For the Fallen

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Condensation

I was playing with the macro end of my 18-55 lens. I quite like this shot.

The Trees

This used to be the view from our balcony:



Now, it looks like this:



I used to like looking at those trees.

Bohemian Rhapsody as never before

This is quite simply amazing: Bohemian Rhapsody as produced by a heap of old tech gear

Barack to visit West Ham

According to the Ilford Recorder, President Barack Obama is intending to take a little time out from G20 discussions to visit Upton Park

A West Ham insider told the Recorder: "We have all been told that the President is coming and some of his enormous bodyguards have been down to look around the stadium for security purposes.

"We have all been sworn to secrecy, but this sort of thing always gets out, and we are not sure exactly when he is going to arrive anyway. We've been told to keep the kettle on just in case."

The President will be shown round the stadium by US international Jonathan Spe-ctor, who, like Obama, hails from Chicago.

Bug in XPages?

I must start this post with a warning: Technical content ahead!!! Luddites among you venture ye no further.

Continue Reading "Bug in XPages?" »

Beautiful

Read it and weep. With joy and hope.

Consistent with the requirements of the Federal torture statute, 18 U.S.C. 2340 2340A, section 1003 of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. 2000dd, the Convention Against Torture, Common Article 3, and other laws regulating the treatment and interrogation of individuals detained in any armed conflict, such persons shall in all circumstances be treated humanely and shall not be subjected to violence to life and person (including murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture), nor to outrages upon personal dignity (including humiliating and degrading treatment), whenever such individuals are in the custody or under the effective control of an officer, employee, or other agent of the United States Government or detained within a facility owned, operated, or controlled by a department or agency of the United States.
[....]
From this day forward, unless the Attorney General with appropriate consultation provides further guidance, officers, employees, and other agents of the United States Government may, in conducting interrogations, act in reliance upon Army Field Manual 2-22.3, but may not, in conducting interrogations, rely upon any interpretation of the law governing interrogation -- including interpretations of Federal criminal laws, the Convention Against Torture, Common Article 3, Army Field Manual 2 22.3, and its predecessor document, Army Field Manual 34-52 -- issued by the Department of Justice between September 11, 2001, and January 20, 2009.

From James Wimberley at the Reality Based Community ("Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts")

Inauguration

Some thoughts about the last two hours...

Rick Warren was, on balance, given his Invocation, a mistake. Aside from his late references to Isa and Yeshua, the last thing he was was inclusive.

I couldn't work out who muffed the oath of office - Jeff Toobin on CNN reckons it was the Chief Justice.

Obama's speech: A bit too much God for personal taste, but generally good. Also, with all the references to returning to the Constitution, and the Rule of Law, and (paraphrase ahead) "working by theses values again", this was an utter repudiation of the last eight years.

And the benediction by Rev Lowery was by turns inspiring and funny - even I chorused Amen at the end!!

Another couple moments - CNN's shots of Barack with Michelle behind during the Star Spangled Banner was touching.

Joe Biden taking a photo for Mahlia Obama - sweet, very grand-fatherly

Having Captain Sully of the Hudson was on the podium was a very astute move.

Finally, apparently (ie according to David Gergen CNN) the new President doesn't usually escort the outgoing President to his transport away from the Capitol, as Obama did Bush. I watched that and had the impression that Obama just wanted to make sure that Bush was on that helicopter (no longer Marine 1, that's Obama's now) and on his way out of town. With the horse he rode in on.

Change is here!!!

On November 4th last year, voters of the United States did what hundreds of millions of people across the world hoped, prayed for and elected Barack Hussein Obama the 44th President of the USA.

In one short hour, he will become President, being sworn in by the Chief Justice and holding Abraham Lincoln's Bible in his hand.

At last.

America, we salute you. Welcome back!!!

Not going to Lotusphere

Yet again, I'm not going to Lotusphere, the huge conference for all of us who make a shekel using, administering or developing in Lotus software. As loads of people whose sites I read regularly are sat in the keynote session in about 2 hours time, I'll be following events and announcements vicariously through those same people and through LotusphereLive

I'm a Missing GONAD (Geeky Order of Notes Admins and Developers, since you were wondering, of which I'm the Worshipful Grand Dragon for Malaysia. Yeah, don't ask).

I'm not going to Lotusphere.