Being pedantic

I'm a bit of a usability nerd. I'm all about intuitive interfaces, logical organisation of data, self explanatory navigation. So here is my gripe.

I've been trawling through the archives of a few blogs and things lately (remembering that one feature of using a blog format for a major site is the ability to place your content in a timeline). And, almost without fail, down the bottom of the page, there is the pair of links 'previous page', 'next page' or some other ambiguously labeled link.

The problem I encounter, when I'm further back then the front page, is the horrible inconsistency among sites to decide which way in time they are moving. Often I will click 'previous page', expecting to be taken back in time (blogs being timelines and all) to previous posts. But instead it takes me back to the page I was previously at. The newer one. So the next site I visit, I click 'next page', and I am again taken forward. Some people who give over a certain amount of eloquence to resort to 'older posts/entries' and 'newer posts/entries' achieve a better user experience. People just need to make up their mind.



In other news, I bought a 50mm f1.8 lens for my camera. I've been wanting it for ages, and I don't think its going to be coming off the camera for awhile. Great sharpness, depth of field etc. Brilliant 'normal' lens.

And now brace yourself for a shameless plug:

Vena Cava Productions Presents:

Fresh Blood 2007

Featuring two original plays:

No Bare Feet

Written by Bronte Coates

&

It Would Be Rude Not To

Written by James Grant & Sam Davies

Preview 2pm on Sunday 7 ^th October 2007
Opening at 7pm on Sunday 7^th October 2007 at 7pm
2pm and 7pm on Saturday the 13^th October
7pm Sunday the 14 ^th October

In the Woodward Theatre – Kelvin Grove QUT

Tickets cost - $7 Vena Cava members, $10 Students, and $12 Adults

To book your tickets call: 0421 253 795 or email: venacavaprod@gmail.com

Fresh Blood is a production showcasing 2 student written/directed/produced shows, and will prove to be an interesting combination, one being a surrealist piece, the other an 'Aussie comedy'. I'm stage managing the comedy and would like us to show to a full theatre. A full theatre of young people would be even better. So get along if you have time :)

Withdrawals...

From a couple of things actually.

Firstly my SLR, which is currently on loan to a friend who's own Nikon had to go to the doctors. When I gave it to him, I hadn't had a photography session in about a month and a half, and since he took it, I haven't wanted to do anything else. But I will hopefully get the use of his new 10mm lens when I get the camera body back.

What I really want to do is try some street fashion photography. Theres a fairly diverse lot of people around here, and the only stuff thats getting photographed at the moment (as far as I know) are the events like Lick It and Wolfgang (Peny Lane being one of my favorites), which only attract a small section of what I think is a much larger picture.

My only problem is that while I've been long time admirer of the street fashion shooters, I have no idea how to go about the practice myself. I mean the crux is fairly self explanatory, but there surely must be someone out there who has typed up their experience regarding approaching people, the best way to explain yourself, should you provide your URL, is their legal shit involved etc.
Or I could just jump blindly into it and see what happens.

Second withdrawal being from The Basics, a wonderful band from Melbourne.
Theres been enough written about these guys, most specifically the issue surrounding the hindrance of their success because Richard Kingsmill 'just can't like their music' (thus no, or very limited airtime on Triple J). Oh and the fact that Wally DeBacker is their drummer/co-vocalist.

In order to compensate for the lack of radio presence, the Basics tour their ass off. To my count, they've played 7 shows in Brisbane this year. Thats more than a lot of BRISBANE bands
have played in Brisbane this year. So I could look forward to my Basics fix on a fairly regular basis. But alas, they have headed for greener pastures. Those pastures being a 2 month overseas tour that will take them to Japan, London, Oslo and back to Japan, before they get back for a swag of festival appearances and stuff. So no Basics shows for awhile :(. They have what has so far (the first 4 days?) proved to be a highly entertaining video tour diary on their YouTube.

Also withdrawals, because I've given up fast food. It occurred to me the other day I've been eating McDonalds etc an alarmingly large amount. Usually because I'm passing through the city at lunch time. So if I must eat in the city, it will either be Hari Krishna food (so great and so cheap), or sushi. Hurrah for me being vaguely more healthy.

Lastly, I'm seeing the Shout Out Louds on Thursday night. I may or may not talk about it here. Or I may try something a little different. We'll see.