No Snow

When my radio alarm clock woke me this morning the news was just coming to an end and the traffic report came on. Imagine my delight as the AA warned that snow had fallen and conditions were difficult for drivers. I walk to work so I don't care how bad things get for cars. I was looking forward to a walk through the snow and the chance of some nice photographs .

Unfortunately with my first peek out the window I realized there was no snow outside. Green grass with a little amount of frost, but not snow. When I finished my shower the radio was once again informing me of last nights snow fall. This time I took a proper look out the window, perhaps I'd been mistaken the first time. Nope, still no snow. I felt a little cheated, it's been years since I saw a decent fall of snow.

Now tonight the media is telling me there will be heavy snow falling tonight, possibly up to a whole 3cm. I don't know if I should believe them. Fingers crossed.

Vista and MP3 players

Looks like several MP3 players from at least 4 different companies are having problems with Vista. First Apple told iPod users to hold off on upgrading to Vista until they update iTunes because the current iTunes on Vista could corrupt the iPod. Now Samsung, Cowon, and iRiver are telling users that some of their players are incompatible with Vista and they need to release firmware upgrades.

Thats crazy, first of all why didn't the companies test their MP3 players on the Beta release of Vista or even the Business release that came out a couple of months ago and have the upgrades ready to ship the same day Vista shipped? Secondly why didn't Microsoft test Vista against MP3 players, especially the iPod? Did the fact that they now sell the Zune mean they were not worried about other MP3 players and if so is that not anti-competitive?

If MP3 players have problems I wonder what other devices will have problems. I have a Fuji S9500 digital camera, a Sony Ericson K800i mobile phone, and a Toshiba gigabeat s30 mp3 player all of which I regularly connect to my computer. If I had the opportunity to upgrade my OS and any of those devices wouldn't work with Vista then I'd blame Vista not the devices and I'd just stay with XP.

All patients are equal in Irish Hospitals

As a medical consultants representative said tonight on Prime Time, public and private patients are treated equally by the Irish health system. Neither group can get into hospital for elective surgery. I think she was trying to be sarcastic but it so close to the truth it shouldn't be joked about.

Want decent medical treatment? Get sick abroad.

Drug testing TDs?

Should Dail Deputies be drug tested? Enda Kenny called for school kids to be drug tested and now Damien Mulley has started, or maybe he is just publicising, is pointing to an online petition to have Dail Deputies drug tested as well.

I actually think this is a good idea. After all these people ask us to put our faith in them to run the country, decide national and international policy and spend billions of tax payers money while half of them look hung over on a daily basis. Massive levels of psychedelic drugs abuse could be the only explanation several of the projects that we have paid for over the last few years.

If enough people sign it then it could make for an interesting and potentially embarrassing question to be addressed by politicians in the run up to the election.

The Super Bowl and Muslim names

Just watching the Super Bowl on ITV. Did I hear it right? Did the the crowd just boo Muhsin Muhammad of the Chicago Bears when his name was called out? What was that about?

Is there a history there or was it just because he has a Muslim name? If it is because of his name would they boo anyone based on their name, say for example Muhammad Ali? Will Barack Obamas name really be an election loosing issue in the 2008 Presidential race? How messed up is that? Someone, please tell me I'm wrong.

Right now I'm supporting the Chicago Bears because I want to see Muhsin Muhammad lift the Vince Lombardi trophy, something those who just booed him will never get to do.

[Update 23:55]
They did it again. Muhammad just scored a touch down and they booed him. Bastards. The commentators have not mentioned it but it is kind of obvious and other bloggers2 have3 mentioned1 it as well. Come on the Bears!

[Update 00:04]
Here are some stats on Muhsin
Muhsin Muhammad #87 Wide Receiver Chicago Bears
Height: 6-2 Weight: 215
Born: May 5, 1973 - Lansing, Michigan
College: Michigan State
Draft: 1996 - 2nd round (13th pick) by the Carolina Panthers

His religion shouldn't be an issue, official web sites don't mention his religion, as well they shouldn't, but Wikipedia says he is Christian. update: A MySpace site claiming to be his lists his religion as Muslim. But like I say his religion shouldnt be an issue.

[Update 00:10]
I'm getting lots of hits to my blog with people searching for "booing mushin muhammad". Looks like lots of other people noticed it as well.


[Update: 00:18]
It has been pointed out by Paul in the comments (and I found mentioned on a site that claims to be Mushin Muhammads own MySpace site) that his nickname is "Moose" which I suppose could be what the crowd are shouting? I'd have to hear it again to know for sure. I hope that is the case.

[UDATE: 01:46]
I heard it again. I'm 90% sure that it is not, repeat NOT booing, but instead the fans are chanting "mooooosssee". The commentators mentioned it as well confirming this. So my sincere apologies to the fans! I should have known better.

[Update: 3:00]
Congrats to the Indianapolis Colts for winning 29-17. Time for bed now.

Need Vista?

BBC's technology program Click have done a report on Vista explaining whats new, what it does and do you need it. It's clear, to the point and interesting. Lets just say, I wont be upgrading until I'm forced to by buying a new laptop.

You can see the report here on the BBC website, resolution is a bit low but you'll get the idea.

Bird Flu in Suffolk

BBC News just reported that there is an outbreak of H5 bird flu in Suffolk in England. Officials are doing more tests to find out if it is H5N1 the strain that can infect humans. Defra in the UK is where the official information comes from.

1000 turkeys have already died and 160,000 are to be culled. Hmm, coming so close to Christmas that's a bad 2 months to be a turkey.

Update: It's H5N1.

Sky News have a map of the world showing places where there have been outbreaks of Bird Flu. It shows Northern Ireland as having had an outbreak because Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom just like England where Suffolk is. An outbreak of Bird Flu in turkeys on a farm in England being extended to the United Kingdom is a bit unfair on Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland. Suffok is about as far from Northern Ireland as you can get and still be in the United Kingdom. Also the farm was supposed to be a "biologically secure farm" to prevent the spread of bird flu, so it is possible that the infection came in on infected material rather than wild birds.

Disenfranchised Part II

After almost being removed from the Register of Electors last year, along with 19,000 other people living in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area, I decided it would be a good idea to check the register online this evening. It was supposed to have been updated and made official today. Guess what, despite reassurances that people would not be removed I don't seem to be on the register.

At least, I should say, the online search fails to find me. I do suspect that the search is not working at all so I will have to call into the Gardai station to check the official paper based register. It's a bit annoying because it means either I have been removed despite the councils promises, or yet another Government IT project isn't working properly (I'll wait a few weeks before calling it a failure).

I'd recommend that anyone who wants to vote in the next election should check the register, soon.

Good nights ahead in Coppers?

I saw the headline today that said "Nurses set to be allowed prescribe medicines". The first thought that popped into my mind was, "Wow, Copper Face Jacks will be an interesting place after this".

Speaking of Coppers, I'm going to a stag later this month, eh Keith (the Stag) if you are reading this what do you think, for old times sake? ;-)

Irish VAT rate is "extortionate" says Sony Manager

Anyone looking forward to the long awaited, and delayed, release of Sonys new Playstation 3 in Europe and Ireland should by now know that the price that has been announced is on bit on the high side. To be honest it's on the "I'm not paying that, piss off, there will be a price drop in a few months anyway" side of high.

Now it's not just Irish gamers who are weeping into their piggy banks and eyeing the local securicore van with evil intent in their eyes. Gamers in the UK have also been complaining about the pricing, where they have to pay £425 RRP compared to £300 RRP in the US and £250 RRP in Japan.

Todays Guardian has taken up the cause of the geeks and have an interview with Ray Maguire, Sony Computer Entertainment's UK managing director. It's full of the usual market waffle to explain differences between US, Asian and European releases of anything electronic, VAT and tax being the main culprit.

Interestingly though, when talking about tax, Ray is quoted as saying

Maguire adds that VAT varies from "lesser" rates in mainland Europe to an "extortionate" one in Ireland (update: 21%). Which does, at least, explain why the PlayStation 3 will cost €629 (£415) in Ireland as opposed to €599 (£395) in continental Europe.

So who says we are a low tax nation? When electronics companies start to refer to Irish tax rates as "extortionate" you have to wonder just how badly is the Government screwing us? Still I'm sure the rest of Europe can take comfort in the fact that Sony can point at Ireland and say "see, they are worse off than you, so stop whining and pay the money".

[Via The Guardian]