“What’s going on here?”
“What?”
“Have you forgotten to plug in the aerial or something?”
“No… it’s there… what’s up?”
“I can only find five channels—three of which are very weak.”
“Great!”
“Where the hell do you live, sunshine—down a coal mine?”
“No—this is Great Britain. We have five terrestrial television channels.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope.”
“D’you want me to look for some channels for mainland Europe or something?”
“Nah—it’s fine. You won’t find anything else out there.”
“So what was the point of investing in a TV card for your computer then?”
“So I can watch telly and stuff.”
“Yeah, but for five channels? Was it really worth it? Where I come from, we have hundreds of channels…”
“Just get on with it, will you?”
“Okay, d’you wanna reboot now or later?”
“Now.”
“Okey dokey.”
[pop]
Monthly Archives: December 2001
Tying the knot
At Comdex this year, I believe it was Mr Gates himself who conceded that the PC platform was, for want of a better word, hopeless. Of course, from his point of view, he’s interested in dominating the whole market—software and hardware. But, on days like today, I’m inclined to agree that it’s a good idea.
Mac Purists are constantly reminding us that Macs are far more stable and better and prettier and so forth. I guess this is a prime example of how a tight relationship between those who build the boxes and those who code for them can benefit the user. As I sit here once again reinstalling the operating system on box number one, I’m quite happy for Mr Gates and his merry men to conquer the hardware market. At least then they won’t have any more excuses.
At the newsagent
“Hello, you’re Tony Blackburn, aren’t you?”
“That’s right: I am indeed. I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are.”
“My name is Mo.”
“Hello Mo. I’m surprised you recognised me.”
I observed his electric blue shell suit, luminous yellow woollen hat and jogging trainers, and shared his surprise. I also decided that, in future, it would be better not to go down the newsagent on a Sunday.
Infamy, infamy
People continue to sream by on their way to the Studios to pay their respects. It’s only at times like this when you realise what a massive impact The Beatles (and others like them) had on society. It reminds me of when I lived in Putney—the tree where Mark Bolan fatally crashed his car is still plastered with fresh flowers, nearly two decades later.