Geoff's Random Thoughts

OK, I love Sony Equipment. My Stereo I bought back in 1994 that I've only just loaned to my Mum and Dad because theirs is in for repair, and I hardly use it. I've always chosen Sony in car stereo's because of the pure quality and simplicity. Sony to me says Quality, like Panasonic or Pioneer or any other established brand you care to mention. But from this point on I am boycotting Sony's equipment. I've mentioned it before but the rootkit debacle has shown how little respect Sony have for their customers. If you normally buy Sony equipment, I urge you to boycott them too and urge others also to do so. We have to get a message to manufacturers, Music distributors and anyone else who thinks that they should: 1) Treat their customers as criminals 2) Install software onto your PC without your express permission to do so. And by that I mean telling you that is what they want to do, rather than Burying it in a EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) among the le

Sony have Class action filed against them for Rootkit. http://www.aunty-spam.com/lawsuit-filed-against-sony-bmg-over-sony-rootkit/ I've got to say that much as I love Sony's Electrical Equipment, the idea of someone installing software on your PC without your permission or even your knowledge, especially one that allows other people to exploit the 'Characteristics' of your software and the way it works and create backdoors into your PC, dumbfounds me.

When Adele and I were packing to go away for the weekend, I knew that I'd have time to read, and casting about for something to read, I noticed 'There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale - A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Lord of the Rings' by Sean Astin. I bought it on an earlier holiday in Wales and ploughed through the first half, but I noticed it sat there with a bookmark showing my last point of reference halfway through the pages, so I threw it in the bag to push on and complete it. Last night I got a chance to read while Adele was watching X Factor, so I opened the book and within two pages, I remember why I'd put it down. I hated the writing, I hated the way that the actor Sean Astin portrayed himself, made assumptions about what other people were thinking and generally portrayed himself as the holder of a wealth of experience. Now I've always enjoyed Sean Astin's acting, he's excellent in LOTR and I've seen him in a couple of other things, bu