Don't Ask Me That Question

Did a revision lecture today with the first year programming class. We did all sorts, exceptions, file handling, method parameters, references. I offered to take any question about the course material... Then I got one that I couldn't answer. Ho hum. But then again, I only offered to take the question, not answer it...

Note: The question concerned the use of files in append mode. It is the kind of thing that interactive help systems are made for, and therefore beneath someone with brain power like mine. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.....

Ear Bending

I spent a goodly chunk of last night chatting over Skype with Rory Blyth. Skype is very good. Rory lives in somewhere in America and I live in somewhere in England, but from the quality of the communication you would not have know it. I was expecting lots of lag and "Can you hear me" stuff but it just worked, and worked well. We were recording an episode of his Tiny Things podcast, and it is all about me.

If you want to find out what I really sound like, and how to use the phrase "rat up a drainpipe" effectively in a conversation, then take a listen here.

Been Around the World

Went to see dad today. He has just come back from a "land cruise" (I called it a bus tour) of America. He had taken his video camera with him. It is a special camera which contains a time travel device which makes the films seem to take longer to watch than the duration of his stay away.

He had some pictures from Hawai and bits of the Grand Canyon and Vegas and LA and I was suitably rude about all of them. I wonder if he'll figure out that I'm just jealous.

Sorry Maddy

I was watching Madonna last night on a chat show. She was asked the secret of a long lasting marriage. She said that the secret was that you have to be ready to say "Sorry" when you don't really mean it.

I looked at her and wondered if she has ever said "Sorry" and actually meant it.

It Came Off in my Hand

Oh, and I forgot to mention that during our visit to number one son we swapped his working MP3 player for one with a duff battery and then broke his toilet.

When we met up he seemed pleased to see us.

He won't do that again.