Hello world! So I update bits of my life in so many places I don’t write here that often, sorry…

My march to more sustainable, responsible living continues:

1) No more carrier bags – win
– used 2 since June, donated the first half of the money to Julia’s House for the parachute jump. Its actually quite hard to break the habit, try it.

2) Sell the car – done
– A few reasons, but mainly –> I don’t need one! I was getting lazy and using it when I didn’t need. So I sold it. Also to encourage me to plan a bit better and use public transport (I get loads done on the train). I’m going to work out how much it cost me to run across the year and compare to a year without.

3) Own an electric car by 2012 – that’s the plan… if someone can make one that does > 100 miles!

4) Do more meetings over the web – I’m trying to cut down some of the meetings I do that I don’t really need to do face-to-face. First proper one this Wednesday.

5) Don’t eat air-freighted food – bye bye sugar snap peas 🙁

6) Your ideas – suggestions please.

look out, i’m making some changes, starting with a much needed back-enbd update… if it goes wonky, sorry

These are the 10 plug-ins for WordPress that I use the most and the ones I would recommend to anyone (we’re nearly at the 50+ WP sites mark on our server):

1. Google Sitemap Generator – an absolutely must have for any site.
2. Sociable – in our opinion the most useful social plug-in has email to etc as well.
3. Audio Player – nice and simple mp3 only player
4. Contact Form 7 – I’ve tried a few, but found this to be the most reliable and simple
5. All in one SEO pack – what it say on the tin really, another WP must have
6. Google News Sitemap – essential IF you publish at least every day.
7. Ultimate Google Analytics – what use is anything if you can’t track it?
8. Twitter for WordPress -the simplest to install and leave, limited functionality
9. YARPP (Recommended content) – encourage people t explore your site
10. Shopp – I’ve tried lots of e-comm plugins and never recommended any to a client. (A bargain at $55 too)

Hope you like these too. Please feel free to add your favourites in the comments.

I used (past tense) digsby as a good way to manage multiple clients and platforms of messaging… but when searching for some information about a function I’d like it to have and I found this in the TOS (point 15):

“You agree to permit the Software to use the processing power of your computer when it is idle to run downloaded algorithms (mathematical equations) and code within a process. You understand that when the Software uses your computer, it likewise uses your CPU, bandwidth, and electrical power. The Software will use your computer to solve distributed computing problems, such as but not limited to, accelerating medical research projects, analyzing the stock market, searching the web, and finding the largest known prime number. This functionality is completely optional and you may disable it at any time.”

By agreeing to the standard TOS, you are allowing Digsby to use your machine as part of “the cloud” – to use your processing power and memory to run things for other people, when digsby is idle – that wouldn’t be so bad, if it wasn’t for two things:

1) Its very well hidden down in the TOS and certainly not mentioned very openly.

2) Switching it off is nearly impossible (I couldn’t find it but it claims to be there).

A further googling confirmed my suspicions (wikipedia and others).

My advice would be to remove it and always check the TOS for these hidden things, it could be the reason your machine is slowing down…

Here is the longer promo video of the Technology For Marketing Workshop I presented for the Engine Room in London at the start of the month, more details of their high value and low cost workshops are here.

Video sampler from my recent talk at the TFMW “the big banana” – great event, looking forward to talking at the next one!

From the interwebs:

ROBOT DANCE
At 12.30pm on Monday 13 July 2009 in the courtyard at KUBE.

We will be attempting to break the official Guinness World Record for the LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE ROBOT-DANCING AT ONCE… and you are invited to come and help us make robot-dancing history!

The official rules are:

– Everybody must be dressed as a robotof some description, so tin-foil hats, cardboard heads, washing machine tube arms, pipe-cleaner antennas and neon clothing are strongly encouraged.

– With the above rule in mind, if you turn up dressed as a human then one of our volunteers WILL ambush you with silver tin-foil – be warned!

– We must dance for at least 5 minutes in a robotic manner.

– You must sign in on arrival so that we have an official count of numbers.

– Please arrive for 12.30pm, we may have a run-through first to get us in the pop-locking mood and possibly require a second attempt, so please allow until around 1.30pm to complete the attempt.

– There will be a ready-prepared routine to follow so don’t worry about choreographing your own routine or not knowing the moves! Just follow our lead! It’s very simple and doesn’t require any dancing experience or skill!

– The attempt will take place in the KUBE Courtyard.

– Please be aware that the attempt will be being filmed by artists and press and photographed and may be broadcast later in public or on television (you can always wear a robot mask if you’re shy!)

– PLEASE BRING FRIENDS / COLLEAGUES / FAMILY / NEIGHBOURS / KIDS / ROBOTS – to break the current record we need 300 people or more. The more the merrier. Recruit passing strangers on your way!