on Code

Scribd Suck

Errant — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:58:13 +0000

Scribd are really annoying. I was put off of them years ago when Hacker News was set up to to append an auto-scrape url to the end of PDF submissions (the owner of HN is the same one who runs the … Continue reading →

I cannot believe it is ten years…

Errant — Wed, 25 May 2011 22:45:31 +0000

since Douglas Adams died, on 11 May 2001. A lot of people ask me “why” I am an Atheist, and pretty much the reason can be summed up in the two words “Douglas Adams”. A uniquely comic and thoughtful technology … Continue reading →

Wikimedia Board of Trustees Election

Errant — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:45:27 +0000

Last week I made a potentially life altering decision to stand for election to the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees (the non-profit corporation that looks after Wikipedia and associated projects). This is a massive change in direction for me. Last … Continue reading →

Color is in a bubble all of its own

Errant — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:34:46 +0000

Now the “haters” have died down a bit, let’s take a slightly more relaxed (though critical) look at color, the new smartphone app phenomenon sweeping the tech scene. When I first heard of color it took me an absolute age to … Continue reading →

The truth about passwords

Errant — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:24:55 +0000

So, password security is in the news again with the Gawker break in. As usual there is a lot of average advice about passwords. Here’s some tips… Choosing a good password is all about entropy. One common piece of advice … Continue reading →

Bittersweet ads

Errant — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:06:17 +0000

I both love and hate this advert. It seems crude, but the first 56 seconds I find profoundly beautiful. There is an intense story of passion – even when they get to the supermarket and you realise how it began. It … Continue reading →

I can’t do this job without it

Errant — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:07:03 +0000

Apparently, musician Nigel Kennedy needs to use Cannabis to do his job. “I can’t do this job without it, I need it to relax.” This is not true. He is being charged in Germany for use/possession the drug. But Kennedy is conjuring up a vision … Continue reading →

A very expensive flower pot

Errant — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 20:19:41 +0000

I was thinking about luck and wealth, and their connection, tonight, which reminded me of my favourite Antiques Roadshow clip (sadly I don’t have a link). Basically a woman brought along this flower pot for appraisal, it had been bought … Continue reading →

It could have happened!

Errant — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:35:48 +0000

Jet and passenger plane nearly collide over London, reported the BBC. What’s wrong with this article (apart from the fact that if it wasn’t London it wouldn’t be front page news)? The story is as mundane as they come; last … Continue reading →

Assange: Conspiracy or coincidence

Errant — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:47:47 +0000

Today various news agencies are reporting that Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder, is wanted in connection to rape allegations. Coincidence? Well, maybe. People have been pretty quick to come up with various conspiracy theories; the ones I’m seeing in my usual … Continue reading →