links for 2009-02-02

"Twenty years after communism's collapse, former members of the Soviet-bloc are celebrating. But that doesn't mean there aren't things Hungarians miss, writes a Budapest-based contributor to The Economist. Some feel nostalgia for the certainty of a one-party system, others for the jokes...". Economist article re-published with additional photograph from my Flickr stream.

"Inspired by Tom Taylor’s microprinter project, I’ve bought a Citizen CBM-231 thermal reciept printer of my own". For most people, this micro-printer hacking sounds fun. For me, it just brings back memories of trying to coax the damned things back into life during busy Saturday afternoons running a West End shop in the 90s which was when they inevitably decided to pack up.

Rather than vaguely flailing around and saying "It will all be ok if you just stop the presses", the Newsosaur weighs in with some maths.

Interesting, given the series that I am currently publishing, that John Welsh suggests: "the more you can make your navigation like your online competitors, the easier people will find what they want on your own site".

"In an innovative move, Big Finish's series of talking books will tie closely into the third year of the show, reflecting the themes, plots and characters of the season as it unfolds. The first release will be available shortly after the first episode of Robin Hood's third season airs on BBC1."

US report looking at Islamic groups that are not advocating war on the West. [via DocuTicker]