Wow - it’s been ages since I wrote anything here, and I decided that it was time for a big update of whats been happening in my world. This goes doubly now that I am also being syndicated over at Planet #Lugradio……
Games
Not played a lot of games recently, mainly still Enemy Territory, although I have played a little Counter Strike. I will probably some more online at some point, but wanted to get my skill level up with the single player mode. The biggest problem with this is the ‘hostage rescue’ levels, where you have to rescue ‘x’ hostages within the game to move to the next level. But if you kill all the terrorists the round ends and the hostages aren’t resuced. This is just plain stupid - it means you have to have a terrorist kicking about the level, hoping he doesn’t pick you off while you’re trying to rescue the hostages. Mental.
One game I did briefly try out was Darwinia, from the creators of Uplink, a futuristic hacking game. Uplink was fantastic - a game known for the quality of gameplay rather than fancy effects/graphics. Darwinia has some stunning graphics, but the gameplay looks cool too, although I need to play a little longer to really get my head around it. However, a purchase of the full game could well be on the cards.
CMS
I’ve been playing around with CMS again. I have been struggling for a while to find a system that is genuinely easy to use for people without degrees in Computing. Many of the CMSs out there are very impressive, and have lots of functionality, but are massively complicated to use if all you want is a simple site that you can administer. I admit, since the new release, if I was running a site myself I would be tempted to use Mambo, because it is very feature-rich, and the backend appears to have been improved. However, if I was wanting to hand a site to someone else to use, then I think at the moment I would be looking at Website Baker (stupid name, good CMS…..). The code behind it seems very clean, and the system is a doddle to use. Templating looks very easy too, and I am looking at the plugin system at the moment, but it too looks reasonably easy to do. However, the biggest seller is that, IMHO, anyone could use the backend to create their own site quickly and easily, and none of the terminology is confusing. Definitely one to watch.
Elections
Some of you may have noticed that there is a General Election next month. I have to admit that I am both intigued and confused by this Election more than any other. The biggest problem I have is what should take the highest priority in choosing who to vote for:
- Social policy
- Moral policy
- Potential for success
- Underlying Philosophy
If I was voting on Social Policy, then I am likely to vote either LibDem or Green. However, there are sections of LibDem “moral” policy I object to - legalisation of certain drugs, pro-abortion, etc. If I am voting on potential for success and underlying philosophy then Labour is a more likely vote, as I disagree with the underlying philosophy of the Conservative party, and of the parties available, Labour is more likely to succeed over the Tories than any of the other parties (debatable, I know). Philosophically I know I am probably more socialist than anything else, but then - can Labour still be regarded as a ‘Socialist’ party at all, or have they shifted too far to the right?
The saddest thing is, I think, that many people will still vote the same way they always have, and not bother to truly decide what they want to do. Equally sad is the number of people who, I believe, would vote for LibDem/Green/another party, but decide not to because “they’ll never get in”, which kind of defeats the purpose of a democratic voting system.
As it is, it’s a secret ballot, so I’m not telling you who I’ll vote for 
LRL
Last, but definitely not least, is the upcoming LUGRadio Live, which looks like it’s going to be a completely kick-ass event. I’ve booked myself in a car with some of the other ScotLUG guys, and into the official LRL hotel, and can’t wait for it all to start on June 25th. Up until then, I will also be blogging on the official LUGRadio Live Blog, should you not be able to get enough of me.
mrBen
