The Key to Technology

In every house I've lived in, and I've moved around London a lot no far - not to mention my time in Dublin, there has always been a knack to using one or other of the house keys. It's always "lift it a bit" or "pull th door [towards/away from] you", "wiggle it" etc. and my new place is no different.

It's really the same in every part of life, from the simplest of solution to the most complex (attempting to make life simple) of technology, the user still needs time to get to know the quirks and personality of the technology.

You can claim a lot of devices are intuitive to use, but there are always unexpected "features" that make you think "huh, why did they make it like that". I'm finding this out more and more.

His Ancestral Home

I was very happy, for once, to be woken up early to the news that Barack Obama had won the presidential election, and spent the morning - including my cycle to work - listening to the radio and not getting bored, for once, of hearing the same news over again.

One report on Radio 4 came from Barack's paternal ancestral home of Kenya where the town has erupted in joy, going so far as declaring the day  national holiday.

Now for his maternal links. Everyone knows that we all descend from the Irish, maybe born there (like me), or having ancestors "in the Moneygall area of County Offaly more than 150 years ago", like Barack.

The speculation goes on to see Oprah Winfrey as either the London or Dublin US ambassador...

Overall, though, a very good day.

Grow your greens!

Having just moved into my first ever london gaff wit ha back garden, I'm itching to dig it up - especially since it has a square of public land at the back of it that no-one can access but me. Luckily, I've been given the go-ahead by the mayor!

back pain

So I woke up this morning with grand plans of going swimming today, until I stretched and heard something creak. Back pain quickly ensued and I'm now just getting over it. Not only that, but my driving instructor cancelled on me! So I'm left with a pointless morning of no online access home working. Into work I go!

btw, MS Groove is a fantastic tool for allowing you access to those shared drive files (or even SharePoint) while isolated from a connection or on the move.

So, after venturing into Crouch End and meeting friends randomly on the street, found The Queens, who are friendly and love to give free internet!