PigPog

BBC NEWS | Technology | Firefox browser takes on Microsoft: “Few people get excited when some new software is released, especially when the program is not a game or a music or movie player. “

If you haven’t got it yet, go get it.

Canon Camera Museum – Any retro photogeeks out there? Good, head over to the Canon Camera Museum, and have a good browse around.

Our mission to transform ourselves from bored office workers with too much free time to hard rocking metal goddesses continued today round at Emma’s. We’re now a three-guitar outfit now I have the ESP (click here to see last week’s posting for more about that), and Emma alternated between playing her Crafter Cruiser and the good old Strat.

Working with Guitar Pro, we soldiered on with Enter Sandman which, according to Emma’s Mum, "Sounds like a funeral dirge played at that speed." ‘That speed’ being 40bpm. She might have a point there. We decided to have a laugh and have a go at playing it at its actual speed, 123bpm (according to the tab we’ve been working from). And, because I thought I may as well while I was making a complete idiot of myself anyway, I had a go at singing. It all went horribly wrong and we went back to plodding through at a steady, sensible, dirge-y 55bpm. I managed to play the rhythm guitar part right through to the end, and Emma managed as far as the solo, which ain’t bad as the solo looks like a finger-mangling nightmare. She pointed out repeatedly that I had got the cushier end of the deal, and until I start singing she’s absolutely right. I’m sure she’ll nail the solo just as well as she’s nailed the rest of the song. Though she might have to buy herself an ESP first (all donations gratefully received).

We rounded off the day with a little tribute to our favourite group. With the assistance of Emma’s mum. Quality gesticulating there, Anna!

We’ll be getting together again for more of the same in a fortnight, when I’ll be posting another update on our progress.

George W. Bush’s Online Journal: “You Mess with Bush, You Get Toast. I Am Not a Magic 8 Ball Despite My Abnormally Bald Head.”

Thanks, QT!

The Beatles Saturday Morning Cartoon

Action figures based on the characters from The Beatles cartoon. John, Paul and Ringo are all cute. George is scary and reminds me of the witch out of Chorlton and the Wheelies.

Of course, while at the McFarlane site, it’d be rude not to mention this -

Kirk Hammett is 5 7/8 inches tall and articulated at the neck, shoulders, hips and ankles. Kirk is dressed in all black, too, and captured in the middle of one of his famous fretboard runs. Includes his Jackson guitar.

Santa! Over here, mate. I’ve found my list and I’ve been eversogood this year.

Thanks, Kliff!

Sorry Everybody — How Can We Make It Up To You?

Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com: “The advertisements that ran on about 200 buses across the city in recent months carried posters displaying a suggestively posed woman in hot pants kneeling among a pile of books beside the snappy slogan ‘Read Books, Get Brain.’

What unhip, unsuspecting local transportation officials did not know was that ‘get brain’ is street slang for oral sex.”

You gorgeous creature! I adore you! You’re my soulmate, my joy and my best friend in the world.

I love you.

Wired 12.11: The Geek Guide to Kosher Machines: “Since he was hired seven years ago, Ottensoser has helped nine companies design Sabbath modes for more than 300 types of ovens and stoves, and dozens of refrigerators. When the feature is enabled, lights stay off and displays are blank; tones are silenced, fans stilled, compressors slowed. In a kosher fridge, there’s no light, no automatic icemaker, no cold-water dispenser, no warning alarm for spoiled food, no temperature readout.”

(Via sensoryimpact.)

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Kerry admits US election defeat: “Democratic challenger John Kerry has admitted defeat in the US election, giving President George W Bush a second term in office.”

Oh, bollocks.