Archives for February 2001
I remain your miserable narcissist... (February 28, 2001) I'd just like to say thanks to Ralph and Simon for respectively trying to knock some sense into me and cheer me up. Despite their valiant efforts I remain, as ever, your obedient miserable narcissist....
Buy No Logo... (February 28, 2001) I don't know when it came out, but the new edition of Naomi Klein's No Logo is now available, and should really be required reading for everyone who is sick of being sold to all the time, or resents the...
From when Tom visited Los Angeles... (February 28, 2001) la_taster.jpg
On 'Phatic language'... (February 28, 2001) Further to the Signal to Noise post I made earlier in the day, Ian from Blogadoon has pointed me in the direction of xrefer.com's definition of 'Phatic language'....
Do you dream the big dream? (February 28, 2001) WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS BAD WORDS: Words/phrases used all too frequently by my flatmates and I inside the flat, which occasionally creep out when I'm outside causing me embarrassment and derision from my co-workers: "That's just a pile of donkey...
On the Pixies... (February 28, 2001) The best band the world has ever seen release an album of their b-sides. It must be nearly a decade since they split up, but The Pixies still heavily occupy my mental landscape....
Buffy the Streetwalker... (February 28, 2001) Entertainment Newsflash: 'Buffy slapped by watchdogs for being too sexually explicit.' And thus proves that my old flatmate Pippa's descriptions of her as "Buffy the Street-Walker" aren't too far off the mark. In other Buffy news: "Sarah Michelle Gellar, the...
Signal to Noise on Community Sites... (February 28, 2001) Inspired by this post over in a thread at Metafilter about the signal to noise ration of community sites (which reminds me of this thread over at barbelith.com) I am beginning to think through the implications of information transmission and...
Never going to be famous... (February 27, 2001) It's slowly beginning to dawn on me that I'm never going to be famous, I'm never going to be truly exceptional, or lauded over - I'm never going to travel to the moon, I'm never going to kill someone, I'm...
On Connect Flo... (February 27, 2001) The terrifyingly able Pixelflo collective present their latest project: Connect Flo. Whatever the strategy that the computer uses is certainly effective. I may be only a beginner, but I haven't beaten it once!...
Rebirthing pure browsing via randomness... (February 27, 2001) I've been playing with my Surprise Me bookmarklet over at the Google Directory in an attempt to experience some parts of the internet that I wouldn't normally think of going to. My particular favourite random destinations so far have been:...
On bad posture in photographs... (February 27, 2001) "Watch Tom slouch. Slouch, Tom, slouch." My second link to an external gallery of the day contains pictures from Luke's birthday drink on Sunday night. [courtesy of Brainsluice and featuring Meg, Luke and Davo.]...
A badge for my financial impotence... (February 27, 2001) The new Apple PowerBook is gradually becoming a badge for my frustrations and financial impotence. Every morning as I head towards Time Out I see it lurking in Micro Anvika - mocking me and my financial circumstances, laughing at my...
The Malevolent Photographer... (February 27, 2001) Meg finally comes clean with images of the last blogmeet. She has decided to name the gallery in question, "Test Tubes of Pure Eeeeeeevil", which is a bit of a misnomer since it should clearly be called, "The Malevolent Photographer"....
The Wizard is a man after all... (February 27, 2001) Possibly the most fascinating part of this interview with Derek about Metafilter.com is that he still has a beige G3. Somehow deep inside I think I expected him to use a Kray Supercomputer to check his e-mail......
Blogger Past, Present and Future... (February 27, 2001) The first part of a three part interview with Ev about the past, present and future of Blogger [The state of the blog] includes some interesting information about the origins of the web-app. I started my weblog almost immediately after...
Stumbling around kvetching... (February 26, 2001) Found via a search for kvetch at haddock.org:...
What the Nexus used to look like... (February 26, 2001) Presenting a blast from the past - a snap-shot of the Barbelith Underground (neé Nexus) from just before Christmas 1999: Snapshot. There are many threads here that I thought were lost for ever....
What do I want from life? (February 26, 2001) I'm in a bit of a frenzy when it comes to online surveys at the moment. I can't seem to stop wanted to categorise or re-categorise myself. I suppose it's related to my desire to move jobs, and my attempts...
On moving on from Time Out... (February 26, 2001) London is gradually waking up. The darkness of winter slows the city's heartbeat, making our every action or movement an effort. But now things are getting brighter, the trees are on the brink of life, people seem to be slipping...
Happy Birthday Luke. (February 26, 2001) Happy Birthday Luke....
So I've just finished implementing (February 26, 2001) So I've just finished implementing the random image placement javascript device for plasticbag.org, based upon something I worked on a very long time ago. Unfortunately, while I've placed images, not all of them are (let us say) bearable. More to...
For everyone who has or (February 26, 2001) For everyone who has or is about to see this episode of Buffy (seen by me this evening after everyone (but Riaz) had gone to bed), the word you might want a definition of is: fulgent: ful·gent (fljnt, fl-) adj....
Newsflash: Prol launches Amsterdam Stories, (February 25, 2001) Newsflash: Prol launches Amsterdam Stories, still further extending Derek's burgeoning empire....
In order to more easily (February 24, 2001) In order to more easily conceptualise the angst-ridden period in question, I have changed the picture above to reflect the period concerned. Welcome to Tom circa 1995....
At this very moment, there (February 24, 2001) At this very moment, there is a party happening in my flat. There is noise from outside my bedroom, Radiohead is playing, and people are clearly having a very good time. I too am having a good time, but there...
Thanks for completing the (February 24, 2001) Thanks for completing the survey. Your Femininity Score is 3.75. Your Masculinity Score is 4.95. You are sex-typed in the masculine direction.[Bem Sex Role Inventory via prolific.org]...
I'm spending some of this (February 24, 2001) I'm spending some of this afternoon just trying to work out if I should care that this site looks appalling in Netscape 4....
So I'm feeling a little (February 24, 2001) So I'm feeling a little rough after last night's blog-meet - I suspect due to a confluence of factors including 1) Drinking three vodka tonics, 2) Drinking seven vodka jelly shots, 3) Drinking one green and one orange vial of...
Quote from Meg: "I've been (February 24, 2001) Quote from Meg: "I've been smelling Cake all day, and ... well, you know how cake smells like death...?"...
Attention Vodaphone Users: You can (February 23, 2001) Attention Vodaphone Users: You can contribute money for furniture for the Barbelith Underground and GBlogs rooms on Habbo Hotel simply by typing this text message into your mobile phone exactly and sending it to 8222: habbo credits Orlando 5. This...
With this evening comes yet (February 23, 2001) With this evening comes yet another excuse for a piss-up from the London weblogging contingent. Find out all the information (as ever) at meets.gblogs.org.uk....
Found via some article or (February 23, 2001) Found via some article or other at Wired that I loosely skimmed on a whim (while contemplating the vague tension in my bladder that might shortly require a trip to the lavatory), the site mentalhealth.com has provided me with a...
From the makers of (February 23, 2001) From the makers of Blue Jam: http://www.bishopslips.com...
Paul Burston on Eminem... (February 23, 2001) From London's Time Out Magazine: Feb 14-21 2001 No.1591 (presented without comment). "I'm writing this week's column under my hip new pseudonym, Thin Cloudy. So when I say that I want to incite acts of violence against Eminem, I hope...
Meg describes my life: A: (February 22, 2001) Meg describes my life: A: So, I've done the thing I was supposed to do. I've checked it and it's fine, but I thought I'd let you know before I get X to sign off on it. B: OK. Can...
Wearing a T-shirt makes you a terrorist? (February 22, 2001) Wearing a T-shirt makes you a terrorist: People often ask me why I don't agree with laws that - while they may be vague - if implemented properly will only benefit people. Well it's the vagueness that worries me. Saying...
Emode helps me decide about (February 22, 2001) Emode helps me decide about the future of my working life. Apparently I'm a rock star. You crave attention, the limelight, and the fawning admiration of millions. You walk fast and talk loud. You look important (even if you're not)....
Does anyone who reads plasticbag.org (February 22, 2001) Does anyone who reads plasticbag.org have much experience of, or work for, a company called Sapient? If so, could you drop me a line......
According to an old article (February 22, 2001) According to an old article I found archived today on news.bbc.co.uk, a single mutation in one individual human being could have resulted in the creation of language. This individual is therefore responsible for the explosion of art, culture, science and...
Via Blogger I've stumbled upon (February 22, 2001) Via Blogger I've stumbled upon nagportal.com - which appears to be some kind of Icelandic weblog / weblog portal. The most interesting part of it for me is the pulldown menu at the top left of the screen. It appears...
Weirdest Metafilter post ever?! (February 22, 2001) "We do not have to go on the way we've been going. For instance, if you like shaving cats, try shaving crayons; it's as good a way as any to practice shaving." (What the Fuck?)...
I've just stumbled upon the (February 22, 2001) I've just stumbled upon the first site that I put together with any degree of care - or at least what's left of it. It looks like I put up a holding page for it many many years ago and...
Today I spoke to Stinky (February 21, 2001) Today I spoke to Stinky Parker [•]....
Right. That's it. Whatever the (February 21, 2001) Right. That's it. Whatever the hell is wrong with my gut is being resolved right now. I haven't been feeling right for a while - it's like there's a nest of eels in my abdomen sometimes. Anyway, over the last...
Added Bonus Post! (February 21, 2001) [Added bonus post: This morning, free with every restless night involving going to sleep at 3.30am and being woken at 8am by builders hammering on the roof directly above my head, comes an extra post borne from frustration, exhaustion and...
It can't just be me (February 21, 2001) It can't just be me and my current disinterest in all things sexual that maintains that it is untrue that there is "Scientific proof that the only difference between a straight and a gay man is six beers"?...
Aspects of the Weblogger? P) (February 21, 2001) Aspects of the Weblogger? P) The Self-Aggrandizement as Art Form Aspect Q) The Self-Flagellation as Art Form Aspect R) The Self-Aggrandizement Disguised as Self-Flagellation as Even Higher Art Form Aspect S) The Self-Canonization Disguised as Self-Destruction Masquerading as Self-Aggrandizement Disguised...
I call this particular piece, (February 21, 2001) I call this particular piece, "Cheapskate Klu-Klux-Klan". It's from one of a series of not-particularly amusing, bitter, twisted (and poorly illustrated) cartoons I assembled a while back on a rainy day when I was grumpy at work. Note that the...
The current place-to-be on the (February 20, 2001) The current place-to-be on the internet at the moment is the Habbo Hotel - a cute, avatar-based chat area complete with bars, private rooms, games of poker, battleships and a disco. The private rooms are the best feature - anyone...
"Not every boy thrown to (February 20, 2001) "Not every boy thrown to the wolves becomes a hero." (J. Barth)...
Presenting (for a short time (February 19, 2001) Presenting (for a short time only): Billy Exorcist - the fusion of two astonishing works of cinematic genius. This flash movie was produced by Sean Nadeau (one of my LA hosts) and has never before been seen on the web....
They are both fascinating and (February 19, 2001) They are both fascinating and disturbing, and now Amazon's Honor Program's soon-to-be ubiquitous nature is being satirised over at Über: Filler Friday: Micropayments Are Stupid....
This is not time or (February 19, 2001) This is not time or place for dream-talk: But nonetheless, here I go: First of all, Pacey from Dawson's Creek was looking for an apartment and I think I was helping, except he couldn't find anywhere. Eventually he decided to...
And I quote: "Windows® XP (February 18, 2001) And I quote: "Windows® XP brings a new look to the familiar Windows user interface. Here's a first look at what the next generation has in store." It can't just be me that thinks that the interface looks childish, ugly...
A mixture of horror and (February 18, 2001) A mixture of horror and delight at being back in London swiftly turns to glee when I see the Buffy and Angel box-sets waiting for me, alongside a couple of books bought for me by Ganesh from the Underground. I'm...
So this evening I return (February 17, 2001) So this evening I return to London and have to face up to my life, find a job, do some washing and think about "the future". As I'm sure you can all imagine, returning to rain and responsibility is something...
The most popular super-hero team (February 17, 2001) The most popular super-hero team in the world (and stars of their own recent movie) are now to be written by Grant Morrison, a drug-crazed magician-abductee from Scotland and writer of the seminal Invisibles. See what they will look like:...
Just in case you're having (February 17, 2001) Just in case you're having difficulty tracing the time-lines of what I'm getting up to here, bear in mind that while plasticbag.org is currently working on GMT, I am not. Hence two posts in one day saying "Last night I...
Last night I went to (February 16, 2001) Last night I went to this LA gay bar called 'Rage' where there was an event called 'Varsity' where anyone over the age of eighteen can get in (although clearly they can't drink). In England, of course, this wouldn't be...
Thanks to all the Los (February 16, 2001) Thanks to all the Los Angeles residents and visitors from barbelith.com who kept me entertained yesterday, especially to Ralph who was particularly entertaining. Experience the thrill of the after-meet glow over on the Underground - and pass me a cigarette...
Sean, one of my hosts (February 16, 2001) Sean, one of my hosts in LA, has produced a great Flash movie that will shortly be doing the rounds of everyone's office PCs. It's a splice of a recent Brit-movie favourite and an esteemed horror classic. I'm going to...
Something from Glassdog.com... (February 15, 2001)
On Fictional Weblogging... (February 14, 2001) Ok - it's occurred to all of us at one time or another - weblogging is based upon the presumption of authenticity - people actually writing about their own lives. But this presumed authenticity is almost certainly to a greater...
Why weblogs are wonderful... (February 14, 2001) By writing about the Minor Musings piece on the reasons for 'weblogging', I suppose I'm really rather missing the point, but nonetheless it's worth talking about. I think it's important that we have these conversations (at least with ourselves) every...
I've found this internet café (February 14, 2001) I've found this internet café on Melrose called @coffee, which is quite cool, although vastly more expensive than places like easyeverything in London. It's given me a little time to relax with the net - write a little, think some...
Valentine's Day in Los Angeles (February 14, 2001) Valentine's Day in Los Angeles arrives the same way as every other day, as far as I can tell - I've been up since nine in the morning, and I can expect to wait until midday or one pm before...
In LA for the Oscar Nominations... (February 13, 2001) I'm in LA for the release of the Oscar nominations, and they are a fairly mixed bag. The most important categories (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Film, Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay) are mostly shared between 'Crouching...
Experimenting with Melatonin in the US... (February 12, 2001) I am currently trying out Melatonin pills as a way to regulate my sleep patterns while I'm out here, as not only do I have the eight hour time difference to deal with, but I also must content with my...
I've arrived in Los Angeles (February 12, 2001) I've arrived in Los Angeles (near Santa Monica and Vine if that means anything to anyone), and am experiencing yet again the wonders of sleep deprivation and chronic jet-lag. I'm not at my best at the moment, that much is...
Shortly to leave for Los Angeles... (February 10, 2001) Announcement: It is now 10am GMT, and in two hours I will be leaving my flat and heading trans-Atlantically to Los Angeles to stay with Kerry and Sean. Since the flight takes about eleven hours, I am unlikely to post...
$10 in Adwords (February 9, 2001) I've just invested $10 in buying sponsored links on Google because I thought it might be a laugh. It is indeed a laugh. I'm targeting people who don't have anything better to do with their time than muck around on...
Discovered via Wired: "Navel Gazing: (February 9, 2001) Discovered via Wired: "Navel Gazing: Britney Spears and the Semiotics of the Belly Button" as published by the online arm of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. "She was perfectly outfitted in the iconography of the coquette—pleated skirt, kneesocks, pigtails—but the key signifier...
Things to do when you (February 9, 2001) Things to do when you are bored: Heromachine.com: Make yourself a sexy superhero. They may all look gay, but that's only because they're sexy and cool and dress well. | You could go and see Hannibal (Salon Review) if you...
Los Angeles has shitty weather... (February 9, 2001) For a city that isn't supposed to have any seasons, for a city that is always supposed to be sunny, for a city that I'm travelling to tomorrow, Los Angeles doesn't appear to be having very good weather at...
What can I say? She's (February 9, 2001) What can I say? She's quite right - I should have spelt it out a little better: Oh and Tom is referring to the fact that I am actually a man and he has been secretly pining for me and...
I'm going to LA on (February 8, 2001) I'm going to LA on Saturday via Virgin Atlantic, and I'm really looking forward to it. Unfortunately I am so bored and frustrated that I honestly don't know if I can make it to Saturday without stabbing someone through the...
Thank you so much to (February 8, 2001) Thank you so much to Stefanie Noble, Herkimer High School Class of 97, perpetrator of fiendish thingy and progenitor of stef.net. You know what for!...
Being a rant about Green politics... (February 7, 2001) What is green politics for? Is 'saving the planet' really worth the effort? And is 'saving the planet' really what we're talking about anyway? If we are honest, people who talk about saving the planet are essentially talking about preserving...
Written for the 2nd Anniversary (February 7, 2001) Written for the 2nd Anniversary of Virulent Memes, Graham Freeman presents his personal history of the state of the weblog nation: "Two Years Is Nothing". These personal histories really appeal to me, but I'd be even more interested in people...
This postcard has nothing to (February 7, 2001) This postcard has nothing to do with my life whatsoever. Honest. Definitely. Courtesy of notsosoft.com/vd....
Right then kids, it's time (February 7, 2001) Right then kids, it's time to spread the love. Prol has finally hit the ludicrous excessive bandwidth charges that web-hosting companies can charge. And after all the support that I received when barbelith.com caused me $700 worth of damage, it's...
So last night, Luke and (February 6, 2001) So last night, Luke and I went to a press screening of Hannibal at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square. He had managed to get the tickets through work, and rang me just before six to see if I'd be...
So Matt goes to the (February 6, 2001) So Matt goes to the British Museum to take lots of photos and make a web-gallery of the visit, and does he e-mail me and ask if I'd like to go? Does he my arse....
Just in case my distaste (February 6, 2001) Just in case my distaste for the Valentine season wasn't obvious to everyone, I hereby present timeout.com's Valentine's Cards - all now with added bitterness and frustration and designed by yours truly....
I never really believed it (February 6, 2001) I never really believed it until this moment, but it looks like being mercenary really works. After my charming appeal (and the instituting of the wonderful flashing red thing to my right, I am shortly to receive three presents from...
I am rather more than (February 6, 2001) I am rather more than 86% sure that I am a man, so I'm not entirely sure what use the test is, but nonetheless it is entertaining....
On the Amazon Honor System... (February 6, 2001) Amazon have started the Amazon Honor System, which operates in a similar fashion to Paypal, except that it is specifically geared to get donations from people via a button on a web-site. Metafilter are already trying it out: Give Metafilter...
The Anti-Bloggies have been announced, (February 5, 2001) The Anti-Bloggies have been announced, and plasticbag.org is a winner again. Only this time, of course, it's - you know - less flattering. I made quite a push for "Most Banal Content" but in the end that went to SURVIVORblog2,...
Brief apologies to the people (February 5, 2001) Brief apologies to the people who are finding plasticbag.org at the top of Weblogs.com's update list all the time at the moment. This is due to the date and time black-strip above, which is fed in through an include. I'm...
With all these rules, one (February 4, 2001) With all these rules, one thing is clear to me - I'd be a useless gay man......
Two films in two days (February 4, 2001) Two films in two days - not bad going even for me. Friday night was Shadow of the Vampire with Pippa. Every individual scene of the movie was pretty much flawless - I don't think you could fault them if...
Have I ever told you (February 4, 2001) Have I ever told you how much I love that Meg Pickard woman?...
Writing a weblog is, I (February 4, 2001) Writing a weblog is, I suppose, much like squeezing oneself into a dinner-suit or glamorous frock every day in an attempt to make your rather ample or slight figure take on some kind of allure or interest to the general...
Yahoo's "Pay for position" program... (February 3, 2001) Yahoo launches a 'pay for position' program which takes the biggest (and one of the last) purely editorially-led directory sites slap bang into the commercial age of post-banner-ad dot-communism. All fairness to them - it's only in the Business categories,...
Personal URL displays on Metafilter... (February 3, 2001) An interesting feature that has recently appeared on Metafilter is the ability to view a list of every personal URL of every member, sorted randomly. Thousands of homepages, ripe for the plucking....
Tom and Manuela, yesterday. (February 3, 2001) Tom and Manuela, yesterday....
The Edible Buffy: Because the (February 3, 2001) The Edible Buffy: Because the Slayer's Gotta Eat"There are already a bazillion Buffy sites on the Internet, some specifically devoted to episode synopsis and analysis, the stars, the villains, and even the show's philosophy. I figured I'd make my site...
What's happening at Pyra? (February 2, 2001) Follow-ups on the situation at Pyra from: Matt Haughey, Metafilter, Meg Hourihan, Jack Saturn, Peter Merholz & Plastic.com. Also: Jack Saturn's resumé....
This is just a note (February 1, 2001) This is just a note to say that those of you who are frustrated about not being able to get through to Blogger.com should try posting through Newsblogger, as it appears to work OK....
Newsflash from Pyra "It's probably (February 1, 2001) Newsflash from Pyra "It's probably become obvious to the careful observer that all is not well in the Land of Pyra. Rather than wait for the public speculation and debate, I'm going to say what exactly is going on (from...
And the best weblog maintained (February 1, 2001) And the best weblog maintained by an Old World Poof goes to: me... I can get some work out of this, right? Congratulations to Zannah as well as all the other people who participated. In the words of an Oscar...
Suicide by milk...? (February 1, 2001) I got home from work last night at about seven with press copies of Buffy and Angel to watch, some tomato soup, ten lucky-dip lottery tickets and the prospect of two episodes of Sex in the City. Enjoyment of same...
