TV Search

With the increasing fusion of traditional broadcast and internet based TV services, search is playing an increasing role.

But I am beginning to think it is misplaced in a sit back experience. Our daily lives are already based around (mostly) futile Google searches that need to be refined and tailored to deliver results. How frustrating that is in a TV experience! It is almost like the providers are saying "we've got this stuff and we're not too sure how to present it to you, why don't you just search and find what you want - save us the trouble".

Other arguments against search are lack of content, does a legitimate provider really have a catalogue of more than a few hundred items at a time? Probably not for the next five years or so, beyond that then maybe - although the commercial drivers for this seem dubious.

What would I want, a presentation by good old fashioned genres easy to navigate and channel neutral with filters to get rid of content I don't want (i.e. in my case pay for) - that would work!

Film: Jonathan Livingston Seagull directed by Hall Bartlett

A quirky film that uses a series of metaphors about the life of a seagull that can be reflected and applied to human life.

The story follows one seagull and his desire to break free of the accepted norms of his species, one particular issue seems to have been the limitations of how high or fast a seagull should be able to fly.

Jonathan is cast out from his flock for such free thinking and then goes on a voyage to find more free thinking he individuals. This he predictably finds and then becomes his salvation.

The accompanying sound track and songs are composed by Neil Diamond - and this fact made me curious to watch this, in an interview Diamond does list this era as a low point of his career though - there are certainly no Sweet Caroline tracks hidden in this film.

The film also has some impressive nature photography. I think back in the 1970s it would have been a ground breaking film maybe a vehicle for the photography, but time is rarely kind so it just feels a little bit ordinary now.

Watch if curious 6/10.

Ready NAS Duo drive mounting

For home use I use ReadyNAS Duos - the Netgear entry level RAID capable NAS.

Overall they are pretty good, a little underpowered on processor/memory but for the price they sell you cannot really complain. Also with them taking up to 2TB commodity drives it makes for very cheap storage.

One thing though, what if the NAS hardware failed but you wanted to recover the drive. No point moving to another Ready NAS if you had one as it would probably just re-initialise the drives.

The same thing is of course true of enterprise level RAIDs you would probably have to worry about controller firmwares or recover from backup.

Except I do not have a backup, as the NAS kind of already is used for that purpose.

I was dismayed to read that although using an ext3 filesystem they use SPARC chips and a block size of > 4096 KBytes. The x86 linux kernel can only mount 4K block size ext3 filesystems.

So it was looking like all was lost until I read about Fuse that provides file system support in userspace (so no kernel restriction nonsense). These packages come with Linux distros and I needed to compile a ext2 plugin fuse-ext2.

I hooked up a spare drive from a previous NAS upgrade to a USB caddy and:

Scan the logical volumes to get the logical volume names, ReadyNAS uses "c" as its name"
vgscan

Activate c ready for mounting
vgchange -ay c

Make a mount point
mkdir /tmp/lvm

Run the userspace mount:
ext2fuse /dev/c/c /tmp/lvm    (note fuse-ext2 on debian)

And you can then see the ReadyNAS files. Very handy for recovery this technique, apparently the non standard block size was for performance which is understandable but it is also very useful to know you can do this to get your data back!

Carrier good news

In a small way that is, the US have just trialled the new catapults that will be used on future carriers.

This is replacing the steam catapult it seems:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launch_System

So for once Lewis Page can report on a defence success:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/21/emals_launch_success/

So all we need to hear now is the Type 45 might have an operational missile system within 10 years and then the Navy will be ready!

Voyager 1 at Solar Wind Edge

Pretty incredible it has travelled this far and still returning information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11988466

Student Protests

The controversial vote has now happened for a big increase in tuition fees, consigning the students of today to a much bigger debt burden than ever before.

The Lib Dems have come out badly from this, and I just wish we could switch to a parallel world where they were still in opposition - would they change their policy once it became clear the public finances could not maintain the levels of students? I'd like to think yes, but know that it would be highly unlikely.

It is difficult to objectively look at the policy aside of all the heated demonstration and police confrontation. It is a big step into the unknown raising the tuition fees so high. I've got a feeling that maybe cutting back on higher education that was not deemed to be as useful to the economy with more modest rises would have been preferable.

Of course this cutback may now happen naturally now that tuition fees are hiked so high making study less attractive. Also I've a feeling that students will now be looking more closely at what they are getting for their payments.

Film: 2001 - A Space Odyssey Directed by Stanley Kubrick

I watched this film to compare to 2010 close together. Nice to have the chance to skip forward in scenes that are a bit too arty and probably only worked on the big screen.

This film is a lot more polished, watching again having read the various interpretations over the years was interesting.

The initial part of the film contains no dialog and depicts earth and the apes living on the planet. I think the idea here is that they are dying out until the unseen push provided by the obelisk that suddenly appears, and seems to give them basic weapon and tool skills.

The film then goes straight into 2001, with man in orbit now around their planet. A magnetic anomaly is found on the moon, and excavation finds the obelisk buried. Something happens on further investigation that causes a deafening noise and radio signal to be sent directed at Jupiter.

The Discovery mission is then 18 months later travelling to Jupiter to investigate, all in secret preparation - scientists in hibernation aboard. Two crew members run the ship along with the HAL 9000 computer.

HAL has been given the real reason for the mission, to be revealed on arrival at Jupiter - but this somehow makes him paranoid and fearing the humans will make a mess of the mission. He proceeds by faking failures of the AE-35 part of the antenna in order to systematically kill the crew members.

The surviving astronaut deactivates HAL after forcing his way back into the ship from EVA. But now the Jupiter obelisk has been discovered - he goes to investigate.

Passing through what appears to be some sort of time distortion he arrives in a furnished room, and then we see scenes of himself ageing quickly before death.

The final scene is of a unborn baby overlooking the planet earth, a story of evolution assisted by an unseen influence.

Film: 2010 The Year We Make Contact Directed By Peter Hyams

Given that it is now 2010 it seemed a good time to re-watch this film from 1984.

2001 A Space Odyssey was always going to be a tough act to follow, iconic and posing more questions about its meaning than it ever answered.

2010 has burden of having to provide some answers with a joint Russian/American mission back to Jupiter to re-board the stricken Discovery.

As a backdrop to the whole mission is tension between America and Russia back on Earth, which seems more stuck in 1984 than 2010. Also it is interesting to see the take on how technology would look, they are pretty unambitious here - other than than the (still) futuristic HAL all the other computers on board ship look like they are from the 1980s.

We learn why HAL malfunctioned, essentially conflicting orders from above. We do not learn much more about the Jupiter monolith. A warning is given to the crew to get out of the Jupiter system that needs HAL's cooperation to perform the engine firing. A scene of tension is played out between the creator of HAL being questioned by the computer over why they are leaving so abruptly.

Despite the flaws mentioned I still like this film, it is stuck in its time and perhaps did not make enough of an attempt to predict life in 2010. Of course the things it did predict it got wrong, manned missions on this scale are still a long way off.

Korea Crisis

In a time of defence cut backs and capability reduction, North and South Korea escalate their frozen in time conflict.

Although it would naturally be the US providing support to South Korea, Britain would naturally be thought of to help to give at least an air of multi-national response.

This time round the relations with China and Russia are better, so the North are much more isolated and not being used as part of a bigger plot on the world stage.

I am sure this was all factored into the strategic defence review!

Government education cutbacks

It now looks like 16-18 year olds maybe see funding squeezed on A levels as governments cut costs in this area.

This strikes me as a cut too far with the job markets unlikely to have many training based places for school leavers.

The university tuition fee continues to see demonstrations, in a perverse way the government could use this to drive standards higher - restrict places, only better candidates will get through. Of course the problem is always will less well off people be discouraged despite having the academic ability.

Tough times, maybe having the banks swallow some more of the losses would be fairer...

Harriers Leave Ark Royal

Not sure how long this link will be available on BBC news

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11830094

But it shows the Harriers leaving Ark Royal after the ship left Newcastle. So a sad day, and a gamble with the countries defences. Although in reality these ships never really packed much power, to not have any sea based air power for the next ten years begs the question why are we building new carriers if we think we can do without for that long.

Ireland Bailout

The second country to fall and need a bail out from the IMF/rest of Europe. Greece was understandable but Ireland makes the crisis seem a little worse.

Of course it should be no surprise, a housing boom fuelled by stupid lending - the writing was on the wall at the downturn.

Britain to aid in the bail out, probably sensible - but will not be overly popular at home.

25 Years of Windows

A bit of computer history, the Windows operating system is 25 years old. That is of course assuming that windows 1,2, and 3.0 really counted. The first I really remember using is 3.11 and windows for workgroups which saw Microsoft arriving late in the networked world, just as they were to arrive late to the browser market.

The Register has an interesting summary of the history, and quite a fair reflection on Microsoft's OS:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/20/25_years_of_windows/

True Crime

George Bush has released his (presumably he wrote it himself) auto-biography. As with Tony Blair's tome "A Journey" people visiting book stores in the US and seeing "Decision Points" are moving it to the "True Crime" section. An interesting protest and probably the only way to get a say on the 2000's history these two presided over.

But then just when you thought US politics was over the worst, it looks like worldly wise Sarah Palin is going to run for president.

I never normally swear on my blog, but I think this justifies a "holy shit!".

Tornado or Harrier

The recent defence review apparently made the decision between the two very late in the day, leading to claims that Tornado was saved over the Harrier under a more sympathetic RAF based decision.

In pure savings terms Tornado would have saved more money - maybe there is also the foreign export side, Britain pulling the plug early may have seen those contracts dry up too.

But from a strategic point of view (and this is what the review was always claiming to have on its mind) it seems a strange decision. With Euro fighter finally entering service surely a lot of the Tornado role could be covered by this aircraft.

Book Read: Isaac Newton by James Gleick

A biography of the foremost scientist of his time Isaac Newton. Gleick provides a good historical account, mixing pure scientific discovery with the culture and rivalry between fellow scientists.

I did not appreciate his relationship with the Royal Society, first a distant contributor and then a more central role. Also becoming the custodian of the Royal mint and combating currency fraud was an interesting departure - probably fuelled by his interest in metals from alchemy experiments.

One thing you really get the sense of was the reasoning that went into the invisible force of gravity, something we just take for granted today - but needed a lot of justification back in his day. Similarly for the nature and behaviour of light.

I've read Gleick's other books on Feynman and Chaos, and this one is shorter and feels a little less detailed. I put that down to the era it is describing, Newton's unpublished works went on into wealthy families and only came into the public domain at auction as the aristocracy struggled to pay their way in the 20th century.

Red Bull Constructors Champion

I do not follow F1 as much as I used to, but this season has been very close and more interesting than usual.

So Red Bull win the constructors championship today, and of course in an Adrian Newey designed car. Ever since he left McLaren I thought he would not ever win with another team - just in pure budget terms. But Red Bull have risen into a top team and I am glad they have broken the monopoly of recent years, the sport desperately needed it.

Also in a season where Michael Schumacher returned but was unimpressive in the now midfield Brawn.

Portsmouth to Hull and Back

So the liquidation threat was just the administrator positioning things! Portsmouth now come out of administration and beat Hull away at the weekend 2-1!

Of course the best that can happen is they become a well run Championship club - never again to play in the Premier league, which might not be a bad thing.

Book Re-Read: Space Race by Deborah Cadbury

A book I read a few years ago after it had been dramatised as a BBC series. A really detailed and well researched account of the space race from both the US and USSR sides. The story also focuses on the two figure heads Wernher Von Braun and Sergei Korolev.

The book also tracks the break up of the German V2 rocket scientists and the race by the allies and the Russians to get hold of them and their precious knowledge. The time America had invested in the atom bomb had been time spent on rocket technology in Germany. It was reckoned that they were 25 years ahead of anyone else at the end of World War II.

The book really describes the risk that were taken and the near and actual disasters that occurred. Even today space travel is a risky business. The simple fact of escaping the gravity well and the dangers of re-entry in the atmosphere see to that.

A theme throughout is how much was Von Braun involved with the slave labour camp that was producing the V2 rocket. It is likely a little too much to be acceptable but somehow this remained quiet until the 1970s. I think at best the book tries to portray his idealism for space travel allowed him to turn a blind eye to the slave camp conditions he must have known about.

Well worth a second read, an impressive account.

Saturn V model

This classic kit was re-released for the 40th anniversary of the moon landings, and I could resist it no longer. Not much of a model maker, but I was really interested in making this one. In truth it should be easier than most airfix kits, although will take some painting at 2.5 feet tall!

Portsmouth liquidation threat

A statement from the administrator yesterday said that unless one of the creditors changed his payment demands the club would be liquidated as the proposed sale would fall through.

This is probably a fair amount of positioning to get a better deal with the threat of the worst outcome if demands are not agreed to. But a serious threat it is, and today's game at Hull could be the last for the club.

A sad end - but I do not think anyone should be overly surprised.

Film: Ferris Bueller's Day Off Directed by John Hughes

Having recently seen a much older Matthew Broderick in the US version of "Who do you think you are?" I re-watched one of his career 1980s high points.

A fairly funny film and now nostalgia trip back to the 1980s, Bueller fakes an illness to take a day off from school. Nothing deep and meaningful, but fun to watch none the less.

I never saw this film first time round, I only had seen the darker War Games from 1983.

10/10/10

A landmark date! Reminds me of 1234567890 or more simply 12:34:56 seconds 07/08/1990.

When one happens you are left thinking "we'll never see it again", but of course we do.

A record day for marriages apparently because of the date?

Book read: Journey of a Lifetime by Alan Whicker

This is a book that is not a typical auto biography, but each chapter captures part of his TV life and the people he met. So it feels a little disjoint because of this fact.

Some chapters make you feel nostalgic for bygone ages, some sad for the people whose fame and fortune still saw them seeing out their decline in diminished circumstances.

The best chapter is toward the end describing him arriving in Milan as a officer in the second world war and having the SS surrender to him rather then be lynched by Italians. Also the history of the chest of currency that the SS handed over to him, mysteriously to go missing is interesting.

Khyber Pass cut off

This got a low billing on the news which is typical of the media coverage of this way. The Taliban have scored quite a victory by destroying a fuel convoy resupplying the allies that was travelling from Pakistan.

The Khyber Pass was mentioned, the name from the book the Great Game I read a while ago.

Alan Sugar interviewed by Piers Morgan

The normally banal interview programmes turned up a rare good one. Alan Sugar was interviewed and taken through the various stages of his life.

I'm by no means a Sugar fan, but he came across quite well and the latter stages of the programme showed his somewhat humble beginnings. From the window of his school the city and square mile buildings could be seen. Sugar said "those guys have made enough out of me over the years, and tell me what they do in return". Referring to the floating of his business in the 1980s, and Tottenham Hotspur dealings. This is one point I think he was totally justified in saying.

I was also quite impressed he valued his integrity, and fairness in his business dealings - although that is slightly at odds with previous stories I read over the years.

Still an interesting self made man, he has to answer to no one and he did tolerate the interviewing style of Morgan pretty well.

Child Benefit

The once universal benefit is no more, higher rate tax payers will see their benefit dropped.

This amounts £20 a week lost, so around £1000 a year of lost income.

In some ways it is hard to argue that this should be a universal benefit, and it is surprising it has lasted this long in this form.

More worryingly is the thin end of the wedge, where over time this benefit will get increasingly squeezed and less and less people receive it.

In terms of government cut backs though, this is only the start...

Microsoft Cloud

Coming our way it seems, as the tech giant attempts to keep itself relevant and move away from dependence on shrink wrap, and OEM sales on the back of new hardware purchases.

The analysis I read was indicating that maybe Microsoft is having to do this rather then being whole heartedly behind it. They need to be in the space to get a slice of the action. Problem is the space might not be that lucrative, Cloud is all about minimising resources and only using what you need, and being able to turn on extra resource like a tap.

Film: Behind Enemy Lines directed by John Moore

A quite surprisingly good film this, about an American navigator/pilot who get shot down over Bosnia during the Yugoslavia conflict in the 1990s. The navigator played by Owen Wilson has the length of the film to try and evade capture, before rescue attempts are made organised by the captain played by Gene Hackman.

Does not try to do too much, some good action sequences and an engaging film 6/10.

Benefit Reform

Something Labour continually promised, but ended up increasing complex benefits and tax credits. Tax credits became difficult to manage, too complex to understand, and were a classic Brown piece of micro managing.

So how refreshing to hear that all these things could be merged into a single benefit that would still be claimable as people take jobs to avoid the trap of being worse off once you return to work - itself creating a dependency culture in the UK.

Also good to see Labour MP Frank Field generally supporting, his previous similar ideas were never taken up by the Labour. Let's hope it works!

Book read: First Light by Geoffery Wellum

This is actually a book I read back in 2008, but with all the commemarations of the 70th anniversay of the Battle of Britain it seems like a good time to give a review of it.

The book had also been turned into a very good drama by the BBC, who interspersed the drama with interviews of Wellum taken today looking back.

The book details Wellum as a 19 year old pilot in the battle flying Spitfires. Covering his training, assignment to squadron, and then the description of what it was like as a pilot in these times.

They were tough times, hardly a chapter goes by without loss of pilots and you get the sense of what a close run thing the battle was - Britain was barely able to keep a supply of pilots to fly the planes.

Wellum himself survived 18 months of operations before being allowed to go back to a training role, this must be put against the life expectancy of weeks for a typical pilot.

A great read, truly in awe of these guys - and of course a good way to remember those not to have survived, giving their lives so that we can live ours freely.

Liverpool holding company in trouble

A rather ominous sign for Liverpool, there holding company is in financial trouble. It will not see Liverpool themselves go into administration but it is one step along that route.

On the pitch things are not much better, I really feel sorry for Roy Hodgson a really good manager who has arrived at a bad time in their history.

Portsmouth 6 - Leicester 1

When I heard this result on the radio I assumed my new DAB radio must be faulty and I should return it for a new one.

So Portsmouth off the mark in the Championship, after having lost in the League cup to the same team earlier in the week.

Ed Miliband Labour Leader

A bit of a surprise this, mainly achieved by union backing. This Miliband always feels the less polished performer in terms of media, so the coalition must be breathing a sigh of relief.

Maybe a good leader for the next few years in opposition.

Trident Under Review

Again. I find myself agreeing with the Liberal Democrat request to find a cheaper solution. Basing things on proven cruise missiles that are submarine launched sounds like a good idea.

The 24 hour deterrent thing could then be reduced to a "deterrent at sea" stage that could be useful in showing intent if things hot up with Iran.

Not to mention countless billions in savings.

Blair Interview

I watched the mid-week interview with the long silent Blair. As usual Andrew Marr did a good interview, presumably a lot of topics and details had been agreed up front.

Interesting all the same, Blair has a book to promote and hence the motivation to explain his years at Number 10.

The extent of the feuding between Blair and Brown was never underplayed in the press, and it sounds like it was a lot worse than reported. Clearly it had an effect on policy, with funding for the wars always a sticking point. Also some interesting things like Brown maybe forcing through pension reform and getting Blair onside with the threat of an investigation into cash for honours.

The Stig Unmasked

I suppose it had to happen some time but the Stig's identity has been revealed. All as part of a book deal to pay the driver some much needed cash for his ailing promotions company apparently.

It looks like he might get dropped from the show though, which is a shame.

As Clarkson might say "Some say he's a former NASCAR driver with a debt problem, all we know is he's called the Stig!"

Blair Succession

An interesting piece in the papers today over how the US and Busy had wanted to ensure Blair could stay on as PM for as long as possible after Brown had harangued Condoleeza Rice over foreign policy when she visited the UK.

Ultimately they must have thought Brown was not someone they could easily do business with (or get unwavering support from as they had been used to with Blair).

In some ways it is interesting to know they even were that worried, Brown certainly was never going to back out of Iraq of Afghanistan after being part of a government that had backed the controversial wars.

Walk: Extended Run Route

Did the full set today, after the bad weather of recent weeks:

R0 0.23km (Past traffic lights to before left turn)
R1 0.35km (Back to traffic lights)
R2 0.32 km (Bus stop to second T-junction)
R3 0.3 km (Crescent to Crescent)

Grand total 1.2 km Represents 25% of the route of 4.66 km.

Trident

An interesting article on Russian Akula submarines trying to track a Trident submarine leaving port to record a noise signature.

Not that this is anything new, but I can imagine things like this have been stepped up amongst all the talk of the need for a nuclear deterrent.

Bike ride: Village Short Route

Keeping my bike riding going, only the village short route:

6.4 miles, 10.3 km, time 34 mins.

Quite windy today and not easy to go fast on the exposed peak lane.

Walk: Winchester to Shawford

My first walk with a local walking group. Starting out at Winchester station, walking out to the Cathedral, around the back of the college and then along the river to hills overlooking Winchester.

The walk was about 6 miles, and it rained for the last couple of miles. But a good route and also a good distance in which to start this type of thing.

Film: District 9 directed by Neill Blomkamp

An off beat film about a population of stranded aliens that land in South Africa and become a social problem living in slum conditions, addicted to cat food.

The film centres around a typical corporate employee working for an agency whose job it is to evict Aliens from the slum and move into a managed camp site. His attitude and fly on the wall documentary making really make the film.

He becomes infected with the aliens biotechnology and now the tables turn, having much more sympathy for the stranded aliens plight.

A funny film worth watching 7/10

Walk: Extended Run Route

Another Saturday run, with a slight change on the stints:

R1 0.25km (Past traffic lights to before left turn)
R1.5 0.35km (Traffic lights to bus stop)
R3 0.3 km (Crescent to Crescent)

Only three running parts, it was wet and wanted to avoid the slippery pavements later on the last part of the run.

Grand total 0.9 km Represents 19% of the route of 4.66 km.

Bike Ride: Village Medium Route

8.5 miles, 13.6 km, time 45 mins.

The medium route, with the steep hill before cycling down to the village, and returning through Peak Lane. The hill did not feel too bad, and I got round in a good time.

Holiday photo: Eden project

A very interesting conversion of a former clay mine, into domes that house Tropical and Mediterranean plants and climate. Has an eye on explaining where are food supply comes from, and conservation - very impressive.

Holiday photo: Lanhydrock House

A Victorian House visited on holiday. After a fire in 1881 the house was restored in high Victorian style, an impressive long room and preserved quarters. I found the history of the family interesting, left for South Africa in the 1950s and the house passed to the National Trust - probably the family wealth had decreased and could no longer afford the upkeep.

Holiday photo: Coast overlooking Seaton

A holiday photo, along the south coast path in Cornwall. Overlooking Seaton on a (almost) clear day.

Trade Mission in India

A very well intentioned trade mission to India by Cameron, trying to open up restricted markets - I'm sure we have some businesses other than defence that could benefit from that.

The news reports gave the predictable export of BaE Hawk jets, being manufactured under licence. But the irony now is India is probably thinking "why do we need you" and it is more likely that there conglomerates will buy remaining industries over here.

Still a good realisation of where the exports have to go if we are to recover, but a country that thrives on excessive regulation and no shortage of wheel greasing (read: corruption)

Trident funded from existing Defence budget

So at last! Here is the contradiction that may see a much reduced Navy or the cancellation of Trident.

The MOD has been assuming the nuclear deterrent would be funded out of the treasury as it is separate from ordinary defence - more strategic and political.

But now the Treasury is saying the 20 billion must come out of defence funding. Of course over many years that it will take to replace the ships, so likely a few billion a year.

The Navy has left itself in a weak position, not enough Type 45's to protect two carriers. So I predict the carriers will be built, but one will be an immediate loss making export to India. Maybe also seeing the sale of some of the 45's as the defence review may reveal we need more less capable ships in the current climate.

Interesting times, and a great example of government decision making being shaped by lack of money.

Bike Ride: Village Short Route

First bike ride since May, but that is because the walk/run has been taking priority.

6.4 miles, 10.3 km, time 32 mins.

This is my short village route, that skirts around the outside but still uses the Peak Lane route home.

Walk: Extended Run Route

After a bit of a break a Saturday run, and did not feel too bad - matched my last distances:

R0 0.23km (Past traffic lights to before left turn)
R1 0.35km (Back to traffic lights)
R2 0.32 km (Bus stop to second T-junction)
R3 0.3 km (Crescent to Crescent)

Grand total 1.2 km Represents 25% of the route of 4.66 km.

Book read: Six Not So-Easy Pieces by Richard P Feynman

Having read the six easy pieces, I read the follow up on holiday. An interesting read with far more equation treatment than the original.

The book is divided up into:

Vectors
Symmetry in Physical Laws
The Special Theory of Relativity
Relativistic Energy and Momentum
Space Time
Curved Space

So a heavy slant toward relativity and its implications. I want to run through the equations again, as I think it's a fairly clear treatment of what happens when the speed of light is constant for all observers.

He does kind of address my one issue with the thought experiment of the light pulse clock, slowing its time measurement as the speed increases. I always thought this could be refuted with the method of measurement being at fault and not time itself running slower.

Gift Aid

Visiting a couple of attractions on holiday, both of which are setup as charities that can benefit from gift aid.

It wasn't too much pain to donate, but you see the guiding hand of the bureaucrat is not far. You aren't really buying a ticket, it more seen as a donation for which they grant you a years access and then they can claim back the tax from Whitehall.

So I can understand wanting to stop abuses, but really - I'm just buying a ticket for today, I don't need something different just to meet the tax regulations...

Nelson Letter Auction

An interesting piece of history, a letter written by Nelson to the governor of Gibraltar is being auctioned - expecting to fetch £12000.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100713/tuk-uk-britain-auction-nelson-fa6b408.html

This does not sound like a large sum given the historical signifcance, October 17 1805 - days before the wind changed making battle possible.

Sir Clive Sinclair Interview

The BBC show Click Online had a short interview with Sir Clive Sinclair. Rather erroneously listing him as the PC creator. His machines were slightly before that, and more aimed at home users, quirky with a eye for style. Not quite in the Apple league on style, but it was a different age.

He pretty much ignores the internet, does not have a mobile phone, and is still intrigued by electric vehicles. But it was interesting to hear him talk of those early 1980s where they produced the ZX81, with a chip count of 4, where the other models were using many more.

One thing I could not agree with was that the golden age was something to admire and want to see a return to, with PCs being too complicated now. This is true, but there is also now so much more help and free software. I can remember there were no good free compilers 20 years ago and that was a real hinderance.

I'm never quite sure how he has kept going, I once saw a trading summary of Sinclair and they were not a high profit company by any means, even the sell out to Amstrad did not seem that big a deal.

The extended interview sees him making an interesing parallel to how early cars looked like horse drawn coaches, and today's electric vehicles look like cars. The implication being that they are not looking more carefully at aerodynamics.

25%-40% Department spending cuts

A sure enough indicator of the state we are in, all departments except defence and health have to come up with a spending cut range, and the range is pretty wide - starting pretty high!

Again it all comes down to the much heralded but never yet delivered "do the same but more efficiently". Unfortunately the efficiency drive almost always sees an increase in bureaucracy, compounding the inefficiency.

But a sure sign that UK PLC is in dire straits...

Walk: Extended Run Route

R0 0.23km (Past traffic lights to before left turn)
R1 0.35km (Back to traffic lights)
R2 0.32 km (Bus stop to second T-junction)
R3 0.3 km (Crescent to Crescent)

Grand total 1.2 km Represents 25% of the route of 4.66 km.

England 1 - Germany 4

After beating Slovenia (who were unlucky to be sent home, the USA won their final match to top the group), we face the Germans as the runner up of our group.

England did have a goal disallowed that would have got them to 2-2 going in at half time, re-igniting the debate about video technology.

But the truth is we defended terribly, the Germans are not a great side - just do everything in a competent way, England were found wanting at the back, and unable to hold onto the ball when attacking.

I hope Capello stays, he has a track record and it is not like we have any decent candidates waiting on the wings.

Walk: Extended Run Route

Bit of a set back this week, too hot to really run the four segments.

So just did 1 longer segment:

R3 Crescent to Crescent 0.33 km

And that was enough!

Walk: Extended Run Route

I've added an extra route to the walk/run, after measuring each run they are roughly 0.3 km each.

R0 0.3km (First traffic lights to before bus stop)
R1 0.3km (Back to traffic lights)
R2 0.3km (Bus stop to second T junction)
R3 0.3km (Crescent to Crescent)

Grand total 1.2 km Represents 25% of the route of 4.66 km. This is probably an over estimate as it's difficult to judge the start/finish point on Google earth. The addition of the new route R0 means I am completing this in just over half an hour.

England 0 Algeria 0

Another unconvincing performance by England, the draw of USA and Slovenia means that we can still qualify by beating Slovenia next week.

But Slovenia are a better side, and we struggled to break down Algeria.

Historically England always do it this way, and I'm beginning to subscribe to the theory that we think we're better than we really are, get a massive wake up call, and then have to try and regroup and pick up the pieces.

On top of that and there is a feeling that the side isn't quite good enough compared to those of 1998, 2002, and 2006.

Apparently a fan broke into the England dressing room after the game, crossing the line between the ordinary and the over paid stars - I hope they got to at least hear his thoughts, if there were any.

Roll on Wednesday.

Walk: Extended Run Route

The now familiar Sunday routine. I have three stretches that I try to run, and having measured it they are around 250m each.

But this times distances were:

R1 0.3 km (back to traffic lights)
R2 0.23 km (bus stop to second T-junction)
R3 0.22 km (crescent to crescent)

Grand total 0.75 km (0.46 miles). Represents 16% of the route of 4.66 km. Not feeling any after effects, so will try and build up from this (lowly) starting point.

England 1 - USA 1

Well a typical slow start from England. Never really pressing home any advantage, a goalkeeping error got the USA their draw.

Never comfortable, never composed - players substituted early for injury, we looked anything but 4th favourites to win this based on the betting odds!

Compared to Argentina, who got their goal - but then kept possession and controlled the game, something England have never done in recent decades in internationals.

World Cup: Time to Lay England

Another 4 years pass, another world cup this time in South Africa.

Hopeless over optimism as always with England. We are fourth favourites behind Argentina, Holland, Brazil, and Spain.

But we're far too short odds, we cannot claim to be better than Germany or Italy who are in the 15-18 range.

So I've laid England modestly, we'll see who is right.

Walk: Extended Run Route

Back to the extended route today, with 3 quite long stretches of running - up to the traffic lights, bus stop to grass verges on T-junction, and crescent to crescent on the home straight.

Book read: The Man Behind the Micro Chip by Leslie Berlin

A biography and historical account of one of the founders of Intel, Robert Noyce, and his influence on the founding of Silicon Valley.

The account covers his early life, university education, and early work on the transistor. His steps into the corporate world with Fairchild Semiconductor, Intel, and lastly a government backed industry association SEMATECH designed to pool knowledge and know-how for the good of the US semiconductor industry.

A really detailed account, about a fast moving industry that probably is a little careless in charting its history. Berlin really gets through a lot of facts and figures but still keeps a personal account of Noyce the man and how influential he was in setting up and investing in other start ups in the Valley.

I always wonder how industries do not lose their know-how and production techniques. Often the book talks about chance discoveries, or productions lines losing "the process" to making high yield chips. Part of the SEMATECH consortium was to try and protect this hard discovered knowledge.

The book also described the Japanese manufacturers of DRAM flooding the American market and under cutting prices - effectively selling at a loss in the late 1980s. I can remember DRAM prices rising in the early 90s, an effect of this maybe. Intel got out of memory and pioneered the microprocessor although almost dropped the idea a couple of times in their history.

Noyce himself was an engaging personality and a great influence on those around him, a hard working life was rewarded only with death just a couple of weeks into retirement.

Inspirational read, and someone anyone who works in this field should read about.

Working Lunch Ending

The BBC has announced that Working Lunch is to end in July. The business and personal finance show has been running for 12 years, and I had been watching since about 2003.

My interest waned a little after the 2008 remake, but it was still a good show. This is also the show that bought Adrian Chiles into main stream reporting.

Apparently steadily declining viewings (well it is on in the day time) has convinced the BBC to give up on it. Was always a show I had recorded once I got a PVR!

Quit Facebook!

A real charge of the light brigade here, today is quit facebook day.

http://www.quitfacebookday.com/

22000 users (globally?) signed up with their pledge. Well intentioned and all that by I don't think that the ill of social networking is going to be rocked by this.

Might make them sort out their privacy and usage of user data? Probably not.

Microsoft Robbie Bach "Quits"

The only reason I know this guy is from the CES keynotes each year. Head of the entertainments (Xbox, Zune, Windows Mobile, probably TV as well) part of MS, he is apparently retiring.

So is J Allard, not someone I know so much of, who headed up the original Xbox and 360. I do remember seeing one absurd "Money programme" where they featured the then loss making Xbox, Allard had a scooter to get between bits of the office - crazy over indulging of employees!

So Xbox has been loss making, and is now making money just it seems. Windows Mobile has never impressed in terms of he figures they quote at CES. Zune - probably great but a "me too" product that has never got the mind share.

I don't blame Bach for wanting to play some more golf after 22 years. Preferably the real thing and not some Project Natal inspired game.

Walk: Shortened Extended Run Route

Did this walk twice this weekend, cutting the route slightly shorter by going down Catisfield Road. Ran a small part of this road, and a longer stretch of the road home after the garage.

First Government Casualty

Maybe I spoke too soon, David Mills kind of out first ball. Shame really the loss of a serious Lib Dem will make the coalition weaker.

He probably had to go, he should take heart from the serial resignation man Mandelson - a comeback from this is possible.

The government probably also need him, apparently someone with experience outside of politics and successful in the city. It sounds like he didn't overly need to make a £40k expense claim as he was independently wealthy.

I can't help thinking that there was some foul play here, last week he was maybe breaking an unwritten rule by going public with the "there's no money left" note left in jest by his predecessor. Makes me think if that encouraged someone to let some little known facts into the public domain.

Government early signs

So far so good, if we can ignore the treasury secretary David Mills with an expense claim that didn't seem to have been dealt with the tidal wave of the last parliament.

I watched the Cameron speech in Yorkshire. He mentions local stars Pace, and that he used to be involved with OnDigital trying to flog their freeview platform. Ok you cannot win them all.

Good points, 1 in 1 out for tax legislation. Bad points they could really mess up on Capital Gains Tax. Although I can see the point in wanting to address the imbalance of 40/50% on income and 18% on capital gains - a lot of people have structured themselves around this being the status quo, and it is unfair to suddenly hit them with this.

On the other hand this is hard times, as long as the public see enough of the banks getting pushed harder in our interests maybe we'll buy it.

Economically Inactive

This is a term that has been getting some coverage in recent years. Something like 8 million UK citizens of working age are "economically inactive" - presumably that just means not working.

That's a pretty large number, and for hugely different reasons the government is looking to tackle the welfare bill.

But there's a few problems:

1. You can't have people take jobs that don't exist. Jobs that they could take tend to be transient and just end up in cycles of benefit reclaiming.
   
2. Many people would need schemes and other expensive measures to get them back working.
3. Although these people might be portrayed as work shy, I genuinely believe the majority would want to work if they could find the right conditions.

So a sad state of affairs and one the new government must come at from the point of view of needing to safe money fast. I do also hate the rubbish talked about "tapping all our talents", it's not as simple as tapping some great unused resource of talent - but somehow our leaders delude themselves that it is.

Walk: Extended Run Route

Getting repetitive maybe, but I did the route again. Ran at four points, twice before and after the main traffic lights, bus stop back to road crossing, and at the home stretch past the petrol station.

Book read: The Greatest Show on Earth : The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins

A very detailed but still accessible book about the evidence for evolution. Dawkins targets his audience as including the 40% of Americans who think the Earth is around 10000 years old.

This is wide of the mark, you would have to be a believer to pick up this book in the first place, if you have suffered years of religious mis-teaching it is probably already too late.

But it is a great book, very interesting and full of detail. Dawkins sometimes slips into the role of the prize fighter picking off the Creationist tyranny - but only occasionally does this detract from the presentation of the actual science (something he does much better).

I can well understand his frustration with the Creationist/religious lobby that in turn controls education and what can get taught - so I can forgive his sense of outrage.

Walk: Extended Run Route

The same as last week's walk. Slightly more running this time, two stints one back to the traffic lights and one past it.

Listening to a Clive James audio book, "Cultural Amnesia", very interesting.

House of Lords: Gravy Train

Labour peerages announced:

Ruth Kelly - I can never forgive her for failing to provide compensation for Equitable Life having found "no evidence whatsoever".

John Prescott - I probably do not need to say anything here. The man with the comprehensive transport plan that never materialised, well only in the form of two Jaguar's.

Sue Nye - A long time aide of Brown, the "Sue" who arranged Brown's Bigotgate moment.

John Reid - I can just about support this one.

What a gravy train, I cannot see any of these people being of use in public service save Reid.

Film: There Will Be Blood directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

An interesting film about an oil prospector at the turn of the 20th century. The film shows a great recreation of the hard life these people had, the physically tough work, and danger of drilling wells.

That was enough to captivate my attention, and unfortunately the plot about the main character becoming entwined in a religion so that he could pursue drilling rights wore a little thin on me. The film descends into a unexpectedly dark ending.

Still an impressive film, 7/10

FA Cup: Chelsea 1 - Portsmouth 0

A bridge too far in the end. Portsmouth gave a good account of themselves, missed a penalty. Chelsea had many chances too and also missing a penalty, the game always remained a tight affair.

So the end of an era, the team will break up, the manager will leave - an uncertain future awaits.

Well done to Avram though, I can see why he is in demand.

Walk: Extended run route

Distance 4.66 km, 2.90 miles around 45 minutes.

No bike ride this weekend, not great conditions. So a walk instead down to the station end of the main road and along back the round the extended block. The reverse of the route that was a running route last year.

I also tried to run some of it, but I'm a long way from that being easy to do.

Labour Throwing the Election?

A thought crossed my mind after the recent snooker frame fixing allegations.

This is a government term that no one really wants to win, they all have to do tough things to bring down the deficit.

So maybe, by leaving Gordon Brown in charge, Lord Mandelson has kind of thrown this election. Gets him out the way, ready for 5-10 years time for the next "New Labour" experiment.

Just a thought.

Sansa Clip

A while ago I bought myself a Sansa Clip, 4 GByte MP3 player to replace my older 1 GBytes model.

It has some neat features, remembering playback point in podcasts, being able to charge from the USB port (no more AAA battery charging!).

But there is one important feature that I overlooked, it can play .ogg format files! This is a patent free open codec, that always struggled to get support alongside the dominant mp3 format.

I never thought I would see the day when this would happen, but I was really pleased - slightly annoyed with myself for not checking earlier, and I only found out by accident.

Bike ride: Abbey North Route

Fourth ride, 9.18 km, 5.71 miles - around 35 mins.

Cycle out to the Abbey, turn right, head north on the A road, up some slight hills and under the main motorway bridge.

Turn right into the Village, and through the main road, severe climb up back under the motorway bridge.

A good route, slightly isolated but with some great scenery.

Trident Replacement

This question came up in the leader's debate, can we really afford the £20 billion to replace the Trident nuclear deterrent.

It would be a tough thing to give up, and maybe there are some halfway houses of having nuclear capable subs, but maybe with a more useful conventional role like cruise missiles. Allow conversion in times of world ending gravity.

I thought this might be a subject Lewis Page will have written on, but he's found a much better target - the third tranche of the useless Eurofighter:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/15/eurofighter_tranche_3/

So the usual thing of BAE promising to cut hi-tech jobs, if the deal is not signed. Now there is an equivalent amount of money sitting there...

FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspur 0 - Portsmouth 2

Amazingly Portsmouth nullified Tottenham over 90 minutes and then take the lead in extra time, sealing things with a penalty.

And well deserved too, hanging on at times Tottenham never made the most of their openings, and Portsmouth made the most of theirs.

Not a result that I could predict, I thought this would be the end of the road. The now relegated team get another trip to Wembley. A nice way for this team to sign off before returning to the championship with a much depleted squad - probably not to return or repeat this achievement again.

Also nice to see Redknapp beaten, I don't blame him for the club's plight but this is a pretty sweet victory. Manager Avram Grant and the team deserve this moment.

Film: Burn After Reading Directed by the Coen brothers

A quirky film about a washed up CIA agent who quits the agency but allows some secret data to fall into the hands of hapless fitness instructors played by Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand.

They try to blackmail him for return of the CD of data, one of the instructors is hoping to use this to pay for some cosmetic surgery.

The plot is then intertwined with George Clooney a state investigator who by random chance is dating the female fitness instructor. The plot contains a lot of random chance and connections that do not seem plausible.

Still a reasonably good film, everyone ends up dead or incapacitated - with the CIA monitoring guys wondering what ever happened.

Film: The Damned United directed by Tom Hooper

I picked up this cheap on DVD, Brian Clough's 44 day reign as Leeds United manager in the early 1970s.

Don Revie becomes England manager and leaves Leeds - making the opening for Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor. Taylor goes to work for Brighton who the pair had already struck a deal with, after their dismissal from Derby.

Clough is portrayed as having a massive chip on his shoulder about Revie previously ignoring him in previous encounters. He sets out to change the Leeds mentality and their robust play.

He fails miserably, but along the way all the famous Clough moments are portrayed.

Not a bad film, some good history of the game back in a different era.

Documentary: The Doctor and Douglas

Caught this interesting documentary about the late Douglas Adams time writing scripts for Doctor Who. Also it seems fitting that this is the 42nd post of 2010.

Before Hitchhikers took off Adams wrote several scripts for Doctor Who in 1979, then played by Tom Baker. They were difficult times, during strikes by technicians at the BBC. The scripts added something different apparently, a little bit of comedy to the role which suited Baker.

Bike ride: Village Short Route

Third ride, 6.4 miles, 10.3 km, time 32 mins.

This is my short village route, that skirts around the outside but still uses the Peak Lane route home. Measuring it out I was surprised how long it still is. A good short route for when the weather conditions are not so good.

Future Frigate

A good article on the register from Lewis Page about the Type 26 study:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/30/frigates_wag_the_dog/

Describing the £120m study on the future frigate to replace the 22 and 23 fleet.

He makes a compelling argument for a more merchant ship approach, allowing the carrying of more helicopters and troop deployment options. Bolt on the longer range missile system like Tomahawk.

In their current form they would have limited air defence capability and submarine hunting capability.

But they do keep the RN career ladder alive, something he has alluded to in the past. Also it allows BAE to build the ship it wants rather than the ships we need.

Let's see what the study brings ?

iPad Launch

Hype, hype and more hype. I've no doubt it will be a very good device, if you like your Apple walled garden - which in fairness is to make the average consumer experience better.

But I just cannot ever see myself getting one, also with Apple looking to patent action against an Android competitor - I would feel uneasy about supporting a company who would use their patent portfolio like this.

Also I reject the better than a netbook claim, and I was very sceptical about a netbook being any use. I now use one more than my laptop. Underpowered yes but perfect for most surfing needs.

Book Read: Bomber Command by Max Hastings

A really interesting account of both the high level decision making and the examples of life of a bomber crew. Regarded by many as the forgotten campaign of the war (there was no medal associated with this action).

The early stages of the war are of a service looking to define itself and show it's capability. Initially this was very limited with poor navigation, and engagement rules that meant planes were sitting ducks.

Throughout the whole war precision bombing was really a myth, sights and technology improved but it was a business with very high error margins. Arthur Harris always pressed for bomber capability, and blanket bombing of German cities. The costs were immense for the German cities involved and also for aircrew losses.

There was always tension between the bombing effort looking to win the war on it's own - in reality it could never have - and supporting an eventual land operation. It is probably true to say the bombing action delayed the land campaign and made it less costly when it did happen.

America also provided much effort, but concentrated on daylight operations with good fighter escort. The British campaign although independent eventually had to fall into line with the planning of D-day.

It is interesting to note the truly strategic resource bombing, such as oil supplies and refining only really occurred in the later war years. This is claimed to be the true war turning contribution.

Another interesting fact is that while Britain was truly flat out in war effort - effectively bankrupting herself and her future world standing - Germany was more sedate and measured in war production, hard to believe given the hardship for the population in Britain.

The last part of the book has a letter from Harris over the anticipated Japanese invasion - insisting that bomber force could be used to save massive casualties of a landing army. We all know what the Americans had in store in that campaign.

Bike Ride: Village Medium Route

Second ride, 8.5 miles, 13.6 km, time 45 mins.

Longer distance this time, typical of the ride I would always do. Head out west up the hill, back into the village down a steep hill, cut through to the back of town along Peak Lane. A good mix of flat and hills. The initial hill is always tough going, and heading out of the village has a short steep climb.

Bike working ok, gears may need some fine tuning but rode well.

Bike Ride: Abbey Route

First bike ride of the year, 4 miles, 6.45 km.

I got my bike up and ready last weekend, sorted out the brake adjustment, and made sure it was all in good order (amazing how much difference it makes).

Went for the ride this morning, round the back of the abbey and then the steep hill back toward home. This is my shortest route, just to make sure it all is running ok.

Budget

A fairly understated budget, no big measures - but at least fairly responsible with no real election bribes.

That is considering the stamp duty for first time buyers as a non bribe. This is a good move, but as always it is making more complex rules that then have to be policed - it would probably have been better to raise stamp duty for all for a couple of years, without needing to define a "first time buyer".

MPs for hire

Stephen Byers gets himself caught by an undercover reporter claiming that consultancies fees are a bit like a "taxi for hire".

The mere fact he was so open about it makes me think there must be a lot of this type of lobby consultancy going on - otherwise with a less competitive environment there would be no need.

Byers himself was probably thinking of where to head after the election - which cannot come too soon.

Book read: The Secret State by Peter Hennessy

An interesting account of how the government prepared itself in the cold war for the possible nuclear attack. The book is based on now declassified documents from the 50s and 60s, although it seems much is still restricted.

It makes a good case for Britain even having a nuclear deterrent during this time. The thinking was that Russia would look to knock out the US forward base of Britain, and we might not be able to count on their assistance in the event of a wider war between the two superpowers.

The difficulty of having such a deterrent is interesting, the sheer financial cost - the move from air power (V bombers) to submarine based launching meant in reality we were always dependent on American know how and programmes to provide our own weapons.

Other interesting aspects are the now decommissioned underground bunkers outside of Bath. This is where government would have fled to in the event of war. The question of if they could have even got there is also raised. This reminds me of the Yes Minister sketch "in the event of complete destruction of the UK, of course government must go on!"

It also covers current day the nuclear deterrent. Each Prime Minister has to have his sealed wishes carried on the Trident boats in the event that there is no time to give a direct command from the UK.

If the on duty commander believes the UK has suffered a nuclear attack (one of the tests for this is not being able to receive Radio 4 for a few days running!) then he is to act on the sealed instructions. Apparently the options the PM has to choose from on taking office are:

1. Head for America and put yourself under US command.
2. Head for Austrailia.
3. Retaliate against the nation who attacked.
4. Use your own judgment.

It seems that much is still secret, strange really but much of this book makes chilling reading and a timely reminder of the world we used to live in.

Book read: The Great Game by Peter Hopkirk

A book I had made a few attempts at reading in the last couple of years. This time I got past the initial scene setting and really got into this interesting period of history.

The book covers the covert, and military activity in Afghanistan during the 1800s. The chief players are Russia, Britain, and the various leaders of the fragmented kingdoms inside the country.

Russia always had eyes on getting through to India, and pushing the British out. Britain had interest in making this difficult for Russia, and by doing various deals with the leaders in Afghanistan it was hoped it would give a buffer zone through which Russia could not pass.

The book gives great character descriptions of those involved, and the brutal regimes they had to deal with. It is a piece of history I would consider to be less than well known. I wanted to read this book in part to understand the modern history of the country.

The names of places really resonate because of this, Helmand, Kandahar, places where our history and forces have died previously.

One thing that did strike me, was several quotes of deals being done or places being held "without a shot being fired". This reminds me of the John Reid quote on when our armed forces went back in 2001 - it is a shame it was not true this time round.

Formula 1 - Bahrain

The season starts in Bahrain. Alonso an easy winner, from Massa and a Ferrari 1-2. All became clear after Vettel's reliability problem. Mclaren a little disappointing, Schumacher beaten by his team mate.

Also the return of the world's quickest bet, first lap leader - pretty consistently the guy who has qualified on pole.

Looks like the rule changes on refueling could make for an interesting season.

Abolish the Lords!

An early entrant for the year's most misleading headline in the Telegraph today.

On the face of it great idea - we need to save money, a second unelected house probably is overkill in our democracy. Close the whole lot down and use it to pay off the national deficit.

But it's not quite that severe, instead proposals to reform the house to make it electable rather than chosen by elected representatives who typically use it to serve their own interests.

The one good point made for this is the longer term that they would serve, 15 years - maybe giving a longer term view to law making. But other than that couldn't we just save the money?

FA Cup Quarter Final Portsmouth 2 - Birmingham 0

Another good cup result for Pompey, back to Wembley in the semi finals. Birmingham had the better first half which they failed to capitalise on, Pompey then played better in the second and got the goals.

Birmingham were denied a goal, that a video replay technology would have allowed. It was ironic that FIFA issued their announcement of not using the technology one the same day!

The Media keep saying it's all good for finances. But I think we'd probably have to win this competition for the next 25 years to clear the debts!

Ethical iPhone

The press has had a few stories about the harsh employee environment under which subcontract firms working for Apple (and doubtless every other major consumer electronics firm) operate.

The original story was about the suicide of a worker who had taken a prototype iPhone and had subsequently committed suicide after being "interviewed" by his Chinese employer's security people.

In fairness the article does point out Apple is kind of strung to one or two big suppliers who can supply the volume they would need for their products. An attempt to move to a more ethically run supplier in the same region would see a swift buy out by the original firm.

But it does highlight that in our addiction for cheap consumer electronics we sometimes forget the human cost to this. In the case of Apple whose products are always reassuringly expensive, maybe their is more margin for manufacturing somewhere with more employee protection.

Also the culture of secrecy, would it harm Apple that much to be a little more open about what it was developing? - they excel at user experience so getting first to market should not have so much importance.

Book read: Williams The Legendary Story of Frank Williams and His F1 Team in Their Own Words by Maurice Hamilton

I was lent this book and at first I did not have huge expectations, mainly because I know a lot of the team's history and thought that I was not going to learn much new. Also I am always a little suspicious of journalists who write biographies, usually too caught up in the headlines to give true insight.

I'm pleased to say I was wrong, Hamilton writes some very interesting things about the team, and also interview segments from people involved. Each chapter has a story element and then interview quotes from the people who were there.

So things that stood out for me:

• The remarkable Patrick Head and Frank Williams partnership, one concentrating on the engineering the other the sponsor deals.
• The determined nature of Williams to keep going despite his tragic road accident.
• Great insight on why Mansell and then laterly Hill were dropped. The bit about Breen (Hill's lawyer) walking into Williams office and trying to call the shots made me feel the he was justified in dropping him.
• Good coverage of the early team years, racing was different back then - entry costs may have been much lower but it was a struggle to survive and find funding.
• Active suspension was outlawed because Ferrari put pressure on the governing body when they could not get their version working. Probably not a bad thing for the sport though.
• The stormy relationship with BMW was interesting, huge politics involved. Part of this may have been Williams going off the boil slightly and never really finding someone of the calibre of Newey to design the car.
• The first use of wind tunnels involved renting time at a University in London. At least twice in the book does a wind tunnel upgrade mean the team suffers while the new facility is getting up to running.
• Good references to people who could talk about the Williams they knew in private, not quite the cold character the press portrays - mainly because he limits their exposure to him.
  

Burnley 1 Portsmouth 2

Not that I want to be a result service, but every cloud has a silver lining. An away win in the most difficult of times. Part of me wants to believe the "doing it for the fans" mantra that is often trotted out in times of crisis - but I suppose the players also realise this a shop window now, so had better start playing to attract interest.

That's a little unfair I know, the performances have been ok this year but results have been lacking.

Portsmouth in Administration

Not the most earth shattering news but Portsmouth went into Administration today. Not complete winding up, but now the process of finding a buyer and losing league table points await.

Hard to see any positives here - except another Pompey first - the first club to go out of business in the top flight. How did it ever come to this?

TV Wishlist 2

Well it looks like Panasonic maybe doing something like this, albeit in a higher end model:

http://dontgetdemoralised.blogspot.com/2010/01/tv-wishlist.html

The register is reporting a TV with HDTV, plugable storage - ok plasma. Get this in an LCD and sub £500 - it will sell well I think.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/02/19/comet_sells_panasonic_freeview_hd_tv/

Can't wait to replace my current setup.

University Places

A story that has been brewing for a few weeks, institutions are facing cutbacks on places, and more bizarrely cuts in funding if they overstep their quota.

The Telegraph is trumpeting this, and of course they can find the A* students from private school who cannot get a place - but I have a feeling this is a minority. It is ironic that you can only pay for education so far, you cannot (yet) buy a university education in this country. Although you could argue we are not far from the American model.

The other issue is a bumper year for births back in 1992 - also causing pressure on numbers. I do find the fines for exceeding numbers strange, and surely the government could do something positive here maybe allowing extra funds for "useful" courses.

Politicians in tears

Although I have sympathy for Gordon and Sarah Brown on the loss of their child a few years ago I am against celebrity style interview shows trying to bring out their human side to the potential voter.

Maybe it was also the sight of Alistair Campbell (someone I have reasonable respect for as he often would tell it as he saw it) almost blubbing during an interview. But the country faces serious issues, I want to hear policies, I want to hear choices, I do not need to hear personal things no matter how tragic.

It's something I do not think does Brown too many favours, maybe cynically it is a jibe at Cameron who now would feel obliged to do something similar.

Photo: Spinnaker Tower Portsmouth

Part of my rare photo series, a shot of Spinnaker tower in Portsmouth. The much delayed and over budget tower is now part of the city skyline.

Too cloudy for a visit, the desginers probably did factor that into their earnings model.

FA Cup: Southampton 1 - Portsmouth 4

In a rare win Portsmouth move toward the quarter finals, or to bankruptcy who knows.

A good game, Southampton were better than the scoreline suggests - Portsmouth relied on breaking and scoring goals.

The teams rarely meet so a bit of history too, Portsmouth have had the better of the FA cup ties.

Man Utd 5 Portsmouth 0

I would never have expected great things of them here, even if times were good. But 5-0 is pretty hard, especially with your own side scoring 3 times!

The FA cup tie cannot come soon enough.

BAE fine

BAE have now been fined for their previous contracts with corruption allegations. The fine itself does not seem that heavy. I do buy the idea that it is a company that has now much cleaned up its act and the contracts in question were a long time ago.

Some other interesting facts is that BAE is now our largest manufacturer. This probably says a lot about the state of that sector rather than BAE, but also shows it is a business that is worth keeping - although trading arms is not the most noble of professions. I always think it is probably best the Britain does this, as it is unlikely what is sold will ever work!

Still it was a shame this was all initially covered up under "national interest". It would have been far better to admit the past bad practice rather than withhold on these grounds. As with MP expenses the truth always comes out in the end.

iPad no flash

Lots of hype about Apple's new product, I am sure it will do very well - although as usual I would not be able to stand the lock in to the manufacturer.

In fairness the lockin is there to provide a safer user experience and most users simply will not care.

One interesting thing was Steve Jobs in his demo browsing a site with Flash on - but with no Flash plugin running in the browser. At first this was seen as work in progress, but he has since criticised Adobe for buggy software and hoping the HTML 5 see their technology disappear.

I kind of agree, lots of the web contains Flash though - you only really notice it as a non Windows user who does not want to use a plugin for it.

Film: Aliens directed by James Cameron

The second of the Alien films, this is a great all action adventure. Ripley is discovered drifting in space and is taken back to earth 50 years after the setting of the first film.

A colony has been formed on the planet from the first film, contact is lost with the colonisers and a crack team of marines and Ripley as consultant are sent to find out what is going on.

So a predictable mascare ensues, the marines super over confident in their abilities are humbled and most of them are wiped out with the first serious encounter.

This leaves Ripley and the survivors to work out a way back home, a struggle that takes up the rest of the film.

Great effects, still looks good today and a fast paced action packed film. 8/10

Blair Chilcot Iraq

I heard some of the 6 hour long interview with Blair at the inquiry and whether you buy his analysis or question his decision making, he came across as a polished performer still - a real class act. He probably asked more questions than he answered, great use of deflection that. It also reminds us what a slick performer we lost when he stepped down, to be replaced by the hapless Brown.

I do feel for the people who turned up who has lost children in the conflict - they wanted much more context to their loss. Blair perhaps rightly put it across as a dispassionate decision - maybe as a Prime Minister should. But you can see the unfairness he walks away having staked nothing and benefited immensely where the soldier's families will always have lost someone.

Book read: Six Easy Pieces : The Fundamentals of Physics Explained by Richard P Feynman

A book I had previously read a few years ago but have taken the time to re-read. It is taken from Feynman's famous lecture series in the 1960s and seeks to distill the essence of physics in such a way to provide a starting point for a future generation if all current knowledge was lost.

It's an interesting read, the book is divided up as follows:

Atoms in Motion
Basic Physics
The Relation of Physics to Other Sciences
Conservation of Energy
The Theory of Gravitation
Quantum Behaviour

Each chapter can be read in isolation, the most thought provoking is the final one on quantum behaviour. This lays out the electron detector experiment by building up a series of thought experiments that give some insight into the wave/particle nature at the atomic level.

I was not a great physics student at college, I would like to think I could have been better if some of these ideas had be presented - maybe not as the core subject but as a summary of current thinking. The original reason for Feynman's lecture series was such a complaint about undergraduate physics stifling or hiding the true frontiers of the subject.

FA Cup draw 5th round

A great draw Southampton vs Portsmouth. They have played in recent years in the cup but to happen again so soon is interesting.

This really could be a fitting end for Portsmouth, the last game against their greatest rivals - before having to reform in the non league after bankruptcy.

BBC Freeview HDTV

There maybe a DRM component to the HD broadcasts the BBC puts on Freeview. The theory is that content providers will not be happy unless there is some protection of their content.

All this will probably imply decoder upgrades for the sector of the public that is happy with the Freeview service.

That's just not fair. I do not expect that the BBC will have premium HD content as in the latest films or dramas just as they do not now for SD content. If I wanted that I'd go elsewhere...

But I do want to be able to buy a TV or decoder and choose from a range of suppliers who have all been able to compete on open standards. As far as I am concerned that is what my license fee was for.

The same discussion was had over codecs for iPlayer - the BBC eventually got hounded into making sure that could be multi platform. The uproar here was more the "Windows only" of the initial trials but a similar principle applies here.

Blair Showtime

Tony Blair is to appear before the Chilcot Iraq inquiry this week. His other cabinet members have already appeared. A Jack Straw who had all his angles well covered, a Geoff Hoon who might as well not have been defence secretary given his complete lack of decision involvement. Gordon Brown yet to appear but will do before the election.

But now Blair, I hope he gets the grilling he needs to remind him what an unpopular choice he made and also shamed enough in the underhand way he convinced parliament to go to war.

I accept he was in a difficult position, but I think he lacked backbone and just went along with the US. A tough decision and we'll never know the state of Iraq had we let things be.

Portsmouth Collapse Close?

Well the debts are still unpaid, owing the taxman, other clubs on previous transfer fees and worst of all now Sol Campbell!

I cannot see how they are going to get out of this, it is just dragging on too long - if they had the money they would have paid up.

A sad end to a relatively succesful last 10 years.

Film: Der Untergang (Downfall) by Oliver Hirschbiegel

A really vivid and detailed film about the final days of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, that is crumbling as the Russians close in on Berlin in 1945.

Told through the eyes of his young secretary Traudl Junge. Hitler is stoic, defeated, yet defiant with many rants and rages at the failure of his military machine to protect Berlin. Hitler sometimes sees a brighter future, talking of rebuilding the air force, or of some general mobilising his forces to save Berlin. Of course those around him and in the high command knew the game was up, but no one could quite come to tell Hitler this fact (he too must have known).

Determined to stay in Berlin, noble in itself - but cowardly hiding behind the German people insisting they should die too because they should have been stronger.

What I found difficult to reconcile was the unshakeable belief of the Germans in the leader or the absolute surprise after the war of some of the tyranny. It has to be that the crimes were known or suspected, but what can a single individual do in such a regime? The population by and large let it happen, and this allowed the regime to thrive.

Traudl Junge herself is interviewed at the end, and does say her youth was not an excuse, and she was not a willing Nazi.

A well shot film, leaves the thought in your mind of how you would react if your country became ruled by such a powerful and evil movement.

9/10

CES Keynote

Another year another CES with Steve Ballmer giving the keynote for Microsoft. Always interesting presentations, fingers in so many pies and some good pointers for future technology in general.

Highlights for this year:

1. Bing: Mentioned a lot, context driven search not blind search. Microsoft at last has a competing search technology. 11 million users, not a bad start.

2. Windows 7: It could not be worse than Vista, and it has exceeded expectations. Microsoft needed this badly to secure other interests (Windows 7 running from the desktop, nettop, device near the TV). 300 million PCs so far sold with Windows 7, 800000 new apps, 250000 supported peripherals since Beta.

3. Xbox: This is doing really well, Xbox Live. The gesture control Natal looked a bit naff. Also promising VOD Like portal is ominous for the TV industry but still feels like they are a way from hitting it big with content providers. 39 million consoles out there, 500 million titles sold.

4. Great new device types coming up. The tablet PC may have failed, but maybe the Slate with the interest in e-books will succeed where it failed.

5. Touch screen could be a real innovation area for Microsoft, with Windows 7 and the device market stranglehold they could be the only platform for a while that "gets it right".

6. The usual plugs for Zune and mobile, Zune maybe getting rave reviews but I do not seeing it displacing anyone soon.

Quite impressive overall, Microsoft may have come through it's difficult time - and Ballmer maybe shaking off his captain of the Titanic image.

PM Coup Attempt

I am sure Gordon Brown must have been a bit worried by the request for a "secret ballot" of MPs to see if there should be a leadership challenge. Probably breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Geoff Hoon was behind it - hardly any threat really and all quickly dismissed.

There must be enough rumblings in the party that this sort of thing will keep on happening but never with enough conviction to do the job of replacing the hapless Brown.

Meanwhile we have to wait a few months to get a new government, it cannot come too soon.

Google Chrome Billboard

At the railway station today I saw a Google Chrome browser advert. An advert for a browser, I think the first one I have ever seen in such mainstream advertising.

Part of this is the IE stranglehold, and also the death of any competition with any budget. Firefox has become popular as an alternative but that was more word of mouth.

It did remind me of the time IBM tried to advertise an OS/2 warp - whatever that was, on the side of buses, god knows what people were thinking when they read that.

Still I am not sure of the effect of such general advertising, maybe it is just cheap at the moment during the recession.

Continuous Health Screening

A good article this weekend about improvements in health monitoring and making medicine have more of a preventative sign stage.

The example I always think of is the dentist, we all go for 6 monthly checkups. Yet teeth are the one thing that have a pretty good early warning system. Not so with the rest of us, we turn up to the doctor when we think something is up.

There is an expense to all this, and whether the initial outlay is possible I think the long term returns must be worth it.

Dangers too I suppose, imagine your blood pressure being linked to your NI contributions.

Film: Avatar by James Cameron

Went to see this film at a 3D screening. It had had mixed reviews, but had heard lots about it. So I was keen to see if Cameron had pulled off something special or blown the big budget.

I'm pleased to say it was a great film to watch. Very immersive and a reasonably good plot. It felt like a cross between Aliens, Titanic, and Wall Street.

In some ways it is a film within a film, with the Na'vi creatures, scenery and then the back at base shots distinct. The final scenes bring the two together well.

The 3D effects are great too, but do not take over the film which shows they have been used just right.

9/10

TV Wishlist

I bought an unbadged LCD TV about four years ago, along with a Topfield freeview STB. Both have served me pretty well, but the TV has a fault with the sound which gradually fades when watching. I'm ok for the moment as I can play the Topfield audio through my stereo, just a bit inconvenient.

This has got me thinking what I would get next for my TV setup. I really like the Panasonic TV's I have seen, HDTV is coming to freeview, so ideally I'd like:

• HDTV capable freeview decoder in a Panasonic (at last the HD ready would mean something!)
• PVR type functionality in the TV, series/recommendations support.
• USB support for external drives for recording or SD cards.

All that would make me pretty happy. If it can be done right then I do not mind having all that in a single device (save on plugs, cables, and hopefully expense).

Cameron Policy Speech

A little initiative grabbing by the Conservatives, laying out some of the ideas that the next election will be fought on.

It was not too bad, formation of a cross party war cabinet seemed interesting to stop politics dominating the decision making.

I'm not convinced Cameron thinks he can win it, and it is possible for there to be two elections this year the first resulting in a hung parliament.

The question of funding two campaigns also needs to be thought about, the quote so far is £18 million for upcoming election - it will be difficult to raise that sort of cash twice in a year.

Film: The Usual Suspects by Bryan Singer

A film about a group of criminals who are rounded up as the usual suspects for a crime. They decide to get their revenge by planning a further job together, but it turns out they are all in the shadow of a master criminal Keyser Soze who wants payback for their previous misdemeanours.

Plenty of twists in this film that keeps you guessing on the identity of Keyser Soze until the end.

Well worth watching but you have to keep up with the jumps in time and the twisting plot.

8/10