Topic: Technology
Not just stuff about your iPod
Shut Up Mr Crow
Trawling the Internet while waiting for something to install led me to this http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/25/leaked_doc_discusses_new_techs/ article on the register about TFL wanting to trial driver less automated trains on the Tube.
As usual it seems when TFL change the colour of the soap or the wind blows in the wrong direction, Bob Crow General Secretary of the RMT is up in arms. Well Bob, if you didn’t take the drivers out on strike so often then maybe, just maybe TFL wouldn’t be considering it. Let me think how much is a Tube Driver paid http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23993740-tube-driver-pay-to-top-pound-50000.do Oh £52K. To drive a train… underground and the fuckers still go on strike at the drop of the hat.
So yes Bob no doubt they do want to get rid of your precious drivers, because they cost far too much, and strike when you don’t realise how good you’ve got it. This isn’t like the old days when the union was standing up to oppression and evil factory owners.
October 25th, 2011 | Technology | No Comments
Moving Cargo By Road Is Dead,
It’s just nobody’s told the road haulage association.
Eventually the oil will run out , there is no escaping that single fact. It’s not a renewable resource and we might as well face the fact. But there is a transport solution for moving cargo and it’s …
The railways
Yep, some companies are already doing it but a single train can haul more cargo than any lorry alone, and guess what we can make practical electric trains that could be powered by an enormous combination of types of generated electricity.
If only the government had the impetus … never mind the tories are in power.
October 15th, 2010 | Technology | No Comments
Orange – The Mobile Operator Without A Clue?
Sometime around the summer of 1999 I joined the then fledgling mobile operator Orange and got a Nokia 3210. The phone was great the service was nothing but exceptional. Over the years I had all sorts of combinations of pricing plans and handsets.
One could say I’ve paid my dues with the company as over the last ten years I’ve probably spent no less than £4560 just based on the lowest priced contract I’ve held. The figure is probably higher when you add data services, paid handset upgrades, calls outside of the contract and so forth. It’s a big number in these days of people switching operator every 12 months.
So when I call up and report a fault with my Blackberry, why must I be sent from pillar to post over what is a warranty exchange. The call I made should have taken no more that 15 minutes to resolve but instead it took 3 phone calls and about an hour and a half. That’s 90 minutes of my life that I could have done something far more productive and useful.
On the first call the customer service representative took my details, diagnosed my fault and then told me as I had collected the phone from an Orange store that I would have to visit the Orange store again so they could return (Note not replace but return) it for repair. When I asked why couldn’t she organise the exchange I was told it was because the Orange store is not part of Orange. Thats right Oranges own stores are not part of the same company as Orange.
Getting nowhere fast with the customer service department I rang the store who informed me that I could either ring 150 for the customer service department that I had just spoken to to organise an exchange or I could visit the store and they would … ring the customer service department for me and arrange a replacement.
So for the second time I called the customer service department and explained the fact that I was somewhat upset at being given the run around. After a little discussion the representative arranged for a courier to swap my handset tomorrow morning.
While I’m under no impression that any network operator is any better when my contract comes to an end or any loophole becomes available in my contract I’m off somewhere else. I’m getting sick of being treated like a second rate customer by a company that I’ve spent an awful lot of money with over the years. Maybe someone else will finally give me the handset I ask for rather than making a pile of excuses why they can’t and then fix it quickly when it breaks without any hassle.
August 13th, 2009 | Technology | No Comments
Professional Recognition
Today Justin Mingaye from the IET came to visit us at the office to talk about the route to professional registration namely CEng or IEng. I’ve always been on the fence about going after Chartered status, but seeing how straightforward the process is and witnessing what appears to be quite some support within the company for it I’ve decided to get started.
Over my cup of afternoon Tea I took the first step and completed the application form for membership of the IET, ticking the box to apply for the status of Member and the designatory letters of MIET.
Once the application is processed and approved I can start on the next step which is assessing my skills and experiences against the 16 competences in the Engineering Councils standard for CEng.
June 10th, 2009 | Technology | No Comments
Homebrew iPod Dock
When I picked up my iPod classic the friday before gangshow the first thing I thought after unboxing it and loading it with tunage is what a fab dock the box would make. Today this widget arrived from sparkfun which means I can access every pin in the dock connector.
March 9th, 2009 | Lifeblog, Technology | No Comments