I’m not quite old enough to remember the Beatles when they were still recording. My earliest memories of Top of the Pops date from just after they split up. But when I started getting interested in music they were still a very recent phenomenon and their influence was felt in every discussion about music. They… Continue reading The Beatles – Love
Month: November 2006
Nonsense
It’s really not surprising that the god-fearing Daily Mail has taken this approach to the BA “cross-banning” story. And it was obvious that they would side with the Archbishop of York. But what I do find surprising is that they feel the need to point out that Dr Sentamu is Ugandan. I’ve thought about it… Continue reading Nonsense
Creationist Lobbying
Tom Watson reports that he has been sent a DVD by a group of creationist nutters (that’s probably a tautology isn’t it?) which he assumes has been sent to all MPs. Apparently it’s sent from the people at creationresearch.net and the covering letter includes the following: I have yet to find any credible examples of… Continue reading Creationist Lobbying
Geo-Coding the UK
I’m currently building a web site that will involve plotting the positions of buildings onto maps. I’m going to be using Google maps for that. Unfortunately, the data that I need to plot is a list of postcodes and as far as I can see, the best way to plot stuff on a Google map… Continue reading Geo-Coding the UK
Shooting the Messenger
I was going to write something about Matthew Taylor’s little tantrum about blogs. But I see that Rachel has already said everything I would say – and far more eloquently that I would say it.
Web Petitions
The new petitions site that MySociety have set up is a really good idea, but I hope that it doesn’t get so overwhelmed with petitions that it’s hard to find what you’re looking for. It seems that every time I look at the list, there are more petitions that I want to sign. Here are… Continue reading Web Petitions
Bye-Bye Backing Blair
The Backing Blair campaign is closing down. The closing statement that is now on the front page of their web site says this: Right now, at every level of politics, people can be split into two groups: Those who feel distanced from politics and/or helpless to change matters because of a growing culture of obfuscation… Continue reading Bye-Bye Backing Blair
Thin End of the Wedge
I’ve been mostly happy with my bank, First Direct since I started banking with them about seventeen years ago. So it’s a bit disappointing to see that they are the first bank to break ranks and start charging certain customers for banking with them. Under these new rules, it looks like I won’t be charged… Continue reading Thin End of the Wedge
Windows Refund
I thought that the Windows refund campaign had died in 1999. But the BBC are reporting that a Sheffield man has got a refund of £55.23 from Dell by refusing to accept the standard Windows licence that came with his new PC and installing Linux on it instead. PC manufacturers like Dell have a deal… Continue reading Windows Refund
Creationist Museum
Oh, and whilst we’re talking about creationist loonies, the Guardian has a report from the Creation Museum which will open next year in Kentucky. The Creation Museum – motto: “Prepare to Believe!” – will be the first institution in the world whose contents, with the exception of a few turtles swimming in an artificial pond,… Continue reading Creationist Museum