Barry John Williams' Blog

Not quite sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing hanging Saddam, he did keep his country a bit more in check that the 'coalition forces'...

Anyway, for those that wish to see what looks like his actual hanging from someone's phone camera, this video is on Google Video.

It does actually show Saddam falling through the trap with the noose around his neck so beware.

Link to the video of Saddam Hussein's Hanging on Google Video

Update
I didn't really notice this at the time, but the 'official' footage differs a little from this phone camera footage, in the fact that Saddam is being shouted at with jibes to 'go to hell' and he retaliates - far from the 'dignified' portrayal in the official video release.

More details can be found on this BBC news article about the differences with translations.

Here is a link to the boing boing thread about Saddam's Execution.

Labels: video

I thought this was a really novel use of Google Earth, advertising your flights, destinations and affiliate hotels by use of Google Earth. This encourages something I already do - check out your destinations on Google Earth before you go, whilst being able to see car hire locations, hotel locations and flight prices right there within Google Earth!

Find the Google Earth British Airways layer here

Labels: coolstuff, earth, google, travel

Beta Blogger is now out of beta and now just Blogger. It comes with some new features such as tagging which I've wanted for a while - now you can obtain all my crap jokes with one click...

Still getting to grips with it, I've had to use one of the new templates or 'layouts' to get the label feature working, but I haven't yet figured out how to get it in the sidebar.

We'll see how it goes!

Labels: aboutme, blogger

Fog at Luton Airport
Originally uploaded by barry_williams.

I flew with work into and out of Luton Airport yesterday and managed to avoid the cancellations due to the fog. We only really noticed the fog just as we passed inside of the M25, on the way back the fog eventually crept into the airport about 2 hours before our flight left...

Our easyJet flight departed about 30 minutes late, but made up some time on the way which was good!

I've seen some severe fog before - particularly in Dover when sometimes you couldn't see more than a meter in front, but never in a built-up and inland area like central london!!

Labels: aboutme, travel, weather

Received an email from forbidden planet with what I think is probably the coolest thing they've ever sold. A life sized replica of the T-800 endoskeleton bust complete with electronic eyes and removable CPU chip. This can be yours for only £349.99. I don't think I'll be coughing up for one of these, but if I'd a spare £350 lying about I would!

To quote the article:

To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of this modern classic film, Sideshow Collectibles and Stan Winston Studios have partnered to create the T-800 Endoskeleton Life-Size Bust. For the first time ever, the Endoskeleton skull has been reproduced with complete authenticity to the film by the same artists that created the Endoskeleton for the film. The Endoskeleton Life-Size Bust features electronic function eyes, and a removable CPU microchip. The T-800 Endoskeleton Life-Size Bust is the perfect centerpiece for your T2 collection - don't miss your opportunity to order!

Link to Pre-order the Terminator 2 Bust

Labels: gadgets

A flickr! contact (letskyce) invited me to join a flickr! group called 'Pick Your Best 12 from 2006'. I think this is a great idea to use fd's Flickr Toys' Mosaic Maker to form a single image with your 12 best shots from 2006. I've created a flickr! set of my best pictures from 2006 and created a single mosaic of these pictures which is posted above and on flickr!

Labels: aboutme, flickr

I was at this restaurant on the 8th April, didn't realise they shut the place down for a day a mere 3 weeks afterwards due to hygeine... afterwards it was shut for a week and now would seem to have been fined £18,000 for simply being 'filthy'.

I don't recall seeing mouse droppings on plates or dirty cutlery - mind I wasn't looking, I do recall receiving oranges after the meal as a pudding which I thought was different.

From the article:

We are grateful that the sheriff reflected the severity of the offence with the fine imposed.

Blimey! Not sure if I'll be heading back here in a hurry then!

Labels: aboutme

Flickr! has a cool 'Easter Egg' which allows you to draw a santa hat and beard as notes on any image on flickr! I've added a santa hat to one of my photos of Bruno and a photo of me (pictured).

All you need to do is add a note 'ho ho ho hat' for instant 'hatisfaction' or 'ho ho ho beard' for instant beardification!


Found this on BoingBoing

Labels: christmas, flickr, humour

My Palm Z22 crashed over the weekend never to return to life... The palm displayed a repeating pattern of coloured noise across the screen during usage, then again during a failed hotsync. My mac and palm were pretty much in sync so I don't think anything has been lost, but the Z22 never survived the second reset. There are 2 reset systems available - one a simple reboot and another is a complete refresh of the system, neither worked and the unit simply 'hangs' at the Palm Powered screen.

I purchased it in April at a Dixons Tax Free store and thought I'd take it along to one of the new Currys.digital stores. They were not particularly helpful, being totally obsessed with the charger - the Z22 charges over USB so you can use either a power charger or a USB lead but they really couldn't be bother to help (this was the Jamaica Street store in Glasgow). However, they did give me Palm's technical support number which I then called when I got home. Palm have agreed to fix it under warranty and I should get a repaired Z22 in the next 2 weeks.

If a bricks and mortar store really can't assist in after sales support with just a little more effort - why should I use them? There is now no difference between purchasing something at Amazon/Expansys and Currys/Comet other than price... That Treo 680 on Expansys is looking more and more appealing...

Labels: aboutme, grumble

I was reading about the New Nintendo Wii along with some action shots (numerous) on YouTube and I have to admit I started wanting this thing - it does look pretty sweet!

Then I discovered Amazon.co.uk had an over supply and were selling them today between 3pm and 4pm. So on I went to Amazon's website and used the new automatic reload feature in Firefox to reload the page every 5 seconds. As fast as the 'add to shopping basket' button appeared I clicked - and waited, then waited a little more. Got through to the shopping basket to pay and then - 'Sorry, your item is no longer available, it has been saved in your shopping basket'. Arrggh!

Moral of the Story - Use 1-Click dammit! These things must have sold literally within a minute!

Oh well, impulse buying urge over. Saved me £179 too! Although that one on eBay for £200 is rather appealing :) must switch off, internet...

Labels: aboutme

Received this via a text message...

23 People have been found glued to the walls of a train station in Dublin. Police believe that Irish Muslims have set off the world's first 'No More Nails' bomb!

View this page for a more Christian version.

Labels: humour

Champagne on Arrival
Originally uploaded by barry_williams.

Louise and I spent the last weekend (1st, 2nd and 3rd December) at the Rowardennan Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond and foot of Ben Lomond. We were on an 'all inclusive' package to celebrate our first wedding anniversary together.

The hotel allowed us to take our dog Bruno at no additional cost and they were extremely accomodating for him! The food was lovely and so too was the champagne in our room on arrival and the open bar in the evenings!!

Despite the rain and wind (December in Scotland after all) the weekend was very enjoyable and we did do some short walks around the hotel including an hour up the West Highland Way and back again.

We both would highly recommend the Rowardennan Hotel, it is situated in a lovely area, the staff are very friendly and helpful, the food is lovely and the rooms are comfortable!

Thanks again to the staff at the hotel!

A flickr! set is available for a selection of the photos taken that weekend.

Loch Lomond Flickr! Set

Labels: aboutme, flickr