xset

Handy programs to put on a USB stick.

// April 29th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

If you move between systems or simply want a cheap USB key that contains your favorite apps for use in internet cafes and the like then this list from my fave free and shareware site SnapFiles is where you need to start.

I’m impressed by the amount of sys-admin style apps that are included here. Very useful if you need to run a quick port scan on site

Handy programs to put on a USB stick. at SnapFiles.com

(Hattip: Lifehack.org)

You ready to reboot?

// April 27th, 2006 // No Comments » // Tech

It’s that time of year again. Around the world on the 1st May designers, developers and all sorts of others will be unveiling new designs, new features and a spot of general housekeeping on their web sites and blogs.

And for once I’m actually ahead of the curve on this one! So keep an eye on DTR at around 18:00 GMT on the 1st to see how far I got.

More tunes

// April 26th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

In a slightly different vain to yesterday’s Jazz medley I’ve fallen in love with the Radio 2 B List track There Was a Time by Laura Michelle Kelly.

It’s a given through considering that it ticks all the right boxes for my more poppy sentiments:

• Soaring minor key string section – check
• Meaningless but somehow evocative lyrics – check
• Powerful female lead (who can be placed on the track without 16 layers of self harmony) – check

Of course it’s produced by Marius de Vries who’s worked with Bjork, David Gray and on Moulin Rouge so it’s not surprising I like it. The album is out on the 1st May and I hope it’s all as good as her debut.

Spin the wheel – brain free colour scheme creation

// April 26th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

Picking a colour scheme for a website can be a tricksy business. Most designers start with some kind of corporate scheme already present or failing that, a mood board.

But for those little (or internal) projects where the above simply aren’t available then why not try the Colour Wheel? Each spin generates 3 complementary colours from the web palette. You also have a reasonable quantity of information on web colour theory.

Wednesday NIght is Movie night!

// April 26th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

I love the way the internet (and the world at large) simply subsume new concepts and technological breakthroughs with an attitude that is almost completely blase. I mean if you’d announced something like Google Video or You Tube a couple of years ago the media would have gone nuts. But because it’s been around for a while we think nothing of having the availability to mass distribute video to a world wide audience.

Anyway, enough philosophical ramblings. I thought I’d share some of the better movies I’ve seen on the net over the past couple of days.

First up “Right Place” a nicely shot short from Japan concerning an odd little man who’s obsessive nature gets him into a few scrapes. Look out for the end credits!

Further to my previous James Blunt hating rants I’m pleased to present this little gem from the UK parody show Dead Ringers. Credit should actually go to lil sis as she showed me this over the easter break.

And finally, there seems to be a spate of cool Robot Chicken clips out there proving that not even theFlintstones are sacred and that some of the guys behind this are just plain sick.

If those clips aren’t enough to sate your appetites for claymation oddness then just try searching!

This one’s for Lemur Girl

// April 26th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

Sleepy Ted

Originally uploaded by Rob Dudley.

Isn’t he adorable?

Comment Spam

// April 25th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal, Tech

Akismet is doing a right proper job of keeping the spam down to … none at all.

Still there were a couple of flagged comments that jumped out at me.

First off is this one which wins the award of least accurate adjective every applied to a blog:

“Your site is very cognitive. I think you will have good future.:)”

Cognitive? COGNITIVE? Why I oughtta…

And next up, these two apathetic bloody samples of possible humanity:

“Not much on my mind right now, but it’s not important. I’ve just been letting everything happen without me. I just don’t have anything to say right now.”

“I can’t be bothered with anything these days, but such is life. I don’t care. So it goes.”

Erm, guys, read the footer – it says Wordpress right? You want myspace…

How did I not have this in my life?

// April 25th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

Musically speaking I enjoy a pretty eclectic mix (as my Last FM page holds testament) and tend to keep on top of new stuff by doing nothing and waiting for those odd moments that result in a new discovery. Whether that be a friend lending me a CD, a chance encounter with a late night (or more often online) radio show, or a random “oooh shiny” moment in HMV.

Of course every music listener is aware that there is a lifetime or more of stuff that they simply haven’t heard yet. I’ve never let this worry me too much as most of it is dross anyway and I get by ok with what I have. But I was aware that the Jazz section of my library was looking a little bare and so went hunting for something to fill it.

Of the masses of music to choose from, spread across a bewildering number of genres two recordings jumped out at me through the consistent raking and praise of both critics and listeners. Never one to poo-poo the opinions of people who know more than me* I grabbed both and gave them a spin.

The first has soared (over the course of 24 whole hours) to somewhere near the top of my fave recordings ever. Kinda Blue by Miles Davis and “friends” … friends in this case including John Coltrane who was responsible for the second purchase – A Love Supreme.

They can both be a little “nice” in places and I’m no jazz expert but how the hell did I manage to go this far through life without knowing these existed?

This should keep them busy!

// April 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

Crazy golf game fun. The best bit is you can create your own levels and challenge your mates to overcome your demon dastardly designing skillz.

PS this was meant to be posted at easter but somehow slipped through the net.

I think he’s dead …

// April 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

No I’m Not!

Yup, no less than a week after the evil icky struck me down I am now back up and running. Thanks to all who did the “get well soon” bit. It probably helped and you may now feel all warm and fuzzy.

So now to catch up on all the stuff I’ve not been doing for the past week or so. One thing that has come of this little episode – I am now highly aware of the risks of illness when you’re self employed. Maybe I should start going to the gym or something?