I actually yelled "Fuck off…!" at the TV this morning.
When I turned it on it showed the channel I was watching when I last turned it off and Glee was on. I don't normally watch it but left it on whilst I was preparing my breakfast, then they all started singing…
Suffice it to say I changed over to BBC News 24...
Definitely a grumpy middle-aged moment.
Sunday, 30 November 2014
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Alien: Isolation
Help!
I'm hiding in a locker and am stuck there 'cos that damned Alien won't go away…
Dying for piss too.
I'm hiding in a locker and am stuck there 'cos that damned Alien won't go away…
Dying for piss too.
Friday, 28 November 2014
Great Pub Christmas Tree
I debated to myself whether or not it was artificial but cold hard logic cut through my alcoholic haze to make me realise it was real.
Thursday, 27 November 2014
At the Internet's Edge
As I started this Blog only recently I like to think that, due to the sheer size of the web and all the billions of other blogs, websites etc out there, mine's been pushed to the very edge of the Internet.
Check out the view from my Blog's window - the Internet's edge, as seen through the web's eyes ;)
Check out the view from my Blog's window - the Internet's edge, as seen through the web's eyes ;)
Peaky Blinders
I've just started watching the TV series 'Peaky Blinders'
There's a lot of screaming and shouting in it. I wonder if it was like that in the 1920's?
Some of the brummie accents are a bit crap but mostly it's pretty good.
And so ends my extensive review.
There's a lot of screaming and shouting in it. I wonder if it was like that in the 1920's?
Some of the brummie accents are a bit crap but mostly it's pretty good.
And so ends my extensive review.
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
What drags us back, makes us stronger...
I look after the IT at the place I work at, and I've just spent the best part of an hour setting up a phone and extension number for a new employee. The reason for this is because we have a phone system that rang out the extinction of the dinosaurs…
First there was no dial tone, then an incorrect dial tone, then, when there WAS a dial tone the phone itself wouldn't ring properly, I replaced every cable from the phone itself up to the wall socket with no success, tried different extension sockets in the rack cabinet and eventually took the phone, cables and all to a different part of the building and tried them on a different wall socket with a different extension and hey presto, the damned thing rang properly! Then I had to take it all back through to where the phone is supposed to be and retry, fortunately it worked… I say fortunately because I was about to get medieval on the whole setup, which would've quite possibly had bad implications on my future employment.
However despite all that, I still felt a sense of achievement that I did all that legwork to get it working, kind of like an 'old school' feeling, where you really have to work hard to get a small task done. So, despite all the advanced technology surrounding me that makes my working life a little easier, it took an old archaic phone system to bring me back down to earth and that makes me stronger and more confident to take on other tasks I get hit with.
Of course these days people want stuff done in 5 minutes and don't understand when you explain why it can't be done that fast. I'm not saying I prefer to work slowly, I can work fast and multitask like most people but sometimes it's worth taking your time, sitting quietly and thinking about a job before getting on with it, saves a load of headaches afterwards… especially in the creative industry I work in.
Now I sit and wait for our newest work colleague to come to me and state that his phone isn't working and he needs it fixed straightaway...
First there was no dial tone, then an incorrect dial tone, then, when there WAS a dial tone the phone itself wouldn't ring properly, I replaced every cable from the phone itself up to the wall socket with no success, tried different extension sockets in the rack cabinet and eventually took the phone, cables and all to a different part of the building and tried them on a different wall socket with a different extension and hey presto, the damned thing rang properly! Then I had to take it all back through to where the phone is supposed to be and retry, fortunately it worked… I say fortunately because I was about to get medieval on the whole setup, which would've quite possibly had bad implications on my future employment.
However despite all that, I still felt a sense of achievement that I did all that legwork to get it working, kind of like an 'old school' feeling, where you really have to work hard to get a small task done. So, despite all the advanced technology surrounding me that makes my working life a little easier, it took an old archaic phone system to bring me back down to earth and that makes me stronger and more confident to take on other tasks I get hit with.
Of course these days people want stuff done in 5 minutes and don't understand when you explain why it can't be done that fast. I'm not saying I prefer to work slowly, I can work fast and multitask like most people but sometimes it's worth taking your time, sitting quietly and thinking about a job before getting on with it, saves a load of headaches afterwards… especially in the creative industry I work in.
Now I sit and wait for our newest work colleague to come to me and state that his phone isn't working and he needs it fixed straightaway...
Sausage Dogs
Aren't Sausage Dogs awesome…
I mean, when evolution dealt out it's cosmic cards it clearly gave the Daschund a Joker Card! I'm not knocking them, I love them, they are long and funny looking and I'm sure their owners give them loads of pleasure but I simply can't walk past someone taking one for a walk without suppressing a need to burst out laughing.
I mean, why? What are they all about? Why are they so long and stretched? I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation evolution-wise but I think otherwise - I think there's something purely unscientific, comical and purely daft that explains why they are so long and sausage-shaped.
To all Sausage Dog owners, I salute you ;P
I mean, when evolution dealt out it's cosmic cards it clearly gave the Daschund a Joker Card! I'm not knocking them, I love them, they are long and funny looking and I'm sure their owners give them loads of pleasure but I simply can't walk past someone taking one for a walk without suppressing a need to burst out laughing.
I mean, why? What are they all about? Why are they so long and stretched? I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation evolution-wise but I think otherwise - I think there's something purely unscientific, comical and purely daft that explains why they are so long and sausage-shaped.
To all Sausage Dog owners, I salute you ;P
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Photography 101 - Macro Mode
Macro mode on SLR cameras really show the wonders of nature up close, all you need (apart from the camera itself) is a steady hand, good lighting and something interesting to photograph.
If you're confident with spot focal point features your camera has, try to use that instead of auto focus, it gives you greater control of the picture's composition, it enables you to 'tune out' the background enough for the eye to be drawn to the object you're actually trying to photograph.
It's really cool, I love, it, in fact I think I spend more time using macro mode than going for landscapes, action shots etc...
If you're confident with spot focal point features your camera has, try to use that instead of auto focus, it gives you greater control of the picture's composition, it enables you to 'tune out' the background enough for the eye to be drawn to the object you're actually trying to photograph.
It's really cool, I love, it, in fact I think I spend more time using macro mode than going for landscapes, action shots etc...
Monday, 24 November 2014
We're getting too old for this shit...
The other day my brother and I went to the cinema to see Interstellar, before the film started the trailer for "The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies" came on and my brother turned to me and stated that he really needs to see the second film before we go and see that one. I agreed and said that I've got it on DVD so he can watch it anytime he wants.
As he was coming round to mine this Saturday to drink a couple of hundred beers and watch England v Samoa I suggested we watch it after the game as I needed to refresher on the storyline myself, he agreed.
So the game finishes (crap performance from England, despite the win) I put the DVD on, and five minutes into the film he says "I've definitely seen this before?", "I remember that scene…"
Then it suddenly dawned on us, we looked at each other with drunken realisation that we went to the cinema last year to see it! Yet, somehow, despite all the clues in the days since we'd seen the third film trailer, neither of us remembered. It truly was a most glorious example of collective senility I've ever been witness to. (Well, so far…)
As he was coming round to mine this Saturday to drink a couple of hundred beers and watch England v Samoa I suggested we watch it after the game as I needed to refresher on the storyline myself, he agreed.
So the game finishes (crap performance from England, despite the win) I put the DVD on, and five minutes into the film he says "I've definitely seen this before?", "I remember that scene…"
Then it suddenly dawned on us, we looked at each other with drunken realisation that we went to the cinema last year to see it! Yet, somehow, despite all the clues in the days since we'd seen the third film trailer, neither of us remembered. It truly was a most glorious example of collective senility I've ever been witness to. (Well, so far…)
Saturday, 22 November 2014
Thank You Adobe
This post is dedicated to Adobe decision to go all cloudy with the Creative Suit.
Now, before you read this, I'd just like to say that I am in no way affiliated with Adobe, this isn't some sort of sponsored blog that Adobe have paid me to post. I am a gods-to-honest Adobe software user who has had his share of the joys and pains (mostly pains) of using their software, I'm not afraid to slag them off if I need to and, trust me, I've plenty of examples to prove that. I just feel that Adobe deserves my thanks this time...
I've used Adobe's apps since they first came out, back in those heady days at college using Illustrator 88 and Pagemaker 1.0 (not an Adobe app) to do our typed headlines, printing them out on a laser printer then tracing over the printout to produce line drawing comp layouts (we were too lazy to use the grant enlarger and a Letraset catalogue, pissed our lecturers off massively!)
I've used every version of Illustrator and Photoshop since then and I've had my ups and downs with them, mostly with Illustrator, Photoshop has never really been that glitchy. During that time the one thing that pissed me off the most was being stuck with a glitch until Adobe got around to bring out a major update and then it was a case of completely removing the previous version, cleaning files and folders then installing the new version. I've spent most of my time using Adobe CS3 (I could never persuade the management at work to upgrade as it was so expensive) and was continuously jealous of ex work colleagues who cooed about how awesome CS4, CS5, CS6 was with their new features.
It soon became impractical for me to use CS3 thanks to a combination Adobe making it awkward to easily back save files and customers being too lazy/forgetful to do it when they sent us artwork to be printed, I guess I should thank Adobe for that, so I got a new Mac and we moved to Adobe Creative Cloud.
With Adobe Creative Cloud, I don't have that uninstall/reinstall pain anymore, all I do is login my Adobe ID, download the CC app, then, through the CC app download and install what I need and best of all, update each app on the fly… and Adobe DO regularly roll out updates, WAY more than when CS was sold on disk. Plus you get to keep the previous version to run alongside the new version in case you experience glitches that stop you being productive.
Now, you would argue that with more recent versions of CS Adobe made patch updates available via the Adobe Downloader and I agree that was useful but that was nowhere near as good as the new Adobe CC app for managing updates, plus Adobe didn't roll out as many for CS5 & CS6.
Managing a team is great too, just login as admin, create a user send them an invite and they need to do is follow the simple instructions in the e-mail to download the CC app and get what they need.
No more uninstalling, cleaning, installing, cursing, uninstalling, restarting, cleaning, installing… rinse repeat then silently curse the Adobe team with collective gonorrhoea.
So for those users sticking to their guns with Adobe CS6, you're missing out, take the plunge, go CC and never look back, plus I think you still get a discount for the first year if you own a legal copy.
Now, before you read this, I'd just like to say that I am in no way affiliated with Adobe, this isn't some sort of sponsored blog that Adobe have paid me to post. I am a gods-to-honest Adobe software user who has had his share of the joys and pains (mostly pains) of using their software, I'm not afraid to slag them off if I need to and, trust me, I've plenty of examples to prove that. I just feel that Adobe deserves my thanks this time...
I've used Adobe's apps since they first came out, back in those heady days at college using Illustrator 88 and Pagemaker 1.0 (not an Adobe app) to do our typed headlines, printing them out on a laser printer then tracing over the printout to produce line drawing comp layouts (we were too lazy to use the grant enlarger and a Letraset catalogue, pissed our lecturers off massively!)
I've used every version of Illustrator and Photoshop since then and I've had my ups and downs with them, mostly with Illustrator, Photoshop has never really been that glitchy. During that time the one thing that pissed me off the most was being stuck with a glitch until Adobe got around to bring out a major update and then it was a case of completely removing the previous version, cleaning files and folders then installing the new version. I've spent most of my time using Adobe CS3 (I could never persuade the management at work to upgrade as it was so expensive) and was continuously jealous of ex work colleagues who cooed about how awesome CS4, CS5, CS6 was with their new features.
It soon became impractical for me to use CS3 thanks to a combination Adobe making it awkward to easily back save files and customers being too lazy/forgetful to do it when they sent us artwork to be printed, I guess I should thank Adobe for that, so I got a new Mac and we moved to Adobe Creative Cloud.
With Adobe Creative Cloud, I don't have that uninstall/reinstall pain anymore, all I do is login my Adobe ID, download the CC app, then, through the CC app download and install what I need and best of all, update each app on the fly… and Adobe DO regularly roll out updates, WAY more than when CS was sold on disk. Plus you get to keep the previous version to run alongside the new version in case you experience glitches that stop you being productive.
Now, you would argue that with more recent versions of CS Adobe made patch updates available via the Adobe Downloader and I agree that was useful but that was nowhere near as good as the new Adobe CC app for managing updates, plus Adobe didn't roll out as many for CS5 & CS6.
Managing a team is great too, just login as admin, create a user send them an invite and they need to do is follow the simple instructions in the e-mail to download the CC app and get what they need.
No more uninstalling, cleaning, installing, cursing, uninstalling, restarting, cleaning, installing… rinse repeat then silently curse the Adobe team with collective gonorrhoea.
So for those users sticking to their guns with Adobe CS6, you're missing out, take the plunge, go CC and never look back, plus I think you still get a discount for the first year if you own a legal copy.
 |
| Easily update your apps |
Friday, 21 November 2014
NHS to tackle Ebola in Africa
That's great news, our NHS has some of the best trained medical professionals in the world, the people over there will really benefit from their expertise.
However it should be noted that, as someone who has experienced the admin pain of dealing with the NHS for my treatment, if they are accompanied by any of those red-tape wielding, middle-management fucktards that are responsible for screwing up the NHS then those Ebola sufferers can probably expect a year's wait to be treated.
Let's hope not.
However it should be noted that, as someone who has experienced the admin pain of dealing with the NHS for my treatment, if they are accompanied by any of those red-tape wielding, middle-management fucktards that are responsible for screwing up the NHS then those Ebola sufferers can probably expect a year's wait to be treated.
Let's hope not.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Kasabian fell foul of technology on Wednesday night – when they accidentally called their London fans “c**ts”.
Well boys, that's retribution for taking the piss out of other bands ;)
Well boys, that's retribution for taking the piss out of other bands ;)
WoT pwnage! ;P
I regularly play World of Tanks, it's a great game as it cannot be played doing the usual kid-like fly off firing at the hip and grind out the KKs style. It's a tactical shooter that makes you think about the tank you're using, it's loadout, and, during each game, where you go and how you use the landscape to your advantage.
As an example I cite the picture below, it was when I was in a Matilda which is a British Medium class tier IV tank. I took out four enemies before I succumbed, probably my best purple patch I've had since playing World of Tanks. I must say I've probably played more games as the sole survivor in a Matilda than I have in other tanks (my KDR in a Churchill IV is awful), I've even had players on my team comment via audio stuff like "how the fuck is that Matila surviving so many hits!". I was tempted to respond with "It's all about the landscape and angles of deflection dear boy." but didn't 'cos I'd have probably been called a fag.
As an example I cite the picture below, it was when I was in a Matilda which is a British Medium class tier IV tank. I took out four enemies before I succumbed, probably my best purple patch I've had since playing World of Tanks. I must say I've probably played more games as the sole survivor in a Matilda than I have in other tanks (my KDR in a Churchill IV is awful), I've even had players on my team comment via audio stuff like "how the fuck is that Matila surviving so many hits!". I was tempted to respond with "It's all about the landscape and angles of deflection dear boy." but didn't 'cos I'd have probably been called a fag.
 |
| Don't mess with a Matilda! |
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Moody Skies
I love moody skies, there's a certain majesty to them, a foreboding of what's to come… it's something we humans accept, deep down at the DNA level, that a moody looking sky makes us likewise moody and down, or a blue sky with the sun shining down makes us happy.
I took this with my smartphone, then, as the foreboding feeling came over me, headed off back to the hotel bar.
I took this with my smartphone, then, as the foreboding feeling came over me, headed off back to the hotel bar.
 |
| [INSERT GOD LIKE VOICE HERE] |
Who? What? When? Where?
Just been to the cinema to see Interstellar and, boy that film is deep... very enjoyable but so, so deep.
It's blown a fuse in my brain, every time I close my eyes I see the words "Please wait..." in white against a black background.
I think I'll go for a lie down.
It's blown a fuse in my brain, every time I close my eyes I see the words "Please wait..." in white against a black background.
I think I'll go for a lie down.
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Do not fail me Tesco...
I have to go to Tesco tonight to do my bi-monthly grocery shop… they're
in the process of changing everything around so it takes longer for me to find what I need, very annoying.
Last time I went they didn't have any buns, they better have buns this time.
Tesco, you have been warned.
in the process of changing everything around so it takes longer for me to find what I need, very annoying.
Last time I went they didn't have any buns, they better have buns this time.
Tesco, you have been warned.
I Gets to Print the Dark Knight Sir!
One of the few perks of my job, printing really cool imagery ;p This one is going on the side of a Smart Car although I'm not sure whether or not Bruce Wayne would want to be seen blasting around Gotham in a tricked out Smart Car...
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| I'm Batman! In Colour! |
Monday, 17 November 2014
Photography 101 - Water Vole
A while ago I bought a new camera for a project I was working on for the New College Oxford, it needed to be an SLR with a lot of resolution. Actually the reason was twofold - to do that project and to start amateur wildlife photography.
I settled on a Sony SLT-A37, basically because it came top when I filtered 'by resolution' online, I admit I didn't spend a lot of time reading reams of tech specs, it was 15mpx and had detachable lenses, that's all I wanted.
Anyway the New College job went really well and I got a really good camera which I've used extensively since then. This pic is the first of many I've taken with this camera to be included in this blog.
I snapped this little fella whilst holidaying in Norfolk, it was nonchalantly chomping on a reed stalk and seemed completely oblivious to the humans standing nearby peering at it.
I used a telephoto lens and left the automatic shoot settings rather than faff about with the manual stuff, this was a fluid situation and there was no telling whether or not it would decide to bugger off, leaving me photoless 'cos I thought I'd be arty and get the perfect shot.
One thing I've discovered about wildlife photography: you can't set the scene, you have to do the best with what nature throws at you - right place at the right time!
I settled on a Sony SLT-A37, basically because it came top when I filtered 'by resolution' online, I admit I didn't spend a lot of time reading reams of tech specs, it was 15mpx and had detachable lenses, that's all I wanted.
Anyway the New College job went really well and I got a really good camera which I've used extensively since then. This pic is the first of many I've taken with this camera to be included in this blog.
I snapped this little fella whilst holidaying in Norfolk, it was nonchalantly chomping on a reed stalk and seemed completely oblivious to the humans standing nearby peering at it.
I used a telephoto lens and left the automatic shoot settings rather than faff about with the manual stuff, this was a fluid situation and there was no telling whether or not it would decide to bugger off, leaving me photoless 'cos I thought I'd be arty and get the perfect shot.
One thing I've discovered about wildlife photography: you can't set the scene, you have to do the best with what nature throws at you - right place at the right time!
Cameron gets out his heaviest roller...
The prime minister has just got his heaviest roller out to prepare for not one but two huge political matches (quote from the BBC News website article) …
Personally Mr Cameron, based on what you've got coming up, I think you should equip yourself with one of these:
Personally Mr Cameron, based on what you've got coming up, I think you should equip yourself with one of these:
Sunday, 16 November 2014
I love you Shailene Woodley
You are a beautiful, super talented, diverse (or dare I say, 'divergent' :p ), well grounded actress.
I'd give my right bollock to go out on a date with you... but let's face it, that's not going to happen. Minus one nut or otherwise... ah well, one can only dream and enjoy your films, a rare treat for us lowly 9to5er peons.
Keep up the good work and, in advance, I say "fair play" to the lucky git that captures your heart...
.jpg "Shailene Woodley")
I'd give my right bollock to go out on a date with you... but let's face it, that's not going to happen. Minus one nut or otherwise... ah well, one can only dream and enjoy your films, a rare treat for us lowly 9to5er peons.
Keep up the good work and, in advance, I say "fair play" to the lucky git that captures your heart...
Ed Miliband for PM - I thnk not
Everytime I see Ed Miliband talk on TV I can't help but compare him to William Pitt the Elder from Blackadder...
Saturday, 15 November 2014
England 28 31 South Africa
Darn it... and I'm hungover to boot
England, if you could just pull your finger out and get at.least.one.win from the next two fucking games that would be awesome.
Thankyouplease
England, if you could just pull your finger out and get at.least.one.win from the next two fucking games that would be awesome.
Thankyouplease
Rosetta Eclipsed by Kim's Arse
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Rosetta Team on their remarkable achievement this week, it was truly a major scientific endeavour that I hope will help humanity's ongoing understanding of our origins in this universe.
I was a little disappointed to see people take to social media criticising the choice of shirt one of the scientists was wearing as sexist. Whilst I do not condone sexism in any way shape or form, it's sad to see that they seemed to think fashion statements are more important than the science involved.
Whilst all this was going on a veritable digital tidal-wave of publicity of that airhead Kim Kardashian and her arse flooded the interwebs, which got way more column inches I'll bet.
I was a little disappointed to see people take to social media criticising the choice of shirt one of the scientists was wearing as sexist. Whilst I do not condone sexism in any way shape or form, it's sad to see that they seemed to think fashion statements are more important than the science involved.
Whilst all this was going on a veritable digital tidal-wave of publicity of that airhead Kim Kardashian and her arse flooded the interwebs, which got way more column inches I'll bet.
Posty Post!
My first post to this blog via a mobile device w00t :)
And here's my next comment: trousers
And here's my next comment: trousers
First Past the Post
Hello web, this is my first post, although not my first post ever mind you, just the first one for this blog, I've been around the (web)block a bit, mostly lurked here and there in various forums (like most people) but never really contributed anything.
There are millions or perhaps even billions of individuals out there in digispace producing great content to keep those of us that like a cup of tea whilst reading our Kindle/iPad/'Droid device in bed on a Saturday morning regularly enthralled. I'd like to think that I can provide a small contribution to what has become the big brain bucket of humanity!
So this blog will be my diary of thoughts, observations, design ideas, photography, gaming progress etc etc. most of it probably a bit boring but perhaps a few tidbits will reach a dizzy enough height to enthral readers that stumble across it.
There are millions or perhaps even billions of individuals out there in digispace producing great content to keep those of us that like a cup of tea whilst reading our Kindle/iPad/'Droid device in bed on a Saturday morning regularly enthralled. I'd like to think that I can provide a small contribution to what has become the big brain bucket of humanity!
So this blog will be my diary of thoughts, observations, design ideas, photography, gaming progress etc etc. most of it probably a bit boring but perhaps a few tidbits will reach a dizzy enough height to enthral readers that stumble across it.
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