Robert Burns Made Me Blush
I spent some time today listening to readings of some of Robert Burns' poetry and it’s got me thinking about the origin and development of language.
Poems published on bbc.co.uk in their original form require a statement that they contain strong language or scenes of a sexual nature.
Back in the 18th century would this have been considered strong language? The translation of some of the poems is totally innocent but when read today cause merriment and blushes. (Especially so when read by an English lass.)
I’m interested in your thoughts…
Do We Need Maps in 3D?
The basic idea of a map is that it uses a series of symbols combined to represent the land we live in.
Google Mobile Maps 5.0 for Android will have 3D interaction.
(more infor on the Google Mobile Blog)
Granted a street map does not provide height elements in the way contours are provided on an OS Explorer or Landranger map, but contours provide more than height information. They provide us with information on gradient and land shape and formation and these are key to route planning.
In New York, as an example, you can rarely tell how tall a building is when standing next to it, so the height will only be useful when at a distance. So this helps with orientation rather planned direction and with an inbuilt compass a simpler tool is already provided in this application.
Map makers have to weigh up the complexity and volume of data they provide with the ease at which this data can be transformed into usable information in the brain.
My questions are
- If you can read a street map, how much additional information with the 3D elements provide and will they hinder your map reading.
- If you can’t read a street map how much easier is it to navigate with the building superimposed? Is learning to read a map easier when there are fewer items requiring your attention?
Let me know what you think.
Eddie Izzard and Star Wars Lego Canteen
This is a genius video taking Eddie Izzard's piece on the Star Wars Canteen into the Lego world. Brilliant!
I Cried Laughing – My Blackberry Is Not Working!
My Blackberry Is Not Working! - The One Ronnie, Preview - BBC One
One of Britain's most enduring and best-loved comics, Ronnie Corbett, turned 80 in December 2010. In this brand new comedy sketch show, the octogenarian comic legend appears alongside some of the biggest names in British comedy, in sketches featuring everything from a superannuated super-hero to a stage-struck dog. Add in a sprinkling of one-liners and a brand new Ronnie monologue in the famous chair for the must-see comedy of the festive season.
The One Ronnie on 17.10 BBC1, Christmas Day 2010
I cried laughing - this kind of humour is timeless.
Social Bookmarking – Strategic Fit or Return on Investment
It came to press last week that Yahoo! is planning to sell off it's Bookmarking site Delicious.
They indicate that Delicious is 'not a strategic fit' (ref. The Delicious Blog.)
The news has sparked a range of articles including alternatives (see Testking post on 15 alternatives to Delicous).
But if Yahoo! is parting with Delicious, does this really mean that it's not making them (enough) money?
Getting down to the basics of economics, if companies can't see a return on their investment in running social bookmarking sites they will not continue to support them. Is this the start of a shift in how and whether these sites are run? And what level of return do these site bring, or need to bring?