Thursday, December 17, 2020
Comments:
Steve: No need to be so prickly Tim!
Actually Matt is a lot better at puns than I am.
Let's do tomorrow.
nick: ok tomorrow's good for me too, I'll send another zoom invite. Although I see Zoom are removing the 40 minute limit for free zoom accounts over Christmas so one of you could host it!
nick: Just had a mail from Bluedot "Björk, Groove Armada and Metronomy are the first to be announced to join us at bluedot 2021" - I think this was the lineup for 2020 who're (hopefully) doing 2021 instead.
Tim: I didn't get made redundant, darn. So now it's back to that impossible question about whether I can afford to jack it in anyway.
nick: I didn't get made redundant, darn well I suppose in a way that's good because they think you're worth keeping? One of the people I go cycling with (the metallurgist who said aluminium bike frames would always go eventually) was made redundant from BP this month - when they were going through the "consultation" stage he said he was starting to hope that it would happen, but in the event he's found it quite hard: he says even though he knows it's not personal it's hard not to take it that way and he's struggling a bit. But I can see it's hard having the decision about when to go pushed back to you.
nick: Based on this online vaccination queue calculator I'm due to get (my first, I guess) vaccination sometime in May/June next year. My mum should be getting hers in the next month though
Tim: Well that's a rubbish calculator isn't it? Based on (1) the published list of priorities (2) some population stats, and (3) a weekly vaccination rate dependent on a big pile of unknowns, you're definitely due in May/June.
nick: Is Paul still coming for Christmas? And Matthew? One guy at work (tier 4) is bubbled with his parents (also tier 4, on the other side of London) so isn't restricted to just 1 day of seeing them. He pointed out that this is fortunate because he's not done any food shopping for the week, and if he were forced to stay home he'd be having to organise that (which presumably would be even more tricky now with France closing ports). And someone else in my team had her parents arrive last week from Bulgaria: they are going to have to stay with her to Jan 31st at least it seems. All seems a bit of a mess. Incidentally I only found out yesterday that the word "guy", in the sense of "person", derives from Guy Fawkes.
Steve: Paul and Matt yes - the 3 of them are getting paid tests today.
I got a free less reliable one from Luton council yesterday. We are encouraged here to test even with no symptoms to get stats - no real queue which surprised me.
Paul has not had a test yet so is worried he will come up positive. He's only had antibody tests which surprises me.
For people stuck on their own this is a never-ending nightmare.
I was convinced I had it as something was going wrong in my head Saturday morning, having no memory of having done things such as asking questions or writing emails etc.
Tim: I just had a moment like that when a parcel arrived on the doormat containing a book I'd considered buying but don't actually remember ordering. Struth it's a Christmas present, cheers Nick, that's the last thing I was expecting.
nick: Been getting increasingly worried about my tooth where the filling broke - it's not hurting exactly but there are concerning twinges when it gets cold air, or when I swoosh with mouthwash. So caved and called a private dentist yesterday - they gave me an appointment today. I feel pretty bad about this but the idea of toothache over Christmas was weighing very heavily. I caught myself thinking "oh well at least I'm relieving some pressure on the NHS dentist" but that's just what they want you to think isn't it.
Steve: Not sure for tonight - might have another meeting on.
You can't rely on the NHS for everything. What if you need physio or want a white filling to avoid mercury?
Good work on the crossword - it can take over your life.
Steve: Currently got some live Henry Cow on which is challenging but OK actually - a bit like a long KC improv without the tunes.
The background to this Trondheim double is one guy had just left the band, another off sick so they decide to carry on - the poor audience! Echoes of Spinal Tap's jazz odyssey.
Of course the label/band site I got this from has tons of stuff by people I've never heard of which I guess is equally scary.
nick: Happy Christmas everyone
I had a slight headache on Wednesday, mentioned it in the COVID app and on Thursday “ You’ve recently reported feeling unwell with a particular combination of symptoms. Whilst these symptoms do not necessarily indicate that you have COVID-19, we would like to offer you a test to discover if you have the virus right now”
So I now have a walk-in test booked this afternoon! Well it’ll get me out of the house
Tim: Merry Christmas.
Well, that's a different sort of Christmas afternoon.
Meanwhile, must finish yesterday's cryptic.
Tim: Two to go:
16A Runner in early event not starting back (5) M _ L _ _
4D Floosie put paper up to decorate spruce (8) _ A _ E _ T _ _
The two answers share the last letter, and there's a bit of a christmas theme.
Thanks!
Tim: Well done, early event is a PRELIM.
4D Floosie put paper up to decorate spruce (8) _ A _ E _ T _ R
nick: Sorry for not being able to help out with the crossword, was a bit busy yesterday, including cycle ride to the Anvil for a covid test in the afternoon, for which I received a negative result less than twelve hours later. Hoping to go out for a cycle with John today if he's up for it - he was home alone yesterday after calling off plans to go back to his parents for Christmas Day
Tim: We're just back from a walk in the country that ended up being 6.5 miles, so that's pretty much it for the day.
Crosswordsolver gave me MANEATER, a lot of use you are Nick.
Steve: Yeah D got that from our dictionary app. REAM being paper which is annoying. And NEAT for spruce ditto.
We just did a 3 mile walk in the drizzle. Now for some reading while feeling smug.
Got Richter's Voices for Christmas, plus Philip Glass Solo Piano and Brain Salad Surgery.
nick: pretty good photography/film of last chance to see tube trains on iow. Spoiler - we’ve probably missed our chance
Tim: Brain Salad Surgery sounds a bit tricky. Is that just the original tracks or something more fearsome?
I'm up for anything tonight.
Steve: Of course it comes with a remix disk with extras.
Same with Tarkus - actually that did not seemed to add anything worthwhile on top of Welcome Back.
I think we are busy this week thanks.
Tim: I somehow completed today's Guardian cryptic soon after 10am with hardly any cheating. Needless to say it was already blogged up at 15sq, with illustrations.
Steve: I think I gave up with yesterday's after 2 clues, too many mentions of championship.
Will take a look.
Tim: I also had a look at yesterday's but couldn't get started. Maybe we should try a team effort on it sometime.
nick: was going to suggest zoom tonight but feeling a bit knackered (also just got back from dentists with two injections and lots of drilling for crown) so not sure I'm up for it - any takers for Thursday?
Steve: Not started Voices yet. I started the new Deftones album instead, bit of a contrast.
Can do Thursday thanks but D is busy.
Also tired here after a couple of nights of disturbed sleep.
And I bottled the lunchtime bike ride with a headache, and it's cold!
Tim: No rush on the Voices, I was just wondering. I really enjoyed it live, but the way there are two versions just gives me the willies.
nick: I assumed you were talking about the BBC "Voices" thing - still a few days left to listen; is there something else?
I'll do a zoom on Friday evening. I had prep for two crowns today - he spent about 40 minutes drilling before taking impressions of my teeth, the crowns get made in separate labs and sent back in a couple of weeks - which I think I must have been quite stressed about; I felt wiped out afterwards.
I've been cycling in the mornings, going out at 7 for a 20 mile loop. Maybe that's another reason I'm tired. So far it's not been cold enough to stop me but it is a bit of a struggle. Sunrise has just started getting earlier: I get a tweet from @sunsettimesuk every day and today sunrise was 8.05; the last few days it's been 8:06. It starts getting light about 30 minutes before that, and sometimes it is very pretty, but it's not warm.
Steve: It's the Max Richter thing but on 2CDs - with and without talking.
I will share your pain Tim.
And 20 miles a day is impressive, I get bored doing 12.
I find lunchtime quieter, although with lockdown maybe AM is an option.
I'm getting tired of wet muddy roads, I can't remember the last time I didn't get sprayed with crap.
nick: Listening to Music in 12 parts - I think parts 7 and 8 (especially when 7 moves into 8) are pretty good.
Roads pretty wet this morning and I started off in the dark so went through quite a few puddles that I didn't see until it was too late. John sent me a link to a Daily Mail story where my MP Kit Malthouse says it's OK to do a 70 mile cycle ride, so he's got my vote from now on.
Steve: Only tried 2 of the 12 - 16 minutes per is plenty :)
I did a turbo hour Sunday, really fed up with the wet, but it's probably preferable.
Yesterday some of the road was dryish!
So Boris's 7/14 mile ride is a problem is it? Flipping heck.
I think if your exercise sets off from home it should be fine, but going 35 miles from home, I'm not sure. What if you break down.
nick: Will be doing a zoom tonight, either crossword or game with Tim
I have reported fly tipping a couple of times lately on the Basingstoke council's website. Invariably the stuff has been cleared next time I've ridden past. I wasn't sure if it was my reports that triggered the clearing or not, but I reported one this morning (fridge and sofa and other miscellaneous stuff) and had a call back 15 minutes later from the council saying that they'd be clearing the stuff today that's in front of the fence, but would need to contact landowner for the stuff behind the fence as it's private property. I'm impressed!
Tim: Or a game of Pandemic of course, just keeping that on the agenda.
The bickering ("reporting") about what *exactly* you can do, given that the rules are a bit vague, is driving me nuts. What's the point? If the law specifically said you can only go 6.5 miles from home all we'd hear about instead is what's so wrong about 6.6 then eh?
Steve: Yes we are up for it thanks - D wants to do a crossword.
I always say thanks to litter pickers and fly-tip removers when I see them.
My council is useless at sorting things and telling you. My recent road surface issue got closed and they did nothing as far as I can see.
nick: Planning on another zoom for Tuesday evening. Crossword/Pandemic/Game, whatever people would like.
Steve: Well done, although I think we are busy sifting through Barbara's possessions and disposing of furniture etc ahead of the move. I have seen "unprepared" before, but we need to invent a new word for this situation.
nick: I'm listening to the Rush canon (or as much of it as is in my library - "197 items, 17 hours, 53 minutes") at the moment. Started yesterday and have got up to Xanadu from disk 3 of "Different Stages". Three more albums to go after this one, including - which I've got a bit of trepidation about - "Clockwork Angels". Maybe I'll like it this time.
Well done on the Barbara front Steve, you're doing a virtuous thing there.
nick: Maybe you should read the book and listen to the CD Tim, see if you can get into it.
I sent a zoom invite for this evening in case anyone's up for it
nick: I'm free tonight, or tomorrow. - sure, can do zoom tomorrow instead if more people would be happy with that
nick: See the 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' painting in 10-gigapixel detail (follow link to "panorama" in first para) and 3d!
nick: Tomorrow better thanks OK I'll send an invite for tomorrow evening 8.15 (might not be able to send it until tomorrow for.. reasons)
Steve: I sat here for 20 mins and did two, but had to look at a map of Alaska for the breakthrough - looks pretty impossible.
And just realised you said LAST WEEK's, I was looking at this week's.
Steve: BTW we will be busy with pre-move panicking Tuesday night.
Not that the person moving seems concerned.
Visited the new place Saturday which seems fine - only a slight whiff of cannabis in the stairwell.
And Olias is being re-issued as CD/DVD-A in March. They lost the multi-track masters so I'm not sure how good that could be. I'm happy with the LP/CDs I have so would give it a miss. Even though I have Christmas money burning a hole.
I did just get a 2021 album - Isles by Bicep from Paul.
Tim: Nick is pre-booked Tuesday anyway, and don't worry about me I'll find something exciting to do.
Tina's having a go at reading The Prestige. She sneaked a look at it while I was reading it, and now the libraries are shut again thought she'd give it a go. Seems to be getting on with it OK so far, not sure whether she'll cope when it goes crazy.
On the Bicep front, discogs says
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Breakbeat
which sort of thing never helps me in the least.
So far the nearest I've got is Pop Ambient 2021 but it's a 2020 release.
Steve: Just knocked out an Agatha Christie.
Can't you do click and collect at the library?
Maybe it's too far away.
My next 3 are all ready at once!
Asylum - Patrick McGrath
The Book of Evidence - John Banville
The Book of Daniel - E.L.Doctorow (I know this author)
Tim: Click and collect is possible but at the little local library opening hours are a bit minimal at the mo.
nick: at the little local library opening hours are a bit minimal at the mo.
Luckily for Tina, minimal opening hours won't be any problem at all in two weeks time
Tim: Meanwhile I've recently started another random SciFi book. This one is Rogue Moon by one Algis Budrys. (Surely that's just a random string of letters?) Fairly terrible so far, but he's just setting the scene with some implausible Californian characters.
Tim: A bit of a coincidence after reading The Prestige: this book is about a matter transmitter. (Hardly a unique thing for SF, but still.)
nick: Went out tonight and thought my chain had come off: when I pedalled, nothing was happening. But turns out the hub must have gone: it's freewheeling in both directions (unlike a fixie when it doesn't freewheel in either direction). Fortunately I was at the top of Farleigh Wallop so it was mostly downhill to get home - would have been more of a nuisance if I'd been further away, or at the bottom of a hill. I guess maybe you can replace the hub but a cursory look at the web suggests this is not straightforward so I ordered a new wheel. I'll have to go back on the fix until it arrives
nick: Is that your new bike? well it's the bike with the new frame but the wheel dates back to 2018 (it is the third back wheel I've had, so it's about par for the course that it lasted ~2 years).
Last night it was mostly freewheeling (a bit like having the clutch on) but a couple of times it would catch and I could pedal normally. But then as soon as I stopped pedalling it went again, and towards the end I couldn't get it catching at all. I've not had this sort of failure before: perhaps it is fixable? But I wouldn't want to ride any distance and risk it going because it could mean long walk home. Plus I wouldn't want to pedal uphill while standing up in case it lost the "catch".
The back wheel on my broken-framed-Felt is not compatible (not disk brakes) so I can't just use that, but maybe I could get the freehub out of it and use that? Worth a try I suppose - I have no idea how many varieties of hub there are.
Steve: Busy again this evening FYI.
She is moved but still stuff to do as the house is still not empty.
nick: I have my "songs only played 4 times" list going at the moment. It's just played "Feet Like Fins". Brilliant track - I find it hard I've only listened to it 4 times though; it sounds very familiar
nick: Just had mail from Evans about my wheel "Your order has been processed. We will confirm by email once your parcel has been collected by your nominated courier."
So maybe it won't get here in time for me to fit it this weekend, which'll mean a few more days on the fixie. My legs ache quite a bit after two days on it.
Tim: Legs ache so it must be good for you.
Yesterday's Guardian Cryptic (28,354) not recommended, but it did teach me how to spell Ukulele.
Tim: I see that Steve's first 2021 album may also become his first 2021 number one album.
What's it like?
nick: anyone want a zoom tonight? I have work I should be doing but by this evening I suspect I'm probably not going to be up to doing it...
Steve: Yes I think we can do it today thanks.
If it is *the* Steve Davis I'm not surprised.
Bicep is very good IDM I suppose, some slightly dated percussion maybe is a criticism.
You can listen free on Bandcamp.
The Guardian loves it.
Tim: Yes that Steve Davis, and it's not bad. He's in a band too, with a bloke who's also in "Gong".
Free listening isn't really something I've got into - either I'm buying it, or not. Old dog new tricks.
And I have a different type of trouble with *nearly* free music. This label that I've got a few CDs from want £25 for a year's subscription, that gets you downloads of their back catalogue (>100 releases) and everything they put out this year (12?). That's a bit daunting. And there are others a bit like that.
nick: I just checked "Victorialand" and the version of "Feet Like Fins" on there is totally different to the one on Lullabies to Violane. So make sure you try that one (the one linked) - that's the one I meant
nick: Happy last day Tim
I looked up the answer and I wouldn't have got that, never heard of the word in the context of horses
Multiplayer games suggestions from the Guardian - not sure there's anything there for us, but perhaps by the end of the day there might have been some good ones in the reader comments
nick: Tim, you must have finished by now - happy retirement!
I sent a mail out earlier with zoom invite for this evening
Tim: It was a bit busy yesterday, sorry, then I went to ASDA and (celebration) the chip shop.
Nick, Firewatch looked a bit tempting but it just turns out to be a single-player game that might be (like the article says at the top) fun to play with company.
Tim: ...
A Way Out also tops this list (and a couple of possibles on there are Human Fall Flat, and Sea of Thieves which came up before somewhere).
nick: I already have Firewatch on the PS3 (or PS4 I can't remember). I think I got some free credit on the store and had that because the Guardian had reviewed it previously. It's quite a nice game but definitely single player.
I'd previously seen reviews of "A Way Out" and thought maybe it would be worth trying although I think it was just PS4 when I saw it and I wasn't sure if you'd be into the prison escape theme. I see it's on Steam, although PC only and not Mac. Bit pricey but maybe worth a punt
The oven in Ella's house gave up last week (well, it still works but the door hangs off on only one hinge so it's not ideal). Lesley found a second hand oven of the right size for £80 which Ryan and I went to collect today. He's an electrician so was confident about wiring it in. Did that, and slotted it into to place - ideal fit! But it wasn't quite straight so we tried just to lift it up to adjust the feet, and I made the mistake of trying to lift it by holding the door handle.
nick: oh boy Fearless just came on, apparently for the first time since August 2018. I'd forgotten how good it is!
Tim: How odd. It's Monday and I don't have to worry about work. Obviously I'd be out on my bike but for the blizzard (a few flakes).
nick: I went out this morning - pretty chilly in the wind, BBC weather said it "feels line -9". Think I may have to have the heating on today.
So what's on your agenda for the day Tim? Any good books/crosswords lined up?
Tim: I'll try and avoid the crossword - it takes up too much time solo, and isn't as much fun. I'm between SciFi books so might start one later.
I think I've mentioned VCVrack at some point, it's a free soft modular synth. I've been thinking of trying that for a while, just for fun, but it's probably a time-sink so avoided it until now.
I'd like to use it on my proper pc, but Tina's borrowing my touchscreen monitor and mouse. OK, I've got an old TV, that'll do for now. Mouse? Well, actually Tina's got another one (I gave her) somewhere so now it's time to spend all day looking for it. Her style of tidying up is to shove things in any random location - drawers, wardrobes, under beds etc. etc.
Steve: You went cycling, do you not have snow then?
I'll be in the garage this week looks like, although it's a light dusting.
I thought the cooker thing was going to be a cut hand as I hurt myself moving the aborted new one last year. Some seriously sharp metal edges around the back.
A. Barbara's washing machine... not switched on ABOVE the worktop on a fused outlet.
Oh well, we had one other job to do so not a wasted journey.
Steve: We suffer keyboard shortages. Always a mouse.
It's a freeing up Tim, time to work on your acoustic numbers with the Royal Philharmonic. (apologies for the Spinal Tap ref.)
nick: Her style of tidying up is to shove things in any random location - might seem random to you Tim but I bet she has a system in her head.
There were a few speck of snow swirling around when I went out this morning. There are little bits of it along the edge of the roads now but nothing serious. Had to stop a few times to walk around puddles where cars had gone through and splashed water on to the road which had frozen but otherwise the roads were very dry
I remember you talking about Native Instruments stuff Tim but a look on their website shows they're expensive! But VCVrack looks pretty interesting. May be handy to have a big screen for all the patch panels and sequencers you're going to have (I got a 27" monitor towards start of lockdown and it's pretty nice)
nick: I did have a spare mouse but I lent it to Ella and haven't had it back yet.
She was on to me this morning asking if I could help her set her Windows display back properly after it started showing everything BIG like it thought she had a VGA monitor (she contacted me because "IT aren't answering the phone"). It's pretty hard diagnosing that over chat messages based on a photo she's taken of her monitor when I don't actually have a Windows system to try. Maybe I should point her in your direction Tim
Steve: My "motto" with IT stuff is "there's always a right-click option".
That answers loads of D's questions.
And it's amazing how many people take the email address of their provider, then change provider.
One of D's acquaintances has their own domain name, so a fixed email address, but it has to be redirected every time they change broadband to their new provider address. Which requires expertise.
Tim: Just been listening to Isles and got caught up with looking at the different versions available (CD, cassette, 2LP, 2LP+12", 3LP etc). Couldn't work out how many extra tracks were on the 3LP, and the source of my confusion turned out to be that the download has 11 tracks compared to the normal 10. In case you hadn't noticed.
Steve: This is great - we have Tim monitoring Blogger another 40 hours a week.
Funnily Paul got me the CD, not from Bandcamp as he pre-ordered so long ago it wasn't on there! So I only have 10 tracks!
I did all but two clues yesterday - what a time-waster.
nick: Just had my MOT done - last one was about a month before lockdown in 2020. In years up until 2020, I had been averaging ~21,000 miles/year. Last year I did less than 5,700. Actually I'm surprised it was as much as that, but I suppose there were a few weeks commuting (at ~400miles/week) before lockdown kicked in. At any rate, 15,000 miles saved, which I reckon must be about £1700, not to mention 4,000kg of CO2 (if I've worked it out right).
Tim: Re trying music on Bandcamp for free (mentioned above).
I think I've mentioned this before, my Windows PCs detect Volumio on the network as a device that can be "cast to" (DLNA I think). That's nice, just by right-clicking on the file I get a way to listen to it over hifi instantly.
So there must be other uses for this magic, such as listening to a bit of bandcamp streaming with better audio than the tinny wheeze my laptop manages? I just wasted 2 hours (again) trying to find out how to achieve that - what do I need, a particular browser or add-in? Or configure something in Windows? Or download the bandcamp app onto my phone and do something there? Or? I even tried Microsoft Edge which claims to be able to do that sort of thing, "select the target device in the pop-up window to begin casting". Obviously it will be able to detect the target device because Windows can. Eventually I found the admission "only detects video devices" #explodes#
nick: I am not sure how I would do that on Windows. With apple stuff there is something called "airplay" which means I can send the audio output of one apple device (e.g. my laptop) to a suitable player (e.g. Apple TV plugged into hifi) - I could use this to "cast" the player on the Bandcamp website to my hifi.
I do have a DLNA server running on one of my macs: that lets me, from any DLNA client (including my phone, my PS4 and PS3) get at the media library on that mac (mostly use that for watching films etc. but it does music too). The server is a free bit of software called Plex, which I'm sure runs on Windows. However, I don't know how to make Plex "cast" the real-time audio output (maybe you can do this - I never tried because I would just use airplay instead).
The other thing like this is "chromecast" which AFAIK is similar to apple play but isn't apple proprietary - you get get a chrome cast stick that you plug into a TV, and then "cast" media to it from any system (using chrome? I don't know). again, I don't know if you can get that to cast live audio output.
Anyway, some things for your to spend the day googling!
Tim: Well, I'd already come to the conclusion that it's not possible. I think that by calling everything "cast" even though they are an assortment of standards, Windows was making me think that I could do something with Volumio instead of giving it a file.
Meanwhile there is a (recent, unofficial) Bandcamp plugin for Volumio. I tried installing it earlier but had some unguessable GitHub problem. Tried it again just now and it worked. So now in my Volumio webpage I have an additional place to Browse/Search which returns infinite amounts of stuff from Bandcamp (as mp3 maybe).
Tim: ...and...reading the forum chat about the plugin, I see that somebody else's solution is to use their iPhone to airplay the Bancamp app output to Volumio (on a Pi). So maybe there is some way I could achieve something like that after all.
Steve: What excellent use of your first week of freedom (in a winter lockdown)!
I did not know you could cast to Volumio - OK you can't 100%.
I'm on an old version as I upgraded once and kept hitting an issue where it would sometimes stop playing after a track ended.
Maybe it's time to get newer again, but I don't really want to touch it.
While working I play laptop > DAC > secondary hi-fi
Tim: Still going!
Volumio incorporates Shairport, apparently. And TuneBlade is a tray app that streams Windows audio over AirPlay. So, that should be that, yes? No.
But, a bit different, I've found that there is also a Volumio plugin for the Pirate Audio DAC, which is the successor to my current DAC - but has a tiny display and buttons. Or there's a version with a headphone amp - potentially could build a Volumio walkman?
Tim: Steve, get/use another SD card (maybe even another pi) so you can have two systems, Live and Test.
Tim: Looks like the Shairport service failed to start. Could be worth a reboot, might as well do a Volumio update while I'm at it...
Steve: Wow I just looked at that "DAC", a mini-display for £20!
Made in Sheffield!
I use similar to go into my main amp in the front room.
I have been considering a second one, but work-wise I'm static, so physically plugged in to the hi-fi.
nick: Looks like a pretty interesting project for Tim.
Also in the news, MetaHuman Creator does seem capable of making some shockingly realistic-looking people that could easily pass for a real-life motion captured actor
nick: Will do a zoom for 8.15 tonight. I don't think there's any football on? Seems like there were a few matches this week but I think tonight's clear
Tim: There's no football on tonight, which is nice - Tuesday and Thursday's games weren't great. See you at 8:15.
nick: I did see iPlayer promoting the games - it was offering them with/without crowd noise. I tried watching both to see what it felt like, and the one without crowd noise felt really weird, like walking past a Sunday morning practice session
nick: Went past this bit of puddle yesterday and showed it to Tim last night. Looking at the blog I realised what it had reminded me of: the cactus at the top of this post
nick: Had a mail shot from Turner Sims promoting a livestream from Neil Cowley. Short bit on youtube. Looks like it might be our sort of thing. Here's a link to register for the free livestream
Tim: I just saw that Chick Corea died last week (79).
Here's a list of 10 Albums For Steve To Struggle With.
Steve: Yes I regret not seeing him, but realise it would have been too jazzy.
I have one solo, some of his Elektric Band, and of course Return to Forever.
nick: Someone else you could have seen Steve what a cool drummer Phil was (I still can't believe they were playing right near you in Dunstable and you didn't go!)
Tim: Oh dear I forgot the link, but you might have seen it anyway.
And I had to check whether Phil Collins was dead too.
Steve: Perkins Palace?
Are you thinking of Caesar's Palace?
Perkins seems to be in California - there's no way that is a UK crowd.
Hadn't seen the list, it looks well scary!
I actually bought a new proper price classical CD this week of Schoenberg and Sibelius violin concertos. Feel sure I had the Sibelius but can't find it, and don't recognise it so maybe not.
A small way to support the industry.
The Schoenberg is still not the thing I remember from a Barbican trip...
I'm also trying a 2015 David torn ECM album.
Will try to catch the Sky Arts Beethoven & Me on the 21st by Charles Hazelwood - remember him?
Lots of interesting-looking stuff on there, but it's Sky argh.
nick: "Stan & Ollie" is a film I've had on my "look out for" list, and it's on BBC tonight (and presumably available later on iplayer). I think it got well reviewed
Anyone fancy a zoom this evening?
Steve: I think we'll pass thanks.
BTW I seem to have lost my mojo for cycling outdoors, but should go out tomorrow.
Sick of the cold weather and filthy lanes. Any excuse not to go.
Not been out for 2 weeks+?
nick: Last week had clean roads but was super cold. This week much milder but rain every day so dirty roads. We need some mild dry weather. I listen (in one ear) to podcasts while I'm out to stop it being boring doing the same routes.
I'll send you a zoom link for 8.15 Tim. We have another zoom earlier in the evening with Ella and Ryan and their mortgage advisor
Tim: Something weird I'm finding with Isles is that the second half seems distinctly better than the first. That's really unusual, is it just me? I suppose it might be that the first tracks were thought to be more commercial, I dunno.
Steve: It's a very nice colour.
No idea why it took that long to be sent.
I was thinking it was a change from your normal ambient mumblings, hopefully a welcome one.
I have started my "homework" - several hours copying slides into correct PowerPoint format (HCL and IBM). How I hate this product as it yet again loses formatting and prevents me from getting it back.
Got a postponed email on the Global Communication gig today.
nick: Just had a good phishing email, saying some of my mails had been held up, and pointing me here:
https://emaill559.b-cdn.net/?emailtoken=nick.hudson@isode.com&domain=isode.com
That link shows a web page that has (I think) the favicon for isode.com, and, when I enter any old rubbish for the password, redirects me to the isode.com homepage. So it feels pretty authentic.
If you try it with a different "domain" on the end, you'll see it makes the page look like it's from that company. E.g. try
https://emaill559.b-cdn.net/?emailtoken=someone@hcl.com&domain=hcl.com
nick: Must admit I had to think twice about this: the original mail had a colour theme that looked very like our own, and this week we upgraded a load of our internal tools so I have been getting quite a lot of messages about various infrastructure changes which meant it didn't seem unusual to get this kind of mail ("here we go, *another* bit of stuff that's been upgraded that I've got to re-authenticate to").
If I didn't know how our internal mail systems worked, I think I could quite easily have been taken in (although the dodgy URL is a bit of a giveaway).
Steve: I get very tempted with these sites to create a test to send 1000s of requests to it.
But in theory this is a DoS attack and could they come back on my IP address somehow.
Suppose I could restart my router...
nick: But in theory this is a DoS attack and could they come back on my IP address somehow. - maybe do it through your work VPN?
Can do a zoom this evening if anyone would like to
Steve: In continuance of the world of CD box sets has gone mad, we have a £200 30th anniversary Yes Union live boxset coming out. Although it does have a Wembley performance so maybe we are on it. I feel bad not to have recorded all our gig dates, but I know you have Nick.
And a ton of other items
It's like that album is something worth celebrating?
OR, this company has the copyright and is going to milk the **** out of it.
nick: How many people are likely to buy that boxset?? Even if it is from "the critically acclaimed Yes Union Tour". I can't remember the last time I listened to that album - maybe there is some good stuff on it? In fact I haven't even ripped it into my library.
Went out sat/sun and weather was fantastic. On Saturday I cycled with John and it was really nice to have someone to ride with. I updated my strava ride caption to say "Best weather of the year so far" and when I looked in my feed, just about everyone else had used a similar title for their rides. There were tons of cyclists out.
nick: We asked an external company to provide translations of a language catalog for one of our products. Since then, a few new strings crept in and so I did translations myself for what I thought would be the easy ones, and asked a guy in our office, who's a native French speaker to review.
He didn't complain about any of my translations except one (watching all those episodes of Spiral has paid off!). In that case, there is an icon in the UI which is a picture of a little paper dart: it's used to show that a message is being sent. And the engineer had provided an "alt" caption for this (the text you see if the icon couldn't be rendered, or read out by a screen reader) of "inprocess". For this, I used "avion". The review comment was avion means 'plane', like the one you take to travel in an airport. Is that what 'in process' means? (I genuinely don't know)
Tim: The 4LP is only £100. And it took me a while to grok that it's the Union Tour they're commemmorating, not the album. Very few tracks are from Union - they probably haven't even ripped it yet.
And you can have any colour T-shirt as long as it's black.
Steve: The blue logo looks lovely, apart from the Union bit.
In Yes part 2 at the weekend, Wakeman said it was the best Yes tour he did!
I feel members were coming and going off stage, but they discussed splitting parts, implying they all played at the same time.
Tim: I agree about the logo - so the cover of the program is quite nice. But that's the only bit they dare show us - for £25!
Tim: I've just worked out that I've been confusing two Frenchy crime tv series, Spiral (you've mentioned a few times) and Serpent (which Tina watched).
nick: I've just worked out that I've been confusing two Frenchy crime tv series, Spiral (you've mentioned a few times) and Serpent (which Tina watched).
We've just worked our way through watching all 8 series of "Spiral" (on the 8th now) so I've felt quite immersed in the language lately.
Also been watching The Serpent, partly due to Jenna Coleman who I find literally unbelievably attractive (i.e. I find it hard to believe there could be someone who really does look as nice as that). But mainly for the plot, obvs.
Steve: So I don't have Union it turns out.
Reading the Wiki page is entertaining, such as 4 pages of the booklet being credits, and a critic saying "an eclectic miscarriage that almost isn't even worth laughing about".
I was wavering on spending the £4 to get a copy... maybe not.
Tim: Same here. I've had 11 emails about new releases so far, but nothing interesting (esp. 3 from TD, they're not even really new, just new to BC).
nick: Listening to "Télégraphe" at the moment, sounds quite nice, so I'll have that. And will try Liverdelphia in a bit
Zoom tonight anyone?
nick: ok I'll send Tim an invite for 8:15
looks like a new post will be in order soon - almost up to 200 replies on this one
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Steve: No need to be so prickly Tim!Actually Matt is a lot better at puns than I am.
Let's do tomorrow.
nick: ok tomorrow's good for me too, I'll send another zoom invite. Although I see Zoom are removing the 40 minute limit for free zoom accounts over Christmas so one of you could host it! nick: Just had a mail from Bluedot "Björk, Groove Armada and Metronomy are the first to be announced to join us at bluedot 2021" - I think this was the lineup for 2020 who're (hopefully) doing 2021 instead. Tim: I didn't get made redundant, darn. So now it's back to that impossible question about whether I can afford to jack it in anyway. nick: I didn't get made redundant, darn well I suppose in a way that's good because they think you're worth keeping? One of the people I go cycling with (the metallurgist who said aluminium bike frames would always go eventually) was made redundant from BP this month - when they were going through the "consultation" stage he said he was starting to hope that it would happen, but in the event he's found it quite hard: he says even though he knows it's not personal it's hard not to take it that way and he's struggling a bit. But I can see it's hard having the decision about when to go pushed back to you. nick: Based on this online vaccination queue calculator I'm due to get (my first, I guess) vaccination sometime in May/June next year. My mum should be getting hers in the next month though Tim: Well that's a rubbish calculator isn't it? Based on (1) the published list of priorities (2) some population stats, and (3) a weekly vaccination rate dependent on a big pile of unknowns, you're definitely due in May/June. nick: Is Paul still coming for Christmas? And Matthew? One guy at work (tier 4) is bubbled with his parents (also tier 4, on the other side of London) so isn't restricted to just 1 day of seeing them. He pointed out that this is fortunate because he's not done any food shopping for the week, and if he were forced to stay home he'd be having to organise that (which presumably would be even more tricky now with France closing ports). And someone else in my team had her parents arrive last week from Bulgaria: they are going to have to stay with her to Jan 31st at least it seems. All seems a bit of a mess. Incidentally I only found out yesterday that the word "guy", in the sense of "person", derives from Guy Fawkes. Steve: Paul and Matt yes - the 3 of them are getting paid tests today.I got a free less reliable one from Luton council yesterday. We are encouraged here to test even with no symptoms to get stats - no real queue which surprised me.
Paul has not had a test yet so is worried he will come up positive. He's only had antibody tests which surprises me.
For people stuck on their own this is a never-ending nightmare.
I was convinced I had it as something was going wrong in my head Saturday morning, having no memory of having done things such as asking questions or writing emails etc.
Tim: I just had a moment like that when a parcel arrived on the doormat containing a book I'd considered buying but don't actually remember ordering. Struth it's a Christmas present, cheers Nick, that's the last thing I was expecting. nick: Been getting increasingly worried about my tooth where the filling broke - it's not hurting exactly but there are concerning twinges when it gets cold air, or when I swoosh with mouthwash. So caved and called a private dentist yesterday - they gave me an appointment today. I feel pretty bad about this but the idea of toothache over Christmas was weighing very heavily. I caught myself thinking "oh well at least I'm relieving some pressure on the NHS dentist" but that's just what they want you to think isn't it. Steve: Not sure for tonight - might have another meeting on.You can't rely on the NHS for everything. What if you need physio or want a white filling to avoid mercury?
Good work on the crossword - it can take over your life.
Steve: Currently got some live Henry Cow on which is challenging but OK actually - a bit like a long KC improv without the tunes.The background to this Trondheim double is one guy had just left the band, another off sick so they decide to carry on - the poor audience! Echoes of Spinal Tap's jazz odyssey.
Of course the label/band site I got this from has tons of stuff by people I've never heard of which I guess is equally scary.
nick: Happy Christmas everyoneI had a slight headache on Wednesday, mentioned it in the COVID app and on Thursday “ You’ve recently reported feeling unwell with a particular combination of symptoms. Whilst these symptoms do not necessarily indicate that you have COVID-19, we would like to offer you a test to discover if you have the virus right now”
So I now have a walk-in test booked this afternoon! Well it’ll get me out of the house
Tim: Merry Christmas.Well, that's a different sort of Christmas afternoon.
Meanwhile, must finish yesterday's cryptic.
Tim: Two to go:16A Runner in early event not starting back (5) M _ L _ _
4D Floosie put paper up to decorate spruce (8) _ A _ E _ T _ _
The two answers share the last letter, and there's a bit of a christmas theme.
Thanks!
Tim: Well done, early event is a PRELIM.4D Floosie put paper up to decorate spruce (8) _ A _ E _ T _ R
nick: Sorry for not being able to help out with the crossword, was a bit busy yesterday, including cycle ride to the Anvil for a covid test in the afternoon, for which I received a negative result less than twelve hours later. Hoping to go out for a cycle with John today if he's up for it - he was home alone yesterday after calling off plans to go back to his parents for Christmas Day Tim: We're just back from a walk in the country that ended up being 6.5 miles, so that's pretty much it for the day.Crosswordsolver gave me MANEATER, a lot of use you are Nick.
Steve: Yeah D got that from our dictionary app. REAM being paper which is annoying. And NEAT for spruce ditto.We just did a 3 mile walk in the drizzle. Now for some reading while feeling smug.
Got Richter's Voices for Christmas, plus Philip Glass Solo Piano and Brain Salad Surgery.
nick: pretty good photography/film of last chance to see tube trains on iow. Spoiler - we’ve probably missed our chance Tim: Brain Salad Surgery sounds a bit tricky. Is that just the original tracks or something more fearsome?I'm up for anything tonight.
Steve: Of course it comes with a remix disk with extras.Same with Tarkus - actually that did not seemed to add anything worthwhile on top of Welcome Back.
I think we are busy this week thanks.
Tim: I somehow completed today's Guardian cryptic soon after 10am with hardly any cheating. Needless to say it was already blogged up at 15sq, with illustrations. Steve: I think I gave up with yesterday's after 2 clues, too many mentions of championship.Will take a look.
Tim: I also had a look at yesterday's but couldn't get started. Maybe we should try a team effort on it sometime. nick: was going to suggest zoom tonight but feeling a bit knackered (also just got back from dentists with two injections and lots of drilling for crown) so not sure I'm up for it - any takers for Thursday? Steve: Not started Voices yet. I started the new Deftones album instead, bit of a contrast.Can do Thursday thanks but D is busy.
Also tired here after a couple of nights of disturbed sleep.
And I bottled the lunchtime bike ride with a headache, and it's cold!
Tim: No rush on the Voices, I was just wondering. I really enjoyed it live, but the way there are two versions just gives me the willies. nick: I assumed you were talking about the BBC "Voices" thing - still a few days left to listen; is there something else?I'll do a zoom on Friday evening. I had prep for two crowns today - he spent about 40 minutes drilling before taking impressions of my teeth, the crowns get made in separate labs and sent back in a couple of weeks - which I think I must have been quite stressed about; I felt wiped out afterwards.
I've been cycling in the mornings, going out at 7 for a 20 mile loop. Maybe that's another reason I'm tired. So far it's not been cold enough to stop me but it is a bit of a struggle. Sunrise has just started getting earlier: I get a tweet from @sunsettimesuk every day and today sunrise was 8.05; the last few days it's been 8:06. It starts getting light about 30 minutes before that, and sometimes it is very pretty, but it's not warm.
Steve: It's the Max Richter thing but on 2CDs - with and without talking.I will share your pain Tim.
And 20 miles a day is impressive, I get bored doing 12.
I find lunchtime quieter, although with lockdown maybe AM is an option.
I'm getting tired of wet muddy roads, I can't remember the last time I didn't get sprayed with crap.
nick: Listening to Music in 12 parts - I think parts 7 and 8 (especially when 7 moves into 8) are pretty good.Roads pretty wet this morning and I started off in the dark so went through quite a few puddles that I didn't see until it was too late. John sent me a link to a Daily Mail story where my MP Kit Malthouse says it's OK to do a 70 mile cycle ride, so he's got my vote from now on.
Steve: Only tried 2 of the 12 - 16 minutes per is plenty :)I did a turbo hour Sunday, really fed up with the wet, but it's probably preferable.
Yesterday some of the road was dryish!
So Boris's 7/14 mile ride is a problem is it? Flipping heck.
I think if your exercise sets off from home it should be fine, but going 35 miles from home, I'm not sure. What if you break down.
nick: Will be doing a zoom tonight, either crossword or game with TimI have reported fly tipping a couple of times lately on the Basingstoke council's website. Invariably the stuff has been cleared next time I've ridden past. I wasn't sure if it was my reports that triggered the clearing or not, but I reported one this morning (fridge and sofa and other miscellaneous stuff) and had a call back 15 minutes later from the council saying that they'd be clearing the stuff today that's in front of the fence, but would need to contact landowner for the stuff behind the fence as it's private property. I'm impressed!
Tim: Or a game of Pandemic of course, just keeping that on the agenda.The bickering ("reporting") about what *exactly* you can do, given that the rules are a bit vague, is driving me nuts. What's the point? If the law specifically said you can only go 6.5 miles from home all we'd hear about instead is what's so wrong about 6.6 then eh?
Steve: Yes we are up for it thanks - D wants to do a crossword.I always say thanks to litter pickers and fly-tip removers when I see them.
My council is useless at sorting things and telling you. My recent road surface issue got closed and they did nothing as far as I can see.
nick: Planning on another zoom for Tuesday evening. Crossword/Pandemic/Game, whatever people would like. Steve: Well done, although I think we are busy sifting through Barbara's possessions and disposing of furniture etc ahead of the move. I have seen "unprepared" before, but we need to invent a new word for this situation. nick: I'm listening to the Rush canon (or as much of it as is in my library - "197 items, 17 hours, 53 minutes") at the moment. Started yesterday and have got up to Xanadu from disk 3 of "Different Stages". Three more albums to go after this one, including - which I've got a bit of trepidation about - "Clockwork Angels". Maybe I'll like it this time.Well done on the Barbara front Steve, you're doing a virtuous thing there.
nick: Maybe you should read the book and listen to the CD Tim, see if you can get into it.I sent a zoom invite for this evening in case anyone's up for it
nick: I'm free tonight, or tomorrow. - sure, can do zoom tomorrow instead if more people would be happy with that nick: See the 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' painting in 10-gigapixel detail (follow link to "panorama" in first para) and 3d! nick: Tomorrow better thanks OK I'll send an invite for tomorrow evening 8.15 (might not be able to send it until tomorrow for.. reasons) Steve: I sat here for 20 mins and did two, but had to look at a map of Alaska for the breakthrough - looks pretty impossible.And just realised you said LAST WEEK's, I was looking at this week's.
Steve: BTW we will be busy with pre-move panicking Tuesday night.Not that the person moving seems concerned.
Visited the new place Saturday which seems fine - only a slight whiff of cannabis in the stairwell.
And Olias is being re-issued as CD/DVD-A in March. They lost the multi-track masters so I'm not sure how good that could be. I'm happy with the LP/CDs I have so would give it a miss. Even though I have Christmas money burning a hole.
I did just get a 2021 album - Isles by Bicep from Paul.
Tim: Nick is pre-booked Tuesday anyway, and don't worry about me I'll find something exciting to do.Tina's having a go at reading The Prestige. She sneaked a look at it while I was reading it, and now the libraries are shut again thought she'd give it a go. Seems to be getting on with it OK so far, not sure whether she'll cope when it goes crazy.
On the Bicep front, discogs says
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Breakbeat
which sort of thing never helps me in the least.
So far the nearest I've got is Pop Ambient 2021 but it's a 2020 release.
Steve: Just knocked out an Agatha Christie.Can't you do click and collect at the library?
Maybe it's too far away.
My next 3 are all ready at once!
Asylum - Patrick McGrath
The Book of Evidence - John Banville
The Book of Daniel - E.L.Doctorow (I know this author)
Tim: Click and collect is possible but at the little local library opening hours are a bit minimal at the mo. nick: at the little local library opening hours are a bit minimal at the mo.Luckily for Tina, minimal opening hours won't be any problem at all in two weeks time
Tim: Meanwhile I've recently started another random SciFi book. This one is Rogue Moon by one Algis Budrys. (Surely that's just a random string of letters?) Fairly terrible so far, but he's just setting the scene with some implausible Californian characters. Tim: A bit of a coincidence after reading The Prestige: this book is about a matter transmitter. (Hardly a unique thing for SF, but still.) nick: Went out tonight and thought my chain had come off: when I pedalled, nothing was happening. But turns out the hub must have gone: it's freewheeling in both directions (unlike a fixie when it doesn't freewheel in either direction). Fortunately I was at the top of Farleigh Wallop so it was mostly downhill to get home - would have been more of a nuisance if I'd been further away, or at the bottom of a hill. I guess maybe you can replace the hub but a cursory look at the web suggests this is not straightforward so I ordered a new wheel. I'll have to go back on the fix until it arrives nick: Is that your new bike? well it's the bike with the new frame but the wheel dates back to 2018 (it is the third back wheel I've had, so it's about par for the course that it lasted ~2 years). Last night it was mostly freewheeling (a bit like having the clutch on) but a couple of times it would catch and I could pedal normally. But then as soon as I stopped pedalling it went again, and towards the end I couldn't get it catching at all. I've not had this sort of failure before: perhaps it is fixable? But I wouldn't want to ride any distance and risk it going because it could mean long walk home. Plus I wouldn't want to pedal uphill while standing up in case it lost the "catch".
The back wheel on my broken-framed-Felt is not compatible (not disk brakes) so I can't just use that, but maybe I could get the freehub out of it and use that? Worth a try I suppose - I have no idea how many varieties of hub there are.
Steve: Busy again this evening FYI.She is moved but still stuff to do as the house is still not empty.
nick: I have my "songs only played 4 times" list going at the moment. It's just played "Feet Like Fins". Brilliant track - I find it hard I've only listened to it 4 times though; it sounds very familiar nick: Just had mail from Evans about my wheel "Your order has been processed. We will confirm by email once your parcel has been collected by your nominated courier."So maybe it won't get here in time for me to fit it this weekend, which'll mean a few more days on the fixie. My legs ache quite a bit after two days on it.
Tim: Legs ache so it must be good for you.Yesterday's Guardian Cryptic (28,354) not recommended, but it did teach me how to spell Ukulele.
Tim: I see that Steve's first 2021 album may also become his first 2021 number one album.What's it like?
nick: anyone want a zoom tonight? I have work I should be doing but by this evening I suspect I'm probably not going to be up to doing it... Steve: Yes I think we can do it today thanks.If it is *the* Steve Davis I'm not surprised.
Bicep is very good IDM I suppose, some slightly dated percussion maybe is a criticism.
You can listen free on Bandcamp.
The Guardian loves it.
Tim: Yes that Steve Davis, and it's not bad. He's in a band too, with a bloke who's also in "Gong".Free listening isn't really something I've got into - either I'm buying it, or not. Old dog new tricks.
And I have a different type of trouble with *nearly* free music. This label that I've got a few CDs from want £25 for a year's subscription, that gets you downloads of their back catalogue (>100 releases) and everything they put out this year (12?). That's a bit daunting. And there are others a bit like that.
nick: I just checked "Victorialand" and the version of "Feet Like Fins" on there is totally different to the one on Lullabies to Violane. So make sure you try that one (the one linked) - that's the one I meant nick: Happy last day TimI looked up the answer and I wouldn't have got that, never heard of the word in the context of horses
Multiplayer games suggestions from the Guardian - not sure there's anything there for us, but perhaps by the end of the day there might have been some good ones in the reader comments
nick: Tim, you must have finished by now - happy retirement!I sent a mail out earlier with zoom invite for this evening
Tim: It was a bit busy yesterday, sorry, then I went to ASDA and (celebration) the chip shop.Nick, Firewatch looked a bit tempting but it just turns out to be a single-player game that might be (like the article says at the top) fun to play with company.
Tim: ...A Way Out also tops this list (and a couple of possibles on there are Human Fall Flat, and Sea of Thieves which came up before somewhere).
nick: I already have Firewatch on the PS3 (or PS4 I can't remember). I think I got some free credit on the store and had that because the Guardian had reviewed it previously. It's quite a nice game but definitely single player.I'd previously seen reviews of "A Way Out" and thought maybe it would be worth trying although I think it was just PS4 when I saw it and I wasn't sure if you'd be into the prison escape theme. I see it's on Steam, although PC only and not Mac. Bit pricey but maybe worth a punt
The oven in Ella's house gave up last week (well, it still works but the door hangs off on only one hinge so it's not ideal). Lesley found a second hand oven of the right size for £80 which Ryan and I went to collect today. He's an electrician so was confident about wiring it in. Did that, and slotted it into to place - ideal fit! But it wasn't quite straight so we tried just to lift it up to adjust the feet, and I made the mistake of trying to lift it by holding the door handle.
nick: oh boy Fearless just came on, apparently for the first time since August 2018. I'd forgotten how good it is! Tim: How odd. It's Monday and I don't have to worry about work. Obviously I'd be out on my bike but for the blizzard (a few flakes). nick: I went out this morning - pretty chilly in the wind, BBC weather said it "feels line -9". Think I may have to have the heating on today.So what's on your agenda for the day Tim? Any good books/crosswords lined up?
Tim: I'll try and avoid the crossword - it takes up too much time solo, and isn't as much fun. I'm between SciFi books so might start one later.I think I've mentioned VCVrack at some point, it's a free soft modular synth. I've been thinking of trying that for a while, just for fun, but it's probably a time-sink so avoided it until now.
I'd like to use it on my proper pc, but Tina's borrowing my touchscreen monitor and mouse. OK, I've got an old TV, that'll do for now. Mouse? Well, actually Tina's got another one (I gave her) somewhere so now it's time to spend all day looking for it. Her style of tidying up is to shove things in any random location - drawers, wardrobes, under beds etc. etc.
Steve: You went cycling, do you not have snow then?I'll be in the garage this week looks like, although it's a light dusting.
I thought the cooker thing was going to be a cut hand as I hurt myself moving the aborted new one last year. Some seriously sharp metal edges around the back.
A. Barbara's washing machine... not switched on ABOVE the worktop on a fused outlet.
Oh well, we had one other job to do so not a wasted journey.
Steve: We suffer keyboard shortages. Always a mouse.It's a freeing up Tim, time to work on your acoustic numbers with the Royal Philharmonic. (apologies for the Spinal Tap ref.)
nick: Her style of tidying up is to shove things in any random location - might seem random to you Tim but I bet she has a system in her head.There were a few speck of snow swirling around when I went out this morning. There are little bits of it along the edge of the roads now but nothing serious. Had to stop a few times to walk around puddles where cars had gone through and splashed water on to the road which had frozen but otherwise the roads were very dry
I remember you talking about Native Instruments stuff Tim but a look on their website shows they're expensive! But VCVrack looks pretty interesting. May be handy to have a big screen for all the patch panels and sequencers you're going to have (I got a 27" monitor towards start of lockdown and it's pretty nice)
nick: I did have a spare mouse but I lent it to Ella and haven't had it back yet.She was on to me this morning asking if I could help her set her Windows display back properly after it started showing everything BIG like it thought she had a VGA monitor (she contacted me because "IT aren't answering the phone"). It's pretty hard diagnosing that over chat messages based on a photo she's taken of her monitor when I don't actually have a Windows system to try. Maybe I should point her in your direction Tim
Steve: My "motto" with IT stuff is "there's always a right-click option".That answers loads of D's questions.
And it's amazing how many people take the email address of their provider, then change provider.
One of D's acquaintances has their own domain name, so a fixed email address, but it has to be redirected every time they change broadband to their new provider address. Which requires expertise.
Tim: Just been listening to Isles and got caught up with looking at the different versions available (CD, cassette, 2LP, 2LP+12", 3LP etc). Couldn't work out how many extra tracks were on the 3LP, and the source of my confusion turned out to be that the download has 11 tracks compared to the normal 10. In case you hadn't noticed. Steve: This is great - we have Tim monitoring Blogger another 40 hours a week.Funnily Paul got me the CD, not from Bandcamp as he pre-ordered so long ago it wasn't on there! So I only have 10 tracks!
I did all but two clues yesterday - what a time-waster.
nick: Just had my MOT done - last one was about a month before lockdown in 2020. In years up until 2020, I had been averaging ~21,000 miles/year. Last year I did less than 5,700. Actually I'm surprised it was as much as that, but I suppose there were a few weeks commuting (at ~400miles/week) before lockdown kicked in. At any rate, 15,000 miles saved, which I reckon must be about £1700, not to mention 4,000kg of CO2 (if I've worked it out right). Tim: Re trying music on Bandcamp for free (mentioned above).I think I've mentioned this before, my Windows PCs detect Volumio on the network as a device that can be "cast to" (DLNA I think). That's nice, just by right-clicking on the file I get a way to listen to it over hifi instantly.
So there must be other uses for this magic, such as listening to a bit of bandcamp streaming with better audio than the tinny wheeze my laptop manages? I just wasted 2 hours (again) trying to find out how to achieve that - what do I need, a particular browser or add-in? Or configure something in Windows? Or download the bandcamp app onto my phone and do something there? Or? I even tried Microsoft Edge which claims to be able to do that sort of thing, "select the target device in the pop-up window to begin casting". Obviously it will be able to detect the target device because Windows can. Eventually I found the admission "only detects video devices" #explodes#
nick: I am not sure how I would do that on Windows. With apple stuff there is something called "airplay" which means I can send the audio output of one apple device (e.g. my laptop) to a suitable player (e.g. Apple TV plugged into hifi) - I could use this to "cast" the player on the Bandcamp website to my hifi.I do have a DLNA server running on one of my macs: that lets me, from any DLNA client (including my phone, my PS4 and PS3) get at the media library on that mac (mostly use that for watching films etc. but it does music too). The server is a free bit of software called Plex, which I'm sure runs on Windows. However, I don't know how to make Plex "cast" the real-time audio output (maybe you can do this - I never tried because I would just use airplay instead).
The other thing like this is "chromecast" which AFAIK is similar to apple play but isn't apple proprietary - you get get a chrome cast stick that you plug into a TV, and then "cast" media to it from any system (using chrome? I don't know). again, I don't know if you can get that to cast live audio output.
Anyway, some things for your to spend the day googling!
Tim: Well, I'd already come to the conclusion that it's not possible. I think that by calling everything "cast" even though they are an assortment of standards, Windows was making me think that I could do something with Volumio instead of giving it a file.Meanwhile there is a (recent, unofficial) Bandcamp plugin for Volumio. I tried installing it earlier but had some unguessable GitHub problem. Tried it again just now and it worked. So now in my Volumio webpage I have an additional place to Browse/Search which returns infinite amounts of stuff from Bandcamp (as mp3 maybe).
Tim: ...and...reading the forum chat about the plugin, I see that somebody else's solution is to use their iPhone to airplay the Bancamp app output to Volumio (on a Pi). So maybe there is some way I could achieve something like that after all. Steve: What excellent use of your first week of freedom (in a winter lockdown)!I did not know you could cast to Volumio - OK you can't 100%.
I'm on an old version as I upgraded once and kept hitting an issue where it would sometimes stop playing after a track ended.
Maybe it's time to get newer again, but I don't really want to touch it.
While working I play laptop > DAC > secondary hi-fi
Tim: Still going! Volumio incorporates Shairport, apparently. And TuneBlade is a tray app that streams Windows audio over AirPlay. So, that should be that, yes? No.
But, a bit different, I've found that there is also a Volumio plugin for the Pirate Audio DAC, which is the successor to my current DAC - but has a tiny display and buttons. Or there's a version with a headphone amp - potentially could build a Volumio walkman?
Tim: Steve, get/use another SD card (maybe even another pi) so you can have two systems, Live and Test. Tim: Looks like the Shairport service failed to start. Could be worth a reboot, might as well do a Volumio update while I'm at it... Steve: Wow I just looked at that "DAC", a mini-display for £20!Made in Sheffield!
I use similar to go into my main amp in the front room.
I have been considering a second one, but work-wise I'm static, so physically plugged in to the hi-fi.
nick: Looks like a pretty interesting project for Tim.Also in the news, MetaHuman Creator does seem capable of making some shockingly realistic-looking people that could easily pass for a real-life motion captured actor
nick: Will do a zoom for 8.15 tonight. I don't think there's any football on? Seems like there were a few matches this week but I think tonight's clear Tim: There's no football on tonight, which is nice - Tuesday and Thursday's games weren't great. See you at 8:15. nick: I did see iPlayer promoting the games - it was offering them with/without crowd noise. I tried watching both to see what it felt like, and the one without crowd noise felt really weird, like walking past a Sunday morning practice session nick: Went past this bit of puddle yesterday and showed it to Tim last night. Looking at the blog I realised what it had reminded me of: the cactus at the top of this post
nick: Had a mail shot from Turner Sims promoting a livestream from Neil Cowley. Short bit on youtube. Looks like it might be our sort of thing. Here's a link to register for the free livestream Tim: I just saw that Chick Corea died last week (79).Here's a list of 10 Albums For Steve To Struggle With.
Steve: Yes I regret not seeing him, but realise it would have been too jazzy.I have one solo, some of his Elektric Band, and of course Return to Forever.
nick: Someone else you could have seen Steve what a cool drummer Phil was (I still can't believe they were playing right near you in Dunstable and you didn't go!) Tim: Oh dear I forgot the link, but you might have seen it anyway.And I had to check whether Phil Collins was dead too.
Steve: Perkins Palace?Are you thinking of Caesar's Palace?
Perkins seems to be in California - there's no way that is a UK crowd.
Hadn't seen the list, it looks well scary!
I actually bought a new proper price classical CD this week of Schoenberg and Sibelius violin concertos. Feel sure I had the Sibelius but can't find it, and don't recognise it so maybe not.
A small way to support the industry.
The Schoenberg is still not the thing I remember from a Barbican trip...
I'm also trying a 2015 David torn ECM album.
Will try to catch the Sky Arts Beethoven & Me on the 21st by Charles Hazelwood - remember him?
Lots of interesting-looking stuff on there, but it's Sky argh.
nick: "Stan & Ollie" is a film I've had on my "look out for" list, and it's on BBC tonight (and presumably available later on iplayer). I think it got well reviewedAnyone fancy a zoom this evening?
Steve: I think we'll pass thanks.BTW I seem to have lost my mojo for cycling outdoors, but should go out tomorrow.
Sick of the cold weather and filthy lanes. Any excuse not to go.
Not been out for 2 weeks+?
nick: Last week had clean roads but was super cold. This week much milder but rain every day so dirty roads. We need some mild dry weather. I listen (in one ear) to podcasts while I'm out to stop it being boring doing the same routes.I'll send you a zoom link for 8.15 Tim. We have another zoom earlier in the evening with Ella and Ryan and their mortgage advisor
Tim: Something weird I'm finding with Isles is that the second half seems distinctly better than the first. That's really unusual, is it just me? I suppose it might be that the first tracks were thought to be more commercial, I dunno. Steve: It's a very nice colour.No idea why it took that long to be sent.
I was thinking it was a change from your normal ambient mumblings, hopefully a welcome one.
I have started my "homework" - several hours copying slides into correct PowerPoint format (HCL and IBM). How I hate this product as it yet again loses formatting and prevents me from getting it back.
Got a postponed email on the Global Communication gig today.
nick: Just had a good phishing email, saying some of my mails had been held up, and pointing me here:https://emaill559.b-cdn.net/?emailtoken=nick.hudson@isode.com&domain=isode.com
That link shows a web page that has (I think) the favicon for isode.com, and, when I enter any old rubbish for the password, redirects me to the isode.com homepage. So it feels pretty authentic.
If you try it with a different "domain" on the end, you'll see it makes the page look like it's from that company. E.g. try
https://emaill559.b-cdn.net/?emailtoken=someone@hcl.com&domain=hcl.com
nick: Must admit I had to think twice about this: the original mail had a colour theme that looked very like our own, and this week we upgraded a load of our internal tools so I have been getting quite a lot of messages about various infrastructure changes which meant it didn't seem unusual to get this kind of mail ("here we go, *another* bit of stuff that's been upgraded that I've got to re-authenticate to"). If I didn't know how our internal mail systems worked, I think I could quite easily have been taken in (although the dodgy URL is a bit of a giveaway).
Steve: I get very tempted with these sites to create a test to send 1000s of requests to it.But in theory this is a DoS attack and could they come back on my IP address somehow.
Suppose I could restart my router...
nick: But in theory this is a DoS attack and could they come back on my IP address somehow. - maybe do it through your work VPN?Can do a zoom this evening if anyone would like to
Steve: In continuance of the world of CD box sets has gone mad, we have a £200 30th anniversary Yes Union live boxset coming out. Although it does have a Wembley performance so maybe we are on it. I feel bad not to have recorded all our gig dates, but I know you have Nick.And a ton of other items
It's like that album is something worth celebrating?
OR, this company has the copyright and is going to milk the **** out of it.
nick: How many people are likely to buy that boxset?? Even if it is from "the critically acclaimed Yes Union Tour". I can't remember the last time I listened to that album - maybe there is some good stuff on it? In fact I haven't even ripped it into my library.Went out sat/sun and weather was fantastic. On Saturday I cycled with John and it was really nice to have someone to ride with. I updated my strava ride caption to say "Best weather of the year so far" and when I looked in my feed, just about everyone else had used a similar title for their rides. There were tons of cyclists out.
nick: We asked an external company to provide translations of a language catalog for one of our products. Since then, a few new strings crept in and so I did translations myself for what I thought would be the easy ones, and asked a guy in our office, who's a native French speaker to review.He didn't complain about any of my translations except one (watching all those episodes of Spiral has paid off!). In that case, there is an icon in the UI which is a picture of a little paper dart: it's used to show that a message is being sent. And the engineer had provided an "alt" caption for this (the text you see if the icon couldn't be rendered, or read out by a screen reader) of "inprocess". For this, I used "avion". The review comment was avion means 'plane', like the one you take to travel in an airport. Is that what 'in process' means? (I genuinely don't know)
Tim: The 4LP is only £100. And it took me a while to grok that it's the Union Tour they're commemmorating, not the album. Very few tracks are from Union - they probably haven't even ripped it yet.And you can have any colour T-shirt as long as it's black.
Steve: The blue logo looks lovely, apart from the Union bit.In Yes part 2 at the weekend, Wakeman said it was the best Yes tour he did!
I feel members were coming and going off stage, but they discussed splitting parts, implying they all played at the same time.
Tim: I agree about the logo - so the cover of the program is quite nice. But that's the only bit they dare show us - for £25! Tim: I've just worked out that I've been confusing two Frenchy crime tv series, Spiral (you've mentioned a few times) and Serpent (which Tina watched). nick: I've just worked out that I've been confusing two Frenchy crime tv series, Spiral (you've mentioned a few times) and Serpent (which Tina watched).We've just worked our way through watching all 8 series of "Spiral" (on the 8th now) so I've felt quite immersed in the language lately.
Also been watching The Serpent, partly due to Jenna Coleman who I find literally unbelievably attractive (i.e. I find it hard to believe there could be someone who really does look as nice as that). But mainly for the plot, obvs.
Steve: So I don't have Union it turns out.Reading the Wiki page is entertaining, such as 4 pages of the booklet being credits, and a critic saying "an eclectic miscarriage that almost isn't even worth laughing about".
I was wavering on spending the £4 to get a copy... maybe not.
Tim: Same here. I've had 11 emails about new releases so far, but nothing interesting (esp. 3 from TD, they're not even really new, just new to BC). nick: Listening to "Télégraphe" at the moment, sounds quite nice, so I'll have that. And will try Liverdelphia in a bitZoom tonight anyone?
nick: ok I'll send Tim an invite for 8:15looks like a new post will be in order soon - almost up to 200 replies on this one
