Month: January 2005

Introspection

Some questions.

1. Anyone having a problem with my Site Feed? It SHOULD be listing the full post but doesn’t appear to be working. This is a WordPress issue (I think) but I’ve no idea how to fix it. The WordPress Support Forum is quiet on this one and don’t even get me started on the documentation. DOH DOH DOH. Why didn’t I think of that?
Many thanks to Ian and David for their prompt, and correct, responses. I just wish it had been a bit less obvious so I wouldn’t feel quite so thick. Anyhoo, FULL Site Feed is now available and if you used the link on the left you shouldn’t have to change a thing.

2. Greyscale (grayscale) – I’d LOVE to have those Flickr photos on the left there available in greyscale – is it possible? CSS (yeah yeah I know, IE only filters are available) what about a clever PHP script??

3. Is there a specific reason why my comments level has dropped off so dramatically? Is it the content? Actually, don’t answer that one, I know the answer. You guys are really hard to please!! 😉

EDIT: OK, this last one spanks of “Validate me!” so much I was gonna delete it. But I won’t. I want to remember the day when I SANK THIS LOW!!!

Christ, I need a beer.

January 28, 2005

A letter

Dear Lloyds TSB,

Firstly I’d like to thank you for giving me a mortgage at a great rate. I’m saving over £100 a month by switching to you and I’m truly grateful.

However you might want to take a look at your internet banking facility. I’m sure a lot of people have no problem using it, but I think I’ve found a flaw. See if you mistype or forget your password, and your “memorable information” has to be, by your decision, an alphanumeric combination (which isn’t ever going to be memorable now, is it… pet’s name and birthdate or something? I mean, come ON!) then the chances are you may forget that as well. Up to this point the system works fine, you can create a new password, and phone a support line to have it activated. Perhaps this is a bit much but hey, I’m all for a secure system.

Only problem is that the only way I can be ‘validated’ is – after confirming my name, address, inside leg measurement and so on – to describe some transactions that have been through the account. Ohh but they have to be real transactions, you know, not direct debits or anything (I did ask the jolly support lady why a direct debit wasn’t deemed ‘real’ and, of course, she explained that “that     was    how    the    system    worked” – yes she said it slowly so I’d u n d e r s t a n d) so I’m stumped as I only use the account to transfer money into to pay my mortgage.

I was given two options, either make some ‘real’ transactions with the account or I could get a letter delivered which would require further phone calls. What a wonderful system. Thank you.

Yours in bewilderment,

Gordon McLean

———

OK, so I should have remembered the login information but I’ve only accessed the site once before. I can tell them the account number and password (but they won’t let me, you know, for security, they are obviously worried that someone hacks their phone system or that they can’t trace calls coming into their.. CALL centre), how much should be in it, how many payments I’ve made into the account but no, they weren’t ‘real’ transactions. Fuckwittery of the highest order if you ask me.

I’ve use several other secure online facilities. If I forget details at ANY of those I can have the system assign a new password, send it out by email, and require validation on the site. If they can do it, WHY CAN’T LLOYDS TSB!

/rant

January 28, 2005

Always Remember

Whilst I didn’t post about it here I was aware of the services and memorials going on to mark Holocaust Day. I wonder if this is a better way to remember war and all it’s atrocities, rather than Remembrance Day. Whilst I have absolutely no idea what it was/is like to be in a war, it might be better for current and future generations to be focussed on stopping anything like the Holocaust from happening again but what have we learned from Auschwitz?. Hopefully to always remember.

January 28, 2005

The Aviator

Movie info from IMDB
Movie reviews from Metacritic

Took some time out tonight to head to the cinema to catch Howard Hughes story, The Aviator. Jolly good it was too (as Katharine was wont to say). The acting is delivered well, the pacing whilst slow in places pulls you through the movie at a comfortable speed and the whole thing just felt very very well done.

Almost in tribute to the perfectionist that Hughes was, the joy here is in the detail. The visual impact of the movie is well handled – moving from two tone Technicolor at the start through to full colour towards the end – as is the sound – the sequence when Hughes is eating lunch with Senator Brewster is aurally enough to make me slightly repulsed as Hughes is – and the special effects are so well handled that, for possibly the first time in a movie, I easily accepted them into the flow of the movie (I think that is a sign that whilst the eye can still tell when special effects are being used, we are becoming more accustomed to them and don’t jar as much as we used to… maybe).

Nominated for 11 Oscars and from what I could see they all deserve the nomination, particularly for Best Director and Best Cinematography. They might not all deserve to win one, mind you, but this is very much a film that is greater than the sum of it’s parts. Won’t be for everyone but if you enjoy a well made movie, catch this one.

Film details from IMDB.

January 27, 2005

Ivan Noble

I’ve linked to his diary on the BBC News site a couple of times over the past couple of years, today he signs off for the last time.

I have written it ahead of time because I knew there would be a point when I was not well enough to continue.

That time has now come.

What I wanted to do with this column was try to prove that it was possible to survive and beat cancer and not to be crushed by it.

Even though I have to take my leave now, I feel like I managed it.

I have not been defeated.

January 27, 2005

Oh Shush

Eh?

Yes I know I said I was cutting down on my caffeine.

What?

Yes it IS my third cup in the last hour.

Hmm?

Well I was awake until 2am, and I really REALLY need to get this work done, so if you don’t mind…

Err.. I dunno… go check out the Bloggies or something… yes they are online … and yes the voting deadline has been extended until Thursday February 3rd.

Honestly, some people.

*slams door*

January 27, 2005