Ben Gillam’s posterous

Windows Vista SP1

Just installed this on my machine at work, and so far I'm very impressed. Everything seems a bit more responsive. Only time will tell if they have fixed all the other stupid problems with vista. Watch this space. The service pack is available from: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb738089.aspx  

How not to play golf!

Just posted up this video onto youtube of me and friends playing golf...badly! back in 2004. Enjoy!

Channel 4: Sleeping with my sister

Saw this last night, it was a documentary following a pair of couples who were half brother and sister but had not met until they were both adults but fell instantly in love at first sight. It highlighted a condition known as genetic sexual attraction (wiki) which can happen in cases where children had been adoped or where brother or sister have first met as adults. I was shocked however to find that the couple in the UK who were more open about their relationship were charged with incest by the police and ordered to go to court. After the initial proceedings they were not allowed to see or speak to each other until the case was decided. Solicitors were warning them that the court could impose a custodial sentence as long as life imprisonment!!!  So let me get this straight, you can stab someone or throw someone off a balcony no problem, out of prison in two years and back out on the streets re-offending but this couple could have faced life? Nice justice system. This condition is something that they clearly have no control over and is in effect as the program describes it, a victimless crime.  A very intesesting watch, 4oD should probably have it online soon if you missed it. N.B. I dont in any way condone incest, however I do feel a little bit sorry for these people who are in this position being deeply in love with someone society tells them they cant. Channel 4 Website

Mother and toddler group :)

I had a job in Goudhurst, Kent this morning and decided to leave a bit earlier and take the camera with me in case there was anything nice there to shoot. Spring has just sprung (apprently!!) and lo and behold came across a field of sheep and lambs having a snooze. Took a few shots which you can see here. Comments welcome

Happy Eggster

Wishing everyone another horrifically commercialized religious holiday!

Photograhy in London

I was disgusted to read on my photography clubs news page that the government have launched a public campaign to make people wary of photographers in public places. Whilst i can understand the risk if someone is walking around taking pictures only of security locations etc that's one thing. But they suggest that if anyone takes any odd photos as well that they should be shopped to the police. This is crazy, there are many photographers that are very creative and sometimes odd shots to a passer by might actually be a fantastic artful shot when it comes out.  Not long ago i was going to take a few shots at London bridge station at rush hour to try and effect out (I'm still learning SLR photography) but if I'm honest i was scared of being arrested. Its sad really that thanks to Mr Bin Laden and his army of psychos that the government have taken this ridiculous measure and further still ebbing away at our so called free will.

Give Blood!

I'm going to be popping down to the local blood donor session tonight just thought I'd harass everyone into doing it too!

GIVE BLOOD! GIVE BLOOD! GIVE BLOOD!

Busy!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately had a busy couple of weeks. I should have the next installment of my login scripts guide ready very soon, including vbs use and applying scripts to group policies.  Stay tuned!

Baby Bible Bashers

Last night Channel 4's Cutting Edge program broadcast a documentary following the lives of three children, some as young as six years old travelling around the country preaching, I don't think anything has made me quite so mad before. Personally, I do not follow any kind of religion, through my own choice but have the up-most respect for anyone that chooses follows a religion. My problem is when children come into the picture. Religious families will have drummed their religion into the poor child's head before they have the chance to be able to make a rational decision and by then they just take it as gospel. The child preachers on last nights program are the extreme end of this, a six year old kid standing on street corners preaching about something they haven't got the first clue about because daddy said so. All the children in the programme were educated at home which came as no surprise. If they have no friends then their mind can't be "poisoned" Towards the end one of them even goes with his dad to Manhattan to preach in the street which predictably was not well received and both the kid and his father were being threatened by the angry citizens passing by. This is no place for a six year old kid to be! He should be out playing football with his friends and going to school to get a proper non biased bull shit based education. - This post is not intended to cause offence to any religion, however I am just trying to air my views against the brainwashing of young innocent minds. If you missed the program you can catch it on Channel 4's online service 4oD . Search for program name "Baby Bible Bashers".

Photoshop tutorials

Have just been made aware of a site called PhotoshopUser TV which is basically a weekly video podcast where three highly skills photoshoppers share their skills. I'm sure most of us that use Photoshop don't have a clue about most of its more advanced features and this is a great way to boost your knowledge. I've added the site to the links on the right hand site if you want to check it out. Update: Just realised that the older ones arent available unless you pay, but weekly podcasts are free as are the epiosodes going back a few weeks.