http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk The often confused thoughts of a videogame illustrator Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:17:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've added all the currently scheduled events for 2008 at the [Phoenix Aikido Club](http://www.phoenix-aikido.com/) to my iCal calendar. You can [view the calendar in your browser](http://ical.mac.com/drawingbusiness/Phoenix%20Aikido%20Club), or if you are an iCal user, you can [subscribe here](webcal://ical.mac.com/drawingbusiness/Phoenix%20Aikido%20Club.ics). I would like to draw your attention to the events of [this particular month](http://ical.mac.com/WebObjects/iCal.woa/wa/default?u=drawingbusiness&n=Phoenix%20Aikido%20Club.ics&d=1&v=1&m=8&y=2008). http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2008/01/26/phoenix-aikido-club-calendar-2008/ Apple's attention to detail is one of the things that separates OS X from Windows. Tiny touches that take time and thought to implement, are almost never seen, but make the whole Apple experience a little more user friendly. One such example that I encountered recently was while applying system updates ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2008/01/21/attention-to-detail/ The walk into work this morning was rather depressing; cold and wet, with heavy cloud being marshalled across the sky by a blustery, persistent wind. But as I past a noisy building site and a busy road junction, I heard a beautiful sound. On the opposite side of the road, ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2008/01/18/its-the-littlest-things/ In a shameless bit of nepotism, I've added a link to [Child's Play Family Photographic Services](http://www.damianharty.com/index.html), a new(ish) business venture for my good friend Damian Harty. Damian and I have known each other for over 20 years, and I've always been in awe of his knowledge and intellect. Until recently, ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2007/07/06/childs-play-family-photographic-services/ Are we so starved of sun in this country that people go crazy at the merest glimpse? Although my [Dashboard](http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/dashboard/) Weather Widget says it's 17°C outside, the wind makes it feel a lot cooler. Yet I've just been walking through the city centre and from the way most people are ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2007/04/11/mad-dogs-and-englishmen/ I have been pondering the changes I've experienced in the last few years of my Aikido training. I've reached the rank of 1st Kyu (brown belt), and should be taking my Dan grade (black belt) in September 2008. I am now considered to be a "high grade" student, with a ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2007/03/14/an-endless-road/ Well done to everyone who passed their gradings with weekend at the [Phoenix Aikido Club](http://www.phoenix-aikido.com/). The standard this time was very high; the 4th Kyu (orange belt) gradings in particular were very impressive. Not only did everyone perform the techniques to a high standard, there was also a really good, ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2007/03/12/spirited-defence/ So, those lovely people at the Inland Revenue have issued me with a nice big tax bill for the year ending 2006. Not only that, but they waited until the bill was overdue before sending me written notification of this nice big tax bill (I could have found out sooner ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2007/03/12/and-they-wonder-why-we-hate-them/ Grading weekend again at the [Phoenix Aikido Club](http://www.phoenix-aikido.com/ "Visit the club web site") on March 11th. Good luck to everyone taking their next belt, especially my Mum's husband John, who will be taking his 4th Kyu (Orange Belt) on Sunday. It's nice to be approaching a grading weekend safe in the ... http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2007/03/06/gradings-again/ [Chris Beach](http://www.chrisbeach.co.uk/) has gathered together a great [collection of atheist quotes](http://www.chrisbeach.co.uk/viewQuotes.php), including some of my favourites from Douglas Adams and Carl Sagan. Well worth a look. Via [disobey.com](http://www.disobey.com/node/1736). http://www.drawingbreath.co.uk/2006/12/06/a-collection-of-atheist-quotes/