Here is The News - My Slant

I was thinking of blogging on recent news reports such as the BNP gaining what seems to be more and more votes due to their "special way" on canvassing votes. They're telling people they are against the immigrants coming into the UK and taking classroom places, hospital beds, jobs etc. Unfortunately they dont tell these people the other issues they fight for.

I also had thoughts on the England football managers' vacancy - it all seemed a bit dodgy that everyone is talking about who they believed would be best for the job, Curbishley, Allardyce, McClaren or O'Neill then suddenly it's announce Felipe Scolari is offered it, I neve believed he would be the next England manager, it did seem to lessen the hype and pressure on all the other "runners" however I believe was the purpose.

I read this morning Scolari has "Declined the offer" - Surprise surprise (Ladbrokes Odds - Place your bets please)

Then I realised I didn't really give a shit and decided to watch Chelsea v Man Utd, wash the car, go to the gym and go out for several cheeky Jack and Cokes, life's too short, although the BNP could pose a problem for me, (and millions of other non-white Brits) living in the UK.

It won't come to that though ... will it

links - (For obvious reasons, I refuse to link to the BNP)
- Link 1 - Link 2 -

Pipex Reply

Update to my Pipex Issue - Here is their reply
------------------------------
Thank you for your e-mail.

We have implemented various network traffic management systems in an effort to provide optimum levels of service to each of our customers.

We are constantly trying to improve the reliability and performance of our network which means such systems and strategies will be implemented and tested.

The network traffic management systems are active on all of our packages.
P2P services are among some of the types of usage that are involved in this process.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind Regards,
-----------------

Does it appear that they haven't actually replied to me, more like sending a "standard template email", well did to me, see if they reply to this time to...

-------------------------------------
"Hello there
None of my questions have actually been answered, rather than send me a standardised email, could you please respond to my email. "
-------------------------------------

We'll see

Philly Y'all (Bloody Hell - I've gone blogging mad)
I have just been told I am going to be an uncle - Damn that made me feel old, despite being a Dad for the last 10 years, an uncle sound so much older. My Sister in the US is having twins (Bless). Got me thinking - Im off to America for a week or so, last time i thought that was back in 1999, 3 days later I was there....

Unfortunately the last time I went, the flight cost £199 with BA from London to Philadelphia, I am getting prices now of over £500. What the hell happened. Did 9/11 cause this, surely not.

I have looked at all the travel internet sites, (Opodo , BA , Ebookers , Virgin Atlantic & Priceline), but are all roughly the same price, I (we - SWMBOs' coming too) have 2 options.
1 - Fly to "Philly" and stay with my dad, or
2 - Fly to New York and stay in a hotel, then get the Greyhound train to my Dads' for a couple of days.

The flight to New York is silly cheap, in fact a flight and accommodation in New York is cheaper than tha flight to Philadelphia. We can then get the Greyhound train from New York to Philly for $80 return (for us both), we then get to do it properly and get to see more of the east coast, eat Hoagies (2) , speak "English", tell people we know the Queen etc (cos they always ask),

If I can't find a site that can do a better deal, looks like I'll have to resort to Teletext (on the Tele that is - Old style) or asking around...... anyone.... anyone.... Ah come on, (here comes he hint) someone must know a good site to get cheap flights to Philadelphia (Airport code PHL) from Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Manchester (MAN) or Birmigham (BHX) any time in September (as long as we're not flying on the 11th - She won't have that)

Taoski - You really should help - Its your trip to New York that got me thinking.

Is it Time to say Bye Bye Pipex

After 4 good years, it appears Mr Byrne is forced to end a relationship, one of the most important relationships one could have, that with my ISP, not only is my secondary email address @pipex, I have also referred several family and friends to them as they have provided great service and support when i needed it.....

However....
Just as I was looking forward to upgrading from a 2Mb to an 8M connection, it appears that the sneaky Bast.... people have decided to limit my download speeds for torrents, with my 2Mb connection I could download from Easynews (Newsgroups) at almost 240kps, but with my bittorrent client (Burst) I seem to be capped at 20kps (very bad).

It seems that there is really no point waiting for 8Mb when it won't make a blind bit of difference to torrent speeds, and let's face it Everyone is doing it, no matter what they tell you.

Looking on t'internet shows there are several sites proving this, Pipex T&Cs state that if you exceed the "Acceptable Use Policy" and your connection will be "Managed". Unfortunately, Pipex do not state what is acceptable and I doubt I really take the piss.

Not one to be Hasty, I am going to email Pipex Support and ask them if my account is being "managed". If so, then I would like to know a) what is regarding as "acceptable use" and b) how much I have downloaded.

I will update when I have emailed them

link 1 link 2 link 3

Email to Pipex

"I am writing to discuss my account as it appears my download speeds have dropped to what I would regard as an unacceptable speed, I understand that the changes to your terms and conditions mean you have been forced to introduce "network traffic management" for heavy users.
I would be grateful if you could let me know if you have this in place against my account. If this is the case, please could you advise me of the following

A) - What do you regard as "Heavy Usage" for a 2mb connection ?.
B) - What amount of data have I downloaded ?.

I appreciate that you have introduced this, however I don't feel that I have been "taking the piss" when it comes to usage. I have been a very happy customer of Pipex for several years now (since Pipex was set-up), I have recommended you to several family and friends who have since joined, but recently, not only am I paying considerably more for my service that the people I referred (something I feel strongly against - not really a reward for being a loyal customer) but I feel I am not getting the level of "Service" I am paying for, I have stayed with Pipex for its "unlimited usage", not only this, I stayed and am looking forward to my Pipex Max 8Mb connection, but fail to see any benefit of staying if you intend on "restricting" my speeds.

Please advise asap, if these restrictions are to be held against my account indefinately, please could you advise what options I have, or how I would go about cancelling my service in order to move to another ISP.

kind regards

Damian Byrne"

A World of Alternatives

Almost been a month since I last blogged, it's not down to the fact that I've had nothing to say, but to the fact I've had no time to say it.....

So I'll be sure to report on the Villa/Blues Game, The engagement party (although can't remember too much apart from SWMBO giving orders to the boss and the fantastic DJ),

Any Hooo

As Taoski recently blogged on an alternative to iTunes, it got me thinking about the other alternatives. He mentioned Yamipod (which I thought was iPods for people living in Wolverhampton).

I have been "mostly" using;
Anapod Explorer as an alternative to iTunes.
Firefox as an alternative to Internet Explorer
Google Calendar instead of ..... Nothing (not quite ready to quit Outlook as I use it at work)

Some other useful apps and links to get me through the day are;

Desktask - Displays Outlook Calendar items and tasks on your desktop
Scribble - Handmade and handwritten cards that get there next day - perfect when you're stuck in the office and forget your Boss'/Monster-in-Law/Missus/Mistress/Masters' birthday/wedding/bar-mitzvah (I have Outlook and Google calendar so really have no excuse - nor do I know anyone Jewish - That I know of).

2 Days and Counting




2 days until the engagement party, where the Byrne clan descending from Ireland/England (with a more recent small input from Jamaica) meet the Wilks clan.

If this hasnt been stress, I dont know what is, I remember someone saying "How much" to the buffet caterers, shortly followed by "We'll do it our bloody selves".

Now then, how do you cater for 150 people with a normal sized oven and normal sized kitchen, we (They) had the brilliant idea to get the family to help, so come Friday its off aon a massive shopping trip with SWMBO, then deliver the food stuff to the aunties and come home and start to prepare my own stuff.

If thats not enough, we cant make the sandwiches until Saturday or they'll go hard (sod that I say), as well as get pretty for the evening.

Now I wish we'd have paid the caterers for the stress, I've even resorted to going to the gym EVERY DAY!!!!!! to get away from it all.

Never again - Ever

3 -Sixty

Although I'm not a big fan of the XBox, Mainly due to Mossy is constantly slagging off my wonderful amazing PS2, (despite the fact Singstar and Buzz isn't available for his lesser console).

I'm still interested in the Xbox360 now the hype has settled

From Tao's constant rantings about how happy he is to be "360 Enabled". Its got me thinking. Maybe Just Maybe...

Now the PS3 launch has been put delayed to November, I can put that on my Christmas list to SWMBO and possibly purchase the 360.

The only thing that puts me off with the whole "Next Generation Console" saga, is the price of the games, and the lack of "Modding them"

However, Engadget and Max Console report the firmware has now been hacked, although the hackers are refusing to release the code to allow one to do this. (The video proof of it working can be found on any bittorrent site such as mininova - "Xbox 360 DVD Hack - 18.74mb")

... Must ... Resist ... Shopping...

(Note to Mother-in-Law: Yes I think an Xbox 360 would make a great engagement present for me and SWMBO - Hint Hint)

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)