2010-05-10T18:09:24Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2011:/2 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2010, richardb http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with FeedLoungeSubscribe with NewsAlloySubscribe with Live.com 2010-05-10T18:09:24Z 2010-05-10T18:03:37Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2010:/2.673 2010-05-10T18:03:37Z

The UK election has been held, the results gathered rather messily, and whatever your political beliefs or your preferred voting system, the election has been held and the results are in. However what we are seeing in these past few...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Politics <p>The UK election has been held, the results gathered rather messily, and whatever your political beliefs or your preferred voting system, the election has been held and the results are in.</p> <p>However what we are seeing in these past few days is something that really concerns me, something that not many other people seem concerned about.</p> <p>The fact that the election is over and the political parties are deciding which of them will take the position to lead the UK government, and even who could be seated in Number 10 Downing Street as our new Prime Minister.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=lv9t-GmCZd0:T44nRzYXfSU:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/lv9t-GmCZd0" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2010/05/uk_election_aba.html 2010-04-19T10:01:42Z 2010-04-19T09:56:13Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2010:/2.672 2010-04-19T09:56:13Z

Before I moved jobs I was going through a large piece of work on Learning Management Migration, specifically around content, and I became very aware of the importance of involving the teams who will be using the new LMS in...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Companies <p>Before I moved jobs I was going through a large piece of work on Learning Management Migration, specifically around content, and I became very aware of the importance of involving the teams who will be using the new LMS in the testing and verification of the system. Not only does it allow them to understand what it is capable of, what they need to do with the new system, and how to change their processes, but it tells them something is changing.</p> <p>So I'm very aware when a process change occurs the customer should at least know about it.</p> <p>It seems the hospital where I attend a yearly clinic at is most definitely not.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=_K3ZlrPlJ-4:UuxYeFwav1o:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/_K3ZlrPlJ-4" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2010/04/business_or_pro.html 2010-03-13T13:43:40Z 2010-03-13T13:40:52Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2010:/2.671 2010-03-13T13:40:52Z

Now straight away I'm going to say that this is a recount of the story that has happened to my father which he told me over the phone last night, a fuller account will come as he calms down from...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Companies <p>Now straight away I'm going to say that this is a recount of the story that has happened to my father which he told me over the phone last night, a fuller account will come as he calms down from the stress and me from the anger, for this is a disgraceful situation for Scottish Hydro Electric and either reeks of extreme incompetence or a deliberate attempt to exploit a sixty-nine year old man living by himself.</p> <p>It sounds like one of these rip-off stories you hear on programmes like Watchdog, where a small company bullies old people into giving them large amounts of cash for work that just doesn't need to be done. It's almost as if my father is being held to ransom.</p> <p>Let me recount the story, and I'm sure my father will add more detail or correct me through the comments or by email.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=dC4ZvhAvSKM:Xfe1qVQHOLw:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/dC4ZvhAvSKM" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2010/03/scottish_hydro.html 2010-03-13T13:40:24Z 2009-12-29T12:14:09Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.670 2009-12-29T12:14:09Z

I really like this shot and shows what can be done with my crappy little mobile phone camera. It's not worked out too badly and the sunset colours just weren't in the raw mobile picture, it was all dark...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Photos <p> I really like this shot and shows what can be done with my crappy little mobile phone camera. It's not worked out too badly and the sunset colours just weren't in the raw mobile picture, it was all dark blues.<br /> <br /> A quick bit of Picknik work and it's come out wonderfully well. I wish I'd taken my Nikon up there though. Lesson for tonight if the heavy snow lays off. </p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=ffCWEtj59kk:zsY6oOkODgI:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/ffCWEtj59kk" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/12/sunset_atop_cra.html 2010-03-13T13:40:44Z 2009-12-29T12:11:19Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.669 2009-12-29T12:11:19Z

This was really dark, but with the mobile phone on the wrong settings and some help from Picknik online, the picture has come out rather well. Not so sure it shows all the detail of the freezing fog hanging...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Photos <p> This was really dark, but with the mobile phone on the wrong settings and some help from Picknik online, the picture has come out rather well. Not so sure it shows all the detail of the freezing fog hanging over the Forth, but I like it. </p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=FoVu7AVe2d8:5i6lLpxssDA:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/FoVu7AVe2d8" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/12/edinburgh_and_t.html 2010-03-13T13:40:37Z 2009-12-29T12:09:20Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.668 2009-12-29T12:09:20Z

A mobile shot of the sun setting over the west of Edinburgh from Craiglockhart hill during the snowfall....

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Photos <p> A mobile shot of the sun setting over the west of Edinburgh from Craiglockhart hill during the snowfall. </p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=zXQDdj94lW8:ANhpa3doT4s:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/zXQDdj94lW8" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/12/edinburgh_west.html 2009-09-19T16:29:30Z 2009-09-19T16:08:08Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.666 2009-09-19T16:08:08Z

Recently the Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial airliner, visited Edinburgh with a superb approach and go manoeuvre which was something to behold. It also visited Prestwick and the Dublin air show. To publicise the event they had a Twitter...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Internet <p>Recently the Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial airliner, visited Edinburgh with a superb approach and go manoeuvre which was something to behold. It also visited Prestwick and the Dublin air show.</p> <p>To publicise the event they had a <a href="http://twitter.com/A380flyvisit" title="A380 Fly Visit Twitter account" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>, obviously to keep people informed, attract more people and build a media buzz around the event. While the event was rather well attended the potential of their social media experiment was wasted, losing the company a great deal of free advertising and not helping those who were following the account, keen to see the plane.</p> <p>This is a prime example of a company failing to remember the prime reasons for having their social media presence and for understanding exactly what is needed to make it work for them and their followers.</p> <p>Airbus missed out on two important areas, timely communication and engagement, missing these meant that the Twitter account was wasted when it could have been so much more for those at the event, those following the plane, and the company themselves.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=6NIFZ0iL-DA:M14joNq0T90:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/6NIFZ0iL-DA" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/09/airbus_a380_and.html 2009-09-04T22:06:41Z 2009-09-04T21:28:51Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.665 2009-09-04T21:28:51Z

It's time to give a little update on the running situation, rather than bore people with updates after every run, I've held off to write about every new stage. However time has once again beaten me and here I find...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Running <p>It's time to give a little update on the running situation, rather than bore people with updates after every run, I've held off to write about every new stage.</p> <p>However time has once again beaten me and here I find myself several weeks on. The main surprise though is hoe much I'm enjoying it and how obvious the effect is.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=s3_NkeIfOcU:T6JAsDy7ehw:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/s3_NkeIfOcU" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/09/running_schedul.html 2009-08-25T20:35:45Z 2009-08-25T20:34:08Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.664 2009-08-25T20:34:08Z

It amazes me that in this day and age companies don't want to engage their customers on the Internet, despite the fact that this is where a vast majority of them are and where they are actively discussing companies and...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Companies <p>It amazes me that in this day and age companies don't want to engage their customers on the Internet, despite the fact that this is where a vast majority of them are and where they are actively discussing companies and their products.</p> <p>They place all their efforts in two key areas, shouting loudly at them while keeping their fingers in their ears through advertising, and manipulating them, telling then what they think they want to hear through their front line sales. Then they sit back and wait for them to call if they get stuck with anything, and usually farm that process out to another company.</p> <p>Meanwhile customers both current and potential are on the Internet with growing numbers and frequency talking about the company, their products and reviewing them to their friends, family and whoever else is listening.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=YTP96_OuzK8:WnoSmIB7NNU:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/YTP96_OuzK8" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/08/where_are_your.html 2009-07-22T10:19:54Z 2009-07-22T09:56:47Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.663 2009-07-22T09:56:47Z

Open Atrium is a project management tool that is built around collaboration of project teams and brings together the power of Blogs, Wikis, Messaging, Calendar and collaborative systems all in one. While there are some systems out there already, this...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Cool Tools <p>Open Atrium is a project management tool that is built around collaboration of project teams and brings together the power of Blogs, Wikis, Messaging, Calendar and collaborative systems all in one. While there are some systems out there already, this is attractive as it's stylish, new and open source. Oh and I've just started writing about business tools!</p> <p>I've talked to many people in business about the modern view of intranets and how some organisations are running their entire intranet and all their projects this way, and I've done a series on this very blog about it, but the tools are just becoming widely available.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=TuALBhx3Ess:ymgxgNSv7qI:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/TuALBhx3Ess" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/07/project_managem.html 2009-07-22T09:56:39Z 2009-07-22T09:52:19Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.662 2009-07-22T09:52:19Z

Colabolo is a collaborative team management tool for tasks and issues, a simple project management tool that isn't dependant on a certain desktop (almost!) as it runs on Adobe Air. It looks an interesting tool to bring teams together who...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Cool Tools <p>Colabolo is a collaborative team management tool for tasks and issues, a simple project management tool that isn't dependant on a certain desktop (almost!) as it runs on Adobe Air.</p> <p>It looks an interesting tool to bring teams together who are working on a project and just need a simple task manager. Although I do like the more complex collaborative team management systems, this does look like a simple to use and nicely put together application.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=YLFZYkmAsA0:ooBAg_akwCc:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/YLFZYkmAsA0" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/07/taskissue_manag.html 2009-07-19T20:02:10Z 2009-07-19T19:59:59Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.661 2009-07-19T19:59:59Z

I've had my PlayStation 3 for a while now and there are things I love about it, and things I don't, and there's also things that are glaringly missing from the system that would make it the integrated system that...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk What I want in... <p>I've had my PlayStation 3 for a while now and there are things I love about it, and things I don't, and there's also things that are glaringly missing from the system that would make it the integrated system that they are trying for, and for the life of me I just don't know why they haven't implemented them. For all the excellent points about the development of the system, there are so many that are lacking.</p> <p>First up though let's get this straight, this is not an XBox 360 vs PS3 discussion because all we'll get are people who love one and hate, and have more often than not never tried, the other. This isn't about that, and I'm sure I could balance this article up with one on the XBox 360, as I have and play one, and talk about its good points and failings, for again there are many.</p> <p>However let's get back to the PS3.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=7J9HZ_Kh-Ag:j7bq23SXMXA:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/7J9HZ_Kh-Ag" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/07/playstation_3_w.html 2009-07-14T22:33:00Z 2009-07-14T22:32:24Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.660 2009-07-14T22:32:24Z

Day four of the running training meant stepping up a notch on the training calendar that Mr. Morrow had given us, damn him for getting us into this malarkey. We went out on Saturday morning, not the best of choices...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Running <p>Day four of the running training meant stepping up a notch on the training calendar that Mr. Morrow had given us, damn him for getting us into this malarkey. We went out on Saturday morning, not the best of choices since my wife had drunk the best part of a bottle of wine and I'd had about four pints of Guinness...the night before I hasten to add, not for breakfast!</p> <p>Still we attempted the run and we had to now up the ante to two minutes running with one minute walking repeat times seven. So that meant a longer course and because of the route around where we live, a steep climb to finish on.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=WxlvltQWIgQ:5AX5RZ-BpcI:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/WxlvltQWIgQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/07/running_trainin_3.html 2009-07-04T10:48:00Z 2009-07-04T10:45:31Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.659 2009-07-04T10:45:31Z

Well that was the third run of the programme, week one is officially over, and it was a tough one, I can't tell you how tough. Of course the night before was pizza and red wine, again not the best...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Running <p>Well that was the third run of the programme, week one is officially over, and it was a tough one, I can't tell you how tough. Of course the night before was pizza and red wine, again not the best before a run, and add into that the fact that we got up at eight in the morning after an interrupted night of sleep with bad dreams for my wife and a late night reading for me.</p> <p>You can see we weren't doing ourselves any favours. We took the same route as the last run as it's just outside our front door, hence why I'm not embedding the route here. Oh, and the good news is I've found a service to stick with online, it's superb.</p> <p>Although we did the same route as last time the stats were slightly different, let's have a look.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=WHLZx7i5D1Y:nNLOpUHpvgw:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/WHLZx7i5D1Y" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/07/running_trainin_2.html 2009-07-01T08:33:48Z 2009-07-01T08:33:02Z tag:weblog.brunton.org.uk,2009:/2.658 2009-07-01T08:33:02Z

Well I had my second run the other evening, that's Tuesday the 30th of June, and it was a lot easier. We actually ran from our house and discovered a short loop that comes right back to the front door...

richardb http://weblog.brunton.org.uk weblog@brunton.org.uk Running <p>Well I had my second run the other evening, that's Tuesday the 30th of June, and it was a lot easier. We actually ran from our house and discovered a short loop that comes right back to the front door which matches the first week's training run almost perfectly.</p> <p>We'll see how it does for the second week, but we have plenty little side tracks to add onto it to make it a little longer, one's even off road and over a big hill, not looking forward to that one.</p> ...Come to weblog.brunton.org.uk to read the full story. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?a=48RaosyjcjI:n1EQZ2cLbCg:bcOpcFrp8Mo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/richardbrunton?d=bcOpcFrp8Mo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/richardbrunton/~4/48RaosyjcjI" height="1" width="1"/> http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2009/07/running_trainin_1.html