I ACHE in places I'd forgotten I had. Actually, my whole body ACHES.

Last night (NotS) turned out, unexpectedly, to be rather wonderful in quite a few ways ;-P (Maybe a sex filter post later) and lots of people came over to me and said they loved my hair (up, with a needler spike. Thanks hon!)

My intention when I arrived home just after dawn was to come down to Polyday in plenty of time. I set the alarm and everything. I think I recall the alarm going off but I couldn't really move, and when I finally "re" woke up around 12;30 I found my body was rather 'seized-up'. I've now managed to stand up (difficult) and make coffee; I shall then rethink my plans for today.

Nice night ;-)

So I'm installing a brand new ADSL connection next week which will have a /29 available and I'm trying to decide upon an ADSL modem/router/wifi as either a combination or as separates. I'll also need a VPN tunnel between there and here.

I've just been told though that my ADSL supplier can provide *native* IPv6 support. It seems sensible for me to play with this be prepared for the future by trying to select kit now which will support v6 asap.

I'm happy with flashing a BIOS or two, but any personal experiences people can recount would be most helpful right about now. My budget is to get whatever I choose in under £100 ideally (it is my mum's credit card, you see ;-P

Had an 'interesting' call with Virgin's customer services just now. I tried to have it yesterday, in fact, but their computer system was down all day (allegedly - could just have been the person I was talking to didn't want the hassle!)

I saw an advert for their "Mother of all broadband" at the weekend. A printed-on-paper one within a newspaper. In it it makes an offer of their "Broadband size L" for "£8 for three months then changing to the standard price of £16 per month".

"Interesting", I thought. "I pay £25 per month for that service (and currently only get 4meg not 10meg anyway!)"

"Ah", I was told. "The £16 per month is also a special offer which you only get if you also take a phone line from us at the same time, otherwise the standard price is "25 per month".

"How odd that more is less", I noted. "But I have a phone line from you so the £16 should apply".

"I'll see what special offer you might be able to get"

"But I don't want an *offer*! I just want the advertised 'standard price'!"

We went around in circles awhile, but didn't really move on at all. I pointed out I was quite happy to disconnect from them and cancel my phone-and-broadband services from them and order a new connection the next day. I also pointed out their construction of 'standard' not being so, despite being clearly written in an advertisement, might be of interest to the ASA. No result though.

I shall have to think on this ...

Oh what a surprise ... look which one won *again*.

It is interesting that whenever the sisters are questioned about their behaviour and intentions when they play each other they never deny that they 'fix' it between themselves, they just attack the interviewer and complain that they find the question 'offensive'. But, along with politicians who try the same tactic when they don't wish to get caught out in a lie, the line "methinks the lady doth protest too much" would clearly appear to be quite appropriate ...

http://thewebsiteisdown.com/

*seriously* awesome indeed.

David Davis has resigned as an MP in order to trigger a by-election on the 42-day "terror bill" the government squeezed through last night. Although he hoped the Lords would block this he also suggested that the government would seek to use the Parliament Act (even though it isn't a manifesto commitment)

BBC is reporting that the LibDems will not stand against him on this occasion, ensuring it can be seen as a straight fight on the 42 day issue.

The seat is Haltemprice and Howden and it is reported that his decision was made without any involvement of David Cameron.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7450627.stm as updated by watching his live statement

So I'm listening to the news on Radio 4 early this morning, and in two news bulletins I heard about the final "British resident of Guantamo Bay".

Resident?????

RESIDENT????

"Prisoner" maybe ... "Inmate" maybe ... but a "Resident" is someone who has a choice about where to live. Come on BBC - make your news fair and honest!

VAMP WILLOW: [demurely] I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.

ALPHONSE: Then we won’t talk.
[Alfonse & partner vamp attack. Evil Willow wins.]

VAMP WILLOW: [reprovingly] You made me cranky.

ALPHONSE: [panting] There’s been a mistake here. We were sent after a human.

VAMP WILLOW: [intrigued] Really? Who do you work for?

ALPHONSE: [hoarsely] I’m not telling you a thing.

[With a half-smile, she takes one of his fingers and bends it back sharply, breaking it. He screams in pain.]

VAMP WILLOW: [still smiling] Who do you work for?

ALPHONSE: [gives in] Wilkins. The Mayor.

[She takes another finger and breaks it, too. Again he cries out in pain.]

VAMP WILLOW: Who do you work for? [bats her eyes suggestively]

ALPHONSE: [gets it] You.

VAMP WILLOW: [commands] Get your friends. Bring them here. The world’s no fun anymore. [smiles evilly] We’re gonna make it the way it was.

Had a two-hour online (CSM) meeting which didn't go too bad except for one of the Goons making a prat of himself a bit at one point. Then went over to SiSi for some testing.

Watched the end bit of the Eurovision political song contest and heard the winner. Noted that it was, essentially, a re-score or "Un-Break My Heart" per Toni Braxton (or at least owed an awful lot to ...) with elements of a slowed-down "Fame" (movie, not Bowie)

"Russell T Davies is to step down as executive producer of Doctor Who, the BBC has announced."

"Bafta-winning writer Steven Moffat will succeed Davies as lead writer and executive producer of the fifth series of Doctor Who."

Now so long as RTD isn't allowed to write future episodes, then GREAT NEWS!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7411177.stm

I have four ballots to cast for the elections on May 1st. Three of them - Mayoral, and the two GLA - I have just completed and will post off in the next day or two.

fyi, Boris got no support from me whatsoever ;-P

mentioning no names, but I would like to reply to an email just received and I can't, so I'll do it right here ...

"Not *one* person offered to help. And I thought you would be the last person to criticise considering some of the posts you make!"

After my first thought of WTF!?? about that accusation I would just note that whilst I have bleated somewhat in the past I haven't made personal accusations (as, for exactly the reasons I wrote on the comment this was the reply to*, I know that it would be unreasonable to expect people to drop everything in order to aid me.)

Anyway, I hope you undelete your LJ and accept that you *do* have friends even if none were able to assist this afternoon within the three hours you permitted before letting loose.


* :: reads your latest post after returning online ::

:: reads back ::

Whilst I understand your upset I think it is a little unjustified to accuse everyone like that for something you posted about three hours ago. Many people - myself included - will have been busy doing something this afternoon already or have been unable to get to Walthamstow this afternoon and not seen any logic in posting that they were unable to help.

Well, we (UK) seem to be getting the Braves / Nationals match with Dubya throwing out the first ball**. Who cares, IT'S A NEW SEASON and we're getting live* pictures!!

:: looks at clock ::

:: sees 01:09 ::

:: puts on a pizza and gets a beer from the fridge ::

EEK! Just seen the final result from the Redsox Dodgers game :,-(



* We're told it is live but C5 has been known to lie a little and show on a delay, so don't tell me the result if it isn't actually live!

** I'm hearing WAY more boos than cheers for him ;-P

Today: Anthony Minghella, Arthur C Clarke
In the last week: An Uncle of an LJ friend and the Father of my neighbour and good friend, Deb.
In the last five years: An untold number of men, women and children, innocents and combatants both, in Iraq since war was declared this evening five years ago.

My sincere condolences to all who have lost and feel pain.

Went off this morning to talk on a panel at the London Business School (and I don't think I've seen a worse organised conference) and on the way back by bus passed The Dev.

or at least it should have.

Instead the 'venue' now announces itself in bright big shiny letters as the HOBGOBLIN. On both the front and the side, also adding 'live music venue' too. The little sign near the door proclaiming it as an 'alternative' pub has also gone.

End of an era, and all that. For at least the fifth time, as someone elsewhere has pointed out ;-/