Location:UK
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Annoying whisper
Omg I'm on the train home from London and there are a couple, in the carriage, that are wispering to each other. All I can hear is those end noises, those annoying sounds where a slightly wet mouth is opening and closing. It's driving me mad. Please stop it! Just talk normally thanks.
Friday, 30 July 2010
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Security guard idiot
At work a security guard came round at the end of the day, to report a violation with someones car. That I have no problem with.
What I do have a problem with is that he agressively shouted "whose car is...", then when he found out he continued to shout agressively at the owner, and kept demanding the owners name.
What a tosser. He could have taken the owner aside, now everyone in the office knows what the owner did wrong.
Now I wish I'd gone up to the security guard and demanded his name. Tosser.
What I do have a problem with is that he agressively shouted "whose car is...", then when he found out he continued to shout agressively at the owner, and kept demanding the owners name.
What a tosser. He could have taken the owner aside, now everyone in the office knows what the owner did wrong.
Now I wish I'd gone up to the security guard and demanded his name. Tosser.
Location:UK
Monday, 26 July 2010
Ferrari 1-2 swap, the right thing to do?
It may be a controversial view but I think Ferrari were right to swap their drivers, and I think the no team orders rule is completely unworkable and should be removed.
- why
Alonso has a much greater chance of winning the championship than Alonso; based on pace and greater number of points. And it is up to that team if they want to put all their eggs in one basket.
- what could happen at end of season
The trouble is, if they get any further punishment, what would happen at the end of the season, with exactly the same scenario and Massa out of the running, and a swap would win the drivers championship? - I could totally see the validity of doing it (though I'd be upset neither Button nor Lewis would then win it), but Ferrari would be silly not to do this, in fact a driver may offer this on their own without any prodding - a point I'll come back to.
- other examples
The rule is totally unworkable as team orders are so subjective, and hard to proove, and context sensitive. What about Jordan/Hill/Ralf 1998 Spa, the order was to hold station and let Hill win, when Ralf had the speed to get by. The correct decision as Hill was more deserving, plus in the conditions it could have risked a crash and loss of a 1-2 finish. Jerez 97 when McLaren agreed with Williams that Villeneuve wouldn't get in the way of Hakinnen and the team order was for Coultard to let Mika past. Completely the right decision, as Mika had been the faster driver, looked likely to easily win several races that year until outrageous unreliability struck, it was also important psycholically for Hakinnen to get his first win. And Mika Salo v Irvine Monza? 99, Salo was leading but was a stand in driver and so couldn't win the championship - of course they were right to give Irvine the win. All these scenarios would now be illegal.
- where it backfires
Eg 1999 with Schumacher and Irvine. It doesn't always pay for the team that employs these tactics eg in 1999 until Britain Ferrari had favoured Schuhmacher, only he broke his leg and so Irvine had to take over, loosing it by only a few points - maybe if Irvine hadn't been the number 2 earlier in the year he could have won it (though I'm glad he didn't)
- when its wrong
The example in Austria 2002 was plain wrong, Ferrari shouldn't have done that. It was due to this the rule was brought in, maybe instead there should be an understanding amongst teams that when you are that far ahead don't do it.
- Proving team orders - what if driver decision, agreement, or made to look like a proper ovettaking manaeover?
Then there is proving team orders, teams could get more savvy and agree the strategy beforehand and make it look less obvious - how would you proove? Or what if Massa had slowed down on his own account, would this have been allowed? Then there are gentleman's agreements, like the McLaren boys at Australia 98, in a move that proved to win Mika the championship, should that not have been allowed? There's more subtle one's like preferential equipment, preferential treatment and preferential pit or tyre strategy, or putting one driver on a risky rain strategy - how do you proove all this and what falls under team orders?
So overall when something like Sundays Ferrari driver swap happens its not the best thing for racing, but it is impossible to legislate against, and is actually the right thing for a team to do in that situation in my opinion.
- why
Alonso has a much greater chance of winning the championship than Alonso; based on pace and greater number of points. And it is up to that team if they want to put all their eggs in one basket.
- what could happen at end of season
The trouble is, if they get any further punishment, what would happen at the end of the season, with exactly the same scenario and Massa out of the running, and a swap would win the drivers championship? - I could totally see the validity of doing it (though I'd be upset neither Button nor Lewis would then win it), but Ferrari would be silly not to do this, in fact a driver may offer this on their own without any prodding - a point I'll come back to.
- other examples
The rule is totally unworkable as team orders are so subjective, and hard to proove, and context sensitive. What about Jordan/Hill/Ralf 1998 Spa, the order was to hold station and let Hill win, when Ralf had the speed to get by. The correct decision as Hill was more deserving, plus in the conditions it could have risked a crash and loss of a 1-2 finish. Jerez 97 when McLaren agreed with Williams that Villeneuve wouldn't get in the way of Hakinnen and the team order was for Coultard to let Mika past. Completely the right decision, as Mika had been the faster driver, looked likely to easily win several races that year until outrageous unreliability struck, it was also important psycholically for Hakinnen to get his first win. And Mika Salo v Irvine Monza? 99, Salo was leading but was a stand in driver and so couldn't win the championship - of course they were right to give Irvine the win. All these scenarios would now be illegal.
- where it backfires
Eg 1999 with Schumacher and Irvine. It doesn't always pay for the team that employs these tactics eg in 1999 until Britain Ferrari had favoured Schuhmacher, only he broke his leg and so Irvine had to take over, loosing it by only a few points - maybe if Irvine hadn't been the number 2 earlier in the year he could have won it (though I'm glad he didn't)
- when its wrong
The example in Austria 2002 was plain wrong, Ferrari shouldn't have done that. It was due to this the rule was brought in, maybe instead there should be an understanding amongst teams that when you are that far ahead don't do it.
- Proving team orders - what if driver decision, agreement, or made to look like a proper ovettaking manaeover?
Then there is proving team orders, teams could get more savvy and agree the strategy beforehand and make it look less obvious - how would you proove? Or what if Massa had slowed down on his own account, would this have been allowed? Then there are gentleman's agreements, like the McLaren boys at Australia 98, in a move that proved to win Mika the championship, should that not have been allowed? There's more subtle one's like preferential equipment, preferential treatment and preferential pit or tyre strategy, or putting one driver on a risky rain strategy - how do you proove all this and what falls under team orders?
So overall when something like Sundays Ferrari driver swap happens its not the best thing for racing, but it is impossible to legislate against, and is actually the right thing for a team to do in that situation in my opinion.
Location:UK
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
World rally ride
I got driven round the Ford Dunton test track today by Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford's number 2 driver) in a World Rally car.
I got a little nervous when I put the overalls on, got in, strapped up, and Jari drove forward to the start. Then he revved the engine and let it accelerate. It was incredible - it felt like a rollercoaster and I was worried I wouldn't be able to last two laps.
Going round the banking at high speeds was spectacular, it was so fast. At the end of the first lap he did doughnuts, full 360 degree jobs, and the car filled up with smoke. After the second lap I didn't want it to end. I had a big grin on my face all the way around and for the rest of the day.
It was an incredible experience, and I'd love to do it again. Very jealous that he gets to drive that car for his day job!
I got a little nervous when I put the overalls on, got in, strapped up, and Jari drove forward to the start. Then he revved the engine and let it accelerate. It was incredible - it felt like a rollercoaster and I was worried I wouldn't be able to last two laps.
Going round the banking at high speeds was spectacular, it was so fast. At the end of the first lap he did doughnuts, full 360 degree jobs, and the car filled up with smoke. After the second lap I didn't want it to end. I had a big grin on my face all the way around and for the rest of the day.
It was an incredible experience, and I'd love to do it again. Very jealous that he gets to drive that car for his day job!
Location:UK
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Learning to hear German
I'm trying different strategies to improve my German listening skills. I tried recording myself read a passage and then listen back and write down what I said. Interestingly most of it was easy to pick up, but I could only capture a few words at a time; up to three, and I would have to stop and rewind and re-check.
What I stuggle with is und, I keep hearing it as un. I keep leaving the r off of einer. And three words I struggled with were bewaldete, frütterte and wechselte. Even hearing multiple times I came up with wiewoltete, vertote and wuchselte. Funny I should mistake "b" for a "w", but understandable for thinking an "f" was a "v".
Then I tried recording a short vocab list and tried writing down the english. Interestingly I struggled writing the english unless I'd written the german down first for certain words.
My word I'm a world a way from hearing german and then translating it on the fly!
What I stuggle with is und, I keep hearing it as un. I keep leaving the r off of einer. And three words I struggled with were bewaldete, frütterte and wechselte. Even hearing multiple times I came up with wiewoltete, vertote and wuchselte. Funny I should mistake "b" for a "w", but understandable for thinking an "f" was a "v".
Then I tried recording a short vocab list and tried writing down the english. Interestingly I struggled writing the english unless I'd written the german down first for certain words.
My word I'm a world a way from hearing german and then translating it on the fly!
Location:UK
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Shopping Rage
I went shopping in Asda at 2.00pm on Saturday, and I've never known it so crazy. There was a free for all for a parking space, some funny behaviour was to be observed;
- The guy in the car behind kept honking his horn and shouting out hurry up, though we couldn't move anywhere
- At one of the junctions two opposing cars were having an argument with lots of f works thrown in
- Coming down an isle I couldn't move anywhere as I was blocked in front and behind. Asked lady in front to move as lady B came round the corner - who wasn't going to move out the way. There wasn't anywhere I could go, so I waited until she realised. MOVE OUT THE WAY!!!
I got out supprisingly quickly, despite the queues, not sure I'll shop at that time again.
- The guy in the car behind kept honking his horn and shouting out hurry up, though we couldn't move anywhere
- At one of the junctions two opposing cars were having an argument with lots of f works thrown in
- Coming down an isle I couldn't move anywhere as I was blocked in front and behind. Asked lady in front to move as lady B came round the corner - who wasn't going to move out the way. There wasn't anywhere I could go, so I waited until she realised. MOVE OUT THE WAY!!!
I got out supprisingly quickly, despite the queues, not sure I'll shop at that time again.
Location:Asda Basildon
Bavarian Beer House
http://www.bavarian-beerhouse.com/index.php?id=146
Went to the Bavarian beer house in Tower Hill on Thursday. Had a really nice time. It was fun trying a bit of German out with the waitress.
Just go out side entrance of Fenchurch street and head under the archway and its on your left.
The food was yummy. I recommend getting pretzels for starters. I had Oktoberfest Chicken and it was yummy. The apple strudel was great. The beer I had was lovely, and they've got a really good selection, including a glass which is massive
Went to the Bavarian beer house in Tower Hill on Thursday. Had a really nice time. It was fun trying a bit of German out with the waitress.
Just go out side entrance of Fenchurch street and head under the archway and its on your left.
The food was yummy. I recommend getting pretzels for starters. I had Oktoberfest Chicken and it was yummy. The apple strudel was great. The beer I had was lovely, and they've got a really good selection, including a glass which is massive
Location:London
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Vettel tries to take Webber out
Oh deary me what was Vettel thinking at the Turkish GP?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8713780.stm
The Red Bull team boss blames Webber, but is quite clear Vettel just suddenly turned on Webber. Vettel is really getting flustered by Webber, I hope Webber carries the title bid for Red Bull. Welldone the McLarens, great driving from Lewis and Button.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8713780.stm
The Red Bull team boss blames Webber, but is quite clear Vettel just suddenly turned on Webber. Vettel is really getting flustered by Webber, I hope Webber carries the title bid for Red Bull. Welldone the McLarens, great driving from Lewis and Button.
Location:UK
Awesome karting
I went karting at Buckmore Park http://www.buckmore.co.uk/ in Kent. It was totally awesome. Here is my timing sheet.
I wasn't very fast but this was bloody awesome! These things go at 70mph and the people with "S_" had 80mph karts. I can highly recommend this to anyone. Oh yeah and its where Button and Hamilton karted as kids.
I wasn't very fast but this was bloody awesome! These things go at 70mph and the people with "S_" had 80mph karts. I can highly recommend this to anyone. Oh yeah and its where Button and Hamilton karted as kids.
Location:UK
Friday, 21 May 2010
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Karaoke Box
Party at Karaoke box Friday night, we had a 10 person room and it was about £130 for 2 hours. Details see here; http://www.karaokebox.co.uk/smithfield/rooms/
Totally awesome, you get your own private room, so you're amongst friends and don't feel self concious. I sang until my jaw hurt! There is a buzzor, and a waitor will pop in and get your drinks order, they didn't want to sing though!
Its not far from Farringdon tube station, though we took a taxi from Shoreditch and it only cost £7 bargain! That's so much cheaper than my local taxis.
Had to leave early to get a train from Fenchurch street; the last train is at 12.20, boo c2c!
Totally awesome, you get your own private room, so you're amongst friends and don't feel self concious. I sang until my jaw hurt! There is a buzzor, and a waitor will pop in and get your drinks order, they didn't want to sing though!
Its not far from Farringdon tube station, though we took a taxi from Shoreditch and it only cost £7 bargain! That's so much cheaper than my local taxis.
Had to leave early to get a train from Fenchurch street; the last train is at 12.20, boo c2c!
Location:UK
Schumacher's Monaco move
I thought it was great, classic Schumacher. His overtake on Alonso. Ha ha so pleased he got one over Alonso. Unfortunately he's been penalised. I think that is unfair as the way I interpreted the rules, what he did was fine.
Damon Hill was one of the stewards, he must have enjoyed handing out the penalty.
Quite an exciting race, best Monaco race for a while. Crashes, safety cars, overtaking! Alonso's drive from the back was impressive; I begrudgingly concede.
Like the last race it was good till half way then settled in, though there was some action in the second half.
They need to make the racing more interesting in the latter part of the race. Maybe they could split it up and have two shorter races?
Damon Hill was one of the stewards, he must have enjoyed handing out the penalty.
Quite an exciting race, best Monaco race for a while. Crashes, safety cars, overtaking! Alonso's drive from the back was impressive; I begrudgingly concede.
Like the last race it was good till half way then settled in, though there was some action in the second half.
They need to make the racing more interesting in the latter part of the race. Maybe they could split it up and have two shorter races?
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Empty Lakeside
Went to Lakeside on Wednesday night after 6.30. It was empty.
I walked in quick a few stores eg Apple and CurrysDigital and they've got loads of staff on; I got repeatedly asked if I want help!
Then someone in CurrysDigital thought I worked there, I knew where the batteries were; I should have played along! Remarkable how you can be mistaken just by dressing smart and having a security badge around your neck.
I walked in quick a few stores eg Apple and CurrysDigital and they've got loads of staff on; I got repeatedly asked if I want help!
Then someone in CurrysDigital thought I worked there, I knew where the batteries were; I should have played along! Remarkable how you can be mistaken just by dressing smart and having a security badge around your neck.
Location:UK
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
iPhone iPod tip
Great new tip. If the iPod is running on your iPhone, double pressing the home button brings up the iPod controller. Which lets you fast forward and rewind, and jump to your iPod. Great!
Saturday, 10 April 2010
IPhone OS 4.0 - I love it
The iPhone OS looks great. The reveal shown on Engadget
http://i.engadget.com/2010/04/08/live-from-apples-iphone-os-4-event
Here are my thoughts;
1. Multitasking looks excellent. Now I can put the radio or Spotify/Lastfm in the background. How do you close apps though. Apple said you don't, but if all apps remain open, you'll have a lot to scroll through.
2. Folders. An excellent way of organising the home screen. This is great... Because past my 3rd screen it is a mess, and it will be great to organise, and not be limited by the 180+ limit of apps on the home screen.
3 Desktop picture; finally!
4 Digital zoom 5x. Excellent! I wonder if newest iPhone will get a flash?
5 ibooks. I've already used ebooks on my iPhone, and they work well. But it will be great to have a facility hooked up to the iTunes payment system.
What I'm not so excited about;
1 Integrated inbox - I personally like having them sepatated... How are you going to specify which account the mail should come from.
2 iAds great more ads, great :-(
Things I'd like that you can't buy
The 40th Floor - 70s skyscraper fire disaster movie
Moondial - childrens bbc creepy ghost drama. You can get on VHS but not digital :-(
The doughnut song in Friends where Monica is dancing at the end, eating doughnuts "do the salivator" or something like that, apparently its studio library music, and you can't get it.
The movie soundtrack to Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Tickets to The X Factor shows, or even the audition would be cool.
Geordie Racer and Darktowers, childrens educational videos. Geordie Racer theme tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84A2zZlVPSI&feature=related awesome! And that got me onto "Why don't you build yourself a word?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiJMr9ffdsY brilliant!
Location:UK
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
C4 Comedy Gala space invasion
Great seats for C4 Comedy Gala. Wonderful night of comedy, highlights include Lee Evans, Jack Dee and David Mitchell.
Everything was fine until the seat next to me became occupied by a very large chap. Personal space invasion!! He seemed to be overflowing more into my seat rather than the seat of the person he was with.
Instead of saying anything I'm having a moan now :-) lesson learned always get the aisle seat or sit in between friends.
Everything was fine until the seat next to me became occupied by a very large chap. Personal space invasion!! He seemed to be overflowing more into my seat rather than the seat of the person he was with.
Instead of saying anything I'm having a moan now :-) lesson learned always get the aisle seat or sit in between friends.
Location:UK
Bearded clio chav
Parked on roundabout by bridge to Laindon station, on Mandeville Way, to drop off a work colleague.
I must not have given enough room as bearded chav in a clio beeped me, as he drove on to the nearby round about - Florence Way. I drove on to nearby round about and bearded clio chav came back round roundabout to take him back onto Madeville way. As he did this he looked on angrily and showed me the middle finger.
My word, I really couldn't have left enough room! Was gonna blow him a kiss, then decided he is probably a nutter, and wouldn't find that funny. Where was he going though?!
I must not have given enough room as bearded chav in a clio beeped me, as he drove on to the nearby round about - Florence Way. I drove on to nearby round about and bearded clio chav came back round roundabout to take him back onto Madeville way. As he did this he looked on angrily and showed me the middle finger.
My word, I really couldn't have left enough room! Was gonna blow him a kiss, then decided he is probably a nutter, and wouldn't find that funny. Where was he going though?!
Location:Uk
Monday, 22 March 2010
Funny London people
People to note in london;
Lady in front of me on tube platform kept bending her knees in either a crazy street dance performance, or a desparate need for the loo.
Coming out of Westminster station, my backpack fell off my shoulder and made my carrier bag jump up loudly, making the lady in front of me really jump. Too which we both had a really good giggle.
There was a chinese guy at the top of St Paul's dome (the Golden Gallery) and he was going oooooo, and swaying, in what was a very funny display of vertigo.
Outside the main entrance a wheelchair bound and a crutches bound set of teenage twin boys were having a race, the crutches chap won, they were really going for it!
And as an aside...
Someone held the tube doors open for me and my mate. It then shut on my bag, oops. Sliding Doors moment.
Lady in front of me on tube platform kept bending her knees in either a crazy street dance performance, or a desparate need for the loo.
Coming out of Westminster station, my backpack fell off my shoulder and made my carrier bag jump up loudly, making the lady in front of me really jump. Too which we both had a really good giggle.
There was a chinese guy at the top of St Paul's dome (the Golden Gallery) and he was going oooooo, and swaying, in what was a very funny display of vertigo.
Outside the main entrance a wheelchair bound and a crutches bound set of teenage twin boys were having a race, the crutches chap won, they were really going for it!
And as an aside...
Someone held the tube doors open for me and my mate. It then shut on my bag, oops. Sliding Doors moment.
Location:London
Posting anxiety
Weird experience trying to post a letter in London. The post box had two slots, that looked they were separared inside. Above one was a sign that read "metered" the other one's sign had long been broken off.
There was nothing else to explain this. Google thought metered was a mispelling or something to do with US business mail... Then a lady posted a letter in the unmetered one. She didn't really know and pointed me to a Post and Go round the corner. Talk about snail mail anxiety!
There was nothing else to explain this. Google thought metered was a mispelling or something to do with US business mail... Then a lady posted a letter in the unmetered one. She didn't really know and pointed me to a Post and Go round the corner. Talk about snail mail anxiety!
Location:London
Friday, 19 March 2010
Training granted, done, wow!
I got a week of training in a new technology. It was amazing. Amazing because I haven't had proper classroom training with work in 3 years. But also because it was really good.
My training partner kept making me angry as I was driving the mouse, and any hesitation or mistake on-screen was met by repition of instructions with increasing urgency and sarcasm.
Grr... I hope I am a little more reasonable when giving instructions.
My training partner kept making me angry as I was driving the mouse, and any hesitation or mistake on-screen was met by repition of instructions with increasing urgency and sarcasm.
Grr... I hope I am a little more reasonable when giving instructions.
Location:Uk
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