Ports Thoughts

A few days ago my friend Ed Brill was writing about the suitability of services such as Gmail in the Enterprise . Despite the vogue for services such as Google Apps and other "Software as a Service" and "Cloud" computing, he points out that they simply aren't as reliable as on premises solutions (or hosted ones for that matter). However, one of the biggest challenges with these solutions is "who you gonna call" when there is a problem. If you can't access Gmail you won't get very far phoning Google. However, these free services are normally deemed to be fine for consumer use. Well I have just had a personal experience that even makes me question that. Since around 2000 I have been maintaining a web site for the band that I'm in. Being a cheap skate I just grabbed a free site at Tripod . It was a bit spoiled by the adverts but it worked fine. Tripod was subsequently purchased by Lycos but it didn't seem to change anything. It only got ...

OK - so it is kinda like shooting fish in a barrel poking fun at MS Windows for crashing. I'm sure that we have all seen the famous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on airport monitors and ATM machines, not to mention our home and work PCs. But it is rare to see one as high profile as this - during the climax of the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics. More ironic because PC suppler Lenovo ditched Windows Vista for the supposedly more stable Windows XP. Full story Here

Matt and Alexis looking ravishing seconds after tying the knot. Matt and Alexis on Kew green The bride and groom with the bridesmaids and page boy. Matt with some of his family Alexis and some of her family Matt and Alexis on the back of a vintage Routemaster bus which was used to transport all the guest from Kew to the reception in Soho. Matt's Mum and Dad with Akira and Junji Traditional cheesy self service shot of Mr and Mrs Ports Alexis and her daughter Tracy The fantastic wedding cake made up of loads of tiny cakes Matt and Alexis have their first dance as a married couple Ali cuts a rug on the dance floor Alexis opens the card from Lucy Alexis and Ali Matt and his Best Man.

Tom poses with his Best Men, brothers Olly and Ben, before the ceremony. The ceremony itself was beautiful being held in the back garden of Laura's Parents house overlooking the glorious Gloustershire countryside. After the ceremony the normal festivities kicked off. Ian was looking particularly racy in his white suit. The core of legendary band Sideburner. Al, Tom and Ports pose together. Ports and Ali take a traditional self service picture. The happy couple at the reception He might be married but Tom is still a ladies man. The traditional cheesy wedding band Ali and Lynne compare shoes Ali and Laura Ali with the Happy couple