Given the previous example of the 1901 UK Census being laid low by genealogists, you'd have thought that the creators of the online archive of the Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1674-1913) would have anticipated a very high demand for their service. Alas, no: "Due to high demand, the site is currently running slowly and some services may be ( Read more... )

Chances are, any "mainstream media" coverage of t'internet at the moment will feature one or more of the following:

1. Google
2. Myspace
3. Youtube
4. Facebook
5. World of Warcraft
6. Second LifeHave you spotted the odd one out? Yep, Second Life. I've never used it, I can't conceive of myself ever wanting to use it, and I know of no-one who uses ( Read more... )

Two bits of American political news ( Read more... )

I've just done a poll for YouGov, the primarily internet-based market research and polling company set up by Newsnight's former polling boffin, Peter Kellner. It was very easy, as it was clearly about TV and after I'd replied "None" to "how many televisions does your household have?" that was about it... Anyway, if you'd like to make a little bit ( Read more... )

Remaining on things Internetty... what about a list of things you don't see much of on the net these days:

Web-rings
Usenet newsgroups (I know!)
IRC
The dreaded blink tag
Background MIDI files

Anything else?

Assuming you use Firefox, what sites do you have set up for the search-bar?

Mine are:
Google, Yahoo, eBay and Amazon (.co.uk versions)
Chambers and dictionary.com
BBC News
IMDB
Wikipedia
UK Tax Calculator
YouTube
and Google Images

The Big Smoke, the Great Wen or just "city of unfeasibly high living costs". Call it what you will, but here's a few blogs/websites about London:

1. Diamond Geezer often posts on the local/architectural history of various bits of London, usually themed in some way (e.g. most recently Metroland).

2. Londonist is part of the international -ist ( Read more... )

I played a game of Trivial Pursuit over the weekend, with Sara. Aside from my relying on my usual "History/Geography" strategy, we got into the age-old debate of what you call the scoring tokens. I've always referred to them as "cheeses", Sara always referred to them as "pies". Matters came to a head over the phone last night and we resorted to ( Read more... )

Everyone seems to have gone trigger happy from the recent bout of hot weather. First off, this post by Harry "Chase Me Ladies, I'm in the Cavalry" Hutton, merited this rebuke on the American Democrat site Daily Kos. Now, granted that Hutton might be a bit of an acquired taste, but "DDay" gets the wrong end of the stick entirely. He identifies ( Read more... )