I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Tag: thoughts

Stuff I’m thinking about.

I’ve been looking for a long time

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Back in the 80s I used to listen to John Peel’s show. It is where many of my musical tastes were formed and a lot of the artists I first heard on his show are people I still listen to now. But there are still one or two things that I have never found. One thing I have never found was a session on one of his shows. I can’t remember the name of the artist or the names of any of the tracks. You can see why this is a problem right?

All I know is that the session, if indeed it was a session, was all about a utopian world. It was futuristic kind of science fiction music. I recorded it, but on reel to reel, which is what I used to use back then. Of course now I no longer have access to that machine although I may still have the reels. But the reels might be solidified by now anyway.

I doubt that I will ever rediscover this music. Which is a shame. But every now and then I have a look for it. To date, always in vain.

Why is there no watch face for just apps?

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Unless I’ve missed something there is no watch face which just has slots or spaces for apps. I tend to use watch faces which have as many slots or spaces as possible for accessing the apps on my watch. However, it seems silly not to just have a watch face that just has apps in it. I would find that really useful.

Hello 2016

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So, here we are in 2016. I often think it is strange that we somehow cross this imaginary boundary into a new year, but today is a day very much like yesterday in many ways and for many people. It is just a day, and yet we like to make it special, a new beginning, a new start.

I’m not immune to this feeling, but I also see the continuity of it as well.

Having said all of that, a very happy new year to you, and I sincerely hope that the year brings all you wish for.

Not really doing much in the way of automation

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One of the things I wanted to do in 2015 was a lot more automation and getting things to work by themselves. Largely that hasn’t happened. However, there are reasons, the main one being that for the most part I haven’t had the need for it. This opens up a bigger question about technology though. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine who was telling me about something cool he could do with his new phone. It was cool, but when I asked him if it was something that he’d actually use, he said no.

That started me thinking. How many times to we (I) think that a thing is cool and would be really useful only to find that actually, whilst it is a cool use of technology, it is in fact a use that we (I) have no real need for. So in actual fact, it isn’t so cool after all. I’m starting to find this a lot these days. Things I thought I’d use or assumed I’d use are actually just cool, or fun, or more often both, but fundamentally, not of any practical use after all.

It’s a shame, but I’m beginning to start questioning myself when I look at a new app, or gadget or whatever, and say, would I really use this? Would it just collect dust? Would it end up taking up time and effort to show me that I’m not going to find it very useful? This is starting to happen more and more. In many ways it is a good thing though. It means I will waste less time and effort, but it’s also a bit sad. Sometimes it’s nice to play with cool stuff just for the sake of it, and now, I find myself just asking, why?

So, here we are, in December

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I know that it’s stupid to say stuff like “I can’t believe it’s December already”, but that’s how it feels. I suppose it’s because November (Movember) has really flown by, especially with all the focus on the SoundLab Play Space event. That really did take up a huge amount of time and effort. It was worth it though. Completely worth it.

So December, Christmas, 2015 coming to a close and all that Jazz. I’ve still got a few things I’d like to get done this month. One of which is getting more out on how to use conductive ink pads with music apps, but there are a few other project that I hope to come back to this month too.

Anyway, for now, happy December.

Good things coming in Day One version 2.0

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I’m a big fan of the Day One journal app. I find it really useful. It seems that there’s a lot of new stuff coming in the next big iteration of the app. Here’s what’s coming:

  • Multiple Journals— In Day One 2.0 you can create and name multiple journals
  • Multiple Photos— A simple and elegant solution for adding multiple photos per entry

It looks like it’ll be really cool, but I hope they won’t mess up a load of other stuff at the same time.

So it’s the first of October 

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And October is my favourite month of the year as well. I think it’s a lovely time of year when seasons change and the weather gets colder and more pronounced, and it becomes that time to dust off the winter coat. Also it’s a great time for ale too as the darker ales come out and replace the summer ones.

So, just good stuff to look forward to on the road to Christmas!

Some thoughts on Big Finish

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks, Thinking2 Comments

If you’ve only ever been here (this blog) a few times, then you probably already know that I’m a massive big finish fan. It’s true. I really like what they do, and I really like how they do it. Some of the newer series that they’re bringing out have been amazing, and I think that they are just going from strength to strength. Even so, I thought I’d put down a few things I’d really like to see them do in the future, just in case they’re listening (although in all seriousness I doubt that they are).

Here’s what I’d like them to do:

  1. Create an audiobook series for the War Doctor. John Hurt’s performance in the 50th Anniversary episode was inspired, and the character he created shouldn’t be lost forever. There was a single audiobook / book that came out with a war doctor story, but it shouldn’t end there. Certainly not. I think that Big Finish would do an admirable job of creating a whole series for the War Doctor. I hope that they’re considering it.
  2. Day of the Triffids. Big Finish created a follow on story from Day of the Triffids called ‘Night of the Triffids’, which was really good. However, I wish they’d also do a remake of the original. I think that they could do a great job of this. It’s an excellent story and worth a retelling. They could do it so well.
  3. UFO, I’d love to see that back again, and I think that Big Finish could do it some real justice.
  4. Space 1999. Same again!

I’m not sure they’ll listen, or even be aware of what I’m saying, but who knows. Maybe, just maybe …