the corner office

This is an extremely interesting read about why iPhones are made in China (via).

The upshot is that it's not just about cheap labour, it's about scale, and flexibility, and supply chains.

The article focuses on the impact on the 'middle class' in the US but it's equally pertinent (probably more so) to the UK. I've always thought the 'Western Country X needs more manufacturing' mantra is misguided and hopeless, this article goes some way to explaining why.

As an aside, it turns out that iPhone glass is made by the company which, until about 15 years ago, were the people who made Corningware.

Halfway through January. Thus far:

• I had two weeks of study leave. I'd like to say that the two weeks ended well, but that would be a little bit untrue. Next exam in a few weeks' time, so I'm not free yet.

• we got a new laptop. Finally. What's all the fuss about Windows 7? We eagerly await the arrival of Diablo III.

• I'm trying to make peace with the idea that this winter is going to be snowless. Bastards.

How do you explain to an alien visiting earth that our morality says that if you're at war then it's OK to kill a man, but to take a slash on his corpse, now that's not cricket.

Of course it's abhorrent, and I'm sure the culprits will be held accountable, but our reaction to these things is all a bit messed up, isn't it?

Happy New Year, gentle reader.

The resolutions:

• take the stairs more often

• floss more

• try to pass an exam or two

One year I'm going to have 'floss as often this year as I did the last', but this ain't that year.

The last on the list will hopefully mean that 2012 is likely to be less of a blur than 2011. Speaking of which, back to the books for me.

As it turned out the dreaded 'can I got outside and ride my scooter (with retractable drawer underneath for Star Wars figurines)?' request never materialised - the trick is to make sure there's plenty enough to keep a young'un busy indoors (and there was). So we had a very cosy Christmas.

I expect the gammon hangover to last until Thursday. I do not intend to hop back on the scales to assess the Christmas damage until the 2nd week of January.

I do have a lot of cask ale to finish off by this coming Saturday night, though.

Further notes:

• Cars2 (see above) was excellent. I think I've seen it about 3 times now.

• Downton Abbey Christmas Special. Has redeemed itself after season 2's waywardness. I think I was also more positively disposed to the viewing experience because I knew that a Christmas Special demanded a happy ending, no contrived cliff-hangers and 'oh FFS just STFU and kiss her already' moments.

• I got a copy of Ralph Bakshi's Wizards. We put it on last night (before Downtown Abbey). Ronwen, at some point, turns to me and says 'this is a lame movie.' This was hard to respond to because one doesn't quite know how (especially after a day of feasting and enjoying teh aforementioned cask ale) to explain that yep it may be lame but it's an animated fantasy movie that (a) is a cult classic and therefore has a certain old-fantasy-fan cachet, (b) takes me back to when I was an especially-so fantasy nut, (c) reminds me of when I was a young fella with a spring in my step, (d) harks to a pre-CGI pre-almost-everything avant garde and oddly naive world when the threat of being nuked out of existence was real and pressing thing that people needed to deal with, (e) etc etc.

• We all naturally wish the Royal Consort a speedy recovery. Even more British than the Queen's speech on Christmas day is the ridiculous obsequousness that infuses every minute of the media's coverage of the whole affair. When the inevitable one day happens and the Prince reaches that point in the Royal Lifetime Itinerary where he will Shake Hands No More, I will put money on the fact that at least one BBC presenter will posit the theory that the Prince is in fact the Second Coming and will rise again, if not because God has decided that as a Royal he's Just That Awesome, then because that's just the tireless, plucky sort of man he is.

The weather tomorrow is forecast to be 'exceptionally mild,' which is disappointing in some ways, but will undoubtedly prove to be a relief given that Leo's unlikely to settle for 'let's wait until Spring' when he opens some of his Christmas presents.

On that note, Merry Christmas!

Another year to go...

Also, it's been 10 years since the Fellowship of the Ring came out. 10 years!

A new, inexpensive but not-cheap paperback text book arrived in the post and on the back page it says 'printed by Amazon.co.uk'.

I mean, y'know, just, y'know.

On the last day of the month last year it was snowing. This year all we have to look forward to are strikes. Pfeh.

Disease befell the M-P household, no members were spared. There was pain and misery and tears and no sleep. Then the lurgy struck.

Things got unpleasant for a few days. We are getting better now.