England vs USA world cup match

It was all very odd, we watched England throw a lead away 1 nil up against USA and yet we missed the first goal as ITV HD went to an advert break by "accident". Never straight forward for England in any tournaments. Can't just turn and and win or lose. Always something (not always our fault). Thinks Maradona hand of god moment.......

Yes I know thats a French strip, blue was the closest I could get in xtranormal did not see the US one on the asset list :)

Florida theme park tips

As we just got back from orlando doing the Florida thing I thought I would list the highlights.

We had an unlimited pass for 2 weeks to disney, universal and Seaworld. In the 14 days we were there we only had 2 days not using those passes.
We were not in resort but in a house with a pool about 10 miles out from disney and about 15 from universal. We also had sat nav .
I do not think we were there at the busiest times but there were certainly some big queues, which we tried to avoid.
Due to coming from the UK we were able to do the most important thing at the parks. Get there early!
The tactic of identifying the main ride you want to do and heading straight there when it opens saves a lot of time and effort and also gives you an option to go to the second choice one in case of failures.
It is also often quite good to head straight to the other side of the park to things as people will meander along at the entrance taking photos etc.
We had a very mixed family group so we tended to not do all the big rides but checked the schedules for the character signings as the predlets loved those.
Must do's
1. Rockit roller coaster universal. A very long coaster, with a choice of music. I would not bother with buying the video that it takes of you as it is only a few seconds spliced into the music video and a 3d render of the track. The ride has some high G turns that almost hurt. I rode it once late when I was a bit tired, but first thing int eh morning the next time woke me up bigtime :)
2. Toy Story Midway at Disney Holywood . A cart 3d train that lets you shoot hoops and sticky darts at 3d cgi characters. This is for all ages and shooting by pulling a piece of rope is brilliant :) Its in the middle of the park behind the big hat. It seems to be the main draw as its the newest so head there first.
3. Rockin' Roller Coaster at Disney Holywood. Turn right and up near tower of terror. Still a great coaster.
4. Monsters Inc Laugh floor at Disney Magic Kingdom, in Tomorrow Land. Wrote about this on feeding edge
5. Live action stunt show Disney Hollywood Studios. Awesome car based stunts done for real.
6. Aquatica - This seaworld water park is worth it for the giant kids adventure playground and the rapids to float around.
7. Woody Woodpecker kiddies coaster Universal. This area did not open until 11am but there is hardly any height restriction.
8. Pirates of the Caribbean - Disney Magic kingdom now with added captain jack sparrow
9. Simpsons - Universal - Brilliant simulator ride takes a pop at lots of other rides including pirates as above
10. Spideman - Universal islands of adventure. Its spiderman, a 3d cart ride.
11. Give up listing its all just so good!
Yes I gave up listing the rides in order pathetic. Really pick a few big ones then meander around timing things to go to the live shows. We tended to only last until about 3pm then headed home for the pool.
You should also really take a trip out to kennedy space center. It's such an important an impressive collection.

New transition lenses

New transition lenses, originally uploaded by epredator.

I have new glasses. This is not the darkest the transition lenses go but they are still fascinating.
I had some original reactotlite sunglasses back in the 80's. I had avoided them again with my specs as wearing things all the time that may turn dark at a moments sunlight seemed a bit of a waste.
Of course now, my latest trip to the opticians tagged me as old and needing not only short sighted every day glasses but the dreaded reading/computer use glasses.
So i really did not want 3 sets of lenses, reading, seeing and cool shades.
These frames I got seemed pretty funky too. So far so good.

Ash hamster

Ash hamster, originally uploaded by epredator.

One of the unreported victims of the Icelandic volcano ash and its affects on international flights to and from the UK and around Europe is that we have a visitor for a while longer at our house.
Pippin was originally visiting for a week whilst his family went on holiday, but of course they are still there.
Of course it is very handy to be able to take photos, pop them on flickr where they filter down via friendfeed into facebook where Pippin's family get to see that he is ok.
A slight change for him today as he needed some new food from our local pet shop (we don't usually have pets so that was a new experience) and new bedding sawdust and tissue paper.
He seems happy enough though I am sure he misses his real owners.
#ashtag #ashhamster

Predators Movie

Yes of course I am looking forward to this summers new predator movie. :)
The recent AVP have not been that great. However I suspect that Robert Rodriguez will make this a doozy.



If not, well no harm done. It is still interesting to see the background story emerge.
I have said on many occasions I used the predator handle before the first film even got made. I was more than made up when I saw early shots in Fangoria magazine of the awesome Stan Winston design.

Skateboarding Predlet 2.0 trick #1

Skateboarding Predlet trick #1
Originally uploaded by epredator

Predlet 2.0 learns his first ever skateboard trick, well less of a trick and more of an essential.

Roo bafta award

roo bafta award, originally uploaded by epredator.

Original photos uploaded Roo Reynolds
www.flickr.com/photos/rooreynolds/4380051457/
www.flickr.com/photos/rooreynolds/4379360172/

He gets everywhere doesn't he :) Fancy getting a gig at the Bafta's.
Roo has some great (real) photos of the event here and here
It's nice to see a fellow colleague and metaverse evangelist still living the rock and roll lifestyle :)

Me and the predlets

Me and the predlets, originally uploaded by epredator.

Of course this needs no explanation :) Just testing our kit ;)

Barney does Predlet 2.0 impression

IMGP4756, originally uploaded by epredator.

At his birthday party the other week predlet 2.0 found a tractor to ride. It was good to see these as free ride machines at the indoor playground where we had the party. All to often these devices are money traps set out in the most awkward places in shopping centres.
Anyway nice to see Barney copying predlet 2.0 or vice versa.

Snow Hunters

Snow Hunters, originally uploaded by epredator.

The weather has been very odd for this part of the country.
We even got to sledge in our own garden !

Digging out this old snowboard gear

Sat Down, originally uploaded by epredator.

With all the #uksnow around I thought it was a good idea to dig out my no limits sallopettes and airwalk boarding jacket and relive my youth.
Of course I dont have a snow board, not a hill bit the rest of the kit is still in great condition.
The trousers were ones that I stomped into a shop in resort with a huge rip in the rear end of my cheap quilted ones and demanded the best pair of snow trousers they had. I ended up with some brilliantly waterproof teflon coated ones (that still fit BTW).
The airwalk jacket has lots of great features like a neoprene cuff so you get no snow up your sleeve. A hood that also has a peaked cap and lots of layers and pockets.

Now that is a gate!

Gate mechanism, originally uploaded by epredator.

We went for a walk near swanwick and I was amazed at this seemingly over engineered gate mechanism.
The gate is like a re-enforced version of the old level crossing gates where the metal squared off elements fold under gravity.
With this gate though it is a bit more military checkpoint. A large cantilever block can push the gate down (on the right) and the very solid cross braces lift up.
It is really clever.

Scary old passport photos

Guess who, originally uploaded by epredator.

One of the joys of the modern age is that we have visual records of us at all stages of life. Like this passport photo that surfaced this christmas.
Thanks Dad !
Do you have any odd passport photos to share?

Predlet mashup of RATM In the Name Of - Noddy Styleee

I tweeted the other day that Predlet 2.0 thinks that In the Name Of is actually In the Name of Plod (from Noddy). As soon as here hears it on the radio he launches into to as you can see.

There is still time to donate and buy Rage Against the Machine 4 Xmas

Everyone even the man himself has seen sense.
(The lyrics get a bit wild for sensitive ears later on, but music is supposed to challenge)

The band are giving the proceeds to charity as well as the donations people are giving to shelter as well as downloading the single.
Not long to go. Go on you know you want too.

Let's rock - Support Rage Against the Machine for Xmas

Let's rock, originally uploaded by epredator.

It's time to get good music back, a social movement up against the PR machine fits for where we all are today. The predlets are up for that (though need the radio edit!)
Yes ok so the Xfactor lot are on the same label as Rage Against the Machine but this feels like its generated from a pub conversation not from a PR brainstorm.
When buying the Killing in the Name of single don't forget to also donate to shelter if you can.
The details and facebook group are here

Frankenstein pockets

Frankenstein pockets, originally uploaded by epredator.

One of the reasons I do software related things is that I whilst I have a practical mind I do not always have the technical skills to deal with the physical.
My favourite pair of trousers had the right hand pocket wear out. This often happens as this is where my keys and change are kept all the time.
So, rather than throw them away and fork out for a new pair (whilst not very rock and roll) I cobbled together a fix.
The sewing wont win any prizes, but it will stop the steady leak of 5 pence pieces trickling down my leg.
I was trying to do this in a bit of a rush so part of the job is actually held on with gaffer tape, but thats tonights excitement to get stitching the other side.
Who knows a career in fashion may await?

Sorting out Darth Vader

Predlet 2.0 has taken to doing the things boys do. Things become guns, and bad guys need sorting out. There may of cause and effect, nature nurture conversations here but he was having fun and living out a bit of Star Wars. Darth Vader is a bad guy (in general lets not worry about the subtleties of redemption) and bad guys need "sorting out".
So he did, and he wanted it filmed.

More Marmite

More Marmite, originally uploaded by epredator.

I am still loving the labelling on Marmite. I had not seen the "is perfect one" it was a nice surprise in the Ocado delivery.
Its nice to be able to have a laugh unpacking the shopping !

A waste of sign

A waste of sign, originally uploaded by epredator.

You have to admit this is just a little pointless :)