Yes, I know I've been quiet.
Frequent runs to hospital to see my father (who is now thankfully home) combined with the sad death of my netbook (the main place I typed from) have conspired against me. However I now sit in a snowy Merthyr with half hour spare while my daughter watches Dora the Explorer struggle to put on a Pirate play as she can't find the costumes, I'm back!
The netbook isn't dead really. The power supply is broken, so I can't charge it, I can replace it with a new one, but I can just as easily get a new netbook free with a new mobi broadband contract, so I'll do that some time soon! Anyone know any good ones, leave me a comment and I'll have a nose! Until then I've been entertaining myself on the train by reading Alan Sugar's autobiography. Quite well written really, a kind of sense of superiority running through it I feel though.
I was expecting panic this morning, it's snowed quite well yesterday, I remained thoroughly unconcerned, no desire to leg it home from work and the roads were all fine. I got home no concerns in the slightest. But then it snowed a bit more last night, quite a bit more, and the outside o my house looked like Pepper Pigs Christmas this morning (sorry, you have to watch them with her don't you. Don't you??)
However while taking the other half to work, I'm shoc\ked, almost aghast, to find, the roads as a rule are clear and passable. Well done Merthyr council, and I don't think I've ever said that before! The builders got here no sweat this morning to carry on (and hopefully finish) my conservatory. The world isn't a snow dead place! The sky is even clear so I don't think we're going to get any more. But don't quote me, I'm not a weatherman.
More excitingly, the semi finals of the ATP tennis finals are today, and I'm pleased Brit #1 Murray is in there. He'll prob get battered against a well up for it Nadal, but hey ho. he's back to 4 in the world now at least. There's also rugby, which will be the final leg of an shocking autumn(?) international series for Wales. Wooden Spoon contenders for 2011! 20 or 30 point win for NZ anyone?
I also noticed the blog had a hit from someone searching google for Peter Gabriel Tennis. now that be an odd search, I'm proud I matched it, somehow... (I think it was the tennis post that made the homeless Christmas single request, as that's a Peter Gabriel cover, so once again pls follow @QRistmas and buy the single Dec 13th pls, keep someone less fortunate warm and fed this Christmas, as it's bloody freezing out there
PS, I just realised, this post would now generate a hit too, woohoo, double random search results!
Saturday 27 November 2010
Thursday 18 November 2010
Nerd-gasm!
Back again!
Saw some very exciting news, if you like that kind of thing, which lets face it I do.
Scientists in clever land (Cern) have not only managed not do destroy the world running their big test tests, but they've managed to create antimatter! Now every physical belief says antimatter is out there, it should have been created along side matter on boom day, so where is it? Now we have (had for a bit of a second) it!!
Now this is great and will allow amazing study into the rules of physics, it will allow unbelievable experiments into this newly isolated antimatter, but I honestly I can't believe I'm not the only one who thought...
Warp core (there should have been a picture here, but between them blogger and vodaphone aren't playing)
Yes, it's still not achievable, yes it's fantasy TV (Not that kind of fantasy TV, put the sock away) but we have an element of it! Let me cling to something!!!
Please??
Saw some very exciting news, if you like that kind of thing, which lets face it I do.
Scientists in clever land (Cern) have not only managed not do destroy the world running their big test tests, but they've managed to create antimatter! Now every physical belief says antimatter is out there, it should have been created along side matter on boom day, so where is it? Now we have (had for a bit of a second) it!!
Now this is great and will allow amazing study into the rules of physics, it will allow unbelievable experiments into this newly isolated antimatter, but I honestly I can't believe I'm not the only one who thought...
Warp core (there should have been a picture here, but between them blogger and vodaphone aren't playing)
Yes, it's still not achievable, yes it's fantasy TV (Not that kind of fantasy TV, put the sock away) but we have an element of it! Let me cling to something!!!
Please??
Royal Wedding? - Of no interest to me sorry!
Morning world (dependant on your time zone)
I've had a few days off I know, but I'm back now! Work has come along wonderfully on the house, we now have a driveway and 1/3 or so of a conservatory! Wo-hoo
But anyway, torn between two topics for this blog, but I've gone with the easy option (I'll do the other one later).
So apparently there's to be a royal wedding. Everyone now, hands in your pockets and congratulate them! But honestly, why am I supposed to give a rats arse? I don't know these people, I've never met these people, I'm never going to meet these people, I have no desire to know these people.
The newspapers yesterday were jam packed full of all the latest information, royal experts reaction, background on the couple, blah blah blah. Of course, I've no problem with two people getting married, all the best for them but:
1 - I don't want to have it shoved down my throat by the typical British - over the top, no talent for finding stories of any actual content or interest so they'll just use the old 'celeb' pointless garbage ahead of doing any actual journalism - press.
2 - Don't try and dress it up as anything other than what it is. All this 'it'll help the economy' crap. Sure 500 tea towel printers and porcelain cup painters are creaming it. But honestly, who buys that tat?? It's some rich posh bloke, marrying some rich posh bird so they can make slightly dimwitted but inevitably rich dim posh children. At least (I don't think anyway) their not cousins.
3 - And back to the 'hands in your pockets' snide remark at the top, why expect me (tax payers of the country) to pay for elements of it?? I'm sure two slightly dimwitted posh peoples parents could easily afford the bill, but no, lets take some tax revenue, it's not like the country needs every penny over the next few years.
100s of people get married every week in Britain, I'd wager a good percentage would be both more deserving and worthy of the attention, coverage and indeed contribution.
Hand on my heart, I'm not a royalist. I don't see the point in them, living in the largest council house in the country, getting paid the biggest amount of benefits. Apart from attracting foreign tourists, I don't think they contribute hugely to the UK today, and I'm not sure if it's them or the houses, jewels and settings that really attract the tourists.
I don't want a day off work for this guys wedding, I'll happily go in on whatever day it is.I don't care if it all goes well, obviously I don't wish him any ill, but 7 hours of it on BBC with some other posh bloke commenting on how the queens hat is actually very complex and represents their relations with Denmark and Canada in the 19th Century, is of no interest to me.
Tweet of the week for me was one retweeted by the always funny Red Dwarf star Robert Llewellyn from @damon_th "Well, that's the Tory Govt in place, the Royal Wedding booked in, when do we go to war with Argentina?"
Funny, but hours after I read a report of how defence cutbacks may leave the Falkland islands a little open to a potential 'visit' from some near neighbours...
Thursday 11 November 2010
It was only a joke!
Hmmmm I was a little ranty last night wasn't I! Quite rightfully so I think too! I've received two emails from ticketmaster informing me ticket sales start tomorrow. Shove them!
But anyway that was yesterday this is today.
I'm very sad/annoyed to hear that Paul Chambers has lost his appeal in the infamous Twitter Joke Trial. Watch it trend!! For anyone who doesn't know, Mr Chambers published a tongue in cheek tweet about blowing up and airport, ok not a tongue in cheek subject, but in the context it was placed, clearly not a threat.
However, he was taken seriously and arrested, costing him a criminal record when prosecuted, under some poxy sub-law not any anti terrorist legislation, and his job.
Twitter has commonly been the home of overreactions (anyone remember the Duncan Bannatyne incident) but this is probably the most serious of them. Does it mean that every tweet is scrutinised by someone (sure to god nobody reads mine). Do we all have to be now far more careful about what we say? It's going down that way, the more avenues people open up for communication, the more closely we're watched. In the age of freedom and free speech it just doesn't sit right to me.
Was what Mr Chambers did wrong? I wouldn't say so, on reflection misconceived and I bet if he had the choice now, he'd change sending it. But honestly it was a clear joke and it was left to some humourless judge to decide what it is or is not acceptable to say on our own accounts in our own time. If the police had said, "Think about it next time" and sent him on his way, that would have been fair enough, and given enough warning no doubt so he would have. But this is heavy handed and big brother-y (not a word)
How many people, talented funny people, will not express themselves to the full any more, wary they might upset some follower and end up with a slander case.
The always cool Stephen Fry has offered to cover the fine, and if he didn't mean it so so many people will donate to help cover it, showing a community of users who understand each other.
The threat or terror is a current one, and honestly none of us know if it will ever effect us, but if there was to be an attack something deep down tells me, they wouldn't announce it on twitter first.
But anyway that was yesterday this is today.
I'm very sad/annoyed to hear that Paul Chambers has lost his appeal in the infamous Twitter Joke Trial. Watch it trend!! For anyone who doesn't know, Mr Chambers published a tongue in cheek tweet about blowing up and airport, ok not a tongue in cheek subject, but in the context it was placed, clearly not a threat.
However, he was taken seriously and arrested, costing him a criminal record when prosecuted, under some poxy sub-law not any anti terrorist legislation, and his job.
Twitter has commonly been the home of overreactions (anyone remember the Duncan Bannatyne incident) but this is probably the most serious of them. Does it mean that every tweet is scrutinised by someone (sure to god nobody reads mine). Do we all have to be now far more careful about what we say? It's going down that way, the more avenues people open up for communication, the more closely we're watched. In the age of freedom and free speech it just doesn't sit right to me.
Was what Mr Chambers did wrong? I wouldn't say so, on reflection misconceived and I bet if he had the choice now, he'd change sending it. But honestly it was a clear joke and it was left to some humourless judge to decide what it is or is not acceptable to say on our own accounts in our own time. If the police had said, "Think about it next time" and sent him on his way, that would have been fair enough, and given enough warning no doubt so he would have. But this is heavy handed and big brother-y (not a word)
How many people, talented funny people, will not express themselves to the full any more, wary they might upset some follower and end up with a slander case.
The always cool Stephen Fry has offered to cover the fine, and if he didn't mean it so so many people will donate to help cover it, showing a community of users who understand each other.
The threat or terror is a current one, and honestly none of us know if it will ever effect us, but if there was to be an attack something deep down tells me, they wouldn't announce it on twitter first.
Wednesday 10 November 2010
"I promise that I'll come to Wales"
I'm annoyed!
Ben Folds is one of my favourite artists, he's clearly a talented man and put son one hell of a show. Over my time I've travelled twice to Manchester and once to Bristol to see him. That's quite a few miles.
Imagine my joy when on his last UK tour (some time ago now) in Bristol, after being heckled from a good proportionally Welsh crowd, he promised, no sang, next time he'd come to Wales. Plus of course with everything these days the evidence is on youtube (I'm the one who put it on there)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szBp2JwanSE (1100 hits woo hoo)
Well today his long awaited tour dates came out. Dublin, Glasgow, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Southampton, then on to Europe. Notice anything missing? Not even close, not even Bristol this time. Well thank you very much Mr Folds, this time you can shove your tickets up your Southampton.
It's an increasing trend, bands just don't play in Wales. Are the 'good' people of Cymru not worthy of the music? Are we all so poor we can't pay the ticket prices? Are we so far down the M4 people don't even know we exist? Well this Welshman has had enough, I'm not going to see him or anyone else who isn't close by. I know there's an element of cutting my nose off to spite my face but screw it. If more people had this attitude maybe we'd get better service down here.
Mr Folds your sans one fan, and based on your album sales last time, you need every one you can get.
You can guarantee we'll get the friggin X-Factor tour and Westlife and the like though.
Ben Folds is one of my favourite artists, he's clearly a talented man and put son one hell of a show. Over my time I've travelled twice to Manchester and once to Bristol to see him. That's quite a few miles.
Imagine my joy when on his last UK tour (some time ago now) in Bristol, after being heckled from a good proportionally Welsh crowd, he promised, no sang, next time he'd come to Wales. Plus of course with everything these days the evidence is on youtube (I'm the one who put it on there)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szBp2JwanSE (1100 hits woo hoo)
Well today his long awaited tour dates came out. Dublin, Glasgow, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Southampton, then on to Europe. Notice anything missing? Not even close, not even Bristol this time. Well thank you very much Mr Folds, this time you can shove your tickets up your Southampton.
It's an increasing trend, bands just don't play in Wales. Are the 'good' people of Cymru not worthy of the music? Are we all so poor we can't pay the ticket prices? Are we so far down the M4 people don't even know we exist? Well this Welshman has had enough, I'm not going to see him or anyone else who isn't close by. I know there's an element of cutting my nose off to spite my face but screw it. If more people had this attitude maybe we'd get better service down here.
Mr Folds your sans one fan, and based on your album sales last time, you need every one you can get.
You can guarantee we'll get the friggin X-Factor tour and Westlife and the like though.
Rugby, football, tennis and a request
I'm Welsh so I love rugby yeah? Well no, not all that much.
I don't dislike rugby, I do like it as a sport. I like to watch international games, I support my nation, I'd even go as far to say I know a good % of the rules and can spot infringements. I'll get carried away in the moment when they are playing, I'll shout at the TV and a rugby day is always a good excuse to meet some friends in a pub. But there are sports I would rather watch.
I didn't get overly excited when Admiral announced they were the new WRU sponsors, while other staff members were almost rolling round on the floor in excitement. I haven't bought a shirt, as I don't really like them although the all blue training top is pretty snazzy, I haven't entered competitions and raffles for the steady stream of tickets that seem to be going round, and I have no intention of starting. Thinking about it the 20,000 empty seats for the (highly expensive) Australia game on the weekend seems to hint at the chance other people like me exist. Or at least at £60+ a ticket in places it's dropped down peoples priority lists.
I like football, I follow my home town club and Arsenal, but honestly if they lose, I don't get upset or worried. Of course I want them to do well, but when Arsenal got done 1-0 by Newcastle, my reaction was, "D'oh, oh well..." I'm not the kind of supporter that wants reflected glory from choosing a team, and believe me I know a fair few who do. I personally don't see how a team I support (Arsenal) beating a team Bob from number 44 supports (lets say Eastborne Borough for arguments sake) is any kind of personal victory for me. I wasn't there, I didn't play, I didn't coach I didn't even pump the balls up.
Although saying that, i do want to get back to reffing. I qualified a few years ago, did half a season then was in a crash and had to stop for a while. Never really got going again, seems such a waste now, I fricking aced the exams too.
I even don't like referring to the team as 'us' or 'we' but I do sometimes find myself falling into that habit. Must do better!!
Don't get me started on some of the local rivalries.. the Cardiff Swansea game on the weekend, some of the vitriol coming out of (mainly Cardiff to be fair) fans was laughable, and I was happy when Swansea won, purely down to that fact!
Honestly, if there was some funked up new rule that came into force tomorrow that dictated I could only ever watch one type of sport again, I'd choose Tennis. I enjoy Tennis far more than Rugby, Football, etc and by quite a distance. I would also love to be a participant in the sport, but unfortunately (weirdly??) the Tennis club sessions in Merthyr Tydfil leisure centre are 2-4 Tuesdays and Thursdays, work dictates that I can't attend as a result! I mean who can go then??
I also quite fancy playing squash, but have nobody to play with (any fellow novices who want to try, comment or find me on twitter!!)
How many people do you think were disappointed Alex Bogdanovic lost in the first round of a 80 point challenger tournament in Germany yesterday, well apart from him, his coach etc, prob only me! To be fair he got to a semi the week before, and lost to the same guy!! At least he took a set this time! Andy Murray plays the 2nd round of the Paris Masters today, I'll be watching with keen interest. Well I wont be watching I'll be in work but there's be something on the BBC site to tell me the result.
Oh and of course I love the dodgeball, how could anyone not??? Go Hoffmesiters!
Oh and as a footnote, any twitter users I have a suggested follow. QRistmas. A Christmas single is coming out sung by former xfactor winner Steve Brookstein with the proceeds going to UK homeless charities, got to be worth a quid download of anyones iTunes cash? I believe it's a Peter Gabriel cover, I do love Peter Gabriel, maybe we could convince him to do Solsbury Hill, Shock the Monkey or Games Without Frontiers as a b-side?
Anyway, til next time...
Oh and the woman sat opposite me has a pink kindle... didn't know you could get them, they look quite snazzy! (Yes I've used snazzy twice in an blog, my vocab is the same as my daughters, head hung in shame)
I don't dislike rugby, I do like it as a sport. I like to watch international games, I support my nation, I'd even go as far to say I know a good % of the rules and can spot infringements. I'll get carried away in the moment when they are playing, I'll shout at the TV and a rugby day is always a good excuse to meet some friends in a pub. But there are sports I would rather watch.
I didn't get overly excited when Admiral announced they were the new WRU sponsors, while other staff members were almost rolling round on the floor in excitement. I haven't bought a shirt, as I don't really like them although the all blue training top is pretty snazzy, I haven't entered competitions and raffles for the steady stream of tickets that seem to be going round, and I have no intention of starting. Thinking about it the 20,000 empty seats for the (highly expensive) Australia game on the weekend seems to hint at the chance other people like me exist. Or at least at £60+ a ticket in places it's dropped down peoples priority lists.
I like football, I follow my home town club and Arsenal, but honestly if they lose, I don't get upset or worried. Of course I want them to do well, but when Arsenal got done 1-0 by Newcastle, my reaction was, "D'oh, oh well..." I'm not the kind of supporter that wants reflected glory from choosing a team, and believe me I know a fair few who do. I personally don't see how a team I support (Arsenal) beating a team Bob from number 44 supports (lets say Eastborne Borough for arguments sake) is any kind of personal victory for me. I wasn't there, I didn't play, I didn't coach I didn't even pump the balls up.
Although saying that, i do want to get back to reffing. I qualified a few years ago, did half a season then was in a crash and had to stop for a while. Never really got going again, seems such a waste now, I fricking aced the exams too.
I even don't like referring to the team as 'us' or 'we' but I do sometimes find myself falling into that habit. Must do better!!
Don't get me started on some of the local rivalries.. the Cardiff Swansea game on the weekend, some of the vitriol coming out of (mainly Cardiff to be fair) fans was laughable, and I was happy when Swansea won, purely down to that fact!
Honestly, if there was some funked up new rule that came into force tomorrow that dictated I could only ever watch one type of sport again, I'd choose Tennis. I enjoy Tennis far more than Rugby, Football, etc and by quite a distance. I would also love to be a participant in the sport, but unfortunately (weirdly??) the Tennis club sessions in Merthyr Tydfil leisure centre are 2-4 Tuesdays and Thursdays, work dictates that I can't attend as a result! I mean who can go then??
I also quite fancy playing squash, but have nobody to play with (any fellow novices who want to try, comment or find me on twitter!!)
How many people do you think were disappointed Alex Bogdanovic lost in the first round of a 80 point challenger tournament in Germany yesterday, well apart from him, his coach etc, prob only me! To be fair he got to a semi the week before, and lost to the same guy!! At least he took a set this time! Andy Murray plays the 2nd round of the Paris Masters today, I'll be watching with keen interest. Well I wont be watching I'll be in work but there's be something on the BBC site to tell me the result.
Oh and of course I love the dodgeball, how could anyone not??? Go Hoffmesiters!
Oh and as a footnote, any twitter users I have a suggested follow. QRistmas. A Christmas single is coming out sung by former xfactor winner Steve Brookstein with the proceeds going to UK homeless charities, got to be worth a quid download of anyones iTunes cash? I believe it's a Peter Gabriel cover, I do love Peter Gabriel, maybe we could convince him to do Solsbury Hill, Shock the Monkey or Games Without Frontiers as a b-side?
Anyway, til next time...
Oh and the woman sat opposite me has a pink kindle... didn't know you could get them, they look quite snazzy! (Yes I've used snazzy twice in an blog, my vocab is the same as my daughters, head hung in shame)
Tuesday 9 November 2010
Advertising age restricted games
As anyone who follows my twitter (that'll be nobody then) would have saw yesterday,. I was stood in Merthyr Tydfil Tesco overlooking a display for last nights midnight shipping of Black Ops. The display had a short section of the game (looked like every other COD to me) running and then a display where the games would be at midnight and a poster.
Quite normal you'd think.
However, a quick glance around to check all the people mesmerised by this display and there was a large compliment of kids, the oldest I'd imagine about 14 or 15 down to one boy of no more than 7. No adults present at all. Now thinking about it, that kind of display is absolutely perfect for catching the attention of... kids. The loud bangs, the running video, and of course... no price, not the kind of thing to perfectly grab an adults attention.
Earlier on yesterday I was listening to the Richard Bacon show on 5, the man is surprisingly good! One of this points of discussion was COD and the effect it has on children playing it. The game is sweary, violent, obviously due to the genre it has to be aggressive, all points we don't really want to bring out in sprogs, and a good percentage of the calls basically said it should fall to parental control to stop under-age playing it. But give the parents a break, this was blatantly being marketed at the kids, it's easy to say well don't let them play it, but get them hooked and they'll find a way.
I'm not having a go at just Tesco, over my days of weekend/lunchtime browsing in Game stores I've heard some of the worst advice mankind has ever given. The amount of times I've seen parents being given truly awful advice by incentive crazy (I assume) staff members just so they sell them the 360. Mothers of 8 year olds ho know no better being handed over GTA4, Modern Warfare 2 and being told, 'well it is 18 but....'
As much as the parents have of course a duty of care, sure to god there should be a duty of responsibility with the advertising of age restricted products. You wouldn't show an advert for it before the watershed (not that I've noticed anyway) so why leave it running, even if it was a fairly innocuous section of the game, there was still shooting and killing, 24/7 for kids to watch, and watch they did.
Saying that, it is the same game store when a staff member of about 17 refused to sell 27 year old me Manhunt 2 (not a great game anyway) because I looked so young... moron.
I haven't yet picked up a copy of COD:BO but I probably will, but I have Fable 3 to play and I've barely even started that yet, but it's on me list.
Quite normal you'd think.
However, a quick glance around to check all the people mesmerised by this display and there was a large compliment of kids, the oldest I'd imagine about 14 or 15 down to one boy of no more than 7. No adults present at all. Now thinking about it, that kind of display is absolutely perfect for catching the attention of... kids. The loud bangs, the running video, and of course... no price, not the kind of thing to perfectly grab an adults attention.
Earlier on yesterday I was listening to the Richard Bacon show on 5, the man is surprisingly good! One of this points of discussion was COD and the effect it has on children playing it. The game is sweary, violent, obviously due to the genre it has to be aggressive, all points we don't really want to bring out in sprogs, and a good percentage of the calls basically said it should fall to parental control to stop under-age playing it. But give the parents a break, this was blatantly being marketed at the kids, it's easy to say well don't let them play it, but get them hooked and they'll find a way.
I'm not having a go at just Tesco, over my days of weekend/lunchtime browsing in Game stores I've heard some of the worst advice mankind has ever given. The amount of times I've seen parents being given truly awful advice by incentive crazy (I assume) staff members just so they sell them the 360. Mothers of 8 year olds ho know no better being handed over GTA4, Modern Warfare 2 and being told, 'well it is 18 but....'
As much as the parents have of course a duty of care, sure to god there should be a duty of responsibility with the advertising of age restricted products. You wouldn't show an advert for it before the watershed (not that I've noticed anyway) so why leave it running, even if it was a fairly innocuous section of the game, there was still shooting and killing, 24/7 for kids to watch, and watch they did.
Saying that, it is the same game store when a staff member of about 17 refused to sell 27 year old me Manhunt 2 (not a great game anyway) because I looked so young... moron.
I haven't yet picked up a copy of COD:BO but I probably will, but I have Fable 3 to play and I've barely even started that yet, but it's on me list.
Thursday 4 November 2010
Everyone's human!
Having a relative in hospital is obviously not a good experience. At the moment, and at least for the next few days or so my father is in. It's not good news by any stretch of the imagination, but he's not in danger. So obviously I'm happy about that, even if not about the fact he's in hospital.
For me it has brought into stark focus everyone around mes mortality. At some point everyone of us will be gone, god this is positive stuff! At the moment I wouldn't even know how to try and tell my 2 year old daughter that someone she knew so well and loved wasn't there anymore. She wouldn't understand and would doubtless become frustrated when she couldn't see them. Gracie (my daughter) has suffered loss in the exact same vein before, but she was too young to understand it. I'm not sure what her memories are of then, but I can be sure her ones of now will be far more focused and real.
To be honest, I'm not even sure how I should feel in that situation, at the moment I'm sure I wouldn't let stuff get me down and upset as that simply won't help. I'll be far more useful as something solid than as a mess. But when the actual situation occurs you never know, and to be 100% honest I'm not sure I really want to know.
But for now all that's not a worry. Onwards!
For me it has brought into stark focus everyone around mes mortality. At some point everyone of us will be gone, god this is positive stuff! At the moment I wouldn't even know how to try and tell my 2 year old daughter that someone she knew so well and loved wasn't there anymore. She wouldn't understand and would doubtless become frustrated when she couldn't see them. Gracie (my daughter) has suffered loss in the exact same vein before, but she was too young to understand it. I'm not sure what her memories are of then, but I can be sure her ones of now will be far more focused and real.
To be honest, I'm not even sure how I should feel in that situation, at the moment I'm sure I wouldn't let stuff get me down and upset as that simply won't help. I'll be far more useful as something solid than as a mess. But when the actual situation occurs you never know, and to be 100% honest I'm not sure I really want to know.
But for now all that's not a worry. Onwards!
ITV
I've never really like Adam Crozier, I don't know the guy obviously but he has always seemed to grind my shit with everything he's done. But yesterday, he talked some sense.
He and the chairman of ITV basically came out and said they make TV targeted at the lowest common denominator so more people will watch, otherwise advertisers wont pay up. Prime examples of this are 'reality' TV shows such as I'm a celebrity..., X-Factor etc. Due to falls in revenue they no longer have the cash to create a diverse portfolio of programs so pump what cash they have in to rating certainties.
Sad as it is, you can't blame them for a second. But lets now be overly harsh on some of the people watching, firstly I believe the X-Factor has 2 distinct audiences, there's people who watch it to hear people sing and maybe a bit of a freak show too (myself included), and there's the people who suddenly feel these wannabes are their friend and will do anything to defend them. You hear stories of people voting multiple times for their favourite, downloading the singles as soon as they are available in the belief that they're helping their 'boys' (interchangeable)
These people get involved with the sob stories the newspaper articles saying how hard they've had it. What I really hope people realise is that they don't know them, just because they see a portrayed image of these people in various media, a no doubt very carefully arranged image at that. Ever media outlet wants to cover X-Factor but they also have to tow the Syco line to be allowed too. Why else did the leaked finalist list, I had weeks before it was announced not make it into a paper? I mean if I can lay my hands on it....
I'm a Celebrity..., well that's just voyeurism!
The biggest losers from all this are no dead programs such as the South Bank Show. Honestly not something I watched with any regularity, but it was a high quality arts program, and for its audience, perfect. But as it's audience was relatively small, it was no longer cost effective and so was binned.
What I don't understand it what ITV hope to gain from this revelation? Just because they've admitted what much of us suspected isn't going to magic up more revenue. Their requests for more flexible advertising rates have already been rejected. The programming isn't going to change, it almost feels like a pre-emptive 'not my fault guv'. But it still took some guts to say!
Personally I'm in favour of the licence fee being split. The BBC produces that type of program as well, but does it with guaranteed public funding. Which frees them up to give comedians, sitcoms, dramas a chance, although increasingly tucked away on BBC 3 or 4 as the beeb also strives for ratings (Strictly?).
Sure to God channels should present an alternative to each other, not try and install themselves as the one and only (or with multiple channels the only 4 or 5).
Speaking of the BBC, I have now watched Film 2010 twice, and what a shell of a once great program it is. Please come back wossy for the love of god. Last night, from what I saw, basically had the woman, Claudia Winkleman saying how great everything was, while Danny Leigh (who??) was very sceptical about everything. Not exactly great on screen chemistry for a duo, but equally not very informative about the films!
Ross was the perfect replacement for the sublime Barry Norman, but now... they may have flushed it.
Any I'm on route to get my annual free ill-cos-your defective-and-may-die-if-you-get-it-nasty flu jab. Wish me luck!
He and the chairman of ITV basically came out and said they make TV targeted at the lowest common denominator so more people will watch, otherwise advertisers wont pay up. Prime examples of this are 'reality' TV shows such as I'm a celebrity..., X-Factor etc. Due to falls in revenue they no longer have the cash to create a diverse portfolio of programs so pump what cash they have in to rating certainties.
Sad as it is, you can't blame them for a second. But lets now be overly harsh on some of the people watching, firstly I believe the X-Factor has 2 distinct audiences, there's people who watch it to hear people sing and maybe a bit of a freak show too (myself included), and there's the people who suddenly feel these wannabes are their friend and will do anything to defend them. You hear stories of people voting multiple times for their favourite, downloading the singles as soon as they are available in the belief that they're helping their 'boys' (interchangeable)
These people get involved with the sob stories the newspaper articles saying how hard they've had it. What I really hope people realise is that they don't know them, just because they see a portrayed image of these people in various media, a no doubt very carefully arranged image at that. Ever media outlet wants to cover X-Factor but they also have to tow the Syco line to be allowed too. Why else did the leaked finalist list, I had weeks before it was announced not make it into a paper? I mean if I can lay my hands on it....
I'm a Celebrity..., well that's just voyeurism!
The biggest losers from all this are no dead programs such as the South Bank Show. Honestly not something I watched with any regularity, but it was a high quality arts program, and for its audience, perfect. But as it's audience was relatively small, it was no longer cost effective and so was binned.
What I don't understand it what ITV hope to gain from this revelation? Just because they've admitted what much of us suspected isn't going to magic up more revenue. Their requests for more flexible advertising rates have already been rejected. The programming isn't going to change, it almost feels like a pre-emptive 'not my fault guv'. But it still took some guts to say!
Personally I'm in favour of the licence fee being split. The BBC produces that type of program as well, but does it with guaranteed public funding. Which frees them up to give comedians, sitcoms, dramas a chance, although increasingly tucked away on BBC 3 or 4 as the beeb also strives for ratings (Strictly?).
Sure to God channels should present an alternative to each other, not try and install themselves as the one and only (or with multiple channels the only 4 or 5).
Speaking of the BBC, I have now watched Film 2010 twice, and what a shell of a once great program it is. Please come back wossy for the love of god. Last night, from what I saw, basically had the woman, Claudia Winkleman saying how great everything was, while Danny Leigh (who??) was very sceptical about everything. Not exactly great on screen chemistry for a duo, but equally not very informative about the films!
Ross was the perfect replacement for the sublime Barry Norman, but now... they may have flushed it.
Any I'm on route to get my annual free ill-cos-your defective-and-may-die-if-you-get-it-nasty flu jab. Wish me luck!
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Milkfloats - Where have you gone?
Morning all!
No update in a while so I thought I better motivate my ass into action.
But what shall I write about, we have some art school frame hungry biatch looking like quitting x-factor, only she's blatantly not she's getting sympathy votes ready so she doesn't end up in the bottom two again next week. There's firemen threatening to strike on their busiest night, don't think putting people in danger is the way to get support lads, but no something far more burning...
On way way to work this morning I passed the milkman for my area. We don't use him it's cheaper in Tesco, but generally there's an older population around the new abode (still semi finished but I'll come to that) and as their fragile bones would crack on the walk (kidding) they tend to use the good old service.
Now this milkman, similarly to the one at my last house has long since ditched the idea of a milk float, and gone for a transit van. He also doesn't wear a uniform/hat etc destroying childhood imagery in seconds. But I was always under the impression Milk Floats were used in early morning delivery situations as they were very quiet, and him rocking up outside in one of them wont wake the baby.
The van he turned up in, pulled in behind me, I only saw it as the noise made me turn around thinking possibly our builders were turning up at stupid o'clock or something. I honestly can't say I had an intention or desire to speak to the guy so I didn't ask, why bin the silent electric for the diesel boom box, but I can only imagine it's down to speed. Why be nice and quiet and not disturb the pensioners when I can do twice the work and lay my hands on twice the cash? Seems to be a fairly typical attitude in service industries these days. Oh well.
Speaking of house, isn't Hugh Laurie... oh wait, wrong house, kudos to the previously mentioned builders who have completed work on the exterior brickwork of my conservatory. All we need now is glass and a floor and we can say it's done! Then, to the delight of our moany neighbours, we start work on the driveway and parking area in front of the house. Now I can understand they did get some dust over from the construction, but it's temporary so get over it. There is a risk we may look slightly anti-social though as we've put an elevated 4 foot fence up between 1 lot of neighbours and a 5 and a half foot wall the other way. He he.
Anyway it's off to work I go, then hospital to see an ill father. It's all go here!
Friday 29 October 2010
People watching - gotta love Public Transport
I'll start by confirming the fact I'm a strong Labour supporter, can't remember if I've said that before, but I have now. This standing has been reinforced by almost every action our wonderful new coalition government has chosen to bestow on us. I used to 'not mind' the Lib Dems before a combination of them using very strong arm tactics in the last election and selling themselves out for the slightest bit of power for their 'kingmaker' leader Clegg.
You may be thinking this has nothing to do with the title and you're 40% right but there is a link bare with me.
Every morning I take the train to work, which according to the condems I'm too lazy to do, and every morning the train is full to the absolute rafters (If it had rafters) of people commuting from the valleys line to Cardiff. IDS can flock off as can every Con and Lib Dem in my eyes!
But back to the point, this very full train does give the opportunity to carry out one of lifes lost arts, people watching. Now I don't look classy going to work, today I have on a 10ish year old Welsh rugby top 'n' jeans, but you do wonder where some of these people are going. There's a good number of people in shirts, ties, trousers the usual. There's women in what I suppose you'd call business suits etc. But where oh where is the man in the addidas tracksuit off? Is there a a job that requires you to be that chavvy?
What about the woman at the end of the train who appears to have some kind of hair rollers still in. Proper old school hair rollers like I've seen my mother use dozens of times, but even then not for 15 years! Is now really the time to be doing your hair anyway?
There's various selections of people, some like myself, would rather be left alone to do whatever I'm doing (the computer helps, I think people assume I'm watching porn or something). There are people, like the guy opposite me who keeps trying to make eye contact - no chance Pedro, who feel the need to try and pass the 50-whatever minutes by making new friends.
Every now and again we get strong religious types who will wander person to person, taking full advantage of the captive audience to try and convert all the heathens to God, and stop the likes of me sitting round watching porn 9I really don't, I'm writing this aint I!).
Students going between Cardiff and Treforest typically stick out a mile. There's a bunch of guys standing by the middle carriage doors now, if it looks like a student, and smells like a student... then it probably is a student! But that's harsh, I shouldn't generalise!!
To be fair today is Friday, so there's a good percentage less ties. Clearly Cardiff offices operate a dress down Friday rule, which just means you can have an open collar. Not really dressing down to any real degree. I remember being told by a mate who works in a office with that very policy, he was dressing down today and he loved it. He turned up for lunch looking exactly the same. I always picture days like that as like school non-uniform days. But I'm lucky enough to have a 'wear whatever' policy, so maybe I just don't appreciate it enough.
But to be fair most people on here are normal looking enough... maybe those are the most worrying ones....
While I have your attention, all you iPhone users out there, was recommended a superb game app yesterday. Get your behind to the app store and have as search for 'Game Dev Story' simple but so engrossing. Basically you should be able to guess the type of game from the name, but with but cutsey 16 bit graphics it all works a charm. Much recommended.
Only downside is I played it quite a bit yesterday and then said bye bye iPhone battery. I need to get one of those battery pack things, any donations to my paypal account!!
Cyalaterz
Wednesday 27 October 2010
Give me my money back you bitch
I'm a little late jumping on to moan about this, as it happened Sunday, and anyone following my twitter would have already gathered my thoughts on this, but this Sunday I one of the biggest non-voluntary groups in the UK as a victim of crime.
Sunday was the Welsh Open of dodgeball. in sunny Pentwyn Leisure Centre, Cardiff. I led 'The Hoffmeisters' into battle as I have done several times before. We didn't enjoy the best of afternoons, firstly being let down by several people, some with valid reasons, others with unspecified ones! Then we proceeded to win just a solitary match (3-2 against the Ceredigion Pirates), coming 4th in our group and crashing out of the tournament.
But during the day the revelation struck that a team member, who shall remain nameless, had returned to our communal locker but when locking up had left several items of clothing out, resulting in some piked, chavvy SOB going through my stuff and nicking my wallet. Not the most intelligent clearly as in the same pocket was my bank card and the opposite pocket my phone, which would have had far better rewards than the cash in my wallet and a Credit Card they couldn't use.
Luckily the police guy handling has high hopes of a conviction in this instance. Let's hope yeah!
Sunday was the Welsh Open of dodgeball. in sunny Pentwyn Leisure Centre, Cardiff. I led 'The Hoffmeisters' into battle as I have done several times before. We didn't enjoy the best of afternoons, firstly being let down by several people, some with valid reasons, others with unspecified ones! Then we proceeded to win just a solitary match (3-2 against the Ceredigion Pirates), coming 4th in our group and crashing out of the tournament.
But during the day the revelation struck that a team member, who shall remain nameless, had returned to our communal locker but when locking up had left several items of clothing out, resulting in some piked, chavvy SOB going through my stuff and nicking my wallet. Not the most intelligent clearly as in the same pocket was my bank card and the opposite pocket my phone, which would have had far better rewards than the cash in my wallet and a Credit Card they couldn't use.
Luckily the police guy handling has high hopes of a conviction in this instance. Let's hope yeah!
Thursday 21 October 2010
Osborne, butcher of downing street or saviour of our economy?
OK, who could have possibly predicted I'd use this space today to rant/praise the governments cuts? Everyone? Well congratulations everyone you were right!
Before I get started, I will say thank you Sky f**king News (keeping it clean-ish) for once again using my home town of Merthyr Tydfil as a demonstration of the 'bottom end of the barrel'. Really, they produced one biased, set up report once and now they want to turn the screw. Merthyr may be a dive, and believe me there are parts that would make your eyes bleed, but it's not the worst, not by a long shot.
Anyway to open, I work in the private sector, my job doesn't reply on the government, although the company itself has never been shy of a handout/grant etc which may not be quite so forthcoming in future, but generally despite yesterday, I'm confident my job is secure. However, I do feel for the 500,000 public sector workers who will be out of work once the condems are done. It could have been me, I had the opportunity of taking a job as an analyst with South Wales Police not long ago, but stayed where I was. I can be pretty sure if I had moved, I'd be right in the firing line now.
From scanning what's happened, I do feel it could have been worse. E.g. The NHS is getting rises (small ones really but at least it's not cuts, not even cuts against inflation) but for the most part, I can only say I'm feeling far from confident.
I've blogged previously on my thoughts for university changes and they've come to fruition, but other things such as cuts in police budgets and welfare budgets don't sound promising. Regarding benefit cuts, there are people out there who cheat the system, get more than they deserve and they've in no small way contributed to overspends, my concern is, with sweeping cuts are they going to really be able to filter out the deserving from the scrounger? I do have a horrible feeling the scrounger will continue to try and find ways around the system, while the genuine people will suffer. But that's the way of the world these days.
Also, I'm waiting to see exactly how half a million extra dole claimers will combine with less money available for them...
Police cuts are also a concern, 4% a year will hurt them, and at a time where their jobs are getting increasingly difficult. There's a risk that they may lose some front line officers (although doubtless savings can be made elsewhere too), while at the same time crime may rise in a poorer environment, leading too.. well not ideal circumstances. But I may be being a drama queen, we would have to wait to see what the police cut before jumping to conclusions.
Plus aren't interest payments going to rise for the next few years???
Generally it's not great news and, while I don't claim to be an expert as you can gather from reading above, it doesn't sit overly easy with me. But we'll wait and see, I might by an annual train ticket now before they go up by inflation + 3%...
Before I get started, I will say thank you Sky f**king News (keeping it clean-ish) for once again using my home town of Merthyr Tydfil as a demonstration of the 'bottom end of the barrel'. Really, they produced one biased, set up report once and now they want to turn the screw. Merthyr may be a dive, and believe me there are parts that would make your eyes bleed, but it's not the worst, not by a long shot.
Anyway to open, I work in the private sector, my job doesn't reply on the government, although the company itself has never been shy of a handout/grant etc which may not be quite so forthcoming in future, but generally despite yesterday, I'm confident my job is secure. However, I do feel for the 500,000 public sector workers who will be out of work once the condems are done. It could have been me, I had the opportunity of taking a job as an analyst with South Wales Police not long ago, but stayed where I was. I can be pretty sure if I had moved, I'd be right in the firing line now.
From scanning what's happened, I do feel it could have been worse. E.g. The NHS is getting rises (small ones really but at least it's not cuts, not even cuts against inflation) but for the most part, I can only say I'm feeling far from confident.
I've blogged previously on my thoughts for university changes and they've come to fruition, but other things such as cuts in police budgets and welfare budgets don't sound promising. Regarding benefit cuts, there are people out there who cheat the system, get more than they deserve and they've in no small way contributed to overspends, my concern is, with sweeping cuts are they going to really be able to filter out the deserving from the scrounger? I do have a horrible feeling the scrounger will continue to try and find ways around the system, while the genuine people will suffer. But that's the way of the world these days.
Also, I'm waiting to see exactly how half a million extra dole claimers will combine with less money available for them...
Police cuts are also a concern, 4% a year will hurt them, and at a time where their jobs are getting increasingly difficult. There's a risk that they may lose some front line officers (although doubtless savings can be made elsewhere too), while at the same time crime may rise in a poorer environment, leading too.. well not ideal circumstances. But I may be being a drama queen, we would have to wait to see what the police cut before jumping to conclusions.
Plus aren't interest payments going to rise for the next few years???
Generally it's not great news and, while I don't claim to be an expert as you can gather from reading above, it doesn't sit overly easy with me. But we'll wait and see, I might by an annual train ticket now before they go up by inflation + 3%...
Wednesday 20 October 2010
Kinect - a gaming revolution?
The time is quickly approaching that Microsft will be releasing their XBOX 360 peripheral, Kinect.
Aint it perdy?
Now Kinect (I preferred Natal) is billed as something that will fully revolutionise the way everyone games, removing controllers from the mix. I have a mate who managed to get is backside on the Beta testing program (jammy b*stard) and he can't stop raving about how good it is, how responsive how accurate etc. This is a guy who as a rule knows his stuff and his opinion can be very much trusted.
However, I'm far from convinced.
I've been through this 'new way of gaming stuff before' I picked up a Wii on launch day and was memorised by the way things played. Wii Sports was accurate, responsive and all those things, but after not a hell of a lot of time, it felt gimmicky. Third party titles came out that the developers had either not grasped how to program for the Wii, leading to difficult to play games, or were just lazily adding motion controls to existing titles to shift a few dozen more units.
I have a horrible feeling Kinect will do the same for me. For the first 3 or 4 weeks, it'll be amazing. I wont be able to believe I ever had to push a button to play stuff, what a fool was I! But then I wont feel like standing up, or some new games will arrive, as immense cost and be plainly rubbish and I'll long for my 360 pad again.
Plus there's the cost, these 'controllers' will not be cheap, in fact they will laugh in the face of cheap and mock just how cheap it is. Weighing in at £130 (you can get them cheaper but this is the RRP so Game/Gamestation will charge that at least, and probably a little more just cos people will pay it) you can actually guy an 360 for less. For your £130 you get the controller (at least you only need one) and 1 piece of software, Kinect Adventures. Any further games are full price, pocket destroying.
I have a preorder in place in Game in Swansea. It's not mine but when my (same) mate (I have more than one, I'm just only referring to him at the mo) found out his Beta testing kit was his, I inherited his preorder, but the closer I get to the day, the more I'm thinking, do I really want it? Can I really justify the outlay for something which seems to gimmicky? The more I think about the the more I'm thinking not.
Now, at this point I can add I've never actually played using it. It could be what I've been looking for all these years, I just don't know it yet. But chances are it's not, it'll be fun for a bi then gather dust. Actually I think writing this has just made my mind up!!
I read something perfect on the GamesTM forum yesterday, it basically said what will people prefer in the long run, playing with a invisible steering wheel, or feeling the rumble and feedback from a real one/controller. Well when you say it like that... (sorry can't find post again to link too!)
Microsoft know one thing, Kinect will be a success, it will sell millions and be impossible to get hold of (now thinks about keeping preorder and selling for Christmas... hmmm <evil laugh>) but it may not be one with people like me (I'm pretty sure there's not many people wanting to be put into that category) but the Wii inspired casual market and kids, and after all kids are the future. The Wii captured a market, that very market and it's understandable Microsoft want a chunk of it I suppose. I just hope it doesn't become compulsory on too many games.
I think I'll get Fable 3 instead, wait that's Kinect compatible... here we go again...
Now Kinect (I preferred Natal) is billed as something that will fully revolutionise the way everyone games, removing controllers from the mix. I have a mate who managed to get is backside on the Beta testing program (jammy b*stard) and he can't stop raving about how good it is, how responsive how accurate etc. This is a guy who as a rule knows his stuff and his opinion can be very much trusted.
However, I'm far from convinced.
I've been through this 'new way of gaming stuff before' I picked up a Wii on launch day and was memorised by the way things played. Wii Sports was accurate, responsive and all those things, but after not a hell of a lot of time, it felt gimmicky. Third party titles came out that the developers had either not grasped how to program for the Wii, leading to difficult to play games, or were just lazily adding motion controls to existing titles to shift a few dozen more units.
I have a horrible feeling Kinect will do the same for me. For the first 3 or 4 weeks, it'll be amazing. I wont be able to believe I ever had to push a button to play stuff, what a fool was I! But then I wont feel like standing up, or some new games will arrive, as immense cost and be plainly rubbish and I'll long for my 360 pad again.
Plus there's the cost, these 'controllers' will not be cheap, in fact they will laugh in the face of cheap and mock just how cheap it is. Weighing in at £130 (you can get them cheaper but this is the RRP so Game/Gamestation will charge that at least, and probably a little more just cos people will pay it) you can actually guy an 360 for less. For your £130 you get the controller (at least you only need one) and 1 piece of software, Kinect Adventures. Any further games are full price, pocket destroying.
I have a preorder in place in Game in Swansea. It's not mine but when my (same) mate (I have more than one, I'm just only referring to him at the mo) found out his Beta testing kit was his, I inherited his preorder, but the closer I get to the day, the more I'm thinking, do I really want it? Can I really justify the outlay for something which seems to gimmicky? The more I think about the the more I'm thinking not.
Now, at this point I can add I've never actually played using it. It could be what I've been looking for all these years, I just don't know it yet. But chances are it's not, it'll be fun for a bi then gather dust. Actually I think writing this has just made my mind up!!
I read something perfect on the GamesTM forum yesterday, it basically said what will people prefer in the long run, playing with a invisible steering wheel, or feeling the rumble and feedback from a real one/controller. Well when you say it like that... (sorry can't find post again to link too!)
Microsoft know one thing, Kinect will be a success, it will sell millions and be impossible to get hold of (now thinks about keeping preorder and selling for Christmas... hmmm <evil laugh>) but it may not be one with people like me (I'm pretty sure there's not many people wanting to be put into that category) but the Wii inspired casual market and kids, and after all kids are the future. The Wii captured a market, that very market and it's understandable Microsoft want a chunk of it I suppose. I just hope it doesn't become compulsory on too many games.
I think I'll get Fable 3 instead, wait that's Kinect compatible... here we go again...
Monday 18 October 2010
Return to the gym!
Tomorrow... tomorrow is going to be hard work. Tomorrow is the day I will return to the gym to begin training.
It's been a while, 6 months ago I was in quite good shape, stamina was good, could cover 10k with relative ease, could push myself considerably further, then generally things went tits up. Knee problem, appendix removal, another knee problem and I'm the size of a whale again, as if I'd never bothered training a moment in my life. (Let's face it it's not even a cute whale, like the one from Free Willy, it's a blimp of an obnoxious whale, like one of the ones what washes up on beaches and people can't get it back cos it's so heavy)
I dread to think what's going to happen once I venture back to the open plan area that is Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre cardio area, plus I also must to some upper body work after being absolutely embarrassing on a climbing wall this year. I'm not planning on doing anything too strenuous first time out, maybe 2 or 3 miles and a bit of rowing.
I will of course be surrounded by a strange combination that can only ever exist in a gym, lots of men who are in worse shape than me, lots of women who don't seem to actually do anything and then a few overly fit people that make us all feel bad.
Next Sunday is the always awesome Welsh Open of dodgeball and once again I'll be captaining the Hoffmeisters into action following a poor showing last time out. Don't mock, I can see your minds working dodgeball is a sport and a damn competitive one. Check it out http://www.ukdba.org/
Anyway, I'll post on my twitter feed how I've done and if I've lived. Until tomorrow!
It's been a while, 6 months ago I was in quite good shape, stamina was good, could cover 10k with relative ease, could push myself considerably further, then generally things went tits up. Knee problem, appendix removal, another knee problem and I'm the size of a whale again, as if I'd never bothered training a moment in my life. (Let's face it it's not even a cute whale, like the one from Free Willy, it's a blimp of an obnoxious whale, like one of the ones what washes up on beaches and people can't get it back cos it's so heavy)
I dread to think what's going to happen once I venture back to the open plan area that is Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre cardio area, plus I also must to some upper body work after being absolutely embarrassing on a climbing wall this year. I'm not planning on doing anything too strenuous first time out, maybe 2 or 3 miles and a bit of rowing.
I will of course be surrounded by a strange combination that can only ever exist in a gym, lots of men who are in worse shape than me, lots of women who don't seem to actually do anything and then a few overly fit people that make us all feel bad.
Next Sunday is the always awesome Welsh Open of dodgeball and once again I'll be captaining the Hoffmeisters into action following a poor showing last time out. Don't mock, I can see your minds working dodgeball is a sport and a damn competitive one. Check it out http://www.ukdba.org/
Anyway, I'll post on my twitter feed how I've done and if I've lived. Until tomorrow!
Thursday 14 October 2010
Last Stop - Short Story
It was early, “it was always early about this time, funnily enough” he thought to himself. He lifted himself out of bed and walked to the bathroom. With a quick tug he turned on the light and examined himself in the mirror.
Within 20 minutes he was at the front door, ready to go. He locked the door of the little flat and walked the half mile to the train station. He checked his watch, he had a good 20 minutes until it was due, he had time. He passed joggers, dog walkers, the acted like they didn’t even see him, even if they did at all. Dogs would usually give him a second glance, but would be dragged off by their owners before they ever reacted. It was a shame really, he loved dogs.
He walked past the shop to his left. The owner out the front instructing a paper boy on the fastest route. He would have loved to have stopped, but that’s not what he did. He had to keep on going, after all he had a train to catch.
The path to the train station was quiet, after all it was early, not many people were out of bed and commuting at this time. Thoughts of plans filled his head, he’d arranged a meal for after work with a young lady, a friend but maybe more. He wondered what she was doing now. He sighed and ploughed on.
The train was at the station now so he walked straight on. Found the same seat he found every day and sat down. Only a few minutes later the train pulled away and the journey began. It was all very routine but it was his routine.
He looked around the train recognising faces he knew, faces he’d seen years ago. Still carrying on their daily routines as if nothing ever changed. They’d become older, yes, but their faces were still full on life, while he felt so drained. How he envied them for that.
Three of four stops had passed, people had come and gone. He’d remained anonymous in his seat, people watching to pass the time. Mainly the train was full of workers, if anyone selling awful ties and gray suits were to come on, they’d make a fortune he joked to himself. That was his first smile of the day!
The train stopped between two small stations at a signal. It hadn’t always done so, sometimes people would take a risk, a chance, but not since that day. Oh no, now people stuck to the rules. The signal changed and the train pulled away.
He’d leave the train here, this is where it happened. The thoughts of the noise and the screeching came to him once again and he felt saddened. He thought of the moment he felt something strike him, how he’d begged and prayed it wouldn’t happen, but there was nothing anyone could have done.
He closed his eyes as the world started to fade, this was it for him, the final stop on the route. As he drifted into black he opened his eyes for a last look around. Said goodbye to the people, “I’ll see you tomorrow” he thought.
As he left, he’d swear someone turned to look at him, just for a second..
Wednesday 13 October 2010
At what price further education?
Our wonderful government plan to remove the cap on tuition fees in Universities. This could result in courses costing over £7,000 a year. This concerns me, it concerns me a great deal.
Obviously the idea behind this is to raise more money for the Universities allowing them to provide better facilities. But provide them to who. By pricing a degree at over £21,000, plus loan debt (which they also plan to increase the interest on massively) it will take the option of University away from many many people. Yes, the very poorest will get help, but what about people who are not rich just not what the government consider to be poor? They will surely struggle to fund such enormous costs, and their children will be burdened with debts that will spiral over time.
I went to Uni, but sadly things didn't work out for me, but even though I only part completed my course, I left with a wedge of debt, which as soon as I hit £15k started... very slowly... being paid back. Now for a littel more relief the cap will be £21k but even before you reach that, and you'd expect almost all graduates to get there even not if straight away, the debt will be building. It would almost make Uni not worthwhile.
I have a daughter, she wont be headed off to further education just yet, she's only 2! But by the time she is 18 I dread to think what the costs will have escalated too. I hope she turns into some intellectual legend and gets a scholarship, otherwise I really don't see how I'm going to fund it. Short of me getting a run of jaw dropping pay rises.
Last academic year British Universities had record entries, entries to the point where not everyone could be placed. Mental, and so so encouraging. The pessimistic side of me thinks this new rule is also partially to ensure headcount matches places. If a good percentage of applicants are put off applying, the system wont really lose and will get more cash. Plus the richer (Traditional Tory support??) will have no problems affording the new costs and their kids will be in! I hope it doesn't start driving a educational gap between the classes.
It even affects me! I was looking at going back to study part time and maybe earn that degree that eluded me. But not at those prices!
In Westminster the Lib Dems know it's wrong but they sold themselves so easily for a slice of power they've left themselves powerless to oppose the Tory policy. I know alot of their voters who regret their decision to vote towards king-maker Cleggs cronies. Thankfully (in a way) I live in a Labour seat, usually a safe one but came under Lib Dem pressure last time after some seriously heavy handed campaigning by the local Lib Dem candidate (Honestly a couple of thousand trees must have died to cover the leaflets, I'm sure they were arriving hourly at one point!)
Never again please, Labour weren't perfect, but they had the people in mind. NHS next, who knows what, 'encouraging' people to go private to save costs? Cutting necessary staff to save a quid? As long as it doesn't overly bother the South East! How long til the next election... :(
Obviously the idea behind this is to raise more money for the Universities allowing them to provide better facilities. But provide them to who. By pricing a degree at over £21,000, plus loan debt (which they also plan to increase the interest on massively) it will take the option of University away from many many people. Yes, the very poorest will get help, but what about people who are not rich just not what the government consider to be poor? They will surely struggle to fund such enormous costs, and their children will be burdened with debts that will spiral over time.
I went to Uni, but sadly things didn't work out for me, but even though I only part completed my course, I left with a wedge of debt, which as soon as I hit £15k started... very slowly... being paid back. Now for a littel more relief the cap will be £21k but even before you reach that, and you'd expect almost all graduates to get there even not if straight away, the debt will be building. It would almost make Uni not worthwhile.
I have a daughter, she wont be headed off to further education just yet, she's only 2! But by the time she is 18 I dread to think what the costs will have escalated too. I hope she turns into some intellectual legend and gets a scholarship, otherwise I really don't see how I'm going to fund it. Short of me getting a run of jaw dropping pay rises.
Last academic year British Universities had record entries, entries to the point where not everyone could be placed. Mental, and so so encouraging. The pessimistic side of me thinks this new rule is also partially to ensure headcount matches places. If a good percentage of applicants are put off applying, the system wont really lose and will get more cash. Plus the richer (Traditional Tory support??) will have no problems affording the new costs and their kids will be in! I hope it doesn't start driving a educational gap between the classes.
It even affects me! I was looking at going back to study part time and maybe earn that degree that eluded me. But not at those prices!
In Westminster the Lib Dems know it's wrong but they sold themselves so easily for a slice of power they've left themselves powerless to oppose the Tory policy. I know alot of their voters who regret their decision to vote towards king-maker Cleggs cronies. Thankfully (in a way) I live in a Labour seat, usually a safe one but came under Lib Dem pressure last time after some seriously heavy handed campaigning by the local Lib Dem candidate (Honestly a couple of thousand trees must have died to cover the leaflets, I'm sure they were arriving hourly at one point!)
Never again please, Labour weren't perfect, but they had the people in mind. NHS next, who knows what, 'encouraging' people to go private to save costs? Cutting necessary staff to save a quid? As long as it doesn't overly bother the South East! How long til the next election... :(
Tuesday 12 October 2010
Blogging
Wow a blog about blogging, that's never been done before...
It has struck me the whole blogging process is an unusual one, a blog is essentially an area where anyone an express any (well nearly any) opinion some anyone else to read. But the question is, who reads mine? I know some people who know me read this (Hi guys!!) but what about the rest of the peeps out there? Do they stumble in, find it boring and leave, do they find it interesting and come back? Of the couple of hundred or so reads I've had, are they all unique? Do I have regulars?
All questions I'll never really know the answer too, and I kind of like it that way. If I knew certain people read I may become paranoid about what I write. Could you risk expressing dissatisfaction about work if you thought your boss would read it? Would you slag your neighbours if they might stumble across your rant while searching for Alan Titchmarsh hints on bing?
To look at this I thought about the way I read others blogs, and to be honest my first thought was I rarely do. Usually I'll randomly come across one and read while searching for a topic on google, but I've never subscribed/followed. So why would I expect anyone to do any more for me?
Truth is I don't, I find writing these blogs quite relaxing and would carry on if I never had another hit again (blog hit, I've never had a hit single). If I wanted to rapidly increase the volume of readers I'd put the link on Facebook, but no I can't see that happening, I doubt all my 'friends' would get what I write, some would don't get me wrong but Facebook friends and real friends regularly don't add up. Well maybe once just to see what would happen, I'll wait til I write something more interesting first though. Maybe do something different, like.. a sing-along blog... all together now, "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do... don't plan the plan if..." no? OK for the best.
But I do wonder, how many people out there write blogs for fun, enjoyment etc and how many do it for attention? Obviously both types exist, that's human nature as Jacko once sang. Do people use this type of stuff to try and get chances in media? Could that ever happen?
Primarily I think the world of blogging is a wild and varies one and something that will always be enjoyable to me. Far more enjoyable than the shambles of a football (soccer) side my country turns out. Beat 4-1 by Switzerland, that's an awfully attacking display for such a neutral country!!
Anyway, until the moro peeps.
It has struck me the whole blogging process is an unusual one, a blog is essentially an area where anyone an express any (well nearly any) opinion some anyone else to read. But the question is, who reads mine? I know some people who know me read this (Hi guys!!) but what about the rest of the peeps out there? Do they stumble in, find it boring and leave, do they find it interesting and come back? Of the couple of hundred or so reads I've had, are they all unique? Do I have regulars?
All questions I'll never really know the answer too, and I kind of like it that way. If I knew certain people read I may become paranoid about what I write. Could you risk expressing dissatisfaction about work if you thought your boss would read it? Would you slag your neighbours if they might stumble across your rant while searching for Alan Titchmarsh hints on bing?
To look at this I thought about the way I read others blogs, and to be honest my first thought was I rarely do. Usually I'll randomly come across one and read while searching for a topic on google, but I've never subscribed/followed. So why would I expect anyone to do any more for me?
Truth is I don't, I find writing these blogs quite relaxing and would carry on if I never had another hit again (blog hit, I've never had a hit single). If I wanted to rapidly increase the volume of readers I'd put the link on Facebook, but no I can't see that happening, I doubt all my 'friends' would get what I write, some would don't get me wrong but Facebook friends and real friends regularly don't add up. Well maybe once just to see what would happen, I'll wait til I write something more interesting first though. Maybe do something different, like.. a sing-along blog... all together now, "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do... don't plan the plan if..." no? OK for the best.
But I do wonder, how many people out there write blogs for fun, enjoyment etc and how many do it for attention? Obviously both types exist, that's human nature as Jacko once sang. Do people use this type of stuff to try and get chances in media? Could that ever happen?
Primarily I think the world of blogging is a wild and varies one and something that will always be enjoyable to me. Far more enjoyable than the shambles of a football (soccer) side my country turns out. Beat 4-1 by Switzerland, that's an awfully attacking display for such a neutral country!!
Anyway, until the moro peeps.
Monday 11 October 2010
When a luxury becomes a necessity.
I have a fairly cushy life, the majority of people in the UK do (for now, the Torys aren't in full swing yet).
Yes, like with most people, I don't live in a palace, a castle etc but I have running water, more than enough food, a bed, a roof and access to healthcare. There are places on this planet where people would kill for any of them, but I/we take them for granted.
I thought I was quite grounded, until I moved home recently which resulted in a slight fall in my access to things such as TV, Internet, XBOX. These things are almost the definition of luxury, but there were times where not having these things really put my nose out. It was at this point I thought, when did these things become THAT necessary? I even have a dongle, at some expense, so I have a backup internet source (using it now!!), so just incase I'm out of wifi range, my iPhone hasn't got signal, I can still grab my spare laptop (smaller one so more portable) and check twitter http://www.twitter.com/andrewdrisc or post here.
The counter argument is we have worked hard for these luxuries and deserve them, and to be honest it's an argument I'm happy to hide behind!
I wonder whether many people of my generation could last without Sky Sports (maybe people would travel to the grounds to see sport?), without games consoles, without Facebook (which I dislike anyway) without email, IM, etc
To be honest I would probably fail horribly, but honestly I don't even want to try. If that makes me a bad person, I apologise whole heartedly.
Yes, like with most people, I don't live in a palace, a castle etc but I have running water, more than enough food, a bed, a roof and access to healthcare. There are places on this planet where people would kill for any of them, but I/we take them for granted.
I thought I was quite grounded, until I moved home recently which resulted in a slight fall in my access to things such as TV, Internet, XBOX. These things are almost the definition of luxury, but there were times where not having these things really put my nose out. It was at this point I thought, when did these things become THAT necessary? I even have a dongle, at some expense, so I have a backup internet source (using it now!!), so just incase I'm out of wifi range, my iPhone hasn't got signal, I can still grab my spare laptop (smaller one so more portable) and check twitter http://www.twitter.com/andrewdrisc or post here.
The counter argument is we have worked hard for these luxuries and deserve them, and to be honest it's an argument I'm happy to hide behind!
I wonder whether many people of my generation could last without Sky Sports (maybe people would travel to the grounds to see sport?), without games consoles, without Facebook (which I dislike anyway) without email, IM, etc
To be honest I would probably fail horribly, but honestly I don't even want to try. If that makes me a bad person, I apologise whole heartedly.
Complaining - The only way to get your way?
Firstly, I've been a very lazy blogger. I've let things such as no Internet and doing lots of work on a house stop me!! Honestly where are my priorities!
As people who have read one of my earlier blogs would know, I've had some trouble with the ISP for my previous address, namely Plusnet. All those who give a damn will now love to hear I have cancelled with them, by avoiding their ludicrous cancellation rules. How did I do this? I complained that's how!
This lead me to think, I've dealt with numerous companies over the years, and they seem to have vastly varying levels of service. When I've come across the worst of this service and they refuse to do even the most basic of reasonable requests, I've gone straight through to complain.
My question is, should it be that way?
Why do basic service level employees of some companies stick so rigidly to obstructive practices? Personally I don't blame them, a human can only act within the freedom they're given and in the majority of companies I'm talking about, common sense and free thought is not encouraged.
Plus net are an example (sorry to bang on) their staff could have solved my problem in 20 seconds with a quick phone call, but they refused. Eventually their complaints manager (James Bailey, very helpful man) solved the situation with a 20 second call. Could not somebody at another level have already done this, they prob spent longer than that writing my response telling me they couldn't call. They wasted their time, my time writing the complaint and the Complaint Managers time looking into it and contacting me.
A bit of common sense at the start and things would have been done much much faster.
There must be 1000's of examples every day where customers have to complain about blatantly unfair procedures to get any joy. If companies a) treated their staff as things other than trained monkeys or b) considered the customer over whatever obstructive procedure was in the way in the first place they'd be more efficient and maybe they'd have happier customers.
Of course, there are financial benefits in being disruptive, if someone knowingly overcharged 50,000 customers and only 20,000 complain, they've made the extra on 30,000. Which very well may make any costs involved in handling the 20,000 complaints worthwhile. For example, if they delay had taken me into an new month with Plusnet, they'd have pocketed my £15 happily.
My advice, take nothing that seems unfair as read, kick up a fuss and you may get some joy. I've done the complaint handlers job before, and if most companies are like my employers, once it gets to complaint, the staff have the freedom to make fair decisions and the desire to do so also.
TTFN - Expect another post later, I'm brimming with ideas today!
As people who have read one of my earlier blogs would know, I've had some trouble with the ISP for my previous address, namely Plusnet. All those who give a damn will now love to hear I have cancelled with them, by avoiding their ludicrous cancellation rules. How did I do this? I complained that's how!
This lead me to think, I've dealt with numerous companies over the years, and they seem to have vastly varying levels of service. When I've come across the worst of this service and they refuse to do even the most basic of reasonable requests, I've gone straight through to complain.
My question is, should it be that way?
Why do basic service level employees of some companies stick so rigidly to obstructive practices? Personally I don't blame them, a human can only act within the freedom they're given and in the majority of companies I'm talking about, common sense and free thought is not encouraged.
Plus net are an example (sorry to bang on) their staff could have solved my problem in 20 seconds with a quick phone call, but they refused. Eventually their complaints manager (James Bailey, very helpful man) solved the situation with a 20 second call. Could not somebody at another level have already done this, they prob spent longer than that writing my response telling me they couldn't call. They wasted their time, my time writing the complaint and the Complaint Managers time looking into it and contacting me.
A bit of common sense at the start and things would have been done much much faster.
There must be 1000's of examples every day where customers have to complain about blatantly unfair procedures to get any joy. If companies a) treated their staff as things other than trained monkeys or b) considered the customer over whatever obstructive procedure was in the way in the first place they'd be more efficient and maybe they'd have happier customers.
Of course, there are financial benefits in being disruptive, if someone knowingly overcharged 50,000 customers and only 20,000 complain, they've made the extra on 30,000. Which very well may make any costs involved in handling the 20,000 complaints worthwhile. For example, if they delay had taken me into an new month with Plusnet, they'd have pocketed my £15 happily.
My advice, take nothing that seems unfair as read, kick up a fuss and you may get some joy. I've done the complaint handlers job before, and if most companies are like my employers, once it gets to complaint, the staff have the freedom to make fair decisions and the desire to do so also.
TTFN - Expect another post later, I'm brimming with ideas today!
Thursday 7 October 2010
An early morning jog
I'm shocked but somehow not surprised how unfit I've become. It's been a while since I did anything like training, my body has once again conspired against me to ensure the waistline expands.
I was looking in quite good shape, for me, up until about 7/8 weeks ago, covering 6 or 7 miles at a time in the gym with no real hassle, ready for a 10k building up nicely for my 2nd attempt at a half marathon (all in aid of Velindre) then late one Saturday night I developed a pain in my side, a trip to the hospital and an operation later and I was sans appendix.
This left me unable to stand without looking like Quasimodo for weeks, thanks to a few complications, unable to train for longer. In fact to this day I'm still on doctors advice to 'take it easy' after my knee also went a bit funny moving house.
But this morning my current condition was brought into sharp focus, I was sauntering round the corner near Pentrebach train station when I saw the train pull in. Panic kicked in and I broke into a full on sprint (thankfully you can't really see me running from the platform). Thanks to an understanding train guard, who luckily did manage to spot me I made it, but I was shocked that a sprint of what could me no more than 150m left me absolutely knackered. Yes, it was uphill and twisty (the way up was along a disabled access ramp so went round a bit) but I know 3 months ago I would have done it faster, and been able to speak when I got on the train.
This has made me think, I need to get back into it, I can see already I've put on weight and that's a bad start, and somewhere I've been before (18 1/2 stone at my peak, and I look back at photos.. aghast sometimes). So first chance I get, back to the gym it is. Yes I know some people will think if it's only weight is the issue, diet. I'm of the opinion dieting doesn't work, or at least doesn't work alone, just as exercise wouldn't. Dieting is essentially partially starving yourself of certain things in order to force your body into a reaction, I'd rather eat properly (not stupidly) and work my body too, that's what we were designed to do, that is what I shall do.
Not tomorrow night though, tomorrow night I've gone and acquired nice seats to watch my blessed homeland get beat at football by Bulgaria, at the 'lovely' Lego Brick Stadium. Should be a good laugh and a few pints. But after that... gym all the way!
This time next year, I'll deliberately be late, just so I can sprint to the train and show it doesn't bother me! OK I wont, that would be stupid but I know what I mean! Hopefully next year I'll be able to do what I planned this, Swansea Bay 10k, Cardiff 10k, Cardiff Half Marathon. I'll be making my comeback to sports hopefully on the 24th in the Welsh dodgeball open, I haven't been arsed to sort the entry yet, but it's on my to do list. GO HOFFMEISTERS!
I've always had these crazy ideas of wanting to do more as well, to do exciting things. The woman I sit next to in work is climbing Kilimanjaro next year and it sounds horrible, cold, hard, etc and I find myself borderline jealous, I'd love to do that. I've always wanted to do the 24 hour version of the three peaks. I could never do any of these in my current condition of course, I can't even run for the bloody train,and one thing I'm not getting is any younger, but they are things I want to do.
But even the longest journey must start from where you stand as Lao Tzu once said, and he wasn't a stupid man. Stay tuned to this blog if you want to know how I'm doing, or even if you don't I'm not about to turn the blog into some kind of rocky style training montage. I'll still write about whatever's on my mind at the time... with no discernible pattern or structure...
I was looking in quite good shape, for me, up until about 7/8 weeks ago, covering 6 or 7 miles at a time in the gym with no real hassle, ready for a 10k building up nicely for my 2nd attempt at a half marathon (all in aid of Velindre) then late one Saturday night I developed a pain in my side, a trip to the hospital and an operation later and I was sans appendix.
This left me unable to stand without looking like Quasimodo for weeks, thanks to a few complications, unable to train for longer. In fact to this day I'm still on doctors advice to 'take it easy' after my knee also went a bit funny moving house.
But this morning my current condition was brought into sharp focus, I was sauntering round the corner near Pentrebach train station when I saw the train pull in. Panic kicked in and I broke into a full on sprint (thankfully you can't really see me running from the platform). Thanks to an understanding train guard, who luckily did manage to spot me I made it, but I was shocked that a sprint of what could me no more than 150m left me absolutely knackered. Yes, it was uphill and twisty (the way up was along a disabled access ramp so went round a bit) but I know 3 months ago I would have done it faster, and been able to speak when I got on the train.
This has made me think, I need to get back into it, I can see already I've put on weight and that's a bad start, and somewhere I've been before (18 1/2 stone at my peak, and I look back at photos.. aghast sometimes). So first chance I get, back to the gym it is. Yes I know some people will think if it's only weight is the issue, diet. I'm of the opinion dieting doesn't work, or at least doesn't work alone, just as exercise wouldn't. Dieting is essentially partially starving yourself of certain things in order to force your body into a reaction, I'd rather eat properly (not stupidly) and work my body too, that's what we were designed to do, that is what I shall do.
Not tomorrow night though, tomorrow night I've gone and acquired nice seats to watch my blessed homeland get beat at football by Bulgaria, at the 'lovely' Lego Brick Stadium. Should be a good laugh and a few pints. But after that... gym all the way!
This time next year, I'll deliberately be late, just so I can sprint to the train and show it doesn't bother me! OK I wont, that would be stupid but I know what I mean! Hopefully next year I'll be able to do what I planned this, Swansea Bay 10k, Cardiff 10k, Cardiff Half Marathon. I'll be making my comeback to sports hopefully on the 24th in the Welsh dodgeball open, I haven't been arsed to sort the entry yet, but it's on my to do list. GO HOFFMEISTERS!
I've always had these crazy ideas of wanting to do more as well, to do exciting things. The woman I sit next to in work is climbing Kilimanjaro next year and it sounds horrible, cold, hard, etc and I find myself borderline jealous, I'd love to do that. I've always wanted to do the 24 hour version of the three peaks. I could never do any of these in my current condition of course, I can't even run for the bloody train,and one thing I'm not getting is any younger, but they are things I want to do.
But even the longest journey must start from where you stand as Lao Tzu once said, and he wasn't a stupid man. Stay tuned to this blog if you want to know how I'm doing, or even if you don't I'm not about to turn the blog into some kind of rocky style training montage. I'll still write about whatever's on my mind at the time... with no discernible pattern or structure...
Wednesday 6 October 2010
The Apprentice!
It's that time of year again, the (apparently) most acceptable form of reality TV has hit our screens. The 12(?) week long advert for how great Lord Sugar is upon us, The Apprentice!
Only coupled with the amstrad love, this year he's got a book out which no doubt will be written into the subtext of as many episodes as he can force. Mentions of his past will creep in, prompting people to think, hmmm amazon.
The list of candidates appear to be... questionable. The men has a leader who's CV must have town crier on it at some point. The guy was loud, pointless and annoying. One of them I've felt the urge to slap since the moment he opened his gob. This fecker (Stuart?) even has hair that looks like he wants to be Wolverine, what a dick!
The women's team seems far more sensible but at this stage that usually is the case, as men are far more eager to look stupid on TV. But to be fair, the final scenes in the house made them all look like dicks. I've always been a fan of the apprentice, even if not of the whole reality TV genreThis series better get better!!
On Alibi at the same time as the BBC's version of Big Brother (Well it is) is the excellent Castle. Nathan Fillion the ever charismatic lead feels fresh and interesting, even though it's not particularly!
I'll continue to watch The Apprentice no doubt, as it typically does get more interesting... Hmmm yeah I'm sure.
In personal news, I'm in the new house! No longer (a version of I suppose, I admitted the melodramatic nature of the statement aaaaaaaages ago) homeless. We have water, sky, power and lots of belongings we can't quite track down yet but "Must be in there somewhere". Won't be long we'll be able to class ourselves as 'moved in'! I may even celebrate finding my xbox, that is when we do find my xbox, not happened yet, by getting myself the F1 game. Looks like it rocks.
Only coupled with the amstrad love, this year he's got a book out which no doubt will be written into the subtext of as many episodes as he can force. Mentions of his past will creep in, prompting people to think, hmmm amazon.
The list of candidates appear to be... questionable. The men has a leader who's CV must have town crier on it at some point. The guy was loud, pointless and annoying. One of them I've felt the urge to slap since the moment he opened his gob. This fecker (Stuart?) even has hair that looks like he wants to be Wolverine, what a dick!
The women's team seems far more sensible but at this stage that usually is the case, as men are far more eager to look stupid on TV. But to be fair, the final scenes in the house made them all look like dicks. I've always been a fan of the apprentice, even if not of the whole reality TV genreThis series better get better!!
On Alibi at the same time as the BBC's version of Big Brother (Well it is) is the excellent Castle. Nathan Fillion the ever charismatic lead feels fresh and interesting, even though it's not particularly!
I'll continue to watch The Apprentice no doubt, as it typically does get more interesting... Hmmm yeah I'm sure.
In personal news, I'm in the new house! No longer (a version of I suppose, I admitted the melodramatic nature of the statement aaaaaaaages ago) homeless. We have water, sky, power and lots of belongings we can't quite track down yet but "Must be in there somewhere". Won't be long we'll be able to class ourselves as 'moved in'! I may even celebrate finding my xbox, that is when we do find my xbox, not happened yet, by getting myself the F1 game. Looks like it rocks.
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Man Flu
Yesterday I had a rather nasty little pain in my throat, not exactly going to make me break down and cry, after all I'm a man, but annoying, particularly around any time I had to swallow something, which being a greedy fat bloke, tends to happen quite a bit.
Towards the end of yesterday the nose was getting clogged, the occasional sneeze was drifting into the equation. It was the kind of one nostril blockage (the left one if anyone's interested) and blowing it ended up hurting my throat all over again.
This morning I wake up, and bam (bam? Thta's the best word I could think of? Seriously??) it's here. The throat has teamed up with the head, who've run a triple play with the nose (still a solitary nostril though, the right one must be like a resistance cell against the virus. Vive la resistance!) and given me a cold. But as no doubt I'll be told within 67 seconds of sniffing once in the office today, it's not a cold, not even a heavy cold, it's...
Man Flu
Now, beyond being uncomfortable, the cold wont really bother me all that. Few lost seconds finding a tissue maybe, few extra puffs on my asthma inhaler certainly. But I can be certain, if I do show any sign of weakness every woman for 3 floors around will break into the traditional, "Oh look at him, he's got man flu, it's only a code big baby, men are rubbish when they're ill... blah blah friggin blah" lines! 'Cos of course a woman's never overreacted to an illness ever.
In fact I'm sure I remember reading that men actually can hold up a little better than women on times. But bring that up and then childbirth rears it's head. I'm sure childbirth is hell, but so is being hit in the nuts with a cricket ball. I'll never understand the pain of squeezing one out, women will never understand the pain of being bowled middle stump with a corgi ball.
There are kidney stones, which by all accounts have comparable pain levels, but that can happen to either of us (and indeed it was suspected I had them til it turned out to be appendicitis) and I'm not fancying getting them just for a comparison.
My plan for the morning is basically, get off train (I am on the train this time), go to boots, get tablets, go to work. No cold will stop me, slow me down yes but not stop me.
On a better note, the house is coming along better, we have a bed, a settee and having sky fitted today. The furniture is gradually being moved in and the kitchen may be done today! Woo-hoo! Well that's if I can manage to carry any of it, or I may be stricken down with my near fatal case of the sniffles.
Monday 4 October 2010
Techno snobbery!
I like my gadgets, I haven't go the cash for many but I have a few. Nothing fancy, I don't almost fall over my robot dogs every time I Segway myself to answer the door, after hearing my mp3 doorbell 9but thinking about getting one of those), but I have what you'd expect, decent (i)phone, decent Laptop, games console, netbook for the train (which I'm writing from at the moment, albeit not on the train)....
I also can assure you I have certain brands I like, apple for example have been good to me with everything I've owned from them, but I've never felt the needs to ensure everyone has the same as me.
I've never been 100% sure of the motives behind this form of techno-snobbery, I have a feeling it all comes back to acceptance and the need to be in a crowd of similar people (I need massively lacking form me) but in these instances the crowd is somewhat nerdier. Mobile phones are typically the most talked about subject like this. At the mo there are two main camps.
In the green/red corner is the Apple users, the iPhone defendants etc
In the no colour joke springing to mind corner is the Android users, in particular at the moment the Galaxy-S users.
I'm not forgetting about you blackberry users, not going to drag you in, but watch your step. Nokia users... brand loyalty isn't always a good thing ;) (I'm kidding!)
Now both camps must be happy with their respective handsets, they own them and they use them. If they didn't like them I'm certain there would be forums literally bursting with comments, and far superior blogs to this melting from the volume of hits and comments being deposited every hour. But why do the two camps have to try and convert everyone else? It's like the Sim Card (or Micro Sim, sorry apple users) crusades on times!!
Each side will generally react to any question form a neutral, seeing it as a chance to assert their authority and get them to join their side. They'll generally respond aggressively to anyone who disagrees and I've seen many a name slung around!
But why? My theory is that geeks/nerds, call us what you will, like to feel a little superior, at least some of the time, and this is an outlet! If they can convince you they have the best item and had it before you, then clearly they must be more intelligent/a better judge/know more about xxx/etc (delete as appropriate) and also their wisdom is so obvious, you've fallen into line with them. Making them a more positive spin on Patient Zero.
Or could it be they see a world where everyone has the same device as them, a world that accepts them just that little bit more. Do they see a world where everyone has an iPhone 4 as 'their' world?
It's probably something good old Jezza Kyle could have a gander at and get illegitimate children in there somewhere too (Would an iPhone be the illegitimate child of a Blackberry Storm and a iPod Touch?)
In this blog, you're not going to read my opinion of what is best, I'm an iPhone user (3GS) and I love it, doesn't mean you would, but it does what I like and does it reasonably well (Flash anyone?) and I'll chances are step up to iPhone 4 next, but what you do... couldn't give a rats arse as long as you don't whinge to me about it!
And yes, I want an iPad...
I also can assure you I have certain brands I like, apple for example have been good to me with everything I've owned from them, but I've never felt the needs to ensure everyone has the same as me.
I've never been 100% sure of the motives behind this form of techno-snobbery, I have a feeling it all comes back to acceptance and the need to be in a crowd of similar people (I need massively lacking form me) but in these instances the crowd is somewhat nerdier. Mobile phones are typically the most talked about subject like this. At the mo there are two main camps.
In the green/red corner is the Apple users, the iPhone defendants etc
In the no colour joke springing to mind corner is the Android users, in particular at the moment the Galaxy-S users.
I'm not forgetting about you blackberry users, not going to drag you in, but watch your step. Nokia users... brand loyalty isn't always a good thing ;) (I'm kidding!)
Now both camps must be happy with their respective handsets, they own them and they use them. If they didn't like them I'm certain there would be forums literally bursting with comments, and far superior blogs to this melting from the volume of hits and comments being deposited every hour. But why do the two camps have to try and convert everyone else? It's like the Sim Card (or Micro Sim, sorry apple users) crusades on times!!
Each side will generally react to any question form a neutral, seeing it as a chance to assert their authority and get them to join their side. They'll generally respond aggressively to anyone who disagrees and I've seen many a name slung around!
But why? My theory is that geeks/nerds, call us what you will, like to feel a little superior, at least some of the time, and this is an outlet! If they can convince you they have the best item and had it before you, then clearly they must be more intelligent/a better judge/know more about xxx/etc (delete as appropriate) and also their wisdom is so obvious, you've fallen into line with them. Making them a more positive spin on Patient Zero.
Or could it be they see a world where everyone has the same device as them, a world that accepts them just that little bit more. Do they see a world where everyone has an iPhone 4 as 'their' world?
It's probably something good old Jezza Kyle could have a gander at and get illegitimate children in there somewhere too (Would an iPhone be the illegitimate child of a Blackberry Storm and a iPod Touch?)
In this blog, you're not going to read my opinion of what is best, I'm an iPhone user (3GS) and I love it, doesn't mean you would, but it does what I like and does it reasonably well (Flash anyone?) and I'll chances are step up to iPhone 4 next, but what you do... couldn't give a rats arse as long as you don't whinge to me about it!
And yes, I want an iPad...
Sunday 3 October 2010
Getting late but wide awake
There are some days it happens to everyone I'm sure, but today it's my turn. The local time is 1:20am, but I am awake as awake can be. Not even watching league two football on the creatively titled, 'football league programme' could dampen my state of absolute awakeness, so I though my blog must but a good percentage of the readers to sleep, let's see if writing one does the same for me!
Late nights do give you the chance to discover some wonderful things. Last night, while I'll be honest it wasn't all that late, I was treated to Giant Shark Vs Mega Octopus on Syfy (why the spelling I don't know, but I get the idea). I can honestly say I've never seen a film like it.... DREADFUL, awful acting, a romance subplot about as believable as an X-Factor sob story, a plot written by a 9 year old for a school homework project... oh dear. It was followed by something to do with fire which was apparently created by good old Bill Shatner and starred Xander from Buffy, but i didn't have the heart to watch it.
Tonight is better, after football I've found the excellent Children of Men on ITV4, much better indeed! Still get the same half life 2 vibe from teh last 3/4 of an hour or so now as I did when it first came out, superb stuff.
All that follows me pay day treating myself to teh Wrath of the Lich King expansion for WoW, I'm officially up to date! Now if I didn't suck at it so badly, I'd be in!
I'm pleased to announce my without-a-home days are officially numbered, most of the house is now habitable, carpets 80% down, kitchen workable but lacking tiles, we purchased a new kingsize bed today form Ikea. It's a matter of days, always a good sign is the sky is being installed Tuesday! Can't have a new house without a shiny new HD box now can you, although I did decline the £250 upgrade to a Tb box, OTT I feel!
Anyway I shall go take my many many tablets, oh the life of a diabetic, n try to sleep now.
Sweet dreams y'all
Oh and please forgive any spelling faux pas, I'm used to Chrome spell checking as I go, this is on IE8 and it doesn't!! Must upgrade tomorrow!
Friday 1 October 2010
A golf tournament in October? In Wales? Nice thinking...
Welcome to October! Shockingly the South Wales weather has chosen this moment for the sky to open and deposit as much good old precipitation as possible onto the land below. Not an unusual thing for Wales or indeed for the UK as a whole to experience. Then why choose this moment to hold the biggest outdoor sports event Newport has ever seen in what is essentially a field, actually lets be exact, in essentially what is rapidly turning into a bog? Even as I type play has been suspended for hours!!
Did someone say 'first Monday finish ever??'
Overall I'm seeing the Ryder Cup as a good thing for the area, yes most of the money is kept by the Ryder Cup association or whatever the frig it's called, but it's still brought people to the area, and taking the prices at Celtic Manor as a guide, the type of people it brings have considerably more money than me. I may be wrong, but that kind of generalisation fits well with Golf's image as a whole, seen as an expensive sport for a privileged few who also hand round in the clubhouse in plusfors sipping pimms. Now I'm sure this isn't true, I used to play myself only under less glamorous surroundings (Caerphilly generally, if you know it, you'll know what I mean), but its an image.
The elite/rich nature of at least this particular golf event has however sent people into hyperactive "OhmygodIthinkIjustsaw" mode. Storys coming from Cardiff city centre yesterday included, Will Smith and Michael Jordan shopping for a basketball in JD sports (do you think they were going to shoot some b-ball outside of the school??), David Beckham in some 'exclusive' clothes shop on Churchill Way (I forget the name, but I can't afford to shop there anyway), maybe even Samuel L Jackson getting a chicken bake and a bottle of Dr Pepper in Greggs, St Davids arcade. Do date I have seen nothing in the way of evidence that any of these people have graced Cardiff in the slightest (Apart from Mickey Jordan who was posing for pics in Revolution) but I suppose they have to be staying somewhere.
The truth is, to make the most money you need to attarct the people with most disposal income, which lets face it these people are. But I digress, a month or 6 weeks ago it would have been an event bathed in sunshine, but now? Washout? 2 years ago Nick Faldo made a joke about bring waterproofs to Wales, and by all accounts people laid into him, I think all thouse people owe him an apology. The writing was on teh wall at the Wales Open last year which was delayed by rain.
but oh well, people not outside may spend more in the gift shop. £40k watch anyone?
Also, this is an experiment, I'm submitting this via email written on my lunch break, let's see if it works. But of course if it doesn't work, you won't see it, but you know what I mean. I think. Do you?
PS It didn't work, my email added a huuuuuuuge disclaimer to the end so I'm doing this normally!!
Thursday 30 September 2010
Sequels
Having a scan through wikipedia this morning, as you do, and I came across the distressing news that the sequel to the masterpiece "Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog" has all but been cancelled! It's officially been put to the back burner while Joss Whedon works on the 2012 Avengers 3D film. Avengers?? Seriously?? I know what I'd rather he makes, but money talks I suppose even for geeks like Joss. I've always thought the vast majority of marvel/dc/general superhero films have been pants and this wont be any different, and unless Fillion/Day/Harris are going to Dennis Waterman the theme tune, I'm just not interested.
Usually I'm dead against sequels/remakes/reissues etc, they have their place and on occasion can be great (Back to the Future, Aliens) but so much of the time are rushed cheap pieces of cash in crap (Starship Troopers 2, The Ring 2, Caddyshack 2, Scary Movie anything). The only thing worse is hopeless cash ins on the same material, this brings me to one of the biggest culprits and the person who made think up all this rubbish, George "I love jar jar" Lucas.
Now the reason I didn't mention Star Wars in either of the above lists is simple, it's both! The 'first' 3 films amazing, the 'second' lot of shit was an insult to my eyes (apart from the last hour of episode 3). The news broke yesterday that he must need some new UPVC windows put in on Skywalker (seriously get over it) ranch so guess what's coming out again... Star Wars, all the way from 1-6 starting with the crap and fighting it's way through to the good, only this time...wait for it... I'm building up pointless tension as everyone has no doubt already read it... in 3D. Ever wanted to really get a good look at Mark Hamills scarring? Ever wanted to get so close to Wedge you'd be the one telling him to cut the chatter? Ever wanted to get so close to Binks you it feels like you could destroy him? No? Me neither. Well maybe the last one. It's another hopeless cash in and I don't like it!
Over the years I've bought the Videos, the widescreen videos, the special anniversary edition remastered DVDs, I've paid money to watch in the cinema (eps 1-3, how old do you think I am??). Now good old George wants me to pay the cinema cash plus 3D supplement again, then no doubt buy the special edition DVDs. The only 3D Star Wars I ever want to see is the 3 minute segment from the Family Guy episode, and I already have that on DVD too! FFS.
It's not just him, only a few weeks ago a friend emailed me to ask if I wanted to go see Avatar that night in the cinema. Now I saw Avatar when it was in first, yes Pocahontas in space it was, but it was a damn good Pocahontas in space, and the 3D element really helped it along, overall well done, enjoyed it. But this was the special edition, sit through all 2+ hours again, but this time with about 9 mins of extra CG shagging added. Ummm no thanks. A perfect example of cashing in.
Tomorrow Back to the Future is out in cinemas again. Back to the firigging Future FFS, a remastered special anniversary edition too. Will the slightly tarted up graphics help the film, did the film even need any help, it's a work of art, a masterpiece. Will I go see it... yeah probably.... Well it's only it's first reissue, and I don't have them all on DVD...
God I'm such a hypocrite on times.
Usually I'm dead against sequels/remakes/reissues etc, they have their place and on occasion can be great (Back to the Future, Aliens) but so much of the time are rushed cheap pieces of cash in crap (Starship Troopers 2, The Ring 2, Caddyshack 2, Scary Movie anything). The only thing worse is hopeless cash ins on the same material, this brings me to one of the biggest culprits and the person who made think up all this rubbish, George "I love jar jar" Lucas.
Now the reason I didn't mention Star Wars in either of the above lists is simple, it's both! The 'first' 3 films amazing, the 'second' lot of shit was an insult to my eyes (apart from the last hour of episode 3). The news broke yesterday that he must need some new UPVC windows put in on Skywalker (seriously get over it) ranch so guess what's coming out again... Star Wars, all the way from 1-6 starting with the crap and fighting it's way through to the good, only this time...wait for it... I'm building up pointless tension as everyone has no doubt already read it... in 3D. Ever wanted to really get a good look at Mark Hamills scarring? Ever wanted to get so close to Wedge you'd be the one telling him to cut the chatter? Ever wanted to get so close to Binks you it feels like you could destroy him? No? Me neither. Well maybe the last one. It's another hopeless cash in and I don't like it!
Over the years I've bought the Videos, the widescreen videos, the special anniversary edition remastered DVDs, I've paid money to watch in the cinema (eps 1-3, how old do you think I am??). Now good old George wants me to pay the cinema cash plus 3D supplement again, then no doubt buy the special edition DVDs. The only 3D Star Wars I ever want to see is the 3 minute segment from the Family Guy episode, and I already have that on DVD too! FFS.
It's not just him, only a few weeks ago a friend emailed me to ask if I wanted to go see Avatar that night in the cinema. Now I saw Avatar when it was in first, yes Pocahontas in space it was, but it was a damn good Pocahontas in space, and the 3D element really helped it along, overall well done, enjoyed it. But this was the special edition, sit through all 2+ hours again, but this time with about 9 mins of extra CG shagging added. Ummm no thanks. A perfect example of cashing in.
Tomorrow Back to the Future is out in cinemas again. Back to the firigging Future FFS, a remastered special anniversary edition too. Will the slightly tarted up graphics help the film, did the film even need any help, it's a work of art, a masterpiece. Will I go see it... yeah probably.... Well it's only it's first reissue, and I don't have them all on DVD...
God I'm such a hypocrite on times.
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Life begins to end at 30??
Apparently, according to the BBC mid life crisis time begins in your 30's these days. That's a concern now isn't it. I'm 28, I think we can call that late 20's but am not yet feeling the urge to buy a motorbike and pretend I'm 18, but those urges may very well be just around the corner.
To be honest when I was 18 I never had half the interests that 18 year olds from round by me had. Yes I liked a drink, and girls but I see people of that age round now, and indeed then and I just think/thought, what's the fun in that?
I live in sunny(?) Merthyr Tydfil and one of the favourite past times for the teenagers is to sit around, in pretty high volumes, in car parks, in their cars (always pays to have a mate who can drive) and.... do nothing in particular as far as I can tell. I mean honestly, there's a pub over there, if you wanna sit and talk with bad music on in the background, do it in the warm and have a pint. That has to be better than sitting in a mid 90s Corsa with a bodykit and a pointless exhaust.
I was always happier inside, I'm not a poor outdoors person, I like running, I like outdoor events, I competed with 3 mates in the Velindre Excalibur Challenge this year and we came 3rd and I enjoyed every second (even when the fact my upper body strength is the same as a gnat was exposed) , even doing so much harm to my knee at one point it resembled a misshapen beetroot when I got home! I was going to do the Swansea 10k and Cardiff Half Marathons this year, but my appendix had other ideas and after a few complications I'm still not allowed to train (another few days, sorry velindre!), but I have ambition in the next year of posting around 45 minutes for 10k in a race and there's plenty of stuff I'd love to do. But I'm most at home, at home!
I never wanted to hang round on corners or in bus stops, generally it's cold, why would I want to do that? I never felt the urge to cause trouble for the sake of it, it'd just come and bite you on the backside at some point, why give yourself the hassle?
But on reflection I was always quite unpopular and considered (fairly) a bit of a geek...
But back to the point, a mid-life crisis in your 30s just seems.. premature. I can honestly say I can't see it happening to be til at least 40/45 (should I start saving for the motorbike now?). I know a number of people in their 30s or fast approaching and they seem, generally, like well rounded individuals. There are some though that make me wonder.
In other news, i hear from twiter (@andrewdrisc) mince pies and Christmas decorations are already on sale in some shops. Now THIS is premature, it's September people for gods sake! It's almost like 2010 is having a mid year crisis.
Tuesday 28 September 2010
Pay Day!
Woo hoo it's pay day! This signals a very special time of the month, there's a gap, not a huge one but a gap nonetheless, between the 28th (Pay Day) and the 1st (Bill Day)
During this little period it's like living in a whole new financial bracket, the bank looks healthy, you don't feel a sense of intrepidation on approach to a cashpoint. The bank itself saves a fortune on red ink, but it's not all environmentally friendly as they tend to use more black.
Then the first comes round... Direct Debits shrink the balance back to where I belong and things return to normality and instead of marching into <insert generic game shop here> and demanding a latest release, it's back to hanging round in the preowned section or gazing through the window longingly like Charlie Bucket in the Roald Dahl classic. Gamestation have asked me not to, apparently my saliva running down the window doesn't help their sales.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not on the breadline, work doesn't exactly pay me money I have to carry home in my diamond encrusted wheelbarrow, but it's enough (Anyone wanting to offer me megabucks leave a comment, I'll have my people call your people... OK I have no people but if it creates the right image I'll get my mum to call and pretend she's my PA).
Speaking of stuff I can't afford, has anyone seen the new keyboard add on for Rock Band? Looks mighty classy, but is weighing in at £110 with the game. Looks like it's going to be a choice between that and Natal/Kinect (£120). I'll prob go for the rock band, Kinect still seems slightly gimmicky to me, despite a wise mate singing its praises. Plus the other half (an accomplished guitar hero player herself will love it, as she's also a piano player!) The clincher would be releasing some Ben Folds for it. Do it harmonix, do it now!
Anyway, I better be off, it's getting to the busy part of the train route and some stinking hobo will sit next to me at any moment doubtless.
Catch ya later!
During this little period it's like living in a whole new financial bracket, the bank looks healthy, you don't feel a sense of intrepidation on approach to a cashpoint. The bank itself saves a fortune on red ink, but it's not all environmentally friendly as they tend to use more black.
Then the first comes round... Direct Debits shrink the balance back to where I belong and things return to normality and instead of marching into <insert generic game shop here> and demanding a latest release, it's back to hanging round in the preowned section or gazing through the window longingly like Charlie Bucket in the Roald Dahl classic. Gamestation have asked me not to, apparently my saliva running down the window doesn't help their sales.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not on the breadline, work doesn't exactly pay me money I have to carry home in my diamond encrusted wheelbarrow, but it's enough (Anyone wanting to offer me megabucks leave a comment, I'll have my people call your people... OK I have no people but if it creates the right image I'll get my mum to call and pretend she's my PA).
Speaking of stuff I can't afford, has anyone seen the new keyboard add on for Rock Band? Looks mighty classy, but is weighing in at £110 with the game. Looks like it's going to be a choice between that and Natal/Kinect (£120). I'll prob go for the rock band, Kinect still seems slightly gimmicky to me, despite a wise mate singing its praises. Plus the other half (an accomplished guitar hero player herself will love it, as she's also a piano player!) The clincher would be releasing some Ben Folds for it. Do it harmonix, do it now!
Anyway, I better be off, it's getting to the busy part of the train route and some stinking hobo will sit next to me at any moment doubtless.
Catch ya later!
Monday 27 September 2010
Is it really so hard??
I've done the who customer facing job thing a few times. A few years behind a bar, can't avoid the customer there. A few years delivering pizzas, can't avoid the customer there. A move to a call centre and then a call centre complaint handler, can't see them but can hear them, so can't avoid them there.
Luckily (depending if you enjoy that kind of role I suppose) those days, for now at least, are behind me, but I'm still close by. Right, pointless opening? Maybe, but it does set a scene that I have some experience in service.
My point is, why do I seem to encounter incompetence or downright laziness wherever I turn? I'm not going to comment on the service the company I work for gives, too many people have hung themselves like that, I'm neutral on it, as it should probably be in my kind of job (still complaints but backroom complaints), but I can at least say I always tried my best when I was customer facing.
But of late, everyone seems to conspire against being as helpful as they can. My first rant is against Plusnet, a perfectly adequate company if you never have to communicate with them. I recently moved home (or am in the process of, see earlier blog) and out Internet provider, having never caused us hassle before was going to accompany us. Went to the website to change the address and... nope can't do it online... annoying but oh well to the phone I go, and I wait, and I wait... Now Plusnet's opening hours quite closely match my working ones and they don't do weekends, so my big chance to ring them is my breaks and a chunk out of my lunch, none of these are long enough time periods to get through.
So after trying for a couple of days I go "Screw you Plusnet I'm cancelling, Sky can do my broadband!" I go to their website and... phone or post cancellations only. Now they do have a online help thing and I post on there, want to cancel can't get through on the phone can you please call me, to which they reply, you have to phone. Yes I know this but I can't. There's no email option.. to an ISP...
Their response to this query was OFCOM make us give you two options, and phone and post are the two, the slowest and the one they can charge for. It may be compliant to their regulatory body, but it's doing enough to get by and still being as obstructive as they can, obviously cancellation isn't ideal for them. Stuff them I've logged a complaint with their ombudsman (CI something or another) and notified OFCOM of my thoughts. That'll make them sit up and take note... or not.
Next on the list, and the last one I'll mention today (ooooooh it's a long long list) is KFC. Specifically KFC Merthyr sodding Tydfil. Now I love Merthyr, it's my homeland, but we have a habit of doing things half arsed, the number of times McDonalds staff haven't quite comprehended 'No cheese', shop staff not quite sure of what's going on, that kind of thing. But tonights KFC incident did my swede right in.
I arrive late, I've been painting, I'm hungry, the OH is hungry, we want 2 fillet meals. But they have no bread... oh (partial) burger place has no bread, not a good sign. OK the OH has crispy strips and I decide on a toasted twister meal. But because of the time (As you can see the bread fairy had already been) they couldn't toast it, so it was really just a twister, for the same price. But I was hungry and it was 35 yards to McDonalds and I didn't have the patience for the cheese argument tonight, so I took it. Then it took 10 minutes to arrive (it's late.. blah blah) I mean I understand they want to go home closing time, but if you're not willing to offer the service til closing time, change the closing time. Rather than my boring soggy wrap I'd rather they would have said, sorry we're closed.
On the up side, I picked up Lonely Avenue by Ben Folds/Nick Hornby today. Give or take one stinker it's damn good, in particular From Above, delightful song. I would recommend it to anyone. Oh and for the record the HMV staff who served me was a dream, not that much can go wrong scanning a CD...
I might get perfect service somewhere tomorrow, but as Ben sings and Nick wrote, "You know what hope is? Hope is a bastard"
Night!
Luckily (depending if you enjoy that kind of role I suppose) those days, for now at least, are behind me, but I'm still close by. Right, pointless opening? Maybe, but it does set a scene that I have some experience in service.
My point is, why do I seem to encounter incompetence or downright laziness wherever I turn? I'm not going to comment on the service the company I work for gives, too many people have hung themselves like that, I'm neutral on it, as it should probably be in my kind of job (still complaints but backroom complaints), but I can at least say I always tried my best when I was customer facing.
But of late, everyone seems to conspire against being as helpful as they can. My first rant is against Plusnet, a perfectly adequate company if you never have to communicate with them. I recently moved home (or am in the process of, see earlier blog) and out Internet provider, having never caused us hassle before was going to accompany us. Went to the website to change the address and... nope can't do it online... annoying but oh well to the phone I go, and I wait, and I wait... Now Plusnet's opening hours quite closely match my working ones and they don't do weekends, so my big chance to ring them is my breaks and a chunk out of my lunch, none of these are long enough time periods to get through.
So after trying for a couple of days I go "Screw you Plusnet I'm cancelling, Sky can do my broadband!" I go to their website and... phone or post cancellations only. Now they do have a online help thing and I post on there, want to cancel can't get through on the phone can you please call me, to which they reply, you have to phone. Yes I know this but I can't. There's no email option.. to an ISP...
Their response to this query was OFCOM make us give you two options, and phone and post are the two, the slowest and the one they can charge for. It may be compliant to their regulatory body, but it's doing enough to get by and still being as obstructive as they can, obviously cancellation isn't ideal for them. Stuff them I've logged a complaint with their ombudsman (CI something or another) and notified OFCOM of my thoughts. That'll make them sit up and take note... or not.
Next on the list, and the last one I'll mention today (ooooooh it's a long long list) is KFC. Specifically KFC Merthyr sodding Tydfil. Now I love Merthyr, it's my homeland, but we have a habit of doing things half arsed, the number of times McDonalds staff haven't quite comprehended 'No cheese', shop staff not quite sure of what's going on, that kind of thing. But tonights KFC incident did my swede right in.
I arrive late, I've been painting, I'm hungry, the OH is hungry, we want 2 fillet meals. But they have no bread... oh (partial) burger place has no bread, not a good sign. OK the OH has crispy strips and I decide on a toasted twister meal. But because of the time (As you can see the bread fairy had already been) they couldn't toast it, so it was really just a twister, for the same price. But I was hungry and it was 35 yards to McDonalds and I didn't have the patience for the cheese argument tonight, so I took it. Then it took 10 minutes to arrive (it's late.. blah blah) I mean I understand they want to go home closing time, but if you're not willing to offer the service til closing time, change the closing time. Rather than my boring soggy wrap I'd rather they would have said, sorry we're closed.
On the up side, I picked up Lonely Avenue by Ben Folds/Nick Hornby today. Give or take one stinker it's damn good, in particular From Above, delightful song. I would recommend it to anyone. Oh and for the record the HMV staff who served me was a dream, not that much can go wrong scanning a CD...
I might get perfect service somewhere tomorrow, but as Ben sings and Nick wrote, "You know what hope is? Hope is a bastard"
Night!
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