magpiebrain

Pairing - quote of the week

By Simon at diner the other night, attempting to explain how pairing forces you to write better code:

Well, if you had to walk around in your underwear all the time, you’d go to the gym, wouldn’t you?

Django/Python/Java/Rails Crimbo meetup* 12th of December

*We need a snappier name…

As the calendar gets a little crowded in December, myself, Simon and Jez have decided to combine the Java, Django/Rails and Python nights together in one big bash at the Old Bank Of England, on the 12th of December, from 7pm onwards. As normal there is no particular agenda, although people wanting to do demos are more than welcome (just let me know first so we can publicise it).

Oh, and as Jez has had to stick a deposit down for the reserved space, please leave a comment to let us know you’re coming!

Note to self

Using a Dilbert cartoon as an example of why your manager is wrong is not an example of good consultancy skills.

When software-generated suggestions go bad

Recieved from Amazon on the 7th of November:

Dear Amazon.co.uk Customer,
We’ve noticed that customers who have purchased Hot Fuss by The Killers have also ordered Hot Fuss by The Killers. For this reason, you might like to know that Hot Fuss will be released on November 21, 2005. You can pre-order your copy for just GBP 11.99 by following the link below.

Mind you, I enjoyed it so much the first time around…

A Mickey Mouse Site

It was with some sense of chagrin that I learnt that a high-profile, previously standards compliant and accessible site had been redesigned using cutting edge webdesign techniques, circa 1996. Goodbye CSS, hello tables. I could understand this (to a point) if it wasn’t for the fact that the resulting Disney Store UK site is just so damn ugly.

Andy Clarke’s response is very restrained, and at the same time funny. Molly Holzschlag, lead of the Web Standards Project goes for the jugular, pointing out that the new site is riddled with bugs, is slow, their email doesn’t seem to work, and is probably in violation of the Disability Discrimination Act Read the rest of this entry »

My social life has left the building…

…as Civilization IV has arrived