More Stamps

I have really gotten into stamps since Michele mentioned the James Bond Stamps recently. So I was over browsing on the US Postal Site and saw some cool Star Wars stamps, I joined up and tried to buy some but their credit card payment system is down at the moment. So that is a real bummer.

I've just been over to Michele blog only to see a post about the very same star wars stamps I was looking at. The internet is a small world!

Stamps

I got home this evening with a numb head. The cold had chilled me right through. I soon thawed out when I saw that my James Bond stamps have arrived!

They are cool!!!

So now I am eating a Yorkie and watching the famous Manchester United.

Nice

Tom Cruise Skit

Check out this Skit of the Tom Cruise Scientology Video. It's good clean fun.

Rich text edit controls!

I've spent the evening looking for a rich text editor for an online CMS I'm developing. Exactly like the one I am using here!

Does anyone know of one???

Smoking the weed.

If you want to smoke the weed you have to normally meet someone unsavoury and purchase the ganja but not in the lil ole U S of A. You can go to a vending machine!!! So in the country where you can do life for having small amounts of drugs, you can now get your medicinal ganja from a vending machine.

It's a great idea because getting drugs is difficult ;o)

Aurora Australis

I come along here and write my little heart out and then Gary drops me a mail and tells me he has an article on Wikipedia! Check it out, it's about the first book published and bound in the Antartic, Aurora Australis.

Nice work Gary, keep up the good work.

And your article has dragged this blog out of the gutter once again :o)

Today's Running

I went out today and did a relatively quick 3k run. By relative I mean quicker than I have been doing this year so far. I did it in 17 minutes, which is about 5.39 per km. I'd like to bring that under 5 for any 10ks I do.

Tomorrow I hope to get out and do a sub 30 minute 5k.

Driving Test - The result!

I had my pre-test and I was shocking it was like I was an alien who had never seen a primative wheeled vehicle before. I jumped and spluttered around the roads. It was a shambles.

I went in for the test and the tester really put me at ease. I was better than the pre-test but I wasn't great and I made a mess of reversing around a corner, which sealed the deal. I failed!

Next time I will pass because i know what to expect. All in all a good experience!

Goths

Check out the story about the Goths who were banned from the bus. I just don't know where to start on this one but being led around on a chain!!! Come on people!!!

Nikola Tesla

My sister send me a link to a past life application on the pointless Facebook site. I did it. And after it had duped me into coopting 15 of my friends into it I got the results and I am Nikola Tesla, so prepare to feel my wrath.

Now I have read about Tesla on many occassions and he seemed to be a mad scientist, but in a good way (ignore the death ray).

So I am proud that a random application has said I am Tesla, and I apologise to his family, I mean my family for not carrying on the Tesla legacy!

Driving Test

It is the night before the big day. Do you think I can past my test first time? I think I have a realistic chance of passing it, I'd give myself an 80% chance of passing it. I just need to drive like I have been driving and don't let the day phase me!

I will let you all know how I get on!

Urban Dictionary

The Urban Dictionary is a pretty cool site for looking up new terms that the kids are saying. I just got a mail from my good friend Bren Roche and he got himself an entry in the dictionary for Negative Listener.

Booyah Bren, you are now officially famous!

Misspell this!

I went to log into my blog and was accosted with some bible thumping Christianity!

I had slightly misspelled the name, don't make that mistake, unless you want a new bible!

Ingenius Idea

There are a lot of things going on in the world aimed at reducing our carbon footprint. A lot of these are quite negative, don't do this, tax that, etc. but some boffins have come up with an ingenius idea.

They are going to use a giant kite to help power ships around the world. I'd call it a sail, but they are the scientists! It is a great way of using old school technologies with new technological developments to help the world, congrats!

More Paypal

Spent tonight working on Paypal. Frustrating!!! Off to bed now!

More Running

I went out in horrible conditions on Saturday and did 3k. I did it in about 18 minutes. Not quick but it was wet and mucky and I nearly lost my shoe in a few puddles.

I went out and did 8k today. It didn't rain but it was very wet. I couldn't get my patella strap right for about 5k so that was uncomfortable. I also struggled with pains on both legs. I think it's the peroneus but I'm not a doctor. It did it in a very very slow 55 minutes. Aerobically it was easy but the muscle pains were off-putting.

I will hopefully get out this week to keep up the hard work

Comedy Gold!

I've always been a bit of an late bird and always watched lots of crap on latenight television. There was one show that I used to watch over 10 years ago that was actually worth waiting up for. It was called "In bed with Medinner".

I remember seeing a show about Disco Dancing and nearly dying with laughter. I recently got a link to that very show on youtube. And here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Another one of those days

Today I worked hard, and got a lot of work done. The WCF is coming together nicely.

I'm having accounatncy troubles at the moment. Why oh why do accountants and the rules of accountancy not make any sense?

Just make it simple!!!

Wordpress & windows

I installed Wordpress recently over on Redpages but then I went to go and update the theme. The problem is there is a known issue with it and I get a PHP violation error. I was told by my hosts that I need to run a linux server to have wordpress blog work properly.

So this sucks. I don't want to change to a linux host because I am a .Net developer. I'm not going back to PHP!!! Not without a fight anyway!

Cool Garda

I was on my way into work this morning and as I was filtering through traffic a Garda called me over. I went over thinking I had done something wrong.

He just said to me to use the bus lane, avoid filtering where you can, most drivers don't use their mirrors and it's all about self preservation for us bikers.

Cool Guy!

Apple do it again

Apple are at it again. Check out their new laptop. It is a superslim amazing looking piece of gadgetry. My old Dell here seems like something Fred Flintstone might use!

I think it is so cool I may even purchase a Mac!!!

One of those days.

Today was a long day by my standards. I was in work until after 7. I am working on a WCF Framework at the moment and it really is a pain in the backside. When a small problem strikes it takes the whole day to fix it. In today's case it took all day to not fix it.

I guess when it settles down it will all be worthwhile but I will definitely be putting together some good tutorials on WCF Services and .Net Framework 3.0 and N-Tier development, just because I couldn't find any.

No I'm off to play with Joomla.

Olafur Gottskalksson

What a strange Icelandic name. There is something stranger about his story though. He was a professional footballer with a decent career. He was even capped for Iceland. He was about 35 and playing second fiddle for Torquay United when the drug testers came.

His was the random player to be tested but he refused. He then asked to see the list of banned substances. He then ran away, he disappeared and left Torquay and his life and girlfriend behind.

Check him out on Wikipedia.

Northern Lights

After seeing the film The Golden Compass a few weeks back I decided to get the books and have a read. The film is based on the book Northern Lights by Philip Pullman.

Normally you expect some differences from the book to the film but in this case it's a whole different story. The story has a completely different point. It's up there with the Bourne Trilogy for films having little relation to the books.

If you liked the film, read the book, it's better, it's edgier and it's more rewarding.

Saturday running

I did a wonderful 5k on Saturday, it was a slow 6.30 pace which is very very slow but it was good to be out there. I am going to aim to get under 40 minutes for the Sportsword 5 mile which is in May.

Warning - some loser does something

I was sent this link by Bren a few days ago and I dismissed it at first but it just came back to me as I was checking the news on Sky News.

I really dislike (I'm avoiding the word hate) so called comedians who stage stunts like this. It just annoys me because it is such attention seeking nonsense.

It reminds me of the 'comedy terrorist' Aaron Barschak. Don't worry the article I've linked to is by Jon Ronson so it will be intriguing

What have I become

I saw an article about James Bond stamps over on Michele's blog. I then checked it out and purchased a set. Does this mean I have become a stamp collector? A philatelist? What will my mother think?

Wordpress!

It is really easy to use and I got it set up on Redpages without much fuss. So keep and eye out to see what is happening over there. If I ever get to do anything!

No support

Don't you hate when you are working on something and you are stuck because of a support issue and there is no-one there past 5 o'clock. I was installing wordpress and I was having problems with the database. My control panel hasn't been working properly so I'm stuck here not able to do what I wanted tonight.

Of course I can get in touch tomorrow and get it sorted but I want it NOW!!!

To all of those with too much business...

Over the last few months I have come across a couple of occasions where some businesses were too busy for my business. In one case a painter was too busy to even call my mother even though he had arranged to do so on a number of occasions.

Today I rang a bike shop to get my bike serviced and was asked a few questions about my bike and then he said, we are too busy, we're only taking in bikes we have sold. Charming! Why did he ask me all the questions about the bike?

There will be times ahead when you won't have as much business and the people you have treated right will come back again and again, so have a bit of foresight and at least call us back, or tell us straight up if you can't take our business

1944

When was the last person convicted of witchcraft in the UK. 1944! Can you "Adam & Eve" it? Check out all about Helen Duncan here.

It is very strange and scary how close minded the law still is. For all we know there are lots of crazy laws ready to convict people.

Next they will say you can't kill people!

You muppet Clarkson!!!

I quite like Jeremy Clarkson. He speaks his mind and he is very knowledgeable about what he does. But recently he published his own bank details in his column to prove that the government losing your bank details was no big deal...

Well someone only set up a direct debit from his account!

Bu thanks Jeremy for showing us how slack the security is on direct debits. I will be keeping an even closer eye on my bank accounts.

The day after

After Sunday's 5k I was expecting to have a few aches and pains but all is well. I will go out for a run at some stage tomorrow. I'm feeling very positive at the moment and I hope to do a 5 mile or 10k race in the next 2 months.

I've been wearing my orthothics constantly now. I used to not wear them some days but I think that could have been part of the problem.

I'll keep you posted.

Running Wild

I went out this morning in the cold cold winter's air and did a 5k run. I did it in 31.10 which is not great but it's the first time I've run that distance in at least 6 months.

I was wearing a patella strap which was uncomfortable after about 2k, but a slight adjustment and it went fine.

I will have some stiff legs in the morning but I have no knee pain so that's all good.

If I can do a decent 10k this year I will be very happy!

What a day!

It was snowing this morning, I had to wait 25 minutes for a bus, they made me work in work. The cheek of them.

But do you know what, it ain't all bad. I'm at home in the warmth, kicking back watching TV. So when you have a day where you feel miserable, try to spare a thought for the people out on the streets. The people with no choices, in dead end situations.

I'm becoming a tree hugging hippy!

Peace

It's Snowing

It wasn't a white Christmas but a very white new year. I don't think I will be taking the bike to work tomorrow. Unless I can get a ski to attach to the front wheel (how much fun would that be).

Big kids rule the world

If you had something very important that had to be traded and sold and affected everybody on the planet, wouldn't you make sure that there were clear rules and guidelines and that there were procedures in place to make sure everything was above board?

Except of course if you were talking about oil. Some moron traded oil at over $100 a barrell just to be the first person who did it.

Dangerous and childish

Am I worth it?

I saw it today, nominations for the Irish Blog Awards are open for 2008. I wonder will I get a nomination.

I'm going to try and get this blog of mine into the top million on Technorati. First Ireland, then the world

Missed Call

I had a missed call on my phone on New Year's Day. It was an international number stating with + 234. I just checked and it's Nigeria.

I don't know anyone from Nigeria or in Nigeria. I wonder what they wanted and I wonder where they got the number.

Does anyone know how to put your phone number on your company website without this happening?

New Year - New you!

It's 2008 and it's nearly time to get back to reality after a week or so off work.

It will be strange doing the morning commute tomorrow. I'm hoping the freeflow at the M50 at Lucan should save me some time in the morning.

So what resolutions have you made for this year?? This year I've not resolved to do anything major just less procrastinating (but i'll start that tomorrow) and just to be more organised about everything. I would like to do a few races this year too but only if my knee works.

So more reading, more exercise, less junk food. Easy eh?