Duke Nukem 3D

Steven den Beste reminisces about Duke Nukem 3D. I have many happy memories of that game, particularly of the multiplayer modes. Lying in wait with a pipebomb, zooming around with the jetpack and the rocket launcher or the devastator. It was fun! And there was fun within the game itself. These days, they all take themselves so seriously: not so Duke.

Nature can be so cruel

A child that's lost its mother is always distressing. And whales are usually such gentle giants - to humans, that is.

Quantum Porn

This made me laugh.

The ideal platform for Google Earth

Microsoft should sell this as a simple single-function appliance.

It's the 'Complete the title' game

I know I've got one or two readers, so here's a game for you to join: provide a link and complete the title!

Senior ministers get behind Brown... to better stab him in the back.

Unexpected fall in puffin numbers... improved fitness to blame.

Have at it!

Ouch!

I dropped a partially-full filing cabinet on my foot yesterday. It took very much less than a second to realise that I was not wearing my safety boots...

Learn from my mistake: don't try toting heavy stuff without them.

A quick rant about computer suppliers

This means you, Novatech, ebuyer, Scan, etc.

Go to the computer supplier of your choice and quickly find all motherboards that can support an Intel Quad Core, 8 GB of RAM, Crossfire (or SLI), and are micro-ATX. Can't do it.

How about computer cases? Sure I can search by size, but quickly find all micro-ATX cases that have 2 120mm fans. Can't do it.

Guys, for some product types, you need to be able to search by feature.

Blessed be Broline

So I've got an eye infection and it doth suck mightily. But 15 mins after a dose of Broline and the relief is wonderful.

Portable Grab & Go Bag

I missed this article when Kim posted it, but I'd like to suggest that those who replied are missing a fundamental point: you have to prepare for two scenarios here, not one. The first is what if you are in close proximity to and directly affected by the incident; the second is what if you aren't. The events of 7/7 are still fresh in my mind.

With regard to the first, you simply need to survive to get yourself into the hands of the emergency services ASAP. Multitool, whistle, torch, mask, and water are a bare minimum here. I like the idea of the goggles but I think a ski visor would be better, simply because it's easier to put on - less likely to get tangled in something else - and more comfortable. Let the emergency services take care of you after that.

With regard to the second, while you still may need those items from the first scenario, home may not be reachable, but mass transit will only be stopped for a day or two. People often commute long distances, so having friends nearby who can put you up is good. At a pinch, sleep at the office. People should also be aware of secondary functions of items. When you can't make a telephone call, texting may still work. My phone will operate as a radio, so I'll be able to hear news broadcasts.

With regard to the water, freeze it! It will keep you cool in the hot tube as it melts.

Yee-hah!

We've received the grant of the Court of Protection and my aunt will be safe from those who would do her ill. We're now a year behind schedule getting her home. Soon...

You can't have too many USB ports

Or, I want wireless!

Attached to this computer via USB are keyboard and trackball (via KVM), printer, card reader, mobile phone, floppy drive (sometimes), hard drive (well, actually three but only one at a time), joystick, wheel, drawing pad, and a UPS. And then there's the power cables, the KVM cables, the sound cables, etc. And after that there's the other computer...

Oh yes, there's a memory stick or two around as well.

My mobile's already Bluetooth-aware, but I reckon the computer itself, trackball, keyboard, joystick, wheel, UPS, and drawing pad could be added to that list.

Of course, then I'd be moaning about batteries. I can't win.

Formula 1 Monaco

What a race! Thrills and spills from start to finish. Hamilton did a really good job, turning a near-disaster into victory, but the racer of the day was probably Sutil, so cruelly robbed of his race. Alonso was most unimpressive.

Next up, it's Canada, which both Hamilton and Kubica will remember very well.

Well done Hamilton

Coming second in an inferior car was no mean feat. Had there been another incident that warranted the safety car, he might well have done it.

Copyright

So, the Mail on Sunday has been caught using a blogger's work without paying for it again.

This blog is copyright me. If you want to use an article, please email me to discuss terms.

Failed!

I failed my latest MCP exam. Only just, though, which means I did a hell of a lot better than I expected, especially as I have a major block over one subject, but it was another subject which did me in - I completely blanked on it.

Royal Marines 1, Yobs 0

The son of a neighbour of my parents is a Royal Marine. A short while ago he and another Royal Marine who was just back from the Middle East went to a local pub for a quiet pint. Another patron told them that somehow they had drawn the ire of a group of yobs in another corner of the pub and that the two of them would be attacked when they left. When the two of them left, the yobs were waiting for them. Big mistake: the two RMs switched into combat mode and sent the pack of them running: "I'm a Royal Marine, I'm just back from ****, and I'm going to rip your throats out." (I imagine the language was rather more colourful). And then they just walked home.

That's class. Well done, sirs!

Osborne: I got a reply

It wasn't quite a standard form reply, so my email was read.

"Bother" said Q

I'm supposed to be in Birmingham for the launch of Windows Server 2008. But the thieving bastards at the railway station wanted £107 for the ticket. So bollocks to that. And I wasn't going to try Birmingham City Centre at rush hour.

At least I got a good long walk out of it.

Well done Hamilton!

It was a blinder of a race this morning. Hamilton did very well to win it, though all the interesting stuff happenned behind him. It looks like it's going to be a most interesting season.

So I wrote to George Osborne...

I'm writing to you in your capacity as Shadow Chancellor.

I saw your response to the budget and while your points on inheritance tax, fuel, and drink were well made, I cannot help but feel that all parties have somewhat lost the plot on taxation. You're too busy papering over the cracks to see the gaping hole. Taxation only works if people are earning money, and all too many taxes get in the way of that.

The more people earn, the more the government can tax them. This was amply shown by Reagan and Thatcher. The current taxation regime stops people earning.

Consider the fuel duty: a few years ago I was spending what would be today £2000 per year on commuting, and over 75% of that was duty. To add insult to injury, that £2000 is after tax, so I'd have to earn over £3000 just to afford the petrol. Cut fuel duty and you improve the flexibility and profitability of the workforce.

Consider the minimum wage: people earning the minimum wage pay tax. But if it's the minimum wage, isn't that a contradiction? And they still have to pay hugely to get to work. So raise the tax-free allowance enormously to £8000, which is about the minimum wage for a 40-week working year.

Benefits: benefits cost money. It costs more than £1 to dispense £1 in benefits. There's a huge, baroquely complex, infrastructure, not to mention fraud. Why not raise the tax-free allowance to the minimum wage so more people don't have to be paid benefits?

Children and family: it is no secret that Britain faces a demographic time-bomb. Children are currently very expensive for people not on benefits. And caring for older relatives is also expensive. I have a suggestion to cope with this: give everyone, from birth to death, the full tax-free allowance, and let this allowance be transferrable to those family members within the bounds of consanguinuity or civil partnership. This will help the mother stay at home to look after the children, and allow granny to come and stay to help or be helped.

Inheritance tax: this was introduced to break up the great estates. An estate of £1M, great though that may seem, is not a great estate. Please raise that figure to £10M or even more.

I hope you find some of these ideas of interest.