A Donkey on the Edge

So does anyone else find it absurd that the framers of the DVD standards decided it would be 'versatile' to have every crummy little post-production house design human-computer interfaces? I mean, I was amazed when when my new telly just set itself up automatically with a clear and helpful on-screen menu. Let's see... oh it's just taken about fifteen years for the VHS makers to get the interface to video recording right. You'd think someone at Sony might have twigged and suggested that there might be interface guidelines to help the lowly film company get it right, or even better, why not just have a standard interface?

I'll tell you, it doesn't feel very 'versatile' when every time i put a DVD in the machine I have to work out some bloody cryptic interface (and you thought the web was bad) just to play a damn film.

14:50:10 - Nick and Clem kiss me goodbye and disappear out the front door.

14:50:30 - Twenty seconds later hear sickening skid followed by loud impact.

14:50:32 - Rush out door in bare feet.

It wasn't them. Phew, my heart hasn't gone like this since I was mugged in New York ten years ago...

When you live in the country trees matter.

When you live in a town full of bricks, concrete and tarmac, they matter even more.

We have seen recently many noble and beautiful trees destroyed in uncaring developments to build ever more ugly blocks of flats... There are laws to protect certain trees by applying Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) but as in so much government, it's not the lack of laws--the laws exist, it's how you choose to apply them.

Here in Budleigh Salterton the developers follow the letter of the law--asking permission of the District Tree Officer--but since these Officers spend almost all their working days dealing with developers they start to see their job as one designed to help the developer. "yea, that's OK Frank, go ahead and cut 'em down". We, taxpayers, who pay their salaries, and we, the local elected councillors, are not consulted even on the most visible and sensitive sites. The latest brutal felling caused so much local upset, we now have the heads of local government coming to a town meeting to see how we can handle this better.

When you live in the country trees matter.

This material ?Jed Falby 2003

OK, Chris reckons a blog that passes the hat is cheap, dirty, rude and pointless, but Caroline likes the idea of helping the little guy publish against all odds.

If this offends you please let me know, but in any case, here goes nothing...

More fantastic spam, this time, from Italy, home of the longer-lasting Channel No5. Is it just me or are these people cheeky in the extreme

We would like to take this opportunity to offer you our fine selection of Italian crafted Rolex Timepieces.You can view our large selection of Rolexes (including Breitling, Tag Heuer, Cartier etc)

So they sell luxury watches right? So what does "Italian crafted" mean?

As we are the direct manufacturers, you are guaranteed of lowest prices and highest quality each and every time you purchase from us.

Or, in other words, they manufacture counterfeit goods:-) I've had a look at the site and found the IWC copies very convincing, and at $60 a pop i could just be tempted...

In London, and the bike is good:-)

Oh! Ma Melody
Ma Melody Nelson
Aimable petite conne
Tu étais la condition
Sine qua non
De ma raison