Welcome to the site of Mike Moran. You may find something useful or interesting here. If you're lucky.
recent blog entries
- 2010-08-18
Hmm, I'm out two for two on random summer holiday projects. First, the hadoop quickstart example doesn't reduce. Now, my idea to list what tabs in Chrome are making a noise is also a non-starter. Seems I'm not alone in wanting this. It's pretty trivial to make a Chrome extension, quite nice in fact, but there seems to be no api to help find what tabs contain something which is making a sound.
In general, anything other than YouTube which makes a noise in my browser pisses me off. Even then, you can have the problem of re-opening a bunch of restored tabs and having to hunt down the one playing that video you watched two weeks ago and forgot to close the tab of. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's pretty damn annoying.
I was hoping for one central point that everything went through to play sound, but the answer to that may be 'the operating system'. That's a little too gross a level. I want those tabs, dammit.
- 2010-08-09
The Segway has always intrigued me. Even after the overblown hype of 2001 died away.
Given I was in Berlin, I took the chance to look like a dork and try out a Segway tour of the area.How do you they drive them? Simple answer, to go forward: lean on your toes, backwards: stick out your ass. Friends I talked to after were surprised that there really are no controls. There is some steering via an upright which you can move to turn. Even then, it is more of an indication; if you're stationary then a bend left means "turn on the spot", if moving forward, it produces a smooth turn, with the centre of the circle outside the machine.
I've never ridden a horse but riding a Segway feels like I'd imagine it to be. You give it guidance, and it responds appropriately. Another example: the feedback to speeding is a slight push back on the upright so that it presses lightly against your stomach. It's subtle, but hard to ignore and the meaning is obvious. If you continue to speed (by leaning straight forward) then it'll refuse and go slower and slower until it stops. Again, a nice organic reaction: it is in a huff.
Beware though, it can also bolt; the tour guide was at pains to point out that it will continue forward if you leave it leaning a little when you get off. Here the animal illusion breaks down; even the stupidest horse would surely be better than this.
Segway versus Bicycle, Fight! Would I use this for real, for commuting? Answer me this: do you like queueing? What about standing for school assembly? My Segway was fun, but I was basically standing up, forever. Fat people would hate it. Here's a telling (translated) quote for the "mobile rescue" version on the German site:- Comfort mats reduce fatigue occurring after standing for long
The Segway doesn't easily fit into any category of existing vehicle. In the middle of Berlin we didn't look too out of place because of the smorgasborg of various transport options present. However, when on the road, we interfered with bikes. Whilst on the paths, we surprised pedestrians.
This versatility is felt as a positive by the Segwayer (?), but just means everyone else is pissed off. In the better bike towns there is a clear demarcation between bike and non-bike areas; Berlin is a good example. The Segway breaks these legal (and social) rules. Once the shiny newness of it all wears off, this will become more obvious. Outside of the feel-good TED talk, I don't see this as much more than a footnote in transport history.
Also, given that it costs £WeWontTellYouHowMuchWithoutAnAppointment, I don't see myself buying one anytime soon.
Would I do it again? Hell yes! Though, next time, I'll bring a lighter bag.
- 2010-08-07
Day six of Carmen and Nils being way and I've started talking to myself. The day after she left I went to work and realised, "shit, I've not talked to anyone for over twelve hours".
In other time-based news, in one day I have gone from avoiding cycling into tourists to actively aiming for them. If you visited Edinburgh this year and had some arsehole on a bike go 'ping ping ping' on his bell and almost run you over, that was me. Or maybe, it was any other cyclist in Edinburgh at the moment. This is why I love the Festival.
- 2010-06-24
I can't believe "Cigarette Girl" and "The Secret in their Eyes" are even in the same universe never mind the same film festival (see previous review).
At times, I really wanted this to end as it had been a hard-enough journey so far, and everything just fit right. But then the details were examined again, and what you'd seen was unfolded and the story continued once-more.
My analysis skills aren't good enough to tease this film apart further, and I don't really want to. This is a brilliant film. Go see it.
- 2010-06-22
Cigarette Girl. Hmm. Most cult films have at least one quality aspect; great script, bad acting; woeful plot, inspired performances. This was going straight for cult but with a tired plot and a packetful of cringeworthy moments (packet, geddit?). A flash of thigh just does not make up for this.
The references to Metropolis make no sense. Was he trying to draw some comparison between subjugated workers and smokers? Does. Not. Work.
This is just a bunch of vague allusions to other films and genres wrapped up in a stuffy mass of bad dialogue and long intervening scenes.
We hung out briefly in the bar afterwards trying not to be too critical when we thought the writer/director/producer might be around, lest we hurt his feelings. Then again we did just sit through an hour of his film. Good luck with his next one; I'll read the reviews before going.