Predictable

Thursday, April 20, 2006 ~ Comments Off

Wow, that Paypal donation thing really works! Question is, what on earth am I going to spend 9p on?? It’s a quandary of epic proportions…

It would be very easy to get caught up in trying to figure out how much money this blog could POSSIBLY make… 1p a week, from 200 visitors… multiply by 52, discount for weekend figures… etc etc… but the bottom line is that, unless you have an inordinate amount of traffic and traffic comprised largely of high-earners, the chances are the your blog will make you NO money. Sure you might pull in a little from adverts and donations but, comparatively you won’t even break even.

How much does it cost to run a blog?

Outlays included purchasing a domain [optional], hosting [optional], and time spent designed [optional] and creating content. The latter is the biggest cost factor in any blog, yet as it’s seen as a hobby it’s somehow OK to assign a zero pricing to that time. If I were to get paid on a par with the hourly rate I get from my day job… well that just wouldn’t work… after all.. who would be paying me??

In fact after that woeful, self-loathing post of a couple of days ago, the interest and emails sparked, and a couple of days of stepping back to re-assess things, I can happily say that I’m… well not exactly on top of the world but certainly feeling much better. Thank you very much.

This is nicely timed —and I’m not sure if this is a coincidence or one of those tricks your brain plays on you— as today and tomorrow I have to interview candidates to replace a recently departed co-worker (something else that was without doubt adding to my stress levels).

Now, if I can just remember HOW you conduct interviews I’ll be fine. It’s been a while since I did any (or been interviewed myself) so I’m off to scour the internet for ideas and the latest techniques. Suggestions are welcomed, and no, I don’t favour tests (but do ask for examples of previous work).

Bookcase, bookcase on the wall

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 ~ Comments Off

Via pixeldiva. A meme.

What do my bookshelves say about me?
(more…)

Not deleted

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 ~ Comments Off

The previous post is a prime example of both “How not to blog” and of a post that should never have seen the light of day in the first place. The fact that I haven’t deleted it is a testament to my belief that… umm… you … eehhh… shouldn’t delete things?

Whatever.

Thanks for your kind comments and emails, I really REALLY wasn’t fishing for anything and that’s part of the reason that I don’t like posting that kind of stuff any more. The whole ‘woe is me’ thing is very boring, and so passé (dahling).

Anyhoo, I’m only really posting to say that I’m fine but I think I need to change things a little. I’ve got a few things in mind, mainly around WHAT I do, rather than how I do it… but I’ll need a little perspective to sort things out in my head. In other words, I’ll be back posting the usual crap tomorrow.

Finally, if you are feeling particularly flush, feel free to drop some Threadless goods my way (hint), or just yank something from the ever present (but not oft mentioned) wishlist. I’ll put the Paypal button in soon… Was easier than I thought!

Give now! Or… ummm.. I’ll… ehhh.. yeah… right.. anyway. Anna’s right, this is kinda awkward..

How not to blog

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 ~ Comments Off

1. I was going to blog about the cheque I just put into the bank but that’ll just lead to a moan about how skint we are (and will be for some time) and I can’t be arsed with that.

2. I was going to blog about the holiday weekend but I didn’t have any holidays and that’ll just lead to a moan about how I need a break but can’t take one at the moment (next week, next week…).

3. I could blog about our plans for the garden this year, but they are dependant on money … see point 1.

4. I want to blog about web design stuff but as one client is still under wraps, and I’ve yet to get back to another (tonight!) I’m kinda kiboshed on that front.

5. I would like to blog about something interesting, an event or circumstance, alas none have happened to me and I’m not in the habit of just making stuff up (I’m sure some bloggers are, and more power to them for having the ability to do so).

6. I want to post about my Personal DNA test results but they are a little too insightful and one must try and maintain at least an air of intrigue, mustn’t one.

7. One needs to figure out why one has lapsed into the “Queen’s English”.

8. I wonder if “lapsed” is correct.

9. I pause, scared that this post will be seen as the excuse of a mockery of a sham that it is.

10. I wonder if, like Anna, I too should ask for donations… see point 1.

11. I need to win the lottery.

12. I don’t want this to be another introspective post, looking at how crappy things are when I’m really quite lucky.

13. I fear it may be too late.

14. I’ve been doing this for over six years, see point 10.

15. I don’t want this to seem like a plea for validation.

16. I think it might be just that though.

17. I know that is not what I intended this post to be, but I lack the wit and insight of others. That makes me sad sometimes. Other times I’m happy with my lot, today is obviously not one of those days.

18. I want to work in a zoo. Or maybe I just want to work in a different environment.

19. People think I’m joking (see point 18).

20. This seems like a good place to stop, if I don’t I’m going to end up waffling on for ages, and believe it or not I dislike the navel-gazing aspect of myself yet sometimes it’s all you can see, buried underneath mountains of lint.

21. I’m never going to get that newspaper column writing this tosh.

The Office

Monday, April 17, 2006 ~ Comments Off

Caught a glimpse of Martin Freeman on Parky on Saturday night. This was after watching “The Siege” the Denzel Washington, Annette Benning, Bruce Willis terrorist thriller that never got released (it’s all about terrorist attacks in New York, and was filmed pre-9/11) —it’s worth a watch actually, given the extra poignancy of some shots featuring the World Trade Center.

Anyway, back to Parky and Martin Freeman. Naturally, they showed a clip of The Office and I found myself giggling along. Louise and my Mum were less than impressed though and quickly came to the conclusion that you need to work IN an office to find The Office funny. Is this true?

Ohh and I bet Mr. Freeman may, one day, regret his “there is no reason for anyone, once they’ve got a bit of money, to ever do anything that isn’t any good” statement.

What’s in a name?

Friday, April 14, 2006 ~ Comments Off

Anyone who has been visiting this site for a while will know that I have a bit of an ‘issue’ with the identity.

It’s been through “snowgoon” to “something” to “gordonmclean.something” to “gordonmclean.co.uk” to “informationally overloaded” (and I’ve probably missed a couple).. and I’m sure you will agree when I say that THE MADNESS MUST STOP!!!

Thing is… well… I dunno about you but I’m just not that keen on “informationally overloaded” as a title. I’ve considered shortening it to “info-overload”, and considered switching it back to being a tagline.

I just don’t know. It’s a quandary indeed but I’m leaning on having just “Gordon McLean” as the title, with “is informationally overloaded” as the tagline.

And I know I should just make up my bloody mind and either do it or shut up but, honestly, these things trouble me. Do they trouble you?

Or maybe I should go back to the snowgoon days… or the something days.. re-introduce the blue eye… ahhhh memories.

[This post was brought to you by the archive code I stumbled across this evening}

Snippets

Friday, April 14, 2006 ~ Comments Off

I promised myself I’d limit this kind of post to a Friday only, so please just ignore Wednesday’s post (it’s full of woe anyway…). In fact so am I, being a Wednesday child. Explains a lot, doesn’t it.

Er… no. Not really.

Things wot I have learned to be effective #627: Don’t tag people with a Meme, let them lift it for themselves. Much more efficient than the usual “tag you’re it” method, and ensures no-one feels ‘excluded’ when you don’t pick them.

So, if comment is free why are all the comments riddled with dross and insults and negativity? No wait, that’s WHY they are full of dross, insults and negativity, because they are free… it’s a cyclic paradox wrapped in an enigma, cloaked by … ohh you know the drill..

I propose a new title: “comment is free, but only if you have something constructive to offer”.

Admittedly it’s not as catchy and yes, sometimes the quality of the articles could be better, but sometimes I think that blogs have a lot of bad things to answer for… but then I remember that it’s nothing to do with blogs and everything to do with ranting, opinionated, glory-seeking idiots.

Ladies and Gentlepeeps, if you don’t have something interesting to say, SHUT THE FUCK UP! And yes, THAT comment IS free. Pass it on.

I fully expect that previous nugget of wisdom to boomerang around this little corner of blogland and smack me square on the nose.

I’ve been toying with setting up an olde fashioney “homepage”. That means moving this blog and ideally doing clever things with redirects and such. Not exactly sure what I want to do yet but thoughts, advice and general “no! for the love of all things cute and fluffy, don’t do it!” comments are, as usual, more than welcome.

After all, if you lot didn’t keep commenting I couldn’t keep ignoring you this site wouldn’t be half as much fun, or even ⅝ as much …

Whilst First ScotRail are improving, the conduct of passengers is still a matter of concern.

As well as ignoring my telepathetic glares to turn down THEIR music which I can hear over MY music —but that’s because I’m considerate and don’t play my music at ear-bleeding volumes—
it seems that some unsavoury types have decided that it’s OK to start boarding the train whilst others are getting off.

Yesterday morning I found myself nearest the doors and, as they hissed open and I moved forward, some oik started to step up into the carriage. Next thing I know and my hand is thrust inches from his chest, palm out, and I’m doing my best Barbara Woodhouse impression:

“Wait.” said firmly, with authority.

And he did (“Good dog!”).

He stood there looking bemused, mouth slightly agape, whilst behind me a small cheer rippled through the carriage.

I may have imagined that last bit.

Now I’m not sure it’s related, but have I mentioned that I’m currently reading the latest offering from Lynn Truss, Talk to the Hand?