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
- link 1 - link 2 - link 3 - link 4 - link 5 - link 6 -

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

RIP Simeon Grignon
-------------------------
26 Years old, out on the town with his friends, to end tragically when he was stabbed and died later in hospital. My heart goes out to his family and friends, although I didn't know him, I knew who he was.

People who carry knives with them should be locked up. What reason do people have for having to carry a knive around them, I'm damn sure its not for "protection", is it to "look hard" or "scare people", well in this case it caused a murder, and hopefully the 23 year old that has been charged for it, will be tried as such. Carrying a knives should be treated in the same way as carrying a gun.

Archos - The return

Dixons are tempting me again, As stated before, I am on the lookout for a media player, although Dixons are still advertising the Archos 560 for £399, but the guy at the store has informed me if I buy the media player and some £60 speakers, I can get it all for £319.... WTF.

Seems to have been miscalculated, but nonetheless, I will check the interweb for reviews on the device, and purchase tomorrow all being well (unless the price goes up again) unless I can find something better in the meantime.

Oh Shit !!!! - Bring on the Pisstakes

“Imagine the most beautiful offices in the world, then imagine that is not where you work. Actually, you work in a horrible, dark basement underneath all of this, as you are in the I.T. department..."

T-Minus 7 Days.....

A new program starts next Friday on Channel 4 - The IT Crowd. It appears this will do for us wonderful IT people what The Office did for all those office workers. Prepare to cringe, prepare for the onslaught of "you're just like that lot off that Channel 4 thing", I can see it now.

I think the only similarity in the program is Moss and our very own A****Y

Moss
"the social skills of a serial killer. The closest he's got to a woman is Lara Croft, and he struggles to communicate with anything that doesn't have a keyboard."

The rest of our "crowd" are Hard working (Steve & Julie ), Hard drinking (Dave Howster), Hardcore (Ian & Stuart), Hard Coded (Andy) Hard to keep from falling over(PM/Naked Jim) or just plain Hard up (Me, Ade and Lee).

Save Money on Petrol

Had an interesting link sent to me at work, similar to the old PetrolBusters site that was very good until, the AA bought it and shut it down.

The Image below links to a .PDF poster to print out and put in your staffroom/fag shelter/noticeboard etc.

Talking of fags.

Well done to "Our Mate in the South" Jase (Senior Scheduler to the stars) who has given up smoking..... However he has since told me he refuses to give up fags...

By the way, the photo on the left shows him holding a Pint O' Beer, Now we all now you Jason and that pint was "on loan". Your favourite tipples are Woo Woos or Sambucas.

Telly Addict

I have become a self confessed Telly Addict since the New Year began, not just the normal crap though... this is SERIOUS, and i'm not talking about the Holby Cities and Eastenders that SWMBO Makes me watch or Sky+. We're talking the BIG Guns

Life on Mars - (Torrents / Newsgroups)
24 - Season 5 - (Torrents / Newsgroups)
Lost - Season 2 - (Torrents / Newsgroups)
Las Vegas - Season 3 - (Torrents / Newsgroups)
and since last night
House - (Channel 5)
Prison Break - (Channel 5) - Bloody good first episode anyway !!!

As soon as Spooks and Hustle come back to the BEEB, I won't be leaving the house. However despite the good programs on the BBC, still don't agree with them putting up the licence fee.


Oh - Hello to the Mother in Law who started reading last week, shame she's started looking, I'll have to tone down the things I say and stop making references to her threats of wearing a thong on the beach.

We all know there's a right way and a wrong way to wear a thong..... Nuff Said.

Get Away




SWMBO and I decided its time to think about our holidays this year, Monster Mother-in Law has already booked a couple of weeks in Spain in June and we have been Ordered Invited to spend a week with them, You thought that was bad, she has threatened me with Topless or wearing a thong. PLEASE GOD - NO.

The only problem is deciding where to go, I/we want to go somewhere in August/September or October, with a nice beach, for bird to play "get brown catchup" with me , but where there's a nightlife for walks/drinks...... etc. I am refusing to go to Tenerife as I've been there 5 time is the last 4 years, so the choices are

• The Maldives
• Mexico (Cancun)
• Cuba (Varadero & Havana)
• Caribbean
• Skegness
  

As long as it's not hurricane season, Bird flu country or any other reason to stay away, then I'm up for anywhere. Oh and SWMBO can't have jabs due to her dicky ticker.

Help !!!

Gadget #1

Looks like its almost here, my first purchase of the new year, the Sony DSC-T9 camera should be available from Monday.

Engadget have another entry in reference to the camera Here , as well as a CNET write up Here . The general opinions are that the camera is a great model, although loses points on the "camera's lens, including sluggish low-light performance and relatively unsaturated colors" (Engadget).

I also found an independant review and some sample images at Wilsons Onilne Repository , who describes the camera as being "one of the best I have tested in the last 6 years",

Well thats enough for me.

Ere we go, Ere we go, Ere we go.....

Thanks to our wonderful contact at Vodafone UK who we (Work) spend thousands of pounds each month, we (Me, PM/Naked Jim and BossMan Dave) are off to see Man Utd v Burton Albion at Old Trafford.

Although I am (secretly) hoping for a Burton win, I feel I must stay quiet, Vodafone being sponsors of Man Utd (for the next year at least) probably wouldnt want me cheering at Burton scoring, although wouldn't it be great. BM Dave will undoubtedly disagree, being a Man U fan.
From next year, Vodafone will not be sponsoring Man U, but rather the Champions league along with the F1 Team; McLaren Mercedes. I've already asked for tickets for the Monaco GP, not sure what I'm gonna have to do to get a weekend in Monaco, but I'm sure Naked Jim would go out of his way, What that man wouldn't do. I even think BM Dave will get in on the pressure as Next years cars are probably going to be his "Colour of the moment", Yup, they're Orange.

... Still waiting for my camera though, have the reddies ready, Come on Sony UK, lets have it (and in black)

ShaLebrity





So it's Reality TV time again now I HATE REALITY TV, especially "Enter a Nobody, leave a Star" Big 'Kin Brother....

... However, Sorting crap out in Bedroom 2 with Channel 4 and its Reality Big Brother, I wouldn't normally get into, but with Dennis Rodman in, I'm sure this is going to be very interesting. This scary tattoo wearing, piercing addicted, hair coloured freak is amazing, Screwed Madonna and dumped her, married Carmen Electra and divorced a few days later and won the NBA about 6 times. Oh, he also dresses in womens clothes and once wore a brides dress when he married... himself

Wonder whos first. Jodie Marsh, Traci Bingham or.... Chantelle the Non-Celeb-Celeb.


Never rated Jodie Marsh as a tasty bird, but she looked a bit of alright tonight, at least when she doesnt speak

All Contestants:
Chantelle : Michael Barrymore : Pete Burns : Traci Bingham : Maggot : Rula Lenska : Dennis Rodman : Faria Alam (Shagged Half the FA) : Preston (Ordinary Boys) : George Galloway :

Matter Closed (Unless Rodders Plays Ball)

Bugger
It's annual payrise time, I did decide to spend part of it on a PMP, I found This seemingly perfect one in Dixons, Brilliant that it had been reduced from £449 to £299, even better that I even managed to get them to drop the price another £50 to £249.

After Telling SWMBO all about it (like she was interested anyway) Checked the site last night to se what time they opened, SHOCK:HORROR, they have put the bloody thing back up to £399. Nooooooooo !!!!

After searching the sister sites (Currys & PC world) I googled it and found several sites showing how crap and buggy the device is.

So SWMBO, I didn't 'need' one of these, I just wanted one, as with all Gadgety stuff, it's never about needing it.

I guess I'll have spend my "hard earned" bonus on something else now.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT:
Minutes Later, I find this alternative or any one of these
Then again I could just go for the Sony PSP (albeit without the storage space !!!!!)

Goodbye 2006

Well what a month that was, I have been (pretending to be) so busy that I haven't even been able to update my blog,

My Christmas partying started 3rd December with a family party to celebrate half of them pissing off to South Africa as well as 2 family birthdays.

So the bad luck began, I managed to "lose" my beloved camera (Sony DSC-P12) while sitting at the restaurant table all night, to the theiving bastard in the Kings Corner Pub where we ate, I hope you enjoy it/rot in hell for keeping hold of the camera rather than doing the decent thing and handing it in/Selling it on eBay.

My lovely home insurance have come good though and I'll be replacing it With the Sony DSC-T9, so with new camera comes new year and heres to 2006. 'Appy New Year.

Unlike Mr Cookie T' Big Foot, I will be making new years resolutions and they are as follows

1. Clear out crap from the House
2. Clear out crap from the body (The Diet & Exercise way)
3. Clear out crap from life
4. Enjoy Life
   

That's about it, I have tonnes of rubbish that I need to 'Bay, Bin or give to charity shops, I have binged for the last 9 months on junk food and beer while working away so can now work on that.

I've made a great start, purchased The Food Doctors book, although I don't watch Richard & Judy*, a "friend" mentioned this guy Ian Marber aka The Food Doctor who helps people with a tasty & healthy Diet.



One more party to go and "The Diet Starts Tomorrow"

Happy New Year Everyone.

Perfect... ilo CA3000V

Walmart in the good ol' U.S of A, are selling this wonderous machine that needs to be in my car.

The Price - A measly $176.37 (£102.00)

Check the Specs.

• SD Card slot for playback of digital image and music files.
• Plays MP3-CDs
• 2" TFT-LCD Display
• XM-Ready AM/FM Tuner
• SD Card slot reads JPG images and MP3 files
• 160W Total Power
• Detachable Face Plate provides security

Trouble is, I have already tried to buy it from Walmart as I am pretty sure my Local ASDA won't be selling them, but the small disclaimer on Walmarts' site that says "We do not ship to Canada or other destinations outside the United States"

GUTTED...

So it's day 5 (or something) of the low cholesterol diet and SWMBO made me a fry up. Not just any fry up mind, but SWMBO approved, no oil, 1 egg etc. Very tasty, even beats my jacket potato and cottage cheese 2 days ago.


At least I have the support from my colleagues at work whoch means a lot, they Monday being the first full week of healthy eating.... and they all went to McDonalds, I managed to skip food as for some strange reason I was working.

at least my blood pressure has now gone down to 120/70 (considerable decrease since my last scare/test)

Rest assures I'll be all fit and healthy before you can say Mushroom Bhuna.
(must ... be ...... strong.... must..... resist

Sunday Surfing

Aint Sundays great, spend mornings having a veggie bacon and egg sancwich to get over the "Saturday Night Jack Attack, mummy dong Sunday dinner, watching the "BIG GAME", having a fry up for tea and surfing the Interweb. I clearly can't have the start/end of day cholesterol giver, but I'm not giving up ANYTHING ELSE...

Found some good sites today, and some of which are moving me away from Micro$oft.

Torrent Plugin for Mozilla Firefox (Mozilla Firefox available Here)
Moztorrent - Similar to above
Open Office is a great (and free) alternative to MS Office
Google Web Accelerator - Not sure about the privacy issues on this one though
Google SMS - Useful search tool for mobile phones, and you only pay normal rates to send the SMS.

Bye Bye Fry-Ups

Had a health check at work today, Denial really is the best form of cure... Have been told I have High Cholesterol Level (6.19) and High Blood Pressure (160/105). WHO ME !!!!!?

Even h Jim at 85 years of age* is healthier than me it appears, I demand a re-match, testing me at 8.45am isn't fair. My drive to work would have caused increased stress levels.

I have been "advised" to cut down on the types of food I eat and start excercising. Worse still SWMBO says I can't have fry-ups and no more crap.

* Jim is 50 really

Being a Veggie also means these levels are worrying as I can't blame it on the Meat.
Still... I keep meaning to go to the gym, Now I have the motivation.

Now then. Anyone have some Tasty Recipes... Tao, You're a part-time veggie, Suggest something Nice?

Who You Calling Ipoddy




Been a while since my last post (Sorry Ian - I know you've been waiting)

I think I have now found the pefect PDA/Phone thing- The Qtek 9100/iMate K-Jam/02 XDA Mini S, great as a phone, as a keyboard, and not huge either, only downside is no 3G but then I have no-one to video call and there's hardly any coverage so not much to miss out on really.

So much Trouble...
...Anyone out there that recorded the part 2 of "Walk Away and I Stumble" last week, please please let me have a copy, (I don't have a video so will need to be a Deev), trouble with SWMBO as I accidently deleted it. The old chestnut of "at least I recorded the first episode" didn't go down too well either.