Where is the internet?
- friend: did you fix the internetz yet?
- me: a good portion of it, yeh
- friend: lovely jubbly
- me: didn't you notice?
- friend: Well my email is still slow. I guess you didn't get to that bit yet. I was thinking earlier. If someone really wanted to, could they delete twitterens?
- me: not really
- friend: could someone delete the whole internet?
- me: not really no - that's pretty scary isn't it?
- friend: yeh… I still don't understand where it is
- me: everywhere. every computer that connects to the internet potentially holds some of the internet. it's completely distributed
- friend: it must have a base though. is there not a central internet brain?
- me: nope
- friend: so when the person thought of the internet. Where did he put it?
- me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Internet_map_1024.jpg - a network of computers, like a parallel circuit rather than series. you know how if one bulb goes out in series, they all go out, where as parallel currents if one bulb goes out, all the others stay on?
- friend: yes from GCSE physics!
- me: yeah, it's kinda like that
- friend: ok that makes some more sense
- me: if in your house you have 3 computers that are networked - none of them ARE the network but they are key parts of the network. the existence of more than one computer connected… is the network
- friend: ok
- me: like roads - there is no _one_ road, just many connected roads and cities
- friend: OMFG. I got it
- me: enlightenment
- friend: You're the internet aren't you?
- me: *headdesk*
- friend: It's you
Whilst I absolutely adore @rbwebdev’s custom ‘Lemmings’ 404 page, I just couldn’t let them all die… JavaScript hack to the rescue!
Want to feel like a (miniature) hero too? Drag the bookmarklet to your bookmarks bar and visit romainbrasier.fr/404.php :D
Bookmarklet: SAVE THEM ALL!!1! <— Drag me up there —^
(This is what happens when a freelance web developer with a concern for animal welfare is off work with a cold…)
(EDIT: @rbwebdev kindly improved my code!)
Source: romainbrasier.fr
![Featured interview on wowsociety.com
Earlier this year, I was fortunate and flattered to be interviewed by the folks over at wowsociety.com for their blog, The Cooking Pot.
They were keen to find out more about my life as a freelance web developer as part of their celebration of ‘grassroots pioneers’ from around the world. Despite not having pioneered any flora of late, I was happy to chat to them…
We caught up with Keir Moffatt, whose hapless pursuit of a mystery train girl created headlines around the world and much goodwill, which Keir harnessed with contributions towards Marie Curie Cancer Care. We wanted to know a bit more about the boy and what more he’s been cooking since, hoping that some of his audacity might rub off on us.
What are you most proud about where you live?
What I love about Bristol [UK] is it has something for everyone – whatever you are into, you’ll find a passionate community in and around the city. As a breakdancer, web developer and reptile hobbyist, I’m well catered for!
I also love the size of Bristol – it’s big enough to feel exciting and busy, but small enough to be a manageable city for a country boy like me!
Bristol also has a great digital community and the freelance community in particular is so supportive and welcoming. We don’t compete; we share the load!
What issue(s) are you most passionate about in your community or the world at large?
I’m very passionate about the cultural, social and moral implications of technology and, especially, the web. It’s all full-steam ahead, but I feel like society’s moral compass is struggling to keep up. What does this mean? Etiquette, safety, security, law, etc on the web are basically being made up as we go along. I would love to see people exploring the implications of their actions within the digital world. Our children are growing up in a digital world and, as parents, we will need to be able to bring them up confidently in this new age.
What are you working on and what do you hope to achieve with your project(s)?
I’m a web designer by trade, so always working on making the web a better place! I have a few side projects, including a product that helps businesses share digital assets internally and externally. I am also an evangelist for Rusic, a superb platform for creating socially-integrated communities.
In the future, I want to build a social network based around adventures – a way to meet people whilst doing the things you love, and an opportunity to try new things, too. I’m a big adventurer so this is something I am very passionate about.
Also, my recent Ubelly Ignite talk has sparked a desire to do more public speaking. So much so that I am already booked to speak at WDC2012 here in Bristol.
Failing the above, I’m thinking of fleeing the country to become a snowboard instructor!
What are the most valuable lessons you have learnt while pursuing your ambition?
1) Be honest and transparent. It’s hard but ultimately the very best way to work. You feel good about the way you conduct yourself, you become respected and recommended by others for your integrity, and you can sleep well at night.
2) Learn to criticise and take criticism well. Criticism should not be seen as an attack or insult but instead a wonderful opportunity to improve and grow. Learning to provide constructive and positive criticism is very key to collaborative working and successful relationships, both personal and professional.
3) Do what you love and always seek out the fun. Passion is a key ingredient to success so if you don’t love what you do, you’ll struggle. You only live once and there is really no excuse to not pursue your goals. What’s stopping you? Go get the fun!
What opportunities are there for anyone to contribute to what you are working on?
As a freelancer, I am always keen to meet new people to work on projects with, whether they be agencies, new businesses or fellow freelancers. Always seeking adventure.
What other personal project have you supported or especially admired?
I really admire people who have harnessed the web to support important campaigns against oppression, injustice and charitable causes. I think the power of the web to do good is an exciting and evolving adventure. In particular, I’m always inspired by Ze Frank’s mission to bring fun to every corner of the web. He’s a legend.
That’s a plateful to digest. Keir, thank you for taking the time to cook with us.
You can turn the tables on Keir and pursue him on his website or follow him on Twitter. Or simply watch his encore and learn a few tricks for your own mystery pursuit.
Thanks guys! - Keir](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcpqh0nRvT1qzdxsto1_500.jpg)
Featured interview on wowsociety.com
Earlier this year, I was fortunate and flattered to be interviewed by the folks over at wowsociety.com for their blog, The Cooking Pot.
They were keen to find out more about my life as a freelance web developer as part of their celebration of ‘grassroots pioneers’ from around the world. Despite not having pioneered any flora of late, I was happy to chat to them…
We caught up with Keir Moffatt, whose hapless pursuit of a mystery train girl created headlines around the world and much goodwill, which Keir harnessed with contributions towards Marie Curie Cancer Care. We wanted to know a bit more about the boy and what more he’s been cooking since, hoping that some of his audacity might rub off on us.
What are you most proud about where you live?
What I love about Bristol [UK] is it has something for everyone – whatever you are into, you’ll find a passionate community in and around the city. As a breakdancer, web developer and reptile hobbyist, I’m well catered for!
I also love the size of Bristol – it’s big enough to feel exciting and busy, but small enough to be a manageable city for a country boy like me!
Bristol also has a great digital community and the freelance community in particular is so supportive and welcoming. We don’t compete; we share the load!
What issue(s) are you most passionate about in your community or the world at large?
I’m very passionate about the cultural, social and moral implications of technology and, especially, the web. It’s all full-steam ahead, but I feel like society’s moral compass is struggling to keep up. What does this mean? Etiquette, safety, security, law, etc on the web are basically being made up as we go along. I would love to see people exploring the implications of their actions within the digital world. Our children are growing up in a digital world and, as parents, we will need to be able to bring them up confidently in this new age.
What are you working on and what do you hope to achieve with your project(s)?
I’m a web designer by trade, so always working on making the web a better place! I have a few side projects, including a product that helps businesses share digital assets internally and externally. I am also an evangelist for Rusic, a superb platform for creating socially-integrated communities.
In the future, I want to build a social network based around adventures – a way to meet people whilst doing the things you love, and an opportunity to try new things, too. I’m a big adventurer so this is something I am very passionate about.
Also, my recent Ubelly Ignite talk has sparked a desire to do more public speaking. So much so that I am already booked to speak at WDC2012 here in Bristol.
Failing the above, I’m thinking of fleeing the country to become a snowboard instructor!
What are the most valuable lessons you have learnt while pursuing your ambition?
1) Be honest and transparent. It’s hard but ultimately the very best way to work. You feel good about the way you conduct yourself, you become respected and recommended by others for your integrity, and you can sleep well at night.
2) Learn to criticise and take criticism well. Criticism should not be seen as an attack or insult but instead a wonderful opportunity to improve and grow. Learning to provide constructive and positive criticism is very key to collaborative working and successful relationships, both personal and professional.
3) Do what you love and always seek out the fun. Passion is a key ingredient to success so if you don’t love what you do, you’ll struggle. You only live once and there is really no excuse to not pursue your goals. What’s stopping you? Go get the fun!
What opportunities are there for anyone to contribute to what you are working on?
As a freelancer, I am always keen to meet new people to work on projects with, whether they be agencies, new businesses or fellow freelancers. Always seeking adventure.
What other personal project have you supported or especially admired?
I really admire people who have harnessed the web to support important campaigns against oppression, injustice and charitable causes. I think the power of the web to do good is an exciting and evolving adventure. In particular, I’m always inspired by Ze Frank’s mission to bring fun to every corner of the web. He’s a legend.
That’s a plateful to digest. Keir, thank you for taking the time to cook with us.
You can turn the tables on Keir and pursue him on his website or follow him on Twitter. Or simply watch his encore and learn a few tricks for your own mystery pursuit.
Thanks guys! - Keir
Source: thecookingpot.wowsociety.com
Sublime Text 2 - tips for getting started
I’ve tried many, many code editors in the 10+ years I’ve been a web developer, but I’ve always found myself coming back to TextMate - nothing seemed to beat such absolute simplicity combined with subtle extensibility… until I started using Sublime Text 2.
It can be tricky to get started with Sublime and make everything ‘nice’, so I thought I’d share a few tips kindly passed on to me by my good friend (and Sublime guru) Ben Reid.
1) Install Package Control - this will be your one-stop shop for finding and installing most (if not all) of Sublime’s packages, which are much like Textmate bundles. Even cooler still - Textmate bundles work with Sublime too!
2) Installing packages - invoke the ‘Command Palette’ using cmd+shift+p and begin typing ‘package’ to see the available package commands. Choosing ‘Install Package’ then allows you to search through the squibillions of packages available to install.
3) Recommended packages:
Emmet (was ZenCoding) - insanely powerful code creation plugin. Invoke the ‘Koan’ at the bottom of the screen with ctrl+alt+enter and try tapping out ‘div#page>div.logo+nav#main-nav>ul>li*5>a’ to see what I mean! Find out more about the syntax and other functionality via the documentation. Also includes Lorem ipsum generator - type ‘lorem’ and press tab! (Thanks to @matt_willmott & @alexkwatson)
SideBarEnhancements - Allows for improved file management in the project/file browser sidebar.
AdvancedNewFile - enhanced right-click menu and fast file creation. Press alt+cmd+n to create a new path-based file anywhere in the project without the need to browse there directly.
Nettuts+ Fetch - great for grabbing, unpacking and installing common libraries and apps, e.g. WordPress. Delightfully handy.
Element Finder - Fine-tuned searching within your project using CSS syntax. Note that this package requires Node.js to be installed.
4) Install a theme - Sublime themes are packages too and installed using the same approach as above. Ben recommended Soda theme which I very much like. A restart may be required.
5) Tweak your settings - one thing that may seem a little daunting at first is Sublime’s text-file settings. First, have a read of the Default settings file (via Preferences > Settings - Default) as it includes comments/documentation. Next, it is recommended that you copy/paste these settings into your User settings file to tweak them - this leaves Default settings unaffected so you can easily roll back if required. Also note that some settings can also be changed via the Preferences menu.
6) Choosing a typeface - I never realised how important my coding font was until I began using a really nice one. Fonts available for Sublime are based on your installed fonts so you can either use an existing one or, preferably, download the beautiful (and free) Inconsolata. In your settings, enter the font name in the ‘font_face’ property and specify a size here too. You can resize the font via Preferences too.
7) Choosing a colour scheme - Again, I didn’t realise how important my code editor colour scheme was until I began using one of Sublime’s dark background colour schemes. Opening an editor with black text on a white background now makes me wince! Choose a colour scheme from the Preferences menu - I recommend Twilight as the soft pastel colours are really easy on the eye…
8) UPDATE: Bonus tweaks - I’ve been using Sublime for some time now and absolutely adore it. As such I’ve been steadily tweaking it to my liking and thought I’d share some:
remember_open_files = false(disables last opened files/project)
hot_exit = false
(in conjunction with the above, prompts to save files on exit)
9) UPDATE 2: Interactive theme builder - That infinitely-superb Ben Reid tweeted about an interactive theme builder for Sublime. Go forth and NEON.
There is so much more to Sublime than I’ve covered here but I hope that the above can help you get started - especially if, like me, fear of change has been putting you off!
Also, if you have any other tips and tricks, please post them down in the comments!
