The Anonymous Widower

Spam From The NSPCC

I’ve just received a series of spam e-mails from the NSPCC.

That’s the last time, they get any money from me!

I tried to unsubscribe, but all it asked me to do was donate.

December 11, 2012 Posted by | Computing, World | , , , | 2 Comments

Apple Maps Get It Dangerously Wrong

This story about Apple Maps being wrong in Australia, shows how relying on some forms of technology can be very wrong.

The story talks about Mildura in Victoria, which is one of the hottest places I’ve ever been.

C and I were flying around Australia in a light aircraft and on the leg from Sydney to Adelaide, we stopped at Mildura for fuel and a snack.

I can remember C holding the door wide open as we taxied in to the terminal. The temperature was at least in the high thirties, if I remember right. Wikipedia says this about the temperature in the city.

Mildura experiences some very hot days in summer with temperatures exceeding 40 °C on a number of days per year.

It may have been over forty that day, but I know that I’d never been so keen to get airborne and into the colder air at altitude.

On our trip, it was the only time we set foot in Victoria.

December 11, 2012 Posted by | Computing, Transport/Travel, World | , , , | Leave a comment

Not The Best Shopping Trip!

I tried to do a bit of personal shopping today.  I need a couple of pairs of decent cord trousers and I want to get one of thse new-fangled tablet computers to see if I can blog on the move.

The only pair of trousers I tried on, were a pair in Armani with a button fly. And I hate button flies!

I’m also still no nearer to finding a tablet computer for my requirements.

In the end, I gave up and had a coffee and a snack in Carluccio’s before buying my supper in Marks and Spencer and coming home.

December 10, 2012 Posted by | Computing, World | , , | Leave a comment

Checking For German Bombs

The web site called Bomb Sight has just been launched.

Now you can check where German bombs landed near you in the Blitz.

I often wondered if my house sat on a bomb site, but I checked the physical form of the atlas a few weeks ago in the excellent Hackney Records Office.  It wasn’t a bomb. If you’re anywhere near the CLR James Library by Dalston Junction station, it’s much quicker to look at the book, rather than try to find the area on the website.

December 7, 2012 Posted by | Computing, World | , , , | Leave a comment

I’ve Got A Left-Handed Cable

A friend has just sent me a left-handed cable for my printer.

I've Got A Left-Handed Cable

I’ve Got A Left-Handed Cable

But it would have been nice for there to be left-handed plugs, as I’m not the only person who wants one,

December 3, 2012 Posted by | Computing, World | | Leave a comment

Should Starbucks Pay More Tax?

As a High Street company I would prefer that they set up a system like Waitrose has done with Community Matters, where local charities are chosen by customers to benefit from a levy on takings.

After all, Governments have a record of wasting our taxes on things that a proportion of us don’t want. We all have our pet hates and mine is probably the money government wastes on defence and computer projects.

December 3, 2012 Posted by | Business, Computing, World | , , | 4 Comments

Did Leveson Use Wikipedia?

The Times today is saying that some passages of Lord Leveson’s report were copied from Wikipedia.

Surprise! Surprise!

Aren’t we all guilty of that.  I know, I regularly point to the articles of others.  But I try to give the source.

December 3, 2012 Posted by | Computing, News | , , , , | Leave a comment

The Leveson Enquiry

What a waste of time and money!  If the law is broken, throw the book at them.

Anyway regulating the newspapers is a waste of time, as everything can be posted on the Internet without checking. And it will be!

Newspapers will just be used to wrap fish and chips.

November 29, 2012 Posted by | Computing, News | , , , , , | Leave a comment

WordPress Changes Picture Upload Again

Why do they keep fiddling with it? Especially, as I preferred the original one, where I could size my pictures directly to 450 x 337 pixels.

Now I have to edit the HTML

November 29, 2012 Posted by | Computing | , | Leave a comment

I Need A Left-Handed Connector

I have a small IKEA shelf, that is the ideal place to put my small wireless printer.

The Mains Cable On My Printer

But as you can see the mains cable pushes the printer forwards. What is needed is a right-angled mains connector like this.

A Right-Angled Connector

This one from Maplin, though is right-handed. They don’t do a left-handed one.  So where can I get one? If you look at the item on Maplin, I’m not the only one who wants one, given the comments.

November 28, 2012 Posted by | Computing, World | | 1 Comment