1. THAT documentary about the BNP – or is that all I need to say?
2. The freak shattered glass trauma on the train last night – blood but nothing serious.
3. The weekend looming.
Month: July 2004
bookmark_borderRFID
Further to the radio tagging of Japanese school children, I came across an interesting article on Wired which discusses the rise of RFID (electronic tagging) in the consumer marketplace. It covers most angles, including why the tags will be of huge importance to retailers, of great interest to manufacturers and may be troublesome for consumers.
From a retailer’s point of view, stock control will be complete and automated. Manufacturer’s will have a better idea what you bought, when and some info to ascertain why. For consumers it could be good, the idea of walking round a shop and then straight to your car – with your account debited automatically – sounds great, but the possibility of paying more for an item because stock is low is a bit of a kick in the teeth.
As for the privacy issues, I can see how this technology could be abused easily, but the article actually hints at the solution:
“Manufacturers and retailers get the in-store benefits of RFID but devise convenient ways to kill the tags before shoppers leave the store.”
Whether or not the manufacturers and retailers – the people with the money and therefore the power in this equation – would be happy with that kind of solution, watching billions of potential market tie-ins disappear, is another matter altogether.
Me? I’m classic early adopter, although I am becoming more cautious in my old age, so I’d like to see these kind of systems introduced sooner rather than later. With the caveat that privacy will be assured of course.
bookmark_borderDark Sides of the Moon
Has anyone bought and tried Pink Floyd’s surround sound version of Dark Side of the Moon?
If so, was it any good?
bookmark_borderBosom Buddies
Making new friends can be tricky, it depends a lot on the circumstances of your initial meeting, or the shared company you keep, or whatever it was that brought you together.
Take, for example, my new friend. Well acquaintance is probably more accurate. In saying that, I guess it would be fairer still to say that “woman who gets the same train as me” is entirely more accurate again. However it is possible to create a bond with someone like her, sometimes it can take the simplest… er… event.
A couple of nights ago, heading home from work, I boarded the train, took my seat, skipped forward a few tracks for something more suitable and settled back to doze my way home. The train, as ever, was busy and I was thankfully to get a seat. I closed my eyes and in that same moment felt someone, or something, tap me on the shoulder. I jerked my head around to see what it was and found myself staring down the top of a fairly well endowed woman. She had just stooped to put her bag on the floor next to me, catching me on the shoulder with it on the way down (the bag, not her “endowment”).
I very quickly turned to face front again, blushing every so slightly, and determined to avoid her gaze. A few stops later she moved to a seat behind me, sparing my blushes.
Then last night, as I glanced up the platform I spotted her again. In the same instant she turned, our eyes met and I’m sure I caught a flicker of a smile before she turned away. Rumbled.
As it happens, she lives in Hamilton too, or at least gets off at the same station as I do. Louise picks me up from the station each evening and I pointed her out:
“That’s her.”
“Ohhh I see what you mean, nice boobs.”
bookmark_borderFlat
Not sure if the weekend is to blame but I’m flat, down and empty. No will to do anything, be anywhere. I can’t even sleep.
I dream of sheep, counting themselves to mock me.
I dream of sleeping an endless sleep.
I dream of never ‘having’ to again.
To sleep.
bookmark_borderCentrally Heated
Last winter our heating system started showing signs that it was giving up the ghost. It’s an old back boiler system and must be at least twenty five years old. We replaced the pump when we moved in as a running repair but knew that we’d have to get a new central heating system at some point.
That time has arrived.
So last night we had a man from C.H.A.S. (Central Heating Advisory Service) out to the house, and tonight Scottish Gas make their pitch, before a couple of smaller local firms come in to give us quotes.
The man from C.H.A.S. was friendly enough and alluded to recent European rulings governing emissions (stemming from the Kyoto agreement) as to why we were doing this at the right time. Seemingly we’d be forced to upgrade the boiler anyway soon. Not sure how they ‘force’ you to do something like that but there you go. So now, it would seem, is the time for us to get this work done, he assured us. Doubly so as there is a current copper and steel shortage which is forcing up the prices.
A combi-boiler will need to be fitted in the kitchen, but at least we lose the monstrosity of a fireplace we currently have – we will be upgrading to one of those wee hole in the wall type fires if we can find one we like that is UNDER £1500!
The one thing that shocked us both, and the reason we are comfortable losing the “buy now” £100 discount offered by the man from C.H.A.S., was the price. Almost £3k. Which doesn’t include rebuilding one of the kitchen units, the new gas fire and re-decorating the living room. Admittedly it was “high efficiency” boiler he priced us for, but I see little point scrimping on something as expensive, and required, as this.
What say you? Am I being fleeced? I guess time will tell once I get some more quotes in, but I’m wary I have to say.