Month: March 2007

Blogs are rubbish

I do not watch Coronation Street.
I do not knit.
I do not collect stamps.
I do not spot trains.
I do not attend football matches.
I do not spend afternoons shopping.
I do not go to the opera.
I do not do crosswords.

All of those things, and many many more, baffle me. Why do you do it? What is the compulsion, what drives you to repeat the activity time and time again? It’s kind of odd, isn’t it? Yes I realise we all must have our little hobbies, our “down time” during which we can indulge and relax. But surely your time would be better spent doing something else?

Me? I blog.

This post is in direct response to a recently overheard comment about blogs which suggested they should follow a “write once, read never” methodology.

March 2, 2007

And so, it begins

Please excuse the dust, and mind your feet, I’m still tidying up. I was always told you should finish a website before launching it but, in the days of instant gratification that advice seems somewhat stilted and old-fashioned. So here it is, yes, it’s another blog.

I’ve been blogging for many years now but this is my first attempt at writing a professional blog. To make it a little bit easier on myself I’ve chosen an area in which I’m fairly well-versed – Technical Communications. I have been a Technical Writer/Author/Communicator (I’ll cover that issue another day) for over 10 years and have worked in a variety of different environments, for a variety of different companies, with different cultures and different technologies. I’ve got various articles and whitepapers written up, but largely un-published, and these days if you don’t have a blog… then you are probably out doing something more interesting!

I’ll be covering every facet of Technical Communications that I’ve stumbled across, although I’ll be steering away from discussions on grammar, spelling and english usage (others already cover that in far better style than I could).

So what will I be covering? Everything from planning and designing documents, user analysis, manipulating graphics, DITA, working on the web, document design, AuthorIT, content mapping, agile development, review processes, using the documentation, web design, writing, modular documentation, FrameMaker, editing, CSS, indexing, task analysis, single source, content management, minimalism and much more that I’ve not thought of yet.

I’m not entirely sure where this blog will take me, where it’ll end up, but it’s first step towards a bigger picture and the fruition of many years of trying to have a “professional” place on the web. Comments and discussions are encouraged, and I most certainly do not promise to always be correct. Like most people I’m still learning and trying to keep up as the scope of my profession expands and contracts, and like most I’m sure the internet will continue to play a large part in that process.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve just got another lick of paint to apply…

March 1, 2007

Laugh when you are crying

Laughter, according to the Reader’s Digest, is the best medicine. So it was good to hear a couple of jokes last night from my main source of terrible jokes, my mother. It’s a rare day when she tells a clean one, and last night was no exception:

A man arrives home having just purchased a pack of the new ‘Olympic Condoms’, he strides through the door and announces his purchase to his wife.

“Olympic condoms?” she blurts, “What makes them so special?”

“They’re in three colors,” he replies, “gold, silver, and bronze.” ”

What color are you planning on wearing tonight?” she asks cheekily.

“Why, gold, of course.” says the man proudly.

“Really?” she responds. “Why don’t you wear the silver tonight? It’d be nice if you came second for a change.”

KADUMMTISHHHHHH

The medicine is required for my sore foot. I’ve developed a pain across the top of my foot which … hurts. It started on Tuesday night, eased off during the day but came back pretty instantly last night. I ended up cutting my run short (an annoyance as I’d just eased into the lead of my Nike+ challenge) and it’s still sore this morning.

I’ll rest up for a couple of days and see how it is on Sunday. I’ll also be changing back to regular laces in case the elastic ones are causing the problem. Hopefully it’s just a bit of bruising although, if I’m honest, it feels worse than that. Thankfully having previously broken a metatarsal I know it’s not that… bloody sore though.

March 1, 2007