Spring forward, forward time

Sometime this morning an hour was stolen from the whole of mankind in the UK. Snatched away by a dark cloaked figure in the middle of the morning, nobody got to see the face or could even tell what gender it was, but we all lost it. A single hour.  This has made me personally cranky all day long, waking up and feeling it should of been earlier than it actually was, I've had to go and lay down twice to catch up on this stolen time. It probably serves me right for staying up too late, when this time of year comes it's more necessary to get sleep than you think. The individual who stole this time will however give it back again later in the year which will make us all feel a little better about it. However today has been awful, it has also been Mother's day. What a dastardly thing to do, steal an hour on Mother's day. Spring time holds not quibbles about special events, it does what it needs to do and damns the consequences.

So if you happen to see a dark cloaked individual, don't stare into their eyes, keep your hands on your possessions, stay alert because they have supernatural powers which command every time keeping device. Especially the electronic ones. Look down, whistle a happy tune then play catch up with sleep the next day. Only a sweet dream will make them fade away.

Everything can be hacked and you can be brigter than you think, in some cases

I have just watched a TED lecture and been shocked at the way a computer hacker described what he could do if he was board in his hotel room. Coming to a realisation there is no such thing as a secure IT system. He said, whenever microchips are put into devices, such as toasters the become vulnerable to the usual IT issues of a computer.  He then went on to describe what he did while sitting in his hotel room. Seeing a TV on the wall he said it was just like a node in a network, he accessed the TV and was then able to watch any film he wanted, play any game he wanted and it would cost him nothing.  His next step was to see what other people on the network were watching on TV. In due course he took screen captures, from porno site log ins to incredibly large financial transactions taking place. The more I watched this man describe his abilities the greater a shock.  It is taken for granted we all used laptops or play stations and they are also used for doing a lot of financial transactions on all of these are hackable. His lecture went on to talk about a new credit card people are using, the swipe and pay type. Audience members came up on the stage, he had them wave their card over his scanner and within a few seconds the card was hacked, with their numbers in his possession. The only way this could be stopped from happening was to enclose the card in thin steel case which he gave to each of the volunteers.  As the talk went on he talked about other hacks and how his team were now researching a method of beating malaria.  This man was certainly in the top of his field, but the way he described hacking was like for these people it was simple, it was something they did as a normal thing all the time.  In my semi shocked state I realised the rest of the human population is vulnerable, the human population who doesn't know how to hack, who doesn't know how to be secure or who puts too much into security, because for him it was like, if there is a security process at work then there was a way to beat that security process. Then just to think this may only happen with electronic devices he demonstrated how he found a way to hack door keys and it was simple.

The second TED lecture I watched was a discussion from a memory expert in Sweden. He described how after finishing his degree he wanted to find another challenge in life and in so doing thought about learning another language. He wanted to try something so different he could not even recognise the characters, and considered Arabic or Hindi.  While in his research he came across a book which described some simple memory techniques. A few years passed and he went through the exercises and was getting pretty good at them then decided he would enter a memory championship. At which he then came 22nd in the world. He went on to say students study too hard. They are not taught how to remember, and to become a memory expert wasn't difficult it was about having fun with things. It was about making connections, images, exaggerations and unique sensory experiences to the things which had to be committed to memory. For him he was able to remember the order of a shuffled pack of cards in five minutes. For the world memory champion this could be done in about 20 seconds. In effect memory strength was not about spending lots of time doing something it was about making it fun and vivid and getting on with your life. But with practice these simple methods of connecting things together didn't only become easy, they appeared to be incredibly powerful, so powerful as to be frightening.  To make an ordinary human being appear to be extra-ordinary, extra, extra smart.  When it was not what you know but rather how it was all put together. The more fun had doing this the better the memory would become, and the more practice the more extra ordinary the individual would appear to be.

If such methods were applied to schools then they examination system would have to be re-written, for students would be so extraordinary and able to get the highest marks the exam system would fail. The answer are not secrets, they are available and they are there for anyone to find or pick up. Just as it is easy for some normal people to hack anything in the world. Of all these things though, something both individual's didn't touch on was a little but large topic of "motivation," as the saying goes, you can lead a donkey to water but you can't make him drink.

Waking up too early and reading books

Don't know why it is but I've been feeling blue lately, a manic fish factory where every day is filled with fires and before I walk through the door it's necessary to check the extinguisher is full up, hatchet is sharp, yellow helmet on my head and breathing apparatus is filled.  Yesterday I even went into the Fish Factory to do a little extra work, it's weird though how it doesn't take too long before feeling overcome by the amount there is outstanding and how to cope with it. As continuous pressure is put on fish production the fishes are expected to do more and more, with IT systems which are slow and continuously fail.  With IT support who's only answer is to switch off and switch on again. Maybe all of this is why the insomnia is kicking in again. One evening after going to bed I woke up at 1:30 a.m. and thought I was fully refreshed and ready to get up, another morning I woke up at 4:04 a.m. as I checked my phone I wondered, now should I actually get up or should I try and sleep in a little longer.  Knowing, getting up in the wee small hours would of meant being a wreck at some point during the day.  This would mean my fire fighting skills might not of been much scratch either. Funny how when there are things on my mind how everything else becomes more difficult to deal with.

Before sleeping I try to get a few pages of my book read.  It is enjoyable picking up a good book to read. One which sets you off in a different world, or time or country.  With characters and story you begin to live in your mind's eye. It's not just a matter of reading it is of being in the book, in a place and away from it all. The book I have now was picked up in a charity shop for only 50 pence. It's called Carter Beats the Devil, written by Glen David Gold.  It is great to pick up a book so cheaply, and this is the one thing which e-readers is going to kill off. Bad news for charity shops bad news for those who can't afford to pay the full extortionate price of an e-reader or the download data of an e-reader book. These kinds of books can't be loaned out.  The e-reader is a universal reading device which may last two or three years and then every book loaded to it is then lost.  I hear the books they hold are encrypted to the reader. Which further restricts loaning or indeed putting the data onto another device so it can be read another day or year. This is important because I have books on shelves and they stay there waiting for another day to be read. They then get picked up and re-read. In doing so I realise there are passages I had forgotten or not really taken in.  The good literary novels are the best to go over again. They are ones which stay in your mind and leave an imprint which makes you think about them. They are more than entertainment, much more.  Reading a book is an investment in your own time, it's a necessary thing, it will educate as well.  Whenever I can I try to learn new words, and book reading definitely helps in expanding vocabulary. Book reading is education for adults, if you are not reading a book then you are not feeding your grey cells.  Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a librarian, but then I'd have to interact with people as well.  There's more to minding a library than meets the eye especially with the general public having their own ideas of what a library is.

The character Charles Carter in this book is having a bad time of it at the moment. The thing is I feel for him and this probably isn't helping with the stressed out mood I got either. I hope he picks himself up I need a bit of an adventure and a bit of laughter. Glen David Gold is a good writer and I must admit to really liking the story and the writing style.  There are so many authors out there who over simplify their language an literary style just to enhance book sales.  Writing a book isn't just for the public, it is for the author as well and by doing something for themselves regardless of what the public might think then the best writing comes out. To write for a commercial reason is not the same as to write for the love of writing and want.  I also personally believe people who pride themselves in being fast readers don't actually read books well at all. Like the formulaic author they skim through a book and if you have read the same book and start to ask the questions they don't remember or are unable to contribute to the conversation. Perhaps it is a case of quick in then quick out.  Shame, because where is the pleasure in discarding art, education and entertainment at such a level I ask.

Well, after a long nearly three hour Sunday morning walk I'm beginning to feel a little better. The fireman's helmet can come off and I think I'll just settle down and dive into Gold's book. Which I highly recommend to anyone. It beats fighting fires all day, that's for sure.

A hole in my sock

It seems as good as anything to mention, I have a hole in my sock. My feet are up and right now it is looking at me, when I turn my head I can see from the corner of my eye it has just blinked. Heck, how the hell did I get a hole in socks which are nearly brand new?  The worse thing is I really like these socks and now it is clear their shelf life is going to be pretty limited. It's the colours they have, yellow toe and heal and this kind of mixed purple, they are really very nice looking socks.  And in their short life time I've got attached to them. It is sentimental but us human beings do get attached to things which wear out, as in socks or shoes for instance.  In my mind there must be a design failure or poor construction, I have a set of socks like these and they are only 5 weeks old.  It shouldn't be necessary to purchase another set of socks after such a short period, they are used once and washed and I don't always wear socks from the same set. They are spaced out so maybe have only had half a dozen wears at most. What a disappointment.

I bought them because I liked them, they are unusual and I paid more for them. When you see something you like and it is a little more expensive than normal it doesn't matter, because you fall in love at first sight. The thing is except for the hole which blinks once in a while there is nothing wrong with them. I've also done something sad, and searched on the internet to see if I can find this style of socks again. The brand has many different patterns but this particular design isn't anywhere to be seen. It's like they have become even more precious. So why would I want to buy the same socks again when it is clear there is something wrong with them. It's still because I like them, I know it is inefficient to buy something which wears out so quickly, but I still like them. Therefore it all comes down to emotional attachment. The thing which makes bad investors, those who get attached to something and hope by chance it will increase in value while all the time it is sliding downwards.  It is one of the most difficult things to let go of a thing which you know is costing more than it is worth.  At this point timing becomes an asset, knowing exactly when to give up because the dip is just too far down to recover in the foreseeable future. It's gambling in a way.  Socks however, should not be gambling, there should be some kind of guarantee they are going to last certainly more than a few weeks I'd of hoped. I certainly can not see a sock manufacturer giving me back my money. It's just enough time to take my money and run. Literally speak, so to say. I hope they build better trainers than they sow socks.

However, it is only a small investment buying socks, it's not like buying a car or a house. But if I were to buy a car or a house then I'd have to have socks on in order to walk around that house. So for the sake of a pair of socks I can no longer walk around the house without getting cold feet. Cold feet in turn can lead to a chill and I've learnt one thing, cold feet mean it can sometimes be difficult to sleep because it takes hours to warm up my feet till the point I am comfortable enough to relax and know cramp isn't going to set in. A bad night's sleep means an awful day the next day at work. Struggling with the yawns, concentration and demands of the job.  All for the sake of socks. So they may only be things which go on feet, little things, depending on how big your feet are, but they are without doubt, important things.  So says the sock who has just winked at me again.

Grumpy old man gets dumped

I got a problem with my upper left arm, it plain hurts when moved in certain positions, I think it's the muscle and need to see a doctor. However, considering how busy it always is at the Fish Factory get out and seeing the doc is a difficult thing so it's a matter of putting up with the pain. Ouch. I'm getting old. Which goes on to Sparkling getting annoyed at me for being old and poorly. She has to give me her opinion, as she does all the time because it annoys her.  Apparently now she considers that I am getting older than her, even though she is older by a few months.  There was I thinking it's good to be the Toy Boy of our relationship. Unfortunately I'm not much of either a Toy or a Boy and Sparkling knows this. So she has in turn told me I am going to get dumped if I carry on getting grumpy and old the way I am. I said to her, this was not a matter of playing Trivial Pursuit (TP) and getting to read the answers on all the cards before playing.  Which by the way happened to be something Sparkling would do with Rock Chick when they played TP.  I was younger then, a lot younger and also I had took it for granted my TP knowledge was appalling, whereas the dreaded duo together seemed to always get a high score. Sparkling thought this was funny but it is in typical Sparkling and Rock Chick form to stack the cards in their favour and win a game whenever they can.  But the idea of dropping me like a stone just because I have become a grumpy old man (GOM) is bloody awful.  The thing is I don't consider myself a GOM.  Well to rectify the matter Sparkling said when I next see her, which will be next week she is going to give me a dressing down. At the same time it is ironic I should be given a good talking to just because I moan. This sounds like additional moaning therapy which is not going to change me but rather make me unhappy.

I think of the time when we went to Krakow, and Sparkling had a dippy hippy. It is an allergy Sparkling has when coming to walking, unless it is pushing a pram with Princess J inside and when in Krakow Sparkling's hip was playing up.  She was in discomfort and complained about it.  So we tended to walk slowly and it meant Sparkling preferred to sit at cafes drinking a glass of wine than doing too much walking.  Sparkling doesn't like heights, so doesn't go into the attic, this is always my job. It is like some jobs must be allocated to me. Though I can understand this after all I am the man.  Which sounds pretty cool when I say it, so I'll say it again, I am the man.  Except Sparkling wears the trousers and I do what she tells me to to do. Or most of the time I do it. Which probably means if Sparkling tells me to shut up and stop moaning I'll have to find the motivation to shut up. 

As I spoke to Sparkling on my phone, this afternoon and she told me about getting dumped, she then said how annoyed she was at the phone conversation because it kept breaking up. This can happen while walking along and chatting on a mobile. She got to the point of saying if it happened again she was going to cut off the phone and not answer it. Well I walked slower in order for the signal to work, but it didn't work so Sparkling cut me off. Therefore when it comes to moaning it seems to me, Sparkling does not like to hear me moan but it is OK if she moans and particularly moans at me. It is also perfectly OK to cut me off on the phone because it is my fault for the quality of the phone line and my fault she is getting annoyed.  Yes, it seems I have to mend my ways and stop moaning about things because of course I am in the wrong and a grump old man. I'd sure hate it if I were ever right.

Cold, flu, stuck indoors, what do you do?

It's been a shite day.  I mean shite. I awoke with a stinking headache, if headaches could stink this would of been an elephant size dung headache, which didn't seem to go away. Eyes watering, nose running, coughing repeatedly. How the hell did I get this, what the hell is going on? I'm just no good for anything and it has felt so cold, maybe this was why I just lay in bed for so long before getting up. Then I got up had breakfast and went back to bed again. It seemed like every moment I was fully conscious was a pain, at least when sleeping it goes away, until you have to cough again. Staying in bed was the best option and so it seems another weekend day where I've not done anything, not gone out, not exercised, not done anything of any value other than stay in my PJs and do the best I could to disengage with the world. It worked in most part. Why is it when you're ill every single second of illness counts, it just drags on and on and doesn't give up. It becomes a matter of getting through the next ten minutes, next half hour, next hour and then marking it off and hoping by some slim chance when you've reached this future point things are better. The dreaded lurgies and gone away, or partly subsided. It's been dragging on from yesterday and it's dragging on now, but a corner has been turned and I will admit to feeling a whole lot better than I did yesterday or this morning.

The day has been filled with TV. I have eaten for breakfast, lunch and tea the latest BBC news. Keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine, a situation which could result in civil war or war with Russia. The Ukrainian's don't want it, it all began with a corrupt president who looked after himself and cared less for his country than he did his neighbour. Yanokovych is going to be on a wanted list by the International Criminal's Court at some future date, possibly.

I played Candy Crush and lost repeatedly on level 199, it doesn't matter what I do I just can't get past it. I must of played in excess of 100 games at this level and still haven't got through it. When you've hit your head against the wall so many times it has left a dent and the bump is sticking out at some point you have to consider this wall hitting just isn't getting anywhere. Such is the life of trying to get through level 199, I'm even beginning to wonder how Sparkling did it as she has now jumped over a 100 levels in front of me or is it games.  One or the other. I should give up because there are better things I can do with my life than play hours of Candy Crush, it is really pissing me off.

Now I'm ending the day with some films. Then to hit the hay and hopefully tomorrow morning wake up as bright as the day is long. Happy and flu free. Except for the big pile of elephant crap in my room.

A good moan and some thoughts about a little Princess

The weather has taken a turn for the worse. It's cold and feels like winter is trying to come back again. For feck sake it's bloody March!! It should be well and truly Spring but this is not the case. I got up this morning and the chill just seemed to keep catching up with me. Good, now I have something to moan about. It's not just the cold, I been feeling like shite and think I'm coming down with something. There is nothing like a good moan to make you feel better. On top of all this I'm stuck on level 199 of Candy Crush, it's too difficult and just doesn't seem to be giving me the right mix of combinations to finish it.  I've been down to one square on two occasions but then ran out of moves. It's been longer than a week and I must admit to the addiction starting to wear off.  My shoulder and arm are killing me. I don't know what happened, my left upper arm hurts bad if moved in a certain way.  Sparkling doesn't give me any sympathy and just says I need to be fully well when I come up because I will be looking after Princess J.  Well thankfully I've managed to get some time off from the Fish Factory OK'd and I'll be up to relieve Sparkling and getting a bit of Granddad Pops exercise, but only if my arm holds out.

It seems the mischievous little dynamo is so full of energy she is completely wearing out Sparkling.  When on a full day shift I'm lucky to get a ten minute phone call with her, and this week I've probably only spoken to Sparkling twice.  Then she's preoccupied with having to do something. Like Hoovering up, dusting, cleaning making food to eat.  A Gaga's work is never done.  Well, Rock Chick and Dangerous must be glad to get home from the daily grind to find Nanny Gaga has been a full entertainment centre and wearer outer of Princess J.  All she needs is a feed before bed and then 10 hours of sleep. Rock Chick says Princess J is playing up to Gaga and doesn't act the same way when she and Dangerous put their foot down. Sparkling puts princess to bed but she only sleeps for twenty minutes after lunch, then she is up again and moving about.  Princess is getting her own personality, she interacts and demands fun. When she sees Gaga she screams throws up and open her arms and laughs with joy. Awwe, I feel like this every time I see Sparkling as well. But restrain myself because by this time I'm opening a car door and throwing myself inside so she can accelerate off.  If I did act this way I'd be sure to get the pointed finger and a telling off, then again there is an age gap between me and Princess of nearly 50 years.

I feel much better now a moan and a chat about the most beautiful funny little girl I know who has the ability to twist me around her little finger.  I see pictures of her on Facebook and am enthralled because she is just so cute. Mind I have a suspicion Sparkling is also partly to blame for Princess J's cute demanding and funny character for she has a thing about making smiles and laughter, of which Princess has buckets full.