British politicians engage in modern warfare

Two British politicians – both from the governing party – have clashed over the newly released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Half of this story comes as no surprise. With the game inevitably (and almost certainly intentionally) attracting controversy over an optional scene where the player must pose as a terrorist during an airport […]



Twitter Lists, Google Alerts, and the Changing Face of Social Media

It’s no exaggeration to say that Twitter has been the most useful networking tool I’ve ever used. After months of toiling away on my blog and finding it very difficult to make connections with like-minded individuals, it was Twitter that actually linked me up with writers and geeks all across the globe. So, how I […]



Internet helps, not hinders, social networks

New communications technologies, such as the Internet and mobile phones, have not made people less social, according to a study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. While the number of people the average person interacts with has declined, the internet isn’t necessarily the cause, and the theory that social isolation has tripled in […]

Remembering: The Amstrad PCW8256

After the ZX81 and BBC Micro, the last non-PC computer in my house growing up was Amstrad’s PCW8256. That’s somewhat appropriate given my recent review of Micro Men, which ended with ZX81 maker Clive Sinclair and BBC Micro maker Chris Currie bemoaning the way the market had been taken over by Amstrad’s Alan Sugar. The […]

Geeky Jack ‘o Lanterns

It’s nearly time for Halloween, which means the flickering lights of jack ‘o lanterns on doorsteps. Here’s what wikipedia says about jack ‘o lanterns: In a jack-o’-lantern, typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid […]

Halloween Ambiance: Borax Crystal Halloween Decorations

I was looking for unique and geeky decorations for my Halloween Party, and I’d already bought a box of Borax to make slime (I’ll also be making ectoplasm, I should note) so I did a quick internet search and discovered that, at least around Christmas, pipe cleaners and dissolved Borax make for some intriguing creations. […]