Friday February 16, 2007

Intermission

As before and ironically a year ago I did the same thing and that is hang up my weblog pen. Like last year work is very hectic at the moment and weekends are more precious than before to rest up. I know well the symptoms of stress and I am not naive to believe that just writing weblogs is causing this - I have lots of other changes to my work habits to bring the stress level down.

I think the other thing I have spotted is my items are not as interesting as they could be and I think a lot of my recent posts that I have almost done for the sake of it just to post an item every day. I also am finding as I see and do things I am constantly thinking of what I should be writing in my weblog about this - instead of enjoying the moment. So if and when I come back I am going to set myself up some pretty strong ground rules I think to avoid being boring and make this less of a burden... So until then an intermission. Thanks for your interest over the years...

From Pink Floyd's Time track:

The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say.

Thursday February 15, 2007

The Valhalla Exchange

Having been published in 1976 under the name Harry Patterson Jack Higgins and his publisher decided to reprint the book using his name. This is the second book he has sent out to the booksellers shelves in this way in recent months. The author dedicates the book to his parents for helping him out more than a little on this one . The story centres on Martin Bormamm and Higgins uses the back drop of the dying moments of Hitler's reign over Germany for this book. What happened to Martin Bormamm in real life has been one of World War Two's enduring mysteries over the years. The story starts in Bolivia where Martin Bormamm was suspected of being there running Kameradenwerk the Action for Comrades spending the money the Nazis had salted way. Canning who was there when the events happened tells this story when a journalist meets him in Bolivia.

Bormann conveniently arranges for plastic surgery on someone to make himself a twin called Strasser and then we are never sure which one is where in the story. One of the twins escapes Berlin and heads out to a POW camp to get some hostages in a vain attempt to save themselves or change the result of the war. The allies meanwhile are closing on the POW camp and a small band of them and some unlikely allies are holed up in the POW Castle Schloss Arlberg with Strasser or Bormann and a motley crew of Finnish soldiers champing at the bit to storm the place. There are two people in the castle who are double agents and both try to help the Finnish soldiers break into the castle but both are found out before they can succeed in doing so. Finally the battle of the castle starts and this is Higgins at his best I think at this point in the story. At the end we return to Bolivia and Canning tells the journalist not to print the story until he has died and in true Higgins style does so in an airplane crash soon afterwards.The final mystery as the journalist visits the grace in Arlington and finds a scarlet rose on the grave with the words As promised by them. What happens to Strasser or Bormann I will leave a secret in case you read the book but it is not a bad read

Wednesday February 14, 2007

Pretty in Pink - or do you remember what is special about today?

Tuesday February 13, 2007

Two new albums from .....

After much hype The Good the Bad the Queen release their first album. Damon Albarn's latest band features Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong. Heavily influenced from the part of London where Albarn comes from the album is quite a mixed bag and it is not really like any project he has been involved with before. There is a tinkling piano on some tracks that you can imagine hearing in a pub in an old fashioned London pub. The album is good but some days I think its is brilliant and other days just good. There are subtle undercurrents of Albarn's previous projects in some of the tracks. The band have also been doing several live shows. The cd insert has drawings for each track done by Paul Simonon. The best tracks. ..

History song, is a track they released as a taster on their web site before the album was released and as a single which is a track mostly just with Albarn leading the vocals and a guitar. An organ/backing vocals also appear from time to time in the track.

The Kingdom of Doom another pre-released track is another of the best of the tracks - possibly an anti war song but still excellent

Herculean feature a nice vocal medley of the band with nice instrumental pieces.

Nature Springs, more vocal harmonies with a slightly unusual ending

Green Fields this track has hints of a Beatles track I can't place.

The best comes last the title track starts with that tinkly piano from a London pub somewhere but the pace of the track soon picks up, once the vocals end the band picks up the pace again and the track wizzes along at a fearsome pace suddenly ending with a faint piece you have too listen very carefully for. I bet this track is good live.

The question is will the band do another cd ?

The second CD is from Jarvis Cocker which was released late last year. This is a good solo effort from the man behind Pulp. All his own music except Black Magic which is a collaborative effort with Steve Mackay. The cd insert shows several pictures of him with his 'trademark ' glasses. Despite this being a solo effort he has a large choir and a huge orchestra sized set of string musicians helping him.

The Loss adjuster excerpt one starts with a quiet piano introduction then builds up to a really powerful loud track. Later in the cd is an instrumental second part of the track.

Heavy Weather with background thunderstorm noises sounds almost like a Tom Petty track.

I will kill again a ballad with some typical clever Cocker lyrics.

Baby's coming back another ballad to me an almost nursery room type song - intended of course..

Fat Children a great rock and roll track.

Disney time a strong candidate for the best track with a great piano piece very dramatic sound and the choir only add to the sense of drama to this track.

Tonite another Tom Petty sounding track gets you tapping your feet uncontrollably with excellent smart lyrics.

Big Julie starts with someone speaking some words about Big Julie I suppose second best track for me ?

After the last track Quantum Theory - which is also a strong candidate for the best track - there is silence and the cd keeps playing. Has anyone hung on and found out of there is anything there ?

Monday February 12, 2007

Speed cameras

I have very mixed feelings about speed cameras. On my new way into work I drive through towns and villages where there are restrictions in speed down to forty/thirty MPH. Generally it has to be said most road users keep to the speed limits despite the lack of cameras on most of the route. The questions is I suppose do cameras encourage good behaviour? From a drivers point of view they are easy to spot now with their bright yellow backs. If you use a road on a regular basis you know where they are. The camera has a small area that it can enforce the speed limit of a few hundred yards. Elsewhere a driver could speed. In a village I pass through there are no speed cameras but a thirty MPH warning sign comes on if you pass it doing more than the speed limit. I quite like the idea of these as they also embarass the driver so everyone can see he is breaking the limit. Being really nasty perhaps people who break the speed limits could be forced to see pictures of videos of people hurt by speeding motorists. I think the same treatment could be applied to folks convicted of drunk driving or other motoring offences.

2007 Grand Prix review

So only a few weeks before the first race. so who will be at the shape end of the grid and who will be at the tail? Two things are different this year - the first being the fact the engine designs are frozen and the engines are now restricted to 19K. For some teams this restriction means running the engine as it ended the 2006 season - for others they will have to tweak their engines down to the max permitted revs. Of course only one tyre company is on the grid Bridgestone and for each race two out of four compounds are already chosen to be used by each team. In the race the driver must use both compounds which means the setup he uses on his car will have to be compromised to handle both types. A lot of teams are also now catching up with others by introducing quick shift The teams..

Renault. One would be expect them to be leading the pack during testing but having been so close to Michelin you would expect them to suffer a bit more than other teams. Kovalainen should be able to bury Fisi's career once and for all. During testing the team have been running second fiddle to Mclaren

Ferrari. It is of no surprise that this team has adjusted to the new tyres easiest of all the teams. However with their team leader having left them and Kimi unable to drive for them until January you might think they are on the back foot. but Massa and their test drivers have taken up the slack and been pounding out the miles with good results. The team are also going radical and have moved to a zero keel design from the single keel one. Kimi is said to be the roughest driver on his car so lets hope this years car is built like a tank.

Mclaren. Alonso was allowed to do a one day test before the new year and the team did have close links to Bridgestone before. Last years car although unstable was always kind on its tyres something this years compounds appreciate. The car has some amazing curves and shapes on its rear bodywork. Alonso has been posting some impressive testing times leading the pack.

Honda. Their defacto team leader having cracked a few ribs was unable to test prior to Xmas but the team racked up the most number of miles at the end of 2006 end of season testing. However Button's first outing in the car resulted in it not even completing a lap...The new tyres works well when driven smoothly so expect Button to do well and beat Rubens bit time again. However testing times have not been impressive. I think the team will also miss their excellent test driver Anthony Davidson.

Toyota. First to announce their new car and doing a lot of private tests at Paul Ricard. That is an unusual stance on testing. I don't expect much from this team or its drivers.

BMW Sauber. The surprise package of 2006 and expect them to climb up the grid in 2007. Kubica deserves his seat but he needs to relax a bit and not overdrive the car. Testing times have been good. He has also said the new harder tyres don't suit his driving style so he will have to adapt.

Red Bull. Grateful to pension off the RB2 car at last and get the Newey RB3 on the road with its Renault engine. Fast but fragile? Webber has been faster than DC at a lot of the tests. The car looks sleek and has been described by some as a stunner but has an odd Duck billed Platypus front nose.

Williams. Anything should be better than last year and now with Toyota engines. A major regrouping exercise is needed and Rosberg needs to show his early form in 2006.

Toro Rosso. With neither driver confirmed for 2007 the pressure is on both to do well in testing. The Cosworth V10 is gone and they have inherited the Ferrari V8 and the RB2 chassis from their senior test. Will they be allowed to use that chassis ? Lets hope it gets some serious modifications else the other backmarker teams will put them to the back of the grid.

Super Aguri. Like STR hoping they can use the RA106 chassis from their senior team. Davidson needs to give Sato a hiding to show he is worthy of the seat.

Spyker. Likely to be at the back of the grid and new Senior Tech man Gasgoige has already written 2007 off despite having Ferrari engines. It never did team Prost any good either.

Saturday February 10, 2007

From the four corners...

To celebrate their sixteeth anniversary the Penguin group publish a load of small books priced at sixty pence each. This once This one is written by Jan Morris who wrote an excellent book I discussed before . This is also a travel book written about her experiences in four cities in the world; New York, Delhi, Sydney and Vienna. Each is writen in a different style.

The Islander: Manhattan written in 1979 is the first her writing it on her twenty fifth concecutive visit. She starts the story describing a faint white blob in the centre of Central Park that is the Polar bears in the park. AS the park is said to be in the centre of the city she calls him the Central New Yorker. She reckons the locals are a crazy people, one example she gives - among many is a woman taking a bath fully clothed outside the Time Life building and she says no one no one was looking at her at all. The park itself is described as a scene of danger - with gloomy hillocks threadbare and desolate prairies. She is scathing over its reputation as a Global City only London, Paris can claim that she says. Finally she claims New York has lost its vision/ ruthless opportunism but the city is completed now well it was in 1979 until...

Next is Delhi. As Jan is being driven around by a taxi driver she observed to him that in the next world she would be driving and he would be in the back seat. He replied they would both be in the back seat.. nice bit of irony. However bringing that remark up to date I would say the rest of the world will be doing the driving and the Chinese will be in the back seat.. She says this is the capital of the loosing streak every day in the newspaper everyday is some tale of disaster bad news etc but successes are there just hidden by the problems that hit the headlines. It cannot being that badly as a country as at the time of writing it was number ten in the GNP rankings. Several helpful government officials were asked questions and none ever replied - but were always friendly! Her final statement is that Delhi has not changed much over its history to the common person on the street nothing has changed its just the rich folks who see the difference - maybe like any place on earth.

I will write up the last two cities from the book at a later date..

Friday February 09, 2007

Road Rage...

More books off my wife's bookshelf this time the Inspector Wexford Books by Ruth Rendell . The books are not bad the TV series slightly less so and looking a bit dated now. Most are situated at Kingsmarkham where Wexford and his sidekick Burden - who really is a burden in the TV series reside. This particular book is about the proposed Kingsmarkham bypass which has generated a lot of protests. It reminds me of the interest generated by the Newbury bypass many years ago now. Several protest groups are involved and Wexford's wife Dora ironically as it turns out takes part in these peaceful protests.

Suddenly without warning several people are kidnapped and eventually Sacred Globe indicate the bypass work must be suspended or something nasty will happen to the victims. Dora is one of those kidnapped. We meet the victims later once is released in an unexpected manner who then explains what is happening in the kidnappers hideout. Sadly a kidnap victim is found dead and the demands for a full stoppage/cancellation of the bypass work adds to the pressure on the Dynamic duo. In the story also the body of Ulrike Ranke is found and Burden does his best with this case.

It is not a bad tale and the ending is quite clever. It might be worth trying another in this series sometime in the future.

( Feb 09 2007, 12:00:02 AM PST ) Permalink

Thursday February 08, 2007

Student interviews

So it is the time of the year we interview students. I am following our usual method I have described before and the current batch of students who write weblogs have been documenting how they got on helping out in the interview process. As usual I warned all of them not to judge themselves based upon this years performances. I chatted to Chris on how weblogs and the web in general affected both our perception on how students should perform in interviews and if these sources of information can help prospective candidates. The interesting thing is two of this years candidates mentioned they had Googled my name and found my weblog and then also read the student links off it. We have had less candidates apply but I think the Universities are doing a better job of filtering out candidates who are not a good match for us.

My interlude in the middle of the telephone interview when I ask some non technical questions has had varied results. Most candidates in my opinion have not spent long enough researching us by looking at Sun's web page . I cannot stress enough how important it is at every stage of the job application process, sending your CV off, telephone interview etc being clued up on the company you are seeking to work for and ensuring your communication with that company is slanted towards them - not in a cheesy way though.

One positive thing is we are getting a lot more questions for us which I do appreciate. A common theme this year has been Will I be able to travel in this job?. One has even asked us on why Sun's fortunes went downhill a few years ago - which was a very good question. The best one was Do I have to shave my beard off? . The answer given as I have a beard is a resolute no. The candidate had heard of someone who had been told he had to take it off. I said that until it was a health and safety hazard - the vision of a metre long beard being sucked into a machine by its fans is too painful to dwell on...

( Feb 08 2007, 12:00:02 AM PST ) Permalink Comments [2]

Wednesday February 07, 2007

The last cut

After much thought we decided to get rid of the rear garden lawn. In the summer it is brown and ugly and when it is green it is not green with grass, but with moss and weeds. So last weekend I gave it its final cut in February! As you can see it is now covered with a membrane that allows water through but stops weeds growing. The idea is this will be covered with gravel and I have ripped out the log roll border edging to be replaced with something more durable. I also plan to have a different type/colour of gravel winding from the edge of the patio slabs to the back of the garden where you can see a winding path. The construction of the border edge may be of stone with different types in different parts of the garden. We also think we will have at least two circular bases on which we will have pots with seasonal planting to brighten things up. Those who remember seeing pictures of the stream will see it also have been removed and the stones used in it recycled to produce a dry bed effect. My only regret is that ground feeders like Blackbirds and Starlings have now lost an area on which they can feed on but I will do my best to alleviate this with some of assistance for them in the winter months - I already put out nuts/fat balls and fruit cores all year round. More news on this as work progresses.

( Feb 07 2007, 12:00:02 AM PST ) Permalink

Tuesday February 06, 2007

In the round

This was one of my Xmas presents. It is quite a small puzzle with only five hundred bits but it was quite challenging as it had some odd shaped pieces as you can see in the picture. It was quite enjoyable except the board was quite thin and therefore the bits did lock together as well as thicker board puzzles do.

( Feb 06 2007, 12:00:03 AM PST ) Permalink

Monday February 05, 2007

Two walks in winter sunshine

After a frost Saturday promised to be full of sun and no wind. Having forgotten the camera there will be no pictures of Saturdays walk. We started mid point round the walk at Warren Row off the A4. We parked by the now private house which was once the Red House pub. We walked into Cayton Park the ground here was covered by large snowdrops Here we carried on upwards to the summit of Bowsey Hill all 460ft of it. We joined a narrow road by houses after passing through a gate where a large holly bush usually prickles one of us as we go through. We then went along a wide path and under trees with blue sky overhead. As expected we could not take the proper path and were diverted to the path used on the return leg of the walk. Down the path we went then which then become a narrow lane by houses. Eventually meeting the A4 by the Five Stars pub. We took a detour of our own and turned right for a short distance and had lunch at the refurbished Old Devil Inn now much smarter with friendly service. A Ham sandwich salad and chips at five pounds ninety five pence is pretty average price for around here and was nice. We then went back along the A4 and took the path up past the Five Stars and Star Works now a gravel works and rubbish pit. Past us without much warning sped four motor bikes of the trail variety ridden by young lads. Initially I was annoyed by this intrusion but they were soon gone and I suppose it is better them doing this rather than something less desirable. The path meandered along under more trees and we were back to the starting point

On Sunday after a severe overnight frost we drove to Benson once known as Bensington when it was an important coaching Inn stop. Today it has an RAF station which houses the Queens flight. Here before the walk we had refreshement at the Waterfront Cafe which was very busy. We left the cafe, and walked down a little lane towards the lock of Benson.

We crossed the weir first then the lock. From here it was a steady and very muddy path all the way to Wallingford. During the walk we saw several Pill boxes built in the Second World war to try and stop the river being used to an advantage by an invasion force. On the banks there were several fishermen. Not far from the town we passed by the back of HR Wallingford where I used to work years ago. It has its own boathouse and its boat called Florinda II was moored by the bank. Eventually we reached the town and after facing its bridge over the Thames we headed into the town itself. It is said that the bridge over the river here was the first to be built and the current one is 900 feet long only fifteen feet shorter than Old London Bridge. A few fragments of the original bridge are still visible.

We had a wander round the old town - most of it closed for the Sunday. It has a pretty church with a Open Fluted Spire.

This church was built in the 18th century on the site of a former church that was destroyed in the civil war. It was paid for by a William Blackstone a famous judge during those times. His commentaries on the Laws of England were a major influence on the American constitution. He was also responsible for the line of Thames Street being moved so he could enlarge his garden. The town itself is Saxon and at one time had its own Mint, much larger than Oxford . It fell into decline however and at one time shrunk to only forty houses. It recovered however and became an important market town. After a break we retraced our steps and headed back to the bridge.

On the return leg however we were to pass along fields away from the river bank. To do this we passed by the entrance of the town's castle now a ruin. The castle was the site of many momentous affairs of English history much of which is documented here . However Cromwell had it torn down after it took his troops sixteen weeks to break into it. Our path took us back to Benson and the car park. Two nice three mile walks.

( Feb 05 2007, 12:00:03 AM PST ) Permalink

Friday February 02, 2007

John Grisham - The Partner

One of the better books by this author I have read. It starts with the lawyer Patrick Lanigan dying in a car crash. The lawyer firm he worked for then finds $90 million has gone missing. Doubts then circle about wether Patrick is really dead.. He is then found and tortured so the wherabouts of the loot can be discovered. He finally lets out his girlfriend - who has now absconded herself from Brazil is the key to the loot. The FBI get involved and he is brought back to the US. He invites an old friend Sandy to hep defend him from what are multiple charges including the murder of someone else in his car crash. It looks a hopeless case. But Patrick has been planning this and he has lots of evidence to show the $90 million was all part of a defense pay off that his firm was involved with - salting away public money. His girlfriend is then found and soon his first step to freedom is taken as the charges regarding the $90 Million are settled. The divorce and subsequent suing of Patrick by his wife is also settled to his advantage. All that is left know is what could put him on death row. It is soon shown that the person who was in the car when it was torched is still alive and the charges are mitigated to body mutilation and after more settlements Patrick is free at last still with lots of money in his bank account to enjoy the rest of his life. He arranges to meet his girlfriend to resume their life together ...but... It is also an interesting spin on the story how he became to be found in the first place...

( Feb 02 2007, 12:00:02 AM PST ) Permalink

Thursday February 01, 2007

Five days.

Last part of this excellent five parter series is on tonight. Who is going to be the person responsible for Leanne's death ? My money I am afraid is on pretty Sarah who has been befriending the family since the events unfolded.

( Feb 01 2007, 12:00:06 AM PST ) Permalink Comments [2]

Blur

I got to know this band's music by way of a Best of album. Hooked I then bought two others which are:

Parklife which amazingly came out in 1994. I don't think there is a bad track on the album but here are the ones I really enjoy -

Tracy Jacks - the civil servant who is a golfing fanatic who's put is erratic who I think then has a Reginald Perrin moment..

End of Century, - more clever lyrics by Albern in fact each line seems to cleverly roll into the next almost seamless. The music is however almost 1960's in its style.

Parklife - at the start in the background a sound of breaking glass and a howl of anger. More brilliant lyrics I get up when I want except on Wednesday when I get rudely awakened by the dustmen...

Badhead - a ballad with a picture in the insert of the Graduate film with a very young looking Dustin Hoffman. Some crititise Albern vocals being a bit two dimensional but thats part of the attraction of Blur's music.

Clover over Dover - with a nice harpsichord line with very subtle lyrics but a clever track. The track ends with the sounds of the sea on the shore.

This is a low - an excellent ballad with some very interesting lyrics that don't make much sense - but in any case a great track.

The cd cover notes has what looks like 'draft' ideas of songs with various scribbles on the them, including the music itself. At sixteen tracks the album is very good value.

Think Tank is a much later cd 2003 with an odd cd cover. It features two divers whom we can assume are male/female the reverse cover has the female holding a baby diving helmet in place. The transition of the band between Parklife and Think Tank to me follows the way the Beatles music transformed over the years. There is a hidden track Me, White Noise track zero that I have not worked out how to get to.

The first track Ambulance is a spooky track that starts with drums, then bass I know I am not all there, But I am getting getting getting there...

Crazy beat is a stupendous track fast noisy and fun.

After the pace of Crazy Beat the band settle down to a pleasant ballad Good Song.

Brothers and sisters - quite likely to be the best track on the album - an interesting perspective on drug taking both legal and illegal: Cocaine is for murderers, codeine is for jurors...

We have got a file on you - a nice rowdy punk track the words simply the title nothing else. It starts with an Indian music theme before the punk section cuts in.

Jets another strong contender for the best track on the album a mainly instrumental track which starts with a simple series of notes followed in by bass and drums

There are plenty of other cd's the band have produced and it is possible they might get back together again I suppose. Any favourites folks ?

( Feb 01 2007, 12:00:02 AM PST ) Permalink

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