Spot the hippie

points but no prizes



I guess my "friend" who thinks I am a communist will be certain of it now ;)

(yes it was a fancy dress night)

(no most of it wasn't "costume" but my own clothes)

(I did decorate the jeans, with Alex's help)

2009 one of the coldest years on record?

You'd believe it wouldn't you, we've had some rotten weather this year, after being promised a BBQ summer.

I've heard people say "global warming must be wrong, this year has been one of the coldest on record"

And because the summer was a wash out, people tend to think this is true, rain makes you feel cold and miserable.

2009 was one of the top 5 warmest years!

Since records began about 150 years ago this year will rank in the top 5 at least, possibly even higher if the weather doesn't get colder soon.

Here's the BBC report.

BBC News - This year 'in top five warmest'

"This year will be one of the top five warmest years globally since records began 150 years ago, according to figures compiled by the Met Office."

So why was this year a washout? well warmer weather leads to more evaporation, leading to more clouds. If the wind patterns are right, this drops more rain on the UK. This year we lucked out, wind patterns dumped all that rain on us.

So don't believe the global warming hoax people, believe the science. This is why "global warming" was changed to "global climate change", not because it was wrong to call it warming, but because summers like this one would make people believe "warming" was wrong even when it was warmer than ever.

*update*

I should point out comment No. 3 by 順利 was removed as it linked to a malware site, not because I can't take criticism.

bit.ly, url shortener Opera Button

Due to request, I have done a bit.ly shortener as well.

Click on the link below, it will add it to your opera custom buttons, then drag the button from that custom button panel to the menu bar you want it on.

bit.ly

URL Shorteners - Opera Buttons

A lot of people use URL shorteners, but they are still a bit clunky to use. Quite a few twitterers and bloggers use.

is.gd URL Shortener

Firefox users gets all sorts of useful add-ons but Opera, although it has the ability, somehow doesn't get the press about extensions.

is.gd has a firefox add-on, so I thought I'd knock up an opera button for the site.

If you are using opera just click the link below to add the button to your set of customised buttons, then drag it to the tool bar you want it to be on, I have stuck it just next to the address bar.

is.gd Opera button

Hope you few, you merry few, you Opera users appreciate this button.

Happy Birthday Doctor

46 today, and you don't look a day over 900

Kite Surfers jump over Worthing Pier

And here was me thinking nothing exciting happens in Worthing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8362671.stm

Time sheets

It's the most hated part of many peoples jobs, filling in that dreaded "crime sheet" every month, but what value do they actually have to a company.

Personally I have never worked for a company which demanded timesheets where the upper management didn't admit (under pressure) that usually they were simply filed and never looked at.

So why are they required? the only reason I can think is mistrust, the company likes to have records as they don't trust their workers. A timesheet can be used against someone simply by piking holes in it and claiming an employee falsified it. Lets face it, when it comes to the end of the month, that's what most people seem to do, make up figures based on half remembered jobs and dates.

I can see limited justification for them if the company services several clients, and bills by the hour, but surely it's down to mangers to keep track of this sort of stuff, let the expensive techie folk do their job rather than bugging them to keep track of what they did for whom and when.

Installling Linux (Mandriva 2009.1)

I must start by saying my hardware is a nightmare for Linux, it uses an SiS chip-set for graphics sound and the network etc. This is notorious for causing problems and the last version of Linux I put on here was a struggle, really a hassle.

Mandriva 2009.1 however, was a dream, I burned the CD the rebooted with it in the drive.

Mandriva booted first time with no problems, and ran fine, if a little slowly, straight off the CD.

Once I was satisfied it had identified everything properly I went for the install option. I mean how great is this (Microsoft take note) I could run the version of linux I was thinking of installing, without making any changes to my computer, to make sure everything works BEFORE doing the installation.

I know this is old news for hardened Linux users but for those thinking of taking the plunge this is a HUGE bonus.

The install took about 30 minutes, then a quick reboot and I had a working, up to date, Linux setup.

I do have to confess I had already prepared an empty partition, the install might have taken a little longer if that had had to be part of the process.

Plugged in a rather old Laser printer I have (Laser-jet 1100, not plug and play) and asked Linux printer manager to go look for it. 2 minutes later it's running.

Then the real test, the HP Desk-jet F2200 all in on printer, this was a faff to install on the old system, and I never got the scanner working.

I plugged this in, up pops a nice easy dialog, I answered a few simple questions and it was all installed, scanning fine and printing perfectly. No need to even find the installation CD or download anything, the printer manager went and found everything I needed by itself.

I remember the horror of the "torch" in windows as windows tried to find the correct drivers on the Internet, has that ever worked for anyone?

My MP3 Player and camera connect just as you'd expect, nice and simple.

Overall I'm very happy with it, looks good, works nice and quick and so far I have not had to go to the command prompt for anything!

Next I have to try my web-cam etc. but that's not here so I will report back some other time.

Daily Mail caught with hands in photoshop?

*important update 28-11-09

They have changed the pictures in the article, but the original images are still on their server!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/10/23/article-1222586-06F13A88000005DC-789_468x253.jpg

and the full image

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/10/23/article-1222586-06F13A88000005DC-789_468x253_popup.jpg


The Daily Mail has it's usual "Bash the Beeb" head on in this article. They claim BBC bias as the BBC has broken with convention and put Nick Griffin first, whereas it's always the serving member of government first, in this case Jack Straw.

Scroll down and you find this image.



Which seems to confirm their point, unless you enlarge it, when you see the full document it looks like this!



Nick Griffin appears to be on there twice! not only that, but there is no sign of Jack Straw.

Look again at that image, look at the creases on the paper, look at the creases on the paper under the Nick Griffin section, they match, apart from a slight darkening of the top section, this is clear proof they moved the Nick Griffin section.

I can't understand why someone would move it from the top spot down to cover Jack Straw if he was in the 4th position, but I can see someone might move it from the 4th position to the top, hence covering up Jack straws section.

The BBC state that this is not the document they issued. I think I believe them, don't you?

Incidentally, I have hosted the pictures on flickr, they are supposedly scans of BBC documents so therefore cannot be copyright of the Daily Mail, of course, if they have been altered, then they class as derivative works and the Daily Mail can use copyright laws to have them removed.

UPDATE: The Daily Mail may have been sent this forged document I suppose, but if that is the case, to publish it without a simple bit of fact checking is not a wonderful inditment of their editors.

Introducing Dream Stationery

Alison has just launch a new website, partner site to the dreambag

Dream Stationery offer customisable cards for all occasions, personalised photo baby birth announcements, christening invitations, naming day invitations and thank you cards.

They also do affordable business stationery printing, for business cards, A6 flyers, promotional leaflets, brochures.

Go have a look, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Dream Stationery, personalised photo baby birth announcements, christening invitations, naming day invitations and thank you cards. Business stationery printing, business cards, A6 flyers, promotional leaflets, brochures.

*disclosure notice, my partner Alison works for the company*

Tornado A1 Peppercorn Class Steam Loco

Steaming through Crossgates Station on Oct 3rd 2009, A1 Peppercorn class Loco Tornado (60163) 105.2 Long Tons of power pulling 13 carriages



This is the train Clarkson raced May and Hammond in in Top Gears "Race to the North"

More information about this engine can be found on their website here

http://www.a1steam.com/

Although the wikipedia article lays out the information in an easier to read and more comprehensive way.

The video was shot by my 10yo Son, he's becoming quite the cameraman.

Me and My Boy

Went up to Temple Newsam with our radio controlled boat, had it years but it was gathering dust. Anyway, you can see how much he enjoyed it.

Gruesome

This is what my dads neck looks like after his operation.



They clamped of the carotid artery and opened it up the clean it out. Apparently it doesn't hurt him at all! Click on the pic for more stapled neck detail!

My Dad

Has had a second stroke

fortunately only a minor one this time, he didn't even really realise at first thinking he'd slept on his arm funny.

He's now in hospital, undergoing tests, and there is some talk of surgery. A blockage in his caratoid artery they want to remove.

Oliver Cromwell in Crossgates!

Engine number 70013 Oliver Cromwell pulling the Scarborough Flyer.



And on the return journey later that day.





One of 55 of the "Britannia" class, Oliver Cromwell was built at Crewe Works, being completed on 30 May 1951. 70013 was initially allocated to Norwich depot (BR shed code 32A) on the Eastern Region of British Railways and employed on London to Norwich expresses. The locomotive is notable as one of the four steam locomotives which worked the last steam railtour on British Rail in 1968 before the introduction of a steam ban.

Castles in the Sand

Porthcawl, Monday we started to build a sandcastle, and got somewhat carried away


It began fairly small.


But we added detail and it grew.


J had started his own castle so this was detailed as well.


He was quite pleased when it was getting close to finished.


Then we linked the two castles with a retaining wall and another gateway.


Most of the build team (unfortunately B and S had had to leave before we were done)

We could have carried on for ages, there was much finishing work to be done, but home time beckoned.

Doctor Who Exhibition Cardiff

I must admit to being disapointed, there was plenty to see from the current shows, but nothing from before the "regeneration" of the series.

The whole place was smothered in "Do Not Touch" signs which meant very little up close and personal stuff.

The Vashta Nerada seem to be following us?



But at least we met K9





The gift shop had plenty to tempt us, but even J commented just how expensive it was.

Out on expedition, looking for the "moon ponds"

And I just love this photo of my two explorers

Tropical World, Leeds

Last weekend we took a trip to Tropical World as it was a rainy day and it's always worth a trip.

E had a butterfly land on her hand (we all had them land on us somewhere), J managed to almost completely avoid the camera, and between them and Grandad, we all had a great day out, I even managed to capture a lucky shot of a meerkat (I say lucky as even though I took several, this one was shot blind with the camera held over the glass wall, and it turned out great)


Proud Grandad? I think so.


Not many greenhouses have a waterfall this big in them!


Grandad got distracted by a parrot!


This fish will come up and try to "kiss" you through the glass if you put your face right up close.


Hold your hand out in the butterfly section and they will land on you, we all had at least one land on us, but I only caught E on camera.


J took this close up of the Leeds crest froma plaque near the meerkats


My "Lucky" meerkat picture

The Lilyest Hobo

So funny, a mashup of lily allen and the theme to an old TV program, "the littlest hobo"

Who remembers the program? what? no-one? am I the only old git in the house?

any way, the video



and a link in case youtube embedding fails.