Stuff, Wotsits and Thingies

No, no, no – not Space SHIP

// March 31st, 2009 // 1 Comment » // photos, random

Space SHEEP!

Mmmm, Spacesheep spits Shiraz when squeezed. Mmmmm Space Sheep Shiraz.

Painting wow

// March 27th, 2009 // 5 Comments » // art

Sometimes a painting just makes me go WOW.

I love really messy splashy stuff with a touch of realism. More at The Black Rat Press .

Today’s Paper

// March 26th, 2009 // 5 Comments » // photoshop

This was in today’s paper. See previous post about Cowengate..

Note. I’ve removed any reference to the name of the paper because of the number of people coming here from google looking for the paper.

Cowangate

// March 26th, 2009 // 9 Comments » // photoshop, random

So we had a thread on Creative Ireland to celebrate the whole Cowengate/Picturegate saga, which I’ve found to be a highly entertaining interlude to the usual CEFC (Cunting Economic Fucking Climate) stories… despite the sad fact that RTE got bent over Cowen’s knee.

Anyway, Creative Ireland Photoshop threads are always pretty funny, and there were loads of crackers in the current one. Here’s a few:

My desk

// March 24th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // random, web

As featured on desked today, that’s me at some very important work yesterday.

The Plank

// March 23rd, 2009 // 7 Comments » // photoshop

Pat Kenny gets ready for his bodypopping routine on the Irish version of Strictly come dancing:

Don’t get it? Watch this.

Creepy voice: I see DEAD links

// March 20th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // web

It’s official. I spend too much time with my brain directly connected to the Internet. See I’ve garnered this uncanny ability – hold on, stop everything, “garnered!?” where the hell did you pick that up? is it even a word!? bet you read it on the Internet somewhere – anyway, I’ve gained this sixth sense; I know which links people are sending me before I’ve even seen the link.

I got an email today and the subject line read “Cool video” and I knew straight away that it was going to be that tilt shift video that’s been doing the rounds recently. I even said it to the missus. “Oi Missus”, said I pointing to the unread mail on my phone. “I bet you anything the link in that mail is to that Bathtub IV video”. She did that grunt which to the uninitiated would sound like total disinterest, but is a sound I’ve come to recognise as utter fascination.

And I was right of course! T’was the the correct link indeed. And that has happened all too often recently. I can now read patterns in the Matrix. I can almost close my eyes and see a link floating around some blogs, flittering around twitter, then gently floating down to the seabed of The Web before getting a second wind and doing the rounds on email forwards and Yahoo groups. And I only have to see crazy video!,Amazing photo, or hilarious article in the subject line and I know exactly what link is in the mail.

So, that’s it. I’m clearly ovedosing. I’m going cold turkey, starting now. I’m disconnecting everything. No more internet on my phone or computer. If you want to get in touch, send me a letter. I’m getting off the internet for at least 12 minutes.

Waterspray

// March 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

waterspray, originally uploaded by jbraine.

Storyland

// March 17th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // films, web

Voting is now open at Storyland.

Five months ago the call went out for new and established programme makers with exciting ideas to take part in a unique web drama competition.

The talented finalists have produced some brilliant content with buckets of tension, comedy and thrills. However it’s up to you to decide who goes through to the next round.

Watch episode one and vote for the drama you’d most like to see make a second episode. Voting opens 5pm Monday 16th March and closes 5pm Monday 30th March.

I’ve just watched them all and the standard is really good, Psych Ward was done by a friend but I would have voted for it anyway class, it’s class – get voting!

My other blog’s a lada

// March 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Looks like this is promote my own sites week; after a long lull www.beatingrsi – practical tips for beating rsi is now up to a gargantuan total of 20 posts!

1. Stop clicking; Use Launchy
2. Save your arms with macros and automation
3. Evoluent vertical mouse
4. Goldtouch split keyboard
5. The daily routine
6. Pain relief
7. Mini keyboard experiment
8. Walk the dinosaur
9. Powerball
10. Arm lifts
11. Keyboards
12. Wall angels
13. Lumbar roll
14. Dr Pascarelli’s guide
15. Mousetool
16. Windows accessibility
17. Nodding dog
18. Monitor height
19. Workrave
20. Water

Rate My ISP exceeds 100 reviews

// March 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // web

The broadband ratings site I built a while ago, www.ratemyisp.ie exceeded 100 reviews today.

Here’s the roundup:

Chorus NTL was top of the table for a while but slipped into 5th place. But with a hefty 14 reviews it deserves an honorable mention.

Eircom weighs in with the most reviews (19) but is 3rd from the bottom out of 12 ISPs.

Last horse in the race goes to 3 Broadband. They get 11 reviews and an overall rating of 1 star.

Someone from a particular ISP did try to leave 10 reviews in a row all with top ratings, which all got deleted. I since found out that it’s illegal for a company employee to pose as a member of the public like this. Naughty naughty.

Flickr

// March 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Flickr, originally uploaded by jbraine.

Random whacky photos

// March 7th, 2009 // No Comments » // web

Behold; random whacky photo number one:

And also for you delectation, random whacky photo number two:

But wait, it get’s better, they’re both from the same photo. No! A bronze god and a car in a tree, in the one picture!? Yessirreebob.

You like? More on The picture is unrelated

Blackout

// March 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // music, web

In the name of Blackout Ireland, I’m posting this Lil louis classic.

Speaking of which Dave has some great posts on the classics now and then.

Surviving Redundancy

// March 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // web design

ROLL THE DRUMS; So, I survived redundancy by building www.survivingredundancy.ie. BUM TISH!!

Was a bit of a dream contract actually. Forget about quotes and estimates and all that annoying stuff that usually comes with contract web design; just come in and work for me until the site is finished. Anything you need me to buy for you? Photoshop, Dreamweaver, a second monitor, 2 extra gigs of ram. Grand; done. And then I will listen very carefully to all your advice, after all, you’re the expert.

What!? No! This isn’t supposed to happen. You’re supposed to ask me for a quote, based on a vague idea. Then I underquote myself. Then you ask for 10 extra sections, a CMS and loads of redesigns while refusing to pay a penny over the quote that. And for in-house work, you’re supposed to give me some old hand-me-down office PC that’s bloated with so many previous-owner-profiles, that it takes 47 minutes just to load the desktop wallpaper. You want software!? Ha! You better get on to piratebay while you still can.

So, yes bit of a dream contract. Therefore I’d happily recommend their services. Check it out: Surviving Redundancy, lots of articles, a forum, and services like interview training and CV advice.

I pretty much finished up with that yesterday and today, having started a new job, I’m back where I feel safest; in the land of permanent employment, and after seeing how scary it is out there, I feel mighty lucky.