Month: July 2008

Ain't so crazy

Last night was partly about the crazy golf and the glow in the dark ten-pin bowling, partly about having a few drinks but mainly about spending some time with our friends Susan and Ian.

Some observations.

1. We ain’t mad about crazy golf.
The course was pirate themed and include a hole played on a pirate ship! Yarrr… except the actual holes weren’t all that challenging or imaginative, in fact it was all a little sedate. Admittedly I am comparing this to that episode of the Simpsons, and vaguely to that movie about a man building the ultimate crazy golf course (or was it a TV show?).

2. Glow in the dark ten-pin bowling requires it to be dark!
Thom Yorke commented on this last week but it just doesn’t get dark in these parts until going on 10.30pm, in fact there was still visible light when we left the pub just past midnight. As such the bowling alleys were still quite bright.

Also when you say “glow in the dark” mean that! Don’t just bung up some UV lighting and offer funny coloured bowls (hey maybe JonnyB could try that down the village green!).

And finally, why were the ‘bumpers’ up in all the lanes? (and furthermore why, WITH the bumpers up did I struggle to break 100!)

3. Pitchers of cocktails are a waste of money
Not a startling revelation but having watched the girl behind the bar pour four measures of alcohol into a pitcher almost full of ice, then fill the rest with lemonade.. yeah, that’s an expensive way to get drunk! Still it kept my darling wife happy, she does love her blue drinks…

4. We have a local!
Susan and Ian live about 5 minutes from us and there is a pub handily placed bang on halfway. Alas it’s a shady looking place and we wouldn’t go near it in a month of Wednesdays. However we finally got around to trying the next pub down the road (about 10 minutes away) and it was ok.

They even have a quiz on a Thursday night… a fact that had Louise almost skipping for joy.

Right, back to work for me (yeah, on a Saturday, meh). Although I have just remembered that, last night, SOMEONE said I could purchase a PlayStation3… maybe a quick trip to Braehead shopping centre for me on the way home!

July 5, 2008

Cry for Pixar

No doubt this will be covered in further detail elsewhere (and to my shame I can’t remember which blog I spotted it on) but this story, buried in the comments on a thread on Metafilter is amazing.

The short version is that, opening viewing one of the first trailers for Wall-E, a girl found herself bursting into tears as she was so moved. She video’d herself doing this, posted it on YouTube, and some Pixar staff found it and emailed her (this was all on a personal basis, not driven through the company at this point). Apparently word got round Pixar and ultimately ends up with the girl and her boyfriend being invited to the staff premiere screening, flown out and put up in a hotel, and then, before they showed the movie, being introduced to the staff as, by that point, everyone knew her story.

Schmaltzy? Yes. But to me it demonstrates the passion Pixar have for their movies.

Having read To Infinity and Beyond!: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios the story certainly fits with the ethos that powers the studio and is a touching insight into how Pixar operates. Yes, of course they have a cold, heartless, business side, but there is no real reason why they did all of that other than because watching the girl’s video touched THEM. Pixar have given this story zero publicity (and yes you cynics, I’m sure they are happy it’s been revealed but they aren’t making a play on this I don’t think).

I never did write up my thoughts about that Pixar book but suffice to say if you enjoy their movies, and are a bit of a geek like me, you’ll LOVE it. It covers everything from business decisions (including why Steve Jobs got involved) through to their commitment to make good movies, regardless of technological barriers.

They are a unique company in many ways, as this story only goes to show.

July 4, 2008

The heat is on

Just a quick note to say it’ll be a little on the quiet side here over the next two weeks as I’m going to be a little hectic. I’ve got a product release (deadline of a week tomorrow), a new developer website to launch (deadline of a week on Monday), and after that a week long series of retrospective meetings that I’m facilitating. All of that takes me through to about the 21st of July.

That plus the remortgaging of our house and the imminent launch of iPhone 3G means when I’m not here, I’ll be asleep!

Until my return, check out my TechComms RSS List (download or view online), or take a cruise on the Writer River.

See you on the flip side.

July 3, 2008

Firefox 3

Got Firefox 3? Try the Fast Dial extension, it’s quite nifty.

Anyway, I finally installed the latest greatest version of the ‘fox and most of the extensions I use have been updated (the others I can do without). It’s all nicely streamlined and tweaked already, and I’ll need to replicate this setup on my home PC and MacBook but so far so good.

It’s been a while since I did a techie post but later in the week I’ll post up the extensions I’m using, with some fabby new ones alongside some old favourites. Until then I’d love to hear if you’ve got any recommendations.

July 2, 2008

I am in chronological denial

Something doesn’t fit.

Yes, Wimbledon is well underway (what a game last night eh!).

Yes, the summer is already over (I’m looking out the window at yet another grey cloud and the drizzle has started falling already).

Yes, we hardly need to put on any lights at all in the evening (as Thom Yorke asked the assembled masses at Glasgow Green on Friday night, “Does it ever get fuckin’ dark here?”).

Yes, the grass is needing cut once a fortnight rather than once a month (not that WE cut the grass these days).

Yes, the first letter of the month is “J” (and the second letter is “u”).

Yes, the Olympics are getting closer (although, frankly, I’m not sure I’ll be watching much of the coverage).

And, yes, I know that it really IS the day that the calendar says, but it just can’t be.

Can it?

Blimey.

July 1, 2008