by Suw on August 31, 2005
I have a publisher interested in my book (fingers crossed), and a possible new client (thumbs held*), and this digital rights organisation is slowly taking shape, and I have a book chapter to finish (note the word 'finish', which accurately implies that I've started it, which I have), and BlogOn to organise, and my move to London to sort out, and BarCampUK to kick into shape, and and and…
Don't be surprised or offended or worried if I a) don't blog or b) don't return emails or c) don't respond on IM or d) am generally incommunicado. It just means I'm locked away in a darkened room with my chocolate truffles, Żubrówka and iBook.
* That's what they do in Austria instead of crossing their fingers.
by Suw on August 30, 2005
I really wish that we'd had animations like these when I was at university, studying Geology. It would have made our dynamic stratigraphy lectures a lot more comprehensible, not to mention entertaining. As it was, I used to struggle remembering which weird new continents came when, and what the sloppy wet bits inbetween were called, which is probably why I never harboured a desire to become a dynamic stratigrapher.
by Suw on August 30, 2005
Another blog victim convert. I'm sitting here with Saira Khan, who has just posted her first blog post ever, for a program on Radio Five Live which will air on the Julian Warricker show on October 2 at 11am.
I do so love getting people into blogging.
by Suw on August 30, 2005
Dawn light roused me this morning, I'm not sure at what time. I'm not sure what sort of dream I woke from, I just remember this astonishing feeling of euphoria. It wasn't just waking up in a good mood, it was waking up with all the happy dials turned up to 11. Possibly 12. Euphoric really is the only word for it – it was as if I'd taken class A drugs or fallen deeply in love (ok, so those two are the same thing. Bite me.).
I can't remember my dream from last night, so I have no idea if that's the root cause, or whether after a rather heavy day of thinking yesterday my subconscious worked something out, but just neglected to tell me what is was. If I have any sudden epiphanies today, I'll be sure to let you know.
Meantime, it really is a beautiful morning here. The sky is blue, the sun hot, I'm on my way to the BBC to go do a thing on blogging for Radio Five Live (different people from last time, and different subject). Maybe this will be the last day of summer, maybe not, but for the moment I'm going to pretend that it is and revel in it.
As the Boo Radleys said:
You'll never touch the magic if you don't reach out far enough.
(Just posting this from the Radio Five studios… ooh fame!)
by Suw on August 27, 2005
I am listening to England attempting to do something unmentionable to Australia in the Fourth Test (apparently those capitals are appropriate) on Radio 4 Longwave.
Jones has a fine leg, or so they say. I wish I could see Jones' fine leg, but I'm going to have to take their word for it. I have no idea what they are talking about, until they mention a close formation flight of pigeons and the way that a light breeze is moving the trees. Certainly the commnentary is worth listening to, purely for the discussion of Manx Knobs, which apparently are good for sucking on and come in a variety of sizes.
Cricket and knob jokes. Forgive me if I feel terribly confused for a moment, would you?
by Suw on August 26, 2005
Neil Gaiman's coming to the UK. There will be signings. Which means there may well be queueings. And nerves. Maybe vomiting. Hopefully not. I nearly threw up on Martin Carr's feet once, but that was an unfortunate combination of nerves and food poisoning. At least, that's the story I've maintained for the last decade and I'm not changing it now.
You know, I'd much rather meet Neil in some sort of official capacity, as an equal not as a fan. It would be so much easier on my stomach, not to mention Neil's shoes. This is something I will have to carefully engineer, if not this time round then next. Hmm. Neil, you're not interested in being a patron of our new digital rights organisation at all, are you? You wouldn't have to do anything, just say what a terrifically good idea it all is and let me shake your hand and call you Neil as if I know you and then blush a furious shade of red whilst stammering that we were terrifically, terrifically pleased to have your support. Really very terrifically.
You know, (that's you, dear reader, not necessarily you, dear Neil, although maybe it is you if you happen to swing past on your way through to places more fascinating), I really should write one of these damn books I've been thinking about writing. I am in weekly discussions with my agent now, the truly terrific Neil Salkind from Studio B, about stuff, and I'm feeling particularly enthused about the whole concept of writing having just agreed to write a chapter for Uses of Blogs, ed. Axel Bruns and Joanne Jacobs.
It's been a while since I've felt the creeping need to write something big, but it's crawling through my veins as I type. And believe me, a 3500 word braindump on digital rights is merely a sticking plaster on the wound of auctorial ambition. No, I must begin a book, forthwith and henceforth.
After I've had some sleep.
by Suw on August 26, 2005
A few months ago I asked my Mum to knit me an iPod sock, because I couldn't stand the thought of shelling out over 20 quid for some thin piece of junk from Apple. Whilst she was experimenting, I suggested that she add in a pocket, for the earphones, because there's nothing worse than losing your earphones.
The iPod sock she came up with was great, so great that the gadget-meister himself, Philip Torrone, drooled with desire when I showed it to him. He even mentioned it at Gnomedex.
I'm delighted to announce that now you can get your own hand-crafted iPod sock with pocket, either by knitting one yourself (instructions courtesy of my Mum), or by ordering one through PayPal (see below).
DIY Instructions!
If you'd like to knit your own, these are the instructions. (Don't ask me if it doesn't make sense – I can't knit to save my life.)
Pocket
Using 3mm needles and double knitting wool, cast on 16 stitches and knit stocking stitch for 3 inches. Put stitches onto spare needle.
Main part
Using 3mm needles and double knitting wool, cast on 40 stitches and knit double 2×2 rib for 3 inches, ending with the wrong side facing.
Next row, knit rib for 22 stitches, cast off 16 stitches, and P2.
Next row, K2 transfer 16 stitches from spare needle and knit rib 2×2 across all stitches until it measures 4 inches.
Change to 2 1/4mm needles and rib 2×2 in the same or contrasting wool for a further 2 inches and cast off.
Turn over top 2 inches in half and sew down. Sew along side and bottom securely to finish.
Any problems, let me know and I'll ask my Mum.
Or get my Mum to knit you one!
iPod socks, knitting patterns
by Suw on August 26, 2005
Gosh, that sounds a bit rude, doesn't it?
by Suw on August 26, 2005
… If posting a post will make this blog show the new ones instead of the old ones.
Who can tell.
UPDATE: Hm, it seems that this blog thinks it's July 6th, so although posting is fine, and all the articles are here, but it's for some reason not displaying the latest ones on the front page. Guess I'll have to wait for the guys at Blogware to wake up and see if they can fix it.
by Suw on August 25, 2005
The interview I did with Kevin Anderson for BBC Radio 5 Pods and Blogs show is now up online, for a limited time only. It will likely be replaced some time around Monday 29 Aug-ish, when the next show goes out at which point I'll post/podcast the MP3 of my 10 minute segment.
The nice thing about blogging this, though, is that I can correct a slip of my tongue. I said that 1.6 billion AOL customer records were stolen, but in fact it was 1.6 billion Acxiom customer records. I have no idea why Acxiom morphed into AOL in my head, but at least I can clarify that here.
UPDATE: My section is now online as an mp3.
digital rights, data retention, BBC Radio 5, Kevin Anderson, podcast
