Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Blind Voyeurs DJ Set

AFter a bit of a geeky tech post yesterday, it's time to return to a normal post about that I've been up to. This weekend I was originally scheduled to go to Newbury with Lisa for Charlie's 30th birthday. This would involve leaving Bournemouth after work on Friday and staying in Newbury til Sunday. I was looking forward to it until my mum said she really needed me to do a few things for her that Saturday as it was so close to Christmas and needed to get a few things in. Anybody who knows me knows that my mum is agoraphobic and therefore needs me to do a few chores on a regular basis. Anyway, it's because of this I had to let Lisa and Charlie down. Charlie said she totally understood because she is a single mother (as is my mum) ... but I still felt bad.

Friday evening came, and Lisa set off on her way. Gary and Simone came round for a little catch up. Gary's been a bit on the ill side and has had a couple of days off work. Simone is pregnant and loving it. They'd emailed me a picture of her baby scan that she had a couple of days before. Introducing baby Hudspith...


After they left I got back to work on the film while Scott revised his half of the DJ set. There were a few new bits I wanted to edit into the film ... but at the same time I had to find stuff to take out cos it was running seriously over time! Lisa and all the birthday girl entourage wanted to send out a toast to me in the form of a picture message...


I toasted them back via picture message with the glass of wine I was drinking. Followed, shortly after that I was sent a picture of Lisa with a chocolatey hand-print on her chest!...


...they had one of those chocolate fountains, y'see! Girls will be girls!

Saturday, I went to my mum's as usual and did a few chores for her. She's been trying to decide what to get Lisa for Christmas for ages. I suggested something and she wanted me to get it (Sorry, Lisa. I'm not about to type what your getting here!) I also had to grab some stuff for Christmas Dinner.

I got back home at around 3ish. Had a very drunken phonecall from Lisa at about 5ish - she'd been out on the piss all afternoon with Charlie and was not about to give up now! Anyway, the problem with getting pissed that early in the day means that you flake out early. They'd stopped drinking a couple of hours later and gone for a chill/nap at the time I was just starting to pour out the wine for my night out. Because tonight is the night that James and Scott do their first Blind Voyeurs DJ set at Sixty Million Postcards. To say that they were nervous was an understatement. They were practically shitting themselves. I tryed to help by saying stuff like "Guys, you're only gonna be playing music on a big stereo like you normally do every evening!" It didn't really help but hey.

Anyway, the night went well. After getting very drunk at Sixty Million Andy suggested going back to his for an after-party. I'd never been there before but it was cool. Andy had been sober all night cos he was driving so when we got there he mixed up a mental cocktail for all of us with rum, vodka, crushed ice and mint. Jesus that stuff was strong - I guess he had to catch up. We then went into the hot-tub. I thought it was a ridiculous idea cos it was freezing outside. I was told that as soon as your in the hot-tub you don't notice! Man, it was so nice - I've gotta get me one of those! I had no idea what time I crashed cos I took my watch off ages ago but I was getting tired so it was time to crash out. Man, did I have a hangover the next day! Anyway, here's some pics....











...to see the whole flickr set click HERE.

Sunday, I was soooooo frickin hungover! I felt like I was gonna be sick for most of the morning. I wasn't but sure felt like it. I had nothing to eat except a bacon butty. I had to have a massive nap in the afternoon until 6pm when Lisa rang up and suggested we go for a Carvery down at Cooper Dean. Fuckin' mint idea! Scott woke up about 10 minutes later and we convinced him to join us. That sorted my head right out. Good times had by all!

Monday, December 18, 2006

100 Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows)

This is mainly just here as a reference for myself. You may find them useful too, you may know some of them but not all...

CTRL+C (Copy)

CTRL+X (Cut)

CTRL+V (Paste)

CTRL+Z (Undo)

DELETE (Delete)

SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)

CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)

CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)

F2 key (Rename the selected item)

CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)

CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)

CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)

CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)

CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)

SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)

CTRL+A (Select all)

F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)

ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)

ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)

ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)

CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)

ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)

F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)

F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)

CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)

ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)

Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)

F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)

RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)

LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)

F5 key (Update the active window)

BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

ESC (Cancel the current task)

SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)

TAB (Move forward through the options)

SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)

ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)

ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)

SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)

Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)

F1 key (Display Help)

F4 key (Display the items in the active list)

BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)

Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)

Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)

Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)

Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)

Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)

Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)

CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)

Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)

Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)

Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)

Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)

Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts

Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)

Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)

Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)

SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)

NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)

Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)

Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

END (Display the bottom of the active window)

HOME (Display the top of the active window)

NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)

NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)

NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)

LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)

RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)

Shortcut Keys for Character Map

After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:

RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)

LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)

UP ARROW (Move up one row)

DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)

PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)

PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)

HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)

END (Move to the end of the line)

CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)

CTRL+END (Move to the last character)

SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Nor mal mode when a character is selected)

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Main Window Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+O (Open a saved console)

CTRL+N (Open a new console)

CTRL+S (Save the open console)

CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)

CTRL+W (Open a new window)

F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)

ALT+F4 (Close the console)

ALT+A (Display the Action menu)

ALT+V (Display the View menu)

ALT+F (Display the File menu)

ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)

MMC Console Window Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)

ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console window)

SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)

F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)

F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)

CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)

CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)

ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)

F2 key (Rename the selected item)

CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console)

Remote Desktop Connection Navigation

CTRL+ALT+END (Open the m*cro$oft Windows NT Security dialog box)

ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)

ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)

ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)

ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)

CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)

ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)

CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Internet Explorer navigation

CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)

CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)

CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)

CTRL+H (Open the History bar)

CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)

CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)

CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)

CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)

CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)

CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)

CTRL+W (Close the current window)



Hope you'll find them useful!

Free Thom Yorke remixes online...


Yep. If you're into Radiohead and/or Thome Yorke you might like to know that there are, in fact, two free remixes of tracks from Thome Yorke's solo album The Eraser. First reported in a blog post from Thom Yorke on Radiohead's official band blog, Dead Air Space the tracks are available on theeraser.net.

They're pretty interesting (and very fucked up!), and have been remixed by fans. They're not mindblowing (well, not in my opinion!) but I think they're worth a listen, especially if you're familiar with the album. Although I do have to say that I prefer the originals. Anyway, if there is a remix worth mentioning it's this one... The Clock performed acoustically by Thom Yorke on Later with Jools Holland. Enjoy.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

How not to care...

This is the way to live! To not give a damn about what other people think and just have fun. This bloke has given me hope in the human race...

Oliver Stone joke bombs!

I was watching the 2006 British Comedy Awards on ITV with Lisa last night. After it finished on ITV it continued with more awards and backstage stuff on ITV2. It was on this part of the show that Oliver Stone came on to present an award. He told a really bad-taste joke about the Suffolk serial killer. He said "It's great to be back in England. I feel like the Jack The Ripper days are back. Nothing ever changes here." Realising that his joke fell flat on it's face he tried to dig himself out of the hole by saying "You're a wonderful audience"

For the full story of events that night check HERE

Monday, December 11, 2006

X Factor Rants

How the HELL can Ray still be in X-Factor?!? He's a creepy little one-trick pony that looks like he's bee raised by wolves!!! And even if he loses he's still booked for a 19 date tour in massive venues through til March next year!! LOOK!!!!

Blind Voyeurs have a LOUD practice

So, this weekend my band (Blind Voyeurs) had an 'emergency' practice in a practice room out in Sopley. This our first 'LOUD' practice with full drum kit and proper bass amp in a room in the middle of nowhere where we can play as loud as we like and no fucker will complain! WOO!

Oh my god, everything fell right into place and we are sounding amazing if I may say so myself. We've dropped a song called Ukul and replace it with The Mockery - a song that only me, Scott and Matt played once in a jam and that only us three knew how to play. We had a couple of jams on it with Lee, James and Martin and it ended up sound so ballsy that it's gonna be a face-melter! We're gonna use it as the last track to finish our set with.

Other songs that we were worried about sounding lame are now starting to sound like they have testes the likes of which will make King Kong bow down in shame, such as Ghost Written and Pale Blue Dot. All of this probably won't make much sence to most of you yet as you wouldn't hvae heard of some of the tracks. But you'll be hearing them when we have our first public gig on Friday 5th January 2007 at Centre Stage, next to Pig & Whistle, Westbourne. Be there folks!






Indians have small cocks - it's official!

A survey of more than 1,000 men in India has concluded that condoms made according to international sizes are too large for a majority of Indian men. According to this news article!

No don't laugh! It's a harrowing story!!

Friday, December 08, 2006

Say Hello to the Goodbye Weapon...



I read a sickening story today on Wired.com about a new weapon that the American Military have been developing in secret over the last 10 years. It's called the Active Denial System or ADS. It is a non-lethal weapon that fires beams of millimeters waves, which are longer in wavelength than x-rays but shorter than microwaves -- 94 GHz (= 3 mm wavelength) compared to 2.45 GHz (= 12 cm wavelength) in a standard microwave oven.

The fact that it uses a longer wavelength means that it limits the effects of radiation. Most of the radiation is instantly absorbed by the top layer of skin, heating it rapidly. The beam produces what experimenters call the "Goodbye effect," or "prompt and highly motivated escape behavior." In human tests, most subjects reached their pain threshold within 3 seconds, and none of the subjects could endure more than 5 seconds.

It acts on you natural human repelling reflex - as soon as you feel it you instantly want to move out of it, like you would if you touched a flame.

The weapon will be used for crowd control. It has the ability to clear a street in seconds. The USAAF have made a large number of elaborate tests on human subjects. The volunteers were military personnel: active, reserve or retired. They were unpaid, but the subjects would "benefit from direct knowledge that an effective nonlethal weapon system could soon be in the inventory," said one report. The tests ranged from simple exposure in the laboratory to elaborate war games involving hundreds of participants.

In more than 10,000 exposures, there were six cases of blistering and one instance of second-degree burns in a laboratory accident, the documents claim.

The ADS was developed in complete secrecy for 10 years at a cost of $40 million. The ADS technology is ready to deploy, and the Army requested ADS-armed Strykers for Iraq last year. But the military is well aware that any adverse publicity could finish the program. New bombs can be rushed into service in a matter of weeks, but the process is more complex for nonlethal weapons.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Hate Sprouts?

As you know, it's December. Therefore it's nearly Christmas. THEREFORE it's nearly that time of the year when we eat sprouts! Now, I love sprouts... didn't used to, mind. I used to hate them. I thought they tasted of sick! But now, I don't know why but I actually find them quite tasty. Maybe it's cos I've grown up a bit - I dunno. Anyway, today I was emailed this game where you squash sprouts and try to avoid them getting to your plate! Those sprout haters out there among you will love it. Enjoy!...

New look

Blogger, the site that manages this blog, have updated the way blog writers, such as myself, can control and maintain their blog. You may have noticed a small change in the navigation over there on the right. Now the old and archived posts are listed in a heirarchical format instead of the old flat format. This should make navigating to older posts a lot easier.

Also I can associate each post with Labels (or Tabs as some sites like to call them). This should help you find posts with similar topics. Kinda like film categories (Comedy, Horror, Drama etc)