Thursday, December 16/2010

Why do computers have to supply last minute instructions such as: Please do not power off or unplug your machine - Installing update 1 of 12? This warning could have been provided any time in the last two hours, instead of which it waits until I have begun to power off, as it knows full well. In order to guarantee inconvenience or run the battery to zilch? And please do not - or what? There won't be any ice updates until tomorrow? there will be no second chance for updates ever? My computer will immediately cease to function?

The budget debates are broadcast live on the government television chanel, and have been for days, postponing the ten minute English language news and weather. It's obviously of some importance - even to us, as there's a 5% tax slated for food in 2011 - but looks like it would be painfully tedious watching even if one understood Greek. Toonight it runs more than four hours over its scheduled three hour allocation and members of the legislature are obviously drifting elsewhere, as the benches are pretty thinly filled. One woman with long blonde hair has the misfortune to be sitting - and no doubt to have been sitting for a numbing length of time - behiind the microphone used by the member with the floor and in full view of the camera. She looks indescribably bored and is clearly texting as the speeches continue. Put the wine on ice - I'll need it?