Twitter, it's the future

Right! I’m simply losing too much of my life to explaining to my friends why they dont need facebook any longer and why they should move to Twitter, Dopplr and Flickr as a replacement instead. So I’m writing it down.

The one thing I hate about Facebook, particularly of late, is that right now

Facebook is no longer working for you, you’re working for Facebook

There are many reasons for why this is true, some more technical than others, but I’ll keep it simple. If Facebook is purely to keep in contact and up to date on your friends, colleagues, lovers etc. then why is it so inaccessible, and why spend so much time in front of it? Particularly when you can use another medium and maintain it for free? So I give you Twitter, Dopplr and Flickr.

Twitter

Twitter is an increasing popular ‘micro-blogging’ service similar to status updates on Facebook. In it’s purest form you should always answer the question ‘What are you doing?’ however there are mechanisms for sending public (by prefixing an @ symbol) or private (by prefixing a D) message to someone. You can do this via the web, a desktop application, a mobile application or a text message. You can also upload pictures via twitpic. So far far we have the following services:

• Status updates
• Public replies
• Private replies
• Posting images (with comments)

Flickr

Fortunately Flickr doesn’t really require an introduction. It’s one of the most famous ‘web 2.0′ services for uploading, sharing and commenting on peoples photos and videos. So here we add:

• Uploading high resolution photos
• Uploading videos
• Commenting on content

Dopplr

Dopplr may require an introduction. Dopplr is designed for frequent travelers or friends of frequent travelers to schedule, log and keep up with people’s whereabouts. You register your home address and any future travel plans. In return Dopplr will tell you if any of your friends will be in the area and some local sights and services to visit. Dopplr is available on the Web, as a mobile internet application and, best of all, can be bound to and updated via twitter using the Dopplr bot with a phrase akin to ‘@Dopplr I’ll be in Birmingham from April 5th for 3 nights’ (you can also privately message). So now we’ve added the following services:

• Location awareness
• Travel scheduling
• Travel planning

Now ‘what about Facebook’ I hear you cry. The best part is that all of these things can be automatically linked via the bewilderingly large number of applications available in Facebook. Link them in and all your friends know exactly where you are, what you’re doing and (via Flickr) how many beers you’ve had.

So get out there, sign up and Fuck Facebook (yes, I did start that Facebook group).

You’ll thank me in the long run.

Indulgent market cafe

Continuing with the travel theme this week I’d like to share two rules that have kept me well fed in Africa, Central America, India and more they are:

• Neon lights? Don’t Eat (with the possible exception of Indo-asia, but I’ve not been)
• Pictures of the food? Don’t Eat

These two simple rules can guide your snap judgement, avoiding the onslaught of any over-zealous waiter or night-crawler waiting in the wings. Lets have a look at some examples:

• McDonalds
• Wimpey
• Benidorm

These are the facts, don’t agree? Fistycuffs over here.

Risky, but fun!

Right, lets get this over with, I’ve not blogged in a very long time… There are various reasons why this is so but I think there’s as little reason for me to spit them out as there is for you to rub you eyeballs on them. Lets just get one thing straight. I’m back.

So, whagwarnin’ you may think? Well I’ve finally broken myself into the security forum of which I have warned to be a part of for some time, in the guise of risk management. Admittedly it’s not the romantacised vision of [[Swordfish|http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244244/]] that I may have imagined but it’s one of the ten key areas in the CISSP exam so I’ll take it as it comes. I’ve also installed myself back in London after a six month stint back in Birmingham, which I’m happy to say goodbye to.

So what am I likely to be talking about these days, well, take your pick from the usual: Open Source, Photography,  TiddlyWiki and the ever-cool iPhone but you’ll probably see a lot more on Security, predictably on risk management, compliance and governance. If you don’t like that then, expect a lot more in this Blog space about life’s irritations and suchlike and, coming up, some more travels! Hope to see you’ll back here soon, look for a insolent look at the simple matter of risk management in my mind soon enough…

”PS” For the meantime check out Paul Downey of Osmosoft fame and his latest psychobabble/mastermind graphic ‘The URI is the Thing’.

Zoom

Well, it appears people enjoy the lighter side of life here at BenJam so I’ll indulge you in my latest lifetime fascination; Undertaking people on speed cameras. I love it! It sends two clear messages:

• You’re in the wrong lane.
• You don’t score life-points for going through a camera 10 miles an hour slower.

I’m not sure whether this is classed as dangerous driving. If it is then I don’t endorse it. But I think I’ll continue for a while, because it makes me smile. Now I really must get those comments working…

F*cking wet trousers!

So, I left work today knowing damned-well that the Macworld Expo Keynote was about to begin. ‘Ahh that thin MacBook, ah the iPhone upgrade’ I thought. I’m in the midst of trolling through MacRumours and apple.com but I’ve something more pressing on my mind. Now what could that be? I live in London and participate daily in a rain-sodden walk from the tube to my office, but today was a day like no other, oh no, today the pavement had it in for me. I stepped on at least five paving stones only to have the sodden content beneath squelch up my suit trousers. Up!? How the hell does that happen!? Ken Livingston, pull your finger out. Now I’m off to the dry cleaners… Anyway. On with the show.