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For those people using XMarks and NoScript in Firefox who are having issues with the latest update not being allowed to sync here's a solution I've found. Other solutions may be available. I am using Linux Mint 8 XFCE with Firefox 3.6.6.

This letter relates to McCoys crisps (chips to those in the US) which I found out are owned by United Biscuits. I've noticed a pattern which is becoming incredibly annoying, and I'm hoping that this letter at least comes to the attention of those who can make a difference. If there was a tagline to this letter it would be "Give Flavours A Chance".

This post is a look at expectations, both realistic and unrealistic. It's also a look at comparing teams on paper. I'll be looking at England in this respect, but the same thing applies to every team. For years I've never quite put my finger on the exact term for England until a German commentator called them "self proclaimed world champions". It's very apt.

Within a week of using my HTC Smart phone, I was gradually feeling more and more underwhelmed with it. Given how limited it is by design, multiplied by the limited functionality O2 put on it with a Pay&Go deal it turns into a very basic but flashy touchphone. I decided to return it for a lower end touchphone, the Samsung Tocco Lite. Turns out O2 (and the other networks) may be onto a nice little illegal earner.

As BP's boss Tony Hayward is grilled by US Congressional Comittee the results are all too predictable. You'd think Tony Hayward was a politician, with the skills he;'s shown at evading responsibility and dodging questions. It seems however that the politicians grilling him are understandably a tad annoyed at this behaviour. The problem is this; they (the politicians) spend their ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREERS doing the very same.

In the previous part I talked about my new HTC Smart on O2. This post deals with the O2 specific issues around it. Due to my location I only get a consistent signal from O2. I am too high up, I believe I am higher than most transmitters, which are all pointed horizontal and downwards. With all of the others I have to press myself against the window to get a signal, which drops out if I step more than a foot away. Luckily then that the HTC Smart is available on O2. It is in fact an O2 exclusive. Life is not all rosey with the O2 side of the deal however. O2 strike me as kinda disingenuous on several points.

Last week I joined the smartphone revolution by buying an HTC Smart on O2. It's a budget, entry level smartphone with many limitations and not intended to compete with the high end iPhones and HTC Desires of this world. For the money and my needs it's rather nice. This is the first of a few posts about both the HTC Smart and O2.

I've changed my mind on the swarm of bees known as the vuvuzela at the World Cup. I used to think they were annoying and welcomed the news that FIFA were considering banning them in the grounds if they could be used as weapons. Broadcasters all over the world have been complaining at the constant noise as much as their viewers and listeners. A couple of comments on a radio show changed my mind however.

Having just watched Serbia play Ghana it brought to mind something I've thought about for years but never blogged about; the outfield Sebian player jumping like a goalkeeper to handle the ball as it passed over his head in the penalty box. It was a clear cut penalty which the referee spotted instantly, however should things like this be given additional punishments?

On Saturday I got home to find myself at the start of a mystery which I've still not settled for sure. I found a card from the Royal Mail telling me they failed to deliver a letter / parcel as there was unpaid postage due on it. The mystery came from the fact that I was not expecting anything, from anyone. It didn't help that this was a holiday weekend and I couldn't investigate until today.