Bird Stream

Unset Use iTunes for Internet Playback

You know when you clicked on the option to use iTunes as the default player for Internet media and immediately regretted it well I've found the solution.

It seems the preferences pane option is not a toggle so you'll need to go in an edit the file associates yourself.

Rubicode - RCDefaultApp is the answer to your prayers

http://www.rubicode.com/Software/RCDefaultApp/

it adds a preference pane into Systems Preferences to give you full control and restore order.

or...

as @danlane pointed out to me after posting this originally

you could right click on a file, choose "Get Info" then set "Open With" remembering to hit the "Change All..." 

But I think my way preserves the feeling of magic I like from an OS.

La Marmotte Recce

Just realised that I never posted this up from my recent trip to the Alps recce'ing in preparation for La Marmotte.

Just 7 days to go and still feeling the effects of a virus so my planned taper has evaporated. A years training focus and it comes down to hoping I'm ready.

Guess I'll find out on Saturday.

Joys of being a business owner

The sound of the Malt Shovel

This time last year I was about to do something epic

Ventoux 09 The Movie from Adam Bird on Vimeo.

This year it's La Marmotte which I suspect might be even more of a challenge.

Dead excited

@beestoncc web site

Having already stepped down through lack of time from moving the Beeston CC web site forward, I've stayed out of the discussions to date but I think it's got to the point where I would like to give my opinion.

I think the current solution has missed the key requirement of any web site, engagement.

Whatever technology you use, however easy or hard it is to utilise, the content and layout of the site must engage with it's audience.

The forum is not doing that.

My belief is that a technical solution has been chosen to suit the capabilities of the operator rather than to suit the purpose of the site.

My choice of Wordpress as the platform was not because I knew how to use it, I was learning as I went along, but it was based on a hunch and a year of experimentation with Ride for Round Hill. This was born out by the success of the site in showcasing the club and attracting lots of new members. The forum approach just makes us look like any other club. Not the vision Adrian, Richard and myself had when we decided to found the club in 2008.

Yes it had it's issues but ultimately more people read, commented and posted than the current solution.

Also let's not ignore the fact that the most vocal detractors of the old site still aren't posting on the new one.

It's time to look objectively at what the club needs from the site. I for one think we could do worse than just putting the old site back to the way it was and get some of the passion back into our club.

A few small amendments would allow access to the key information that the people need while retaining the pace and fun of the original vision.

I'm happy to direct the project, I just need someone with PHP skills (the development environment of Wordpress) to do the implementation.

So Beeston CC your club needs you to find a Beeston dwelling PHP developer who cycles.

Why @YoSushiNotts annoyed me today

Seems only fair that I explain what prompted my vitriolic tweet earlier.

I decided to treat myself to Yo Sushi takeaway for lunch today. I wanted something quick and felt I deserved something nice and it's just round the corner from the office, perfect.

Got in there, ordered quickly and was told 5 mins. Brilliant.

Oh-no.

I asked if i should wait at the bar and was told that I had to sit on a bar stool next to the door. To be fair, the manager was kind enough to move the cleaners sign.
So there I sat shivering in the full blast of the above door air-conditioning like a second-class pariah because I wasn't eating in.

Now imagine a different scenario where I'm invited to sit at the bar, where there was plenty of space. I could have been offered a drink, I could have felt a bit peckish and picked something of the belt. Suddenly my £11 takeaway becomes a £16+ purchase and I'm having a nicer time.

That old win-win scenario anyone selling something should crave.

Instead I'm sat shivering on my naughty stool.

Luckily though I'm in full view of the chef assembling my takeaway who had confirmed the 5 min time with the manager when I ordered. It was bound to be quick.

I take the opportunity to read a few more pages of Bad Blood on my iPhone while I'm waiting. Pages turn into chapters and finally a chef calls across to me, 'are you the guy waiting for takeaway, sorry I've got it here, it's been ready a while'.

He walks round to bring the food round, very apologetic, but doesn't give me the food because he wants to put it in a bag. No problem, except he then leaves it on the counter with the person manning the till.
There is a big queue and I've already paid.

So I walk round pick up the food, have to insist that I have paid to the person on the till and then discover that the chef had done just as he said. Put the food in a bag.

No chopsticks, napkins or condiments.

In the end I get them myself.

By this stage I'm a little cross and the safest course of action for all involved is for me to leave the establishment as quickly as possible. Restricting my fury venting to the aforementioned tweet.

So there you have it. A treat soured through a combination of small-mindedness and ineptitude.

And it was the former, by the manager of all people, that riled me the most.