Desperately seeking coffee

Rob Sandbach as Nathan Barley

2008-09-02T13:54:00.001Z

Rob Sandbach as Nathan Barley
Originally uploaded by Dave Kinsella.

I have a new office mate, we now need a name for the R&D office:

Geekzone?
Office 2.0?

Doodle

2008-09-01T14:59:00.001Z

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Why We’re Suing Facebook For $25 Million In Statutory Damages

2008-04-01T00:22:00.001Z

I always forget to prepare something for April fools, Mr. Arrington has gone into full-on onion mode with this treat!

Why We’re Suing Facebook For $25 Million In Statutory Damages

Semantic Markup - more work than I expected

2008-03-10T23:08:00.001Z

I've started on a mission to convert my main site: Web Developer 2.0 to fully semantic markup. Partly for best practice purposes and partly so that I can chop and change stylesheets without ever needing to muck about with the HTML template.

It's turning out to be a bigger job than I thought it would, partly because part way through I decided to see how many microformats I could shoehorn in at the same time.

The first part of the write up is online now in The Lab, Experiment #2 - Part 1

The Pretender

2007-11-23T02:02:00.001Z

One of the Foo Fighter's non-funny videos but suits the song to a tee. The explosion after the bridge is a fantastic moment.

Second Life

2007-07-13T08:34:00.001Z

Freelance Fireworks

2007-06-29T00:42:00.000Z

Web app without makeup: The design iterations of TeamSnap

2007-06-26T09:49:00.001Z

A nice peek into the design process behind a web application. It's good to have the details of why changes were made rather than a just a series of images showing the development of the design. The discussions that drive the development process are vital and it's nice to get an insight into how they affected the decisions that were made.

read more | digg story

London 2012

2007-06-07T09:55:00.000Z

What a great job they've done on the branding for the 2012 Olympics - Everybody hates the logo and the video materials cause epileptic fits.

Having said that, they want to appeal to the younger generation and one of my colleagues (a trendy 22 year old designer) said he really likes it - so maybe not so off-the-mark after all.

Chick Chick BOOM

2007-04-05T10:57:00.001Z

Addicting flash game. Draw the weapons to attack the other chicks. The better your drawing, the stronger your attack or defense. You can win real downloadable prizes!

read more | digg story

Cheatsheet for Digg.com: How it works and how to namedrop it

2007-04-05T10:56:00.001Z

"When I'm talking to clients," a seemingly well-informed Google employee told me over brunch, "I want to mention Digg. I know it's something I'm supposed to know about, but I don't." No worries. For everyone who needs a refresher on Digg, we have an exhaustive cheatsheet for the popular site.

read more | digg story

New site launch

2007-03-21T13:58:00.000Z

I've just launched my new blog/site. The Lab is a place for my web design and development experiments to go.

Try it out: http://webdeveloper2.com/lab

It's UCS for me!

2007-03-02T15:07:00.000Z

Real World Annoying Paperclip

2007-01-31T11:30:00.000Z

Funny, funny, funny

Tenacious D Live in Manchester

2006-12-13T12:55:00.000Z

over 15,000 people in MEN Arena made up Tenacious D's largest audience to date. They put on a HELL of a show.

I would have posted my own clip but I think I recorded the same bit at the same quality only from a lot further back.

2006-10-15T10:02:00.000Z

Nobody's Watching Soda and Candy Experiment #4

I just discovered "Nobody's Watching", these guys make good funny short videos. Channel 4 should sign them up for their brand-stings.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny

2006-09-13T09:48:00.000Z

USA vs Rest of the World Flame War

2006-08-31T10:42:00.000Z

This is a supposedly Biotechnology based forum where all of the participants are anonymous and there's no way of knowing how many people are posting. The resultant confusion is almost as funny as the vitriolic use of cultural stereotypes.

read more | digg story

2006-08-04T12:34:00.000Z

Dean Gray - Dr Who On Holiday

This is my favourite track from the brilliant "American Edit" Mashup album. I didn't realise that there was a mashup video to go with it.

The top 10 unintentionally worst company URLs

2006-07-19T13:22:00.000Z

Attn: Entrepeneurs

Everyone knows that if you are going to operate a business in today’s world you need a domain name. It is advisable to look at the domain name selected as other see it and not just as you think it looks. Failure to do this may result in situations such as the following (legitimate) companies who deal in everyday humdrum products and services but clearly didn’t give their domain names enough consideration:

1. A site called ‘Who Represents‘ where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name... wait for it... is
www.whorepresents.com

2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at
www.expertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at
www.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at
www.therapistfinder.com

5. Then of course, there’s the Italian Power Generator company...
www.powergenitalia.com

6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales (that's in Australia):
www.molestationnursery.com

7. If you’re looking for computer software, there’s always
www.ipanywhere.com

8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is
www.cummingfirst.com

9. Then, of course, there’s these brainless art designers, and their whacky website:
www.speedofart.com

10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at
www.gotahoe.com

Schroedinger's cat

2006-07-17T22:33:00.000Z

Made me laugh

Beastenders

2006-07-07T22:01:00.000Z

This was in this weeks' b3ta newsletter and it's evil genius at it's best.

Technorati Tags : Eastenders, animation

Unusual acoustic guitar playing style

2006-07-05T10:52:00.000Z

Very impressive, quite an unusual sound with the percussive taps on the guitar body along with the combination of hammered and strummed notes.

digg story

Split the Atom

2006-07-03T20:53:00.000Z

Many thanks to Split the Atom Tee shirts for my "Blog" shirt. Here's their spiel (it's the least I can do)

Split the Atom is an exclusive, limited edition t-shirt company that is powered by your red-hot creativity. Designers submit their ideas online, which are then rated by you. (Yep, you get to decide which tees we print! Cool, huh?) The winning designs are put on sale, giving you the chance to own an exclusive piece of clothing that is sure to make you the envy of everyone who sets eyes on you.

Check them out at www.splittheatom.com

Technorati Tags : Design, Tee-Shirt

Terry Gilliam Talks "Good Omens"

2006-07-01T00:23:00.000Z

I'm so excited by this news, "Good Omens" is one of my favourite books. I can't think of a better director to make a film version of it.

Terry Gilliam is trying to get his next project "Good Omens" off the ground, based on a Terry Pratchett novel. Gilliam told UK news service Teletext: "I have struggled to find big projects that inspire me, but this book has. It's very funny, about the anti-Christ and devils and angels, it's very funny and inspiring. I have tried to find a small project like Tideland that I could do but I haven't found one."

The two Terrys (Pratchett & Gilliam) along with Neil Gaiman who co-wrote the book with Pratchett are a dream-team for creating a quirky fantasy film. This could be a spiritual successor to "Time Bandits".

Technorati Tags : Gilliam, Pratchett, Gaiman, Film, Good, Omens

Possibly the greatest TV advert ever made?

2006-06-30T10:50:00.000Z

Possibly the greatest TV advert ever made?

Fantastic video, Lynx still make great ads even if the idea hasn't changed for a long time.

9rules — I wondered what they were

2006-06-29T10:50:00.000Z

Now I know what the 9 rules are, I'm sure they could be trimmed down to six or seven.

9rules

Love what you do.
Never stop learning.
Form works with function.
Simple is beautiful.
Work hard, play hard.
You get what you pay for.
When you talk, we listen.
Must constantly improve.
Respect your inspiration.

Hang on lads, I've got a great idea

2006-06-20T11:47:00.000Z

I've always fancied writing a novel but never seemed to be able to come up with an original idea for one. All that changed last night when an idea sprung from nowhere into my head and I decided that I liked it.

My criteria is that if I can think of a one sentence synopsis that would persuade me to buy the book then it's a good idea.

Overall plot is sort of there (no specifics yet but an impression of story arc) and I've already started to flesh out the main characters, although at the moment they only have generic names - Hero, Lump etc.

Time will only tell if I can get it finished but I'm really enjoying writing at the moment and this could be a fun way to spend some time.

Technorati Tags : Novel, writing, idea

Projector Based Table Top Gaming

2006-06-15T12:27:00.000Z

This is such a cool idea, I remember playing D&D and various other tabletop RPGs when I was younger. There's a good idea in here for an application if anybody was inclined to build it. All they need is support for a second monitor/projector so that the DM can see the full map and selectively display parts of it on the second screen. I don't know if there's any commercial value in it but it would be a good hobbyist project.

If only there were some programmers who also liked Dungeons & Dragons.

Projector Based Table Top Gaming - Gizmodo

This is a high-tech solution for the traditionally low-tech table top gaming—whose death knell has been sounded again and again, falsely, since the rise of computer RPGs in the ’90s. For projector based D&D, the Dungeon Master scans in adventure maps and separate what the players should see and what the DM should see onto different layers in Photoshop before the game starts. The Photoshop image is then displayed on a table through a suspended digital projector during the game, allowing the game tokens to be placed directly onto the map.

When certain events happen, such as players advancing in the map or meeting an event, the DM erases part of the mask or reveals a new layer to show the appropriate map info—very cool. The downside is of course, the equipment cost and the time to set up all the maps and photoshop the appropriate portions.

Great idea nonetheless, that makes table top gaming a little bit more automated. A tip of the wizard hat to you, Jans. – Jason Chen

Digital Map Projection [The Hypertext d20 SRD]"

Absolut Triomphe

2006-06-14T08:46:00.000Z

Absolut TriompheOriginally uploaded by techn0tic2002.

I used to be pretty handy with photoshop and still have a few pictures that I created for w1k.com competitions. Here's one of my favourites, the challenge was to come up with a new advertisment for Absolut Vodka.

Technorati Tags : absolut, vodka, image, triomphe, photoshop

Oooh, Chimpanzee that...

2006-06-12T17:00:00.000Z

courtesy of of the News Clip Generator

Code Monkey

2006-06-12T13:44:00.000Z

More goodness from Mr Coulton, this time a video made by the ILL Clan using Lionhead's "The Movies"

Enjoy

Technorati Tags : Jonathan, Coulton, code, monkey, video, music

RE: Your Brains

2006-06-09T13:53:00.000Z

Jonathan Coulton sings about zombies, WoW zombies create video - Creative Commons at it's best.

Technorati Tags : zombie, rock, music, Jonathan, Coulton

Hot

2006-06-07T16:46:00.000Z

Forgive me for being a wuss, but it's just too bloody hot. The fact that I'm in a corner office with the sun streaming in and no air-con doesn't help.

Now I'm going to go and climb into my oven-on-wheels car and try to drive home before I melt.

Demand JC in the UK

2006-06-06T12:50:00.000Z

Demand him now!

If you don't know what the hell I'm writing about then visit http://www.jonathancoulton.com then join the campaign to get JC to perform in the UK.

Government mulls mind expanding drugs, man

2006-06-05T13:09:00.000Z

Government mulls mind expanding drugs

New Labour's top science advisor has told governmenta new generation of brain function-enhancing pharmaceuticals are set tochange how people live their lives over the next 20 years.

In a presentation to ministers at Downing Street, Sir David Kingsaid “recreational psychoactive substances” will be used byhealthy people to improve their cognitive abilities, The Sunday Times reports.

The idea has been dubbed “cosmetic neurology”. The ADHDdrug Ritalin is already used by some without the condition to boosttheir powers of concentration.

King questioned whether regulatory schemes will have to be adaptedto account for the new market. He said: "Are cognitive enhancers agreat market for social opportunity or destabilising and divisive?"

Bristol University's Dr Paul Howard-Jones said: “There couldbe restrictions placed on their sale, but that might mean people buythem illegally. I would call on people to start discussing their impact- before they start causing tremendous problems in society.”

Dr Andrea Malizia, a consultant senior lecturer in the Departmentof Psychopharmacology at Bristol University, advocatesmaking Alzheimer’s treatment Donepezil easier to get hold of. Thedrug improves memory and learning. Dr Malizia said: “The potentialfor these drugs is enormous. People already buy vitamins and takecaffeine to improve mental functions but these drugs will offer a wholenew dimension.”

Technorati Tags : Government, mind, expanding, drugs

Stag night

2006-06-05T11:05:00.000Z

Had a great night out on my mate nobby's stag night on Saturday. An afternoon of paintballing followed by food and beer (to numb the pain of all those paintball bruises) then on to Spearmint Rhino and later back to the hotel bar for more beer and an impromptu arm-wrestling contest. Can't complain in the slightest.

Technorati Tags : stag, night, spearmint, rhino, paintball

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Some new links

2006-05-24T08:27:00.000Z

Just a few new links that I've collected:

2003-01-21T15:24:00.000Z

OK slept now. Just finished watching the extended version of Fellowship of the Ring. Very impressive, as I'm unlikely to find a cinema round here showing the two towers in english, I'll probably wait for the extended version on DVD in time for christmas.

2003-01-02T08:08:00.000Z

Happy new year to all :)

2002-12-31T10:43:00.000Z

I've got to write 2 reports and a 2003 objectives document before I can go home. I wasn't planning doing anything good for new year's eve anyway.

Must. Sleep. Soon.

2002-12-30T13:30:00.000Z

Well I'm back from my week in the UK for Christmas and glad to get back to work for a rest.

too many people to try and meet up with in just seven days plus I spent the best part of two days babysitting my brother-in-law's kids whilst he went out to the pub.

2002-12-18T15:31:00.000Z

It's amazing how quickly things can go from neat gimmick to absolutely essential. I am mourning the loss of my optical mouse which 'mysteriously disappeared' somewhere between my old office in England to my new one in the Alsace. When I first got the thing I though it was quite cool, nothing special. Now having spent the last 15 minutes cleaning the crap off the rollers in my replacement mouse I'm cursing the damn thing with it's stupid little rubberised ball.

Still, at least I have an optical mouse at home so I don't have to put up with this dark-ages crap when I'm chilling out with a game.

2002-12-17T14:38:00.000Z

Just had my bi-weekly French lesson, learning numbers today. Luckily I remember a lot of it from school but even the french admit that it's a screwed-up system.

un deux trois etc. OK but they seem to have run out of ideas at sixty. Hence 71 is 'soixante et onze', literally 'sixty and eleven' followed by sixty twelve, sixty thirteen until you reach 80 which is quatre-vingts, literal translation 'four twenties'. It's just plain odd.

Anyway it's coming up for christmas and I'm going out tonight to party like it's dix neuf, quatre-vingt dix neuf.

2002-12-16T11:07:00.000Z

Damn!

I locked up my webserver again.
Who said that writing an application that runs in 5 languages and with 3 currencies was easy?

Nobody. :(

2002-12-16T09:15:00.000Z

Good weekend, got things done for a change.
Christmas shopping in Colmar was nice apart from the Hordes of German tourists who seemed more intrerested in photographing everything than shopping.
Scraped my arm pretty badly putting a load of old stuff in the attic (I'm considering buying a ladder).

Only 4 days of work to go before I fly back to the UK for Christmas with the family.

2002-12-12T13:09:00.000Z

Here we go then, I had considered creating a web-log a few times but never felt inspired enough to do it.

Recently, the company I work for closed down the office where I was based and offered me the chance to relocate to France. So here I am, 'In the Alsace' trying to get used to a new culture and a new language. Thankfully the job is the same, it's just that a few of the colleagues I used to speak with on the phone are now in the same office and some of the ones I shared an office with are a phone call away.