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5th Grade Reporter Interviews Senator Joe Biden

Michael Jordan

Blogging with my iPhone

So I have been trying a few other blogging services and found that they are very good.

I have used Tumblr, which I believe is the easiest blogging system to use for quick and easy musings from the Internet.

However, I have now decided to look for stuff to help me blog from my iPhone. I found Cellspin (www.cellspin.net) and I think this application and online platform are brilliant.

I am not really a fan of orange and the online GUI needs a little tweeking here and there to make it user friendly. However, the iPhone applications (which I am writing this on) is excellent.

Not only is the GUI nice and slick it is also very simple and uncluttered. Within two taps on my iPhone I can be writing a new post, recording audio or taking a photo.

I was even extremely impressed with the ability to sign up from my iPhone app. I didn't need my computer once to sign up for an account. I could also add a number of blogging and social networking sites.

I don't believe this app is a one stop shop for all your blogging or social networking status updates. It is a great tool to add to your arsenal to enable you to keep up to date.

I would love to hear other peoples opinions on this application.

Slider

Ignorance or Stupidity?

This weekend was my partners birthday, so we decided that a trip to Meadowhall would be in order for her to buy some stuff. A friend of ours came with, the problem was she had broken her foot so she was on crutches. Now been on crutches is not fun really, especially when you have never been on crutches before. I would guess that a good majority of people learnt how to walk or use crutches at a younger age. Needless to say she was not good on crutches.

Now my partner can be a little bit helpful of other people, in fact she is extremely helpful to the needy. So she is very aware of people in wheelchairs, on crutches, who are deaf or blind etc. So this day oout was going to be a slow one but we all new this, unfortunately no one else in the whole shopping mall gives to hootds about people with a disability, whether it is a temporary one like a broken foot or someone who is wheelchair bound for life.

We spent half the day with the crutches and the other half we got a free wheelchair from the nice people at Meadowhall Customer services. I was amazed or more to the point appalled at the general publics in ability to move out of the way from someone who had a mobility problem. People would cut across her when she was on crutches making her stop when she finds it hard to get moving or just stop walking completely and gaze into a shop window wishing they could buy the very expensive outfit or computer console.

This did not just happen to us. Now that I am aware of people with mobility problems I saw more people on crutches, in wheelchairs or who had general mobility problems. I was completely disgusted by the reaction and the ignorance that it is alright to walk in front of people like that.

On reflection I thought to myself it is alright blaming everyone else but I must remember that my eyes have just been opened that day to the ignorance and stupidity, I was once those people!

My definition of cute

Baseball 3531, originally uploaded by The Nico.

So what is your definition of cute?

Niagara Falls

So I had the chance to go to see Niagara Falls. I must say the place was not as commercialised as I first thought it would be. You are allowed to access the falls without having to pay extortionate prices. The parking was reasonable, but I think that is were people make a lot of money. The minute you drive into Niagara (the Canadian side) there are several people with signs saying 'Parking'. In some cases they will walk out in front of the car just incase you did not see their signs. Well lucky for us we found a great place to park for the full day only $12 CAD.

The place is extremely alive. It has everything from Casinos to Coca Cola store etc. I think at one point I saw a fair, a Marvel comic building. Oh there is everything, but the point of the trip does not always seem to be the falls. Everyone comes has a relatively quick look at the falls and then they disappear into the many attractions either for food or entertainment. I would expect that it is no different from the American side either. We did not go on the boat ride into the falls for two reason. Firstly, there were thousands of people lined up to go on the boats. It would have taken the whole day to get on the boat. Secondly, I did not fancy getting my camera equipment soaking wet.

Some of these stores sell many different things from beaver hats, t-shirts etc. to water from the falls. They even managed to capture the coloured light into the bottle. This clearly proves how stupid or easily marketed people can be. Also the other thing that amazed me was how much genuine hand made items were made in china. Well enough negativity, here are a few pictures from the falls.

Americana Falls



Those are people in the yellow!




Horseshoe Falls



On the larger version of this you can see one of the Maid of the Mist boats cruising into the falls.

Fairy...

Fairy 1, originally uploaded by Magoo23.

Yesterday (June, 12th) we went up to my girlfriends parents house. Her mother has cultivated a beautiful garden and so I decided that I needed to take a few photos of the flower and plants in the garden.

As I was wondering around I found a little fairy sitting in one of the pots. I forgot that she pus things like this into her garden. It was such a delight to find this little lady in the garden.

Taken with thanks...

Poppies 24, originally uploaded by Magoo23.

I was out on a photography trip on Sunday (10th June) when I saw some beautiful poppies in a local village. I drove past thinking they would be lovely to get a few photos of, however, they were difficult to get to unless I trespassed on the property. So I carried on driving and found a little way down the road some more poppies in a field. These weren't as nice but I settled for second best.

Once I had finished taking a photos I remembered I needed to get some stuff to a friend of mine. So I turned the car around and headed back along the road. As I was doing so I thought about those first poppies. When I was pulling into the village the lady that owned the house was waving at me. So I slowed down and opened my window. She asked me if I wanted to take some photos of the poppies in her garden (well in the field next to her garden). I was delighted and took her up on her offer. I pulled the car up and snapped the attached pictures.

I found out that she had seen me drive past looking at the poppies and then saw me down the road in a field with my camera. I thought I was further away than that but obviously not. Her husband was intrigued with what I was doing and suggested a few times to return and take some more pictures. I think he may have enjoyed photography or still does. We carried on talking for a while and I said I would get them a few prints of the photos. They were delighted that I would do this for them. I thought it was the least I could do for them seems as they had allowed me to go on their property and take the pictures. Now it is just a matter of getting the prints done and up to them.

I was delighted that there are people out there that are willing to help and talk with you. I always imagined most people would be a little more reserved, unwilling and unhelpful. But I suppose that is the problem with imagining and assumptions. Or maybe it is due to the television and all the horror stories one can hear.

Either way next time I may try asking instead of settling for second best.

Flickr

Created with Paul's flickrSLiDR.

My Latest Photos

These photos where taken up on a local hillside called Belmount (aka. Belmont) near Belton Village & Belton House. You can see more of my pictures of Belton on my Flickr page.

Philadelphia 76ers

So yesterday (10th April 2007) I went to my first Sixers game and my first NBA game. What an awesome game! ! ! We arrived at the stadium after taking an interesting taxi ride in an authentic Philly taxi. The guy smoked like a chimney, drove like a mad man, had the deepest Philly accented voice anyone could have and his Notre Dame Irish cap on backwards. We arrived just after 18:00hrs we went straight into the stadium. We go to the box office to enquire about getting better seats for the game upon arrival at the box office we are confronted by a guy behind the glass, we explained it was out first time here, our first NBA & Sixers game and my birthday. The guy looked at the tickets and said, with a note of exasperation, "Your on the floor, you can't get any better seats!". Now with this knew knowledge we headed into the stadium.



I went straight to the merchandise stand and bought myself a 76ers 2006 draft flex-fit cap & a Sixers hooded sweatshirt. So 100 bucks later we are making our way to the food stands. We buy some chicken strips, crab fries and a large soda. We are now on our way to our seats. It was a "look around with mouth wide open" moment. There was so much to see we had sensory overload! We ate our food and we went in turn to walk the sideline. The player were on the court warming up, they were right there almost touchable. I walked down the sideline inches away from the team bench to the media section on the sideline, there were lights, cameras monitors etc. everywhere. Seven mintues later the game starts, the player are introduced onto the court the referees join them and the game is underway.



Well the first two quarters were easy quarters for the Sixers with the Pacers failing at all but a few attempts to score. The Sixers were consistently 9 - 11 points ahead. The third quarter did not go so well for the Sixers they were losing by one point for a few minutes but then kept a steady 4 - 6 points lead. In the final quarter the Pacers began to find their feet, but the Sixers resisted all attempt by the Pacers. The last five minutes were a series of time outs and fouling by the Pacers in their last ditch attempt at winning. But inevitably the Sixers won 90 - 86.

My Photowalk

Two days ago I decided to walk home from walk. On my way I thought to myself I will take some photos, it was a nice evening a little cool but nothing strange. This was the first time I had decided to do a photowalk without any planning. So I set off with my camera in hand.

On my way home I have to walk through the main park in my town. This was one of the reasons I thought of taking photos. It is a reasonably nice park. However, today I was to be stopped by the local constabulary. I was taking photos of some ducks, I then changed lens to do some wide angle shots of the WWII gateway the army marched through. I started to compose my shot when a police officer walked through the gate. So I lowered my camera ready to recompose my shot. He then stopped and started asking me questions.

"Were you taking pictures of us?" he said,

"No" I said "Just taking pictures of the ducks and the gateway"

"Oh" he said

To this his partner walks up and says "You weren't taking pictures to put onto the internet?"

"No, I was taking pictures of the ducks and this gateway. Why?" I said,

"It is just the fact that he has had pictures taken of him before an plastered all over the internet" she said.

They then said "good evening" and walked back to their car. It was quite uneventful really but a very strange thing to happen. Of course it would happen to me on my first impromptu photowalk.

It really amazed me how people react to cameras being around. OK, that police officer had had a bad experience. However, a few minutes later I was taking this picture...









...when a young lad about 16/17ish was walking up the path. He then scooted off the path, not strange I know, but then continued to glare at me for some reason. He looked very annoyed.

Anyway, as I said before not that exciting but interesting the reaction from people. I must be more careful of people around me and what I could potentially be accused of photographing.

Funeral Day

So today is the day of grans funeral. A little bit of a strange day so far, but I think the strangest thing is going into the funeral directors to take photos of the flowers and coffin (closed casket).

The place always feels so quiet and still. Even when you have walked from outside where there are cars and people everywhere, the normal noises of a busy town. The is nothingness inside, complete quiet sometime you wonder whether words will come out when you talk.

Either way it is not the nicest of places to be but I needed to take the photos as my grandfather and father are not here for the funeral. Fortunately she past away when my grandfather went on a break to South Africa. I think it would have been very hard for him of he was here. He has a lot more friends down in Malawi and South Africa, and they all supported him.

The Flowers

Her name plate

Phyllis Gwendolen Bridle, 1926 - 2007

Well I have not blogged obviously since the last time. However, this weekend was a strange one due to my gran dying on Sunday morning. It was not a sudden thing she had Alzheimer's disease and was diagnosed approx. two years ago. It was inevitable that she would go and she had a gradual move down hill. However, over the past six weeks she rapidly disappeared. Realistically she was gone mentally years prior. She did not recognise her son (my father) or myself. She somewhat recognised my grandfather but that came and went.

She was born in Scollard, Alberta, Canada on the 18th September 1926, Phyllis Gwendolen Kite she was a Jehovah's Witness. Her father, Mr Cyril John Kite, was a farmer from Welwyn, Hertfordshire, UK and her mum, Adele Mathilda Emblem, came from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, B.C. She was married to Peter Langford Bridle, from Derbyshire, UK, on the 9th August, 1953 in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island. They moved to Malawi to become missionaries where they had their one and only son Paul David Bridle (my father).

Phyllis Gwendolen Kite

Mr & Mrs Peter Langford Bridle

I wanted to post an entry to mark the time when she left this physical world and finally met her creator. Sunday 4th March 2007 @ 9.30am. R.I.P

Me and the Seagull

This has got to be the funniest thing that could happen. There we are (Dad & I) sat in our hotel room, downtown Vancouver, waiting to Skype are partners. When Dad turns to me and says have a look at this, pointing wildly towards the window. So being as nosy as I am I had to see what it was. So I look over and sat in the window is the very large bird, staring into the room. So carefully, I asked Dad to pass me the camera that was next to him on the table. He cautiously passes the camera over to me, and I cautiously take a few pictures of this bird. I eventually get a bit more daring and stand up and so does Dad. The bird just sits staring back at us. I think this bird will go home tonight to it's family, sit down quietly and tell the whole family the story of standing watching these two stupid humans pointing and laughing and taking pictures. Well of all the things that you could do in Vancouver. You can look at the mountains, go shopping or walk around the beautiful city. But not us, we are in hysterics over a bird sat on our window ledge!

One Baby and Photoshop

This dude photoshopped his kid. These are so funny!

One Huge Bed

This bed was made for me. I have a really problem when I sleep, I have this ability to move around the bed and end up across the bottom. In this bed I could move as much as I want without disturbing my girlfriend. Awesome!!

Future by Design Trailer, William Gazecki Director

Porky Pig

This is awesome!

The Tibetan book of the Dead (part two)

The Tibetan book of the Dead (part one)

Royal Scot

Mom Said I Could

Deaf American Footballer

Michael J Fox

British Sign Language

Excellent !!! for hearing and D/deaf

NFL's Most Painful

When Things Go Too Far!

I have just read a blog posting at zdnet.com about Muslims being offended by Apple 5th Ave store, due to it resembling the Ka'ba in Mecca. I do not ascribe to any religion for many reasons, that does not mean I hate people who believe in a religion, I just do not ascribe to worship of a higher being. Now I do believe that there is something greater than us. So this post is not intended to offend anyone.


I feel this is going a little too far. For some people this is the Holy Grail of stores, the Mecca of Apple Stores. People in general use these religious symbols or places to convey the feeling they have for this place. I would also bet that the designer did not think "I am going to rip off the Ka'ba so I can offend Muslims". There are many structures that are square in design. Why be offended about something that most people would not know resembles the Ka'ba.


The basis of this is that people need to stop being so sensitive. I believe that everyone can live together, just a little bit of understanding and loss of the belief that "I am right" would go along way.


Full Article

UPDATE!!


Maybe I was wrong to react. I maybe I was too sensitive. Have a look at this blog post.

Slide Share

This looks like a great online app to share presentation. This would work well for trainers.

Apple iPhone

I was looking through Digg.com under the Apple section. And found this great post. I think the iPhone is so close to its unveiling. It would be amazing. Accept I am becoming more and more annoyed with phones that do 101 things. If they where compatible then it would be great.

Now that the iPhone is so close, I think that it will work seemlessly with my brand spanking new Macbook Pro 17". An all-in-one device would be gret as long as it worked and was not the size of a breeze block.

I hope this will happen soon, due to the fact that my contract will finish soon.

Movie Mistakes

Steve Irwin's Embarassing Mistakes

It is such a pity a man full of life was stopped in full flow. What a great man? He was a really environmentalist.

Best Penalty Ever

Canadian Apologies

She really speaks out

Another video found on YouTube via digg.com.

Amazing Shot

I found this on You Tube via Digg.com. This is the most unbelievable shots I have ever seen.

Black Telephone Box

Black Telephone Box
Originally uploaded by Magoo23.

I have had my first trip to London to have a look at the tourist attractions. I have been to London to go to Oxford Street, however, have never been to see the Houses of Parliament or The Tower of London.

Palm at dawn

Palm Dawn
Originally uploaded by Magoo23.

One very beautiful morning in Orlando out the back of the villa. I loved having a swim in the morning.

Italia

Well Done Italy!

Oh Yes!

France 1 - Portugal 0

Need I say more?

England Go Out!!

I really hate penalties, they are the worst thing for football. It is not a representation of the hard work of the game.

And the big question:

Was it really a red card?

Apple Discount Announce Winners

I found this website on digg.com about Apple Discount announcing their contest winners. All of the ideas that are illustrated by the winners are fantastic. I think that these are the best, but check it out.

Nike+iPod (Nano)





This looks to be the most amazing combination that I have seen in a long time. Ok maybe the Mac move to Intel was good but this is amazing. I love it because I love sport and studied Sport Science at University. What an amazing way to use your iPod!!!!




It has a wireless module on the bottom of the iPod Nano that reads the info from the sensor in the shoe. You can then sync your information with iTunes and NikePlus and get analysis of your workout. Go to http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/ or http://www.nikeplus.com/ for more information.

I was absolutely horrified when I read this article from 'The Consumerist' website:

One detail that we missed in the on-going Bausch & Lomb eye fungus scandal is that the Health Ministry of Singapore had reported several cases of a corneal fungus since November 2004. Commonality between sufferers? Bausch & Lomb’s ReNu with MoistureLoc Multi-Purpose Solution for contact lenses.

Still, because the ReNu formula wasn’t currently causing American customers to go blind, Bausch & Lomb decided to just ignore the problem. Which, as we all know, has led to 109 people almost going blind as their eyes are replaced with a socket full of itchy, flesh-eating fungus.

What was Bausch & Lomb’s justification for ruining the lives of people who put their trust in them? According to B&L, they didn’t feel they needed to initiate an American recall because the Singapore solution was made in a different plant

God, we hope these scumbags get taken for billions in the upcoming class-action lawsuit.

Article Source: www.consumerist.com

Wooden Computer Mods

I was viewing Digg.com the other day and found this story, posted by Hankmt, about wooden computer mods.

Here is a picture from the site:

View Website

New Japanese Red Maple Bonsai

Well for Bank Holiday Monday we bought a new bonsai. It completely dwarfs my original birthday bonsai, by a good 8 inches. The Maple is called 'Chokkan Dai', Chokkan means formal, straight trunk, and Dai means over 24 inches tall.

Bonsai

I have finally got a Bonsai tree. I have looked at Bonai's for a long time now and finally I have received one for my birthday.

It is a lovely 12 years old Chinese Elm. It has two trunks with a rock in between them. From what I have read it is a Moyogi Dai. Moyogi means 'informal, upright, trunk changing direction' and Dai means my tree is 24 - 40'' from base to apex.

As soon as I have pictures that will do my Bonsai justice, I will upload it ASAP.

**UPDATE**

Lego Stadium

These lego creations are awesome. More pictures available at:

http://funmansion.com/html/Lego-Arena.html

Awesome Chalk Pavement Drawings





These pictures are amazing. Take alook on the website. (Note: You will need to scroll the page down).

Apples new products. Are they really worth it?


Now I love Apple, I love my iPod and I also love music, however, is there any real point in the new iPod Hi-Fi? You can dock it to charge it and play music. As far as I can ascertain, you can't control the iPod like front row and you can't do any AV out. You would probably be better off getting the AV connection kit from Apple or the Griffin Tune center. Now I understand that saying that is good if you have a video iPod. But my partner has a mini and she uses the dock that sits on our TV. All we would really need to do is invest into a home theatre sound system for our TV and for Apple to update the iPod software for better control using the remote. So, do you really need the iPod Hi-Fi or just invest in some small portable speakers for the kitchen etc?

So I am not a big fan of the iPod Hi-Fi, but this little puppy is amazing. Trash the DVD player and replace with this. Not only does it have the intel core duo/solo, it connects to your TV, streams shared music and is beautiful. Genius, pure genius.

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

You Are 50% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

How Evil Are You?

This would be the best product to date. Hope the battery is the same as the 5G or better. Also the screen scratching issue needs to be resolved before the consumer will be willing to buy. Still an amazing product.












































Pictures from "ipod-fullscreen.blogspot.com".

"What is your Greatest Fear?"

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from out fear, our presences automatically liberates others.

- Marrianne Williamson

South Park Fun


I have had so much fun on this site Create A Character. Me as a convict great fun.

Automator

If you are a Mac geek like me then this will probably be old news to you. But I have now had the honor of using Automator and found some great workflows to use with Xkeys. The first is ejecting your iPod without having to be in iTunes or see your desktop.

I opened Automater and created a workflow by using Eject iPod and saved it as an application to my apps folder. Once I had downloaded Xkeys and installed it I assigned the F8 key to the application. So now I just press F8 at anytime and my iPod ejects. I did the same for 'Update iPod' and assigned it to F7. Accept this time it has to be the FN + F7 due to the function already assigned to the key.

It has just made my life easier, this is awesome.

Trip to Canada

I have now had the pleasure of visiting Toronto, Canada. Well to be more precises Georgetown, Ontario. I am actually a citizen of Canada, but this is the first time in the country. Brilliant.

What an amazing place. At the moment it is completely covered in snow, but it does not feel cold. I know you are thinking I am crazy when the temperature is -4 C. It isn't so cutting, it feels dry rather than damp like the UK in winter.

I have the pleasure of staying with Warren Evans. He has the most gorgeous house. It has 3 stories and a basement. The basement itself is the size of my houses ground floor. I will try and post some images but I forgot my bloody cable to transfer the pics, so will have to pick up a media card reader. IDIOT.

Please go and check out Warrens Website(He is a futurist and service excellence guru).

Also have a look at Susan Luke's website.