mothninja
: vanity publishing for the terminally short of cash


Journalism

As you may notice from the dates on many of these pieces, I have been doing things other than journalism for the past year-and-a-half or so. The thing about newspaper articles is that noone really expects to read them weeks, months, years after they were written. Feel free to giggle with hindsight at all the things on which I was subsequently proved wrong.

I wrote a column entitled "The House of the Future" for The Times from August 1999 to May 2000, the premise of which was taking an ordinary house, adding the latest high-tech gizmos, and seeing what it was like for an ordinary non-techie person (me) to live with on a daily basis.
I was then weekly technology columnist-at-large for The Times' Interface supplement until the section's tragic demise in May 2001.
I also report for The Times and The Guardian.

Selected Highlights

In the entrepeneurial habit
On the LaserMonks, who, while unfortunately not shooting lasers from their eyes as the name would suggest, are actual real monks, and sell printer supplies over the internet - Online, The Guardian, March 25 2004

WebWatch
Weekly column discussing Interesting Things on the internet - Online, The Guardian, February 19 2004

Pillion ride to perfection
On the trials and tribulations of moving to Florence - Bricks and Mortar, The Times, October 24 2003

Technobabble
Weekly column discussing Interesting Things in the world of technology - T2, The Times, March 17 2003

The kids are alright
Outstanding websites built by children are being honoured in this year's Childnet Awards - Online, The Guardian, February 5 2003

Fantasy figures
Are virtual superwomen any substitute for the real thing? - T2, The Times, March 27 2002

A phone too far?
Despite all the hype surrounding 3G phones, there is little evidence that anyone wants the services they offer - T2, The Times, May 1 2002

Columns:

Crash course in reality
On the bursting of the internet bubble

Hot air alone just doesn't float
On internet hype

Pigeonholes for birds
On the pointlessness of 'women's portals' (note: this article earned me more anonymous hate-mail than any other - all with Central London W1 postmarks, which, funnily enough, was where all the women's portal companies were based...)

Good as sold but we are not in the market for hype
On good ideas ruined by marketing hype

Is anyone watching?
On Big Brother (the first time round!) and web voyeurism

Don't call us, we'll call you
On mobile phone spam

When computers speak codswallop
On fear-inducing tech-speak

Hyperlink fee is patent nonsense
On that famous occasion when British Telecom decided to exercise their 'patent' on hyperlinking

Cast out jargon and the argot naughts
On jargon

Time to log off from the blame game
On the evils of the world, and why the internet is not responsible

House of the Future:

How to melt that man of iron
On men, gadgetry and housework

Home alone at the office
On the myths of telecommuting

Smile burglars, you are online
On the latest in home surveilance equipment

Hiding ugly hardware can be a work of art
On computers and interior design

Desert Island Discs can't beat charades
On the non-essentialness of gadgetry

For further information, please email me

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NB: All Times material is copyright Times Newspapers Limited
All Guardian material is copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited