12 May, 2008
If you read nothing else today
read this and then link to it.
You will know why. ¶ Monday, May 12, 2008 0 Comments Links to this post
You will know why. ¶ Monday, May 12, 2008 0 Comments Links to this post
04 May, 2008
Getting around to things
I am notoriously bad at getting around to things, both professionally and in private life. If I ever needed an addition to my nick then it would become "poons the procrastinator". So when I left work today at 3pm I was gonna go a for a couple of pints and then head home. Last night was a bit of heavy poker night and 4 hours sleep normally makes Dave a tired boy, but for some reason I found myself in Waterstones buying a (the last) copy of Out of the Tunnel by Rachel North. Rachel had warned us that since the demise of The Friday Project, copies may become scarce so I bought a copy, headed off to my hostelry of choice and settled into my favourite corner seat for said couple of pints.
I left the pub 7 hours later having read Rachel's account of 7/7 and the subsequent events with 7 pints of Arthur Guinness's' finest coursing through my veins, and oddly I don't feel that drunk.
I've laughed (calling the older copper Bill is subtle comedy gold).
I've giggled (sorry Rachel but the balloon bursting incident just tickled me).
And I cried (silent tears - although there was one sob towards the end) in the pub, full of people who know me well enough to ask what I was reading that had such an effect. I've left my copy with Amy the barmaid and I understand there is already a list of people who also want to read said tome.
I've never read a book from cover to cover in one sitting, and I suspect I never will again.
Rachel has produced a work that is enthralling, and unlike a lot of blog "spin-offs", to use a crass term, gives a real insight into what it is like to be both a story and the story teller. And what a story.
I've followed Rachel's blog from early days but the book fills in the gaps. As Rachel says in the book, she deliberately held back because she felt to show weakness would hinder the progress of the fellow member of King's Cross United. That is a selfless act beyond belief.
I've just been on a roller coaster, but as I step off I know two things.
Life some time deals you cards that you don't understand how to play, unless you realise that they are the cards and you have just got to play them to the best of your ability.
and more importantly
Fear breeds Hate.
Perhaps I am drunk now I've sat down to write this. Tommorrow I may read this and cringe, but as type I this and ponder the publish post button I know that a very special lady who laid her everything in 280 pages of gripping writing deserves this gushing praise. ¶ Sunday, May 04, 2008 3 Comments Links to this post
I left the pub 7 hours later having read Rachel's account of 7/7 and the subsequent events with 7 pints of Arthur Guinness's' finest coursing through my veins, and oddly I don't feel that drunk.
I've laughed (calling the older copper Bill is subtle comedy gold).
I've giggled (sorry Rachel but the balloon bursting incident just tickled me).
And I cried (silent tears - although there was one sob towards the end) in the pub, full of people who know me well enough to ask what I was reading that had such an effect. I've left my copy with Amy the barmaid and I understand there is already a list of people who also want to read said tome.
I've never read a book from cover to cover in one sitting, and I suspect I never will again.
Rachel has produced a work that is enthralling, and unlike a lot of blog "spin-offs", to use a crass term, gives a real insight into what it is like to be both a story and the story teller. And what a story.
I've followed Rachel's blog from early days but the book fills in the gaps. As Rachel says in the book, she deliberately held back because she felt to show weakness would hinder the progress of the fellow member of King's Cross United. That is a selfless act beyond belief.
I've just been on a roller coaster, but as I step off I know two things.
Life some time deals you cards that you don't understand how to play, unless you realise that they are the cards and you have just got to play them to the best of your ability.
and more importantly
Fear breeds Hate.
Perhaps I am drunk now I've sat down to write this. Tommorrow I may read this and cringe, but as type I this and ponder the publish post button I know that a very special lady who laid her everything in 280 pages of gripping writing deserves this gushing praise. ¶ Sunday, May 04, 2008 3 Comments Links to this post
02 May, 2008
Live Election Blog
Well not really - but watching the BBC feed
02:43 Dimbleby - Alix tells me her website has never been so busy
Alix - I'm astounded
D - Well we won't ask you how many people you've had visit
A - Well It's about tenth of what Iain gets
Iain Dale - It's not the size that is important
A - *giggles*
please note that this is a paraphrase.
No, Iain, you are right, it is not the size - it is the metric.
Split infintives, tut. ¶ Friday, May 02, 2008 0 Comments Links to this post
02:43 Dimbleby - Alix tells me her website has never been so busy
Alix - I'm astounded
D - Well we won't ask you how many people you've had visit
A - Well It's about tenth of what Iain gets
Iain Dale - It's not the size that is important
A - *giggles*
please note that this is a paraphrase.
No, Iain, you are right, it is not the size - it is the metric.
Split infintives, tut. ¶ Friday, May 02, 2008 0 Comments Links to this post
16 April, 2008
Commenting on comments
I don't get very many comments - it's okay I do this largely as a diary for my purposes but I recently got a comment from a VIB (very important blogger) his name is Iain and he was commenting on a link to this post.
Iain told me that
I'd already made a cursory visit to Iain's post, and concluded that what Tim was saying was quite right. Which is why named the post "Iain Dale has been overstating his visitor stats" and linked it to Tim's post named the same. Like I have again.
I held Iain's comment back for a couple of days, after all "talking bollocks" is akin to lieing, I would have thought. I then contacted Tim and asked him if he was talking bollocks, as was shown in the post edit. Tim responded that he was not talking bollocks in the comments and then Iain responded thus :
On the first point :
a)
I assume that this is an admittance of mis-understanding? You mis-understood the language of net stats provided by the myriad of providers you used but still published them as fact?
b)
This was aimed at Tim Ireland who runs a personal website that does not sell advertising that is linked to visitor numbers, page views, unique visitors, or any other bullshit metric you choose. You do. You are using bullshit metrics. Fix it, admit you were wrong (although your comments here will do) AND BE HONEST.
DG read all hereTaster :
And Tom Reynolds. Taster:
No mention of sock puppets tho +++No Carrier+++ ¶ Wednesday, April 16, 2008 1 Comments Links to this post
Iain told me that
As usuaal(sic.), Tim Ireland is talking bollocks in his ongoing vendetta against me, as a cursory visit to this post will show you.
http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2008/04/march-statporn.html
I'd already made a cursory visit to Iain's post, and concluded that what Tim was saying was quite right. Which is why named the post "Iain Dale has been overstating his visitor stats" and linked it to Tim's post named the same. Like I have again.
I held Iain's comment back for a couple of days, after all "talking bollocks" is akin to lieing, I would have thought. I then contacted Tim and asked him if he was talking bollocks, as was shown in the post edit. Tim responded that he was not talking bollocks in the comments and then Iain responded thus :
And you fail to understand that while Google calls them visits, Extreme Tracking calls them unique visitors. And the figures provided over a period of a year on both systems have more or less identical (by which I mean within 1500) results. You make out I have consciously tried to mislead people when I have done nothing of the sort. In future, I shall be using figures only from Google Analytics and presenting them according to their terminology. I am also looking into how to provide public access to such figures.
This is far more than you ever do, seeing as you never actually reveal your figures. (my bold)
On the first point :
a)
You make out I have consciously tried to mislead people when I have done nothing of the sort.
I assume that this is an admittance of mis-understanding? You mis-understood the language of net stats provided by the myriad of providers you used but still published them as fact?
In future, I shall be using figures only from Google Analytics and presenting them according to their terminology. I am also looking into how to provide public access to such figures.Oh yeah you already answered that one.
b)
This is far more than you ever do, seeing as you never actually reveal your figures.
This was aimed at Tim Ireland who runs a personal website that does not sell advertising that is linked to visitor numbers, page views, unique visitors, or any other bullshit metric you choose. You do. You are using bullshit metrics. Fix it, admit you were wrong (although your comments here will do) AND BE HONEST.
Now why I started this post...
/rant mode
DG read all hereTaster :
As all internet users are aware, with opportunity comes responsibility. It is therefore essential for the wider online community to embrace the transformational potential of Lifelong Learning. Only by harnessing the strategic possibilities of collaborative digital study can we work together to realise the multi-disciplinary educational benefits of electronic partnership.
And Tom Reynolds. Taster:
Reading the comments on my last post reminded me that I haven't really commented on comments. Here is a rough FAQ.
No mention of sock puppets tho +++No Carrier+++ ¶ Wednesday, April 16, 2008 1 Comments Links to this post
The far left side
I loved Gary Larson - his humour hit home with an accuracy no other cartoon ever did. I was therefore a tad dissapointed when he finally retired and took his 'kids' with him. A little bit of the connection was made harder when I lattery discovered we where born on the same day albeit several years apart but now I have this.
Major hat tip to Raincoaster and an addition to the the blogroll once I've done the archive. ¶ Wednesday, April 16, 2008 1 Comments Links to this post
I loved Gary Larson - his humour hit home with an accuracy no other cartoon ever did. I was therefore a tad dissapointed when he finally retired and took his 'kids' with him. A little bit of the connection was made harder when I lattery discovered we where born on the same day albeit several years apart but now I have this.
Major hat tip to Raincoaster and an addition to the the blogroll once I've done the archive. ¶ Wednesday, April 16, 2008 1 Comments Links to this post
03 April, 2008
Iain Dale has been overstating his visitor stats
Ronseal
Edit: I held off publishing the comment to this post - Tim are you taking bollocks? ¶ Thursday, April 03, 2008 4 Comments Links to this post
Edit: I held off publishing the comment to this post - Tim are you taking bollocks? ¶ Thursday, April 03, 2008 4 Comments Links to this post
26 March, 2008
On how to make money in property
Considering this post by Tim at Bloggerheads, I find Tim Worstall's change of advertising somewhat well timed. Is this a conspiracy of Tims?
Update: The plot thickens. ¶ Wednesday, March 26, 2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Considering this post by Tim at Bloggerheads, I find Tim Worstall's change of advertising somewhat well timed. Is this a conspiracy of Tims?Update: The plot thickens. ¶ Wednesday, March 26, 2008 0 Comments Links to this post
BB
Found at Samizdata but more can be found at BitFilm2008 ¶ Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1 Comments Links to this post
Found at Samizdata but more can be found at BitFilm2008 ¶ Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1 Comments Links to this post
19 March, 2008
