Pancentric launches new Tracey Beaker site http://bit.ly/tracyb

Our latest work for the BBC, the legend that is Tracey Beaker. We have re-designed her presence on the BBC CBBC pages. Done in double quick time, from concept, through wireframe, design, delivery and testing in just 5 weeks.

Not a lot to say except that it's a very good site, good navigation, good content, lovely design and with a nice polished feel. Sometimes I think we all struggle to create the next great thing, or the one that returns loads of ROI etc. So it is rewarding just to do something well.

Have a look at http://bit.ly/tracyb and tell me what you think.

Posted via email from james downes' preposterous nonsense

Google probes "structure of reality" using Quantum Computers

"Besides progress in engineering synthetic intelligence we hope that improved mastery of quantum computing will also increase our appreciation for the structure of reality as described by the laws of quantum physics."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/15/google_quantum_computing_research/

Posted via email from james downes' preposterous nonsense

In one of those great coincidences today marks the anniversary ofAmundsen reaching the pole and the return to Earth of the last Apollo

The 1911 Polar race was one of the last great earthbound exploration achievements, there was nowhere really remote to conquer (except maybe Everest). In Britain it is more memorable for the failed Scott expedition that was racing Amundsen to the Pole, and the tragic deaths of all four explorers.

In a similar vein, the return of Apollo 17 was the last great space exploration that humans have attempted, and 37 years later we still haven't got any further, nor have we tried. It is as if, getting to the moon was enough and we don't have the stomach to go beyond it.

Like Science Fiction before it, we seem to have left the era of Space Opera behind and moved into Inner Space, focusing on sad, sorry selves our failings and inadequacies, rather that outwards with our visions, ambitions and strengths.

Posted via email from james downes' preposterous nonsense

Old Tech

Now I know what I was keeping all that old tech kit for http://www.last.fm/music/Queen/+videos/+1-Ht96HJ01SE4

Posted via email from james downes' preposterous nonsense

test

Test Post via posterous

Posted via email from james downes' preposterous nonsense

It is all in the words

The whole Climate Change argument/issue (oh yes, I will, I will) will have to wait for a later post, but what I want to point out the words issue.

This is where the parameters of the discussion are spun to get across an opinion or viewpoint. In this case there was a recent news story on the BBC about the Copenhagen climate summit.

They did a short piece on the "climate sceptics" on the one hand, which is good, because there is still an alternative viewpoint recognised and not in terms of a "bonkers fringe". However, having done that they returned to the main conference with the line "most scientists don't dispute the evidence". This is disingeneous to the limit.

The fact is that climate sceptics don't dispute the evidence as such, what they dispute is the interpretation, the cause and effect, the basis of where the evidence sits alongside other evidence, and whether the evidence has been tampered with. Lots of things really.

But, by suggesting that climate sceptics only dispute the evidence, suggests that they are clearly wrong - because we all know that evidence is what proves things, right.

It's a cheap and shoddy trick, but all too effective.