Pete's Eats

Red Roaster Coffee Shop

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:15:14 +0000

Red Roaster Coffee Shop, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

I love Red Roaster, a little coffee shop in Kemptown in Brighton. I popped in on Saturday and they have this new art display - printed on old hessian coffee sacks. In looking up at the artwork I missed hooking up with Bryan Reiger who according to his Twitter feed was actually there at the same time... (/waves at Bryan)

Starbucks have just opened across the road from Red Roaster though, sadly. I hope folks support the small company here.

Red Roaster make great coffee from their own beans, roasted in-house.

ReMixUK08 - Some early details...

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:44:39 +0000

Mix 08 in Las Vegas earlier on this year was one of the single best events I've had the opportunity to attend. The quality of the sessions, keynotes and peripheral events was very high and yet there's always a slight disappointment that this kind of event happens in a place where most UK/European designers and developers can't get to easily. So, I'm hoping that the UK ReMix08 event that's just been properly announced with the launch of the website can bring some of that magic here... The agenda isn't fully completed yet, but I know that there will be some folks in the designer community who'll be extremely happy about some of the people that are lined up. I promise to update this post (or make new ones as appropriate) once I'm told I can reveal who they are. It's going to be at the Brighton Centre on September 18th & 19th and tickets will be £349 (inc VAT). If you get in early though, you could snag one for £239 (inc VAT) saving yourself £110 in the process. Disclosure: I work for Microsoft on the Silverlight bizdev team in Redmond (which in a company of some 80,000 people means I'm probably as far removed from this event as most of you are, but still...)

Brighton - West Pier

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:22:09 +0000

, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

An old one for 'locals' I know, but still a goodie...

Wheely Bug

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:01:23 +0000

Wheely Bug, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

HTC Diamond - Sync Issue

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:44:26 +0000

Right out of the box there seems to be a but of an issue with syncing on Vista for some users with the new HTC Diamond so I thought I'd drop a note on how to fix it here. Symptom: You plug the device in, it installs a driver but is unrecognized within the Windows Mobile Device Center completely. Fix:

Unplug the device from the computer
Hit 'Start' and go to the settings
Select the 'Connections' tab
Tap 'USB to PC and uncheck 'Enable advanced network functionality'
Tap 'OK'
Re-connect the phone via USB

Vista should now recognize the device properly and fire up WMDC to allow you to set your preferences etc. Hope this helps.

Ms Aniela at MS Pro Photo Summit - July 9-10 2008

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:09:21 +0000

Pink and read, originally uploaded by Miss Aniela.

One of the more infamous members of the Brighton Flickr group, Ms Aniela, has been invited to come and speak at the Microsoft Pro Photo Summit in Redmond (July 9-10).

It's not often that my two world's collide like this. Can't wait... (gratz on the invite too Nat!)

Photographer's Rights

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:28:51 +0000

The irrational fear of people photographing things in public is becoming downright stupid. If you work somewhere that has this kind of policy in place, please highlight how stupid it is to the person responsible and try to help get rid of this crazy Soviet-era attitude that we have about oppressing things like this due to movie-theatre plots rather than actual reality. Great article on the Guardian site yesterday about this by Bruce Schneier, "Are photographers really a threat?" Also, if you photograph in public it might be worth downloading, printing and carrying this 'UK Photographer's Rights Guide' as a little bit of protection from the photonazis.

Night...

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:19:18 +0000

Same as the previous photo, only at night..., originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

Day...

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:18:53 +0000

The view from my place this morning, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

Foosball at Google I/O

Thu, 29 May 2008 13:30:22 +0000

Google Foosball, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

Heathrow, Terminal 5 - 1st Impressions

Mon, 26 May 2008 11:46:19 +0000

Safely installed in one of the new BA lounges at Terminal 5, Heathrow, I can't make up my mind whether I've been lured into a false sense of security or T5 is actually quite amazing. Thought I'd review my experience so far and update as needed as I'm sure more of you will be traveling out of here as time goes on. Nete drove me up today (note: a bank holiday Monday) and our first contact with T5 was not good. The signage after you exit the motorway is confusing, lacking and mysteriously inconsistent. To find the drop off point took two revolutions of a mini one way system but we finally got on the right ramp and followed the sign's to my BA drop off point. Well, slight correction, we followed the signs to the BA First Check-in and Valet parking only to find that the signs for the BA bit stopped and we were left at the valet parking station with no warning. Still, I parked up and got my bags out, said goodbyes to my family and made my way into the terminal. That's when the wow started. Now, it might be because of the bank holiday, but the terminal was so quiet - there were a lot of people around mind, but it just wasn't noisy at all. I loved that being the silence freak that I am... Nete was on her way to her folks place so I got here a little early and the BA bag drop said they couldn't take my bag more than 3 hours ahead of time. The BA first desk made no such complaint when I went there instead (note: I wasn't traveling First but I have BA Gold status and can use the desks). Now, bearing in mind the T5 baggage fiasco recently, you can look at this in two ways: 1) Leaving my bag with the handlers for 3 hours gives them plenty of time to make sure it gets to the plane or 2) Leaving my bag with the handlers for 3 hours gives them plenty of time to forget it's there. Right now, I'm going to stay positive go with the first option - I sincerely hope I don't have to update this when I get to San Francisco - fingers x'd. Security was very quick - the airline captain in front of me was not however. You'd have thought he might have done this a few times but it didn't look like it... The inner airside terminal area is one big shopping mall. Bleh. But there is plenty of seating and some great looking places to eat including Wagamama's and Itsu. It's very light and airy too - definitely the best airport terminal I've been to I think. My flight is due to leave from a small satellite terminal and I'm told there is a train to take us there so allow about 30 mins to get to the gate itself. So, so far, all very good apart from the traffic signage. Very impressive in fact.

Times Square Cyclist

Sun, 18 May 2008 21:52:22 +0000

Times Square Cyclist, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

Ambulance, Times Square

Sun, 18 May 2008 21:49:32 +0000

Times Square, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

Times Square, NY

Sun, 18 May 2008 21:37:00 +0000

Times Square, NY, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

NY 'shaw 2

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:50:23 +0000

NY 'shaw 2, originally uploaded by Pete Barr-Watson.

Rickshaw: 1887, shortened form of jinrikisha, popularized by Kipling, from Japanese jin "a man" + riki "power" + sha "carriage." (thanks Boris!)