2011 — 29 June: Wednesday
Today's walk1 is somewhat less likely to be truncated by the thunder and torrential downpour that beset my chum Andrew yesterday out towards Petersfield. Perhaps. We shall soon find out.
Meanwhile, back in early 1981 the sun was shining, the tulips were out, and Peter was taking flying lessons from Christa:
Those were indeed the days. Current days aren't exactly enlivened by some of the grim news from around the globe.
It's 07:46 and 21.8C, so I've turned down Blackbeast's fan for a bit of peace and quiet.
Positive spin
Only a tax collector would see as good news the need to issue refunds to between 1.7 million and 3.5 million people who paid too much, and who will be sent cheques for, typically, just under £340. Of course, when you add the 1.2 million who have underpaid, one could almost conclude the entire crappy system is, well, crappy. I remember an article in "The Economist" (years ago, when I was still under the delusion that it dealt with important stuff) suggesting a simple, flat-rate tax of 17.5% on everyone and no allowances to anyone to raise (or should that be 'clawback'?) the same revenue while being vastly simpler and cheaper to administer.
Then again, income tax was only supposed to be a temporary measure to finance the war against Napoleon. Isn't that over by now?
Since dear Mama's latest bottle of Scotch is nearly empty I can only assume she's been reading this and taking onboard the criticisms.
Right. Lunch packed. Washing machine busy. Nearly time I wasn't here. Wonder where we'll end up today? Now, where did I hide my socks?
Call me a naïve fool, or...
... even a hopeless optimist, but with the continuing evolution of Windows (and after today's chat with Mike on the slipstreaming of Windows to build an installable DVD with up-to-date SP1 content) I was prepared to believe it might be within my capability, and indeed I was all fired up to download and build myself, a suitable ISO. Alas, with Windows 7 one now contends with a Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) Supplement for Windows 7 SP1 that merely "helps you" install, customize, and deploy the world's favourite desktop system :-(
I'd been thinking (I know, I really should stop) of getting a faster hard drive, not too big, and dedicating it to my current copy of the world's favourite desktop system since I've somehow formed the clear impression that Windows needs to be re-installed every few months just (as it were) to keep it bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and frolicsome. And I'd also assumed (I know, a large error) that the process would by now have been quite simple.
It's a little depressing, therefore, to find Mrs Google reports not far short of 3,000,000 results when initially asked about "slipstream Windows 7". Deep joy.
More here. Yet more here. And a tutorial here.
Long, long ago...
... in an IBM galaxy far away, I worked for a manager who demanded monthly reports from the peons. So, to make mine more interesting, I appended a short description of the family holiday we'd just enjoyed:
Gatwick at 05:30. Welcomed aboard a rickety DC10 by Captain Page. (No kidding.) But it was spiffing in Lanzarote. (Same latitude as Nepal, but nearer sea level.) Everybody seemed to be German (so it was just like all my holidays since 1974). It wasn't as hot as usual, so I only got a few bits sunburned.
Went on my first camel, and up my first volcano. (Both were smelly, but to attempt to discriminate between them would be both foolish and iniquitous.) Down the caves again. Into the pool, but not the sea. Round the island for 2 days in a Panda 45. Became so used to semi-naked people on beaches that I actually got some reading done. (Highly recommend "Lake Wobegon Days" by Garrison Keillor.)
Mike kindly sent over one of today's more modern holiday shots:
Then, just a few minutes ago, I found a slide (rather than a battered old print) of a rare picture of me and Christa that I first put onto this diary back in October 2009. Here's a somewhat better image, hot from my newest scanner:
It's 20:38 and I note the night's are now drawing in. Time for some more mobile pixels. And a not-too-hot cuppa.