Sandy's Blog

This guy has some rage issues but what he says is quite funny and so true

One thing PC users can do that Mac users can’t

Well, I decided to redesign my blog a little bit yesterday. I guess up until now I have not been too fussed in coming up with my own ideas and was happy with using modified wordpress themes.

The new site is a lot more like me, I like bright colors and simple layouts (unlike for instance Brad, who just likes bright colors ). I guess a touch of thanks is due to Olly, James and Alex for forcing me to not be lazy when it comes to layouts, and I know I don’t really rate basic web design as being particularly interesting or skillful but I quite enjoyed doing this.

Todo list: Fix the graphic at the top and put the h1 in the block element, come up with a better sidebar icon.

Created with open source tools and should be compliant, maybe par the random image flickr thing I wrote on the top right.

Happy new year anyone who I haven’t spoken to yet. Due to being insanely slack and having 11.5 hours in bed last night, I decided to have a day of doing all the things that I don’t have time to do normally. After doing general housework, shifting logs and walking dogs, I decided to start messing with my flickr account. I obtained an API key and scripted the little square image thing on the top right which displays random images from recent sets that I have created. I also decided that any further images in blog posts will be linked directly from flickr to stop any duplication (see previous post for an example of this).

However, any proper blog post has to have a rant, so here are the things I don’t like about flickr:

1. Flickr orders photos on the Your Photos page by date uploaded, not by date taken, and after trawling around I cannot find any way to change this which is v annoying!
2. The provided html links that you can include on your website have a cunning “Photo Sharing” phrase in the anchor title. I have been editing this out but its a pain in the ass, and I don’t expect this kinda crap after I pay hard cash for a 2 year pro account.
3. For what it is, I still consider the service to be a bit pricey.

All that aside, the way you can edit photos is great and on the whole I really do like the interface and the way you can see your mates photos.

Okay a bit slack on the blogging front as usual, what have I been up to?

I am just back from a long weekend biking in Spain which, to be brief, was fantastic. It could have went horribly wrong as we went to go mountain biking without knowledge of a certain area, but were suitably prepared with guide books, maps and fancy gps machines. Basically I have binged out on tapas, coffee and beer, and not done enough actual riding (compared to what I’m used to!). We stayed at a friends villa which was pretty awesome, although I had to share a double bed with another bloke! (yeah ok totally going to get lots of stick for that). Photos here.

Talking of photos and all that, I have recently bought a flickr pro account because I am sick of website galleries eating themselves. The tools with the webspace (fantastico etc) are really handy, but its just really annoying not having full ssh access to the webserver. The link to all my galleries is on the top of the right hand side menu.

Today I went for a free weights induction at the olympic gym in the Pleasance, basically if you want to go into the room with all the crazy people and equipment you need a fancy access card which you can only obtain by going to an induction session. I have tried squatting before but to be honest I really didn’t know what I was doing. The induction was quick but very helpful, the exercises need lots of technique and coordination, something which will come over time. My muscles have not felt this sore in quite some time, it was a very good session! We covered deadlift, squat and bench press, and I think the squat will be the most useful.

I’m just back from a night ride round Innerleithen which took in some of the downhill tracks, it was pretty awesome even though pissing down with rain. Had to wash my bike afterwards