Big Garden Birdwatch 2012

Birdwatch 12, a set on Flickr.

I spent an hour this afternoon observing our bird-life for the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. Even the fresh food didn't encourage many visitors in the cold weather. 

Even Casper Kitten-cat declined to join the watch due to lack of activity.

I managed about a half dozen birds - maybe we'll do better next year.

The return of Ezio

So, yesterday I finally managed to finish the last sequence in the story of 'Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood' - I obviously just need a break to get my timing back.

I'd already fallen asleep earlier whilst playing Skyrim and the effects of a busy week were still catching up with me so I decided to hold of on 'Assasin's Creed: Revelations' until I'd fully appreciate it.

That was this afternoon. Desmond is back in the Animus and he's there with a ghostly Altair (although I don't doubt a more corporeal Altair will turn up later) and a rather older Ezio. Yes, the youthful, charismatic Ezio is gone. A much older and slightly dourer Ezio has taken his place. Now we've moved to Istanbul/Constantinople and Ezio has learned some cool new tricks. 

So far I've managed four memory sequences, two 100% synchs; two 50% synchs and only one de-synchronization. I haven't even had to swear at Ezio yet!

The graphics are even more beautifully rendered than ever... although if you've just come from 'Brotherhood' you'll find that some of the controls have moved about a bit.

Looking good though. Can't wait to get really stuck in again next weekend.

Internet Blackout

In a protest against perceived internet censorship - legislation proposed in the US by the House of Representatives - Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Senate's Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA); a number of websites have changed their usual look. I haven't found it widely participated. Whilst #Wikipedia and 'Imagine a world without free knowledge' are currently trending topics on Twitter which otherwise seems to be operating as usual. Similarly I noticed nothing unusual at Facebook. 

Google's homepage has a very understated message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wikipedia has gone dark (English language version only).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally  http://icanhascheezburger.com/ also has a prominent message.

There may be other sites participating that I haven't happened to visit today... but the major players don't seem to be joining in. The exercise has achieved what it set out to do, however, and raised public awareness, not just in the US but globally, of the proposed legislation. 

If you want to know more about the bills I'd suggest checking Wikipedia - once it's up and running again that is!

Good intentions

Power, a photo by nat_mach on Flickr.

I had great plans for this year. I was going to win the battle against atrophy and procrastination. I was going to find time to do things that I enjoyed (other than sitting on my backside playing the Xbox!).

I was going to get creative. I was going to take more photos (other than pictures of Casper who is an easy subject!). I was going to find time for blogging.

The road to Hell, as they say, is paved with good intentions. It's a boring, tired old excuse - work got in the way.

People will insist on setting deadlines for January and February. Don't bother about that little detail of Christmas in the middle. As soon as one deadline passes there is almost immediately another, and another... until the middle of February. At this point I might get my life back.

Skywatch Friday (59)

Londond Sunrise, a photo by nat_mach on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Sunrise from Westminster Bridge

Join in!

New Year, new weather, new outlook

New Year, New Weather, a photo by nat_mach on Flickr.

After the first day of the new was grey and dismal and generally matched the flat balloon feeling that follows Christmas, today was brighter and more optimistic feeling.

The sun came out, Kitten-cat sunbathed on the blanket box, rainbows from the window crystals danced on the ceiling and the walls.

I did my best to forget that this was the last day of holidays and get my life ready for going back to work tomorrow... putting things in their places - tidying and sorting. Didn't manage to read any of the blogs piled up from before Christmas (sorry friends!); didn't manage to read any of the magazines stacked up either.

It is entirely possible that I fell asleep at some point in the afternoon as I can't account for all the hours the Better-Half was at football!

Tomorrow will definitely be another day...!

2012 - New Year

So we've said goodbye to 2011 (that's two-thousand and-eleven) and it is time to look forward 2012 (which is oddly twenty-twelve).

Although it rained all day today at least it is mild, so hopefully there won't be a repeat of the weather at the beginning of last year (snow, snow, snow).

There's not a lot globally to be positive about; the financial crisis continues to rumble on (and on, and on). There are still mutters about a double-dip recession, even though the "end" of the last one was a technicality. 

We can look forward to the sports though. NFL is hard to call as the games are still going on, but it is only a few months until the baseball season is back. Nearer the great and mighty Charlton Athletic are still top of the table (although the lead has been eaten away recently)... dare we finally hope for promotion from the ignominy of League 1?!

A lot of the world (mostly those not resident in our fair capital) are looking forward to the Olympics. After they dropped baseball from the menu I lost all interest and I'm 'looking forward' to the traffic chaos (both road, rail and tube) that will ensue for those three weeks in August. 

I'm not one for resolutions, really. I usually fail before the end of the first day of January. I do however have aspirations for the year. I'd like to eat healthier, drink less, and lose some weight. I'd like to keep up my exercises to try and keep what is left of mobility mobile. I'd like to try and keep a more positive outlook on life (most specifically work and MS). These are my serious life aspirations.

Less seriously I have my Good Reads reading challenge  (another 50 books); I'd like to be more regular with my blogging; I'd like to keep up to date with my blog reading and on top of my inbox; and many other trivial things.

Well, whatever it brings, I hope 2012 is good for you.

2011 - Good riddance

2011 has been a turbulent year for the world. Economic crises all over the place, revolutions all over the Arab world - marriages, births and divorces for celebrities - natural disasters.

The year started grey and dismal and rather snow covered - rather the same as 2010 ended. The Japanese Tsunami and revolutionary actions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya made headlines around the world.

The world worried about a double-dip recession (technicalities!) as one Euro-Zone country after another fell into crisis. 

There wasn't much to celebrate, other than, if you were so inclined the Royal Wedding. Although in our family my Gran turned 90 and my Great-Aunt 100 (I hope I've got those genes!).

Personally it wasn't a good year. Two major MS relapses which required the intervention of steroids. The introduction of the wheelchair to my life. In September the loss of adored Tinker who left a big Kitten shaped hole in our hearts - although his brother Casper does his best to fill that hole as well as his own Kitten-cat space (and Casper is much adored!). November we remembered the loss of my beloved Papa, one year on.

Notwithstanding the Olympics and other annoying events I'm hoping 2012 (that's Twenty-Twelve!) will be a better year.

Games, books and Kindle

This year an unreasonable amount of my favourite game franchises brought out new releases. In fact, all my favourites except for Fable (which given the disappointment of Fable 3 against Fable 2 is possibly not a bad thing!).

First up, the ever popular and firm favourite - another instalment of the Lego Xbox franchise. Having thoroughly enjoyed my last dose (Pirates of the Caribbean) it was time for the end of the Harry Potter set with years 5-7. Slightly confusing as I'd been recently playing the non-Lego version Xbox game. 

The great thing about this is that nothing has changed since the last release. Hogwarts is still the same - everything is where you left it. The regular games can rarely boast that! 

Liking the movies helps, but you don't need to with the Lego games. Running around and beating up bits of Lego (and little Lego baddies) in return for rewards - what's not to like?!

Next up, the Elder Scrolls. I've yet to meet  iterations I through III but The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion is right up there in my all time favourite games list.

When I discovered Skyrim was available it was too close to Christmas to do anything other than hope that it would be under the tree. The Better-half knows me too well and didn't let me down. Just as addictive as Oblivion... hours will pass with Skyrim.

Finally... Assassin's Creed Revelations. I've not started yet as I'm still stuck at the end of Brotherhood. This may not stop me though - I finished Assassin's Creed II but never the original.

Looking forward to seeing Ezio again, but not so happy to have the surly Altair back.

More wall climbing, sword fights, leaps of faith and viewpoints synchronised to come!

You can pretty much predict the games I'll play on Xbox; they come in two varieties. Lego games (not too fussy what the theme is) - the PEGI rating of less than 12 means that I'll be able to manage them with ease. The other is role playing games. They need to be set in a vast universe... an overall story with quests is a must, but the ability to choose where you go, what you do and when you do it is a must. The game lasts so much longer that way!

As a Kindle owner I thought my book reading days were over... but of course, at the moment, you can't put Kindle books on your Amazon wish-list. And, some series, having started in paper, have to continue in the traditional format. So, this year; I received a surprising amount of books for Christmas.

The plus side of books - as well as looking great on the shelves - is that you can take them in the bath!

Technobabble

Christmas - a time for holiday cheer and families and rubbish TV. Also, for me, a time for technology. There isn't a year goes by when somebody doesn't buy me something technological or I don't buy something for myself.

I have more technology in my life than you can swing a stick at. Some years ago the Better-half and I realised that sharing a computer just wasn't feasible... so I got my laptop. As soon as my phone contract was up I got a smart phone (my much loved, and sometimes maligned iPhone).

Over the last decade I've had a succession of digital cameras. From a webcam upwards... I think the early ones took photos less than 1 megapixel; we're now up with 12 or 14. I have a compact camera, a DSLR, a very temperamental video camera and the camera on my iPhone (oh, and the webcam built into the laptop).

But, you can never have enough technology. This year my brother got me the 'Catcorder'. It's an HD pocket video recorder... perfect for recording those Kitten-cat moments. It's also water-proof and shock-proof. It means I can kick the temperamental video camera to the kerb (or more likely sell it on eBay). It also takes photos.

To make digital life easier I'd been wanting (for some time) the Eye-fi card. Once set up this card communicates from your digital device over the wireless network to your computer and a number of nominated websites (in my case Flickr). Once you've got and Eye-fi card and associated account you can also use it on your iPhone (yes, there's an App for that). This means that you can send the pictures from your phone to your computer too. 

For the camera this means that I don't have to keep taking the memory card in and out (and sometimes forgetting to put it back into the camera) and from my phone without having to email them to myself or find the the cable.

Technology rules!