these foolish things

Oops. I wondered why rashbre central was a bit busy today. Now that Reuters has picked up the HP story from 1st April, I suppose I'll have to come clean before JKR sends an owl around with a wand to zap me. The date is a clue about that particular post. I wonder if I should leave it there or remove it??

flying penguins

My favourite amongst this year's gaggle of April Fool's posts is this BBC documentary insert about flying penguins. If you can't click through on the photo above, there's another version at the Telegraph's site.

I hope it gets added to the hoaxipedia list of great hoaxes, alongside the Guardian's ancient travel supplement about the Island of San Serriffe (Capital Bodini, Islands Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse) and the even more ancient celebrated Spaghetti Trees from Panorama.

And not forgetting the annual BMW contribution. This year its the new Canine Repellent Alloy Protection system which is designed to stop dogs fouling against the sparkling alloys of new BMW cars.

Dr Hans Zoff, Head of Automotive Security from BMW AG, explained that it uses energy that would normally have been lost during engine over-run and braking which is now harnessed as Rim Impulse Power. When a dog tries to relieve itself on the wheel of a suitably-equipped BMW, a small and relatively painless electric shock is immediately administered to the animal, thus deterring future fouling. Shocking, or what?

...and here's the 2010 update

Technorati Tags: rashbre, bmw, penguins, flying, hoax, april, fools, canine, repellent, san, serriffe, spaghetti, trees

peak

An extended meeting today, from early morning, with just a ten minute sandwich break around midday.

It was 'Up North' and when it finished I realised I'd be hitting big traffic if I took the motorway route home.

Instead I picked a few favourite cross country spots and meandered back at least part of the way on lanes and across the Pennines and Peak District. It added a good couple of hours to the shortest time I could have taken and I did pause to look around in a couple of places, but I reckon the detour and a bit of country air was good for the soul.

Time well spent, even if it means tomorrow now needs to be manic.

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Alternative Ending

A few days ago some of us met together and had a drink or two and a chat. We'd all been shopping and had evidence of our various expeditions in a mixture of carrier bags. Mine was the least inspiring, containing household electric light fitments and a replacement halogen bulb.

Someone else had a Harry Potter boxed set, in what looked like a replica Hogwart's trunk. We all agreed this was the most impressive shopping item amongst us - admittedly it was a present too.

Then we got to talking about the last Harry Potter book and that the film company have decided to make it into two films because it is such a long book. Whilst perhaps slightly exploitative, I suppose the Harry Potter books have created such a buzz with both readers and viewers alike, that so long as they make both halves well, I suppose we can't begrudge the approach.

Even more interestingly, some of us had read the Harry Potter Deathly Hallows alternative ending. This doesn't have Harry turn into a grown up and there are a couple of other twists that didn't make it to the current edition. We speculated that there could even be a third film based around the alternative ending, or perhaps there will be a special edition DVD featuring the rather intriguing twist to the story.

Actually, I slightly prefer the alternative ending, but I can see why the one used was selected in preference, to tidy things and prevent Book Eight (or film nine?).

The possibilities created in the alternative ending just beg for another volume and I even think I know what it would be called!

tera bite

If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me. I was running a full backup of a computer today, bizarrely because the backup disk itself had decided to start making a clonking sound. Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.

The fresh backup says it needs to backup 1,518,289 things.

Forsooth, how careless we become with filing when it's all digital. Perhaps the overflow of good somehow converts to bad.

I suppose, like most of us, I just leave everything until full and then add more storage. So out of the nettle of danger, we pluck this flower, safety, to keep our systems secure.

Noting this doesn't include video folders (but does include iTunes and pictures), I wonder how the likes of writers in the past managed with simple paper and ink?

I just checked Shakespeare who penned a grand total of 884,647 words (thats words not items) to write his works, with (methinks) 31,534 different ones included. Not that I'm comparing quality (!) simply that creative life was simpler then with just ink and inspiration. Sometimes, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.

time

I loaned and borrowed a few DVDs last weekend.

So tonight, as reward for fixing the new and surprisingly snazzy £8.95 metallic venetian blind to the window in the loo, I watched the first film and somehow the time just flew by.

It was one of those 'classic' movies which I was sure I'd watched but somehow hadn't.

boat race

I lost the bet today. Oxford beat Cambridge. It's the only thing I bet on, but today I've earned the forfeit. My select syndicate bet with one another by phone and the debt will need to be settled in person very soon.

It was a rather wet day for the race, which also had a late start because of tides or something. Cambridge won the coin toss, picked the best position and did get off to a strong start. However, the big curve in the river was surprisingly difficult and Oxford managed to gain an edge, which served them well for the last part of the race.

The choppy river and the rain didn't help timings; it was about 20 minutes this year, whereas a fast time is more like 16 minutes.

Oh well. Cambridge will win next year.

Non omnia possumus omnes

I admit it, I watch the Apprentice. I watched the very first UK series a few years ago at around two am on a hotel television somewhere, where they showed the episodes back to back. I somehow got hooked after just two shots. My warning is to step away from the television if you havn't already seen it.

So the new series started a few days ago and I've just got around to dialling it up on Sky Plus to watch as the new wannabes seek to impress Sir Alan. And who finer than Nicolas de Lacy-Brown, to be ejected from the first show for incorrectly labeling lobsters at £4.99 a pop? No wonder the stall had an instant queue as some of the finest specimens crawled icily around the display table - and that was just the other already fractious game players.

As this week's ejected player quotes at his online art gallery, we can't all do everything.

Technorati Tags: rashbre, apprentice, alan+sugar, sir+alan, nicolas, de-lacy-brown, lobsters, lobster+prices

buzz

Getting ready to go to bed this evening, I am greeted by the sound of a small light aircraft in the bedroom.

Okay it was just a bumble bee the size of a ping pong ball.

I tried to reason with it for a few minutes before it scuttled under the bed and stopped buzzing. So I waited a few minutes for it to emerge, but I think it must like the comfort of the carpet or something.

I shall sleep in another room because I'm too tired to chase it around now.

french dressing

The French have come to town. But the zoom lenses seemed to be pointing towards newly demure Carla Bruni instead of Nicholas Sarkozy, in the very week when Carla's picture was up for auction at Christie's.

Of course, Mr Sarkozy has been trying to rebuild credibility back in his own country, where, after election, he seemed to go into something of downward slide, surrounded by the glint of overbling.

Visiting his near neighbours may be an interesting move, particularly as the Royals seemed to be able to dial up eleven on their own bling-ometer even to the extent of getting the horsemen in Windsor to wear special gold plated ceremonial suits - I wonder if that's a kind of Regal joke. I forgive Beckham's choice of golden football boots for the game against France, on account of his gaining his 100th cap, but there's some sort of quirky coincidence around all of this.
Interesting also to see that Dior clad la Bruni seemed to be on the platform for the important speeches delivered to Britain's great and good in French by her hubby. Many of the UK politicians seemed content to listen to the speech without translation and to be watching the new French reine des coeurs throughout. For the Sarkozys, the combination of visiting Windsor Castle, parading with horses and carriages through Windsor, plus a visit to Westminster Cathedral (ie the Catholic one rather than the Abbey) and then the Palace of Westminster all in the same day as touchdown is a pretty whirlwind experience.

And Nikki's speech in the gold encrusted Royal Gallery (which features distinctive pictures of two battles - Waterloo and Trafalgar) was all about entente cordiale and mutual support, including energetic references to working closely with the British in places such as Afganistan. Carla, who speaks significantly better English probably advised him not to mention the Guerre de Cent Ans, and will presumably be keeping an eye on things during the dinner occasions.

The next day should be quite interesting for the Browns who get a slot on what is primarily a State visit. After the big evening bash Wednesday night at Windsor Castle, the next day Mrs Brown entertains Carla, whilst Nicholas visits Gordon briefly in Downing Street before heading to a meeting at the Emirates Stadium.

More photo opportunities await.

china pigeon

Ambient activity, taking place in Leicester Square from 7am, will see the area filled with 5,000 Chinese origami pigeons.

Commuters and passersby will be encouraged to pick up one of the recyclable paper birds, which unfold to reveal a piece of modern Chinese artwork alongside information about the China exhibition, a map of how to get there and a money off voucher.

And if you fancy making a pigeon as good as the ones above from Emma, click through here to the video instructions or head over to Em's site which also features television coverage from the event.

feathers flying

2008 London Pillow Fight Leicester Square 1
by parcequemoiaussi

London at play on Saturday. Tomorrow it's the paper pigeons. Thanks, Sandrine for the coverage.