Technology scribbler, gadget geek, two-fingered typist, Mac user & all round computing nerd...

Compelled to spread this news… 7

Posted by DarrenG on March 19, 2010 at 10:17 am

I’m rarely enraged to such an extent that I feel compelled to write a blog post immediately but this is one of those occasions. As an ex-serviceman it has struck a nerve but I feel certain that it will similarly anger other decent men and women who have no particular connection to the armed forces.

Earlier this morning I read news in a post on The Wandering brit blog about an odious, vile little example of human life who goes by the name of Karl Winn. Winn is the owner of WebEurope, a web design company based in Somerset whose client base I dearly hope will soon disappear.

When Winn was approached by a recruitment company looking to place ex-servicemen in work he chose to vent his narrow minded and particularly disgusting opinions.

he would rather recruit ex-drug dealers, convicts and child molesters’ than employ former servicemen or women.

Winn, 60, said he would rather ‘recruit ex-drug dealers, convicts and child molesters’ than employ former servicemen or women.

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When 30 degrees just isn’t enough 3

Posted by DarrenG on March 03, 2010 at 10:19 am

It’s already 5wks since the ilizarov frame was removed and in most respects I’ve recovered rapidly and life in a frame already seems a distant memory.

I say “almost” as there is still one issue that is holding recovery back; my knee.  Although there was nothing wrong with it pre-op, the frame fitting required four pins to be inserted through my knee to stabilise the lower part which effectively locked my knee straight.

This has meant that my knee joint has partially seized.  The tendons and ligaments have all become stiff and the muscle has stuck to surrounding tissue.  This is expected after being immobile for so long but was a side effect I hadn’t truly prepared for.

I had foolishly expected that the knee would bend as soon as the frame came off but not so!

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iPad: A game changer 3

Posted by DarrenG on January 30, 2010 at 11:37 am

Funny as some of the comments are following the iPad launch, the ethos of computing may very well have changed with the launch of iPad.

How many of us spend time supporting the PC installs of family, relatives and friends? Who hasn’t taken a call from a family member asking why the laptop won’t load the internet or why, when they click on an application icon, nothing happens?

The vast majority of computer users ask no more of their little boxes of magic than they should power on when commanded and that they should be able to browse the web, send email and write a letter when they wish?

Few of these users even know what multi-tasking is let alone need it so all the hyperbole about its absence is a red herring. They don’t do a dozen things at once on a computer and they methodically open and close applications one at a time.  It’s a prayer to the computing gods in the hope that the next time they need to, it will power on and behave!

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Puppy Training – A battle of wills!

Posted by DarrenG on January 27, 2010 at 5:11 pm

Our Lakeland Terrier puppy – ‘Lucky’ is now 5mths old and the time has come to begin attempting some training. The breed is described as strong willed and stubborn and our little monster is both of them and more!

Although clearly very clever, she does what she wants when she wants to.  If not in the mood the sound of her name will not even raise so much as a cocked ear and so the training could not come soon enough.

And so last week MrsG and our daughter began the lessons, first of which was an owners only briefing on what would be required, what to expect etc.  Last night was the first actual lesson and not entirely unexpectedly we discovered that our ‘Lucky’ was far more interested in all the other dogs in the class than listening to and learning commands!

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The Apple Effect 5

Posted by DarrenG on January 27, 2010 at 10:02 am

There can be few who don’t know that later today Apple are holding a product launch event and that, if fevered speculation is to be believed, a new tablet style device will be announced. And as my close friends will attest, I am a Mac user and a huge fan of their products.

So what is it about Apple that drives this fanboi devotion to their product and the fever pitch of anticipation whenever they launch a new product? Why do Mac users display a unique devotion to their chosen platform that is quite unlike anything you see from users of other products?

Apple have the unique ability to whip up a storm of rumour and gossip months before any new product is unveiled. This free publicity is priceless but in this case all the hype has been whipped up despite the actual product being unknown. Can you think of any other company who can cause such excitement ahead of an event to discuss an ‘unknown’ product?

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