The Saturday Night Really Tedious Film Club

I’ve got some documentaries on DVD that I’d like to watch in company. In essence to stir up some conversation. In fact, it’s not necessary to agree with everything that is said, but it would be nice to have the opportunity to discuss it. Maybe get a group of folk together once a month? I … Continue reading “The Saturday Night Really Tedious Film Club”

I’ve got some documentaries on DVD that I’d like to watch in company. In essence to stir up some conversation. In fact, it’s not necessary to agree with everything that is said, but it would be nice to have the opportunity to discuss it. Maybe get a group of folk together once a month?

I was thinking of calling it the “Saturday Night Really Tedious Film Club”. Think it’ll catch on?

Here’s the DVDs I own a copy of.

Add to this COSMOS, maybe Wonders of the Solar System, maybe some of the futurist documentaries out there. Happy to have other suggestions.

A Room with a VI

Marty writes about VI: VI is an empty room. It needs painted, stud walls, electric points, heating and people to help do all of those things. It needs energy and creativity, ideas and heart. It will need money but for now it has enough to get by. It needs a good internet connection to give … Continue reading “A Room with a VI”

Marty writes about VI:

VI is an empty room. It needs painted, stud walls, electric points, heating and people to help do all of those things. It needs energy and creativity, ideas and heart. It will need money but for now it has enough to get by. It needs a good internet connection to give it tentacles to the world. It needs five businesses willing to take a risk at being all they can be. Why five? Because AirPOS, my spin out, is VI (1) and I’ll be on this journey with everyone else. And I’m very very excited about that.

VI has no business plan nor a strategy. It has no board of directors. It has no logo. We’re incubating the incubator too, if that’s not too surreal, and its success will be tied into those within its walls.

I disagree with Marty.

We do need paint, stud walls, electric points, internet access, desks, chairs, cork-boards, whiteboards and people to help make all of this work. And some of those people need to have energy, creativity and ideas and we want to help the people find their feet and make something of their ideas and creativity. But VI is much more than an empty room.

I snapped these pictures a couple of days ago:

IMG_0844
 
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Can you see it?

This room is filled with heart.

It’s leaking out the non-double-glazed windows. It’s seeping through the bare floorboards. It’s flowing out the main door and flowing down the sinks and toilets. This room is filled with so much heart that it’s alive.

In the coming weeks we’re going to have a paint party there. We’ll be there from early, hoovering up the dust and detritus, starting to paint over wood and bare plasterboard. We’re going to have power points and lights installed. A phone line will bring annoying ringing noises as well as sluggish ADSL broadband (until we raise enough money to install a leased line).

We don’t have the funds to maintain a large building out in the middle of a wasteland. We don’t have the budget to refurbish this building into a modern office suite with glass walls and an entire videoconferencing suite. We don’t necessarily have the connections to be able to call a President by his first name or have his Special Envoy over for tea. But these things don’t matter and they shouldn’t matter. We have heart to spare.

If you think of us as a competitor then I pity you. If this rag tag bunch of hobos with nothing but a little cash and a worn-out old clothing factory is a competitor then you’ve got a serious problem and you should seriously look at what you have there.

I’m thankful for a few people who have, perhaps unknowingly, pushed me to this. David, Marty, Aidan, Jason, Alex, Rob, Simon, Ian, Bill and others. Some of you will know why, some of you won’t – but all of you have contributed to me putting something on the line and making something happen. You’ve all helped and I hope you can understand that you deserve some of the credit here.

This is just the beginning.

The Top 5 Dream Jobs #top5dreamjobs

ROB FLEMING (Rob Gordon in the movie), FROM HIGH FIDELITY SPEAKS On his top five dream jobs NME journalist, 1976-1979 Get to meet the Clash, Sex Pistols, Chrissie Hynde, Danny Baker etc. Get loads of free records – good ones too. Go on to host my own quiz show or something Producer, Atlantic Records, 1964-1971 … Continue reading “The Top 5 Dream Jobs #top5dreamjobs”

ROB FLEMING (Rob Gordon in the movie), FROM HIGH FIDELITY SPEAKS

On his top five dream jobs

  1. NME journalist, 1976-1979
    Get to meet the Clash, Sex Pistols, Chrissie Hynde, Danny Baker etc. Get loads of free records – good ones too. Go on to host my own quiz show or something
  2. Producer, Atlantic Records, 1964-1971 (approx)
    Get to meet Aretha, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke etc. Get loads of free records (probably) – good ones too. Make piles of money.
  3. Any kind of musician (apart from classical or rap)
    Speaks for itself. But I’d have settled just for being one of the Memphis Horns – I’m not asking to be Hendrix or Jagger or Otis Redding
  4. Film director
    Again, any kind, although preferably not German or silent.
  5. Architect
    A surprise entry at number 5, I know, but I used to be quite good at technical drawing at school

So, inspired by this, I’ve decided to write my top 5 dream jobs, not limited by time travel or qualifications:

  1. CEO of Apple Inc, 2017-2022
    Someone has to take over from Steve at some point and I reckon I could do it. It would also be one of Apple’s most challenging times as we introduce a new iWidget, buy Adobe and have to fight off Google and a newly revitalised Microsoft. Finish up by leaving on a high note with Apple as a worldwide carrier and get on my yacht and sail away on my 50th birthday.
  2. Futurist and Author
    Get to swan around conferences dispensing visionary wisdom to adherents. Probably pop out a couple of novels and have one or two optioned into movies. Spend a lot of time talking to interesting people and turn down those TED folk once or twice.
  3. Serial Entrepreneur/Investor
    Start and sell a couple of businesses and then spend the rest of my days helping other people get started. Get to hang out with the cool kids in San Francisco as well as prove that you don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to make a splash in the Digital sector.
  4. Technology Journalist/Writer, 1970-2000
    Get to watch all of the technology giants take off. Get to meet cool people from some of the most innovative companies during the birth of Silicon Valley and the web. Attend all the big conferences and renew my sense of wonder when someone gave me a computer I could carry with one hand.
  5. Film Director, Writer and Producer
    Writing and directing my own films and helping others do it too. Success would be nice – in order to finance the projects I consider to be art. Maybe even get to be interviewed by Apple during one of their product releases talking about how their new iWidget has improved my day.

So, what about you? Top 5 Dream Jobs?

Irish Blog Awards ’09

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that my better half’s blog dressjunkie.com has reached the final of the Irish Blog Awards – She’s only been running her blog since November last year but already has more readers, more comments and more subscribers than I do. I’m incredibly proud. She’s an incredibly strong contender and much more … Continue reading “Irish Blog Awards ’09”

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that my better half’s blog dressjunkie.com has reached the final of the Irish Blog Awards – She’s only been running her blog since November last year but already has more readers, more comments and more subscribers than I do. I’m incredibly proud. She’s an incredibly strong contender and much more readable than my oft-ill-informed rants from here!

We won’t be going down to Cork for the awards (as @dressjunkie works) but we’ll be having our own mini-celebration up in Belfast when we’re with @theronster and @karenquinn. Apparently the bubbly will be out whether there’s a win or not. I love the attitude!

Good luck to the other folks who made it to the finals. We’ll be watching Twitter and living vicariously off your achievements!

Northern Ireland Tech Blog launches…

James Scott launched the Northern Ireland Technology Blog in December 2008 and is providing another useful resource for technology companies and startups. The site includes news items, profiles on companies, information for startups, details about the vibrant local “grassroots” tech community and information for students as well as a calendar of upcoming events. The news … Continue reading “Northern Ireland Tech Blog launches…”

James Scott launched the Northern Ireland Technology Blog in December 2008 and is providing another useful resource for technology companies and startups.

The site includes news items, profiles on companies, information for startups, details about the vibrant local “grassroots” tech community and information for students as well as a calendar of upcoming events.

The news provided is tech- and province-focussed with information about the whole technology sector in the six counties.

Irish Blog Award Nominations 2009

Damien Mulley just announced the nominations for the Irish Blog Awards 2009! Go have a look! “This is not the long list and it is not the short list, this is the Nominations List. Every one of these blogs will now be sent forward for judging. After this, a longlist will be released, followed by … Continue reading “Irish Blog Award Nominations 2009”

Damien Mulley just announced the nominations for the Irish Blog Awards 2009!

Go have a look!

“This is not the long list and it is not the short list, this is the Nominations List. Every one of these blogs will now be sent forward for judging. After this, a longlist will be released, followed by a short list. The winners will be announced on February 21st.”

Notable ones who I know well from the list:

Best Fashion Blog – Sponsored by Spinnakerpro
Dressjunkie: http://dressjunkie.com

Best Technology Blog/Blogger – Sponsored by Bitbuzz
Unwired: http://wimaxxed.blogspot.com
Michele Neylon: http://mneylon.com/blog
Digmo!: http://digmo.co.uk
Pat Phelan: Telecomms Disruptor: http://patphelan.net
Mj: http://cimota.com/blog – Yes, me. No, I didn’t self-nominate.

Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Teamworkpm.net
Lee Munroe’s Blog: http://leemunroe.com
Russellmcquillan.com: http://russellmcquillan.com
Ronster Munch – Blog: http://theronster.co.uk

Best Blog of a Business – Sponsored by RedCardinal.ie
No More Art Notepad: http://nomoreart.co.uk/notepad

Best Personal Blog – Sponsored by Microsoft Ireland’s Developer & Platform Group
Marramgrass : http://marramgrass.org.uk
Sickbiscuit: http://sickbiscuit.com/blog
Alan In Belfast: http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.com

Best Photo Blog – Sponsored by Pix.ie
Iced Coffee Photoblog: http://icedcoffee.ie

I’d suggest you have a click-through and see what’s happening in the big wide world of blogging in your region. There’s some real stars out there (and looking at the heavyweights I’m nominated alongside, I don’t fancy my chances!!!!)

[Edit: Also noticed The Ronster!]

H is for ipocrisy

TechWire writes: For dull, repetitive reportage, stick with the blogs. Somewhat ironic considering that’s the second post on that blog made decrying the Irish blogging scene as “crap” or “dull”. You have to ask though – what is TechWire (and by extension, Damien Mulley and TwentyMajor) expecting from blogging? There are a lot of blogs … Continue reading “H is for ipocrisy”

TechWire writes:

For dull, repetitive reportage, stick with the blogs.

Somewhat ironic considering that’s the second post on that blog made decrying the Irish blogging scene as “crap” or “dull”.

You have to ask though – what is TechWire (and by extension, Damien Mulley and TwentyMajor) expecting from blogging?

There are a lot of blogs I simply don’t read. It’s not because I disagree with their opinions – I’d rather read something opinionated and disagreeable and respond to it directly. But, as I said, there’s a lot I don’t read. But considering that one of those blogs I don’t read is TwentyMajor, which has been a multiple-winner of the Irish Blog Awards, what the hell do I know about what makes a good blog. (and if you must know, I just didn’t find it that funny – there’s only so many times in this world that swearing is funny and I tired of tall tales and bad puns). But these are the A-listers so what the fuck do I know about what makes a good blog.

More than anything, we promote figures like Scoble or Calacanis to prominence by following them. We create their egos. And yes, there’s the Irish A-list scene (almost an oxymoron in itself) which we’re promoting to prominence. At the end of the day, who the fuck is TechWire? As Will Knott Joe Drumgoole commented when TechWire described the Irish blogging scene as “crap”:

This is what the net news groups used to call “flame bait”. The same tired old question can and has been asked of every information medium (new and old) and is essentially lazy journalism of the worst kind.

Bravo, Joe.

I think the A-listers, and TechWire (as the unwitting Troll) are putting unreasonable expectations out there. Most bloggers are not there to entertain, they’re writing because something needs said. The beauty of the internet is that it’s a great leveller. Anyone can talk.

Want a dissenting view on orthodox middle-class views of current affairs (US invasions, urban planning, health issues, gender issues etc)? Don’t look to Irish blogs: they largely sing off the same standard-issue hymn sheet (with one or two exceptions).

Idiocy. Go to any cross section of the blogosphere in any country and you’ll see perhaps 1% of the population tackling the really thorny issues. So, what, we want more Latte heroes? I don’t blog much about US politics because I’m inundated with that shit on the OSX-Nutters mailing list (where there seems to be an insanely high amount of discussion of US politics). The other topics only become topics when they affect someone I know. Look at the abortion topic (which steered into the “Why Iris Robinson hasn’t been removed from office” topic – which I’ve been as restrained as I can about, mainly because I’d have to Godwin myself if I went any further).

I can’t go to the newspapers for anything interesting because the coverage they give to things I’m interested is either scarce, misinformed or paid-for. No go. Blogs provide much more.

My only concern about the Irish blog scene is that with the beginnings of emancipation – where the blogs of Californian super-egos are deprecated – there are those attempting to fill the niche. Newflash: We don’t need you.

The ultimate irony has to be the TechWire blog. It’s more of a ‘whine’ than my own blog. And that’s something. Where’s the value? For gods sake, yes, let us rid the Irish Blog scene of useless blogs. Starting right there.

WordPress for iPhone: relegated

As I mentioned before, I think WordPress for iPhone really misses the mark. It doesn’t really add anything to the existing apps that are out there – look at iPhoneSlide which I’ve used a couple of times. It has much the same capabilities and works straight from your email client (and because it uses email, … Continue reading “WordPress for iPhone: relegated”

As I mentioned before, I think WordPress for iPhone really misses the mark. It doesn’t really add anything to the existing apps that are out there – look at iPhoneSlide which I’ve used a couple of times. It has much the same capabilities and works straight from your email client (and because it uses email, is available from within the Camera application on iPhone without having to take a picture, then switch apps. It also doesn’t have that nasty picture-attachment bug which causes crashing and means your post has to be recovered every time. In my opinion, this release from WordPress was not ‘rushed’ so much as it just needs a rethink about what features they were intending to put in.

I’d like to see an interface for comment moderation and replies. I mean, some of the web based mobile interfaces allow this. The software as-is is a posting machine. It needs to be a conversation machine. This part of it is completely missing and that’s somewhat inexcusable.

I’d like the ability to place an image (even just as an icon placeholder), center it if necessary and allow the user to place some text underneath the image. At this point it does no better than the email services as it just adds the content as an attachment at the bottom.

The app is now relegated to my back screens for “software I likely won’t use much” until there’s a significant update. The next step is simply removal.

WordPress for iPhone

The WordPress client for iPhone was released today. This is a test though as you can see, it’s missing a bit of spit’n’polish but otherwise seems to have hit the nail on the head. Maybe I’m a bit stupid but while I can add images to the WordPress library on the phone, there seems no … Continue reading “WordPress for iPhone”

The WordPress client for iPhone was released today. This is a test though as you can see, it’s missing a bit of spit’n’polish but otherwise seems to have hit the nail on the head.

Maybe I’m a bit stupid but while I can add images to the WordPress library on the phone, there seems no obvious way to add them to the posts.

photo

[Oh. That sucks. It just puts the images in at the end. There’s no formatting for them. Ew.]