http://www.smiffysplace.com/ RSS Feed for Smiffy's Place en (C) Copyright 2001-2008 Matthew Steven Smith Matthew Smith http://www.smiffysplace.com/smiffys-further-rules-of-following This sequel to the article, Smiffy's Rules of Following, discusses triaging Twitter followers, Evil Robots, and the benefits of pruning. Matthew Smith 2009-06-07+09:30 Social Networking;social media;social networking http://www.smiffysplace.com/badd-headline-dress-as-a-disabled-person My post for BADD 2009 comments on an ill-advised 'disability dress-up' day. Matthew Smith 2009-05-01+09:30 Against Disablism;Social Inclusion;accessibility;adaptability;disablism;discrimination;social inclusion http://www.smiffysplace.com/rudd-stimulus-package-lets-down-struggling-small-businesses The Rudd Government's Economic Stimulus Package is letting down struggling small businesses. Matthew Smith 2009-04-27+09:30 Commentaria;commentary;current affairs;news http://www.smiffysplace.com/serendipity-and-german-popular-music How my horizons have been broadened with regards to popular music from Germany. Matthew Smith 2009-04-24+09:30 Music;arts http://www.smiffysplace.com/dear-oracle Oracle to buy Sun Microsystems. Smiffy wants stuff. Matthew Smith 2009-04-21+09:30 JAVA;ORCL;Software;Technical http://www.smiffysplace.com/smiffys-random-tech-tips The first in a series of irregular and infrequent collections of tips relating to (X)HTML, Perl, MySQL, Un*x and other technologies. Matthew Smith 2009-04-15+09:30 Software;Technical http://www.smiffysplace.com/accessible-twitter-accessible-tweets The Twitter web application leaves much to be desired from a usability/accessibility standpoint. However, the API allows others to provide alternative interfaces, such as Accessible Twitter. But just how accessible is the actual information conveyed in Twitter messages (tweets?) Matthew Smith 2009-04-03+09:30 Accessibility;Social Networking;adaptability;social media;social networking http://www.smiffysplace.com/cider-farm-for-sale A rare opportunity to own your own boutique cider business in rural South Australia. Matthew Smith 2009-04-01+09:30 Burra;Food & Drink;alimentation;cider;cidrerie;drink;epicure;epicurean;food;gourmandisme;gourmet;nutrition;winery http://www.smiffysplace.com/twitter-smiffys-rules-of-following Whom should one follow on Twitter in order to avoid information-overload and unproductive use of time? These are the rules that I am using currently. Matthew Smith 2009-03-26+09:30 Social Networking;social media;social networking;time management http://www.smiffysplace.com/bodyblog Weight training ramblings (as opposed to proper articles) are being split off from Smiffy's Place and will now appear in a separate BodyBlog. Matthew Smith 2009-03-25+09:30 Gesundheit;Health;Krankheit;Weighty Matters;bodybuilding;exercise;fitness;health;healthy;illness;infirmity;malade;maladie;malady;powerlifting;pumping iron;sante;sickness;sports medicine;sports nutrition;weight lifting;weight training;wellness http://www.smiffysplace.com/follow-u-tron Smiffy's answer for Twitter #followfriday nominations. Matthew Smith 2009-03-14+09:30 API;Social Networking;Software;Technical;Twitter;social media;social networking http://www.smiffysplace.com/iwd-2009 Smiffy talks about International Women's Day 2009 Matthew Smith 2009-03-09+09:30 Personal;Social Inclusion;discrimination;sexism http://www.smiffysplace.com/fig-and-apple-clafoutis A very pleasant dessert made with fresh figs, gluten-free batter. Matthew Smith 2009-03-02+09:30 Food & Drink;Life Without Gluten;alimentation;allergy;coeliac;drink;epicure;epicurean;food;gluten free;gourmandisme;gourmet;intolerance;nutrition;sans glutene;senza glutine http://www.smiffysplace.com/at-smiffytech-the-twitter-and-i Smiffy has joined the Twitter crowd. Twitter is a powerful social networking tool, not the silly gimmick that first impressions might make it. Matthew Smith 2009-02-26+09:30 Personal;Social Networking;Technical;blogging;social media;social networking;social networks http://www.smiffysplace.com/max-design-css-and-accessibility-workshop-series-may-2009 A hands-on workshop with accessibility expert, Roger Hudson, and CSS expert,Russ Weakley being run in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane. Matthew Smith 2009-02-23+09:30 Accessibility;adaptability http://www.smiffysplace.com/ada-lovelace-day-women-in-technology-whom-i-admire It started with - I will publish a blog post on Tuesday 24th March about a woman in technology whom I admire but only if 1,000 other people will do the same. - These are my nominations. Matthew Smith 2009-02-07+09:30 ALD09post;AdaLovelaceDay09;Social Inclusion;Software;Technical;computing;female;technical;technology;woman;women http://www.smiffysplace.com/the-solstice-clock-part-3 What is a clock? What is a calendar? How can one do the job of the other? In this series of articles, Smiffy describes a project in which an everyday quartz clock is converted into a solar calendar - the Solstice Clock. Part 3 presents the circuit schematic and board layout of the prototype Solstice Clock. Matthew Smith 2009-02-04+09:30 Autumn;Autumnal;CMOS;Fall;Flash;Microcontrollers;Moon;Seasons;Software;Solstice;Spring;Summer;Technical;Vernal;Winter;astrolabe;calendar;digital;embedded;equinox;equinoxes;hora;horologia;horologium;horology;hour;kalendar;logic;lunar;microcontroller;microprocessor;moonphase;solstices;time;timekeeping;year http://www.smiffysplace.com/the-solstice-clock-part-2 What is a clock? What is a calendar? How can one do the job of the other? In this series of articles, Smiffy describes a project in which an everyday quartz clock is converted into a solar calendar - the Solstice Clock. Part 2 tells of a simplification of the original concept, more things that the clock can do, and choosing a microcontroller and clock crystal to drive it. Matthew Smith 2009-02-03+09:30 Autumn;Autumnal;CMOS;Fall;Flash;Microcontrollers;Moon;Seasons;Software;Solstice;Spring;Summer;Technical;Vernal;Winter;astrolabe;calendar;digital;embedded;equinox;equinoxes;hora;horologia;horologium;horology;hour;kalendar;logic;lunar;microcontroller;microprocessor;moonphase;solstices;time;timekeeping;year http://www.smiffysplace.com/all-change-on-the-desktop-again Smiffy starts preparing to migrate to a new Linux distribution. This article explains how and why. Matthew Smith 2009-01-31+09:30 BSD;Debian;Gentoo;Linux;Software;Solaris;Technical;ThinkPad;Unix;VMware;operating systems;virtual machine http://www.smiffysplace.com/blinzza-pizza-the-next-generation How does one improve on pizza? By replacing the bread base with blinz, blins, blinis or whatever you happen to call a leavened buckwheat pancake (or galette.) Gluten-free, by the way. Matthew Smith 2009-01-19+09:30 Buchweizen;Fagopyrum esculentum;Food & Drink;Life Without Gluten;alimentation;allergy;blé noir;buckwheat;coeliac;crêpes;drink;epicure;epicurean;food;galettes;gluten free;gourmandisme;gourmet;intolerance;nutrition;pancakes;pizza;sans glutene;sarrasin;senza glutine http://www.smiffysplace.com/lizards Photographs on Flickr of a pair of Australian Sleepy Lizards. Matthew Smith 2009-01-02+09:30 Squamosa;Visual Arts;art;cartoons;design;graphic;graphics;lizards;photographs;photography;reptiles;reptilia;visual art http://www.smiffysplace.com/open-source-midi-control-surface I am in the process of designing a simple MIDI control surface, all design information to be released under a Creative Commons license. Matthew Smith 2008-11-27+09:30 CMOS;Flash;MIDI;Microcontrollers;Music;Software;Technical;arts;controller;digital;embedded;logic;microcontroller;microprocessor;music http://www.smiffysplace.com/mysql-51-general-release-at-last MySQL 5.1.30 is released - the first general release (non-beta). Matthew Smith 2008-11-27+09:30 Software;Sun;database;databases;sql http://www.smiffysplace.com/duck-with-puy-lentils-and-wild-rice A duck dish I created for my birthday, preserved here for posterity and when I can't remember the recipe next time. Matthew Smith 2008-10-31+09:30 Food & Drink;Life Without Gluten;alimentation;allergy;canard;caneton;coeliac;drink;duck;epicure;epicurean;food;gluten free;gourmandisme;gourmet;intolerance;lentiles vertes du Puy;nutrition;sans glutene;senza glutine http://www.smiffysplace.com/web-accessibility-techniques-workshop-in-adelaide-on-20-november-2008 Vision Australia is running their popular Web Accessibility Techniques workshop in Adelaide on 20 November 2008. Matthew Smith 2008-10-29+09:30 Accessibility;Social Inclusion;Software;Technical;adaptability