Looking at a far mountain?

The clowns at Amazon claim to have finally dispatched my Ethernet ADSL adapter. I'll be surprised if it arrives tomorrow, and jolly pleased. Assuming it arrives, I'll be faced with the task of getting it to work with my broadband provider and my wireless router, not to mention the task of setting up VPN access for my PC and Apple Powerbook.

Kein Mitleid Fur Amazon

Called the scum at Amazon again about the Ethernet ADSL adapter that they have failed to send me. I spoke to a woman this time. After calling the order-fulfillment centre she informed me that the item was, and always has been, in stock and that it hadn't been sent to me because the Amazon computer system couldn't cope with the fact that my one of my registered phone numbers didn't start with +44, the dialing code for the UK. The most sensible course of action would have been to commandeer a car, travel to the nearest Amazon office or depot, and send the managers and supervisors to Hell, possibly through the use of petrol and/or under-cooked chicken(which is lethal in the UK) Being such a sporting chap, I instead asked for an explanation to be emailed to me and a money off voucher...

Boris-Fucking-Johnson

Boris Johnson, the only person in British politics worth baking bread for, has today proved himself to be one of the greatest MP's to ever live. Boris has said that if he receives the leaked memo about Bush's plan to bomb the al-Jazeera TV station, and Blair's role in persuading him not to, he'll publish the document in The Spectator, breaking the Official Secrets Act and going to prison if necessary.

Go Boris, Go!

The blind leading the blind

Emily was off sick today and my boss wasn't at work either so it was just me and the office manager. I did, however, have the pleasure of training Claire, a young woman who is doing work experience with at my computer school. When I say young, I mean she is a few years older than me, as most people are. I also spent quite a bit of time teaching networking to Andrew, one of the few students who ever does anything. All in all, a very good day.

Men at work

Due to various members being of staff being away, I had to work today.

Studying for fun and profit

A good day of almost solid study.

I've got your number

Attended the SISJAC lecture on Japanese ceramics. It was held at Blackfriar's Hall, instead of the library in the Sainsbury Institute where the Third-Thursday lectures are usually held.

I spent some time talking to a friend of mine who works at British Telecom laboratories. I wanted to ask him about t eh role that British Telecom may or may not play in Numbers Stations, the short-wave radio stations used for one-way secure communications to spies around the world. I wasn't sure how to phrase my questions so I'll save them for another time.

Going nowhere fast

Failed to go to London for the SISJAC lecture at SOAS on Japanese ceramics. Probably not a bad thing. Stayed at home studying instead.

The breakfast of champions

I had a mid-morning brunch with my friend Peter and his wife. We talked about the criminal destruction of the UK's library service as well as other issues of the day. It was my first time to drink coffee since Armenia. Coffee is very strange and I'm not all too sure why people drink it.

Spent a cold afternoon handing out anti-war leaflets with 5 friends. There was a good level of public support and some crazy kids helped out as well.