Prototype of a Person

Blog Design and RSS Feed

My blog design is currently in transition seeing as I managed to KILL my previous theme template. I did far too much fiddiling with the code! It’s my own fault. So, I’ve reverted to the standard Kubrick Wordpress theme. As soon as I am able to access the server my site is hosted on (having some issues!) I’ll be able to change it around and finally upgrade to the newest version of wordpress (I really need to do this! I’m getting far too much pharmaceutical related spam, it’s very weird).

Also - for anyone that is currently subscribed to my RSS feed I have recently setup a feedburner account, so please change your subscriptions to THIS new one - it’s a much nicer looking feed because of all the lovely options feedburner gives you, for instance, you can now see how many comments there are on each post.

IBA Best Personal Blog Shortlist

As some of you might have noticed I was nominated for a blog award (best personal blog), and I’ve been shortlisted. Overall this is very surprising - firstly, because I didn’t think I had many readers as I don’t get that many comments, just lots of lurkers! (maybe I should start using feedburner?), secondly because within that longlist there are many other blogs that I would have chosen over my own. I’m very flattered indeed, many thanks to the judges and Damien. Good luck to everyone nominated.

The shortlist of nominees for the Best Personal Blog

• Irish Flirty Something*
• Grannymar*
• The Biopsy Report
• Conortje
• Lozenge
• Fatmammycat.com
• The Waiting Game
• The Swearing Lady*
• Hangar Queen
• Lebanon an Irish Experience
• Head Rambles*
• That Friday Feeling
• Avoiding Life

(*personal favourites of mine)

I’ve been blogging for a few years, but only started writing regularly over the last year. Thus, the Blog Awards has really piqued my interest this year (and not just because of the nomination!). For me the great thing about the Blog Awards is how so many non-blogging people that I know have started taking an interest (once coerced into visting the site!), and this is because the longlists provide a very interesting and quality insight into the Irish Blogosphere. For those of you reading that are unfamiliar with the many brilliant irish blogs out there, might I suggest visiting each of the nominees listed on Awards.ie and maybe even voting for your favourite once voting commences.

Spotted: Some Fluffy Badge Love

My Fluffy Badge (thank you Damien) finally has a home - on my bookshelf. It’s a bit of a nerd alert though, so shield your eyes!

Irish Blog Awards 2008

The Irish Blog Awards take place on March the 1st at the Alexander Hotel, and I’m pleased to say that I’ve been nominated in the “Best Personal Blog” category, thank you to whoever that was. This particular category has a very long list of nominees - including some personal favourites of mine (UnaRocks, Red Mum, Irish Flirty Something, Swearing Lady etc.,) and some very big hitters (Maman Poulet, Grandad, etc.,).

Please do check out all the nominees and categories over on Awards.ie

Science Week Winners

Congratulations to everyone. I hope you all put your Wii to good use over Christmas.

What was your favourite invention from your childhood? - Kevin Breathnach

What invention would you most like to see in the future - Brian

What is the next gadget you plan to buy? - Monscooch

What was the best invention of 2007? - Poetbloggs

What invention helps you most with your working life - Johnny Keyes

Special thanks go out to Martha Rotter from Microsoft for taking such an interest in my article on Hotmail.

What changes would you make to an existing piece of technology?

As inspired by the Science Week posts over on Mulley.net

What changes would you make to an existing piece of technology?

I’d love it my Sony Ericsson w850i had a QWERTY keyboard and a slightly larger screen, so I could write longer e-mails and not get frustrated with text message input limitations. Besides, most of the smart phones out there at the moment that have QWERTY keyboards are the size of bloody toasters. (No thank you!)

So… what changes would you make to an existing piece of technology?