
You might well remember The Grey Album – where a DJ mashed up Jay-Z’s Black Album with The Beatles White Album.
Well now a certain “dj BC” has done the much the same thing, except that in this case they’ve mixed The Beastie Boys with the Beatles, to create The Beastles — and early indications are that it works quite well.
[Don’t be at all surprised when that link falls off of the face of the net… via Nick Bradbury]
Posted in Music on Tuesday, December 21st, 2004
Its apparently 5°C outside. That means for the daily commute I’m dressed in a snow-coat, wooly hat, gloves and have the option of a scarf in my bag.

The fact that I’m riding along at ludicrous speed means that I create my own wind-chill. On the way out of the house I say to my housemate its really bloody cold today!
How wrong was I?
Stuart recently moved to New York. He’s scared to leave the apartment – because its -10C or -25C with the windchill.
Whats more, in my Alien Loves Predator email this morning, I’m told It is very, very cold today. Do not go outside.
All of a sudden I’m glad I live in slightly warmer climes.
Posted in General on Tuesday, December 21st, 2004
Phone rings. Its Alice.
Hi, we’re in Sainsbury's, in the beer section. What would you like us to get in for you for Christmas?
Winner!
Posted in Family on Monday, December 20th, 2004

My word, we really did look ridiculous.
[A follow-up to Fancy Dress]
Posted in General on Monday, December 20th, 2004
We wander slowly up the tunnel. Part of me is wondering whether or not I’ll get searched again — after all, I’d already been x-rayed twice before we boarded this morning.

So this is the mighty America then. The famous J.F.K. It looks just like the airport we left, an anonymous windowless tunnel all the way into customs. It doesn’t seem as clean as Heathrow. Maybe this one’s just older.
Except for the toilets, that is. These ones are spotless, which is a marked contrast to the blocked up crap we had to endure back in good ol’ blighty.
There’s a security officer guarding a puddle on the floor and guiding people around it, while he waits for a cleaner to arrive. I guess thats just in case someone slips and sues the airport to hell and back.
Customs amuses me. Every officer at every desk seems to fit the stereotypes that we get to see on things like LAPD Blue. I get a large bearded older bloke. He clearly can’t wait for home-time to come along. They take my fingerprints and a cheap-looking camera takes a snap of my face. We’re straight through without a hitch.
Airports really are the same everywhere aren’t they? Heathrow, Geneva, Lyon, Gatwick, JFK. Big, dull and anonymous. Long tunnels plastered with adverts for things I probably won’t buy and services I’m unlikely to t use. All they are is a great big bus terminal, and they’re never the most exciting places in the world are they? Nope, they’re just a way into the city. In this case, that really is quite an exciting place to be.
[Inspired by Stuart’s First Impressions of the same place.]
Posted in General, Holiday on Sunday, December 19th, 2004
Last night was our work Christmas party.
In a half shell, they’re the heroes four.
In this day and age who could ask for more?
The crime wave is high with muggings mysterious.
Our police and detectives are furious,
‘Cause they can’t find the source,
Of this lethally evil force.
This is serious so give me a quarter.
I was a witness, get me a reporter!
Call April O’Neil in on this case, and
You’d better hurry up, there’s no time to waste!
We need help, like quick, on the double.
Have pity on the city, man it’s in trouble!
We need heroes like the Lone Ranger
When Tonto came pronto, when there was danger.
They didn’t say they’d be there in half an hour,
‘Cause they displayed…Turtle Power!
Can you guess what we went as yet? Pictures to follow. Maybe.
Posted in General on Saturday, December 18th, 2004
I’ve subtley modified Visual Studio to better suit my current needs:

Posted in Geek on Friday, December 17th, 2004
- Crooked Nines
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I’m loving the current Evil Nine single, Crooked. Now its got an ace new video.
- Gizmondo
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Stupid name, cool gadget, nice looking website with some cool little features (just don”t look at the code beneath it).
Now, I know I said it was a nice site earlier, but its not. I clicked on the music link and got told “The site you have tried to enter requires Internet Explorer 6 (or better)” — the thing is, I am using something better than IE6! Rubbish.
- The Marriage of Presentation and Structure
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One for the web geeks amongst you: Ethan Marcotte‘s Presentation from Web Design World 2004. Built using Eric Meyer’s S5 – its like Powerpoint for the web.
- Ten million users
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Mozilla Firefox is downloaded 10 million times in just over a month. That is very very impressive work.
- Google to buy lots of scanners
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The libraries of five of the world’s most important academic institutions are to be digitised by Google.
Posted in Geek, Music on Wednesday, December 15th, 2004