February 2008 – Page 5

How do you know if your policies are crap?

Because you’re a small arm of a big political party and you’re so desperate for candidates that you beg for them in the blogosphere The crazy thing is that I actually considered it. My dad has been a lifelong Tory and I know it would make him proud. And some of the policies in the … Continue reading “How do you know if your policies are crap?”

Because you’re a small arm of a big political party and you’re so desperate for candidates that you beg for them in the blogosphere

The crazy thing is that I actually considered it. My dad has been a lifelong Tory and I know it would make him proud. And some of the policies in the manifesto seem, on the surface, to be entirely reasonable. But I’d have real issues dealing with ‘politicians’ as, frankly, I’d not be afraid to call a turd a turd.

None of the ConservativesNI are inspiring. And I’m probably a little too outspoken for them (otherwise they’d have approached me by now!).

That said, their idea for a national system of Dragon’s Dens just speaks to me of blatant marketing. I mean – where does it say that Dragon’s Den is a good way to evoke a spirit of entrepreneurship? It’s a bloody comedy. In comparison it’d be nice to end a year with InvestNI reporting they actually did everything they could and spent all their money as opposed to watching client companies desert Northern Ireland (Seagate), spend a lot of money then go bust (De Lorean), waste millions trying to entice big creative companies over here and utterly fail to get Google to headquarter here all the while making the paper mountain for starting entrepreneurs too high to be tolerable or worth the effort.

Go for it? Sure.

Be a candidate for the Tories? I would except that I have no faith that the political system in Northern Ireland does anything other than line the pockets of the people involved.

Which, if you think about it, is good enough incentive for some….

iPhone kicking ass

From iPodNN Apple ranked third in the global hardware market during the fourth quarter of 2007, according to canalys.com, with its iPhone garnering a whopping 28 percent of the smartphone market. Apple entered the market late in the year, and has thus far shipped only one device. Go iPhone! Related posts: The Gaming Market: time … Continue reading “iPhone kicking ass”

From iPodNN

Apple ranked third in the global hardware market during the fourth quarter of 2007, according to canalys.com, with its iPhone garnering a whopping 28 percent of the smartphone market.

Apple entered the market late in the year, and has thus far shipped only one device.

Go iPhone!

Â£95 million

The National Lottery was crowing last night about how this weekend’s draw will be a final rollover that must be won as it can’t rollover. One question would be why not (and what happens if it doesn’t? Does someone pocket it?) I talked to A. about what we’d do with Â£95 million and quickly realised … Continue reading “Â£95 million”

I talked to A. about what we’d do with Â£95 million and quickly realised that I’d not much use for Â£95 million. Charity would do well out of me, family would be helped and the rest – well – I think I’d set up a local WiFi company to bring ubiquitous internet to cities and towns in Northern Ireland.

After that…it wouldn’t matter. I’m not greedy.

There is no British film industry

British actor Tom Wilkinson, who is also nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Michael Clayton, told the Radio Times that the Bafta awards are dominated by Hollywood films. “There aren’t enough British films in the main nominations. It’s almost all American films,” he said. “Maybe what it’s saying is that there is no … Continue reading “There is no British film industry”

British actor Tom Wilkinson, who is also nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Michael Clayton, told the Radio Times that the Bafta awards are dominated by Hollywood films.

“There aren’t enough British films in the main nominations. It’s almost all American films,” he said.

“Maybe what it’s saying is that there is no British film industry, which is sort of true.”

“It’s a shame that there has to be a best British film category. If British films can’t compete at a global level, then it’s just a bit parochial,” he added.

BBC News link

He’s a right hard worker, is Ian.

Ian Paisley Junior has confirmed he is receiving a salary from Westminster as a researcher for his North Antrim MP father. … “It means he is being paid as an assembly member, a junior minister and also by his father from his parliamentary allowances,” he said. The rest of the article focuses on the MPs … Continue reading “He’s a right hard worker, is Ian.”

Ian Paisley Junior has confirmed he is receiving a salary from Westminster as a researcher for his North Antrim MP father.
…
“It means he is being paid as an assembly member, a junior minister and also by his father from his parliamentary allowances,” he said.

The rest of the article focuses on the MPs who hire family members. Nothing wrong with that.

I’m more concerned that he’s being employed three times. I’d have thought being an assembly member was a full time job. What about being a junior minister? And he’s also a researcher too?

Let’s have some disclosure here. How much taxpayers money is being given to these part-time workers?

The unbearable shitness of things

How do you tell someone who’s completely in denial that the massive fuck-ups they’ve made in their life are actually their own fault? This isn’t aimed at anyone in particular though it’s spawned by a shiftless wonder I’m forced to be related to. Why is it always someone else’s fault? Dealing with HOSTGATOR yesterday, the … Continue reading “The unbearable shitness of things”

How do you tell someone who’s completely in denial that the massive fuck-ups they’ve made in their life are actually their own fault?

This isn’t aimed at anyone in particular though it’s spawned by a shiftless wonder I’m forced to be related to.

Why is it always someone else’s fault?

Dealing with HOSTGATOR yesterday, the reason their service was so shabby was because they had a new ticketing system. That’s the reason they didn’t note when I called them and waited through their hold system for thirty minutes THREE TIMES. On an international line????

What about the people who leave companies and don’t leave documentation? I hope they’re happy in their new life but why do they think that they have to boobytrap things for everyone else.

And don’t get me started on telecoms and broadband companies. I’ve been without broadband at home for 3 weeks now because BT and Sky are entirely without merit. (This link is for my own amusement. The comments are fabulous. It’s illegal to replace your Sky router with another one? Priceless.).

Yeah, I was bought that book “Is it just me or is everything completely shit?” last Christmas.

Pushing for a Tech-Hub in Belfast

DavidJRice expresses some polite frustration at the number of potentially misguided approaches to government (central and local) funding of creative and technology industries. He’s right, of course. There is a disconnect between what is happening and what the “gubmint” thinks is happening. When you see people organising themselves for events because there’s a dearth of … Continue reading “Pushing for a Tech-Hub in Belfast”

DavidJRice expresses some polite frustration at the number of potentially misguided approaches to government (central and local) funding of creative and technology industries.

He’s right, of course. There is a disconnect between what is happening and what the “gubmint” thinks is happening. When you see people organising themselves for events because there’s a dearth of adequate direction from our governmental overseers, then you know there’s money being wasted. I was told categorically by InvestNI that the technology investment model they were pursuing was to invite large technology and creative companies over here to presumably fill the large empty warehouses they built a few years ago. That’s also effectively sounding a death knell to any SMALL companies that are looking for funding. This somewhat mirrors the experience I had with InvestNI the first time round where they told me they weren’t investing in IT-style companies at all, nomatter the service or business model. Ouch.

So, David, what do we need? We need a building or a room at least. We need broadband. We need light, heat, power. I’m less concerned on the creative industries because, frankly, they get enough help. I know one company funded entirely by the Arts Council. They’re unlikely to give an IT company anything 🙂

Let’s get a list, check it twice and see how much it costs. My company will pledge a percentage of the costs of a co-working space assuming we get that far!

What I killed today…

Snagged this from Neil Gaiman’s blog. What I killed today. Tales of a Vegan Veterinarian who has to euthanise animals… [Edit: No. It’s serious. And sad.] Related posts: COVID-19: The Pressure of Inevitability The Games Market is about to have a significant and violent rebalancing. Look out. What we ARE good at. On the cusp, … Continue reading “What I killed today…”

Snagged this from Neil Gaiman’s blog.

What I killed today.

Tales of a Vegan Veterinarian who has to euthanise animals…

[Edit: No. It’s serious. And sad.]

Yahoo wants to be eaten by Microsoft

BBC link Microsoft has offered to buy the search engine company Yahoo for $44.6bn (Â£22.4bn) in cash and shares. Yes, that’s not going to be an immense culture clash. Related posts: SchrÃ¶dinger’s Microsoft Microsoft gives up on Yahoo. Who wants to eat dog food? Permanent Secretary of Cabinet Office wants Apple in Government

BBC link

Microsoft has offered to buy the search engine company Yahoo for $44.6bn (Â£22.4bn) in cash and shares.

Yes, that’s not going to be an immense culture clash.