German companies are moving over to advanced security in the workplace now. When in meetings that are of a secretive nature, they put a biscuit tin in the middle of the table and participants place their mobiles into it. Of course there is some scientific backing to this, but in order to make sure you don't trust something that isn't secure, The Register has done a test and found out for you which biscuit tins will work. Read it here now...
In Australia, a man has come up with a great business idea that is bound to make a profit. The government is giving out tax credits for people that reduce the output of greenhouse gases. As there are many camels around the area, he reckon that by eliminating them would cause a huge reduction in gases due to the reduced methane from lack of camel wind. Novel is definitely a word for it...
3D printing is slowly becoming a reality, and what better way to first use it, than to start 'printing' of your first bikini set. Yes, the scientists have concentrated on the things close to their hearts and produced 3D printable bras too. Rumours that pressing a button on your mobile will automatically undo them, are as yet unfounded...
In the US, a man is trying to get out of a series of charges made against him including drunk driving, and speeding, as he is claiming he was at the time having intimate relations (my words, not his) in the back seat at the time. Just how one can drive at that speed whilst under the influence and being busy in the back of a car has yet to be understood, but I'm sure it'd make the Guinness Book of Records...
And if you were appalled about the guy that sold his internal organs in order to get an iPad2, then you might find the latest financing attempt of a like mind. A young lady from China decided to auction off her first time to someone that would get her the latest iPhone. Apparently after finally getting the deed done she went to the store to find out there were no white ones left in stock...
So sit back and dream of the time when such stupidities did not exist, and people would sell off their sticks to have the latest fire-maker...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Jericho Street Fair and Communication Problems
On 11th June in Jericho, Oxford, the annual Jericho Street Fair took place.
Well, apparently this is the case. Getting there at 7pm there were just two tents up. One housing the band, and one the beer. I suppose it was a very efficient setup. Food stalls were also sparse, with a few lonely sausages on show at the Big Bang stand, and the scraps of leftovers of Asian food.
The music kept the crowd happy, and the beer was refreshing, but something was lacking.
That's when I heard the voice of Alessio (ok, he was calling my name) who had also turned up. We then headed off to the Gardener's Arms, where a hearty meal and a drink were consumed. So all in all it was worth the exploratory trip.
Waiting at the gate to depart from Heathrow knowing that the flight was already running late, I was looking out over a lovely sunny blue sky to be told over tannoy "We currently have another hour of delay. This is due to weather". It wasn't just me who looked out of the window with a frown on our faces. In a later announcement it was added "due to the weather in Frankfurt", which I duly checked on my phone to see that it was dry there too. After a good hour and a half we finally boarded and were underway, to be told by the captain that the delay was actually due to some work on the airport tower they had just finished, and apparently the staff weren't trained yet how to use it. Apart from the training part, the thing that really got me, was the fact that the communication was so bad that they each told us different stories.
Well, the bad weather did start this morning in Mainz, so maybe they were just 12 hours early with their forecast the night before...
Off tonight to casa del lobelto for a surprise dinner of je ne sais quoit. Let's hope the heavens don't break...
Well, apparently this is the case. Getting there at 7pm there were just two tents up. One housing the band, and one the beer. I suppose it was a very efficient setup. Food stalls were also sparse, with a few lonely sausages on show at the Big Bang stand, and the scraps of leftovers of Asian food.
The music kept the crowd happy, and the beer was refreshing, but something was lacking.
That's when I heard the voice of Alessio (ok, he was calling my name) who had also turned up. We then headed off to the Gardener's Arms, where a hearty meal and a drink were consumed. So all in all it was worth the exploratory trip.
Waiting at the gate to depart from Heathrow knowing that the flight was already running late, I was looking out over a lovely sunny blue sky to be told over tannoy "We currently have another hour of delay. This is due to weather". It wasn't just me who looked out of the window with a frown on our faces. In a later announcement it was added "due to the weather in Frankfurt", which I duly checked on my phone to see that it was dry there too. After a good hour and a half we finally boarded and were underway, to be told by the captain that the delay was actually due to some work on the airport tower they had just finished, and apparently the staff weren't trained yet how to use it. Apart from the training part, the thing that really got me, was the fact that the communication was so bad that they each told us different stories.
Well, the bad weather did start this morning in Mainz, so maybe they were just 12 hours early with their forecast the night before...
Off tonight to casa del lobelto for a surprise dinner of je ne sais quoit. Let's hope the heavens don't break...
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wantage Wedding and Ali's German Vegetable Escape
Before the month of May was out, I had to venture back to Mainz. Despite the long hours in the office, a few hours were enjoyed each night with various friends: Carlitos, Ali, Diani and Jan.
The main event of this month has to be the italo-anglican wedding between Hannah and Diego on June 2nd. The celebrations were accompanied by the afropean choir, as well as some musical talent shown by the bride and groom themselves. Now off on their honeymoon, they are missing the miserable weather we are currently experiencing, which is very nicely planned on their part.
Germany has caused a bit of a furore by blaming an outbreak of E.coli on Spanish cucumbers. Straight away they banned Spanish vegetables, but apparently without any actual proof. After causing huge amount of suffering to the farmers in Spain it was announced that in fact they could have been mistaken, that it might actually have come from a bean sprout farm just south of Hamburg. So nothing like pointing the finger first and then actually trying to find the truth...
In fact, they still don't know for sure the real biological cause, but are merely following the pattern of the outbreak. I wonder whether the EU, EC or whatever body feels responsible here are actually going to act on this blatant shift of blame, to another country's detriment?
What if it was found that German cars caused large radiation doses in all passengers? With the same amount of investigation (all people with high radiation doses had ridden once in a German made automobile) maybe then they will feel the other end of lousy research and despicable marketing.
So, in order to escape the ban on vegetables, Ali came over to visit us again in Oxford. Unfortunately the weather didn't hold up for the trip to London and was a little wet, but visiting the food festival in Reading was nice and bright. Hopefully she left with some good memories too. Next time we can see more dinosaurs...
Enjoy your meat...
The main event of this month has to be the italo-anglican wedding between Hannah and Diego on June 2nd. The celebrations were accompanied by the afropean choir, as well as some musical talent shown by the bride and groom themselves. Now off on their honeymoon, they are missing the miserable weather we are currently experiencing, which is very nicely planned on their part.
Germany has caused a bit of a furore by blaming an outbreak of E.coli on Spanish cucumbers. Straight away they banned Spanish vegetables, but apparently without any actual proof. After causing huge amount of suffering to the farmers in Spain it was announced that in fact they could have been mistaken, that it might actually have come from a bean sprout farm just south of Hamburg. So nothing like pointing the finger first and then actually trying to find the truth...
In fact, they still don't know for sure the real biological cause, but are merely following the pattern of the outbreak. I wonder whether the EU, EC or whatever body feels responsible here are actually going to act on this blatant shift of blame, to another country's detriment?
What if it was found that German cars caused large radiation doses in all passengers? With the same amount of investigation (all people with high radiation doses had ridden once in a German made automobile) maybe then they will feel the other end of lousy research and despicable marketing.
So, in order to escape the ban on vegetables, Ali came over to visit us again in Oxford. Unfortunately the weather didn't hold up for the trip to London and was a little wet, but visiting the food festival in Reading was nice and bright. Hopefully she left with some good memories too. Next time we can see more dinosaurs...
Enjoy your meat...
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