Toms View of the World

The blog-spammers appear to have a new weapon - they now read the page code in to establish what they need to send to the server to bypass the traps based on not coming from the correct page on the site.

After weeks of being spam-free, it looks like I’ll have to try more stuff to get past this (or finally make the switch to Wordpress…)

Thanks to Pete for this

Tonight, 11 PM - 11:30, BBC Radio 4, Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

There are gods everywhere on the Discworld but only a few people can see them. Each small god lies in wait, desperately wanting to make someone believe in him. On the Discworld, gods need people more than people need gods.

If you are a Terry Pratchett fan then listen … or use the BBC’s “Listen Again” page for up to a week after the first transmission of an episode.

Now, I’ve got the DVD’s of both Soul Music and Wyrd Sisters, and most of the books, so I’ll be recording this (thanks TiVo) for later listening!

Hope this helps someone who didn’t know it was on (like me!)

I just got an interesting message from my bank (via their website)…

Do You Use Wireless Broadband (Wi Fi)? Then you should be aware when using wireless networks to always ensure all security features are turned on so nobody else can access your information. We strongly advise you to review your configuration and ensure that strong encryption and authentication features are turned on. Features such as “128bit WEP” and more recent, and more secure, “WPA encryption technologies” are essential to protecting your data. For further information on Wi Fi security go to www.getsafeonline.org.

I think this is good thing - if people who are running unsecured WiFi networks start getting advice about securing them from their bank (rather than via techies or their ISP) maybe they’ll take heed. After all, they already know that security is important with money, and maybe seeing a message like this will help people make the connection between poor PC security habits at home, and the risks they face.

Now if the banks would start putting messages out about Phishing, Spyware, and BotNets then maybe it’ll start to turn the tide of the hordes of compromised PC’s out there.

In a nice article on Wired News Momus discusses how different cultures both reflect and embrace the social role of the single person.In the UK, where going to a restaurant or cinema on your own makes you look like “Billy No Mates” and is seen as a highly negative thing. In other parts of the world, the “social” side of life is seen as more than things to do in a group, or a couple - restaurants which don’t have individual tables with 2 or 4 chairs, but instead a horseshoe of “places” around the serving area (I had the pleasure of eating in such a place in Dublin this year).

With the ever increasing numbers of “singles” out there, surely restaurants are missing something by not catering for them - sitting at a table, on my own, looking like a total loser is one of the reasons I don’t eat out. I generally even avoid places like Starbucks when I’m on my own (unless I just grab a take-out)

As the writer on Wired notes - Shouldn’t individualist societies cater better to the needs of individuals?

I have to agree with Laura over at Starling Fitness - There’s no such thing as Gym Ettiquette any more - people, is it so hard to bring a small towel and wipe the machines down?

Then you’ve got the “gym characters” - I’m guessing there’s similar people at every gym…

The Powerlifter
Grunting any groaning with every rep on every set - pushing to the limit, and making sure everyone knows about it - no quiet intakes of breath here…

The Tesco Dash
The ones who can’t let go of the handrails on the treadmill and balance on their own - and no matter what speed they’re running at they have to hold the rail - end result, they look like they’re trying to push a shopping trolley over a 4 minute mile.

Anyone else have any gym tales of woe…

I’ve removed the “2lbs a week” section of the website, and I’m intending to just include weight-loss posts on the main blog now.

I’m starting yet again, and I’m still aiming for 2lbs a week, but it’s going to be a long difficult process to get my weight under control.

I know this will sound familiar, and I’ve said it all before - that’s the problem, losing weight is one of the hardest things I’ve ever tried to do - so much temptation, so much nice food that I can’t allow myself to eat…

More posts will be coming on this and related subjects, and there might be a “tracking graph” or two on the way if I can figure out how to do them properly (and simply)

My new weigh-in day is Sunday - and I’ll be posting progress as I go.

Very funny “romantic comedy” done completely in parody. Pretty much every scene is a parody of something else, so even though the story it’s telling isn’t very funny, the way it’s told is.

Of course, it helps if you’ve seen (or are at least familiar with key scenes and ideas from) several big films of the “romantic” genre from the last few years, as this movie parodies a seeming endless list - Sleepless in Seattle, Pretty Woman, Meet the Parents, Pimp My Ride, When Harry Met Sally, Meet the Fockers, Wedding Crashers, Hitch, Bridget Jones, Kill Bill. The Wedding Planner, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and quite a few others…