Been shopping, this time bought a couple of video games, one of which I'm not allowed to play just yet. The other is Sega GT 2002 for the X-BOX. I got it cheap, second hand. Second hand games are a really good idea (although you do have to wonder why you would want to buy something another person has already rejected - anything which appears in the second hand racks within a week of release is probably a bad deal - but after 8 or 9 months I reckon you are OK). I like driving games and I'm kind of looking for a Grand Turismo game for the X-BOX.

Not played it yet, but some of the race titles in the manual appear kind of tempting, the "Bridgestone Amazing Race" might be fun, and I'm really looking forward to having a bash at "Group B Monsters". I wonder how Godzilla handles?

 

For all those who think that writing a blog is silly. This should shut you up.

Went to Scarborough to dish out some more degrees. Lovely location at Spa Hall and a free lunch. And everything went just right.

One of the graduates, Thomas Hoy, picked up a 2:1 at the age of 80. I just hope I'm doing as well at his age.

 

One of my project students came to see me bearing gifts today. He has just completed a tough degree and worked really well on it. His mom came along and had brought me some presents from China, a pair of fans and a nice thing to hang on the wall. It is great to be appreciated. I just wish I had been smart enough to have something to give back. I think I'm going to get a stock of Uni. T shirts in for just such occasions. Anyway, thank you very much Yang Xu and best wishes for the future.

Came home to find number one son and friend watching the Resident Evil movie DVD. It is quite a good film if you like video games. I'd love to be the person that writes the dialogue:

Expendable 1 : "Look Out"
Expendable 2 : "Over there"
BANG
Expendable 1 : "There's hundreds of them.."
BANG BANG BANG WHOOSH BANG
Expendable 2 : "Oh heck (or similar)"

However, if I did write the dialogue I would try to inject a little more realism into the production:

Expendable 1 : "Let's split up and search the place"
Rob : "Are you mad?! Lets get the heck (or similar) out of here and go for a burger"

Of course my efforts would pale into insignificance when compared with what the real writers can come up with. Consider this from Tomb Raider the movie:

Lara: "It's from my father. He must have written it before he died"

I nearly died laughing at that one.

Anyway, Resident Evil gives the sound system a good workout. I hear they are making a sequel. I wonder if it will be a musical?

 

Number one son wants an ibook. Not a notebook PC, but an Apple ibook. I think that it is just part of his chosen path to make dad's life as difficult and expensive as possible, but it does mean that at 09:59 I'm waiting for the Apple refurbished store to open so that I can try to get one for him without destroying my credit card limit. Son has sort of gainful employment and undertakes to pay me back, hah, but wants the shiny new toy now....

Ho hum. Store closed this week. Nice trick that, say the store is only open for a few hours a week and then close it anyway..

But I have nailed the wasps though. (we had a wasps nest over the porch which I had decided was one too many). The first stuff I tried was a few years old and was a white powder which turned out to be just white powder. I squirted it in the nest and the wasps had a rather nice winter themed party with snowmen and everything. Apparently the active ingredient decays over time. So I bought some more stuff which seems to have done the trick. I'm a bit worried about turning up in heaven to be confronted by a whole bunch of angry wasps who "want to have a word with me", but I'm reliably informed that wasps don't go to heaven, so I should be OK. (of course this pre-supposes that I will, but I'm giving myself the benefit of the doubt just right now).

 

One of the highlights of the year. I did my graduation day warmup speech. In City Hall, in front of all the graduates and their families. I really love doing this, especially with students that I've actually taught something. Seemed to go OK, but by gum it was hot. And there we all were in our nice thick suits with gowns on top. I felt most sorry for the ones on the platform, because they have all this plus the bright lights beating down on them.

I was v. pleased that the VC (Vice Chancellor) mentioned the .NET degree and the Imagine Cup success in his speech.

Did a second degree ceremony in the afternoon which went fine until I kind of brought down the wrong row of students, forcing the Dean to try to give James's degree to Jessica. Arrrgh! Never, ever, done that before and will never, ever do that again. Note to self: when you think you have done the hard bit don't slow down - because some of the easy bits can turn out to be quite hard as well..

And the blog has another reader (stand up John). He made the mistake of following the link in my email sig. and read the lot. But will he return? Only time will tell...

 

Morning: Sorting out exam questions and syllabuses (syllabi?). Afternoon: Developing a spec. for version two of our wonderful (but still top secret) product. Evening: Writing more stuff for the PIC CD-ROM.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But what if Jack starts off dull?

 

Sunday. Day of rest. Except for me. Spent the day updating the new C4PICS CD-ROM. Probably shouldn't have added the camel joke.