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January 27, 2006
Something old, something new(ish)
The old thing
And the not so old thing, relatively speaking
Posted by dottie at 3:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2006
Is Google now Evil?
Google has just announced that it plans to roll out a version of Google for China. This special version is tailor made so that the chinese government can censor all search results so that they dont contain any reference to counter-revolutionary topics such as the Tianamen Square massacre, real history, etc.. Also not included are blogging, email and other such tools.
Apparently the company went through 'an excruciating internal debate' but finally decided, in the words of Andrew McLaughlin, senior policy counsel, "We firmly believe, with our culture of innovation, Google can make meaningful and positive contributions to the already impressive pace of development in China."
To the hard core this sounds like Google is selling out. To me it sounds like hey are trying to change the system from the inside. OK, again for the purists this is doomed to fail as you never achieve the goal you set out to achieve. The final result is a compromise.
What the purists miss though, is that the other side needs to compromise also. Even a small advance would make a big difference for freedom of speech in China. And who knows what abuses of the Google API will be slipped under the Radar by those clever Chinese hackers.
Opportunity.
So are Google now evil? Nah, they may have done a deal with the devil, but the devil doesn't know what's ahead for it. Nobody does - we are talking about technology here, who knows what the next innovation will bring. It could well bring WiFi through gravity waves, or entanglement 'spooky action' based communication devices that make distance no obstacle. By then the Chinese people will notice if their internet gets taken away and they won't take bullshit answers anymore.
Posted by dottie at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2006
More squeam?
I was back in the hospital again today getting xrays and checks.
The bone is still straight - no slippage, as you can see:
I'm just a bit worried about the pin that is close to my knuckle though, it seems awfully close to the joint. I want to be able to play the guitar for many years to come, if the joint gets damaged by this I'll have to learn left hand guitar.
Hopefully, it should be fine - fingers crossed ;)
Plus the wound around the pin nearest the knuckle is a little bit infected (apparently there is 100% 'complications' with external fixators {learnt a new term today..} so nothing to worry about.
They gave me a perscription for MAJOR antibiotics adn told me it would only be another four weeks before I could get the blasted things out.
I'm going to ask them for the hardware when its done - I want to frame it and hang it on the wall as a reminder!
Posted by dottie at 2:30 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2006
My bionic hand (sort of)
I always remember the scene in Star Wars (which I saw in the cinema for my birthday thanks to my mum) where Luke has had his hand cut off by Vader and the ship robot patched him up with a robotic arm.
I learned later of Lugh Ildana, a celtic warrior that had had his hand cut off and replaced by a magical silver hand. He even had a sword of light. Read some of his legend here
Coincidence? I let you decide
Anyway, I had my dressings changed on my hand the other day and X-rays taken (healing nicely thank you). I will have the metal in my hand for a few weeks more, just to ensure that my finger sets straight and true.
I managed to get some shots of the hardware in place.
Posted by dottie at 3:03 PM | Comments (0)
Mouth music car ad
Honda advert using only mouth music for sound track
Posted by dottie at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2006
New couch new life?
Did I tell you it was great having a couch and all?
I totally watch TV until dawn and develop curvature of the spine through bad posture now.
And the best part is, I brought it on myself!
Yay to being a home owner!
Posted by dottie at 2:56 AM | Comments (0)
Same old same old
I was evicted (well, actually treated like a dog that had found its way in from the street) from my office this monday. This means that I havent been able to work for te last week. Bad news, quiet January and pending contracts - clients questioning deadlines, possible loss of earnings.. NOT a good start to 2006.
Relative to the actions of the person who did it, it is the cherry on the pie. The insane cherry on the curdled cream pie of intelligence.
I would love to posture and threaten right now but I havent got the heart. The motivation and the energy certainly, but I know where that particular road follows thank you...
I will be working from my apartment for the time being. Which is my idea of hell.
The best I can do to alleviate the stress of never leaving home and rarely talking to another human being is to get up early each morning and walk at least half an hour before 'arriving into work'.
I hope this will last long enough to get fit before the badness sets in...
If anyone has a line on cheap office space in Dublin please let me know.
Ta, luv yiz all.
Posted by dottie at 2:45 AM | Comments (0)
Broadband again...
Finally got broadband switched on in my apartment today.
Yay.
Try to remain seated everyone, this may be a roiugh ride. You may see some things you are not accustomed to, please cover the childrens eyes....
Cue the broadband blues.... ;)
Posted by dottie at 2:27 AM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
Intentional or not?
This is the official poster for a new production of the kids musical 'Bugsy Malone'.
I ask you though, what were they thinking?
Posted by dottie at 6:45 PM | Comments (0)
Housewarming
Thanks to everyone who came along and made Friday night such fun.
Everyone had a great time - there was lots of beer drank, some dancing, chatting and even complaints from the neighbours (they declined my invitation to join the party).
The usual before and after shots - before:
and after
Here's to many more!
Posted by dottie at 5:55 PM | Comments (0)
Sticks and stones
Through my own stupidity I managed to break the little finger on my left hand. When I say broken, I mean more than a fracture, the bone of the proximal phalange (that is the bone closest to your hand) was completely broken through.
Of course I only found this out after sitting in A+E in the Mater from 5 in the morning until 1:30pm the next day.
Eventually the doctors told me to 'present myself' at the St Peters day ward at 7:30am the next morning and to ensure that I had fasted for at least 12 hours.
Fasting is fine, often I would not have breakfast until late in the day. The problem isn't food, the problem is liquids. When they say fasting they mean nothing past your lips. No water. Nothing.
So thirsty and hungry I made my way on foot up to the Mater - I had to take my left arm out of the jacket sleeve and hold it in my jacket as I couldnt put my injured hand into my pocket to keep it warm. With no food in my belly it was damn cold - all the puddles were frozen.
I eventually got a bed in the ward (after some confusion - I was a pencil in candidate for a cancelled bed) and was almost immediately told to don the robe of shame (just managed to keep my nether regions from prying eyes - those hospital bed curtains NEVER close properly...).
The worst part of the experience was waiting in the anaesthesia room. The anaesthesiologist was hovering around with big needles. I have no problem with needles per se, its sticking the needles into the crook of my arm that I have a problem with - makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. Stupid I know but that's phobia for you.
They finally gave me the sedatives through the drip line and then proceeded to stick big nasty needles into my left hand twisting them this way and that to deliver some serious pain killers. Ouch, but not skin crawl inducing so OK.
All I remember is someone coming in and saying 'maybe we will give him a general anaesthetic'. After that I woke up in a different place with my hand all bandaged.
I now have two metal pins sticking out of my hand secured by a metal bar holding the bone steady so that it will set straight.
I am cyborg! Bow before me puny humans!
Anyway, I'll be getting the pins out on the 17th and I'll make sure I post some photos of the extraction - maybe even some video!
Posted by dottie at 5:29 PM | Comments (0)
January 7, 2006
When it comes to money...
Trust nobody.
My good mate Stephen who was running the pub Soul28 just got severly fucked over by his business partner and uncle.
So he is no longer running the pub. Downstairs from me now where there would normally be decent bands and dance DJ's playing we have in their place a very poor wedding DJ playing all the hits from the eighties and nineties.
Fucking hell. Its like a bad dream. Someone wake me up.
Posted by dottie at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
January 6, 2006
The King of New York
Mick Kelly finally got to New York, living the dream. Well, living in the basement of an old church in a semi-heated workshop in Brooklyn. Myself and Adam bought him a notebook as a present - I'm thinking now we should have bought him four pairs of gloves and a few jumpers!
I thought this photo was apt as the bottles remind me of skyscrapers.
Fuggedaboudit! He's the King of NooYawk!
Posted by dottie at 2:52 PM | Comments (0)
Official Housewarming
The Official official housewarming for my new flat is tonight.
Should be good - hopefully there will be more than a couple of people showing their faces this time!
Its great to start off on a high note with a big session (or another big session as the case may be!).
I have to admit to being worried about paying the mortgage every month. I should be OK though as in a way this is the second home I have helped purchase...
Posted by dottie at 2:26 PM | Comments (0)
Laying Down the Law
Posted by dottie at 2:08 PM | Comments (0)