Ch..ch..ch..changes

There are about 5 days left on our troublesome internet contract - well, to be fair, in the fortnight or so since the engineer arrived and 'did nothing', it's worked a charm. Nonetheless, it took a long time to get someone out to look at it, and there has been no sign or sound of attempts at compensation from anybody.

Plus, whatever else can be said for or against Entanet, they are not cheap. I'm not sure that their pricing is even competitive now; it may have been twelve months ago, but their bulk standard 512k ADSL is only £1.50 cheaper a month than Wanadoo's 1mB connection. No contest there price-wise at any rate.

I think I need to mooch around the intarweb and look at a few other ISPs, but I have to say that despite its horrid name, Wanadoo (didn't it used to be Freeserve?) is looking choice. I don't see why we should pay £26.50 a month for 512k when £27.99 will buy us a full meg.

Ch..ch..ch..changes

There are about 5 days left on our troublesome internet contract - well, to be fair, in the fortnight or so since the engineer arrived and 'did nothing', it's worked a charm. Nonetheless, it took a long time to get someone out to look at it, and there has been no sign or sound of attempts at compensation from anybody.

Plus, whatever else can be said for or against Entanet, they are not cheap. I'm not sure that their pricing is even competitive now; it may have been twelve months ago, but their bulk standard 512k ADSL is only £1.50 cheaper a month than Wanadoo's 1mB connection. No contest there price-wise at any rate.

I think I need to mooch around the intarweb and look at a few other ISPs, but I have to say that despite its horrid name, Wanadoo (didn't it used to be Freeserve?) is looking choice. I don't see why we should pay £26.50 a month for 512k when £27.99 will buy us a full meg.

This day in history

July 4th, a memorable day for anyone interested in history.

Today in 1187, Saladin defeated Guy de Lusignan at the Horns of Hattin.

In 1976, Israeli forces, in Operation Thunderbolt, rescued Jewish hostages held by the Baader-Meinhof Gang (Red Army Faction) and the Palestine Liberation Organisation at Entebbe International Airport.

I'm sure that 4 July is famous for something else, too. But that escapes me right now.

This day in history

July 4th, a memorable day for anyone interested in history.

Today in 1187, Saladin defeated Guy de Lusignan at the Horns of Hattin.

In 1976, Israeli forces, in Operation Thunderbolt, rescued Jewish hostages held by the Baader-Meinhof Gang (Red Army Faction) and the Palestine Liberation Organisation at Entebbe International Airport.

I'm sure that 4 July is famous for something else, too. But that escapes me right now.

Cutlery

Today I took delivery of a shiny new sword, a copy of Anduril, the reforged sword of Elendil, from Return of the King, and I am mightily pleased with it.

Of course, this isn’t the officially licensed United Cutlery version, it is a cheap Chinese knock-off, and I daresay that too much rough housing with it would snap the blade, but then too much rough housing with a large sword in this day and age is probably asking for trouble anyway. This version doesn’t come with a fancy wooden display plaque, but it does come with a leather scabbard, and looks pretty damned cool.

The official version costs £190 and, it has to be admitted, is prettier, and carries more detail, particularly with the inscription down the blade. Nonetheless, I like my version which is unbeatable at the price. I have just discovered that it is possible to but an officially licensed scabbard for an additional £120. Someone's having a laugh.

Ebay is a fine institution (provided you find a decent supplier), and probably the only place on the planet where I could get one for £19.50 before postage and packing. Admittedly, shipping it over from the States more than doubled the cost, but at a total of £51, it is still less than a third of the recommended UK retail price - and an even smalled fraction if the scabbard is included.

I have too many swords.

And daggers.

Cutlery

Today I took delivery of a shiny new sword, a copy of Anduril, the reforged sword of Elendil, from Return of the King, and I am mightily pleased with it.

Of course, this isn’t the officially licensed United Cutlery version, it is a cheap Chinese knock-off, and I daresay that too much rough housing with it would snap the blade, but then too much rough housing with a large sword in this day and age is probably asking for trouble anyway. This version doesn’t come with a fancy wooden display plaque, but it does come with a leather scabbard, and looks pretty damned cool.

The official version costs £190 and, it has to be admitted, is prettier, and carries more detail, particularly with the inscription down the blade. Nonetheless, I like my version which is unbeatable at the price. I have just discovered that it is possible to but an officially licensed scabbard for an additional £120. Someone's having a laugh.

Ebay is a fine institution (provided you find a decent supplier), and probably the only place on the planet where I could get one for £19.50 before postage and packing. Admittedly, shipping it over from the States more than doubled the cost, but at a total of £51, it is still less than a third of the recommended UK retail price - and an even smalled fraction if the scabbard is included.

I have too many swords.

And daggers.