Will Knott

I have to thank Anton for this short film (a touch under 16 and a half minutes) called Validation. Validation is a fable about the magic of free parking and making people feel good. Starring TJ Thyne (best know from Bones) & Vicki Davis and is written, directed and composed by Kurt Kuenne.

Its also a tale about how people influence each other. Make them feel good and bad, and how hat changes the world at large.

So sit back and watch it (it helps if you have a good and fast connection)

Some readers using RSS feeds may have to click through to watch.

Feel good about your great self now?

Will Knott

Well 2007 is on the way out. And as usual in Ireland, all things come to a halt for a while. Christmas is a scary time of the year because, usually, everything gets changed this week. This is probably the reason why resolutions are saved for this time of the year in this part of the world. You’ve just survived one week of changes intact. Why not make more…

For some people, this is a time of the year when they are handed responsibilities that they normally don’t look after. (Some even learned new skills this way). These people (of which I’m one) have their lives thrown a little off kilter for a while. And they have to consider what’s important and what needs to change.

For others everything comes to a stop. Work stops. The life of the office stops (and some people try to hide the evidence of what happened at the office party… ah flickr and facebook) and the news cycle slows. For them this comes as a chance to think. And they have to consider what’s important and what needs to change.

So the adverts change from “buy this” to “stop smoking” or “start a new hobby with this magazine” and of course “sale now on…” since the Christmas stock costs too much to store.

And so the resolutions begin. The “I’ll never rush in to a sale again” is heartfelt but unheeded within a week. So I’ll ignore that one.

Yup… resolutions.

What do I want to do or change? Trust me I’ve had a while to think about these things so…

1) Be master of my own domain…
I don’t mean tidy the house (but now that you mention it, the bathroom mirror does need to b put in the bathroom. I mean it’s time that WillKnott.net and WillKnott.ie actually got used as something more than a redirect. Part of this is to do with changes that seem to be afoot. The “cork” in “cork-host” may need to change.
All advice gratefully accepted.

2) On your bike…
Personally, I need to get out more. I’ve used every excuse not to cycle this year. 2008 will see a saddle put under strain. Regularly. That and go back to Capoeira again. Things sort of stopped over December.

3) Learn (or relearn) a language…
I’ve always been more a OnLamppp man than an AJAX man. So I’m going to refresh and perfect my Perl, python and PHP. I do intend to get Ruby (and maybe rails) in my head. Sort of useful with a domain eh? Somehow I just know that Java will need something more formal than a commitment by me. Any pointer to classes or tutorials would be appreciated.

What, you assumed French? (Actually Portuguese would be useful for Capoeira but that’s another story.)

4) Take time to smell the roses…
Or actually plant them. Simply put, my garden is a mess. Actually that not true. I was careful. My garden is black. Black weed-proof plastic. I need to do some things. Lay a patio. Do “something” with a terrace. I genuinely don’t know what should happen out there. I do know I need the hardscaping finished. Help?

5) Give voice…
This is neither a resolution nor a commitment. But my attendance at PodCamp Ireland and the forthcoming Creative Camp gave me an idea… which I’ll post later.

I think that is enough. You can’t make yourself too many resolutions simply because putting too much pressure on yourself almost guarantees that you won’t do any.

Any resolutions or advice?

take care,
Will Knott

tags : 2007, 2008, change, resolution, domain, WillKnott.net, WillKnott.ie, cycle, capoeira, onlamp, garden, PodCamp, PodCamp Ireland, Creative Camp, podcasting

Today’s Science Week question is “In your opinion what was the best invention in 2007″.

I’ve been looking in to this, partly to see what exactly was invented in 2007. The US Patent search revealed a few things ( like this completely not work safe item), ah. No.

With 20/20 hindsight we might declare Bruce Crower’s improved engine design the eventual winner. Or given the popularity of Lego as the best invention of people’s childhood the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT software as the best.

Given my data loss, I’m tempted to award the linkable USB hard disk as the winner, but no.

As Conor asked “How many people are going to plump for the jesusphone in their posts?” Well no. The iPhone simply has one of the best user interfaces on a touch screen created. However the phone itself , without Bluetooth, may make it illegal to use on the Irish roads (I remember that a wired earpiede is not permitted), so it looses out for legal reasons. But Nokia went one better, and offered something that should be in the next iPhone… touch feedback’ touchscreen as reported by Red Ferret.

So there you go, a tiny touch that lets you know you’ve made a tiny touch.

take care,
Will

tags :
Science Week, best invention, 2007

pink28 bonbon
Originally uploaded by cork_host

Halloween wasn’t always the candy-fest it is today. Once we had to put up with apples and peanuts.

Kids these days. They’ll expect to drive on their second provisional yet… oh hang on…

pink26 Roosters
Originally uploaded by cork_host

the answer, for those not reading the comments, was indeed Roosters.

Dear Frank,

Thanks for telling me about the open call for an advert in Cork. As you said, the producers (who don’t seem to have a website) wanted people to hug…

So I showed up to the Clarion (and thanks for the Wi-Fi) and registered. Since the aim was to hug, and someone else have come in to register at the same time… get got put together. Hello Irene on the off chance that you do the search for the blog.

This was my giggly-ist audition ever! We kept setting each other off. I may have blown the audition, but I’m in the best mood ever. And all without the use of chocolate!

On the off chance that I get a call (too many giggles?), I’ll let you know.

take care,
Will

Today is 07/07/07
It’s a simple fact of mathematics so expect observations like this every year until 12/12/12.

However, 777 is a lucky and magical number… just ask any Slot Machine a.k.a. One-Armed Bandit. It appears that it might now be possible to get in to Las Vegas tonight

Oh and 08/08/08 is considered really lucky in China. The word for 8 sounds similar to riches if I remember correctly.

Oh well, off to buy a lottery ticket.
take care,
Will

Given the launch hype around the European and Irish PS3 launch and the queues and all, I called in to Game in Mahon Point.

They confirmed what I suspected; they still had Play Station 3’s in stock at 9pm.

So much for the hype.

tags : PS3, PlayStation, launch, hype, Mahon Point, Cork, Ireland