nemof.org blog

Well I just got a call from my job shop, work has been cancelled again. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that now I am part of the rat race, I get tossed about like so much limp lettuce. Yesterday I turned up for work only to be told my shift had been cancelled, and five minutes after being told (after having travelling an hour across town) I get a text from the job shop saying ‘oh by the way, works cancelled’. Great.

I was going to write a blog today complaining about how unproductive my last few days have been, but it’s really not been that bad. However, the unpredictability of temporary work contracts has got my neck hair up and I feel like beating my chest about it. I mean, I’m not special in any respect and there are a million other people who have to put up with exactly the same as me, that’s not what is bothering me, it’s how little my time is worth to others.

It makes you wonder when you are working a £6.50/hr shift that may or may not happen, whether there is something you forgot to do earlier in life or you’re on the receiving end of a karmic smack down from some unhappy God. I mean I know I stood on top of storm swept hills waving copper pipes back and forth, cursing your name and denying your existence, but come on Dude, give me a break!

Unfortunately I know the honest truth of the situation is that I am gonna be my own salvation, if I can pull my finger out. I need to start transcribing notes about my book before I start to ebb again. It’s just hard to get a grips on something like this, I can turn my hand to most things but when I look at the totality of my project it is extremely intimidating. I think I need to read up on how other authors get their books off the ground.

Now onto another matter, that of one of my favourite websites, lifehacker.com. Yesterday they launched the new design, and it’s dreadful. I am not the most charitable person so go and take a look for yourself. Compare it to the old lifehacker to give yourself an idea of the difference. Admittedly the old lifehacker suffered from some clichés such as scanlines, ‘horrible generic stock art woman hostess lady’ background and a severe fixed width design but it was eminently readable and enjoyable for its simplicity.

The one most commented factor that disturbs the design of the new LH is the placement of the left hand adverts. Among other things as some have commented it’s more normal to place skyscraper style adverts on the right hand side of the screen, and while LH are trying to be edgy and go that extra inch to get you to pay attention to the ads they just end up being incredibly intrusive. They are on par with pop over flash adverts, or those unfurling pages which you see in the corner of your browser window which ‘turn the page’ when you mouse over them.

I don’t want to complain too much about the overhaul, as I think it could be fixed with a few tweaks.

If you hadn’t noticed it’s a simple two column layout, and that’s just fine for this kind of site. However there is a massive transgression with the adverts pushing out into the second column, from the left. Simply  put they need to be horizontally centred in the left hand column.

Secondly, the main content is under a 728px banner advert, but not center aligned to it, this looks absolutely hideous. Either move the banner or move the content.

These are the two biggest faux pas in my estimation, and of course in the end this is just my preference. Some people have expressed their support, but I almost get the impression it’s simply because everyone else has been so negative. Check out the thread and add your opinion, either way.

I think I will get down and dirty with the FF extension stylish this evening and see what can be done to redeem this mess.

of nemof.org. I’ve decided to create a second blog for nemof.org, for articles that I write pertaining to technology, software and other geekery. This blog will keep going but will probably change address slightly as I will keep this as my personal blog where I write about my everyday life, not that it excites anyone but me but it does give me a sense of satisfaction to talk about current happenings.

As for the new blog which I shall set up soon, it will be a base for me to publish articles about technology, tutorials and other journalistic things. I’ve decided to really make a go of web-journalism as it potentially gives me a way out of the rat race I can see in my future if I don’t pull a finger out. With that in mind I have started planning some articles which will start getting written soon, and within the next 2-3 months be published.

I’ve found there are a few things that I have consistently had to help friends with concerning their computers, and so these will be the basis for my new writings. Issues like computer security on the web and on computers will be covered. This will extend to P2P filesharing and how you can safely use platforms such as Bittorrent without having to worry about being monitored or being infected with viruses. I will also write about spyware, how to avoid it and what to do if you end up having problems with your computer.

I’ve recently proved the postulation that ‘if you need something done, ask a busy person’ is true. I in recent times have found myself extremely busy as I am forced into action through lack of procrastination escape routes, and I’ve never found myself more productive than now. Truly my new job is a pain in the ass, but it also gives me sweet, sweet money. With this money I will do the only sensible thing one can do with money, I will build a DIY projector to watch movies on. I’ve also decided that I want to build my own solar panels, as the thought of wasting money on electricity irks me greatly. So to sketch up the next six months:

• Build a DIY Projector
• Build Solar Panels
• Learn Javascript/Flash
• Create a Web Design Portfolio
• Keep on researching and planning book
• Keep gainfully employed to earn Money
• ?

Well if that isn’t enough for the rest of the year, I don’t know what is. I’m extremely surprised to find myself in this situation, creatively. It’s been such a long time since I felt like I produced anything of worth that to be doing so much stuff suddenly, well it doesn’t scare me so much as surprise me.

I met the Horse of Shadows last night in a dream. I’ve never met such a remarkable dream persona before. I can’t describe the feeling that it had surrounding it, but it was incredibly strong and indelible. It’s form was almost hidden, and it’s flanks a rippling reddened colour. I want to meet it again, I know that it’s important. It’s a part of me I’ve been ignoring, or trying to suppress, but it’s time to change it.

While I’m beginning to sound very mystical, I always get a sense of how my dreams connect to my mind. As such I’m going to start keeping a more extensive dream diary, perhaps on the site.  I can’t say the use of it, except to capture a sense of the magic of those unconscious hours.

Well I guess I haven’t stopped procrastinating completely, I am writing this entry rather than packing, so I shall stop now and get on with the things I need to be doing. adieu!

then I for one am cheering our new meteor overlords.