Trains

Over at Sunset Over Slawit, Rol has posted some songs about trains.  Whilst searching for the Flanders and Swann "Slow Train" I came across this which made me laugh; it's one I missed on the TV.

What is the Internet for?

 

The Internet exists mainly to allow one to make an arse of oneself more quickly than in the past and to a far wider audience.

Let me explain.

There a website I use from which I need to get information quite often.  On this site was a pdf file with 2010 data which was very helpful.  I emailed the company to ask if the 2011 data was going to be put up in the same format as I needed to plan ahead. It was a useful coloured calendar affair with codes for this and that - very easy to use.

I received a reply the next day saying the information was on the site and giving me a link; I had already found this link but the data was not in an easily printable form; it was a list in text form. I had specified the pdf document as an example.

I replied that they had not read my e-mail correctly and explained again what I wanted; no reply.

In a fit of pique I then went onto the forum board for this company and posted (under my user name) a short message which ended:

...all I got back was a terse reply saying the dates has already been posted on the website for all to see. I knew that but it isn't what I asked.

Why don't people read e-mails properly? I suppose I ought to know the answer as I am sometimes guilty of the same.

Rant over.

Later today somebody had replied thus:

Sorry but I think this thread is a little unfair. The person who wrote the email will be able to identify him/herself, and very likely so will his/her colleagues, especially if the organisation decides to look into it. We all make mistakes, as you've acknowledged, but I don't suppose any of us imagine that our mistakes are going to be publicised on an Internet forum. People work under enough pressure as it is, without having to worry about their [perceived?] mistakes leading to their organisation being slated on an Internet forum. This is just my opinion of course, but I felt inclined to express it.

So I feel a little bad because I agree with this to an extent.  However I also feel that if companies know their unsatisfactory email replies are not going to be accepted they will jolly well take more care.  I knew I was having a rant in a section of the forum where people rant but I now wish I hadn't.


Today hasn't been a good day.  I suppose all I can do is try again tomorrow.

ISP

Here at Tenon mansions we are going to be having our phone, broadband and TV from Virgin media.

This means I have had to move two of my websites and I have chosen to delete the  third, the largest, which was hosted by Tiscali.  I'm not sure if this will be uploaded elsewhere on some other web space or whether I shall move it to weebly which I quite like, although I would have to redesign the pages in their WYSIWYG publisher.

Work wise we are heading towards report writing and Carol Service time. I'll be around but don't hold your breath.

PS

In these days of word-processing, surely the P.S. has no place; one just goes back and inserts what was missed out.  I have sometimes printed a letter and had to end with a handwritten PS if I've turned my PC off before checking it but that's different.  I guess some people may wish to use a P.S. as a form of emphasis so a point doesn't get lost in a long letter.

I strongly feel the P.P.S is simply out of order yes my wife received such a missive from a medical company offering to screen her for lurking heart problems and the like.

P.S

I have taken up the clarinet
 

52

I'm 52 today. I've come a long way in two years and although not quite 100% I do feel considerably better. I would hardly call myself depressed these days, although there are a few character traits I should love to lose.

Anyway the point of this post really is to note my admiration for James Blunt who was on HIFNFY in the week just gone.  Obviously he is well spoken and a quick skim of his biography reveals why; but I also liked his manner and rapidly warmed to him.

James has seen life as a soldier and has worked to get where he is.  In an age when people desire instant stardom (Big Brother, X Factor and so on) I find this refreshing and I wish him well with his career and life.  I can't say I like all his music yet, but I shall listen to more and - hopefully - revise my opinion.
 

Fish

I dislike fish.

I have been doing some composition work at school and I often use words to help pupils remember rhythms.  I have discovered this online software [Noteflight] which allows you to notate music. Today I prepared an example file of the work that pupils will do next week.  Don't expect great things.  This post is simply to test the sharing feature.

Having just previewed this I found I could not scroll right to the end.  However I have the option of providing a URL to the score on their website.
 

Clocks

Saturday was a busy day. I drove 32 miles to be at a rehearsal at 11.00 then played for a wedding (my niece) at 12.00 and went to the reception.  Got home at about 7.00pm. What with the clocks going back I did have a good sleep that night and I was full of beans on Sunday.  Today I have been 'bad mood bear' so I hope I feel better tomorrow.  I have already had a shower and will watch Spooks before turning in.

On Saturday night before I put out the light and went to sleep I read 'Freddy the Brave' by Kathryn Brown.  Having been slow to learn how to swim myself it had a certain resonance and could be a good stocking filler for a young 'un.