Simeon Grignon -

Just to update my Simeon Grignon post as this was appearing on google searches.

The family of Simeon Grignon said they were overwhelmed by the crowds of people who attended his funeral.
More than 1,000 mourners paid their respects yesterday to the keen footballer described as a "shining star".
The 26-year-old died after being stabbed in Becket Street in the early hours of January 29.
He had been out celebrating a friend's birthday.
About 600 people packed into the Assembly of the First-born in London Road, with a further 400 standing outside, to listen to the funeral service.
Speaking after the funeral, Mr Grignon's father, Michael, said: "It has been so unbelievable the amount of people who have come to be here.
"I feel so proud as a father that this many people paid their respects.
"When I came to the church I thought people were all waiting to go inside but then I realised the church was full already and people were outside as well.
"It was really touching and absolutely lovely."
Mr Grignon (45), of Lewis Street, Derby, said support had come from all areas of the community.
He added: "I'm a normal guy and I just brought up my son to be respectful to other people.
"People who only met him once were coming up in the street to me and saying what a nice lad he was and bursting into tears.
"Simeon's family would like to say a big thank-you to everyone.
"We feel very proud."
During the service, Simeon's partner, Jenni Saunders (24), said: "I was always proud to be your girlfriend.
"I'm glad I had the pleasure of being your chosen one. You made me feel so special.
"We worked so hard to build our dreams. I'll miss your smile and I know you're always with me."
His cousin, Rachel Grignon, said Simeon would be missed by everyone.
She said: "Sim was priceless, precious and angelic.
"The community has lost an invaluable member and a real role model."
Simeon's aunt, Marcia Anderson, added: "He was a shining star. As a family, when we look at him, we feel proud of what a great man he was."
Family friend Jimmy Cousins played a saxophone piece in tribute and everyone joined in the opening hymn, How Great Thou Art.
Pastor Melroy Daley led the opening prayer.
He said: "Simeon was a great son and grandson.
"As the family look around, they can see the love that Simeon had in his life."
He told the congregation that in May, a national knife amnesty would be held, but that anyone could hand in a knife to police before then.
Simeon is survived by a younger brother, Otis (11), father Michael and mother Marilyn Anderson.
He had just bought a house with Miss Saunders and had recently been employed by an agency to work as a technician for Rolls-Royce Fuel Cells.
Simeon's coffin was placed in a horse-drawn carriage for burial at Nottingham Road cemetery. There was also a separate car for dozens of floral tributes.
Police officers directed traffic along London Road and the roundabout near Strutts pub after the service.
A police spokeswoman said: "We had been working with the family because we expected there to be a lot of people.
"We knew we needed to be prepared to direct the traffic, especially with a horse-drawn carriage."

Glenroy Reid (22), of London Road, Alvaston, appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on January 31 charged with Simeon's murder. He was remanded in custody.

(from www.thisisisderbyshire.co.uk)

Related links
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Meet My Wife (to be)

Mrs Byrne

Well Big thank yous to Ian B for recommending the restaurant, Full Range UK for the Fantastic chauffeur service. The World Service Restaurant for the amazing meal, the Park Plaza for the hotel room.

But Most of all, thank you to my beautiful fiancee for saying yes. She has agreed to marry me (one day). I’d better start letting the millions of women* know I am now taken. Unless of course you have supermodel looks, supermodel money and lack the supermodel bitchiness.

No Monster-in-Law, that doesnt qualify you, although you do have the supermodel money…

LINKS

PMP - Is this it? (and it has an "i" at the beginning

I think I may have hit the PMP Jackpot at last. many hours of searching for an alternative to the "won't play my files" Archos AV560, it seems there are a few devices out there that might just do the trick.

Mustek PVR H140 - Creative Zen Vision - Mac Vision MC3007 - Neuros 442 - Cyberhome PMP4000 - Maxian T600

But This seems to be the one, The iStation v43 seems to do/have everything I, (being a gadget freak), need and want, and whats more it has to be great, it has the "i" at the beginning.

Features

• AMD Processor
• Linux Operating system
• Larger than normal screen (4.3")
• Touchscreen
• Codec Support
• Ebook Reader
• Dictionary
• File Manager
• FM Radio
• Calendar
• Remote Control (iStation Power)
• GPS (iStation Navi)

Unfortanely it doesn't seem to be available as yet in the UK so the only place I can get it from is this guy on ebay, which doesn't normally bother me, however if it went wrong then I'd probably be in deep shit trouble.

Addtional features from the v43mania site seem to suggest even more features including the ability to play NES/SNES/GBA games on the device too.

Very Tempting! , Just the ebay price is a bit on the steep side at £400 (+£12 P&P, +4% PayPal).

Other Links

V43Mania - Digital Cube - Engadget - istationhq - Misticaudio

... My more recent internet search for the Archos AV560 didn't bring up horrible stories from owners hating the device, although some were complaining about the device locking up and needing a reset. I decided to take the plunge and buy one from Dixons - Great news, the offer was still on. I asked Mr Dixon about what the device will play , obviously I will be using it to play my "Legally owned" DVD backups, ripped to Divx and Xvid , as well as my TV downloads and MP3s. He reliably informed me that it "should" play anything, but if it didn't, I can take it back for a full refund.

I wasnt conviced about this however and asked him to mark the receipt that I can take it back. Although he couldn't do this, he said the store policy is a "14 day money back guarantee" - "Argos Stylee"

Got it home, and spent 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get the PC to recognise the device without RTFM, then had to do an IT workers no no and opened the book... Of course, I needed Windows Media Player 10.

After the download and install I was ready to dump everything onto my brand new PMP.

B*ll*cks - It wouldn't copy 24 (Season 5), or any other TV program for that matter, in fact none of the film files I have stored in my "backed up" folder. Music, photos would copy ok, tried the firmware upgrade and still nothing.

Another search on the interweb and I found the bitrate of my files was too high, as well as the Archos not having the correct codecs, I could convert the files to play on the Archos, but this would take hours for each file. I THINK NOT !!

Back in the box it went and back to Dixons and I am back at the drawing board unless Archos AV440 owning Mr Moss can convince me to go and buy one again.

EDIT: CONVICED
Well Mr Moss brought his Archos AV440 round tonight and I have copied the same files to his..... It bloody works, He got his as a 2nd user model from Ebuyer, it seems this model is being phased out, but you can get it from several places, or ebay