Thinker, Blogger, Hacker, Hiker.
Customer service should not infuriate, but reassure the customer.
Customer service should not infuriate, but reassure the customer.
29 September 2012
Frequently when people say "this provider is good for me" I'll ask, "Oh, have you had a problem with them?" To which they'll almost inevitably respond: "Nope, I've never had any problems with them." I feel this is kind of missing the point. Usually, a good judge of a company, is how they respond when […]
Who are the iconic singer-songwriters of the digital rights movement?
Who are the iconic singer-songwriters of the digital rights movement?
27 September 2012
During the SOPA protests earlier this year I asked: If the iconic singer songwriters of the labour movements were Arlo Guthrie and Billy Bragg, who are the iconic singer songwriters of the digital rights movement? At the time, I posted a number of my favourite anti-SOPA songs from across the internet, but I didn't feel […]
Things gets serious…
Things gets serious…
26 September 2012
For a while, in fact, as long as I've been able to, I've messed around with video. Nothing particularly exciting, just the odd bit here, the odd bit there, but I've always been limited by my cameras. My first video capable digital camera was shocking. I mean, truly terrible. One could only film outdoors with […]
The irony of complaining about hipsters…
The irony of complaining about hipsters…
25 September 2012
We were having a conversation at home a few days ago about whether it was reasonable to complain about hipsters but at the same time, want to show each other viral videos that we hadn't each other seen. via reddit As is mentioned in the comments, obviously there's a difference between liking something because you […]
Extra-curricular substances : Really? Why? Why bother?
Extra-curricular substances : Really? Why? Why bother?
17 September 2012
I was recently having a conversation on instant messaging with a friend, I was being a bit playfully silly when suddenly I was asked: Are you stoned? This question came as a bit of a shock, let me explain why: Not so long ago I was at a BBQ and, as they conversations do, the […]
How are you?
How are you?
16 September 2012
When people ask me, off the cuff, something simple like: "How are you?" I sometimes find it hard to know how to reply. Obviously, partly this is an age old "I'm human, you're human, we're both alive" statement with no deep meaning, but usually there's also a genuine feeling of "let me know if you're […]
Can you travel?
Can you travel?
15 September 2012
Some time ago I got asked on twitter by SerenaNJ: @tdobson That's so cool! Are you ever in England? I wish I got to travel as much as you do! I feel this is an interesting question that, at least, is worth addressing. Part way through her degree, my older sister took a year out […]
A radical experiment in empathy…
A radical experiment in empathy…
13 September 2012
Can you imagine what it would be like to someone else's shoes? Can you understand why they're there? What they feel? httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IgOVOPLTYI Sam Richards: A radical experiment in empathy Sociologist Sam Richards' TEDxPSU sets an extraordinary challenge: can you understand — not approve of, but understand — the motivations of an Iraqi insurgent? And by […]
Age: what does it mean?
Age: what does it mean?
7 September 2012
Almost a year ago now, I had one of those "significant birthdays". I'm still not really sure what was significant about it. I reached a number, but I didn't start feeling more mature, my friends and family didn't start treating me vastly differently and this set me thinking… Frequently, we use age as a rule […]
New Year plans: 2012 final quarter review.
New Year plans: 2012 final quarter review.
7 September 2012
At the end of 2011, I made some vague plans for 2012. Not resolutions. Nothing grandiose. But things that would probably be good ideas. Do more offbeat, adventurous, unexpected, unusual things. More travel. It largely doesn’t matter where, just more of it. Find some new ways to take myself out of my depth Ok. I'm […]
A photo from the mountains of Kosovo
A photo from the mountains of Kosovo
6 September 2012
I am obviously taking lots of photos of my time in Kosovo. I got out of Pristina for a few days to a small village called Brod and today I went hiking. We stopped at a farmhouse high in the mountains and I took this photo: Of course, there will be more photos in due […]
Stephen Fry at Oggcamp? Awesome or Awesome?
Stephen Fry at Oggcamp? Awesome or Awesome?
29 August 2012
It's not often I go to events were well known people are speaking. It's even less frequently where the tech events I go to have well known broadcaster speaking. However, Oggcamp – the world's friendliest unconference – is a special sort of event and persuading Stephen Fry to give a video address, answering questions and […]