Video: Z as "Zed" and Others as "Zee"?

Why Do Some English Speaking Countries Pronounce Z as “Zed” and Others as “Zee”?

 

 

www.youtube.com/watch

Car Ownership as Advertising Metadata

Owning a car, driving around in a car, being in a car is data that can be sold to advertisers.

The other set of data is generated by the people in the car; a massive amount of information flowing in and out about where they're going and what they're doing. Last year in the U.S. market alone Chevrolet collected 4,220 terabytes of data from customer's cars. McKinsey forecasts that this could grow into a $450 to 750 billion market by 2030. Retailers, advertisers, marketers, product planners, financial analysts, government agencies, and so many others will eagerly pay to get access to that information. And it's a gift that keeps on giving. You can sell the same data again, again and again to a variety of different customers

A $500B market is an enormous capitalist force to get at that data. You can call it a “drive to innovate” or a “commit any act to get at the cash” but the result is the same.

The race for autonomous cars is over. Silicon Valley lost. - Autoblog : http://www.autoblog.com/2017/02/21/race-for-autonomous-cars-is-over-mcelroy-autoline-opinion/

Video: Tears In The Rain (A Blade Runner Short Film)

In a dystopian Los Angeles future, retirement engineer John Kampff (Sean Cameron Michael) hunts down suspected Replicant Andy Smith (Russel Savadier). As John soon learns, Replicant detection is nearly impossible without specialist equipment.

Very well done, I was in the Blade Runner world for 10 minutes. I want more.

 

vimeo.com/201415219

 

 

Interesting information on the background, making and story  can be found on the here

OS X: Full URL in Safari Browser on Mac OS X Sierra

This is new. Hiding URLs is a right PITA.

Show full url safari mac osx opt

I probably unfollowed you on social media today

The political events of the last week have been dramatic in the UK and USA. People have taken to social media to express their opinions and perspectives. I’m rather tired of it and have had enough. It making me sad and distracting from things I have to do.

I’ve turned it off, unfollowed, unsubscribed, hidden and muted.

I respect your right to say whatever you feel. I’m exercising my right not to listen.

I’m not going to tell you what to think or what I’m doing. I’m not arrogant or confident enough to think that my personal opinions matter to you.

I am keeping my views to myself. In broad terms, I might talk about my politics in person, face to face and in a small group. Thats roughly equivalent to power of my one vote in democratic / republic system of government. I may or may not be protesting, writing letters to my MP and participating in other ways. I’m getting my news from other sources, I don’t need social media to tell me where the news is happening.

I generally choose not talk about my private life in public.

Confused ? Occasionally I will talk about the professional benefits of working in countries that have government health service and social programs because they have me the freedom to pursue a career path that many people don’t have. Thats career planning in the available system not politics. I’m not sure why you would be confused about that.

I hope you understand. We can be “internet friends” again in the future but there is only so much unhappiness I can bear for now. Time to be positive and optimistic by focussing on the things I can achieve and change.

Thats’ why I unfollowed you on social media.

Before Standardised Time

Standards work sometimes:

Before time was standardized in the U.S. Page from an 1874 railway schedule

Source

via this Source

Video:Home Made Full Auto Crossbow

Full Auto crossbow slingshot made from wood and battery powered drill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbKGjRoSofA

I like hearing him laugh, it was more natural in the early videos but still.

A Dream Came True: Home Made Full Auto Crossbow! - YouTube: ""

Video: Total Awesome Viking Power - Short Film

A comedy short film from director Morten Forland celebrating Vikings, LARPing (Live action role playing), and finding the hero within. When Viking role player Vidar is sidelined to “the land of the dead” he seeks help of the god Odin, who agrees to teach Vidar the ways of the Vikings if he takes him to a mystical Runestone. Together they embark on a journey that will test Vidar’s wits, bravery and his ability to go completely berserk.

 

www.youtube.com/watch

Review: Withings Go Activity and Sleep Tracker - Its Crap

Its a piece of cheap junk. The design quality is poor. Its never worked properly since purchase.

It looks and feels cheap. Its basically a rubber band with 50 cents worth of tech inside that feels like a kids toy. The band sticks to your skin assuming that you can get the latch to close. Its not easy and often pinches the wrist skin.

Its doesn’t connect reliably to my iPhone 7. After raising a case they indicated that it was a software problem on the iPhone. That didn’t fix it. Now its outside of the 30 day return window and I stuck with it.

I have two Withings body scales, blood pressure device that work well. Overall am happy with Withings products.

Its just this device that is a piece of junk.

 

img_2519

Video: Comic Sans

  1. The creator sees it as "art" and that art should be seen not ignored.
  2. The font was intended to provoke a reaction
  3. It was derived from comic books.

 

www.youtube.com/watch

Video: GUARDIANS - Official Final Trailer (2017) Russian Superhero Movie HD - YouTube

Russian Superhero Movie ? Totally can’t wait to watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIWPEnH29z4

During the Cold War, an organization called "Patriot" created a super-hero squad, which includes members of multiple soviet republics. For years, the heroes had to hide their identities, but in hard times they must show themselves again.

GUARDIANS - Official Final Trailer (2017) Russian Superhero Movie HD - YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIWPEnH29z4

Video: Lost Boy

LOST BOY on Vimeo. Oh boy so dark, so great.

vimeo.com/188650521

Video: Comma Queen - Work on Your Grammar

This is greatest and most useful channel on Youtube.

Its all about grammar. And she is great to listen to.

www.youtube.com/playlist

Video: Frozen Soap Bubbles

Mesmerizing

I saw a sparkle in her eye so I promised to make a film to show her that. She was so excited about this idea that of course she forgot that she didn’t want to put her jacket on. It wasn’t easy to capture those bubbles because only around 5-10% of them didn’t break instantly and as you can imagine it was a challenge to be patient at -15 Celsius ;) but it was worth it because now that my daughter has seen it, winter is magic for her.

 

[embed]vimeo.com/150929970[/embed]

 

via http://kottke.org/16/12/freezing-soap-bubbles

Video: Why all world maps are wrong

Or why the Australian continent is roughly the same size as continental USA

 

www.youtube.com/watch

Vitriol: Evernote Will Mine Your Private Secure Data

Everything about this announcement from Evernote is dodgy, evasive and scummy. The company is suffering financial duress and it would appear that its only a matter of time until they commence squeezing whatever revenue they can out of a dying revenue stream.

Evernote private updates:

Does this mean that all Evernote employees will be able to access my data?

No. We keep the list of Evernote employees who have access to user data as small as possible. Only employees who are fulfilling one of the customer or business needs, as described in the Privacy Policy (under the section, “Do Evernote Employees Access or Review My Data?”), will be able to access your data.

When “No” means the exact opposite.

So it will be just like Uber who supposedly restricted data access but recent reports say the “approved employees” is barely controlled.

Wouldn’t it be tempting for Evernote to mine my data to serve me targeted ads?

Evernote is not in the ad-serving business. We may use your information to notify you about features we believe will help you get the most out of Evernote.

Evasive statement that means “Not yet” and it might be very attractive to do so in the future. Money first, customers second.

Deletion Is Nuclear

What the hell is this ?Screenshot 09 40 47 14 12 2016 opt

You will not be able to create another Evernote account with your same email address.

If you delete the account, you can never ever return to Evernote.

Well OK then. Stuff you Evernote, I’m never coming back.

Killing The Ecosystem.

I have an blogging application Blogo which I liked but required Evernote integration. It always connects to Evernote at startup and I now assume that it is leaking information to an untrustworthy company. I have deleted this app and continue with MarsEdit.

I’m guessing that Evernote was paying Blogo enough for my data. Shame really, Blogo wasn’t bad.

Source: Evernote - Notice of Privacy Policy Updates (January 2017) – Evernote Help & Learning

Video: Legendy Polskie. Film Jaga

This is fantastic, really good watching. Go full screen for 15 minutes and enjoy this mini-movie.

Make sure you have sub-titles turned on.

 

www.youtube.com/watch

Video: Simon Sinek on Millennials in the Workplace

The challenges of younger people in the modern era are not the same as those I had. Simon Sinek has research this and summarise the impact of modern technology and societal norms are having on millennials.

Not unexpected, not shocking but sad nonetheless.

www.youtube.com/watch

Twatters - 20161205

An archive of my cynical , snarky thoughts published on social media over the last month, or two. Or weeks. Like who cares, its social media.


At my most religious while a Cisco device is rebooting.

If someone ever asks you to do something for them, do it really bad so you never have to do it again - Paris Hilton

Timesheet Pro Tip: instead of ‘Travel’ use ‘Customer Service Delivery’. They’ll lap that up.

It would be better if I didn’t have to send apology letters every time I meet with a vendor sales grunt.

Timesheet Pro Tip: instead of ‘spreadsheet updates’ use ‘data analysis’ for improved cachet & perceived value

Timesheet Pro Tip: instead of ‘weekly reports’ use ‘360 degree activity timeline review’. Yes, you are just that cool.

Nobel Prizes need more cowbel.

I was trying take things seriously, then PRINCE2 project manager came through the door. Now the project is a total joke.

Its time we had metric time. You know, instead of imperial seconds, hours and days.

If stupid is rebooting this router hoping that it will fix the problem so I can go home, then I’m a complete moron.

Tough life decisions: Coffee or a shower ?

I can see the chalk outline around this project. The PRINCE2 & ITIL pseudo-professionals are arguing over “process”.

Then my boss said “everyone in replaceable”.

“Good”, I thought to myself while I checked out his office.

Being alone makes you the smartest person in the room.

My IT stripper name is  “is the network down”. Apparently.

CIO: Why are you lying on the grass outside of headquarters? Me: Working on our cloud strategy CIO: that’s brilliant! Me: /sighs

Looks at pay check. Looks at project plan. Regrets life choices.

You know you spend too much time commuting when you sit down on the toilet and reach for the seat belt.

Co-worker was talking for ten minutes before I noticed. Told them I would “restart the firewall cluster security engine interface” and they left. Result.

PM: Can you reduce the scope of the project to fit into the budget ?

Me, pulling out rusty hacksaw: Sure. How much blood loss can you stand ?

Video: X-Story

vimeo.com/190513423

Some Time Without Purpose

Yesterday was unusual. I had some time off.

First, my local hospital. I’m not sick but I have been delinquent in regular fleshy maintenance in meatspace and I’ve made it a priority to get these tasks done in 2016. I will have another minor surgery in a few months time (would have been better to do it over Christmas).

Good. Tick.

img_2433

The Ship House

This house, sometimes known as the “Ship House” makes me smile. I can imagine an wealthy-ships-captain-turned-merchant retiring from years of successful shipping to build this house in centre of Cheltenham but wanting some portholes to remind him of the sea. This whimsy appeals to my eccentricity.

img_2435

The New & the Old

English towns are full of casual agedness. The red brick wall is likely 17th century and built when buggies were common. Up close it has a beauteous patina of age and wear with a sense of forgotten purpose. Right next to it is a fully modern housing complex with steel, glass and rendered brick frontage that strikes me.

img_2434

Mansions

Throughout my home town are rows of mansions. These are centred on the town hall (left of shot) and encompass a large park.

[gallery ids=“4214,4213,4212”]

Its a bitter cold morning but the sun is out, if a bit pale and weak. There is frost on the grass but its peaceful even for a weekday.

To The Shops

When I get to the Town Centre I look for changes, new shops. I am way too fond of bread to be healthy. Pecan & Cranberry Loaf …. mmmmmimg_2439

Weird food.

This is Chicken Liver Paté but taken to another level with weird flavours

“Vodka & Cranberry”

“Blue Cheese & Fig Chutney”

Ugh.

img_2441

Pop up Japanese

What a delight! A popup Japanese restaurant serving a fixed menu. Fried Kale, Pork Ramen with  Toffee Pudding dessert.

img_2442

A Break

I often forget to take time off because I work from home, my work is always with me and I enjoy it. I read a lot, chat to people a lot, and try to think clearly about what I’m learning. So taking time to walk, listen and see the world around me sometimes comes as a surprise.

At one point in my life, I spent 3 years backpacking. Many times I would stay in single place for days on end, just to look around. Maybe to sit still, maybe to find more things to see. Or some random combination of people was creating some fun.

I miss that. I wonder if I can find that casualness again.

Desktop Vacuum Former

The teenaged version of me would have this over stupid bloody Lego bricks in a heartbeat.

Gods, I’m tired of hearing about people doing pointless crap with Lego Bricks.

www.youtube.com/watch

Video: Dust

A Sci-Fi, fantasy inspired by anime and classic horror, Dust is set in a harsh and unpredictable natural environment where people have isolated themselves in an ancient city behind a massive wall. A socially marginalized tracker teams up with a black-market merchant to save the society that has rejected his way of life.

This movie is fantastic. Take time to watch it like a movie.

vimeo.com/183239997

Unreadable Pretty Documentation From Omnigroup

Its taking some time to make use of Omnigraffle 7 and I’ve been looking into replacing my use of Sketch for social media images. I tried the reading the Omnigroup documentation but I’m having big problems. I’m struggling with the utter lack of contrast between the text and background.

  1. Highly coloured background
  2. Very thin font (looks nice as a header though)
omnigraffle-docs-unreadable.png

Just to compare, here is the Safari reader that I’m now using to read this web page.

omnigraffle-docs-reader-mode.png

It seem quite clear that Omnigroup has overdone their hipster/artistic sensibility and forgotten that someone has to, you know, read the documentation.

 

Video: As They Continue To Fall

www.youtube.com/watch