Lack of Broadband; don't try this at home

We moved into the flat on 19th October and we're still without broadband. If we're lucky we'll get a phone line on 22nd December, after which we can order an internet connection (apparently BT can't process an order for broadband without knowing the line's telephone number) which might be installed a few days later, or after Christmas, or possibly in the New Year, depending on the snow.

If you're tempted to try living without broadband, for example because you want to give something up for lent, my advice is to try something less vital to modern life, like alcohol, your mobile phone or chocolate chip cookies. Being without broadband means no email, no internet browsing, no film or music downloads, no application updates, no gaming, no banking, no shopping, nothing. It's really difficult, fantastically annoying and I don't recommend it, not even for a few days.

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Houses of Parliament

Tool these yesterday morning, 8am. Cold and clear, not many people around.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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I like this rule

I like this rule

Pharyngula

Are you a science journalist? Do you work with science journalists? Print this cartoon out and hang it all over your workplace.

Oh, and if you're a science editor, please get it tattooed on the back of your hand.

Read the comments on this post...

Sent with Reeder

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Is your phone at risk from cyber-criminals?

It isn't too difficult to break into a phone, you can just try every number from 0000 to 9999," says William Buchanan, professor of computing at Edinburgh Napier University.

via news.bbc.co.uk

This guy obviously has little experience of actually using smart phones. On mine, if you type the wrong code in ten times it wipes the data; a thief might get the phone but he's only got a 1/1000 chance of getting my data (there's a more secure alphanumeric code option, but I can't be bothered).

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A contribution to the War on Christmas

Spotted this on BlagHag via Flipboard and Twitter. Very neat, would look great on a Christmas card.

My own contribution to the War on Christmas
http://www.blaghag.com/2010/11/my-own-contribution-to-war-on-christmas.html

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James Blunt prevented World War III

I know, I know - it sounds like the most ludicrous headline ever written but if you read the BBC's article (link) it actually does sound reasonably plausible. The story is that Mr Blunt, first into Pristina at the head of a long column of Nato troops in 1999, was ordered by an American General to use force to secure an airbase held by Russian troops. It was a stupid order and he quite rightly refused, receiving the immediate backing of Gen. Sir Mike Jackson, and in doing so prevented an act of aggression against Russia which might, possibly, if it had gone really badly wrong, have triggered a conflict between Nato and Russia. 

That would have been bad. Very bad. Probably worse even than "You're beautiful". Probably. Congratulations Mr Blunt, international man of peace.

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Quote of the Day

From The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins:

The child cannot know that "Don't paddle in the crocodile-infested Limpopo" is good advice but "You must sacrifice a goat at the time of the full moon, otherwise the rains will fail" is at best a waste of time and goats.

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Fossil-fuel subsidies: How to save $300 billion

I hadn't realised that so much was spent subsidising oil and gas supplies (even if it isn't in the UK). The estimates reported by The Economist in this article (link: http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2010/11/fossil-fuel_subsidies) suggest that ending subsidies would improve the life of the poor, save billions for the governments involved and produce about a third of the total carbon savings needed to stabilise the climate; a bit of a no-brainer, really.

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Should I buy a Mac?

I'm in two minds. We have a somewhat elderly Dell laptop and a couple of iPads that we use for (amongst other things) sofa-based surfing (although, to be frank, I haven't touched the Dell since we bought the iPads) while we're watching the TV. We don't really need any new toys but the new MacBook Airs are really very nice, a sort of computer pornography rendered in aluminium and glass. In short, they're gorgeous and I'm looking for an excuse to buy one. A Christmas present, maybe? Yes, let's see how far that one will run.

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Planet 2012 Limited Places

Sometimes weird mail makes it through Google's spam filters to my Inbox. The example below looks like a genuine email until you get to the bit about miracles and curing incurable diseases, at which point it's clear that Ms Dior, even if she is a world class life coach, is also a complete fruit loop. 

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Suzy Dior" <suzy@worldclasslifecoach.com>
Date: 6 November 2010 22:45:29 GMT
To: james@myryama.co.uk
Subject: Planet 2012 Limited Places

Dear Investor 

After two years working at a healing and health retreat in Thailand, I will be coming to London now, bringing lots of new, cutting-edge information to you about healing your health based on science, chemistry, energy, magnetism, vibration and other quantum healing methods.  

  

Success rates using these methods to date has been phenomenal during 2010.  Miracles with issues such as herpes, tumors, psychiatric, obesity, addictions, breast tumors, depression, incurables, high and low blood pressure, heart problems, skin problems, back pain, joint pain, chronic fatigue, weakness and chronic illness and many more illnesses stated as untreatable have been turned around in days.  

Starting January 2011,  20-50 people will be invited  to share this information.  You will be able to use this information help you and your loved ones recover your health.   

If you would like to be one of these people please reply to this e mail saying - yes please -  (no message required).    I look forward to meeting with you in person or speaking with you personally soon.

Health and Blessings to you

Love

Suzy Dior

Website and treatments:  www.worldclasslifecoach.com

 

 

 

 

 

Not interested in receiving more? Click here:
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iPhone's keyboard and spell checker

Most of the time it works really well but it's not quite perfect and, as you may have seen in some of my posts, it's really easy to make spelling mistakes (which really annoys me). I'm hoping iOS 4.2 will have an improved spell checker.

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