collylogic.com - Simon Collison's weblog

Twenty posts in one

28th July 2008

This is at least twenty long posts all rolled into one handy list, so be grateful for small mercies. Its basically an excuse to list the books, TV, bands, experiences and stuff that I have in some way absorbed over the last two months or so.

I have been mostly going insane through insomnia because my old friends next door have let their house to a young family who have the mardiest baby in the world. Its been crying for approximately seven weeks non-stop now - all day and all night and its really screwing with my head. Sanity comes for me by playing (at full volume) Cry Baby Cry by The Beatles, or Stop Your Crying by Spiritualized, although the subtlety of these songs is lost on the Dido fans next door, so they usually end up receiving some Rage Against The Machine, obscure Icelandic punk, or even Gobsausage - at full volume.

Anyway, when I have been sane of mind, and/or not lost in the myriad whirlwind that is a very, very busy and thriving Erskine Design (more on that later), I have mostly been doing the following:

#748 | 28/07/08 | More >

Doing our bit for charity

23rd June 2008

Yesterday, four members of the Erskine team (Phil, Greg, Glen and old man Colly) completed the Great Notts Bike Ride 50 mile route; cycling from Holme Pierrepont to Newark, then back to Nottingham into brutal and constant 30 mph headwinds that nearly killed us.

Team Erskine

So far we’ve raised over £1,000 for various charities. Our pain is captured in the GNBR Flickr set.

Huuuuge thanks to those of you that dug deep into your credit-crunched pockets and sponsored us. You are wonderful people.

If you suddenly find twenty quid down the back of the sofa, you can still put it to good use as donations can be accepted until 22nd September over at the Just Giving page.

My body hurts far too much for me to write any detail about it really, but thankfully Glen has summed things up perfectly.

#747 | 23/06/08 | More >

Readers, I want your money!

11th June 2008

On Sunday 22nd June, myself and the other Erskine chaps will be taking part in this year’s Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride to help raise money for several charities. We’re doing 50 miles!

I’ve decided that we should each try and out-do each other, so I’m hoping to raise the most money and be the hero.

I hate asking you for money, but please, think of the children! If you’re a kind soul, please visit my Just Giving page for simple and unavoidably easy methods of sponsoring me and helping me hit my frankly unrealistic target figure.

#746 | 11/06/08 | More >

An industry defined by accountability and technology will suffocate without idiosyncrasy

6th June 2008

Broad discussion about our industry is a tinderbox that I like to keep my burning roll-up well away from these days. The problem is, I bottle my thoughts up for so long that during weeks like this I just burst.

Whilst regular readers will appreciate my good intention, others may not. Well, that’s a risk I take by speaking my mind. If, as I am, you’re getting somewhat fatigued by the weight of over-analysis and opinion out there, and want to protect your own ways of doing things, you might be with me.

If you are in any way interested in web design process, standards, guidelines, the “right” tools for the job, and the role the tone of our writing plays in shaping the direction of what we do, then please read on. Whatever your view, this is a debate I’m happy to have…

#745 | 06/06/08 | More >

Fuel Conference

2nd June 2008

Over at Erskine, things are going well and the team is growing. But we’re a restless bunch, itching to realise a few of our crazier ideas and step up to the next level. Aware that hard work and great ideas aren’t necessarily enough on their own, we’re going to the inaugural Fuel Conference in London on Friday 13th June, in search of some inspiration…

#744 | 02/06/08 | More >