Entries from December 2007 ↓

A handy website for checking your flight details, if you know your airline reference and your surname (I’d hope your memory is that good):

https://www.checkmytrip.com

Well, finally looks like the wrangling has been sorted and Peter Jackson will be making The Hobbit.

What I can’t figure out - is why it’s going to be two films? Wringing the most money they can out of cinema-goers? Ah ha - looks like they’re making a sequel as well, hence two.

Some useful utilities that I’ve been using. Noted for reference here, in case I forget them:

Flickr Uploadr (v3) - uploading images to Flickr

Smultron - simple text editor

SmallImage2 - batch conversion of images (wish it could convert to other graphic formats as well, like Graphic Convertor)

Adium - for Google Chat, MSN etc.

iStat Pro - widget for system summary (CPU, fan temps etc)

Last night’s Parkinson show was genius. Everybody, apart from David Beckham, was fascinating or funny or had something to say. D.B was about as interesting as dried paint. Billy Connoly, Caine, Attenborough - all superb.

This gets me onto another subject - people who write auto-biographies (and biographies) when they are still in their twenties. They haven’t lived their lives yet - I might be interested to hear about them when they are fifty or more. I don’t want to read about the Beckhams or Katy Price etc. It’s commercialism gone rife.

I’ll miss the Parkinson show. Remembering Billy Connoly or Rod Hull/Emu brings back fond memories.

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Some pictures of a robin have been uploaded to Flickr.

I’m no good at wrapping presents - every year I devise new ways of using too much paper and losing the end of the Sellotape.

I hope the recipients like the presents this year.

Finally remembered a radio show that I was listening to in Canada - it had a lady on who has devised a new language:

http://www.tokipona.org/intro.html

Might start studying it, to keep my brain active.

I’ve got the new five disc box set, including The Final Cut and the original theatrical releases. I’m not a fan of the voiceover versions of the film, especially the ending, which is dumbed down with an explanation of what’s going on. I’m glad Riddley Scott took the voiceover out, for the Director’s Cut.

The Final Cut has some scenes that I don’t remember seeing before - like an extended fight sequence with Pris. The best part, so far, has been the history, making and evolution of the film.

Julius Strauss - one half of the couple who run the grizzly holiday that I went on in British Columbia, has been on Radio 4 recently:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/excessbag/

I’m just downloading the Podcast.

Lots of ladies from where I used to work are now all pregnant.

Wasn’t me. *

* Which reminds me - I passed an American school bus on the motorway (M4), that had Simpsons characters all over it, advertising the film.

Ventured into Cardiff today, to do the Christmas shopping. It was packed, but I managed to get everything that I wanted.

Heading off to Witney tomorrow, to catch up with folks.