Yahoo Pipes

I've recently created myself a new "homepage". A single page combining my presence on the internet into one bitesize chunk. This means that anyone can come and see what I'm up to! This is, of course, a public site, so I don't want to give too much away (or say anything that my employer or future employer may find offensive, disturbing or generally off-putting).

I'm getting my current Facebook profile picture and status using a Facebook "badge", my 4 most recent blog posts using feed2js, my pictures using Yahoo Pipes (and Picasa Web albums) and finally a list of top links again using Yahoo Pipes (and Google Documents).

I can't believe Yahoo Pipes! It's so incredible! For instance, the list of links is actually a spreadsheet on Google Documents with 3 colums (Name, Link and Description). It's then published as a CSV which my Pipe then takes and reencodes as an XML compatible feed. What's even better is that you can then stick that on your page as a "badge" like the two I have on mine. Brilliant!

As an aside, I've also updated my profile on here so that it no longer says that I'm getting married, but that I am...

Whats the obsession with skinny?

I've just seen an advert for Heat or some trash like that, moaning about Charlotte Church being a normal sized woman. Oh no, she's just given birth and she's not trying to kill herself by being stick thin.

What is the obsession with disgustingly thin women? Why are the media constantly trying to kill young girls? Let's be blunt, the media say thin is good, the girls don't eat and they die. It's horrible and upsetting and I can't believe it's allowed, but I guess that's the cost of free press.

Get over it people. The average British woman is size 16 or something... not -14...

I'm back

Cor blimey, it's been a long time since I blogged!

I've noticed that it's become increasingly hard to maintain my presence on so many different different sites! What with Bebo, Facebook and this here blog; plus I've just joined LinkedIn.com (great for professional networking). I don't really have time to keep all those up-to-date as I have a job and a life.

I've recently added a program to my computer called Pidgin (available for Windows, Linux and Mac) which allows me to keep connected with everyone on MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk and even Facebook chat! So that helps my communication.

To help people find me and see what's happening with me I'm planning on putting together a "This is me" page with information on where I can be found and updates from the various sources. If I can make it work (and work well) I might open it up to other people!

Until the next time I blog... cheerio!

Sci-fi

It's really great to see the resurgence of sci-fi as mainstream telly!

The BBC are doing really well with it too, as they've got Doctor Who, Torchwood and Heroes. It's just a shame that ITV got the Bionic Woman. But why are they showing it on ITV2? Still, that's more mainstream than the other two ITV channels.

I loved Heroes when it was on, I had to record the programs because I was at work, but hey. Can't wait for the next series. And the Bionic Woman is looking good too. Can't believe it's that woman from Eastenders! You really don't think about that while you're watching!

Anyway, just wanted to say how pleased I am with current TV choice :-)

Lay it Down

This evening, as part of my churches choir practice, I will be taking a few moments to bring a thought to the other members. I want to talk about allowing ourselves to be used by God. I want to talk about starting right now, not waiting till we are perfect.

To help me do that I am using a song called "Lay it down", by Jaci Velasquez (lyrics here) which includes the chorus:

So I'm gonna lay it down
I'm gonna learn to trust You now
What else can I do?
Cause everything I am depends on You
And if the sun don't come back up
I know Your love will be enough
I'm gonna let it be, I'm gonna let it go,
I'm gonna lay it down.

And also use the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 (paraphrased) "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (emphasis added).

God knows what He's doing. Sometimes we just have to give in, and go along with it, even if we don't understand. Why me? Why like this? Why now? I don't know, but I know I trust Him.

My house, the dumping ground

For Christmas one of my relatives bought me a steam cooker, and very nice it is too (if a little large!). So I've added yet another item to the house. It's beginning to look like I'm using this house to store my stuff prior to getting married!

This is what of mine is currently being stored/used in the shared areas of the house:

• A slow cooker
• A steam cooker
• A hand blender
• A freeview box
• A sofa bed

There's also a very good chance that I will have a three-piece suite to store somewhere - a wonderful gift from a friend of Lucy's family, but guess where it'll probably end up being stored?

Still, ever item I can get now just makes less to buy when we're married. It also means we can put more luxury items on the wedding list! Woo hoo!

Anyway, I'd better get back to doing something mildly more useful.

Mens Fashion

OK. Is it just me, or has modern men's fashion just gone totally weird?

I got a H&M gift card for Christmas, and I've got a few quid left on a TOPMAN card from ages ago. So today me and Lucy went looking for clothes.

So, there's really girly cardigans. There's handbags. There's feminine accessories. There's even "skinny jeans". WHAT ON EARTH?

So we went to Burton (where my TOPMAN card will also work) and they had a shirt which looks like a woman's blouse (minus the space for certain womanly features).

I just want normal MANs clothes. I'm not an emo, I'm not a goth, I'm not a metrosexual. Where are the clothes for me?

The world's going to pot, it really is.

Here endeth the rant.