Reviews by mgaved (10)

Mr. Beck's Underground Map by Ken Garland

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
Fantastic book. One of the greatest unsung heroes of graphic design, Harry Beck, an employee with London Underground, revolutionised the company's map of their tube system, and influenced transport mappers since. In the 1920s, London Underground used a geographically accurate map of their train stations and lines, leading to cramped central visualisations and spaced out distant suburban stops. Harry Beck was the genius who made the leap and suggested a new map design based on electrical circuitry, and abstracting the distances and relationships to produce a cleaner, more useful map. For the next 20 years Harry was responsible for the deisgn of the London Underground maps, and in spite of some disasterous attempts at innovation in the 60s and 70s, this is the design we still see today. The book shows some of the early pre-Beck map, explains his thinking, and shows the evolution of his sketches and ideas through several generations of the map, as well as throwing light on the internal politics within the company and revealing how he was little rewarded for his labours. Fascinating for lovers of maps and graphic design as well as anybody who's wondered about the Underground map they've used. Beautifully illustrated.

# Paperback: 80 pages
# Publisher: Capital Transport Publishing (5 Dec 1994)
# Language English
# ISBN-10: 1854141686
# ISBN-13: 978-1854141682

Bassett's Sherbet Fountains

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
Classic sherbet and liquorice sweet. This is proper old skool, I was wondering past a shop the other day and thought I'd have one. If they worked for me in 1971, they'd work now. Seem to be about the same as they were. Cardboard tube containing the crack cocaine of children's sweets (sherbet - which for those who don't know is basically soft powedery white sugar as far as I can work out). Black stick of liquorice pking out the tube. The idea is that you're supposed to bite the top of the stick - taste test - yes - still the same, proper sweet liquorice, chewy, the real thing - and then suck up the sherbert through the hollow tube. It used to be that you'd suck really hard and none would come and then suddenly a whole puff would hit the back of your throat and leave you both gasping for air as it hit your lungs and also buzzing from the sugar high as the rest swirled round your mouth. Truly the Class A illegal drug of choice for the discerning kiddywink, we used to get high as kites on this stuff. Problem was that after a few sucks no more sherbet would come up the tube, either the top end had got all sticky or the bottom end had got blocked with sherbet. So you'd have to rip open the cardboard and hoover down the rest of the sherbet neat. We must have been out of control after that sugar high, our poor mums.

Things have, if anything, got worse on the liquorice tube front - even less sherbet came up (maybe I was slightly self conscious trying this out walking up Wolverton High Street past some particular hip looking teenagers). But all the flavours are still there. I say - a proper classic, all the flavour is still there. Recommended for that pure unadulerated 70s sugar hit. Get em before they are made illegal.

Fujitsu-Siemens Loox t830

4/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
Handheld PDA for power users. Pretty standard format PDA (though a non standard 240x240 screen). On board keyboard with tiny yet usable buttons - ok for typing in a phone number but you'd not want to write an essay on it - or alternatively a pop up on screen keyboard that you can jab at with the stylus, equally slow. Several single press buttons, e.g. for the half decent camera and dictaphone. Several of the buttons are programmable, which is nice. The OS is WIndows Mobile 5.0, so there's a fair bit of software you can download to it. Bluetooth, Wifi, mobile phone. Wifi is pretty impressive - well it reaches across my house anyway from bedroom to downstairs access point. GPS - which works well - though the onboard GPSLocator software is very disappointing. Like all PDA's it'll fit in your pocket (just) but a bit too clumsy to be used as a phone. External antenna socket for the GPS- nice. mini USB socket. Pretty good for a PDA (I admit I am biased and still coming to terms with them).

Linksys WRT54G access point

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
The Linksys WRT54G access point is a legendary device. It allows the connection onto its network via both wires (4 RJ45 sockets) and wireless (802.11b/g). You can connect to a broadband router via the uplink or onto another access point if you're forming a bigger network. Costing about 50 pounds, it's become the base unit for many community networks because Linksys opened up the source code, allowing various hacker communities to hack away and create their own versions of the OS. Open WRT, DD-WRT, and freifunk are a few to try. This means that the humble 50 pound box has been extended to work in a similar manner to many proprietary units ten times its price. If you're looking to build a community network and want to get right in and change parameters, add custom firmware, creating a mesh - this box is for you. We've set up networks where these boxes have been outside in plastic or metal casings in all weathers, supporting 50-100 people for five years or more.

Berrill Cafe, Open University, Milton Keynes

1/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
Don't expect to eat well at the Open University.

I'm sorry to put in a negative review but best be honest eh? The Berrill Cafe confirms everything the rest of the world thinks of British food. I know this because some of my colleagues from other countries have clearly said this, and to be honest, I agree. The Open University is a wonderful place but they've been properly stuffed by the commercial caterers who hold the contract for providing food.

Chips and beans is the best option. The salad bar often has nice fresh looking vegetables but everything's pretty pricey. This must be one of the most expensive universities for a student to dine in across the UK. No student discount for sure. Every day there are 2 dishes, one vegetarian. I am vegetarian so I can't comment on the meat/fish dishes. For some reason every vegetarian dish has onions and leeks in it. Leeks in a stew is fine, but in curries? Aubergines are also a favoured vegetable. I have a belief there is a Buckinghamshire Aubergine Mafia that controls the catering round here. I can't speak about the chicken but the quiches are usually pumped full of water. What does watery quiche mean? not very tasty anyway.

Some fair trade coffees, which is good, and herbal teas. Snacks tend to be high street priced and highly processed (e.g. crisps, Nestle chocoloate bars) or more healthy and over a pound each.

My advice - bring your own food to work. Don't bring somebody here if you want to impress them.

On a positive note the staff are regulars and friendly souls, and the cafe dining air is large and airy, so you can get a good crowd of friends and pull chairs together and form your own dining club, no problem. Plug sockets and wifi mean you can come here for an afternoon's hot drink and session on your laptop.

The Plough Inn, Simpson, Milton Keynes

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
The Plough is one of two pubs in walking distance from the Open University. As such it's useful to keep an eye on how it's doing as it's a nice place to take university visitors. Actually it's quite necessary as food on the campus is so dreadful.

The Plough has gone through a couple of incarnations in the last 5 years, from local boozer to alien sci-fi theme pub and now into its present form as a local country pub with a nice little restaurant in the back room.

The front of the pub has a general bar, and a separate pool room. You can order sandwiches and bar snacks here. Reasonable beer. There's a nice little beer garden at the back sloping up to the Grand Union Canal - you can watch the boats go by.

The restaurant is a welcome addition. Seats maybe 20. I've eaten here in the evening and in the lunch and both times I've had a decent three course meal. Expert gourmets I've been with described it as "reasonable pub food" but for a penniless student like myself (if a bit older than the average scholar and experience of a few hosteleries) it seemed pretty tasty. Service is ok, waitresses friendly. Food was pretty good to my mind, proper restaurant style dishes. The evening meal experience was when I organised a workshop in the university and phoned up to ask if I could have a table mid week for 16, the restaurant manager was very helpful, and even emailed over a set price 2 and 3 course choice, and was happy for one person just to order from the bar menu. So pretty friendly and helpful. Portions are big - the three course lunch knocked me out for the rest of the day. Great place.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

5/5 (minimum 1) on 14 Jan 2007
Based on Suskind's book, a historical fantasy - to call it just a murder story would be a shame as there's more in it than that. What a lovely and challenge idea - making a film about smells - something that the author captures well in the book but I was worried wouldn't transfer well to the screen. However my fears were allayed from the beginning. The film does a wonderful job of using amazing cinematography and soundscapes to really bring home to you all the multi sensory richness of the time.

Quite a spooky but intriguing story, beautifully filmed.

The Garage, Wolverton

5/5 (minimum 1) on 05 Jan 2007
Local garage in Wolverton that does brakes, wheels, and exhaust pipes. I've got to say I'm really impressed by these guys. Honest, quick, friendly. My girlfriend's been in there a couple of times and she says they are really good with her as well - it's sad to say but there are still some garages around which are patronising gits to women, but not these folks. They show you what's wrong with the car and give you a few options before they do the work. Highly recommended if you're in Milton Keynes and you need some work doing.

Broadband Buyer

5/5 (minimum 1) on 06 Dec 2006
Broadband buyer is a great local company. I bought a couple of Linksys access points from them only to discover that they were the wrong version - something that can only be checked by looking on the bar code on the side of the packet pretty well. I phoned them up and they were happy for me to drive over and sit in the lobby while they dug around the warehouse and found me some of the older versions that I needed for my project. Top people. Definitely a company to shop from.

Cafe Balti, Wolverton, Milton Keynes

5/5 (minimum 1) on 10 Nov 2006
A great little neighbourhood curry house. I'd say 'Indian' but the guys are from Bangladesh. The food is great, good portions and nicely cooked. Friendly staff, and nice decor. Not too expensive either. They do eat in or takeaways, and will deliver.

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