Journal Entries
Further proof that a quarter of the population are stupid
Posted Jul 29, 2007
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2136731,00.html
It was larger on the front of the paper, but about a third of the way down it says: "A large majority of those questioned - 74% - agreed that many things on television are made up, even when they look real."
I couldn't help but think of the 9/11 conspiracy episode of southpark where Cartman's question "Are you saying one fourth of the population is retarded?" gets the responses "Yeah," and "At least," from his friends.
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Latest reply: Jul 29, 2007
Satirical editing
Posted Jun 26, 2007
A378731 Have a look at this entry's places in the directory of h2g2.
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Latest reply: Jun 26, 2007
Non-free free software and international freephone
Posted Mar 2, 2007
As some of you know I've been trying to get myself a free upgrade to Windows Vista, as advertised with my shiny new laptop. Because it's turning into a bit of a saga, let me try to recap it here. Some dates may be approximate. (Bear in mind that internet access has to be from a library.)
24/2 Go to website to register for upgrade. Discover that I need a COA or certificate of authenticity. Go home from library. Look through documentation I got with laptop. Fail to discover COA, but find that I have somebody else's invoice. Look at laptop, but none of the stickers next to the keyboard seems to be it.
26/2 Go to computer shop after work to ask about COA, along with all documentation so as to show I don't have it. Am informed that COA is a sticker on the underside of the laptop.
Go home and pick up computer. Head to library.
Go to website and fill in details. "An irrecoverable error has occurred." Try again. Another crash. And so on. Eventually get to payment details for £14 postage and packing (so much for free, but it's still cheaper than buying Vista outright) and offer to pay by debit card. Only two options available: SOLO or Switch. Mine's Visa. Library is closing. No time to try again.
27/2 Take laptop and documents in to work and then to the library. After several website crashes get to payment details. Claim that card is a credit card and put in details; from experience of other sites, this should work fine. Site crashes. Try again. Site refuses to accept COA number. Eventually think to try "Check existing order". Discover order listed as "cancelled". Send email to helpdesk pleading for assistance.
28/2 No reply from helpdesk. Try phoneline instead. Number doesn't exist. Realise that I've been dialing 0800 when it should be 00800. International freephone. You learn something new every day.
Navigate complicated menu system that keeps telling me to use the website. Get bored of being on hold and head to computer shop. Told they can't help - the upgrade service is not connected to them.
Back on hold. Get to talk to person. Thinks he's American because of accent and the fact my surname (Smeltzer) doesn't flummox him. Have trouble looking at documents and laptop in phonebox and drop glasses. Helpline guy checks my details and finds a completely different partly done order. He asks whether I have a scanner or fax machine to send proof of purchase. Offer to fax from library.
Go to photocopy receipt, rather than sending long bit of paper with staples through fax machine. Photocopier is out of paper. Guy before me is in a hurry so gives up and leaves. Get library staff to refill paper tray and am surprised not to be charged for copy - the previous guy's 10p must have still been in the machine.
Discover that international faxes cost £2 and think I should have used the library's scanner instead, but can't be bothered to phone back for instructions. Library assistant has trouble sending fax, not helped by not knowing what dutch ringing and engaged tones sound like (in fact I only just found out it was Dutch by looking up the +31 dialing code in my diary - I thought it was German). Eventually manage and pay money.
2/2 Check website. COA accepted. Now I guess I just have to pay for it. Make note to phone helpline again.
Check email. Find reply from helpdesk. They suggest submitting my order again. Send slightly sarcastic reply pointing out that, as noted in my original email, I already tried to do that.
Okay, it's not exactly Beowulf, but stay tuned to find out what happens.
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Latest reply: Mar 2, 2007
Birthday party
Posted Feb 1, 2007
I'm planning a birthday party for Saturday 10 March, so here's an invitation to those I know. I sent this out as an email, but there's people on here I don't have email addresses for. Anyway, the plan is this:
5ish-7ish - Meet at the Aire of the Dog pub in Burley. Those who wish can order food.
7ish - Go to the Vue cinema to watch the film Hot Fuzz. http://www.hotfuzz.com/
9ish - Head back to my house for snacks and drink. A selection of beverages including several bottled ales will be available and we will have the grand opening of my bottle of Balvenie DoubleWood single malt scotch whisky.
I live at 34 Norman View, Kirkstall, which is convenient for the 15, 33(A), 49, 50(A), 91, 670, 757 and 760 buses as well as Headingley railway station.
So RSVP (I'd like to know how many to cater for and since the film will only have been out a week, so some advance purchase of tickets and saving of seats may be necessary) and I hope to see you then.
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Latest reply: Feb 1, 2007
Take the National Express
Posted Dec 22, 2006
I'm visiting my dad for Christmas. I went straight from work to the bus station to catch my coach yesterday. I had a bit of a panic when I noticed my ticket instructed me to label my luggage, but when I asked for a label they told me that they don't give them out and luggage comes with labels. If my rucksack ever had labels they've been missing for over a decade. Anyway, it didn't seem to matter too much, since it's a case of claim your own bag when you arrive, so no-one complained about my blue biro scrawl directly onto the blue bag.
From Middlesbrough bus station I went to my old (and my dad's current) work and said hello to everyone. My dad drove home, collecting my sister on the way (he often used to, and apparently "improvements" to bus services mean she now has no direct bus to catch). Anyhow, we arranged for me to visit this morning.
So today I headed round to hers (it's a short walk). I'd just crossed a main road when I was hailed from behind me, and there whe was with her boyfriend. They'd just dropped my niece off at nursery, so sadly I didn't see her. Still, I had my first ever try on World of Warcraft, so if you saw a Tauren hunter called Baggers shooting at birds, that was me.
Tomorrow I'm going to see my mum. Sunday I expect I'll catch up with people from church, and Christmas Day will be spent eating and opening presents here. Boxing Day I'm heading back to Leeds (no trains will be running, hence the coach), and the day after I shall be back at work. Doesn't seem a very long break when I look at it that way.
Another import
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Latest reply: Dec 22, 2006
Bagpuss
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