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Weeknote 17: Mostly about pictures. And books.

Posted on by Penny — No Comments ↓
A shelf of books in a bookshop, with a label reading 'Memoirs' made of Scrabble tiles.

A bookshelf at Mostly Books in Abingdon, in honour of Book Lovers Day.

Why do all articles about internet security have to be illustrated with pictures of young men in hoodies? Well… they don’t. It’s about time that changed, and someone’s doing something about it.

Part of it is to do with what’s available in stock photo libraries – there isn’t much else but the clichéd hoodie picture or rows of green code.  And part of it is that it feels like an abstract concept that is hard to illustrate. But now someone is doing something about it. Read more ›

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Posted in Communications, Websites

Weeknote 16: Favourite websites, favourite books

Posted on by Penny

Book cover for 'Because Internet'.

What are your five favourite websites?

It’s a funny question, isn’t it? I came across it recently in a survey but it doesn’t really reflect the way I use the internet these days. And it got me thinking. Read more ›

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Posted in Internet, Reading, Websites

Weeknote 15: Heatwaves, podcasts and the benefits of being quiet

Posted on by Penny

Tweet from BBC Weather: picture of weather map showing 39 degrees, with the words 'Morning, if we're going to do it TODAY'S THE DAY! We will of course keep you posted. Lou L.'

One of the joys of being self-employed is the flexibility, and I’m particularly grateful for this when the weather gets hot. I’ve been experimenting with different working patterns, including siestas and  working at night. (I haven’t done the laptop-in-the-garden thing yet, but it’s another option.) I’m still not as productive as I’d like to be, but I’m glad I’m not in an office. Read more ›

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Posted in Communications, Editing

Weeknote 14: History lessons, user-centred design and the state of LinkedIn

Posted on by Penny
A flowerpot, with roses, overlooking a large lawn with trees and shrubs.

The patio at the Manor House at Howbery Park.

Things I have learnt this week:

1. Writing was invented in at least four different places. I was taught at school about Mesopotamian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs but there’s also evidence of writing systems in China,  Mesoamerica and possibly other places such as the Indus River valley and Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Read more ›

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Posted in Writing

Weeknote 13: Be more creative

Posted on by Penny

A display banner with the words "Be more creative" in a repeat pattern.

Even freelances have to have holidays, and that’s my excuse for the lack of weeknotes lately. Back to work this week, and two highlights.

Wednesday was National Writing Day. I wrote 1800 words on my creative non-fiction work-in-progress. It was a coincidence.

Thursday was the inaugural Creative Industries Showcase at Oxford Brookes, organised by Oxfordshire LEP.  Panel discussions were organised (they say ‘curated’, but come on) by Creative England (whose stand is the photo above), the Creative Industries Federation and Digital Catapult. Read more ›

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Posted in Communications, Digital