Status-Q

This lets you set up lists of people who are entitled to print in colour. The others only get black and white.

Now, I'm sure printing costs are an issue for some businesses, but I can't help being somewhat bemused by this. I have visions of people wasting large amounts of time trying to find someone who can print a document for them. Of secretaries noticing that you can actually buy a colour laser printer for less than the cost of a set of toner refills, and 'accidentally' ordering the wrong thing. But mostly of annual performance reviews: "Now, Fred, you've done some outstanding work this year. I'm sorry that we can't give you a pay rise, but we will put you on the Colour Access List".

The Guardian sent a photographer round this evening - they're likely to run an article about Ndiyo later this week. John Robertson turned out to be a fun guy to work with; he has just the temperament you would need to do this kind of thing late at night on your supposed day off and keep both yourself and others cheerful.

He obviously really enjoys his work - and he has a fabulous portfolio on his website. I like this one and this one, for example, but there's a wide variety of styles. Worth watching all the way through.

So I was quite flattered that he was photographing me. We had fun coming up with ways to try and make interesting pictures of yours truly holding a circuit board, in an office. Not the most naturally inspiring subject matter. I wonder how it'll work out...

The guys at terrainnova.org have used one of my photos as a banner for their site. It works very well: wish I'd though of it!

There's a new Mini Clubman on the way next year!

Those of us with happy memories of these:

may appreciate these:

Interestingly, they call it a 'five door'. Two of the doors are at the back:

So where are the other three? Three?

You can look at the photos to find out.

A traveller met I, on an evening road His struggle hard and long And, though the end was now in sight, Great danger lingered on!

I hope he reached his journey's end As I came safe to mine His distance may be less by far; His conquest? Far more fine!

It's just fabulous here.

Arty photo du jour...

I'm sitting at a departure gate at Stansted airport, where my flight is delayed "due to the late arrival of the incoming aircraft". I love the way they say that, as if it excuses everything. I couldn't help laughing as RyanAir announced just now that another flight will have "an on-time departure". Definitely worthy of announcement!

The best bit, though, was as I walked past another gate where the last remaining passenger was asked in no uncertain terms to "make himself known at gate 45 immediately". A couple of people called out "I'm Spartacus!", "No, I'm Spartacus"...

I've long been a fan of Garrison Keillor's, and so was delighted to discover that the News from Lake Wobegon, a regular part of his Prairie Home Companion radio show, is now available as a podcast.

Wonderful stuff.

In May I was in Sydney, and had dinner at the revolving restaurant at the top of the Centrepoint tower. The food was not bad. The view was spectacular. I took a few photos, some of which were a bit blurry and most of which had some reflections from inside the restaurant, but with the help of Photoshop I managed to blend three roughish images together to get this. It's reasonably high resolution, if you want to click it and see the other sizes on Flickr.