Friday, 24 December 2010
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Downtime
A delight to start reading the Hitchhikers' Gude books again, this time on the iPad. One question hovers like a threatening cloud everyone is desperate to ignore; will I read the sixth book in the trilogy, written by another author long after Douglas Adams' death?
Thursday, 16 December 2010
2010 - We all deserved better
I don't believe I've ever liked a song with a key change in the middle, and I'm not going to start now.
Matt Cardle's version of 'Many of Horror' looks set to be this year's damp blanket over the festive fire of goodness and mercy which should rightly dominate the end of the year. I'm sure he's a nice guy, and he probably doesn't have a say in any of this, so good luck to him for the future. But certain things need to be said...
Yes, 'Many of Horror' is the title of a very reasonable song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro, so why rename it to 'When we Collide'? Actually we can all guess why, but who has the right to do such a thing? Biffy Clyro, some might argue.
Which is really the point. An artist who writes and records a song deserves better than this. Matt Cardle deserves better than this, too.
And we deserve better than being treated like idiots who can't remember a title unless it's in the chorus and need the artificial 'lift' of a key change.
Me, I'm going to use 'Cage Against the Machine' as my ringtone. That'll show 'em.
Matt Cardle's version of 'Many of Horror' looks set to be this year's damp blanket over the festive fire of goodness and mercy which should rightly dominate the end of the year. I'm sure he's a nice guy, and he probably doesn't have a say in any of this, so good luck to him for the future. But certain things need to be said...
Yes, 'Many of Horror' is the title of a very reasonable song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro, so why rename it to 'When we Collide'? Actually we can all guess why, but who has the right to do such a thing? Biffy Clyro, some might argue.
Which is really the point. An artist who writes and records a song deserves better than this. Matt Cardle deserves better than this, too.
And we deserve better than being treated like idiots who can't remember a title unless it's in the chorus and need the artificial 'lift' of a key change.
Me, I'm going to use 'Cage Against the Machine' as my ringtone. That'll show 'em.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Wedi blino
Is Welsh for tired, which is what I could be if I thought about it. This year has seen me re-record and remaster my 10CD Welsh course Cadw Swn. The audio downloads are now in the store, with just a few CDs to organize in the new year. Click here if you're interested.
Friday, 12 November 2010
Storyboarding
Storyboarding my first game in nearly 20 years. Too many ideas.
I must feel like George Harrison after leaving the Beatles; he had so much material he released the boxed set 'All Things Must Pass'.
I must feel like George Harrison after leaving the Beatles; he had so much material he released the boxed set 'All Things Must Pass'.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
nostalgia...
... isn't what it used to be.
A long-running list of things I've seen in my lifetime now includes:
microwave ovens/personal computers/mobile phones/color televisions/drive-by shootings/brainwave entrainment/digital entertainment format wars/infinite possibilities/reality tv/laminate flooring conventions/blogs/the birth of disco/the death of disco/satellite tv/.coms/talentless television talent contests/recycling attendants/flat-screen televisions/5-blade razors/boredom-on-demand
A long-running list of things I've seen in my lifetime now includes:
microwave ovens/personal computers/mobile phones/color televisions/drive-by shootings/brainwave entrainment/digital entertainment format wars/infinite possibilities/reality tv/laminate flooring conventions/blogs/the birth of disco/the death of disco/satellite tv/.coms/talentless television talent contests/recycling attendants/flat-screen televisions/5-blade razors/boredom-on-demand
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
free will?
Our decisions can be seen in our brains up to 10 seconds before we are consciously aware of them.
So says the work of John-Dylan Haynes, reported in the Online Wall Street Journal here.
So says the work of John-Dylan Haynes, reported in the Online Wall Street Journal here.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
How to be forgotten
We can play around with the same mediocrities in our entertainments or we can strive for something truly transformational. If we choose the former we'll be forgotten in the blink of an eye.Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Your Stars
Topius, the Velveteen Fish
This will be an uncanny week for you and your friends.
Beware of large biscuits
Lucky number 31074321227653426781113
Lucky foodstuff – mink
Scandal – the Wiresnapper
A small egg in your jacket pocket will save your life this week.
Eat more fish.
Lucky timeslot - 1943
Fester, the war criminal
Be kind to small mammals this week. Next month may see an exiting change in your eating habits.
Lucky color – red
Lucky animal – tomato
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Thought Pollution
If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
William Blake
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
News is emerging of a strange new bliss...
I may regret making this known so soon, but on the other hand I might not, and I have a funny feeling that it'll make me work on it more.
A new entertainment. Yes really.
I'd pencil in July 2011 as a release date, but you never really know.
www.enmindenlight.com
See you.
A new entertainment. Yes really.
I'd pencil in July 2011 as a release date, but you never really know.
www.enmindenlight.com
See you.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
lunchbox - garlic broad beans
Pod and boil some broad beans in water until cooked. Drain.
Crush some garic over them and add a little butter. Stir.
Serve on a plate with some grated Parmesan or other cheese. Pepper too.
Crush some garic over them and add a little butter. Stir.
Serve on a plate with some grated Parmesan or other cheese. Pepper too.
simple living
Should be one of our aims. Technology unfortunately often makes life more complicated, but not always.
My top 4 simplifying gadgets today would be:
1 My Sonos music system. Combined with
2 Spotify. My music is now either stored on an unobtrusive network drive, or piped instantly from the internet. CDs get relegated to the attic.
3. IMAP mail. I think that's right. Now I can read and reply to mail on different devices without forgetting which ones I've answered.
4. Getting Quiet. A simple system to quiet the mind. A quieter mind sees things more clearly. www.gettingquiet.com
Now kick back.
My top 4 simplifying gadgets today would be:
1 My Sonos music system. Combined with
2 Spotify. My music is now either stored on an unobtrusive network drive, or piped instantly from the internet. CDs get relegated to the attic.
3. IMAP mail. I think that's right. Now I can read and reply to mail on different devices without forgetting which ones I've answered.
4. Getting Quiet. A simple system to quiet the mind. A quieter mind sees things more clearly. www.gettingquiet.com
Now kick back.
Monday, 12 July 2010
10 tips for effective learning
1 - Set aside a learning period at the same time each day - begin to train your mind to expect to learn at this time. Habit can be a very powerful thing, let’s get it on side.
2 - Don’t try to learn for too long. Around 45 minutes is a good chunk of time. And be sure to take at least a 15 minute break every hour. Walk around the block, take a stretch, listen to some music, have some water. You’re only human after all, so don’t burn yourself out. And trying to cram in too much learning over too long a learning period can be counterproductive. You have been warned!
3 - Relax. Take a shower, do some relaxation exercises before you begin each session. Meditation, Yoga, or a piece of relaxing music. Whatever works best for you. Think of yourself as a mental gymnast who needs to prepare themselves well.
4 - Expect to learn. Tell yourself that you will learn, easily and effectively before you begin each session. Expect to remember. Make a commitment, promise yourself.
5 - Don’t knock yourself out. Even if you feel you’re getting nowhere with your studies, take it easy on yourself. Remember that maybe some things need to filter through your mind for them to become available - ever heard of sleeping on a problem?
6 - Play some classical music in the background. Mozart is particularly effective. Many believe that this will optimise your brainwaves for accelerated learning. I’ve heard that Mozart was hyperactive, and that he instinctively composed his music to bring his own state of mind down. Whole language courses have been written which use this technique - I've even written one myself!
7 - Drink plenty of water. You know that already, right? The brain is mostly water, and it relies on a ready supply to learn effectively.
8 - Break down large topics. How do you eat an elephant? A piece at a time! Create a workable breakdown of what you need to learn and by when. Then work backwards and see how much time you need to spend each day. Plan ahead, be organized, and you can save time later.
9 - Teach someone else what you’ve learnt, or what you’re learning. Telling others is a great way to help you remember things yourself. Simply explaining what you’ve learnt to others will make you draw what you’re learning out of yourself and force you to clarify and refine it. Plus, of course, the other person gets to learn what you’re learning too. Who knows, you might even go up in their estimation!
10 - Have fun, enjoy learning and think of how you’ll feel when you’ve mastered all that you need to know. And always look back and be pleased of what you have learnt, rather than getting mad at what you can’t remember.
2 - Don’t try to learn for too long. Around 45 minutes is a good chunk of time. And be sure to take at least a 15 minute break every hour. Walk around the block, take a stretch, listen to some music, have some water. You’re only human after all, so don’t burn yourself out. And trying to cram in too much learning over too long a learning period can be counterproductive. You have been warned!
3 - Relax. Take a shower, do some relaxation exercises before you begin each session. Meditation, Yoga, or a piece of relaxing music. Whatever works best for you. Think of yourself as a mental gymnast who needs to prepare themselves well.
4 - Expect to learn. Tell yourself that you will learn, easily and effectively before you begin each session. Expect to remember. Make a commitment, promise yourself.
5 - Don’t knock yourself out. Even if you feel you’re getting nowhere with your studies, take it easy on yourself. Remember that maybe some things need to filter through your mind for them to become available - ever heard of sleeping on a problem?
6 - Play some classical music in the background. Mozart is particularly effective. Many believe that this will optimise your brainwaves for accelerated learning. I’ve heard that Mozart was hyperactive, and that he instinctively composed his music to bring his own state of mind down. Whole language courses have been written which use this technique - I've even written one myself!
7 - Drink plenty of water. You know that already, right? The brain is mostly water, and it relies on a ready supply to learn effectively.
8 - Break down large topics. How do you eat an elephant? A piece at a time! Create a workable breakdown of what you need to learn and by when. Then work backwards and see how much time you need to spend each day. Plan ahead, be organized, and you can save time later.
9 - Teach someone else what you’ve learnt, or what you’re learning. Telling others is a great way to help you remember things yourself. Simply explaining what you’ve learnt to others will make you draw what you’re learning out of yourself and force you to clarify and refine it. Plus, of course, the other person gets to learn what you’re learning too. Who knows, you might even go up in their estimation!
10 - Have fun, enjoy learning and think of how you’ll feel when you’ve mastered all that you need to know. And always look back and be pleased of what you have learnt, rather than getting mad at what you can’t remember.
Monday, 5 July 2010
officially retro
"one of the most fondly remembered and controversial business simulators of all time" is how the fabulous 'retro gamer' magazine describes 'A Rock Star Ate my Hamster' in a generous four-page spread this month. Which does make me officially retro.
Monday, 28 June 2010
new Welsh course
Cwm Gwrachod is a new course for younger people (10-16) to learn and improve their Welsh.Music, stories and online activities will ease and speed the learning process. Book one is available now complete with audio downloads for a remarkable introductory £14.95.
www.cwmgwrachod.com
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Allister Brimble's response to the new CD
'I really enjoyed it... some very nice moments on there.'
Video games legend and musician Allister Brimble. Thanks Allister.
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
uploading downloads
Uploading downloads of Lucy's Unusual Sunday for Friday release. Must make a note of the recording dates later.
CD for release by Zero Valley. www.zerovalley.com
CD for release by Zero Valley. www.zerovalley.com
Thursday, 11 February 2010
5 things that won't see 2020
(Apart from quite possibly me, of course)
The iPad may indeed just be a big iPod touch, but almost everyone I've met who's heard of it (and most have) are positive. So here's my comprehensive list of things to say goodbye to.
1 The computer mouse. Of course. We'll clean the jam off the touch screen later, but everyone prefers touching to pointing.
2 Desktop computers in the home. Obviously. If the iPad covers wordprocessing, presentations and spreadsheets as well as Steve Jobs claims we won't even see desktop computers in many offices.
3 Amazon as a bookstore. Oh they'll still sell books alright. Premium versions, art books, signed celebrity editions, but their main focus will (has?) shift away from books. Their ebooks will probably continue, but say goodbye to...
4 Kindle reader. Why would anyone buy one now? They'll use their iPad as a digital photo frame when they're not stuck in a novel.
5 Microsoft in the home/small office. See item 3 for clarification. Unlike Apple Microsoft have never been able to develop anything other than their core product (Windows and Office).
The iPad may indeed just be a big iPod touch, but almost everyone I've met who's heard of it (and most have) are positive. So here's my comprehensive list of things to say goodbye to.
1 The computer mouse. Of course. We'll clean the jam off the touch screen later, but everyone prefers touching to pointing.
2 Desktop computers in the home. Obviously. If the iPad covers wordprocessing, presentations and spreadsheets as well as Steve Jobs claims we won't even see desktop computers in many offices.
3 Amazon as a bookstore. Oh they'll still sell books alright. Premium versions, art books, signed celebrity editions, but their main focus will (has?) shift away from books. Their ebooks will probably continue, but say goodbye to...
4 Kindle reader. Why would anyone buy one now? They'll use their iPad as a digital photo frame when they're not stuck in a novel.
5 Microsoft in the home/small office. See item 3 for clarification. Unlike Apple Microsoft have never been able to develop anything other than their core product (Windows and Office).
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Your Stars
Pesticide, the Warmonger:
A lightly boiled egg in your jacket pocket may well save your life this week.
A lightly boiled egg in your jacket pocket may well save your life this week.
Monday, 25 January 2010
my God, it's full of fonts
it's full of fonts.
the internet that is. have you noticed yet? not just verdana and times roman, but all sorts of weird and wonderful typefaces. (and how come 'weird' is spelt that way? whatever happened to 'i before e, except after c'?)
look at the headline above for instance. nice eh? fontain dontcha know, from exljbris. unless you haven't upgraded your webbrowser lately, that is. in which case maybe you should.
it all happened in 2009.
@font-face if you need to know.
the internet that is. have you noticed yet? not just verdana and times roman, but all sorts of weird and wonderful typefaces. (and how come 'weird' is spelt that way? whatever happened to 'i before e, except after c'?)
look at the headline above for instance. nice eh? fontain dontcha know, from exljbris. unless you haven't upgraded your webbrowser lately, that is. in which case maybe you should.
it all happened in 2009.
@font-face if you need to know.
Monday, 11 January 2010
Neither a religion or a belief system, but a simple tool to quiet the mind.
Strange times call for a clarification. Getting Quiet is not concerened with belief systems, gurus or religion. While I hold my own personal views the Getting Quiet audio course is merely a tool to help quiet the mind.
As stated on the course, I believe that the mind is a tremendous asset, capable of genius. I do believe though, that there are times when quieting the mind will give a more direct, and so richer, experience of the world. There may be times when you want to experience the world more directly, there may be times when you do not.
So, to clarify: Getting Quiet aims to help you quiet the mind, when and should you so choose, to gain a more direct experience of the world. It's up to you when, if and how to use it. Peace, love and a happy 2010.
www.gettingquiet.com
As stated on the course, I believe that the mind is a tremendous asset, capable of genius. I do believe though, that there are times when quieting the mind will give a more direct, and so richer, experience of the world. There may be times when you want to experience the world more directly, there may be times when you do not.
So, to clarify: Getting Quiet aims to help you quiet the mind, when and should you so choose, to gain a more direct experience of the world. It's up to you when, if and how to use it. Peace, love and a happy 2010.
www.gettingquiet.com
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Bilingual website design
'Llyfrau Gwynedd Williams' is a website I've put together at www.llyfrau.com. Neis.
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Monday's child
Monday's child is short and fat
Tuesday's child wears a brown paper hat
Wednesday's child is full of fleas
Thursday's child is allergic to peas
Friday's child has an anger issue
Saturday's child has hair like tissue
But the child who is born on the Sabbath day
Will gorge on chips and videogames play.
Tuesday's child wears a brown paper hat
Wednesday's child is full of fleas
Thursday's child is allergic to peas
Friday's child has an anger issue
Saturday's child has hair like tissue
But the child who is born on the Sabbath day
Will gorge on chips and videogames play.
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