Bomb.org.uk

October, 2006

28.10.2006 links for 2006-10-28

(Comment?)

26.10.2006 Wanna Swap Links?

I’ve just noticed that my blog roll is starting to look a bit on the stale side. I’ve been linking to the same few blogs for ages and a lot of them don’t get updated much any more.

So I’m on the look out for a few new blogs to swap links with, you don’t have to be popular and you don’t have to have loads of traffic but what you do have to do is link back to me (that’s kind of the point of a link exchange) and update your blog every once in a while with new content.

It helps if you’re a bit of a geek like me but as long as you have a blog that’s fresh and worth a read every once in a while then that’s good enough!

Leave your URL in the comments on this post and if I like what I see, I’ll check out your blog and let you know if I want to trade links with you.

(Comment?)

26.10.2006 Why I love and hate Apple

I’m sure that those of you that read this blog on a regular basis already know that I’m a total Apple geek and if you don’t read this blog – well… now you know.

I’m a big fan of Apple hardware, from the Mac Mini to the iPod and everything in-between. If I could use Apple hardware for everything I do I would. I love that Apple make things different in a good way and I love that Apple aren’t afraid to innovate and improve their products.

But that’s also what I hate about Apple. Nearly three years ago I set up an online store selling iPod accessories because their were no stores targeting UK customers that made buying accessories quick and easy while stocking a large range of great stuff for the iPod. This was back when the 3rd generation iPod was still the latest big thing and the iPod mini was nowhere to be seen.

For the first year everything was good. Our business was going from strength to strength, we had loads of happy customers and stock was easy to come by, however it wasn’t to last. Soon Apple started improving the iPod range. It started with the iPod mini, then the 4G ipod, then the shuffle, then the Nano, then the 5G, then the new nano and then the new shuffle and if the rumour sites are to be believed, there’s probably more on the way before Christmas.

For Apple this is great – loads of new products for people to buy. For retailers and manufacturers this is a nightmare. Any retailer will tell you that to get the best prices on stock you have to buy in bulk from your distributor which is great if the item you are accessorising doesn’t change frequently or by a massive amount. But when that product drastically changes with every revision and you sell to a market that has to have the latest big thing (and I myself am guilty of this!), it becomes a problem.

You become presented with two choices:

1) Buy in bulk but be left with lots of dead stock when everyone upgrades to the next big thing
2) Micromanage your stock resulting in stock delays and higher costs.

Over the last two years, I’ve tried both approaches. Neither to much success. Customers always want their products yesterday which becomes impossible when you’re only ordering enough to get by but when you order too much you find yourself in stock limbo as soon as Apple bring out the next product line (for example, we still have loads of iPod mini cases which will be nigh on impossible to sell).

We probably could have scraped through using a combination of the above, but when our distributors started micromanaging stock as well it then became a problem to get the stock in which in turn caused delays in getting stock on our shelves and therefore delayed getting stock out to our customers.

For most businesses holding excess stock can be a cash sink as you have to pay for the stock up front but then wait for the cash to come in. Once the stock becomes obsolete it becomes impossible to sell as it would seem most iPod owners hold on to their old iPods but stop using them and then start accessorising the new iPod.

It’s basically for this reason that I’ve decided that enough is enough – while there’s plenty of money to be made from the iPod Accessory market, it’s a problematic market to be in and one that quite frankly, I don’t have the time to worry about any more and so, I’m closing down my store.

Of course, shutting the store flat out would just leave me with a bunch of stock that I don’t need and can’t sell – so I’m having one last closing down sale on my site – I’ve dropped the prices and made the ordering process a total doddle. Go checkout the site today and grab yourself a bargain! (please! the sooner I get rid of it all the sooner I can start with my next project!). :D

I’ve decided to kick back and relax for a few months, then when the new year rolls around, I’ll be starting from scratch with a fresh new site and a fresh new product range – one that won’t change every six months and leave me with dead stock ;)

[comments locked due to insane amount of spam targeted at this post]

(4 Comments)

25.10.2006 The Difference Between Men & Women

“I never have quite figured out why the sexual urges of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. And I never figured out why men think with their head and women think with their heart. And I never yet have figured out how the sexual desire gene gets thrown into a state of turmoil when it hears the words “I do.”

One evening last week, my wife and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, “I don’t feel like it. I just want you to hold me.” I said, “WHAT???”

So she says the words that I and every husband on the planet dread. She explains that I must not be in tune with her emotional needs as a woman. I’m thinking, “What was her first clue?” I finally realize that nothing was going to happen that night, so I went to sleep.

The very next day, we went shopping at a big, unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on three different, very expensive outfits. She could not decide which one to take, so I told her to take all three of them. She then tells me that she wants matching shoes worth $200.00 a pair to which I say OK. And then we go to the jewellery department where she gets a pair of diamond earrings.

Let me tell you. She was so excited. She must have thought that I was one wave short of a shipwreck, but I don’t think she cared. I think she was testing me when she asked for a tennis bracelet because she does not even play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I told her that it was OK. She was almost sexually excited from all of this, and you should have seen her face when she said, “I’m ready to go to the cash register.”

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, “No, honey, I don’t feel like buying all this stuff now.” You should have seen her face. It went completely blank. I then said, “Really, honey, I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while.”

And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, “You must not be in tune with my financial needs as a man.”
I figure that I won’t be having sex again until some time after the Spring of 2008 but godammit it was worth it.”

(stolen from t’interweb)

(1 Comment)

25.10.2006 links for 2006-10-25

  • crazy french ball balance
    crazy french ball balancing / arkanoid type thing. I can’t explain it – it’s too weired but check it out and you’ll have fun. My best time is around 32 seconds.
    (tags: flash game fun funny)

(Comment?)

22.10.2006 links for 2006-10-22

(Comment?)

22.10.2006 Winter Photography

I’m feeling kinda bummed at the mo because I’ve been gasping to get out and use my camera but simply not been able to because of work commitments, bad weather and general laziness.

Right now, I’d love nothing more than to take my camera out and get some photos and I’m really up for it, but the rain has been pretty much constant and I don’t have a waterproof case for my camera – there’s no way I’m risking getting £800 worth of cameras and lenses wet.

So what to do? Sure I could buy a waterproof cover for my camera but that seems like overkill for a bit of rain.

What do you other photographers out there do when the weather is bad?

(Comment?)

16.10.2006 links for 2006-10-16

(Comment?)

15.10.2006 What am I doing when I Digg something?

I’ve been regularly visiting Digg.com for about two months now and I’m still not completely sure what I’m doing.

You see, I always thought that Digg was a social news website, but I’ve heard others refer to it as a social bookmarking site (in comments actually on Digg!).

So… when I Digg something what am I actually doing? I thought that I was giving the article on question my ‘vote’ and saying ‘I like this’ but for some people, Digging is just the act of saving something for later and that’s why I’m getting confused. As I understood it the stuff on the Digg frontpage are the things that most people have voted for but if it works like I’m told it works I’m just seeing things that the most people have book marked.

Which is it? Is Digg a news site or a bookmarking site? Or is it both?

Speaking of social bookmarking – I’m totally “digging” Del.ico.us lately! On a day to day basis I can be accessing the internet from anywhere between two (minimum) to five different machines, each with a different browser and some with different operating systems. Previously, accessing my bookmarks was a nightmare but now that I have Del.ico.us my life is a lot easier!.

If you haven’t already, you should check it out now and if you already have, let me know your ID so I can add you to my network and see all the cool stuff you’re finding! (If you want to add me, I’m andy206uk).

(3 Comments)

15.10.2006 links for 2006-10-15

(Comment?)