bookmark_borderSimple is as simple does

I’m going to start this with something controversial, I do hope the following statement doesn’t shock you, so please take a moment to prepare yourself.

OK? All set? Maybe a few deep breaths first.

OK, here it is.

My new PC is fast, shiny and does lots and lots and lots of things.

Phew, that was something, wasn’t it! WOW! Everyone still with me? I realise that must have been a bit of a jolt. OK, some more deep breaths, calm calm.

[What IS all this nonsense? Get on with it! Ed]

OK, I wanna take about how my use of technology is getting simpler. Coming from a self-confessed gadget-freak, that statement wouldn’t even have been contemplated a few years ago, let alone typed, checked, edited and published!

Of course, technically speaking, it’s the software that helps me do all those lots and lots and lots of things. Over the years, and with much experimentation, I’ve slowly found good workable solutions for all my ‘tech’ needs. So much so that, increasingly, or rather DEcreasingly, I no longer spend much time searching for new applications that will help me do new ‘stuff’ on my PC preferring to, you know, actually getting things done.

I realise it’s not much of a revelation to most, if any, but it marks a change in my mindset and I thought I’d mark such a momentous occasion (for my mind is like an giant oil tanker, it takes several miles to slow down, let alone turn in another direction) by delving a little deeper. Yeah yeah, I know…

This ‘new’ way of viewing my PC means I no longer need to fight around the technological barriers I used to place in my own way. I used to download and experiment with a lot of software, trying different types of graphics apps, different email apps, browsers, 3rd party add-ons and so on and on and on.

But no longer! I’ve slimmed down (my PC), gone lean and mean and I’ve slowly begun to realise that, subconsciously, this is something that I’ve already started doing with my other ‘gadgets’.
Continue reading “Simple is as simple does”

bookmark_borderWhy you no redesign?

Apologies for the recent spate of grammatically incorrect post titles, for some reason my brain keeps uttering them in a foreign-tinted accent, ya know mon? Most unsettling really, and personally I blame … umm … someone else (obviously, it’s not MY fault).

However, the question remains, I had planned to redesign this little corner of the interweb but didn’t find the time, far less the inclination, to do so. Why? Read on MacDuff, afore ye lies the answer, or at the very least several ponderings, questions and other general wonderingments.

You see, anytime I think of redesigning THIS site I become a client of myself and lord knows I’m a terrible customer. I know what I LIKE but what I really need to figure out is what I NEED.

This is in complete contrast to a recent client who, upon seeing an early mockup of a site I was designing for him, exclaimed “That’s it, it’s perfect!”. I tried to point out that it was just an early sample, a way of agreeing layout and basic structure but no, he liked it so much that it’ll become the final design (ish). Brilliant. Brilliant for me, brilliant for him. Brilliant! (ahhh, does anyone else miss The Fast Show? Hmmm DVD for Xmas would nice, must add that to my wishlist).

So, to try and figure out what it is I need from the design, I sketch out some thoughts, nothing radical, and that simple act sets my mind thinking… or more accurately it sets both sides of my brain against each other in a weird sparring match.

* wibbly wobbly dream sequence *

[Michael Buffer*]

“LAYDEEZZANNNGENNNLEMNNNN!!!

You join us tonight for a 52 round battle to decide upon the new design of this website!! In the red corner we have “Blog Reader Gordon” with a record of 0 wins, 0 losses and 143 draws. In the blue corner, “Blog Writer Gordon”, with an identical record of 0 wins, 0 losses and 143 draws.

This is a no-disqualification bout, with the winner decided on points by the ring-side judges. So, without further ado…

LLLLLLET’S GET READY TO RUMMBBLLLLLLLLLLE!!!

[/Michael Buffer]

* wibbly wobbly wibbly wobbly *

Back in reality then (sort of) in the red corner the “blog reading” me constantly harps on about text sizes, easy navigation and placement of content, and “blog writing” me sits in the blue corner, rolls his eyes and starts to question whether anyone ever bothers clicking on the photos anyway, so why have them?

The blue corner receives a lot of attention, as the design of this site has a direct link to how *I* want to use it. I’ve covered this before – the headings are large to make them more prominent and try and focus me on writing better, like – and the overflow/miniblog/sidebar bit has grown over the past couple of designs as I use it for ‘quick posts’ more than just links.

The red corner usually sits quietly to one side at these moments, biding his time until I’m almost settled on a certain layout, before leaping in to point out that, whilst it’s all well and good to be ABLE to cram all those links up the top of the page into one line, it might not suit the readers and would hinder navigation. Blue glares at red, and the rest of my brain goes on strike. Repeat ad nauseum.

This battle rages in my head for weeks, in fact it’s probably fair to say that it’s a permanent part of the “blogging Gordon” you all know (and probably hate as I’m so talented, dashing and debonair that I make you puke, right?).

Sometimes one side comes out on top for a while, then the other side fights back, casualties piling up all the while. Then, suddenly, a blinding light sweeps all before it and everything becomes clear. For it is the God of Design and he has descended from on high to lay down his decision (after he’s laid down his shiny new MacBook and paused his iPod). His voice thunders forth:

“Use the template, Luke, trust your feelings” he roars, somewhat confusingly.

I ponder this proclamation for some time, even download and try a few to see how they ‘fit’ with red and blue, before deciding that ohh no, not I, I will survi… um.. will not use templates but rather will persevere with this internal (infernal) battle and see what it produces.

And that’s why I’ve not posted the redesign yet.

It’s absolutely nothing to do with being a complete twit who deleted his new design template.

bookmark_borderDVD Question

Having recorded the TV Series of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy recently, and burned it onto DVD, I’d now like to make a copy of that DVD to give to a friend.

How do I do this easily? DVD Shrink?

bookmark_borderDVD Meme

Lyle “tagged” me – what is with that anyway, so very American is it not? “Tag you’re it” I played TIG when I was a child, tee eye gee TIG! – so you get the joy of another meme. I have a love hate relationship with this. Love them cause the good ones can be quite interesting, hate them because they make me think..

The total number of DVDs, videos, and films I own.
Videos is around the 300 mark I think. DVDs (checks list) are at 112, although not all of them are bought – the joys of having a DVD recorder and Sky Movies!

The last film I bought.
Was… hmmm well I recently bought three for Louise’s birthday but I won’t count those… which would make the last film I bought… er… gosh I don’t recall it’s been so long. The Pianist? Honestly don’t remember, hardly buy any these days.

The last film I watched.
Revenge of the Sith – although if I don’t post this until later it’ll be Sin City. Ohh no that’s a lie, watched About Schmidt during the week.

My favourite five films of all time, ever.
Impossible and daft this kind of thing, a top 10 or 20 would be far more representative.

  1. The Shawshank Redemption
  2. Rear Window
  3. Pulp Fiction
  4. Sleuth
  5. The Usual Suspects

Just missing off that list are Memento, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, The Godfather, 12 Angry Men, North by Northwest, The Third Man, Fight Club, American Beauty, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, African Queen… etc etc…

Tag (tig!!) three people and have them blog this.
pixeldiva – to see which movies are best “to knit to”.
Hydragenic – to see if Forrest Gump really IS his favourite movie.
diamond geezer – because you just know he’ll do something clever with this.

bookmark_borderTodoToday

Being on holiday has it’s advantages. I can get up at 8.30 am, watch the penultimate episode of Huff, then ponder what to do with the rest of my day. Outside it’s murky grey and a sheen of drizzle is coating everything.

So I’ll be writing up a list of “recorded” DVDs (did I mention that I’ve now got a DVD recorder? It’s great, can record movies on Sky+ then dump them to DVD), cracking on with the HaloScan Wiki as there is a bit of a stooshy going on in the forums there (partly because I lost my rage a bit at continued sarcastic comments… yeah I know.. me getting annoyed at SOMEONE ELSE being sarcastic, who’da thunk it?), and I guess I’d better push on with the design for that other site for that new venture that I’m deliberately being cagey about to make it seem mysterious when really it isn’t.

Or I might read a book.

Or .. ?? Hmmm dunno.

In other personal news – this IS a fascinating post, isn’t it – having split open the wound on my back after I got my mole removed, the wound scabbed over. It’s been there for weeks, until this morning. It’s gone. The scab that is, not the wound. The scab was about the size of my thumbnail and quite thick, but I can’t find hide nor hair of it…

But then I did dream that I was eating sultanas last night…

bookmark_borderOliverian

Jamie Oliver. Love him or loathe him he has to be applauded for his current stance and activity surrounding school dinners.

Firstly I think he is a genuine guy, and even if his “cheeky charm” and “mockney” attributes put you off, if you’ve seen any of his recent series (I only saw a couple of episodes) or his last series where he took some challenging students (for want of a better term) through a chef’s course (which I followed avidly) you can’t argue that he does think he can make a difference and is passionate about what he does. For that I applaud him.

On the flipside, the cynic in me will agree with you if you state that he does get some very good publicity from these ventures (any publicity is good publicity after all) and that it is certainly a factor, but again I think he realises that he can use his celebrity status in a positive way but to do that he needs to remain a celebrity. Mind you, Sir Jamie Oliver? Not quite yet I don’t think.

However there is something that sticks in my throat, particularly concerning his recent series. Namely how out of touch our government appears to be with such simple matters. As I said elsewhere:

So the current fad is for the diet of children, that’s all well and good, but I hope it forces home a stronger point.

Parents are responsible for their children.

Simple really yet so many believe that it’s not their job to educate “that’s why they get sent to school”. Until those types of parents are held accountable for their childrens actions and education the system will continue to fail and we’ll have to rely on ‘celebrities’ to highlight these basic basic things.

Don’t get me wrong I think Mr.Oliver has done a good thing (and look at all that publicity for him as well! /cynic) but it’s a sad state of affairs when it’s NOT at the forefront of the affairs of state to worry about the future of our country.

So, bravo Jamie Oliver for raising the profile of this issue. But I do wonder if it is too late, how many generations ago should this parental malaise have been tackled? Are we into the second or third generation of the uneducated, globalised masses, and can I fit in any more grand generalisations (which apparently is my word of the month)? I don’t think it’s too late just yet, but the longer we leave it the harder it will be.

Addendum
I have to say I’m surprised that this hasn’t been fully latched onto by the political parties. Seeing as how there is an, unconfirmed, election coming soon, this kind of populist topic should be a pretty easy sell, at least I would have thought so.

This then leads me to start pondering on the future of politics and how it won’t be long until the topics of debate are generated from daytime TV (or are they already?), and how you’ll be able to phone-in to win a copy of “The Great Debates: The House of Commons discusses Burberry caps” on DVD by answering the following question:

Is the Prime Minister: A) a human being. B) a lump of coal? Calls cost £5 per second, please ensure you know how to use the phone before picking it up.

Actually, that question might be a bit too hard.