Posts from December 2007

I finally caved in and replaced a 15 year old Sony TV with a Panasonic 32″ LCD TV (TX32LXD700) for Christmas. Although the aging Sony still worked fine, it did cycle through Red/Green/Blue and took 5 minutes to fully warm up.

Before taking the plunge, I read various reviews and looked at the televisions on my shortlist in shops. Most stores (understandably) use High Definition (HD) broadcasts or Blu-ray discs to show the digital technology at its best. Cartoons are another popular choice to demonstrate LCD TV's displaying a very high quality picture.

As the range and number of programs actually broadcast in HD on Virgin Media is currently relatively limited, I explicitly asked to see a conventional TV channel which was enlightening. You could often see pixellation and blurring which was disappointing but not wholly unexpected.

Undoubtedly, the Panasonic had the best picture quality both for standard and HD programs. I could have got a better deal on the previous model (TX32LXD70) but opted for the 700 for the better sound and additional HDMI input (3 in total).

Finally, the time came to actually buy the TV but, unfortunately, I now discovered the model was out of stock at most online retailers and good old fashioned shops. Eventually, I found the TV in stock (1-2 days delivery) at dabs.com for £769 including free delivery (normally £25) so I placed the order and waited.

After placing the order, I received various helpful emails from dabs:

Thank you for the order you placed with dabs.com on 01/12/07 which included an item or items which were out of stock at the time of order.

We've just received notice of a lead time change from our supplier which affects the following product(s) included within your order:

Quicklinx : 4HFN
Manufacturer : Panasonic
Product : TX-32LXD700 32″ LCD TV
Old Estimated Delivery : 05/12/2007
New Estimated Delivery : 13/12/2007

Please note that the new estimated delivery date given above is the best possible date we can provide at this time. Rest assured that should this date move forward or backwards, we will keep you fully informed by email.

Strange. The TV wasn't actually listed as ‘Out of stock' when I placed the order. Worse, the projected dates kept slipping and slipping (like an IT project) until, tantalisingly, we reached 18 December.

I took the precaution of printing a large picture of the LCD TV on glossy paper and wrapped up the HDMI cable to give to Norma for her Christmas present - ‘This is what you could have won'.

Finally, some good news - dabs took the payment from the credit card which meant the TV was shipping imminently and the expensive package was delivered just in time for Christmas.

I resisted the temptation to open to package to check the contents and hook the TV up and managed to leave it propped up in the hallway until Christmas day.

Connecting the Panasonic to the Virgin V+ box was easy. You just need to buy an HDMI cable (not supplied with the TV) and modify the settings on the V+ box to output a HD signal.

Using the V+ Remote, select ‘Home' followed by ‘Settings'. Then select ‘Change Display and Audio Settings'. Then select ‘TV Display Format' and change the value to ‘Hi Def HDMI'. You can experiment with the screen resolution by changing the value of ‘V+ Box HiDef Output' but I found the optimal setting was ‘1080′.

Currently, Virgin Media only carries one High Definition channel (BBC HD) but the picture quality is simply staggering. We watched ‘Extras' and ‘Robin Hood' on HD and were able to compare and contrast the picture with conventional BBC1 (as both programs were broadcast simultaneously). The picture is absolutely razor sharp and has a sense of ‘depth'.

Watching conventional channels is a bit of a come-down after HD but my fears that a conventional TV broadcast (albeit upscaled) would actually be inferior to the 15 year old Sony set were unfounded.

Having said that, the picture quality does depend on the program. Fast moving images (like sports) are still prone to pixellation and blurring which is irritating given the amount of football I watch. The good news is that the England friendly international in February should be available on BBC HD so it will be interesting to see how the quality differs.

The V+ box solely uses the HDMI cable to connect to the Panasonic so I connected the DVD player using the Scart cable and the LCD TV has breathed new life into my DVD collection.

There is also a SD card slot for viewing digital photos which now show up every single blemish in full colour 32″ glory and Norman Jnr is delighted as he can also connect the Xbox 360 via a handy HDMI slot on the front panel and again, the picture quality, as he saves the world, destroying zombies with a flame thrower and hand held rocket launcher, is superb.

Overall, I am delighted with the Panasonic LCD TV and I find myself watching wildlife documentaries on BBC HD just to admire the astounding picture quality.

Just placed a Christmas present under the tree. Had a sneaky look at the tag to see whether a shake, rattle and roll was necessary. I was very surprised and somewhat upset to read:

'Happy Christmas to the best sister in the whole world (and quite a nice brother-in-law).'

January - Andy Murray reaches the quarter finals of the Australian Open but mysteriously withdraws citing a bad hair day. An inquiry is immediately launched into irregular gambling patterns preceding the match and his choice of shampoo. Manchester United triumph 7-4 in a thrilling FA cup-tie at Villa Park.

February - England beat Switzerland 5-0 at Wembley in a friendly. Frank Lampard scores a goal that is not deflected. Fabio Capello is hailed as a footballing genius

March - Liverpool lose 2-0 to Inter Milan in the Champions League. Rafael Benitez's head explodes. Andrew Flintoff is reinstated as England captain and Ian Botham is appointed Chairman of Selectors after the pair clinch victory in the opening test against New Zealand. The Kiwi side are later found drifting on a orange pedalo, kept afloat by empty kegs of beer. The New Zealand cricket board are fined $5,000 for the late return of the hire vessel.

April - Paula Radcliffe astounds the athletics world by giving birth to her second child at the 23 mile marker in the London marathon. Radcliffe finishes the race in a creditable 5th place.

May - Arsenal win the Premiership. Jens Lehmann wins the prestigious David May award for 'Best fringe player who intrudes on celebrations and gets in all the photos' award.

June - Rioting is reporting in Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham and East London by football fans with no major football tournament to attend.

July - In a bizarre twist, Tiger Woods wins the British Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton wins the British Open while filming for the reality TV series 'Faking It'.

August - Great Britain win a solitary gold medal in the Bejing Olympics.

September - England lose 1-0 away to Kazakhstan in the opening World Cup qualifier. Fabio Capello is derided by the press as a hapless Italian ice-cream salesman, dismissed by the FA who appoint an Englishman (Borat) as his replacement.

October - After a poor start to the season, that leaves Chelsea hovering over the relegation zone, Roman Abramovich jettisons Avram Grant as manager, takes responsibility for team affairs, appoints Shevchenko as assistant manager and immediately signs Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Fabregas and Jens Lehmann.

November - Rafa Benitez is appointed manager of Lyon in a dream partnership with Gerard Houlier. French media carries reports that the two men have never been sighted in the same place at the same time.

December - England beat Belarus 2-1 in a World Cup Qualifier. Borat is hailed as a footballing genius and the media salute England's golden age who will surely lift the World Cup in South Africa.

friends appear to have sent me a Notice of Intended Prosecution instead of their customary Yuletide greetings card.

I wrote and told them I had been a very good boy all year long. Well, a very good boy apart from my recent brush with their colleagues from the London branch.

Assuming Surrey Traffic Police content themselves with another fixed penalty notice and 3 points, this is quite inconvenient for me as this takes my tally to 9 points so I will now have to drive like an old man wearing a trilby hat. This will last for a full seven months when my current points start to expire.

I scrawled my own festive greeting on the non postage paid return envelope which I hope I don't live to regret.

'Merry Xmas to all at Surrey Traffic Police. You are all doing a great job.'

So, if you are stuck behind me and wonder why is that idiot driving below the speed limit, please accept my apologies but you can blame Surrey Traffic Police.

Maybe I should hire this lady as my personal chauffeur.

There are two words that are guaranteed to send Norman Junior and myself into fits of helpless laughter:

1. Giraffe - Ricks wrong answer on 'Trick or Treat' to the question 'What is the world's tallest mammal ?'
2. 'Horace' - My spontaneous answer to my son's question 'What were you going to call me if it had not been Norman Junior ?'

A week savouring the joys of commuting to Waterloo on South West Trains. Oxford Street is packed, the Christmas lights are on, the temporary ice rinks are open and lots of people are enjoying Christmas parties. Inevitably romance, as well as alcohol, is in the air.

I am fairly shy and reserved so I took the opportunity to place a couple of small ads in the wonderful London Paper and am eagerly awaiting a couple of calls and an early Christmas present next week.

'Monday night. District Line train to Wimbledon. You - beautiful, blonde hair, long coat, stylish scarf. Me - semi-comatose, dishevelled, drinking a can of Special Brew, pretending to read 'C# for beginners'. Drink ?'

'Tuesday night. Clapham Junction. 9pm. I was train-spotting on platform 11. You disembarked the 20:47 from Waterloo to Guildford. I informed you this service was delayed by 3 minutes 22 seconds due to a person being taken ill at Vauxhall. I then tried to tell you this locomotive had recently been serviced at Wimbledon Train Care Depot but you hurriedly walked away. Drink ?'

'Wednesday night. 01:55 Milk train to Portsmouth. Cute brunette who chose to sit next to me but was too nervous to say anything. I was desperately trying to remember what I had told the CEO at the office party. I fell asleep, snored and mistakenly lolled onto your shoulder. You smiled. Nervously. I missed my stop at Surbiton and ended up in Gosport. You laughed. Drink ?'

'Thursday night. Football club party. Stunning blonde who stood next to me under the Waterloo clock waiting for the 23:59 to Wokingham. I was wearing shorts, white T-shirt with fake breasts and a reindeer hat complete with flashing lights and antlers. I smiled and hicupped. A lot. You frowned and stared out the window while I tried to make eye contact. I asked you: 'Excuse me, but do you happen to know whether this train is stopping at Chessington South ?' I was transfixed by your beauty. At Raynes Park, your boyfriend said 'What do you think you're looking at, mate ?' and viciously attacked me. Drink ?'

Friday. Discharged from casualty with seven stitches. Called in sick. Quiet night in with the wife.

I always was led to believe that Bobby Charlton and George Best didnt get on. I read it in books and interviews and heard it from various different sources. Of course, this fact wasnt a total surprise as the two gentlemen did appear to be completely different personalities with rather contrasting interests and, err, hobbies.

A month ago, I saw Charlton interviewed by Michael Parkinson where he recounted his memories of the Munich air crash. Charlton also talked about the frustration of playing alongside Best:

'So I made a run forward 'Pass it George, pass it.' George dribbles down the wing and cuts back inside. I move into space. 'Here George - pass it here. Now'. George continues on a mazy run past another three defenders. I move into the box 'George - come on. For God's sake, pass it now - oh what a great goal, George.'

Then Bobby Charlton recalled visiting Best with Dennis Law during his final days in a London hospital. Best was drugged and drifting in and out of consciousness and didn't recognise his two friends. Bobby Charlton had tears in his eyes and his voice was quivering. It really was an incredibly moving and emotional moment.

So, if anyone tells you Bobby Charlton hated George Best, just ask them to watch that interview.

Monday 3 December

Get up very early and drive to Birmingham.

09:40-10:30 '30 years at Oracle' - Tom Kyte. I own a couple of Kyte's excellent books and various sources report he is an excellent speaker.

10:40-11:00 Visit a few stands. A quick game of 'spot the colleague' and ask 27 different companies 'How can XYZ help me grow my business ?'

11:15-12:00 'Siebel Keynote' - David Mills. Possible sales and marketing fluff alert. Need to sit at the back adjacent to an aisle to allow a potential rapid escape to 'Oracle RAC versus Oracle Data Guard - which should I use for Disaster Recovery and which should I use for High Availability ?'.

12:25-13:20 'Under the Covers of Oracle BI Suite Enterprise Edition Plus' - Mick Bull/Lisa Dobson. I would like to learn more about Oracle's Business Intelligence tools. Plus I have an innate weakness for presentations titled 'Under The Covers...'

13:15-14:15 'TimesTen: Anatomy of an In-Memory Database' - Chris Jenkins (Oracle). Curious to hear more about this technology.

14:15-15:15 'Remote Hand Held SFA solutions need housekeeping - Ian Keleher/Nicola Burrows (Gallaher). A verbose and hardly compelling title but I have worked with this customer so I might get a mention on the Credits slide.

15:20-16:25 'Oracle 10g: RAC Tuning Tips' - Joel Goodman

16:45-17:30 'Siebel Marketing and Marketing Analytics' - Ben Wales

17:35-18:35 '11g new features for DBAs' - Tom Kyte. This has better be worth it. I am missing 'Siebel Networking', free beer and prawn volavons for this !

Back to hotel to dump marketing literature, USB memory sticks and complimentary gifts from Quest Software.

Shower, brush teeth, apply deodorant and slip into something more comfortable. Head over to the Pitcher and Piano to gatecrash the Oracle bloggers meetup.