December 2008
49 posts
“… to someone who is usually alone, going online feels distinctly social. I...”
– Magic Molly: Gardening with brains
MBE for marathon running 'rabbit' →
This makes me proud to be British, it really does. God bless the Queen. She’s worth every penny. Let’s give everyone who dresses up as a bunny a gong in the New Year Honours list.
“It’s more important that you be passionate about what you do all day than...”
– Seth’s Blog: Expertise and passion
What's On Your Productivity Wishlist for 2009? →
Another GTD classic from Lifehacker. A productivity wishlist. Productivity. Wishlist. Ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Oh, my sides. Stop it, you’re making me laugh. I did the dusting and mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors this morning, and that was me done for productivity until, ooh, about April.
Grant McLennan: Lighting Fires - “I’m...
UK playwright Harold Pinter dies →
There’s an obvious joke to be made here about greeting this news with a reflective pause and a period of silence. But I don’t feel like making it because, rarely for an occasion when famous people pop their clogs, I genuinely think that this is a sad loss.
“I’m getting paid a salary for the next fortnight even though I’m...”
– diamond geezer
WatchThe Kills are (one of) my new favourite band(s).
Morrissey - Alsatian Cousin: “Were you and...
The 20 Worst Album Covers of 2008 →
Watch
Project management lingo →
As humorous as some of these terms undoubtedly are, I actually felt my life slipping away as I perused the list.
“Now, what is it that banks are always telling us? Never (repeat NEVER) enter...”
– diamond geezer: Unverified by Visa
Radio 4 Today guest editors →
I am unreasonably excited that Jarvis Cocker has been announced as one of the guest editors over the Christmas period. Despite his continuing flirtation with facial fungus.
Real sports fans ask why the BBC should spend big... →
Speaking as someone who is most definitely not a ‘real sports fan’ (I can’t abide it, frankly), I think the problem with the Boat Race is that it still features only posh types from Oxford and Cambridge. Open it up to other universities, I say. Hull, preferably.
Many lie over books 'to impress' →
War and Peace was great. I love that book. Particularly the war bit. Though the, erm, peace bit is quite good too.
Not Writing →
The Meaning of Liff →
Ah, this brings back memories …
“Saying “I’ve just finished a giant blog” or “I’m writing a blog about cheese”...”
– meish dot org » Let’s go over this again, shall we?
“Of course, the decentralized nature of the net means that it will never be...”
– Seth’s Blog: Warning - the internet is almost full
“They say that in a down economy and stock market, one industry that will...”
– Google: Down Economy? Sell Booze Ads
Bagpuss and Ivor creator dies →
RIP to the saggy old cloth cat whom Emily loved. Sniff.
Test reveals dogs' jealous side →
Scientific tests “showed that dogs will stop doing a simple task when not rewarded if another dog, which continues to be rewarded, is present”. Quite right, too. There’s no good standing on your hind legs and appealing with puppy dog eyes if you don’t get a chocolate drop at the end of it, while Fido does.
'Obama too British' case rejected →
Honestly, haven’t retired New Jersey lawyers got better things to do than to bring pointless legal cases against Barack ‘Cor blimey, apples ‘n’ pears, innit?’ Obama?
The brilliance of creative chaos →
So there’s my explanation as to why any and all creative writing has deserted me in the past couple of months: my desk is too tidy. It all makes sense now.
“So much joyful digital stuff is only a pleasure because it’s hugely...”
– russell davies: analogue natives
“I have nine macs!!!!!! I don’t need another fucking mac. I just want ONE...”
– Stephen Fry, Twittering whilst trying to use Windows Vista
1000thingsthatmatter →
“Tell us what matters to you, in two sentences, an image or a video.”
“When I meet new people I apologized to them all the time because I don’t want to...”
– i am neurotic » i’m sorry, so sorry
Woof! An iPhone-controlled dog treat dispenser →
And iPhone apps continue to mark their descent from Fantastic to Useful via Pleasant Waste Of Time to Oh Please Enough iPhone Apps Already This Is Just Getting Silly. Personally, I’m still on the lookout for a report about the iPhone Lethal Injection Euthanasia App. It can only be a matter of time.
This Is This: Good Times, Bad Times →
This post reads like it could have written about me. It wasn’t, of course. It was written about Cliff. By Cliff. The giveaway of that fact is the mention of going running and getting fitter. Indeed.
Watch
rosetintedbbc.co.uk →
Look carefully at the headlines … my favourite is ‘Robert Peston begins to talk properly and less dramatically’.
Talking Heads: Lifetime Piling Up - “I got...
“Last time I closed something down on BBC Online I was described as a cow which...”
– BBC Internet Blog 