Wine...
i just cannot wait to open these up...
HomeDock Deluxe - Return to Sender
I recently [to be exact 10 days ago] took delivery of the HomeDock Deluxe system. This device is supposed to enhance the way you interact with your iPOD.
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I was quite excited when it arrived via UPS. the chap however said i would need to pay £30 for it. What...!, but i thought shipping was free. Anyway i paid the £30 for it and quick proceeded to set it up. After 20 minutes of unpacking and trying to get the device to work, i was totally disappointed. In the first place, the screen resolution the was displayed on my TV was terrible. Secondly whatever i did, i just couldnt get the device to show movies stored on my iPOD to display on my TV. And now, i have suddenly found out that i cannot get sound from my iPOD into my home entertainment system. So i have packed it up and returning to sender....
Money And Management
Dont you get pissed off when you get that nasty letter through the post charging you for going over your overdradft limit or you dot have sufficient funds in your account to cover the payment of something. Well, from what I read whiles surfing through the BBC website might change all that....
Have you ever been at the wrong end of a penalty charge, imposed by your bank, for a letter sent about a breach of your overdraft limit or a bounced cheque? Thousands of customers have had this experience and now the mood is turning from anger to revolt about the scale of these charges.
Ghana At Fifty
Yes its happenning. Ghana is planning of celebrating it 50th birthday in grand style. Log onto the official website and find out more.
I Have Been Hacked
LOL..I came across this piece [below] from The Daily WTF, and could not resist a smile on my face. I could actually relate to this from when I used to work for BT as a Desktop Support Engineer in Coventry. A Manager logged a call saying that he kept getting porn pop-ups when he tried using SRA.
"I've been hacked," Dan M's boss said frantically as she arrived to work one Monday morning, "I don't know how it happened, but I accidentally left my laptop on at home, and now there's all sorts of adult-oriented pop-ups and desktop icons!"As a software developer, it really wasn't Dan's job to fix his boss's laptop; there's a whole department called Desktop Support that's dedicated to that sort of thing. But he felt bad for her -- just think of how embarrassing it would be for a manager to have to call up the help desk and ask them to "clean up" her company laptop -- so he offered some help. It was either that or do some actual work.
He took a quick look at the computer and it was pretty obvious what had happened: someone spent a long while browsing pictures and downloading programs from all sorts of adult-oriented websites. It could have been the boss (a straight-laced Southern Baptist offended merely at the thought of someone thinking about a lady wearing a dress that exposes her ankles), her son (a fourteen year-old whose mother believes he's the Perfect Little Angel), or a random ninja who broke into the house and got distracted by the allure of the Free Internet emanating from her plugged-in computer. Dan didn't want to speculate who, so he simply told his boss that the infestation was a result of some rather prurient web surfing and hoped she might figure it out.
Dan spent the next five hours or so routing out the spyware, dialer programs, and all the other nasty critters that infested his boss's laptop. All he needed now was the Windows XP disk to reinstall a few drivers, so he rang up Desktop Support to see if they'd be able to help him out.
Dan: My boss accidentally picked up a spyware bug over the weekend; I was able to remove it, but needed to borrow the Windows XP disk. Technician: Whoa whoa, slow down there. "Spy Ware"? What is "spy ware"?
After a brief explanation, the call was escalated to next technician who. He spent a good fifteen minutes chastising Dan for trying to fix the laptop and told him that a technician would stop by their area to pickup the laptop and "fix it properly." Fair enough; Dan probably shouldn't have spent so much time trying to clean up the laptop. But at least his boss won't be the laughing stock of Desktop Support -- only that annoying client who tried to fix their own computer.
The laptop was returned the following day. With it were instructions from Desktop Support:
When turning on your computer, you will be prompted if you want to run "Windows XP" or "Windows XP 2." It is essential that you run "Windows XP 2" -- the first choice will not work.
They were also thoughtful enough to tape a piece of paper above the screen that reminded her to select "Windows XP 2" upon boot. She called up Desktop Support to inquire about this and, more importantly, if they were able to save any of her documents/bookmarks. They said that the files were permanently gone and they actually had to reinstall Windows *twice* to make sure the spyware was completely gone.
Not that any of that mattered, though; a few weeks later, she returned to work reporting that she was hacked once again. The ninja must have returned.
ADSL Router Nearly Brings Company network Down
It started with an incident being logged for a client [i hate calling users "user"...to me its very unprofessional] ...anyway the client works in the finance section and she needed to log onto her NT box to run ORACLE. She could log in alright, but only using her cached credentials. Then another call comes in fro her work colleague sitting next to her. Initial analysis revealed that the IP address for her NT box is 192.168.1.12. Hold on, i say to myself, this cannot be right. The company's NT network is on 10.212.x.x. Considering the nature of the call, i pass it over to networks to have a dig into this. After a lot of faffing about, we track the culprit to a ADSL router. For some strange reason, someone had plugged into the router a network cable from the company's NT network switch.
Its been a while.....back in stride now
yes, its has been a while now since i made any posting here.Well I am back in stride now. Things have been pretty hectic both at work and out of work. I recently had to make a trip outside of the UK, just to take care of a few personal affairs.
Breaking Through
It has been a rough and bumpy ride for me. Since returning to the UK from an assignment in West Africa, I have not been able to secure a long term contract. To make matters worse, I have been sat at home for quite a while. Jobs have cropped up here and there, but only for a week or two; and in some cases a couple of days.
Last week found me at EDF Energy in London for a days work, when i got this call..:
Matt.."hey Zulu, how you doing, its Matt from CX"
Zulu..."yeah kool Matt...what can I do for you"
Matt..."Zulu, I have something long term contract for you, something I think you will like"
...at this point I am confused and not too sure what to do. Previous calls from Matton similar lines have found my hopes lifted andsmashed all because the role I have applied for has been shelved.
Zulu..."great, thats really great. When do I start?"
Matt.... "can you start tomorrow"
What a Break Through.
8 Simple Things You Can Do To Encourage Others
* Acknowledge what’s important to them. When you acknowledge what’s important to others, you provide a form of affirmation and validation about who they are and what they’re doing. Whether they can admit it or not, each of them deep down craves this acknowledgement. The affirmation and validation is like nitro for their confidence and self-esteem.* Say “Well done”. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. If it’s easy, then it’s not worth doing. Worthwhile things always takes time and effort. One good way of providing encouragement is simply by saying “Well done” or “Congratulations”. These magical Words of Encouragement at the right time can make all the difference between “keep going” and “give up”. * Say “Thank you”. Common courtesy. Good manners. That what this tip is about. It’s only natural to expect a reward after hard work. It’s only natural to thank someone when they do something for you. You can start now. Thank your wife after she cooks a nice meal. Thank your friend for lending you that Stargate DVD. A simple thank you lets others know what they have done is worthwhile and meaningful to you. * Reciprocate the favour. If someone does something nice for you, a great way to show your appreciation is simply to reciprocate the favour. Think of this as a pendulum. They do something nice for you. You do something nice for them. They do something nice for you. You do something nice for them. And so on… * Respond with something unexpected. Another effective way to encourage others is to respond with something totally unexpected. Out of the blue. That’s when the maximum impact is delivered. Such acts can reach them at an emotional level and our brains are hard wired to respond to emotional things. * Ask for advice or confide in them. This is like flattery. Haven’t you felt like you were on top of the world when your peers asked you for advice or confided in you about something personal or important to them? Didn’t that make you want to help and do everything you can to ensure their faith in you is well founded? * Offer to lend a hand. Waiting for someone to ask you for advice is passive. You can be proactive by offering to lend a hand. If that person sees that you are willing to commit your own time and energy in their interests, they will be more committed to seeing it through and less likely to give up themselves.
Asthma
For the past 4 years, i have been struggling with Asthma every summer. Some summers its good. I breeze through it without having any problems at all. This year, it was my hope that i would be OK and not have to depend on my inhaler. Things took a bad turn last night at my sisters place in North Finchley. Luckly i had my inhaller with me. At work sunday morning, i took things slow, because i wasnt feeling 100% efficient. now on my way home, things nearly got out of hand at Kings Cross Station. I got off the Northern line from Moorgate and swent up the first set of escallators...no problem. Got to the next set..[these are much much longer] and realisewd that they were out of order. Dear me, I said to myself, how are all these holiday makers going to get thier heavy suitcases up the escallator and out of the station. Little did i realise that I too was going to be a victim of the constant cockups london underground present to the average traveller everyday. I got have way up the stairs and i was breathing with a lot of difficulty. A one stage I seriously thought i was going to pass out. However by Gods Grace, I managed to make it to the top and out the station.
F-Secure World Map
F Secure have setup a world map of all the countries and the various computer virus that are related to that country. I, out of curiosity, selected Africa, and sat back for the map to come up with countries in Africa with computer viruses. I couldn't help smiling when Nigeria came up as the only country listed.
Summer Is Here Again
Oh yes, its here again, the all British Summer. And as usual, the British habit is making sure that you and I know that its here.
The Weather
It has been reported that this winter is going to be a very cold on in the UK. Already, there are instances of frost on cars very early in the mornings, when i am walking to the train station.
Gladly not similar to the picture above...... I have also heard reports of the price of Gas to increase...maybe it has already increased. As usual, i am just concerned for the elderly at home, and also the genuine homeless people in the streets. I planed of getting a pair of good woolen gloves yesterday during my lunch break in london. For some reason, I just forgot.
Motivational Quotes
The universe is one great kindergarten for man. Everything that exists has brought with it its own peculiar lesson. The mountain teaches stability and grandeur; the ocean immensity and change. Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes--every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man. --Orison Swett Marden What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. --Robert Louis Stevenson
Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools. --Unknown
If you're going through hell, keep going. --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) British Statesman, Prime Minister, Author
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. --Ralph Waldo Emerson
The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. --Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for? --Robert Browning First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. --Mahatma Gandhi
We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival. --Sir Winston Churchill
To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world --Unknown
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too, can become great. --Mark Twain
Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for? --Robert Browning
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. --Erin Majors
The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. -Bern Williams
How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. --Henry David Thoreau
Hope is the companion of power and the mother of success, For those of us who hope strongest have within us the gift of miracles. --Sydney Bremer
The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see, and knows what the mind cannot understand. --Robert Vallett
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. --Eleanor Roosevelt
In the Midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you. --Deepak Chopra
When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get them, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either. --Leo Burnett
What An Impressive Building
I went over to Morley Fund to have lunch with a friend of mine. Luckily, I had my digital camera on me and decided to take a couple of pictures of where I used to work earlier on this year.
Backup tape drive, print server and iriver mp3 player
Blue Disk DLT backup Tape Drive, HP Colordo 8GB backup drive, Intel NetportExpress 10/100 Print Server and iriver mp3 player
Advice to bloggers
A handbook that offers advice to bloggers who want to protect themselves from recrimination and censors has been released by Reporters Without Borders. The media watchdog said it gives people who want to set up a blog tips on how to do so, how to publicise it, as well as how to establish credibility. It also offers advice about writing blogs from countries with tough media restrictions, such as Iran and China.
XDA IIis
I thought it was time I moved on from my Ipaq 3970 to something which gave me the option of being more flexible. I purchased my XDA about 5 months ago, and I am still loving it. I should really find time to explore its diverse functionality.I have currently got installed on it:
1. TomTom ver 5
2. Pocket Bible
3. Fusion PIM
4. Resco File Explorer
5. GameBox Gems
6. Pocket Player
7. Journal Bar
To make life even more easier for me, I purchased 1GB memory card, which is more than enough for my present needs.
Lunch...Ghana Style
Yummy, I love fried octopus and cooked lobsters. I came across the above layout on a recent trip to Ghana some months back. My friend and I bought as much as we could eat and went over to a beach bar close by to buy some beer to go with our purchase.
If London Underground Were To Be Sponsored...
Hmmm...just a thought...
The link below shows what the Tube Map might look like if TFL decided to allow companies to sponsor stations in return for slight station name-changes, e.g. Alliance & Leicester Square, Knorrthfields, Osterley Learning get the full picture here