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XKCD knows my life
Jan. 31st, 2011 08:01 pmTried to make a curry today...
Right now I'm at the "kinda" line.
Right now I'm at the "kinda" line.
Stuff that makes you feel old. NZ are playing Pakistan at AMI Stadium/Lancaster Park today. The commentary team looked back at the very first ODI game between these two sides which was played at the same stadium back in Feb 1973 - in fact the first ever ODI that either side played. The thing is, I was there in the crowd completely oblivious to that historical significance. It was historically significant to me though being the first game of international cricket that I ever attended.
Feeling old? Because not one of the players on either side in today's game was alive at the time of that first game. I'm not actually that concerned - age happens. But it was interesting to look at the stadium. I noted above that it was the same, but it isn't really. Not one of the stands is the same - it looks completely different. Given that I know living things like people replace their atoms at a pretty high frequency (and at a higher level cells too), I suppose renewal happens. But it would be nice if we could replace some of our structures with something newer when they start to get a bit old and rickety.
Feeling old? Because not one of the players on either side in today's game was alive at the time of that first game. I'm not actually that concerned - age happens. But it was interesting to look at the stadium. I noted above that it was the same, but it isn't really. Not one of the stands is the same - it looks completely different. Given that I know living things like people replace their atoms at a pretty high frequency (and at a higher level cells too), I suppose renewal happens. But it would be nice if we could replace some of our structures with something newer when they start to get a bit old and rickety.
Cheaper than Perth in Scotland
Jan. 24th, 2011 01:50 pmSchool holidays do not usually impact me much except when I want to travel somewhere when they are on. As you may know, I would very much like to attend Swancon 36. The only problem is that Perth is a bloody long distance away with airfares to match. I got a promotional email from QANTAS today promising low trans-Tasman fares. I get a number of these, but they don't usually include Wellington-Perth. But this time they did and at a very good price - hooray. But then the small print. The cheap fares don't apply during the second half of April - school holiday time of course. Harrumph.
Before you ask, I have been looking at options - Air NZ, Pacific Blue, Tiger, Emirates (have I missed an option?). There are options that are a little cheaper with a significant convenience penalty, but nothing as cheap as that non-holiday fare. Y'know I think I'd have preferred to not even know those low fares existed.
Before you ask, I have been looking at options - Air NZ, Pacific Blue, Tiger, Emirates (have I missed an option?). There are options that are a little cheaper with a significant convenience penalty, but nothing as cheap as that non-holiday fare. Y'know I think I'd have preferred to not even know those low fares existed.
Waiting for the US version of QI
Jan. 19th, 2011 03:26 pmUS (Hollywood) versions of favourite British TV series seem to stir up a surprising amount of emotion. Some folk become rabidly anti-American when the subject of something like the US version of Red Dwarf comes up. But when you think about it, isn't somebody else doing a version of a TV series just like doing a cover version of a song. Generally speaking the cover version isn't as satisfying as the original - if for no other reason than you are used to the original. You may not believe it, but you have to give Hollywood execs at least enough credit to know that a British version of a show will never have more than niche appeal. The point being that American cultural cues really are quite a bit different than British ones. For those of us downunder, we are in a funny middle ground. Another point to remember - most of these shows crash and burn. But then most new shows fail anyway - on both sides of the Atlantic.
The view that Hollywood network execs are brain dead does have a big following. And lets face it, there is plenty of evidence to back up that. So, take that viewpoint and add the plot of a couple of brit authors who have made a successful tv series that is then picked up by an American studio bigwig to make a US version. Of course the results are a disaster as the whole nature of the show is perverted. What you have is the series Episodes - a title that has to be the most irritating ever if you are trying to google information about it. It is billed as a comedy, although the lack of any discernible humour suggest that satire may be a better description. Not that it works for me at that level either.
In the spirit of this though, time to take a look at a few recent examples of shows that have made the migration across the Atlantic. I've mentioned the US version of Top Gear before. It actually isn't too bad and despite saying I wasn't going to, I have ended up watching all of the first season. It isn't the same as the British version, but it stands well in its own right and speaks to the American version of car culture. As an aside, I have also tried to give the Australian version another go or two - it makes no difference, I still hate it.
But there are more. There are now new US versions of Being Human, Skins and Shameless. I was going to try to review each of them independently, but to be honest, the comments are all the same. Based on the first episodes, the US versions are actually pretty good. They all follow the structure of their originals but work on their own terms. They are all a bit darker than the originals and don't have as much of the quirky British humour. But, lets face it, attempting to do the humour wouldn't work and neither would attempting to graft American sitcom style on either. No, they aren't the same as the show you love, but "hate" shouldn't be your default position. In two cases, they represent pretty good cover versions and in the third case the show is actually better (IMO) than its originator. See if you can guess which.
One point to consider - all these shows are made by cable networks. Episodes is about a broadcast network show. Most of the good TV to come out of the US in recent times has been from cable networks. It has become an important distinction.
The view that Hollywood network execs are brain dead does have a big following. And lets face it, there is plenty of evidence to back up that. So, take that viewpoint and add the plot of a couple of brit authors who have made a successful tv series that is then picked up by an American studio bigwig to make a US version. Of course the results are a disaster as the whole nature of the show is perverted. What you have is the series Episodes - a title that has to be the most irritating ever if you are trying to google information about it. It is billed as a comedy, although the lack of any discernible humour suggest that satire may be a better description. Not that it works for me at that level either.
In the spirit of this though, time to take a look at a few recent examples of shows that have made the migration across the Atlantic. I've mentioned the US version of Top Gear before. It actually isn't too bad and despite saying I wasn't going to, I have ended up watching all of the first season. It isn't the same as the British version, but it stands well in its own right and speaks to the American version of car culture. As an aside, I have also tried to give the Australian version another go or two - it makes no difference, I still hate it.
But there are more. There are now new US versions of Being Human, Skins and Shameless. I was going to try to review each of them independently, but to be honest, the comments are all the same. Based on the first episodes, the US versions are actually pretty good. They all follow the structure of their originals but work on their own terms. They are all a bit darker than the originals and don't have as much of the quirky British humour. But, lets face it, attempting to do the humour wouldn't work and neither would attempting to graft American sitcom style on either. No, they aren't the same as the show you love, but "hate" shouldn't be your default position. In two cases, they represent pretty good cover versions and in the third case the show is actually better (IMO) than its originator. See if you can guess which.
One point to consider - all these shows are made by cable networks. Episodes is about a broadcast network show. Most of the good TV to come out of the US in recent times has been from cable networks. It has become an important distinction.
With added Summer Glau
Jan. 18th, 2011 02:14 pmHave you ever watched a film with the wrong soundtrack? It is very weird. Just watched part of an episode of The Cape with soundtrack from a Dexter episode. The weird thing is that the action and the sound actually appear to strangely match quite often. Spooky.
BTW, The Cape is actually pretty good so far. Worth a look if you like your superhero television with a strong "Dark Knight" flavour. IMHO, vastly superior to No Ordinary Family.
BTW, The Cape is actually pretty good so far. Worth a look if you like your superhero television with a strong "Dark Knight" flavour. IMHO, vastly superior to No Ordinary Family.
Religiosity is clearly a real word
Jan. 11th, 2011 08:23 amInteresting link. There is the thought abroad that Americans (USAians) are religious zealots and have, if anything, become more extreme in recent years. This article is a summary of research done for a book which attempts to shed more detailed light on the situation. Obviously things are more complex than we see from outside. Nevertheless, I am struck by the phrase "So Americans are actually more religious than the Iranians". However that should be balanced against the following "you can see a rapid increase in those who say they have no religion and a decrease in those who are moving to the evangelical side of the spectrum". Perhaps there is a little hope.
Looking at price points
Jan. 10th, 2011 03:27 pmWas in Dick Smith's this morning and I noticed that the VCR recorders have finally disappeared. They may have been gone for a while but I hadn't noticed. For a long time they were hidden down on the lowest shelves gathering dust. In many ways its surprising that they survived as long as they did, but then again they were a robust mature technology and some people still have large collections of tapes. No doubt that you can still get players at various niche providers.
The above observation was prompted by noticing that DVD players are going the same way. Dickies still sell them, but in a low cost commodity way - the same way that VCR recorders were a while back. When you can get a DVD player for less than half the cost of a tank of petrol, it is very much in the minor purchase bracket.
Why look at DVD players. Because mine was getting more and more "quirky" over time. When even opening the disk tray is an exercise in patience then perhaps it is time for a replacement. It was getting so that I wasn't watching DVDs because of the hassle factor. Oddly enough, I did have two players, but I gave one away. I'm not sure whether it is a consolation or not that I ended up keeping the dud.
So now that I have a working machine, that actually works as it is supposed to, it is time to start watching all those series again. But which one to start with...?
The above observation was prompted by noticing that DVD players are going the same way. Dickies still sell them, but in a low cost commodity way - the same way that VCR recorders were a while back. When you can get a DVD player for less than half the cost of a tank of petrol, it is very much in the minor purchase bracket.
Why look at DVD players. Because mine was getting more and more "quirky" over time. When even opening the disk tray is an exercise in patience then perhaps it is time for a replacement. It was getting so that I wasn't watching DVDs because of the hassle factor. Oddly enough, I did have two players, but I gave one away. I'm not sure whether it is a consolation or not that I ended up keeping the dud.
So now that I have a working machine, that actually works as it is supposed to, it is time to start watching all those series again. But which one to start with...?
I don't know what you lot think, but I'm not a big fan of the celebrity remake album. You know, when a well known but faded singer/songwriter collaborates with bunch of other well known musicians to do covers of the first songwriters works. They always seem like a desperate attempt to cash in on reflected glory and remembered greatness. Musically, they usually aren't up to much either. A cover version of a hit by a well known musician is still just a cover version. It is rare that any cover will recapture the greatness of the original when that original is a cherished memory.
But now I find out that Ray Davies of Kinks fame has put such an album together called See My Friends. This isn't the first time either - in '09 he put out a Choral album. I couldn't even face the prospect of that previous one, but this one I bit the bullet and acquired it. For the most part, it is as expected - underwhelming pointless covers. There are two or three high spots for me - the peculiar choice of Paloma Faith to cover Lola - it almost works. Dead End Street with Amy MacDonald is also worth a mention. But the highlight is the late great Alex Chilton doing 'Til the End of the Day. Worth it just to hear Chilton singing a song that he could have written himself and in fact first recorded by him on the final Big Star album Third/Sister Lovers.
But the reason I'm writing this isn't to promote the album, but instead to point you at the BBC documentary which is done in association with the making of this album. It is called Ray Davies - Imaginary Man. It does have some pretentious OTT filmmaker tricks in it, but they don't detract from the fundamental story of Davies and his career. It shows a man ground down by the music industry and life generally. But it also shows that through all the hard times and the allure of the great times he has retained his integrity and kept connected to his roots. It isn't a happy tale, yet it is populated with great music that just might bring you some happiness in memory. If you admire the music then I recommend that you watch this documentary.
But now I find out that Ray Davies of Kinks fame has put such an album together called See My Friends. This isn't the first time either - in '09 he put out a Choral album. I couldn't even face the prospect of that previous one, but this one I bit the bullet and acquired it. For the most part, it is as expected - underwhelming pointless covers. There are two or three high spots for me - the peculiar choice of Paloma Faith to cover Lola - it almost works. Dead End Street with Amy MacDonald is also worth a mention. But the highlight is the late great Alex Chilton doing 'Til the End of the Day. Worth it just to hear Chilton singing a song that he could have written himself and in fact first recorded by him on the final Big Star album Third/Sister Lovers.
But the reason I'm writing this isn't to promote the album, but instead to point you at the BBC documentary which is done in association with the making of this album. It is called Ray Davies - Imaginary Man. It does have some pretentious OTT filmmaker tricks in it, but they don't detract from the fundamental story of Davies and his career. It shows a man ground down by the music industry and life generally. But it also shows that through all the hard times and the allure of the great times he has retained his integrity and kept connected to his roots. It isn't a happy tale, yet it is populated with great music that just might bring you some happiness in memory. If you admire the music then I recommend that you watch this documentary.
Remembering the 6502
Jan. 7th, 2011 07:41 pmI have mentioned before that I am a fan of the archeology series Time Team. I love the whole uncovering the past thing. But there is one thing that always niggles when I watch it. It is something that Mick Aston comments on from time to time in the show. It is that much of the archeological analysis done is essentially destructive in nature. Every trench disturbs and damages what is being studied. Now I'm not being critical of the archaeologists in this. They are aware of the issues and try to minimise the impact of their work. Not forgetting that much study is undertaken because development or erosion is going to destroy it anyway. The important thing is that what is destroyed as part of investigation is recorded.
That last bit is the bit that triggers those little niggles. Just how good is that recording. One of the perils of the information age we are currently undergoing is that with so much around that bits can get lost so easily. The changes in storage technology mean that even if you have the info, you may not be able to read it. I just wonder what is going to happen to all those geophysics and GPS data that I see on Time Team. Probably backed up on floppy disks that nobody can read now. Well a few people can read it, but that few keeps declining in number.
All of this ramble came to mind because of this article which notes that the design schematics etc for the MOS 6502 chip have been lost. This isn't some thousand year old post hole we are talking about here. It is probably less than 40 years old and is one of the key components of the early days of the microprocessor revolution. Amongst other computers, it powered the Apple ][ - the very first computer that I actually owned.
Hope remains however. Some folk have taken some of the chips apart layer by layer to figure out how it works. And here is the really cool part - they have made a visual simulator. You can actually see how voltage levels change as individual instructions are executed. I don't know what it represents, but it looks great.
That last bit is the bit that triggers those little niggles. Just how good is that recording. One of the perils of the information age we are currently undergoing is that with so much around that bits can get lost so easily. The changes in storage technology mean that even if you have the info, you may not be able to read it. I just wonder what is going to happen to all those geophysics and GPS data that I see on Time Team. Probably backed up on floppy disks that nobody can read now. Well a few people can read it, but that few keeps declining in number.
All of this ramble came to mind because of this article which notes that the design schematics etc for the MOS 6502 chip have been lost. This isn't some thousand year old post hole we are talking about here. It is probably less than 40 years old and is one of the key components of the early days of the microprocessor revolution. Amongst other computers, it powered the Apple ][ - the very first computer that I actually owned.
Hope remains however. Some folk have taken some of the chips apart layer by layer to figure out how it works. And here is the really cool part - they have made a visual simulator. You can actually see how voltage levels change as individual instructions are executed. I don't know what it represents, but it looks great.
It is Hugo nomination time already. I haven't done so before but I feel the urge to nominate something. Of course, that means trawling through what I have read last year and determining not only what is eligible, but more importantly, what is award-worthy. Or I could just nominate Ted Chiang and be done with it.
On a related note, nominations are also open for the Sir Julius Vogel awards. But then you already knew that didn't you?
On a related note, nominations are also open for the Sir Julius Vogel awards. But then you already knew that didn't you?
Forbidden Planet
Jan. 4th, 2011 10:33 amNot the best start to the year. RIP Anne Francis and Pete Postlethwaite.
Refer to previous post
Dec. 27th, 2010 09:47 pmWellington airport does have a hair raising reputation but while I have experienced a few rather disconcerting landings there I have always maintained that the roughest landings that I have had to endure have been at Christchurch airport. After today, that is no longer the case.
Apart from the usual bumps and shakes, a couple of additional niceties that this flight provided... A weather announcement for Wellington which indicated that wind gusts were just 10K short of the speed that I happen to know would close the airport to big jets. But we weren't in a big jet we were in a little Beech 1900D and in one of those if you care to look down the aisle you can see through the cockpit window. Seeing what the pilot sees isn't great under the circumstances. I did notice that the plane wasn't actually flying in the direction that its nose was pointing.
Phew. Glad to be home.
Apart from the usual bumps and shakes, a couple of additional niceties that this flight provided... A weather announcement for Wellington which indicated that wind gusts were just 10K short of the speed that I happen to know would close the airport to big jets. But we weren't in a big jet we were in a little Beech 1900D and in one of those if you care to look down the aisle you can see through the cockpit window. Seeing what the pilot sees isn't great under the circumstances. I did notice that the plane wasn't actually flying in the direction that its nose was pointing.
Phew. Glad to be home.
The weather for the last couple of weeks has been wet and windy. Not very pleasant at all. Today is suddenly fine and clear. So guess where I am...
Yes, I'm at Wellington Airport. This has become a real pattern. Were I into personification of places, I'd be getting a bit paranoid about now. I've checked the long range weather forecast and it isn't looking great for the day I get back either.
Here's hoping y'all have a good festive season, regardless of your personal interpretation of festivity.
Yes, I'm at Wellington Airport. This has become a real pattern. Were I into personification of places, I'd be getting a bit paranoid about now. I've checked the long range weather forecast and it isn't looking great for the day I get back either.
Here's hoping y'all have a good festive season, regardless of your personal interpretation of festivity.
For some reason, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was always my favourite Narnia story. Not entirely sure why that is, but it is probably no coincidence that The Odyssey was my favourite Greek legend story. So I thought I'd venture forth and see the new movie. After all it was raining today - what else was I going to do.
I was confident that this was one book that would translate well to the screen with very little modification. I went in knowing that I would have to consciously put aside all the religious aspects that have been so much of the discussion surrounding this film. In the end, apart from one early scene, this was not a problem. What was a problem was the complete scrambling of the plot elements from the book. It was like they took all the blot bits and put them in a blender. I suppose they thought they were making a more exciting story. What they did was remove any chance I had of enjoying it. Harrumph.
I was confident that this was one book that would translate well to the screen with very little modification. I went in knowing that I would have to consciously put aside all the religious aspects that have been so much of the discussion surrounding this film. In the end, apart from one early scene, this was not a problem. What was a problem was the complete scrambling of the plot elements from the book. It was like they took all the blot bits and put them in a blender. I suppose they thought they were making a more exciting story. What they did was remove any chance I had of enjoying it. Harrumph.
Sounds Like Us
Dec. 14th, 2010 08:00 pmMany many years ago when I was a student in Christchurch, I flatted with a girl who was regularly being visited by members of her extended family. One of her cousins was a school age chap who was very interested in music. His name was Rob Mayes. He and I used to chat about what was happening on the local indie scene. The next year when he went to university, he got a job as music critic for the student newspaper. He used to drop around from time to time to share the latest review copies that he had received. Motivated I suspect because at the time I had a much better sound system than any other he had access to. Even after I left the flat, I'd bump into him from time to time on campus and he would tell me about what was happening in local music and try to foist low quality tapes of live recordings onto me from the recording label he was trying to set up - Failsafe Records. I still have one or two I think. I haven't had any contact with him since I moved to Wellington.
Today I was reading Simon Sweetman's blog about the ridiculous state of funding for local music and the farce of cronyism that it has become. At the end of the blog there is a link to a document about the issue written by that same Rob Mayes. It seems that he is still a champion of the local indie scene. I am impressed by his ability to maintain that sort of passion over so many years. If you are interested in the way NZ on Air funds New Zealand music, then you really must read this document.
Today I was reading Simon Sweetman's blog about the ridiculous state of funding for local music and the farce of cronyism that it has become. At the end of the blog there is a link to a document about the issue written by that same Rob Mayes. It seems that he is still a champion of the local indie scene. I am impressed by his ability to maintain that sort of passion over so many years. If you are interested in the way NZ on Air funds New Zealand music, then you really must read this document.
Southland take note
Dec. 13th, 2010 04:08 pmThis video of the Metrodome roof collapse in Minnesota is pretty damn spectacular.
They showed this on ESPN just now (I'm watching Cowboys vs Eagles). Then they followed it with one of their ad filler pieces with commentator Tommy Smyth complaining about the FIFA decision to hold the world cup in Qatar in extreme heat. Given that the USA was also bidding and failing to get the 2018/2022 cup, there is more than a bit of irony in this juxtaposition.
They showed this on ESPN just now (I'm watching Cowboys vs Eagles). Then they followed it with one of their ad filler pieces with commentator Tommy Smyth complaining about the FIFA decision to hold the world cup in Qatar in extreme heat. Given that the USA was also bidding and failing to get the 2018/2022 cup, there is more than a bit of irony in this juxtaposition.
Sui Generis
Dec. 12th, 2010 03:23 pmCover blurb quotes are an interesting thing to consider. They are there to sell the book. If a the publisher can get a review quote that they think will help sell a book, then they slap it on the cover. Both the words of the quote and the person giving the quote are important. Tales of manipulation are legion. Selective extracting or ellipsis of words to make a quote more positive than originally intended can be taken as highly likely when reading such a cover item.
Given all that, the cover quote on The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaneriemi still managed to take me by surprise. The quote came from Charles Stross and read "Hard to admit, but I think he's better at this stuff than I am". That is extraordinary. I have never seen another author give a reference like that comparing the reviewed work to their own. I would have thought that even if somebody could make that sort of assessment, ego would stop it getting into print.
In case there was any doubt about the veracity of the sentiment on the front cover, there is a longer equally effusive quote on the back cover where Stross compares Rajaniemi to Alastair Reynolds, Greg Egan and Ted Chiang. Reynolds and Egan I can believe as this Finnish author writes in the same sort of area as these two, although not really like either of them. The Chiang comparison is a big call however. Chiang may be the best stylist in the genre.
Anyway, I read the book and have three observations to make:
Given all that, the cover quote on The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaneriemi still managed to take me by surprise. The quote came from Charles Stross and read "Hard to admit, but I think he's better at this stuff than I am". That is extraordinary. I have never seen another author give a reference like that comparing the reviewed work to their own. I would have thought that even if somebody could make that sort of assessment, ego would stop it getting into print.
In case there was any doubt about the veracity of the sentiment on the front cover, there is a longer equally effusive quote on the back cover where Stross compares Rajaniemi to Alastair Reynolds, Greg Egan and Ted Chiang. Reynolds and Egan I can believe as this Finnish author writes in the same sort of area as these two, although not really like either of them. The Chiang comparison is a big call however. Chiang may be the best stylist in the genre.
Anyway, I read the book and have three observations to make:
- Rajaniemi makes a welcome addition to writers playing in the far future hard-SF/Space-opera space.
- Charlie, you need to chill a bit. Yes, he probably is better at this stuff than you are, but he isn't the second coming.
- The blurb worked - I bought the book.
My dentist has retired. I got a letter from him announcing this almost coincident with one of my teeth breaking. Luckily the letter also introduced the new person who had bought the practice. That at least saved the hassle of finding a new practice. But there was still the trepidation of a new person poking about in my mouth. I've been going to the same dentist for over 20 years. When you think about it, your relationship with your dentist, as with other medical folk, is a rather physically intimate one. No worries though, I went in on Monday and the new dentist seems nice and she did a good job repairing my tooth.
Here is the odd thing. My old dentist loved dental technology and kept getting new gadgets and materials. But he wasn't one for office automation. All the patient records were kept on paper and the invoices were hand written onto forms. Of course, being a typical dentist, those invoices were sent out very quickly. Almost always they arrived the day after the treatment. New dentist has put in a computerised patient management and invoice system. But it is now the end of the week and I still haven't seen the bill. I'm certainly not complaining about that but it is very un-dentist like. I wonder if the new system is having teething troubles.
Here is the odd thing. My old dentist loved dental technology and kept getting new gadgets and materials. But he wasn't one for office automation. All the patient records were kept on paper and the invoices were hand written onto forms. Of course, being a typical dentist, those invoices were sent out very quickly. Almost always they arrived the day after the treatment. New dentist has put in a computerised patient management and invoice system. But it is now the end of the week and I still haven't seen the bill. I'm certainly not complaining about that but it is very un-dentist like. I wonder if the new system is having teething troubles.
Fit for Purpose
Dec. 2nd, 2010 09:25 amFrom time to time I fill out online surveys for a major polling organisation. They reward this by paying me in FlyBuys, which works out well when I'm in the market for an electronic nick nack.
Earlier in the week, I filled out a survey on the effectiveness of power company marketing. I was pretty scathing. I don't like the ads shown and the companies just don't seem to be on the same wavelength as me. In particular the company I get my electricity from have a couple of new ads that really annoy me. Almost enough to send me back to the price comparison site to see if it would be worth changing providers. (The last time I looked, the provider I use was the cheapest for my usage patterns).
So interesting that yesterday I find in my mailbox that my power company has sent me a gift. I wondered if it was tied to the survey but it looks like they are sending this gift to all their customers. This Christchurch based power company has given me a radio designed to be included in an earthquake emergency kit. Prompted I believe by the proportion of people who didn't have a suitable radio during the recent quake in Canterbury. The radio supplied is a good one too - it is am/fm, has a decent speaker and as far as I can tell good reception. It is an ideal size to fit in a pocket and has a belt clip too. It is certainly going in my quake emergency kit (yes I do have one).
The key point here is that this gift has been well thought out - it is useful and fit for purpose. Given my thoughts above about advertising, it makes a nice change. Very encouraging I think.
Earlier in the week, I filled out a survey on the effectiveness of power company marketing. I was pretty scathing. I don't like the ads shown and the companies just don't seem to be on the same wavelength as me. In particular the company I get my electricity from have a couple of new ads that really annoy me. Almost enough to send me back to the price comparison site to see if it would be worth changing providers. (The last time I looked, the provider I use was the cheapest for my usage patterns).
So interesting that yesterday I find in my mailbox that my power company has sent me a gift. I wondered if it was tied to the survey but it looks like they are sending this gift to all their customers. This Christchurch based power company has given me a radio designed to be included in an earthquake emergency kit. Prompted I believe by the proportion of people who didn't have a suitable radio during the recent quake in Canterbury. The radio supplied is a good one too - it is am/fm, has a decent speaker and as far as I can tell good reception. It is an ideal size to fit in a pocket and has a belt clip too. It is certainly going in my quake emergency kit (yes I do have one).
The key point here is that this gift has been well thought out - it is useful and fit for purpose. Given my thoughts above about advertising, it makes a nice change. Very encouraging I think.
Read the label on the back of a bottle of cleaning fluid I just bought. It appears that this cleaner is suitable for use in the office for items such as typewriters and adding machines. As for its usefulness on plastics and the like, there is no mention.
You can't clone Jeremy Clarkson
Nov. 22nd, 2010 10:08 pmThey finally did it. They have been talking about it for many years. Jay Leno and Adam Carrola were suggested and then denied involvement. But finally it happened. The American version of Top Gear has screened its first episode.
So how is it? Well it isn't as bad as it could have been. It certainly isn't as bad as the Aussie version. Paradoxically that is because it isn't as close to the original as the Aussies tried to do. Instead the Americans have allowed their version of the show to have its own voice. It feels more natural - less forced.
There is another factor at play as well. In the few years since the Aussie version went to air, the original has gone downhill. They have lost their way somewhat. So the reference standard isn't so high for the Americans to match against.
But am I going to keep watching it? Hell no! There can be only one Top Gear.
So how is it? Well it isn't as bad as it could have been. It certainly isn't as bad as the Aussie version. Paradoxically that is because it isn't as close to the original as the Aussies tried to do. Instead the Americans have allowed their version of the show to have its own voice. It feels more natural - less forced.
There is another factor at play as well. In the few years since the Aussie version went to air, the original has gone downhill. They have lost their way somewhat. So the reference standard isn't so high for the Americans to match against.
But am I going to keep watching it? Hell no! There can be only one Top Gear.
Not zero at all
Nov. 19th, 2010 03:52 pmThis is by way of reciprocating in kind and saying thanks to all those bloggers who suggested (some quite strongly) that the two Connie Willis books Blackout and All Clear be treated as one book. I now have both books and will be reading them in the next while.
The reciprocation is a warning that if you read William Gibson's Zero History, you better have the fine detail of the preceding books stuck well in your head or you will get to the end and go "huh, what the ...". As in his previous connected sets of books Gibson draws a very long line between cause and effect. Of course, you may have a WTF reaction anyway because as usual much of the important story points in a Gibson novel happen in the background or even buried right in the subtext. Ignore the small details at your risk.
The reciprocation is a warning that if you read William Gibson's Zero History, you better have the fine detail of the preceding books stuck well in your head or you will get to the end and go "huh, what the ...". As in his previous connected sets of books Gibson draws a very long line between cause and effect. Of course, you may have a WTF reaction anyway because as usual much of the important story points in a Gibson novel happen in the background or even buried right in the subtext. Ignore the small details at your risk.
Mittsusaru
Nov. 15th, 2010 11:23 amA number of connected events relating to communication recently:
The lesson here, I think, is that it is a diverse communications world out there these days. There is no one single way to get in touch with people. If you want to send a message to somebody, make sure you are using a channel that the recipient is open to. There isn't any point sending an email to somebody who doesn't check their emails. That is why I have facebook & twitter accounts - so that I can use them to get in touch with folk who prefer to roll that way. Similarly that is why SFFANZ News was set up with so many different syndication feed options.
By the same token, make sure that it is clear what your preferred message reception mechanism is. In the interests of clarity and practicing what I preach, let it be known that the best way to get hold of me is via email to my gmail address (on my profile page). It is more likely to get me quickly than even phone or text message and certainly more reliable than snail mail, blog comment, message board, facebook and especially twitter.
On a related note because I mentioned syndicated feeds above. If you want to comment on something like a blog post that has been syndicated, you should really follow it back to source, or at least a forum where comments are regularly processed. I regularly read a lot of syndicated feeds on my LJ friends page, but it I ever want to read or make comments, I usually go back to the original site - there just isn't any point commenting on LJ. Similarly, my blog is generated on Dreamwidth, which is then sent to LJ and then in turn on to Facebook and Twitter. If you comment at the end of the chain in Twitter you are unlikely to be read, let alone responded to. You need to follow the chain back to at least LJ, if not all the way back to DW.
- Announcements from AOL and Facebook that they have new web based email initiatives coming soon.
- A recent visitor to these shores set up a (hotmail) email address just for the trip. He does not usually have an email address at all and you need to snail-mail or phone him.
- I had a need to contact an acquaintance I hadn't been in touch with for some time. Email elicited no response at all. But when I remembered he was on facebook, a message sent that way got a response in a few seconds.
- It appears people have been sending tweets targeted to me. I do have a twitter account but I don't check it very often and so missed the messages which weren't sent by any other method (I only found them by accident this morning via an unrelated search).
The lesson here, I think, is that it is a diverse communications world out there these days. There is no one single way to get in touch with people. If you want to send a message to somebody, make sure you are using a channel that the recipient is open to. There isn't any point sending an email to somebody who doesn't check their emails. That is why I have facebook & twitter accounts - so that I can use them to get in touch with folk who prefer to roll that way. Similarly that is why SFFANZ News was set up with so many different syndication feed options.
By the same token, make sure that it is clear what your preferred message reception mechanism is. In the interests of clarity and practicing what I preach, let it be known that the best way to get hold of me is via email to my gmail address (on my profile page). It is more likely to get me quickly than even phone or text message and certainly more reliable than snail mail, blog comment, message board, facebook and especially twitter.
On a related note because I mentioned syndicated feeds above. If you want to comment on something like a blog post that has been syndicated, you should really follow it back to source, or at least a forum where comments are regularly processed. I regularly read a lot of syndicated feeds on my LJ friends page, but it I ever want to read or make comments, I usually go back to the original site - there just isn't any point commenting on LJ. Similarly, my blog is generated on Dreamwidth, which is then sent to LJ and then in turn on to Facebook and Twitter. If you comment at the end of the chain in Twitter you are unlikely to be read, let alone responded to. You need to follow the chain back to at least LJ, if not all the way back to DW.
They say that once you have mastered it, that you never forget how to ride a bicycle. I really think that the same can be said of driving a manual transmission car. I took my car in for new tyres today and they offered me their courtesy car while the work was being done. Despite not having driven a car with a clutch for well over 10 years (coincidentally the age of the courtesy car), I had no trouble at all adjusting. The only time I have had an issue adjusting to a manual transmission was when visiting the states and having to deal with the novelty of changing gear with my right hand.
On the other hand, adjusting to a car that doesn't have remote central locking - that took some concentration. The fact of it not having central locking of any sort at all was almost too much to contemplate.
On the other hand, adjusting to a car that doesn't have remote central locking - that took some concentration. The fact of it not having central locking of any sort at all was almost too much to contemplate.
An allurement, enticement, or attraction
Nov. 9th, 2010 12:01 pmThe November calendar for Phoenix is now available. And look at the final entry. It seems that the regular social event is in Maungaraki. The same Maungaraki that I live in. In fact the same house that I live in. It would actually appear that for anniversary-of-birth reasons I may have volunteered to host this social event.
There is also the matter of who may attend such a social event. The answer being that anybody I care to invite may come along. So why don't you drop by - if y'know you happen to be in the Wellington region on the 27th.
There is also the matter of who may attend such a social event. The answer being that anybody I care to invite may come along. So why don't you drop by - if y'know you happen to be in the Wellington region on the 27th.
Plus ça change...
Nov. 7th, 2010 09:14 amIt can be amusing reading old fanzines. For reasons closely related to this post on SFFANZ news I found myself reading From Scratch "Tu" by Nigel Rowe in 1991. It has the usual fanzine stuff, but my eye was drawn to three things:
I think my déjà vu is kicking in.
- A line in the lead item reading "When one considers the absolute crap that passes for SF today it is easy to understand how things have come to be focused more on the media connection".
- An article discussing whether FFANZ has any point and any future as a fan fund.
- A discussion of a NZ bid to host a worldcon.
I think my déjà vu is kicking in.
Bloody Norway yet again
Nov. 5th, 2010 08:50 amI admit to being fascinated by these country comparison lists and particularly how they differ. I apologise for inflicting another one on you but it has to be more interesting than telling you about the tree that I have pruned into non-existence, which is the only thing going on in my life this week.
According to this news item, the UN Human Development Report for 2010 list NZ as the third best country in the world according to its "well being" index. I suppose it is a bit more concrete than a happiness index.
Call me a skeptic if you like, but don't you find it suspicious that the last time this index was calculated NZ was 20th and has now moved up to third. And just who heads the UN agency responsible for the index? Why it's former NZ prime minister Helen Clark.
On the other hand, Australia is second on the list and given the nature of the relationship between our countries, no loyal Kiwi would stand for that if they actually had the opportunity to influence the outcome.
According to this news item, the UN Human Development Report for 2010 list NZ as the third best country in the world according to its "well being" index. I suppose it is a bit more concrete than a happiness index.
Call me a skeptic if you like, but don't you find it suspicious that the last time this index was calculated NZ was 20th and has now moved up to third. And just who heads the UN agency responsible for the index? Why it's former NZ prime minister Helen Clark.
On the other hand, Australia is second on the list and given the nature of the relationship between our countries, no loyal Kiwi would stand for that if they actually had the opportunity to influence the outcome.
Click click click click
Nov. 1st, 2010 03:01 pmSo it isn't just a flat battery. Seeing your car being hauled away on a tow truck is not a sight to warm the heart.
On the plus side, the AA did a great job of helping me. The got their roadside guy there to try a bunch of things before organising the towie and the auto electrical company. Like insurance, you wonder why you are shelling out membership money for year after year with no benefit except a really crappy magazine. Then you have a problem and you remember.
On the plus side, the AA did a great job of helping me. The got their roadside guy there to try a bunch of things before organising the towie and the auto electrical company. Like insurance, you wonder why you are shelling out membership money for year after year with no benefit except a really crappy magazine. Then you have a problem and you remember.
