear The Today Programme presenters start to say “it’s 13 minutes to 8, and time for Thought for the day”. I don’t need to listen to 2 minutes of puerile drivel from some religious twerp at the start of the day.

A side benefit of this, in addition to the fact I don’t have to listen to Thought for the Day, which is benefit enough, is that occasionally there is a really good piece of music on Classic FM when I switch over. A few days ago they were playing one of the pieces from Dvorák’s Slavonic Dance suite [Op. 46: No. 8 in G Minor (presto)]. Excellent stuff. Available from the iTMS.

I broke my web site

By on January 28, 2006 in General

I was changing log file settings earlier and managed to completely break this site. Obviously it’s back now 🙂 This post is just to really see if I can post new entries to the reconfigured installation of WordPress.

The BHM Guitar Twins

By on January 24, 2006 in General

I was planning on getting my 1993 Guild BHM Signature Pro guitar rewired and having new pickups fitted as it was very noisy when you turned the volume or tone controls. So as insurance, in case it went pear-shaped, I picked up one of the current Korean made Brian May guitars (formally marketed by Burns). After ordering it I was able to clean out the pots on the Guild so that the noise problem has gone away. So I probably don’t need the new one. Having said that it’s really nice to play. If anything I like the action better than the Guild. The finger board is slicker and the frets are prouder (it is new after all). It’s much easier to do string bends on the new one. Sound wise they are almost identical. So I might keep it! And maybe sell the Guild.

The Knife – Heartbeats

By on January 19, 2006 in General

Lots of people are raving about the José Gonzàles song that is featured in the Sony Bravia advertisement that’s on TV and in cinemas. The song in question is called Heartbeats. His version is good, I bought it myself from iTMS. But lets not forget the original version by the inestimable Swedish duo, The Knife. It can be purchased on iTMS as well.

Queen – A Day at the Races

By on January 14, 2006 in General

Blast from the past. Queen’s A Day at the Races was the first album I bought on my own, with my own pocket money. I’d been given A Night at the Opera for Christmas in 1975, along with most of the rest of the UK! I can still remember going into Belfast on the bus to get ADATR. 30 years ago this year. It’s still bloomin’ brilliant and fresh to me. Tie Your Mother Down has to be the best rock song ever written. Been listening to the album for the last hour or so. Marvellous. I’ve had 30 years of joy from the 10 tracks on that piece of plastic. Thanks guys!

The Edge annual question 2006 – What is your dangerous idea?

By on January 6, 2006 in General, Science

The Edge website asks many scientists and philosophers a question for the new year and publishes their responses. In 2005 the question was What do you believe is true even though you can’t prove it?. This generated a lot of interesting responses and arguments 🙂

The 2006 question is What is your dangerous idea? Responses are now available. Should make interesting reading. Think I’ll start with Richard Dawkins.