Saturday 28 November 2009

Testing testing

Through work I have just got hold of MacSpeech Dictate. This is a talk/type application that allows you to talk and your Mac will magically type what you are saying, sort of. You do have to remember to say the words "full stop" if you want a ".", along with other such commands. This can be problematic. For example if you want to say the word "ampersand" rather than have an "&" , or if you want to say the word "comma" rather than have a "," .

I am using this software to create this post and I initially refused to go back and correct mistakes via my keyboard. However, that notion didn't last long because aspects of the last sentence of the last paragraph were completely nonsensical Due to the fact that I couldn't say the word "comma" without the software placing a "," where I wanted the word. Teething problems aside, I can see how this is going to be very useful in helping me manage my RSI.

Now for some swearing; Buck, sheet, bollocks. 1 out of 3! Not so good.

It will be interesting to see whether using this application with effect the way I talk and write. So, if you should bump into me and I keep saying the word comma, and if in future posts you keep reading the word Buck, then you will know that the software and I are starting to merge!

Friday 27 November 2009

Father of the dead



"Sir Christopher Meyer, testifying to the Chilcot inquiry into Britain's role in the war, made it clear that once the Bush administration decided to take military action, the Blair government never considered opting out or opposing it."
Source: The Guardian

The Iraq Inquiry
Iraq Body Count

Saturday 7 November 2009

Annual review

Puzzled with what to do with the Photo Booth application that came with my computer when I bought it a year ago, I decided to map my balding. Here is the first annual review.



I am not obsessed with going bald, merely interested in mapping its development.

I long ago gave up the notion that I would ever be able to grow a mohican again.

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Waxing lyrical

Waxing Captors replace Pindown in upcoming Antigen Records gig at The Blue Room, McGintys, Ipswich on 5th December with Bring Back Her Head and These Are End Times.
More details from
http://www.myspace.com/antigenrecords


Sunday 1 November 2009

Tickle the eye



Went to the excellent Mariscal Drawing Life exhibition at the Design Museum on Friday with Claire, Lindsay and some graphic design students. I typed a lengthy review earlier today that also detailed our visit to Tate Modern to see the disappointing Pop Life exhibition and the interesting John Baldessari Pure Beauty show. Unfortunately I managed to lose it all before I posted it! Hmmm, that'll teach me to type long posts directly into blogger while also uploading photos and creating links. Better to type it in TextEdit and paste it over later. Oh well. You'll have to make do with the links below because I'm not typing it all again. That said, I do want to quote Mariscal, who wrote many things on the walls of the exhibition but this made me smile: "We all want drawings to tickle the eye". I'll second that emotion.

Photos from Drawing Life on Dubdog@Flickr.

Design Museum website.

Drawing Life exhibition blog.

Pop Life at Tate Modern.

Pure Beauty at Tate Modern.

Bins of the beast