Wonderings of Life Wanderer

ALDAKILA.net | Wonderings of a Geek Wanderer

2011-10-28T14:43:00.000+01:00

I am currently building a new site which will be ready soon:

In the meantime you can follow me at the usual online places to stay updated on my (slow) progress:

It does mean that this blog you're reading is serving it's final duties...
It has served me well, despite being neglected & left to virtually gather dust for most of the past year.

Hopefully with when the new site & blog are released into the wilds of the Internet, it will give me the boost to bring you bigger & better blogging goodness!?

So Check Me Out @ :

ALDAKILA.net | Wonderings of a Geek Wanderer

Pray For London - This Far & No Further?

2011-08-08T23:13:00.001+01:00

A quote online :

"A little fear and intimidation in the right measure can help teach respect for authority. Those on the streets of the country tonight know no fear, and no boundaries, no line at which society can say "This far, and not an inch further". They are untouchable - lay a hand on them and they'll "get the law on you". Tonight as a nation we have to say "this far......and NO FURTHER". The country has had enough."

---

Agree with the sentiment of the quote - but more importantly #PrayForLondon & hope that this stupidity doesn't spread....

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Interesting but is it Economical or Needed? :Caledonian Mercury "Scotland's first truly online newspaper"

2011-04-13T22:44:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the Caledonian Mercury

January 22, 2010 by Stewart Kirkpatrick ·

Ne quid false dicere audeas, ne quid veri non

We are proud to welcome you to the Caledonian Mercury, Scotland’s first truly online newspaper. The Mercurius Caledonius was Scotland’s first print newspaper, founded in 1660 by Thomas Sydserf. We have revived its historic title because we lay claim to the great Scottish tradition of journalistic innovation.

We seek to revive Scottish journalism by using the internet rather than railing against it. The Caledonian Mercury stands for intelligent reporting, informed analysis and raising the standard of debate in Scottish life. It also seeks to return journalism to journalists and is a platform to display the work of selected specialist writers – freed from the demands of filling space, toeing the line and “feeding the beast”.

We believe that there has never been a better time to be in the business of journalism, never a better time to find fascinating stories and never a better time to be part of a conversation with our readers. The internet frees us from machine media and brings us closer to the people who inspire and consume our writing.

As you may deduce from our name and masthead we are not ashamed of our Scottishness. We have no time for the cringing pessimism that characterises so much of our nation’s life today. No, we are proud of Scotland’s history and traditions. At the same time, we are confident about its future and secure in its role in the modern world. For us Scotland is only truly herself when she is outward looking and inventive.

The Scottish cringe did not invent the telephone, RADAR or the television. The principle of “Ah kent yer faither” did not give birth to ideas that Enlightened the world. It is with that in mind that we have unveiled this very different newspaper. It is radically different from what has gone before. That is no accident.

We will not pretend to cover every story. We shall certainly avoid chasing after what has been done elsewhere. Instead we shall focus on the areas of our writers’ expertise, freed from any diktats from the Editor’s chair. And instead of following the pack we will seek out our own path. Our purpose is to provide in-depth and unique coverage of specific areas of Scottish life. Our print edition will not be daily or weekly and will celebrate the debate we hope our writing provokes.

This newspaper is an experiment in the evolution of media. It is a statement of belief in a better public life. It does not fear the possibility of failure and instead relishes the prospect of change.

Most importantly, it holds dear the pledge of its antecedent: “To assert no falsehood and to hide no truth.”

Share and Enjoy: -->

via caledonianmercury.com

Interesting Endeavour...
I don't read hard copy newspapers any more (for many years in fact) except the odd @iPaper at 20p.
Curious how this on-line & Scottish "paper" does....

And is it economically sustainable or even necessary in today's "instant news" age?

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Fuck Yeah Glasgow • FYGlasgow

2011-04-08T18:36:00.001+01:00

via fuckyeahglasgow.com

"Fuck Yeah Glasgow is a site dedicated to sharing all things great about Glasgow, Scotland."

FYGlasgow is always looking for submissions of Glasgow related content from our followers & beyond…

e.g: If you have, or have seen, any good pics, video, links, stories, music, events etc relating to Glasgow OR anything of your own…

It doesn’t have to be something profound/wonderful/spectacular… just please submit it to the site & we’ll check it out…

As long as it relates to Glasgow of course! :-)

{Not all content is original, where possible attribution has been given. We will add attribution where missing or remove content if requested by the content owner.}

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Quote: Time Slips - Go Live!

2011-02-15T13:25:00.000Z

"The only commodity we have is time. Somewhere—in your mind, on a notepad, stashed in a virtual notebook—you have a list of things you’d like to be doing with your time before it all slips away. Do what you have to do to take those ideas out of storage and make them happen.
You can trade and barter for a lot in life but you can never buy back time. Go live."

These Are the Last Words I Have to Say; That’s Why This Took So Long to Write

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Facebook Cartoon 'Scam'

2010-12-06T12:56:00.005Z

My Opinion Mashed Quickly into my Keyboard:

Changing your FB profile pic to a Cartoon might have been...

a scam-inside a hoax-inside a small minded nonsense-

BUT it was never doing any substantial or real world harm!

Misleading? Yes! Encouraging Paedophilia? NO! A Waste of Time? Perhaps?!

BUT where those people on Facebook changed their pics & feel they contributed in some way to something tainted / unclean / misleading... PLEASE Do NOT feel that way!!!

Instead consider this...Many people got talking about Child Abuse, Domestic Violence & other harm being cause within homes & families.

That CANNOT be a bad thing.

Some people on Facebook even posted links & videos highlighting abuse in all its forms; As well as singling out the organisations/charities that deal with these (wrongly whispered) things.

That IS NOT a bad thing.

As with all things Internet (especially social networks) the minute it was in the digital ether it became what the groundswell(s) created & i would like to think that most of us created good....

That's why for the moment my Profile Picture on Facebook will NOT change - Good far far outweighs Bad!

Also because I'm not done shouting (highlighting) instead of whispering!

{that & I like my Hair Bear Bunch Pic very much!}

'And That's How Alex Airs It'

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/

http://www.childline.org.uk/

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

WoW ~ Cataclysm Cinematic Intro

2010-10-19T14:27:00.001+01:00

Amazing Cinematic For World of Warcraft Cataclysm Expansion.....

Hey Dorothy!! ~~Kansas~~....eh....Azeroth?.... Is Going Bye Bye!!!

ShogunGamer: Live action Pokemon movie (Full HD Trailer) [Pokemon Apokelypse]

2010-09-24T16:11:00.003+01:00

via shogungamer.com

"Last week we posted leaked footage of a supposed live live action, dark, gritty Pokemon movie. After a week of sleuthing, we finally managed to get the full story of the project. We are able to confirm there is not a Hollywood budgeted production of Pokemon happening.

Under the circumstances in which we received the footage, it was unlikely that there was actually a movie coming to a theater near you; however, the time, money and manpower needed to create a trailer of that quality left many people certain this movie was legit. Especially when you consider the utterly appalling, disgraceful and insulting anime live action films that have been released in North America.

The comments received on our YouTube post were really the best part of this story. For the past week the internet has essentially been divided into two very distinct camps since the leak. Do want, and burn it with fire."

----------
Dunno what to make of this...
Does it soil the name & memory of Pokemon?
Or is it a Geek-Fest of a great idea & a homage to a enduring franchise?
Either way my 18yr old son & (allegedly former) Pokemon daft child fanatic loves it!
What do you think?

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

A September Day: Incomplete Thought That Echoes

2010-09-11T19:16:00.000+01:00

TV:

(Ears) … We interrupt … There has been an incident … we go live …

(Eyes) … Sky … Distance … Building … Smoke … Plane …

(Head) … What-Happening … 1st Plane is Accident … But-2nd Plane …

(Heart) … Sinking … Crumbling … Falling … Broken … Different Beat …

(Home) … Watching … Staring … Muttering … Praying …

#incomplete#

via Tumblr

...

Happy Birthday David

2010-07-14T11:54:00.000+01:00

Happy 17th Birthday to my #2 Son, David!!!

17!! Jings :-)

Makes 1 of us feel older than we'd like :-o

Augmented (hyper)Reality? - No Thanks

2010-07-12T21:36:00.002+01:00

via youtube.com

Love this video - makes you realise how much you're already bombarded by branding everywhere you look & go

BUT....

This would be very very painful!!!

Never mind impossible to focus on anything around you for more than a few seconds!

Here's hoping this never becomes an actual reality?

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

My Boy!!! : Cadet150 Buckingham Palace Parade & Garden Party

2010-07-06T14:43:00.005+01:00

"My son Alexander is an ACF {Army Cadet Force} cadet in the Pipes & Drums {he's a Drums part :)} Alexr is 1 of only a handful {2 or 3 I think} of ACF cadets from this part of Scotland taking part in the ACF Band!

Very proud of him {despite me being an ATC "Air Training Corps" Cadet of 8yrs - a long time ago!}

So chuffed that the Cadet Forces of UK are getting this high profile celebration....

They do some amazing things - with some amazing people be they the Cadets or the Adult Volunteers - Can & do give confidence to face life head on ~ Never mind how fun & unique a challenge it can be!!!

So give them your support & recognition in every way possible!

*Hope to post or link to pictures in the future*"

~~~~~~~~~

On Tuesday 6th July, cadets and adult volunteers from around the country and from the MOD’s sponsored cadet forces will take part in the Cadet 150 Royal Review at Buckingham Palace.
Almost 1700 individuals from the MOD’s 4 cadet forces, the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps will converge in the early afternoon at Horse Guards Parade and set off for Buckingham Palace. Each cadet force will be led by its own band and all followed up by a combined Pipe band.
Whilst the marching contingents are parading along the Mall, banners unfurled, the Red Arrows will make an overflight and in each plane, a cadet from one of the cadet forces will be a passenger.
Paying respects to VIP representatives of the Cadet Forces en route, the parade will march into Wellington Barracks, close to Buckingham Palace in preparation for the Garden Party at the Palace.
Around 3.30 pm, a ceremonial detachment of 400 cadets, 100 from each force, will march into Buckingham Palace to await the arrival of members of the Royal Family.
At 4.00 pm, members of the Royal Family will arrive and move through the ceremonial detachments and thence through routes lined by almost 800 cadets and adult volunteers where they will meet members of the Cadet Forces.
The event will close at 6.00 pm

Article by
Andy Johnson, Cadet150 Project Officer

via armycadets.com

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Doctor Who Finale ~ NO days to go!

2010-06-26T01:18:00.003+01:00

The Finale of the 11th Doctor's 1st Series (Season) is here!!
On BBC1 @ 6.05pm (sorry UK only)
There has been very little in the way of 'spoilers' or sneaky clips from BBC
Except this:

but just for good measure there is this:

Cant Wait!!!

EDIT:

This "Fan Version" of Finale Trailer is rather good!!

:: ENDS ::

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Connections: Tumblr: Glasgow

2010-06-24T11:55:00.002+01:00

via aldakila.tumblr.com

1st: Its a photo by "headphonaught" -cool!!
2nd: Love this bridge - its peaceful around it, compared to others in Glasgow
3rd: The person behind "F**kYeahGlasgow" on Tumblr is my brother & as some of you will know "headphonaught" is a good friend of mine
- so I've got a bit of a 'Pride Party' in my head & heart when they share their passions in the same space on this 'Internet thing'
Cool!!! :-))
----------------------
Via Tumblr....
"fuckyeahglasgow:
South Portland Street Suspension Bridge, Glasgow
via - headphonaught
This bridge was begun in 1851 and suffered a set-back during its construction.
After the masonry towers had been completed and the main suspension chains erected, the south tower split from top to bottom. The Greek triumphal arch towers now seen in the bridge were the result of a substantial re-build.
In 1870 the bridge closed for extensive repairs. The chains and deck were completely removed, the wrought iron bars forming the chains were re-headed and additional bars provided, the timber deck was replaced by wrought iron framework and the deck profile was lowered by about 7ft.
The deck and hangers were again substantially renewed in 1926. However, the masonry towers remain as originally built in 1853, and are therefore the oldest surviving elements in Glasgow’s Clyde bridges."
-----------------------

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Pics: June 2010 (so far)

2010-06-23T20:34:00.002+01:00

Getting back into loving taking pics
- especially with "new" camera!
This is some of my attempts so far....

June 2010, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

June 2010...

1. River: Blue Day + Swan, 2. Sky Floss, 3. L&A relaxing in sepia {365-10 18JUN}, 4. River: Blue Day, 5. River: Blue Day, 6. River: Blue Day ~ White Flower, 7. River: Blue Day, 8. River: Blue Day {365-10 19JUN}, 9. Reflective {365-10 16JUN}, 10. Robertson Park 16Jun, 11. Light & Dark, 12. Blue over White, 13. Robertson Park Reflective, 14. New Life #1, 15. Robertson Park 16Jun, 16. Cart River Walk, 17. Dusk #2, 18. Park Perspective Path #2 {365-10 10JUN), 19. Cricket?, 20. Cart River Walk, 21. Cart River Walk, 22. Arched Wall, 23. Cart River Walk, 24. Green & Blue, 25. Purple Flower #1 {365-10 7Jun}, 26. Row of Sheds #2, 27. Pinker, 28. Row of Sheds #1, 29. Park Perspective Path #2, 30. Cart River Walk, 31. Bank & Storm {365-10 7JUN extra}, 32. River Cart, 33. Cart River Walk, 34. Starbucks @ Home {365-10 6JUN}, 35. Cart River Walk, 36. Cart River Walk

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

River: Blue Day {365-10 19JUN}

2010-06-23T18:51:00.001+01:00

River: Blue Day {365-10 19JUN}, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Rivers Black Cart & White Cart meet below a blue sky on way to River Clyde

L & A relaxing in sepia {365-10 18JUN}

2010-06-23T18:49:00.001+01:00

L&A relaxing in sepia {365-10 18JUN}, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Lauren & Alexr

Deep in Thought
Or
Watching TV

Doctor Who Finale ~ 3 days to go!

2010-06-23T01:05:00.001+01:00

Very Very Excited!

Oh, Really I am!

Posted via web from Aldakila's Posterous

Glasgow 1980 - A Film (1971)

2010-06-22T17:05:00.002+01:00

via aldakila.tumblr.com

Via tumblr:
Interesting Film (stay the distance {29mins} )
Glasgow 1980
A documentary on how Glasgow would look in the 1980’s after the redevelopment of its traffic system and the construction of new housing developments, planned in the mid ’70s.
First of what was intended to be a pair of films tracing the development of the city in the 1970’s. Filming for the sequel GLASGOW’S PROGRESS was halted in 1978 as ‘there seemed to be no end to the urban renewal in sight’.
Director: Oscar Marzaroli
Narrator: Michael Harrigan
Alex Says:
"As a Child of 1971 -: The depressing thing this film shows is that Glasgow didn’t achieve it’s full aim for “Glasgow 1980” (politics & economic greed got in the way) ; worse than that.. Many of these new areas became the slums of 80’s & 90s
So… Glasgow has torn down what was *new* in 1960/70’s to start again for a new vision of the 21st Century…
Time will Tell How That Works Out"

Posted via web from Aldakila's Posterous

Reflective {365-10 16JUN}

2010-06-22T00:19:00.002+01:00

Reflective {365-10 16JUN}, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

1st Picture I've posted on blog in a while...

Robertson Park Pond

*just love how it turned out*

AldakilaPics on Tumblr for more....

Mazzy Star: Into Dust

2010-05-26T20:28:00.004+01:00

Downloaded this song an aeon ago! (that's a while I believe)

It was free (& legal!) so.. why not?

But silly me I didn't listen to it until very recently & just wanted to say..

I love it & it connects with me on a some level that defies words...

So anyhoo (its a word!)

Here's an obligatory Youtube vid, to enable my sharing of its haunting awesomeness

LYRICS:

Still falling

Breathless and on again

Inside today
Inside me today
Around broken in two
Til your eyes share into dust
Like two strangers turning into dust
Til my hand shook with the weight of fear
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
It was you, breathless and torn
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
Into strangers, turning into dust
Turning into dust
Turning into dust

A xxx

“Love the Cool Aliens”

2010-05-03T14:55:00.001+01:00

The above quote (perhaps it’s a paraphrase) is from my #1 Son on the picture below.

He found it even ‘cooler’ once he discovered that it wasn’t just ‘nicked’ from somewhere but a collaboration by two of my online friends – find the post of original here

So Thomas (photo) & Adam (art), i’m loving it immensely. (especially as I usually rotate my desktop wallpaper very frequently)

AND high praise indeed (on the Cool Aliens) from a sometime grumpy, sleepy, incomprehensibly guttural teenager!

It’s lost souls – it’s aliens ..

it’s in the eye of the beholder ( now THAT’'S art!!)

This is as it appears ‘in-situ’ on my desktop

Looking forward to more in the future, from these fab artists!!

GLEE: "Back 9 Trailer"

2010-04-15T16:27:00.000+01:00

!Glee is Back!

And looking good, if not better!

Back in UK next week! (April 19th)

Promotional Trailer

Redemption Stories :: Something Beautiful

2010-04-03T17:53:00.001+01:00

OUT NOW

redemption stories is a collection of stories.
There are words, pictures and verse, but all of them tell a story — a redemption story.
We received input from Adele Sakler, Ben & Joy Thomas, Laura Bridge, Jason Duke, Adam Howie, Christine McIntosh, Trent Yaconelli, Emma Boyd, Angus S. Mathie, Paula Spur, Avril Cutler, Emma Boyd and Rob Griggs-Taylor.
This e-book is definitely worth the read. And the best part – it’s FREE.

Download it here. (looks best in full screen mode)

Also, as an added bonus, several of our contributors shared musical submissions as well (including a bonus Easter mix from Thomas).

Download the e-book with the musical submissions here (zip file – 128mb).

Download your copy now, Tweet about it, post about it on your site or Facebook, or print out a bunch of copies and place them on windshields in your city. However you choose, spread the word.

Digital Economy Bill (AKA Extreme Web Laws) - Proper Scrutiny & Debate?

2010-03-22T14:41:00.003Z

I have emailed friends & family on this, I have tweeted links about this...
for those who haven't seen or heard of 'DEB', I thought I'd share an e-mail that I received today in this blog:

"Dear Alexander,
Together we're building the pressure on the Government not to rush through the Digital Economy Bill. 11,000 of us have now written to our MPs opposing the Government's plans to force it through as a "fast track" bill before the election.

We're making the case that proposals to give the government far-reaching powers to cut people's internet connections and restrict public wifi need proper scrutiny and debate. There are signs that MPs and the media have noticed our opposition and are starting to listen. [1]

We need to prove to MPs that public opposition to these plans being rushed through is overwhelming. The more of us that write to our MP this week, the more chance we have of winning.

Please help. Forward this email and ask your friends to tell their MP why they're worried about rushing the Digital Economy Bill into law. They just have to click here to get started, it takes just two minutes:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/digital-economy-bill

In just a few weeks MPs are hoping we'll vote for them in the General Election. That gives us an opportunity to persuade them not to force through these draconian new internet laws - if we can convince them it's unpopular, they'll think twice about doing it just before they have to face their voters.

Opposition is growing. Web giants like Google, Yahoo, BT and TalkTalk oppose the plans. So do consumer groups, civil rights groups and digital freedom groups. A people-powered avalanche of emails could just be enough to stop the government from forcing these measures into law.

Please click forward now and ask your friends to tell their MP why rushing through draconian internet laws is wrong. They just need to click on this link to get started:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/digital-economy-bill

Thanks for getting involved,

Johnny, David, Hannah, Nina and the 38 Degrees Team"

Notes
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/mar/17/digital-economy-bill-twitter-outcry

As Thomas (aka @Headphonaught) says in his recent blog on this:

"If you live in the UK... please... please... PLEASE... go to 38degrees.co.uk and write to your MP urging them to stop the Government... OUR Government... from rushing the bill through.

It took me less than 2 minutes."

Please, please do - this legislation is flawed & needs to be stopped & looked at properly AFTER the election at the very least!

Afterthought:
{ Perhaps...
Tell your MP:
They wont have your vote if they dont oppose this NONSENSE!
That it's time for them to prove that they are not "members of a posh gentelemans club"!! ~ But that they are "Members of Parliament" ~ Elected by their constituents to represent the will & rights of those people who put them in Parliament ~ AND ABOVE ALL ELSE... listen to the people first & at all times; NOT the lobbyists or big business (the BPI & alike) & absolutely not the disconnected, chattering political classes ~ the 60Million people in this United Kingdom far outnumber all of them!
(that will at least make them sit up & take notice) }

Thanks for reading my rant

A xxx