Apple battery recall

I’ve switched off my G4 Powerbook for the first time in about 6 months to pull the battery and see if I’m eligible for a new one under the Apple battery recall program. I was rather hoping I was, because battery life on the laptop is now down to about 45 min. A shiny new battery would be very welcome.

Alas it is not to be, I have one of the nonexplodey battery types. Having just seen the price of a replacement battery for this machine I fear I shall be living with an ageing battery for quite a long while to come.

Buying condoms on petty cash

When you are practising science on a tiny budget you sometimes have to get creative with replacement equipment. The following happened nearly a year ago, I’ve just happened to find what I wrote at the time.

Taken from a chat log at the time.

[dtl-afk] I’m just about to ask stores to reimburse me from petty cash for a box of condoms, this could be interesting.
[friend] oh my. um, why?
[dtl-afk] we needed a thin flxeible tube, and the only thing we could think of was those
[dtl-afk] it sort of works
[friend] HAHAHA
[dtl-afk] cue me going to the chemist asking for “a box of thick unlubricated condoms please” “no we don’t have those” “oh, a box of extra safe then I suppose please”
[friend] i can just imagine the quartermaster going “are you sure you weren’t having a lunchtime quickie?”
[dtl-afk] quite probably knowing Alan (the storeman)

Stores were closed that day. I did get a ribbing next day when I made the claim. The things I do for science.

Passed

As of yesterday I’m now Dr. Dave. The interrogation took just under two and a quarter hours. Apart from one or two silly mistakes due to nerves early on there wasn’t any problem. There are now at least two more people that believe the two major points of my work.

I think that deserves a yay!

YAY!