Status-Q

Now, here's an interesting challenge: can you re-learn one of your earliest-developed skills in a different way? When you get to my age, those neural pathways are pretty fossilised... but if you want the challenge, to keep your brain supple, why not try a new way of tying your shoelaces?

The Ian Knot gives you the same results as the conventional shoelace-tying method, but faster and more evenly. Something to practise in front of the hearth on those long winter's nights? Here's how to do it, and here's an alternative set of diagrams which may be easier.

Thanks to David Shores for the link.

Today I made my first call with Skype To Go. I've no idea how long this has been around, but I was impressed: I made a long call to the States from my mobile, and it was flawless, and free.

Here's how it works:

• You apply for a Skype To Go number in the location of your choice. Mine is in London.
• You call that number. It's a speed-dial on my phone, and I have more free minutes than I ever use, so it doesn't cost me anything.
• You are prompted for the number you want to dial. You can use the Skype website to set up some favourites which can be dialled in a couple of keypresses.
• The call is routed over the Skype network and charged to your Skype account. From the UK to the USA costs a penny a minute, which is 1% of what O2 would charge me for calling direct.
• The favourites you set up on the website can include Skype accounts - and calling them is free. Since my friend Hap was sitting at his computer, I used that option, and saved even the 1% I would have paid.

The call quality was very good and there was no noticeable latency. Now, since I have an iPhone, I could have used Skype directly on the phone. But that would have depended on a good data connection: much harder to find than a reliable voice channel. Recommended if you call abroad regularly.

Ah - here's something for the run-up to Christmas...

The Kindle is now available in the UK (and quite a lot of other countries). You need to order it from the States, but apparently the 3G works here now too.

The MiFi pocket 3G-to-Wifi gateway has proved pretty popular in the US among the cognoscenti. Now it's available in the UK, from Three.

Might be tempted when my dongle contract expires...

Leo Laporte is the host of the TWIT.TV network. He's an excellent host and his range of podcasts on a variety of topics have been the background for most of my shaving for some time!

The nature of the group discussions on the shows mean, however, that you never get to hear Leo for more than a couple of minutes at a stretch, and he's a very smart guy with a lot of interesting experience. So it's great to be able to hear the whole talk he gave at the Online News Association conference.

I've loved this image since I first saw it some time ago, and have just managed to track down a copy. I don't know its... errm... origins, though. Does anyone else?

Found this in the past, somewhere out there on the net...

Look at the dot in the centre and move your head towards or away from the image - the surrounding circles seem to move.

Anyone know why? Could you use such effects to make advertisements, or road-safety signs, more noticeable?

I’m a big fierce bird.

No, really, I am!

You think I’m only small, but I’m going to be big and fierce one day.

Are you scared yet?

See – I’m practising already.

There, that’s a pretty fierce look!

Well, OK, landlines are almost gone already, but their demise took another big step closer with AT&T's testing of a $150 3G femtocell.

If femtocells haven't played a big role in your life so far, let me explain, because they probably will do in the future. These are little cellphone base stations that you plug into your broadband network and, hey presto, give you mobile coverage in your home or office. Your phone can use them in just the same way as it would use a traditional cellphone tower, and the calls get routed over the broadband to the mobile service provider. Goodbye DECT.

I live about a mile from the centre of the UK's high-tech hub, Cambridge, and still get pretty patchy coverage in my house from most of the major providers. It's a disgrace, but soon devices like these will allow us to fix the phone companies' failings. At our own cost, of course, but that's better than not being able to make calls at all.

Anyone trialling them in the UK?

Rose and I have been removing some foliage today. This was the second load...