Ian Mackay
I'm a thirty-something technology consultant who lives in Edinburgh.
I'm known as maniacyak (an anagram of my name) on most web sites.
I ♥ technology, photography, coffee, food, design, electronic music, watches, gaming and making stuff better.
I blog about technology in a business context on my company website, Epitome Solutions, and about my coding side-projects at maniacyak.co.uk.
Questions?- Thoughts
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- Who was the best teacher you've ever had?When I was 12, I had an English teacher who'd had a fascinating life - he'd been a diamond miner in South Africa, for example - and who had a real passion for his subject. He was probably the first person to make me realise that there were more ways to live than to go through school and university and get a job and so forth. Once a week he would take a lesson where he would just read aloud to us - usually American authors: Hemingway, Steinbeck, Harper Lee. I can hear his voice as I write this, putting on an American accent as Atticus Finch talks to his children. An amazing, inspiring man.Asked by Formspring Mar 01, 11
- What music are you listening to today?Film soundtracks - Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, Tron: Legacy, The Social Network. Maybe because the Oscars have just been and gone?Asked by Formspring Mar 01, 11
- If the Internet and TV didn't exist, what would you spend most of your time doing?Reading dead-tree stuff. Maybe even outdoors!Asked by Formspring Mar 01, 11
- Do you have any scars on your body? If so, how'd you get them?I've got a bump on the back of my head from nearly cracking my skull open on a bit of tarmac whilst on holiday in Greece. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor…Asked by Formspring Mar 01, 11
- If you could have invented one thing, what would it have been?Something like the ISO 216 & ISO 269 systems for paper sizes. Elegant but eminently practical. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_216Asked by Formspring Dec 05, 10
- Would you rather own a luxury yacht or a private jet?I don't think either of those are particularly sustainable options. I would prefer to have something I could use and maintain largely by myself.Asked by Formspring Dec 05, 10
- What's your favourite font?If I'm only allowed one: Sabon by Jan Tschichold.Asked by Formspring Dec 05, 10
- Where did you get your sense of humour?I was born with it, I suppose. Like most people, I experience humour in the unexpected or incongruous but how funny I personally find something depends on how the specific context of that thing relates to my own knowledge and experiences. I particularly enjoy absurdity, flippancy, black humour, contextual humour and verbal humour.Asked by Formspring Dec 04, 10
- If you could go back in time 10 years and tell your younger self something, what would it be?Think of a better answer for this question in 10 years' time, because this one sucks.Asked by Formspring Dec 03, 10
- Do bears shit in the woods?Trick question. I don't believe in bears.Asked by Formspring Dec 03, 10
- What's one food you'll never eat again?Nattō. I _really_ don't recommend it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NattoAsked by Formspring Dec 03, 10
- What is your favourite sandwich?My local coffee shop does a lovely chicken, brie and cranberry number which I end up eating whenever I'm hungry and need lunch NOW. The bread is great, the salad is wonderfully fresh, it just _works_. The best sandwich I've had recently was at Peter's Yard: slow-roasted lamb, beetroot, gruyere and fennel on rye. Soooo gooood.Asked by Formspring Dec 03, 10
- Do you believe in God?No. I believe that human beings are inherently inclined to contrive some sort of internal existential purpose or significance, but God doesn't tick that box for me.Asked by Formspring Dec 03, 10
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Tweets
- @tanepiper Pah! I must be up to at least the fifth or sixth sign of madness by now.
- @maniacyak Ok, maybe too quick to condemn - same error message but it played this time.
- @maniacyak That was a YouTube error message, found in Chrome's JS console as I wondered why a video wouldn't play. Has it come to this?
- “Error: Ad adLoadError error: No ads were found in the ad response. At least one ad is required to be able to load or play. errorCode: 1001”May 24, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- RT @urchinette: My kindly husband just sent me what he rightly describes as "the best venn diagram ever" http://t.co/VLb5uf4BkdMay 24, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @semanticist So ideally you want an engine with reasonable torque throughout the rev range. More power lets you go faster, faster.
- @semanticist Arguably yes. Torque is how much work an engine can do, power is how quickly. Both vary by RPM.
- @darrell_wilson My yaks are not your yaks. Your yaks are not my yaks. :)
- Sometimes you shave the yak, sometimes the yak shaves you.May 24, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @semanticist Interesting!
- @ryanstenhouse @paulanthonywils +1, got one last week and very happy with it. If you’re around Bruntsfield, you’re welcome to try mine out!
- @tanepiper Yep.
- @tanepiper Costs to point your own domain to, but only a few bucks.
- @AngstyBeard Been there, done that. :/
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Photos
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Recent Tracks
- Phalanx by Sabrepulse
- The Plug by Bonobo
- New Worlds by Jack Wall
- Musclecar (Reform Reprise) by Mylo
- Static by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
- Pick Up by Bonobo
- Easy by Tracey Thorn
- Soft Trees Break the Fall by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
- Morning Mr Magpie by Radiohead
Nine Inch NailsRadioheadBoards of CanadaDaft PunkUnderworldBeckThe Bang Gang DeeJaysDJ FoodRöyksoppOrbital菅野よう子Amon TobinDJ VadimThe HerbaliserBonoboThe KnifeLCD SoundsystemNigel GodrichUNKLEEllen Allien & ApparatTotoLornGnarls BarkleyDJ ShadowThievery CorporationKelly BaileyBjörkGorillazTrentemøllerThe SeatbeltsTrent Reznor and Atticus RossFunki PorciniRadioactive ManMassive AttackSiriusmoR.E.M.GoldfrappBasement JaxxHafdis HuldHexstaticSigur RósClarkPlaidJack WallUp, Bustle and OutThe Cinematic OrchestraSteinskiBurialThe xx- 35 plays
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- Grandfather by Lorn23 plays
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Info
- Technology ConsultantInformation Technology and Services | Edinburgh, United Kingdom, GBExperience
- Jan 2010 - PresentTechnology Consultant / Epitome Solutions
Additional Information-
Interests:Productisation, Commercialisation, User Experience, Information Security, Counselling / Psychotherapy, photography.
