Pat Dryburgh

Canada's booksellers v. Amazon.com

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:11:29 -0500

Canadian Booksellers Association president Stephen Cribar:

To allow Amazon to enter the Canadian marketplace will detrimentally affect independent businesses and would raise serious concerns over the protection of our cultural industries.

I’m sorry, but what about what’s best for Canadian consumers? Maybe that’s why you’re in this predicament to begin with?

I can’t stand companies and industries that are constantly in self-defense mode. Give us an experience that equals Amazon’s (or, at least comes close given our country’s size) and then we can talk about keeping Amazon out. Until then, I say let them build.

Frustration

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:32:00 -0500

I wrote a piece earlier this week, arguing that ease of use was more important to me than things like data portability. I said:

A lot of geeks like me may harp on me about things like “data portability” and having control over the software they use, and they have valid arguments. I have read people argue that the mild frustration one faces setting up and dealing with software such as WordPress is worth the effort, because then the user has “more control.”

I’m currently facing frustration right now, exactly the type of frustration that Dean Harris wrote about in his rebuttal to my post. However, my issue isn’t moving from platform to platform; my issue is moving from WordPress.com to a WordPress.org self-install.

For whatever reason, no matter how hard I try I am unable to get the new installation to import the .xml file I exported from the WordPress.com blog, it will not work. It seems very peculiar to me that the “open system” is having such a hard time moving data between itself.

I don’t write this to say that Tumblr is better at data portability. I’m simply saying that what we may think is this great, “open” system is just as frustration when it comes to controlling my own content as Tumblr’s closed system.

Update: After eight or nine tries, I finally seem to have figured this out. Not sure what the issue was, but I’ve been able to get the data ported over.

NRRW

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:58:56 -0500

NRRW:

I just added my talk to the Podcamp London 2010 sessions list. I haven’t worked out the whole talk, but have a fairly good idea of where I want it to go. Here’s the description I included on the site:

The attention span of internet users is short. In fact, you’ve probably already checked your tweets, been rick-rolled, and posted a blog entry since the time you started reading this paragraph. If you’ve got a message you want to communicate, you need to do it quickly, efficiently, and effectively. My talk will focus on how to narrow down your message to its core — perhaps even less than 140 characters.

Did you experience "bliss" when you started blogging?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:42:52 -0500

I wouldn’t say I experienced “bliss,” but the platform I used when I first started, Xanga, was incredibly simple and powerful. Both you and I and our classmates were all easily connected through our school group, and publishing to the site was so simple. Xanga had its headaches — including terrible advertising that it forced on its users — but had it not been for the Xanga platform I wouldn’t have gotten into blogging.

New Work Added to Portfolio

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:02:50 -0500

New Work Added to Portfolio:

I’ve added some Fusion ads to the portfolio today.

Which Blogging Platform Should You Use? (Infographic) I...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:32:07 -0500

Which Blogging Platform Should You Use? (Infographic)

I don’t know that this graphic could be any more biased, unless it was WordPress.org or a WordPress-focused blog (like wpbeginner.com) holding the survey itself.

Problogger is exactly what its name suggests: a website focused on those who want to be professional bloggers¹. I have no stats to back up the following claim, but my intuition tells me that no more than 5% of the world’s bloggers could even remotely consider themselves professional (though, I am sure many more wish they were).

I am not wanting to harp on WordPress, or its community. It is a solid platform that I still work with all the time. However, for a large majority of people who ask me what they should use if they want to start blogging, I immediately jump to two services: Tumblr and Facebook.

I suggest these because each come with such a low barrier for entry. Tumblr could not be easier: sign up, start posting. Its user interface is so intuitive that even those who aren’t net-savvy can find their way pretty easily².

I suggest Facebook as well, because like Tumblr, the barrier to getting started is incredibly low. Most people I know have a Facebook account, so that step is already complete. The notes application is simple, intuitive, and comes with a built-in audience. If the person using the Facebook notes app decides to move on from Facebook to bigger and better things, they can then set up their new blogging software to feed into the Facebook notes application, so their friends and family never miss a beat.

A lot of geeks like me may harp on me about things like “data portability” and having control over the software they use, and they have valid arguments. I have read people argue that the mild frustration one faces setting up and dealing with software such as WordPress is worth the effort, because then the user has “more control.”

I’m sorry, but I try my hardest to not force frustration upon people I care about, or those who use the things I create. I want the user to experience bliss when trying something new such as blogging. Why should we, as the tech community, be ok with the state of frustration caused by our products?

If Tumblr came out with a solid iPad app, I would suggest to every single person who asks me what they should do to start blogging to buy and iPad, download the Tumblr app, and go. How could you go wrong with two of the most beginner-friendly products on the market today?

Oh, right — they aren’t “open.” Well, I’m sorry, but “open” is not synonymous with “awesome.”

Whatever that is. ↑
And, as Loren Brichter, developer of Tweetie for iPhone and Mac has taught, a good UI is also discoverable. I have learned so much more about the Tumblr dashboard UI from the time I started using it, and find pleasure in its hidden treasure trove of features. ↑

Back when I was using WordPress as my blog’s content software, I used Thematic and child...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:34:45 -0500

Back when I was using WordPress as my blog’s content software, I used Thematic and child themes to theme my site. I released two of the child themes I created for public use.

When I moved to Tumblr, the pages to those themes were lost, and while I would constantly have people visit the site searching for those themes, they would be met with a 404 page not found.

With Tumblr’s new Pages feature, I have been able to recreate the pages for the Junction and BLAMatic themes. They are once again available for download, however I will not be able to provide technical support for these themes. Of course, as they are open source, you are free to make any changes you like and release them on your own. If you do, please let me know at hello [at] patdryburgh.com and I’ll let my readers know!

Ask

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:44:00 -0500

I’ve been avoiding this for some time now, but after some careful consideration have decided to open up the site to questions. I don’t give readers much of a voice on this blog, and feel this might help open up the conversation a bit beyond Twitter and email.

I make no promises that every question will be answered, however questions that cover a topic that interests me or that makes me seriously think will most likely appear here on the blog. My goal is to open conversation, not flood my blog with “will you go out with me?” requests. The answer is obviously “yes.”

Where are the galleries for the best web content? Where are the lists of websites with thought-out,...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:28:20 -0500

Where are the galleries for the best web content? Where are the lists of websites with thought-out, semantic code? Where are the sites that show off excellent information architecture? Perhaps most importantly, where are the galleries of websites that are actually driving business for companies, rather than simply acting as an online brochure? Sites that are successfully doing what they were meant to do.

I’m tired of seeing lots of pretty web sites.

Cameron Moll Moves to Tumblr

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:25:37 -0500

Cameron Moll Moves to Tumblr:

This is a fairly noteworthy move, as a prominent designer/blogger makes the leap from a hosted blogging solution to join us here on Tumblr. Cameron’s reasons for moving are somewhat unfortunate — no one wishes for another site to be attacked in any way — however I believe his decision will pay off in the long run.

The biggest change for me moving to Tumblr has been how little time I’ve spent worrying about keeping my blogging software up to date. I don’t worry about anyone hacking my site, because I know that Marco and the Tumblr team work diligently on my behalf to ensure my site is safe. With everything else going on in my life, I sure appreciate having one less thing to worry about.

Intensity in Ten Cities

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:51:13 -0500

Intensity in Ten Cities:

Just launched the Intensity in Ten Cities 2010 Sampler page. Built using a combination of Campaign Monitor and the generosity of Shaun Inman, the site asks for the user’s email address, and in return the user is given a link to download 8 songs from bands featured on the Intensity in Ten Cities tour.

What I'm Looking For

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:58:09 -0500

I am hoping this year to do more with my acoustic music. The last thing I want to do, however, is stand alone on stage with lights blasting in my face and a huge chasm between myself and the audience. What I’d really love is an empty room, with a big trendy rug on the floor for the performers to stand.

“Performers?” you ask? Yes, multiple performers. I really don’t want to play by myself ever again. There’s just nothing that interesting about just myself for people to want to see me perform more than once. That’s why I’m looking for some musicians to play along with me. If you’re in the London area and play one of these instruments, or know someone in the area who does, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

upright bass player
percussionist (djembe, congas, some bell instruments are a bonus)
string players - violin, viola, cello are all welcome to apply
beat boxer
pianist/keyboardist

If you play anything else, from a mean electric guitar to a glockenspiel, I would love to hear from you. My whole focus for this is to create something organic, birthed from a community of musicians and artists. If you’re interested, hit my email at hello [at] patdryburgh.com.

Seriously, Patrick, I don’t think the text was all that...

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:43:46 -0500

Seriously, Patrick, I don’t think the text was all that necessary.

(pic via Patrick, bless his heart)

New Hello Kelly Single

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:20:09 -0500

New Hello Kelly Single:

My friend François and his band Hello Kelly just released the new single from their upcoming album, “Easy For You To Say.” Needless to say, I am stoked for this album!

Ian Stewart Joins Automattic

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:11:55 -0500

Ian Stewart Joins Automattic:

This is a huge win for Ian, Automattic, and WordPress users all over. Ian is one of the most brilliant and down-to-earth guys in the WP community. His Thematic theme changed the way most people thought about theming, and I am stoked to see what he does now that he’s part of the Automattic team.

Way to go, Ian!

"Logos become iconic over time, through their use and in combination with an overall perception of a..."

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:49:48 -0500

“Logos become iconic over time, through their use and in combination with an overall perception of a brand. They shouldn’t be judged purely as form and out of context, as they are on design blogs, because it takes a period of time for a logo to establish itself in the marketplace, just as it takes a magazine a year or so to establish its personality.”

- Paula Scher

(via Andy Rutledge)

The Gear Ring Holy cow I want this. Be sure to watch the video,...

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:25:00 -0500

The Gear Ring

Holy cow I want this. Be sure to watch the video, as well.

(via Sebastiaan de With)

Things I Should Have Asked For My Birthday

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:19:00 -0500

I suck at wish lists. For one, I don’t feel comfortable accepting gifts. Also, I generally want things that I have no right asking someone else to purchase for me, like a guitar. My birthday wish list for my parents this year was:

A car, which I have asked for every Christmas and birthday since I was 16 and have never received. Gotta stick with tradition!
Money, so I could buy some things for the new apartment.
A 24” Cinema Display, knowing I would never get it, further ensuring that I would receive money.

Well, my parents are way too thoughtful to give money. They put a lot of pride in the gifts they give their children, and so this year I received the incredible following gifts:

Two boxes of food and necessities for the new place.
A $25 Subway gift card
A lamp, which I had planned to purchase with the money they were going to give me.

So really, things worked out in the end. Except…

It happens every year; I think of what I want for my birthday days after the gifts have been bought and opened. And so this year I have decided to write down what I should have asked for, with the intent of asking for these items at the next appropriate occasion (or so my mom can surprise me at any point throughout the year):

A cook book. Gordon Ramsay’s “Fast Food” or Jamie Oliver’s “Food Revolution” seem to have recipes I would be interested in.
A Nike Plus system. I want to start tracking my runs better than I do now, and this seems to be the best solution.
A Nalgene Fitness bottle, so I don’t spill water down my shirt while I run and drink from my normal Nalgene bottle.

Three simple, small ideas that I really should have asked for. Oh well, there’s always Christmas.

Why are we so quick to expound the idea that “the best camera is the one you have on...

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:10:35 -0500

Why are we so quick to expound the idea that “the best camera is the one you have on you,” when at the same time we’re constantly downloading and installing the newest GTD apps, spending hours tweaking our menu bars and docks, trying out every Twitter client known to man, and switching from browser to browser to browser every week?

Maybe the best GTD app, menu bar and dock layout, Twitter client, and browser is the one you have. All you need to do now is use it.

"Have you heard of chat roulette??? It’s mostly penises…… but once you get past that it’s pretty..."

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:12:44 -0500

“Have you heard of chat roulette??? It’s mostly penises…… but once you get past that it’s pretty awesome!!”

- – John Young