It only seems like yesterday................

.... but it has been nearly two weeks since I last placed any posts on my "normal" weblogs (my Opinionated Parent is slightly different as that is comment on my lads Scoccer Team and their trials and tribulations), and it really goes to show that life can be so relatively boring. Life in the Smith household is so "normal" that there really hasn't been to talk about.

Even searching through the Newzcrawler information has brought out little of interest to me, least ways. Below are some of the few stories that have attracted my interest in the past few days.

:::--------------------::@::---------------------::@:@::--------------------::@::---------------------:::

Archbishop reflects on cost of war The Archbishop of Canterbury says the US and UK will be "held to account" over Iraq during a remembrance service.    [via BBC News | UK | UK Edition]

Yesterday (Friday) there was a memorial service held here in the UK in remember of those soldiers lost in the recent Iraq conflict (or would it be more accurate to say ONGOING?). One of the saddest things that I have seen though, was the embittered interview that had been shown on the BBC with the father of one of the soldiers who had been killed. Heavy with grief, sorrow and no short amount of anger (and who can blame; him), he lambasted Tony Blair for costing him his son. He hoped that the Prime Minster would see passed the "Public Duty" of attending the Service, and look into the faces, full of tears, of the families of the people he had sent to their deaths.

There was no doubt, this poor man blamed the PM for sending his son to his death for no real reason. I know the anger clouded his words, but to be honest he did have a point. What has the conflict solved?

Where are the weapons of mass destruction?

Where is Sadam Hussain?

Are the people of Iraq really any better off?

You have to wonder.

:::--------------------::@::---------------------::@:@::--------------------::@::---------------------:::

Patients set to book online Every patient in England should soon be able to book their hospital appointment online at their local surgery.   [via BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

About time, how many years have we had the technology?

All we need now is the online facility to actually book an appointment to see the GP in first place!!

At the minute, I thank God that our phone has the "press 5" ring back facility, as the appointment line is usually busy from 08.00 till closing (apart from the lunch break at one, when they won't answer the phone anyway), and then you'd better hope what you have is nothing fatal, as there maybe a spare appointment next doomsday.

To be fair, our Doctors are trialling an "on the day system" (my mum's tried, and it does "seem" to work), but again the problem is getting through on the appointment line.

:::--------------------::@::---------------------::@:@::--------------------::@::---------------------:::

Nasa tests laser-powered plane Nasa flies a tiny model plane powered solely by an invisible laser beam from the ground, in an aviation first...[via BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

Europe gets set for Moon mission Europe should finally get its Smart 1 Moon mission under way this weekend after a series of delays...[via BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

 

Science corner -

 

I know this isn't "Man on the Moon" stuff, but it is interesting. Could you imagine Space ships, flying through the void of space, using nothing more innocuous than light its self. No major waste of dwindling resources. Just a controlled light source. Brilliant or what?

 

And, after nearly thirty years, attention switches back to the moon. I remember, as a boy, the forecasts' that there would be a Manned presence on the Moon by now. Cities, "a galactic bus stop" the lot. However history has shown that the dreams have not been matched by technology, or maybe by something more important, a willingness and the funding.

 

I wonder if this will be the next step to mankind moving "off planet". Maybe we don't deserve to. If we can't look after our own planet, what would suggest we would look after anything else. Sad indictment - but true none the less 

 

Mozilla Firebird 0.7 Release Candidate Another RC release from the folks over at Mozilla. "Password manager, download system upgrades, web panels, advanced preference panel, autoscroll, improved cookie management, send page/link/image, miscellaneous bug fixes." (Meryl) ...[via Lockergnome's Technology News]

My present "fav" browser is out in it's latest incarnation. I really like it, although it does still suffer the pervasive "Microsoft Internet Explorer is the only real browser" problems that Netscape suffered from, but that said it is brill. For a start the initial download is very small compared to IE. The reason? You download a basic browser, no bloat, no pointless additions. And then you add the plugins , or "extensions", that you need to customize the browser to work your way, not the way Microsoft deem is the way you work. I can see this would be a disadvantage to some people, not being told what to do, but that is one of the reason that I like it.

Give it a try, you might find you actually like it like I do.

 

:::--------------------::@::---------------------::@:@::--------------------::@::---------------------:::

And now to finish on a love story..............

Dutch prince renounces throne Prince Johan, second in line to the throne, gives up his right of succession in a row over his forthcoming marriage........[via BBC News | World | UK Edition]

It's sort of fairy tail stuff. The "hansom" Prince gives up the chance to be King in favour of the Woman he loves.

And all because of the womans' past. So sad, but then, in a cynical world, this man's love for his woman is the most important thing to him in the world. For a change,love overcomes duty, just because someone has deemed his bride "unsuitable". Well I say the best of luck to both of them. The past should be the past.

 

I hope the week brings you everything you wish.

God Bless

 

Dave