The trials of a TurboGeek

I have made the move...

2010-05-01T23:44:00.001+01:00

...to tumblr.

My blog has moved to http://turbogeek421.tumblr.com

Will be moving my domain name (www.turbogeek421.me) to point to that too.

Anyone else on tumblr? Feel free to follow, comment, or do what ever you do on tumblr.

Bye Blogger. It's been fun.

M

Scarlett Johansson in Iron Man 2

2010-04-30T11:19:00.003+01:00

So, Iron Man 2 is being released today and, after a brief chat with a stranger named @The60ftOctopus on twitter, I have decided to do every one a favour and focus on the important part of the film: Scarlett Johansson

Seriously though, I'm looking forward to seeing this movie. The first one was a really good action film, what I felt was one of the best recent comic book adaptations.

Having Scarlett on screen is just going to be a bonus.

M

Gadget Show first play of Playstation Move

2010-04-29T12:27:00.002+01:00

The dead politician

2010-04-26T11:00:00.000+01:00

While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,’ says the MP.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises....

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the MP. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning.. ...

Today you voted.'

Thanks for that one Janey

M

The Gadget Show: Web TV - iPad follow up review and more

2010-04-23T17:32:00.000+01:00

SpikedMath.com

2010-04-21T13:06:00.005+01:00

WARNING: THIS IS SOME MAJOR GEEK STUFF!

SpikedMath.com

This site is awesome! For those with a Mathematical mind, or somewhat of an advanced knowledge of the subject... You'll love this!

M

Assassin's Creed 2

2010-04-20T12:29:00.000+01:00

I recently borrowed this game, having played the original, and one word springs to mind when playing it... Improvement!

The first Assassin's Creed was visually impressive but the game play was repetitive to the point of insanity.

Ubisoft have paid attention and changed things up. All for the better.

Movement is better. Tasks and challenges are better. You can swim!

It's just nice to see a game sequel that learns from it's past mistakes.

Thumbs up for this one!

M

Play 3D games this June

2010-04-16T10:49:00.000+01:00

This summer Sony will be launching its 3D Bravia TV’s. If you happen to buy one of these TV’s, you’ll receive a voucher for a free download from the Playstation Store, allowing you to demo some of the first 3D compatible games.

Full article: Play 3D games this June

iPad vs WePad

2010-04-13T14:40:00.003+01:00

So... What's it all about? (I may regret putting text in between these 2 images. We'll see)

Everyone has heard about the new Apple iPad. It looks great/like a big ipod. I would consider buying one.

But.

I came across a German tablet PC news article (sadly, a FOX news article) and I've got to say, it looks like a definite contender. Rather than go on about it, let's look at a comparison:

Technology	WePad	Apple iPad
Display	11.6″ mit 1366×768 pixels	9.7″ mit 1024×768
Processor	1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 Pineview-M	1.0GHz Apple A4
Memory	16GB NAND Flash (optional 32GB intern/32GB SD card)	16 / 32 / 64GB
Webcam	Yes (1.3 megapixels)	No
Peripherals	2 USB integrated, Card reader, Audio outout, SIM Card Slot, Multi-Pin Connector	Adapter for Camera and Card Reader
Flash/Adobe AIR	Yes/Yes	No/No
Applications	WePad Apps and Android Apps	iTunes App Store
Multitasking	Yes	Limited (only Apple Apps)
Battery Life	Lithium-Ion Polymer (running time ca. 6 hours)	ca. 10 hours
Supported eBook Formats	All open formats, additionally premium formats (WeBook). Start at Q4/10	Proprietary Apple format for iBooks Store, Launch ???
Connections	Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi, optional 3G	Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi, optional 3G
GPS	Yes (optional)	Yes (Wi-Fi + 3G)
Case	Magnesium-Aluminium	Aluminium
Dimensions	288 x 190 x 13 mm	242.8 x 189.7 x 13.4 mm
Weight	800 g (850 g with 3G)	680 g
Further Details	Ambient Light Sensor, Motion Sensor, Stereo, Internal	Ambient Light Sensor, Motion Sensor, Stereo, Internal
Price	€449-€569 ($611-$774 USD)	$499-$829
Availability	July 2010	April/May 2010

(Thank you androidtapp.com) The WePad also has a HDMI output!

As you can see, it is a cool piece of kit.

M

Moved house and back online

2010-04-13T13:45:00.001+01:00

950 miles in a van over 4 return trips from south London to Peterborough (and 1 London to Clacton, Essex) and we are all moved up North! (Well, further up north than we were)

From a 2-bedroom flat, shared with a mate, to a 4-bedroom house all to ourselves. Myself, my girlfriend and our cats are settling nicely and are back online.

May the Intrawebs mayhem continue...

M

"The world's only immortal animal"

2010-03-30T10:29:00.001+01:00

The turritopsis nutricula species of jellyfish may be the only animal in the world to have truly discovered the fountain of youth.

Since it is capable of cycling from a mature adult stage to an immature polyp stage and back again, there may be no natural limit to its life span. Scientists say the hydrozoan jellyfish is the only known animal that can repeatedly turn back the hands of time and revert to its polyp state (its first stage of life).

Full article: The world's only immortal animal

A deeper look into Rock Band

2010-03-24T13:13:00.002Z

So, after my blog post about my Guitar Hero frustration, I decided to look more into Rock Band.

I particular the DLC, and oh my Dog!

"Gasoline" by Audioslave
"So Cold" by Breaking Benjamin
"Let Forever Be" by The Chemical Brothers
"Stupify", "Meaning of Life", "The Game", "Voices" and more by Disturbed
"We Care a Lot" by Faith No More
"The Colour and the Shape" album and other random tracks by Foo Fighters
"I Stand Alone" by Godsmack
The ENTIRE "Dr. Feelgood" album and 3 tracks from "Saints of Los Angeles" by Mötley Crüe!!
"Hysteria" by Muse
"Capital G" plus others by Nine Inch Nails
Nirvana
The Offspring
Pearl Jam
Queens of the Stone Age
Rage Against The Machine
"Blood Sugar Sex Magic" (album) by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rob Zombie
Rush
Sixx:A.M.
SlipKnot
Spinal Tap (!!!)
"Texas Flood" (album) by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Tenacious D

Why has I been so blind?!

Now, if only Rock Band had 5 pad drum tracks and it would be perfect!

24: Day 8 - 13 hours in...

2010-03-24T13:07:00.001Z

...and FINALLY something that made my mouth drop!

Apart from returning characters, everyone in the latest series of one of my favourite shows EVER has been annoying the crap out of me!

The best new character, played by Freddie Prinze Jr., is just about likeable, but he is getting better as the series progresses.

As for Katee Sackhoff... Her charater Dana is the most annoy person to ever grace CTU! At least she has finally become interesting.

And whoever said that she was "the hottie of day 8"... Give me Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O'Brian) or Annie Wersching (Renee Walker) any day.

M

New blog template/CSS

2010-03-23T13:30:00.000Z

I'm going to attempt to create a personalised template/css.

When I've got the time.

Watch this space!

M

"Video games promote hatred, racism, sexism and reward violence"

2010-03-23T12:55:00.000Z

This quote is from a video that was featured in a recent ps3attitude.com blog and it got me really quite annoyed!

Julie Peasgood. As her article on Wikipedia state:

She is the regular sex expert on The Alan Titchmarsh Show

Why she is commenting on gaming, I've got no idea.

She talks about an American study, 130,000+ kids (note that keyword!) and how they are affected by violent video games. But why were they allowing these heavy rated game to be played by kids?!

What annoys me is the fact that Tim Ingham repeatedly states that video games, like films, are legally rated. This fact is constantly ignored by the rest of the panel.

If children are getting a hold of these games, it is the fault of the parent!

Don't blame the content. Blame the people allowing unsuitable games to be played by underage children!

This is an issue that has come up time and time again. First music was corrupting the young, then it was violent movies, now it's the turn of the video games.

When are they going to stop blaming everything else and start pointing the finger where it belongs? The parents and the upbringing.

Blaming entertainment products for peoples behaviour is an easy way to shift responsibility away from the parents. After all, who is supposed to be monitoring these impressionable kids in the first place?!

I'm a fan of violent video games and (at times, very graphic) horror films. The most trouble I've ever been in? A speeding ticket in 2003. That's it.

When are these people, such as Julie Peasgood, going to get it?! Until they do, their mouths should be in the same state as their minds... Closed.

M

More on PlayStation Move: Virtual Reality Navigation

2010-03-22T12:23:00.001Z

A new Playstation Move demo, showing off just how awesome this hardware could, and most likely will, become.

M

Guitar Hero Frustration

2010-03-20T18:58:00.000Z

I got my first GH game (GH II) for PlayStation 2 from my girlfriend for Xmas 2006 and I had never heard of it... Cut to a few minutes after me starting to play it, and I'm in love with a new format of gameplay. Since then I've had GH3, GH: World Tour, GH: Metallica, GH: Greatest Hits and the latest GH5. So you could say that I'm a fan.

That is what make this blog all the more frustrating to write.

The message is simple: WHY GUITAR HERO?! WHY DO YOU ANNOY ME SO?!!

I recently had issues with my guitarhero.com online account, and it ended up with me having to use a different username and losing all the data I had built up over time. This is frustrating. I must admit though, after I complained about the initial problem online, the GH developers did get in contact with me and help me, eventually, get it into some kind of useable state (not that I think I will be using it now).

But my main bone to pick with the game is the DLC. (Almost) every week, there is new DLC for GH5. This is good. What annoys me is the fact the Rock Band also have DLC out every week and it's kicks the shit out of the GH DLC every week.

GH give you 3 tracks at about £1.70 each (can't remember the exact price).

Rock Band give you at least 6 tracks, each at 99p!

Why?! Why the price difference and why the volume difference??

Having never actually played RB, I don't know if the game is THAT much more simple/cutdown than GH or what. The only thing I know for sure is that GH have an extra drum pad to deal with. But if that was all, why THIS much of a price and volume difference??

RB: Green Day is coming out soon. Think it'll be time to try walking on the other side for a bit.

M

DeviantART Gadget on Blogspot

2010-03-17T14:14:00.010Z

Well this is annoying.

The DA gadget I use to show my gallery isn't working because the link using deviantshare.com is broken.

In fact, deviantshare.com is just made of fail.

deviantART is still win though. Just gotta either wait for the linkage to be fixed or find another way to show my gallery...

For now, it is relegated to the bottom of the sidebar.

Sorry DA gallery.

M

Picture credit: http://mick-mick.deviantart.com/art/deviantART-Mascot-Fella-PSD-5564889

(PS - I know the layout is REALLY spaced out... Quite annoying but got no time to look into it now)

Fog lights

2010-03-14T17:00:00.001Z

Why do people insist on driving around with their front fog lights on... When it's NOT foggy??!

I get that boy racers think that it looks cool (and I agree with them, but only when the car is at a stand still, on a plinth, being photographed), but why do middle age men in family cars/SUV's do it?!

My only explanation for it... Morons.

So... Avatar

2010-03-14T16:05:00.001Z

Finally got around to watching it (in 2D) yesterday, and it's... ok.

Visually, very nice. I admit I was always looking out for bits that were in the film (almost) just to show of the 3D effect. This was a good thing because it took my attention away from the very annoying plot and main bad-guy.

The idea that a corporation would be willing to wipe out an entire planet's population for mining purposes was just frustrating. It was the story of the Native American's all over again.

Basically, it's Dances with Wolves in space!

The comparisons between this film and the plot of other is quite crazy. It's like they couldn't be bothered to write an original film, but they wanted to play with 3D. The result, Avatar.

I'd watch it again, but only for background noise while I was doing something else.

And seriously... "Unobtainium"?! Until I looked it up, it just made me laugh every time it was mentioned.

Avatar on IMDB

Lady Gaga - Telephone (YouTube Video)

2010-03-12T13:06:00.001Z

Lady Gaga's newest single, featuring Beyoncé, Telephone has an epic (in Pop music standards) video. 9mins 32secs long. It's more like a mini movie.

WARNING: Possibly NSFW

Funky track. Although I'm not sure whether a long video suits it. Although I am interesting in the "to be continued..."

PlayStation Move - First Impressions

2010-03-11T10:28:00.010Z

Ok, so we are going to have people saying "It's just a copy of the Wii!" ... and I have to agree that it does have many similarities. However, PS3 has brought High Definition gaming (and movies via Blu-Ray) into the home and it is capitalising on Nintendo's great job done of bringing motion controlled gaming to the masses.

I have a Wii in my flat, right next to my PS3. When it does get played, it's fun, it's interactive, it's different.

Nintendo managed to bring this generation of console gaming to the whole family, but more hardcore gamers found the Wii a bit tiring and unfulfilling. The games were aimed at the younger market and those that were for a more adult audience still weren't up to scratch.

The shift from the Wii to the PS3 is inevitable.

So far, from what I have seen via the PlayStation GDC press conference, the focus of the PlayStation Move is very much in precision.

The demoed games, both family and "gamer" types, are looking good. In particular, I'm liking the look of a street fighting game called "Motion Fighter" (working title) (see YouTube video below).

One of the comments on this video is "wii HD=playstation move". I'm assuming they meant this as a good thing, because the interactivity of the Wii mixed with the quality gaming of the PS3, all in HD... It's a great time to be a gamer!

PlayStation Move on Wikipedia

My not so secret love affair

2010-03-10T14:05:00.009Z

...with the Dark Tower (written by Stephen King)

I love these books. I'm currently reading through them all again. (Progress shown via my GoodReads profile)

I strongly urge anyone who loves books and reading to pick up this series of novels and take a journey that means more to me than any other piece of fiction I have read or watched.

I seem to have gone a bit Gaga

2010-03-09T12:15:00.000Z

Yes, after swearing off the American pop singer as a "few-hits-wonder", I have seen the light and realised Lady Gaga for what she truly is...

The future of Pop music.

It wasn't until her 2009 release "Bad Romance" that I actually paid attention to the music she was making. Her random outfits, videos and performance were all just headline grabbing (I thought)... and they worked. But "Bad Romance" caught my attention for the simplest of reasons - It's a REALLY good Pop track!

If scientists worked out the formula for the best Pop music song that could be created, I believe that they would come up with something 99% similar to "Bad Romance". For me, it is easily the best Pop song of the last 10 (maybe more) years!

She has managed to make the sea of female Pop artists interesting. There are a few more (such as Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and Pixie Lott) that have also grabbed my attention, but Lady Gaga, for me, is standing head, shoulders, chest, hips and knees above them all.

New Playstation Goodies

2010-02-26T11:15:00.001Z

So, payday came around once again and I decided to treat myself to some Playstation 3 goodies.

I had notice last week that Burnout Paradise had some DLC (downloadable content) on sale on the PSN, so I went for it. Only after I bought it did I realise just how much I had saved! (Buying individually, £65+. Sale price, £14.99! Bargain)

So now I am working my way through Big Surf Island and it's many jumps, races and hidden treasures. Woo!

Also, I took up another sale offer and finally bought Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix!!!111oneoneoneOMGOMG

Hoping to relive the days of first getting my Super Nintendo and spending hours kicking the crap out of whatever was standing next to me!

I get the feeling it's going to be a productive weekend!

(PS - Thanks to Wikipedia, my unofficial link sponser on this blog post)

Garfield Mix and Match

2010-02-22T15:50:00.001Z

As some of you may have seen, via my Twitter account (@turbogeek421, follow me, I'm awesome) I like to part-take in a bit of Garfield-manipulation (using Gimp in my case)

This involves removing items from Garfield comic strips, either Garfield or every other character.

The result can be boring, but sometimes, it is genius!

Here are a few of mine:

Amusing right?

Whenever I do these I always post them via Twitter, so if you like them, follow me.

You can find these all over the place too, a quick Google search will bring a fortune of Garfield-full/less comic strip goodness.

Sex jokes

2010-02-10T14:07:00.000Z

Amused me:

Q: What do you call kinky sex with chocolate?
A: S&M&M.

Q: Why do we have orgasms?
A: How else would we know when to stop?

Q: Can you use indefinitely in a sentence?
A: When your balls are slapping up against her ass, you’re in...definitely!

Q: Define Transvestite:
A: A guy who likes to eat, drink and be Mary!

Q: What do a dildo and soy beans have in common?
A: They are both used as substitute meat.

Q: What do you call kids born in whorehouses?
A: Brothel sprouts.

Officer and Soldier relations

2010-02-05T14:37:00.001Z

Random joke that made me laugh. Enjoy.

Officer: "Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?"

Soldier: "Sure, buddy."

Officer: "That's no way to address an officer! Now let's try it again!"

Officer: "Soldier. Do you have change for a dollar?"

Soldier: "No, SIR!"

Pope hatred and judge cancer ... Begin rant

2010-02-04T11:00:00.000Z

Pope hatred

I'm not sure if anyway has read/hear news recently about the Pope's fresh attack on homosexuals, but I read a good response to it in the Metro this morning, that he shouldn't be allowed to visit Britain as he is inciting hatred. I completely agree with this.

Why do people of religious belief think that they can get away with such vile outbursts just because their version of history suggests these things are wrong?

It reminds me of an interesting video I saw on YouTube about an Australian reporter asking a christian priest about the bible's views on homosexuals. He brought up a good point about how a man with glasses isn't to be trusted!

Meant to be a comedy video, but kind of highlights some of the hypocrisy. (See bottom of blog for video)

My thought: Religion is fucked up!

Judge cancer

Again in the Metro today, I read a response to a story about a judge who recently reduced a paedophile's sentence as "he decided that a 'higher power' had already punished him by giving him cancer". This pisses me off!

Like the decision of release the Lockerbie bomber and Ronnie Biggs on compassionate grounds, it's bollocks!

Yes they are dying, but aren't we all?! Why should these people be let off easy because they are dying?

If I find out I've got 3 months to live and go on a killing spree, should I assume that I can then spend the rest of my days out free to do what I want because locking me away would be cruel?!

The Lockerbie bomber killed 270 people. Served 8 and a half years of a life sentence (minimum 20 years).

Ronnie Biggs beat the driver of a train with an iron bar, stole £2.6m, escaped from prison after 2 years, left the country for 36 year, came back and was imprisoned for 8 years. Served a total of 10 years of a 30 years sentence.

Why?

End of rant.

Twitter 3000

2010-02-01T13:01:00.003Z

It has been 61 days since My 2000th Tweet. The addict is not slowing down!

To mark this occasion, here is one of the cutest cat on the internet. Enjoy:

Attention those in need of web hosting

2010-02-01T11:15:00.004Z

So, some of you may know, most probably don't, I am a web developer working for a company (Advantage Interactive) that offer domain registration and web hosting.

Tomorrow (2nd Feb. 2010) is LCN's 10th birthday and for the past 9 weeks we have been running different promotions for our different products. Tomorrow starts the 10th week and the last promotion, and it is going to big a good one!

I can't go into details over it but if you are looking for email/web hosting, keep your eye on LCN tomorrow! Trust me, it'll be worth you time!

NOTE: You can follow LCN on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/lcn_com

Playstation Customer Care...

2010-01-28T15:42:00.004Z

...are brilliant!

So, back in November my PS3 died (A geek's day of mourning), and I had to get it replaced. When I called the helpline I was expecting lots of waiting, moving round to different people... Basically all you'd normally expect from support lines where you want something delivered to you.

But to my shock, I spoke to one guy and he sorted me out with a delivery for 2 days later.

Jump to now, the replacement PS3 I got decides that it should be make more noise in the flat. It's fan is horrendously loud! So loud that I can no longer watch blu-rays without having a window open and the PS3 right next to it to cool it so the fans aren't needed in overdrive.

So, just now I called the wonderful people at Playstation Customer Care, explained the problem, gave them the reference number from my previous dealings with them, and after a 13mins call (which included the time to get through to someone in the first place) I've got a delivery date of tomorrow!! Now THAT is service. And best part is that because I'm still within the 3 months warranty of the replacement model, it's all free. Can't ask for more than that.

Also, I had a concern that some content that is obtained from the Playstation Network only allows downloading onto 5 PS3s... This was slightly worry, considering this was to be my 3rd. But once again PCC come to the rescue and tell me that by decativating my PSN account on the console I'm replacing, it take it out of the pool of 5 consoles allowed.

Is there anything that can't be solved by these people?!

Staff of PCC... Your next assignment... Cancer. I'm expecting it done by the end of the month.

M

Why did the chicken cross the road?

2010-01-25T14:34:00.000Z

CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK: To boldly go where no chicken has gone before.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question.

GRANDPA: In my day, we didn’t ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

KARL MARX: It was a historical inevitability.

SADDAM HUSSEIN: This was an unprovoked act of rebellion and we were quite justified in dropping 50 tons of nerve gas on it.

RONALD REAGAN: What chicken?

DR. SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes! The chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed, I’ve not been told!

MACHIAVELLI: The point is that the chicken crossed the road. Who cares why? The end of crossing the road justifies whatever motive there was.

FREUD: The fact that you are at all concerned that the chicken crossed the road reveals your underlying sexual insecurity.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 98, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an inextricable part of eChicken.

EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What do you mean by chicken? Could you define chicken please?

IMMANUEL KANT: The chicken was acting out of a sense of duty to cross the road, as chickens have traditionally crossed roads throughout history.

THE BIBLE: And God came down from the heavens, and He said unto the chicken, Thou shalt cross the road." And the chicken crossed the road, and there was much rejoicing.

RICHARD M. NIXON: The chicken did not cross the road. I repeat, the chicken did not cross the road. I don’t know any chickens. I have never known any chickens.

M

Young (and stupid) drivers

2010-01-24T22:26:00.003Z

So... I was watching "Police, Camera, Action" and they were doing a special on boys racers and they said that the average insurance premium of the male aged 17-19 is £3,500!! (Apparently 9 times more than females in the same age bracket)

This got me thinking about something I came up with a while ago and never got round to sending it to the PM and a new law that should be imposed on new drivers...

I think that for 2 years after you have passed you test and earn your driving licence you should not be allowed to drive anything more powerful that a 1.2l engine car (or something of a similar restriction).

Too many young (rich parent) kids are learning to drive, passing their tests then getting a brand new 2.5l BMW from mummy and daddy and going out like they know how to drive. They go out, cause accidents, feel bad for 6 seconds, get a smack on the back of the hand for a lame judge and get a new car with the promise that it won't happen again.

If they learnt to actually drive on the road, get experience behind them, we might not lose as many lives pointlessly from morons who think they own the roads because they've got a piece of paper that allows them to operate a car legally.

M

My first 5k

2010-01-24T15:06:00.014Z

Date	Sunday Jan. 24th 2010
Time started	14:00
Average speed**	7.5kmph
Total time taken**	40 minutes
Showers taken	1
Food now needed	Lots
Sleep now needed	More
The feeling of finally realising I CAN do a 5k run	Priceless

M

* Given from treadmill
** Calculated from average speed given

New Twitter background

2010-01-24T00:04:00.005Z

I've created a new Twitter background in Gimp from some of my favourite pieces I've submitted to my deviantART portfolio.

I do enjoy playing with Gimp and creating/manipulating pictures.

Too bad the visible part of the background on Twitter is dependant on the size of the screen you are looking at it on.

Oh well. All fun

M

More than just my own thoughts

2010-01-21T09:38:00.000Z

After becoming a Twitter addict I've been spending my internet life finding way to blog in 140 characters. Sometimes it just isn't enough. I've also discovered that a blog isn't just for my own original thoughts and feelings. It is for sharing. So here, I'm sharing.

I just got this email from my girlfriend's mum. It made me chuckle:

Yesterday I was at my local CO-OP buying a large bag of Purina dog food for my loyal pet and was in the checkout queue when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had an elephant? So, since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in hospital last time, but that I'd lost 2 stones before I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again.

(I have to mention here that practically everyone in queue was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked me if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's arse and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

I'm now banned from the Co-op.

More of this sharing lark should be going on.

Your Blog: When Twitter just isn't enough.

New year, new ideas

2010-01-02T10:48:00.000Z

Laying in bed this morning I was reading Webdesigner Depot "The Most Popular Posts of 2009" and it's made me want to play more with web design and development. (Almost as if my new years resolutions are taking care of themselves) (I wish)

I already have a domain name (www.turbogeek421.me) that at the moment redirects to... here. I could add some web hosting to it and start playing, but as always, the issue of time, money and worry of nothing of interest to share all try to hold me back. But then again, anyone who follows me on twitter knows that I don't have a great problem with saying things that are of no interest to the masses.

Maybe I should just start with playing around with this blog template, it is a bit plain at the moment.

M

PS - Happy new year everyone

Resolutions of 2009 (A reflection of the year)

2009-12-31T16:54:00.000Z

So, last December I made the following new years resolutions: (taken from a deviantART journal entry)

- Take more photos. If I see a good target, shot it!
- Look into starting Karate again (it's been 7 long years since training stopped)
- Get (at least) 5km fit for Nov. 3rd
- Research more about what I do in my career. Better thy self.

Have I kept to them? Let's see.

Photography

I have been taking more photos, and some new work has gone up onto deviantART but not as much as I'd like. Now that I have a premium membership I hope that I'll be more productive with my photography. I may try the whole, take a picture of yourself everyday thing. Might force me to think more about it.

Karate

This one has just been flat out fail. I haven't started again. I suck.

Running

I probably could run 5km by Nov. 3rd, but I never tried. My training was going well(-ish) up until December. Kind of fell apart though. This has to be rectified, starting Jan. 2nd.

Career

Over the past year I have learnt to be more confident in myself and my abilities when it comes to my job. I'm still finding that sometimes holding myself back for too long before I force myself to "fake it 'til I make it". It's coming with time and experience, just got to keep it up.

What's in store for 2010? More of the same really, only a lot more of it. More photography, more training, more confidence in myself in my career. Nothing new, just consistent. I think it's easier to focus on things you are already doing than try to force new rules and regulations on yourself every new year.

I guess we shall see how I've done in 12 months.

Happy new year all.

M

Is it too geeky...?

2009-12-23T10:59:00.003Z

What with a new decade just around the corner, I could help but think to myself:

Lots of binary dates coming up soon!

The level of geek surprised even me!

Binary dates (in my moment of maddened mind) are the following:

Jan 1st 2010
Jan 10th 2010
Jan 11th 2010
Oct 1st 2010
Oct 10th 2010
Oct 11th 2010
Nov 1st 2010
Nov 10th 2010
Nov 11th 2010

These of course can be written as:

01/01/10 or 010110
10/01/10 or 100110
11/01/10 or 110110
...

These can also apply to 2011! Wow! 2 for the price as 1!

For the non-geeks among you that haven't got a clue what I'm on about but are in any way interested, check out the Binary Numeral System

For the rest of you... Here are a couple of ninja cats

Enjoy.

Xmas In The Name of... (The success story) #ratm4xmas

2009-12-21T09:29:00.009Z

YYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RATM RATM RATM!!!!!!! XMAS NO.1!!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!

This was my first tweet as Joe McElderry song was announced as 2009 Xmas number 2.

After all the tweeting and retweeting and trying all I could to spread the word, the (initially) Facebook campaign to bring down the 'curse of the X Factor Xmas No.1' has been lifted. A great moment in music and the first time I've been excited over the charts since I was in my early teens!

I do feel that this tweet is oh so very true...

Would RATM be no1 without Twitter? I think not. Well done Twitter! - @Oscli

Twitter played a HUGE part in this campaign, and provided a much need voice (for both sides of the 'battle')

But what got to me was the people that were attacking the idea of getting RATM to number 1:

"Both artists are under the Sony label so they are getting the money either way"

NOT THE POINT!! I, like many if not most/all, didn't buy the RATM single to try and get at the record company! Where the money ends up didn't matter! (Except for the money that RATM are donating to Shelter)

"Joe deserves the No.1 / He's worked so hard"

What has he done to deserve a free pass to a No.1 single?! Won a glorified karaoke competition!! True music artists take years to establish themselves and even then have difficulty breaking into the business.

"The RATM song isn't even xmasy"

And 'The Climb' is?!

"The song says 'Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me' but that's exactly what they are doing"

Oh dear, oh dear! But then again, 'The Climb' includes the line 'Always going to be an uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose' ... and look how that turned out.

"Yeah they can play their instruments, but they can't sing"

One of my favourites... no comment needed

This whole campaign wasn't aimed at Joe. It would've happened no matter who won. It was about people standing up and showing Simon Cowell and the X Factor that people will buy what they want and not just what is shoved down their throats by the media.

To quote Tom Morello:

Changing the charts or the world: together we can't be stopped

Merry Xmas all

Xmas In The Name of... #ratm4xmas

2009-12-15T11:37:00.006Z

So, the race for Xmas #1 is on and our (as I first thought of) unlikely contender is actually picking up pace and keeping up with the predictable option (X-Factor winner #234).

From the newspaper clipping below (taken from today's Metro, p11), Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" has been such a popular choice among the non X Factor fans that it was actually top of the iTunes download chart yesterday and many other online retailers are reporting that it features highly on their download charts too.

This is all good news.

What with Amazon confirming that their 29p download of Killing In The Name DOES count towards the charts, the 740,000+ fans of the Facebook groups in support of the song and the number of celebrities (such as Bill Bailey and Lenny Henry) supporting it too... This could be the greatest Xmas in music in quite a while!

I've bought my first copy (of possibly many)... Have you?

People die in war?!

2009-12-08T07:41:00.000Z

Why is it that when the media doesn't agree with a war, they are outraged when someone dies (well, when one of their countrymen dies anyway). I'm wondering if they'd make so much of it if they were behind the government and believe in 'the cause'.

The front pag of the Metro today holds the headline "AFGAN CONFLICT DEATHS HIT 100". Am I supposed to be shocked or surprised at this?! Whether people back the war effort or not, it is a war they are fighting. Those that join the armed forces know that they put their lives at risk and yet the media seems to find it a shock when they are causalties.

If we were all behind the government's war, would we happily accept this as an outcome of mass killing or would we still kick up a fuss?

M
(via Mobile blogage)

My 2000th Tweet

2009-12-02T11:41:00.003Z

It's only been 71 days since my 100th tweet and I've already rolled around to my 2000th!

Addict much?

A violent reaction: part two

2009-11-30T20:04:00.000Z

So it appears the following the recent black Friday, today is my grey Monday.

Is there anything that WON'T make me want to run the street red with the blood of passers-by?!

A trip to ASDA will answer that I guess.

I'm going out, I may be some time.

M
(via Mobile blogage)

A violent reaction

2009-11-30T17:26:00.000Z

You ever have days in your life where you brain just refuses to be functional? For me, today was/is one of those days.

Worst of all is that I tend to internally have too much of a go at myself over it. So now I'm left feeling like I could hit a punch bag until I passed out either from lack of energy or blood loss. As I don't fancy wearing my knuckles down to the bone and I have things to do tonight that require effort, I'll have to settle with very loud metal pounding my ear drums.

Tomorrow must be a better day.

M
(via Mobile blogage)

Posting your DeviantART gallery to Twitter

2009-11-27T09:35:00.007Z

I recently discovered someone awesome and have decided to share.

I use TwitterFeed to post new blog entries, such as this one, to my Twitter profile. This is much more efficient than having to manually go and do it myself. What TwitterFeed does is watch an RSS feed of my blog, and when it is updated, tells the (Twitter) world about it.

I wanted to do this for my deviantART gallery too. I saw that you can have an RSS feed of your DA journal, but I couldn't find anything for a deviants gallery. So I tried playing with the RSS url and guess what I did... Hacker extreme!! I managed to find the right url.

So, like with this blog, I simply added the RSS url to TwitterFeed and, like magic, all new additions to my DA gallery are now posted to my Twitter profile, with shortened link too.

Simple.

For those wishing to use this, the DA gallery RSS feed url is:

http://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?q=gallery%3A{YOUR USERNAME GOES HERE}

NOTE: For those following me and wonder why my TwitterFeed posts have #fb at the end, this is for my Facebook profile. I'm using an application called "Selective Twitter Status" that watches my Twitter updates and pulls out ones with #fb and sets it to my FB status.

All these goings on, TwitterFeed watching RSS, STS watching Twitter... I feel a bit like Big Brother.

New Deviations

2009-11-25T15:25:00.002Z

2 days in a row now I've updated my deviantart profile with new photos. (Well, I say new, they are from earlier in the year and I've only just got round to uploading them.)

I've got more to come. Going to see about uploading one a day until they are all out.

I really should take more photos. I really enjoy it and get real satisfaction from getting a good shot. It all comes down to time, and not having enough of it.

"The Hand of Frog"

2009-11-19T12:47:00.004Z

So, once again, the world of sport has proven to me that football is doing it wrong.

Last night's Ireland vs France game, that was a nail biter all the way, was turned into a circus thanks to Thierry Henry's left hand. It was a clear handball, inches from the goal. The Irish were protesting it before the ball hit the back of the net. Everyone saw it, and everyone knows what should've happen. Goal, disallowed. But instead, Ireland were robbed and will now not appear in the next world cup.

Shameful.

If this was rugby, such an incident would never have taken place. Two words: Video ref.

Rugby > Football

Note: Title not mine, taken from a radio caller last night.

PS3 games - New and revisited

2009-11-15T19:42:00.001Z

My playstation dying a couple of weeks ago actually made me play an old game again and realise just how awesome it is (again) - Guitar Hero: Metallica. Started playing drums (on hard) and it's so much fun!

Also been playing Burnout: Paradise City and Star Wars The Force Unleashed. Both fun, Burnout more so. Good old driving fast and crashing hard!

M
(Mobile blogage)

The Dollhouse is empty

2009-11-12T13:15:00.002Z

"Dollhouse" is closing its doors at Fox. The network has canceled Joss Whedon's cult fave, which in May beat the odds with a second-season pickup despite low ratings.

I am not a happy bunny!

Review - The Dirt by Mötley Crüe

2009-11-12T09:11:00.014Z

If you are not already a big Mötley Crüe fan, you will be after reading this book!

Starting at the start (where most stories begin) with Nikki Sixx looking for like minded guys to start a band to book takes us on a journey from playing a local club then rushing back to work selling light bulbs to cancelling sold-out arena tours because the guys have had a fight (often physical) and refuse to be near each other.

Soon enough, Tommy Lee, Vince Neil and Mick Mars join Nikki to create the world first Glam Metal band - Mötley Crüe

Each chapter is written by either a member of the band or someone closely related to the Crüe machine. It make interesting reading when you hear about the same events from different perspectives.

It has rocketed the band up my list of favourite music artists, only backed up further by listening to a lot more of their material.

What have I taken away from this book?

Silence is death.
The only lesson in life to learn is that there are no lessons, only life.
No one is crazier than Ozzy Osbourne!

Any rock 'n' roll fan will like this book. I challenge you not to!

Nikki Sixx's book The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star will be one of the next I read, without a doubt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dirt

Gotta love a bit of Bondage

2009-11-04T15:08:00.004Z

James Bond that is.

Finally watching my way through the complete Bond DVD box set I got a while ago. From Dr. No to Casino Royale (before Quantum of Solace was released). I've always loved James Bond film, Roger Moore being my Bond, but I am looking forward to watching Bond evolve through 45 years of film.

Now playing: Dr. No.

M

A geek's day of mourning

2009-11-04T01:10:00.003Z

Today, my Playstation 3 died.

On the day I am kicked from one club (27) and I am thrown into the group of people that have suffered the YLoD (Yellow Light of Death).

All my data, game saves that I have been creating for the last 2 years are now stuck on the hard drive that I can only access with MY Playstation, which I cannot turn on. So basically, I'm throw back to square 1.

While I get to enjoy older games all over again, the more recent games that I worked hard to accomplish different things in are wiped clean. PSN trophies are stored online, which is something at least.

The moral of the story: BACKUP YOUR GAME SAVES.

You might not think you need to, just like I always thought, but you never know when you will never them the most.

M

My last day in the club

2009-11-02T12:45:00.004Z

I have survive 364 days of The Club, and I have way through the 365th. That's right, tomorrow is my birthday and I become even older than I am right now! (I think that's how birthdays work)

I've got the whole week off work and I plan to use it. The mornings to watch films I haven't yet gotten a chance to watch and the afternoons to go out and take advantage of London. How much I stick to the 2nd part is up for debate.

I'm heading out soon to trade in some gaming items for... well... more gaming items. Hopefully it won't stop me from going out later on, but only time will tell.

I should enjoy my last day as a 27 year old. Free to do what I want, and right now, I want to go out and get some fresh air.

Chat at you later intrawebs.

M

Saturday of success

2009-10-24T13:50:00.011+01:00

Had my alarm set for 8.15am so I'd have plenty of time to wake up, get up, get onto the computer and wait for 9am. Why? Bon Jovi tickets for June 2010 were going on presale and I had an O2 code. This make for a happy me. So, 9am comes, I click on the link, go to ticketmaster and add 2 tickets to my basket (best available for £65 each), (I know!). For this price you'd expect to get really good seats and you'd have a night to remember... You'd be wrong. Row U in the back section! Total price... £149! Rip off!! Now I know it's not Bon Jovi that set the ticket prices, but it still pisses me off and puts me of seeing them in the future.

Anyway, on with the rest of the day, ticktless.

Home alone on a Saturday, what to do. Obviously, play PS3. Batman: Arkham Asylum. With only 3 tropies left to get (all connected, so I get one, I'll get the other 2 as a bonus) I played my ass off. And, you guessed it, I got the 3 trophies, completing the entire game and all achievables. It's both awesome and sad when this happens. Great because it's the culmination off my hours "hard work", but sad because there isn't anything new to do. I guess it's time to go back to Guitar Hero. Not a bad thing.

The gym followed the PS3 win. 10 minutes on the treadmill, 20 on the weights, 5 on the treadmill. Got through most of a Pendulum album (good music for the gym!). Not bad work out, now aching like a... really... achy thing.

Now home, showered, writing this (unexpectedly long) blog post, with an Oz on my lap (one of my two cats), watching Halloween (2007, Rob Zombie) and feeling hungry. Lunchtime.

M

PSN Portable ID

2009-10-23T13:00:00.002+01:00

I am such a geek!

I found out about the "Official PlayStation website: My PlayStation®Network" and I had to set it up, me being a gaming/PS3 fan and all. So here it/I am:

This is not static either, this will change the more I play/achieve. Which is nice.

EDIT: After posting I've noticed that my layout doesn't allow it to be shown in full... Will investigate.

EDIT: Changed the layout of my blog to take full advantage of the width of the browser window. Temp change? We shall see.

Review - Cross Country (James Patterson)

2009-10-21T12:43:00.003+01:00

James Patterson's 14th Alex Cross adventure takes him across the globe in search of a gang of killers that murdered an old college friend of his who was writing a book on the political corruption going on in Africa. Sounds like it going to be a good one... Or maybe not.

I've been trying to not think of the Alex Cross series as going downhill, as I have read many people believe, but this latest instalment (to my reading list) is showing to prove the theory.

While I can't really fault the book for being a page turner (a James Patterson speciality) it did seem that there were chapters for chapters sake. There was quite a pattern of 2/3 pages chapters, many of which lead right on from each other.

I'd love for this series to go back to the days of the first 7-10 books, but I'm not sure if it's going to happen.

We shall just have to see what Mr. P throws at us next in "I, Alex Cross"

New training PB... Sort of

2009-10-20T22:15:00.002+01:00

10 minutes with an average speed of 9.3km. Less time at a faster pace. Hopefully can get to around 9.5-10kmph and then start increasing my time.

Also did about 15 minutes of weights. Think I'm starting to see slight changes in my body. Should document it with photos... We'll see.

M

Review - Batman: Arkham Asylum

2009-10-20T18:00:00.005+01:00

So, the latest Playstation 3 game to take up too much of my time is Batman: Arkham Asylum. In a word, it is... Awesome!

To pick up and play this game is really very simple, kind of like all those years playing Street Fight II Turbo, button mash until you learn that you can do much more damage if you actually take care in what you are doing. It is very fluid moving, easy to learn the techniques and tricky to perfect them. After all, you don't want it being too easy to fight off 20 guys all hell bent on beating the crap out of you.

The story progresses through Joker's 'escape' into Arkham Asylum, with a little help from his friends, if you can call them that. It is up to Batman to restore order and bring down Joker. As you progress you will meet different characters, both good guys and bad, picking up characters bios as you go. These I found very interesting as I didn't know half of them! You can even listen in on patient interviews conducted within the asylum. The ramblings of Joker, The Riddler, Scarecrow, Killer Croc and more can prove a nice little break from the game.

If/when you complete the story mode, there are a number of challenges for you to complete. These are split into free fighting and predator (stealthy take-down style) modes. Both of which help hone your techniques to be used in the story mode. There are set levels of completion for each of the challenges and an online leader board to compare your efforts against.

The PSN offers some free downloadable content (which is always nice) for you to check out too. These are more challenges and the chance to play as Joker, which is well worth a go.

Throughout the game, both story and challenge, there are a number of trophies to be earned. These range from completing part of the story to performing a set number of moves in combination when fighting off Arkham crazies. Keep your eyes open for 2 in particular though, if you miss them during the story mode, you'll have to start all over again. But then again, that is not a bad thing with this game.

File sharing, my 2-clicks worth

2009-10-19T14:40:00.006+01:00

Now, let me say this right from the start, I am a Lily Allen fan. Good now that we've got that out of the way, what is the little hypocrite going on about?!

She says that it's increasingly tough for new music acts to break into the scene with more and more file sharing... This coming from someone who made it by publishing her work on myspace... Ok then. As I see it, the easier people are allowed to pass around music, the more likely you music is going to be heard. If it were down to just radio play alone like it used to be, then I wonder where Ms Allen would be today.

When it comes to piracy, I agree that if people stop buying music, going to gigs/festivals, buying merchandise, going to the cinema, buying DVDs/Blu-rays &c, then the companies that create these enjoyable forms of media are going to be going out of business and there will be a lot less to choose from. But I really don't see this happening anytime soon.

I will continue to go to the cinema, buy films and music that I think is good enough for a purchase. I'm sure there are many that will, and many that won't. The only way to stop file sharing is to stop the internet. That is something that is just not going to happen.

And to finish off, a nice and amusing visual aid. Enjoy.

So many thing, so little time (right now)

2009-10-09T08:58:00.006+01:00

Right first thing, training. Did a solid 13 minutes of the treadmill last night, average speed 8.9km/h, distance 1.92km. This is good. It had been 5 days since I last went to the gym, I don't want to be leaving it so long between sessions.

I finished American Psycho today, good book. Will go on my in-mind book shelf next to The Diceman. Great book, if you can handle the random ramblings of a guy who take note of what everyone around him is wearing while thinking about his last victim that he has massacred. Random, extreme violence that isn't for everyone, but I enjoyed it. (See previous blog about dark side of personalities, A Line Through Cross)

My next book is going to be Cross County. Getting back to Alex Cross and his dragon slaying. Yay!

Still got to review Guitar Hero 5 and now Batman: Arkham Asylum (my new obsession), and comment on the whole music file sharing thing that might be going on, not really sure. Then again, if it's not in the media, swine flu doesn't exist/isn't a threat anymore either.

But for now, it's back to the trenches with me. Ta ta for now.

Autumn is here

2009-10-02T13:58:00.003+01:00

I LOVE Autumn. It is my favourite time of year (and not because it includes my birthday)(*cough*November 3rd*cough*).

I've been meaning to blog for a while now about a few things: the Lily Allen/music file sharing debate; a review of Guitar Hero 5; and a few more, none of which I'm going to do now.

I'm just making this entry to ensure that I have to blog about them later on. Kick my own ass activated.

I've pulled a muscle in my back, assuming it was during a session at the gym recently, my first injury, not including the blisters on my feet from running.

Other than that, all is well.

A journey to Essex this weekend, birthday celebrations to be had, Chinese food to be eaten. Good times.

My 1000th Tweet

2009-09-22T16:48:00.003+01:00

Greetings all,

If all goes to plan (which I'm 100% confident it will), Twitterfeed will post this blog entry to my Twitter page as my 1000th tweet.

1000!! Where has the time gone!

I do enjoy twitter, chatting to random people, following interesting/pointless links, hearing the latest news (MJ dying was discovered through Twitter)... It has been very useful and enjoyable.

I think I'll keep it.

A note to Londoners on double decker buses

2009-09-18T12:28:00.006+01:00

THERE'S MORE ROOM UPSTAIRS!!!

Yesterday I got on the bus on the way home, as I do, and it was jam packed with people. I was the last one on and nearly got caught in the doors. This is nothing new, buses can get packed and people have to perform world class balancing acts while grabbing hold of the most solid prop as possible to keep themselves from leaning on everyone else and creating a big heap on the floor.

This I can handle. What I don't appreciate is when the lower deck is completely packed, you get to the first stop, some people get off, creating space to move, you head to the upper deck, and what do you find? About 15 empty seats!!

Needless to say I took full advantage of this, grabbed a seat and watched the rest of the world go by.

The weekday commute, gotta love it.

M

A line through Cross

2009-09-10T19:14:00.007+01:00

So this evening's commute sees the completion of yet another Alex Cross novel "Cross". I can just absorb these books! It helps that I care about the characters and want to know what happens to them all.

New book tomorrow, and since it's right her on the shelf, it has to be the next Alex Cross book, "Double Cross", which I'm sure I'll get through just as quickly as the last one.

I must get on and buy "American Psycho". I love the film and hear that the book is even better, if you like that sort of thing. Which I do.

I like reading about psycho killers. They are so very different from me but I understand that everyone (no exceptions) has a dark side to their personality, and I like being inside the mind of one of James Patterson's (or any other writer's) many creature creations. I like these characters. They have power that I will never give myself.

Everyone should be able to embrace their inner psycho. It's just a matter of control after that. For most who embrace, control comes easily and naturally. For those that don't have that control, well, that's what prisons and psychiatric hospitals are for, as they just end up ruining it for the rest of us.

M

Let's Go Crazy wake up call

2009-09-10T08:41:00.010+01:00

This morning on the train I was falling fast asleep, which is fine as long as your stop isn't coming up in the next 60 seconds, which my one was. I found a remedy for this: Prince - Let's Go Crazy.

This is my favourite Prince song, which recently was covered and released by my favourite band of all time, Incubus, on their Monuments and Melodies greatest hits album.

First came the Incubus version (since I was listening to M&M) and it is the last track on the album and couldn't have come at a better time. When it had finished I immediately put on Purple Rain (album) on which Let's Go Crazy is the first track. Giving me a double helping of musical wake up juice.

It's at times like this that I am reminded of the power of music and

why I just simply couldn't live without it.

2km goal, done.

2009-09-06T15:03:00.002+01:00

Just been to the gym. Warm up walk for 500m then jogged for 2km! New PB for me. A my head let me know it, was a bit dizzy all the way home.

Onwards and upwards!

M

Mary Mary and many more

2009-09-04T13:22:00.000+01:00

This morning on the train to work I finished the latest in my journey's with Alex Cross, a character created by James Patterson that I do care a lot about.

Started on 3 days ago it made me realise how quickly I absorb books, (especially compared to this time 5 years ago!) and how I don't want to forget them. So from now on I will try to log all books I read here.

While I'm at it, I might as well try and list the ones I have read (that I can remember). This should be fun.

Right, let's see now...

Stephen King
The Shinning
Cell
The Dark Tower series - 1 - The Gunslinger
The Dark Tower series - 2 - The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower series - 3 - The Waste Lands
The Dark Tower series - 4 - Wizard and Glass
The Dark Tower series - 5 - Wolves of the Calla
The Dark Tower series - 6 - Song of Susannah
The Dark Tower series - 7 - The Dark Tower
The Stand

J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Ben Elton
Dead Famous
Popcorn
Blast from the Past
Past Mortem
Chart Throb
Blind Faith

James Patterson
(Alex Cross) - Along Came A Spider
(Alex Cross) - Kiss The Girls
(Alex Cross) - Jack & Jill
(Alex Cross) - Cat and Mouse
(Alex Cross) - Pop Goes the Weasel
(Alex Cross) - Roses are Red
(Alex Cross) - Violets are Blue
(Alex Cross) - Four Blind Mice
(Alex Cross) - The Big Bad Wolf
(Alex Cross) - London Bridges
(Alex Cross) - Mary, Mary

George Orwell
1984

James St James
Disco Bloodbath

Luke Rhinehart
The Dice Man

There are bound to be more that I suddenly remember or get reminded of, and I might add them in at a later date. In the meantime, I'll be getting on with my next book... but what shall it be? The next Alex Cross? American Psycho? Back to the Dark Tower? Decisions, decisions...

A new format

2009-09-04T10:28:00.002+01:00

My blog titles. As organised as I am, I'm too lazy to keep it up (especially now I've figured out how labels work properly).

It take far too much effort for me to look up the last post I made on a certain topic of mine (MISC, BOOKS, TRAINING) and up the digits after it.

It ends today due to sheer laziness! (and I think titles do look better with out them)

MISC#003 The smells of summer

2009-09-01T08:59:00.003+01:00

While walking to work this morning I guy was cutting the greenery by the road releasing that nostalgia inducing smell of freshly cut grass. The smell of summer.

It made me feel slightly sad though because I haven't smelt it more this year. It's September 1st and, that I can think of, I've only smelt it twice this year.

That's the price you pay for living in a concrete jungle I guess.

BOOKS#001 The story so far...

2009-08-29T15:38:00.006+01:00

I never read all that much before meeting Claire (my girlfriend http://paran0ir.blogspot.com), but she's opened up a world to me that I will never shut out.

I was one of these people that would prefer the film version of things, too impatient too read the "boring long winded" version. Oh how young and stupid I was. Now, you wouldn't catch me on my way to work without a book in front of me.

The commute is where I get 99% of my reading done. In fact, I'm not sure what I'd do if I worked close to home!

Since I started reading books I have opened my mind to many different lives and experiences, such as:

Roland's journey towards the Dark Tower (Stephen King - The Dark Tower series)
Harry's adventures at Hogwarts (J K Rowling - Harry Potter series)
Alex Cross fighting crime (James Patterson - Alex Cross novels)
Dr. Luke Rhinehart's dice therapy (George Cockcroft under the pen name Luke Rhinehart - The Dice Man)

...and a few more odds and ends here and there.

I never thought I would be one of these people that would read the same book more than once. I never saw the point. The Dark Tower series however, deserve the attention of all.

As Stephen King writes:

Life was such a wheel that no man could stand upon it for long. And it always, at the end, came round to the same place again.

This quote is from "The Stand", the latest book I have added to my "Books I have read" list (and a damn important one in there too). Anybody who has read the Dark Tower series can probably understand the significance of this quote and why it made me smile so much when I read it.

And that's the point. Whether it's because I notice cross overs in Stephen King novels (in particular with The Dark Tower), or it's something a character says while having sex in a Ben Elton book, I get pleasure from reading.

5 years ago, this would not ever have happened.

Claire, thank you.

M

MISC#002 Playing with blog gadgets

2009-08-28T14:07:00.004+01:00

As you can see over to the left I have been adding gadgets to this blog. My growing DeviantArt gallery, my ever rambling twitter statuses, and many more to play with...

The fun you can have!

TRAINING#015 800m's all round

2009-08-25T21:38:00.003+01:00

Went to the gym earlier and went 800 metre crzay! Once on the tread mill, then on the exercise bike and then back on the tread mill (with weights in between), it was a good session.

M

TRAINING#014 My first check point

2009-08-19T08:44:00.002+01:00

Went to the gym yesterday and hit my first check point (1.5km) on my way to my first mile stone (5km). To some this might not be much, and when I had finished I still had energy in me, but in the spirit of taking things easy and not dying of an asthma attack, I think things are going well, if a little slow.

Next check point is 3km, which, by my very rough calculations, I should be hitting by mid-September.

Target acquired.

TRAINING#013 A review of the last 287 days

2009-08-17T13:20:00.003+01:00

So, bringing all my previous blogs about training for the 2011 NYC Marathon has got me thinking. I am so fucking lazy!

Seriously, I should be doing more than this.

Now that I'm running distances rather than times, I have made up a plan for goal achievement that I'm going to try and stick to:

Distance Goal	Date to be achieved
5km	03/11/09
10km	03/05/10
20km	03/11/10
40km	03/11/11

Distances between goals will slowly increase, but still not wanting to push myself too hard too fast.

Last target I hit was 1.4km on 10/08/09 ... This must continue.

We'll see where I am Nov 3rd. I want to be doing better, just got to get up off my lazy ass!

MISC#001 - So, It begins

2009-08-17T10:10:00.004+01:00

Right, I'm here. Let's get on with it.

Do not be fooled. THIS is my first blog entry.

I've currently got a blog on myspace about my marathon training that I'll be moving over here at some point, which is nice.

All other things will follow in a natural progression of time and effort. Although, this should probably be effortless, but again, that'll come. I hope.

You may notice the title of my blogs start very programmic like, this is my way.

Have yet to decide what indeed to blog about exactly. Will probably end up being a mix of random stuff that no one person will be interested in, but a few might find bits and pieces here and there. I'm mainly doing this for myself, to store the mind of now.

I don't know how successful this will be for me, but I can try.

M

TRAINING#012 Redefined... Version 2.0

2009-07-19T12:00:00.000+01:00

Been a while away from the gym. I am ashamed. But went earlier today and was good. 1km ran comfortably. Bit of arms and legs after good stretch, then another 500m run.

Decided to focus on distance rather than time when running. Since I'll be running 40km not 10 hours (I hope) I thought it made a bit more sense to do it this way.

The training must continue.

M

TRAINING#011 The gym redefined

2009-05-22T12:00:00.000+01:00

Ok, so my second gym session went well. I've set myself a regular routine:

- 5 minutes jogging @ 7.5kmph / 1% incline
- 3x 10 leg extensions @ 10kg (each leg)
- 3x 10 bicep curls @ 5kg
- 3x 10 leg curls @ 10kg (each leg)
- 3x 10 chest presses @ 10kg
- 50 pull downs @ 15kg
- 5 minutes jogging @ 7.5kmph / 1% incline

Need to do legs then arms then back to legs, etc. But it's to be refined as I go.

Oviously I'll increase my time/weights as I go, but going to keep building it slowly. Injures I do not want!

M

TRAINING#010 The gym

2009-05-21T12:00:00.000+01:00

So, the gym going has begin and it has begin well. Induction on Thursday, first session Saturday afternoon, went again on Tuesday evening. I think it's going to be a regular thing, but only time will tell.

So far I've found that I can do 5 minutes at 7.5kmph on an incline of 1% on the tredmill.

This is very good.

Will help me learn to pace myself. Also started weight training. Starting small and working my way up, don't want any injures.

Here's how it goes so far:

- 3x 10 leg extensions on each leg @ 7.5kg
- 3x 10 leg curls on each leg @ 12.5kg
- 30x chest extensions @ 12.5kg
- 50x lateral pull downs @ 12.5kg

Not 100% sure on those names and weights, will have to start taking note each time I go to track my progress.

But so far, so good.

M

TRAINING#009 Thought I had forgotten, hadn't I?!

2009-04-14T12:00:00.000+01:00

Ok, so talking to myself isn't the best start to things, but isn't that what ALL bloggers do?!

This past weekend saw the moving into a new flat. We have access to a gym. This is good news. Also the fact that the weather is improving all the time, so likely hood of training is doubled, at least!

We shall see what happens. Goal still remains. Nov 6th 2011 NYC Marathon.

GO!

M

TRAINING#008 See last week

2008-12-08T12:00:00.000Z

...

M

TRAINING#007 Wasted Week

2008-12-01T12:00:00.000Z

Nothing happened.

Had plenty of time, but nothing done.

I could beat myself up over it (and probably will) but that's not going to get things done.

Monday is written off. Got plans. Must run, or at least Wii Fit.

MUST. DO. BETTER.

M

TRAINING#006 Improvement needed

2008-11-25T12:00:00.000Z

Training hasn't been going to plan. I know it hasn't been a month yet, but I thought I'd get more than I have done. There have been issues along the way, but I should be doing better...

...I WILL do better.

Today is Tuesday.

Still plenty of time in the week.

M

TRAINING#005 Start of Week 3

2008-11-18T12:00:00.000Z

60 secs run, 2 mins walk, 5 times = 15 minutes

Less than last Monday, but what with recent Asthma related issues, I felt cutting it short necessary.

Let's keep it going.

M

TRAINING#004 Ok, end of week 2...

2008-11-17T12:00:00.000Z

The distractions re starting to gather, all jumping around me shouting "Waste time on me!"... and repeat.

As a big Playstation fan, GTA:IV with trophies proves very very tempting to go through the whole game

again. Add this to Guitar Hero World Tour... Lots of time in front of the TV. Plus Angel season 5 yet to watch.

Right, back to the runnning thing.

Monday saw the first (of many to come) training "session", and I think it went well. Althought it did teach me that stretching must be involved. There should've been 2 more sessions as well as exercise today...

- On Wednesday... My dog ate it. (Can't remember why I didn't go for a run)
- On Friday I went to see my mum (and collect GHWT) which included having major issues with asthma related ill health.
- Saturday catch up of Friday. Asthma related injures. Back muscles pulled to hell, tied to a tree then pulled back again.
- Sunday... GHWT.

I really need to kick my ass!

1085 days to go.

I WILL DO BETTER.

M

TRAINING#003 A good start to Week 2

2008-11-11T12:00:00.000Z

60 secs run, 2 mins walk, 6 times = 18 minutes

A much better start this week.

M

TRAINING#002 Week 1 ends in disappointment

2008-11-10T12:00:00.000Z

Let's not start as I mean to go on.

Monday was my birthday and as I was going out for a run it started to rain. As I was not prepared for it, I replaced my workout for Monday with 60 minutes on Wii Fit.

The rest of the week was not so successful.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are rest days... So they were done as planned.

Wednesday, Quantum of Solace (Orange Wednesday). So that rules that day out.

Friday went to see Avenue Q (birthday present) so didn't go for a run. Was going to make up for it on Saturday, but went to see England Rugby Union at Twickenham.

I did 30minutes Wii Fit today, that's something at least.

I can say that it won't happen again, that from now on I'll keep up the running schedule, but I'm not that stupid.

I know that there will be times when I miss days. But I've hust got to try my best to not let them add up.

Discovered Nike+ on my iPod which may help training. Will have to investigate.

Week 2 must be better.

M

TRAINING#001 Forgive me, for I know not what I do

2008-11-03T12:00:00.000Z

Ok, here we go. Tomorrow is the beginning of the next 1099 days.

On November 3rd 2011, I will turn 30.
On November 6th 2011, I will participate in the New York City marathon.

I have decide to do this.
The challenge is set.

At the moment, sat here, in front of the computer, I'm a day away from 27 and I can't run for more than 5 minutes without getting out of breath.

I started to train for 5km runs this spring/summer, but I stopped. No real reason. I just did.

30 years old. It's a land mark. I want to be fit and healthy as I age. This seems the best time to do it, before I get older. Youth is leaving me, one second at a time.

Zest magazine. 3 plans. 10 - 12 -13.
5km plan = 10 weeks.
Half-marathon = 12 weeks.
Marathon = 13 weeks.

This should be easily do able, but I know that I have a tendency to start things like this and give up quickly. Not because I realise I can't do it, but because I'm a lazy git.

I will keep this up.

So like all great journeys, you start at the beginning. ("The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.")
The 5km plan. (See below.)

I shall be starting at week 3, as I've already got a head start from spring/summer.

That's my plan and I'm (hopefully) going to stick to it. Starting tomorrow.

Happy birthday to me.

M

Week One
Monday	Run 60 Secs, walk 3 mins. Repeat 4 times (16 minutes)
Wednesday	Repeat Monday
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	30-minute brisk walk
Week Two
Monday	Run 60 Secs, walk 2 mins. Repeat 6 times (18 minutes)
Wednesday	Repeat Monday
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	30-minutes brisk walk
Week Three
Monday	Run 60 Secs, walk 2 mins. Repeat 7 times (21 minutes)
Wednesday	Repeat Monday
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	30-minutes brisk walk
Week Four
Monday	Run 60 Secs, walk 2 mins. Repeat 8 times (24 minutes)
Wednesday	Repeat Monday
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	30-minutes brisk walk
Week Five
Monday	Run 60 Secs, walk 2 mins. Repeat 9 times (27 minutes)
Wednesday	Do a 30-minute exercise session (brisk walk, swimming, cycling, aerobics)
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	Repeat Monday
Week Six
Monday	Run 2 mins, walk 2 mins. Repeat 7 times (28 minutes)
Wednesday	Free session - 30-minutes
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	Repeat Monday
Week Seven
Monday	Run 2 mins, walk 2 mins. Repeat 8 times (32 minutes)
Wednesday	Free session - 30-minutes
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	Repeat Monday
Week Eight
Monday	Run 3 mins, walk 2 mins. Repeat 7 times (35 minutes)
Wednesday	Free session - Increase to 40-minutes
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	Repeat Monday
Week Nine
Monday	Run 3 mins, walk 2 mins. Repeat 7 times (35 minutes)
Wednesday	Free session - Increase to 40-minutes
Friday	Run 3 mins, walk 60 secs. Repeat 9 times (36 minutes)
Sunday	Repeat Friday
Week Ten
Monday	Run 3 mins, walk 60 secs. Repeat 9 times (36 minutes)
Wednesday	Free session - 40-minutes
Friday	Repeat Monday
Sunday	Run 3 mins, walk 60 secs. Repeat 10 times (40 minutes)