Starting in 1996, before 'blog' was even a word, Rupert Goodwins has been writing dyspeptic, dramatic, disbelieving or delighted descriptions of daily life in IT journalism. Rupert's Diary is that collection, and will be updated until there are no more silly or splendid things happening in the world of digital technology - or the Rapture, whichever happens first. The smart money's on the Rapture.
Rupert started off as a nerdy lad expecting to be an electronics engineer, but having tried it for a while discovered that journalism was more fun. He ended up on PC Magazine in the early '90s, before that evolved into ZDNet UK - and Rupert evolved with them into an online journalist.
Down in Plymouth, dropping Number One Son off with his grandparents for the last blast of the summer holidays. Also attend to my father (the West Country Vicar)'s modem, which has received a direct lightning strike up the interface and is no longer working.
Back from a terrifically pleasant holiday in a forest by a lake in Sweden. Before you ask, no, Sweden's not that expensive (apart from gin at twenty quid a bottle.
I think I'll suggest a Java Shooting Gallery to our lords and masters. Pick a picture of your computer from a set of thumbnail sketches, pick a firearm and spray the thing with shot on screen.
Mars! Mars! Mars! Lovely pictures, thrilling news, absolutely clogged Web sites.
At home today and tomorrow, on me hols. Was going to go to Glastonbury as usual, but had a sudden intimation of mortality and decided to sit in my Highgate fastness and write the Great British Science Fiction Novel.
Psion Series 5 day! Delighted to find before the press conference that the company has set up the Web pages for the new PDA, and although it hasn't linked them in they're easy to find by poking around.
Microsoft, my very favourite software company, has a big security announcement to make. In order to prevent people from downloading dangerous ActiveX components from the Web, the company says, the next issue of Explorer will classify Web sites into (I paraphrase) 'very safe', 'safe', 'dodgy' and 'don't touch'.
Bank Holiday. Ate bacon sandwiches, wrote science fiction, nursed head after weekend of birthday celebration.
"NEW PRICING PLAN FOR YOU!" screams my AOL mailbox, with an official looking ID claiming that even cheaper access is here.