Will you sign our guest book? No thanks.

This weekend I went to a small art exhibition near where I live. Some of the art (particularly the photographs) was very good. Some of it I could leave.

On the way in I noticed the guestbook and I clocked the fact that I could see a few personal details in the guestbook along with some very positive comments about the show. The guest book required you to put your name in it and ideally e-mail addresses and so on.

I can usually handle an art exhibition for about 15 minutes (yearly limit including the Tate and other more up-market galleries) so I decided to leave after 10 minutes. I'm holding back a little here with negative criticism but there were a few paintings that looked like someone with issues had slapped a bit of paint onto a canvas. On the way out one of the staff asked us to sign the guest book and I refused - not rudely. They were taken aback.

The staff, I guess, cannot see why anyone would not want to sign a guest book. I don't like leaving personal details lying around. The days of signing books M. Mouse or M. Hunter or similar are over. Also writing "I can take or leave art. Most of yours I could leave" would probably offend.

Still, on a completely positive note, I will say is it was nice to see some local people doing stuff and presenting it. One cannot criticise this aspect - they are getting up and living life. And this together with a haircut by a young apprentice who is learning and has an extremely positive attitude made it a good day.

New mobile phone directory in the UK

The new service from 118800 allows anyone to find people with mobile phones in the UK. The site does not actually share information. When you search on 118800.co.uk, an SMS message is sent to the person you’re seeking giving them your contact details so they can call you back. There are obviously concerns of privacy violation - some people don't want to be found or if you are like me, people have enough ways to find them already.

To go ex-directory from 118800, you can text the letter E to 118800 (see http://www.118800.co.uk/faqs.html for more details).

The new Macbook ranges

Apple have had a rethink on their Macbook range. Now, the only Macbook available for purchase is the very popular white Macbook. The aluminium Macbook released earlier this year has been discontinued but replaced with an equivalent Macbook Pro.

In my view this is sensible - it means there is an affordable portable Macbook and gets rid of the in-between Macbook (missing some of the graphics and things like Firewire of the pro).

Even with the Macbook Air, Apple are missing a Netbook sized machine form their range. I saw a 12" Powermac a few months ago. I can understand why the owner hasn't upgraded. I actually considered getting one of these second hand.

In my view they need to address the Netbook market. But their new range of Macbooks is sensibly setup for the marketplace.

iPhone 3GS vs 3G

Mike has posted a comparison of the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 3G. Looks like the 3GS is well worth the money, however for existing 3G owners it is costly to upgrade.

Book: Alan Sugar: The Amstrad Story

It's been a while since I read this book, but I thought I should mention it. It is out of print but copies are available on Ebay.

This book is a better read than the recent biography of Alan Sugar (see previous post on this) and has far more detail on the Amstrad days. It's easy to read and get engrossed in.

Obviously it is an old book so it doesn't have details of Alan Sugar's more recent activities.

Retrieving stolen iPhones

This article is about a gentlemen who got his stolen iPhone back by using the new MobileMe Find my iPhone feature.

Reporter finds Sugar not so sweet

Recently a BBC journalist couldn't handle a reasonable retort from Sir Alan Sugar. There's no point having a poke if you can't take it back.

It is well known that Sugar has been running roadshows to promote business and entrepreneurship for years - his new government role fits nicely into that. Anyone who has read his biography or done the background would know that.

It's about time some of these journalists contributed to the world rather than just running everything down and being negative about everything.

Safari 4 & other Apple releases at WWDC

So the new version of Safari is out. In the beta, tabbed browsing had changed and I thought that moving the tabs to the title bar was a bad non-intuitive idea. Obviously Apple thought so to and have moved them back to the "right" place.

Also at WWDC, the new iPhone model was previewed with a better camera and a built-in compass. There is a tendency for me to want new shiny Apple toys. I have to resist this one I think. I managed to resist a new MacBook. Just.

The new version of Mac OS X is very reasonably priced and I will definitely be purchasing it when it comes out.

Kevin Beurle RIP

Arrived home from Prague last night to find out that my former colleague and friend Kevin Beurle has been killed in an accident.

He was a fantastic bloke. He was very encouraging and helpful when I was working in the School of Mathematics at Queen Mary. Rest in peace Kevin.

Star Trek

A very good film. Fantastic effects. Worth seeing in an IMAX cinema.

However the destruction of two planets and the alternative time line is bothering me. Saying anymore will spoil the film so I'll shut up. Also thought Scotty could be a tad more Scottish.

A lucky escape

At Prague airport yesterday I decided to have a KFC at the airport. When I got the fillet burger (or Grander burger), I bit into it and the chicken had a strange taste and texture. I spend most of my travelling time half asleep these days, but after two or three more bites I decided that I should probably stop. The texture was strand like.

I began to feel ill - not over ill, but when you are getting on a flight you don't really want to be ill, particularly during takeoff or landing. Before the flight, I managed to convinced myself that I should be sick and thankful I think this saved me for further problems.

The KFC in question has given me good service for 4 years so I'm a little surprised.

Hell's Kitchen

I do enjoy this program, but it is a little repetitive and focuses on the negative. I really wish they would spend more time on the food and how to cook it.

Of course, towards the end it becomes a popularity contest where the public vote. The public have no way of tasting the food or commenting particularly well on how the contestants are doing it.

Book: Sir Alan Sugar: The Biography by C. Burden

It's not often that I sit and read a book from front to back. Alan Sugar's recent biography is an exception. It is an exceptionally easy book to read and covers Alan's life to circa 2008.

However it fails to give details particularly of his early career and the writer could have focused on that more. It does go into Tottenham Hotspur into more detail and focuses on The Apprentice towards the end. It also wants to tell us that Alan is a very nice guy and that the media present him in the wrong light.

Also there are places where the book repeats a fact (often 2 pages or less between them) as if the fact is new to the reader.

Still worth a read though. Would give it 4/5.

The Apprentice part 5

About to watch the first episode - let's see what cockbats Sir Alan has managed to get this time.

"I know the words to Candle in the wind - don't make me Elton John." -- Alan Sugar