Google Talks the talk but can it walk the walk

BBC News as well as numerous other sites have reported on Google's latest offering to the world.

Google Talk looks like another good product from Google and will look to challenge both the VoIP services and the IM chat services.

I know that I for one will be testing Google Talk out as I've always been very impressed with the tools that Google develops, in particular GMail was such a leap forward and step to the future over what I now see as crappy Hotmail. Also notice that they've put out a new version of Google Desktop with a fancy new sidebar, not checked it out yet but I will do.

The one question I'm asking myself though is will I use Google Talk much? Well to date I cant say many of my friends have hooked up on the VoIP idea, to be honest I don't chat to them much by normal phone so why would I via VoIP?

Also while, a lot of friends used to use MSN Messenger religiously when still at school, nowadays I can't remember the last time I actually said more than 3 or 4 sentences in Messenger.

The other problem I would have with using Google Talk regularly is that most of my friends don't actually have GMail. A few can't be bothered to switch over email addresses and tell everyone, others just aren't interested cos they think Hotmail is good (more fool them!). Also it'll be interesting to see if Google Talk can seriously challenge MSN and Yahoo in the IM wars because, lets face it, MSN and Yahoo probably have more sign ups and maybe the Talk thing is actually a neat way for Google to drive more GMail sign ups (this review mentions this idea).

The one thing that does interest me though is future developments that may come from such people as Google, Yahoo and Mozilla. Especially in relation to a possible new WebOS and web based applications. Jason Kottke talks about the possible future developments and it sounds pretty interesting. I've just kinda stumbled into the idea of Yahoo's Konfabulator and its widgets and although not getting much use from them yet, I can see the future applications and uses.

I'm all for people challenging the stronghold of Microsoft, and Firefox has shown the way to go with a great browser that brought the innovation lacking at stale Microsoft. I think Google are doing the same and it would be great to see more applications and APIs opened up to allow people to play around with. Just look at all the mashups of GoogleMaps and you'll see what the benefits are.

Likewise, things like Flickr, Del.icio.us, AJAX, etc are all the time providing new ways of interaction and very innovative developments that are getting some people pretty exciting.

T'internet is a pretty interesting place right now, will be kinda strangely exciting to see what the next big development is on the horizon and which road it takes us down. Especially interesting to see what Google comes up with next, just wait til they start selling kitchen sinks!!

Ch-Ch-Check it Out!

If anyone is looking for a show to go see at the Fringe and wants some good fun, comedy and entertainment, then I wholeheatedly recommend taht you try to catch Freestyle Love Supreme at 6.50pm @ Assembly Rooms (Link)

My girlfriend and I checked this show out on the recommendation of my brother and it was absolutely awesome.

This is what the Fringe should be all about, word of mouth, checking out an unbeknown to you show and having a cracking good time, desperate to go back for more!!

The showis 6 performers who freestyle rap from suggestions from the audience and mix some quality beats with comedy and style.

One of the group called Shockwave, literally a human beat box is quality, churning out rhythmic beats and sound effects, while Two-Touch, Lin-Man and C-Jac deliver the goods ably assisted by Arthur the Geniuses and King Sherman doing the music making. The whole show is improvised and spontaneous and from the entrance to a "microphone check", the place was jumping.

Freestylin' it about Dame Judi Dench, Art and Garfunkel, Mexio, Shoes, Pelvisand Mike McShane's day, the group certainly put on a show and definately enjoyed themselves and ensured the crowd had a great time too. At times it reminded me of 8 Mile when the performers pulled off specials rhymes that left everyone going "OOOOHHHH"!

Truly I recommend you go see, I've been telling all my friends and seriously thinking of going back again! The great thing about this show is that it'll be different every time so there's no spoilers contained here.

I mean anyone who rhymes off gravity with depravity and ocular cavity will always get some time from me!!

Scotsman Review ****

P.S. If you want to check this out, FLS also got a blog going on about their time in Edinburgh at the Fringe with Two-Touch giving the low-down on events.

P.P.S Does anyone else think P.P.S's are underused. Anyhoo, here's a nice wee interview with the group from the Herald.

Shedisms

Brought to you by Dislexicon v0.3.

1: shedous (shed-ous) - possessing, full of or characterized by shed

The Best Things in Life are Free

Or are they?

Someone brought this topic up on a forum and it got me thinking.

Is there actually anything in this world that is free?

We , as a society, are continually bombarded with promotions offering free goods. Buy one get one free, 3 for the price of 2, free car insurance, interest free credit card offers, free iPods even.

But are any of these things actually free?

Take the Free iPod idea for example, while it appears free and while there will be many testimonies that declare its success and highlight their receival of a free ipod as proof, there is a distinct non-freeness (is that a word, nah? who cares!) about it. There's a number of offers that need to be signed up to first and a large number of friends need to be referred before the top of the pile gets their free Pod. Basically the whole premise is like the pyramid schemes of old but with online offers replacing the cash investments and the payoffs being iPods instead of exorbitant cash sums.

The BOGOF offers aren't free either as often in the run up to such an offer, the price willahve been inflated to give the appearance of a decent saving when in fact ur paying the same. Don't believe me? Tune into Watchdog on a regular basis and you'll see what I mean.

as someone on the above thread mentioned, Friends are free. And there was me thinking they were charging £115 forthe complete run, Series 1-10! Seriously though, while friends seem free, I challenge you to find someone who will be your friend with no cost to youwhatsoever. I don't mean monetary cost here, but perhaps emotional cost or a time cost. Most folk are more than willingg to pay these to have good friends but you wont find many people who will be friends with them unless you invest some of your time and effort ingrowing that friendship first.

So it leaves the question, where those lessons you learned as a five year old really true?

Is there nothing in life for free?

P.S. Here's a truly free iPod for you, Enjoy (taken from here)

Laughed a Little

So on Saturday night, the girlfriend and her best friend decided we should go as a fourball and head through to Edinburgh to try and catch a show, something to eat, and see for ourselves what the Fringe is all about.

Without much planning we headed through, got there about 7pm and found that all the shows were sold out apart from one.

We went for it and got tickets seeing as we had nothing else to do now seeing as we were there.

So what did we get tickets for? Mark Little in Smartarse.

Who? I hear you say, well thats what the girls thought also. Once told that it was Joe Mangel from Neighbours they knew who he was but still didnt know if he'd be any good, we thought what the hell, surely he'll be alright, he did do the Bigger Breakfast for a while and seemedquite funny.

So down to the show then after a bite to eat and it didn't really bode that well when as we were waiting in the queue, it seemed like every boozed up prat who walked past was asking where the queue was for Bouncer!

Now when one of the main things on the poster for a gig is FREE BEER, we should have guessed the quality of the show. While Mark was funny in parts, the show lacked any real substance or material, too often Mark went off on an angle and never really got to the point. Most of that was due to a couple of idiots who just constantly shouted out about Bouncer and other random crap.

Then again, that was when Mark Little was at his funniest, putting down the hecklers and slagging off Neighbours (how dare he though!!).

All in all, there was a couple of laughs but not enough to justify the admission price and pretty poor in terms of material or whatever message it was he wanted to try and get across, I didn't even get a free beer so thats a negative and I can see why the show only got one star (the dumbstar) in the Metro.

Also have to say that Joe looked pretty rough, must be all the late night performances or something but he's certainly showing signs of wear and tear.

Moral learned: Although going to the Festival doesn't require a lot of planning, it does need some...

Tak A Wa

Spotted this Chinese take-away on the way home from the game yesterday.

What a cracking name, absolutely genius!

Top marks to whoever came up with that, works on so many levels.

Anyone seen any other well named fast food establishments?

3 down, only 35 to go!

Game 3: Dundee United away.

We hopped on up to Dundee yesterday for the Hearts game. It's exciting times this year, and to be honest I'm loath to miss a minute of the team this season, definitely gonna try to be going to as many away games as possible.

We got there about 2.00pm and were wondering what we could do til kick off with it being a bit early, we shouldn't have worried as there were some pretty big queues building up already.

Although being a lover of Sheds, decided to skip going in the Shed End and went into the Fair Play. The Hearts players must love playing away from home these days, so many fans in the ground early and even just coming out for the warm up gets bigger cheers then some goals got at Tynie last year!

Onto the game and two early goals from Pressley and Bednar got things off to a flyer and it was actually scary how deadly and dangerous we look attacking, compared to the toothlessness that punctuated last year's start to the season.

Must say that after the goals and for the majority of the game, Dundee United played the better football, was impressed with the touch and movement of Brebner and Kerr although the final ball never really caused any problems. They looked worthy of a goal but delighted that we held out for the clean sheet.

United will feel a bit hard done by with the third goal, while I can appreciate the offside flag was for someone who never received the ball and therefore didn't interfere with play, all the players seemed to stop and I think it summed up a pretty poor day for the referee.

Saying that as the saying goes, "play to the whistle".

So the Gorgie Express keeps rolling on and now top of the league, 2 points clear, feet need to be firmly strapped to the ground for fear of getting carried away.

Still a big test awaits next week with Aberdeen coming down to Tynie. Will be great to see Tynecastle a sell out for a non-OF or Hibs match.

I can't wait, another 3 points in the bag hopefully.....

The Quest

Following on from the Sensi post, I got thinking about other great games we used to play as kids.

Who remembers playing Heroquest?

That was a great game, all the goblins, orcs, dungeons and the evil Gamemaster controlling all the forces of choas and aligning them against our heroes, The Barbarian, The Wizard, The Elf and the Dwarf.

When I look back on it now, how easy would it be for New Line Cinema to make a Lord of the Rings Style Rip-Off of HeroQuest, you've got the characters all laid out with Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli. Anyway thats another discussion...

So back to the Game, it was class. You had all the furniture to place and set upall the rooms, all the nasty beasties hiding round each conrner waiting to kill you and nick all your money.

And how fun was it being the Gamemaster, getting try and kill your friends, especially with the Uber Baddies like these...


I can still remember the days spent painting all the wee characters in vast arrays of colour with added blood splatterings and slime. The arguments my brother and I would have over what colours to paint a certain monster and who got to do it.

I can still remember it like yesterday.

I think I might have to get onto eBay and indulge in some nostalgia by purchasing a set if I can find any, and getting my mates round for a HeroQuest Fest. That would be quality.

Was having a look around on t'internet t'day and found a fun PC version that bring back a little of the magic but its just not the same as having all the pieces out and setting up the board. If u want to try it out then look here or here.

On a side note, anyone remember Space Crusade. A similar style game but set in space (obviously!), had loadsa fun painting and playing that game also.

Damn I wish I was a kid again!!

Shedisms

This week's Shed-related word brought to you by Dislexicon v0.3.

1: divshedance (div-shed-ance) state or condition of god shed

Comic Genius

Will Ferrell: Class Day speech


Damn why didnt they have someone like that at my graduation?!

I had to put up with an hour of boredom from the Vice-Chancellor or some other sort.

Ah well i guess that's just the way they played it, Homes. Hehehehe

The Greatest Game Ever!

Sensible World of Soccer. What more can you say about this other than it is one of THE greatest football games ever.

In my younger days, day after day used to be spent playing this classic on the Amiga. Couldn't keep count of how many joysticks were broken and taken back to the shop only for the new one to break within a week or two.

The simplicity of the graphics are more than compensated for by the immense gameplay.
Those wee men zig-zagging down the wing, the goals from halfway. It all made for a brilliant gaming experience.

Therefore imagine my delight when I found the Home of the Underdogs and downloaded a good bit of SWOS. Saying that, had a bit of a problem setting it up on Windows XP, got it working fine on the Win98 at work but cant get to play it there much.

So got another copy off my mate, purchased via eBay and with fully updated teams for 2005/2006 season. Gonnae give it a wee shot tonight...

Must say though, playing with the keys is pretty tricky to get used to, need to see if i can find one of the old classic joysticks, just hope they dont break so easily these days!!

The Numbers Game

Well managed to complete my second ever Sudoku this morning, Yesterday i finished off Tuesday's "easy" one in the Scotsman and today I tackled Wednesday's "moderate" one.

Manged to rattle it off in about 15 mins. Certainly getting better at them.

Its funny though how something like Sudoku can so quickly capture the nation's imagination.

It seems to be in every paper these days, starting with The Times, The Scotsman, i think its even in The Record and The Sun (don't quote me on that though). Walk into any bookshop these days and I bet you the number 1 seller is a book of Sudoku puzzles.

It definitaly seems to be something of a new craze, a meme almost (not quite), populating itself amongst the nation and replicating more and more within the consciousness. I seem to have caught onto this pretty slowly and couldn't understand the fascination but I'll tell you something and this is for free folks...they are bloody addictive little critters, once you get one finished it is so satisfying, especially for someone who has always been better with numbers than with words.

Might just try and tackle tomorrow's "hard" one and see how I get on....

PS. A couple of online versions if you feel like trying them

Miniclip Sudoku
Daily Sudoku

The world of Kubricks

About a year or so ago, I stumbled across little things called Qees on Firebox. They were these little figures, some quite cool looking, that could be used as keyrings or collected and displayed. At the time, I had just heard about Monsterisms from my mate and was kinda looking for something cool that I could collect (dont really know why!).

Anyway after getting one of these Qees, I was pretty disappointed with it, so I got on t'internet and started looking for something else cool that I could collect.

That was when I came across these little critters called Kubricks.


They were hard to get in the UK and hadn't seen them in any shops before but that didn't stop me. I managed to find a stoe that I could get them from and my first buy was a Kubrick version of Venom from Spiderman.

He was just soo cool, thats when the spiral started. I just had to get more....

Now i must have about 30 or so,with Star Wars, Spiderman, X-men, Usual Suspects, Reservoir Dogs, Muppets, Batman and Back to the Future amongst the genres.

If you want some more information then head over to KubrickWorld and check out the database.

The Ol' Tynecastle Shed

Although not being old enough to have stood in the Shed of old, (I sat wi' me dad just behind the dugout in the main stand), it seemed right to start things off talking about the great team that used to inhabit the shed above. (Pic borrowed from the Fantastic London Hearts site)

The mighty Heart of Midlothian FC.

My first memory of the JT's is proudly standing in my full hearts kit, standing in line ready to go to PE, with my number 9 on the back, John Robertson, the hero of the times.

Now its all changed,there's 3 new stands (soon to be another if reports are to be believed), a new manager, a new chief executive, 7 new players so far (more still to come), a renewed optimism and about 3,000 new season ticket holders.

Things are most definitely on the up at Tynecastle, and following the poor second half we had to last season,I'm really excited about things down Gorgie way.

We took 3,500 or so fans down to Killie on the opening day, thrashed them 4-2, even had a chuckle as Celtic went down 4-3 (only to sneak it back to 4-4) against Motherwell. The new players looked the part, Hartley seemed to have put all the transfer talk behind him and Miko was back to his pre-Davisgate best. The Fans were in great voice and it felt great to be a Jambo.

Then game 2 of the season and the Hibees come calling. Fireworks heralded the teams and you could feel the heat from the pitch. Come the end of 90 minutes, I was a very happy Jambo having just spanked the weeteam 4-0. Shame for my brother though, he had a £1 on 3-0 at 20-1, so Miko if you ever read this, you owe him 20 squid :p

So this weekend its gonnae be away up to another Shed at Tannadice to see us hopefully spank Dundee United, show Lee Miller what he's missing, stay top of the league and hopefully continue the 4 goal a game average.

Oh happy days to be a Jambo indeed.....

Welcome to the Shed

So first things first,

Nice to meet you, hope you're having a good day so far.

I'll warn you here from the off, this blog is gonna be pretty much experimental and a place for me to talk about anything interesting, funny or stupid that I feel like ramblings about. Chances are it'll be a pile of David Hasselhoff chest hair, but what the hell, it might be some fun and Ijust might like it!

So grab a wee stool, crack open a beer... bottle opener's over there mate....and enjoy your time in me shed.