tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58669412011-08-02T16:10:06.098+01:00This is my James Joyce/drunken bastard blog for any ol' rubbish that comes in to my head.Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-66502390817953029992011-08-01T14:23:00.002+01:002011-08-01T14:31:19.097+01:00

How to get a duplicate receipt from Dixon'sMy camera broke and was in warranty so I was able to get it repaired, but they needed proof of purchase. The trouble was I had lost the original receipt moving house so I thought I'd see if I could get a duplicate.Dixon's were really helpful; a quick call to them identified the store and product code I needed and they put me through to the store. The

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-33134957075715432972008-11-27T17:34:00.002Z2008-11-27T17:43:11.839Z

If you want to see how this works look at this video. This video is just something I found on YouTube with very little views to test this with and it shouldn't have many views because noone knows about it, but actually it has loads thanks to this technique.I used Tube Increaser to automatically up the view count.The way this works is that you give Tube Increaser a YouTube video or channel to "up"

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-71288309918837159142008-01-06T12:30:00.000Z2008-01-06T12:38:02.226Z

A while back I posted about opt-out versus opt-in policy for organ donation. Here's the original blog entry.Well, there's been an update from the government on this. the e-petition was completed (4000+ signatures) and the government responded. Unfortunately, they are not saying much.The Government know that around 8,000 people in the UK need an organ transplant but only 3,000 transplants are

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-20062974029745627232007-03-14T08:05:00.000Z2007-03-14T08:28:01.389Z

LloydsTSB's save the change is one of the newest ways banks in the UK are trying desperately to get each others customers to switch to them. Personally, I see no reason to switch banks unless you get very bad service from them or they can not or will not do something to improve the way you bank. I've been with my bank for 24 years and really can't see myself switching. The first sort of switch

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-82063964233255426812007-03-09T14:29:00.000Z2007-03-09T14:30:49.691Z

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-82334943346156605312007-02-13T09:20:00.000Z2007-01-10T14:25:22.815Z

Having a donor card is pointless. Time after time distraught families veto any altruistic last wishes of a donor. I don't know how it came to pass, but somehow the rights of the person over their body end with death despite the fact that their rights of control of their money continue through a will. Would anyone allow their next of kin control of their money and possessions after death, most

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-4176025194044990512006-12-09T19:43:00.000Z2006-12-09T19:48:54.349Z

Yes! I have finally finished all the requisite parts of my British Sub-Aqua Club Ocean Diver course. I'm legal to dive worldwide at depths of down to 20m (although I did 21m today!)This is sweet because my girlfriend's Dad is an ex-Irish International deep-water spear-fisherman and when I go out to New Zealand next year (don't ask about the jump from Ireland to New Zealand), I can go diving with

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1163513088004687472006-11-14T13:48:00.000Z2006-11-14T14:04:48.240Z

In the same week that I'm getting frustrated by some of the political posturing around Iraq I read a story about a Chicago man's self-immolation, which could be attributed to a protest against political decisions on the war in Iraq.I was going to post a rant about how we shouldn't be asking Syria and Iran to pitch in to help the new Iraq (and Afganistan I suppose) before talking to our friendly

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1162539811694130682006-11-03T07:39:00.000Z2006-11-03T07:43:31.706Z

The BBC radio news today, talking about this story stated, "Scientists are recommending fishing reductions to save fish species". It goes on to say, "However, sceptics say that a total ban on fishing would see the end of the fishing industry."That's like saying that banning all cars would see the end of the motoring industry, true, but obvious.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1161591766443593522006-10-23T09:15:00.000+01:002006-10-23T09:22:46.456+01:00

I've embarked on a post-30 workout regime at a new gym near my offices. The aim is to have a pre-30 body, well actually pre-26 body because that's when I stopped working out and started putting on the kilos in a serious way.It turns out that although I've benefited from the new exercise regime (2cm loss on waist, 2cm gain on biceps and quads), I've never had so many injuries or ailments. In my

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1161250740511619152006-10-19T10:24:00.000+01:002006-10-19T10:39:00.543+01:00

This BBC Radio 4 programme, which I managed to catch today was pretty interesting. China was the world power in scientific innovation until the 1700s or so. Apparently, there was a back lash against western science, which prevented an uptake of western science to allow China to further improve once European scientists began to make their own breakthrough, which lead to western science becoming

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1161156061348233482006-10-18T08:20:00.000+01:002006-10-18T08:21:01.346+01:00

A man using a hairdrier to dry his genitals. Yes, that's what I saw this morning and I'm still in shock.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1161155992596165942006-10-18T08:17:00.000+01:002006-10-18T08:19:52.610+01:00

Here's another lame promise.I just got back from a trip to Spain for my Grandma's 80th birthday, she's been living there for 20 years, so this was a double anniversary. Lots of stuff happened that I'll tell you about, never.Also, I went to the Green Man Festival in August, I suspect you'll never hear about how good that was and why I think small festivals are the way forward.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1154350781392680152006-07-31T13:58:00.000+01:002006-07-31T16:02:21.700+01:00

Yes! After almost 7 years and 3 attempts (okay that's not too many) I finally got an article up on Slashdot. That is all.Update:It seems that the Blogger template I use doesn't make it very clear that if my blog post is about a link to another site you can get to it via the actual title of the post. This is a clickable link. As this isn't obivous I suspect that many people have missed a lot of

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1153243218698012062006-07-18T17:55:00.000+01:002006-07-18T18:20:18.730+01:00

This article on the BBC News website is quite interesting; I have thought about doing this, but I'm not sure if it'll work or if I could do it ethically. I don't think it would work with my current job, but it's a thought if you're wondering what living abroad might do for you. If you read the comments to the article you see an argument forming like this:For - I commute from country A to country

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1152473695182615652006-07-09T20:32:00.000+01:002006-07-09T20:34:55.196+01:00

I full intend to update the blog soon, I've lots to tell, but not the time currently to do everything justice. Here's a summary of things so far:Train injustice #1 - The journey to GatwickHoliday in Ireland - Lots of camping (ohh Matron) and hiking.Train injustice #2 - The journey from GatwickGeneral ramblings/comments about things I've heard on Radio FiveLive in the morning or the media in

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1145539720461149302006-04-20T14:13:00.000+01:002006-04-20T14:28:40.543+01:00

First off, I don't listen to Capital FM, in fact if you ever read this blog (and I don't suppose many do) and you happen to read something about a radio station, it's most likely one I heard in a colleagues car whilst working. Hence, Capital FM, Radio Mercury (the heart of the south apparently), Magic et al are not frequent listens of mine. In most cases I don't like them. So please don't judge

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1143067644450821532006-03-22T22:46:00.000Z2006-03-22T22:47:24.460Z

know who I am. 7 days after the incident in the Post Office I received through the post a nice shiny new Passport with my fat face in the back of it.I feel like a trip to the Post Office just to gloat.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1141758518785145882006-03-07T18:43:00.000Z2006-03-07T19:08:38.830Z

There can't be many levels of embarassment and self-pity below where I sank yesterday.I went to renew my 10 year passport at the Post Office; they do this "check and send" service, where you get the application form checked for you and a guaranteed two-week turn around. I got myself some nice new pictures taken and queued like a good man. I stepped up to the counter and presented my documents;

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1141595078823344882006-03-05T21:40:00.000Z2006-03-09T10:36:41.233Z

Why is Menzies pronounced Mingis?Thank you to the BBC for helping clear up why Sir Menzies Cambell has such a strange pronunciation of his first name.There are some notable comments at the bottom too, my favourite is this:"... Jean Harlow was at a dinner party and kept on addressing Margot Asquith (wife of prime minister Herbert Asquith) as MargoT (pronouncing the 'T'). Margot finally had

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1141414888188461942006-03-03T19:02:00.000Z2006-03-03T19:46:11.570Z

I read this story and listened to and read other supporting news stories today. As a scientist, I am all for accurate reporting. It frustrates me to listen in to talk shows or read posts by misinformed, opinionated, but ultimately wrong people discussing science stories on the news. Take the MMR furore, millions of babies have now not been vaccinated and may catch some of the diseases it prevents

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1141412131039300102006-03-03T18:40:00.000Z2006-03-03T18:55:31.093Z

If anyone reads this blog, which in its infancy is unlikely due to the sparse population of posts and the monotony of the subject matter thus far, they will no doubt be familiar, perhaps even avid readers of, the credit card fiasco. This will be the last post on this matter unless something very dramatic happens because as you will see this post can be read over an over again until all I have to

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1139815641588737962006-02-13T07:21:00.000Z2006-02-13T07:27:21.606Z

UK: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was under intense pressure on Wednesday night after he was involved in a punch-up...USA: Cheney shoots man in hunt errorThis difference is that whilst Prescott meant to hurt his man, Cheney is the only one that could have killed his man. Guns don't kill people politicians do!

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1139781050691071262006-02-12T21:45:00.000Z2006-02-12T21:50:50.690Z

For some reason I've signed up to google adsense for this blog. What sort of money is a schmuck like me gonna get for spouting shite eh? Well we'll see. Perhaps I won't even pass their vetting procedure. Anyway, if you click on the links or whatever there are on the page I'll total the cash up and if it's significant I'll probably give it to charity. If it's not I'll just laugh at my stupidity.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1139778870951911082006-02-12T21:09:00.000Z2006-02-12T21:14:30.970Z

After thinking it was all over, I was sadly wrong. If your credit card issuer says they will not attempt to take payment from your account after they have resolved your credit card fraud issue don't believe them, it is a barefaced lie.I checked my balance the other day and I was several thousand overdrawn. "So what's new Ian. He, he, he!", you might say, but you'd be wrong. Post university I'm

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1138221825274121802006-01-25T20:42:00.000Z2006-01-25T20:52:05.336Z

During the last 14 days I have been trying to sort out my finances. Normally when someone says that, especially around this time of year they are discussing their day-to-day budget and their overdraft/credit card, which took a pounding recently. In my case, as a result of someone else pounding my credit card, I am sorting out my finances to assess the potential damage I am yet to uncover.Recently

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1136279944213354692006-01-03T09:13:00.000Z2006-01-03T09:19:04.236Z

It's been a good year for me musically. I've bought a lot more music, managed to seek out a whole bunch more music myself without relying on word of mouth so much and managed to see more bands live than any other year in the last five years a least. Here's ten tracks from ten bands/artist(e)s in no particular order that I found, re-discovered or generally listened to a lot in 2005.Captain Beyond:

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1136034895484186922005-12-31T13:07:00.000Z2005-12-31T13:15:31.783Z

I was clearing up the flat after the Christmas revelries and started reviewing some of the cards I received. Almost all are going in the recycling bin except for this, possibly the best Christmas card I've ever received. I don't know why, but I think it's just the best.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1135847927837550232005-12-29T09:16:00.000Z2005-12-29T10:02:34.526Z

The Wasps of Freedom as reported by USA Today, "Scientists at a Georgia laboratory have developed what could be a low-tech, low-cost weapon in the war on terrorism: trained wasps. Glen Rains uses the 'Wasp Hound' to monitor the behavior of wasps trained to detect a particular scent or volatile compound. "Whilst this sounds a very cunning way to subtely monitor baggage behind the scenes, what if

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1135791186045965662005-12-28T17:14:00.000Z2005-12-28T17:33:06.086Z

Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the Inbetween. Those days between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. A purgatory between the hell of Christmas and the heaven of the new year. A period where for me at least I am too fat and hungover to enjoy the time off and yet too close to more parties to bother to take the time off partying that the 100 trillion cells that make up my body are crying out for. And

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1114272773605228282005-04-24T00:58:00.000+01:002005-12-29T10:23:56.056Z

How annoying? Very. I've just remembered that I had a dream last night and in the dream I came up with an incredibly good idea for a film or short story. It'd be more likely to be a film, because I actually visualised it whilst asleep. Still it's really annoying because when I woke up all I could think of was some really rubbish dream in which I drove to Cardiff, stopped off at a friend of a

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1108559948310799522005-02-16T13:16:00.000Z2005-12-29T10:49:09.593Z

Here's a quick update on some stuff my friends have been doing. Still early days, but they're better than me: Spit BrothersUpdate (2005-12-29): Whilst the initial flourish seemed to signify a more updated blog than mine it has since slumped in a similar style to, what I presume is the usual lack of content of the majority of blogs like mine.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1064763624304948432003-09-28T16:40:00.000+01:002005-12-29T10:55:12.323Z

I read this today on my forum [http://fw1.no-ip.com/the_list ] and I just had to reply and then post it here. Usual stream of consciousness ensued, I wonder if it makes sense to anyone?Popscene wrote:So I was watching the women's world cup today and I was thinking that it was a shame England didn't qualify having lost 2-0 to France in a home and away playoff. However, after looking at England's

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1064745692017259502003-09-28T11:41:00.000+01:002005-12-29T10:54:29.480Z

I saw this as a section in WH Smith on Friday. I wondered if all the books contained stories about imaginary authors. Perhaps one was about that Booker prize winning novel I wrote aged 13. That certainly is literary fiction.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866941.post-1064657498262432812003-09-27T11:11:00.000+01:002005-12-29T10:53:45.793Z

I can't imagine many blogs start well, I mean how many of us actually have any idea what we're doing or how we're going to say it. Anyway, that it, I've done it and next time I write some seriously good stuff. Honest. At least I can say I'm not a virgin.

Johnny Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994338179185161349noreply@blogger.com