Posts

Cheer up Kevin Keegan

I was almost tempted to let Kevin Keegan’s re-appointment as manager of Newcastle pass without comment.

After Mourinho’s departure, the Premiership (and the media) desperately needs some more characters and soundbites.

However, I just read that since his departure from Manchester City, Keegan has been running a football circus. YCNMIU.

The ideal preparation for his latest role. And just for old times sake, take a second to remember this classic (in full).

open letter to Howard Rogers

Howard

When Tim Hall ‘tagged’ me, my initial, instinctive gut reaction was: God- what an infantile, puerile idea. There’s no way I am going to participate in that ‘meme’. The concept wasn’t new to me as I’d already seen Scoble and those Web 2.0 PR types participate in similar mindless activities which I just chose to ignore.

However, my reasons for objecting were slightly different from yours. Normally, I despise being told what to so and what to blog about. Similarly, whenever my various employers announced a ‘Dress down Friday’ which was gleefully received by my colleagues, I would purposefully don a suit and tie. After all, a uniform on a Friday is still a uniform.

readers of Oracle blog aggregators unite (and take over)

‘Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It is 25 years, 3 months and 47 days since my last confession.’

According to Feedburner, Tim Hall’s Oracle blog aggregator has 723 avid readers.

One of those readers summoned up the courage to send me an email complaining about my continuous off-topic posts. Apparently, the straw that broke this particular camel’s back was my participation in the evil ‘8 things’ Oracle TagFest.

Forget the fact, my blog is not currently aggregated by OraNA which is purely a temporary oversight by Eddie and will be rectifed imminently (once my cheque for $250 clears).

just grow up

Reading: ‘Thunderbolt Kid’ by Bill Bryson. Growing up in the States in the 1950’s. This opening (recursive) quote sets the tone beautifully

The State Senate of Illinois yesterday disbanded its Committee on Efficiency and Economy ‘for reasons of efficiency and economy’ - Des Moines Tribune, 6 February 1955

Watching: This is England. Growing up in England in the 1980’s. A superb film.

Oracle TagFest - the last word

REM - Country Feedback

‘Crazy, all the lovers have been tagged.’

something about nothing

Yesterday, Norma collided with another car in a SW London rat-run.

The lady took Norma’s details. I mourned taking out a high excess (£250). We were both thankful no-one was hurt, then I flew to Newcastle and forgot all about it.

This evening, I spent 45 minutes on the phone discussing the fact that nothing had happened

• The lady never called.
• The insurance company never called.
• Nothing actually happened.

Nothing else was discussed. Why did this call take 45 minutes ?

8 things

Tagged by Tim Hall.

1. In my first year at University, I had a lecturer who was male. When I returned for my second year, he was a woman.
2. My first brush with the police was at 14 when I crossed Chester Road against police orders and a copper said ‘Think that’s funny, eh ? Would you still think it’s funny if I took you into that van and kicked your head in ?’
3. I have seen United win (1977), draw (1983) and lose (1995) in an FA Cup Final.
4. The Hillsborough disaster saddened me but when The Independent posted photographs of people crushed against metal fences, gasping for breath, dying, I broke down and cried like a baby.
5. Most of the people I care about now live in Australia. Slowly but surely, I am getting the message.
6. I am the only person in my family not to have broken a limb.
7. I have stood on the top of Ayers Rock.
8. I joined a gym on 1 December 2007. Since then I have lost 1 stone q but I’m sure it will turn up somewhere.

Ing-er-land

After thoroughly enjoying watching Arsenal defeat Sunderland at the Emirates, I resolved to get off my barstool and try to get to see more live football in 2008.

Consequently, I have just purchased two tickets (South Level 5) for England versus Switzerland in a friendly on Wednesday 6 February.

Of course, I already know what the outcome will be but I am keen to visit the new Wembley Stadium and show Norman Junior what real England supporters are like.

blog housekeeping

• Upgraded to WordPress 2.3.2
• Plaintxt theme upgraded to v4.0. The main change is tag support which I don’t currently use.
• Reinstated the ‘Related Posts’ plugin because I couldn’t understand why people looking for information on Virgin Media/V+ don’t scan other relevant posts. Already seeing a benefit.
• Added useful plugin to support embedded YouTube videos to liven up my monochrome posts.

idiot's guide to Oracle installation

Not many things make me laugh out loud. Especially about Oracle.

With enough preparation, a Siebel installation (Next-Next-Next) could use a similar technique which is something I would dearly love to accomplish.