Well it’s been a while since I dropped any words into this corner of the internet. It seems that the demands of work and the distractions of twitter have done well to curtail my blogging. Currently reading “Homicide” by David Simon, and loving it, and working hard to deliver the site for a well known hotel chain. I’ve lost two pounds since my last blog post. Not all of it in blood. sweat and tears.

My much awaited cable-release kit has just arrived, along with a new Glass-Lensed Holga. Though the release kit was intended for use with my older, plastic lensed beauty, I immediately attempted to put the cable release frame onto the new camera body, only to discover a fairly important, but totally niche piece of information.

The standard Holga cable release kit will not fit onto the Holga GCFN (the code for the glass-lensed version). This is because the screw hole for a tripod shoe is in a slightly different location on the two different types of Holga.

I’m sure that careful use of a Dremel and a little creativity would mean that it’s still eminently feasible to cut a bit out of the release kit to allow it to fit onto the GCFN, but I’m glad that my intention to use it with the plastic lensed CFN meant that no such plastic sculpting was necessary. Also, given that the tripod shoe from my Gorilla pod (and no doubt any other sort of tripod) butts directly against the body of the kit once it’s attached to the camera, and helps clamp it into place, any DIY adjustment to this fairly important area of the thing might make it less stable and therefore less fit for purpose.

But now the kit is in place, I have one body for tripod shots and long exposures and one for everyday use. I also look forward to seeing what differences, if any, the glass vs. plastic lens makes. Results coming soon to a flickr photostream near you.

And I’ve only contemplated murder once during that time. Things that have been taking up my leisure time are Roller Derby, Bicycle maintenance and Eine letters.

London Rollergirls are an awesome evening’s entertainment and I am sure to be back there in December for their next Jam. It was one of those occasions where you manage to bump into loads of people you know, and a great way to spend a Saturday.

Long time no post. It’s been a busy few months and no mistake. Although not strictly cheese related, I felt I just had to share The London Review of Breakfasts. Great reviews, on a great subject, one dear to my heart. Not deeming it sufficient simply to review the food in question, most of the reviewers also recount the state of their minds at the time of the breakfast. Call it metaphysical reviewing. Whatever you call it, it works for me. A good bunch of folks with an unhealthy outlook on life, and a great love of the first meal of the day.

I can’t help but think that Pellici’s got a bit of harsh treatment though. Having said that, I wouldn’t know what their breakfast is like, since I only ever eat Cannelloni and chips there. But oh what chips.

We all love the stringy stuff. But it appears that some Italian police have been found guilty of loving it just a little more than is strictly legal, and have been demanding cheese bribes from delivery drivers in Campagnia.

The Guardian report of a new drug called cheese. It sounds pretty rank and not like any dairy product I’d like to sample.

Cheese-like heroin killing Texan teens

This will do nothing for the reputation of the wonderful stuff whose name they’ve nicked. I’d far rather it was known as “Joss Ackland’s Spunky Backpack” instead.

Mark Earls, author of Herd followed Professor Rheingold this evening. His speech is also now available on the NESTA web site, and both addresses will soon be available as video too. Time to go home now.

I’ve just heard Howard Rheingold speak at the NESTA Connect event “Mass Collaboration, Tools, Techniques and Foundations”. Quite a milestone for me really, given that the guy is something of a luminary. For him to be speaking in my place of work was quite entertaining and he gave an idea packed presentation, as I expected.

Anyway I’ll save full reactions until I am no longer at the office and can absorb stuff fully. This is just to say that the recording of the talk is now online and can be got from the NESTA Podcast feed.

Alternatively you can grab it directly from the server :

Howard Rheingold – Mass collaboration, Tools, Techniques and Foundations.

Mark Earl also gave an entertaining and informative speech relating to themes he develops in his book, “Herd”. I’ll be uploading that forthwith too.

Rather a pause in posting lately, I’ve been distracted by my PC finally giving up the ghost, and by preparation for The Big Chill, amongst other things. My replacement PC parts don’t yet seem to be playing ball, but at least the weather looks good for the weekend. That should help me forget that I’ve just spent hundreds of pounds on cutting edge technology which does nothing but beep at me when I turn it on.

Thank goodness for warranties. And festivals.

Former EFF employee, current boing-boing co-editor and sci-fi author discusses freedom, legislation and the information age. He covers the inaccuracies of futurology, and the unexpected revelations that real innovations bring, and discusses his book “Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present”. It’s a long one, and I’ll confess to not having watched until the end of the 56th minute before posting it, but this looks like a Good Thing(tm).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgXwmXpaH2Q

Part of the Authors@Google series, the event took place on May 21st 2007.