Strike first and ask questions later

Mark Mardell's BBC page about 'open carry' rules regarding guns in the US is interesting, both for what the interviewees say and what they don't. There's talk about personal safety and the veiled threat toward politicians that they feel threaten them.

But there's also something not mentioned. What does a would-be robber do when faced with a mark that open-carries? It might put them off, but the most obvious thing is that, if they're desperate enough, they'll simply have to disable their victim first: either with a physical attack or by drawing their (concealed) weapon and using it to take away the openly worn gun. I'm sure that if I were going to rob someone I'd do my darnedest to make sure they couldn't use their gun on me, and that I'd want things to go much worse for them than me. Sure, eventually a thief will get shot, but I wonder how many gun-carrying victims walk away from a crime against themselves?

Or maybe there's something missing?

Don't worry.

Be VERY AFRAID.

With good reason this article on 'intelligent' CCTV really bothers me. Bad enough to be watched by a human, but for all our activities to be monitored by computer strikes me as being a real threat to our freedom. But it's the possible uses to which this technology might be put in the future that is most concerning.

I wonder if, in 50 years time, people will look back at the 'computer age' and be relieved that it was only a phase.

There's a lot of debate about Jon Venables.

For those who don't know the background, two year James Bulger was abducted by 2 ten year old boys, taken to a deserted spot and sexually abused before being killed. The boys were let out of prison after 8 years under a special order which gave them new identities and required them to comply with certain restrictions if they wished to retain their freedom. One of them - Venables - now 27, has been returned to prison for breaking the terms of his release.

There's obviously a furore over this, not least because in the view of many such a crime was so horrific that the perpetrators should never have been released. And the media does tend to enjoy a bit of 'angry mob whipping'.

However details of both the new identity and the crime committed have not been released. While many argue this is in the public interest, there are many reasons not to do this. Aside from the risk of him being murdered, it is important that justice is done in ALL cases - even his. A jury could never bring a just verdict in fresh proceedings if they were aware of the identity of the now adult Venables. Regardless of previous crimes, just as in dealing with suspected terrorists, we must not treat anyone according to the measure we suspect them to be guilty of, but in every case, they must be handled with true justice. Any alternative is to reduce justice to their level, and reduce legal ethics to a mockery.

In case we take it for granted.

It's really easy to expect the whole world to be like it is for us in our own countries. This article from the BBC paints a picture of what it's like coming from a place without effective laws, justice or freedom.

England isn't so innocent, and 200 years ago or less parts of this country were just as unjust. But I thank God that we do have a society where rule of law is predominantly upheld, and that those who would oppress others are brought to justice.

Big news - apparently home streaming is killing music after all.

This article on the register is interesting, in that apparently fewer people are buying music through any route. CDs are a dying medium, but many (like me) haven't adopted streaming either.

I've been thinking about this from a variety of angles. Talking with my mother a couple of weeks back, she mentioned that when she and my father were younger they actually joined record clubs in order to listen to music with other people. Recorded music was still a relatively rare and wonderful thing, and people would get really enthusiastic about it. When I was a teenager we would have 'record evenings' with the youth group, where we'd bring our music, play a track and explain why it floated our boat. I remember hearing 'In the court of the crimson king' and 'Abraxus' in these settings.

What's changed?

Music is everywhere. There's nothing rare or wonderful about it (most of the time). Punk killed the need for artistry and ability, electronic new wave and techno killed the requirement for spirituality and feeling while death metal and a desire to go ever more extreme made hard rock unappealing to healthy adults. So we get bombarded with music which neither moves our feet nor touches our souls in everyday life, all the while being immunised to the power of truly creative and exciting music that some less mainstream individuals are still producing.

I'd suggest something similar has happened in the Christian music world too, though much more insidiously.

I both gave and received Paul Baloche's new Album 'Glorious' at Christmas, and on first listen was so disappointed I never really wanted to pick it up again. Commercial is the first word that springs to mind, followed shortly by Uninspiring and Utterly Professional. (on subsequent listens I think the songs themselves have excellent lyrics and tunes, but need to be played by people who mean it instead of just being very accomplished). We've been through the mega-bands, and now 'stadium worship' has become mainstream with all the money to be made from tours, promotions and album sales fueling an industry that appears to be like the secular version (from this perspective).

People aren't buying music because it's no longer a thing of wonder.

I REALLY hope that the music industry as it has been declines rapidly, and that we'll start seeing a new breed of band that either fund themselves by touring, or even retain the day job and just gig for fun. I am not interested in technical excellence in music - that's so commonplace as to be almost worthless as that Paul Baloche CD indicated. If you want to hear perfectly executed music just turn on the TV or radio. I want to hear excitement, fun, spirituality, energy. I want mistakes, joy, humility, tears, laughter and even some anger coming through. And if it's a worship album, I'd like it to sound as if I can believe worship is taking place, rather than thinking "God, that sounds just so insincere". No disrespect to you excellent musicians out there, but technical perfection in music is not something that works for me.

Why is the music industry being killed? It's a victim of it's own success. Maybe it should have tried the BMW approach of selling less, keeping the market hungry for good product while QCing out the ordinary.

The greatest day in history

Quite a well known song, with a much better take on the line 'Happy Day'.

I have this desire to hear Max von Sydow do his 'Ming the merciless' voice from Flash Gordon: "Jesus is alive?" at the end of the first verse.

Do pros ever make mistakes?

For Christmas I was given a DVD - Carlos Santana plays blues at Montreaux, and featuring Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Buddy Guy and Bobby Parker.

It's a curious CD, not least because of CS's Blues solos: it looks and sounds wrong to see him playing in a box that doesn't allow him to really express himself with his usual voice, although he plays well enough. But the odd thing for me has been to see some of his guests.

On one track the aforementioned Mr. Brown was playing in the wrong key (he plays in a box around open strings using a capo) and apparently failed to realise it. It wasn't until the bass player leaned over to him after a couple of verses and has a conversation that he seemed to realise and change to the right key. Weird, especially as his style indicates that he *should* be playing by ear rather than rote.

Then Bobby parker came on and instantly has enormous tuning issues with the E and B strings. Again, even weirder, though not his fault this time. He's clearly thrown by this too, and when he does get in tune, he's clearly playing in CS's shadow.

One of the things that marked out the difference between amateur and professional players for me is that pros just didn't make these kind of mistakes. You'd expect Clapton to know he was in the wrong key instantly and fix it, wouldn't you? Or maybe it's the difference between a kind of music that is slick and carefully produced and one that is allowed to happen according to feelings and the occasion. If that's the case I can identify much more readily with it. I'd rather play spontaneously and have the occasional trainwreck here and there but create according to the circumstances than produce the same show every night.

Wonder if that's what keeps these guys fresh and spontaneous instead of just grinding out the same old blues riffs each time? Or maybe they're just sloppy like me?

What is it with some people

That they are so important in their own world that they MUST take the things you say as an attack, or try to put you down?

I know why the internet runs slow sometimes - it's moving gigabyte sized egos around.

Yeah yeah, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, I know. But posting it here with my tiny traffic it's unlikely to do anyone harm.

I just asked

Someone I knew on another forum - also now a 'friend' on facebook - to either take his politics back to that old forum or de-friend me. I don't want to know about that pit of misery and deceit, republicans and democrats continuously sniping at each other, both simultaneously claiming to be 'Jesus'.

Anyone want

a new browser?

I've not heard of half of these before and that does surprise me, at least a little.

Seeing the article was useful though, as it reminded me to delete Chrome from the Macbook, after it caused programs to lock and sometimes fail to start.

It's disappointing that Opera is still in such a minority position, but hopefully it will get a boost from this. I use it almost exclusively on the Macbook now, and about 40% of the time on the home PC. It would probably be more, but many pages are still not html standards compliant, and don't display properly, plus I really do like Firefox a little better in some ways. Ben uses Opera almost exclusively, because speed and stability (when running 20+ tabs open) are important to him.

I may well migrate to that frequently mentioned Linux box downstairs soon, in which case we'll have to see what browsers are available for that. I wonder how possible it is to move emails between windows and Linux versions of Thunderbird?

*edit*

I found this review of the other browser choices today.

WARNING: If, like me, you go looking for info on them then beware the first hit for 'green browser'. The 'morequick' page that is google's first hit takes you through to a hardcore pr0n (changed for those behind monitoring software) page. Not what you want at work, or at home, even if your monitor can't be seen by the rest of the office.

Why is freecycle

so much darned hassle to a) join and b) post to?

And why do I have to have a Yahoo! account to do so?

Suddenly the dump and landfill look just so attractive - If I'd wanted hassle I'd have simply used ebay.

Oh, and entering 'enlarger' as a search term in ebay is NOT particularly recommended - it feels like the place where all those unwanted emails go to hide after a hard day spamming up the world.

Poor Chris

Billy Connolly colonoscopy.

Actually, if you're sensitive, don't go there.

It's not that she needs one, but instead has that nasty tummy bug that's been going round. We visited a house yesterday where they were still recovering and ate there, and that's probably been enough to pass it on. Do feel sorry for the poor lass though, as she's been shivering violently as well as spouting both ends. I can also feel a certain gentle pressure in my nether regions, but while it's still comfortably containable it shall remain contained comfortably.

A bombshell has hit our livingroom today.

Well, actually it's the contents of the cupboard under the stairs.

For some time I've been wanting to tackle it and reduce the clutter (in so many ways) but who would have thought one could get so much into such a tiny space? The living room is full, there's stuff in the kitchen and the cupboard still has all the model planes, balsa wood, radio control gear, tools, my Vox AC30, a large box with LPs and a bunch of other odds and ends in it.

Sat 4 feet away is a large stack comprising empty speaker and head cabs, plus 6 loudspeakers (2 of which don't work). There's piles of magazines, a collection of power tools (mostly still boxed) framed pictures, computer stuff, wood and metal raw materials, 3 separate camera holdalls, a RC model plane belonging to a friend, a wooden chest containing radio gear and aero engines, a boxed German language course on cassette, crash helmets, spare bags, a couple of guitars and a draw full of hand tools.

I've already been through and cleared a lot of stuff: there's a huge pile of PC bits: MOBOs & processors from jobs I've done + old PS2 mice etc. I've filled a couple of rubbish bags with foam and things that really need chucking now.

The high point?

Finding a tiny DC Merlin diesel engine mounted on a piece of 2 bee 2 (as we'd call it). The engine was a gift from my father when he ran a model shop, and the wood was an offcut from the legs of the bunk beds he made for my brother and I. It still had the original tank and pipe (still supple!) held with a piece of heavy electrical wire twisted together to keep it all in place. The engine was gummed up and wouldn't turn by hand, but I squirted in some lube before popping it away in the hope it will soften and one day be recoverable.

The engine is important to me, not least because it's fully 40 years old, but also for the memories it brings. On Friday my mother asked if there were any possessions I wouldn't ever want to get rid of, and at the time, I could only think of my first decent electric guitar. However this is another one, and I'd be really sad to ever have to let this one go for good.

Bath pics

To wet an appetite or 2.

















It's interesting how every out-door pic I selected was vertical. That may tell you quite a bit about the city.

Anyone want to lend me

a small-medium bass amp? Like a Trace Elliot Commando or similar. Somewhere between 50W and 100W and enough to fill a largish hall at lowish volume (rather than a large room at high volume). The Pignose ain't man enough for it, even with a Hartke bass speaker installed.

A great 4th and final post

.....on congregation participation in worship from Matt Blick's blog. If you've not been over there yet then I very strongly recommend reading this plus the other 3 articles below. They echo my heart for worship to involve the whole church together, and not just each one in their own private place of worship.

First post from Linux Mint

It's kind of like Ubuntu, but subtly different. Quite a lot slower starting up, for one thing.

It looks better crafted than Ubuntu (on which it's based) with better screen fonts, but not slick like Sabayon.

Can I have the real Facebook now please?

An article on El-Reg made me chuckle a bit. Especially funny are some of the comments (though not all by any means).

Mikey - gimme back my web 1.0.

There's something which is odd about hearing God.

But not in the way you might think.

This evening we had a bit of an open prayer time at the chapel, and prayed for certain things. I just felt God say 'do such and such' and when I did them it seemed natural and right to say certain things, much of which seemed appropriate to aspects of the situation I had no knowledge of until later.

That's not the odd thing.

The odd thing is that people sometimes look at me as if to say "wow, how did you know that" and of course the answer is, I didn't and in many ways still don't, really.

There is someone we know who is gifted prophetically who would quite often stand up in church meetings and give people accurate prophetic words. In one case a couple who he had never met nor knew anything about had come with us and he gave them first an accurate description of their jobs and relationship before giving them a word of direction. Chris and I would sometimes joke together at those times: "missed me" etc. One day I asked God 'why aren't there ever any words for me' and He said 'because I can speak to you and don't need to do that with you'. It all seems perfectly natural, but it really isn't about me being special, but about Him talking to me.

And this is why it's not like some gift or ability that I have to 'know' things about people, to peel back their masks and see their thoughts and feelings. Instead it's simply God showing me stuff for a purpose. For my part, increasingly over recent years I've tried to be faithful to speak up, rather than doing the obvious 'that couldn't be God - must be my imagination'. The result of that, I'm sure, is that He's talking to me more in a way I can hear, instead of just through feelings and wishes. I hope that increasingly I'll learn to recognise that voice and speak out.

I've not been this bushed in ages.

Yesterday we had a load of firewood delivered - the thinking being that we'll turn the rayburn down and use the radiators less (saving oil) and light the stove when we need to keep warmer.

Back in the day (well, the first 5 years up here anyway) we were mostly heated by wood, and we'd spend around 1 weekend in 4 cutting and stacking wood for the next month. It kept us fit, cutting and carrying, but we were young enough to cope OK. Now a sedentary 48 year old, a morning moving a ton or so of beech logs is hard work, and I'd really like to just curl up in a hot bath instead of taking rubbish from our shed and garden to the tip.

We're out tonight, doing Valentine stuff courtesy of the couple that head up HPC. Wasn't Valentine a ballet dancer? I hope they don't expect me to perform when I'm all stiff and achey.

Let's hope Avatar

is as good as everyone's suggested.

I've just booked tickets for the 11pm showing at the Kassam on the wrong side of Oxford, finishing at 2.10am.

Today I was up at 5.30am, working away from home, getting back at 7.30pm this evening. Hope I can stay awake.

After being smug about fixing my heating system

I had to do another 'fix' this evening.

When I did last weeks repair I used some stainless steel Ben had laying around to create extra supports for the heatproof block in the top of the firebox. By about Wednesday last week I could hear something wasn't quite right, because after the burner shut down there was still a rumbling noise from the firebox. Popping the inspection hole while it shut down confirmed that flames were still present.

So tonight I pulled it apart again.

Not all Stainless Steel is created equal.

This stuff had burned through in a week, and the cause of the problem was that the bits had fallen into the burner. So this time it was a complete strip of the firebox, pulled the burner unit out, cleaned it up & checked it over before popping it all back together.

This time.

This time I hope all will be well. Until summer, when I have some preventive maintenance scheduled.

Ever come come across someone

who says pretty much all the things you wanted to tell people on a topic, but with humour to make make it all the more palatable?

Read Matt Blick's blog post: 12 ways to increase congregation participation (in worship).


Part 1.
Part 2.
Part 3.

Of course you may feel that it should all be for the Glory Of God and wish the congregation would just shut up and enjoy the show, in which case you are very welcome to your 'worship as a concert' meetings, as long as I don't have to be there.

You have to

love the French.

This morning I was mostly

driving round upper Heyford for 20 min, fruitlessly search for someone's house for a 7am men's house group. When people give you an address, giving you a number and then telling you the road their back entrance is on without making that plain is not useful.

Oh well, at least I managed to get an email or 2 answered.

Success.

I took Chris to see 'ABBA Mania' (tribute band) tonight in Oxford, as a complete surprise. Because of the way things worked out, we actually got inside the New Theatre and sat down without her knowing what she was going to see. If it hadn't been for someone with a program sat in front the secret would have been kept right up until the first song.

Jethro Tull are on in March, but at £30 a ticket (plus another tenner booking fees) I think it's a bit spendy. Judging by tonight's sound it's also not a good music venue: either that or my ears don't hear things like everyone else's (tonight's sound lacked warmth and mids, though it was very crisp to my ears).

Still she had a good time, and that was what it was all about.

Tomorrow I shall be married

to a 47 year old woman.

And to celebrate I'm taking her to something Dixie would appreciate (even though there is no Merryl Streep present).

Macbook clamshell mode - advice?

Thought I'd finally cracked (no pun intended) the issue of running the Macbook in clamshell mode. Plug everything into the various ports, making sure the monitor is switched on, hit the power button and close the lid: voila! When it starts then the external monitor gets the full feed from the booting computer, and it will run with the lid closed giving >5 hours battery life even with the wireless network activated.

Except.

Except when you leave it unattended for a couple of minutes and it turns the external display off to save power, as though it were the laptop display and hibernates. Then the external display will work briefly when the machine wakes up before going blank again (because the lid's shut) and it returns to the hibernation state. Then you have the choice of shutting down a restarting or leaving the lid open as you did before.

This is really sucky.

Every other laptop I ever touched in the last 8 years would automatically divert the video to an external display if one was attached when the lid was shut, saving battery power etc. After hibernation it would awaken just as it was before, using that display. Like the failure to handle some CDs and DVDs properly, I'm sure this is just a software issue.

Any other users out there have advice/settings suggestions (not that there's much that control panel will let me change anyway).

And one more question - anyone ever use a non-Apple power supply? It would be useful to have a spare, but at the £20 ebay price, rather than the £60 Apple UK price. However I'd prefer not to fry any batteries.

Heard this morning on the radio - depression & the internet

Apparently there's a significant correlation between net use and depression.

Subjectively I'd say that I've noticed this to be true, although that hasn't always been the case. I've certainly been through times of very high net-usage and was apparently unaffected. However in my present more susceptible state I'd say it's certainly been true for me. A couple of weeks back I got a temporary ban on a forum for using an abbreviation (Jap, to describe the origin of my Japanese made Fender guitar. White Americans find it offensive on behalf of the Japanese they used to insult with it) and I've taken the opportunity to detach myself a little more. Hopefully this will result in less sleep lost (both to net usage and unhappiness) and a better outlook on life.

I'd love to know

Who our Australian visitors are.

You there, living somewhere around Sydney or Newcastle. Maybe inland a little toward Tamworth.

Hey fellers/lasses. Nice to see you.

Thank Clustrmaps for giving the game away.