What I'm Reading
Finished A Darkling Plain, last book of the Philip Reeve moving-cities kidult series. Superb end to the series: apocalyptic battles between the Anti-Tractionists and the city alliance, lots of action, brings together all the remaining characters and ties up the loose ends. Doesn't get too mawkishly happy either: there's a certain amount of tragedy there too. The final ending is excellent: telling you what happens to Municipal Darwinism, and neatly bringing the whole series full circle.

Only week point: a couple of bits of idiot plotting used to get characters to the right place at the right time. Recommend it, but it has a strongly continuing plot so you're best starting off with the first in the series: Mortal Engines.

Consumerism
Bought the Stowaway Portable Bluetooth Keyboard for my phone. Meant to get the official Nokia keyboard, but delivery was delayed.

Haven't used it much: mostly want it for travelling, as an alternative to a keyboard for emails and blogging notes. Setup was fairly easy if you follow the instructions: there's a unmarked key combination you have to use to put the keyboard in discovery mode. When you use it subsequently the phone seems to detect the keyboard as soon as you unfold it and you can start typing pretty much straightaway.

Keyboard feels OK with a decent action: not as good as my ergonomic keyboard but about as good as the cheapo company standard issue. No number keys (there's another alt for those), and you don't seem to be able to duplicate the phone controls so you have to hit the phone buttons to do stuff. Phone fits OK in the PDA-shaped holder but wobbles a bit.

Overall seems OK though a bit pricey. Suspect the Nokia keyboard would have been smoother to use, but in theory this one means I can change phones or gadgets more easily. Fairly happy with it. Takes 2 AAA batteries: can't judge the battery life yet.

What I'm Watching
Kind Hearts and Coronets. Pretty good early Ealing comedy with Alec Guinness playing eight roles as various members of the same family. Very impressive performance. Wasn't really as funny as I hoped, since the dialogue seems very mannered now: has some good lines and a lot of dry wit. The romantic bits seem pretty corny too. Worth watching, but don't expect to fall out of your seat laughing.

Have also been through the first two series' of The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin. I didn't get where I am today without knowing a barely-dated comedy classic when I see one. Great! Super!

Quotes.

Ireland
Flying to Dublin on Sunday. Plan to be in Belfast on Thursday. Still not finalized my plans in-between: planned to go to the countryside and seaside, since haven't been to either in ages.

Was thinking of going to Galway, but the travelling would use a big chunk of the limited time. Might just head up or down the coast from Dublin, but apparently it's pretty heavily suburbanized or industrialized.

Me
Might be some news on the work front soon.

Operation Don't Get Fatter
Not fatter. Well, weight up a pound since last week, but that was down a pound from the week before.

Web
Video: Invisible Octopus.

Alleged quotes from air traffic control.