Riots: Hmmm …

Hmmm …

I’ll say it again, shall I … ?

Hmmmmmmmm …

You know, I’m thinking that this year’s going to have been …

How do I put this … ?

Difficult …

Very much so, I think.

Well, not so much difficult, maybe.

But I’m thinking that this week in August will leave something of a scar, especially after the riots that have been happening in various cities in England.

For one thing … ?

It seems there’s been some discussion of turning off social networks and/or text messaging during this sort of unrest.

Hmmm …

Can I make a confession, here … ?

I really do not like the thought.

Yes, I know there were rioters organising themselves on Twitter, Facebook the Blackberry messenger service.

But on the upside … ?

I’m also VERY aware that of a thing or two …

That some of the various Middle-Eastern regimes have done the same thing, to close off their protestors. With disapproving noises from various UK government figures.

Rioter’s use of social networks is balanced against the simple fact that the clean-up in London was largely organised on Twitter.

And against the fact that many people who do use these sites, do so quite innocently, and should not be made to suffer for the actions of a few.

Personally … ?

Well …

Leave me a comment, folks …

»»·««

Oh …

Before I forget, by the way … ?

Do you remember me showing you this video, this morning … ?

I’ve got to admit, this sort of behaviour, really does make me feel ashamed to be English, it really does.

But on the upside … ?

The police have managed to arrest one of the tw*ts that did it.

About bloody TIME … !

Now, if you’ll excuse me … ?

I’m going to make dinner …

But I’ll leave you with a tune …

The Social Network: Blood, Guts and obscure Terminal commands, under Linux …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I think that I, Movie Night Adrian and Kevin D managed to get together for a film, last night.

Actually, no, there’s no actual thinking about it.

We definitely got together for a film, last night.

What I meant to say, was that we got together for a film that got something of a mixed reaction.

Definitely mixed …

»»•««

The film, last night … ?

Was the recently released DVD and Oscar nominee, the David Fincher directed The Social Network: which covers the early years of the social networking site, Facebook, and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, as played by Jesse Eisenberg*.

The opening scene of The Social Network sees Zuckerberg being dumped by the young woman he’s dating.

And, by way of revenge … ?

Posting up a rather unflattering post on his personal blog, on LiveJournal.

And hacking into the university’s student directory to create Facemash, the precursor to his better known site. The one he originally called thefacebook.com.

And the one that, initially … ? Saw him getting sued to billy-oh by rivals claiming he’d stolen their ideas.

And by one of Facebook’s co-founders for being kicked off the corporate board.

»»•««

Now, I’ll be honest, here.

I, personally was rather taken with The Social Network, although I felt maybe the Oscar nominations were … … were pushing things, a touch.

On the other hand … ?

It’s a competently done, very well put together film: one that presents the commercial and technical side of the internet business — and the unpleasant side to the people involved in the industry — in a way that’s very watchable and very accessible.

And much more so than, say Pirates of Silicon Valley, the docu-drama from a few years back that covered the early history of — and rivalry between — Apple and Microsoft heads Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

Saying that … ?

Saying that I do know that, whilst I was impressed with The Social Network, and that Kevin D enjoyed it, I’m also aware that — former network administrator that he is — Adrian wasn’t as stunned.

Bear that in mind, when I tell you what I thought of it.

The Social Network.

Keeper ★★★☆

* Who I, Adrian and Kevin last saw in the Thursday night movie, Zombieland.

iTunes 10: Hmmmm …

Hmmm …

Well, THAT look’s like a bit of a revamp …

In case you hadn’t realised, Apple have announced the launch of iTunes 10, recently.

And along with it … ?

They’ve introduced Ping, their version of social networking.

Whether that’s a good thing, I don’t know.

But it’s certainly easy enough to set, especially if you’ve already got an iTunes account.

Along with that, Apple have also introduced a new look and feel to the media player, which — apart from the new logo — I’m rather taken with.

Hopefully … ?

Hopefully, Apple can re-introduce that Brushed Metal look, at some stage.

THAT I know I liked … !