Still more tidyups to do presentation wise, but the new backend is live now. I decided to go with a (fairly customised) WordPress. It has the features I wanted to write myself, plus clean, valid XHTML output and it’s Open Source.

I’ve imported all the previous entries from my previous, custom setup. Bear with me for now - they’re all in the “imported” category. I will probably reassign them all very slowly over time, as I come across them

Please excuse any rendering oddities as I migrate the site to valid XHTML 1.0. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a little while and I’m simultaneouly purging the 5 year old nested table layout. The odd bit of wonkiness might show through as I tweak things. The new backend is about ready to go live, but I want to clean up the front before I switch.

In the meantime, this is sage advice: Why you should never put your picture on the Internet.

Well, yesterday we went out on the inline skates again (we practised stopping) and then I ran. After a few days of skating I’m really feeling it in my knees and ankles - I need to keep at it to strengthen those up.

There are going to be some changes to this site over the next couple of weeks. I’m going to do a major backend upgrade and replace most of the front end too. It’s about time, the core of this site is over 5 years old now.. You may spot some changes as I slowly morph things.

Awesome. Now I finally know the truth about Brain Freeze - and the cure! Thanks to The Red Ferret Journal, which is a truly great site for obscure gadget hunting. Also from there today - the Chargehand, which is simply genius and I want 5.

I’m mending, slowly, but not looking forward to putting my shirt on for work this morning - that’s gonna hurt :p

So next week I’m going to be in San Francisco for BEA eWorld. Should be a pretty interesting week. I have a mad schedule but only because there’s lots of interesting stuff on it. I’ve never been to San Francisco but I’ve always wanted to go - hopefully I’ll get a chance to stick my head out of the conference center and have a quick look around.

Anyway, time I was at work. *eyes shirt reproachfully*.

Sounds boring, but looks like magic. I’ll never fold a shirt the same again. (via Boing Boing).

Unreal. For the first time since the Boston Tea Party, the US authorities are criminally prosecuting a group for political expression. Greenpeace (the organisation) is being prosecuted for the actions of the six activists who boarded the APL Jade freighter (who have already been tried for their actions and served time - 15 months ago). The charge? “Sailor mongering”, a charge last prosecuted 114 years ago. (via JWZ).

Do not click that image if you are at all squeamish, it points to a closeup :p

So jogging is pretty high impact, and I think it would be better to keep mostly to something easier on the joints. Today Sue and I picked up some inline skates so we could learn and use them together. They’re really fun. I had rollerskates as a kid, but these things are so much faster and more maneuverable.

Anyway we had some fun rolling up and down the car park out front and I got cocky and ambitious :p A few fast, tight loops went well and then I picked up some speed and turned… less well :p

Okay I fell. While still turning. I did a little breakdance-style floor spin on tarmac/gravel and left behind some skin. I’m in total, horrible agony. But it’s funny - I feel like I’m 12 again :D

Didn’t make it to work today - feeling rough, something I ate yesterday methinks.

Paul started posting again - and linked this mini howto for raising bright kids - pretty interesting. Also, a great summary of the rubbish currently being verbally excreted by the Bush administration.

Paul also suggested some interesting dietary options for me to try. Hrm… Tempting as those sound, I’ll probably give them a miss. Besides, I’m not so worried about my shape, I’m mostly concerned for my heart - being completely unfit for years can’t have done it much good. Unless I start feeling better soon, it doesn’t look like I’ll get to run today :(

The BushPig looks like a lot of fun - wonder if I could commute on one ;)

This Progressive scan DVD player from Philips plays DivX and mp4 too - damn cheap at $66. These are useful devices if you have a bunch of DivX format movies - we have a xcico which is similar, but wasn’t that cheap.. That said, rather than burn DivXs to CD/DVDs, these days we tend to stream the over the network to XBMC on the XBox, which does an excellent job.

No time for a proper update tonight, got home super late. But came across map24.com via the Webby awards, and it’s awesome.

Nintendo DS: 1, 2, 3.
Sony PSP: 1, 2, 3, 4.

The Iriver is pretty format agnostic..

musicplasma is not only fun, it’s a nice way to discover some new music you might like. (via boingboing).

So yesterday I went out for a run. Now I’ve quit smoking, it’s time to get fit again. Seeing as I haven’t been fit for over 10 years now, this may be a challenge.

Yesterday’s run showed me how far I’ve got to go. I spent more time getting ready to run, than running. (Reality check: I spent more time tying my shoes than running). Today I ran for about as long, except it hurt more. I hope noone saw me. I’m not a terribly graceful runner.

Since I woke up I’ve been acutely aware of all the muscles in my legs. This is because they are all, individually, on fire.

I’m still enthused about allofmp3. Today I’ve downloaded 3.6GB of music from them and still going strong. That’s 3.6GB of music for $36. It’s so awesome that what you get is DRM free, and in the format/bitrate of your choice. It’s what I’ve always wanted in a music store. Apple et al. can keep their 99c+ per song, DRM lock-in crap, I don’t want that, never have. Apple deciding where I can or can’t listen to my music? Not in my world.

So anyway, what I’ve known in theory for a long time turns out to be true in practise. Offer me music at a reasonable price, let me choose what I do with it once I’ve bought it, and I’ll spend more money on music.

Perhaps inevitably, somebody wrote commandline program for ordering pizza. I approve, except that I’d personally have implemented topping selection as a comma seperated list - using a parameter per topping seems cheesy. Maybe I should fork it? :)

(sorry)

Ooooh, I know someone at work who might like one of these iPod handbags :D