For email I use GMail - I've tried Thunderbird with POP & IMAP support, but always go back to the web based interface. My GMail email is also collected by Zoho Mail, but I don't use that interface - it's a backup in case my employer ever blocks the GMail interface (they block Hotmail, but not Live).
For a Calendar - after a long afair with Google I now use Zoho as it seems to have a nicer interface.
For web clipping and note taking I use Ubernote, I'd love to use Zoho Notes, but can't get the hang of its overcomplicated interface. Evernote - doesn't somehow float my boat, but I can't work out why.
I do use Zoho Writer (and occasionally Zoho Sheets) but I'm willing to be persuaded by the Adobe offering Buzzword, which has a nice clean interface and really nice fonts.
I like Syncplicity for synchronisisng my important files and accessing them anywhere, but I'd like to be convinced by Microsoft's Life offering - Livedrive if it would only do auto-synching of selected files.
I've got a GMail Drive (which is just an extension of GMail) which is occasionally useful.
Connected to Adobe Buzzword is Symantec's GoEveryware (or GoEveryWhere) desktop - it's ratheer cool, but an application looking for a purpose.
My main browser is Firefox with lots of extensions (probably too many !)
I do use old-skool newsnet using X-News as my reader.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Double White Centre Lines
I wonder how many of the great motoring public really know the meaning of the Double White Line in the middle of the road?
From the Highway Code (see http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070306 Rule 129, ) I quote:
" Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less."
Now folks that's me - when I'm going down the hill at 25 ish on my bike, that means I am doing *more* than 10mph and thou shalt NOT overtake me. In fact most of the time - unless I'm struggling uphill - I'm doing more than 10mph and though shalt not overtake me.
Why do they do that?
(and don't get me started on Rule 163)
From the Highway Code (see http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070306 Rule 129, ) I quote:
" Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less."
Now folks that's me - when I'm going down the hill at 25 ish on my bike, that means I am doing *more* than 10mph and thou shalt NOT overtake me. In fact most of the time - unless I'm struggling uphill - I'm doing more than 10mph and though shalt not overtake me.
Why do they do that?
(and don't get me started on Rule 163)
On Trying To Find a Holiday
Mrs Grumpy and I are looking to go on holiday in February - and because of Mrs Grumpy's chosen profession we are limited to the half term week.
So - being an organised sort of person I want to search the internet for a holiday during that week, within our budget and from one of our prefered airports (ie not Gatwick).
You'd think that was easy - uh? Well no actually.
My preferred engine of choice www.directline-holidays.co.uk has the largest choice, but appears to have the highest prices; next best was a new one to me www.holidayhypermarket.co.uk which frequently crashed and had a very limited selection of tour providers, and generally gave me holidays well outside my date ranges; closely followed by www.teletextholidays.co.uk. which had no - and I mean no - holidays that matched our requirements.
Surely it can't be beyond the wit of the clever people out there to design an aggregator that allows me to rank my departure date, price ceiling, and departure options - and then give me accurate results to select from (in the manner of holiday hypermarket perhaps).
Oh yes! My local friendly high street travel agent? Well I suspect that's where we'll end up going. I know that they are on commission and will point us to whatever is giving them the best rake off - and I know I won't have the chance to get the dirt off of Trip advisor - which, by the way, is becoming seriously difficult to get a consensus from - but at least if we have a sh*t holiday, I can go back and whinge at the poor counter staff!
So - being an organised sort of person I want to search the internet for a holiday during that week, within our budget and from one of our prefered airports (ie not Gatwick).
You'd think that was easy - uh? Well no actually.
My preferred engine of choice www.directline-holidays.co.uk has the largest choice, but appears to have the highest prices; next best was a new one to me www.holidayhypermarket.co.uk which frequently crashed and had a very limited selection of tour providers, and generally gave me holidays well outside my date ranges; closely followed by www.teletextholidays.co.uk. which had no - and I mean no - holidays that matched our requirements.
Surely it can't be beyond the wit of the clever people out there to design an aggregator that allows me to rank my departure date, price ceiling, and departure options - and then give me accurate results to select from (in the manner of holiday hypermarket perhaps).
Oh yes! My local friendly high street travel agent? Well I suspect that's where we'll end up going. I know that they are on commission and will point us to whatever is giving them the best rake off - and I know I won't have the chance to get the dirt off of Trip advisor - which, by the way, is becoming seriously difficult to get a consensus from - but at least if we have a sh*t holiday, I can go back and whinge at the poor counter staff!
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