LostCarPark's Journal

Seeing Chrome through the Windows...

2009-07-09T22:25:59Z

Unless you're ignoring all IT related news (very wise) you'll have heard Google's announcement of their new Chrome OS (I'd post a link, but you might as well just Google for it). Initially aimed at Netbooks, Google hope to later take a slice of the Desktop OS pie later.

So what's in it for Google? After all they're not charging for Chrome OS (or for that matter, Chrome Browser)? Sure, they get money when we look at websites that almost certainly contain Google ads, but they get that anyway when we use a different OS and browser (except for those of us who have installed ad-blocking software).

However, when we look at the web through Google's browser and/or OS, we can potentially be giving Google so much more information about our browsing and general computing activities, and that information becomes incredibly powerful when it comes to delivering us tailored advertising. I'm sure Google won't collect or use that kind of information without asking our permission (with their famous "Please read this, it's not the usual yada-yada"), but I'm sure they'll be working on ever more ingenius carrots to tempt us to give them our consent. There are some wonderful things coming out of Google labs, so perhaps the juciest will be reserved for those complient users who tick the yes box (hmmm, perhaps our government could learn a thing or to about holding referenda from them).

If it takes off, is there a danger that we'll just replace Microsoft dominance with Google dominance?

But that's probably just me being paranoid. I'm actually looking forward to trying it out. It's Linux based, which is surely good. I expect Google will start giving higher priority to getting out Linux versions of it's applications for a start.

The future is good. The future is Chrome. The only price is your soul.

Samual Beckett Bridge (again)

2009-06-24T08:30:58Z

Samual Beckett Bridge (again)
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

Someone left a gate open, providing an unobstructed view of the new bridge. I think it looks fantastic, especially on such a nice day.

Pleasent discovery

2009-06-20T18:18:09Z

Got back from the dentist (got the main root work done, so while not exactly fun, at least the worst is over), to find a dead cat lying on my drive. At first it was a bit of a mystery as to how it got there, but it was exactly where my car had been parked all week, so I suspect it was sick and crawled under the car to die, and I drove off earlier without noticing it. I don't really have anywhere suitable to bury it in my garden, so I wrapped it in a couple of black plastic sacks and put it in my bin. I decided to spare you photographic evidence (I don't think it would go down too well on LOLCats).

Libertad

2009-06-18T12:58:59Z

Libertad
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

Argentinian frigate Libertad, visiting Dublin this week.

Samual Beckett Bridge

2009-06-18T12:54:06Z

Samual Beckett Bridge
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

The new bridge over the Liffey in it's closed position for the first time. It will be a few months before anyone gets to cross it though.

Liffey Ferry

2009-06-18T12:47:01Z

Liffey Ferry
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

The Liffey Flyer Ferry that carries passengers between the two halves of the Docklands area on either side of the river.

Spirit of Docklands

2009-06-18T12:40:28Z

Spirit of Docklands
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

Cruise boat that runs tours along the Liffey in Dublin.

Dreamwidth

2009-06-17T22:28:42Z

If anyone wants a Dreamwidth invite code, I have two available. Leave a comment or email me.

Oh and while I'm at it, if anyone is on Dreamwidth already, leave your ID in a comment and I'll friend you.

Anyone in Newcastle?

2009-05-24T15:02:16Z

I've been taking part in a project for Lego called "My Way". The project entails building Lego models of famous UK landmarks, then taking them to a school for the schoolchildren to dismantle and to build something else out of the pieces. For my bit of it I built a 1m tall model of the Angel of the North. A few people have already seen the photos, but I can't show them publicly until Lego have got their publicity out of the project.

I'll be in Newcastle visiting a school on the 1st June (Monday week), but my flight home isn't till Tuesday morning. Anyone in Newcastle want to meet up for a beer or two on Monday eventing?

Second, I don't mind paying £43 for a Travelodge, but if anyone in the area has a sofa I could borrow, I feel it's money that could be better spent on beer. Don't you?

Samuel Beckett Bridge Arrived

2009-05-13T16:26:50Z

Samuel Beckett Bridge Arrived
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

There's a great big bridge parked just outside my office. Unfortunately we don't have any windows facing out that way, so I had pop outside to have a look. It's going to be moored there for a few weeks until it's ready to be popped on its pivot in the middle of the river.

Dead Seal

2009-05-10T16:37:30Z

Dead Seal
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

Came across this poor dead seal washed up on the beach. Probably got caught in a fishing net.

Anyone in Sheffield?

2009-04-09T15:59:15Z

Is anyone from Sheffield area going to Eastercon and not left yet? If so, could you text me on +353868595554 please? Pretty please? I'll buy you a pint!

Anyone need a bed for Eastercon LX?

2009-02-23T00:23:10Z

Okay, I probably should have sorted this about ten months ago, but you know me...

Is anyone looking for a room-share for Eastercon? I'm booked into a twin room at the Midland hotel, staying Friday to Monday.

Movie Night

2008-12-29T13:23:06Z

Apologies to anyone who hasn't been invited by other means. I'm having a "movie & pizza night" in my house on Friday 2nd January. Anyone who knows me and can make it to Drogheda is welcome (lifts from Drogheda train/bus station are easily facilitated). There's plenty of room to stay over if you need to.

I should have plenty of food, but additional snacks are always welcome. Also, feel free to bring a favourite DVD or two and we can debate what to watch.

Please reply or email or text me (contact details should be on my profile page) so I have an idea of how many to expect.

Happy Christmas!

2008-12-25T16:07:06Z

Happy Christmas everyone.

I hope you all made it onto the "nice" list!

James

Facebook Pet Peeves #1

2008-12-10T20:34:51Z

One thing that bugs me is getting invites to Facebook applications that duplicate existing "default" Facebook applications or widely used ones. I don't need three different apps for keeping track of people's birthdays, or five different walls or a dozen different types of "poke". And I only need one application to keep track of my library, and while Visual Bookshelf isn't from Facebook, it does seem to be the most widely used.

I think Facebook ought to have a more effective policing system for new applications, and part of that policing should include a refusal to allow new applications if they duplicate the functionality of an existing one.

Of course, a second requirement should be to show how they will guarantee that user data will be safeguarded, but that's a topic for an entirely different pet peeve.

Lego Mem by Comic Artists

2008-11-25T01:06:02Z

My collection of Lego Minifig Sketches went through a major growth spurt at the weekend. I'm uploading them over the next few days.

I'm particularly fond of Michael Lark's Daredevil:

But there are some even better ones still to come.

Enjoy!

Eleventh Doctor Chosen?

2008-11-25T00:58:26Z

Rumour mill is saying Paterson Joseph has been offered the role of the Eleventh Doctor, and has accepted. I met Rich Johnston at Dublin Comic Con and he said his sources were solid (but then, he would, wouldn't he?).

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18930

So it must be true!

I thought he was fantastic in Neverwhere, so if it's true, I won't be complaining.

James

In the Paper!

2008-11-17T00:48:51Z

I got a mention in Saturday's Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2008/1115/1226408678818.html

Strange request...

2008-11-17T00:10:34Z

A friend has asked if I know if I know anyone who knows anything about edible freshwater plants. Of the top of my head, I can't think of anyone, but I thought I should put the word out in case someone is an expert and it's never come up. Or in case someone knows someone who knows someone...

If anyone can help, please let me know and I'll put you in contact.

I understand it's for a college project, before you ask.

Hello I'm an Advert

2008-11-15T00:31:55Z

I'm catching up on the latest PC vs Mac ads on Youtube.

I think this one has to be my favourite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GWYaviIzCU&feature=related

"Ask not what Vista can do for you, ask what you can buy for Vista!"

This one about UAC is great too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuqZ8AqmLPY&feature=related

However, why should PCs and Macs have all the fun? Linux has joined the club (sponsored by Sun):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDgEdcFTquM&feature=related

Best of all have to be the South Park versions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_kGL3M5Cg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-22EpQOm8c&feature=related

"Screw you guys, I gotta take a memory dump."

Hay Covers in Kerry

2008-11-06T17:54:51Z

Hay Covers in Kerry
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

Not my photo, a friend passed it on after finding it in a magazine. I think there must be a Lego fan among the Kerry farmers.

Vista :-( Linux :-)

2008-11-06T00:39:47Z

My sister killed her old laptop in an unfortunate "spilt milk" accident. Fortunately it was covered by the extended warrenty/insurance she'd taken out. They collected it from her, checked it out, declared it deceased, then sent her vouchers for a new one.

She's left the replacement with me for the last few days to "set it up" for her. Of course it has Vista on it, I thought about putting XP on, but her dislike of Vista isn't as passionate as mine, so it didn't seem worth the effort, so I'm just trying to make it as bearable as possible. Nuked Norton trialware and installed AVG free. Nuked Internet Explorer (well hid - you can't uninstall it without breaking windows) and installed Firefox, nuked MS Works and installed OpenOffice. Nuked MS Live messenger and installed Pidgen. That covers the basics.

For some reason, I couldn't get it to copy any of the above from my network. It would connect to the network and browse for files, but as soon as I tried to copy anything, I got "permission denied". Go figure. Disabling UAC didn't help. As the only reason for connecting to the network was to copy those files, I abandoned it and stuck them on a USB drive.

Meanwhile I'm having much more fun with Linux. After experimenting with several alternative distros on the EeePC, I've gone back to the default Xandros. Everything else I've tried has had incomplete hardware support, and took much longer to boot. A shame, as Ubuntu in particular had some nice extra features. Even the Xandros "advanced desktop" mode (or for anyone familiar with Linux desktops, KDE) adds about five seconds to the boot time. So far I've found nothing that comes close to the ten seconds that the standard Xandros/IceWM manages, which I have to say is an impressive achievement on the part of the Asus developers.

Instead of a shiny new distro, I've been experimenting with customising the standard desktop, and have come up with a few useful scripts. I almost have a script working that sets the Eee clock speed to a battery saving 630Mhz when on battery power, but switches up to a speedy 900Mhz on mains power (the EeePC has a 900Mhz processor underclocked to 630Mhz to help it achieve a decent battery life). There's just one part of it that's giving trouble with file permissions that I think I just need to find the right start-up script to insert a fix.

Oh, and I've just finished making a wallpaper image of some milk bottles with a red "no" sign for Brenda's wallpaper.

Now I must get back to my novel...

Neil Gaiman

2008-11-01T12:44:06Z

Neil Gaiman
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

Neil Gaiman reads the Graveyard Book to an enthralled audience at his Dublin signing.

Neil Gaiman

2008-11-01T12:41:33Z

Neil Gaiman
Originally uploaded by LostCarPark.

Neil Gaiman reading from The Graveyard Book at Easons, Dublin.