Archive for January, 2012
Channel shopping
As I was shopping for groceries I noticed that the supermarket was selling ‘set top boxes’. They were reduced, because almost everyone in the developed world has now got digital TV, except luddites and cantankerous misanthropes and it is very unlikely that anyone who shops there would fit into either category. I popped one into [...]
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Poetic licence
Having passed his test, teenage son received his new driving licence. He pointed out that it expires at a time in the future that is so distant it could be science fiction. I looked at my licence. It expires on a date which seems safely remote, but which, if I count backwards the same number [...]
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Ivory towers
Last week I visited the head office of a prestigious UK retailer. It is a company with smart, modern stores in most major cities, with a good reputation for value and excellent service. The head office building was scruffy, cramped and busy. The lobby was small, crowded and untidy with shabby furniture. The business has [...]
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Carpenter and son
OK, OK… in light of yesterday’s comments from so many knowledgeable people whose judgement I respect, I’m rethinking my door plans. I’ll look for a professional hangman (see Mrs R’s comment – I’ll show her). I know that this will probably disappoint the silent majority who were hoping for another posting telling a sorry tale [...]
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Door man
“Replacing a door is a project within the capabilities of most do-it-yourselfers…” was exactly what I was hoping to read when I clicked on the Google search result. I wrote “replace back door” on my list of urgent household tasks last week, when I completed my work to adjust the base and edge of the [...]
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Sky lights
Did you see the Aurora Borealis last night? No, neither did I. There were too many wind turbines obscuring the view I think.
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High wind news
I read today that the next generation of ‘super’ wind turbines could be one thousand feet high at their highest arc. The sweep of the blades would be eight hundred feet in diameter – bigger than the London Eye. The monster turbines would be located offshore, which is where the wind is. I imagine that [...]
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Toast masters
Today I was working in an office which has a funky coffee bar and a kitchen-area with a microwave and a toaster. All offices should be like this. Many useful discussions are held whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, the microwave to ping or the toaster to pop. After a smoke alarm incident, someone [...]
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Civil oranges
Obviously I would like to write a long and amusing posting about my attempt to make marmalade. And I would like to tell you about the origins of marmalade. But I haven’t got time… because I have been too busy worrying about tax returns… and trying to get my gas supplier to stop trying to [...]
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Tags: bitter oranges, philip ii of spain, spanish fleet, winter oranges
G spotter
There is a lot more interest in Comic Sans than I expected. My recent posting on the topic broke all viewing records*. Who would have imagined that more than one person a minute would be searching the internet with an interest in an –ography other than porn? Typography is evidently very popular. I have to [...]
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