Avatars and the choices YOU have to make...
Right so had a day off today and decided to download loads of updates to the canon software I have on my computer, one of which was a newer version of remote capture where I can use the computer to control the camera, and I decided to take some snapshots of myself for an avatar for twitter.
I have 4 images to choose from but all merit something so I would love if you guys through comments or on twitter can let me know which you prefer!
So here they are…
Technorati Tags: avatar, choices...
Thursdays Twitter Question Time again and today after reading a report about social networking sites and productivity in the workplace, todays question was
“Do you find since u started using Twitter that you miss it if you have to work, do u feel u may miss something important being away, has it affected ur workflow, ie are u an addict?”
doneganlan No - its good for the business in the sense of doneganland has just done this or that and keeps people informed and using twinkle really helps in that dept.
sretchneil A little, definitely, but the flip side is that I interact a huge amount more with other bloggers. Good for what i’d like to do though!
Mike_Kiely No, it’s a relief to be away from it and the torrent of too many opinions. No Twitter means real work is...
Yay, Tuesday Twitter Question time is back, and with all the election malarky going on at the moment I decided not to ask anything election related, and instead talk about christmas, inspired by @pixievondust’s revelations last week of the really long list she placed on twitter of what she wanted for christmas, I thought I may aswell ask what gadgets everyone else desired.
macsuus from amsterdam was the first to reply very simply with “TomTom, the sat nav to stop her driving backwards down streets!”
mitzs said “A clothes dryer! I don’t even care if it is used….”
stretchneil was the next to reply with what I expected more of “If apple would bring out docking stations i’d be happy. Iphone in the meantime!”
shadowcall was next with...
Not at all inspired at Peter Donegans attempt to make everyone happy with a stupid meme blog post thing and ideas of making this country a better place, I decided to get real about Ireland and post up what we are all at, at the moment, moaning!
So without further ado here are my 10 thing that make me moany!
1. Ignorant people, I have come across so many of late!
2. Charity Muggers, fuck off I do not have any time, leave me alone, I have already joined up, go back to Australia.
3. Falseness, people who pretend to be something around you then change behind your back.
4. Working, not that I dont love my job, I do, But want more time with my daughter.
5. The Government, Stupid feckers all of them, except Joe Behan who will get my vote in future.
6. Not understanding how to get good pictures,...
I live in Bray, I do not drive, I work in Dublin city center, I get the bus every day.
Now that I have established all of that, I would love to show you what I have to contend with each morning and evening getting to work and back home. I travel on the 84X, an express bus that I get on the N11, near the turn for the Enniskerry Road (or 29 bends) and on the way home I get off at the Honda garage across the road. In 2005 plans were put in place to create a Pedestrian Bridge to join the southern end of Bray to Enniskerry (across the N11) and last year at a cost of approx 4 million euro the bridge was opened. This made using the 84X, which runs along the N11 possible for me, I was thrilled.
It was my first time to walk down the Herbert road and experience what I am writing this blog about....
I decided today to ask a question relating to my other love then Twitter that of Photography.
“What type of picture do you love looking at what makes you all fuzzy and warm inside? Portraits, landscapes, architecture, animals, tech etc?”
The replies for this came much quicker then I had anticipated.
Chrismehigan was first with “Candid photography, street photography, life in passing etc. Dare I say the works (style) of Henri Cartier Besson, and Robert Doisneau (really like Doisneau’s post war Paris)”
Icedcoffee was next to reply with “Portraits, but also A photo that makes me want to *be* there, in the landscape, with the person, in the building etc, yeah portraits, people, street photography, docu etc”
Mitzs answered me with “Landscapes and...
Todays question comes because of the many tweets I have seen all week in relation to spammers on Twitter.
“This week spammers have been at large on Twitter, will this surge bring you to protect your updates to avoid them or is that in turn ruining the social side of Twitter. All opinions welcomed”
Kenmcguire said “Nope… think if we ignore them they’ll just go away? It’s a bit much alright, I’m noticing 2-3 a day but not enough for me to lockdown, am comfortable with public tweets!”
Icedcoffee added “there have been spammers for ages - if I spot any I just block em, it hasnt caused me too much hassle in the past and cant check tweetrush if updates are protected.”
GavReilly took a different view to blocking “I’m not...
As you all know, I am addicted to twitter, I love everything about it and after this post will post up Thursday twitter question time which is getting so many people contributing it makes twitter even more worthwhile, but today the weirdest thing happened.
In my job I get to meet lots of celebrities, Matthew McConaughey been one most famous, but also a host of Irish talent like Colm Meany, Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Bergin, Stephen Rea, Brendan Gleeson, Ardal O Hanlon, Brian Dowling, Westlife to name a few and I have learnt not to get star stuck with these people, but today the weirdest thing happened.
Stephen Fry who’s work I have admired for many many years has started to use twitter to keep him entertained while shooting a documentary for the BBC in Africa. He has accepted everyone...
Ok it’s Tuesday Twitter question time, and of course it had to coincide with some guy called Steve Jobs talking about some fruit things. Anyhow on budget day here in Ireland what better question then “how do u see your run up to Christmas, suppose this applies Around the world with financial crisis still happening. Will it be a quiet one, do u see big purchases coming up to Christmas etc?”
Darragh Doyle replied “my run up to christmas? Slow and steady with a distinct lack of spending money. In a word quiet. One of the things is a lot of more personal, handmade and smaller gifts rather than some argos purchase.”
LeCraic was next up with “I don’t go overboard with spending at Christmas anyway, but I am worried about retail trade after this budget...
I suppose I should put up a bit more on why I was so quiet last week on the blog and twitter.
The videos, we had a plan, we had a meeting, but in the end myself and Damien decided for the audiences sanity to cull 30 minutes of edits that were done and to be honest it was for the best, the culled stuff did make an appearance on the big screen while Brian Greene Dj’ed the night away, you may have spotted the archive stuff playing away. Well these were meant to introduce each category, would have done your head in!
I would also just like to say a big thanks to Jenny Greene for doing the voiceovers for 22 categories, a mean feat, and all done with such professionalism and grace that Rick O’Shea can only dream of, only kidding mate.
Another reason the editing was such a time...
So for Thursday Twitter question time I decided to take a risk with a very simple idea, let people ask me anything, anything at all probe as deep as you like and I promise to answer honestly. It took about 20 minutes for the first question to come in.
@mitzs asked “Are you still glad you went with the Canon EOS 350d or wish you chose another brand?”
At the time I was very happy since I never used slr before, but did want the 30d really! But 350d has done me proud!
@threnn “What’s your favourite colour? ;)”
It’s between 2, I change from light orange to grey.
@aileenwilliams “do u help in the house?”
hehe mum, that’s more like it, not as much as I should, I is bad!
@raptureponies “who’s the first girl you ever kissed?”...
Blog Digest 2nd of October 2008
Today in the Irish Independent Neswpapers business section, McAWilliams.com was reviewed in the blog digest section, by Marie Boran from Silconrepublic, wow.
And what a lovely review it was too, thank you so much Marie for what you wrote, it means a lot to me, although “philosopher” is getting some laughs here in work, but I just don’t think they understand me after 13 years! They also dont participate in my TTQT which is where the philosopher you speak of came from.
Well that has given me one heck of a buzz for today
Technorati Tags: blog digest, irish independent, marie boran, review...
So Tuesday and Thursday Twitter question time or TTQT as it shall now be known, sort of got lost a bit lately but its back!
And what a way to come back, yesterday while on the bus on the way home people witnessed my anger in full flow and it brought about todays question, I was sitting minding my own business on the way home and a man sat in the seat in front of me, what he proceeded to do is one of the major things in life that really get my back up. I am 6 foot 4 inches, so quite tall, the majority of the height comes from my legs and leg room is quite precious to me on public transport, generally my knees rest on the seat in front so imagine if you will a man sitting down bouncing and leaning back like in some sort of fit all the time walloping my knees. Yes I was mad! and my knees are...
The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) have created an in-depth set of video overviews and tutorials that take you deeper into the new Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4 program. Hosted by Scott Kelby, Dave Cross and Matt Kloskowski (The Photoshop Guys) also Featuring Corey Barker and RC Concepcion.
This videos show whats in store for everyone waiting to get their hands on Photoshop CS4. The Camera RAW features that have been added make this for me a worthwhile looking product, with the ability to dodge and burn, sharpen add brightness or contrast all of which is non destructive, this really makes RAW in photoshop so much better!
Technorati Tags: napp, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, photoshop cs4, video tutorials...
Jesh is this blog turning wordy or what, well this evening I held the first of the evening twitter question times. My question today came after what happened yesterday on Meltdown Monday.
“What’s going on with the world, recession, markets in turmoil and let’s not forget the ever worsening weather. People are depressed what can we do to improve things?”
I was dubious about the change in time of asking the question and it did take a moment or two before Szlampy started the answers off with “What can we do as individuals? Save money, reduce fuel usage, downsize your house and reduce your mortgage.” I replied to this saying that “saving money in Ireland is getting harder, don’t know what it’s like in the uk but here electricity and gas...
Todays question came about from all the media attention on the The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which is the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator complex, intended to collide opposing beams of protons with very high kinetic energy. The question I posed was
“With the LHC now fired up are we wrong trying to play god? Or is it a good thing?”
Danclements was first to answer with ”I don’t think the LHC falls under the realm of God Playing, we won’t reach that until we start altering the human genome.” Elfinamsterdam added “I don’t think its trying to play god, I think we need to reenact things in order to discover how they work. To understand nature. We need to play with it and take it apart. As with many...
Well are we sick of the rain yet, I certainly know I am and because of this when sitting on the bus this morning no major thought provoking questions came to mind, so I asked the simple one,
“Why is it you love Twitter. I have my reasons which are obvious, and you?”
I think the rain really annoyed people this morning so the responses were very slow and few, but fortunately Elfinamsterdam and Icedcoffee were on hand to answer this simple question, and Twitter Question Time can continue.
ElfinAmsterdam was first to answer with “Sad I know, buts its a form of community for me being away from home (Ireland now living in Amsterdam). Also its a nice ‘office atmosphere’ during the week the odd smart comment and joke and bit of chat between tasks. At home its kind...
This morning question came up due to a tweet yesterday from David Maybury about the EULA or terms and conditions when downloading Googles much hyped “Chrome” browser, which was released on Tuesday. Basically the wording in the EULA stated that,
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and...
This mornings question was quite simple really “why do you follow certain people, friends? followers of friends? followers of followers or because they are nearby on Twinkle”
BluPsych from California once again was first to respond with “I folllow because it’s not what you know it’s who you know”
So we were of to a flying start next up came Icedcoffee with his reply of “just wanna be loved” I had to ask if it worked and his response made me giggle even more “yes 200 ppl love me now, even Cali Lewis”
Topgold was next to jump on with a great answer “I follow people who offer helpful @ replies and unfollow toxic whingers” obviously has had a bad experience then on Twitter?
It then went very quiet on question time and at...
What the hell is this all about, I hear you ask, well I love Twitter, so much so that I reckon Twinkle (a twitter application for the iPhone) is my most used app on the phone. I use it constantly, on the bus, in work, at home and if you have not got into twitter you should, its a great way to meet like minded people and have a chat or laugh or even gain useful information.
One thing I tried on Tuesday while on the bus into work, was to ask a question and see what sort of replies I got, I was amazed at the amount of people that replied and so decided to have a question each Tuesday and Thursday morning between 8am and 8-15am.
Todays question was in relation to the iPhone and its location capabilities. On twinkle for instance, your position in the world is found and sent to other twinkle...
I have written plenty about O2 over the past few months, both here and on Forninepounds, and yes it has all been bad.
You have all read about my trials attempting to get an iPhone, and the treatment I, as a bill pay customer of their’s since esat digifone launched, have received.
I have sent 2 emails of complaint. Both were answered, the first in a very snooty fuck off sort of way and the second from Paddy where he took everything I said on board, and is, according to his email and forum comments, doing something about it.
Ok I know the iPhone stocks were low, I know everyone wanted one, but I nearly drove myself to insanity trying to find one.
Prompted on by Alexias post last week, I feel now that I have one, I should fully explain what has happened over the past 2 months.
2 days...
Jaysus forgot about this in all the building works, James and Harry from Menwithpens decided to drop by today and analyze my site with the option to blow it too smithereens after they had finished.
Well after the excitement of yesterdays birthday party, imagine what it was like to have 2 burly american dudes (well one fo them is Canadian but sure its all the same except for how they say about and out etc) look over me with grimaces on their faces. I think they fell in love with my banner cause the grin disappeared quickly, thank god.
Ok what the heck am I on about Menwithpens are 2 bloggers/writers/web designers who go and look over sites and give their critique of them. The one thing I love about these guys is that they dont hold back, they say exactly what they feel and sometimes can...
So the sunroom is complete and the rain is bucketing down, typical. The build went according to plan, took 21 working days and looks fantastic.
I just wanted to write an entry here because the blog has been the last thing on my mind the past few weeks, also the computer was to put to sleep while walls were knocked down due to dust etc.
Philip Monaghan and his crew at Park Avenue Conservatories cannot be recommended enough, his pricing is competitive and his team work relentlessly through rain or shine. For us to be able to sit in this room already is quite astounding considering other quotes we got were telling us it would be an 8 week build. The finishing should also be mentioned, the wooden ceiling looks amazing and seeing Philips plasterer at work was incredible to watch.
Now they...
As many of you know blogging has been light here for the past few weeks, but the building works got the better of me and now I hope to get the camera out again and get some pictures, if I can remember how to use the camera.
In other news the site went through a bit of an overhaul behind the scenes, hopefully the pages should load a lot quicker now, and run smoothly across all platforms. A few of the pages will change also over the next day or so, so keep your eyes peeled for that, also the I am going to reduce the categories to the side to a more manageable list.
In Iphone news, will I, wont I?
Who knows, I know I want one, but once again O2 are playing silly buggers, the tariffs have not changed at all (still 1gig data cap) and the 3g Phone will only be available to existing bill pay...
A new website was launched yesterday by Donncha O’Caoimh from inphotos.org called Irishphotographers.org.
I was contacted to see if I would be interested in participating in the site, I was honoured to have been asked, and jumped at the chance.
In the words of Donncha “Irish Photographers . org celebrates the best of Irish Photographers online”, and I have to say from it humble start yesterday it has already grown quite a bit with some amazing photographers works being showcased, and to be involved has me all excited.
So please have a look at the site, and thank you and well done Donncha on creating a one stop shop to showcase some great talent.
Technorati Tags donncha o caoimh, irishblogs, irishphotoraphers.org, photography...
This really has been the topic of the week. Will Knotts post got myself and Donncha talking in relation to commenting on Photoblogs.
As someone who has photoblogged for 3 years, I am amazed at how few comments a photoblog may receive, yet all the photoblogs I subscribe too seem to have a big subscribership. Why then the lack of comments?
Commenting as Darragh says is the lifeblood of any blog and trust me photoblogs are no different, but is it hard for the general public to comment on a photo? This was something I have mentioned on Matt Cooper when I was been interviewed about Flickr, that photoblogs seem to get comments from fellow photobloggers and not the 97% of other bloggers out there.
Other blogs have the advantage of writing something which can entice discussion, pictures can do...
One thing I wanted to bring back from the second last version of the site, was for the headers to change a bit. In movabletype this was simple because each page was manually coded, with wordpress the template structure is quite different, and at last I have got the knack of how the jigsaw comes together.
So rather then have the old images for each page, I have made use of the couch and it shall be the focus point of all things to come, so far I have 6 images coming up at random, but I have ideas on how to keep developing this idea for the future.
Please let me know what you think in the comments, tell me if they annoy you, or make you smile a bit, obviously my rss readership wont get to enjoy this the way I had hoped so maybe something new and different will be coming your way, and if you...
I dont mean to harp on about it, but it only took 2 and a bit weeks! As I posted on the 18th of April O2 in the UK wanted to get rid of the remaining 8 gig Iphones and as such, reduced the price by £100. O2 Ireland said they had no plans to do the same.
Well guess what, as of today and up to the 25th of May you can get the 8 gig Iphone from O2 Ireland for, yes you guessed it €100 less, €299 to be exact.
The 8 gig Iphone is being phased out, hopefully to warrant the release of a 32 gig version or more likely the 3g version. I am tempted to go down there today to get myself one, but since the tarffifs have not changed I think I shall hold off for now, we are still in many ways been ripped off.
By the way those nice folk at O2 have this also on their webpage
Please note that if you...
Well after much deliberation I entered the Jelly Army Photo to the Canon - The Assignment competion. Voting has now begun so if you like this image all I ask is that you vote here.
Its worth checking some of the other photo that folk have submitted.
Technorati Tags canon, jelly babies, the assignment...