1/20/2012
Good news / bad news
Good news: no bad fails on exams.
Bad news: two regular fails. Going to have to resit those. But as I said, cheaper than a one-way ticket home. I also hang on to the job a bit longer.
Bad news: two regular fails. Going to have to resit those. But as I said, cheaper than a one-way ticket home. I also hang on to the job a bit longer.
1/04/2012
I read an article online recently that has stuck with me for a few days now. It was directly about why the Windows phone hasn't taken off despite it being (possibly) a superior platform, and indirectly it was about the state of the wireless/mobile market in general.
I really liked this excerpt from it the most, especially the last line:
"Carriers: Own the customer. Own billing. Own Sales. Own the physical pipe. They also own the marketing money. They hate being just a fat dumb pipe, but their capex structure means they will never be anything but a fat dumb pipe."
The carriers will never be anything but a fat dumb pipe. It's so true. People have never bought into the branding that the carriers try to put onto phones/mobile service. How many of you Android users have rooted your phone and deleted/never reinstalled the carrier-branded applications that came with it? How many of you who *haven't* rooted your phones have ever used a carrier-branded app over the real thing (via the app market or sideloaded)?
In the US, the state of the phone market is different, in that 90% (I read it somewhere) of the phones out there are on a contract of some sort, vs. 30-40% (estimate; definitely less than 50%) of other major markets have that sort of a structure. In those other markets, thankfully, it's possible to get a "fat dumb pipe" provider who is just happy with being that. Mine even gives me vodka as a reward for using it that way. In the US, it's not that way, but there are inroads. Now that the AT&T takeover of T-Mobile has been blocked, I have hope that it will slowly but surely get better.
Anyway, have a read of the article:
Windows Phone is Superior; Why Hasn’t it Taken Off?
I really liked this excerpt from it the most, especially the last line:
"Carriers: Own the customer. Own billing. Own Sales. Own the physical pipe. They also own the marketing money. They hate being just a fat dumb pipe, but their capex structure means they will never be anything but a fat dumb pipe."
The carriers will never be anything but a fat dumb pipe. It's so true. People have never bought into the branding that the carriers try to put onto phones/mobile service. How many of you Android users have rooted your phone and deleted/never reinstalled the carrier-branded applications that came with it? How many of you who *haven't* rooted your phones have ever used a carrier-branded app over the real thing (via the app market or sideloaded)?
In the US, the state of the phone market is different, in that 90% (I read it somewhere) of the phones out there are on a contract of some sort, vs. 30-40% (estimate; definitely less than 50%) of other major markets have that sort of a structure. In those other markets, thankfully, it's possible to get a "fat dumb pipe" provider who is just happy with being that. Mine even gives me vodka as a reward for using it that way. In the US, it's not that way, but there are inroads. Now that the AT&T takeover of T-Mobile has been blocked, I have hope that it will slowly but surely get better.
Anyway, have a read of the article:
Windows Phone is Superior; Why Hasn’t it Taken Off?
1/02/2012
iMessage fun
I've been having some issues with iMessage. It shows my old work number instead of the new SIM that I'm using in the phone.
I tried erasing all network settings. Switching iMessage on and off didn't seem to affect anything.
I tried backing up and resetting the iPhone altogether. When I restored it from the old backup it also imported the old number.
I then tried setting it up as a completely new iPhone. It activated and turned on, but because I'm not in the United Kingdom right now it hasn't been connecting to a cellular network. Apparently it must connect to a cellular network to activate itself. Because it couldn't connect to a network it was showing my email address, my Apple ID, as my iMessage name. Interestingly it didn't display a phone number at all, even though it's quite clearly an iPhone!
I eventually restored from a backup and so the old work number is in there once again. When I get back to the UK I will try setting it up as a new phone to see if I can finally get my new number in iMessage. However, it looks like because the phone is locked to a network--even though I can use it with a virtual network operator that uses the Vodafone network--I can't actually activate iMessage or anything else on the virtual network. I will try setting it up as a new phone and maybe even go into an Apple store and set it up as a new phone in front of them, but I'm not sure if it's going to be possible to activate IMessage on the new number.
Interesting to find these things out about how a new iPhone is activated.
I tried erasing all network settings. Switching iMessage on and off didn't seem to affect anything.
I tried backing up and resetting the iPhone altogether. When I restored it from the old backup it also imported the old number.
I then tried setting it up as a completely new iPhone. It activated and turned on, but because I'm not in the United Kingdom right now it hasn't been connecting to a cellular network. Apparently it must connect to a cellular network to activate itself. Because it couldn't connect to a network it was showing my email address, my Apple ID, as my iMessage name. Interestingly it didn't display a phone number at all, even though it's quite clearly an iPhone!
I eventually restored from a backup and so the old work number is in there once again. When I get back to the UK I will try setting it up as a new phone to see if I can finally get my new number in iMessage. However, it looks like because the phone is locked to a network--even though I can use it with a virtual network operator that uses the Vodafone network--I can't actually activate iMessage or anything else on the virtual network. I will try setting it up as a new phone and maybe even go into an Apple store and set it up as a new phone in front of them, but I'm not sure if it's going to be possible to activate IMessage on the new number.
Interesting to find these things out about how a new iPhone is activated.
12/29/2011
Life's good back in Charleston. Sadly, I've got no pictures on here at the moment so you'll just have to believe me.
Christmas was a pretty good success. I was a little worried about the day, but things turned out all right. I got a couple of Groupons worth $20 to Brixx Pizza (good choice!), a six-pack of beer from Edwards' brewery, and several other gifts (candy and things like that). Of course the plane ticket itself was somewhat of a gift too, and then on Boxing Day my mom and I went out and did a massive shopping spree at Belk.
I got two suits, some sweater vests, two pairs of khakis, and three pairs of shoes. We pretty much destroyed it. There are still a couple of clothing items I'd like to get while I'm here in Charleston (workout clothes and jeans), but the Belk trip pretty much covered the necessities and a few of the extras a well. Not a bad haul!
It's now the 29th and New Years' Eve is rapidly approaching. I've got to figure out what to do--have been tossing around some ideas with J and C but nothing solid yet. There is Red's Ice House for $80 all-you-can-drink, but my approach to those is that the bar tends to get so crowded later on that people end up waving money as straight tips to the bartender, which defeats the purpose of an open bar in the first place. I can't think of a single bar I've been to where the drink production line was so streamlined that I didn't have to queue and jostle for place.
Otherwise, there's a place in the old Henry's on Johnnie Dodds that really tempts me. $20 to get in, but then you've got $60 to use to drink in comparison to Red's! Other people are already committed to Red's, though, so that might leave me out on that. Hopefully we can get something figured out.
Right, off for ham and eggs, yum!
Christmas was a pretty good success. I was a little worried about the day, but things turned out all right. I got a couple of Groupons worth $20 to Brixx Pizza (good choice!), a six-pack of beer from Edwards' brewery, and several other gifts (candy and things like that). Of course the plane ticket itself was somewhat of a gift too, and then on Boxing Day my mom and I went out and did a massive shopping spree at Belk.
I got two suits, some sweater vests, two pairs of khakis, and three pairs of shoes. We pretty much destroyed it. There are still a couple of clothing items I'd like to get while I'm here in Charleston (workout clothes and jeans), but the Belk trip pretty much covered the necessities and a few of the extras a well. Not a bad haul!
It's now the 29th and New Years' Eve is rapidly approaching. I've got to figure out what to do--have been tossing around some ideas with J and C but nothing solid yet. There is Red's Ice House for $80 all-you-can-drink, but my approach to those is that the bar tends to get so crowded later on that people end up waving money as straight tips to the bartender, which defeats the purpose of an open bar in the first place. I can't think of a single bar I've been to where the drink production line was so streamlined that I didn't have to queue and jostle for place.
Otherwise, there's a place in the old Henry's on Johnnie Dodds that really tempts me. $20 to get in, but then you've got $60 to use to drink in comparison to Red's! Other people are already committed to Red's, though, so that might leave me out on that. Hopefully we can get something figured out.
Right, off for ham and eggs, yum!
12/23/2011
It's been a fun but busy past few days in Charleston.
I landed on Tuesday and had a nice, hearty dinner of beef stew and rice and homemade bread/toast. I wasn't ever a huge fan of beef stew, but a substantial home-cooked meal just like that was excellent.
On Wednesday I got some Mexican food at lunch--awesome--and then met with J and R and another friend for a couple of drinks at Basil in Mount Pleasant. Then, it was time for a quick drink at Crave, a classic, with E and S, before they closed up shop at 10:30. We hit up the Harris Teeter for a big thing of German beer and had a little adventure before having a few drinks back at a flat in Beaumont.
On Thursday I had a yummy lunch at Ichiban, a classic restaurant in Mount Pleasant. I highly recommend it--the egg rolls are excellent, and the teriyaki beef and chicken meal with fried rice is great. The dipping sauce for the eggrolls/gyoza is a great condiment/topping as well.
I then ran a errands and got a piece of Roquefort cheese, which was enjoyed later that night once we assembled back in Beaumont. Beforehand, though, we had a few pints for old times' sake at Fiddlers' Green pub on Coleman, where we heard the final question for team trivia like we had done so many times back in the day.
After we wrapped up at Fiddlers' Green we enjoyed the bottle of Co/skill wine and the Roquefort, along with several other tasty, soft (smelly) cheeses. Impromptu wine and cheese party for the win.
Today I went with my parents down to Savannah to see my grandfather and get lunch at the Carey Hilliard's down there, now that they've all closed up here in Charleston. CH was all right, but the toast is doused in butter, the onion rings are little more than soft onions in excessive, oily batter, and everything else is just straight up fried. No wonder when I got home to Charleston tonight at 5PM I felt a little ill.
Back to the neighborhood, there was a Christmas drop-in just down the street. Liquor abounded, which was great, but the conversation, not quite as much--though there were people my age there, they were in just a little different "place" from me. E.g.: I found out one of the people there, a female roughly my age but who had a fairly substantially grown child, actually graduated from high school the same year as me. One 7-year-old kid later, well, she's making sure his Nintendo DS is charged before he goes to the party, whereas I'm rolling in from the London flight. Nothing wrong with that, but, that's a seven-year-old!
Ah, well, back to the house now. Just watching some American Dad and hanging out. It's been a busy, long few days back here in Charleston, so hopefully I can get some rest and have a nice Christmas weekend. Still in town for two more weeks!
I landed on Tuesday and had a nice, hearty dinner of beef stew and rice and homemade bread/toast. I wasn't ever a huge fan of beef stew, but a substantial home-cooked meal just like that was excellent.
On Wednesday I got some Mexican food at lunch--awesome--and then met with J and R and another friend for a couple of drinks at Basil in Mount Pleasant. Then, it was time for a quick drink at Crave, a classic, with E and S, before they closed up shop at 10:30. We hit up the Harris Teeter for a big thing of German beer and had a little adventure before having a few drinks back at a flat in Beaumont.
On Thursday I had a yummy lunch at Ichiban, a classic restaurant in Mount Pleasant. I highly recommend it--the egg rolls are excellent, and the teriyaki beef and chicken meal with fried rice is great. The dipping sauce for the eggrolls/gyoza is a great condiment/topping as well.
I then ran a errands and got a piece of Roquefort cheese, which was enjoyed later that night once we assembled back in Beaumont. Beforehand, though, we had a few pints for old times' sake at Fiddlers' Green pub on Coleman, where we heard the final question for team trivia like we had done so many times back in the day.
After we wrapped up at Fiddlers' Green we enjoyed the bottle of Co/skill wine and the Roquefort, along with several other tasty, soft (smelly) cheeses. Impromptu wine and cheese party for the win.
Today I went with my parents down to Savannah to see my grandfather and get lunch at the Carey Hilliard's down there, now that they've all closed up here in Charleston. CH was all right, but the toast is doused in butter, the onion rings are little more than soft onions in excessive, oily batter, and everything else is just straight up fried. No wonder when I got home to Charleston tonight at 5PM I felt a little ill.
Back to the neighborhood, there was a Christmas drop-in just down the street. Liquor abounded, which was great, but the conversation, not quite as much--though there were people my age there, they were in just a little different "place" from me. E.g.: I found out one of the people there, a female roughly my age but who had a fairly substantially grown child, actually graduated from high school the same year as me. One 7-year-old kid later, well, she's making sure his Nintendo DS is charged before he goes to the party, whereas I'm rolling in from the London flight. Nothing wrong with that, but, that's a seven-year-old!
Ah, well, back to the house now. Just watching some American Dad and hanging out. It's been a busy, long few days back here in Charleston, so hopefully I can get some rest and have a nice Christmas weekend. Still in town for two more weeks!
12/20/2011
The long ride
I just got on the Picadilly line at Green Park. It was an early start, Heathrow-bound, and switching at Green Park represents the second and last interchange prior to the run out to zone 5 or 6 and the arrival at the airport.
In about three hours I'll get on a plane back to the US. When I came over to Europe, I wasn't sure what future awaited me. The first and second years were one big break from the US, the first out of choice, the second not so much. A lot has changed since my fortunes turned around with the internship at LSE, and I certainly wasn't expecting to be making the run back to the US every six months, especially with the occasional trip to Turkey worked in between.
Anyway, that's now where I'm at, and it's hopefully how things will continue. I could certainly do well if the pound strengthens a bit more or trans-Atlantic flights cheapen, but I don't know how likely either of those are right now.
I certainly hope that will continue and that 2012 will be "the year of the job.". I've got a bit of anxiety myself, having sat my ACA exams in early December and finding out those results on 20 Jan. Two were reasonably fine; one was not. Of course, the way things work, the one about which I'm most concerned will probably be okay and it may turn out one of the other ones tripped me up. In any case, it's a waiting game for those results, but if that passes without incident I'm home free until the summer.
I'm not the only one who is or will be anxious about jobs. A certain someone else is on the hunt, and indeed the plan for this Christmas break, though separated by several thousand miles and seven hours time difference, is to coordinate the job assault and get some CVs and cover letters banged out. Now is the time to line up next summer and beyond--jobs, money, and visas.
I'm hoping for a quiet Christmas otherwise. I want to see the friends in Charleston, I want to enjoy some Westbrook beer, and I want to get 2012 off to a promising start. When I come back to London, the Olympics spirit will be in full swing and it'll hopefully be the start of a good 12 months.
That's all for now. Am at Earls Court so still got a ways to go . . .
In about three hours I'll get on a plane back to the US. When I came over to Europe, I wasn't sure what future awaited me. The first and second years were one big break from the US, the first out of choice, the second not so much. A lot has changed since my fortunes turned around with the internship at LSE, and I certainly wasn't expecting to be making the run back to the US every six months, especially with the occasional trip to Turkey worked in between.
Anyway, that's now where I'm at, and it's hopefully how things will continue. I could certainly do well if the pound strengthens a bit more or trans-Atlantic flights cheapen, but I don't know how likely either of those are right now.
I certainly hope that will continue and that 2012 will be "the year of the job.". I've got a bit of anxiety myself, having sat my ACA exams in early December and finding out those results on 20 Jan. Two were reasonably fine; one was not. Of course, the way things work, the one about which I'm most concerned will probably be okay and it may turn out one of the other ones tripped me up. In any case, it's a waiting game for those results, but if that passes without incident I'm home free until the summer.
I'm not the only one who is or will be anxious about jobs. A certain someone else is on the hunt, and indeed the plan for this Christmas break, though separated by several thousand miles and seven hours time difference, is to coordinate the job assault and get some CVs and cover letters banged out. Now is the time to line up next summer and beyond--jobs, money, and visas.
I'm hoping for a quiet Christmas otherwise. I want to see the friends in Charleston, I want to enjoy some Westbrook beer, and I want to get 2012 off to a promising start. When I come back to London, the Olympics spirit will be in full swing and it'll hopefully be the start of a good 12 months.
That's all for now. Am at Earls Court so still got a ways to go . . .
12/05/2011
Exam time
It's exam time. I've just sat the Business Strategy and Financial Reporting exams for the ACA, and I have the Financial Management exam on Wednesday.
These exams are hard. The earlier exams weren't easy either, but these are very tricky. Weirdly, I was struggling with FR, which a lot of other people seemed to get. It was Business Strategy that they all found tricky, which I didn't find nearly as difficult (in training) as the numbers-based ones.
Anyway, I took BS and FR today. BS, challenging but not atrocious. FR: bad. For me. If I had felt worried on the one everyone was worried about, fine: we all struggle, they pass 85% of us. But I stood out on the one that the others could handle: 85% are already on their way to passing. I feel to be in the other group.
Not much I can do now. Tomorrow is final revision day, getting that last bit of FM nailed. I intend to make it count. Then, back to work for a bit, XMas, and New Years'.
Results are released 20 January; one redeeming fact is I might be in the Netherlands that week. I'll either be abroad (or not, considering passport situation) or perhaps on a plane, and who knows when I'll get the text. Let's hope for the best.
These exams are hard. The earlier exams weren't easy either, but these are very tricky. Weirdly, I was struggling with FR, which a lot of other people seemed to get. It was Business Strategy that they all found tricky, which I didn't find nearly as difficult (in training) as the numbers-based ones.
Anyway, I took BS and FR today. BS, challenging but not atrocious. FR: bad. For me. If I had felt worried on the one everyone was worried about, fine: we all struggle, they pass 85% of us. But I stood out on the one that the others could handle: 85% are already on their way to passing. I feel to be in the other group.
Not much I can do now. Tomorrow is final revision day, getting that last bit of FM nailed. I intend to make it count. Then, back to work for a bit, XMas, and New Years'.
Results are released 20 January; one redeeming fact is I might be in the Netherlands that week. I'll either be abroad (or not, considering passport situation) or perhaps on a plane, and who knows when I'll get the text. Let's hope for the best.
