Ian Dick

House Update

We’ve put an offer in for a house! Closing date is this Friday at noon but to be honest I don’t think we’ll get it. The house needs a lot of work (re-wiring, new kitchen, new boiler, decor throughout) but it has great potential, its a really good location and its a fantastic size.

The downside is there is a lot of interest in it – 6 surveys including ours have been conducted and others are showing interest. Also its valued at ï¿½165k but it was advertised at offers over ï¿½110k to try and generate maximum interest and turn it into a bidding war.

If we get it – great. If we don’t then it wasn’t meant to be. But the next day and a half will drag until we know whats happening.

The Month

Bought The Sunday Times today just to try their new section, The Month. Disappointing – it’s no better than a website with trailers or a music preview site. No real content or depth to it – I expected some comment amongst the previews. The car advert at the start was also very annoying but I guess they’ve got to pay for it somehow.

Xbox Live

Well the new Xbox Live site is now online and available for use. But it seems pretty rushed at the moment as its not easy to login too and all the features aren’t available.

For anyone having trouble creating a login the problem is in the telephone area code. The form only accepts three digits so if like me your area code is 4 digits, enter the first 3 in the area code box then begin you telephone number with the last digit of your area code. Crap.

The friends list doesn’t seem to be available at the moment and theres only score boards for Moto GP2. But its a start and the new XSN titles look good.

BBC Archive…Online?

Over at the Copydesk some thought about the BBC archives online vision that Greg Dyke announced in Edinburgh. I’m glad I wasn’t the only that thought this was all hype. Copyright, technology and the sheer cost means this will never really see the light of day. A pity.

Closing Dates

The house we are looking at in Scotstoun is moving to a closing date, probably next week. Boo Hoo. So its down to luck whether we get this house or not. Also means a lot of working out over the next week – how much I can afford, how much is it worth, how much work does the house require. Super Great Smashing.

Windows XP in 5 hours

This made me laugh. Don’t remember step 53 though.

Xbox Live 2

Some pictures of the new Xbox Live can be seen here. Both website and Xbox are being updated to bring new features. Can’t wait.

Music Sales Are Up

Missed this over the last week. Album sales are up on last year as seen in this article from the Guardian. Also worth mentioning is this article which mentions that 87% of people who download music tracks are likely to buy the album on CD. Both of these are in contrary to the perception from the music industry that the internet is destroying its business.

For years people have copied music. In days of old tape decks were used to copy music and more recently cd-writers. But now if I buy a cd chances are I can’t copy the music to my Ipod and I can’t copy the album as mp3’s to my car mp3/cd player. Some of the albums don’t even play in the car. This forces me into downloading the tracks from the net so that I can listen to them on all my devices. Farce. Its time for the law not to side with the minority in the music industry but the majority which is the buying public – if I buy music I should be able to use on any device I own.

The Devil’s Dictionary

For geeks everywhere – The Devils Dictionary is for you. For example, todays entry:

e-mail, noun

A method of electronic communication, primarily used to inform you that your penis is too small.
“I’ve got e-mail. And it is not!”

House Update

Well the second viewing has taken place and theres a survey to be carried out at the start of next week. Then its time to make an offer. The bad news is that there’s another person really interested in the house so the price may go above my budget.

My heads mashed with options, what-if’s and if I’m honest….worry. But if we did get the house it would be worth it in the end.