timwheatley.org

My grandmother passed away a week and four days ago, we buried her yesterday in a beautiful funeral.

Today, my mother called Hoseasons and said that one of her happy memories with her mother took place when walking near the town of Pickering, North Yorkshire. She asked if it would be possible to book somewhere to stay that was pet friendly and near to Pickering.

The woman on the other end of the phone obliged, after a little while finding a place that she said was 2.5 miles away from the town of Pickering. She would send us details through via email at around 4-5pm and happily took the money from my parents bank account.

Both my little brothers (both still under the age of 18, and who had both had to deal with the loss of their grandmother, and who also had happy memories of times they spent near Pickering) came home from school today and were told that for the first time in three years, they would be having a break - getting a holiday.

Then, at about 5pm, I check the email.

It turns out that the cottage Hoseasons booked us into was not 2.5 miles away from Pickering, it was almost 70 miles from pickering - almost in Scotland. When we called them back, of course they were not able to help and we had to take a refund (which will take a few days to get back in my parents account).

So, if you ever book with Hoseasons, be really careful or you could end up really far from anything you want to be close to and who knows? Maybe you’ll not have enough beds, maybe you’ll even be in a different country? Wouldn’t that be fun?

I was so surprised by this movie. As someone who hadn’t read the comic books and had no idea who, or what Ironman was, I expected an action-packed movie with a mediocre storyline that would be worth seeing, but nothing more… How wrong I was.

Ironman is an excellent movie, it does lack action sequences (I expected to see a lot more fighting from the robot), but actually I have to say, you don’t notice they aren’t there… The movie stands up with a strong storyline, superb dialogue and most surprisingly, perhaps, an actor absolutely perfect for the role of Ironman.

Tony Stark is the head (and genius) of a weapons manufacturer, he is proud of what he does and doesn’t seem to care about the destruction he causes. This character is oddly accepted in the real-world also and this is one of the many messages this movie seems to be trying to send to it’s audience.

When in Afghanistan on a weapons demonstration exercise, Tony Stark is taken captive by a group of ‘rebels’ located in the mountain ranges it is thought are occupied by Bin Laden in real-life. The weapons used to attack the military convoy he is in - are his own weapons. They are holding him and expect him to build one of the missiles the rebels witnessed being demonstrated. Stark decides that he should instead build a weapon that will allow him to escape. He builds “Ironman.”

After a very cool escape from the cave he was held in, Stark returns to America and decides to shut down weapon production until it can be better traced where his weapons are going… He then becomes obsessed with developing and perfecting his Ironman prototype and with his new found ‘good heart’, he begins to try to rid the world of the weapons he sold to what he believes is the wrong side…

Go out and see this movie! The storyline is excellent, the special effects are very good and although there are a lack of action scenes, it doesn’t feel like it. The perfect actor was cast for the role of Ironman and his delivery of some extremely witty dialogue is worth the price of admission alone…

Well, thank you Skype!

I just signed up for one of the new subscription packages the guys at Skype are offering. It allows me to call any landline in 34 countries for nothing more than the $9.95 per month from Skype…

But that is not all, as a part of that subscription you get access to something else, something very cool. “Skype To Go” is given for free with this subscription…

What is Skype To Go? Well, I live in the USA at a 312 area code. Skype To Go gives me a 312 area code number to call (from any phone, including my cell phone), I enter a pin and then I can call those 34 countries, for free! All I might have to pay for, is a 312 to 312 call - which is free for me.

So, what this means is that I can be anywhere in Chicago, including on a Cell phone, I can call the 312 number (local, or usually free call), enter pin number, select speed-dial #1 and my mum will get the call to her landline in Britain. I don’t even need Skype installed on my PC anymore! That contact capability is just $9.95 per month - Skype rocks!

Here is a panoramic photo of the Chicago Skyline at Dawn. The photo was taken from North Avenue Beach near Lincoln Park.

I had intended to take a 360 degree image, but the sun moved so much and so quickly at this time of the day that it is impossible to accurately stitch that area of the 360 degrees together. I hope you enjoy this image anyway.

For those of you not Registered for News Updates, here is what Scott had to say in there.

While there are plenty of significant events scattered throughout the global racing calendar, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and so forth, May is the unquestioned annual focal point for our sport. NASCAR has the Coca Cola 600. Formula One has the Grand Prix of Monaco. And, let’s face it, Indycar practically owns the phrase “The month of May.” No matter what branch, or branches, of motorsport you happen to prefer, May is our time.

How appropriate then that we announce iRacing’s most significant move to date, the start of Beta testing, at the start of racing’s most significant month. It seems so perfect that you might even think we planned it that way. Well, we didn’t.

The fact is we’ve been working as hard and fast as possible to get iRacing ready for prime time. I daresay that teams prepping for the long day at Lowe’s, the tight confines of Monte Carlo or “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” have nothing on the iRacing development team as they’ve readied for the simultaneous roll-out of a new version of our software, a new version of our members’ website, and the influx of nearly one thousand new testers.

And remember, this is only the start of May. By the time the last sips of ceremonial Coke, champagne and milk are gone, we should be nearly ready to announce a green-flag date for our own new branch of the sport.

You can Register for Updates at iRacing.com.

BEDFORD, MA (5 May 2008) — iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations co-principals John Henry and David Kaemmer today announced the transition from alpha to beta testing of the company’s new motorsport simulation and integrated internet racing service. The announcement marks the culmination of nearly four years of development work.

“For people who have been with us from the start, including the development team, testers and the racing enthusiasts anticipating our launch, it has been a long road,” said Henry. “But the start of beta testing is an enormous milestone for us. Most importantly, for all those who have been so patient, it’s a sign that we’re nearly there. While we still have a lot of work to complete, we anticipate that beta will be measured in weeks rather than months.”

Henry said that formal alpha testing of the service — which integrates new simulation software, web-based infrastructure and a professionally run sanctioning body — began a little more than a year ago, but testing of the concept began even before the company was formally incorporated in fall of 2004. “A core group of us had already started working on various aspects of the service, and in August of 2004 we recruited about 30 veteran simracers to help us test out our ideas and preliminary work. Given the complexity of this undertaking, it’s a testament to the quality of the people involved that we’ve made it to beta in less than four years.”

I’ve been with iRacing.com since May, 2005. I’m so proud to see what it has become! Near 1000 testers will be joining the existing group this week, I’m looking forward to racing with them. Read More.

If you didn’t know, we have three cats. We had an adult cat that has a shyness problem, we got a kitten a few weeks back, and recently got another kitten (the brother of the first one).

The reason we took the third cat was because we either took it, or it was getting put to sleep. It has Cerebellar Hypoplasia and that means it’s motion skills are very bad. As it was the brother of our kitten, we took it because the adult cat spends most of her time hiding and we felt that the kittens could play with each other.

I Added another Photo Gallery recently. You can access it directly in this post. Feel free to comment. There is also a video below the photos.

Well done Apple. You’ve managed to piss off someone who uses both PC and Mac enough for him to make a post pointing out the ‘flaws’ in Mac… This kind of negative advertising, where you would rather say what is bad about some other product than what is good about yours, is every reason why this post is being made.

I’m not normally one to attack the Mac OS because personally, I like it. But, Apple’s latest marketing strategy seems to be anti-PC, so let’s took at this page and go through their reasons why Mac is better than PC, step by step.

It’s gorgeous. Inside and out.

Since the software on every Mac is created by the same company that makes the Mac itself, you get a completely integrated computer that’s as secure, stable, and powerful as it is elegant and easy to use.

I’m glad you brought this up. While Apple decides what hardware works on it’s systems and can easily test it, Microsoft have literally millions of combinations of computer parts that they have to worry about. If Windows is any less stable than the Mac OS on the hardware front, I can certainly understand why.

Brains…

What’s inside a Mac? Only the world’s most advanced operating system and a suite of software that’s just as brilliantly designed as the computer itself.

I have to say, I love some of the Mac OS software that’s available, but there is a PC version of EVERYTHING available on a Mac. It might not have the same name and have all the same features, but I can’t think of anything I can do on a Mac that I can’t do on a Windows-based PC. On the other hand, I can think of a LOT of software that is available for PC that simply does not have a suitable replacement on the Mac OS… Maybe that’s why Apple thought it a good idea to provide a utility that allows Windows to be installed on a Mac? Maybe that’s why VMWare, Crossover and other virtual machine utilities exist and allow Windows-based programs to run on a Mac? Something lacking, perhaps?

…and beauty.

Recyclable glass and aluminum. A trip-proof power cord. A stunning display. Even the keyboard is beautiful. Get a closer look at a few of the design details that make a Mac a Mac.

You have me here. I love the minimalist design of a Mac. They’re gorgeous. But, you keep selling them with those silly single-button mice, don’t you? Do many Mac OS users even know about the ‘Right Mouse Button menu’s’ that make life in that OS so much easier?

It does what a PC does, only better.

A Mac has all the essentials built right in, including the latest wireless technology, advanced Intel chips, and a rock solid operating system that’s loaded with innovations.

So we’re playing like that, are we?

Born ready.

Unlike other computers that require you to spend hours configuring devices, a Mac connects to your digital camera, wireless device, or external drive and just works. Really.

That is, of course, unless it doesn’t “just work”. The ONLY reason users experience less hardware issues with a Mac is because you decide what goes inside them, don’t try to pretend it’s anything else. Anyone who has installed the Mac OS onto PC-architecture knows that it’s far, far more difficult to install an unknown device on a Mac than it is on a PC. Having to hack a driver is not fun. You might be able to fool the general reader with this crap and that’s obviously why you do it… Does my Wireless Skype Phone count as something that should “just work”? Because it doesn’t, not even on a real Mac.

The PC? Detects the Skype phone fine, even tells you what the hardware is right away. Install the driver and away you go.

Instantly wireless.

A Mac makes wireless easy. Networks automatically appear, and you can get on the Internet with a few clicks.

Um, any Windows-PC with a Wireless connector does the same.

A conversation piece.

Lots of computers come with built-in cameras these days. But only a Mac comes with iChat software that lets you have four-way video chats,1 give presentations, and even share your screen with people all over the world.

That’s really nice. Well, it’s nice until your camera breaks and you have to send the entire computer away - or carry the whole thing to an Apple Store - to get it fixed. Sometimes being able to plug things in is actually better for the user. Remember that one, ok?

High performance.

With the latest Intel processors and other engineering leaps, a new Mac does all the things that only a Mac can do — at an astonishing speed.

Let’s not mention your switch to Intel, eh? Windows actually runs really well on both AMD and Intel chips. Some people even say AMD provide better chips, it’s a shame you’re not using them now… Why the switch again? Doh, I said I wouldn’t mention it…

I wonder just how many programs fail to run because they are built for Intel and the user has an old non-Intel Mac, or vice versa. Let’s not forget too that these aren’t your “engineering leaps” - they’re Intel’s.

Always up to date.

A Mac regularly checks for updates to Mac OS X and any included Apple software and automatically downloads them. So really, a Mac gets better with age.

Hmm. I feature where the latest version of something is offered for download? Surely not!

But, isn’t this feature available in almost every piece of software on the planet? Including Windows?

Safe for you and your kids.

Designed with security in mind, Mac OS X isn’t plagued by constant attacks from viruses and malware. Likewise, it isn’t inundated by never-ending security dialogs. So you can safely go about your work — or play — without interruption. And easy-to-use parental controls let you manage what your kids can do on the computer and when they can do it.

No, you’re right. It isn’t constantly plagued by attacks but that’s because it’s not popular enough. Believe me, when enough people use Mac’s to make it worthwhile a hacker learning how to beat them, it won’t take long for the Mac OS to have a bad reputation. Saying you’re more secure than Windows is like me saying I could have been a great Footballer (if I liked playing the game at all).

Just recently I read about a hacking competition where the computer broken the fastest was MacBook Air. It took just two minutes (and a SINGLE visit to a Web site containing the right code) for the laptop to be under the control of the hacker. The hacker got $10,000 and a free laptop for his trouble, but don’t let that make you think that he isn’t at home practicing for next year - on YOUR Mac. The REALLY amusing thing is that the same method was used last year - and obviously is still a gaping security hole Apple have yet to fill. Similar exploits are causing iPhones, Mac’s and even PCs to be taken over by hackers - all thanks to Apple.

So, it’s 5:20am and Sheila and I leave home as normal. Sheila starts work at 6am and I usually walk her there then just walk back - but not today! Having just gotten my Permanent Resident’s Card I am now able to go and get a Social Security Card and Number, so today I’d be going to do that instead.

I wander around for an hour or so taking photographs of the Sears Tower from the south-side, the sun comes up and at the same time various dark clouds begin to appear in the sky. “These are probably the clouds - and storm - that were meant to arrive at 3pm yesterday afternoon” - I think to myself.

As I begin to walk back towards the centre of the city I hear a rumble of thunder and the heavens opened… Finding shelter by the side of one of the many skyscrapers I notice a store inside the lobby that would probably sell umbrella’s. I walk in and buy an umbrella that says “Wind-Proof” on the packaging… I walk outside and on only the second or third gust of wind, my “Wind-Proof” umbrella breaks.

Now using my broken umbrella, I continue to wander around. I find the building that I think is the Social Security building and I walk inside to ask one of the Security Guards - he confirms I have found the right place. I memorise the cross-streets that run alongside the building entrance and leave to see if I can find something to eat as I still have about an hour to wait.

I see a McDonald’s Restaurant near the Daley Plaza and wander inside. I walk up to the counter and order a McMuffin, Hash Brown and Coke. I swipe my card and literally not one second later, my food appears next to the payment console. “Wow! That was fast…” I thought to myself.

I sit myself down on a bar stool style seat next to the window. Helpfully there is a bank outside it with one of those temperature and time readouts and someone also left their newspaper. So I read their paper, eat my food and stare out of the window until the clock across the road reads ‘8:20am’.

I walk back to the Social Security Administration building, using my broken umbrella to keep myself as dry as I can, go through the ‘airport style’ security in the main lobby and head up the two escalators to the office I need only to find I was beaten to it by about ten other people - and it’s only 8:30am. The office doesn’t even open until 9am! I sit on the floor along with everyone else and as 9am gets closer, more and more people turn up and sit around (there are no chairs in that office lobby).

Then finally it’s 9am and some sort of Security Guard walks up and goes into the office. He looks like one of those guys who probably used to be in the Army, who probably was a Drill Sergeant, who probably could have been in the Marines - but felt they weren’t tough enough for him, you know the type. He gives a little speech before he opens the door, telling everyone to check-in using the computer terminal, take a number and wait until you are called to a window.

As everyone moves towards the door I suddenly find myself no longer the 11th person in line, but the 29th (I counted because it pissed me off). How that happened I have no idea, but the rest of the folks queuing up obviously have no idea how to be polite enough to realize it should be first come, first served. I finally get my ticket printed at 9:05am.

About an hour flashes by and I’m still sat there. I have already noted that people who came long after me have already long-gone, but I’m not bitter, oh no, I’m not bitter. Those people who left, missed one of the most entertaining things I have ever seen in my entire life. The entertainment came from the aforementioned Security Guard and a guy who seems to lack both common sense and decency…

So, it’s about 10:10am. Bearing in mind that what people do in a Social Security office is work with people’s private information, you’d expect people to be pretty respectful of one another’s privacy, wouldn’t you? Well, I watch a man walk up to a window where someone else is being served, he stands right at the side of the other person and starts butting into their conversation. He probably only wanted to know a little thing, he probably only wanted to talk for a moment, but he could have waited… If he had, maybe the Security Guard wouldn’t have seen him and said “Excuse me, Sir? Can you move back and give that Gentleman some privacy?”

No response. He continues trying to talk to the person in the window…

“Sir, move back and give him some privacy.” Says the Guard.

“Sir, move back and give him some privacy.” Says the Guard again.

This time, the man turns and in a pretty disrespectful tone of voice says “What!? MAN!”

The Guard repeats “What. Man? I said can you move back, Sir.”

The Guard notices pretty quickly that he is being ignored and he walks around the desk where people are filling out application forms, walking right infront of me to do so. It’s at this point that I thought to myself how I wouldn’t mess with the Guard…

The man, seeing the Guard approaching him, starts to walk backwards away from the window, but as he does I could hear a few things being said under his breath. He then says “Don’t touch me, man. Don’t put your hands on me.”

The Guard, probably as puzzled as I am by how the man was reacting, says nothing.

As soon as the man said “Don’t fucking put your hands on me, man!” He had crossed a line.

“If I do put my hands on you, your face will be pushed to the floor.” Said the Guard. “You need to leave the building. Now.”

The man, who didn’t seem to have grasped that his visit to the Social Security building was over, just repeated what he’d said before…

Suddenly the Guard in one swift motion seemed to both push and pull the man at the same time. The man ended bent over, with his elbow inverted and his hand being held by the thumb. It sort of looked like the Guard could have broken both the man’s arm and thumb at the same time if he had wanted to. The Guard started to march the guy, still in the arm-hold, to the door while the man continued to say things I couldn’t really understand (because of his accent) except for the swearwords.

Then, the magic happened, the man came out with the funniest thing he could have possibly said… “God Damn, Robo-Cop, Mother Fucker!”

The rest of my day pales in comparison, but never wanting to leave a story unfinished, here it is. I applied for my Social Security Card and it’ll arrive in about two weeks, I waited about two and a half hours in total. After that, I walked (with broken umbrella) back to the nearest Bus Stop for the Bus that goes by our Condo, got the bus, then sat on it for ten minutes while the driver (who presumably doesn’t like the work breaks given to her by law each day), went to the store to buy groceries. Of course, as she is out of the bus, a queue begins to form of various people who’re all getting wet… But hey, at least when the doors opened and my ride continued home it was first come, first served.