Thursday 22 May 2003

Have you ever noticed those inviting orange buttons on some Web pages, or spotted the odd link pitching an "RSS feed"? If you've ever clicked one out of curiosity, and then scratched your head at the unformatted gobbledygook in your web browser, you've seen an RSS file. What is it really for, anyway? Two things: RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an easy way for sites to share headlines and stories so that other sites can integrate them into their pages. Additionally, some savvy surfers use special RSS aggregators — kind of like mini-browsers — to speedily flip through the latest news and links from dozens of sites. Funny that they focus on the XML Icon in the first sentence. I think it's funny cause I made the icon for Dave. Kinda makes me the man, behind the man, Behind the man. [BryanBell.com] 9:47:29 AM

Leisure consultantsStrategic Leisure, who have written a viability study of Haggerston Pool for Shoreditch New Deal, have reported that restoring the building would cost up to £10 million. On this basis Shoreditch New Deal (now Shoreditch Our Way?) board took the decision that they did not want to take on the pool. Meantime the campaign to re-open Haggerston Pool continues and more low-cost solutions are being sought. ......... Pity a rumoured £34,000,000 was spent on the Clissold Leisure Centre then. This is 'rumoured' because no one knows how much was spent ........... allegedly. 9:39:56 AM

Springfield Park has some of the most interesting and varied flora and fauna in Hackney but it needs an active Users Group to help look after it. If you are interested in joining the Users Group please contact Glyn at glynrhys68@hotmail.com - remember Glyn from here? 9:28:01 AM

The London Pools Campaign now involves 12 pool campaigns across London - including Haggerston Pool, London Fields Lido and York Hall Baths. We are looking for funding for a part-time co-ordinator. Website at http://londonpoolscampaign.ground-level.org. . 9:24:55 AM

This week's Time Out (May 14th) carries a 2 page article about Haggerston Pool and the general run-down of London's swimming pools. Apart from discussing the difficulties faced by the campaign it has a couple of great pictures by Kate Goodrich, a local photographer based at Hot House in Richmond Road. 9:23:25 AM

The proposals for the re-opening of London Field Lido remain in discussion. The Environment Trust has put in a proposal to cover the pool with an agricultural type structure to allow for year round swimming and gym facilities. The cost has risen to £1.4 million as it has been discovered that the pool will have to be re-lined. (I don't know if this is an active link, details can be had from the Environment Trust) 9:16:33 AM

I'm not sure how I missed it, but I've just come across Labour MP Tom Watson's weblog. It provides an excellent insight into the life of a backbench MP and it has the personal tone of voice that the best weblogs need. The content may be of limited interest to non-Britons, but I think it's an excellent example of how an elected politician can make his work and thoughts far more transparent to the electorate. (And he has an RSS feed!) [Davos Newbies] 12:51:26 AM