Monthly Archive for: ‘April, 2007’
Another Day, Another Social Networking Invitation
I just half-heartedly accepted an invitation to join FaceBook, but to be honest, I just don’t have the time, energy or inclination to complete yet another profile. How exactly does it differ from Orkut or the more-useful-for-professional-networking LinkedIn? Can my old schoolfriends and colleagues not already contact me through Friends Reunited? You could literally spend all day keeping details updated on these myriad different (but ever-so-similar-really) sites.
If people want to keep up with my online adventures, then surely this blog, my del.icio.us bookmarks, Google Reader linkblog and Flickr photostream are sufficient? And if any of my actual friends do want to keep in touch, there’s always MSN Messenger, Google Chat, Email, text message, phone calls, or even knocking on my front door and suggesting a pint at the pub. Step away from the keyboard, there’s a real life out there just waiting to be lived!
Meanwhile, I am, however, very tentatively dabbling with Twitter, because I appreciate the brevity, ease of update (web, IM, text message, etc), and the way messages are instantly propogated to all your friends/followers. To some extent I’m still having difficulty grasping “the point” of it, but basically I understand it to be “what you do between blog posts”, or when a whole blog post is overkill, or unfeasible (such as this entry from when I was sat in Pizza Express in Stratford on Avon last night). As always, time alone will tell whether I stick with it.
Succinct
This made me smile. I’m just looking through our Tesco receipt from the week’s shopping – it’s often entertaining to see how items can be described in just fourteen characters.
This week, we treated ourselves to some lovely Wensleydale with Cranberries, which is tersely described on the receipt as:
CHSE WITH BITS
TFS – Get Latest on Checkout
One of the features that the current version of Team Foundation Server doesn’t offer is the ability to Get Latest Version on Checkout.
If you’ve ever checked something out, made copious changes, gone to check it back in and then realised you’ve been developing on a woefully outdated file/project/solution (and had to perform a lengthy merge operation), you’ll know how useful this facility could be.
Well, this feature is coming in the VS Orcas release, but Microsoft Israel have developed a free add-in to add this functionality to VS Whidbey:
http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/files/folders/leon/entry10828.aspx
This will add a “TFS GetLatest Configuration” option to the top of the Tools menu (with a tacky smiley face icon
).
What I Listened To Yesterday
Music + Coffee = Lots of code crafted
06:38 – Scott Hanselman and Carl Franklin – “Building 42/Polita Paulus” (Hanselminutes, 2007)
06:44 – Spiritualized – “Let It Flow” (Indie Top 20, Vol. 21, 1995)
06:48 – Joss Stone – “Bruised But Not Broken” (Introducing Joss Stone, 2007)
06:53 – Joss Stone – “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now (Feat. Common)” (Introducing Joss Stone, 2007)
06:58 – The Beta Band – “Dr. Baker” (The 3 E.P.’s, 1998)
07:20 – Holly Valance – “Hush Now” (Footprints, 2002)
07:25 – British Sea Power – “Oh Larsen B” (Open Season, 2005)
07:29 – Paul Anka – “The Way You Make Me Feel” (Rock Swings, 2005)
07:34 – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint – “Six-Fingered Man” (The River In Reverse, 2006)
07:38 – Feeder – “Turn” (The Singles, 2006)
07:44 – Depeche Mode – “Clean” (Violator, 1998)
07:48 – Good Charlotte – “Beautiful Place” (Good Morning Revival, 2007)
07:53 – Muse – “Invincible” (Black Holes & Revelations, 2006)
07:56 – The Shins – “Girl Sailor” (Wincing the Night Away, 2007)
07:59 – Brett Anderson – “Intimacy” (Brett Anderson, 2007)
08:21 – Gwen Stefani – “Long Way to Go” (Love angel music baby , 2004)
08:25 – Franz Ferdinand – “Do You Want To” (You Could Have It So Much Better, 2005)
08:29 – Arab Strap – “the shy retirer” (Ten Years of Tears, 2006)
08:32 – Kings Of Leon – “Charmer” (Because Of The Times, 2007)
08:36 – Elvis Costello – “Shabby Doll” (Imperial Bedroom, 1982)
08:42 – David Bowie – “Oh! You Pretty Things” (Hunky Dory, 1971)
08:45 – Cat Stevens – “Morning has broken” (The Very Best Of, 1972)
08:49 – Louis Armstrong – “We Have All The Time In The World” (Love Is…The Album, 1969)
08:54 – Just Jack – “Starz In Their Eyes” (Overtones, 2007)
08:59 – David Bowie – “Five Years” (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 1972)
09:06 – Elvis Costello – “Blame It On Cain” (My Aim Is True, 1977)
09:23 – The Fray – “Fall Away” (How to Save A Life, 2006)
09:29 – The Aliens – “I Am The Unknown” (Astronomy For Dogs, 2007)
09:34 – Gwen Stefani – “Yummy” (The Sweet Escape, 2006)
09:39 – Jimmy Cliff – “Wild World” (1970)
09:51 – Hilary Duff – “Dangerous To Know” (Hilary Duff, 2004)
10:01 – The Feeling – “Blue Piccadilly” (Twelve Stops And Home, 2006)
10:06 – The Magic Numbers – “Love Me Like You” (The Magic Numbers, 2005)
10:10 – Hilary Duff – “Fly” (Most Wanted, 2005)
10:14 – U2 – “Pride (In the Name of Love) [Live]” (Rattle and Hum, 1988)
10:16 – Kelly Jones – “Misty” (Only the Names Have Been Changed, 2007)
10:21 – Kelly Jones – “Suzy” (Only the Names Have Been Changed, 2007)
10:25 – Departure – “Changing Pilots” (Dirty Words, 2005)
10:32 – Hilary Duff – “Happy” (Dignity, 2007)
10:40 – Madonna – “Hung Up” (Confessions On A Dance Floor, 2005)
10:42 – The Beatles – “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (Rubber Soul, 1965)
10:48 – Keane – “Broken Toy” (Under The Iron Sea, 2006)
10:52 – Art Brut – “Moving To L.A.” (Bang Bang Rock And Roll, 2005)
10:57 – Katie Melua – “On the Road Again” (Piece by Piece, 2005)
11:00 – The Rakes – “Time To Stop Talking” (Ten New Messages, 2007)
11:05 – Dido – “Who Makes You Feel” (Life for Rent, 2003)
11:49 – Nine Days – “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” (The Madding Crowd, 2000)
11:53 – The Shins – “A Comet Appears” (Wincing the Night Away, 2007)
11:57 – The Smiths – “Never Had No One Ever” (The Queen Is Dead, 1986)
12:01 – The Stills – “Lola Stars And Stripes” (Logic Will Break Your Heart, 2003)
12:06 – Editors – “Camera” (The Back Room, 2005)
12:11 – The National – “City Middle” (Alligator, 2005)
12:16 – The Sundays – “Cry” (Static And Silence, 1997)
12:19 – Belle & Sebastian – “Piazza, New York Catcher” (Dear Catastrophe Waitress, 2003)
12:23 – Manic Street Preachers – “I Live to Fall Asleep” (Lifeblood, 2004)
12:27 – Just Jack – “Glory Days” (Overtones, 2007)
12:31 – Interpol – “Leif Erikson” (Turn On The Bright Lights, 2002)
12:34 – James – “She’s A Star” (Best Of James, 1998)
12:39 – Air – “Night Sight” (Pocket Symphony, 2007)
12:55 – Neil Young – “It’s A Dream” (Prairie Wind, 2005)
13:01 – Neil Young – “Let’s Impeach The President” (Living With War, 2006)
13:04 – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint – “Freedon For The Stallion” (The River In Reverse, 2006)
13:08 – Lemonheads – “It’s a shame about Ray” (It’s a Shame About Ray, 1992)
13:12 – Cheap Trick – “Surrender” (At Budokan: The Complete Concert, 1998)
13:19 – Pink – “Stupid Girls” (I’m Not Dead, 2006)
13:28 – Extreme – “Seven Sundays” (III Sides To Every Story, 1992)
13:36 – Charlotte Hatherley – “Be Thankful” (The Deep Blue, 2006)
13:39 – Fall Out Boy – “Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner” (From Under The Cork Tree, 2005)
13:46 – Explosions In The Sky – “So Long, Lonesome” (All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, 2007)
14:56 – The Lightning Seeds – “Change [7" Radio Edit]” (Change, 1995)
15:01 – Depeche Mode – “Personal Jesus” (Violator, 1998)
15:07 – Metallica – “Enter Sandman” (Metallica, 1991)
15:10 – Gwen Stefani – “The Real Thing (Bonus)” (Love angel music baby , 2004)
15:13 – Just Jack – “Untitled (Hidden Track)” (Overtones, 2007)
15:18 – Kings Of Leon – “Ragoo” (Because Of The Times, 2007)
15:19 – Pin-Ups – “Pin-Ups Go Go Go” (And The Rest Is History, 1997)
15:22 – Elvis Costello – “Stranger In The House” (My Aim Is True, 1977)
15:25 – The La’s – “There She Goes (Session)” (BBC In Session, 2006)
15:32 – David Bowie – “Be My Wife” (Low, 1977)
15:37 – Duran Duran – “Union of the Snake” (Duran Duran – Greatest, 1998)
15:52 – The Shins – “Turn On Me” (Wincing the Night Away, 2007)
15:56 – Throwing Muses – “Firepile” (Sharks Patrol These Waters, 1995)
16:01 – The Arcade Fire – “Woodlands National Anthem” (Arcade Fire, 2002)
16:08 – Bright Eyes – “I Must Belong Somewhere” (Cassadaga, 2007)
16:11 – Hot Hot Heat – “Running Out Of Time” (Elevator, 2005)
16:11 – Panic! At the Disco – “Introduction” (A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, 2005)
16:54 – Departure – “Time” (Dirty Words, 2005)
16:57 – David Bowie – “Velvet Goldmine” (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 1972)
17:01 – Fleetwood Mac – “Rhiannon” (Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits, 1988)
17:04 – Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone” (Breakaway, 2005)
17:10 – Bright Eyes – “If The Brakeman Turns My Way” (Cassadaga, 2007)
17:14 – Holly Valance – “Send My Best” (Footprints, 2002)
17:19 – The Beautiful South – “You Can Call Me Leisure” (Painting It Red, 2000)
17:22 – Hilary Duff – “Dignity” (Dignity, 2007)
17:25 – Kings Of Leon – “Camaro” (Because Of The Times, 2007)
17:31 – The Fray – “How To Save A Life” (How to Save A Life, 2006)
19:23 – Gwen Stefani – “Bubble Pop Electrinic Feat Joh” (Love angel music baby , 2004)
19:28 – Manic Street Preachers – “Yes” (The Holy Bible, 1994)
19:33 – Electronic – “One Day” (Raise the Pressure, 1996)
19:38 – Guillemots – “Blue Would Still Be Blue” (Through The Window Pane, 2006)
19:40 – Elvis Costello – “Jump Up” (My Aim Is True, 1977)
19:43 – Automatic – “On The Campaign Trail” (Not Accepted Anywhere, 2006)
19:47 – The Smiths – “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” (Hatful of Hollow, 1984)
19:50 – Arab Strap – “where we’ve left our love” (Ten Years of Tears, 2006)
19:53 – Bright Eyes – “Cleanse Song” (Cassadaga, 2007)
19:58 – Talking Heads – “Once in a Lifetime” (The Best of Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime, 1992)
20:02 – Jarvis – “baby’s coming back to me” (Jarvis, 2006)
20:06 – Charlotte Hatherley – “Behave” (The Deep Blue, 2006)
20:11 – Cracker – “Shake Some Action” (Clueless, 1994)
20:13 – Hot Hot Heat – “Ladies And Gentlemen” (Elevator, 2005)
20:18 – Counting Crows – “Hard Candy” (New Amsterdam: Live At Heineken Music Hall, 2006)
20:23 – Funeral For A Friend – “Drive” (Hours, 2005)
20:28 – The Long Blondes – “Weekend Without Makeup” (Someone To Drive You Home, 2006)
20:32 – Deacon Blue – “Fer
gus Sings the Blues” (Our Town: Greatest Hits, 2000)
20:36 – The Bees – “Stand” (Octopus, 2007)
20:38 – Kaiser Chiefs – “Thank You Very Much” (Yours Truly, Angry Mob, 2007)
20:42 – Gene – “Speak to Me Someone” (Drawn to the Deep End, 1997)
20:45 – Billy Bragg – “Like Soldiers Do” (Back to Basics, 1987)
20:50 – My Life Story – “Sparkle (Concert Hall)” (Sparkle, 1996)
20:54 – Lily Allen – “Take What You Take” (Alright, Still, 2006)
20:57 – The Fratellis – “Whistle For The Choir” (Costello Music, 2006)
21:02 – Damien Rice – “The Blower’s Daughter” (O, 2003)
21:05 – Deacon Blue – “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” (Our Town: Greatest Hits, 2000)
21:10 – U2 – “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (The Joshua Tree, 1987)
21:13 – David Bowie – “Always Crashing In The Same Car” (Low, 1977)
21:17 – Good Charlotte – “Something Else” (Good Morning Revival, 2007)
21:19 – Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins – “You Are What You Love” (Rabbit Fur Coat, 2005)
21:24 – Air – “Left Bank” (Pocket Symphony, 2007)
21:27 – Brett Anderson – “Love Is Dead” (Brett Anderson, 2007)
21:32 – Baby Bird – “Aluminium beach” (Fatherhood, 1996)
21:34 – Sons And Daughters – “Medicine” (The Repulsion Box, 2005)
21:38 – KT Tunstall – “Another Place To Fall” (Eye To The Telescope, 2004)
21:41 – Gene – “Her Fifteen Years” (Sleep Well Tonight, 1995)
21:45 – The Bangles – “Walk Like An Egyptian” (Greatest Hits, 1990)
21:49 – Bright Eyes – “Four Winds” (Cassadaga, 2007)
21:52 – Maximo Park – “The Unshockable” (Our Earthly Pleasures, 2007)
Pannini’s
I must just get this out of my system:
I went out for lunch today with my two favourite ladies, and on the café menu was a subheading that read:
Pannini’s
Good grief, where to begin? Firstly, I’m pretty sure that panini only has two ns,not three. Then the grocer’s apostrophe caught my eye – what exactly does this pannini (sic) own, I wonder? No need for it when denoting plurals. But hang on, we don’t even need the s, because panini is already plural, the singular being panino.
One word, three different errors! I would have pointed this out, but this was in the only café in the village, and I didn’t much fancy a generous helping of saliva in my panino (which, incidentally, was delicious
).
Splitting Up My Feeds
I’ve decided to un-splice my Flickr photostream from my main RSS feed. Reason being, I’m taking an increasing number of photos, many of which won’t be of interest to those of you who’re here for the tech-related blogging (such as it is) – and when junior comes along this summer, the number of baby pictures will likely swamp the other content
.
For those of you who do want to keep up with images from our life (Hi, mum!), you can subscribe directly to this separate feed of my photos.








