:: The-way-to-the-centre ::

:: Sunday, March 28, 2004 ::

366 days on

 

I have just realised that the way to the centre is 1 one year old today. Doesn't seem like that long really.

:: Ian 8:59 PM | Permalink | ::

 

As a result of my current work I regularly get to see the underside of bridges, where the majority of people don't go. Unsurprisingly, I get to see lots of graffiti, the majority of which is of the 'Ian woz ere' type. However, last week I encountered something slightly more unusual:



The answer to which is either 1.42 or 0.12, depending on how you interpret the use of the square root function.

More interesting to me was this:



Where someone has taken the time and effort to quote Pi to 22 decimal places, but after 3.14 has got it completely wrong. It seems strange to have gone to that effort and not do it properly. I have half a mind to go back with a spray can and correct it.

:: Ian 4:38 PM | Permalink | ::

 

Recently purchased on my last trip to Leamington Spa:
Global Underground 26 - James Lavelle in Romania.



To quote a currently running advert: It is dirty and you want it.

:: Ian 3:38 PM | Permalink | ::

 

Its lashing down with rain at the moment. I have to go out on site in an hour or three. Fridays are supposed to be a half day spent in the office, but one of the cameras broke down yesterday and no camera = no surveying.
On a TV note I would just like to draw attention to Black Books on Channel 4 (10pm Thursdays). If you don't watch it you should, it is true comic genius.

:: Ian 10:05 AM | Permalink | ::

 

I have just started on the project for which we got given lots of nice toys. I was working next to the rail line classed as slow, but can now speak from experience that slow is not I term that is particularly appropriate when a train is going past at 90mph about 4 feet from your shoulder. All the indications are that the next 4 weeks are not going to be pleasant.
Owing to the lack of internet access lineside, blogging is likely to be late night and sporadic until normal service is resumed.

:: Ian 12:27 AM | Permalink | ::

 

Last night I set up my telescope for the first time in about 3 months (due to far too much cloud) and was lucky to happen across the sight of Ganymede (on of the four largest of Jupiters' moons) passing in front of the planet itself. The whole transit takes between 2 and 5 hours but unfortunately, due to a telescopes amazing power to create clouds, I only saw about 15 minutes worth before the clouds rolled in.
This was the first transit I have seen, and it was impressive, even though Jupiter was only 5 degrees or so from the full moon. I had been debating whether to go out (due to the full moon), I am glad I did.

:: Ian 8:55 PM | Permalink | ::

 

This morning on the way to work the alternator belt on my car decided to part company with the rest of the engine, resulting in me sitting on the hard shoulder of the M42 watching the traffic jams caused by Crufts. 'No problem' I though, 'I'll call the breakdown people and they will send a person who will be able to fix it, anyone with the tools can do that'. Wrong. Winched onto the wagon, taken to a local(ish) garage and then left to travel for about on an hour on unknown public transport. I am sure I remember footage of when the AA and such were trained mechanics and carried tools and spares. No longer it seems.

:: Ian 12:37 PM | Permalink | ::

 

It would appear the key to the problem was that the mobile in question is pay-as-you-go and was out of credit. Quite why the recorded message couldn't tell me this fact I do not know.
This theory has not yet been tested, but theoretically it makes sense. Unfortunately I can't make international calls from work and when I get home it will be 2am in China.
A late night it is then.

:: Ian 2:22 PM | Permalink | ::

 

My most hated recorded message of the moment. Recently I have spent large amounts of time trying to phone a certain mobile phone in Beijing. I know the international code (00 86), the city code (10), which I shouldn't need, and the mobile number (135XXXXXXXX).
It worked once though I can't remember exactly what I dialed. There are only a finite number of ways of dialing 00 86 10 13X leaving bits out.
Now every time I get that damned message. Technology that allows you to talk across 5,500km is great. Technology that almost allows you to talk across 5,500km is the creation of the devil.

:: Ian 1:41 PM | Permalink | ::