An interesting story in today’s Observer about gay men who have adopted children. It’s great to see the many forms that a loving family can take. Here’s the article and here’s the video that lets some of the fathers speak for themselves. I have to say that I doff my hat to them. I think it’s wonderful that they willingly take on the enormous responsibility of raising a child. It’s not something that I think I could do.
-
Disingenuousness Defined
It seems to me that the "apology" from Jan Moir merely underlines the fact that she is probably not someone that I would point to as a good example of a moral human being.Leave a comment
-
32 or 64 Bits?
Now that Windows 7 has been released, I shall shortly be in the position to replace the beta versions of Windows 7 on our home systems with the real thing. One of the fundamental questions that I need to address is: do I go with the 32 or 64 bit version of Windows 7?
In an ideal world, of course, I would be leaping on to the magic carpet of technology that is ready and waiting to whisk me away to the land of 64-bit computing. And if you don’t understand the difference between 32 and 64 bit computing, here’s Microsoft’s take on the question.
Needless to say, it’s an utterly Panglossian take on the topic:
There’s no need to worry: Simply put, a computer running a 64-bit version of Windows 7 needs 64-bit drivers for all your hardware and devices.
Ah, but , yes, what’s that “needs” word?
What that says to me is that if all you have is a 32-bit driver for your hardware, then you’re fucked.
And so it is, my droogs. I have a Steinberg Midex 8 ; it is my MIDI interface with my synthesiser modules. And is there a 64-bit driver? Why, no, of course not. Steinberg don’t even allow the possibility of an open source driver to be developed for their obsolete hardware, So, no sensawunda 64-bit glory-filled computing dreamland for me… Welcome to yesteryear – it’s where I clearly belong. Sigh. And, thank you Steinberg, for showing me what customer support does not mean. Bastards.
Update: Mind you, Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor program doesn’t help matters either. According to it, the Steinberg Midex 8 is compatible with the 64bit version of Windows 7. Er, no, it isn’t, you stupid program.
One response to “32 or 64 Bits?”
-
[…] As I mentioned last week, I’ve now got my new Windows 7 software, and am in the process of installing it on our computers. I’ve been running the beta version for a while, so I know what to expect; nevertheless, I’m pleased with it, at least for the most part. There are still some less than shiny bits on the final result, but on the whole it’s pretty good. The two areas that grate on me the most are these: […]
Leave a comment
-
-
Machinarium
About four years ago, I mentioned a quirky little game called Samorost. The creative forces behind that have been hard at work and have now come up with Machinarium. It’s been getting rave reviews. I’m downloading it as we speak.Leave a comment
-
An Answer To Jan Moir
I’ve just realised that, of course, Lily Allen, with the help of assorted French people, has the perfect answer to Jan Moir’s homophobic scribbles:Take it away, Lily and GayClic!Leave a comment
-
Who Is Jan Moir?
I lead a sheltered life. I had not come across this Jan Moir person until today. Apparently, she is what passes for a journalist on the Daily Mail. Here’s what she wrote today about the death of Stephen Gately. Her writing seems rather like the sort of thing one sees when one turns over a stone to expose the insect life scurrying through what was, moments before, fetid darkness. I think Charlie Brooker sums up her piece rather well:It’s like gazing through a horrid little window into an awesome universe of pure blockheaded spite. Spiralling galaxies of ignorance roll majestically against a backdrop of what looks like dark prejudice, dotted hither and thither with winking stars of snide innuendo.But then again, isn’t that the Daily Mail all over?Leave a comment
-
Meteor Over The Netherlands
I happened to be outside yesterday at around 7 pm and caught a sight of a very bright meteor passing across the sky in a Northerly direction. Apparently, it was visible from over all of the Netherlands, because many people reported it to the Dutch weather service.Needless to say, I didn’t have my camera handy, and my mobile is an old-fashioned one that, shock, horror, only makes and receives telephone calls. So I don’t have a photograph of it. I’ve also only been able to find just one on the web, thus far. A pity, because it certainly was very spectacular.Leave a comment
-
Bad Science
I’ve understood this from an early age, but just in case there are some innocents out there, here’s a health warning for you. Never, ever, trust any science reporting from The Sun. It’s not just wrong, it’s likely to cause your brain cells to commit suicide.Leave a comment
-
Swimming With Ghosts
A wonderful interview by Johann Hari of Gore Vidal, who vividly impersonates a world-weary Cassandra. I find the portrait strangely attractive. Mind you, I’m much more ambivalent about Vidal the person; for example, I would hardly describe Timothy McVeigh as a "noble boy".But here’s one heart-stopping thought that Hari brings out: Vidal, at the age of 83 years has lived through one-third of the lifespan of the United States.Leave a comment
-
Give Me Strength…
I’ve ranted on about Philippe Starck before in this blog. He does come up with the most pretentious shite when describing his work on a depressingly regular basis. The latest example is that LaCie, makers of external hard drives, have just paid Monsieur Starck to design some housing for a new series of drives. And according to Monsieur Starck:"Technological genius explodes exponentially, each time with incredible power whose limits are yet to be known. The power remains, never abating, symbolically characterized by the sculptural magma that one attempts to cleave, to master within this geometrically perfect strongbox. A symbol of strength mastered, of freedom guided, of incandescent magma heeding to the form of its cast. The interpretation is free. But the mystery remains."Gawd, give me strength…Leave a comment
-
A New Arrival
Our dog, Kai, will be seven years old next March. Labradors have a life expectancy of between ten and twelve years. We thought it might be a good idea, before he gets too old, to have a companion for his later years. Here’s Watson, born on the 29th July 2009…
Of course, at this stage, he spends most of his time asleep…
4 responses to “A New Arrival”
-
ahhh – your’e mummy and daddy again!
-
Ahem – thank you, Alex… I knew I could count on you! 🙂
-
Green with envy! We were given a couple of kittens when the last old dog died – it’s not the same as being loved by a dog.
-
Hi, Sameer. This is my first puppy. It’s very demanding, I have to say, but I’m sure it will be worth it in the end!
Leave a comment
-
-
Please Make It Stop…
Charlie Brooker has another cracking column in today’s Guardian, this time commenting on the eternal Apple versus Microsoft versus Apple evangelism. He draws our attention to what must be the worst video ever commissioned by Microsoft’s marketing machine. As one of the men in the video declaims: "I’m not a salesman at this party; I’m not supposed to be a total expert, either". But, honey, you are a total dork. Watch this video at your peril.Leave a comment
-
Alf Garnett in a Tiara
I think that’s a pretty good summary of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.Leave a comment
-
The Only True Liberal Position
I see that Tariq Ramadan has been giving us the benefit of his opinions again:
My position on homosexuality is quite clear…Islam, as Christianity, as Judaism, as even the Dalai Lama…[are] not accepting of homosexuality, saying that this is forbidden according to the principles of our religion…My position, with homosexuals, is to say, "We don’t agree with what you are doing, but we respect who you are," which I think is the only true liberal position that you can have.
As Ophelia says, this is hardly the “only” true liberal position that you can have. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it shows very clearly what a piece of work Tariq Ramadan is, and why I totally reject his “philosophy”. Indeed, I think Mo sums Ramadan up pretty well. It’s hardly surprising that the city of Rotterdam terminated his contract as an “integration advisor”. But then again, one wonders how they ever fell for his sophistry in the first place.
Leave a comment
-
The Rise of the Real Midwich Cuckoos
Jenni Russell has an eye-opening article in The Guardian about the erosion of adults’ powers to deal with children. The example she gives of a school dinner lady, Carol Hill, being sacked as a result is appalling. If it is indeed indicative of what is happening in UK society, then I agree with Russell – it completely undermines the importance of a community, and the importance of social pressure and shame.It is truly ironical that it turns out to be a Labour government that seems to be intent on fulfilling Margaret Thatcher’s dictum: "There’s no such thing as society".4 responses to “The Rise of the Real Midwich Cuckoos”
-
Disturbing, but I cannot agree with your conclusion. Surely, the implication of this story is that there is only "society" – all interactions must be mediated through societal structures, not through individual responsibility; this arises out of the 19th century German vision of the total state (which is where the term "totalitarianism" comes from, after all), which inspired not only the philosophy of the welfare state, but also the rather nastier aspects of the 20th century. By contrast, Thatcher’s universally misquoted point was that there was no such thing as "society" (as in "the total state must do this or that"), but that individuals and families taking individual responsibility should be the principle actors – which is traditional Burkean conservatism.I remember Richard Attenborough getting a tumultuous ovation on "Parkinson" when telling the story of his parents taking in refugees from the "Kindertransport", saying ‘they believed that there is something called "society"’. Well, perhaps. But what they did was precisely what the Thatcher speech actually describes, which was individuals working together for good when "society" fails. But it is, after all, always easier to think evil of those we don’t like ;)Best wishes,R.
-
Hi Robert. Yes, I know that Thatcher is always misquoted on this point, but the misquoting has, almost from its utterance, taken on a life and meaning of its own, and it was this that I (rather lazily, I admit), wanted to refer to. "Evil" is a strong adjective, and I didn’t actually use it, but I do rather think that some of the consequences of her actions have a whiff of it about them…Cheers.
-
Is there a REAL Midwich Elementary school in Centralia, or did they just made it up, that’s my question. It keeps on bothering me about Centralia’s history,weather is true or not.
I need a straight answer please-
Elle,
The answer to your question is: I have no idea. The reference to “Midwich Cuckoos” in my original blog entry refers not to “Silent Hill”, but to an English novel written by John Wyndham in 1957 that is called “The Midwich Cuckoos”. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwich_Cuckoos
-
Leave a comment
-
-
De Witte Wand
I made a new photosynth of the front of the farmhouse and garden yesterday. You can see it here.Addendum: And of course Microsoft has now scrapped the Photosynth product and technology, so none of these links work anymore. It’s dead, Jim.
Leave a comment
-
Varsseveld Hippisch Festijn
Last weekend was the annual horse festival held around here: the Varsseveld Hippisch Festijn. It’s a three-day event, but this year, I only had time for going along to view a couple of hours of the cross-country event on Sunday morning.
[4].jpg "20090920-0840-49(2)")
More of the photos I shot are up on Flickr.
Leave a comment
-
Religious Discrimination?
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about this. The thought that there could be 500,000 equally credulous souls walking around gives one pause. I am, however, reassured to learn that Tesco has stated that "Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods."Leave a comment
-
A New Definition of the Word “Safer”
Jerry Coyne, over at Evolution is True, shares a heartwarming tale of a botfly larva that took up residence in a woman’s head (complete with video). She had it removed, but he says that it is much safer to let it come out on its own. This is obviously a new definition of the word "safer"… I don’t think I would feel comfortable about knowingly carrying a maggot munching away inside my skull, letting it grow until it felt the impulse to burrow out in its own good time…Leave a comment
Geoff Coupe's Blog 
Leave a comment