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Print Story I've walked seven miles to the high wood to get you gruts
Diary
By Herring (Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:00:02 AM EST) ivor cutler, gruts, hardware (all tags)
That makes 14 miles in all counting the journey back

Anyhow, sad tales within.


Ivor Cutler dead at 83.

I just* heard some sad news on talk radio**. Surreal Scotsman and poet Ivor Cutler was found dead as his home a couple of mornings ago. Even if you didn't understand what the hell he was on about, there is no denying his contribution to Scottish nonsense. Truly a Glaswegian icon.

Other news:
As some may know, I have been having some trouble with this new computer. First getting Linux on it at all and then sudden crashes/reboots whenever I do something demanding with the processor/memory. It occurs to me that I haven't got the XP 64 drivers that might actually start the fans going when it gets hot. Anyhow, after poking about in the BIOS for a bit, I decide to load "Fail safe options". Apparently, "Fail safe options" is code for just beeping, not booting. So, as you do I shorted out the CMOS battery, reloaded the defaults and booted.

Key thing to remember here is that I am using an eval copy of XP Pro 64.

Boots OK. Log in to O/S. "The evaluation period for this software has expired. Please send Bill money".

Fuck. Clock has set back a couple of years.

Set the clock to the correct date and time. Boot.

"You're still a motherfucking clocksetter. Give money to Bill - he does a lot of work for charity".

Fuck.

OK, so I've installed a new copy and can get my data back and stuff but I had it all nicely set up for the rest of the family. It's going to take ages to get it back working right and my enthusiasm levels are low.

Yeah, I suppose the case does feel kind-of hot. Can I jsut frig the fans to be on all the time? I have a soldering iron and a sense of humour.

I had started writing an article yesterday on some absurdities (as I see them) in modern enterprise-system development. Expect a yawn-tastic contribution sometime soon.

Got an unsolicited mail yesterday from an agent about a job a couple of miles from the Quayside (and paying proper money). I sent back some questions but no answers yet.

Booking a cottage in France*** for a couple of weeks in the summer. Need to get passport for me and for Small Boy. Might be interesting.

Anyhow, enough typing - the fucker may reboot on me at any time. I can always edit later.

* at lunchtime
** the Guardian obtuary page
*** I realise that a cottage in Brighton is more popular

< mr "allow me" | BBC White season: 'Rivers of Blood' >
I've walked seven miles to the high wood to get you gruts | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 hidden)
Blimey, you have no passport? by georgeha (2.00 / 0) #1 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:10:07 AM EST
I thought all you Brits has passports, for quick drunken holidays in France and all that "we're more globally aware than you sorry ignorant Yanks" bit.

I even have one, though the only furrin country I've been to is Canada (and some technically furrin ones like reservations).


It's just expired by Herring (2.00 / 0) #2 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:24:26 AM EST
I have been looking fondly through my stamps - about 4 Calgaries, one LAX and one from the road border between BC and Montana.

I have got the form for renewing. Just have to send it off.

You can't inspire people with facts
- Small Gods

[ Parent ]
Much better, maybe they'll give you a snazzy by georgeha (2.00 / 0) #3 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:41:28 AM EST
RFID one, so tairsts can identify you from across the room.


[ Parent ]
All I can say is by Herring (2.00 / 0) #4 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:44:32 AM EST
thank fuck mine expired now so I can get a new one without going through all of that shit.

I can also say ... beeeeeer.

You can't inspire people with facts
- Small Gods

[ Parent ]
I just renewed mine by martingale (2.00 / 0) #10 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 03:47:53 PM EST
(mutatis mutandis) and it's only a "securised" passport rather than a full digital nightmare (the bastards probably use GIF instead of PNG). So now I have the pleasure of no longer being able to enter the US on the visa waiver program. Who says this isn't progress? I was getting worried about waiving my hand like a Jedi all the time.
--
$E(X_t|F_s) = X_s,\quad t > s$
[ Parent ]
Isn't this the one by ad hoc (2.00 / 0) #6 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:45:44 AM EST
you'll need a retina scan and a DNA sample?
--
Would you rather battle Klingons or trolls?
[ Parent ]
One thing that pisses me off by nebbish (2.00 / 0) #12 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 11:45:46 PM EST
No stamps on your passport within the EU. Mine is blank despite going abroad every few months.

--------
It's political correctness gone mad!

[ Parent ]
it's an insidious trick by martingale (2.00 / 0) #9 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 03:42:57 PM EST
1) They make a big fuss about ID cards to discourage people from getting passports.

2) They make a big fuss about checking passports for when people want to *return* to the UK.

3) Every year, countless British subjects are therefore lost abroad and can never ever get back in.

4) Good Riddance and Profit!
--
$E(X_t|F_s) = X_s,\quad t > s$

[ Parent ]
I have a soldering iron and a sense of humour. by wiredog (2.00 / 0) #5 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:45:29 AM EST
That sounds dangerous.

Earth First!
(We can strip mine the rest later.)
I have noticed by Herring (2.00 / 0) #7 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 09:47:38 AM EST
that various fans are actually going round. But still (not going to test right now) the weirdness. Dodgy RAM? We have consumer protection laws in the UK - they should just keep sending be 2GB DIMMS until I admit that some of them work.

Anybody want any 2GB DIMMS?

You can't inspire people with facts
- Small Gods

[ Parent ]
WIPO: bies by Rogerborg (2.00 / 0) #8 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 12:48:52 PM EST
Ivor Cutler's skill was persuading people through sheer persistence that were was more depth to his demagoguery than just saying BUTTERSCOTCH and then blowing a kazoo.  Truly the spiritual father of blogging.

-
Metus amatores matrum compescit, non clementia.
Ivor Cutler by nebbish (2.00 / 0) #11 Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 11:44:39 PM EST
Sad indeed, but I was sure he died sometime last year.

--------
It's political correctness gone mad!

I've walked seven miles to the high wood to get you gruts | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 hidden)
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- Ivor Cutler dead 60%
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