Feb 2008
The Patomic Primaries - I think Jon Stewart says it all
24/02/08 21:55 Filed in: Personal
The Potomac Primaries - In come the results and out go the reality.
Needless to say, FIX er.. Fox News runs the gamut of BS! But then CNN fields as much of the brown stuff.
What are we to learn from this?
Well, clearly CNN, FOX, NBC and every other big media outfit in the US wants there to be a false impression that Hillary is right on track for a sudden victory while it's a cake walk for McCain. Neither of which is true.
And you say the media isn't corrupt. Anybody is an IQ above 80 would have seen the actual percentage results at.... oh.. See what I did then?
Needless to say, FIX er.. Fox News runs the gamut of BS! But then CNN fields as much of the brown stuff.
What are we to learn from this?
Well, clearly CNN, FOX, NBC and every other big media outfit in the US wants there to be a false impression that Hillary is right on track for a sudden victory while it's a cake walk for McCain. Neither of which is true.
And you say the media isn't corrupt. Anybody is an IQ above 80 would have seen the actual percentage results at.... oh.. See what I did then?
Anyone for an iPhoney?
22/02/08 17:28 Filed in: Personal
I noticed in this weeks Digg.com they showed the iPhoney, as I like to call it.
What surprised me most is how long it has taken for this copy cat cell phone to have any impact on the media. They have been on sale via various EBay shops since at least December 2007 and the price has dropped from £150 to £100 on average in that time frame.
I'm still not tempted. As fun as the phone looks, it's still a copy with none of the features that make the iPhone such a 'with it' device might not be present. Having said that, videos of it in operation show it has 'the pinch', 'swipe' and other such innovative user interface features.
So what you're getting here is a clone iPhone for a third of the price and not locked to a network. On top of which;
I'm still not tempted. As fun as the phone looks, it's still a copy with none of the features that make the iPhone such a 'with it' device might not be present. Having said that, videos of it in operation show it has 'the pinch', 'swipe' and other such innovative user interface features.
So what you're getting here is a clone iPhone for a third of the price and not locked to a network. On top of which;
- Dual SIM
- Upgradeable memory
- Easily replaced battery
- Video recording
- Any thoughts that this came out the back of the same Chinese factory as the iPhone should be dismissed. It's got MORE features!
- But would I purchase one?
- NO CHANCE! Are you kidding?
Is now the best time to buy HD-DVD!
22/02/08 10:06 Filed in: Personal
OK. Before you all think I'm either unaware of Toshiba's announcement or the general 'death of HD-DVD' stories, here me out.
I'm not talking about a lifelong purchase. But think about this;
In the next few weeks the world and his wife are going to be flogging off HD-DVD players at bargain basement prices. Already, over priced retailer Comet has dropped £115 of it's entry level Toshiba player, bringing it in under £100.
But don't make a rush purchase, because Amazon.co.uk are selling the same unit for just £77.99!!!! Putting it as close to the XBox external add-on drive as you can get.
Whether or not you'll still get your FREE 7 DVD's is anyone's guess. But hey, it's an offer they should still support because the expiration date is still in the future.
Now we have Amazon dropping 1/3rd off nearly every single one of it's HD-DVD disks, making then on average around £17. But then there is also the great 3 for 2 offers on a decent range.
So why would you get a system? Because it's a REALLY, REALLY cheap way to get HD content in the short to mid-term. The fact that despite the rhetoric, there are STILL some disks you can only get on HD-DVD and not Blu-Ray. Actually, what about the basic fact that content wise, those movies will look the same from HD-DVD than Blu-ray.
After all, this isn't the difference between Laserdisc and DVD. Where laserdisc manages 560x420 lines and DVD is obviously superior at 720x480. Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray are "HD" format video formats, in fact they are likely to be the same video codec! Either VC-1 or H.264.
I'm not talking about a lifelong purchase. But think about this;
In the next few weeks the world and his wife are going to be flogging off HD-DVD players at bargain basement prices. Already, over priced retailer Comet has dropped £115 of it's entry level Toshiba player, bringing it in under £100.
But don't make a rush purchase, because Amazon.co.uk are selling the same unit for just £77.99!!!! Putting it as close to the XBox external add-on drive as you can get.
Whether or not you'll still get your FREE 7 DVD's is anyone's guess. But hey, it's an offer they should still support because the expiration date is still in the future.
Now we have Amazon dropping 1/3rd off nearly every single one of it's HD-DVD disks, making then on average around £17. But then there is also the great 3 for 2 offers on a decent range.
So why would you get a system? Because it's a REALLY, REALLY cheap way to get HD content in the short to mid-term. The fact that despite the rhetoric, there are STILL some disks you can only get on HD-DVD and not Blu-Ray. Actually, what about the basic fact that content wise, those movies will look the same from HD-DVD than Blu-ray.
After all, this isn't the difference between Laserdisc and DVD. Where laserdisc manages 560x420 lines and DVD is obviously superior at 720x480. Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray are "HD" format video formats, in fact they are likely to be the same video codec! Either VC-1 or H.264.
Thank you Clive!
21/02/08 19:19 Filed in: Personal
As I've commented before, the standards of research within the BBC have really dropped in my lifetime. But tonight's "One Show" really takes the biscuit, or sandwich as the case may be.
First we have the highly dubious Earl of Sandwich story. But following this we had a couple of real gems;
1. The claim that triangular sandwich boxes where invented in the late 80's by Marks and Spencer. Which I find particularly odd because I remember being bought a sandwich before flying on holiday from Manchester airport in the mid-70's.
2. Then the 'sandwich expert' suggested that farmers would eat them as a traditional meal in the fields with cheese and onion. AKA the 'ploughman's lunch'. The ploughman's lunch is an infamous creation of the Cheese Marketing Board in the 1970's that created the who 'cheese with salad' concept to counteract suggestions that cheese was bad for you and the resulting drop in sales.
But before I could launch an email in their direction, Clive Anderson made exactly the same comment. So I'm in good company.
First we have the highly dubious Earl of Sandwich story. But following this we had a couple of real gems;
1. The claim that triangular sandwich boxes where invented in the late 80's by Marks and Spencer. Which I find particularly odd because I remember being bought a sandwich before flying on holiday from Manchester airport in the mid-70's.
2. Then the 'sandwich expert' suggested that farmers would eat them as a traditional meal in the fields with cheese and onion. AKA the 'ploughman's lunch'. The ploughman's lunch is an infamous creation of the Cheese Marketing Board in the 1970's that created the who 'cheese with salad' concept to counteract suggestions that cheese was bad for you and the resulting drop in sales.
But before I could launch an email in their direction, Clive Anderson made exactly the same comment. So I'm in good company.
The chain gang is a thing of that past... right?
11/02/08 02:02 Filed in: Personal
The chain gang is a thing of the past right?
Sadly, not it's not.
I heard on a radio show about how there is still a chain gang in the US. I was a little sceptical.....
Then the same day, National Geo. advertised this...
Yes. They are living in tents. Under martial law style guards and its a chain gang.
It is the 21st century? Right?
Sadly, not it's not.
I heard on a radio show about how there is still a chain gang in the US. I was a little sceptical.....
Then the same day, National Geo. advertised this...
Yes. They are living in tents. Under martial law style guards and its a chain gang.
It is the 21st century? Right?
Ice floats for a reason...
11/02/08 00:01 Filed in: Personal
This post is very important. In fact it's my most important blog post to date. But let me first enter the confessional......
I'm guilty of complacency.
I've committed the ultimate scientific sin.
I've taken a statement as fact, merely because it has been repeated so many times as to make it so.
The statement is this.....
There's only one small problem with that.... It's complete rubbish!
It's so much rubbish and I'm so appalled that I didn't realise it earlier, I've even been moved to make this quick video. Using footage from a quirky little "National Geographic" program.
But I'll make it really simple. Take some ice and drop it into water. It floats. Why? Because it is LESS DENSE. So when ice melts it goes from a less dense state of water to a MORE dense state. Or to put it into simple terms, it takes up less space because it's MORE SQUASHED. Remember Archimedes?
So ice all the water trapped in the arctic ice cap was to melt. It's likely to take up LESS space. In other words, tides would DROP. But don't take my word for it.....
I'm guilty of complacency.
I've committed the ultimate scientific sin.
I've taken a statement as fact, merely because it has been repeated so many times as to make it so.
The statement is this.....
If the arctic ice melts, then London (and all low lying capitals) will be lost to the rising sea levels.
There's only one small problem with that.... It's complete rubbish!
It's so much rubbish and I'm so appalled that I didn't realise it earlier, I've even been moved to make this quick video. Using footage from a quirky little "National Geographic" program.
But I'll make it really simple. Take some ice and drop it into water. It floats. Why? Because it is LESS DENSE. So when ice melts it goes from a less dense state of water to a MORE dense state. Or to put it into simple terms, it takes up less space because it's MORE SQUASHED. Remember Archimedes?
So ice all the water trapped in the arctic ice cap was to melt. It's likely to take up LESS space. In other words, tides would DROP. But don't take my word for it.....
Dumbing Down... (not serious)
10/02/08 12:32 Filed in: Personal
No real big post on this one.... but one of my favourite excepts from the documentary "Bowling for Columbine" is this little cartoon "History of the United States".
Sayid Leaving Lost?
05/02/08 20:15 Filed in: Personal
So is Sayid leaving "Lost"?
I can't be the only person to have noticed that while they are still shooting the current series... he appears to be in the UK doing interview after interview. Filming, due to the writers strike, ended in November. But in interview, Naveen Andrews used a LOT of past tenses when describing his role in Lost.
Interesting......
I can't be the only person to have noticed that while they are still shooting the current series... he appears to be in the UK doing interview after interview. Filming, due to the writers strike, ended in November. But in interview, Naveen Andrews used a LOT of past tenses when describing his role in Lost.
Interesting......
Lost.... the interest
05/02/08 20:00 Filed in: Personal
Am I alone in thinking that the return episode of Lost, called "The Beginning of the End" was something of a let down.
I mean in last seasons opening episode we had the "Others" having a normal day and suddenly Oceanic 815 turns up, exploding in mid air. Very spectacular.
But series four, in my opinion, was something of a damp squib of a start. It didn't even improve much during the entire episode.
Highlights would be what? Naomi dying a little later. Hurley is a bit nuts. Lock (and I presume it was Lock) was having a chat with yer' man in the shack "Jacob". Then Charlie turns up as an hallucination.
...And what's with James "Sawyer" Ford? He's calling Hurley "Hugo", I realise it's his name. But despite "Hugo" throwing the walkie-talkie into the sea, is he really sticking to the "No nicknames" rule. Come on!
All of a sudden Jack is acting all butch and Sawyer has turned into Mr Touchy-feely.
Have the writers got amnesia from the last three series? Or has somebody stolen the character cue cards? What can we expect next?
Is Ben going to start a self-help group for liars anonymous?
Sayid start a knitting circle and Gin start giving English lessons.
If all this sounds like I'm a little disappointed, I am. After an outstanding series of "Heroes" which gained huge audiences both in the US and the UK, you would have imagined that Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse would have wanted to start the latest series with a real blow out episode. In fact, unlike other series, this wasn't even a double episode.
Add to this, the basic fact that more episodes are in the tin than will be produced and all I can say is that I hope this coming Sundays show is a huge improvement or I don't think I can be bothered.
It didn't help their case that they chose Sky as the broadcast company in the UK. When the BBC got "Heroes" it opened up a rival with a much wider and more accessible audience. Leaving Channel 4 (available subscription free) was a HUGE mistake.
My other rumour... no, I'll make another post.
I mean in last seasons opening episode we had the "Others" having a normal day and suddenly Oceanic 815 turns up, exploding in mid air. Very spectacular.
But series four, in my opinion, was something of a damp squib of a start. It didn't even improve much during the entire episode.
Highlights would be what? Naomi dying a little later. Hurley is a bit nuts. Lock (and I presume it was Lock) was having a chat with yer' man in the shack "Jacob". Then Charlie turns up as an hallucination.
...And what's with James "Sawyer" Ford? He's calling Hurley "Hugo", I realise it's his name. But despite "Hugo" throwing the walkie-talkie into the sea, is he really sticking to the "No nicknames" rule. Come on!
All of a sudden Jack is acting all butch and Sawyer has turned into Mr Touchy-feely.
Have the writers got amnesia from the last three series? Or has somebody stolen the character cue cards? What can we expect next?
Is Ben going to start a self-help group for liars anonymous?
Sayid start a knitting circle and Gin start giving English lessons.
If all this sounds like I'm a little disappointed, I am. After an outstanding series of "Heroes" which gained huge audiences both in the US and the UK, you would have imagined that Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse would have wanted to start the latest series with a real blow out episode. In fact, unlike other series, this wasn't even a double episode.
Add to this, the basic fact that more episodes are in the tin than will be produced and all I can say is that I hope this coming Sundays show is a huge improvement or I don't think I can be bothered.
It didn't help their case that they chose Sky as the broadcast company in the UK. When the BBC got "Heroes" it opened up a rival with a much wider and more accessible audience. Leaving Channel 4 (available subscription free) was a HUGE mistake.
My other rumour... no, I'll make another post.
Where DOES Petroleum come from kids?
03/02/08 13:32 Filed in: Personal
The discovery
I was wandering around the web (maybe I shouldn't do this) and stumbled across a couple of interesting articles on acclaimed scientific web sites.
But let me say something in advance. Firstly, I've got a scientific background and have an understanding of scientific terms. This will become very important in just a few sentences.
In school (as I was told) kids are taught the FACT that oil is created from ancient plant material that over time is compressed and heated until it eventually creates crude oil. This is then refined into what we know as petroleum or diesel or whatever. We all know that.. it's told as fact.
Except it's not fact. It's THEORY. That is it say, it's a conceptualised model of how we believe something works based upon the available evidence. Which is a heck of a long way from saying that it is an absolute truth of the matter.
The theory goes as follows;
Dead organic material accumulates on the seabed, riverbeds or swamps, mixing with mud and sand. Time passes and more layers are added, resulting in heat and pressure transforming the organic layer into a dark and waxy substance known as kerogen.
The kerogen molecules eventually crack, breaking up into shorter and lighter molecules composed almost solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Depending on how liquid or gaseous this mixture is, it will turn into either petroleum or natural gas.
How long does this process take? You might ask.
The basic fact of the matter is, they do NOT KNOW. Not at all. They guess it could take millions of years. But for all they know, it could be two weeks.
But it's not the only theory
The Russians have a totally different theory.
Called the "Abiogenic theory".
Essentially;
The idea proposes that hydrocarbons of purely geological origin exist in the planet. Hydrocarbons are less dense than aqueous pore fluids, and are proposed to migrate upward through deep fracture networks. Thermophilic, rock-dwelling microbial life-forms are proposed to be in part responsible for the biomarkers found in petroleum.
I mean think about it. Received science says it must be biological because we find microscopic dead creatures IN the oil. But the oil passes through porous material containing such material. I mean it's like saying that glacial water in the Alps contains detergent because your taking samples of it from the estuaries into the sea.
Conclusion
Only the Russians use this theory. But I would like to point out that Russia is the 2nd biggest oil/gas exporters in the world, after Saudi Arabia.
So perhaps there is more to this theory than meets the eye. But my real question is this; why is the Abiogenic theory never discussed in the UK or the US? As if I couldn't guess.
Because without the idea of shortages you can't increase prices... and companies like Shell can't post record profits of £13.9 billion. That's £1 million an hour.
Just spent 20 minutes shouting at the TV
03/02/08 12:09 Filed in: Personal
Just spent about 20 minutes shouting at the TV. So this blog post is therapy 
The BBC are asking the people of New York about the major issues of the 2008 election campaign. The question was; "What are things that concern you most?"
We had a mixed bag
But then we had some rent-a-cop saying he was most concerned about the immense levels or terrorism in New York (state). Excuse me? What terrorist attacks have there been since 9/11?
Then the reported interviews a Vietnam vet. who said that the war on Iraq was just because "They killed nearly four thousand people in 2001". Iraq?
UNBELIEVABLE! the majority of the 9/11 terrorist came from Saudi Arabia! Not one of them was Iraqi!
How has America become so easily fooled?
The BBC are asking the people of New York about the major issues of the 2008 election campaign. The question was; "What are things that concern you most?"
We had a mixed bag
- people complaining that wages had fallen so low that they could not afford to live in the city they worked.
- people who pointed out the loss of the middle classes, there are just rich, super rich and poor people due to the area zonings.
But then we had some rent-a-cop saying he was most concerned about the immense levels or terrorism in New York (state). Excuse me? What terrorist attacks have there been since 9/11?
Then the reported interviews a Vietnam vet. who said that the war on Iraq was just because "They killed nearly four thousand people in 2001". Iraq?
UNBELIEVABLE! the majority of the 9/11 terrorist came from Saudi Arabia! Not one of them was Iraqi!
How has America become so easily fooled?
Cloverfield - 30 second review
02/02/08 22:15 Filed in: Personal
Hello everyone. Managed to wangle myself an early UK preview of the latest J.J. Abram's monster smash hit "Cloverfield".
Well, it's a really interesting film. Very much based in that tradition of the documentary style, first person view. Thankfully, unlike the "Blair Witch Project", J.J. must have taken the advice to introduce some modicum of steadier shooting. Otherwise it would be a complete blur.
But fantastic use of blackness and the simply fantastic scene with the night vision camera are to be highly commended.
However, having said that. The plot more than a stretch. No, I'm not talking about the giant monster (note I'm not going to spoil the plot here) attacks New York. It's the idea that three people would gamely follow 'Rob' into harms way. After about 50 "Rob, come back". I'm pretty convinced I'd be telling Rob to call me when he gets back.
And I think that's where the film "jumps the shark".
Actually. Before I do end on what might sound like a negative. The thing that I really find to be refreshing about the film. It's about real people. Not the Top Gun pilots pitted against invading aliens or top level scientists. Just a bunch of 20-somethings with absolutely no idea what's going on. And that, above anything else, is what this film should be commended for the most.
Oh... and one final point. It's huge, angry, hungry... would you SCREAM around it? I think I'd be taking tipi-toe steps and whispering.
Well, it's a really interesting film. Very much based in that tradition of the documentary style, first person view. Thankfully, unlike the "Blair Witch Project", J.J. must have taken the advice to introduce some modicum of steadier shooting. Otherwise it would be a complete blur.
But fantastic use of blackness and the simply fantastic scene with the night vision camera are to be highly commended.
However, having said that. The plot more than a stretch. No, I'm not talking about the giant monster (note I'm not going to spoil the plot here) attacks New York. It's the idea that three people would gamely follow 'Rob' into harms way. After about 50 "Rob, come back". I'm pretty convinced I'd be telling Rob to call me when he gets back.
And I think that's where the film "jumps the shark".
Actually. Before I do end on what might sound like a negative. The thing that I really find to be refreshing about the film. It's about real people. Not the Top Gun pilots pitted against invading aliens or top level scientists. Just a bunch of 20-somethings with absolutely no idea what's going on. And that, above anything else, is what this film should be commended for the most.
Oh... and one final point. It's huge, angry, hungry... would you SCREAM around it? I think I'd be taking tipi-toe steps and whispering.
Mad Madge
02/02/08 00:58 Filed in: Personal
Just checked out Apple's film trailer site and stumbled across this 'gem'. Doomsday
OK. Right from the off it's clear that this film is a cross between.
a. 28 days later
b. Resident Evil
c. Mad Max
d. Escape from New York
Lead is played by newbie Rhona Mitra playing 'Eden Sinclair'. Think of her as being a cheaper (cost wise) 'Alice' (Resident Evil).
Virus takes over country (the UK). Think 28 days later, only deadly. Everybody not infected legs it to Scotland blah blah. 'Infected / Wild' side of country is sealed off by a giant barrier. In the same way as Manhattan island was transformed into a giant prison in Escape from New York. She goes in the find a cure, runs into anarchic elements on the wild side. Lots of car chases... that's our Mad Max element and so forth.
It seems to have been mainly shot in Scotland, London or South Africa.
Starting the aforementioned Rhona Mitra, always good for a giggle Malcolm McDowell (in a role that appears similar to Dennis Hoppers role in the most recent 'of the dead' movies), perennial cock-er-ney Bob Hoskins (who was actually born in Bury St. Edmonds and only seems to have received a cockney accent during the mid-70s). The very watchable Sean Pertwee. David O'Hara who people might remember got his first big break as "The Monocled Mutineer". Rick Warden who was in Band of Brothers as Harry Welsh and most recently got ate by a Sabretoothed tiger in Primeval.
The list... it goes on.
Will it be the Citizen Kane of Action/Horror? I doubt it. But you never know........... After all, the writer/director is Neil Marshall of the very excellent Werewolf (there wolf, there castle) movie Dog Soldiers and sheer chilling "The Descent" fame. So, you never know.
OK. Right from the off it's clear that this film is a cross between.
a. 28 days later
b. Resident Evil
c. Mad Max
d. Escape from New York
Lead is played by newbie Rhona Mitra playing 'Eden Sinclair'. Think of her as being a cheaper (cost wise) 'Alice' (Resident Evil).
Virus takes over country (the UK). Think 28 days later, only deadly. Everybody not infected legs it to Scotland blah blah. 'Infected / Wild' side of country is sealed off by a giant barrier. In the same way as Manhattan island was transformed into a giant prison in Escape from New York. She goes in the find a cure, runs into anarchic elements on the wild side. Lots of car chases... that's our Mad Max element and so forth.
It seems to have been mainly shot in Scotland, London or South Africa.
Starting the aforementioned Rhona Mitra, always good for a giggle Malcolm McDowell (in a role that appears similar to Dennis Hoppers role in the most recent 'of the dead' movies), perennial cock-er-ney Bob Hoskins (who was actually born in Bury St. Edmonds and only seems to have received a cockney accent during the mid-70s). The very watchable Sean Pertwee. David O'Hara who people might remember got his first big break as "The Monocled Mutineer". Rick Warden who was in Band of Brothers as Harry Welsh and most recently got ate by a Sabretoothed tiger in Primeval.
The list... it goes on.
Will it be the Citizen Kane of Action/Horror? I doubt it. But you never know........... After all, the writer/director is Neil Marshall of the very excellent Werewolf (there wolf, there castle) movie Dog Soldiers and sheer chilling "The Descent" fame. So, you never know.
