Just when I'm due to pick up my PC following its stint in hospital - it has been reset to factory settings after it was successfully attacked by something unpleasant - I read on techspot.com this morning that mobile phones aren't safe. OK, so the three trojans they have reported aren't spreading quickly, but the risk is there. I'm wondering if I access the web via my phone and synchronise with my PC, both of which I do quite regularly, does this make me more of a risk? Just to be sure, I won't be downloading any attachments.
Oh, and to complete the happy news, there's a fourth, more traditional worm that targets PCs. It goes by the names Nyxem and Karma Sutra and is spreading fast apparently.
Apparently today is the most depressing day of the year. Psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall from Cardiff University has calculated that due to a combination of factors (short days, post-Christmas debts, broken New Years resolutions, etc.) we're likely to be feeling pretty low.
Thanks to Steve at Hallmark PR for spotting this report on Sky News. There's even a video clip with various people grumbling about how difficult it is to get out of bed.
As for me, I've had two pieces of very good news today, so I'm definitely not feeling depressed!
... the computer virus was born.
Well, actually it was yesterday but I didn't read the article in El Reg until this morning! It's quite topical for me because I'm finally due to get my PC back from the menders after it was hacked last year. As it had to be reset to factory settings, that means I lost all new data since the last time I backed up.
Have I mentioned that I hate malware?
but this blonde joke is truly outstanding.
There’s not much to report really, as I wrote in detail about my experience last year. Sure there were some obvious changes such as the location, which was the soon-to-be-demolished London Arena, but apart from that it was pretty smooth.
The shelters were open, as always, from Friday 23rd to Friday 30th of December. I didn’t manage the entire week of the Open Christmas this year, as family obligations meant that I was in Jersey until Tuesday night. I did help out in the main shelter for the last three days, however.
The site itself was a far better design for the shelter than the Millennium Dome, which is where we were last year. As the venue was smaller, there was much more of a ‘community feel’ to the shelter whereas last year all the services had to be set out almost in a straight line – as I recall, it was close to half a mile from one end to the other in the Dome (and we only used a fraction of the building!).
For two days my main task was to ensure that there were sufficient volunteers positioned throughout half of the shelter while another Key Volunteer, Helen, did the same for the other half. I made some mistakes on the first day; stationing female volunteers outside the male showers for example (a misdemeanour that quite rightly earned me a very vocal scolding from a guest), but as far as I know things went fairly smoothly…
My third day was also the final day of the Open. I was stationed on the main gate, essentially overseeing the kicking out of guests into London’s wintry streets. I suppose I shouldn’t phrase it like that, but it’s not a nice job, especially when someone tells you they don’t have anywhere to go. To make things worse, it was bitterly cold; rain was intermingled with sleet.
As a small consolation, guests were given a shoulder bag containing various useful presents (radio, etc).
There were a couple of incidents where people didn’t want to leave, but there was no point in them staying as, from 10am, the shelter was literally being dismantled. Coaches were laid on to take guests to various destinations around London and most of them took advantage of the ride.
When all of the guests had left, we joined the other volunteers clearing up the venue. At 4pm, we were de-briefed and we headed for the pub.
I ended up in a curry house on Brick Lane at 1pm talking to one of the volunteers I’ve got to know over the years. The conversation was one way traffic, however, because after seven straight days working in the shelter, he fell asleep at the table!
New Year’s Eve was a quiet one as usual.
I am a simple fellow and it doesn’t take much to please me.
I am the proud owner of a Corby Classic Trouser Press (it's the one on the right of the top row of photos). No, really I mean it. My pride stems from various reasons:
Firstly, I inherited the trouser press when my father decided that he no longer needed to iron shirts or wear suits, so it’s sort of a modern family heirloom. By definition, therefore, it is something of which to be proud.
Secondly, I carried the blimming thing on public transport all the way from Rugby to my flat in central London – if you have never had to travel on London’s tube/bus system carrying bulky luggage, you haven’t lived. Nobody ever gets out of your way and eventually you realise that walking forwards in a determined fashion is the only chance you have of finishing your journey. If you happen to be carrying a Corby Classic Trouser Press (you see, I’m so proud I used the full name again) that means a few cracked ankles for those people who don’t show you the courtesy of standing to one side.
Finally, I have just dealt with the Service Department of John Corby Ltd. A while ago I lost the mains lead to my Corby Classic Trouser Press (don’t ask how, I really have no idea) and have not been able to find a replacement. Yesterday I filled in the enquiry form on the website and first thing this morning I received an email providing me with detailed information regarding the price of the spare part and how I could order/pay for it. I called, but the lines were busy. I listened to a short, clear message explaining when the lines were open (they close for an hour each day for lunch… so civilised) and inviting me to leave my number so that I could be called back. They returned my call within half an hour and I made my order. Splendid stuff.
I wish other companies could do the same.
