The Blurb: May 2008

Fuel for thought

Thursday 29 May 2008  11.49 pm

While the Americans worry about gas hitting $4 a gallon, the current average price in the UK for unleaded equates to $8.61.  It's quite a lot, and shooting up like there's no tomorrow.

But it's not all bad.  I hear rumours that more drivers are sticking to 70 instead of 90 on motorways, as they become aware of the huge price of the extra 20 mph.  People are actually walking more (on pavements, not motorways).  Suddenly activities we take for granted, which were previously only damaging the environment and affecting the poor, are digging into our own pockets too.

I know it's hard, I know people are genuinely struggling financially, and I know some people really need their cars.  But let's not blame the Government for this one.  Is it entirely inconceivable that we may have built our whole lifestyles on a false and unsustainable definition of the word "need"?  What happens when oil hits $200 a barrel, or runs out altogether?  Was it a timely moment for a wake-up call?
 
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Love your neighbour

Sunday 25 May 2008  2.57 pm

A concept demonstrated so vividly each year at Eurovision, where the phone voting has absolutely nothing to do with the songs and everything to do with where your borders and prejudices are.  San Marino and Ireland were our only friends this year and everyone knew Russia would win before the contest even began.  But as long as you're prepared to laugh at it rather than with it, it's actually good fun, and a delightfully cheesy way to spend a Saturday evening each May!

If only the real commandment to 'love your neighbour' were as easy to follow as this...
 
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The niggle

Tuesday 20 May 2008  4.21 pm

For as long as I can remember, I have lived life with a background feeling.  Sometimes it's way down in my consciousness so that it's hardly detectable, and sometimes (especially when a big decision beckons) it hurtles to the front of my thoughts.  It makes me uneasy but I don't want to get rid of it because it also inspires and excites me.

It says, "There's more." It says there's a level of fulfilment available in life that many people, including many Christians, can't see.  It reminds me that every step into something involving more money, comfort or status can also, if I'm not very careful and prayerful, mean a step away from risk, adventure, fulfilment, and, ultimately, God.  But it's not fear.

And I don't think I'm the only one with this feeling, either.
 
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A million dollars and a Christian wine gum

Friday 16 May 2008  12.10 pm

Today I have been sorting through the spoils from my visit to the Christian Resources Exhibition on Wednesday.  I got lots of intangible benefits from the show, like fruitful conversations with charities, a fabulous Saltmine play entitled "When I'm calling you", and the chance to enjoy two Christian comedians and talk to them about how they got started and the Isaac Project that links them.

There were real, physical, tangible benefits of going to CRE too....

I have a million dollar note from the Christian Party, a home-made Darjeeling teabag from Tearfund, a free pen from Church 123, a story book from Samaritan's Purse, a complimentary copy of John Ortberg's "The Life You've Always Wanted", GodTube-coloured M&Ms, and - oh yes - a wine gum with "Kingsway" written on it from Scripture Union.  Now that gets my award for Most Innovative Freebie this year.
 
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Live from the CRE

Wednesday 14 May 2008  1.24 pm

I came in 2005, 2006 and 2007 as a Lee Abbey exhibitor.  Now I'm back in Esher, Surrey for the Christian Resources Exhibition in 2008, as a punter this time.  It's much more relaxed this way.

I'm trying to see lots of Christian organisations, get some inspiration as to ones I might want to and be able to work for, talk to people from them, and things like that.  I talked to the people at Lee Abbey, but I don't think I'll rejoin the Community.  They're great, but there's so much more too!

Church123 has also caught my eye; they help churches get an easy Web presence.  Other stands that caught my eye included one making willow coffins (and I mean literally making them, right there on the stand), one building a house out of plastic bricks, and one which gave me a story of Jack and Jill to read.  All good fun.
 
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Green

Saturday 10 May 2008  8.41 am

Every year nature amazes me with its ability to turn green at speed.  Two or three weeks ago, there was hardly a deciduous leaf to be seen.  Then someone fired a starting gun, and the countryside burst into the colour like it was going out of fashion.  Which it isn't.

I like green - and May and June are my favourite months of the year.  The clear nights are great for stargazing too - you can currently see Mercury, Mars and Saturn very clearly if you look in the right places.
 
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Duck!

Tuesday 6 May 2008  9.36 am

Where would you hold an annual race of little yellow plastic ducks?  Bath?  Thought so.

In yesterday's Bath Duck Race, duck 23 was almost disqualified for foul play, Reginald the large duck got sucked in by the weir's undercurrents and failed to finish, and ducks 144 and 145, proudly sponsored by Yours Truly, didn't quite finish in the points.

But our Lib Dem MP, Don Foster, did a fabulous commentary as usual, money was raised for WaterAid, and I enjoyed catching up with a professional photographer I happen to know.  Steve is the friend that planted the Lee Abbey Community idea in my head in 2003.  His girlfriend and her friend are current Bath maths students and BANG! members, so that was a nice blast from the past all round!
 
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Making my Web a better place

Saturday 3 May 2008  12.12 am

Since leaving Lee Abbey I have decided to invest effort in getting my Web development skills up to par, so I've been having a little look round the Internet for tips on security, accessibility, good practice and Web standards.

Don't nod off just yet!

I found a tutorial website which is great for learning the basics of just about anything from HTML to Javascript to MySQL to AJAX.  I've tried a couple of the tutorials myself and they're very easy to follow.

I also love these fabulous cheat sheets - single A4 summaries of key HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP or MySQL commands.  Not only will they save me going back repeatedly to the same pages in the relevant online manuals, but they've also given me a few ideas of new things I can try.

If you're a Web designer yourself, and you use PHP, have a look at this article on writing secure PHP - it's quite enlightening.

Finally, if you want a tedious read for a long, dull afternoon, try the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 which I went through this evening.  Once you've read that, you can even enjoy the nearly-completed sequel!

My Bongosoft site is already seeing the fruits of some of this research, together with full XHTML 1.0 and CSS 2.1 validation, and I intend to trial improved security and accessibility features on the Timble site shortly.

So why have I stayed up so late tonight?  To research accessibility standards and write a thrilling Blurb entry ... or to see whether Boris Johnson made it to Mayor of London?  I'll let you work out that one.
 
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