http://chocolateandvodka.com bubbling enthusiasm for $arbitrary_topic Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:08:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Last year, over 3500 people pledged to support Ada Lovelace Day, the international day of blogging to celebrate the achievements of women in technology and science. Over 1200 people added their link to our map mash-up and we got lots of coverage in the national press and even appeared on ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2010/02/08/time-to-sign-up-to-ada-lovelace-day-2010/ I've just joined Graze, a service that mails you a box of fruit, nuts and other goodies for the princely sum of £2.99 per box (P&P included). A friend of mine suggested it the other day and I was so curious I signed up there and then. My first box ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2010/01/20/unpacking-my-first-graze-box/ In April last year I wrote about a start-up called Kachingle for The Guardian. I explained Kachingle thusly: After registering with Kachingle, users decide on a maximum monthly donation, currently set at $5 (£3.50). When they see something they like, they simply click on the Kachingle "medallion" to initiate a donation. ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2010/01/13/experimenting-with-kachingle/ If you are interested in buying something from my Folksy shop, please remember that the last day for posting in the UK is 18th December. That's just five days away! http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/12/13/last-day-for-uk-post-18-dec/ http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/11/27/an-almost-lethal-dose-of-cute/ If, like me, you disapprove of Mandelson's Digital Economy Bill you can: Sign the petition (currently at 25,970 signatories - let's get it up over 50k!)Join the Open Rights Group who are fighting this billWrite a personal message to Lord MandelsonWrite to your MPOr call your MP and tell them you ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/11/27/dan-bull-dear-mandy-an-open-letter-to-lord-mandelson/ That is all. http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/11/24/the-muppets-do-bohemian-rhapsody/ Everyone with more than a passing familiarity with the publishing industry knows that writing is a tough gig. For most authors, it's almost impossible to make writing books your primary job because the income just isn't enough to live on. "No one writes for the money," we are told, but there ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/11/19/changing-reality/ Dw i wedi instalio'r Basic Bilingual Wordpress Plug, gan fy ffrind Steph Booth. Mae'n gwneud dau peth: mae'n creu bocs iaith, a bocs am excerpt yn yr ail iaith. Efallai bydda i'n danfon fy Ngymraeg tipyn bach mwy nawr. Pah, dw i wedi dweud hon bob amser. ;) http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/11/13/basic-bilingual/ I know I'm not exactly completely fluent with Welsh yet, but I find myself now learning Old English, or Anglo-Saxon, whichever you want to call it. I developed a bit of an interest before the hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure was found in Staffordshire, but wow, what an amazing inspiration that ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/11/12/learning-old-english/ My Dad made us a cat wheel so that Mewton and Grabbity can burn off a little energy - energy that they would otherwise burn off at 2am by jumping up and down on our heads. This is a prototype, made of steel, hardened woven kevlar and, yes, duct tape. ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/11/10/first-introduction-to-the-kitten-wheel/ I'm still trying to figure out exactly how to do my self-publishing project for Revenge of the Book of Hay. I'm constantly riddled with doubt: Is it going to be good enough? Will enough people be interested? How will I convince people to support me given I have no track ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/10/29/a-self-publishing-project-to-inspire/ I have been on a lengthy crusade against the evil that is sugar, but must confess to mainly being on the losing side. The summer has been quite stressful and where once I lost my appetite when stressed now I seem to feel constant hunger. Part of that hunger is ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/10/25/pay-as-you-go/ I hope Grabbity doesn't see this - she might get ideas. http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/10/21/cat-perch/ I've had cats all my life, including some kittens, and I've never caught one in the act of getting their adult teeth. Usually kittens teethe, swallow their milk teeth and the new ones are there to fill in behind so there's nothing much to spot. But I was surprised to ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/10/04/grabbitys-double-fangs/ I can't quite believe it, but I've started my Christmas shopping early this year. I mean, it's only just October and we haven't even had Hallowe'en yet, but already I'm looking for presents for people. This is mainly because of the knock-on effects of recent strikes by Royal Mail workers ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/10/02/make-yours-a-handmade-christmas/ Dan Bull's Dear Lily, [an open letter to Lily Allen]: Best bit of activism I've seen all year! http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/09/30/dear-lily/ I have always loved to read aloud. (I think it's something to do with loving the sound of my own voice. Arf.) When I met Kevin, I was delighted to find out that he likes reading aloud too, so we frequently read to each other before we go to sleep. ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/09/23/reading-aloud/ Sometimes, I get stuck on projects and have no idea why. Then, like a log jam suddenly freeing up, I have an idea that sets everything flowing again. I've been stuck fast on Revenge of the Books of Hay for longer than makes me happy, mainly because I hit a structural ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/09/22/finally-spotting-the-blindingly-obvious/ It's been a while since I've mentioned Book Oven, the publishing start-up that I have been working with, but great progress has been made behind the scenes. We have removed the need for an invitation, for one, so you can now just pop along to BookOven.com and sign up without ... http://chocolateandvodka.com/2009/09/18/book-oven-update/