Category: notes

Everyone’s doing it, so we thought why not join the latest craze…

Please click on the box to the left and join our Frappr Map!
 

Do you ever suffer from technological overload? I’ve been trying to keep up with all the latest developments in the world of tech: RSS, Web 2.0, google / yahoo / microsoft wars, diggs, boing boings and endless other newer and cooler ideas and blog-based knowledge banks.

But I think I am about to overload. This is starting to drive me crazy! It started with a casual reading of Scripting news and the odd browse around Flickr. Now I have a score of RSS feeds on my (admittedly great) on-line aggregator, Rojo, and thousands of unread news items reminding me of the futitily of it all. I simply can’t keep up with all the above whilst trying to come up with an equally cool world-rousing web invention all at the same time (because yes, of course I’d love to dream up the next million dollar homepage or frappr phenomenon.)

Sometimes the internet is a curse as much as it is a blessing. What’s a twenty-first century guy to do ? (Help!) Maybe a weekend away from the PC would be a good start!

I may be the last one on the net to hear about this but wow, what an idea…. A 21 year old guy from the UK who has made half a million bucks in 2 months from an interesting website idea. Here’s the site: http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/, once you’ve checked that out read the interesting part, the blog – read from the bottom up. Amazing…

Matt from “Housetrapped in the sun” is looking for people to participate in the next series of programmes.

“There are two aspects to the programme,” explains Matt, “the first part looks at properties that have been on the market for around six months plus and haven’t sold, be it for cosmetic, structural or other reasons. The idea behind the program is that Andrew Winter our presenter, with his 20 odd years experience in the property market, will step in to offer advice to the vendors to overcome the issues with their property and ultimately get that sale! So far on Selling Houses our programme’s UK sister production, we’ve had a 100% success rate with properties Andrew has been involved with and we’re looking to repeat this success in the foreign market.”

“The other part to the programme aims to help people with other property related issues, situations that they are completely stuck in.In the past we have covered topics from the Valencia Land Grab Laws in Spain to termite infestation in France. In each case we hope to offer some sort of help, some way to move the owners situation forward.”

For further details and to take part, check out the website:
www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/sellinghouses/his.html

I have tickets for this Wednesday’s European Cup match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium… now that seems like a podcasting opportunity if ever I saw one! Watch this space…

The Retiro Park, Madrid, this afternoon. Click here for more photos from the park and last week’s trip to the Basque country.

Just look at that water! This is Cala Saona in Formentera. One of the few crowded beaches on the Island but stunning none the less. The fisherman’s shacks on the left still hold working boats that are pulled up out of the water after every use.

Formentera is said to be in a magic triangle that also includes Ibiza. I’m not usually convinced by that sort of thing but the Island does have an amazing calming effect that I can still feel over a month later. Can’t wait to return…

In February 2006 I will be joining 100 other riders to cross 2,500 km of Southern India on a Royal Enfield Motorbike.

The total cost of the trip is 3,500 UK Pounds, half of which, 1750 UK Pounds, goes to charities (see link below). It is this half that I need to raise with your help, with your sponsorship. The rest of the trip, flights, accommodation, spending, etc, is paid for by me.

All the details of the trip, and how you can help by sponsoring me to raise the charity money, are here:
http://www.benjamincurtis.com/enduro_india/

Marina, my wife, says that the Spanish don’t really get the idea of sponsored charity events – I don’t know how this works in the US or other countries, but back in the UK we spent our childhoods doing sponsored walks, runs, bike rides.

The charities which benefit from the ride are:

Mother Teresa Educational and Charitable Society – Funding for literacy projects, and HIV in children awareness programs, in the Southern Indian state of Kerala.

Rainbow trust – Founded to provide respite and support at home to children with a life threatening or terminal illness and their families.

WWF – Worldwide Fund for Nature. Funding projects that benefit the well-being and survival of India’s forests, tigers and people. This charity basically gets the bikes.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can make a donation. The podcasts will always be free, and I will not be asking for money on a regular basis – maybe just a charity event like this once a year. This trip is a way of fulfilling a long-term dream for me, whilst being able to help some charities out at the same time. And of course I’ll be podcasting the trip all the way!

Saludos,
Ben

El Pais reports that Cataluña is to be granted it’s own .cat domain name extension in 2006. This is great for their drive for further cultural independence, and I can’t help thinking, an opportunity waiting to happen for lovers of all things feline. How long before we see pussy.cat, ilovemy.cat, kitty.cat etc etc.