ThePickards
standards, accessibility, and ranting and general stuff by the web chemist

For those of you who are wondering, I’m still here. I’ve not had much to say lately. Or rather, I’ve got a big pile of things to say and I don’t know what order to say them in. So hang on in there boys and girls and I’ll get back to you soon…

Read: I’m still here. »

It’s one of those phrases that makes you wince, isn’t it? As soon as someone says, something like “I’m not a racist, but…”, you know the next words you hear are going to be something like:
But those Muslins have got a lot to answer for…

And yes, they quite often would get the name of the […]

Read: I’m Not A Racist, But… »

With many, many apologies to whoever wrote “Big John”.
Big SamBig Sam
Every morning at the ground, you could see him arrive.
He palyed 4-3-3, he played 3-2-5.
Kind of broad at the shoulders, broader the hip.
And everybody knew you didn’t give no lip to Big Sam
Big Sam
Big Sam
Big Bad Sam
Big Sam
Nobody seemed to know where Sam called home
He […]

Read: Big Bad Sam »

I don’t normally write about work here, and when I do I’m somewhat circumspect about what I say, but — and following my usual policy of not naming names — I do have something that I wanted to share.
For the last week or so, I’ve been working in an art gallery.

Read: Working in an Art Gallery »

So, despite the fact that Carlos Tevez played a part in 26 of West Ham United’s 38 Premiership games this season, when, according to Premiership rules, he wasn’t eligible to play for them, and scored 7 goals which directly led to West Ham gaining 5 league points (and that’s excluding assists etc). (Stats from Hammers […]

Read: Cheats Sometimes Prosper »

Hmm. It appears that after initially predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions — which there obviously were, my crack about the next one being weather related came true again, what with the tornados in the US.
Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymoreDorothy
Okay then, I’m going to keep making natural disaster predictions until either […]

Read: Heralding Natural Disaster: Again »

As some of you may have read from earlier posts, I came across a medium called Marcel Cairo, who has a blog called I done thunk and hosts his professional dealings on a site called after life medium.
I highlighted that aside from his obvious interest in the duality theory of mind, is scathing on his […]

Read: The Medium Is The Message »

I noted earlier today that Mike Davies from Isolani has picked up on a piece I wrote in October last year called Be Accessible, Don’t Meet Guidelines, in which I tried to argue that WCAG was not infallible, and that it was more important to recognise the real-world accessibility needs of website users than it […]

Read: Accessibility In My Own (Foreign) Words »

Just over a year ago, and exactly one manager ago, I considered the Toon managership candidates. At the time, I wanted O’Neill or Ottmar Hitzfeld. As we all know, O’Neill went to Aston Villa, where with a large pot of money to spend, he’s been a resounding mediocrity, so I think that was a useful […]

Read: Toon: The Candidates (2) »

It is with a certain amount of sadness that I wave goodbye to Glenn Roeder as Newcastle manager. Glenn has always struck me as a nice man, an honourable man, a man with a great deal of dignity, who afforded opponents and referees respect that they didn’t always deserve. The game is a poorer place […]

Read: Bye Bye Glenn »