Monthly Archives: January 2011

Remembering just how bad

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I was with an Etch-A-Sketch thanks to this iPad app.  (called Telecran – available for free on the app store)

And in case you haven’t seen ‘the memo’, I’ve included it here.

Memo To All Staff from Tech Support:

It has been determined that there is no longer any need for network or software applications support. The goal is to Remove all computers from the desktop by March 31, 2011

Instead everyone will be provided with an Etch-A-Sketch. There are many sound reasons for doing this:

• No Operating System problems
• No technical glitches keeping work from being don
• No more wasted time reading and writing e-mails, and surfing the Internet

Frequently Asked Questions for Etch-A-Sketch Technical Support:

Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has all of these funny little lines all over the screen.
A: Pick it up ! and shake it

Q. How do I turn my Etch-A-Sketch off?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q. What’s the shortcut for Undo?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q. How do I create a New Document window?
A. Pick it up and shake it.

Q. How do I set the background and foreground to the same colour?
A. Pick it up and shake it.

Q. What is the proper procedure for rebooting my Etch-A-Sketch
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q. How do I delete a document on my Etch-A-Sketch?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q. How do I save my Etch-A-Sketch document?
A: Don’t shake it.

A night with Columbo

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I love Columbo. All 67 episodes.  My particular favourite is the case with Johnny Cash, and not simply because it is one that it appears is shown most often, (closely followed in perpetual repeat by the one with Billy Connelly) but because I happen to like Johnny Cash.  I also enjoyed the two episodes featuring Patrick McGoohan, because I think he’s a fantastic British actor, and because I really liked him in Danger Man and The Prisoner.

There is something about Columbo that just catches you, no matter how many times it’s repeated on TV I always have to sit down and watch.  In a phrase I’ve recently seen coined I think it’s the whole ‘howcatchem’ style as opposed to ‘whodunnit?’ –  It’s not about who did it, it’s about how to solve it.

Now though, I’ve seen where it all started. Not the original episode from The Chevy Mystery Show of 1960, but the 1961 stage play, which was destined for Broadway until the death of its Columbo, Thomas Mitchell, and do you know what?

It was awesome.

Watching the night

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or rather reading through it instead. This book has sucked me in slowly like a vampire takes blood, which is good since it’s a novel with vampires in.

According to my Kindle I’m 38% of the way through it, and I am absolutely hooked. It’s been an odd sensation, because there is no big rush, towards an event, no sense of rapid pace, and yet the book moves on swiftly dragging you along with it. Wherever it goes you just have to follow.

In fact it’s so good, I’ve downloaded the rest of the tetralogy (I can’t stand the more modern word ‘quadrilogy’. Give me old fashioned proper terms anyday) The Day Watch, The Twilight Watch  and The Last Watch.