Dan Hill has a brilliant idea – adding a time slider to Google Earth so that you can trace the development of a map through time. This has to happen. Only possible downside would be the amount of time I’d spend exploring old maps.
Author: Dave Cross
First Direct Web Site
Here’s a good example of how not to design a user interface. Yesterday I realised that I needed to pay my tax bill. My accountants had filed the return, it was just up to me to actually stump up the money. The deadline for payment is January 31st so it was a bit late to… Continue reading First Direct Web Site
Bad Bulk Email From ft.com
Here’s a good example of how not to run a bulk email list. Some time ago I registered with the Financial Times web site. At that time I must have given them my email address. But I’m certain that I wouldn’t have ticked any boxes marked “send me email”. I never tick those boxes and… Continue reading Bad Bulk Email From ft.com
Google Web Survey
See, this is a good example of what you can do if you’re parsing every page you can find on the web. Google has been examining the HTML used in the pages that it trawls and has published its findings. The results are interesting but not altogether surprising. The executive summary seems to be “most… Continue reading Google Web Survey
Computer Shopping
There’s an entertaining piece in today’s Guardian about the joys of shopping in places like PC World[1]. There is one vital rule to entering such a store: never, under any circumstances, ask a question. The answer will be 30% repetition, 30% wild conjecture and 40% utter gibberish. I also like the description of the sales… Continue reading Computer Shopping
Britons Unconvinced on Evolution
Feeling smug about not being American is, of course, practically a national sport her in the UK. And one of the best things to be smug about is ridiculously high percentage of Americans who think that creationism (or “intelligent design”) is a reasonable way to explain the creation of the universe. People in the UK… Continue reading Britons Unconvinced on Evolution
Lineak
(Non-geeks will probably want to ignore this entry) If you buy a keyboard these days, chances are that it will have a number of extra keys on it. Ones for opening your email application or your web browser or for controlling the CD player. If you’re using Windows then your system probably came pre-configured to… Continue reading Lineak
People are Stupid
I know that goes without saying, but here’s a great example of the madness of the mob. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue are auctioning the watering can that was used to keep the Thames whale[1] wet on Saturday. Now I don’t have a problem with that. All of the money raised will go to… Continue reading People are Stupid
Folk is Cool Again
Well, at least, it is according to an article in today’s Observer. One of the new names to watch that they list is Sheila Chandra. I’m not sure I’d describe her as a new name though. I first heard of her in 1982 when she was the lead singer on Monsoon’s hit single “Ever So… Continue reading Folk is Cool Again
Gilbert and George
Gilbert and George are on top form again. Their new exhibition is called “Sonofagod Pictures: Was Jesus Heterosexual?” and it opens at the White Cube gallery today. Even before the opening they’ve managed to grab just the right amount of press coverage by getting rent-a-bigot (and Tory MP) Ann Widdecombe to describe them as “blasphemous… Continue reading Gilbert and George