Weblog by month (March 2009)
Outlook cloudy
Ooops.
A plan by IBM to launch an industry-wide ‘open’ cloud computing strategy has seemingly backfired amid accusations of closed deals.
Google pulled out after signing up and Amazon said it would not get involved.
All very odd. Google pull out, but issue a weasel-y statement to the BBC that says very little. No comment from Amazon, and MS comment that the whole shebang isn’t “open” enough (hey, great weather).
BBC news: ‘Open cloud’ plan sparks dissent.
Breathtaking arrogance
Some people.
If you’re buying MacHeist, you’re a cheap fucking bastard, and it makes me queasy that so many in the Mac community would buy into such a thing.
Some developers and middle-men come along and do a cheap bundle deal on a load of good Mac apps, and it’s the consumer who’s at fault?
R--i-g-h-t.
It’s moronic posts like this that give Mac fans a bad rap. I don’t see anyone with a gun to their head.
Via John Gruber.
The wiki turns 14
March 25th is the birthday of the original wiki! Ward Cunningham tells us all about the wiki’s fourteenth birthday:
WikiBirthday 2009: 14 years of collaboration.
Via twitter.
Niftiness @ IBM
I’m very quick in taking IBM to task over its websites, but I think it’s only fair to also give credit where credit is due. Bruce tweeted an IBM link last night, and I took a look. This is nice! Click the image for a full-size screenshot:
Kudos to IBM. And Ed, I hope the web / email / twitter traffic isn’t too bad
UKLUG is go: be quick!
As you have no doubt seen on twitter and elsewhere, UKLUG is go! The UK Lotus User Group website is open for registrations for a free two day conference in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, later this year.
What are you waiting for?
The nanny state takes it to a whole new level
I hope this is another nail in the coffin for the current administration. There’s no question that significant parts of the British population have issues with alcohol, and that they abuse it. However, imposing swingeing price rises on booze does nothing except piss the rest of us off even more. Has the government not yet realised that things are quite bad enough as it is thank you very much? Why should I pay extra on (already expensive) alcohol, just because some chav likes to get out of his skull on nasty cider?
The government’s top medical adviser has drawn up plans for a minimum price for alcohol which would double the cost of some drinks in England.
Under the proposal from Sir Liam Donaldson, it has been reported that no drinks could be sold for less than 50 pence per unit of alcohol they contain.
BBC news: Plan to raise price of alcohol.
Bah! (Besides, everyone knows that doctors are the worst offenders when it comes to the demon drink…)
Blueskills.net
Those splendid chaps and chapettes at Bluewave Technology have launched a new careers site dedicated to those with IBM-related skills. Excellent idea!
Go take a look at Blueskills.net.
Inspired
Someone’s having a bit of a laugh at the Daily Telegraph this week. I’ve taken a screenshot, as I don’t imagine the link will be live for long (look at the URL):
Link (live as at 9.30am today!)
Hat tip to Phill Price on twitter!
Cracked heads
Ooof, radio silence. Good reason though: my youngest fractured his skull on Saturday afternoon, and I’ve been in hospital with him since. He’s doing just fine, and after regular observations, CT scans and the like (all OK), he was discharged yesterday. Unfortunately we returned to hospital last night as he was being very sick. “Luckily” this looks like a tummy bug, rather than anything head-related, so hopefully we will be home with him again tonight.
Kids eh? He must have known his dad was overdue a reality check!
