Friday, January 31, 2003

Back in the USSR

 Whilst everyone is worried about the presence of NBCs in Iraq, the best place for a terrorist to get his hands on some is from the vast stockpiles left in Russia.
It's been done to death as a plot idea, but I'll probably still use it some time.

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posted by Ian at 6:42 PM
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War of Words

 This story has the air of an Ealing comedy about it, only with real deaths and shooting. Cambodia and Thailand came close to war this week after remarks wrongly attributed to a soap star were used to stir up old hatreds and prejudices.
....a newspaper reported that Ms Kongying said that the venerable temples of Angkor Wat, the most prized symbol of Cambodian national pride, belonged to Thailand.
Kob denies she ever uttered the insult. As the face of Miss Teen, a Thai cosmetics brand that is a best seller in Cambodia, she may have been the victim of a smear campaign by rival Cambodian cosmetics companies, hoping her alleged words would trigger a boycott.

posted by Ian at 12:48 PM
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BBC NEWS - Snow strands drivers overnight

 It seems to be snowing everywhere but here. Which is a good thing and a bad thing. I don't have any film in the camera, so I wouldn't be able to take any snow pictures anyway.
posted by Ian at 8:18 AM
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Thursday, January 30, 2003

All work and no play

 Some work would be nice. I'm currently sitting on three projects- two quite small and simple, one large and potentially well cool- because of interdepartment politics. Sometimes I think my time would be better spent building miniature castles
posted by Ian at 2:32 PM
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Desktop Penguin

 The first and, sadly, only time I used Linux was in 1996 when I was on a C++ course that was actually all about earning cash for the training providers. I've often wished since then that I had learnt more about it. I'm not brave enough to install it on my main machine, for fear of screwing up a double boot setup and the lack of desktop programs. The second problem, at least, is diminishing. As for the first, one of my aims for this year is to pick up a cheap old laptop and install the bare bones needed for writing- Linux and OpenOffice- so that I can sling it in a backpack and go write in Castlefield or out at the end of a summer ride.
Of course, what I really want to do is build a Beowulf cluster. Back at The Gas, after refurbishing the Manchester office, there was a room full of surplus equipment. It was like the King Solomon's Mine of base units. If they'd only let me borrow a dozen or so.....

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posted by Ian at 12:01 PM
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Show Me The Money! (Again)

 The Guardian today discusses the moneymaking potential of blogs.
"Ninety-nine per cent of bloggers won't make money," says Blogads' Henry Copeland. "But when we've got 10 million bloggers a couple years from now, I'm confident that 100,000 of them will be uniquely valuable to advertisers."
Come on folks, I want to be part of the one percent! There's a PayPal donate button to your left, click on it and tithe me some of your earnings. Go on, you know it makes sense.
posted by Ian at 10:02 AM
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A Letter to Europe - Especially the UK

 Although I have been lacking in links to cool and new websites, things have taken a turn for the worse. Constantly in Edinburgh and across the company I work for, persons have been asking me if the USA represents my beliefs. Well, I guess can dispell the notions; but it becomes very iritating to be a voice-piece for the interpretation of American ideals. Ask not what you have done for your country, but ask why you have done it. I hate to use the allmighty arguement along the lines of comparison, but I do believe if more people had experiences abroad, especialy the economically underpriveldged, understanding and sympathy would be in the air.

Enough of my rant, things will get better post GW. If GW persists in power for another four years it is just a sign of popular discontent with crap econmic and social conditions. After one boom and bust cycle, my retirement might see one more. I hope to be on the good side.

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posted by FunMonkey1 at 1:24 AM
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Wednesday, January 29, 2003

THE BUSINESS PLOT TO OVERTHROW ROOSEVELT

 I watched Seven Days In May the other week. In it, the Joint Chiefs of Staff try to overthrow the President of the USA because they don't like his policies. I haven't researched this story any further, but it tells of a very similar plan in 1933 led by some of the nation's richest men. Bill GAtes organising a coup? Hmmmm.....
posted by Ian at 11:57 PM
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