Merry Christmas all. Thought I’d say before our flight takes off for warmer weather. Have a good one.

Nice to see David Bernstein get the FA job. I always liked him when he was MCFC chairman.

I’m bothered that Amazon have had my package in Scotland for 8 days now and still claim a delivery estimate of last Wednesday. Grrr.

@TheDailyShow Will the UK get access to videos on the site once the show stops being on More 4 over here?

If @jonawils is starting a magazine that’s good enough for me. I’ll sign up sight unseen for that once it’s possible.

The weirdest story I’ve seen in a while. It makes some sort of weird sense, I think. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12025086

@Translink_NI Will the website be fixed at some point? The homepage is being redirected to a non-existent page, again.

#uksnow BT17 6/10 It just keeps coming. Not as heavy as it has been, just steadily falling.

On the way home after attending the graduation of @ManyHues at the University of Ulster. All proud of her :) She’s got a brain on her!

Just watched “Up the Long Ladder” for the first time. As an Irishman I expect a full apology in a future Memories of the Future, @wilw ;)

@TheOBR Will there be a podcast of last Tuesdays show? Or was there a break this week? Granted you could probably do with the break.

Apparently @Translink_NI services are operating with caution at the moment. Finally, an admission that they drive recklessly at other times!

For anyone who was wondering, I did make it home safely. Cheers boss! No thanks to @Translink_NI. No information from them. Awful service.

@Translink_NI Any news on the 238 or 38 through Hillsborough to Belfast? People waiting in the cold and getting no info at all. Not happy

No buses from Hillsborough to Belfast for at least an hour and @Translink_NI don’t even know if their own buses are actually running!

I’ll say one thing for David Cameron, he has got us closer to a Smiths reconciliation than anyone ever has.

It seems somehow appropriate that the first result for a search for translink ni displays the title “Translink 500 Error”.

I’d have loved an English World Cup, but whinging and nastiness almost makes me glad it won’t be there. Always the fault of someone else.

The English media reaction to Russia getting the World Cup indicates an attitude which undermine English bids. Patronising and presumptuous

As it was before El Clasico the real debate regarding the best player in the world is between Messi and Xavi. Breathtaking the pair of them.

Unlike many I’m delighted Panorama are reporting on FIFA corruption, however old, involving current voters. Bigger issue than World Cup vote

El Clasico tonight. Might need to distract @ManyHues so that I can get away with watching it. Or just disappear with Sky on the iPhone.

I think he was great in this one too RT @ManyHues: I know I’m a bit weird, but I think my favourite Leslie Nielsen film is Forbidden Planet.

People doing driving tests told to ring ahead due to ice today. In my 1st test started snowing as I pulled into the centre. Horrible start.

Ashes in 40 minutes! Can I time falling asleep so that I catch the first few overs on TMS? The next number of days could be tricky.

@blickstudios Next time simply email about Creative Camp rather than subscribing me to a mailing list I didn’t ask to join. Very poor form.

Well now I know that my next printer won’t be an Epson one. That has narrowed the field down slightly.

It was lovely to have my sister @kathryn_rushe over for a couple of days. Birmingham, I’m expecting you to take good care of her.

I can thoroughly recommend @cakesbyjames to anyone around Belfast, and further afield, who is looking for a deliciously tasty cake. Yum.

Latest book by @paul_tomkins arrived from Amazon today. Will be reading it after finishing most recent from @jonawils. No pressure then!

Finally something has gone right with this day. Maybe things are starting to look up?

To further prove my point, the next scheduled @Translink_NI for me also turned up and left early. They really need some competition.

Once again the bus from @Translink_NI has turned up and left before the time on the timetable. Why even bother with timetables? Ridiculous.

Thanks Twitter peeps for M1 update. Closed between Junctions 1 and 2. Traffic slowish but moving. Would be good for BBC website to take note

Hope Hackers and Hacks Day Belfast is going well today. Hopefully I’ll be able to make the next one #hhhbel

How did I not know @bucksixtyfive is playing in Belfast next week until 5 minutes ago?

For any of my American followers, if there are any, I wholeheartedly recommend Four Lions which is out in your cinemas today. Wonderful film

#wrgpt is actually starting. Here’s hoping that my all-in in the practice round has got that out of my system.

I’m puzzled as to the total lack of buses on this part of the Lisburn Road this morning. Is there a strike I don’t know about?

No matter how long I live I don’t think I’ll ever remember to put the arguments to ln -s in the correct order.

Apparently the BT engineer who came earlier was the only engineer being sent. Been shambolic dealing with @virginmedia for the last month :(

Just 1 hour and 50 minutes for the @virginmedia engineer to get to our house and sort out the phone and internet. Bated breath

Woohoo, Cleveland beat the Saints! Unexpected but very welcome. Bowens, Hodges, and Hillis for the win.

After an epic struggle my machine is now running Snow Leopard with an apache/php setup which actually works with postgres. I need a lie-down

Registered for WRGPT 20, although I’ll struggle to match my finish in the last tournament. http://www.wrgpt.org/

@TheOBR your rant on the podcast regarding McKinley/depression was possibly the best thing you’ve ever said on it. Kudos.

After many years I’m still mystified by people who buy something on ebay which clearly says Paypal for payment who then want to pay by cash.

Finally, the latest Bugle is downloading. Cheers @hellobuglers

It’s nice to see one of the good guys getting something well deserved.

I’ve had an aversion to Dawkins for as long as I can remember, as @menhughes can attest from my muttering whenever he appears on tv

Nobody in work seems to be up for tomorrow being “Grindcore Friday” music-wise. I can’t understand why.

I am still amazed at how diabolically bad the new @Translink_NI website is. Can only find timetables from some of the timetables links. Grrr

Good to see Gary Imlach back presenting the NFL. Now we just need him to write another book of the same high standard of his first.

Experimenting with Canvas to draw some stuff has proven to be both revealing and confusing.

Laurent Fignon dead. I watched him for many years on the Tour, and even saw him live a few times. Sad.

Phone call from my sister. Bank holiday goodness continues :)

Based on the experience we’re having with the Phone Recycle Bank (@mobilerecycle) I would advise everyone to stay well away from them. Awful

“How to tell when your boss is lying”. In my last job it was generally when he opened his mouth or sent me an email. http://bit.ly/asdHtL

Office to myself at the end of the day. Kind of Blue loud on the speakers, and tidying a few lose ends in code. Not a bad way to finish off.

Neglected to mention it, but I’m extremely proud of my wife @mnehughes who finished the last exam of her degree yesterday.

With @Zonal_Marking and @jonawils both now on Twitter, I may never manage to do any work ever again. It will be so informative though :)

Whoever thought that Ireland plus cash for Milner was a good idea in City should be ashamed of themselves. Villa must be trying not to laugh

Keep checking my phone to see if I have a call from @mnehughes to tell me how her exam went. I should probably let the exam finish first.

Great thinking from @UlsterUni, not opening the library early during the exam period in August. How thoughtful. Sadly it doesn’t surprise me

I fear that I am about to live in a world in which @swmcc has beaten me in chess. I’m not sure this is somewhere I want to be ;)

I have just had a stonking sandwich for my lunch thanks to @mnehughes. Yum yum

Hopefully the various projects which insisted on Google Wave as the main communication medium will cop themselves on now and open up.

From the lack of any response about @opendatani I’m guessing it has died as a project. Nothing new on twitter or the site for a long time :(

Currently pondering how to say “Your colleague has failed to answer my questions for nearly 3 weeks. This is unprofessional” politely.

Quick work from @PoliceServiceNI in answering an email I sent at the weekend. Some answers I’m not convinced by, but they answered at least.

Has the @opendatani project died/disappeared into limbo?

Nice to see Eoin Morgan rescuing England again. I can’t help imagining that he’s scoring those runs for an Irish Test team though :(

@TheOBR Will there be a podcast of the Radio show?

People who talk about films which are just out, and still think they’re not spoiling them for people who have yet to see them, are idiots.

Woohoo RT @dracos: Just launched my recent work: http://bit.ly/dClo3m - point and postcode lookup++ for the whole UK :-)

Sometimes you have to tell someone you think the world of, something they don’t want to hear. That really feels like shit :(

@O2 If I’m bringing my iPhone 4 into the store to have it replaced what else do I need to bring in? Headphones, box etc? Or just the phone?

I’m really hoping that Schleck takes loads of time out of Contador today. I’m not totally optimistic though.

I’m still annoyed at being knocked out of a tournament on Full Tilt last night with a straight flush. First I’ve ever had too :(

@OpinionatedGeek Twoldem playing up, or am I just doing something stupid with my bet? Could well be the latter.

Forum admin fails to activate my account. Go to send message to admin to gently remind. Can’t send, account not activated. Catch-22 :(

It would be nice if the (small minority of) idiots in Northern Ireland could grow up in time for me to get to work tomorrow. Fat chance

Once more through the @virginmedia support voicemail system only for all I told it to be asked for again when I talk to someone.

Delightful to see Spain in the World Cup final. Been a joy to watch for years and I’d love them to win the whole thing. Xavi great as always

80s last.fm tag being played. Every time I’m about to crack and change it to something else the Smiths come on and rescue me.

I nearly choked to death on my drink when I read a comment from @swmcc on IRC. Now to wipe the disturbing image presented from my brain.

@irishpokerradio Is there a problem with the podcast feed? iTunes is whinging at me :(

The talk about German inexperience confuses me. England have experience of under-performing. Germany experience of winning under-age titles.

@OpinionatedGeek In the current hand my first action occurred after the flop, unless I’m much mistaken. I love a free flop it’s true but…

I don’t care if I am a petty man. I am thoroughly enjoying the self-destruction of the French football team. Prefer us to be there though :(

Frank Sidebottom dead :(

Why Roy Hodgson has not been involved in the coverage until now I don’t understand. More insight in one game than the rest combined so far.

Very nervy trying to keep up with the Ireland vs. Australia match online. Great start to the run chase, thankfully :)

It worries me that nobody commentating of 5 Live corrected Robbie Savage when he said that Platini had not managed France. Unprofessional.

The pushing of interviews with England players, or future 5-live programmes, instead of actually commentating on the games is very annoying

@Twoldem fold ^2

@Twoldem join

It’s great to see a club in the town again. RT @DundalkCC: Our new website launched..check out http://www.dundalkcricketclub.com

Finally knocked out of #wrgpt 37th out of 1059 entrants. It was fun while it lasted :)

Delighted to see Ed Joyce return to the fold. Hopefully the ICC will give permission for him to resume sooner rather than later.

@OpinionatedGeek Just discovered twoldem. Great idea. You sir, are a genius :)

Finished “For Richer, For Poorer” by @VictoriaCoren a couple of nights ago. Absolutely excellent read. Can’t recommend it highly enough :)

Discover new Jonathan Wilson book, buy new Jonathan Wilson book. It’s some sort of Pavlovian response I suppose.

Just realised that I forgot to bring my lunch with me today. insert swear word here

I see the new crime data came out for Northern Ireland today. Someone should take that data and map it down to a ward level…

Thankfully my parents plane has taken off, after 5 hours delay. Hopefully they’ll enjoy the sun.

Voting done. Somehow I know that I won’t be happy with the winner regardless. #ukvote BT9

http://bit.ly/cegvHM Ms Hendricks is sublime as is, no adjustments needed! (via @mnehughes) - I wholeheartedly agree :)

@vote4changeni Out of interest, and before I vote, I’d like to know how many visits David Cameron had made to NI during the campaign?

It seems that @JimAllister believes that volume rather than manners is a basis for debate. A depressing man among other depressing people.

It’s a bit weird to be watching a Steve McLaren team and hoping that they win.

@DundalkCC Congratulations on playing your first match. Nice to see a club in the town again.

@TheOBR Thanks for the draft updates. You’ve made the draft much more interesting for me in the UK. Cheers.

If Given is seriously injured I’m almost happy that we’re not going to the World Cup. I’d have hated him to miss out like this.

@earnubs I try to fit some sleep in too.

@earnubs I worry about you sometimes.

Colin Murray favourite to present MOTD2? Just when you think they can’t make BBC football coverage any worse they prove you wrong.

@RoyalMail If I’ve paid a customs fee online can I assume that the item will be re-delivered? I didn’t see any option during the process

Reasons to hate IE no.32423: Even when it is correct with respect to JS and inserting html, it still gives a totally unhelpful error message

The next person who claims waiting, then getting a ferry is just like Dunkirk should be bombed and strafed, then asked for a second opinion.

No penalty, but for Gray to claim that there was no contact as we watched a replay clearly showing Neville catching the ankle is laughable

Saying “it is “in the hands of my solicitor” is both disappointing and also quite comforting. However, if I have to go to court, I will.

BREAKING NEWS #SinghBCA The BCA has given in - Notice of Discontinuance served: http://bit.ly/bP6nPS (via @JackofKent)

@Conservatives You want us to “get involved”? I was last week for the DE Bill, where were you exactly? #ge2010

The @barcampbelfast site is a doing a fine job of hiding the venue and time information from me. It’s almost like a game trying to find it!

I’m scared. Xavi just made a pass which went nowhere near a teammate. I think that’s one of the signs of the apocalypse.

I love the fact that my most right-wing friend is wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt today :)

@earnubs How is that TT2 version coming along? ;)

@earnubs @davidjrice I wanted something simple and quick to get off the ground. It managed that. Now I’m hitting the limits, but we’ll see..

I see a personalised fork of jekyll (http://github.com/mojombo/jekyll) in my future, assuming Parliament doesn’t ban that in the meantime

@Translink_NI Next time why not actuaaly put the Ulsterbus holiday timetable on the website, rather than a message just saying there is one?

@OptaJoe Since the Champions League re-branding teams drawing 2-2 at home in a first leg have gone on to win 19.15% of the time.

Finally finding the time to read Dive Into HTML5 in detail.

I hope that the various tweets I’m seeing about a Simon Singh win against the BCA are not a joke. #SinghBCA

Releasing code under a licence and then complaining when someone acts within the terms of that licence is nonsense. Your feelings be damned.

@NhoodTraining Any chance you could explain how you got hold of my email address to send me messages. Also why no unsubscribe option?

The scariest things about Messi is not his astounding skill, it’s the fact that he gets better and better. He is so far ahead of the rest.

James Randi is no more or less admirable to me today than he was yesterday. He’s as he ever was, f-ing great.

I’ve asked my MP to ensure that the DEBill is not rushed through parliament. Not that he’ll listen. http://bit.ly/boKmLO #38degrees #debill

60 second news is amateurish even on BBC Three. Making it 90 seconds on BBC1 is in no way an improvement.

The BBC director has chosen woeful camera angles in both Twickenham games this year. Absolutely dire work from a team that usually does well

Something rather thrilling about seeing your sister put together her first website. It does no harm to have such good work to show on it.

I worry about MPs constantly having their twitter accounts “hacked”. They’re either amazingly stupid or outrageous liars. Or both?

Why I took so long to discover the joys of @huffduffer I’ll never know. I’m glad that I have though :)

The fun this morning has been discovering the limits of the IE support for <base href> when applied to <script> tags. IE, I still hate you.

The rush to embrace Google Wave for collaboration over the venerable, and registration-free, IRC perturbs me. Some people love shiny things

The rumours that Garry Cook could be on his way out at Man City have made my day. The man has been a complete embarrassment since he arrived

I genuinely feel bad for United fans due to the financial shambles of the Glazer. I wouldn’t wish it on any fans, but some are idiots :(

No matter your persuasion, taking joy in a footballer being hit by a coin is terrible. It’s awful when and wherever it happens.

The sooner the Apple event takes place the better. Then wildly speculating fools, with no facts to back them up, may shut up.

I am very happy for a friend who has finally got some good news after being put through a whole load of shit. Some day I may tell that tale.

I really wish I had been getting some good cards in #wrgpt. Seat before me has gone all-in in 3 straight hands and I don’t believe him.

Mark Lawrenson is once again making the mistake that possession is what counts. It’s pointless if you fail to create chances and score.

How did I know not about alt-toggling selections in Textmate before now? That is such a nice little feature.

@OxfamIreland When I unsubscribe from communications via the website should I see a message confirming it, or just silence like I’m getting?

T20 can have all the razzmatazz it wants but nothing can beat the tension and excitement a dogged rearguard action in a Test #cricket

@TheOBR Thanks for the updates. Hard to argue with anything Holmgren said, he said little while saying much.