July 2004 – Page 6 – Something Odd!

How To write Efficient CSS

This is a good, short tutorial on cleaning up your CSS. I’ll have a read of it later when I want to edit my blog template again!

On The Street.. What are my rights?

question: how to avoid someone beating you up?
When you’re working your camera on the street what can you do if someone doesn’t like you taking their photo?
Andy Williams offers his opinion that it’s legal to take photos of people in a public place. If you want to publish commercially you need a model release. That’s in the States. It’s probably quite similar here.
A quick Google search unearthed this and of course this. The former link is a long article about photography and the law in France. It’s an enlightening look through the ages and a frightening look into the commercial world of tv rights and copyright.

The saying that the street belongs to all no longer holds true.

It's Your Money!

If you go to www.itsyourmoney.ie as the radio advert recommends you’ll be redirected to the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority website.
Some good info there, if a little general and basic. I like their reports however.

The Apologist – I'm sorry!

Jay Rayner, food critic and apologist spoke to Ray D’Arcy on TodayFM a short while ago to sell his book and Apologist website. This started a flood of apologies from listeners, some funny, some serious.

Timoleague Abbey – POTD July 15th, 2004

Today’s picture was taken in Timoleague Abbey, Co. Cork. I’ve passed by the Abbey hundreds of times over the years but I can’t remember ever venturing into it.
There’s a sketch of the Abbey drawn by my Uncle at home and it’s hardly changed in the almost 30 years since it was drawn!

America's Founding Yuppie

This morning I read with interest a review (The Guardian Newspaper, Review Section, Friday last) of “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life”, a biography of the great man by Walter Isaacson. The reviewer was mostly positive but bemoaned the lack of critical examination in the book.
The review ends with the following quote,

“I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.”

This quote is taken from his speech to the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787. and the reviewer finishes with the quip,

“Alas, these prophetic words of the great sage are not included in Isaacson’s biography. They might have unsettled American readers, who cannot bear very much reality.”

Fortunately for us, the speech is online, and as the EU draws ever nearer to creating it’s own constitution it’s worth taking a look at the complete text as the quote above doesn’t do it justice.
And the title of this post? I copied the reviewer’s title. It refers to the fact that Mr Franklin was a very successful business man and lead a colourful life!

<kevin> hey, we're the featured article on wikipedia

Quick! Take a look at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia!

Roches Point – POTD July 14th, 2004

Today’s photo was taken in Church Bay on Saturday afternoon last. Pictured is Roches Point, and 2 yachts sailing back to Crosshaven, no doubt going back to the Cork Week festival (note – listen to the Langer Song to get a flavour of what you’re likely to come across there!)