James D Clarke

As an avid users of Google Apps it was great to hear that Google launched a Status Dashboard for the service which alert users to any service disruptions.

Disruptions are rare, but can be frustrating, especially if you don't know if it's just you having the problem, or everyone else too!

Today I set up a Twitter account (@gappsstatus) which pulls in the Dashboard's RSS feed for those who might want to keep track of the service status on Twitter. (There didn't seem to be an official feed).

Follow @gappsstatus for updates.

"Bod, James Bod!"

Last week I was browsing Twitter (whilst I should have been working) and stumbled up this tweet by Steve Campbell from Debut Design in Wolverhampton. Having given the photo a quick look, I took my chances and replied saying that I thought it was Gadget Show host Suzi Perry. To my amazement, a few minutes later I got a reply from Steve telling me that I'd won!

I was directed to this page, where I had to upload a photo of myself, along with a brief description of how I wanted my bod to look. I uploaded a photo, and included several things in the description that I considered essential; a beard, long hair, a smile, checked shirt, dark trousers, boots, not too ginger.

I think the result above speaks for itself - it's a really great likeness, crafted by someone who has never set eyes on me in 'real life', and I'm very pleased with it. So much so that I'm now using my bod as my profile pic on my blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and various other sites. Whatsmore, you can get your own Bod for the very reasonable price of £20 - check out the Debut website to order one.

11:35:08 AM: Sheltering from a rain storm in a hut and observing a male Lion trying to convince a female Lion she wants some loving. Exciting stuff!

12:31:19 PM: The school kids on the table next to us in the restaurant appear to have the female reincarnation of Hitler as their teacher. Poor buggers!

1:46:11 PM: I met a talking Raven called Jill today. She was pretty chatty, for a Raven.

4:10:49 PM: A baby meercat just stole Steph's heart! And TBK just fed the Penguins!

4:30:59 PM: Just watched an African Python consume an entire rat in one go. Awesome!

A couple of weeks ago, as  the world was gripped with Swine Flu fever (forgive the pun!), a great game emerged on Twitter. Feeling somewhat disillusioned with the mainstream media's attempt at convincing us we were "all going to die", a bunch of twitter users began various games based around a swine flu theme.

My favourite game to emerge was the 'swine flu bands' game, where you had to come up with as many musician/band names that played on words related to swine flu as possible, and tag them with the Twitter hashtag #swineflubands - these could then be viewed on Twitter Search.

I got rather carried away one afternoon and came up with a bunch, whilst laughing my socks off at some of the names that other Twitter users had come up with.

Check out the  #swineflubands I came up with here,  and everybody else's here.

(Pic: 'Swine Flew' album cover by One Bad Pig, originally released in 1990, well before swine '09!)

• just sent the blonde kid on a crow catching mission at Cambridge services. Told him I'd give him a fiver if he can bag me a pet crow! #

• There's something I love about being by the sea. Sometimes I wish I could wake up by it every day. #hesfes08 is nearly over... #

• still enjoying life in the great outdoors, despite sunburn, hayfever, insect bites and now the first rain of #hesfes08. #
• #hesfes08 has turned from the great outdoors to the wet outdoors! Taking refuge in the restaurant on site for a while! #

• not even 9am and it's roasting at #hesfes08. My sunburnt ankles are painfull, but all is well! #
• @annagoss I'm in a field with no tv, what's the score with Murray? #

• #hesfes08 day three: the weather is still great and I got plenty of sleep last night. Now in need of lunch before BBQ later on! #
• Come on Spain! #
• don't you just love seeing the Germans lose!? #

• #hesfes08 day two: woken up by noisy kids at 6.30am. Bad times. But the sun is shining! Good times! #
• Sat in the 22 degree sunshine, with a nice sea breeze, #hesfes08 is going great so far! #
• #hesfes08 day two: I've broken the seal whilst sinking a couple of Bulmers during Dr Who. Currently lamenting the distance to the toilets! #