Is a 'Real Simulator' an oxymoron? So Gran Turismo 4 claims to be ‘The Real Driving Simulator’, however unlike the army of journalists and pundits giving it rave reviews I just don’t buy it. I know this this probably puts me in a tiny minority. I agree it looks beautiful, has a more cars than an NCP all detailed with over 5000 polygons each , a new physics engine, about 100 courses all accurately mapped; in short a petrol heads wet dream. Oh and it even includes the BMW M Coupe. But how can it claim to be ‘real’ if I drive my fully specced Skyline into a crash barrier at 100 mph it doesn’t get so much as a scratch?

Say no to DIY! Another Easter weekend passes by and I still haven't finished decorating the main bedroom, maybe the idea of spending one for the few extended weekends like millions of others with paint brush in hand just too depressing. As is traditional at this time of year but more dependant on the tide than Easter is the Boat Race. As we live so close to the river and near the finish we always pop down to pretend we went to one of England’s foremost seats of learning, but every year I come away thinking that as a spectator sport it sucks. You wait around for ages then it’s all over in less than a few minutes as the boats flash past, at least in the the yawn inducing Formula One they go past more than once. Besides how many of them are actual students? My time undoubtedly would been better spend playing Brothers in Arms which is currently sat in the drive on the Xbox. Whilst atmospheric and emotionally involving it lacks total freedom of movement but is a worthy replacement for the excellent Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II. Oh and based on the current antics in the Conservative Party do the idiots ever want to be in Government again? I guess not.

Izzy's birthday...

Izzy the Vizsla is two years old today and a media celebrity as it turns out. I was called by the Police a while back about whether or not I'd like to speak to the local press about the break in and what Izzy got up too. I didn't in the end as we didn't know much of what the Izzy got up to and we wanted to put the burglary behind us. Well one of the local free papers made up some story anyway, which was largely innacurate, and to cap it all described Izzy as a Hungarian Vissler. As you can image she wasn't chuffed they couldn't even get her breed right! Anyway, happy birthday mate!!!

Sword of Smiting +2. 25 cents. To fans of MMORGs buying and selling virtual items for cold hard cash is nothing new. I remember Rob buying virtual cash with real cash when he was knee deep in the first version of Asherons Call, so it was inevitable that it would find it's way to online games as a standard feature. Robs a trend setter like that, apart from his love of rebadged Rovers.

Jesus vs Master Chief. With all the speculation about the replacement for Xbox; what’s it going to look like? What will it be called? Will it be backwards compatable? The list is endless so I'm not sure if Major Nelson can help but it makes for interesting reading. Also not sure Jesus can be compared to the Master Chief, Jesus didn’t dual weld SMGs for starters. If the interview I had the other day went as well as I think it did, I might be able to find out soon…the questions not the Jesus, Master Chief thing.

My new third line manager. I forgot to mention that John O'Hara is joining MS as the new Enterprise Product Group Director in the UK. John as used to be the UK MD for Lotus but has spend the last few years as UK MD for Pivotal.

Ray who? I bumped to Neil Jordan the other day, some of you might remember Neil as he worked at Lotus a few years back, well quiet a few years back at it happens. Anyway we chatted about the new CTO and concluded that it had created more 'noise' amongst those who have connections with Lotus, be they current employees of IBM or like Neil and myself prior ones. For the rest of the population it the usual ebb and flow of senior execs that happens from time to time. Oh and two other 'prior' IBM/Lotus employees have moved to MS Towers, Steve Dunbar and Jane Handley. Welcome.....

Politics and God. Now the Government have made a fist of the bills on hunting and terrorism, the next one that’s bound to the treatment is the law against the incitement of religious hatred. I’m not so sure that religions needs special laws to protect them especially as we all ready have plenty of laws to protect individual beliefs, the Human Rights Act for example. Besides as they’ve oppressed millions of people for centuries isn’t it their turn? Seriously though, we see the situation in America where you can’t be a politician without professing a belief in god (regularly) and atheists need not apply; is it only a matter of time before it happens here? As Salman Rushdie wrote in The Guardian today, “If America and Britain allow religious faith to control and dominate public discourse, then the western alliance will be placed under ever-increasing strain, and those other religionists, the ones against whom we're supposed to be fighting, will have great cause to celebrate.” I for one am glad I live in a secular society and like Rushdie I reckon American lawyer Clarence Darrow put the secularist argument best of all. "I don't believe in God," he said, "because I don't believe in Mother Goose."

I wonder if he'll remember me? Yet another ex Lotus employee joins MS Towers, this time the inventor of Notes itself. I’d like to think I played a small part in his decision, maybe he thought ‘If it’s good enough for Tony it’s good enough for me’. Although now Ray Ozzie is joining I've been asked if I’d like to join the Information Worker group. I think I can say with some confidence that Mr Ozzie won’t be the last ex Lotus employee to join Microsoft.

Couldn't stop fiddling. I've gone and changed the design again. Lots of reasons really, one is that too many other people were using the same template, it wasn't that picture friendly due to the background colour, simple is always better when it comes to web pages and a white backround is easier on the eye. Paper is white for a reason I guess.

Epiphone Supernova

After much scratching of chins and reading of reviews, not to mention finding a good price I decided on a Epiphone Supernova with a Union Flag custom paint finish. I've always liked semi acoustics after seeing Bill Nelson with one years ago, and if it's good enough for Bill it's more than I'll ever need. Yes it's based on an Epiphone Sheraton as used by Noel Gallagher, but the Gallagher signature on the scratch plate will soon wear off. As a huge fan of guitars this probably won't be the last one I get and if a bargain comes up on eBay another Epiphone, but this time a Les Paul Gold Top '56 reissue, will join the Supernova. It's a great looking piece of kit and for a 'budget' guitar on initial inspection well put together, only time will tell if smart Union Flag finish stands up. I've seen comments that the action was quite high and it looks as if Epiphone has listened as the action on this Supernova is a low and easy, or maybe I'm used to the warped neck on my AWOL Squier Bullet, so anything is an improvement. I haven't had a chance to plug it in yet but the hollow body makes a nice sound.

Oh and it came with a rather smart hardcase.

Sorry... No posts this week, so I'll summaries in one go; hopefully I'll remember all the salient bits. Fed up with punctures when I cycle to the office in London I've swapped the paper thin tyres Specialized insist on fitting to the Sirrus with a set of Nimbus Armadillos also made by Specialized. One would almost believe they fitted tyres made of papier-mache which go pop at the hint of a sharp stone to force you to fit the kevlar armoured bullet proof alternatives. At least if some trys to shoot out my tyres I'm now covered. As we try and sort things out after the break-in the insurance company has been their useful selves. Whilst they haven't questioned the claim their bumbling incompeitance means we still are no closer to replacing the stuff that got nicked. If and when the insurance company sort things out I have the decide what to replace the Squier Bullet with. It's either an Epiphone Les Paul Goldtop '56 or an Epiphone Supernova. Lets rock! And I've applied for a new job. Same company, different division.