Archives for December 2001
With all due respect, Mr President... (December 31, 2001) With all due respect, Mr President......
Personal websites are the fanzines of the 21st Century... (December 31, 2001) Personal websites are the fanzines of the 21st Century. They're photocopied flyers and stapled together scraps of rubbish, with stolen images, ill-thought out words, tremendously creative in an idiosyncratic way. Interestingly though the aesthetic of most of these sites is...
Tom Coates Explains Everything (Part Three) (December 31, 2001) 1) To Graybo, I answer - I would give my last Rolo to any of the following people, if they were to ask... Peter Harmer, Sigmund Freud, Nick Cornwell, Grant Morrison, David Pannett, Max Thomas, Breckin Meyer, Ivan Massow and...
A wonderful keystroke... (December 31, 2001) The most wonderful thing in the world? The combination of these keys with a click on a link in IE 5.1 for Macs: Shift & Apple....
Tom Coates Explains Everything (Part Two) (December 30, 2001) 1) Bart - if you think of the cat as being at one point in time (a), the transposition of the cat's mind into the mouses body as being at another (b) and their meeting as happening at point...
Too little RAM will kill you... (December 30, 2001) OSX works remarkably more effectively with 440Mb of RAM than it does with 196Mb. Take note children - too little RAM will make your OSX experience a frustrating one....
Tom Coates Explains Everything... (December 30, 2001) 1) JaceLV asked me a very personal question about the size of my undercarriage. The answer is that it wouldn't fit in a pen cap but it would have no trouble fitting into the cargo compartment of a 747....
Back to basics... (December 30, 2001) It has come to the notice of the autocracy of plasticbag.org that Tom Coates has been remarkably slack in updating and maintaining the site of late. Tempted as we are to fire him and employ someone rather more dedicated to...
First impressions of OSX... (December 29, 2001) I've just installed OSX. First impressions are remarkably favourable....
Back in London... (December 29, 2001) Back in London....
Two tiny stories of country-living... (December 28, 2001) The downstairs loo is out of bounds for me at the moment. Being back in the country has its benefits and its horrors. Prime amongst its horrors is the presence of thousands of bloody spiders. As a child, my bedroom...
On The George Bush Funeral Home... (December 28, 2001) george_bush_taster.jpg
On eating Chocolate Covered Crickets... (December 27, 2001) The most successful Christmas presents I have given this year have been the dumbest. I gave my brother some chocolate covered crickets and ants and the entire family has been talking about them ever since. Everyone's eaten some. My mother...
A challenge for Cal... (December 27, 2001) Oi Cal! I've got something for you to play with! A list apart is looking for people to tell them about Mac IE5.1 CSS rendering bugs. And Lord knows I know you love talking about that!...
Problem with Blogger security... (December 27, 2001) For anyone who's an infrequent user of Blogger - be warned, security at Pyra was compromised recently and you should change your server log-in passwords and Blogger user names. You can check out the "sorry" message here and read up...
Is Mark going to hell? (December 24, 2001) I'm worried about Mark: "One more thing I'd like to record is that today my father implied he thinks i'm going to hell. He explained to me his concern, that he'd like me to be with him when we both...
What is London? (December 24, 2001) London is a place a hundred-thousand miles away from here, where all the evils of the world live, and they don't know where I am at the moment, and they can't contact me by phone because it's turned off and...
I AM THE KOTTKE... (December 22, 2001) Last time Jason asked me to do something, he told me I must do what he told me because "I AM THE KOTTKE". I laughed indulgently, as you would. Poor chap's losing it!...
It's snowing in Norfolk... (December 22, 2001) I woke up this morning and it was snowing. And when we went shopping in Norwich, it was snowing. I feel so much more relaxed in Norfolk than I do in London. And weirdly, I feel much in control of...
On flirting with people on trains... (December 22, 2001) I was on the train last night from Liverpool Street to Norwich, and I was sitting opposite this really cute guy. And at the end of the trip I offered him and the other passengers around me the Opal Fruits...
Do you love America? (December 21, 2001) The answer to the question Do you love America? is clear. The answer is that America is a myth that many (but not all) free countries aspire to. The USA itself aspires to be America. But it isn't there yet....
Hey look! At work I (December 21, 2001) Hey look! At work I went and designed a site for this guy who works at Heat magazine. Presenting Morning After TV - built and programmed by my glamourous assistant (I'm going to get a smack) Cal Henderson!...
Repository vs. Suppository... (December 21, 2001) If you get bored of dismal re-run Christmas television and Only Fools And Horses TV Specials, then you should go check out the highlights of iamcal.com - a repository of good weblogging content. [Note for the punter who e-mailed me:...
Um. (December 21, 2001) I can't think of a single thing to say....
A week with my family... (December 20, 2001) Well, tomorrow I depart fair London for cold Norfolk, where I plan to spend a week with my family. This will be the longest I have spent with them for about three or four years, so it may end in...
The horror of my work ethic... (December 19, 2001) On the shock of discovering a work-ethic, and the horror of realising that this is why you've never made any money: When payment seems in excess of workload, typically I have increased workload to compensate rather than saying "Thank you...
IE5 for Macs vs. IE6 for PCs... (December 19, 2001) A recurrent theme at EMAP in recent weeks has been the battle between Cal and I about whether or not Mac Internet Explorer 5 is a good or a bad browser. Seriously. This is the kind of thing that keeps...
Another victim of the doc.com disaster... (December 19, 2001) Sigh. Another victim of the dot.com disaster - and one that you'd think would be the last to fail. How is it possible that a site that did nothing but show other people's TV adverts free could go under? You'd...
Introducing Trabaca... (December 19, 2001) Trabaca is a beautifully designed, touching site by a young, intelligent and in-the-process-of-telling-everyone-he's-a-poof young man. It's bloody great, and if you don't read it I'll smack you around the face with an articulated truck....
On great big nasty right-wing facists... (December 18, 2001) Never before did I fully understand the horrible difficulties of being a great big nasty right-wing facist. And when you get bored of that, there's a new quiz at TCN....
I'm off to a Chanukah party! (December 17, 2001) Right, that's enough bollocks for one day. I'm off to a Chanukah party....
Musical Juxtapositions... (December 17, 2001) Putting all your favourite songs onto an iPod throws up a few interesting juxtapositions. You're happily wandering through Clerkenwell listening to The Sisters of Mercy in a kind of retro-bohemian, Berlin goth style and you're feeling quite self-satisfied in a...
URLs that shouldn't exist, but do... (December 17, 2001) Random URLs that I tried that shouldn't really exist, but do: Burn the World, whatthefuck.com, bored.com....
On joining a gym... (December 17, 2001) You know what? Sod the expense. I'm joining my local gym. Question - is it good to only be able to feel you can take the world on when you feel sexy? What happens when you stop feeling sexy through...
Parents are never free of blame... (December 17, 2001) To what extent is it appropriate when one reaches thirty to still blame one's parents for one's complete inability to relate to other people and form long-lasting and emotionally satisfying relationships? Probably not fair at all. I should stop, really....
On Serge, the Seal of Death... (December 17, 2001) You know who else is cool (if under-represented on the interhighweb)? Serge, the Seal of Death. Now, he's cool... Not hot, particularly. But cool. Definitely cool....
I have a thing about geeks... (December 17, 2001) So I have a thing about geeks. What can I say? I like their passion, I like the fact they're slightly bumbling, I like the innocuous clothing, I like the fact that there's a nervousness, I like the being a...
On problems with Blogger... (December 17, 2001) Blogger seems to have been buggered for at least the last 24-hours. I've lost many a fine post. Normal service will resume shortly....
Do you know where all the celebrities hang out in London? (December 16, 2001) Do you know where all the celebrities hang out in London? If so, do me a last minute favour and go and answer this nice person's questions over at TCN......
Legal restrictions on hyperlinking... (December 15, 2001) There's an interesting article at the moment over at The New York Times about a legal restriction on hyperlinking, which is pertinent to the KPMG debacle. One instance in which it is now illegal to link to something (in the...
I'm frustrated by dorkslayers... (December 15, 2001) I'm frustrated by dorkslayers....
Approaching the sporadics of freelance life... (December 14, 2001) Particularly observant regulars may notice that I've removed the link to TCN from the right-hand column of plasticbag.org. This is because my short stint of regular employment is coming to an end. I have a week more before the sporadics...
Simon's evil photos of me... (December 14, 2001) Simon is responsible for a lot of the evil in the world. Well - maybe not a lot, but he is responsible for a photo-diary including pictures of the latest blogmeet. And frankly that's evil enough for me. Pictures include:...
Do I look like Jack Nicholson? (December 14, 2001) Will someone answer honestly - do I look like Jack Nicholson?...
On receiving my gift from my Secret Santa... (December 14, 2001) I received my gift from Secret Santa today. It was all wrapped up and I didn't want to spoil it for myself, so I'm going to save it until Christmas Day. Apart from the frustration of keeping the system running...
There's nowhere to go but down... (December 14, 2001) The depressing thing about the Blogdex All-Time List is that there's nowhere to go but down. In the few months that it has been up and running, I have gradually watched myself slump further and further down the list... Not...
I really missed Napster... (December 14, 2001) I really missed Napster. But then I found Limewire. My file-sharing needs are fulfilled once more. Remember children - as it said on the front of my iPod when I pulled it from the box... "Don't steal music..."...
Is there a decline in the potential of the form? (December 14, 2001) Addendum to post about weblogs obsessing on the trivia of people's lives. I should clarify that I wasn't so much talking about the tendency to write about the trivia of one's life, but about the public perception of the weblogging...
KPMG update... (December 13, 2001) KPMG update: Just gave a few quotes to a friend at the Big Issue about KPMG - it should be out on Monday if you're interested. In the meantime, Chris was interviewed in the Observer last weekend - here's a...
On being blown away by Matt Webb... (December 13, 2001) I was out drinking with webloggers last night and Matt and I were busy comparing toys, and he showed me the article that he pubished on upsideclown today. And I was blown away....
Damn Davo forever... (December 13, 2001) Damn him. Damn him for being less crap than me. Damn him for redesigning Brainsluice brilliantly in the amount of time it takes me to move a piece of text three pixels to the left, sweat, have a panic attack...
A proposal for a really divisive website... (December 13, 2001) Suggestion for a really divisive website: So you go to Blogdex and you travel to the all-time links section. Pulling out the information from that page dynamically, you tag up all the weblogs in the top two-hundred listings. And then...
On changes in the weblog culture... (December 13, 2001) I found this one via Blogdex, which is always a shameful confession for me: Geoff Nunberg talks about the weblogging phenomenon (Real Audio). In this little radio segment, he compares weblogging, with all it's diarist minutiae to Diary of a...
Introducing the Megway... (December 12, 2001) Jason finally reveals what Danza/WHAT is, and all I can say is I've got to get me one. They look neat! [And yes, I was in on the joke, I'm afraid]....
My first impressions of my iPod... (December 11, 2001) I just got an iPod. I've been thinking about it for ages, and the angst of my financial situation has always consumed me. But a momentary glimmer of financial light appeared, and rather than invest in my future I decided...
On my first post on Usenet... (December 11, 2001) Google Groups has now fully archived the last twenty years worth of Usenet posts - which means that you can now experience several historical events as they were experienced by people of the time. Or alternatively, you can do what...
I am 77.5% British, just like Michael Caine... (December 11, 2001) Terrifyingly accurately, a How British Are You? quiz told me, "I am 77.5% British, just like Michael Caine Though you know your way around London you are most likely to retire to the West Coast of the USA."...
In which the Secret Santa e-mails go out... (December 10, 2001) Phew! The Secret Santa e-mails have gone out - I only WISH that they'd done so smoothly... All but 45 of the 621 final Santa e-mails were sent out this morning - the other forty-five (which included some of the...
Secret Santa's hat is full! (December 10, 2001) Secret Santa's hat is full! Check your e-mail if you've been participating......
One more KPMG dig... (December 9, 2001) You really have to love Chris. I mean, he's out for a stroll and he just can't resist that one extra dig. KPMG....
In which peace descends on Tomville... (December 9, 2001) With flatmates out of the country for the weekend, peace slowly descends on Tomville......
Is this a Big Gay Song? (December 9, 2001) Question - is this Sisters of Mercy song actually a big gay song? Something Fast all the things we never needed i don't need them now all the things were always confidential and hidden from me anyhow you can stand...
The Direct Marketing Authority weirds me out... (December 9, 2001) I'd be very interested in hearing the experiences of people who have signed up to The Direct Marketing Authority's lists. They claim to reduce your spam e-mail, the crap through your letterbox and the number of annoying people who ring...
An online advent calendar... (December 9, 2001) I'm always delighted when I come across an attractive and well-thought through adaptation of an old Christmas staple: Advent Calendar....
Two days left of Secret Santa... (December 8, 2001) There's only two days left to sign up for Secret Santa - so if you want to take part, you're going to have to get a bloody move on, frankly......
Looking for a copy of the New York Times... (December 7, 2001) If anyone has a copy of Thursday's New York Times, I would really appreciate it if you could e-mail me - Cal and I would like a print copy of the Secret Santa piece....
Chris Ware wins an award... (December 7, 2001) Congratulations to Chris Ware for winning the Guardian first book award. From the few issues I read independantly, it's well deserved......
When B3ta interviewed Dave Gorman... (December 7, 2001) When B3ta interviewed Dave Gorman, it was moida: "Q: Have you found any other Danny Wallaces yet? A: No. But then I'm not looking."...
About Walford East tube station... (December 7, 2001) Find out all you never needed to know about Walford East tube station......
Secret Santa makes the New York Times... (December 6, 2001) Hey Cal! Look! They've gone and mentioned Secret Santa in the New York Times! Woo - and lo there was a day of press......
If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution... (December 6, 2001) Should a serious issue be protested about seriously? No. At least not when the actions of the entity you are protesting against can be made to seem ridiculous. There is no defence against feeling like an idiot. Aggression causes aggression...
A reminder about plasticbag.org branding... (December 6, 2001) Micro branding reminder: Correct: plasticbag.org - Incorrect: Plastic Bag, Plasticbag or Plastic-Bag. Tag line if required: "Finding Magic in the Mundane." Origins: Multiple, including self-conscious reference to plasticbag.de, American Beauty, disposability, functionality and modernity. How good is the site: Adequate...
In which I really go to town... (December 6, 2001) Oh (KPMG) and (KPMG) you can (KPMG) keep (KPMG) up (KPMG) with (KPMG) all (KPMG) the (KPMG) news (KPMG) that's (KPMG) fit (KPMG) to (KPMG) print (KPMG) over (KPMG) at Chris' site......
A couple of KPMG updates... (December 6, 2001) 1) A couple of cool bits of correspondence at Politech. 2) A fun article at Wired.com: Big Stink Over a Simple Link - featuring lots of good lines and salient points from Chris, one quote from me that makes me...
Keep your eyes on Wired.com today... (December 6, 2001) Keep your eyes on Wired.com today - there seems to be an unusual amount of interesting news appearing. Rumour of the moment: LCD iMacs Due at Macworld. Scientific 'Wow' of the moment: Astronomers 'See' Dark Matter....
hmm... interesting... (December 5, 2001) hmmm. interesting....
In which Jason takes the piss... (December 5, 2001) Jason is a genius - he's done a parody of the growing interest on weblogs about Danza. You'd think people would get that he was kidding, but no - people who should know better - people who are actually interested...
Jish has more information... (December 5, 2001) And now Jish has even more information......
What's craphound's connection to Danza? (December 5, 2001) Hmmm. Interesting - a little research via Google and a tip-off by a rather dubious hotmail address has sent me over to boingboing.net, where there is discussion about something called Danza/WHAT. A little more research leads me to see that...
0sil8 rules in secret... (December 5, 2001) So I was talking to a friend who's involved in those weird industries that predict trends and developments and we start talking about the mid-future. Mid-future is, apparently, ten-to-twenty years from now. And we were talking about Bill Gates' claim...
A new quiz for a Tuesday afternoon... (December 4, 2001) A new TCN celebrity quiz for you all to play with last thing on a Tuesday afternoon......
Trying to read something dull about .org's (December 4, 2001) Can anyone explain to me what this actually means, so I don't have to read it myself?...
You can hear me on the radio! (December 4, 2001) If you fancy a laugh, and are prepared to hear me mumble my way through a radio interview, then click here and skip about ten or twelve minutes in to hear me interviewed about Secret Santa and about my, Cal's...
I don't hate Jason Kottke... (December 4, 2001) Just to clarify - I'm completely not grumpy about people referencing seeing links via Jason rather than me. He's a much more reliable source of industry-relevant and fun links than I am - plus he doesn't get all morbid about...
You know what's slightly annoying? (December 4, 2001) You know what's slightly annoying? Having your inadequacies as a meme-spreader brought vigorously into perspective through comparison. Jason and I both link to the KPMG link e-mail. I do not know who does it first - it's certainly a close-run...
On the b3ta cut-out-and-keep finger crab... (December 4, 2001) Created by the immortal Denise Wilton - graphic designer on Secret Santa - I hereby present B3ta's cut-out-and-keep finger crab. And when you've made your own crab model, you can send pictures of yourself playing with it to The Crab...
On dodgy fake naked people designed for sex... (December 4, 2001) Not for the squeamish: Bored of shagging actual men? Inflatable men no longer meeting your needs? From the people who brought you the female 'real dolls' now comes... the Male Realdoll... You have to wonder what kind of people would...
Grant Morrison and Fictional Universes... (December 3, 2001) Fragments of a conversation about Grant Morrison and fictional universes....
Is hyperlinking free? (December 3, 2001) Is hyperlinking free? Can you link to whomsoever you wish? According to KPMG, apparently not! Chris Raettig received this e-mail a couple of days ago, asking him to remove the link to their site as they didn't have a 'formal...
On first seeing the Segway... (December 3, 2001) You're kidding me? This is IT?...
There are times when I am become his wife... (December 2, 2001) Saturday afternoon was Monkey Magic with Corny and his family. There are times - horribly bizarre times - when I am become his wife....
The history of pie consumption... (December 2, 2001) This weekend has been a purging experience. I've mostly been ploughing through my belongings, throwing out things that are no longer relevant and organising everything else into carefully composed piles and sub-piles. I'm worried (of course) that these piles and...
On promoting Secret Santa on the radio... (December 2, 2001) I was on the radio on Thursday night - LBC to be precise - explaining (and promoting) Secret Santa. At least I think I was - I wasn't able to get home in time to actually hear it, and their...
Why do so many people think Tom Cruise is gay? (December 2, 2001) So Tom Cruise manages to get another claim that he is gay squashed through the courts [BBC News]. This time a judge has ruled that the star isn't gay. Quite how he checked isn't mentioned. The interesting thing about this...
If I were a Bond Villain, I'd be Octopussy... (December 2, 2001) If I were a Bond Villian, I'd be ... Octopussy!? And if I were an evil criminal... Which Evil Criminal are You?...
