Joining the dots</h1> <article> <h1>Joining the dots</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:51:54 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> art </div> <div class="field-item even"> procrastination </div> <div class="field-item odd"> design </div> <div class="field-item even"> newsprint </div> <div class="field-item odd"> digital mission </div> <div class="field-item even"> chinwag </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> marketing </div> </div> </div> <p><b>Procrastination can be a wonderful thing.</b></p> <p>Honestly, bear with me on this. Whilst I am furiously working away on the website for Chinwag's new media department, the Twhirl client that sits on the far left-hand side of the screen constantly refreshes with the stream of consciousness that emanates from the people I follow on Twitter. Some people call them Tweeps, but I've clenched slightly just typing that phrase, so I won't.</p> <p>Sometimes, just sometimes, this can lead to voyage of discovery of something that gets the old noggin' ticking over. So, join those dots...</p> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span> </h2> <h2><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal">An old designer-friend of mine, <a href="http://gid.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Gideon</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/gideonb/statuses/1128031335" target="_blank">tweets</a>,</span></h2> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/gideonb/statuses/1128031335" target="_blank"></a></p> <p>I think, "that sounds interesting", especially off the back of a conversation I had on Friday about the web enabling off-line businesses to take on a new lease of life, e.g. <a href="http://www.moo.com/" target="_blank">Moo</a>.</p> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2> <h2> </h2><h2> </h2> <p>And that takes me to <a href="http://gid.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Gid's blog</a> which links to a <a href="http://magicalnihilism.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/papercamp/" target="_blank">post on the Magic Nihilism blog</a>, discussing Papercamp,</p> <blockquote> <p>Following Josh’s Paperbit’s work, Aaron’s <a href="http://www.aaronland.info/papernet/" target="_blank">Papernet</a> thinking and Dave’s investigations of the <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/3252489" target="_blank">changing form of books</a>, we came up with a nascent plan for a PaperCamp - <i>a weekend of hacking paper and it’s new possibiities</i>.</p> </blockquote> <p>This strikes me as a designer's wet dream. Sadly, I'm blessed with sausage-sized fingers and a clumsiness that's seen more than one mobile phone end up in pieces at the bottom of the stairs. Still, I'd love to see the results if they're anything like this <a href="http://www.after-school-activities.info/one_sheet_of_paper.html" target="_blank">contest held at the Hirshhorn Modern Art Gallery in Washington, DC, One Sheet of Paper</a></p> <p><br /> <a href="http://www.after-school-activities.info/one_sheet_of_paper.html" target="_blank"></a></p> <p>Back on the post about Papercamp, there's heaps of comments. Clearly, this is a popular topic amongst designery types. The first comment from <a href="http://bopuc.levendis.com/" target="_blank">Boris</a>, includes,</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://hughmcguire.net/" target="_blank">Hugh McGuire</a> (<a href="http://hughmcguire.net/" target="_blank">http://hughmcguire.net/</a>) who’s working on a web-based, optionally collaborative, platform for doing all the stuff that publishers do (everything between writing the book and printing/binding it), based on his experience with <a href="http://librivox.org/" target="_blank">http://librivox.org/</a></p> </blockquote> <p>Woah. "<i>web-based, optionally collaborative, platform for doing all the stuff that publishers do</i>". That's some aim. The publishing business has already gone through major changes with the end of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_Book_Agreement" target="_blank">Net Book agreement</a>, the rise (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/nov/25/book-discounts-booksellers" target="_blank">and now fall</a>) of the super stores, so this should be interesting.</p> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2> <p>The <a href="http://hughmcguire.net/2009/01/12/things-our-friends-have-written-on-the-internet/" target="_blank">first post</a> on <a href="http://hughmcguire.net/" target="_blank">Hugh's blog</a>, "<a href="http://hughmcguire.net/2009/01/12/things-our-friends-have-written-on-the-internet/" target="_blank">Thing Our Friends Have Written on the Internet</a>" rings a bell. I'm pretty sure I've seen that <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=things+our+friends+have+written" target="_blank">come up a few times on Twitter</a> in the last week, and I've definitely seen the picture before.</p> <p><a href="http://magculture.com/blog/?p=2668" target="_blank"></a></p> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2> <p>That leads to a <a href="http://magculture.com/blog/?p=2668" target="_blank">long post on magCulture</a> giving the background to his marvellous idea. Taking their favourite blog posts from 23 friends, <a href="http://noisydecentgraphics.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Ben Terrett</a> and <a href="http://russelldavies.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Russell Davies</a>, used good old-fashioned newsprint, to produce a tabloid-sized paper of longish blog posts, that they felt worked better in print.</p> <p>As the <a href="http://magculture.com/blog/?p=2668" target="_blank">magCulture</a> post puts it,</p> <blockquote> <p>A simple idea, beautifully executed, <i>Things Our Friends Have Written on the Internet 2008</i> takes the online rules and applies them to print – the content has been appropriated without permission, and including all mistakes and typos, but with full credit and relevant links. Just like a blog. It makes for a beguilingly charming mix of content:</p> </blockquote> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2> <p>And then it's on to <a href="http://noisydecentgraphics.typepad.com/design/2009/01/things-our-friends-have-written-on-the-internet-2008-is-a-publication-thats-been-dropping-through-letter-boxes-over-the-last.html" target="_blank">Ben's blog</a> and a <a href="http://noisydecentgraphics.typepad.com/design/2009/01/things-our-friends-have-written-on-the-internet-2008-is-a-publication-thats-been-dropping-through-letter-boxes-over-the-last.html" target="_blank">post</a> which gives the full skinny on the thinking, design and production behind the newspaper. Reading through the design decisions, I was reminded on just how very little I know about actual design.</p> <p><doffs hat to designers everywhere></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benterrett/3173004645/in/set-72157612184104271" target="_blank"></a></p> <p>The post is a good read and ironically, is probably just the sort of long-form blog post that would work in the publication it covers.</p> <p>It gets me thinking about those moments when a box of freshly printed, well anything, turns up from the printers. How opening the package is reminiscent of a 5-year-old tearing open their presents on Christmas morning. And then the smell of fresh print. It's got to be on parr with baked bread surely?</p> <p>Probably won't help sell your house though.</p> <p>One aspect of the paper that particularly catches my attention attention is the numbering. From the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benterrett/3173840156/in/set-72157612184104271" target="_blank">comments on the Flickr page</a>, it looks like Russell (allowed by Ben) has numbered each copy.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benterrett/3173840156/in/set-72157612184104271" target="_blank"></a></p> <h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2><h2><span class="inline inline-none"></span></h2> <p>And finally, a possible use for this concept.</p> <p>In the middle of March, I'm off to <a href="http://sxsw.com/interactive" target="_blank">South by South West interactive</a> (<a href="http://sxsw.com/interactive" target="_blank">SXSW</a>) as part of the <a href="http://digital-mission.org/" title="Digital Mission to NYC" target="_blank">Digital Mission</a> that <a href="http://www.chinwag.com/" title="Chinwag.com" target="_top">Chinwag</a> is organising for UK Trade & Investment. Can't wait. <a href="http://sxsw.com/interactive" target="_blank">SXSW</a> is one of my favourite events.</p> <p>I'm even looking forward to the post-SXSW cold/flu/exhaustion that comes with 4 days of intense networking, learning and erm, well, more networking. This time will be even more full-on as the <a href="http://www.chinwag.com/digitalmission/sxsw09-companies" target="_blank">Digital Mission is taking 35 companies</a> out to SXSW and organising a bunch of stuff including a whopping exhibition stand.</p> <p>It'll be a full-on Brit-fest, especially as along with the other 35 there'll be loads of other British companies making the trip, too.</p> <p>One of the challenges for the exhbition stand will be producing some kind of take-away print material to publicise the Digital Mission companies.</p> <p><strokes chin> I wonder if Ben and Russell's notion of reversing digital into newsprint could be the way forward </strokes chin></p> <p>After all, the UK is <i>known</i> for its tabloid press. In a good way? That'll need some more pondering.</p> <p>In conclusion, even after all these years of dabbling in digital (my mum still doesn't know what I do) it's great to join the dots during bouts of procrastination to produce something useful. I hope.</p> <p>Right, that website ain't gonna launch itself. Over and out.</p> <p>[Pics courtesy of <a href="http://www.after-school-activities.info/one_sheet_of_paper.html" target="_blank">Hirshhorn Modern Art Gallery</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benterrett/sets/72157612184104271/" target="_blank">Ben Terrett</a> (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benterrett/favorites/" target="_blank">lots more on Flickr</a>)]</p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FYC_JNviow9e5BO03i-Qt_cufos/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FYC_JNviow9e5BO03i-Qt_cufos/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=FnGEogau"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=U5ax2ksM"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=H79lclDm"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=WEb7cdq5"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Does exactly what it says on the tin</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:49:57 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> ronseal </div> <div class="field-item even"> simple </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> marketing </div> </div> </div> <p>There's something pleasing about a website that does exactly what it says on the tin (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXznmGz2fy4" target="_blank">á la Ronseal</a>). Maybe this is a trend that's been happening for a while, but a handful of sites have recently come across my radar.</p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/" target="_blank"></a></p><p>It started when I got sent, <a href="http://isittuesday.com/" target="_blank">Is it Tuesday?</a>, useful for anyone who has woken up too bleary eyed to focus on the small fonts used for dates on most computers. This was followed up by some more practical alternatives:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/" target="_blank">Down for everyone or just me?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.whoishostingthis.com/" target="_blank">Who is hosting this?</a></li> </ul> <p>that both answer questions I've definitely asked myself. I particularly like <a href="http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/" target="_blank">Down for everyone or just me?</a> which might stop that particular question working its way round an office every time a frequently visited website packs up for any reason.</p> <p>Know of any others? Let me know and I'll add them to the list.</p><p><b>Updates:</b> more sites:</p><ul><li><a href="http://whatsmyip.org/" target="_blank">What's my IP address?</a></li><li><a href="http://isthisyourpaperonsingleservingsites.com/" target="_blank">Is this your paper on single serving sites?</a></li></ul> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/azlSuI47ViC6irI7wSYshcyQ0hE/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/azlSuI47ViC6irI7wSYshcyQ0hE/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=xRhO54Id"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=9ZURnhV8"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=ShcNivgZ"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=ilSyZrLK"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Freezer's Palace</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:11:21 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> las vegas </div> <div class="field-item even"> snow </div> <div class="field-item odd"> winter </div> <div class="field-item even"> nevada </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> geekery </div> </div> </div> <p><b><span style="font-weight: normal"><a href="http://designyoutrust.com/2008/12/22/las-vegas-in-snow/" title="Las Vegas in the Snow from designyoutrust.com" target="_blank"></a></span>Inspired by <a href="http://peterhill.com/" title="Peter Hill - digital media editorial" target="_blank">Peter Hill</a>, writer of pithy, witty and altogether-too-clever headlines, who is too lazy to update his own blog, so I'm posting them corking headlines here.</b></p> <p>Nope, it's not faked, it's actually snowing in Las Vegas (the one in the middle of desert) for the first time since 1979. Check out the photos at <a href="http://designyoutrust.com/2008/12/22/las-vegas-in-snow/" title="Las Vegas in the Snow from designyoutrust.com" target="_blank">designyoutrust.com</a> for the full majesty (Ok, that's a bit much, let's say effect) of the Vegas strip covered in snow.</p> <p>Doesn't it look romantic. Get thee to an Elvis-themed chapel this instant.</p> <p>One tip, if you're in Vegas and a red-faced portly gentleman starts shouting "Ho ho ho" at you, the surprise gift you'll pick up will probably clear up with the right ointment. Or so I'm told.</p> <p>[Pic courtesy of <a href="http://designyoutrust.com/2008/12/22/las-vegas-in-snow/" title="Las Vegas in the Snow from designyoutrust.com" target="_blank">Dmitry at designyoutrust.com</a>]</p><br clear="left" /> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/T_BOd__WZTkxapihDaezWFYreyk/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/T_BOd__WZTkxapihDaezWFYreyk/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=M1cWnLDC"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=dtPxdNkd"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=JuuNerCo"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=a2xBC8xb"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Immersive video makes my head spin</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:37:12 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> video </div> <div class="field-item even"> flash </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> half-baked </div> </div> </div> <p>Like being a virtual owl, but without any head movement required.</p> <p>Click play, let the video load and then click and drag your mouse inside the video screen.</p> <div style="text-align: center"> <param name="movie" value="http://demos.immersivemedia.com/fvdemo_1/data/Website2.0/NYBugDrive/imcflash.swf"></param></object> </div> <p> Whilst static 360 degree views have been de rigeur for estate agents and restaurant owners for a while, this is the first example I've seen moving video. Bonkers. </p><p>[Update: that's just the beginning there's a load more demos on <a href="http://demos.immersivemedia.com/" target="_blank">Immersive Media's website</a>. Amazing stuff.] </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/eWNXihYoU6kxyi8MXCYf0re7U3I/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/eWNXihYoU6kxyi8MXCYf0re7U3I/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=nZyWxkxh"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=KPMMAXLm"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=85ZTTfTb"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=tmuaxAFF"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Zombie children</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> cantankerism </div> </div> </div> <p><b>"Why Don't You Just Switch Off Your Television Set And Go Out And Do Something Less Boring Instead?"</b></p> <p>If you're a child of a certain age (<a href="http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/549322/" target="_blank" title="Why Don't You? from The BFI Archive">the show last aired in 1994</a>) that'll mean something to you. If not, you missed a cult kids TV show that implored yoof to get outside during their Summer holidays. Back in those days <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_in_video_gaming" target="_blank" title="1994's video games from Wikipedia">video games</a> weren't what they are now.</p> <p>What brought this to mind was a series of photos taken by <a href="http://wolframhahn.com/" target="_blank" title="Wolfram Hahn">Wolfram Hahn</a> that glared out at me whilst leafing through an old copy of Adbusters magazine. The collection, "<a href="http://wolframhahn.com/" target="_blank" title="Wolfram Hahn">A Disenchanted Playroom</a>" is a study of children's faces as they watch TV.</p> <p>Their faces look glazed, passive, devoid of any emotion almost like their 'off switch' was flicked, just before the photo was taken. Do we look like that when surfing the web? Or playing computer games?</p> <p>Hope not. Perhaps it's time to get our more? <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/titles/whydontyou.shtml" target="_blank" title="Original title sequence from kid's TV show Why Don't You?">Why don't you?</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.co-berlin.info/co-neu/web/Formate/Talents/tal_2007/tal_2007_07/interview_en.php" target="_blank" title="Interview with Wolfram Hahn\">There's a detailed interview with Hahn on the C/O Berlin - International Forum For Visual Dialogues website</a>.</p> <p>[Pic courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantneufeld/">Grant Neufeld</a>]</p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-_xzBSX2UroLNQU31eZ9poz_9L8/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-_xzBSX2UroLNQU31eZ9poz_9L8/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=MPx57iWk"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=839jDG8A"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=yYlp3Zb8"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=zWNJtyGP"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Finally a use for all those lost Post-It notes</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:20:50 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> art </div> <div class="field-item even"> post-it notes </div> <div class="field-item odd"> eepybird </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> half-baked </div> </div> </div> <p>I'm a hoarder of Post-It notes. Forever grumbling as I rummage around the stationery cupboard for another pack whilst there are dozens secreted away around my desk.</p><p>As everyone obsesses, quite rightly, on important things like crunchy credit and the US election, here's a beautiful office-stationery-related distraction that uses almost as many Post-Its as I've found on my desk. Ain't it marvellous?<br /> <br /> </p><div style="text-align: center"> <param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1700732&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /></object><br /> <a href="http://vimeo.com/1700732">EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user737605">Eepybird</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. </div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/B3Lc0CTJtxN-IRFNIDKmPde1ktg/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/B3Lc0CTJtxN-IRFNIDKmPde1ktg/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=HsqvP7Mg"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=W2TRS9SK"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=M9kLg7km"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=j2njRPbn"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Using your powers for good</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:26:03 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> funny </div> <div class="field-item even"> wassup </div> <div class="field-item odd"> charles stone III </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> marketing </div> </div> </div> <p>What happens when a <a href="http://www.wassup08.com/about.html" target="_blank" title="Charles Stone III">hot new director makes a film</a>, which turns into one of the <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=W16qzZ7J5YQ" target="_blank" title="Wassup - Budweiser">1990s' most memorable ads</a>, then turns his powers for good. Wassup? <a href="http://www.wassup08.com/" target="_blank" title="Wassup 2008 - Eight years later">This</a>. Brilliant.</p> <div style="text-align: center"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qq8Uc5BFogE&hl=en&fs=1" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /></object> </div> <p>Â Thanks to the rather ace <a href="http://www.bringingnothing.com/" target="_blank" title="Bringing Nothing to the Party">Bringing Nothing to the Party</a> blog from <a href="http://twitter.com/paulcarr" target="_blank" title="Paul Carr">Paul Carr</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/QThB8mYcmQN8oMWkJcOZduTWQOs/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/QThB8mYcmQN8oMWkJcOZduTWQOs/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=FfGmDNr7"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=HCOpq1Xu"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=Y90zYQd8"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=UlgOf5UH"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Is my Google Analytics code working?</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:27:37 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> google analytics </div> <div class="field-item even"> measurement </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> geekery </div> </div> </div> <p>If you're like me, you'll probably spend as much time tinkering with the layout and technical gubbins of your website, as you will writing for the site in the first place. This bad habit isn't help in any way at all by the rather excellent <a href="http://www.google.com/analytics/" target="_blank" title="Google Analytics">Google Analytics</a> service and worse still the <a href="http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail&loc=en_us&extid=1282521" target="_blank">desktop application</a> which even saves the hassle of firing up a web browser.</p> <p><a href="http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail&loc=en_us&extid=1282521" target="_blank" title="Google Analytics Adobe Air Application"></a>Launched in November 2005, it's easy to install, easy to use and rather addictive. Start digging into the data and there's all sorts of weird and wonderful information tucked away. Like my friend Billy found when looking at keywords that brought visitors to his website, the <a href="http://www.arseaboutfez.com/2008/06/seek-and-ye-shall-find.html" target="_blank" title="Seek and ye shall find on Arse About Fez">results can be disturbing.</a></p> <p>Imagine my despair then, when all of a sudden after what could be called an unintentional upgrade (remember kids, always back up your website before tinkering) my Google Analytics stopped recording anything. Surely everyone hadn't deserted the site? Yikes.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sitescanga.com/" target="_blank" title="Sitescan GA from Epik One"></a>After wading through the help text on the Google website, I was pretty certain that the code was in the right place and almost certainly right. But, and it's a big but. there's a delay of about 12 hours between adding in the tracking code and the results showing up.</p> <p>12 hours! In that time the refresh key would be completely worn out.</p> <p>Thankfully, after some judicious Googling, <a href="http://www.sitescanga.com/" target="_blank" title="Sitescan GA from Epik One">Epik One's Sitescan</a> popped up. Whack in the website to test and this tool will scan up to 15,000 pages and send an email with the results. For testing one page only, there's a <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&moduleurl=http%3A//sitescanlite.appspot.com/sitescanlite.xml" target="_blank" title="Sitescan Google widget">Sitescan widget for the iGoogle homepage</a>. Ahah. No more waiting.</p> <p>And that's just the tip of the iceberg, for starters here's a <a href="http://www.grokdotcom.com/2008/10/16/google_analytics_hacks/" target="_blank" title="Google Analytics Hacks">list of dozens of hacks</a> to super-charge Google Analytics even more and a book, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470253126?ie=UTF8&tag=chinwagcom&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0470253126">Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics</a> written by the guy who used to run Google Analytics in Europe.</p> <p>Get measuring.</p> <p><br /> <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/dxdt22/177749386/" target="_blank" title="Pencil and ruler by mdxdt"></a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w8aTMD78BaWyuDzfSqw98JMWVjs/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w8aTMD78BaWyuDzfSqw98JMWVjs/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=R6yBGmgI"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=6nMgeid4"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=IIqMhiG2"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=d26gyFwO"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Mr Ritchie's Missing £100m</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:45:11 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> guy ritchie </div> <div class="field-item even"> madonna </div> <div class="field-item odd"> divorce </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> half-baked </div> </div> </div> <p>Easy come, easy go. At least if you're a newspaper pundit estimating Guy's divorce earnings. Compare the front page of <a href="http://www.thelondonpaper.com" target="_blank" title="the london paper">thelondonpaper</a> and <a href="http://www.mediauk.com/newspapers/343773/london-lite" target="_blank" title="London Lite">London Lite</a> this week.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toodlepip/2949277304/" title="Guy Ritchie's missing Â£100m by toodlepip, on Flickr"></a></p> <p>Still, in the light of the government shelling out <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3211118/Financial-crisis-Has-the-2-trillion-financial-bail-out-package-failed.html" target="_blank" title="Financial crisis: Has the Â£2 trillion financial bail out package failed? ">a couple of trillion quid</a>, Â£100m is chicken feed. Some mighty fine chickens, you'd hope.</p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HzMrCVxldJGiFZIKSluKASaB6u4/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HzMrCVxldJGiFZIKSluKASaB6u4/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/toodlepip?a=hVCm3b4cS2U:qH1Ffg1dKq4:yIl2AUoC8zA"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/toodlepip?a=hVCm3b4cS2U:qH1Ffg1dKq4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/toodlepip?a=hVCm3b4cS2U:qH1Ffg1dKq4:V_sGLiPBpWU"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/toodlepip?a=hVCm3b4cS2U:qH1Ffg1dKq4:qj6IDK7rITs"></img></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Treating Musicians with Respect</h1> <p>Sam Michel — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:58:43 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-tags-auto"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> 360 degree music </div> <div class="field-item even"> in the city </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-content-taxonomy field-field-classification"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> social </div> </div> </div> <p><a href="http://www.360degreemusic.com/" target="_blank" title="360 Degree Music"></a>A while back, Danny, friend and long-time cricket partner - an unbroken run of <strike>five</strike> six years <a href="http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/domestic/" target="_blank" title="Twenty20 Cup">Twenty20 Cup</a> finals - told me about his dream of creating a new type of music company.</p> <p>The aim, as I understood it was simple. Forget about restrictive contracts that fleece the musicians, instead treat them with respect and utilise all the tools that the Interweb has put at their disposal. Use the new techniques provided by MySpace, Facebook, Last.fm, etc and work with the artists to make the best of them.</p> <p>Despite the tough times in the traditional music biz, it looks like this approach is working out. His company <a href="http://360degreemusic.com" target="_blank">360 Degree Music</a> is running its first <a href="http://360degreemusic.com/artists.php" target="_blank" title="360 Degree Music Artists">showcase of new talent</a> at <a href="http://www.inthecity.co.uk" target="_blank" title="In The City">In The City</a> in Manchester on 6th October.</p> <p>Sadly, I'll be stuck in London, but if you're knocking about in Manchster, why not pop along and soak up some great music? Plus, it's free...</p> <p><b>360 degree music Showcase</b></p> <p>featuring</p> <ul> <li>Krakatoa</li> <li>Mozzy Green</li> <li>No Picasso</li> <li>Reader's Wives</li> <li>Roses Kings Castles</li> <li>Rum Shebeen</li> </ul> <p>7pm - 12.15am<br /> FREE ENTRY</p> <p>Cellar Vie (<a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cellar+vie,+18-22+Lloyd+Street,+manchester,+M2+5WA&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.588871,29.179688&ie=UTF8&ll=53.479376,-2.246811&spn=0.007164,0.014248&z=16&iwloc=A" target="_blank" title="Map for Cellar Vie, Manchester">Map</a>)<br /> 18-22 Lloyd Street<br /> Manchester M2 5WA</p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/rXholf8kmb6n8G41COkYMOuxN3s/0/da"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/rXholf8kmb6n8G41COkYMOuxN3s/1/da"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=OxD9d202"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=Ojl8pZjw"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=BzysnnSu"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/toodlepip?a=Yd5toOm9"></img></a> </div> </article> </main></body></html>