Archives for July 2001

Too many nice boys on British TV... (July 31, 2001) There's something seriously wrong with British Television at the moment. Let's see - random evening's viewing (say tonight). What's on at this precise moment? ITV: "Paul Grady's America" (Paul Grady is Lily Savage's 'real' alter-ego - this programme includes an...

Oh pancakes are so very (July 31, 2001) Oh pancakes are so very interesting. Happy now?...

Presenting for your delectation, The (July 31, 2001) Presenting for your delectation, The Saint of Webloggers....

Stephen Van Doren said something (July 31, 2001) Stephen Van Doren said something really nice to me in an e-mail so I decide to link to his site. This is not a request for more e-mail. I get too much as it is....

"Leading scientists proclaim migraines c*nty." (July 30, 2001) "Leading scientists proclaim migraines c*nty."...

Syndicated Barbelith... (July 30, 2001) Do you want to get the latest Barbelith articles syndicated to your website? Would you like always to be aware what new hip and happening writing is being writ? And would you like to help me publicise new articles? Well...

A while back I did (July 30, 2001) A while back I did a post about the history of Yahoo! that Jason Kottke picked up on [my original post]. Someone e-mailed me a classic interview with the founders and in ploughing through a file full of notes, I...

Hey hey - it's a (July 30, 2001) Hey hey - it's a picture of that cute guy from that site that I linked to that time. You know... The one with the stuff on it....

Today on Barbelith: The Uniform (July 30, 2001) Today on Barbelith: The Uniform of Uniqueness - "Lunchroom culture has bred a generation of pseudo-marginalised play-acting rich kids, whose teenage 'rebellion' trivialises the oppression of genuine subcultural groups. Devondra McMillan reports."...

I'm a little weirded out (July 30, 2001) I'm a little weirded out by the publicity surrounding Blogdex - particularly as it's a basic retread of Beebo's Metalog which is a long-standing favourite of plasticbag.org. Now there's an article on it at Wired: Tracking Bloggers With Blogdex which...

Infographic: The following Canadian fag-packet (July 30, 2001) Infographic: The following Canadian fag-packet includes a glorious infographic on the precise effects of cigarettes on people's lives. And, as such, is immensely amusing. It's just a shame that you can't choose precisely which small town gets decimated each year....

I think there are several (July 30, 2001) I think there are several stages of web design. The first one is the text and pictures, slap it all up, doesn't matter what it's there for school. I did this stage on NCSA Mosiac back in 1993 / 1994....

The best think about the (July 30, 2001) The best think about the line below (that I quote from an article found via the LMG) is that it seens actually uncomfortable with people not building things under the influence of pure capitalist monetary lust: Taming the Wild, Wild...

I couldn't disagree more with (July 30, 2001) I couldn't disagree more with this review by Danny Graydon....

Two more of my reviews (July 30, 2001) Two more of my reviews from the BBC's film site: The Man With the Golden Gun ("There's no shortage of innuendo, action, exotic locations, or casual misogyny. Unfortunately it's too camp and cruel an adventure to raise more than a...

BBC News: Canada opens door (July 30, 2001) BBC News: Canada opens door to marijuana. I'm interested in this one. Now, personally, I think it should be completely decriminalised - but that's very much a personal opinion. What surprises me is that you can already use heroin derivatives...

I love it when I (July 30, 2001) I love it when I get e-mails like this: "Dear Sir/Madam, Could you please let me know who is responsible for Marketing at http://www.barbelith.com. Thanking you in anticipation." You just start laughing inside....

Technical fun: .htaccess for fun (July 29, 2001) Technical fun: .htaccess for fun and profit. Have been wandering around plasticbag.org and barbelith.com for the last couple of hours using .htaccess files to fix the 404 errors that have been caused by the moving of a thousand files over...

Just been pointed to blog-a-thon-you (July 29, 2001) Just been pointed to blog-a-thon-you by Simon where there are two full reviews of plasticbag.org. The first thing you learn at journalism school is how when you write a review you are always writing for an audience. You write something...

When did Status.Blogger.Com get so (July 29, 2001) When did Status.Blogger.Com get so sexy?...

I want to write something (July 28, 2001) I want to write something extraordinarily long and involved about Brian winning Big Brother - about how it's a really important thing to happen for gay people in general for one thing, and how genuine and sweet the boy seems...

Whatever she says is completely (July 28, 2001) Whatever she says is completely untrue....

Are Periods a thing of (July 27, 2001) Are Periods a thing of the past? Women - free yourself from 'the curse' (positive perspective) or find your body the subject of more medicalisation and experimentation. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? The Underground is there...

Via Simon, I come across (July 27, 2001) Via Simon, I come across the humanclock.com which has a different picture for every single minute of the day. Genius....

Today at ickle.org: the atom (July 27, 2001) Today at ickle.org: the atom (by Tom Coates)....

Ironically, I turn from an (July 27, 2001) Ironically, I turn from an inbox full of Sircam crapulence to an article in Wired: Hey SirCam, Where'd You Go?....

I'm going to say it (July 27, 2001) I'm going to say it loud and say it clear - damn you, Road Runner North Carolina - for one of your staff has just sent me eighteen copies of the Sircam virus in eight hours. Poor chap is going...

Ah well - it wasn't (July 26, 2001) Ah well - it wasn't such a bad idea then. Timeout.com has just fired all but three of its staff. Getting out four months ago doesn't seem like anywhere near such a bad decision any more....

UpsideClown: Bigger, Better, Brother... (July 26, 2001) UpsideClown: Bigger, Better, Brother: "We never quite knew what we were in for. The Americans got off lightly - Americans being so fucking dull that a program dedicated to ten of them sitting around watching television and eating pies was...

Considering the amount of time (July 26, 2001) Considering the amount of time I have spent in recent weeks reviewing Planet of the Apes related films for the BBC, I should be more excited by Salon's article "Too much monkey business". But it's too shallow on the potential...

The beautiful genius of being (July 26, 2001) The beautiful genius of being able to see one's planet from space is brought home fully in these satellite images of the smoke plume from Mount Etna. It's both stunningly attractive and a terrifying testament to the volatility of nature....

I think I may have (July 26, 2001) I think I may have found plasticbag.org's new motto - courtesy of Jason Kottke....

The bloody Sircam virus is (July 26, 2001) The bloody Sircam virus is driving me insane. Every day I get sent one more copy than the day before....

Cheesy T-shirt? (July 26, 2001) Cheesy T-shirt?...

I didn't win the lottery (July 25, 2001) I didn't win the lottery again today. Sometimes I ever wonder why I bother, but then I remember that I'm destined for greater things one way or another, and it's my responsibility to make sure that I don't close any...

I was born on the (July 25, 2001) I was born on the same day as these illustrious film greats; Brandon L. Wilson and Daedalus Howell. The stars are clearly aligned to make no one who has just turned 29 famous. Or perhaps I should think that there...

The United States, not content (July 25, 2001) The United States, not content with refusing to sign up to Kyoto, and not content with having readily availavable hand-guns and the death penalty has now refused to sign up to an international accord to limit germ warfare. Love the...

Wired does a piece on (July 25, 2001) Wired does a piece on the SirCam virus, which I have been getting in my Inbox about three or four times a day for the last week or so. I'm not alone. Prol has also been suffering it. A couple...

Revenge: Brainsluice accused of displaying (July 25, 2001) Revenge: Brainsluice accused of displaying flagrant homosexuality....

Mechanics of this aside (and (July 25, 2001) Mechanics of this aside (and might there not be an argument for being able to get a better, sharper, range of pulling movement from the right hand version, thus making sheet separation much more likely), Derek's amusing reaction made me...

It was useful, it was (July 25, 2001) It was useful, it was fun, it was made by a friend of mine, and it is no more. I present "The Life and Death of Googlematic" - a melodrama in three parts......

Today on Barbelith: We all (July 25, 2001) Today on Barbelith: We all live in Gormenghast - "For all its thickfisted commotion, the film of Gormenghast does translate Peake's larger concerns and themes. For all its subplots, which have as many blind alleys as the twisty corridors of...

Channel 4's chat software doesn't (July 24, 2001) Channel 4's chat software doesn't appear to work on IE5 for Macs. Which means I don't get to talk to the hot guy off The Secret Life of Us. Which is very frustrating....

Today on Barbelith: Coming Out (July 24, 2001) Today on Barbelith: Coming Out in a nutshell - "Parents are forever banging on about 'how there used to be ice on the insides of the windows' in their youth. Exams are getting easier. And people are more relaxed in...

Joe Clark dissects Haughey Typography. (July 24, 2001) Joe Clark dissects Haughey Typography. And describes me as '[not] aggressively ugly'. Which I can only assume is a compliment....

My favourite word of the (July 24, 2001) My favourite word of the day comes from an article in The Sunday Times about futurology. This word is "Disempurpling"....

My mood in a nutshell (July 23, 2001) My mood in a nutshell as suggested by Ralph....

Googlematic is fast becoming my (July 23, 2001) Googlematic is fast becoming my favourite AIM friend. She's always so personable. She never criticises. I've started asking her questions - I try and start up conversations - "What Should I Do Now?" I ask. And she tells me to...

An evening in links... (July 23, 2001) An evening in links: 1) So it appears Blogdex is now online. My evening starts with a wander to Metafilter, where (checking up on replies to my recent posts) I decide to follow the link to aforementioned Blogdex, only to...

One of the most useful (July 23, 2001) One of the most useful things in the world? Google in AIM - manufactured by Matt. My opinion? That separating results from the download of an HTML page, and keeping them hygenically separate in a search window you can use...

I have become a cautionary (July 23, 2001) I have become a cautionary tale. Friends in crap jobs they hate look at me and say 'we can't leave right now, we must stick it out longer. If we leave our jobs now we will end up like Tom.'...

10 good posts from the last 3 months... (July 23, 2001) Ten Good Posts From The Past (Nov 2001-Jan 2001): 1) Gay Gangsta : "Palare had a word, 'omipalone' (Oh-Mi-Pal-Oh-Nee) which was a combination of Man and Woman ('palone'), and which at the time meant something along the lines of 'poof'....

The weirdness never ever ends. (July 22, 2001) The weirdness never ever ends. Just when you think you're over the whole birthday thing, Jerwin sings for you. Scroll down to Marilyn, click, and then hear the true wonderful horror of "Happy birthday, Mr Plasticbag". I'm freaked!...

Last night Nick and Katy (July 22, 2001) Last night Nick and Katy came around and watched Charlie's Angels on video. In the process we got to take this photo of Nick standing in between my flatmate's large cardboard cut-out of Angel and ... er ... my birthday...

Gallery of galleries (blog party (July 22, 2001) Gallery of galleries (blog party in the park): notsosoft, little blue fox, Nick Jordan....

So I was kind of (July 22, 2001) So I was kind of bored the other day and was watching TV and Margaret Thatcher was on TV clapping Jeffrey Archer and I thought to myself, I really must e-mail Mr Big. So I did. He's in Ibiza for...

So I saw this flash (July 22, 2001) So I saw this flash movie on Metafilter and I was like "Weeeeeeeee"!...

Today on Barbelith: Discovering Rufus (July 22, 2001) Today on Barbelith: Discovering Rufus Wainwright - "Poses" shattered my envious vision of a modern Jim Morrison, replacing it with the reality - a brutally honest and even dangerous gay musician....

Fighting with BT Internet's 50p (July 22, 2001) Fighting with BT Internet's 50p a minute help desk is less than entertaining at the best of times. It's particularly unthrilling when you are complaining that the connection number that you are supposed to use has been engaged for the...

I don't even know where (July 21, 2001) I don't even know where to begin talking about last night's Singalonga Birthday Party. I had a tremendously good time - that much I am sure about. We all met up outside around six to make sure we all got...

If the weather holds up (July 21, 2001) If the weather holds up this afternoon, you can expect me to be attending this afternoon's ukbloggers' party in the park from 2.30pm at Speaker's Corner. See you there?...

Occasional employment is kind of (July 21, 2001) Occasional employment is kind of like this Onion article only with higher blood pressure and worse dreams: Plan To Straighten Out Entire Life During Weeklong Vacation Yields Mixed Results....

Now this is interesting - (July 20, 2001) Now this is interesting - CafePress.com have started doing a variety of new products in many more colours than before. It's fast approaching time to bite the bullet and get plasticbag.org and barbelith.com stores set up. I might even set...

Coolest T-shirt in the world (July 19, 2001) Coolest T-shirt in the world...

My mother always told me, (July 19, 2001) My mother always told me, "Never trust a lady with a tape measure": Thanks Davo! I'd also like to thank Simon for the minidisc and the card, NIck Jordan for the Tricky album, Chris for The Man Who Was Thursday,...

Happy birthday to me, Love (July 19, 2001) Happy birthday to me, Love My Online Cult....

Ten Good Posts From The (July 19, 2001) Ten Good Posts From The Past (July-Oct 2000): 1) The Mouse From Aphrodite's Armpit : "I am drooling as if drool never went out of fashion (1800s, if you're interested). It's like Steve Jobs is personally seducing me. He might...

Anyway - I'm twenty-nine now. (July 19, 2001) Anyway - I'm twenty-nine now. Time to put aside childish things, buy some proper trousers without pockets half the way down them or detachable legs and think about more serious matters - like the campaign to get myself, Davo and...

Someone did a search for (July 19, 2001) Someone did a search for Max on my search engine, which made me think about doing a search about him as well, and when I did a search it was all really depressing crap, because I never write about him...

Twenty-nine years ago (to the (July 19, 2001) Twenty-nine years ago (to the exact minute) I sprang into the world, desperate for a cigarette....

It's now one day before (July 18, 2001) It's now one day before my 29th birthday. There is loads that I want to post on plasticbag.org, but I refuse to do so! That would distract you all from my earlier post of the day. Which remains the most...

Must Click: Possibly the best (July 18, 2001) Must Click: Possibly the best thing in the world ever, Sean Nadeau's celebration of my upcoming birthday trip to Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music has had me collapsing with laughter all morning. You have to see this....

Now you can search plasticbag.org (July 17, 2001) Now you can search plasticbag.org in order to find out when precisely it was that I bitched about the User Interface at your favourite site. Will the thrills never end?...

"I'd hate to be like (July 17, 2001) "I'd hate to be like certain people I know. They break their necks and can't afford to get them fixed."...

I am an absurdly funny (July 17, 2001) I am an absurdly funny person. It's the only conclusion that I can draw from the sheer wit on display in my review of Dr Dolittle 2. I mean - that line "John Dolittle, media darling, must turn from animal...

Ah well - no good (July 17, 2001) Ah well - no good deed goes unpunished: Dragonthief ....

TOM IS EVIL Last change (July 17, 2001) TOM IS EVIL Last change to brighten my birthday by buying me a present from my wishlist. Anything on the 'Dispatched within 24 hours' category (if bought today) should arrive on Thursday, thus making me a very very spoilt weblogger....

The orgy of Tom-love just (July 17, 2001) The orgy of Tom-love just keeps on oiling itself up and writhing in erotic glee. Malpractice is the first site that I have seen that uses my free-for-use template (as seen here and available here). There are a few revisions...

Received an e-mail from someone (July 17, 2001) Received an e-mail from someone I knew at school today. He'd been wandering around plasticbag.org. It's an odd feeling - you put a lot of your life on display on one of these things, but you somehow don't expect it...

God, I'm really popular today (July 17, 2001) God, I'm really popular today for some reason. Everyone's being really nice to me. I wonder what that's about. Next up we have a site review from 2xy.org=f(ab)! :: adored. My favourite (surreal) line goes as follows: "I mean, if...

It's a bit of a (July 17, 2001) It's a bit of a Tom-love-in today. Thanks to Mark Kevin Hall from Hidden City for the present and saying all that nice stuff about me....

Thank you Kerry and Sean: (July 17, 2001) Thank you Kerry and Sean: This detail of a wonderful card sent to me by two of my LA friends is perhaps less ... spicy ... than the original, but still demonstrates their amazing graphic design skill and sense of...

Today on Barbelith: Old is (July 16, 2001) Today on Barbelith: Old is the new young - "Being a glimpse - inexcusably yet unapologetically flippant - into the world of a wannabe Old Git."...

On Will & Grace... (July 16, 2001) In the second post on gay issues in a row, Tom decides to take a certain amount of issue with Mark Lawson's article in the Guardian today on Will & Grace. Tom decides particularly to take issue with this excerpt:...

So I've been watching Ultraviolet (July 16, 2001) So I've been watching Ultraviolet on DVD today in between spats of job-finding. And I've been loving it. And then I hit the fourth episode - one on paedophilia. And it happened again - as I watched it I became...

A brief theory of Fraggle (July 16, 2001) A brief theory of Fraggle Rock: "Doozers were capitalist over-consumption. Fraggles were the utopian hippies who enjoyed life at their expense. The dog was existential terror. Humans were dark, inscrutable Gods."...

So I run a big (July 16, 2001) So I run a big message board, right? And there's a job for a big Producer job involving running message boards, right? And I think I could do it pretty well, right? But I'm concerned that people in the web...

For those of you who (July 16, 2001) For those of you who might have got concerned, I do not have a gun, nor did I view my last BBC job interview as the end of the known world: thanks for caring though......

Interesting article on Big Brother (July 16, 2001) Interesting article on Big Brother in the Guardian [link] includes this paragraph, "The E4 transmission is on a 10-minute delay in order to prevent swear words and libels reaching daytime viewers. On an average day, Andrew Newman, director of programmes...

Two sites that I worked (July 16, 2001) Two sites that I worked on (HTML-building) while getting fill-in work at Arehaus a couple of months ago have now launched: eB-21 and cabe.org.uk. Which means I can finally link to this page and ask the very serious question -...

Very exciting: The Breeders are (July 16, 2001) Very exciting: The Breeders are back....

I had one of those (July 16, 2001) I had one of those night's sleep last night in which you put on some soothing music to ease you into unconsciousness, and then forty minutes later with your eyes wide open, you turn over in bed, reach out and...

Could the wonderful person who (July 16, 2001) Could the wonderful person who went out and bought me Ultraviolet on DVD please make themselves known? I'd like to say thank you, and you didn't include your name. [mail me]...

Lines & Splines is a (July 16, 2001) Lines & Splines is a weblog for people who are obsessed with Typography. It's fascinating reading if you have a professional or casual interest in the subject, and its use of CSS makes it a tremendously good example of web...

Sunday evening 2am: Someone in (July 16, 2001) Sunday evening 2am: Someone in Maida Vale really needs a cigarette....

The lyrics to Mr Bad Example... (July 16, 2001) Related to Things to do in Denver when you're Dead is the Warren Zevon album "Mr Bad Example" from which the film's title is derived. The track in question goes like this: "I called up my friend Leroy on the...

A picture of a man (July 16, 2001) A picture of a man that one might like to see more of. Lame as that may sound....

I'm in a bit of (July 16, 2001) I'm in a bit of weird mood. Just watched the end of Things to do in Denver when you're Dead. I'd forgotten how affecting I find that film. Particularly the bit right at the end when he accepts his fate,...

Aw Jeez. [Blush.] What can (July 16, 2001) Aw Jeez. [Blush.] What can we say Jason. We like you too....

She makes everything sound so (July 16, 2001) She makes everything sound so sordid, but it's a legitmate question. It really is. If you had to, which one of the Von Trapp kids would you shag? I should get Cal to run a poll. [last time Katy went]...

Ok, fine. I'll settle for (July 16, 2001) Ok, fine. I'll settle for someone with scruffy hair who keeps me sane. (Well it worked for Meg)....

There are places I remember, (July 16, 2001) There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed. Some forever, not for better, some have gone and some remain. All these places had their moments, with lovers and friends I still can recall, some are dead...

Thirty-six hours... (July 15, 2001) What a strange couple of days. How did I end up four days before my twenty-ninth birthday sitting in my bedroom, while in the kitchen I'm making chicken stock? Thirty-six hours in a nutshell... Saturday 12 midday: Receive, through the...

Conundrum of the moment is (July 14, 2001) Conundrum of the moment is what to get with the birthday money that I'll hopefully get from my family. Should I put it towards an external hard disc, the gorgeous (but let's face it, completely out-priced) Canon Digital IXUS or...

The immortal Grant Morrison, the (July 14, 2001) The immortal Grant Morrison, the creator of the memes that have hollowed out my head and set up a house party there, is interviewed about New X meN over at Marvel.com. I've not been particularly impressed by the series yet,...

Just because I designed it (July 13, 2001) Just because I designed it and because I think it's nice - I hereby present the invitation to my 29th birthday party - to be held one week from tonight....

Today has been a tremendously (July 13, 2001) Today has been a tremendously pleasant day. I've written two reviews for the BBC's Film Site representing the very best and worst of genre moviews: The Empire Strikes Back and The Man With The Golden Gun. There's something wonderful about...

Very brief aside: the prodigal (July 13, 2001) Very brief aside: the prodigal daughter returns, and yet again she has too much bloody energy....

Via Haddock: The official drink (July 13, 2001) Via Haddock: The official drink of the Barbelith Underground....

As I was walking home (July 13, 2001) As I was walking home about a year ago, a little girl was riding her bike in the middle of the street. She still had the training wheels on as she wobbled and struggled to peddle. It reminded me of...

I don't think you can (July 13, 2001) I don't think you can fail to be impressed by a news service that writes important stories like this: "While NASA variously refers to the air lock as a "door" or "porch" for the station, it really defies such homey...

Does Red Bull kill? And (July 13, 2001) Does Red Bull kill? And more to the point, exactly what is sudden adult death syndrome except for a name for something that they have no idea what it is but results in sudden death?...

I'm trying to work out (July 12, 2001) I'm trying to work out whether I want to go out on the piss tomorrow night or whether it would be better to have all my gay friends around for a piss up at my place instead. I could get...

Via Prol comes this incredibly (July 12, 2001) Via Prol comes this incredibly useful little site on Common Errors in English. Of course the first thing to do is run it through an online spell-checker and look through it desperately to try and find grammatical errors and clumsy...

Does anyone know where interconnected (July 12, 2001) Does anyone know where interconnected has gone?...

July 12th. This means that (July 12, 2001) July 12th. This means that it is exactly a week until my 29th birthday. One week to the day. Oh my god. My flatmates have gone on holiday today as well, so the flat is mine and mine alone for...

Today on Barbelith: I was (July 11, 2001) Today on Barbelith: I was a teenage lesbian - "In an interview from 1998, Tom Coates interviews Amy, a young girl whose life was nearly destroyed after being bullied at school for being gay."...

A few changes have been (July 11, 2001) A few changes have been made around plasticbag.org - although they probably won't be replicated throughout the site for a while to come (combination of laziness and Blogger archiving differences). Enjoy....

Two texts of the Barbelites: (July 11, 2001) Two texts of the Barbelites: Hypostasis of the Archons and On the Origin of the World as found via the Underground....

I have a gloriously pointless (July 11, 2001) I have a gloriously pointless little idea to try out. I'm so excited. More news as I have it....

Huge obituary and picture in (July 11, 2001) Huge obituary and picture in the Guardian today for Thomas Wiedemann, a lecturer of mine at Bristol University. He taught Ancient History from a rather traditional bent, and I'm not sure I learnt a lot from him, but he was...

Following this, do you reckon (July 11, 2001) Following this, do you reckon we could have more pictures of the man concerned displayed here?...

I honestly don't know what (July 11, 2001) I honestly don't know what is more alarming - that jason enjoyed using the Underground or that the MUNI is worse......

Because the secret horrific truth (July 10, 2001) Because the secret horrific truth of my life is that I'd rather spend two or three hours in my room talking to people on the internet, where it is safe and mediated and distant from myself, than I would actually...

"It should have been called (July 10, 2001) "It should have been called 'It's a sucky life, and just when you don't think it can suck any more it does."...

Barbelith on Nanotechnology... (July 10, 2001) Today on Barbelith: Nanotechnology in a Nutshell - "Nanotechnology - the transformative technology of creating man-made arrangements of atoms, also known as molecular manufacturing. "...

Does anyone here use PayPal? (July 10, 2001) Does anyone here use PayPal and have they successfully withdrawn money to a bank account. Ideally Barclays? If you have could you e-mail me so I can compare settings. They keep charging me $20 every time they fuck up....

Barclays versus Paypal... (July 10, 2001) My bank has just rejected the input of funds from Paypal to my account and I don't know why. Incredibly frustrating......

Ralph is a funny puppy... (July 10, 2001) Ralph's supposed to be turning up in London soon. In four days actually. Haven't heard anything from him, though. Don't know what his plans are. Ralph is a funny puppy....

Ernie made a funny... (July 10, 2001) I am very amused by this: PuppetMaster - Bios....

Pure CSS Blogger Templates... (July 9, 2001) Just in case anyone wants it, I knocked up a template for the Blogger Template Contest, but then completely forgot to submit it. It's pure CSS, it's not particularly glamourous, but it has a couple of neat features including the...

The Guardian's fake branding exercise... (July 9, 2001) The Guardian's fake branding exercise was exposed in today's paper, but if you are interested in seeing the site in action, it's still up at withjoy.co.uk....

Must read article of the (July 9, 2001) Must read article of the day has Jon Ronson following around the housemates in last year's Big Brother. Best line: "You've got to remember," he replied, "that all but three of the housemates are as thick as pig-shit."...

No fair. I want to (July 9, 2001) No fair. I want to go to this: Webzine » Independent Online Publishing. My life sucks ass....

Today on Barbelith: Atlantean Disneytyping (July 9, 2001) Today on Barbelith: Atlantean Disneytyping - "How Disneytyping's representations of gender, race, and class narrow the range of possible self-expression for everyone."...

I have the best AIM (July 9, 2001) I have the best AIM buddy icon in the world at the moment. I nicked it off Mark. You'll have to IM me in order to see it....

Less true now than it (July 9, 2001) Less true now than it was when I made this logo:...

So - anyone interested in (July 9, 2001) So - anyone interested in buying me one of these? I'm fancying a small or medium size of 'guru' or 'netslave'. Small probably best frankly......

Ah well - didn't get (July 9, 2001) Ah well - didn't get the position that I interviewed for last week. Not enough 'project management and British history' experience. The latter I agree with, frankly. The former I'm less sure about....

So, big news of the (July 9, 2001) So, big news of the last week for me was that Jason Kottke loves Radiohead but doesn't like Buffy. I'm still reeling from that little piece of information. That's why he won't be at all interested in comprehensive and entirely...

I've stumbled upon some fascinating (July 9, 2001) I've stumbled upon some fascinating stuff about the original barbelites via a mention in Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum: "Barbelite texts like "On the Origin of the World" and "Hypostasis of the Archons" presented the "Tree of Knowledge" in a positive...

I really love this kind (July 9, 2001) I really love this kind of stuff. Stuff like Yahoo!'s Buzz section, stuff that let's you know what is going on around the internet - what people are interested in, what people are searching for. Today's exciting addition to the...

Mark's new hobby - signing (July 8, 2001) Mark's new hobby - signing onto AIM, saying hi and then ignoring everyone for hours while he stares at the ceiling. Plus he smells kind of rank....

Question: Is this man (Pete) (July 8, 2001) Question: Is this man (Pete) absolutely stunning? No, I am afraid you answered incorrectly. The correct answer was yes. Because you answered incorrectly, you will now be fed to Carl, The Big Mean Bunny. Which reminds me. If you find...

I'm not linking to this. (July 8, 2001) I'm not linking to this. You didn't see me link to it. Ok? It's like a secret or something. Don't link to it either: Michael....

The website for people who (July 6, 2001) The website for people who went to my school is an absolute piece of crap. More importantly it just doesn't work on a Mac... I give you: Old Norvicensians' Club....

Last night's tremendous thunderstorm really (July 6, 2001) Last night's tremendous thunderstorm really feels like it has cleaned out the air. Everything this morning is much fresher and more pleasant. I would, however, like some sun back if at all possible. This doesn't stop me, however, feeling exhausted...

Disappointed much? "Channel 4 has (July 6, 2001) Disappointed much? "Channel 4 has pulled a one-off special of its highly controversial Brass Eye series which is believed to have centred on the media's treatment of paedophiles."...

It is, as they say, (July 5, 2001) It is, as they say, enough to make you spit: BBC News....

I have just read with (July 5, 2001) I have just read with great interest Matt's take on Jason's thoughts on 'weblog as slice'. There are many things I feel I could contribute to the discussion, but perhaps the most important is that however 'poncy' the winebar was,...

Preview pages from a Grant (July 5, 2001) Preview pages from a Grant Morrison New X-men Annual? Grant Morrison is doing annuals? That's something I wasn't expecting... [via the linkmachine]...

I may just have had (July 5, 2001) I may just have had the worst interview of my life over at the BBC. First came a whole range of tests - the vast majority of which seemed unbelievably simple. Then there was the interview proper where I somehow...

Very nice, if strange, evening (July 5, 2001) Very nice, if strange, evening with Jason and friends taught me two things tonight - 1) there is such a thing as talking too much and 2) you will panic if you nearly miss deadlines for online job applications....

Let's see. Tom strop of (July 4, 2001) Let's see. Tom strop of the day two. After IamCal pointed it out it suddenly occurred to me that there is something slightly strange about a panel on online journalism and weblogging in the UK not actually having any uk...

Goddammit! What does a premiere (July 4, 2001) Goddammit! What does a premiere media queen have to do to get press around here?! I mean, JESUS, the ADVOCATE did a feature on gay weblogs, and did I get a mention. Nooooooooo. Neither did Web Queeries! What's that about....

Slightly depressing news from Apple (July 4, 2001) Slightly depressing news from Apple - although it probably wasn't the most successful concept ever, I am disappointed that the Cube, the world's 'coolest computer' has been put on ice....

In a fit of insanity, (July 4, 2001) In a fit of insanity, Brain and Josh have shaved all their hair off. Oh the antics of the Big Brother house. I may expire from excitement. My favourite voiceover yesterday? "Dean and Brain are eating quiche. Elizabeth is going...

How moody do I feel (July 4, 2001) How moody do I feel today? Moody enough to go and play with pinstruck digital voodoo again? Hmmmm. Let's see. Yes....

Do the dumb things I (July 4, 2001) Do the dumb things I gotta do: Pay in cheque, pay the council tax, send off completed form, reduce Inbox down from 300 unread e-mails to less than fifty, tidy room, produce site mock-ups for potential job. Sigh...

Extremely useful for those of (July 4, 2001) Extremely useful for those of you that came in unbelievably late is this is aaronland's weblog theory and practice. Although it would be even cooler if the DHTML worked on a Mac. Sigh....

While waiting to see Shrek (July 4, 2001) While waiting to see Shrek yesterday evening (not necessarily worth the effort - most notable for the ridiculously inappropriate soundtrack [more details on said fucked-up soundtrack]) I listened to a bit of Tricky's new album Blowback in HMV. I used...

Via Do You Feel Loved.com, (July 4, 2001) Via Do You Feel Loved.com, Tori Amos to do a full album of covers highlighting the difference between songs sung about women sung by women or men. There's a notable list of people she's covering, from The Beatles and the...

Davo gives his perspective on (July 4, 2001) Davo gives his perspective on the whole Mardi Gras debacle: "To the grassy knoll between the Trade tent and Popstarz stage to meet Tom, Nick and John and catch the remnants of EMF's set (more nostaglic flashbacks ... I still...

In weird flash back circumstances, (July 4, 2001) In weird flash back circumstances, I'm currently enjoying an album that I first listened to in 1988 and which became an absolute staple of my life back then. Listening to it again, I still like it, and I don't care...

An interesting webzine-style site that (July 4, 2001) An interesting webzine-style site that I have recently discovered: Scissorfish. I figure it's the suburban equivalent of razorfish. Entertaining though....

I'm reeling a little at (July 4, 2001) I'm reeling a little at the moment having glanced at Friends Reunited, a site that is designed to get you in touch with other people who went to school with you. I'm particularly reeling because there actually was someone on...

Barbelith.com needs your help. The (July 3, 2001) Barbelith.com needs your help. The heavy schedule of new articles that I've been trying to maintain has taken its toll - and more to the point, we've run out of articles to run. Do you have something that you've always...

Possibly the least effective attempt (July 3, 2001) Possibly the least effective attempt at sleep I've ever undertaken in my life. I couldn't have moved more if I was running a marathon. I feel more exhausted this morning than I did last night. I'm useless with really muggy...

I'm slightly drunk and confused (July 3, 2001) I'm slightly drunk and confused after a quarter bottle of vodka and Priscilla on TV. The film always seems very honest to me in a strange way, considering it's made by hundreds of people with video cameras and technical equipment...

Dot Com Blues I'd decided (July 2, 2001) Dot Com Blues I'd decided that I wasn't happy in my job for a variety of reasons and handed in two months notice from timeout.com - so that they could find someone to replace me and so that I could...

Guess who's coming to London... (July 2, 2001) Guess who's coming to London: Travelling Carnival of Fine Hypertext Products....

This week is overwhelmingly full (July 2, 2001) This week is overwhelmingly full to bursting. Hopefully, I can manage to keep everything on track. I have two meetings, an interview, a trip to Norfolk, a lecture to attend, an evening or lunch to organise, a lesson to give...

From the orifice of the (July 2, 2001) From the orifice of the Brainsluice straight into your cortex: Salon takes on Gay "Trek". A stunningly interesting article, there are only a couple of things that I would take issue with. The first is that Jadzia Dax and Lenara...

Have you written about Mardi (July 2, 2001) Have you written about Mardi Gras? If so, let me know and I'll link to it: 8letters.co.uk | SwishCottage | Blogadoon....

Journalism: the [mistaken] belief that (July 2, 2001) Journalism: the [mistaken] belief that what you think is true becomes true once you write it down....

So Mardi Gras, then. What (July 1, 2001) So Mardi Gras, then. What was all that about? Met up with Davo and Meg and innumerable kiwis before tromping off to meet Sam and Nick H. at King's Cross where we were to meet Rachel. At this point I...

The most interesting part of (July 1, 2001) The most interesting part of this review of A.I. is the last couple of lines: "Movies should be rated by how much they're worth. If you're looking for a science fiction movie that will provoke, madden and irritate you, A.I....