Buying Stuff Online #
Okay, a small confession here. I really am apprehensive about buying online. Although I've used the Internet for seven years now, I only started buying online in the last twelve months - I trust the security on the server but I don't trust the webmasters at the other end. Far more exploits have been made by hackers getting into a web database of customers' details than have been done breaching SSL protocol.
This evening I ordered a new book from Amazon, and was very slightly concerned that they'd kept my debit card details in a database for future reference. This is something I personally am not keen on at all. All the other shops I've dealt or worked with (eBuyer, 1DO3, Ghoulnet, Virtual Names) have not saved my details but instead asked for them again - something which I have no second thought about. However Amazon have kept my details online in a large database with huge value to a hacker.
Perhaps I'm paranoid - please let me know what you think about all of this - I'm sure somebody of Amazon's size have their interests vested in keeping their software up-to-date and patched but still they are a potential attack point and, if anything, more likely than the other sites I mention.
I guess I'm going to have to get used to this online buying business though.....
Raise the Roof #
http://www.trevorvanmeter.com/flyguy/
A wonderful interactive animation in Flash that lets you control a guy flying in the air. There are plenty of characters to interact with and the background music is lovely and soothing. Found via B3ta.
Windows and Memory #
Okay don't laugh (some do) - I still run Windows 98. I run it on a fairly high spec computer (1.5Ghz Athlon, 512MB RAM, etc...) but it astounds me how much memory it uses on bootup - within two minutes, running Winamp and WinMX pushes the system up to 600MB RAM used already!
I keep considering getting something like XP - you can at least switch off all the graphical effects if you don't want them and its obviously four years more advanced than 98. I may then also get another half gig of RAM ('98 doesn't like >512)....
I dread to think what the memory requirements for something like Palladium would be....
Interactive Flash #
Excellent site with loads of Flash animations - the Odd One Out one is great fun and very difficult as the time shortens (I think I may have mentioned it before).
Royal Institution Lectures #
The Christmas lectures this year look quite interesting. I make a habit of watching the lectures every year (last year was Kevin "Captain Cyborg" Warwick), and this year the theme is about molecules and chemistry. Starts Boxing Day at 11:05am on Channel 4.
Meanwhile Gareth Gates is on the new comedy and light ents station BBC 7 right now. I know his covers are laughable but it's only funny for so long (unfortunately I think they're serious about playing it all..... argh!)
Aargh #
I think I am cursed with "do whatever I shouldn't" disease. Keep thinking to myself "go to bed early since you have to be awake at 7am...." so every night this week I've gotten to bed at 2.30am - d'oh!
Lighter subject: Avril Lavigne tickets arrived today for the Brixton gig in March. yay! :)
Even lighter note: I went and ordered that mini DV camera from Firebox in the end. It's arrived and I'm quite impressed. For £130-odd it's a good piece of kit, and amazingly dinky! Was having fun playing with video editing today....
Russian Ark #
Russian Ark is a movie shot in a single, 87-minute take using one steadicam and a cast of thousands. Certainly a miraculous feat compared to previous films, although when compared to theatre performances where they don't have the luxury of edit, retakes and a narrow focus of attention you have to wonder whether this is just a minor transition.
Flash Clock #
A bit like humanclock this one: it's a clock that's updated using video footage of somebody erasing the previous number and writing the new one.... actually it just makes more sense if you see it here. Very novel approach!
Glenn Quinn #
Blimey. The actor who played Doyle in Angel for a while has died - no idea or mention why on his unofficial fan site.
The Sandstorm Effect #
What is it with this current obsession with the 'sandstorm' effect jeans that loads of people seem to be wearing nowadays. I know it's "the in-thing" and "current fashion" but I don't get the motive to spend goodness-knows-how-much on labels with jeans that look shoddy and in desperate need of a clean.
Can somebody explain?
Broadband in the UK #
This article from those eagle-eyed watchdogs, Oftel has some interesting details about the UK cost of broadband and unmetered access compared to similar European countries and US states. Interestingly it looks like we have the cheapest general cost for unmetered dialup, and our broadband rate is quite low as well.
I got the chance to speak to a rep from the UK Online for Business project the other day about broadband prospects in the UK, and he was very keen and enthusiastic about mesh networking via Wifi, which are starting to pop up thanks to projects like Arwain, Consume, and <sarky>everybody's favourite Internet telco, BT</sarky>.
Whose Record of the Year Was It? #
Gareth Gates, who won {insert generic pop TV competition here} (I can't remember), has come top of the 2002 Record of the Year competition.
Shurely shome mishtake? I believe this is a song originally sung by the Righteous Brothers. Gates' rendition is strikingly similar to the original - surely they should be awarded the prize and he just get a congratulations for being able to sing - his record company simply seem to go through buying rights to others' songs, and just adding a new voice to them?
Grrrr. A few of us were chatting last night about all this Pop Idol/Star rubbish - the conclusion being a lot of these people are clearly able to sing, it just comes down to how good they look on stage. Hmmm, sounds familiar?
Celebrations in order (but easy on the cake) #
Just checking that a suit I want to wear was okay (no dire white paint marks, etc) and discovered in the process that I've actually lost a bit of weight around the waist, and can now fit comfortably into those trousers again without fear of the button popping out.
Hooray!!!
Tonight was also the marking of a realisation that I am pretty dire at colour coding - black jacket, black trousers, black shoes, white shirt and black tie. I look like a bloody penguin (wanted navy blue tie... or burnt sienna but I had the option of black silk, black "wierd fabric" or gray silk - went for second).
Ooooohh #
Just found two Werthers' Originals by my desk. How random.
Scary Pictures #
Are Melanie Sykes and Des O'Connor taking over ITV1? I've switched on the TV every now and again, or seen the TV at uni at lunchtime in the café and there's always some chat show with those two. It's on at lunchtime, then it's on again in the evening but it feels like they're always on....scary.
Update: Just found this.
Pagerank #
I don't usually use Google's Pagerank as definitive guidance as to popularity to site, but there's something very satisfying about Blogwise having 7/10. Svenlat and this site are both 5/10 which is also good (see why I don't think it's definitive ;) )