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Comment Re:idiot (Score 1) 577

I wholeheartedly agree. In this case exactly the right thing happened. The Police acted appropriately, and everything is OK with the world.

What is sad is that the parent post (currently) isn't top-rated, instead it's some off-topic nonsense. WTF?

By all means have a go when stupid laws shaft innocent people, but when sensible laws shaft idiots, then there is nothing to complain about.

Comment Not Facebook - Simon Cowell (Score 5, Insightful) 362

"a testiment to the organisational power of social networking sites like Facebook"

I think that might be going a bit far. What it is testament to is that we're all fed up of shitty pop.

Previously, we've all been too fragmented, "I don't like shitty pop, but I do like cool jazz" (etc.) so (as with many democratic systems) the thing that the largest people like (which also happens to be the thing the largest number of people also dislike) ends up getting branded "good".

What happened here was that, pretty much by accident, someone found something that everyone sort-of likes (Killing in the name of) and were able to use as a banner behind which to mass to express how much we dislike bloody x-factor. I, myself, have been not buying X-factor records for many years and have had absolutely zero effect on anything, This year I bought two copies of Killing in the name of (I song I like) (and the second one was a mistake, bloody iTunes) and now can delude myself into thinking I might have had some small influence on Simon Cowell.

Next time he's putting together an identikit pop star perhaps he'll pause for a moment and think "Should I make this one staggeringly hopelessly bland? No, I'll raise my game and just make it very bland". Which is, at least, a step in the right direction.

And (back to the point I started with), they tried this game last year, but chose Rick Astley. And even with the "organisational power of social networking sites like Facebook", they failed.

I think Facebook was probably fairly low down the list of causes for this. I think the real things that helped here are:

1) Wide spread public anger
2) Choosing the right song
3) The BBC (where I heard about it)

Comment The downward spiral. (Score 1) 174

This isn't too much of a surprise, GW are notorious for not really understanding all this crazy new "internet" crap. Indeed, they've only recently put up a website that isn't total rubbish (although it is close).

"What, people are talking about our products, unshackled by our munificent control? Sue them to buggery!"

Yet another staggering own goal that further tarnishes a once great company. Bankruptcy cannot be far away unless they hire at least one person who actually uses the internet.

Comment Don't Go! (Score 0, Flamebait) 1095

My top tip is "Stay at home", London is a dump (much like the rest of England) and is not even slightly worth visiting.

If you really want the experience of traveling to England:

1) Get your hoover bag, open it, inhale deeply
2) Go outside, roll around in the mud for a bit
3) Empty your wallet onto the floor
4) Get your neighbour to punch you in the face.

Voila, same outcome, but you've saved yourself some time and an airfare.

Comment Are you insane? (Score 1) 932

I've only had to be sysadmin for one person (my father) and that (until recently) was enough of a pain in the arse. How do you cope with 7?

Anyway, I have solved my problem pretty easily. Last time his machine ground to a halt under the weight of virii, malware and windows rot, I told him it was broken and then he need to buy a Mac. He did so (although he complained a bit about the cost) and (touch wood) I haven't had to deal with a single support incident since.

Comment Re:Look before you leap (Score 4, Insightful) 783

>The way I see it, the purpose of life is to do what you want, enjoy doing it, and enjoy helping others do the same. It is very unfortunate that this does not happen.

I enjoy seeing my children have food to eat and clothes to wear. I enjoy being able to take them out to exciting places. I enjoy being able to send them to school. I enjoy keeping them safe in a reasonable house. My wife enjoys being able to stay at home and look after them.

All of these things are possible because of the cash I earn at a job I don't enjoy.

So, while universal joy is a good aim, in the real world it doesn't usually work like that. You have to choose which bits of your life you are going to enjoy and which bits you are going to endure.

Comment WTF? (Score 1, Insightful) 584

Who on earth thinks drinking coffee while driving could ever be a good idea?

How do you change gear?

I applaud this law.

When you're in the car driving, that's what you should do, drive. *Not* eat sandwiches, drink coffee, play computer games, telephone, etc. etc. Doing so not only puts your stupid life at risk but mine as well.

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