Paul Richard Evans http://www.paulrichardevans.com The impossible: it's just a question of answers. posterous.com Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:34:00 -0800 Wherever You Are - pre-order now! #MWC4XNo1 http://www.paulrichardevans.com/wherever-you-are-per-order-now-mwc4xno1 http://www.paulrichardevans.com/wherever-you-are-per-order-now-mwc4xno1 I am very proud of my nephew and his wife. Tori is one of the many wives that make up the Military Wives Choir who will shortly release their stunning love song "Wherever You Are". Join their campaign - Military Wives For Christmas Number One - http://whereveryouare.co.uk/. Trending now on Twitter #MWC4XNo1.

Come on everybody and let's make this not just Christmas number one but this year's number one.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sat, 02 Jul 2011 13:07:24 -0700 Virtual TT course is here http://www.paulrichardevans.com/virtual-tt-course-is-here http://www.paulrichardevans.com/virtual-tt-course-is-here Google street view has arrived on the Isle of Man, a year after the Google street view cars first visited the island. Now you can take a virtual tour of the famous TT course.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sat, 28 May 2011 07:19:00 -0700 World's first 'do everything' network http://www.paulrichardevans.com/worlds-first-do-everything-network http://www.paulrichardevans.com/worlds-first-do-everything-network

I just read this in my local phone book:

"The Next Generation Network (NGN) is our £25 million programme to converge mobile, broadband and fixed line services into one secure internet-based network - the first of its kind in the world. When it's complete, you'll be able to access communications and entertainment in a 'one-stop' way that's simpler, faster and more affordable.

This year we're entering the final stages, which will involve changing over existing fixed line telephone exchange equipment to the NGN. We'll be doing this by exchange area - specific information will appear in the press as dates are confirmed.

If you have any questions about the NGN, please email us on ngninformation@manx-telecom.com, or go to www.manxtelecom.com/ngn"

So there you have it. So, what does this mean? Will it mean lower bills? We'll have to wait and see...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:15:01 -0800 Quit Facebook Day http://www.paulrichardevans.com/quit-facebook-day http://www.paulrichardevans.com/quit-facebook-day Are you bored with Facebook? Do you spend too much time in Facebook? I am and I know I do!

Why not free yourself and join me on a Quit Facebook Day - 1st March 2011.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sat, 13 Nov 2010 23:10:00 -0800 iPhone App http://www.paulrichardevans.com/iphone-app http://www.paulrichardevans.com/iphone-app Posterous has just release an iPhone App! It's looking good. I will be giving it a full test run over the coming weeks. A separate box for tags. There's additional buttons for Geotags, Autopost & Privacy.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sun, 03 Oct 2010 02:12:00 -0700 Vomit under the 3em-spaces and run! http://www.paulrichardevans.com/vomit-under-the-3em-spaces-and-run http://www.paulrichardevans.com/vomit-under-the-3em-spaces-and-run

"The Little Book That (Still) Beats The Market" is a must read.

Joel's 'Magic Formula' is so simple, you really need to read the book to believe it! The cons are: It will take discipline and belief to implement; you'll also need patience. The pros are: It could make you a lot of money! Joel's 'Magic Formula' does it all for you. Quote from his book - "Choosing individual stocks without any idea of what you are looking for is like running through a dynamite factory with a burning match. You may live, but you're still an idiot."

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:59:00 -0700 Free Online PHP Form Designer http://www.paulrichardevans.com/free-online-php-form-designer http://www.paulrichardevans.com/free-online-php-form-designer

Once in awhile one comes across a tool that really useful. This is one such tool. If you have been looking for a *free* online PHP form layout designer then this is really very cool and can save you a lot of work. You can check it out here at http://www.phpform.org

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sun, 30 May 2010 03:41:15 -0700 How Great Leaders Inspire Action? http://www.paulrichardevans.com/how-great-leaders-inspire-action-11 http://www.paulrichardevans.com/how-great-leaders-inspire-action-11

Thanks to my friend Dr Mani http://www.ezinemarketingcenter.com/drmanisocial/ for sending me this link to listen to Simon Sinek and his theory of how great leaders inspire action. It is well worth taking some time out and listening to what Simon has to say about his ‘Golden Circle’. It could change the way you think about your business.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Fri, 14 May 2010 13:14:00 -0700 Complete SEF URL Extension Comparison - Alledia http://www.paulrichardevans.com/complete-sef-url-extension-comparison-alledia http://www.paulrichardevans.com/complete-sef-url-extension-comparison-alledia
Media_httpwwwallediac_hilaj
via alledia.com

An excellent comparison of the main contenders for SEF URL extensions for Joomla. It looks to me like sh404SEF has the edge. I think I will try that one out and I'll report later how it goes.

It's worth reading the comments at the end of the article as things have moved on. Not least, that sh404SEF is no longer free. That aside, it still seems to be the favoured SEF extension for Joomla.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sat, 08 May 2010 09:21:29 -0700 Lousy Cold http://www.paulrichardevans.com/lousy-cold http://www.paulrichardevans.com/lousy-cold

I’ve been laid low with a cold the last couple of days. I hope to feel well enough to go for a run tomorrow. If not then Monday.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sat, 08 May 2010 09:19:40 -0700 Rory and Cookies' Jester Challenge http://www.paulrichardevans.com/rory-and-cookies-jester-challenge http://www.paulrichardevans.com/rory-and-cookies-jester-challenge

Rory is raising money for the Sir Francis Chichester Trust by taking on the Jester Challenge 2010. This is a singlehanded sailing adventure from Plymouth, UK, heading 2800 miles against the prevailing winds and currents across the North Atlantic to reach Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It is open to sailors in boats of 20-30ft length. The Challenge starts off the Plymouth breakwater at 1300hrs on 23rd May 2010 and Rory is estimating it will take approx. 5 weeks to sail his 21ft catamaran "Cookie" to Newport. This endurance feat will create a new sailing record for the smallest multihull east-to-west along the Northern Atlantic route.

Please help support my friend Rory in his challenge - sailing a 21ft catamaran single-handed across the Atlantic from east to west. Please donate whatever you can via http://www.justgiving.com/RoryandCookiesJesterChallenge . Many thanks :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Wed, 05 May 2010 13:07:00 -0700 Training on the beach - The Cronk http://www.paulrichardevans.com/training-on-the-beach-the-cronk http://www.paulrichardevans.com/training-on-the-beach-the-cronk

I drove out to the Cronk this evening and had a training run along the beach in preparation for the Race The Sun next month. This race is a relay race around the 98 miles of the island's coastal path. Unfortunately, the section of path from the Cronk, for about 2 to 3 miles, has long since gone, through coastal erosion. I think I will need more training for this section. It really is tough running on the beach here. It is a mixture of sand, shingle on stones. My next training run I will move further along and test myself on that. I have downloaded InstaMapper for the iPhone. A great little tool and it's free. It makes use of the inbuilt GPS of the iPhone and tracks the phones movement. The data is automatically sent online for 'live' tracking. When I got home I logged in to my account and tidied things up. Here is the result of my first training run on leg two of the 'Race The Sun' from the Cronk - 1.3 miles out and back. My average speed was 4 mph and my maximum speed was 6 mph. I need to improve on this as there is a time limit for the 11 mile leg.

GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:21:00 -0700 Success is a lousy teacher - Bill Gates http://www.paulrichardevans.com/success-is-a-lousy-teacher-bill-gates http://www.paulrichardevans.com/success-is-a-lousy-teacher-bill-gates
 
I'm reading 'The Road Ahead' by Bill Gates. At the beginning of chapter 3 Bill says "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." in context, Bill explains that the perfect business plan or the latest technology today can very quickly be out of date.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:56:00 -0700 Win Friends and Influence People http://www.paulrichardevans.com/win-friends-and-influence-people http://www.paulrichardevans.com/win-friends-and-influence-people I read an excerpt from Dale’s book “How to Win Friends & Influence People”. This quote got me thinking... “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie. This is so true and I think for this one statement it is worth reading the whole book. I wish more people would heed his words then perhaps the world would be a happier place.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:00:26 -0700 Arthur C Clarke's three laws of prediction - Wikipedia http://www.paulrichardevans.com/arthur-c-clarkes-three-laws-of-prediction-wik http://www.paulrichardevans.com/arthur-c-clarkes-three-laws-of-prediction-wik

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Arthur C. Clarke formulated the following three "laws" of prediction:

  1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
  2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
  3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Origins

The first of the three laws, previously termed Clarke's Law, was proposed by Arthur C. Clarke in the essay "Hazards of Prophecy: The Failure of Imagination", in Profiles of the Future (1962).[1]

The second law is offered as a simple observation in the same essay; its status as Clarke's Second Law was conferred on it by others.

In a 1973 revision of his compendium of essays, Profiles of the Future, Clarke acknowledged the Second Law and proposed the Third in order to round out the number, adding "As three laws were good enough for Newton, I have modestly decided to stop there." Of the three, the Third Law is the best known and most widely cited. It may be an echo of a statement in a 1942 story by Leigh Brackett: “Witchcraft to the ignorant, …. Simple science to the learned.”[2]

Clarke's Third Law codifies perhaps the most significant of Clarke's unique contributions to speculative fiction. A model to other writers of hard science fiction, Clarke postulates advanced technologies without resorting to flawed engineering concepts (as Jules Verne sometimes did) or explanations grounded in incorrect science or engineering (a hallmark of "bad" science fiction), or taking clues from trends in research and engineering (which dates some of Larry Niven's novels). Accordingly, the powers of any future superintelligence or hyper-intelligence which Clarke often described would seem astonishing.

But in novels such as The City and the Stars and the story "The Sentinel" (upon which 2001: A Space Odyssey was based) Clarke goes further; he presents us with ultra-advanced technologies developed by hyperintelligences limited only by fundamental science. In Against the Fall of Night the human race has mysteriously regressed after a full billion years of civilization. Humanity is faced with the remnants of its past glories: for example, a network of roads and sidewalks that flow like rivers. Although physically possible, it is inexplicable from their perspective. Clarke's Third Law explains the source of our amazement as our limitation, rather than the impossibility of the technology.

In his 1999 revision of Profiles of the Future, published in London by Indigo, Clarke added his Fourth Law: "For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert." This is similar to Gibson's law, which holds that "For every PhD there is an equal and opposite PhD."

[edit] References in other works

Clarke's laws, especially the third, have been referenced or alluded to numerous times in literature. Sometimes they provide corollaries to one or more of the laws. Often, these are parodies solely for humor value, but sometimes they offer interesting applications or perspectives.

  • Isaac Asimov wrote a corollary to Clarke's First Law, stating
    "When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elderly scientists and supports that idea with great fervor and emotion -- the distinguished but elderly scientists are then, after all, probably right."
  • Larry Niven, in discussing fantasy, wrote that "any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology". This is the converse to Clarke's Third Law, sometimes known as "Niven's Law" although it is not to be confused with the list of "Niven's laws". Mercedes Lackey has been quoted with the same corollary.
  • In the 1989 Doctor Who story Battlefield, the Earth becomes the battleground for the final showdown between (the absent) King Arthur and his ex-lover, the Sorceress Morgaine. Morgaine uses a variety of black magic in her assaults against the various heroes (including aggressive telepathic manipulation, laser bolts from her fingers and the final summoning of a Demon). In part 2, the Doctor explains all these occurrences (and more) as being evidence that as well as proving the validity of Clarke's 3rd Law the literal reversal of the law is also true!
  • Terry Pratchett refers to Niven's inversion of the third law in his Discworld books by having wizard Ponder Stibbons state that "Any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology." Pratchett also alludes to the second law in another Discworld work, The Last Hero: Leonard of Quirm is working on the Discworld's first (non-magical) flying machine, and states that he has no use for artisans who have "learned the limits of the possible."
  • In the first non-Asimov Foundation novel, Foundation's Fear, the emperor declares, "If technology is distinguishable from magic, it is insufficiently advanced." This is a paraphrase of Gehm's Corollary to Clarke's Third Law, "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
  • In the Torchwood book Trace Memory, Jack mentions Clarke's Third Law many times, until Tosh looks it up on the internet and finds: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
  • Clarke also referred to a law in one of his own works 3001: The Final Odyssey. Frank Poole thought, "A wise man once said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and then commented on facing the magic of 3001.
  • In The Box, Arthur Lewis has a poster with these words inscribed. It is also used as Arthur's justification of inexplicable phenomena in the film.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ “'Hazards of Prophecy: The Failure of Imagination'” in the collection Profiles of the Future: An Enquiry into the Limits of the Possible (1962, rev. 1973), pp. 14, 21, 36.
  2. ^ “The Sorcerer of Rhiannon,” Astounding February 1942, p. 39.

via en.wikipedia.org

If you think something is impossible, you're probably wrong. I love this!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:14:00 -0700 Is Flash on it's way out? http://www.paulrichardevans.com/is-flash-on-its-way-out http://www.paulrichardevans.com/is-flash-on-its-way-out

I found a very well written article, that begs the question, "Is Flash on it's way out?" - http://bit.ly/ag3sUh. With the advent of 'Scaleable Vector Graphics' and the much talked about HTML5, how much longer will Flash be supported? We recently saw Apple launch their new iPad without Flash support, I suspect in part because Flash is resource hungry, but maybe in anticipation of HTML5? 

Sent from my iPhone

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:10:25 -0700 Palm trees in Douglas http://www.paulrichardevans.com/palm-trees-in-douglas http://www.paulrichardevans.com/palm-trees-in-douglas
Img_0201

With the exception of this past winter, the Isle of Man usually has a quite mild all year round climate, thanks mainly to the gulf stream. We get a lot of rain and it can be windy but it rarely gets below freezing or very hot. I took this picture of the many palms trees that grow along Douglas promenade. The photo hasn’t been enhanced and yes the sky was that blue. A lovely spring day on the 7th April 2010. The photo was taken using my iPhone with the default camera app.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Sat, 10 Apr 2010 02:06:28 -0700 Set my intentions for the day http://www.paulrichardevans.com/set-my-intentions-for-the-day http://www.paulrichardevans.com/set-my-intentions-for-the-day

I’ve made my intentions clear for today – family, chores and IM – a fair mix. Made a list and ready to start. Firstly, it’s a beautiful day and sun is out, so outdoors and clean the car. See you all later...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:16:00 -0700 It's a tough old game Internet Marketing http://www.paulrichardevans.com/its-a-tough-old-game-internet-marketing http://www.paulrichardevans.com/its-a-tough-old-game-internet-marketing

Have you tried to make yourself a brand or a presence on the internet. In the early days it seems that it is one step forward and two steps back. Moments of elation followed by moments of despair. Everything was going great guns this morning and afternoon. I made a list and made my intentions clear for the day – thanks to Neil Hawkesford, I recommend a follow. I got loads done – not IM related but family.

 

I did the dutiful dad thing and took my little boys to Onchan Pleasure Park. They had fun with crazy golf, mini go-karts and motor boats – and emptied my wallet. Afterwards, we collected my wife from work and returned home. I then continued with my list and completed several jobs around the home.

 

Finally, I sat down at my laptop and got on with some IM business. Only to find I have a mass un-following on Twitter – I user http://www.useqwitter.com . These things happen I know but, they sure make a mess of lists and then there is the process of un-following them.

 

In steps a free service http://www.tweepi.com . I recommend you try out all their tools. Flush was brilliant – they even have a safe list for those you follow and who don’t follow you but you want to keep following. I’m about to try their Geeky Follow and Reciprocate. Anyway, my Twitter account is now tidied up again. I still need to write two articles...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:12:50 -0700 Just got back from the run I should have done last night http://www.paulrichardevans.com/just-got-back-from-the-run-i-should-have-done http://www.paulrichardevans.com/just-got-back-from-the-run-i-should-have-done

As I said last night, I should have gone out for a run then, but delayed until this morning. I took the boys to the children’s park this morning and naively expecting them to behave for 25 minutes. Ha de ha ha! I almost managed a 25 minute jog round the park. After 10 minutes I had to step briefly and chastise them. See @Neil_Hawksford I can’t even get 25 minutes to myself!

 

Anyway, the shoulder didn’t trouble me and my hips and knees were ok. I started taking glucosamine a few days ago and my shoulder is feeling much better. So, there is hope for me yet. Maybe these old 54 year-old legs will get me through the 11 miles of #RaceTheSun yet.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/482390/Paul2.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erxLQRagzn3 Paul Evans PaulRichardEvans Paul Evans