Apparently, West Ham beat some Northerners

Sometimes, you just have to remind yourself....

Il est tout pour le meilleur dans ce meilleur de tous les mondes possibles.

Ronaldinho & Recycling

I missed the Barcelona match this week, but saw clips of Ronaldinho grinning away as usual.

Yes, he probably gets paid stacks of cash and endorses toothpaste and wet look gel, but it's so refreshing to see a grown man smile on the pitch, looking like he's enjoying his job. I can't stand all these blokes getting all too serious and Neanderthal whilst playing footie.

Imagine that? Being PAID to PLAY. Job's a good 'un.

Well, the reason I missed the game was that I'm enjoying a series on BBC2 all about a family going green in Cornwall. In the same vein as my Ronaldinho observation above, this family have broken from the social stereotype too. This is a HAPPY FAMILY.

Not sure the last time I saw one of those on tv.

They're obviously going the whole hog on the green thing, but I tell you what. I think it's really disgusting how many people don't even recycle.

We've had a few people stay at our house and even though we point out the difference between a recycling bin and a crappy smelly bin, they ignore this and everything goes into the smelly bin. It's not as if these are pikeys at all, they just don't seem to be bothered.

So I asked people at work about their recycling. Most don't bother. These are well educated people.

Dis-affected youth maybe? Crap. I hate that phrase anyway. Lazy buggers that's what I say. You want something sonny? Then work to get it. Kids say they're bored and need yoof clubs? Crap. All you need is a ball, a couple of jumpers for goal-posts and an imagination. People born after 1990 seem to be devoid of imagination.

I digress.

I'm a little bit lost why I seem to be in a minority when it comes to recycling.

What's the difficulty?

Come on Boro!!!

I don't support any football team, nor do I watch football on any regular basis. I just like a good game.

Luckily for me, whilst channel flicking I came across some Northern team playing a foreign team called Basil. Cracking game. Goals galore and great to see players running around the whole time in order to justify their handsome wages.

What I couldn't understand was why Basil's wicket-keeper was allowed to wear an orange jersey, which matched the Northerner's red shirts. In the last few minutes of the game, he was in the Northerner's penalty area and I couldn't tell why two red shirts were fouling each other. I mean, I might as well be watching it on a black and white tv.

Dixons

Last Friday, I happened to put Dixons in a bad light. I must have psychic abilities that I've been unaware of.

Well, no loss to the British High Street, except where are those specky boys who 'work' at Dixons going to work now?

Apple XP

One small step for Apple, one giant leap for Microsoft.

It's sometimes tough for minorities and as a stalwart Mac fan, the tough just got tougher.

We've known for years that Microsoft can squash us under their little finger and have chosen not to. Well, that would bring the monopolies commission into play wouldn't it?

Bringing XP onto a Mac is Apple playing the 'if you can't beat 'em then join 'em card.

I know, why don't we bundle in a crap web browser and a word processor that is too complicated for its' own good as well?

Fat Terry Henry

I had to endure the rail system today. The one good thing about this is that I can play spot the look-a-like or spot the amazingly ugly person who's trying to mask their misfortune with a whacky hair do.

Both wholesome family games for everyone from 7 to 70. Available from all good chavvy conurbations.

Today's spot was a fat Thierry Henry at London Bridge Station, platform 6. If this fellow wasn't big boned, he may have a healthy career opening fetes and French car dealerships. Maybe he could come to Plumstead Common and shift a few ILLEGALLY SOLD CARS!!!!! There are enough here to warrant being called a dealership. Why is it so difficult to prosecute these greasy soap (and tax) dodgers?

Apple Birthday

Well, I did a spot of shopping at the Apple Store in Regent Street last night. Not a great fan of that store - too many tourists checking their hotmail and stopping genuine shoppers from test driving products.

I much prefer the Bluewater store, but then again, I much prefer shopping out there than the West End any day.

Whilst quizzing one of the shop assistant/Mac gurus, I just had to ask,
"Any new products coming out on Saturday?"
Mr Guru started laughing and tried to shake off the question like I'm a tabloid hack (maybe he knows me as Doctor Pangloss AKA Weegee de Plumsteadshire).
"There must be something happening on Saturday?"
This was met by more chuckles and he refused to look up from his till, just saying "I'm not sure what you mean."

Now, if this was Di*ons or PC W***d, I'd believe that they wouldn't have a clue (about anything).

"So no new products on Saturday?"
"No", more laughter
"OK. I'll take that as a yes."

So I just left it at that and wished him happy 30th birthday.

Apple 30th Birthday

This Saturday is Apple Computer's 30th birthday.

Yes, it'll be April Fool's Day and yes, PC users can come up with side-splittingly hilarious jibes to go with their penis envy, but we can handle it. We have done for all these years.

A 30th Anniversary will be a good time to release some swanky kit.

How about a video iPod which has an edge to edge touch-screen the full width of the unit? Wouldn't say no.

On the subject of iPods, Apple have released a download for iPod users so they can limit the volume on their players. This no doubt has come about as some users try to sue Apple for deafening them. So much for personal responsibility.

I don't understand this litigious culture. Remember those idiots who tried to sue McDonalds for forcing them to eat food? Remember those idiots who tried to sue tobacco companies for forcing them to smoke their guts out? Remember those idiot parents who blame teachers because their kids run riot?

Well, earth calling ASBO parents. Hello? Anyone home? You're reaping the rewards to your own doing.

If there's a campaign for common sense, then I'll sign up.

Adidas +10

Hey, I've just a really surreal evening.

I was brushing shoulders with Beckham, Gerrard, Cisse, Lampard, DeFoe, Dyer, Ashley Cole, Arjen Robben, Damien Duff, Wright-Phillips, Gary Neville and some others, oh and also Jonah Lomu, James Cracknell, Ben Cohen, Jonny Wilkinson, Vernon Kay, Trevor Nelson and some pop people who I don't know.

Impressive eh?

"How?" I hear you ask.

I've been working on a football event for Adidas called +10 Challenge and tonight was the event night. It's been filmed for E4 or T4 and will be going out on television!!!!

My back-stage pass was ACCESS ALL AREAS.

Good eh?

I wanted to give Becks a few pre-World Cup words of encouragement, like "play 4-3-3 scissors and switch to sweeper in the final ten minutes" or "don't mess up punk", but thought that people get paid big bucks for managing a team, so not to give away trade secrets too cheaply.

Being a person easily star-struck, I really wanted to get autographs and photos but thought that it might be a tad unprofessional as I was sort of there working. I'll probably kick myself tomorrow but at the time, I kept saying to myself, "it's only Beckham, he's only one of the best free-kick takers in the World. He's only the England captain. He's only mega rich and mega famous."

To be honest, I was more in awe of Jonah Lomu. I'm sure he looks alot bigger on tv when he played for the all blacks.

Get tough on crime

I'm sorry Plumsteadshire. I'm sickened and angry and have to get this off my chest.

How much longer will this spineless government allow the shit of society carry on doing what they do?

How many more will have to suffer and die before those in power realise that social inclusion and other OTT liberal bullshit experiments let the Leneghan murderers and their kind roam free?

Until our so-called laws are enforced and toughened, this is no free country for those of us who fear this scum.

The Plumstead Regeneration Society

A big belated thanks to Plum for this link. It's the Plumstead Regeneration Society and they are all about getting recognition, funding and forward planning for Plumstead. Well, I think that's the deal.
I will check them out properly soon, but please see for yourselves too.

Plumstead body

Here's an update to the previous dastardly carryings-on in Plumsteadshire. Being the county's very own Weegee, I am way ahead of the Newsshopper and The Mercury. Yes, if it's happening in Plumsteadshire and it's worth reporting, the Doktor is there, 24hrs a day scanning the news wires across the globe, listening to news reports on the crystal set and keeping in close contact with my overseas news agencies.

The aforementioned ghoulish news of course is the tragic BODY ON THE COMMON incident.

Not only do we see a tattoo, we now have a name.

Beer on tap

nice.

Apple Widgets

In answer to the anonymous poster, a Mac widget is a tiny little programme which runs within the Mac's Dashboard programme.

There are hundreds of widgets to download that cover anything from aviation weather to amino acid tables (I feel my life is complete with this). You'll wonder how you ever managed before without the Prezzi Benzina, to check the average price of Benzine in Italy. It's a marvel.

One of my most useful ones is Tubetrack, despite its' name, it doesn't just give you up to the minute times of London's wonderful underground system, it also covers UK national rail, DLR and Dublin DART and as well. I have mine set up for Plumstead train times, so I can see which train I'll miss because I'm messing about on the computer.

It's not all useful/useless information though, here's one if you're a sudoku addict, and a webcam of Halifax, no not the bank opposite Yates Wine Lodge in Lewisham, this is Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Dashboard rocks

NICE.

Mac Widget

Just downloaded a Blogger Dashboard widget for my Mac, so just giving it a go to see if it works alright.

Museums around Greenwich

At the weekend, in between reporting on the Mystery Man of Plumstead for Reuters, road testing a Segway and watching Capote in time to cast my vote for the Academy, I managed to have some R&R (whatever that means).

After ten years of living around these parts, I finally visited the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park. It is a really good little museum. In fact, the museum layout is rather like a Tardis. There's alot more to see than you'd imagine.

I found the museum very well layed out, very educational and entertaining at the same time - edutainment. A bit like the amazing view across London from the top of the hill, the museum is a place that makes you feel very proud to live in Greenwich. The displays are catered towards children and it's a veritable audio visual feast. And it's free entry. You can't say fairer than that. So get out next weekend and pay a visit.

Also on my hit-list are:-
The National Maritime Museum
The Firepower Museum. Been before a year ago. Really like it, so must go again as I feel it needs support.
The William Morris Red House. Been over a year ago. Very exciting to see over the next few years what original decoration might be uncovered under the layers of white emulsion.
Eltham Palace. I like a bit of Art Deco and can't believe I haven't been yet.
The Crossness Engines. This serious piece of Victorian engineering is in Thamesmead!!!! And that's no crap.

Oh my days. All this on our own doorstep and skids of today moan about nuffink to do. USE YOUR IMAGINATION DUDES.

Two wheels good.

Sunday.

Went to lunch at our posh friend's house. Good food and good company make for a great mix. Add in good gadgets and we are now in the premier league.

Two wheels make getting from A to Z enjoyable and exhilarating. Yamaha YZF R1. Enough said.


Now how about this?

Part sholley, part 1950s vision of future travel, the Segway is a bizarre experience. Lean forwards to go forwards, lean back to reverse or stop. I found it very quick to pick up and difficult to put down. Being a biker, I naturally check over my shoulders before changing direction, but as this thing turns on its' own centrepoint, I barely needed to do my lifesavers.

Here's a good picture of that American prat, George Bush falling off a Segway.
Shamone Segway!!!!

If I rode one to work, I'd install the 'Ben Hur wheel conversion pack' and make my way through the rush hour crowds with ease.

NICE.

And especially for Steve, before you start ripping Marc's machine to bits, here's a bit of tech info to help you along.

DLR coming to Woolwich

So Woolwich is one step closer to the DLR tunneling, one step closer to Mankind.

There is a boring machine in place.
Well dear, I never expected it to be exciting did I?

Common Forensics

Well, the forensic scientists have been scouring the Common in their fetching one piece hoodys (so last year). I fear they'll find alot more to do with the dodgy drug dealers who park up there every evening rather than whatever happened to this person. I wonder if the two are related?

I walk across the Common every evening in the pitch darkness after work. Oddly, I don't feel put off, but maybe I should err on the side of caution.

If this is gang related, then I'm not bothered (bovvered), nor scared. If it's a couple of psycho's who just picked on a passer-by, then this can happen anywhere.

Well, rather than escape from London, I remind myself that at least we've got freedom of speech, a great social health system, respectful children, a democractically elected Mayor and Government who work for the good of the us tax payers.......... oh, none of the above.