Well, it is now. As predicted, I didn’t get the Vice Chairman role. I knew it before I got there. But, never-the-less, I still gave it 100%, my speech was loved and I let no-one down.

But I still feel robbed. Kind of. Without the behind-my-back nasty comments, how would I have done? It might be that I still wouldn’t have got it. But why?

The person who did get the role has been performing the Patrons & Subscriptions role which I handed over to her 4 years ago. This has been her only position on the Committee. The subscriptions part of her role is now virtually non-existent as most are now done via Direct Debit. Never-the-less she didn’t spot the fact that for 8 months last year I changed my DD to that of a non-acting member. How do I know she didn’t spot it? Well, she had last years show programme show me as an acting member. Plus she makes a big thing of ensuring ALL money is in by the end of the year because of the accounts. Although I had good reason for this change, I was never given an opportunity to explain it.

The second part of her job is recruiting and looking after Patrons. The patron numbers have halved during her 4 year tenure.

So, what has she been doing?

Well, first of all, nobody probably knew this because NO-ONE asked her any questions after her speech. I assume I was the only one to have done some homework.

So they’ve elected, as Vice Chairman, someone who has shown during the last 4 years that she can do a below-average job. What does that say about the fact that I lost?

Last year, for the first time, I was acknowledged during the AGM for my work, especially on the website. This year, once again, it didn’t happen.

So, my conclusions are… I’m not seen as useful (certainly not wanted as a useful member of the committee) and work, which I don’t actually have to be doing, is un-appreciated. Charming.

Of course, I’m wary that all of this will look like sour grapes. But how else am I supposed to interpret this? As a vote of confidence it’s damning. And, let’s be honest, after the “rumour” that’s been floating around, I may as well throw my toys out of the pram as it’s probably what people will be expecting.

Here are a few things that made me think the voting wasn’t going to go my way… nasty rumours being spread behind my back, friends not responding to emails asking for their support, the out-going Chairman making a joke to my competition about not being on the committee YET… and so on.

So what to do now.

I’m certainly not feeling good vibes towards my friends right now but, then again, I never like to make a hasty decision. I suspect a long dose withdrawing my assistance may be called for. But I’ll admit that the damage may already have been done.

Maybe my CV will end up in the post to some other local groups.

Maybe I’ll give up on this theatre malarkey altogether and concentrate on friends who aren’t spiteful behind your back, and appreciate you a little more.

I assume they exist.

I blogged recently with a simple script for adding a Google map onto your site. I’ve since written an enhanced PHP script, so thought I’d share it.

First of all, you’ll need to download the following 2 PHP scripts…

map_head.php

map_main.php

The first file must be added into the HEAD section of your HTML in the following way…

<?php
include('map_head.php?key=xxx');
?>

You need to replace xxx with your Google Maps API key.

Now, in the BODY of your code, where you wish the map to appear you will need the following code…

<?php
$width="700px";
$height="400px";
$border_col="#808080";
$options="1YYY";
$xcoord="-1.218501";
$ycoord="52.927571";
$zoom="2";
$popup="Name Here<br/>Address Here<br/>Another line<br/>Another line";
include('map_main.php');
?>


Replace $width and $height with the size that you require the map to be. $border_col is the colour that you want the map border to be. $xcoord and $ycoord is the, you guessed it, x and y co-ordinates of where you want the map pin (and the centre of the map) to go. $zoom is the starting zoom level. $popup is the contents of the popup message that appears next to your pin - lines should be separated by the <br/> command.

Finally, $options indicates whether certain options are in use or not. Use “N” to switch off any of these.

The first flag is a number between 1 and 3. Depending on which it is, the following map option is switched on…

1. GLargeMapControl - a large pan/zoom control used on Google Maps. Appears in the top left corner of the map by default.
2. GSmallMapControl - a smaller pan/zoom control used on Google Maps. Appears in the top left corner of the map by default.
3. GSmallZoomControl - a small zoom control (no panning controls) used in the small map blowup windows used to display driving directions steps on Google Maps.

The second flag should be set to Y to be switched on and displays the map scale.

The third flag should be set to Y to be switched on and displays buttons that let the user toggle between map types (such as Map and Satellite).

The final flag should be set to Y to be switched on and displays a collapsible overview map in the corner of the screen.

Now, the code I’ve supplied has no error checking in it, so supplying the wrong parameters will give unpredictable results. Or it will just break.

If you have any problems or questions about it, feel free to contact me.

Apparently the UK gets a lot of earthquakes. But they’re not usually very strong, so last nights was the first time I’ve experienced one. And it was a doozy. Okay, so a magnitude of 5.2 isn’t huge, but if it’s your first time, it’s rather frightening.

At 1 o’clock I was rudely awakened from a bad dream by the whole house shaking, in particular my bedroom wardrobe which was vibrating violently. Coming out of a nightmare into that meant that reality and my dream blurred and it caused me to panic. Living close to the M1 and a train line doesn’t help either, so I had no idea of what had happened. Anyway, I soon calmed down but then suffered from shock. Nothing was on the TV for quite some time, but eventually the news of the earthquake trickled through. It was quite some time before I wandered off to bed again, so I’m feeling rather (yawn) tired today.

Tonight, I attempt to become the BMTG Vice-Chairman. My speech has been modified again, but I made a final print last night. It’s actually quite good, even if I do say so myself, and I’ll publish it here afterwards.

Fingers crossed.

Finally… Copy+ has had an “emergency” update as Italy’s equivalent to PC World wish to promote it. As it didn’t actually work for Sky Italia (it makes you wonder whether they knew what the software was for), Stuart has made the appropriate changes so that it now will. If you have a Sky+ / SkyHD (or foreign XTV equivalent) box and haven’t come across this software, it’s rather useful. And free.

TotalEdit

Download from… http://www.codertools.com

Download size… 5.65MB
Installation size… 12.93MB

It isn’t often I try out a new code editor and get excited. But TotalEdit is doing precisely that.

Let’s see what it’s got…

1. Resizable word wrap
2. Line numbering
3. Ability to easily add multiple browser launch
4. Correctly syntax checks PHP embedded within HTML code
5. Work on a USB stick
6. It’s quick to launch
7. Remembers previously opened files

What isn’t there? Well, there isn’t much else, including plugins. My current editor, Notepad++, has those and I don’t use them. It’s also rather bloated compared to others. But, then again, I’m putting it on an external USB drive where space isn’t an issue.

But, there is ONE issue. It isn’t much but that’s all it takes for a product to go from being the best one to being “nearly there”. Whenever I close the program and restart it the explorer toolbar resets back to the root directory structure. It’s remembered the files I was editing, but not the matching folder structure (and as I have my web development files neatly on a USB drive under lots of sub-folders, this is laborious).

Shame, otherwise I may have been switching editors.

I’m going to contact the authors and see if there’s a solution (I can’t find anything in the preferences)… I’ll wait until I get a reply (or not) before I give this software a final score. My hope is that there is a solution.

27/02/2008 Update
I received a rather speedy reply yesterday from the authors of the software. There is no facility to do what I was after, but they were already looking at modifying the under-used project facilities to do something similar - as in, link the project to a specific folder. The current version was to include this but it didn’t make it in. They’ll hopefully now include it in a later update.

So, I’ll keep an eye out and re-check the program once the update occurs. In the meantime… the software gets 4 (out of 5) stars. So nearly there, but I’m sticking with NotePad++ in the meantime.

As you are probably aware from my various blog entries, I’m a member of a local theatre group. I do as much as I can to help, including creating and running their website (with next to no feedback or comments from either members of committee), designing posters, etc, etc. And I’m happy to do it.

I’ve also been on the committee twice before. Once, looking after the patrons. Then, later, as a Society Representative. Unfortunately, due to illness I resigned from the latter role, stating that it was due to “personal reasons” (I really didn’t feel the need to give exact details!).

Now, the position of Vice President has become free and I’ve put my name forward. On Wednesday night myself and, at least one other person, will present our case and the votes will be cast.

In the past, senior positions on the committee have caused some nastiness from within the society, as people take sides. Except there’s no real need for it and it just causes ill feelings. At least one person fell out the last time this happened and I think it affected others, who have not since been quite so involved as they once were.

You’d think history would teach a lesson, but as nothing was done about it that time, it continues. This time the daggers have come out for me. “Don’t vote for him, when he doesn’t get his way he resigns from the committee,” is how the rumours is going around. In some versions I’ve resigned twice, in others 4 times (an impossibility, as you can only resign once from a position!).

And you know.. it does hurt. People who you regard as friends being spiteful and vindictive behind your back.

So far I’m saying nothing. I’ve written a speech for Wednesday which a friend (who also put forward my nomination for the  role), who also happens to a psychology degree, helped check. In particular, it’s checked to ensure I don’t accidentely make the mistake myself - the speech is about me and why I’m good for the role. It insults no-one and makes no mention of anyone else who is going for the same role.

To be honest, the damage is probably already done towards me. The “rumour” has probably been directed at new members, who won’t know better. The competition was already quite stiff, and I suspect this will have put an end to my chances.

But, as I say, I’m saying nothing unless asked. All I can do now is my best and, even if nobody else wants to, I’m determined there will be at least some integrity remaining from all of this.