This isn’t quite the end

I’ve been blogging since 2005. In that time I haven’t amassed a large number of readers, links or written much of meaning or worth. I’m thinking of calling it a day. Twitter seems much more comfortable to me. Most of my posts aren’t over 140 characters anyway.

So this might be it. I’m not sure. We will see how it goes.

Technology Evolution

A lot functions in our gadgets are superfluous. Poorly thought out design gimmicks that no one really uses. Best example I can think of is photos on an iPod. I have never met anyone who has used this function (though I’m sure someone must have).

What is cool is when gimmicks evolve into proper tools. One of things which I think is really starting to make is the mobile video. Although it’s been successful it always felt gimmicky to me. Sure you can watch “Lost” on the bus but it’s not really enjoyable on that tiny screen while you jostle with commuters is it? And there was the hassle of downloading/converting it (which still exists in Ireland because we don’t get any tv or movies on iTunes or equivalent) etc. But internet speeds picked up and we now have videocasts which were more tailored toward the mobile revolution. I love learning photoshop skills, watching TED talks and getting The Onion news bites.

What other functions can mobile video take? This weekend, Manchester United goalkeeper, Ben Foster used his iPod to watch videos of the opposition to prepare for a penalty shootout. Foster saved a penalty and United went on to win the Cup. I wonder what creative uses someone will think of next?

A sign of a quality paper

When they misspell “analysis” in the title

“Protein profile ana lysis of the breast microenvironment to differentiate healthy women from breast cancer patients”

Towit towoo

Sorry the blog has fallen behind a bit in terms of nerdiness. I’ve been doing some stuff gearing up to a paper so been a little busy. I had written a nice piece on twitter but it seems to have exploded in the press lately so there are plenty of better, more comprehensive articles to be found.

You can find me on twitter here
http://twitter.com/tomlau

I have a lot more time for quick 140 character posts so you’ll see me on there a lot more than here. I have to update the blogroll and upload scroobius pip photos soon too.

Be honest, you know you want to try just a bite

Big hattip to Catherine who tweeted this.

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/
Here’s an example of the delights on the site.

The Hamdog

A hot dog wrapped in a beef patty that’s deep fried, covered with chili, cheese, onions, served on a hoagie bun topped with two fistfuls of fries and a fried egg.

More writing again!

Wow, if only my thesis was coming along so well. Today I wrote a children’s poem about a pyromaniac who gets a job using his knowledge of fire.

Little Harry Murphy loved to make things burn,
Fascinated with fire, like the first caveman to learn,
He wondered at the heat, the smoke and the flame,
With matches and lighters he played all his games.

He knew every detail, learned first hand of course,
The nature of fire, the properties, the source,
What burned quick, with big orange flames,
Or what embered slow but could never be tamed.

As Harry grew up, he couldn’t burn everything,
His house, his car, his wedding ring,
The ignitions he did make, had to remain small,
But he longed for infernos, massive and tall.

“Fire Safety Inspector” the job title said,
Harry was perfect, in fire he was well read,
Potential big blazes now delighted his dome,
As he imagined flames in people’s factories and homes.

Fiction Bite

So I finally got off my arse to write some more short fiction. It was inspired by my commute home and started out a bit too dark and emo at the beginning but I think I rescued it by the end. Let me know what you think! It’s provisionally called “Depressing News”.

Self Plagiarism again

Last night I went to see Shane Langan (of the Diet of Worms) host a night of live comedy literature. It was really impressive and inspired me to write something myself (you can check out some of Shane’s prose here).

Unfortunately, I’m busy right now but I used to have a lot more stories and fiction bites on my old blog. So here is an old one stolen from there. It’s a bit crude but quite representative of my lewd, self depreciating personality.

anyway here goes
Fiction bite 2 (written on train back from Liverpool v. AC Milan Champions League Final 07)

Some fucked up shit right here

Japanese Louis Armstrong. Just wow. His parents must be so proud. Hattip to the Graham Linehan

Welcome Obama!