Thursday, October 30, 2003
Windows RG
There's a new version of Windows out - called Windows RG - or 'Really Good' edition.
Try an online demo now - you'll really love all the old favourite features as well as the new touches.
Try an online demo now - you'll really love all the old favourite features as well as the new touches.
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
California fires
Perhaps not the best of subjects but all the same, this page has some spectacular satellite images of the California coast.
There's also some very good images here at the NASA Earth Observatory site. (Today there's links to the solar flares as well.)
There's also some very good images here at the NASA Earth Observatory site. (Today there's links to the solar flares as well.)
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
The new King's Cross
Some of you may have passed through this area of north London recently and realised there was quite a bit of construction work going on.
You may not have realised that this is actually the site of the world's largest underground engineering project as explained in this Guardian article.
Try these links too:<RANT>
The scale and complexity of what is being achieved is quite staggering yet, as with many British projects, we fail to publicise it. We hear all about the latest, tallest, fastest or even smoothest designs from around the world while ignoring our own achievements.
</RANT>
You may not have realised that this is actually the site of the world's largest underground engineering project as explained in this Guardian article.
Try these links too:<RANT>
The scale and complexity of what is being achieved is quite staggering yet, as with many British projects, we fail to publicise it. We hear all about the latest, tallest, fastest or even smoothest designs from around the world while ignoring our own achievements.
</RANT>
Friday, October 24, 2003
VIA low power Eden CPU
10 days ago on the 14th October, VIA Technologies announced their new Eden-N processor.
An Intel x86-compatible processor, the Nano-BGA is very small and runs very cool. Although it does not match the latest Pentiums for pure speed and 'grunt' it will be ideal for those applications where being compact and quiet is important, for example, set-top boxes for cable and satellite systems. It does include onboard security and multimedia support too.
 |  |
An Intel x86-compatible processor, the Nano-BGA is very small and runs very cool. Although it does not match the latest Pentiums for pure speed and 'grunt' it will be ideal for those applications where being compact and quiet is important, for example, set-top boxes for cable and satellite systems. It does include onboard security and multimedia support too.
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Silicon Graphics
There's a link to the "Silicon Zoo" on the current CCS website - there you can find lots of pictures of integrated circuits (viewed under very powerful microscopes) and see the odd (this Smurf) and interesting (Norse god Thor - the reason this is posted on Thursday) pictures that have been etched into them.
I'm going back to it because of a recent post on Slashdot reminding me of this and one link to a graphic of a Pentium chip. It was said that the Intel engineers who designed "bill sux" into the chip were given the sack but, like many things on the Web, it was not true.
I'm going back to it because of a recent post on Slashdot reminding me of this and one link to a graphic of a Pentium chip. It was said that the Intel engineers who designed "bill sux" into the chip were given the sack but, like many things on the Web, it was not true.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
World Solar Challenge
The 7th World Solar Challenge started on Sunday 19th October.
It is being held in Australia (probably a good place for sun right now) and follows a route from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south.
Contestants must build a car capable of travelling over 3,000 km on sunlight alone.
It is being held in Australia (probably a good place for sun right now) and follows a route from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south.
Contestants must build a car capable of travelling over 3,000 km on sunlight alone.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Scissors, Paper,Stone
I'd be surprised if there's many of you who don't know the simple children's game of 'Scissors, Paper, Stone'.
Perhaps you'd be surprised there is World Championship too - but there is, and it is taking place at the weekend - 25th October 2003 to be exact.
Those crazy Canadians (sorry Ms Linney) call it Rock, Paper, Scissors and they'll be playing in Toronto from Saturday onwards.
If you feel the need to get into practice for the 2004 finals try here at the Beeb or even take on this Psychic Player.
Extra (added 24th October) :
Here's a link to the UK team for this event.
Perhaps you'd be surprised there is World Championship too - but there is, and it is taking place at the weekend - 25th October 2003 to be exact.
Those crazy Canadians (sorry Ms Linney) call it Rock, Paper, Scissors and they'll be playing in Toronto from Saturday onwards.
If you feel the need to get into practice for the 2004 finals try here at the Beeb or even take on this Psychic Player.
Extra (added 24th October) :
Here's a link to the UK team for this event.
Monday, October 20, 2003
GCSE ICT after-school sessions (part 2)
Year 11 exam work gets priority but Year 10 are welcome too if there are spare places.
Location : B30 - Time : 3 pm to 4:30 pm
AQA-assignment due date is 24th October 2003 with extension to Thursday, 20th November 2003 for extra work to be added in. (Do not be tempted to leave things to the Friday as Mr Pollock will not be in school that day.)
Look here for the dates for after-school sessions 1 to 8.
Location : B30 - Time : 3 pm to 4:30 pm
- Monday, 03-11-2003
in addition the Y11 Consultation Evening is on Thursday - Wednesday, 12-11-2003
- Thursday, 20-11-2003 - final date for Assignment
- Thursday, 27-11-2003
- Monday, 01-12-2003
- Wednesday, 10-12-2003 - Y11 study leave starts 8th
- Monday, 15-12-2003
AQA-assignment due date is 24th October 2003 with extension to Thursday, 20th November 2003 for extra work to be added in. (Do not be tempted to leave things to the Friday as Mr Pollock will not be in school that day.)
Look here for the dates for after-school sessions 1 to 8.
Friday, October 17, 2003
The Linux Counter
The Linux Counter is a site where you can register yourself as a user of Linux.
Now that we are using Linux at school there's no reason why you shouldn't register yourself.
Now that we are using Linux at school there's no reason why you shouldn't register yourself.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Just a thought
Marlon Brando. "If there's anything unsettling to the stomach, it's watching actors on television talk about their personal lives." [Quotes of the Day]
I'd have to add that it's second only to hearing them spout their absurd philosophies on life to the rest of us because they believe that acting gives them some special insight.
{puke}
I'd have to add that it's second only to hearing them spout their absurd philosophies on life to the rest of us because they believe that acting gives them some special insight.
{puke}
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Clusters of computers
I've covered clusters of machines before in the old CCS-ICT weblog.
So why some more? This time it is a cluster of PocketPC devices - great little picture here.
Links to the older articles:
Shuttles a-plenty, a neat little CPU cluster, a whole week of Beowulf posts and serious about consoles.
So why some more? This time it is a cluster of PocketPC devices - great little picture here.
Links to the older articles:
Shuttles a-plenty, a neat little CPU cluster, a whole week of Beowulf posts and serious about consoles.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Reading, Books and Lists
The Observer newspaper has published its own list of the 100 greatest novels of all time, ahead of the BBC's list of the nation's favourite books - the Big Read.
You may agree - or you may disagree - with them but take a look anyway.
According to the article, the British devour more books than any other country on Earth.
You may agree - or you may disagree - with them but take a look anyway.
According to the article, the British devour more books than any other country on Earth.
Monday, October 13, 2003
Where is the 'Any' key?
Yes, you guessed right - it is what some 'Induhviduals' (word courtesy of Scott Adams - see Wednesday 8th Oct post) say when they are told "Press any key to continue".
And here's good old Compaq (now HP) providing a very handy FAQ for this disturbing problem.
Can anyone find the FAQ about what to do about broken keyboards after you've struck them?
Extra:
Perhaps more useful for some - here's an article explaining what the Scroll-Lock key is for - a bit heavy-going though.
And here's good old Compaq (now HP) providing a very handy FAQ for this disturbing problem.
Can anyone find the FAQ about what to do about broken keyboards after you've struck them?
Extra:
Perhaps more useful for some - here's an article explaining what the Scroll-Lock key is for - a bit heavy-going though.
Friday, October 10, 2003
Limericks and Poetry
Thursday was National Poetry Day.
The Beeb had a little page about limericks - they even have some first lines so you can compose your own and send them in.
Take a look at such masterpieces as:
On Arnie's first day on the job
They told him to raise a few bob
But the state's debt was greater
Than a mere Terminator
And his foot ended up in his gob
The Beeb had a little page about limericks - they even have some first lines so you can compose your own and send them in.
Take a look at such masterpieces as:
On Arnie's first day on the job
They told him to raise a few bob
But the state's debt was greater
Than a mere Terminator
And his foot ended up in his gob
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
After-School sessions - changes
I've had to alter the session next week.
The session should have been on Thursday 16th October - but this is the LRD.
Now changed to Wednesday 15th October - updated list here.
The session should have been on Thursday 16th October - but this is the LRD.
Now changed to Wednesday 15th October - updated list here.
Getting Organised
The 'Dilbert' cartoons by Scott Adams provide a humorous view of office (or even cubicle) life. I rather like the one I've posted here.
Monday, October 06, 2003
Cold Calling
I expect many of your parents have been telephoned right in the middle of dinner, a favourite TV programme or even a football game by some salesperson offering loans/bank accounts/double/glazing or goodness-knows-what.
Since 1999 in the UK, people have been able to register via the Direct Marketing Association to avoid junk mail, fax and calls - the Telephone Preference Service (not all think it is useful). But only now in the USA are they getting a similar scheme - the Do Not Call Registry.
The telemarketers are worried about this because about 50 million households have registered so far, and they are threatening to go to court for their right to call people (who do not want to be called).
An American humourist, Dave Barry, has written about this in the Miami Herald and encouraged people to phone the telemarketers. They were outraged about this as it wasted their time and forced them to change their number. Now Dave Barry has written about it again and let everyone know their new number.
The idea for this post came from Slashdot and here's a link about your rights in the UK when shopping from home.
Since 1999 in the UK, people have been able to register via the Direct Marketing Association to avoid junk mail, fax and calls - the Telephone Preference Service (not all think it is useful). But only now in the USA are they getting a similar scheme - the Do Not Call Registry.
The telemarketers are worried about this because about 50 million households have registered so far, and they are threatening to go to court for their right to call people (who do not want to be called).
An American humourist, Dave Barry, has written about this in the Miami Herald and encouraged people to phone the telemarketers. They were outraged about this as it wasted their time and forced them to change their number. Now Dave Barry has written about it again and let everyone know their new number.
The idea for this post came from Slashdot and here's a link about your rights in the UK when shopping from home.
Friday, October 03, 2003
Friday fling - Smart flashy bears
You just can't keep a good bear down - don't believe me? Then try this link for proof.
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
ChuckleVision
I bet you're thinking, "Has Mr P gone mad? Why's he posting about Paul and Barry Chuckle?"
I bet many of you watched ChuckleVision (1987 onwards) when you were younger - you might even realise you are missing it today (CBBC, 1330-1430 hrs) but I won't tell anyone.
And - I bet you don't know there is a ChuckleVision.net site which seems to have nothing to do with the TV programme. But it does have quite a good reference section (Jargon Buster) for looking up IT words and phrases. Although Webopedia is better it isn't as much fun as ChuckleVision.
Extra:
I just had to try "chace school" on the Googlism page - anyone care to find out where this was written and who said it?
I bet many of you watched ChuckleVision (1987 onwards) when you were younger - you might even realise you are missing it today (CBBC, 1330-1430 hrs) but I won't tell anyone.
And - I bet you don't know there is a ChuckleVision.net site which seems to have nothing to do with the TV programme. But it does have quite a good reference section (Jargon Buster) for looking up IT words and phrases. Although Webopedia is better it isn't as much fun as ChuckleVision.
Extra:
I just had to try "chace school" on the Googlism page - anyone care to find out where this was written and who said it?
