May 31, 2006
Peter Gilbert
I was devastated to learn that Peter Gilbert, the senior photographer at Passport Photo in Oxford Street retired today after working there for fifty one years. His passport photos of myself have always been flattering, and he has photographed every celebrity on the planet from Madonna to Sting. His nephew and photographic partner, Philip Sharkey will miss him.
Posted by frances on May 31, 2006
May 27, 2006
Asam Bashir
I've always had Apple Mac computers and am a member of a prolific computer list called FlashMacGits, which currently consists of nineteen members (three women included), some of whom are hardcore geeks.
The group's moderator, who moonlights as a G.P. thinks the list is too 'cosy' and ideally would like more members, but the list's initiation is tough and not every new member is a natural 'git'. Some of the posts are pretty outrageous, which intermittently lead to 'flame wars', causing irate members to flounce off the list. But, I find 'Gits' useful when I have a serious tech problem, as the list's obsessed geeks are more than willing to solve.
FMG's members include a Swedish net publisher, a famous pirate DJ, a builder to the stars, a barrister, a couple of ex-Fleet Street hacks, an undergraduate at Imperial College, an ex-mercenary, an old fascist, an Australian belly-dancer and a scientist.
Asam Bashir who is a Cambridge post-graduate biochemist, studying Structural Biology/Enzymology/Protein Engineering at Wolfson College is one of the most advanced geeks on the list. He's also a brilliant scientist who invited me to have lunch at Wolfson, which is reputed to be the most cosmompolitan college in Cambridge.
Over a delicious subsidised lunch in the hall, seated at my long table were post-graduate students including international journalists, from all over the world.
Asam plans to start a Mac Group in Cambridge and Woz (Steve Wozniak), who co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs is going to be an honorary member.
After the guided tour round Cambridge on Asam's magic carpet with a diesel engine, we went back to his room on campus and I was amazed when he demonstrated a 'QuickSilver' Application on his 17" PowerBook, which must have had at least 50 apps. crammed on its dock.
We then went for a rain-drenched walk in Granchester Meadows, where Lord Byron used to swim when he was a student.
Granchester Meadows is near Jeffrey Archer's house. I noticed there were lots of cow patches near where he lives.
Posted by frances on May 27, 2006
© Frances Lynn 2006
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