Archive for November, 2006
Anti-spam
Further to the comment spam post a few days ago, the level of junk’s got increasingly silly (cleared lots of spam last night, another 50-odd waiting for me this morning). So I’ve added Peter’s Custom Anti-Spam system, which seems to be one of the more elegant anti-spam efforts. It shouldn’t make a difference if you’re registered - you can ignore the word recognition thing - but non-registered users need to type the appropriate word to leave a comment. Sorry, it’s a pain, but the spam’s taking up too much of my time.
YouTwats
One of the things I really don’t like about myself is the way that really big bad stuff - poverty, war, cheery things like that - doesn’t really get under my skin, because it’s too much to take in. Unfunny twats on YouTube, on the other hand, make me so angry I can’t see. I’m not proud of it, but hey.
So… the SmashMyPS3 chaps. What hilarity! For those of you who, unlike me, actually have lives, you may have missed this one. Basically two hilarious chaps get hold of an ultra-rare PS3 on launch day and then they smash it to bits! In front of all the people queuing for PS3s! Oh, my aching sides!
What really bugs me about it - even more than the fact various internet types paid them nearly $700 to do it - is the air of smugness that pervades the whole thing: the “wacky” costumes, the “zany” grins, the “ooh, we’re so edgy” attitude typified by the quote: “It was like a social experiment to see people’s reaction”. Wouldn’t it have been great if the assorted fan boys had risen up en masse, beaten them senseless and shoved the pulverised PS3 up their unfunny arses? Now that, I’d pay to see.
A blatant plug: independent Saab specialist in Glasgow
I’m quick to moan, so to redress the balance I’ll plug a firm that’s great. If you’ve got a Saab in Central Scotland and you’re not made of money, check out Schoneville Saab in Kilbirnie Place, Tradeston. They’re Saab specialists - the boss, Ken Schoneville, used to be a big cheese at the main dealer - and they’ll save you a bloody fortune. Nice people, too.
And, er, that’s it.
You can’t get shitter than a Kwik-Fit fitter
Um, if you think your car’s steering alignment is out, don’t go to Kwik-Fit. Or at least, don’t go to the one in Milngavie. I put the Saab in there a few weeks back to get the wheels balanced, and prepared myself for the moment when the fitter magically discovers that I need all kinds of extra work. “Can I show you this, sir?” he said. Here we go, I thought.
To be fair, though, this time the fitter was right. The wheels weren’t wearing evenly, which means the steering tracking is out. So another fitter took the car, used their magic machine to work out what the problem was, made a complete mess of it and told me my car had been damaged in a crash. Apparently the damage was so bad that they couldn’t sort the tracking completely, and they’d done the best they could.
The car was in for a service yesterday at a Saab specialist, and I asked him to look at the tracking. There’s nothing wrong with the car, he said. We’ve had loads of cars in here recently with duff tracking. Kwik-Fit doesn’t have the right kit to do it, apparently.
He showed me the results of Kwik-Fit’s tracking attempt. One wheel was vertical. The other was sticking out like a yokel’s tooth. Your car hasn’t been crashed, he said. It’s just that the fitter didn’t have a clue what he was doing.
Wireless headphones
I know, you’ve been on tenterhooks: did I ever solve my wireless headphone purchasing dilemma? Yes! I did!
In the end I picked up a pair of Philips phones - no idea what model number - from ASDA, which set me back about £20. And they’re fine. The trick is to turn the audio source up very loud and the headphones fairly quiet, and that way you get nice clear sound without hiss or other audio artefacts. I don’t seem to be getting any interference from the wi-fi or from anything else, which is nice.
On the downside, playing the Berserker bit of Gears of War is utterly terrifying on headphones.
Two UK schools ban wi-fi due to witchcraft fears
OK, maybe not witchcraft. But the decision isn’t based on anything sensible, either. Via The Inquirer:
The Prebendal School in Chichester and a Welsh comprehensive, Ysgol Pantycelen, have pulled the plug on their wireless networks after parents lobbied about potential effects wi-fi could have on their kids.
As the Inquirer rightly notes, there is no evidence of any health risks from wireless networks. Yes, it’s possible that there may be, but on the basis of the evidence so far it’s equally possible that wi-fi will summon Beelzebub from the very depths of Hell. On a skateboard. Wearing a diving helmet and a tu-tu.
On a related note, the next issue of PC Plus magazine has a big article on this very subject by yours truly.
Quick game review: Gears of War (Xbox 360)
Worth buying an Xbox for.
Incidentally, if you’re in the US it seems that Amazon will be flogging 1,000 Xbox 360s for just $100 each this week. The story’s already hit Digg.com, though, so it’s going to be seriously oversubscribed.
More bans
Junk food ad crackdown announced
Junk food ads during TV programmes targeted at under-16s will be banned, under rules put forward by regulators. Ofcom says these foods include any that are high in fat, salt and sugar.
There will be a total ban on ads during children’s programmes and on children’s channels, as well as adult programmes watched by a large number of children.
Mr Biffo reckons that’s the end of kids’ TV as we know it.
US city bans smoking - everywhere
Via MetaFilter:
Me, Meg Ryan and Jodie Foster are going to have a party
In my mind, at least… we share the same birthday, 19 November. I’m sure you’ll agree that despite my relative youth - Foster and Ryan are both a decade older than me - they’re in much better nick than I am.
It was Megan’s birthday yesterday. She shares a birthday with Lisa Bone-t. And that’s true!