Egoli and Binnelanders take over
31.1.07
What is going on with Mnet lately? It seems to me that this major television corporation has no interest in enticing the non-Afrikaans speakers to their television station. Maybe I am misinformed on the Mnet stats but do people really want an entire hour of open-time television dedicated to Afrikaans?
Binnelanders and Egoli have now joined forces on Mnet's open time and represent the 18:00 - 19:00 slot. I am super excited that the powers that be are willing to put locally produced viewing on a prime slot, but why, oh why is this viewing in Afrikaans? Could someone please fill in the blanks here because my pea-sized brain cannot compute this move.
I personally feel that locally produced television is great. I love the fact that South Africa is moving to a stage where we can produce our own quality television and that people watch it (Isidingo). I am also aware of the fact that locally produced television is more costly than simply purchasing an overseas television show. Everyone has made allowances for the changing face of our country, lets have Mnet do the same. Get some multilingual shows into the mix and slap on a subtitle or eleven.
Binnelanders and Egoli have now joined forces on Mnet's open time and represent the 18:00 - 19:00 slot. I am super excited that the powers that be are willing to put locally produced viewing on a prime slot, but why, oh why is this viewing in Afrikaans? Could someone please fill in the blanks here because my pea-sized brain cannot compute this move.
I personally feel that locally produced television is great. I love the fact that South Africa is moving to a stage where we can produce our own quality television and that people watch it (Isidingo). I am also aware of the fact that locally produced television is more costly than simply purchasing an overseas television show. Everyone has made allowances for the changing face of our country, lets have Mnet do the same. Get some multilingual shows into the mix and slap on a subtitle or eleven.
Labels: Binnelanders, Egoli, Mnet, Television
Sandton City mess
I had lunch in Sandton City this afternoon. I have never seen such a mess in a shopping centre. The escalators in the main part of the centre (where the movies are) have been shut down for repairs. In my little brain that means that they still exist but are being fixed. Not so. The escalators are gone. Now using steps.
This just goes to show that no matter how advanced we get, sometimes it's better to just take the stairs.
This just goes to show that no matter how advanced we get, sometimes it's better to just take the stairs.
Labels: Sandton City
Wordpress installation trouble
30.1.07
I am starting a new blog and am making use of wordpress to see what it's all about (thanks Mike for the suggestions). I think that for a first time user and first time installation I am doing fairly well. Unfortunately I have run in to a snag of some sorts. So if you have installed wordpress on to a host site before using Cpanel please drop me an email: nharalambous@gmail.com.
Thanks.
Thanks.
People I chatted to
29.1.07
The 27 Dinner might have been a couple days ago but there are a few people that I met for the first time and I felt I should share the linklove going around:
To all those that I met and forgot due to the free wine, my apologies.
- Shaun Dewberry
- Hblog - Heather ford
- Dave Duarte
- Victoire
- Dom White
- Mike Stopforth
- Paul Jacobson (chillibeanchillibeanchillibean)
- the scott
- Peasontoast (General consensus: She's hot, trust us)
To all those that I met and forgot due to the free wine, my apologies.
Labels: 27 Dinner
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
I have shown myself to be many things on this blog. The one thing that most people who read my blog don't know about me is that I am a musician. I have been playing guitar for about 10 years and bass for about 4. I played in a band (Thus Far).
Lately though I have slipped up and managed to get lost in a world of appreciation of music instead of admiration for the skill of playing it yourself. That is until I went out and bought Rodrigo Y Gabriela on CD. Their sound could be mistaken for sultry Spanish guitar when in fact these two are Dublin-based Mexicans who really can.
Their fingers are nimble, theirs writing skills are mind-blowing and their ability to create a hummable tune within a wall of guitar is phenomenal. Please do yourself and your music taste a favour and buy this CD. Do not download it, these guys are not mainstream, are not rich and could use your support. For some video clips of them performing visit their website.
I am now playing my guitar again. Life maybe isn't that bad.
Labels: Rodrigo Y Gabriela
I hate Mondays
I hate Mondays so much I can barely be bothered to spell the damn word correctly. I hate Mondays for a variety of reasons. If there is a day in the week that would begin badly it would be Monday and if there was a day that would end badly, it would be Monday.
I am currently freelancing at Job #1. Everything was going well until Monday came around. Job #1 has now turned ugly. I have had issues with my pay from Job #1 and am thus fairly apathetic toward the work. This is no excuse really. I am just being a lazy sod. This is thus all my fault and not Mondays' issue but mine. I have produced some lazy journalism and am being punished for it.
I hate Mondays.
I am currently freelancing at Job #1. Everything was going well until Monday came around. Job #1 has now turned ugly. I have had issues with my pay from Job #1 and am thus fairly apathetic toward the work. This is no excuse really. I am just being a lazy sod. This is thus all my fault and not Mondays' issue but mine. I have produced some lazy journalism and am being punished for it.
I hate Mondays.
Labels: bad journalism, Monday
Job Waiting
28.1.07
One of the most painstaking things about getting your CV complete is waiting for the responses from potential employers. Do you take the first job offered if the salary is almost what you are looking for? Or do you wait for a better offer and potentially lose your initial offer?
I am stuck in this position right now. The waiting game is really not a pleasant one. Yet I am determined not to sell myself short. I might be shooting myself in the foot but I am of the mind that you should be able to weigh up your options against one another rather than weigh up an option that has nothing to be compared to.
So my advice to myself at the moment is to stay calm and wait for the offers to come in before I accept one and turn down others that I haven't even received yet.
I am stuck in this position right now. The waiting game is really not a pleasant one. Yet I am determined not to sell myself short. I might be shooting myself in the foot but I am of the mind that you should be able to weigh up your options against one another rather than weigh up an option that has nothing to be compared to.
So my advice to myself at the moment is to stay calm and wait for the offers to come in before I accept one and turn down others that I haven't even received yet.
Labels: CV, Job offers
Networking rules the blogosphere
The 27 dinner of January 2007 has come and gone. I am sure that many people will be talking about how great it was to meet everyone, and it was. I must admit that I will not be talking about that aspect of the meet and greet.
I was blown out of the water by the caliber of person that I came in to contact with. Not the caliber of personality, or personable person, but the quality of the business minds that I was surrounded by. I was and still am astonished by the networking that these individuals do and force you to do.
Anyone who ridicules the web addicts for being "geeks", "nerds" or any other term that they think is derogatory do so at their own peril and that of their business. These people are a force to be reckoned with and I am glad that I am sitting on the right side of the fence.
I need to explain why I was so impressed: Network, Network, Network (not chillibeanchillibeanchillibean). I have never seen any group of people so shamelessly and successfully market themselves. Everyone wanted a piece of everyone else's pie. If there was no pie left people suggested backing a new pie with greater synergy between their two pie making organisations and a new pie was born and chopped up and spread around.
Moving away from the geek side of things I must impress on people reading this that I value networking as a successful and useful tool to seek employment. Do not overestimate the value of a degree or underestimate the value of who you know (or who your father's best friends daughters boyfriend knows). These people will like you when they get to know you and when they like you they will more often than not try to help you out in one way or another. Make use of the connections that are out there.
I was blown out of the water by the caliber of person that I came in to contact with. Not the caliber of personality, or personable person, but the quality of the business minds that I was surrounded by. I was and still am astonished by the networking that these individuals do and force you to do.
Anyone who ridicules the web addicts for being "geeks", "nerds" or any other term that they think is derogatory do so at their own peril and that of their business. These people are a force to be reckoned with and I am glad that I am sitting on the right side of the fence.
I need to explain why I was so impressed: Network, Network, Network (not chillibeanchillibeanchillibean). I have never seen any group of people so shamelessly and successfully market themselves. Everyone wanted a piece of everyone else's pie. If there was no pie left people suggested backing a new pie with greater synergy between their two pie making organisations and a new pie was born and chopped up and spread around.
Moving away from the geek side of things I must impress on people reading this that I value networking as a successful and useful tool to seek employment. Do not overestimate the value of a degree or underestimate the value of who you know (or who your father's best friends daughters boyfriend knows). These people will like you when they get to know you and when they like you they will more often than not try to help you out in one way or another. Make use of the connections that are out there.
Bachelorette hijacking
26.1.07
I have just heard about the dumbest idea for a bachelorette party. The lady to be married will be driving, three friends (one she knows) will know where she is driving and stop her in her tracks. They will be dressed up like hijackers and pull her over, pull her out of her car and "hijack" her to her party.
WHAT ARE THESE MORONS THINKING????
In our country, with our background and the current state of the hijacking statistics (which are pretty bad I think) there are a number of outcomes to this scenario.
WHAT ARE THESE MORONS THINKING????
In our country, with our background and the current state of the hijacking statistics (which are pretty bad I think) there are a number of outcomes to this scenario.
- The "hijackers" scare the living daylights out of the lady and her party sucks. This would be the "hijackers" fault. Bad outcome.
- The "hijackers" are unsuccesful in their attempt to pull the girl over in which case she has a horrible story to tell and misses her entire party. Bad outcome.
- The "hijackers" manage to pull her over, she fights like a mad person and injures herself and the "hijackers". Bad outcome.
- In the process of the "hijackers" "hijacking" the lady some noble citizen decides to intervene and shoots/cuts/runs over/ harms the girl, the "hijackers" or injure themselves. Bad outcome.
Labels: Hijackings.
Fresh Faced Comic - Iranian Comedian
This is some funny stuff. An American-Iranian mocking the daylights out of himself and the rest. Great laughs.
Labels: Fresh Faced Comic
Clear out Gmail
So what do you do?
I found this post that explains how to constructively search for larger emails in your Gmail inbox.
By simply searching your Gmail search for the term "has:attachment" your results will show every email with an attachment. As you can only imagine some of these attachments are random funnies from random friends who have nothing to do but email .wmv movies to everyone in their inbox.
Other effective search terms include: "filename:pdf" or "filename:xls" and various variations of the like.
Try them out and flush out those pesky emails taking up all your space. What a pleasure.
Labels: Gmail, search terms
What a great advert. Be wise, condomise
25.1.07
Labels: Durex
Creating a CV...
is hard work. Not only is it tough to balance being humble and confident without appearing arrogant, but it's tough to gather all the relevant and beneficial information.
Then there is always that part that you think might make your potential employer think you are kissing his/her ass when in actual fact you are "driven, trustworthy and steadfast". What do those words actually mean to someone who wants to employ you?
When you finally have all of the above kind of complete you need to look for sufficient and relevant references. Then when you think that you have found those wonderful references you need to get them to write you a reference or get them to agree to placing their contact details on your CV so that someone else (new employer) can call and ask about how fantastic you are.
It's all a bit much for me but a necessary evil at the end of the day. Hopefully this is one necessary evil that will get me the job that I want.
Then there is always that part that you think might make your potential employer think you are kissing his/her ass when in actual fact you are "driven, trustworthy and steadfast". What do those words actually mean to someone who wants to employ you?
When you finally have all of the above kind of complete you need to look for sufficient and relevant references. Then when you think that you have found those wonderful references you need to get them to write you a reference or get them to agree to placing their contact details on your CV so that someone else (new employer) can call and ask about how fantastic you are.
It's all a bit much for me but a necessary evil at the end of the day. Hopefully this is one necessary evil that will get me the job that I want.
Labels: CV
27 Dinner around the corner
24.1.07
Mike told us all today that there are all of three spots left at the 27 dinner table on Saturday. Personally I am stunned and impressed that we have almost reached 75. I am honoured to be attending and very keen to meet all the bloggers and industry people attending.
It will also be somewhat of a mini Rhodes reunion as there are many Rhodents from my year attending. Should be a great nice and an incredible experience that I hope continues every month!
It will also be somewhat of a mini Rhodes reunion as there are many Rhodents from my year attending. Should be a great nice and an incredible experience that I hope continues every month!
Labels: 27 Dinner, Mike Stopforth
Google does own the internet
23.1.07
I recently read a brilliantly written article about Google owning fiber optic networks. They have been very careful to not actually purchase any companies that own the networks but have entered in to agreements with the companies to control the networks themselves. Thus avoiding all monopoly trouble in the industry.
Read the article, watch Google grow and fear the takeover. Google might be good, but anything that is secret and growing this quickly must have some flaws somewhere in the organisation.
Read the article, watch Google grow and fear the takeover. Google might be good, but anything that is secret and growing this quickly must have some flaws somewhere in the organisation.
Labels: Fiber optic networks, Google
Laws Newton Forgot
I was sent this email and thought is was very, very appropriate.
LAW OF QUEUE: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to
move faster than the one you are in now.
LAW OF TELEPHONE: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged
one.
LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR: After your hands become coated with grease,
your nose will begin to itch.
LAW OF THE WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least
accessible corner.
LAW OF THE ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because
you had a flat tyre, the next morning you will have a flat tyre.
BATH THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.
LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases
when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
LAW OF THE RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't
work, it will!
LAW OF BIOMECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional
to the reach.
THEATRE RULE: People with the seats at the furthest from the aisle
arrive last.
LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your
boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold
move faster than the one you are in now.
LAW OF TELEPHONE: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged
one.
LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR: After your hands become coated with grease,
your nose will begin to itch.
LAW OF THE WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least
accessible corner.
LAW OF THE ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because
you had a flat tyre, the next morning you will have a flat tyre.
BATH THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.
LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases
when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
LAW OF THE RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't
work, it will!
LAW OF BIOMECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional
to the reach.
THEATRE RULE: People with the seats at the furthest from the aisle
arrive last.
LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your
boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold
Labels: Laws newton forgot
Rumshot rocks
Rumshot is a screen capturing tool that dolls up the images for you. I am impressed by this tool but struggle to see the great value. Possibly if you are not using photoshop or any other editing tool then this might be worth while. Cool to play around with though.
Labels: Rumshot
typogram.com - Nice time waster
22.1.07
typorganism is an extremely interesting site that has amazing design and playful "games.
There seems to be some sort of intelligent reason for the site to exist but it's a bit above me. Maybe someone with a bit more brain power can tell me. Check it out.
There seems to be some sort of intelligent reason for the site to exist but it's a bit above me. Maybe someone with a bit more brain power can tell me. Check it out.
Labels: typorganism
Vodacom steals my time
I can never get back the time I have wasted at Sandton Vodacom trying to fix their rubbish.
I hate Vodacom.
I hate Vodacom.
Labels: Vodacom
FNB loses a client
Today First National Bank (FNB) lost a me as a client forever.
I have been using an FNB Smart Account for seven months. The last 30 days (Holiday period, december, no work etc) has been slow and thus I made no great use of my account. I drew out money and was left with R35 in my account. I thought that this amount would be OK. Not so much apparently. This amount was quickly taken from me after Saswich charges and service charges from FNB for the use of my card. I was then left with R1.80 in debt.
My account was subsequently closed because of R1.80. I was not warned, I was notified and I am never going back to FNB. Ever.
I have been using an FNB Smart Account for seven months. The last 30 days (Holiday period, december, no work etc) has been slow and thus I made no great use of my account. I drew out money and was left with R35 in my account. I thought that this amount would be OK. Not so much apparently. This amount was quickly taken from me after Saswich charges and service charges from FNB for the use of my card. I was then left with R1.80 in debt.
My account was subsequently closed because of R1.80. I was not warned, I was notified and I am never going back to FNB. Ever.
Labels: FNB
Taxis are amazing, a-ma-zing
Sometimes I shout. Sometimes I laugh, but most of the time I feel the need to get out of my car and crack a taxi driver over the head with some road sense.
Today I just laughed.
This is a picture of a taxi that pulled in front of me from the far left lane of a three lane road to turn right. I was in the turning lane. He looked and me and smiled. I cracked up and took a photo. What A beaut.
Yes, I am stuck.
Today I just laughed.
This is a picture of a taxi that pulled in front of me from the far left lane of a three lane road to turn right. I was in the turning lane. He looked and me and smiled. I cracked up and took a photo. What A beaut.
Yes, I am stuck.
Labels: Johannesburg, Taxi
Clive Simpkins tells it like it is
This morning I was forwarded a url to an article off the moneyweb blog sites. Mr Clive Simpkins has written a fantastic article about the wonders of our Prez Mr "Denial" Mbeki. Simpkins has a wondrous way of placing idle banter amongst phenomenal discussion and intricate thought.
Give this article a read and let me know what you think. I was very, very impressed by his discussion, opinion and style of writing.
Give this article a read and let me know what you think. I was very, very impressed by his discussion, opinion and style of writing.
Labels: Clive Simpkins, moneyweb, Thabo Mbeki
We have all been Glogspotted
21.1.07
Thanks to the gents at Chumps for this one: Glogspot has ripped off just about every known blogspot blog and used them as porn fronts.
My personal glogspot (www.shutterview.glogspot.com) represents a porn site providing ebony loves for lost souls!
It's amazing what the guys at Chumpstyle stumble upon late at night while surfing porn.
My personal glogspot (www.shutterview.glogspot.com) represents a porn site providing ebony loves for lost souls!
It's amazing what the guys at Chumpstyle stumble upon late at night while surfing porn.
Labels: Chumpstyle, glogspot
Too many things to do
I am struck by an overwhelming sense of urgency in my business life at the moment. Not only is there this urgency but there is also a sense of being in over my head. I am hoping that this feeling will pass and that I will manage my growing work load.
Things to do this week (Tomorrow):
Things to do this week (Tomorrow):
- Edit and produce St David's Old Boys newsletter (Marist MOB)
- Go to FNB and ABSA to sort out my banking and my pay from Freelance Job #1 (FJ1)
- Get final touches done on three stories for FJ1
- Begin Production on various stories for Freelance Job #2 (FJ2)
- Send in Graduation form to Rhodes University
- Email the student newspaper editors affiliated to Studentwire.net (one of my online projects)
- Continue the relentless work that Courtenay and I have been doing on the production of our next online project (total of 9 hours work today alone)
- Register my company as a Cc ASAP
- Register various products and names under a copyright license
- Fix Phone (D900)
- Complete Medical Aid change
- Research new business project in "real world"
Labels: Weekly To Do List
nicharalambous.com goes live - kind of
So after much thought and many confused looks on my face I sought help. And help I found in the form of Mike and Rafiq. I asked Mike for some assistance and while he thought he was of little help he asked Rafiq to drop me a line who not only helped me but did it without even looking at a PC!
I am happy to be the happy moron in this case as I am guessing that there are others like myself who overlook the little things in life and create much trouble. Rafiq, you were right, an 0mmitted "www" sorted me out without a second attempt necessary.
And with that shutterview is no more (in a manner of speaking) and 3jobblog is born, again.
I am happy to be the happy moron in this case as I am guessing that there are others like myself who overlook the little things in life and create much trouble. Rafiq, you were right, an 0mmitted "www" sorted me out without a second attempt necessary.
And with that shutterview is no more (in a manner of speaking) and 3jobblog is born, again.
Labels: Mike Stopforth, nicharalambous.com, Rafiq Phillips, sh
Fresh Faced Comic - Michelle Balan
16.1.07
Labels: Fresh Faced Comic, Michelle Balan
Puzzling isn't it?
I officially completed my first puzzle yesterday and documented it! The weather in Umhlanga has been up and down so we prepared and brought along a puzzle.
Here it is:
Here it is:
Yes, we were missing a piece
URL change failed
14.1.07
I know, I know. I'm on holiday by the sea but I am blogging. I have an excuse: Jen is studying so I gave her the room alone without distractions.
I noticed that my blog has not been up since I tried to change the URL on Friday morning. So I have changed the URL back to shutterview for the meantime but have left you all with my new blog look, direction and feel. I know this is another redesign but I promise it will be last.
I hope that things get sorted out soon. Check out my flickr account for photos of my trip. I will be blogging about issues and things when I get back on Saturday next week. Have a great week.
I noticed that my blog has not been up since I tried to change the URL on Friday morning. So I have changed the URL back to shutterview for the meantime but have left you all with my new blog look, direction and feel. I know this is another redesign but I promise it will be last.
I hope that things get sorted out soon. Check out my flickr account for photos of my trip. I will be blogging about issues and things when I get back on Saturday next week. Have a great week.
Labels: DNS settings, Shutterview, URL
New blog, new template, new me
12.1.07
All the changes have been done. Everything is in place and now I wait for Google to pick up on my url and pray that my DNS settings have worked out OK.
I have changed my template. I know that I changed my template a couple of months ago but I think that it is necessary when obtaining a new url to obtain a new identity. So I have.
The blog is more sleek, darker and more interesting to look at. It is also a lot more accessible in my humble opinion. This will be the last blog template change for a long time as this has detracted from my actual work. My actual work included designing the St David's Old Boys newsletter today as well as designing a couple of logos for a company and doing an interview for the Sunday Times.
So that's it for now. I'm on holiday now.
P.S: the new blog is called 3jobBlog.
I have changed my template. I know that I changed my template a couple of months ago but I think that it is necessary when obtaining a new url to obtain a new identity. So I have.
The blog is more sleek, darker and more interesting to look at. It is also a lot more accessible in my humble opinion. This will be the last blog template change for a long time as this has detracted from my actual work. My actual work included designing the St David's Old Boys newsletter today as well as designing a couple of logos for a company and doing an interview for the Sunday Times.
So that's it for now. I'm on holiday now.
P.S: the new blog is called 3jobBlog.
Labels: 3jobBlog, blog template
Going, going, gone
It's time. I am going on holiday tomorrow and it is time for me to make the move to nicharalambous.com.
After much thought and many decisions altered. I will be relocating my blog and renaming the theme of it to 3jobBlog. I will be altering the discussion slightly and will be talking more about my experiences as a working freelance journalist, an entrepreneur and a social person with a girlfriend, family and friends.
I hope that this all works. If it doesn't this post serves as a warning that things might not work out!! If they don't I will be back online on the 20th of this month.
After much thought and many decisions altered. I will be relocating my blog and renaming the theme of it to 3jobBlog. I will be altering the discussion slightly and will be talking more about my experiences as a working freelance journalist, an entrepreneur and a social person with a girlfriend, family and friends.
I hope that this all works. If it doesn't this post serves as a warning that things might not work out!! If they don't I will be back online on the 20th of this month.
Labels: 3jobBlog, nicharalambous.com
Fresh Faced Comic - Russel Peters on Arranged Marriage
11.1.07
Wow I have heard so much about this guy and finally managed to find a snippet of his act. Will definitely be getting more of Russel ASAP!!!
Labels: Fresh Faced Comic, Russel Peters
TechAttack #9 - Wiki's
What the hell is a wiki you might ask. Now I am not writing this TechAttack for the geeks out there (apparently that is not a derogatory term these days) cause you all know and use wiki's all day long!
I have recently discovered the joy of wiki's thanks to Shnitz and Mike Stopforth. I am officially attending the 27 geek dinner for the first time (who knew I was a geek).
So now on to wiki's. PBWiki says the following:
Now get in to the wiki side of life and collaborate with a friend today.
I have recently discovered the joy of wiki's thanks to Shnitz and Mike Stopforth. I am officially attending the 27 geek dinner for the first time (who knew I was a geek).
So now on to wiki's. PBWiki says the following:
A wiki is a kind of free-form website that is easy to edit.So basically a wiki is a collaborative website that is easy to edit and easy to view. You can start one at PBWiki by simply placing square bracket [] around a word. They offer easy to follow videos and FAQ's for users to glide through their first wiki creation.
Now get in to the wiki side of life and collaborate with a friend today.
Labels: Mike Stopforth, PBWiki, Ritz, wiki
I join South Park - Meet Little Niki
10.1.07
Thanks to Joffers from Chumpstyle for posting about this. It did occupy some of my time, but definitely not ten minutes!
Here's Little Niki:
Get your own South Park character here.
Here's Little Niki:
Get your own South Park character here.
Labels: Chumpstyle, Little Niki, South Park
TIME magazine relaunches website
9.1.07
TIME Mag is one of my personal favourites. I love reading it, I love the photography and (I was about to say they are one of the most impartial reporting sources out there) they have partnered with CNN (not sure how recently) on the website.
The site is easy to navigate, well designed in terms of placement of stories and legibility. This is one news site that does not sacrifice quality of photograph for speed. The photos are well taken and well placed. They make use of good eye track processes and ensure that the site is not cluttered for the reader.
Very nice. Check it out now.
Thanks to 901am for the heads up.
The site is easy to navigate, well designed in terms of placement of stories and legibility. This is one news site that does not sacrifice quality of photograph for speed. The photos are well taken and well placed. They make use of good eye track processes and ensure that the site is not cluttered for the reader.
Very nice. Check it out now.
Thanks to 901am for the heads up.
Labels: 901am, TIME, TIME magazine
DNS setup complete
8.1.07
So after all my big talk and fast walk the custom domain wasn't as peachy pie as Blogger makes it out to be. This is especially true if you have made use of a South African site to purchase your url (nicharalambous.com). I had to pay an extra R160 to setup my DNS services. I have now paid R360 in total for one year and DNS issues. Not too bad but still, cut me a break.
I am going to Durban for a well earned holiday from this Saturday to next. I will only be setting up the custom domain on Friday as I wont be posting it wont matter if it takes 2 days for the settings to kick in. So for now enjoy shutterview until Friday. If the site shuts down for a couple days you'll know why.
I am going to Durban for a well earned holiday from this Saturday to next. I will only be setting up the custom domain on Friday as I wont be posting it wont matter if it takes 2 days for the settings to kick in. So for now enjoy shutterview until Friday. If the site shuts down for a couple days you'll know why.
Labels: DNS settings, nicharalambous.com
Tokyo Sexwale for President
7.1.07
Update: Tokyo has come out and denied his running for the presidency. Dammit. We can always hope can't we?
Tokyo Sexwale has seemingly begun his approach of the presidency of South Africa. He has been noted to have approached both the Zuma and Mbeki camps for endorsements and will be seeking Nelson Mandela's endorsement to boost his campaign.
The Sunday Times has reported the full story with many other newswires picking up the feed. This seems to be an extremely interesting move by Mr. Sexwale. I personally never believed that he would make the move from business back in to government after his departure in 1997. I always thought that he was making enough money and controlled enough power to avoid the political pull that the ANC might offer him.
I have personally had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sexwale as his son was at my School, St David's Marist Brothers, Inanda. I would vote for him, I would vote against Zuma and I think that most people would do the same.
I do think that Zuma, if he won the presidency, would be an interim president until a more suitable president could be found. With Sexwale involved now, I think that we have found a better candidate.
Tokyo Sexwale has seemingly begun his approach of the presidency of South Africa. He has been noted to have approached both the Zuma and Mbeki camps for endorsements and will be seeking Nelson Mandela's endorsement to boost his campaign.
The Sunday Times has reported the full story with many other newswires picking up the feed. This seems to be an extremely interesting move by Mr. Sexwale. I personally never believed that he would make the move from business back in to government after his departure in 1997. I always thought that he was making enough money and controlled enough power to avoid the political pull that the ANC might offer him.
I have personally had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sexwale as his son was at my School, St David's Marist Brothers, Inanda. I would vote for him, I would vote against Zuma and I think that most people would do the same.
I do think that Zuma, if he won the presidency, would be an interim president until a more suitable president could be found. With Sexwale involved now, I think that we have found a better candidate.
Labels: ANC, Jacob Zuma, Tokyo Sexwale
Sanitation in food preparation
Answer me this: How do the people who prepare food put on those little plastic/rubber gloves?
Don't answer that. I'll save you the trouble. We all know what gloves I'm talking about right? The ones that ensure the sanitation of the foods we ingest. The ones that the people preparing the food slip on just before that assemble your shwarma, burger or sandwich.
I was at Anat this morning waiting for my shwarma to be prepared. I am not one of those people who minds if someone touches my food with their hands. But I did find it fairly amusing that in order to place the plastic glove over his hands, the man serving me dug in a packet that contained the gloves with his bare hands (the ones I was meant to be protected from). He then used those bare hands to put the gloves on.
Interesting. Is this whole sanitation movement simply something to appease the anal retentive among us? Or is there actually some value to the plastic gloves with more bacteria on the outside than the inside?
Don't answer that. I'll save you the trouble. We all know what gloves I'm talking about right? The ones that ensure the sanitation of the foods we ingest. The ones that the people preparing the food slip on just before that assemble your shwarma, burger or sandwich.
I was at Anat this morning waiting for my shwarma to be prepared. I am not one of those people who minds if someone touches my food with their hands. But I did find it fairly amusing that in order to place the plastic glove over his hands, the man serving me dug in a packet that contained the gloves with his bare hands (the ones I was meant to be protected from). He then used those bare hands to put the gloves on.
Interesting. Is this whole sanitation movement simply something to appease the anal retentive among us? Or is there actually some value to the plastic gloves with more bacteria on the outside than the inside?
Labels: Anat, fast food, sanitation
Vodacom and Samsung suck
It has been a meager 2 weeks, 14 days or 336 hours since I purchased the Samsung D900 and sang its praises. Now I must change my standpoint. My D900 decided to stop working today. I received a phone call and flipped the phone down and hey presto the screen went black. It stayed black, it's black now...for good.
I decided to jump in my car and head to Sandton City to the Vodacare store. I knew what would happen. I would arrive, the 'lovely' person behind the counter would tell me that I didn't qualify to receive a new phone (even though it's only been 2 weeks, 14 days or 336 hours since I bought the damn thing). Then they would tell me that they were out of loan phones (which they were). Then I would bitch about that, they would stare at me as if they really wish someone would push them out of a 4 story building (that's how they all look).
The only difference is that this time they made even bigger fools of themselves. Once I had given my brand spankingly new and stuffed up phone in to get repaired (reluctantly I might add), the 'lovely' women then told me that I would receive an SMS when my phone was ready. Prey tell me how on any creators Earth am I meant to receive and SMS from Vodacom when they have my phone AND THE DIDN'T PROVIDE ME WITH A LOAN PHONE... YOU IDIOTS.
I hate Vodacom and I always will. I hate Samsung temporarily because I have a sneaking suspicion that they are in cahoots with the service provides so that their phones break exactly one week after the 7 day return period ends. You bastards.
I decided to jump in my car and head to Sandton City to the Vodacare store. I knew what would happen. I would arrive, the 'lovely' person behind the counter would tell me that I didn't qualify to receive a new phone (even though it's only been 2 weeks, 14 days or 336 hours since I bought the damn thing). Then they would tell me that they were out of loan phones (which they were). Then I would bitch about that, they would stare at me as if they really wish someone would push them out of a 4 story building (that's how they all look).
The only difference is that this time they made even bigger fools of themselves. Once I had given my brand spankingly new and stuffed up phone in to get repaired (reluctantly I might add), the 'lovely' women then told me that I would receive an SMS when my phone was ready. Prey tell me how on any creators Earth am I meant to receive and SMS from Vodacom when they have my phone AND THE DIDN'T PROVIDE ME WITH A LOAN PHONE... YOU IDIOTS.
I hate Vodacom and I always will. I hate Samsung temporarily because I have a sneaking suspicion that they are in cahoots with the service provides so that their phones break exactly one week after the 7 day return period ends. You bastards.
Labels: Samsung D900, Vodacom
nicharalambous.com
6.1.07
I think that I am going to be renaming my blog to nicharalambous.com. I am not sure why, I have no particular reason but I think that it feels right. I have outgrown shutterview and will always be me so I will never outgrow nicharalambous.com. Plus I have already paid for the domain name.
Now I need to redesign template a bit and figure out DNS settings so that Google can start distributing new url and maintain links of old.
Wish me luck!
Now I need to redesign template a bit and figure out DNS settings so that Google can start distributing new url and maintain links of old.
Wish me luck!
Labels: blogger custom domains, DNS settings, nicharalambous.com
Custom domains on Blogger
5.1.07
Leon from BBD directed me to this post about Blogger's new custom domain tool.
You need to purchase your domain and make sure that it's working before you can select it as your new domain on blogger. Once these steps have been completed your old url will point to your new url so there wont be any links lost or time wasted in the past.
I am now considering the move from Shutterview to nicharalambous.com. Not sure about this all, feeling somewhat apprehensive about it all but I will definitely make up my mind by the end of the weekend. Watch this space.
You need to purchase your domain and make sure that it's working before you can select it as your new domain on blogger. Once these steps have been completed your old url will point to your new url so there wont be any links lost or time wasted in the past.
I am now considering the move from Shutterview to nicharalambous.com. Not sure about this all, feeling somewhat apprehensive about it all but I will definitely make up my mind by the end of the weekend. Watch this space.
Labels: blogger custom domains
2007 Bloggies
The Bloggies have arrived so check your rolls and butter your bread. Get on down to the 2007 Bloggies site and cast your vote for the vast number of categories available.
The Bloggies are in their seventh year now and are going strong. The categories have grown, the exposure seems to be pretty vast and the the categories seem to cover many areas. Anyways, I think it's time to analyze your RSS feeds on Google/bloglines and see who you read the most and give them the props by voting for them for a Bloggie award.
The Bloggies are in their seventh year now and are going strong. The categories have grown, the exposure seems to be pretty vast and the the categories seem to cover many areas. Anyways, I think it's time to analyze your RSS feeds on Google/bloglines and see who you read the most and give them the props by voting for them for a Bloggie award.
Labels: 2007, 2007 bloggies, blog awards
Don't mess wif my tootoo
What is with all these bloody flippin' Afrikaans adverts on TV when there is sport on? Who buys this shit? Who listens to "Don't mess wif my tootoo" kind of songs?
Honestly if you cannot speak a language and write songs with correct grammar then don't bother. If you speak clutch plate the sing clutch plate, if you speak some other random language then sing it. There are those who can manage it such as good ol' Arno Carstens. But even he has his moments. I once heard him playing a concert and sound checking for it. The comment that flew out of his mouth at sound check blew me away:
Arno: Nog delaaay assemblief, nog delaaay now
Nic: *Jaw hits flaw, confustication sets in and beer started sinking*
Now back to the TV advert issue. Why is it that the SABC thinks that only Afrikaans people listen to music and watch sport? Why can they not play kwaito, hip hop, or rock music while sports is on? Why not advertise those genres, those cultures and why not associate them with sports? Why is it that sports = Afrikaans?
Honestly if you cannot speak a language and write songs with correct grammar then don't bother. If you speak clutch plate the sing clutch plate, if you speak some other random language then sing it. There are those who can manage it such as good ol' Arno Carstens. But even he has his moments. I once heard him playing a concert and sound checking for it. The comment that flew out of his mouth at sound check blew me away:
Arno: Nog delaaay assemblief, nog delaaay now
Nic: *Jaw hits flaw, confustication sets in and beer started sinking*
Now back to the TV advert issue. Why is it that the SABC thinks that only Afrikaans people listen to music and watch sport? Why can they not play kwaito, hip hop, or rock music while sports is on? Why not advertise those genres, those cultures and why not associate them with sports? Why is it that sports = Afrikaans?
Labels: Afrikaans, Sports, TV Adverts
There are no words
4.1.07
There is nothing that anyone can say to make this feel less significant and saddening so I wont try. I am sorry for your loss.
"Oh Boy" indeed.
"Oh Boy" indeed.
Labels: Oh Boy
Fresh faced comic - Okey Bakasi
I decided to get all African up in here and provide some Nigerian humour for everyone today. Enjoy.
Labels: Fresh Faced Comic, Nigeria, Okey Bakasi
2Lazy4Video
2.1.07
I have just posted my first post as a contributor to 2 Lazy 4 Video. This blog is a blog centred around music videos mostly old but some new, some brilliant kiddi muso's and some rubbish old gems from the past. If you are having a surf around and feel like checking out some golden oldies or if you are looking for an old music video or song feel free to email me or any of the other contributors and we will try to find what you are looking for!
Check out 2 Lazy 4 Video now.
Check out 2 Lazy 4 Video now.
Labels: 2lazy4video, Contributing, Music Videos
Old years eve
I have always maintained that old years eve is somewhat of anticlimax. Due to this little fact I have been to and hosted house parties for the past two old years. This has yet to fail. No expectations, no queues, no terrible fools that are drunk (OK, there’s always one at every party…thanks “shane-oh-no”) and no disappointment. This year was no different. Party at Jen’s house (thanks Jen) which turned out well. I did end up Braaing for about two hours thanks to lots of meat and a full chicken, but it was well worth it in the end.
I chose
Otherwise it was all good.
Now for a brief list of my new years resolutions:
- Diversify in business
- Save my money
- Learn how to cook…properly.
Thanks for everything 2006 now go away and let 2007 be the year for me!
Labels: New Years resolutions, Old Years eve
Tech Attack# 8 - Paint music online
There is no attack present here other than to say that this site is addictive if you like and know music.
I was supposed to go to bed about an hour ago. I have not been able to stop messing around with this paint music online site. This is an incredible Flash creation that can and will entertain you for hours if you enjoy music, understand your mouse and have a grasp of notes, delay and volume controls!
Check it out now and induce some insomnia!
I was supposed to go to bed about an hour ago. I have not been able to stop messing around with this paint music online site. This is an incredible Flash creation that can and will entertain you for hours if you enjoy music, understand your mouse and have a grasp of notes, delay and volume controls!
Check it out now and induce some insomnia!
Labels: Loader manual, Paint music online
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