A look back at some albums from 2013 that I quite liked. Read full article
CommentTen good albums from 2013
Archive — 2013
Experimenting with Google+’s photo editing features
With me thinking about taking up photography more seriously as a hobby, I have found another great reason to use Google+ -- its awesome photo editing features. Read full article
CommentFyrish Hill
Last weekend I took a trip up to the Highlands. There I climbed up Fyrish Hill, overlooking the Cromarty Firth near Alness. Read full article
1 commentReview: Pulp – Separations (2012 reissue)
Separations is a difficult album to love. But is also contains some of Pulp's biggest breakthroughs. Read full article
CommentWhy I enjoy using Google+
It seems as if Google+ is still the butt of all jokes. But recently I have begun to use Google+ more, and I am enjoying it. Read full article
3 commentsReview: Pulp – Freaks (2012 reissue)
In a sense, Freaks is Pulp’s most interesting album — probably because it is also the band’s worst album. The original suffered from a rushed production. So could a remastered edition cast a new light on the recordings? Read full article
1 commentHas Kimi Räikkönen lost his motivation again?
The relationship between Kimi Räikkönen and Lotus F1 Team has become strained, and the race results have been getting worse. Has his signing for Ferrari had anything to do with it? Read full article
1 commentNot voting is a valid democratic act
People often claim that if you do not vote then you automatically lose your right to have a say in any way. This idea is dangerous and wrong. Read full article
CommentReview: Pulp – It (2012 reissue)
Despite the fact that I am a huge Pulp fan, I have arrived late to last year's reissues of Pulp's first three albums. But the remastered edition puts It in a new light. Read full article
1 commentIt’s time for the Formula 1 World Championship to be brought to the fans
The world knows that Sebastian Vettel is the 2013 Formula 1 World Champion. So why don't the fans get to see him collect his trophy? Read full article
9 commentsDronley Wood
We took a trip to Dronley Wood near Auchterhouse. The foggy day did not make for great photos. But it did create a mysterious atmosphere, which was heightened by the buzzing pylons. Read full article
CommentIs Daniil Kvyat ready for Formula 1?
In a surprise announcement, Scuderia Toro Rosso have announced Daniil Kvyat as their new race driver for 2014. Is Kvyat really more qualified than his fellow Red Bull Junior Team drivers? Read full article
1 commentThe Caterthuns
A trip to the Caterthuns, a pair of iron age forts near Edzell in Angus. Read full article
CommentImplementing header images
I decided to add header images to this website's design. I opted for a parallax effect, despite the fact that I normally rail against them. Read full article
CommentIs Sebastian Vettel the greatest F1 driver ever?
There are many people who reject the idea that Sebastian Vettel's phenomenal success might be down to talent or skill. Most of these explanations are bunk. Read full article
19 commentsNico Hülkenberg’s face
Watch Nico Hülkenberg's face fall as Kimi Räikkönen reveals the reason he is leaving Lotus. Read full article
1 commentArchives to doctorvee restored
The archives to doctorvee, my old blog, have now been restored. It would have been so easy to just not bother restoring it. But I am glad I did. Read full article
CommentFerrari’s message to Fernando Alonso
Ferrari's decision to hire Kimi Räikkönen marks a radical change in policy. Fernando Alonso is no longer the clear number one driver. It appears to be a message to the Spaniard. Read full article
4 commentsDevising a colour scheme
I recently made some tweaks to the colours of this website. I have always felt that colour theory was one of my weakest points as a designer, so I like to take any opportunity I can to learn more about it. Read full article
1 commentDaniel Ricciardo’s mood states
How to read the complex personality of Red Bull Racing's new driver Daniel Ricciardo. Read full article
CommentInternet Explorer: time for Microsoft to start afresh?
Happy birthday Internet Explorer, which has turned 18. But there is not much to celebrate. What can Microsoft do to stem the browser's decline? Read full article
2 commentsF1 2013 mid-season rankings: drivers (part 3)
My top five drivers of the season so far, including why I rate Fernando Alonso only 5th. Read full article
2 commentsF1 2013 mid-season rankings: drivers (part 2)
Continuing my analysis of the Formula 1 season so far, this article takes a look at the midfield runners. Read full article
CommentWhat UK radio can learn from North America
This American Life will at long last be broadcast in the UK later this year. I hope this is a sign of things to come, as British radio could learn a lot from North America. Read full article
1 commentF1 2013 mid-season rankings: drivers (part 1)
With Formula 1's summer break in full swing, I have decided to take a look at how the drivers and teams are getting on so far this year. Part 1 looks at the drivers who could do better. Read full article
2 commentsHow studying social science made me a better web designer
I thought I had joined the many people who don't use their degrees in their careers. But I have come to realise that my degree in social science has been absolutely vital to my web design work. Read full article
4 commentsSergey Sirotkin’s fast-track to F1 risks damaging a promising career
Sauber's deal looks set to fast-track Sergey Sirotkin to F1. The 17 year old has buckets of talent. But that talent needs to be nurtured first. Read full article
3 commentsIgnorance is inevitable
A survey showed that the British public is "wrong about nearly everything". But the main lesson is not that so many people are stupid. It is that we are all ignorant, no matter how well-informed we like to think we are. Read full article
1 commentDerby Street demolitions – aftermath
On Sunday, Dundee's tallest buildings disappeared from the skyline forever. They were merely 40 years old, but were said to be too costly to maintain and too difficult to rent out. In seconds, these proud, sturdy structures collapsed into rubble -- but not without a fight. Read full article
1 commentThe power of the web has not yet been unlocked
I think about the web all the time. I like to believe that I get it. But I am still surprised by the advances in technology and the promise the future holds. Read full article
CommentAllan Simonsen
Motor racing is about entertainment and the pursuit of engineering excellence. We also know that it is dangerous. Death is the dark side of the sport we love. Read full article
1 commentThe Blue Door and the Rocks of Solitude
For our latest Angus and Dundee walk, we decided to go a bit further afield. The Rocks of Solitude are situated at the River North Esk, just north of Edzell, on the border between Angus and Aberdeenshire. Read full article
1 commentMigrating to another Google account
I recently decided to switch my main Google account. But how can you do that when your old account contains all of your data? I found out that the process is not entirely straightforward. But with some care and a few sacrifices it is possible. Read full article
3 commentsReview: Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
A long gestation period between albums can go either way. After the disappointiment of 2005’s The Campfire Headphase, Tomorrow’s Harvest surpasses expectations. Read full article
CommentDerby Street demolitions, Dundee
Bucklemaker Court and Butterburn Court are currently the tallest buildings in Dundee. But in less than a month they will be gone entirely. Read full article
5 commentsNexus 10: my first tablet
Up until now, the tablet revolution has passed me by. But now I have decided to get the Nexus 10. It is a highly impressive piece of kit, but there are frustrations too. Read full article
1 commentKinpurney Hill
It has been a while since we have had a chance to do one of these walks. We returned to Newtyle to tackle the romantic looking Kinpurney Hill. Read full article
CommentExclusive: Max Chilton reaction to Monaco Grand Prix crash
Max Chilton speaks out following his crash with Pastor Maldonado. Read full article
CommentBBC F1 – the verdict
Jake Humphrey's departure from the BBC means that their coverage has inevitably taken a step back in quality. But there are still some areas where the BBC is excelling in comparison to Sky. Read full article
29 commentsTayside House demolition
One of Dundee's most notable buildings currently undergoing demolition. Read full article
3 commentsMcLaren and Williams troubles cap a decade of underachievement
It seems that the big story in F1 at the moment (tyres aside) is the poor performance of two of the sport's most famous teams, McLaren and Williams. This situation reminds me a lot of the 2004 season. There are a lot of striking similarities in the declines of these two great teams. Read full article
6 commentsDundee Law sculpture
The new sculpture at Dundee Law initially served to confuse me rather than amuse me. But hopefully it is the first of many improvements needed in the area. Read full article
1 commentSpain reminds us that good circuits are the key to good racing
The Spanish Grand Prix weekend was the ultimate reminder that a lack of overtaking cannot be solved by junk tyres or artificial DRS. It's time to turn the focus back onto the circuits. Read full article
1 commentReview: Best of Bug hosted by Adam Buxton
I made the trek through to Edinburgh on a school night for the rare opportunity to see Adam Buxton's Bug show in Scotland. Although I was feeling the effects today, it was well worth it. Read full article
3 commentsWhy it is helpful to describe DRS as artificial
Some journalists may find it "unhelpful" to describe DRS as artificial. But for me, "artificial" is probably the most polite word you can use to describe it. Read full article
2 commentsThe importance of late night radio
Radio is an intensely intimate medium. So Tony Livesey's departure from late night radio leaves me worrying about who will send me to sleep from now on. Read full article
3 commentsMobile first
I have made some tweaks to the design of this website. I decided to take the opportunity to make the CSS file mobile first. Read full article
CommentSky Sports F1 – the verdict
Last year I made do without Sky's Formula 1 coverage. But this year I decided to treat myself and shell out. So is it worth paying for? Read full article
8 commentsLego Architecture: Fallingwater
I have an interest in architecture, and I was excited when I learnt that Lego has an Architecture series. One of the sets is of a favourite of mine -- Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright. Read full article
CommentLake District – Day 5: Aira Force and Ullswater
This was our final day in the Lake District, so we had just a few hours to spend before we had to think about making our way back home. I returned to Aira Force, and we explored further around Ullswater. Read full article
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