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Feb. 1st, 2006
Since I have mystified a few people with my earlier post, as was my express intention, here's a little clarification.
The fripperies of the human calendar aside, the year is divided into 4 quarters by the 4 main solar events of the year: the summer solstice (the longest day), the winter solstice (the shortest day) and the 2 equinoxes. The days that are half way in between these are the cross-quarter days.
They are also pagan festival days: today (or around now, depending on which calendar you use) is Imbolc or Imbolg. The others are Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. The Christians, bunch of opportunist thieves that they are, nicked these for their Candlemas, Walpurgis Night, Lammas & Halloween in their efforts to assimilate into Northern European society. Fling 'em back out again, I say. Let 'em go join the fun in the Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia. ;¬)
What this means to me is that we're over the hump of winter and sliding downhill into Spring, now, and that's cause for celebration, I reckon!
( Further reading... )
The fripperies of the human calendar aside, the year is divided into 4 quarters by the 4 main solar events of the year: the summer solstice (the longest day), the winter solstice (the shortest day) and the 2 equinoxes. The days that are half way in between these are the cross-quarter days.
They are also pagan festival days: today (or around now, depending on which calendar you use) is Imbolc or Imbolg. The others are Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. The Christians, bunch of opportunist thieves that they are, nicked these for their Candlemas, Walpurgis Night, Lammas & Halloween in their efforts to assimilate into Northern European society. Fling 'em back out again, I say. Let 'em go join the fun in the Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia. ;¬)
What this means to me is that we're over the hump of winter and sliding downhill into Spring, now, and that's cause for celebration, I reckon!
( Further reading... )
[Blog] The Curse of Wifi
Feb. 1st, 2006 01:41 pmAnd now, for something completely different.
I hate Wifi and modern wireless tech. It's flakey, insecure, a PITA to set up, and generally shows all the hallmarks of design by committee. Same goes for wireless keyboards and mice, which I personally find a pointless pain in the neck, tho' if clients are insistent I will set them up for them, albeit with profuse warnings that they will one day regret it. I am usually right; at least one client has reverted to wired devices since.
In recent weeks, I've set up my first powerline networking equipment, replacing an unreliable Wifi link -- and it worked an absolute treat and has made things rather better. I hope to be expanding that system soon, but shortly, I will be installing a slightly different setup at another site. Powerline Just Works™ and it does so very nicely indeed and is much easier, faster and generally more pleasant than that nasty radio-based rubbish.
I know lots of people who love wifi and tell me I'm all wrong and that it works great for them. I'm sure some will comment here. Well, bully for them. I can only suggest that I have perhaps got a smidge more real-world experience of its deep and abiding nastiness than they do.
So I read this article with great interest and pleasure. Go look. I really really hope Guy's right on this one.
Bluetooth set to take over wireless from WiFi as IEEE abandons the fight for UWB
I hate Wifi and modern wireless tech. It's flakey, insecure, a PITA to set up, and generally shows all the hallmarks of design by committee. Same goes for wireless keyboards and mice, which I personally find a pointless pain in the neck, tho' if clients are insistent I will set them up for them, albeit with profuse warnings that they will one day regret it. I am usually right; at least one client has reverted to wired devices since.
In recent weeks, I've set up my first powerline networking equipment, replacing an unreliable Wifi link -- and it worked an absolute treat and has made things rather better. I hope to be expanding that system soon, but shortly, I will be installing a slightly different setup at another site. Powerline Just Works™ and it does so very nicely indeed and is much easier, faster and generally more pleasant than that nasty radio-based rubbish.
I know lots of people who love wifi and tell me I'm all wrong and that it works great for them. I'm sure some will comment here. Well, bully for them. I can only suggest that I have perhaps got a smidge more real-world experience of its deep and abiding nastiness than they do.
So I read this article with great interest and pleasure. Go look. I really really hope Guy's right on this one.
Bluetooth set to take over wireless from WiFi as IEEE abandons the fight for UWB