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April 30, 2003
Induction day
Have just got back from our induction day. A lot to take in and mull over. I may well join the National Union of Students and get cheap rail tickets - which will help with the cost of books etc!
The Media Management Ma team attended a book launch elsewhere at the London Institute tonight - I didn't meet the author but got to talk about some marketing issues. Great day, if somewhat long.
Posted by Simon at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2003
Apple iTunes 4
Its rare that I lose it with Apple but this time its more of the same. Last night I downloaded iTunes 4 and the new version of Quicktime to enable it to run properly. iTunes 4 offers a few improvements over an already great programme. The best thing so far has bee the ability for Paula to open iTunes on her 15" Powerbook and get the play list on our iMac and stream the music over our home WiFi network. Its brilliant - she can listen to music wherever she is in the house or garden - whilst keeping one central store of music on the iMac - who wants to spend hours feeding in all your CD's into the laptop when we have all our music on the iMac.
However there is a fly in the ointment. iTunes now comes with Music Store - where you can search, listen to and buy tracks for $0.99 which has actually made me interested in the potential for buying music online. But you can't buy any music if your in the UK (and plenty of other places)! this is exactly the same as the photobook in iPhoto where you can pick the look and feel of a photo album and download your images to a supplier who will print out and make up the album. Only available in the USA. Well its back to Limewire then.
Posted by Simon at 10:32 AM | Comments (1)
Golf - its just not cricket.
Just had an image e-mailed to me from my chum Pirate. This is a picture of the anti sexism protest outside the Club House for this years Masters competition, thats golf for you that are unaware. Whilst the womens placards make some valid points I think it's the chap at the back thats made the best statement. Please click on the image for a closer look!
Posted by Simon at 04:44 AM | Comments (0)
I've got to Zingo home
This new service in London I just have to try out. Zingo will be especially helpfull when I have been out on the town with the boys and need a cab.
I love the idea that they can pinpoint the nearest available taxi to where you are - even if you don't know where you are (could be usefull!). It's great when technology is used for usefull everyday things.
Posted by Simon at 01:55 AM | Comments (0)
April 28, 2003
Altered Carbon: Richard K. Morgan
Just finished this quite oustanding first novel from Richard K. Morgan. Very Cyberpunk although it is set well into the future. Humans are defined as a digital conscious and that is kept in a cortical stack which can be inplanted into the neck in a human body - a 'sleeve'. This allows travel to distant colonised planets by sending the digitised information via a needlecast transmission. The original colonists on each planet had to fly by space but once they are there they can get back to earth in moments but ending up in a different 'sleeve'.
The main action happens on Earth and is essentially a detective story but in a very nior fashion. Takeshi Kovacs, an Envoy, is the main character and he is hired by Bancroft to find out who killed him. Bancroft is still alive because he is rich enough to hold several cloned versions of his body and also back up his cortial stack every 48 hours - things that ordinary people can't afford. There is a nice religious twist to this in that the Catholics (the only remianing religion) are not allowed to resleeve and therefore when they are killed they die.
Excellent plot and action. Would make a good film but the sleeving would make it difficult for dweebs to follow what was going on and who was actually who!
Superb book - 5 out of 5.
Posted by Simon at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
Topic Icons
Includes full instructions on how to add the plug in to Moveable Type and how to add into your templates. Excellent!
Posted by Simon at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)
Digital blunders: Fraudster's mobile bungling gives him away
silicon.com - Digital blunders: Fraudster's mobile bungling gives him away
An insurance fraudster has been caught after accidentally admitting his crime to the very company he was trying to defraud, due a mix-up with his mobile phone.
The con-man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made a claim for several stolen items of jewellery.
Tony Le Fevre, managing director of the Loss Management Group (LMG), which handles 35,000 jewellery claims per year, said: "We had a call from a man who described in great detail various items of jewellery that he said had been stolen.
"He told us that he'd lost seven items of jewellery, including two gold pocket watches, two gold chains and a gold watch, all bought by him from antiques markets."
However, the man soon discredited his claims when he put the mobile phone he has used to make the call back into his pocket.
As he began to brag to a colleague about the fraud he was carrying out, he was unaware that he had accidentally hit the redial button on his handset.
Staff at LMG were shocked as the man began to explain how he has never owned any of the items but rather was making claims against documents he'd found in a house clearance.
Le Fevre said: "Unfortunately for the individual concerned, we automatically record all calls for training and monitoring purposes so had the complete conversation on tape."
According to recent research by LMG, jewellery fraud now costs the insurance industry £70m a year, with as many as one in three jewellery claims having either fraudulent or inflated aspects.
Posted by Simon at 01:36 AM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2003
Simon Cox meet Simon Cox
When I first bought the domain name simoncox.com I did a search around the web loooking for any references to me, I sure you have all done it, and I discovered a lot of other Simon Cox's. To check how many of you there are in the UK check out the Your Not Me website. For me there are currently 382 in the UK alone and Google brings up 5,340 references.
I have decided to list a few references to the others around the world. If you are a Simon Cox and have a web page drop me an e-mail!
Dr Simon Cox.
Bespectacled hatted genius geologist, Perth, Australia.
Simon F.T. Cox
Partner with Norton Rose law firm in London.
Simon J Cox.
Partner with Norton Rose law firm in Munich - it must cause problems when they work together on a project!
Simon Cox
Australian art director.
Simon James Cox
Network and systems administrator, London.
Simon G Cox
Postgrad atomic physicist.
Simon John Cox
Lecturer in Physics, Trinity College, Dublin.
Professor Simon J Cox
Professor of Computational Methods, Southampton UK.
Simon Cox
Australian Rules Football player with Hawthorns. Best season so far in 2002!
Simon Cox
Brewery Director in Leeds.
Simon Cox
Works in aerospace, Southampton UK.
Simon Cox
Financial Accountant, Upper Wellow, Somerset, UK
Simon Cox the Legoland Chef's site can be found at www.simoncox.biz
Simon Cox, vice-president of advertising sales at Turner Broadcasting, gets a mention in a media week story.
Simon Cox, student at Southampton University finishing off his MEng Software Engineering degree, where prof Simon Cox lectures. (That won't be confusing will it!) and he has his very own web site.
Posted by Simon at 11:43 AM | Comments (14)
April 25, 2003
Private Ryan beats the retreat
Well now! Private Ryan has had to do a major U Turn on the parking policy as the towns retailers are losing money, closing up and moving out because of the farcical Parking restrictions. Ryan and his 'Dream Team' (they must have been asleep to think the scheme up in the first place) wanted shoppers to use public transport to get into the town centre and so restricted local parking, thereby upsetting the residents, and increasing council run car park prices.
So are the people switching modes of transport? No. They have switched shopping locations instead as its more convenient for them.
Ryan and his cronies are destroying Croydon and turning it into a slum which may suit him but not us.
Even the council friendly local paper has is concerned:
ic Croydon - Croydon facing economic disaster
Posted by Simon at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
April 24, 2003
SARS - how will London cope?
Bioterror plans could be used to fight SARS
Is it me or have everyone gone mad about the SARS outbreak. More people are killed each year by common cold than SARS (at the moment). Or do we have a situation on our hands just like the classic TV series Survivors that ran between 1975 and 1977?
Paula has had a bad throat for a couple of days and one or two of my work collegues are looking peeky...
Posted by Simon at 03:19 AM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2003
Boogle
Very disappointed today to open Google UK to find no St George's Day banner. Google excelled themselves last year with a special banner and we must not forget that St George is the patron Saint of many places - not just England - Barcelona, Russia, and others - let me know!
Google have a logo already so why have they not used it today - I suspect the St Patrick's day logo has been used every year since they started specialty logos. England apparently is not allowed to celebrate our Patron Saints. St George's day its seems to be regarded as xenophobic and racist - the same with flying the cross of St George's flag - England's flag. Why am I not allowed to have pride in my country? Why in London does the Mayor spend a fortune on St Patricks day festival and not a jot for the 23rd April?
Posted by Simon at 09:43 AM | Comments (2)
April 21, 2003
Weblogs.com
Weblogs.Com: Recently Changed Weblogs
Stunning site - you can trade fantasy shares in other peoples weblogs. What will people think of next! THis puts an interesting spin on peoples personal sites and weblogging though. It may seem like your letting the whole world in on your life but its not quite like that - at least you are in control!
Posted by Simon at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)
Dinner next door
We have been invited next door for a sumptuous dinner - great we don't have to cook!!!
The wine has been flowing well tonight! Perfect end to the Easter weekend. Done loads seems like a whole month off.
Posted by Simon at 08:31 AM | Comments (0)
No frontiers!
Gibson is flying over to do a few appearences in the UK for his book Pattern Recognition. I may well go to the Foyles event - see you there!
Posted by Simon at 05:35 AM | Comments (0)
Good iraq oil rant
the RANT:A Journal of Independent Political Thought
Just spotted a good balanced rant about the US politcal situation and the oil in Iraq. Anybody seen the sleight of hand yet?
Posted by Simon at 02:14 AM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2003
Spring has sprung
Despit the lack of entries here we have been doing a lot to the garden over the winter. Moved several of the plants around at the back. Recently bought two husge pots to go either side of the doors. Paula has planted one up with the acer that was in the blue pot next to the Machiai and some varigated ivy. Everythings coming out into bud so expect some pictures along with posts from us soon.
Posted by Simon at 04:43 AM | Comments (0)
Web site undergoing more changes
If you have followed a search link to this site you will have noticed a lack of consistency in the styles used. That is because I am moving the cms over to Moveable Type and have yet to do the housekeeping to remove all the old pages plus a few stand alone pages need building and the css needs properly structuring, organising and finishing off. It feels like moving house - things need throwing ou but I am not 100% sure yet which bits I actually need!
Posted by Simon at 04:18 AM | Comments (0)
New Forest break
We have been away, walking for a couple of days in the New Forest staying overnight at the The Mailman's Arms in the High St at Lyndhurst in Hampshire. We had a fantastic time visiting many local places and sampling the local brews. Excellent!
On Friday we drove down to Beaulieu and walked to Bucklers Hard along the Beaulieu river had a pint and watched the river traffic go by. We then walked back to Beaulieu and had a cream tea. We then drove to Calshot where the Schneider Trophy Air Race was held in 1931. The water out to the Isle of White was full of yachts and inshire the sailborders and more dramatically the kite surfers were literally flying in the strong winds. On to Lyndhurst and the Pub. More later!
Posted by Simon at 01:26 AM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2003
Masters
Finaly got my start date through for my part time Master of Arts Degree in Media Management.I start at the end of April and by 2005 I should be a white haired wizzened guru, or abject failure drop out - that will not happen!
Posted by Simon at 09:02 AM | Comments (0)
Schedule of Events
TUESDAY 24TH JUNE 2003
Arrive Waterside Hotel Bath, where you will be welcomed and receive program details and badges.
6.30 for 7.00 pm. Buffet Reception and Get-together in the hotel’s Willow Suite. Cash bar available.
WEDNESDAY 25TH JUNE 2003 “Take your pick in Bath.”
Stroll into Bath centre along the waterside path for a day in the city.
For the energetic there will be a walking tour of the historic city led by a “Mayor’s Guide”.
All day sightseeing by bus for everyone. Hop on and off as you please at the famous sights.
MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE OF VISITS AND DINING ARRANGEMENTS.
(No meals arranged for this day) There are plenty of good pubs and restaurants in the City for you to choose from. If you wish to dine at the hotel, you must make your own reservations.
THURSDAY 26TH JUNE 2003 “Bristol and Wells”
9am. Coach leaves hotel for Bristol Maritime Heritage Centre where we will have a guided tour of the SS “Great Britain” the first Ocean going iron hulled liner and we hope, the “Matthew” a replica of a 15th century vessel in which John Cabot sailed and discovered Newfoundland in 1497.
Coach then leaves for the famous town of Wells, stopping en-route for a pub lunch at the Kings Arms (reputed to be haunted) in Litton, a small village in the Mendip hills.
Arriving at Wells there will be a visit to the Cathedral and the Bishops Palace. There will be time to explore this charming old town where William Penn preached from an upstairs room in a local pub.
Back to Bath by about 5pm. You will be on your own for dinner.
FRIDAY 27TH JUNE 2003 “Stourhead”
9 am Coach leaves hotel to drive through the countryside to “Stourhead” an 18th century mansion with beautiful Palladian gardens,now owned by the National Trust. Choose your own lunch at the restaurant or the pub in the grounds. We expect to leave about 2.30pm for Bath where you will have free time for last-minute shopping etc..
Friday Evening, Farewell dinner in the Hotel function room at 7.15 pm. As before, there will be a cash bar available.
SATURDAY MORNING Check out, and farewell until 2005.
Please send your completed Event Booking Form, together with payment , to Bill Pittock by March
31st. 2003. We have to firm up the bookings with cash deposits at least 2 months in advance.
With grateful thanks, Ken and Barbara, Chris and Janet.
Posted by Simon at 03:21 AM | Comments (0)
Reunion events info
There is so much to see in and around Bath and we hope we have found something to suit everyone.
To begin, on Wednesday, join us for a 1 ¼ mile walking tour with the Mayor’s Corp of Honorary Guides. In groups of 15 or so, we will be taken to see the mediaevil centre of Bath and the famous 18th Century city. Highly recommended, these tours are said to be “Chatty, gossip-filled joy - essential for your understanding of the Georgian Scene”
Follow that with a City Tour by open topped bus. Staying on the bus for the whole ¾ hour ride, will take us all around the city and to the hilltops for some panoramic views. The City Tour Guides will tell us about the history of the city, it’s buildings and some of the famous people who lived here. Get on and off the bus as you please, at any of the 16 stops en route, as often as you wish. Your ticket will also give you concessions at some of the sights and museums.
Eating places are many and varied in Bath, so you should find something to suit your taste.
On Thursday we will go by coach to Bristol’s Great Western Dock to visit the “ SS Great Britain” in the place where she was built in 1843. Long distance voyages made in wooded sailing ships were hazardous to say the least. Sea travel took a great leap forward when Isambard Kingdom Brunell designed this iron and steam masterpiece. Now undergoing a £10m development, the ship is being restored. Hopefully the replica sailing ship “ Matthew “ will be in dock nearby for us to see.
The coach will then take us through the Mendip Hills to The Kings Arms in the village of Litton, for a generous pub lunch. (Bring doggy bags). Litton was mentioned in the Doomsday Book in1084, and the pub is thought to be one of the oldest buildings in the village. Charles II is reputed to have hidden in the inn, and it is said to have 2 ghosts, a noblewoman and an unknown gentleman.
We go on to the delightful city of Wells, England’s smallest city. Granted it’s Charter in 1201 by King John, Wells has a famous Cathedral with a C14th mechanical clock. Nearby is Vicar’s Close, also built in the C14th, Europe’s oldest complete street. The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, home to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, is open to the public and is a moated house which contains the wells after which the city is named.
Back at the hotel at about 5pm you will make your own arrangements for dinner and the evening.
On Friday morning our coach driver will take us, via one or two picturesque Cotswold villages to our destination, Stourhead. Built in early 1720’s the lovely house was home to the Hoare family, owners of Britain’s only surviving independent Bank. The contents of the magnificent interior were once family possessions, and include an outstanding library of 5000 books, 482 paintings as well as the lovely furniture.The Garden, created in the C18th is a masterpiece of landscaping and a model for the growing English Landscape style. A self contained and timeless paradise.
We should be back in Bath by 3pm so that you may have time to shop, continue to sightsee, or simply crash out until dinner time.
I know that some of you intend to hire a car for your visit especially if staying longer that the reunion. We are looking into the various ways of travelling to Bath for those of you needing public transport. Costs and timetables for the summer are not yet available, but we will send details as soon as we can.
Posted by Simon at 03:19 AM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2003
Movable Type moves to Simoncox.com!
I have installed MoveableType personal Publishing System onto the site as the current Content Management System has gone into a development hiatus. I would rather go with a system built by professionals, nominated for a 2003 Webby Award and has some amazing features!
Posted by Simon at 02:33 AM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2003
Happy birthday to me!
I got lots of lovely presents and cards so was very happy. We went down to Kingsdown to stay with my parents for a few nights which gave me a chance to play golf with Dad on his local course - very fustrating but I am sure that was me not the course which was most enjoyable! Got lots of books as presents too which will keep me going for a while.
PLus I just found this news item!
Posted by Simon at 12:44 PM | Comments (0)