Big Bad Bern's Blog

05/10/201005/10/2010

Dearly Devoted Dexter

"Dexter", basado en http://www.peque... — Image via Wikipedia

My holiday readathon continues Dearly Devoted Dexter .

This is the second Dexter novel and the fork in the road beween this book and the TV series continues to widen. There are by the conclusion of this volume big differences in the plot lines and characters. Where the TV series has Dexter in a continuos dialogue with his dead step father the book has the dialogue with his “Dark Passenger”. It is more like a driving for than an alter ego. That doesn’t mean that Dexter is not abiding by the Harry’s code;which sets him apart from other serial killers.

This volume has him more tied up with a threat that is affecting members of his own team rather than his raison detre. There is also the emerging relationship with his girlfriends children.

I must admit to being a fan of the TV series but the books so far have been equally satisfying. Its almost like a story with a different ending which of course it is.

04/10/201026/02/2011

WordPress iPhone App v2.6

Been having lots of trouble with the WordPress App since I upgraded to iOS 4. Couldn’t log in to the blog very frustrating. Anyway this all seems to be in the past now with the release of this version of the App.
You are supposed to be able to add video from an iPhone 4. I have tried direct filming from within the application and loading from the library. Both methods make the App crash.

I did manage to load a photo.

03/10/201003/10/2010

The Girl Who Kicked a Hornet’s Nest

Stieg Larsson's Milennium Trilogy — Image by Global X via Flickr

Well I manage to write the reviews of books I read out of order and in a rather haphazard fashion so this post should have preceded the last one never mind.

This is the third and final instalment of Stieg Larsson‘s epic trilogy that encompasses computer hacking state sanctioned abuses of individuals that go to the heart of government. Larsson manages to combine a sweeping story involving all sorts agencies and yet keeps tabs on the personal with his main protagonists Blomqvist and the rather amazing heroine Lisbeth Salander. The tale is at the outer edges of believability but not outrageously so. The books have already been made into films in Sweden and fairly faithfully keep to the story. It is concerning to me that there is hollywood version of the film on its way which will no doubt be dumbed down and the intrigue and originality of the story will most likely be lost.

Sadly this is the end of the series as the author passed away. This is a fitting conclusion to the story with most of the lose ends tied up rather nicely.

This is the third and final instalment of Stieg Larsson’s epic trilogy that encompasses computer hacking state sanctioned abuses of individuals that go to the heart of government. Larsson manages to combine a sweeping story involving all sorts agencies and yet keeps tabs on the personal with his main protagonists Blomqvist and the rather amazing heroine Lisbeth Salander. The tale is at the outer edges of believability but not outrageously so. The books have already been made into films in Sweden and fairly faithfully keep to the story. It is concerning to me that there is hollywood version of the film on its way which will no doubt be dumbed down and the intrigue and originality of the story will most likely be lost.Sadly this is the end of the series as the author passed away. This is a fitting conclusion to the story with most of the lose ends tied up rather nicely.

03/10/201003/10/2010

Dexter Darkly Dreaming

Let's Give the Boy a Hand — Image via Wikipedia

He struggles in many ways to maintain a civil exterior low profile and “normal”. I feel that this book explores the character of Dexter more deeply than the TV series does. It is inevitable that comparisons will be made between the two incarnations of the story. Already at the end of book one there is a major divergence which will make reading the next book very interesting.

Certainly not a disappointment reading the book after watching the show.

This is the first in the “Dexter” series, which is probably better known for the TV series of the same name. Thankfully the TV series is based in the books rather than this being a novelisation. Dexter the vigilante sociopath is an engaging character and those with an academic interest in this type of person will enjoy the characters inner perspectives. Dexter Darkly Dreaming introduces the reader to his story although he is already well established in his murderous ways. He struggles in many ways to maintain a civil exterior low profile and “normal”. I feel that this book explores the character of Dexter more deeply than the TV series does. It is inevitable that comparisons will be made between the two incarnations of the story. Already at the end of book one there is a major divergence which will make reading the next book very interesting.
Certainly not a disappointment after reading the book after watching the show. A little late but a great holiday read.

13/09/201004/10/2010

The Complaints by Ian Rankin

A great new Ian Rankin novel without Rebus. A most satisfying read. The story crosses the boundaries of who you can and cant trust. Tapping into the modern culture of greed. I do miss the musical references of the Rebus series but the new character Fox has his own foibles. The story weaves but never seem to loose pace.

The story revolves around the Police that investigate the Polis.

Looking froward to the next Rankin novel

01/08/201001/08/2010

A Tale of Three Companies Part 2

After the initial attempt to get the Air-conditioning unit repaired I had to contact the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA). Their advice was to write to the retailer, Origin Energy, as it is their responsibility to organise warranty repairs. On the advice of OCBA I sent a registered letter outlining my troubles to date. The outcome I wanted was a response in 7 days. I received a phone call from Origin Energy four days after the letter was sent. I was advised that they had called Mecair (this being the company that does the warranty work) and they were going to fix the air-conditioning. I waited a further 4 business days and called Mecair to see what progress was being made. I was then told that the part had been ordered. However they were unable to give me an estimated time of repair. They put the blame firmly on the door step of AHI-Carrier who manufacture of the air-conditioning unit.

I then tried to contact Origin Energy as OCBA advised me to. Try as I might I could not get through to them to clarify the situation. I was continually confronted by a phone message saying that “due to unprecedented demand they were not able to answer the phone”. I rang nearly every number on their website, but was unable to speak to anyone. In the end very frustrated I went to their store in Adelaide. The unprecedented demand was being met by one person on the phone the rest of staff wandering around a nearly empty store! I expressed my frustration very loudly! This is now nearly two weeks after my letter demanding action in 7 days. They are apologetic, nothing can be done today…blah blah. However tomorrow , always tomorrow.

The next day and I get a call from AHI Carrier the manufacturer of the lame air-conditioning unit. I have to re-tell the whole saga which only gets my temper going. He denies that there are any supply issues with spare parts as detailed by Mecair. He promises me that sort it out and get back to me the next morning. He also adds that the initial service guy who came to our house could have made a temporary repair which would have made the unit functional! He promises to get back to me the following morning. Needless to say I have to phone him at the end of day. He promises that the part will be in Adelaide next week and that Mecair will have someone on standby to come out and repair the air-conditioning unit.

This is now about 7 weeks since I started on this ludicrous journey.

The air-conditioner is still not fixed……..

27/07/201026/02/2011

A Tale of Three Companies Part One

Imagine that you buy a product from a reputable company and the item is also a reputable brand. I bought a Toshiba air conditioner from Origin Energy in May last year. They hook you in with the interest free terms and a 5 year warranty.. Well so far so good. Then comes the air-conditioning unit’s baptism of fire. About 5 months after the installation in November 2009 we noticed a problem. During an unseasonal burst of hot weather early in the season the head unit in the family room was leaking. We had water running down the wall. This little episode took 5 weeks to fix! The heat wave had long passed long before the air-conditioner was repaired. The verdict was a failed installation.

5 weeks to fix.

The next episode started in May this year. It is winter in the land down under and despite the travel brochures it does get cold. Perhaps it is not as cold here as elsewhere but we still need heating. The air-conditioning unit gradually stopped heating effectively. We dutifully worked our way through the manual as we thought we were using the unit incorrectly. We are sitting in our family rooms with jumpers on and blankets over our laps to keep warm in front of the telly. The telly is no substitute for a heater.

Then we decided to call the Origin Energy to organise a warranty repair. This is about one year after the purchase. I am told that Origin Energy doesn’t sell Toshiba air-conditioners! I have to convince them that I bought it from them. They eventually gave me a number to ring for warranty work. Then starts the inevitable phone tag; no you need another department, no they aren’t here today they promise to ring back; we didn’t install the unit. Despite promises nobody rings me back. I call back and convince them that they have come out and repair the unit under warranty. Mecair, the warranty company, eventually relent agree to send someone out this cant be done for two weeks. The guy who comes out, says some part needs replacing and we will be contacted when they get receive it. He can’t even find the compressor unit on the roof. No card is left or any work report in short nothing. A week passes by and I call Mecair to see what is happening. They can’t find any record that they came out here in the first place! Mecair take another week to confirm that they called at our house. They now want proof of purchase before ordering the part, which of course I supply and then wait………………….

It is now five weeks since we called Origin Energy.

11/07/2010

Added a WP Touch Mobile Icon

Well managed to create an icon from a photo using a website called Flavor Studios the website does all the work. When done simply download the icons to your computer and then upload to the admin page. Here it is for those without an iPhone.

11/07/201011/07/2010

WPtouch adds a mobile theme as well!

Well another plugin added to the blog site. One day I might a real uses for this other than fiddling with it. I have an iPhone but don’t like the way the blog displays in a mobile environment. Enter WPtouch 1.9.16 this free plugin sits along the

regular theme. This allows a seamless transition and does not affect the regular theme. WPtouch has a plethora options to fiddle with however it worked straight out of the box. The WPtouch theme looks great on the iPhone . The next thing is a custom icon which I will have to design.

26/06/201026/02/2011

iOS4 on my 3GS iPhone

Well I waited a few days and then took the plunge and installed the new iOS4. This is the

iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch — Image by DrewVigal via Flickr

latest version of the operating system for the iPhone and of course the over hyped iPad. I have been running it now for about 6 hours the most obvious thing is the wallpaper and the way the icons rush in from the sides when you turn the phone on. Multitasking seems to work so any app that you turn on remains on in the background. Not sure what this means for battery life, if there is an extra drain on the battery I haven’t noticed so far. The camera seems snappier but that might be me. I haven’t tried the folder function yet too much excitement at once isn’t good.
My main fear had been the sporadic reports of sluggish performance and non-responsive screens. So far so good. There doesn’t seem to be an easy was to actually just turn off an app when you are done. So you end up with all the apps running in the background. When the apps are displayed as strip that are running in the background you have to hold an icon until they all display a red circle with a cross in it then clocking on this shuts each app down individually.

Oh and I almost forgot this was written on my iPhone