March at last

February was extra long this year (it being a leap year and all). My Outlook had a bit of a problem with the extra day - not quite able to get the red square round the number. (click on the image for a larger view).

There was a lot of talk on Twitter and the internet about the 'extra day'. Only it isn't really, is it. It is just a convenient way to make up for the fact that the natural world doesn't quite fit into our notion of time.

Today is St David's Day (national day of Wales) or if you are my American desk calendar 'Women's History Month begins'.

I think St David's Day has a longer history - and it certainly makes for a better Google Doodle.







Finally - an email I received from a colleague recently. I had put the kettle on for tea some time earlier, and then forgotten all about it; so he sent a blank email with only a subject line (see left).

Friends

Sometime back around the time this photo was taken (in the early 80s) friendship was a pretty simple thing. You'd meet somebody; at school (or work), because they lived near you or because there was a family connection; you'd find you had things in common and you became friends.

Maybe the friendship lasted through the years, a lifetime, maybe it lasted a summer.

Sometimes you'd really make an effort to keep in touch (letters, phone calls, cards on special occasions). 

Mostly though apart from a handful of really special relationships friendships had a lifespan. 

The other thing, apart from pen-pals (and sometimes these form lasting friendships - but usually only if you met up) you always had met your friends.

Welcome to the 21st Century. You never need lose touch with anybody ever again. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and the rest... friends are everywhere. And not just people you've know for years and met IRL (as they used to say back in the babyhood of the internet; that's In Real Life). I have some great friends on Twitter and Facebook who I've never met. Many of these I know  because we share something in common; things as diverse as the part of London we live in, to a love of cats, to an obsession with a sports team, to being diagnosed with a debilitating illness.

I've not known these friends as long as my school friends, or friends I met through work or at University (or indeed my family) and our connections may not be as deep. They are no less friends though.

This was brought home to me over Christmas when one of my Twitter friends vanished. A great tweeter and I didn't hear from her for over a month. I was worried... like me she has an auto-immune disease and as far as my imagination was concerned anything could have happened.

Unlike Facebook and LinkedIn where people go by their full names on Twitter you just have a handle and don't even have to give your real name (I don't). This means my friend was lost to me. 

Happily she resurfaced, she hadn't been well (as suspected). These on-line friendships form communities though... and whilst looking for my lost friend I bumped into another concerned friend of hers and so I made a new friend.

Maybe not everyone views on-line friendships like this? Ask anyone, I'm addicted to Twitter (and less so Facebook).

It has to be said though, the increasing (and instant) inter-connectedness of seemingly just about everything fascinates me very much.

Snow

Snow 12, a set on Flickr.

Along with much of the country it snowed in South East London last night. A good few inches.

Happily, today is Sunday. That gives them 24 hours (providing it doesn't snow again) to get ready for not having travel chaos on Monday morning.

Skywatch Friday (60)

Another London Sunrise, a photo by nat_mach on Flickr.

Join in!

The Royal Borough of Greenwich

Royal Greenwich, a set on Flickr.

This weekend the area formerly known as the London Borough of Greenwich celebrates it's transformation to the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Greenwich joins less than a dozen places in England with the right to this prefix; four boroughs (three within London, one without), one county and three towns.

The oldest dates from the 10th Century (Kingston-upon-Thames) and the newest is today 3 February 2012 (Greenwich).

The Queen is granting the Royal status in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee; but Greenwich's links with Royalty go back to at least the 15th Century. The palace at Greenwich (long demolished) was a favourite of Henry VIII; he married two of his wives there and both of his daughters (future Queens of England) were born there.

Visitors to Greenwich Park today can still imagine the Royal hunting parties that once populated the area.

The Borough's website has had a makeover too.

If you are local to the area drop by the Council website for details of the festivities taking place over the weekend.

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.