What's going on here?

I make no apology for the fact that over the years I have been quite a prolific content producer. I say "content" because my output is everything from songs and music to photos and art and writing in general. Oh, and of course unfinished websites by the dozen. Ever since I could coordinate my fingers I've been bashing them on various bits of gadgetry in order to create stuff.

This hasn't been helped by the fact that I first started publishing to the web roundabout 1993, which is actually before most people had heard of it. (Such is the privilege of working in telecoms). Consequently I have a virtual ton of material rather loosely assembled and scattered carelessly around cyberspace. It's got to the point where not only is it confusing for my audience, but even I am starting to wonder if I have multiple personalities.

So, I'm using this new website as a vehicle to try and draw some of it together, at least some of the better bits that are not going to make me blush (too much) - with the possible exception of my Loch Ness Monster story. One problem I do have is that the content I have produced on easypeasy.com has become quite popular, and to move it to this site would do some of my readers a disservice; so while I ponder on this, I'm leaving that material where it is.

Some of the most popular material there is my commentary on mental health and since this is something I am deeply passionate about, I don't intend to disrupt it. However, I expect that any new ramblings will appear here. Or both. As a temporary kind of solution, you can try this mixed RSS feed of both sites. 

It would seem that google has finally solved everything...

We knew Google/Google Calculator was powerful, but did you know it now answers the ultimate question?

Service Creation vs. Service Assembly

When I originally started at BT, working on their Network-Embedded voicemail service (“CallMinder”) it took three years to bring the project to fruition – which included developing the application and the high-availability platform to run it on. (Bear in mind, these were the days when a 1Gb disk in your server was bleeding edge).

The dream now is to do it in three weeks. Could we?

Full article in italkspeech

Stigma still very much in evidence at Management Today

Given the recent high-profile campaign by ReThink, I was saddened, disappointed and perhaps even slightly disgusted to read an article in management today that demonstrates - with textbook accuracy - the prejudice and stigma towards mental health issues that still exist today. It's not clear whether it is the result of ignorance or arrogance on the part of the author, in an attempt to be humourous - but for me, it doesn't work. It's embarassing. It's a publication that you think could do better.

The article is a commentary on a BT Tradespace survey that suggests Stephen Fry would be the small businesses'  dream employee. Unfortunately Management Today doesn't show the same insight and understanding as those small business, as it goes on to say:

But Fry has managed to trump them all, and by some distance too. Our only alarm is that – judging by his much-publicised walk-out from the West End a few years ago – he doesn’t have a great track record for dealing with pressure.

False Alarm. Whatever judgement is being exercised here, it is wrong. Fry's "much-publicised walk-out" was not a failure to deal with pressure - but by his own frank and moving admission, a result of a deeply dark period manifesting from his bi-polar disorder. Bi-polar is an illness, a malfunction - like a broken leg -  not a character weakness, as the author implies. Hey, but never let the facts get in the way of a good story?

In fact, anyone following Fry's life in detail through his twitter "tweets" will be staggered at the man's ability to cram twice as much as the rest of us into his day - not only responding to the thousands of followers who "tweet" to him daily, but jet-setting left, right and centre between TV sets, riding stubborn mules up mexican mountains, amidst writing and recording and everything else he does. The man is an inspiration.

Thankfully UK small businesses seem to recognise this - while the hand that feeds them - Management Today - should know better. 

twit 2 who? Stephen Fry of course!

I was pondering the content of this article a few weeks ago, trying to get to grips with what it might mean to be a society of fully mobile individuals, always-on, always-connected. I can't help but feel it has the potential to change us - for better or worse - because it fundamentally alters the way we share and transmit information and engage with each other. Could it be so significant that the importance of the written word elevates itself above that of our innate desire to speak?

This pondering intially started all before our beloved Stephen Fry appeared on Jonathan Ross' talk show (23rd Jan 2009) and reminded us all how much of a twitterer he is. With reckless disregard for the consquences I logged onto Mr. Fry's twitter stream to discover a witty and joyful microscopic bi-hourly stream of what it is to be living the Fry-life, being followed by over 60,000 intrigued individiuals. Naturally I added one to their number (and it has since increased enormously).

At the time of writing, Mr Fry is 2nd in the twitter kingdom for his impressive Followship, while a certain Mr. Obama undeservingly heads the leader board (with a tragically small amount of actual content).

So immediately my mind turned to the thoughts I had been having previously, and to considering what influence does a man with an iphone and 200,000 voyeurs actually wield? What purpose and meaning is in it all? What is it we crave when we spectate on such a beloved figure in such touching detail. And how do we make sense of the paradox of such intimacy, yet such distance and remoteness? Is it doing something to our psyche?

While it remains one of my dearest aspirations to have Mr. Fry over for tea sometime (a cup of Eary Grey and a lip-smackingly good home-made curry), I have to make do with the virtual updates of his walks round Soho, trips to the Mexican visa office and meal choices while filming on set. This is extraordinarily intimate, so much so, that although he has never graced my table, I feel I do know him, I feel I am connected with him, involved in his life. (I wonder if he knows?) 
Of course, if he ever replies to any of my twitty interjections, the mirage will be fully complete.

It is all very astonishing, most certainly more revolutionary than evolutionary, since Mother Nature could not have given us these abilities in quite such a short time frame - and therein lies the intrigue. We inhabit the information revolution, it is all around us. We cannot analyse its final outcome, since it is yet to happen. We can only feel our way, experiment with it, embrace it, learn from- and to enjoy it. Either way, in thrusting oneself headlong into this revolution's social web, it becomes captivating. The contribution of my new best pal Mr. Fry is as yet unmeasured, but in stature alone (regardless of content) is most certainly significant.

Where does this leave us in telecoms? Thinking hard about where to earn our lunch, that's where (in contrast to Stephen, who has it provided by the film production company).