Reflections on life at “De Witte Wand”…
I see that the “Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin is being made into a TV series. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
First of all because, frankly, I’m not a fan of the original books, so that’s already one strike against it.
Secondly, the series is being made by the same team that were responsible for Rome, which I found (admittedly on the basis of just one episode, which was all I could stomach) trite and shallow. So the omens are not good… Still, we will see…
Microsoft’s Windows Live Photo Gallery (WLPG) can display selected photos as a slide show. In the new beta of the next version of Windows Live Photo Gallery, the slide show capability is still present, but Microsoft have changed the way in which it is done. Instead of having this capability within WLPG itself, it uses the new version of Windows Live Movie Maker to make and display the slide show.
The problem is, the quality of the slide shows produced by Windows Live Movie Maker is terrible. Photos displayed as slides are blurry and noticeably degraded in quality. I would be ashamed to show slides to family and friends using it.
I raised this in the Windows Live help forum for Photo Gallery. The first response back from Microsoft was to deny that anything had changed between WLPG version 3 and the beta of version 4. However, once I sent them proof, then they admitted that things had changed and:
“it appears that photo quality in slide shows in Windows Live Photo Gallery Beta is indeed a bit degraded when compared to the original file source”.
I love that “a bit degraded”. No, Microsoft, it is noticeably degraded to the extent that it is unacceptable. The quality of the slide shows produced by Windows Live Movie Maker is simply not good enough. So now I will have to find an alternative to WLPG in order to show slides to friends and family.
[…] are other, less pressing, issues with WLPG 2011 as well. These include the fact that slideshow quality is degraded in comparison to earlier versions. Another is the fact that people are finding that their workflow […]
[…] Almost a year ago, in July 2010, I blogged about something that I had noticed in the beta of Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011: the quality of the slideshows it displayed was noticeably poorer than in the previous version. […]
I see that yet another series of Masterchef is starting on BBC TV tonight. It hardly seems any time at all since the last one finally ground to a halt. I have to say that I have a sneaking attraction for the series (although personally I prefer the non-“Celebrity” flavour) and the hosts, rather like the attraction a deer has for the oncoming headlights of the car that will deal it disaster. Part of it is the undoubted schadenfreude over some of the people who for some daft reason think that they can actually get anywhere in the competition.
But then again, I know my limitations, there is no way that I would have the effrontery to partake in this modern version of the gladiatorial arena. And for those that do, some at least have the wit to be able to write about it in an engaging fashion.
In just under a month, the two buzzard chicks I’ve been watching in the nearby wood have gone from this:
to this:
Oh, and remember I mentioned the Lapwings in the nearby field? Well, they managed to rear one chick (almost hidden in the grass on the left):
But, I’m afraid, after a few days, only the mother was to be seen, still calling for her chick:
As I said, Nature is merciless.
One of the young buzzards that I’m keeping an eye on has now graduated from sitting in the nest to standing on a branch nearby…
We’re having a heatwave at the moment (temperatures are around the 30 oC mark). This young buzzard waiting on the nest in the nearby wood is feeling the heat…
Here’s a Photosynth of the courtyard in the British Museum that I did last year.
On this blog, hosted on WordPress.com, I can at least embed a link to the Photosynth, even if I don’t get a thumbnail (as I can on the same entry in my blog on Blogger). On my old blog on Microsoft’s Windows Live Spaces, I was unable to embed Photosynth pictures or links, because Spaces strips out the embed code. This while Photosynth is yet another Microsoft product.
Yet another case of Microsoft’s left hand not knowing (or caring) what the right hand is doing…
(tip: when viewing the Photosynth, switch to Grid View to select another set of photos shot from a different point in the Courtyard)
Addendum: And of course Microsoft has now scrapped the Photosynth product and technology, so none of these links work anymore. It’s dead, Jim.
Walking the dog a couple of days back, I followed the usual route through the small woods nearby. Turning a corner on the path, I was suddenly confronted by this hare ahead of me on the path. I don’t know who was more surprised, she or I…
In view of the fact that Microsoft has effectively killed off the use of Windows Live Spaces as a worthwhile blogging platform, I’m stopping this blog and moving to a new address on the web.
My ramblings and rantings henceforth will be found at the new Geoff Coupe’s Blog, which has the www address of http://gcoupe.blogspot.com – so please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds if you wish to continue receiving transmissions from a slightly deranged mind.
Update 28 September 2010: Since I wrote the above, I’ve been waiting for Microsoft’s other shoe to drop. Well, today it did. As you can see, I have migrated my old blog entries from the now-defunct Windows Live Spaces across to WordPress. However, I will continue to use Blogger for my new entries at least for the time being.
Update 2: Well, I decided to stop using Blogger, so I’m back here on WordPress…
I am sorry to hear that you are considering leaving Geoff.
TG – I’m just moving house, WLS is starting to fall apart as far as I can see…
Well we are pestering them to hurry up and update Spaces Geoff just so that users like yourself don’t leave and go elsewhere.
Yes, but TG, if it were the case that Wave 4 of WLS would have statistics restored, then why don’t they just say so? All of Microsoft’s statements on the matter give me no confidence whatsoever that statistics is coming back anytime soon…
Geoff, if you use Writer to post to Blogger, do realise that you can also post up here as well. That’s what I do, same post, one to Blogger and one to WordPress. Easy peasy!
Yes, I realise I can have both in parallel for the most part, but I’m not sure I want that. The lack of javascript support on WordPress.com is my one stumbling block. If I had that (or at least was able to support the LibraryThing widget and embed Photosynths), then I’d settle down here quite happily.
Sometimes, I despair about Microsoft. Far from being “the evil empire”, I often wonder how it can manage to walk and chew gum at the same time. For example, here’s Angus Logan, the Senior Technical Product Manager for Messenger Connect waxing lyrical about metrics and measurability in the context of the services provided by Windows Live.
He’s published this blog post just over a week after Microsoft has removed the statistics feature from Windows Live Spaces, thus removing the tool that we bloggers used to monitor the metrics of our own Windows Live Spaces. Microsoft’s action has effectively driven a stake through the heart of Windows Live Spaces as a worthwhile blogging platform.
It’s also instructive to note that all the new Microsoft blogs are not hosted on Windows Live Spaces at all, but on Telligent’s technology. Whatever happened to Microsoft’s once proud boast that they ate their own dogfood?
Good points made here Geoff, and valid ones at that. Maybe you should point all of this out to Andrew, see what reply he has to make.
Thanks, TG. I’ve made a similar short comment on his blog entry itself. BTW, I’ve now corrected his name – it’s Angus, not Andrew. My subconscious was whispering the name Andrew Logan – creator of the Alternative Miss World contest – to me. Make of that what you will…
Microsoft is about to launch the next major version of Windows Live, the so-called Wave 4. I’ve already blogged about the fact that we’ve discovered at least one nasty surprise in amongst all the new features: Microsoft has removed the statistics feature from Windows Live Spaces. This means that we bloggers, who use Windows Live Spaces, no longer have any means of monitoring traffic on our blogs.
I’m mentioning this again, because I am rather taken aback by the responses from Microsoft representatives on the support forums for Windows Live Spaces to those of us who have asked why the statistics feature has been removed. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Microsoft is displaying contempt for the customer over this.
It’s been quite instructive to view the evolution of these responses as the Microsoft representatives replied to the rising tide of indignation from users. First came the totally clueless response:
At this time we have removed this feature while we explore another solution. We appreciate your patience and hope to have updates availble [sic] for you shortly.
Then came:
With the latest release to the end-to-end Windows Live suite, we have removed the statistics feature from Windows Live Spaces. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. As we continue to evolve and improve the Windows Live suite, we add to and deepen many features, but of course are also sometimes faced with tough tradeoffs and decide to discontinue features. We will continue to keep you informed of any changes and coming improvements in the product.
As I wrote before, the whole point is that Microsoft did not “continue to keep us informed of any changes” – they simply removed the statistics facility without any warning whatsoever. Now, the responses try to strike a conciliatory note:
Hello All,
Thank you for your commentary and interest in the continuation of the statistics feature. We certainly understand the frustration that comes when a feature you have been utilizing suddenly goes away without warning and for that we apologize. At this time we have no additional information to share regarding statistics. If new developments arise we will update the solution article located here http://windowslivehelp.com/solution.aspx?solutionid=f31af022-eadf-4875-abe9-25b0ac466821
Talk about locking the stable door after the horse has bolted… It’s too late, Microsoft, the damage has been done. It’s quite clear from this response that statistics aren’t going to be coming back any time soon. As one commenter noted:
The whole thing beggars belief.
CRITICAL FUNCTION. Stats helps me to identify Comment Spam (since Live Spaces does not have a good Comments management facility). It helps me to identify the efficacy different promotional vehicles to the sight. It helps me to identify parties and communities with similar interests so I can engage with them.
NO WARNING. No warning that a change was going to happen. No clarification on the redirect page. Everyone is completely up to the own devices to used advanced navigation of Window Live’s difficult ‘Solution Center’ to find Carolyn’s clarification.
NO PLAN. It’s not like Live is having a ‘momentary disruption’. It appears that they don’t even know what if anything they are going to do about it.
How does Microsoft defend this action?
In addition, Microsoft has announced that web gadgets can no longer be added to our Spaces, and those that are currently included in our blogs will cease to work in the near future. Terrific, so my blog will start decaying very soon. In addition, it appears that comments on blog posts are now limited in length. Doubtless there will be other nasty surprises crawling out of the woodwork as well.
I think the time has come to seriously consider moving my blog to another platform, probably Blogger. I shall make my decision once Wave 4 is launched and I can see for myself how much damage Microsoft has done to Windows Live Spaces as a blogging platform. The signs at the moment are not good; so bad in fact that a number of people are openly speculating on the forums that Microsoft will drop Windows Live Spaces altogether.
If so, then it will be a great pity. For a while, Windows Live Spaces was a reasonable blogging platform. However, Microsoft, with its contempt for the customer and cack-handed change management skills seems intent on destroying it.
Update: Since posting this, even more limitations on Windows Live Spaces have started to surface, so I’ve decided to jump ship even before the much vaunted Wave 4 is launched. I’ve decided to move to WordPress as my blogging platform, rather than Blogger as I originally thought. WordPress has more flexibility and looks better, IMHO, so that’s my choice.
Update 2: Okay, I’ve changed my mind – I’ve moved to Blogger, rather than WordPress. The reason I’ve switched, is because I found that Blogger allows me to embed Photosynths in my posts, whereas WordPress, like Windows Live Spaces, insists on stripping out the embed code. I can also use the LibraryThing widget on Blogger; once again, WordPress and Windows Live Spaces forbid its use. So, while the look of Blogger is a bit more basic than the endless styles of WordPress, overall it gives me more choice in what I can post. So, Blogger, it is…
Update 3: Cough, I’ve finally decided to switch back to WordPress…
I referred a short while back to a good post from Steve Zara on why the burqa should not be banned. Now, Norm draws my attention to an equally good post on the same subject from Kenan Malik. The heart of the matter:
If women are forced to do something against their will, the law already protects them in democratic countries. But what evidence exists, suggests that in Europe most burqa-clad women do not act from a sense of compulsion. According to the DCRI report in France, the majority of women wearing the burqa do so voluntarily, largely as an expression of identity and as an act of provocation. A second French report by the information authority, the SGDI, came to similar conclusions. Burqa wearers, it suggested, sought to ‘provoke society, or one’s family’, and saw it as a ‘badge of militancy’, and of ‘Salafist origins’. The burqa ban will only deepen the sense of alienation out which the desire for such provocation emerges.
The burqa is a symbol of the oppression of women, not its cause. If legislators really want to help Muslim women, they could begin not by banning the burqa, but by challenging the policies and processes that marginalize migrant communities: on the one hand, the racism, social discrimination and police harassment that all too often disfigure migrant lives, and, on the other, the multicultural policies that treat minorities as members of ethnic groups rather than as citizens. Both help sideline migrant communities, aid the standing of conservative ‘community leaders’ and make life more difficult for women and other disadvantaged groups within those communities.
Unfortunately, I suspect that with Wilders in the ascendancy here in the Netherlands, Malik’s common sense will be ignored.
[…] in 2010, I wrote about my misgivings about the fact that the Netherlands was considering banning the burqa. Fast forward to now, and the […]
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is the new novel by David Mitchell. It is set at the end of the 18th Century, mainly in the Dutch trading post on the artificial island of Dejima in the bay of Nagasaki. It deals with both the clash of civilisations (European and Japanese) and the interconnected lives of a vast range of characters. It seems to have had a mixed reception from newspaper reviewers, which rather surprised me – I think it’s a masterpiece. I took a little while to settle into it, but once it grabbed me, there was no release. It was often a struggle between savouring the phrases and quickly turning the page to see what happens next. The novel often slips into a prose poem:
Night insects trill, tick, bore, ring; drill prick, saw, sting…
or:
Nagasaki itself, wood-grey and mud-brown, looks oozed from between the verdant mountains’ splayed toes.
And there is a quite spectacular page and a half of rhythm-driven prose describing the start of a day in Nagasaki’s life that opens a climactic chapter late in the book. Sorry for the long extract, but I hope it whets your appetite:
Gulls wheel through spokes of sunlight over gracious roofs and dowdy thatch, snatching entrails at the marketplace and escaping over cloistered gardens, spike topped walls and treble-bolted doors. Gulls alight on whitewashed gables, creaking pagodas and dung-ripe stables; circle over towers and cavernous bells and over hidden squares where urns of urine sit by covered wells, watched by mule-drivers, mules and wolf-snouted dogs, ignored by hunch-backed makers of clogs; gather speed up the stoned-in Nakashima River and fly beneath the arches of its bridges, glimpsed from kitchen doors, watched by farmers walking high, stony ridges. Gulls fly through clouds of steam from laundries’ vats; over kites unthreading corpses of cats; over scholars glimpsing truth in fragile patterns; over bath-house adulterers, heartbroken slatterns; fishwives dismembering lobsters and crabs; their husbands gutting mackerel on slabs; woodcutters’ sons sharpening axes; candle-makers, rolling waxes; flint-eyed officials milking taxes; etiolated lacquerers; mottle-skinned dyers; imprecise soothsayers; unblinking liars; weavers of mats; cutters of rushes; ink-lipped calligraphers dipping brushes; booksellers ruined by unsold books; ladies-in-waiting; tasters; dressers; filching page-boys; runny-nosed cooks; sunless attic nooks where seamstresses prick calloused fingers; limping malingerers; swineherds; swindlers; lip-chewed debtors rich in excuses; heard-it-all creditors tightening nooses; prisoners haunted by happier lives and ageing rakes by other men’s wives; skeletal tutors goaded to fits; firemen-turned-looters when occasion permits; tongue-tied witnesses; purchased judges; mothers-in-law nurturing briars and grudges; apothecaries grinding powders with mortars,; palanquins carrying not-yet-wed daughters; silent nuns; nine-year-old whores; the once-were-beautiful gnawed by sores; statues of Jizo anointed with posies; syphilitics sneezing through rotted-off noses; potters; barbers; hawkers of oil; tanners; cutlers; carters of night-soil; gate-keepers; bee-keepers; blacksmiths and drapers; torturers; wet-nurses; perjurers; cut-purses; the newborn; the growing; the strong-willed and pliant; the ailing; the dying; the weak and defiant; over the roof of a painter withdrawn first from the world, then his family, and down into a masterpiece that has, in the end, withdrawn from its creator; and around again, where their flight began, over the balcony of the Room of Last Chrysanthemum, where a puddle from last night’s rain is evaporating; a puddle in which Magistrate Shiroyama observes the blurred reflections of gulls wheeling through spokes of sunlight. This world, he thinks, contains just one masterpiece, and that is itself.
I see that there’s a Dutch translation of the book. I’m curious to see how that has worked, particularly with these prose poem aspects. It’s perhaps not a good sign that the very title of the book has been changed: De niet verhoorde gebeden van Jacob de Zoet translates as the unheard prayers of Jacob de Zoet, which gives it a slant that I don’t think is quite right for de Zoet’s character as depicted in the book.
Good to see a positive recommendation – I’d heard a review on Radio 3 which thought it very good and then saw the Guardian review and have been hesitating. I’ll now look out for a copy! Thanks
Robert, I certainly think it will find favour with you. I’ve already bought a second copy for my niece and the Dutch translation for Martin because I think the book is so good.
I recently attended a lecture by the Dutch translator Harm Damsma who revealed that the Dutch title
came from the book’s original title but which the editor found too gloomy! As if a thousands autums aren’t gloomy? Chris
Ah – thanks for that, Chris. I wondered about the origin of the Dutch title…
[…] new book The Bone Clocks is published today. I was knocked out by his Cloud Atlas and by The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, so I’m looking forward to reading the new book with great anticipation. I went down to the local […]
[…] The Bone Clocks, which I enjoyed, but which I thought was less impressive than his Cloud Atlas, or The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. The Bone Clocks uses the device of having different characters tell their story in the first […]
It has gone on a remarkable journey in the last decade, from a liberal society to one as poisoned with fascism as their Flemish neighbours.
Geoff Coupe's Blog 
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