I've just been having an intial play around on MySpace for (believe it or not) work-related reasons.
My profile is here, if any of you out there are users.
February 2006 Archives
The phrase "lifelong learning" is something of a buzzword in government and business circles, as they try desperately to help people adapt to a world where the needed skills for employment change almost by the year. The irony is, like so many other 'buzzwords', that the reality has always been with us.
When you're a child, you tend to assume that at some future point, you;ll go through a magic transition and be an adult. In your teens, you try to persuade everybody that it's happened already. In your 20s, you believe that it's happened. In your 30s, you discover that this is nonsense, and that the process of growing up never really stops.
My Dad's death over four years ago left me as the oldest male in my immediate family. I never really realised the implications of that, until a member of my family got ill. What are those implications? Well, if you've been in my position, you'll know. If you haven't, you probably won't understand. All that matters, really, is that you learn, again, that the process of growing up never stops. And I can't help feeling that the last few months have added a disproportionate number of extra years to me.
And you know what? I'm glad.
I was originally going to title this post "Things People Never Tell You As A Child". I suspect that's wrong, though. I suspect adults do tell you this but it's something you can't be taught by other people. Only life has the power to do that.
Malcolm Gladwell is the journalist business people most often quote to me when I'm talking to them about running their businesses. And you know what? I really enjoyed his books, too, especially Blink. He's probably better known for the Tipping Point, though.
Anyway, I'm delighted to see that the guy's now got a blog. Check it out.
[via Anil Dash]
Just a quick reminder that I have a Frappr map here. You can add yourself to build up a map of where this blog's readers are worldwide.
Thanks to all four people who did this last time around...
I'd just like to apologise for the lack of content on here of late. A close member of my family has to have quite a serious operation next week, and that's been a huge distraction. I hope to drift back towards regular posting in the next few days.
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Could religion be incorporated into online games in a more interesting way?
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Guilds as virtual country clubs for the rich and famous...
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Of possible use to any men who really, really badly fogot about yesterday...
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I'll read this later...
When you do an arts degree at university, its easy to see the arts and sciences as natural enemies. However, I've also done the early stages of a physics degree, and so I've often found the interface between the two disciplines to be fascinating. That's why I find a new project which links images to interviews done with various scientists so interesting. You'll need the sound up or headphones on to enjoy this:
I think it goes to show that many scientists are better philosphers than many philosphers.
Apparently it's going on display in the Science Museum, soon, so consider this a sneak preview.
(Full disclosure: Lorna, my lovely and frighteningly intelligent wife, is one of the interviewees in the project. Listen out for the well-spoken young English female voice, talking about people's reactions to their bodies.)
Technorati Tags: art, installation, science, science museum
In honour of the card industry's favourite event (why does no-one produce charity Valentine's cards?), I present a link to the top 10 rules of office romance.
I've never had an office romance, and now I'm married I'm never likely to, but who hasn't dreamed it on occasion?
The Killjoy's Guide to Office Romances
Technorati Tags: love, offices, romance, workplaces, sex
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This feels apposite today
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A thoughtful piece on what should replace the suitcase in the attic full of photos
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Really useful PDF tool (free, but for OSX only)
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Some interesting comparisons in here
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A campaign to save the cartoon face of the Ask search engine, who is due to be dumped.
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When podcasting is all too much...
A woman utterly lost in her Robin Hobb book on this monring's commute.
I've taken to walking from Charing Cross or Cannon Street in the mornings, in something of a health kick, which presents me with a variety of photographic opportunities.
I like this because of the stark contrast with yesterday's picture. The interest here is the chap with the wonderful beard and hat, not the landscape. And that's often the way with urban photography - it's the people that make the pictures work.
Bit of a naughty photo this one, grabbed through the windshield of my car as I drove home from Suffolk this morning.
Why? Well, I was just enjoying not commuting the normal London route for once, and enjoying seeing the view from the A12 in daylight. I seem to see it at night most of the time, and it really does pass through an attractive part of the world, despite its flatness. (I'm a hills-and-trees guy at heart)
Anyway, there you have it: today's one-off alternative commute.
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Google of the future...
Ever get the feeling that the Washington Post is talking about you? I did, when I spotted this article via Micro Persuasion:
If, for example, a reporter who covers real estate writes in a blog about his personal feelings on the Iraq war, there's no apparent conflict. But what if one of the reporter's sources reads the blog, is offended, and so no longer comments for real estate stories because of the blog entries?
I don't know how many other real estate journalists are blogging, but I haven't come across any yet�
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Blog it up, furbag.
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When the navy's building iPod support into their ships, it looks like Apple's won
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Another magazine bites the dust. Once the de facto bible of teen pop, now just a TV and radion brand...
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Ah-ha. A tango blog
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Another one. Less tango content, but still interesting
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Dear Lord, the design makes you eyes bleed, but the content is signifcantly better. One to read in RSS, I feel.
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Only just counts as a blog in my book. No feed, alas.
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Wooo...a podcast
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A UK tango blog!
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A man who escaped Lewisham and set up a B&B in Nova Scotia. Funnily enough, running a B&B was one option Lorna and I looked at.
Interesting little quote at the end of an article about yesterday's defeat of some sections of the Government's hate law bill in the Commons yesterday.
BBC News: Arts world hails hate law defeat:
Britain's first Muslim MP, Labour's Mohammed Sarwar, said the result would be a disappointment to those of all faiths.He said: "It would have been beneficial not only to Muslims but to those of other faiths and of none. It is very unfortunate."
Speaking as a committed Christian, I'm delighted, thank you very much. Let's not presume to speak for anyone but your constituents, Mr Sarwar.
Technorati Tags: hate law, censorship, religion, free speech, politics
In any modern version of Dante's Inferno, there should be a special portion of hell reserved for those who use mobile phones while in the toilet. It's just so wrong on so many levels.
