Ian Robinson’s Soapbox

Got the MacBook today. Some first impressions: • It’s black. Really black. The references to Hotblack Desiato’s ship are fully justified. The case seems to absorb all light. I like it • The magnetic screen closure. Good strong magnet. • Screen angle. I can push the screen pack as far as I need. It certainly [...]

The Def Leppard song Wasted, from their debut album On Through The Night, has always been one of my favourite rock songs. Probably due to the the context of my life when it was released. Lots of good stuff happening like parties etc. I bought the album on tape originally. I think it’s still lying [...]

I took the urge to reread John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids a few days ago. Don’t know what made it pop into my head. I’d dumped my old paperback copy, that I’d had since secondary school, in a book bin at the local recycling centre a few months ago. So I ordered a copy from Amazon [...]

Apple have an article on their Pro website on the use of Apple products in the Sonic Arts Research Centre in Queen’s University.

Another reason to visit New York! The new underground Apple Store with the glass cube entrance. There is a nice time lapse video at the store home page. Click picture for larger view

I’ve just upgraded the version of WordPress that is used to deliver this site from version 1.5.2 to version 2.0.2. I think every thing is working okay but if anything breaks use the email link in the sidebar to let me know. Or comment on this entry. The reason for the upgrade, bearing in mind [...]

I’ve ordered a new black MacBook (or BlackBook as they are increasingly being referred to). I’m glad I returned my MacBook Pro now. The new BlackBook has everything I need in a portable and from what I’ve read so far the case on these doesn’t get as hot on the top as the MacBook Pro [...]

The new BBC Radio 4 comedy Down the Line is well worth a listen. It’s a spoof and parody of talk radio. The 2nd episode takes on religion and how to name a new primary colour. It’s priceless. You can listen online. The 2nd episode will be replaced online by episode 3 on Wednesday 17th [...]

If you feel that UK based scientists should be able to continue using animals in medical research, under strict rules to make sure there is no unnecessary suffering, then sign the People’s Petition.

Many people on lists I read and post to, mainly posters from the USA, will end their posts with some variant of “god bless” or “I’ll pray for you” in response to someone’s problem. If they think that praying to this god character is a productive use of time and that said entity will be [...]

On the 20th April it was 3 years since my first post here on my Soapbox on the subject of testicular cancer. Oops. Missed the anniversary. This is good. As far as I’m concerned after 3 years the TC is something that is in my past. I was really lucky as I got a form [...]

I’m developing a MacOS X and Windows application to use in the chemistry courses I do with the Open University (OU). It shows the long form of the Periodic Table of the Elements and displays information about the elements that I need when doing the courses. It’s pretty rudimentary at present but it’ll get better. [...]