“Google+ is a knee-jerk reaction, a study in short-term thinking, predicated on the incorrect notion that Facebook is successful because they built a great product. But that’s not why they are successful,” Yegge continued.

“Facebook is successful because they built an entire constellation of products by allowing other people to do the work. So Facebook is different for everyone. Some people spend all their time on Mafia Wars. Some spend all their time on Farmville.”

“Our Google+ team took a look at the aftermarket and said: ‘Gosh, it looks like we need some games. Let’s go contract someone to, um, write some games for us.’ Do you begin to see how incredibly wrong that thinking is now? The problem is that we are trying to predict what people want and deliver it for them.”

via Google engineer calls Google+ a “knee jerk reaction” | News.

Okay, so this is a first for me; trying to write a blog post on my phone using a WordPress app. Apologies then for any crip spelling.

So where am I then, that demands I use such fiddly tech? Well, ad you may be able to glimpse from my surprisingly sock doiminated picture, I’m currently residing in ward D15 of new cross hospital in wolverhampton where I’ve been waiting hours for antibiotics to treat my peritonitus. As soon as the drugs arrive I can leave, and hopefully, make my cousin kev’s wedding reception down the Villa.

Last night was spent as such:

A midnight dash to the hospital
A 4 hour wait for a bed and/or doctor, mostly involving a snooze across 4 waiting room chairs
Antibiotics via dialysis followed by bed at 5:30am.

Fun fun.

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

via George Orwell’s six rules of writing |.

• The Bugle
• Adam & Joe
• Collins & Herring
• Fighting Talk
• In Our Time
• Cosmic Origins
• Infinite Monkey Cage
• Writing Challenges
• Mark Kemode & Mayo’s Film Reviews

Perhaps more importantly though, my addition to the transplant waiting list offers that most British of reasons to celebrate; the joining of a queue.

Well I’ve been on Automatic Peritoneal Dialysis, since July 2010, with about 5 bouts of peritonitis during that time (the last time a direct result of a manufacturing error by the bag suppliers, Baxters). More recently the extreme itchiness caused by the glue in the dressing that covers my ‘exit site’ (where a plastic tube goes into my belly), has lead to sleepless nights and general irritation during the day. Since seeing my GP though, I’ve been using a steroid cream on the rash the dressings leave, and walking around without a dressing at all (which felt a bit weird at first).

Good news came in January when the cardiologist confirmed that my heart functions had returned to normal levels, and the Cardiomyopathy had been effectively treated by the combination of medication and dialysis. This in turn meant that I could be added to the kidney transplant waiting list, and my mom could start having the required tests to check for compatibility in order to donate a kidney to me. So, after a number of tests (the only one of which I had to have, a blood test, I blacked out during), we’re now waiting for the results, with the operation then taking place at QE hospital in a 4-6 months time probably.

So, fingers crossed ‘n’ all that.

How long would you live if you only consumed Guinness?

AQA:

You would live for a maximum of 3 days if only drinking Guinness. Guinness is a diuretic and so you would excrete too much urine to live longer.

So now you know.

Hero: Hi there.

Alien: Dammit! If only I had a wrench I could fix this fusion-tank! If you find it, I might be able to help you.

Hero: Where can I find it?

Alien: I don’t know. But I think it might have been dropped by a soldier who was inexplicably carrying in in their hands at the North-West corner underneath a tree, to the left of a cave, and beside a hedge, on the Galavor battlefield.

Hero: Why don’t you get it?

Alien: I’m far too busy. Plus, I have a bad back.

Hero: Okay, I’ll see if I can find it for you.

[Returns later with said object]

Hero: I got this for you [hands over wrench still attached to a severed arm], hope it was worth it. I killed seven people for it.

Alien: Fantastic, now I can recalibrate the plasma-matrix! Here’s the key you were after and 10,000 credits.

Hero: I didn’t know I needed a key, but thanks anyway. So. you don’t mind that I had to murder seven people so you could give me a key?

Alien: Thanks for your help, and good luck in your quest to restore white power to the galaxy.

Hero: Their screams still haunt me.

Alien: Thanks for your help, and good luck in your quest to restore white power to the galaxy.

Hero: So if you had 10,000 credits to spend, why didn’t you just buy another wrench?

Alien: Thanks for your help, and good luck in your quest to restore white power to the galaxy.

Hero: As a mechanic, do you often send mercenaries on missions to kill people?

Alien: Thanks for your help, and good luck in your quest to restore white power to the galaxy.

Hero: Bye.

Hero turns on spot 180°, jumps up and down, then sprints towards a wall which he slides along magnetically and fires repeatedly at with his sub-machine gun. The half dozen traders continue to wave at thin air and the three customers amble between the stalls, never to buy anything until the end of time.

I had a cardiologist appointment last week, and for a nice change, it was good news. See, a year ago I was told by a consultant after first being admitted that the heart condition I had (later diagnosed as Cardiomyopathy) may cause me to die young. Metaphorical kick in the gonads this was, it also meant that I would be prevented from being added to the kidney transplant waiting list (around 18 months for young, white males).

Anyway, back to the cardiologist appointment; the results from my echocardiogram in December have come back and I was told my heart is now back to normal. Although I still have to carry on with the heart drugs (Ramipril (5mg) and Biosoprusol (2.5mg), it does mean I can start looking for live kidney donors. So, next step is a renal appointment on 3rd Feb, where we’ll hopefully discuss transplants.

Balls, machine is beeping, will get back to this…