it's been some time since I last said anything in this blog, and also about the various projects that I have on the go at some time or other. As this blog is for me I think I need to tell myself what i have been doing or not over the last few weeks or so.
The Dirk Maggs books has not got any further along in its editing and the problem with the indexes still needs to be sorted one way or another. I just have not had several clear hours in which to work on the book. One problem is that after all this time of not looking at it, you forget things that are in it and also the things that you wanted to change last time but never got around to it.
The podcast website AE35 has also stalled, I have done 6 or so pod casts and then things happed and well, I am making excuses for why it just has not moved forward, one of the reasons has to be me being lazy I guess. The other is time again, always a good excuses I think or not.
One of the great things about the pod casts is that some how or other it has been found by the odd brave sole and downloaded! Yes I know quite what thay made of all of it I just don't know.
The Dirk Maggs website is up to date, as he has not produced any new work for a while I have no backlog of updates to do to the site, which is nice.
The DMP 2 wiki website has had a bit of a redesign so it has very little content, but lots of backroom stuff has been done to it, but just like an iceberg you the user can't see the effort that has gone on.
The DMP wiki website has been frozen while we look to see if DMP 2 is going to work, if it does then the content form DMP will transfer to DMP 2.
So that's the update as to how things are at this time, as summer is now almost over( if it ever started here in England) I could get some free time soon and get some of these projects moving.
14 September, 2008
08 September, 2008
03 September, 2008
Chrome
So here I am using Google Chrome so far its great.The only thing is has Google tracked how fast people started to search for info on chrome
11 August, 2008
DMP 2 part 2
02 August, 2008
DMP 2
Just a small note to me from me, that I have started to work on DMP 2, which as you know is a replacement for DMP 1. Yes it does all make sense, I think...
Anyway DMP 1 has a problem in that its on an old database and everytime I don an SQL dump and then try to upload that dump into the new MYSQL it fails hence the restart. Which is not all bad news as how I need to present the data in DMP 2 is going to be easyeir using the new software and the database.
Anyway DMP 1 has a problem in that its on an old database and everytime I don an SQL dump and then try to upload that dump into the new MYSQL it fails hence the restart. Which is not all bad news as how I need to present the data in DMP 2 is going to be easyeir using the new software and the database.
25 July, 2008
Blogs and all of that stuff
I have found that for some unkown reason I blog more at some times of the year than others why this should be so I just don't know, but it's what I have found to be true for me. I don't know if it's true for other people, but you never know.
I do like the idea of a blog, but I must admit that I only do the blog for me as it's very unlikely that anyone else will ever read this stuff. What I mean by that is that there are millions of blogs outthere and when you think about it there are only so many hours in a day that some one has time to read a blog if that is the kind of thing they do.
Come to think of it why do people read blogs in the first place? there must be a reason why people do, maybe there is a phd for someone to research into this all I know is that the blogs I read tend to be by people who have an intrest that is the same as mine. So maybe that's a reason as for me I just don't know.
I do sometimes wonder if this blog will out live me, and if someone in the future will ever read it and wounder who I was and what I was like, maybe that is one of the real reasons why people do blogs as they want to leave something behind for the folks that come after them, I suppose in the past you had to be some one who was in the public eye or you where someone that did art, eg pictures or stuff like that.
I suppose that must blogs are never read by more than one person eg the author of the blog, but as is always the case there must be blogs that do get read by thousands, I do wonder how the guys or girls who write the blogs read by thousands might end up writing blogs all most as a performance as they know that they have a readership, do these guys set out to get an audance, do they want an audance?
As for me I decided that I wanted to record things for me so that I could look back on events, and that I could use someone elses experance in computers to make sure that every thing was backed up and that it would be there for me to look at in the future. I did have a blog on my own website, but I made a mistake in programming an SQL statement and wiped out the whole of my blog database, which did cause me to swear a lot and also to be less verbose in blog terms, I mean I lost years or blog items. So I signed up to blogger, but for some reason like I said at the start of all this I don't do bnlog on a regular occurance for some reason.
i have just noticed that I am now starting to repaet myself, so I am going to stop, but one thing to note with this blog is that I am not going to spell check it, the reason being is that I have been up nearly 20 hours or so, I will admit that I have had a drink (rum if you must know David) and it will be intresting to see in the harsh light of day what this looks like and also how it reads when one is not very tierd and also has not had a drink.
So David in the future i hope that i find you well and that you are happy in that you have found out waht you where thinking on 25th July 2008 at 23.06 i wish you good health and best whishes.
I do like the idea of a blog, but I must admit that I only do the blog for me as it's very unlikely that anyone else will ever read this stuff. What I mean by that is that there are millions of blogs outthere and when you think about it there are only so many hours in a day that some one has time to read a blog if that is the kind of thing they do.
Come to think of it why do people read blogs in the first place? there must be a reason why people do, maybe there is a phd for someone to research into this all I know is that the blogs I read tend to be by people who have an intrest that is the same as mine. So maybe that's a reason as for me I just don't know.
I do sometimes wonder if this blog will out live me, and if someone in the future will ever read it and wounder who I was and what I was like, maybe that is one of the real reasons why people do blogs as they want to leave something behind for the folks that come after them, I suppose in the past you had to be some one who was in the public eye or you where someone that did art, eg pictures or stuff like that.
I suppose that must blogs are never read by more than one person eg the author of the blog, but as is always the case there must be blogs that do get read by thousands, I do wonder how the guys or girls who write the blogs read by thousands might end up writing blogs all most as a performance as they know that they have a readership, do these guys set out to get an audance, do they want an audance?
As for me I decided that I wanted to record things for me so that I could look back on events, and that I could use someone elses experance in computers to make sure that every thing was backed up and that it would be there for me to look at in the future. I did have a blog on my own website, but I made a mistake in programming an SQL statement and wiped out the whole of my blog database, which did cause me to swear a lot and also to be less verbose in blog terms, I mean I lost years or blog items. So I signed up to blogger, but for some reason like I said at the start of all this I don't do bnlog on a regular occurance for some reason.
i have just noticed that I am now starting to repaet myself, so I am going to stop, but one thing to note with this blog is that I am not going to spell check it, the reason being is that I have been up nearly 20 hours or so, I will admit that I have had a drink (rum if you must know David) and it will be intresting to see in the harsh light of day what this looks like and also how it reads when one is not very tierd and also has not had a drink.
So David in the future i hope that i find you well and that you are happy in that you have found out waht you where thinking on 25th July 2008 at 23.06 i wish you good health and best whishes.
21 July, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 20
Guess what?
Yes it's true!!
I did some work on the book today, not a lot I must admit but at least I did something, so progress of a sorts.
Changed the publish date and altered some of the body text. I have come to the conclusion that more tables to store the actores names in will also be needed.
Yes it's true!!
I did some work on the book today, not a lot I must admit but at least I did something, so progress of a sorts.
Changed the publish date and altered some of the body text. I have come to the conclusion that more tables to store the actores names in will also be needed.
18 July, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 19
UPDATE
The update is that I have not had the time or the energy to do any more to the book at this time.
The update is that I have not had the time or the energy to do any more to the book at this time.
09 July, 2008
21 June, 2008
13 June, 2008
02 June, 2008
01 June, 2008
Podcast part 2
New post on podcast http://ae35.mypodcast.com/
============================================
AE35 Cast Number 6
This cast is an update show.
I talk about why so long since the lst cast.
All about the trouble with editing theme tunes.
More ideas on scripts and some of the ideas that others have had.
I also talk about podfade and why it happens and if it has any inpact on me.
Episode download link: http://www.mypodcast.com/fsaudio/ae35_20080601_0828-239367.mp3
- Dave, [8:28 AM]
============================================
AE35 Cast Number 6
This cast is an update show.
I talk about why so long since the lst cast.
All about the trouble with editing theme tunes.
More ideas on scripts and some of the ideas that others have had.
I also talk about podfade and why it happens and if it has any inpact on me.
Episode download link: http://www.mypodcast.com/fsaudio/ae35_20080601_0828-239367.mp3
- Dave, [8:28 AM]
30 May, 2008
Podcast
Did I tell you that I have a podcast?
No?
Well I have one, it goes back to last year, I am sorry to say that I have not been very active with it as some how or other I end up with no time and a quite place to record the thing.
I have worked out 2 years plus worth of shows if I do a 5 to 30 minute show one a fortnight. I have even got outline for some of the shows done (see I can get some things done, sometimes even books, actually I have so far written 10 books each more than 300 pages A4 size all non fiction)
I have started to wonder if i could do the podcast on my mobile then transfer it sad I know....
You want to know the name of the podcast well it's AE35 and if you do a Google you should find it, I did (ha ha) as I write this I have only done 5 shows so far, one of them lasts just 4 minutes or so ( do you know how hard it is to talk into a microphone?) with luck I will sort myself out and get some more shows done. It goes without saying that I have not told anyone but this blog about the shows, and the other thing is that I have the shows hosted for me on a site that has nothing to do with Dirk Maggs or James Follett.
No?
Well I have one, it goes back to last year, I am sorry to say that I have not been very active with it as some how or other I end up with no time and a quite place to record the thing.
I have worked out 2 years plus worth of shows if I do a 5 to 30 minute show one a fortnight. I have even got outline for some of the shows done (see I can get some things done, sometimes even books, actually I have so far written 10 books each more than 300 pages A4 size all non fiction)
I have started to wonder if i could do the podcast on my mobile then transfer it sad I know....
You want to know the name of the podcast well it's AE35 and if you do a Google you should find it, I did (ha ha) as I write this I have only done 5 shows so far, one of them lasts just 4 minutes or so ( do you know how hard it is to talk into a microphone?) with luck I will sort myself out and get some more shows done. It goes without saying that I have not told anyone but this blog about the shows, and the other thing is that I have the shows hosted for me on a site that has nothing to do with Dirk Maggs or James Follett.
Dirk Maggs Book Part 18
Did I tell you that I am now into the final edit of the draft, but I have some tables that need to be redone in a better way so that they take up less space? Well, the snag I have is that its hard work and such and such and well I have stopped doing the edit, the other reason being that I have a great read on at the moment by Alastair Reynolds called The Perfect and well I want to find out whats going to happen, really its that good, I think so.
28 May, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 17
The edit on the 1st draft is going well I think. The draft without any index is 327 A4 pages long. As the edit goes it should drop down as I have some tables that need to be altered so that they go across the page and not down the page, some of the are quite long, so I am hoping that when edited as I said above that the page space being used will go down, so that will also mean the page count will also go down. When I do whatever I am going to do with the index or indexes then the page count will then go up, by how much I just don't know at this stage.
27 May, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 16
Yes
I have done some work on the book at last. In fact I have started to edit the final draft an have got to page 40 so far.
I have done some work on the book at last. In fact I have started to edit the final draft an have got to page 40 so far.
26 May, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 15
The news on the book project is not good. As you know I put the draft to one side, to let it mature as they say. Well the draft really is mature now and I suppose I should look at it, do the final rewrites and correct any spelling mistakes that I find, and if I am lucky add a few more new ones!
The truth of the matter is that I have not done this, other things keep getting in the way, why?
I have also still yet to work out what kind of index or indexes I want in this book. As the book is just for me I just do not know how useful more than one index would be, I have some books that have more than one index, but it does seem to be something that is rae and not the norm all, but as it's my book I can do what I want.
As I am also the publisher of the book I can also do what I want, just so long as the book does not cost me a fortune when I come to have it printed. As the book will never be for sale there is no real pressure on me to have it published by the deadline I set myself, apart from the fact that the book will be out of date!
The truth of the matter is that I have not done this, other things keep getting in the way, why?
I have also still yet to work out what kind of index or indexes I want in this book. As the book is just for me I just do not know how useful more than one index would be, I have some books that have more than one index, but it does seem to be something that is rae and not the norm all, but as it's my book I can do what I want.
As I am also the publisher of the book I can also do what I want, just so long as the book does not cost me a fortune when I come to have it printed. As the book will never be for sale there is no real pressure on me to have it published by the deadline I set myself, apart from the fact that the book will be out of date!
18 May, 2008
Back
Been on a holiday, which was great lots of walking and peace and quite, which is what I needed.
I notice that I have done very few blogs over the last few weeks, and I can only put that down to work life and all that sort of stuff, some of it very stressful.
I think that enough time has gone by to look at my Dirk Maggs project again and see how much rewriting needs to be done. I know that the index or indexes still need to be done, but you cannot work on the index until the main text is done and is complete in the form that will stay with that edition of the book.
I notice that I have done very few blogs over the last few weeks, and I can only put that down to work life and all that sort of stuff, some of it very stressful.
I think that enough time has gone by to look at my Dirk Maggs project again and see how much rewriting needs to be done. I know that the index or indexes still need to be done, but you cannot work on the index until the main text is done and is complete in the form that will stay with that edition of the book.
28 April, 2008
Monument
This is one of those image that just jumped out at me, not to sure why but its a great image I think its got something to do with the sky and the very simple subject matter, all in all it just works and thats all that maters
22 April, 2008
18 April, 2008
06 April, 2008
05 April, 2008
03 April, 2008
N73 Firmware Update
I did something that I did not think you could do to a mobile phone, this shows just how behind the times I am, but I upgraded the firmware in my mobile, a Nokia N73 form version 2 something to version 3 something.
The update was free from Nokia, and the software to do the job with.
How was it? Okay but boy you read all the warnings and well, it nearly put me off doing the upgrade thing all together. But after some 15 minutes or so the task was done.
The Result?
Good, I think a lot of the changes from version 2 to 3 must be stuff under the bonnet but other tings are new or updated, to tell the truth the old software never gave me any trouble and so far the new software also seems to be okay.
The only down side of it all was that my backup of all my contacts was not good and some how did not work and that was only 20 or so minutes after I had done the backup, so what's going there I do not know. It not a big loss as the number of contacts that I keep on my phone is small, this is because I have 2 mobiles my own and the companies, and keeping the numbers and contacts separate has and is to me a good idea.
Would I do the upgrade again?
Yes, but only if there are some big advantages to the upgrade otherwise with all the prep work you have to do its just not worth the time and the effort.
Since the upgrade the Internet has not been safe I have found that there are lots of free N73 themes on the net and I am having great fun downloading them and installing them on the phone.
The update was free from Nokia, and the software to do the job with.
How was it? Okay but boy you read all the warnings and well, it nearly put me off doing the upgrade thing all together. But after some 15 minutes or so the task was done.
The Result?
Good, I think a lot of the changes from version 2 to 3 must be stuff under the bonnet but other tings are new or updated, to tell the truth the old software never gave me any trouble and so far the new software also seems to be okay.
The only down side of it all was that my backup of all my contacts was not good and some how did not work and that was only 20 or so minutes after I had done the backup, so what's going there I do not know. It not a big loss as the number of contacts that I keep on my phone is small, this is because I have 2 mobiles my own and the companies, and keeping the numbers and contacts separate has and is to me a good idea.
Would I do the upgrade again?
Yes, but only if there are some big advantages to the upgrade otherwise with all the prep work you have to do its just not worth the time and the effort.
Since the upgrade the Internet has not been safe I have found that there are lots of free N73 themes on the net and I am having great fun downloading them and installing them on the phone.
01 April, 2008
Website Updates
I have some how found the time to do an update to my main 2 websites. So now they are as uptodate as I can make them with the current information that I have to hand.
The main URL is http://www.dswilliams.co.uk
So I am now off to look at some of my other projects that I have not looked at in ages
The main URL is http://www.dswilliams.co.uk
So I am now off to look at some of my other projects that I have not looked at in ages
31 March, 2008
AE35
AE35?
Eh?
Well its my podcast that sometimes I do. In fact, so far it runs to only 4 episodes so it has a long way to go until it has found its feet, or style. If I can be bothered I will put the URL in this blog.
As it is other things are calling so bye
Eh?
Well its my podcast that sometimes I do. In fact, so far it runs to only 4 episodes so it has a long way to go until it has found its feet, or style. If I can be bothered I will put the URL in this blog.
As it is other things are calling so bye
30 March, 2008
Not Much
Not much to say this time as I have other projects that are at such an early stage, eg they are still in my head that there really is nothing to say.
29 March, 2008
Index oh Index
As I have said before else where in this blog the first draft of the Dirk Maggs book is now done, I was going to start doing the index or indexes when I remember something I had read which said that it is always a good idea to put your first draft away and go and do something else, so that when you look at it again there is some time and distance between you and the draft and you will look at it if a different light and frame of mind.
So I am going to take that advice, which mean I can put off having to do the Index just for a few more weeks, to say that I am relived would be an under statement. So this means I can get on with my other projects, like updating the Dirk Maggs website and stuff like that.
So I am going to take that advice, which mean I can put off having to do the Index just for a few more weeks, to say that I am relived would be an under statement. So this means I can get on with my other projects, like updating the Dirk Maggs website and stuff like that.
18 March, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 14
1st draft complete page count is now 329. First go at doing an index ended up with word crashing and loosing all the work I had done on marking up the index, not as bad as it sounds as I had only marked up 4 pages. I was using the mark all feature in word when it crashed.
Not sure if I ran out of memory in the machine I was using or what.
Not sure if I ran out of memory in the machine I was using or what.
17 March, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 13
There has been some progress all the drafts of all the chapters has now been done. I have now started to create the master document witll all the chapters in.
This is the second time that I have done this as the first time word inported all the files in the wrong order!
It would appear that in A4 page size the book is 357 pages long with out how many indexes I end up with.
This is the second time that I have done this as the first time word inported all the files in the wrong order!
It would appear that in A4 page size the book is 357 pages long with out how many indexes I end up with.
15 March, 2008
Appendix Index
As the 1st draft of the Dirk Maggs book is now very close to being done, I have had a strange thought that I have so far failed to find an answer to. The question or thought was this can you have an index to an appendix, or is an appendix in a book a mutated form of index?
I think its a good question, the only snag with such a great question is that finding an answer to it is well hard in fact very hard and at this time I have not yet found an answer.
At this stage the book has a chapter for each years work a chapter on other audio work and then 2 very large appendixes, now I do know because I have seen them that you can have loads of appendix in a book I think I once counted something like 10 in one book that I picked up years ago.
The thing is do I need to have an index for each section of the book? e.g one index for the work done in years another index for each appendix and an index for the other audio work?
Or do I go down the route of having an index for subjects e.g one for the radio shows and another for the actors or people in the productions?
I also have to keep in mind that I will have to do another edition of this book in a few years time as the idea is that it forms a written record of the website at the time the book was written.
At this time I do not have any answers to the above questions
I think its a good question, the only snag with such a great question is that finding an answer to it is well hard in fact very hard and at this time I have not yet found an answer.
At this stage the book has a chapter for each years work a chapter on other audio work and then 2 very large appendixes, now I do know because I have seen them that you can have loads of appendix in a book I think I once counted something like 10 in one book that I picked up years ago.
The thing is do I need to have an index for each section of the book? e.g one index for the work done in years another index for each appendix and an index for the other audio work?
Or do I go down the route of having an index for subjects e.g one for the radio shows and another for the actors or people in the productions?
I also have to keep in mind that I will have to do another edition of this book in a few years time as the idea is that it forms a written record of the website at the time the book was written.
At this time I do not have any answers to the above questions
14 March, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 12
Did i say that all the book in draft is done except appendix 2? Well if I did not I have done now. I have yet to collect each chapter into the master document so I do not know just how did this book of the website is going to be.
I think it will have a page count lower than the second edition mainly due to the fact that the page size has been changed so that it can be printed in hardback, and so with luck it might last a bit longer, as the idea is to have a written record of what The Dirk Maggs website looks like I think hardback is the way forward.
I did have the Idea to present a copy of the book to Dirk, but thinking about it, I decided that it might weird him out seeing his life's work in a hardback book before him.
As I have said before the book is going to be a Private printing so it will not be for sale.
Saying that a few weeks ago something did go wrong with how the book is listed at LULU and you could see the book and buy it (the second edition that is) the cost? a cool 1999999.99 pounds so it was not a surprise that no one brought a copy, can't think why that is
I think it will have a page count lower than the second edition mainly due to the fact that the page size has been changed so that it can be printed in hardback, and so with luck it might last a bit longer, as the idea is to have a written record of what The Dirk Maggs website looks like I think hardback is the way forward.
I did have the Idea to present a copy of the book to Dirk, but thinking about it, I decided that it might weird him out seeing his life's work in a hardback book before him.
As I have said before the book is going to be a Private printing so it will not be for sale.
Saying that a few weeks ago something did go wrong with how the book is listed at LULU and you could see the book and buy it (the second edition that is) the cost? a cool 1999999.99 pounds so it was not a surprise that no one brought a copy, can't think why that is
Index part 2
Note to me, you still have to find out about single or double indexes for the Dirk Maggs book of the website.
13 March, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 11
News on the Dirk Maggs book is that the 1st draft of all work in years 1988 to 2009 has been done.
The 1st draft of the 1st appendix has also been done.
The 1st draft of any other audio work has also been done.
At this rate the 1st draft of the book should be done by June 2008
Making publication due October 2008 at the rate this is all going
The 1st draft of the 1st appendix has also been done.
The 1st draft of any other audio work has also been done.
At this rate the 1st draft of the book should be done by June 2008
Making publication due October 2008 at the rate this is all going
11 March, 2008
Linux
Well still playing with different versions or distro's of Linux and not getting any work on the Dirk Maggs book done....
09 March, 2008
VM Linux
Now playing with VM linux machines, only snag so far is that I can't get at the files on my hard discs.
07 March, 2008
USB Linux
Just found out that you can install Linux on a USB stick, never knew you could do that and its been fun learning.
Does make you wonder how come Linux on a 2Gb stick installed and working 10 minutes, windows XP hours why?
Does make you wonder how come Linux on a 2Gb stick installed and working 10 minutes, windows XP hours why?
04 March, 2008
03 March, 2008
Print Servers
Why can't print servers just work?
Why is it they only play up when you are short of time?
Why?
Why is it they only play up when you are short of time?
Why?
01 March, 2008
Leap day & Blogger
So it was leap day and I thought I better do my blog. But blogger had other ideas and would not let me save my blog, only the second time that has happened to me. S I have missed the chance to have a 29 Feb entry in my blog, and I did not have time to report the error so I am just a bit miffed.
The idea was to try and do a blog each day, so Feb is blown out and I know that march will be a blow out as I am of on a course which means not access to the net.
The idea was to try and do a blog each day, so Feb is blown out and I know that march will be a blow out as I am of on a course which means not access to the net.
29 February, 2008
28 February, 2008
400
So after I don't know how long this is the 400th entry in my Blog wow, I know some folks do far more some do far less but this is what I do
27 February, 2008
What I am reading
Current books that I am reading all at the same time are,
Weaver Stephen Baxter, this is part 4 of the time tapestry series and is very and as I have said and written else where would make a great radio show, only 40 grand a series of six programmes and I would have Dirk Maggs to adapt and produce and direct them, value for money or what?
Book two then is 6th Target by James Patterson, this is part of the Woman's murder club but for some reason its not right, I am not sure what I mean by that statement but its as if it was ruched in some way, maybe the problem is that James is producing too many books going for quantity and not quality I just don't know. I will hold judgement till when I complete the book.
The last book that I am reading is the very first book in the new cop series by Peter James called Dead Simple, now I found this series and read the latest book first and have worked my way back to this the very first book in the series, and so far its great.
As I have said above in the Stephen Baxter bit this is also a series of books that I think Dirk Maggs would be great on , as he has never done hard crime novels some it would give him a chance to stretch his creative mussels and just see what he can do. I think with Dirk's great timing and choice of good actors each book would be a great 6 part series, not that the BBC does this sort of stuff any more, they seem to have gone down the route of cheap low cost productions with nothing to stretch both the listener and the production crew.
If I had the money I would pay for these shows to be produced even if they never got an airing on national radio at least they would have been produced by one of the best radio directors/producers in the last 20 years.
Weaver Stephen Baxter, this is part 4 of the time tapestry series and is very and as I have said and written else where would make a great radio show, only 40 grand a series of six programmes and I would have Dirk Maggs to adapt and produce and direct them, value for money or what?
Book two then is 6th Target by James Patterson, this is part of the Woman's murder club but for some reason its not right, I am not sure what I mean by that statement but its as if it was ruched in some way, maybe the problem is that James is producing too many books going for quantity and not quality I just don't know. I will hold judgement till when I complete the book.
The last book that I am reading is the very first book in the new cop series by Peter James called Dead Simple, now I found this series and read the latest book first and have worked my way back to this the very first book in the series, and so far its great.
As I have said above in the Stephen Baxter bit this is also a series of books that I think Dirk Maggs would be great on , as he has never done hard crime novels some it would give him a chance to stretch his creative mussels and just see what he can do. I think with Dirk's great timing and choice of good actors each book would be a great 6 part series, not that the BBC does this sort of stuff any more, they seem to have gone down the route of cheap low cost productions with nothing to stretch both the listener and the production crew.
If I had the money I would pay for these shows to be produced even if they never got an airing on national radio at least they would have been produced by one of the best radio directors/producers in the last 20 years.
Earthquake UK
So wakes up to the news that the UK had an earthquake at 1am this morning, 5.3 on some scale or other, not sure what to think other than I am glad that no one was killed. Did I feel the trumors? no but folks in London and Dover did.
26 February, 2008
Cloudy Lemonade
Had some cloudy lemonade today, for some reason looked at what went into it, one of the ingredants? Orange juice 10%
why?
why?
25 February, 2008
CVD or Dust
I found out that dust and DVD players are mortal foes. And all I wanted to do was watch Die hard 4.0
24 February, 2008
Index
Yes I know, I have now done so may blogs on this subject, but I am having trouble finding a good info source which could guide me on which way to go with how many indexes I need. I just supose I will have to keep on looking.
The good news is that I will not need it for a while.
The good news is that I will not need it for a while.
23 February, 2008
21 February, 2008
Indexes
Just wondered if you had a book about indexes, would it have an index, would it be an index index?
20 February, 2008
19 February, 2008
Open Office
As a follow up to yesterday and the troubles with converting a file on LULU so that it was in a print format Pdf, good idea no1 was to use another ep programme.
The idea was to load the file in Open office wp and the resave the file, good idea? well that did not happen all the versions I have of Open Office(version 2.0) opened the file no problem and then stopped working when i asked it to resave the file. No in Open Office's defence I have to admit i was using it as a portable app so maybe some thing with that set up is what is causing the problem.
So other news is that I have not done any more drafts work on the Dirk Maggs book it is still stalled.
On the index fron (eg who many and what type) no progress.
Perhaps progress next time I report in this blog.
The idea was to load the file in Open office wp and the resave the file, good idea? well that did not happen all the versions I have of Open Office(version 2.0) opened the file no problem and then stopped working when i asked it to resave the file. No in Open Office's defence I have to admit i was using it as a portable app so maybe some thing with that set up is what is causing the problem.
So other news is that I have not done any more drafts work on the Dirk Maggs book it is still stalled.
On the index fron (eg who many and what type) no progress.
Perhaps progress next time I report in this blog.
18 February, 2008
Plans that go wrong
So I had this great plan, I would convert an exsisting manuscript to 8.5*11 so that it the right size to be printed in hardback.
Step one, the converting was in the end okay as it only took a few hours and it looked good at the end of it all.
Step two, now thats when things started to go off the rails in a real big way. The upload to LULU was okay and that worked. The next step converting the document into a printable PDF did not go right, in fact it failed. Now the big problem is that I don't know why the conversion failed as LULU don't say why the document failed, they just say that it failed, yeh I know so useful.
So I am at a loss what to do...
I think I shall have another look at the Dirk Maggs book the drafts that I have done so far....
I last thjought I did have was to try a differant wp programme to se if that is the problem. I normally use word 2003 nice and old and it mostly works and so should be without any major problems.
Step one, the converting was in the end okay as it only took a few hours and it looked good at the end of it all.
Step two, now thats when things started to go off the rails in a real big way. The upload to LULU was okay and that worked. The next step converting the document into a printable PDF did not go right, in fact it failed. Now the big problem is that I don't know why the conversion failed as LULU don't say why the document failed, they just say that it failed, yeh I know so useful.
So I am at a loss what to do...
I think I shall have another look at the Dirk Maggs book the drafts that I have done so far....
I last thjought I did have was to try a differant wp programme to se if that is the problem. I normally use word 2003 nice and old and it mostly works and so should be without any major problems.
17 February, 2008
Hardback Books and all of that
Do you know that the actual writing of a book at this moment in time to me looks easier than working out correct paper sizes and what template to use when you want to have your book published as a hardback book?
Why?
I hope that with a little bit more work I will have the answers that I have been looking for. So far the answers are not there yet.
As an expirment I updated and resized the manuscripts for one of my eriler books, what I thought would only take at most an hour soon got out of control and before I knew it I had spent some 3 hours on it, but I think the time has been well spent as I now have edtion 5 of the book in a hardback format at a size of 8.5*11 which is the size I want of so I think at this moment in time.
I am going to upload it to LULU and see what I get. I think that it will be a good test as I think the Dirk Maggs book will be of the same sort of size, that is about 500 odd pages, one thing with this test book that did surprise me was that the table of content runs to 30 pages! I know what? when you see the book it's easy to understand, I don't think the Dirk book will have that size of contents page, but you never know.
Now the index or indexes are another matter, and no I have not got any furthur on what to do or how many indexes I might need.
Why?
I hope that with a little bit more work I will have the answers that I have been looking for. So far the answers are not there yet.
As an expirment I updated and resized the manuscripts for one of my eriler books, what I thought would only take at most an hour soon got out of control and before I knew it I had spent some 3 hours on it, but I think the time has been well spent as I now have edtion 5 of the book in a hardback format at a size of 8.5*11 which is the size I want of so I think at this moment in time.
I am going to upload it to LULU and see what I get. I think that it will be a good test as I think the Dirk Maggs book will be of the same sort of size, that is about 500 odd pages, one thing with this test book that did surprise me was that the table of content runs to 30 pages! I know what? when you see the book it's easy to understand, I don't think the Dirk book will have that size of contents page, but you never know.
Now the index or indexes are another matter, and no I have not got any furthur on what to do or how many indexes I might need.
16 February, 2008
Photos
Just looked back at some of the early posts on this blog, only to see that some of the photos that I had made comments on have gone. It just brings it home to me just how frgile ( is that the word to use?) all these electrons really are, things on the web are or only appear to be here for minutes and then lost forever.
I think it is sad, very sad that like footprints in the snow thing do not stay around for ever.
I think it is sad, very sad that like footprints in the snow thing do not stay around for ever.
Dirk Maggs Book Part 10
Things have gone a bit slow on the draft front, mainly as I have been looking at hardback or paperback and also the problem of indexes, the index problem is one that I have yet to fully work out which way to go. If I go for more than one index then the work in doing such a thing is a lot, the rewards of having a good index can not be under estimated that much I am sure of. The only question is how many and what type of indexes do I want or does the book need?
On the hardback front I have decided that hardback is the way to go, the only problem now is what size of hardback?
At this time I do not have an answer to that question yet, if I have too small a book in page size the number of pages will go up and the other problem, which I have not yet looked at is how the content on each page will be effected. With the first problem as far as I can see as the page count goes up so does the cost of the final book.
A wild thought that I did have was, well why not have each years work as a volume in it's own right? but a quick look at this idea has already told me that if I stay in A4 size pages then some of the volumes will be very thin on the otherhand if the page size is smaller than A4 then the page count goes up, so all in all at this time I do not know what to to muli volume or one large volume.
I suppose the answer will only become clear once I have done all the drafts and put the book together in its first draft layout.
On the hardback front I have decided that hardback is the way to go, the only problem now is what size of hardback?
At this time I do not have an answer to that question yet, if I have too small a book in page size the number of pages will go up and the other problem, which I have not yet looked at is how the content on each page will be effected. With the first problem as far as I can see as the page count goes up so does the cost of the final book.
A wild thought that I did have was, well why not have each years work as a volume in it's own right? but a quick look at this idea has already told me that if I stay in A4 size pages then some of the volumes will be very thin on the otherhand if the page size is smaller than A4 then the page count goes up, so all in all at this time I do not know what to to muli volume or one large volume.
I suppose the answer will only become clear once I have done all the drafts and put the book together in its first draft layout.
15 February, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 9
Today I had the great idea that my Dirk Maggs book would look good as a hardback book, on the grounds that it might last longer, I know that it will cost more to have printed but I think the extra cost will pay for it's self in that it will be around longer.
The only thing is that I have yet to find any word templates that will allow me to size my work correctly so that it will go from A4 size to what ever size a standard harddback book is.
Ho hum I think is what I said...
The only thing is that I have yet to find any word templates that will allow me to size my work correctly so that it will go from A4 size to what ever size a standard harddback book is.
Ho hum I think is what I said...
14 February, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 8
As you can see with the last few posts to this blog I have some how found the time to do a bit more of the Dirk Maggs book.
One thing that I have been looking at is how to produce an index in word 2003. From what I have seen so far and read the index does not always work.
The searches that I have done so far say that there are 2 ways of creating the index, one where you mark each word and the other you use something called a cordex?
See I can't even spell it let a lone know how to use it.
More reading is needed me thinks.
I think for my Dirk Maggs book that a very full index will be the way to go.
I have read that you can have more than 1 index, and I am thinking at this time that a names index and a productions index might be good ideas, the only thing is at this time I don't yet know how you do multi indexes in the same document, or even if such a thing is possable in word 2003.
One thing that I have been looking at is how to produce an index in word 2003. From what I have seen so far and read the index does not always work.
The searches that I have done so far say that there are 2 ways of creating the index, one where you mark each word and the other you use something called a cordex?
See I can't even spell it let a lone know how to use it.
More reading is needed me thinks.
I think for my Dirk Maggs book that a very full index will be the way to go.
I have read that you can have more than 1 index, and I am thinking at this time that a names index and a productions index might be good ideas, the only thing is at this time I don't yet know how you do multi indexes in the same document, or even if such a thing is possable in word 2003.
13 February, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 7
Some progress of sorts in that I have done one of the chapters that is not work done in a year and is not an appendix.
Yes I have done the draft chapter for all other Audio work that Dirk has done, it was a bit of a surprise just how much in the early 2000's he did, he does not appear to have done much since the late 2006's.
So when I get the chance, I will list here each chapter and just how many pages in draft form in A4 pages the chapters take up.
Yes I know that it will all change as each chapter gets edited, but I want to keep a record, just to see if it is true that each rewrite is edit edit edit and that the number of words goes down.
Yes I have done the draft chapter for all other Audio work that Dirk has done, it was a bit of a surprise just how much in the early 2000's he did, he does not appear to have done much since the late 2006's.
So when I get the chance, I will list here each chapter and just how many pages in draft form in A4 pages the chapters take up.
Yes I know that it will all change as each chapter gets edited, but I want to keep a record, just to see if it is true that each rewrite is edit edit edit and that the number of words goes down.
12 February, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 6
This is how the book looks in draft form at this time, each year will be a chapter in the completed book.
These are the Drafted chapters so far;
1988
1989
1990
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
As you can still see there is a long way to go, I am not sure if I will get it done by my deadline of xmas 2008.
These are the Drafted chapters so far;
1988
1989
1990
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
As you can still see there is a long way to go, I am not sure if I will get it done by my deadline of xmas 2008.
11 February, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 5
Update time.
The bad news
Nothing has been done since the last post.
Have been too busy being educated in the delights of safe systems of work for things that go very bang.
There is hope that I shall have some free time soon, and then hopefully there will then be some progrss.
The bad news
Nothing has been done since the last post.
Have been too busy being educated in the delights of safe systems of work for things that go very bang.
There is hope that I shall have some free time soon, and then hopefully there will then be some progrss.
28 January, 2008
Giving Blood
I gave my 107th pint of blood today, I am told that it will help upto 3 other people and all within the next few weeks or less. The main reason being that I have O neg blood which is always in high demand.
I just don't know how to feel about how many people, I might have helped, but I do hope that this gift I give to them is welcome.
I just don't know how to feel about how many people, I might have helped, but I do hope that this gift I give to them is welcome.
27 January, 2008
Dirk Maggs Book Part 4
I re looked at all the drafts that I have so far done, and I don't think I have missed anything out, that I don't know of. The next few weeks in real life are going to be busy so I know that I will not have the time to work on the next draft chapter.
The plan is still for the book to be done and printed by Dec 2008, as the book is going to be a private printing, the only way that you will se a copy is if you know me or you are Dirk Maggs.
The plan is still for the book to be done and printed by Dec 2008, as the book is going to be a private printing, the only way that you will se a copy is if you know me or you are Dirk Maggs.
26 January, 2008
Maggs Book Part 3
Update time
The news is that there has not been any more work done on the book. This due to real life getting in the way and me not having the time to get my head around the next chapter that has to be done in draft format first.
Maybe in the next few weeks there will be time.
The news is that there has not been any more work done on the book. This due to real life getting in the way and me not having the time to get my head around the next chapter that has to be done in draft format first.
Maybe in the next few weeks there will be time.
21 January, 2008
Maggs Book part 2
An update on what has been going on with this years book project. Last time I said that I had done the draft for all work done in 1988.
Progress has not been good as I have been away doing training with IOSH on a course that I have already done before, but as company policy is that every member of staff will do this course even if you have already done it.
So back to the book, and I can say that the draft chapter for all work done in 1989 has also been done and it runs to 15 pages of A4.
I do not yet know just how big this book is going to be, but it looks like it will be large, even without photos.
Progress has not been good as I have been away doing training with IOSH on a course that I have already done before, but as company policy is that every member of staff will do this course even if you have already done it.
So back to the book, and I can say that the draft chapter for all work done in 1989 has also been done and it runs to 15 pages of A4.
I do not yet know just how big this book is going to be, but it looks like it will be large, even without photos.
12 January, 2008
Maggs Book
As you may or may not know I have a website, that is on a well known radio director called Dirk Maggs. In fact at this time it is the only website on a radio director and has been for the last 5 years!
The website has over time just got bigger, as Dirk creates new shows or I find out about old shows that he has done.
I have decided as the website is a living thing in that it only exsits as loads of electrons that I would produce a book of the website.
This I have done edition one of the the book was done last year, and had some 300 odd pages, edition two was produced late last year with no pictures in it as there are copyright problems and also cos it did not always print correctly.
So this years project is to do edition 3 of the book.
There are no plans to make the book avaiable to the public as I think I break lots of copyright rules, but there is nothing to stop me producing it for myself and maybe give a copy to Dirk.
So progress so far has been that I have found a templete for the book and have taken a copy of all of the website pages that would and do make sense to have in the printed format.
I have managed to layout the book so that each year is a chapter, then within each chapter each production from that year is then listed.
The first draft of the year 1988 has been done and it runs to 10 A4 pages!
The website has over time just got bigger, as Dirk creates new shows or I find out about old shows that he has done.
I have decided as the website is a living thing in that it only exsits as loads of electrons that I would produce a book of the website.
This I have done edition one of the the book was done last year, and had some 300 odd pages, edition two was produced late last year with no pictures in it as there are copyright problems and also cos it did not always print correctly.
So this years project is to do edition 3 of the book.
There are no plans to make the book avaiable to the public as I think I break lots of copyright rules, but there is nothing to stop me producing it for myself and maybe give a copy to Dirk.
So progress so far has been that I have found a templete for the book and have taken a copy of all of the website pages that would and do make sense to have in the printed format.
I have managed to layout the book so that each year is a chapter, then within each chapter each production from that year is then listed.
The first draft of the year 1988 has been done and it runs to 10 A4 pages!
09 January, 2008
Sunset at the Mount
love the colour and the sky in this image, I do wonder how long you would have to wait to get such a sky.
Glastonbury Sunset
Just love the way in this picture that the light is on the top of the clouds, do not know why, but it is nice
08 January, 2008
Nelson's garden
When I saw this image I thought it was a painting, now I look at it I think it would make a great jigsaw.
06 January, 2008
02 January, 2008
01 January, 2008
30 December, 2007
28 December, 2007
17 November, 2007
No Blog
I see looking at this blog of mine that I have done what lots of other bloggers appear to do and that is not edit or add anything to their blogs for weeks at a time. Not sure why it is but at least I am in good company several million others around the world...
One thing that I still do is add pictures that I want to comment on but I dont want to comment on flicker, not sure why
One thing that I still do is add pictures that I want to comment on but I dont want to comment on flicker, not sure why
11 November, 2007
05 November, 2007
13 October, 2007
donna2
First time I cut an image out of the background using photoshop. It also shows Donna's new shoes that she likes
I have to admit that I have removed the picture as it was an experiment in CS3 and was an image of Donna in red high heel shoes that did not quite work.
donna1
First time I cut an image out of the background using photoshop. It also shows Donna's new shoes that she likes
16 September, 2007
26 August, 2007
19 August, 2007
Test 1
really like the way these four images work well together, I don't know why they work but they do
18 August, 2007
17/08/2007
This is the first one of these that I have seen this year not sure what it is called but I think this is the earlist I have seen one
16 August, 2007
Shooting Star
Great image wish I had the sky and backdrop like this and also the time to take such a picture.
battersea power station
Does not matter how many times I have seen this building it can still get your attetion.
12 August, 2007
Damba
What I like this picture, if I had the money to spare I would offer to buy this from the artist.
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