Getting used to the cloud ...

Now I have the iPhone, I have been coming to terms with my cloud storage.

Have decided (for now anyway) to split my current needs between the 3 Leviathans, Google, Apple and Yahoo.

Google = EMail, Docs and Blog (using Chrome over FFx and Safi). Have now transferred all my saved personal S(tandard)Mail to Docs and am getting used to its interface. Also need to checkout the spreadsheets. Have now ditched Word/NeoOffice to originate SMail and other stuff. Need to retry publishing my thoughts through Blogger as evidenced here!. Google Cost = Free (currently)

Apple = Contacts and Websites (via MobileMe). This syncs 2-way with MacContacts and iPhoneContacts and 1-way with GMailContacts. However the latter has some inconsistencies that I am trying to iron out! Websites conveniently created and manipulated through iWeb on the Mac. Apple Cost = a massive £59 pa (I really must love Apple ;) )

Yahoo = Photos (via Flickr). I have just set up an account ... and will probably go with this big time. Yahoo cost = Free (currently)

A little rant ...

What is the Blogger obsession with this astrological nonsense. I did a search on my occupation, to find others (of my professional leaning) described as eg "Astarte ... 46 year old female Leo ... " What mind-boggling information. But wait, it gets better. The Chinese would have it that I am a wooden monkey ... aw ..... I wanna be a wooden monkey ... and not a scorpion.

Even the fabulous* tenets upon which Christianity and Islam are based, pale into insignificance compared with the utter banality of this 'star-sign' clap-trap. At least the two aforementioned religions/cultures are dotted with well-meaning advocates who genuinely care about their fellow human beings (incidentally, you fanatics are excluded here ... you know who you are ... you go about hating, maiming and even killing ... all because you KNOW you're right ... that must be quite a responsibility). The astrologers care only about fleecing the gullible to death. Yes, Mr and Mrs G, they'll take every penny you've got!

If Blogger wants to make it really entertaining ('tis all Astrology is after all), why not ask our band of bloggers about breast, waist and hip measurements? Could we please find out whether they have visited a country with a foreign-sounding name. ... and what's wrong with sexual history? Surely that would be more entertaining.

fabulous* = I refer to the creed of "If you don't understand it, invent an all-powerful entity to have created it. Ergo, it is explained!" Come on, what could be simpler? There are now no more mysteries in the Universe. So, instead of wondering about where things came from at the beginning and why the majority of mankind lives in poverty, we can now do the creator's will, which of course is whatever the religious leaders say it is. I'll give them their due ... it has worked for thousands of years. I wonder if it will still be there at the dawn of the 30th century (AD, of course).

The Family Unit (Dream)

I ate some cheese last night, just before departing to the land of Nod, and as a consequence had a strange dream.

It basically revolved around attempting to fit (mathematical) group theory to the family unit structure. During the dream, it all seemed to fit rather nicely, but in the cold light of day ... I am not quite so sure. For example, is a particular family (unit) an element of a group or the group itself ... and how are group operations defined? I need to consider this further!

Starkey is king

I first warmed to David Starkey on the Moral Maze (Radio 4) ... alas something he does not do any more. He was always able to cut to the quick, get directly to the point and was never short of axe-blow criticism where gentle admonishment would do. It was always worth hearing ... and tremendously entertaining.

He now hosts Starkey's Last Word (More4) in the evenings (late), something I never miss (recording ... to watch at my leisure). Here, he is less at-your-throat, more probing and, yes, sometimes quite overbearing. However, the program is a nice easy format, two 15-minute slots with three relative heavyweights discussing topics of current prominence.