Today, like thousands of other schmucks in the Irish Republic, I paid the new property tax.
I paid this new tax which the government has introduced on the instructions of the Troika so that we can replay a debt which we did not incur.
I was not involved in running the Irish banks when they engaged in reckless speculation.
I was not involved in running the foreign banks and investment houses who recklessly loaned money to the Irish banks.
But I am involved in ensuring that these banks (foreign and domestic) do not lose any money based on these reckless investments.
It won't be so very long before we have had our independence for a century. The centenary of the 1916 Rising is only a few years away. Some say we've come a long way. And maybe we have. But we're still happy to touch the forelock when we encounter our "betters".
Wednesday 29 May 2013
Tuesday 28 May 2013
Breaking Bad - Supporting Characters
Before I leave the topic of the fabulous Breaking Bad, let me mention the following characters/actors who have helped to make it what it is:
I didn't necessarily like all of these characters, but they all had their moments in the sun.
- Skinny Pete (Charles Baker)
- Jane Margolis (Krysten Ritter)
- Badger (Matt Jones)
- Hector "Tio" Salamanca (Mark Margolis)
I didn't necessarily like all of these characters, but they all had their moments in the sun.
Saturday 25 May 2013
Breaking Bad TV Series
I mentioned that we started watching Breaking Bad once we got Netflix.
We quickly got addicted. What a fabulous TV show. We were watching 2 and even 3 episodes a night!
Everything about it is great. The characters. The stories. The acting. The dialogue. The directing. The cinematography.
It looks great. It sounds great. It is great.
It's not easy watching, mind you. Some episodes are pretty harrowing. But definitely worthwhile.
I don't think there has been anything like it on TV before.
My favourite characters are (perhaps these are everyone's?) Jesse, Saul and Marie.
I just love it when Saul comes on the screen. So funny.Apparently Vince Gilligan (creator) has spoken about the possibility of a spin-off show.
I assembled the following photo of the main cast members. Even doing so brought back the most wonderful memories of the show. Can't wait for season 5 to resume in August.
We quickly got addicted. What a fabulous TV show. We were watching 2 and even 3 episodes a night!
Everything about it is great. The characters. The stories. The acting. The dialogue. The directing. The cinematography.
It looks great. It sounds great. It is great.
It's not easy watching, mind you. Some episodes are pretty harrowing. But definitely worthwhile.
I don't think there has been anything like it on TV before.
My favourite characters are (perhaps these are everyone's?) Jesse, Saul and Marie.
I just love it when Saul comes on the screen. So funny.Apparently Vince Gilligan (creator) has spoken about the possibility of a spin-off show.
I assembled the following photo of the main cast members. Even doing so brought back the most wonderful memories of the show. Can't wait for season 5 to resume in August.
The Hunger Games movie
My kids were watching "The Hunger Games" today. On Netflix as a matter of fact.
Am I the only person in the world who thinks that movie is awful?
It looks awful. The story is awful.
Hate the acting. Hate the directing. Hate the costumes. Hate the cinematograph.
Perhaps I am the only person. IMDB scores it 7.2 and Rotten Tomatoes scores it 85%!
Some critics' comments on the latter website include:
"The phenomenal cast with great chemistry and sincere authentic performances from the older actors empowers the material."
"The first genuine can't miss film of the year that you'll want to go back to the theater to see over and over again."
"Given the recent failure of so many big-budget films, the odds weren't in The Hunger Games favor, either. Thankfully, Hollywood got this one right."
Now even though I know I am not near to being in the target audience for movies like this, I find these comments astonishing. Am I missing something. I don't think so.
I normally finish my postings with an image from the movie, but in this case I'll pass.
Am I the only person in the world who thinks that movie is awful?
It looks awful. The story is awful.
Hate the acting. Hate the directing. Hate the costumes. Hate the cinematograph.
Perhaps I am the only person. IMDB scores it 7.2 and Rotten Tomatoes scores it 85%!
Some critics' comments on the latter website include:
"The phenomenal cast with great chemistry and sincere authentic performances from the older actors empowers the material."
"The first genuine can't miss film of the year that you'll want to go back to the theater to see over and over again."
"Given the recent failure of so many big-budget films, the odds weren't in The Hunger Games favor, either. Thankfully, Hollywood got this one right."
Now even though I know I am not near to being in the target audience for movies like this, I find these comments astonishing. Am I missing something. I don't think so.
I normally finish my postings with an image from the movie, but in this case I'll pass.
Scratch 2.0 - Where I think they have gone wrong
I have a number of issues and reservations about the new version of Scratch - Scratch 2.0.
1) Use of Adobe Flash
The first issue is that the development environment is now online and is based on Adobe Flash.
This continues a trend which we saw with the previous version of Scratch where the online environment moved from using a Java Applet to view games to using Flash. You could still switch to the Java Applet but the default was to use the Flash player. In 2.0 the support for the Java Applet on the Scratch website has disappeared completely.
The Flash player is a technology which is on its last legs, IMO. The beginning of the end was when Apple release the iPhone and there was no flash support. YouTube responded by providing an alternative to Flash for iPhone users. The middle of the end was when Steve Jobs wrote his "Thoughts on Flash" open letter in April 2010 and then Adobe announced in November 2011 that it will no longer develop Flash for mobile platforms. Mobile is everything these days. The end of the end cannot be far off.
Interestingly, the University of California at Berkeley has created SNAP! (formerly known as BYOB for "Build Your Own Blocks") which is described as an "extended reimplementation of Scratch". It doesn't use Flash. In fact it just uses JavaScript. The amazing thing is that it actually runs in iOS. I have used it on a iPad (even though Apple try to limit people's ability to develop code on an iPad). To be frank I think that UCB have outsmarted MIT. You can access SNAP! here.
2) Lack of "offline client"
The Scratch site says that an offline client will be available "early in the summer". This is a little vague for my liking. I think being able to work online is great, but being able to work offline is essential. That's how IDEs are supposed to work, IMHO.
When we teach Scratch in CoderDojo, we like everyone to be able to run Scratch independently. We don't want to have to give all of the kids Internet access.
As if that weren't enough, Scratch 2.0 uses a different file format. So while you can still develop in Scratch 1.4 and upload programs to the Scratch website, you can no longer download them to work offline.
So pending the release of the new offline client, you can no longer download and remix other people's programs using the offline client.
In summary, I think the Scratch team has lost its way a little and they have made a couple of pretty serious strategic and tactical errors with the current release. How damaging they will be remains to be seen.
1) Use of Adobe Flash
The first issue is that the development environment is now online and is based on Adobe Flash.
This continues a trend which we saw with the previous version of Scratch where the online environment moved from using a Java Applet to view games to using Flash. You could still switch to the Java Applet but the default was to use the Flash player. In 2.0 the support for the Java Applet on the Scratch website has disappeared completely.
The Flash player is a technology which is on its last legs, IMO. The beginning of the end was when Apple release the iPhone and there was no flash support. YouTube responded by providing an alternative to Flash for iPhone users. The middle of the end was when Steve Jobs wrote his "Thoughts on Flash" open letter in April 2010 and then Adobe announced in November 2011 that it will no longer develop Flash for mobile platforms. Mobile is everything these days. The end of the end cannot be far off.
Interestingly, the University of California at Berkeley has created SNAP! (formerly known as BYOB for "Build Your Own Blocks") which is described as an "extended reimplementation of Scratch". It doesn't use Flash. In fact it just uses JavaScript. The amazing thing is that it actually runs in iOS. I have used it on a iPad (even though Apple try to limit people's ability to develop code on an iPad). To be frank I think that UCB have outsmarted MIT. You can access SNAP! here.
2) Lack of "offline client"
The Scratch site says that an offline client will be available "early in the summer". This is a little vague for my liking. I think being able to work online is great, but being able to work offline is essential. That's how IDEs are supposed to work, IMHO.
When we teach Scratch in CoderDojo, we like everyone to be able to run Scratch independently. We don't want to have to give all of the kids Internet access.
As if that weren't enough, Scratch 2.0 uses a different file format. So while you can still develop in Scratch 1.4 and upload programs to the Scratch website, you can no longer download them to work offline.
So pending the release of the new offline client, you can no longer download and remix other people's programs using the offline client.
In summary, I think the Scratch team has lost its way a little and they have made a couple of pretty serious strategic and tactical errors with the current release. How damaging they will be remains to be seen.
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Scratch 2.0 Released
After what seems like an age in "Beta", Scratch 2.0 has been released.
Perhaps the biggest change is that you edit the programs online now (using Flash). The new version of the offline editor is due "this summer" apparently.
Other changes include:
1) You can clone a sprite. This has great potential for people who want to write "Space Invaders", for example (I have great admiration for the people who wrote version of this game when you couldn't clone sprites). I'm not entirely sure how this would work in practice though (there are no class variables, no way to pass parameters to a constructor, and no way to "block" other threads when updating a variable).
2) You can create your own blocks. This is obviously good as it gives you the basis of writing your own methods/subroutines.
3) You can store numbers in "cloud variables". This is useful for having high scores which work across all players, for example.
4) You can access the user's webcam. Sounds good in principle (you could write games a little like on the PS2 EyeToy) but I haven't really had time to play with it yet.
I guess that covers some of the good news. I'll cover some of my negative thoughts in my next posting.
Perhaps the biggest change is that you edit the programs online now (using Flash). The new version of the offline editor is due "this summer" apparently.
Other changes include:
1) You can clone a sprite. This has great potential for people who want to write "Space Invaders", for example (I have great admiration for the people who wrote version of this game when you couldn't clone sprites). I'm not entirely sure how this would work in practice though (there are no class variables, no way to pass parameters to a constructor, and no way to "block" other threads when updating a variable).
2) You can create your own blocks. This is obviously good as it gives you the basis of writing your own methods/subroutines.
3) You can store numbers in "cloud variables". This is useful for having high scores which work across all players, for example.
4) You can access the user's webcam. Sounds good in principle (you could write games a little like on the PS2 EyeToy) but I haven't really had time to play with it yet.
I guess that covers some of the good news. I'll cover some of my negative thoughts in my next posting.
Monday 20 May 2013
Another treat for Hugh Laurie fans
Hugh took the hot-seat at "Inside the Actors Studio" in 2006 and gave some interesting insights about his personality, his beliefs and his relationship with his parents.
He even played the piano and sang (the fantastic) "Mystery" which I mentioned previously.
You can see it here:
He even played the piano and sang (the fantastic) "Mystery" which I mentioned previously.
You can see it here:
Sunday 19 May 2013
Archer TV Show
I mentioned recently the TV shows I have been watching on Netflix.
One I need to add to the list is the outstanding "Archer".
I am half-way through season 3 at this stage (season 4 is not on Netflix as I write).
It is somewhat reminiscient of "Mad Men" in that by moving to an upspecified time in the past, the makers are able to be as non-PC as they wish. We have racism, sexism, and every kind of "ism". The characters drink alcohol at all times of the day and night (again a la "Mad Men") and there is gratuitous violence which you can get away with because, after all, it's just a cartoon.
My favourite episode is "Placebo Effect" (S02E09). Archer goes on "rampage" to find the people who are selling fake chemotherapy drugs. He has to question some members of the "Irish mob" which he does in the style of "Family Feud" ("Family Fortunes" on this side of the pond). The way he questions them is exactly the way a man who has a "licence to kill" would! Brilliant! And then he comes up against the head man. This scene is a tribute to an episode of "Magnum P.I." apparently. It's excellent. You can read more (and even watch the scene from Magnum) here.
The episode also deals with Archer's friendship with fellow cancer-sufferer Ruth. Another one of those vignettes which help you to root for Archer in spite of his many, many failings.
Now I'm sure I should be outraged by the portrayal of the "Irish mob" and by the "Irish accents". But I love the show too much to take offence.
Here are two stills from the corresponding scenes from Magnum and Archer:
One I need to add to the list is the outstanding "Archer".
I am half-way through season 3 at this stage (season 4 is not on Netflix as I write).
It is somewhat reminiscient of "Mad Men" in that by moving to an upspecified time in the past, the makers are able to be as non-PC as they wish. We have racism, sexism, and every kind of "ism". The characters drink alcohol at all times of the day and night (again a la "Mad Men") and there is gratuitous violence which you can get away with because, after all, it's just a cartoon.
My favourite episode is "Placebo Effect" (S02E09). Archer goes on "rampage" to find the people who are selling fake chemotherapy drugs. He has to question some members of the "Irish mob" which he does in the style of "Family Feud" ("Family Fortunes" on this side of the pond). The way he questions them is exactly the way a man who has a "licence to kill" would! Brilliant! And then he comes up against the head man. This scene is a tribute to an episode of "Magnum P.I." apparently. It's excellent. You can read more (and even watch the scene from Magnum) here.
The episode also deals with Archer's friendship with fellow cancer-sufferer Ruth. Another one of those vignettes which help you to root for Archer in spite of his many, many failings.
Now I'm sure I should be outraged by the portrayal of the "Irish mob" and by the "Irish accents". But I love the show too much to take offence.
Here are two stills from the corresponding scenes from Magnum and Archer:
Saturday 18 May 2013
Fry and Laurie on Netflix
I have been talking about Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie and about Netflix in recent postings and this one pulls those two threads together.
I was surprised and delighted to find the following on Netflix:
Here is a picture of the two boys from their ABoFaL days:
I was surprised and delighted to find the following on Netflix:
- A selection of episodes from some of the seasons of "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" (not sure why there are quite a few omissions)
- What appears to be most of the episodes from all of the seasons of "Blackadder"
Here is a picture of the two boys from their ABoFaL days:
Fry and Laurie Reunited
I have been a huge fan of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie since forever.
In 2010 a TV programme was put together to allow them to discuss their past work together. I missed the program entirely but spotted it on Youtube the other day. What a joy.
The programme was constructed to celebrate the fact that it was 30 years since they first met (in Cambridge of course).
It seems remarkable that they have not worked together since "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" in 1995 (15 years). But that is the fact of the matter. And it is evident from the programme that they are still the best of friends.
I would have thought that Fry would have guested on House at some stage but that never happened.
I take hope in the fact that the following exchange takes place during the programme:
Fry: We never decided to do another Fry and Laurie, did we?
Laurie: The case is still open
Fry: And whenever we talk about these things we still say that we want to work together and do things
Laurie: Would this be a good time to announce...?!
Here is the first of 5 parts:
In 2010 a TV programme was put together to allow them to discuss their past work together. I missed the program entirely but spotted it on Youtube the other day. What a joy.
The programme was constructed to celebrate the fact that it was 30 years since they first met (in Cambridge of course).
It seems remarkable that they have not worked together since "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" in 1995 (15 years). But that is the fact of the matter. And it is evident from the programme that they are still the best of friends.
I would have thought that Fry would have guested on House at some stage but that never happened.
I take hope in the fact that the following exchange takes place during the programme:
Fry: We never decided to do another Fry and Laurie, did we?
Laurie: The case is still open
Fry: And whenever we talk about these things we still say that we want to work together and do things
Laurie: Would this be a good time to announce...?!
Here is the first of 5 parts:
Netflix
A few years ago I was listening to the commentary for a movie (yes - I like to listen to the commentaries) and some producer/director (I think it could have been Brett Ratner) said that he wasn't scared by movie downloading because he knew that it indicates enthusiasm for movies and he felt it was only a matter of time before Hollywood figured out how to make money from it (he may have used the word "monetise" - he probably would now if he was saying it again!)
Well I have seen the future. In the future people do not download movies. They watch them online and they pay for the privilege of doing so. The future is Netflix.
We took out our 30 day trial back in January and we haven't looked back.
One of the first things we watched was the Bollywood movie "Ek Tha Tiger". It stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif and is a lot of fun. The reason we wanted to watch it was that it was partially shot in Dublin. Some of it was in my old alma mater, Trinity College. And there is a great action scene which was filmed on the streets of Dublin and which ended up on the Luas (light rail system).
The main TV shows we watched on Netflix since have been:
1) The superb "Breaking Bad"
2) The enjoyable "House of Cards".
The kids love it too.
I am given to understand that there is a much bigger selection on the US version, but there is plenty on the local version to keep me happy for the foreseeable future.
The death-knell for downloading.
Here is a clip from "Ek Tha Tiger" which includes the Luas scene:
Well I have seen the future. In the future people do not download movies. They watch them online and they pay for the privilege of doing so. The future is Netflix.
We took out our 30 day trial back in January and we haven't looked back.
One of the first things we watched was the Bollywood movie "Ek Tha Tiger". It stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif and is a lot of fun. The reason we wanted to watch it was that it was partially shot in Dublin. Some of it was in my old alma mater, Trinity College. And there is a great action scene which was filmed on the streets of Dublin and which ended up on the Luas (light rail system).
The main TV shows we watched on Netflix since have been:
1) The superb "Breaking Bad"
2) The enjoyable "House of Cards".
The kids love it too.
I am given to understand that there is a much bigger selection on the US version, but there is plenty on the local version to keep me happy for the foreseeable future.
The death-knell for downloading.
Here is a clip from "Ek Tha Tiger" which includes the Luas scene:
Hiatus
Hiatus is not a word I use very much. Or at all. But it seems an apt title for a posting about the fact that I haven't created a single post since the 18th of March!
Exactly 2 months! Incredible!
My excuse: I'm doing 4 modules in university this year and that means 4 third assignments quickly followed by 4 exams.
Three of those exams took place the week before last (the fourth I had to defer until August as it clashed with my son's first holy communion).
But now I'm back and raring to go! And I still have a huge list of topics on my mobile phone...
Exactly 2 months! Incredible!
My excuse: I'm doing 4 modules in university this year and that means 4 third assignments quickly followed by 4 exams.
Three of those exams took place the week before last (the fourth I had to defer until August as it clashed with my son's first holy communion).
But now I'm back and raring to go! And I still have a huge list of topics on my mobile phone...
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