Blog Updates

Well, after getting a few more spam comments, I've decided to turn on 'Word Verification'. I'd rather not do, but I'd much rather not have spam comments.

The next thing that I intend to do is to use the Backlink feature. However, I'm going to have to work out how it works because I would like it to work exactly the same way as my peek-a-boo comments do. Will it be easy? I doubt it, but it will maintain a certain amount of consistency across the site. Fingers crossed!!

Problem with Nokia PC Suite

I have recently started using the Nokia PC Suite to synchronize my phone with Outlook. I have all my contacts stored in Outlook already and I make use of both the 'Name' fields and the 'File As' fields. This allows me to record someones full name as Johnathon Smith but still lets me use their nickname of John.

However, Nokia don't understand that I would rather him be called John on my phone. They use the 'Full Name' field as the name when I synchronize with my phone. This means that in my phone he is called Johnathon Smith. The only other way is for me to tell Outlook that his fullname is John, which is just silly! At least give me the option of whether I want to use the 'Full Name' or the 'File As' name!

Back to the Future E-Mail

I have just read this article about a website that allows you to send an e-mail to yourself in the future. Looking through some of the public examples, there are a range of ideas that people are sending themselves. Some are quite deep & meaningful, but most are just light-hearted.

I'm definitely going to send myself something, probably in 5 years time. I just need to work out what!!

Cheap At Half The Price

... or is it?

I have heard this expression a lot recently, but to me it doesn't make sense. People seem to say it to indicate that the item being referred to is cheap. When I look at the phrase, it isn't actually stating that though. To me what it says is "if this item was half the current asking price, then it would be cheap". This doesn't imply that the current asking price is cheap, conversley, it implies more closely that it is expensive!

I have always thought that the saying is meant to be "cheap at twice the price", thus implying that if the item was double the asking price it would still be cheap, therefore the actual asking price is very cheap!

What does anyone else think on this subject? Please vote and leave a comment.

Who Killed Cock Robin?

I saw an article on the Reuters website about a poor little sparrow that caused a certain amount of mayhem in Amsterdam.

It would seem that the sparrow got into an exhibition hall where they had spent weeks setting up four million dominoes for a world record attempt. You can imagine the result - it knocked thousands over! Unfortunately for the sparrow, an exterminator shot it.

Unfortunately for the exterminator (and everyone else involved), sparrows are a protected species in the Netherlands!

Here's a nicely illustrated version of the nursery rhyme (tedious link or what?!?!). [Edit - looks like that page doesn't exist anymore (11th June 2006)]

Stomp

I have just got back from seeing Stomp. It is an absolutely amazing show! You wouldn't believe how entertaining it can be to watch 8 people hit everyday objects (brushes, bin lids, even kitchen sinks!) in a rhythmic fashion. The energy and rhythm is fantastic and there is also a good deal of audience participation, though I don't think there was even one word spoken! If you get the chance, please do go and see it, you won't be disappointed!

Are we on the Titanic?

Someone was talking on the radio today and I think they had a good point. They suggested that we were all going along blindly through life, not really being aware of the problems around us, and the damage we are causing to the Earth. The analogy they used referred to the Titanic - we are all like the passengers sitting around listening to the orchestra and sipping champagne while the ship is slowly sinking under them. Surely it must be time to wake up and actually do something instead of just talking about it!

Squeaky Shoes!

I've got this pair of shoes that I've worn to work for a few years and whilst they aren't the most comfortable shoes I've ever had, they're not bad. Recently though, they've started to squeak! I thought at first that maybe the soles were damp after walking outside (it had been raining) - but several weeks later they're still doing it!

Apart from buying a new pair, which I can't afford :'( does anybody have any suggestions on how to stop this?

Wake-up Call

This is a true story.

A coach party arrived at a hotel. When they checked in, the party leader asked if they could get a wake-up call, which the receptionist agreed to. Unfortunately (at around the time they wanted the wake-up call) the hotel's boiler overheated, enough to trigger the fire alarm. Anyway, later in the morning, the party leader went up to the receptionist and said "Thank you for the wake-up call, we all heard it OK. Just one thing though - wouldn't it disturb the other guests?"

Spam

I just deleted my first spam comment. I suppose it's a small milestone in a way - my site has just become noticeable enough to attract the attention of spamming tools. Woohoo.