The Daily Teaser — 25-2-2014

Oh, well, that’s sorted, then.

I’m now signed up for the European Computer Driving Licence.

Which is good.

OK, I think I’ve already learnt — or taught myself — some of the basics.   And it means working on a lot of stuff made by Microsoft.

But I’d also like to have the certification.

If for no other reason than to be able to show a prospective employer that I know how to find the ‘On’ button … !

Ahem … !

~≈Ç≈~

But let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and bagging two out of five.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 25th February saw Samuel Colt receive the official patent for his famed gun.   In which year … ?

Q2) What kind of handgun was that first Colt: a revolver, semi-automatic or machine pistol?

Q3) 25th February, 1919, saw Oregon become the first US state to charge a gasoline tax.   How much did it charge: 1 cent per gallon, 1 cent per quart or 1 cent per pint … ?

Q4) 25th February, 1982, saw the European Court of Human Rights rule that UK schools use of what, was a violation of the Human Rights Convention … ?

Q5) 25th February, 1797, saw Colonel William Tate and his force, surrender: at the end of the last invasion of Britain.   Which small Welsh town had they landed at: Portmerion, Fishguard or Ystradgynlais … ?

Q6) Finally … 25th February, 1991, saw which military alliance disbanded … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 24th February, 1848, saw Louis Philippe I abdicate as king of France.   Who replaced him as French head of state?

A1) Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte: also known as Napoleon 3rd.

Q2) 24th February, 1971, saw the UK government announce it was restricting immigration: from migrants from where … ?

A2) The British Commonwealth.

Q3) 24th February, 1582, saw Pope Gregory 13th introduce the Gregory calendar now in use in many parts of the world.   How many days ahead of the Julian calendar is the Gregorian calendar: 12, 13 or 14 … ?

A3) 13.

Q4) 24th February, 2011, saw the last launch of which of the Space Shuttles … ?

A4) The Discovery.

Q5) Finally … 24th February, 2013, saw Archbishop Neophyte elected as Patriarch of which European country … ?

A5) Bulgaria.

I’ll leave you with this tune … 

And this thought …

“I am a big man, and I have a laugh to match my size. The ridiculous thing is that since I played ‘Goldfinger’ in the James Bond film, there are some people who still insist on seeing me as a cold, ruthless villain - a man without laughs.”

Gert Fröbe, 25 February 1913 – 5 September 1988

Have a good day … !

*        Oh, I agree with you, Debbi … !   He says modestly!   (Oh, pointless tip for you, Debbi. You DO know you should be a able drag and drop text from something — a webpage, an email, what-have-you — and drag it straight over to the desktop.   The result will end with ‘.textClipping’.)

The Daily Teaser — 24-2-2014

It’s a Monday: the start of a new week.

And, frankly … ?   Well, frankly, I’ve an appointment, this afternoon, at the local jobcentre.

Quite what for, I’m not sure: hopefully, I’ll find out more, today.

I have to admit to being somewhat nervous about it.

On the up side … ?   On the upside, hopefully, my adviser’s managed to arrange a place on a European Computer Driving License — a basic computer literacy course — for me.

I don’t know how much I can learn from it.

But it would be nice to have a bit of paper to show to employers, that says I know my stuff.

With that said … ?

Let’s get a move on.

~≈∏≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and bagging six out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 24th February, 1848, saw Louis Philippe I abdicate as king of France.   Who replaced him as French head of state?

Q2) 24th February, 1971, saw the UK government announce it was restricting immigration: from migrants from where … ?

Q3) 24th February, 1582, saw Pope Gregory 13th introduce the Gregory calendar now in use in many parts of the world.   How many days ahead of the Julian calendar is the Gregorian calendar: 12, 13 or 14 … ?

Q4) 24th February, 2011, saw the last launch of which of the Space Shuttles … ?

Q5) Finally … 24th February, 2013, saw Archbishop Neophyte elected as Patriarch of which European country … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 23rd February, 1999, saw Abdullah Öcalan charged with Treason.   By which country’s government … ?

A1) Turkey’s.

Q2) He was also one of the founders of the PKK: how is the PKK known in English … ?

A2) The KWP, or Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

Q3) Moving on … 23rd February, 1987, saw the first sightings of SN1987a, in the Large Magellanic Cloud.   What kind of object IS SN1987a: a black hole, a supernova or a red dwarf?

A3) A supernova.

Q4) 23rd February, 1958, saw Cuban rebels kidnap which Championship driver … ?

A4) Juan Manuel Fangio.

Q5) 23rd February, 1941, saw Professor Glenn T. Seaborg and his team become the first group to synthesize which transuranic heavy metal?

A5) Plutonium.

Q6) Finally … 23rd February, 1927, saw President Calvin Coolidge authorize the US body that regulated what: radio, television or telephones … ?

A6) Radio.

I’ll leave you with the Straylight Run’s† Perfect Ending, as a nod to frontman, John Nolan … 

And this thought …

“A game is a series of interesting choices.”

Sid Meier, born 24th February, 1954.

Have a good day.

*        Oh, I have tried, Debbi, a couple of times: famously, though, Apple are VERY picky … !

†        The band’s name is a nod to William Gibson’s Neuromancer.

The Fantastic Planet: Make of it what you will

22nd February, 2014

You know, I actually had a spare evening.

No, really.

Absolutely no cash money to go and spend.

But I actually had some free time — he says, with no discernible trace of irony — and a few films to catch up on.

A whole external drive full, in fact.

Yes, I know I’ve been renting a fair few, now, from iTunes: the iTunes Genius feature is very helpful at suggesting news ones I may like, and come up trumps a time or two.

On the other hand … ?

On the other hand, I’ve a collection of films on my external drive: digital ones from my now long gone movie collection.   Some of which I’d seen: some of which I hadn’t.

Given that I’ve a new Apple TV — an Apple produced set-top box — I felt it was time to experiment with its streaming abilities.

By copying a film across from my external drive over to iTunes, turning my TV set over to ‘HDMI’ … 

And using the Apple TV’s oh-so-Front-Row-like interface to watch a film.

At ANY rate: I had a film on that external drive that I wanted to watch.   The 1973, René Laloux directed and co-written animation that is The Fantastic Planet.

And it’s … 

Hmmm … 

~≈®≈~

23rd February, 2014.

And yes: I think Hmmm …

Let me see what I can tell you …

Set in an unnamed future, The Fantastic Planet shows us a world occupied by a race called the Traags: a highly advanced, giant humanoid species who keep humans as pets.

And as wildlife in local parks.

It also shows us the bond between Tiva, a Traag child, and Terr, her pet Om*: bringing up and forming a bond with, her pet.

Until one day … ?

One day Terr escapes: after absorbing a lot of Traag knowledge, as Tiva had held him whilst receiving lessons through an advanced headset.

Escapes …

And joins a tribe of wild Oms.

Which is where things start to go badly for the Oms in the park …

~≈®≈~

Now …

‘Hmmm’ …

I have to admit, I saw The Fantastic Planet mentioned in a list of stand out sci-fi films: and don’t I wish I could find that, again?

I’d love to find out where it was on that list!

But where it actually WAS … ?

Well, I was impressed enough with the list — and the films on it — to want to rent them, at some point.

Fantastic Planet was one of them.

Don’t get me wrong: this is an well made film.

But, for the life of me, it’s also one I felt little emotional involvement with, despite having an unwatched copy in my collection for so long.

The length of time that it had remained unwatched should maybe have told me what my subconscious was trying to tell me: that it wasn’t a film I’d find to my taste.

Please bear that in mind if you decide to rent or buy it.

Being beautifully drawn does not mean it’s going to appeal to everyone.

Fantastic Planet
☆☆☆☆

*        The name the Traags give to both wild and domesticated humans.

The Daily Teaser — 23-2-2014

You know, that’s a thought … 

Did you know Radio Four had done a radio version of The Exorcist … ?

They some have: and I only realised it, yesterday, when they were due to broadcast episode two of their adaptation.

What’s prompted the mention of it … ?

Is quite simply the fact I’m thinking I should look it up on iPlayer.

JUST to make sure there’s no subliminal imagery going on … 

~≈†≈~

Moving on , yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with meeting Geniuses*’, she also scored six out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s teaser, shall we?

Here it is, covered by the How To, license and video … 

Q1) 23rd February, 1999, saw Abdullah Öcalan charged with Treason.   By which country’s government … ?

Q2) He was also one of the founders of the PKK: how is the PKK known in English … ?

Q3) Moving on … 23rd February, 1987, saw the first sightings of SN1987a, in the Large Magellanic Cloud.   What kind of object IS SN1987a: a black hole, a supernova or a red dwarf?

Q4) 23rd February, 1958, saw Cuban rebels kidnap which Championship driver … ?

Q5) 23rd February, 1941, saw Professor Glenn T. Seaborg and his team become the first group to synthesize which transuranic heavy metal?

Q6) Finally … 23rd February, 1927, saw President Calvin Coolidge authorize the US body that regulated what: radio, television or telephones … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers, complete with reference links …

Q1) 22nd February, 1928, saw the birth of game show host, Sir Bruce Forsyth.   Which BBC show did he present, between 1971 and 1977?

A1) The Generation Game.

Q2) 22nd February, 1959, saw Lee Petty win the first Daytona 500.   The race was originally raced over 200 laps: and how many miles?

A2) 500: hence the name.

Q3) 22nd February, 1979, saw Saint Lucia become independent: of where?

A3) The UK.

Q4) More to the point, in which sea is Saint Lucia … ?

A4) The Caribbean.

Q5) 22nd February, 1943, saw members of the White Rose movement executed in Germany.   The White Rose was a resistance movement in which country?

A5) Germany.

Q6) Finally … 22nd February, 1994, saw the US Department of Justice charge Aldrich Ames with spying.   For which country … ?

A6) The USSR: what’s now Russia.

I’ll leave you Pulling Punches, by David Sylvian … 

And with this thought from the man who drove the plane that dropped the bomb …

“I’m proud that I was able to start with nothing, plan it, and have it work as perfectly as it did… I sleep clearly every night.”

Paul Tibbets February 23, 1915 – November 1, 2007.

Enjoy your Sunday … !

*        Yeah, people keep mentioning that, Debbi: I wish I had the spare cash to make use of them!   (Actually … I just wish I had the technical know how to get the t-shirt: you only get one of them, if you’re working at one of the stores!)

The Brunel House Development: Rearing It’s Head, Again

You know, I’m happily happy.

Well … 

Content, let’s put it that way.

Hmmm … 

Which is possibly the strangest way of putting.

But let’s put it this way: life could be a lot better.   But could be a lot worse.

Either way … ?

Either way, life is quiet at the moment.

Especially when you consider the fact that Rollason Way, and the collection of street’s that it’s on, are quiet.

Especially when you consider the fact that — when I moved in, some seven years ago, now — Rollason Way, itself, was still being built.   My end of the street had been finished: the other hadn’t.

In fact, Adlington House was only finished within the last year.

The area’s taken it’s time.

But it’s now built.

 There’s still one point of contention: and it’s one that’s been a contentious point for a while.

As you’ll know if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that Brentwood Council gave planning permission to developers, Taylor Wimpey, to build a mixed, six storey, development.   One that’s been a mixture of retail, office, and residential, as various shades of development have gone through Brentwood Council’s planning application process.

Something I know I’ve written about, before, spoken out against … 

And still feel that Brentwood Council has completely us down about.

~≈®≈~

Now, the last time I wrote about the Brunel House part of Saint James Road … ?

The last time I wrote about this, Taylor Wimpey had been granted extended permission to a six storey building, consisting of office, residential and retail units.

Which is the source of my mixed feelings at this precise moment.

You see, I went into town, yesterday.

To see a notice up on the fence around the area next to Brunel House that Taylor Wimpey had sought permission to build on.

There was a notice up: Ref: 14/00017/FUL

One that stated they were seeking permission to extend vary or change the condition 10 of the plans filed under 05/00989/FUL.

In other words, Taylor Wimpey want another three years to build this block.

My feelings … ?

Are a mixture of anger at the fact the residents of the area are to go through this farce: again.

And resignation.

Having objected to the plans, before now, and seen permission granted, frankly, I fully expect to see it granted again: with objections to the building ignored.

As they have been, all along.

~≈®≈~

Which of course, brings me to my next point.

You see, I went out, yesterday, to head to town to get some milk and a loaf of bread.

Which is when I noticed the sign up about Taylor Wimpey’s renewed planning application.

I have to admit, it was the first time I can remember seeing it.

Now that could be a simple mistake on my part.

But one or two other people I’ve spoken too, also saw it there, yesterday: and have also quietly said they couldn’t remember noticing it there, before yesterday, either.

Now, I saw the notice when I went to town, around 11ish.

The thing wasn’t there when I came back, some time between 12 and 1 o’clock, yesterday afternoon.

Whether it had been removed or been blown away in yesterday’s strong wind, I couldn’t tell you: although the side of me that thinks badly of the whole Brunel House development, thinks that someone had taken the notice down.

It had been pinned to the fence with four heavy duty tacks, after all.

On top of THAT, the sign — as you can hopefully make out in the photos I took — gives the closing date for objections to the plan as the 21st February, 2014.

In other words, the sign I saw, yesterday, about Taylor Wimpey’s plans for that patch of ground … 

Gave us residents until yesterday to object to Taylor Wimpey’s plans.

Personally … ?

This is one of the few times I AM glad I’m out of a job.

I immediately wrote an email to object to the plans and sent it to Brentwood Council’s Planning Office.

Here’s the text of that email.

“Dear Sir,

I’m writing to object to plans posted in Saint James Road, next to Brunel House — for a an extension to plans to put up a mixed retail and residential unit, Ref 14/00017/FUL — and wish to object.

This particular plan is an extension to an earlier one — 05/00989/FUL — to which I also objected.

My objections are identical to the ones I have already raised, on previous applications.

Firstly, traffic congestion.

As officers will note from the attached photos, the Saint James Road/Chase Road/Rollason Way area already has many cars parked both on and off street.

I believe that, although the plans include a certain amount of parking for both the residential and office uses, there will be an amount of overflow.   Made worse, given the reduction in buses since the last time the plans were up for renewal.

I also still feel that that the congestion — as it stands — will impede emergency vehicle access.   In exactly the same way that delivery vehicles are already seriously impeded, which I see from my window every day of the week.

Something I’ve already written about several times, on my blog.   I should ALSO add I’ve had at least one conversation with a representative of Essex County Fire Services — back in 2010 — that the heavy parking in the area would could prove to be trouble.

With all this in mind ... ?

With all this in mind, I wish to register my objections to Taylor Wimpey, and their agents, having Condition 10 of their plans varied, extended or changed.

Yours,

Paul Downie,”

You can also read it on Google Docs.

~≈®≈~

Now, I know it’s possibly not going to do much good.

But I’d ask you, if you’re a fellow resident, to contact Brentwood Council’s planning office, yourself: writing both to object to the plans, AND to complaint about how you and I weren’t informed about it a lot earlier.

Now … 

Here’s hoping we can put a stop to this.

Although personally … ?

I feel we may be out of luck.

Brentwood Council obviously wants Taylor Wimpey to build this, AND over the objections of its voters.