The news that Woolworths has gone down the drain came of no real surprise to me. They've been stuck in the dark ages since the development of the Internet. Their business model was fundamentally weak. Their big stores throughout the country were a completely useless business model. As they were not selling items of stock, their stores looked more like the local pound shop than the Woolworths that the traditional brand used to represent.
Why didnt they just take advantage of e-commerce when it was all kicking off?
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Back to the Garage of Innovation
Wired recently posted a really inspiring article Back to the Garage: How Economic Turmoil Breeds Innovation
The article states that for the bravest inventors economic turmoil breeds innovation. One of the most inspirational stories is Bill Hewlett of HP who built the pocket calculator during the 1969-1970 depression.
Tom Siebel is a shining example - according to the article he sold Siebel Systems to Oracle in 2005 and is now working on a project that is underwraps.
Only time will tell whether the conditions are right or not. But as I like to think when there is an opportunity there is no time like the present.
The article states that for the bravest inventors economic turmoil breeds innovation. One of the most inspirational stories is Bill Hewlett of HP who built the pocket calculator during the 1969-1970 depression.
Tom Siebel is a shining example - according to the article he sold Siebel Systems to Oracle in 2005 and is now working on a project that is underwraps.
Only time will tell whether the conditions are right or not. But as I like to think when there is an opportunity there is no time like the present.
Labels:
Tech
Monday, 24 November 2008
Online fraudsters 'steal £3.3bn'
Symantec released these figures after looking into the internet underground economy.
BBC stated that:
"Symantec research indicates that there is a certain amount of collaboration and organisation occurring on these forums, especially at the administrative level," it said.
BBC News Story here
BBC stated that:
"Symantec research indicates that there is a certain amount of collaboration and organisation occurring on these forums, especially at the administrative level," it said.
"Moreover, considerable evidence exists that organised crime is involved in many cases."
As the internet becomes more collaborative credit card details and personal details are always going to be under threat. Surely though it is also up to ISPs and companies to help stop this happening. E.g. employee these criminals to help stop other criminals. They could open up their security script to a limited number of people and get them to work collaboratively to plug the so called holes in the system. This would then hopefully make a more secure web.BBC News Story here
Labels:
Tech
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Reuters Quit Second Life
Is Second Life Dead?
That indeed is the question. I'd really say that it might be a good thing for the users of Second Life and the employees of Linden labs.
Why?
Because ultimately Second Life has a very strong community that I'm sure will ride out the financial crisis. With more and more people staying at home rather than going out, perhaps their second life will be much more virtuous. I'd say second life still has a great potential to expand and develop, there is so much going on in the world economy that a second life would appeal to all, no mortgage. Only problem is whilst your living in your second life it won't stop the bayliffs coming in to remove your household furniture.
But will IBM and other digital companies start to withdraw? Perhaps Reuters are just the first of many to move.
That indeed is the question. I'd really say that it might be a good thing for the users of Second Life and the employees of Linden labs.
Why?
Because ultimately Second Life has a very strong community that I'm sure will ride out the financial crisis. With more and more people staying at home rather than going out, perhaps their second life will be much more virtuous. I'd say second life still has a great potential to expand and develop, there is so much going on in the world economy that a second life would appeal to all, no mortgage. Only problem is whilst your living in your second life it won't stop the bayliffs coming in to remove your household furniture.
But will IBM and other digital companies start to withdraw? Perhaps Reuters are just the first of many to move.
Labels:
Tech
Unhappy People Watch TV
A recent survey from University of Maryland stated that unhappy people watch more TV. More happy people read and socialize.
They also state that as the economy worsens perhaps more people will watch TV. I guess only time will tell on this one. Yet aren't unhappy people just happy with TV?
Also I wonder whether the population of the internet are all happy since most users read and socialize on the web?
To find more information about this article please click here.
They also state that as the economy worsens perhaps more people will watch TV. I guess only time will tell on this one. Yet aren't unhappy people just happy with TV?
Also I wonder whether the population of the internet are all happy since most users read and socialize on the web?
To find more information about this article please click here.
Labels:
Tech
XP Customized Desktops
Customizing your own desktop is one of the only good things I can think of about XP. However, one thing I know is that over at LifeHacker they have some interesting designs going on here. Some of the designs are what I'd call awesome.
What I've done with mine is disabled icons all together by doing the following:
Go to run, then type reg edit.
Then to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Name: NoDesktop
Type: REG_DWORD
Change the value to 1.
This will then give you no desktop a clean and simple hack to get rid of all those annoying icons. You'll still have the desktop folder in explorer should you need it for Trash etc.
What I've done with mine is disabled icons all together by doing the following:
Go to run, then type reg edit.
Then to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Name: NoDesktop
Type: REG_DWORD
Change the value to 1.
This will then give you no desktop a clean and simple hack to get rid of all those annoying icons. You'll still have the desktop folder in explorer should you need it for Trash etc.
Labels:
Tech
Mid-Book Review: Book The Big Switch
I'm about half way through the book "The Big Switch" by Nicholas Carr. I can say that the book is really well written and quite good for those interested in IT. I didn't know about Thomas Edison the lighbulb and electricity but now I do. It is a really nice read and puts into context the development of computing from Sun's "The Network is the Computer" to the very first electronic grid and soon to be utility computing.
To date the book is great and I can't put it down. I'll do a final review soon...
To date the book is great and I can't put it down. I'll do a final review soon...
Labels:
Books
Friday, 14 November 2008
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Lunch/Dinner 09/11/2008
Chicken/Bacon Pie
Served with Asparagus in a Mushroom Sauce
Chicken fried for 20mins
Bacon fried for 20 mins
Oven Proof Dish + Pastry 20 mins @ 180 degrees c
Served with Asparagus in a Mushroom Sauce
Chicken fried for 20mins
Bacon fried for 20 mins
Oven Proof Dish + Pastry 20 mins @ 180 degrees c
Labels:
Food
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Lunch 08/11/08
Went to The Restaurant on The Hill in Ruthin
I had the Fillet Steak served with a generous portion of vegetables. Had a bottle of Chardonnay from Australia. Simply cooked to perfection. Really great food at a really good price.
I really can't wait to go back!
I had the Fillet Steak served with a generous portion of vegetables. Had a bottle of Chardonnay from Australia. Simply cooked to perfection. Really great food at a really good price.
I really can't wait to go back!
Labels:
Food
Friday, 7 November 2008
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Dinner 06/11/2008
Chicken and Ham Pie - Marks and Spencer
Carrots - Spar
Chicken and Ham Pie 45 mins in oven
Carrots - 15 mins in pan
Carrots - Spar
Chicken and Ham Pie 45 mins in oven
Carrots - 15 mins in pan
Labels:
Food
Lunch 06/11/2008
Tortilla Feta Cheese
Green Beans
Pasta with Cheese
Tomato with Cheese
Summer Fruit Oasis
Green Beans
Pasta with Cheese
Tomato with Cheese
Summer Fruit Oasis
Labels:
Food
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Dinner 04/11/2008
Potato, Carrots, Beef and Ale Pie
Cooking Instructions
Cook at 160 0'c for 30 mins
Potato in for 20 mins
Carrots in for 8 mins
From
Beef and Ale Pie - Marks and Spencers
Potato/Carrots - Spar
Price
Potato €0.23
Carrots €1.25
Pie €2.50
Total Cost of Meal: €3.98
Cooking Instructions
Cook at 160 0'c for 30 mins
Potato in for 20 mins
Carrots in for 8 mins
From
Beef and Ale Pie - Marks and Spencers
Potato/Carrots - Spar
Price
Potato €0.23
Carrots €1.25
Pie €2.50
Total Cost of Meal: €3.98
Labels:
Food
Lunch 04/11/2008
Italian Cuisine
Truffles - Rice
Green Beans
Aubergine/Pepper
Lasagne
Orange
Oasis
Truffles - Rice
Green Beans
Aubergine/Pepper
Lasagne
Orange
Oasis
Labels:
Food
Monday, 3 November 2008
Dinner 03/11/2008
Fish & Chips
Cooked at 210 degrees celcius for 25 mins.
Fish From Tesco
Chips McCains
Green and Black Chocolate
Cooked at 210 degrees celcius for 25 mins.
Fish From Tesco
Chips McCains
Green and Black Chocolate
Labels:
Food
Lunch 03/11/2008
Welsh Cuisine
Lamb with Honey
Mash Potato with Leeks
Lots of Peas
Drink Oasis Summer Fruits
No Desert Today - :- (
Lamb with Honey
Mash Potato with Leeks
Lots of Peas
Drink Oasis Summer Fruits
No Desert Today - :- (
Labels:
Food
Breakfast 03/11/2008
Porridge Oats
Literally that is all I've had today as the crutches are hampering the ability to get food! :-(
Literally that is all I've had today as the crutches are hampering the ability to get food! :-(
Labels:
Food
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Cleaning Flat
Cleaning my flat is always a bit of an issue. I just don't understand how it gets so dirty during the week, when the weekend falls it is time to clean again.
Completed Today:
Hoover All Floors
Mop All Floors
Bleach Toilet/Sinks
Clean Kitchen with Multipurpose Wipes
Clean Bathroom with Multipurpose Wipes
Dust with Pledge
1 Wash of Colours in at 30 degrees (to save the environment)
It feels so much more productive when you write it down!
Completed Today:
Hoover All Floors
Mop All Floors
Bleach Toilet/Sinks
Clean Kitchen with Multipurpose Wipes
Clean Bathroom with Multipurpose Wipes
Dust with Pledge
1 Wash of Colours in at 30 degrees (to save the environment)
It feels so much more productive when you write it down!
Labels:
Food
Saturday, 1 November 2008
UCI Chorus Broadband Delivered
After 4 weeks since ordering my broadband it finally arrived yesterday.
I went for the basic package. I think it is 3 mb which is ok, apart from the 20 gig cap so currently considering moving to the 10mb package for some serious speed and no cap on BBC Iplayer etc.
The engineer that came out was really good I just wish that their customer service was a good as the engineers.
I went for the basic package. I think it is 3 mb which is ok, apart from the 20 gig cap so currently considering moving to the 10mb package for some serious speed and no cap on BBC Iplayer etc.
The engineer that came out was really good I just wish that their customer service was a good as the engineers.
Labels:
Tech
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