Murrie Thomson's Blog

Help in the fight against disease

2010-07-26T14:50:00.000+01:00

It was my son-in-law who pointed me towards a web site that asks for the use of idle time on your computer to help find a cure for diseases like cancer and aids, study global warming, discover pulsars, and do many other types of scientific research.

The software - called Bionic - works on Windows, MAC and Linux systems and can be set to run only when your system is idle. It's like thousands of computers each doing a small bit to help find cures and solutions, so enabling scientific research that couldn't be done otherwise.

I have it running on both my MAC desktop and MACBOOK, with no problems at all. Individually, it may not be much but added together, it's helping to make a difference.

Why not take a few moments to find out more. Working together, we can all help: http://boinc.berkeley.edu/

The Benefits of Co-operation

2010-07-13T14:55:00.000+01:00

In an age of what often seems like continuous change, it's not uncommon to hear some people refer to the good old days where everything, it seems, was better!

In many cases, this may hold some truth but I never cease to appreciate how much things have changed for the better in relation to location photography.

In the 'Old Days', it was not uncommon to be taken to the shop floor - or wherever the location was - and be told to 'take some pictures!' You were then left to your own devices and inevitably, no one knew what was wanted or needed - and sometimes didn't even know you were coming.

This usually resulted in photographs that were below the expectation of all concerned and although this didn't happen on every occasion, it was the scenario more times that not. It also highlights the dread of having a client who has no idea of what they want.

Fast forward to today's environment where, almost without exception, the customer knows exactly what he or she wants in terms of photographic content and works with you - and often beside you - to produce the required result.

When co-operation comes from every level of the business, there is almost never any hassle, the job is usually finished faster, the photographs are spot on and everyone is happy!!

This is one area where I'm happy to forget the not-so-good-old-days from the past!!

Advertising - but not as we know it.

2010-07-12T10:08:00.001+01:00

I've been feeling more than a bit guilty of late as I haven't been updating my blog as planned. However, my excuse is that I've been working on a few business projects, mainly in the form of three new web sites for the business.

Over the the years, we have never had any real success as a result of advertising of any kind. We are very methodical when it comes to noting the source of any new business and advertising is always at the bottom of the list. I've no idea why this is but, nevertheless, it is a mysterious fact of our business life!

However, at the end of our last financial year, we decided to take a few active promotional steps by way of three new web sites.

Over the years our business has developed in a way that responded to the requests of our clients. It all started with photography of course but, after after a few years, customers began asking for additional services. It's no surprise that these were 'complimentary' to photography and they can be categorised as Graphic Design and Printing.

Trading as 194media, these, along with some 'spin-off' services, were - and still are - featured on our web site: www.194media.com

However, we realised that the word 'media' covers a wide range of products and services and that perhaps we should be a bit more direct in our approach. The result was a decision to set up three new web sites, all with names relating to the products and services we provide and the first of these is now live.

As the name suggests, PrintingWestLothian.com highlights an expanded range of printing services including: Leaflets & Brochures, Business Stationery, Carbonless Forms, Posters and more. Although the site is live, we haven't yet began any active promotion, but this will kick in, hopefully, within the next 14 days at which time customers and potential customers will be able to consider what Printing West Lothian has to offer.

The other two sites will be started very soon and we look forward to working on these exciting new developments!

Life and business goes on

2010-05-07T13:42:00.000+01:00

Well, the election is over, and although there is a lot of negotiation still to come, our new government will be much different from the one before.

But regardless of who is in power, life - and business - goes on. We had already decided to create three new web sites, each one focusing on a different area of of the business. Despite of the economic situation, we feel there are many opportunities in the marketplace and that this is not a time to be timid.

Any new business initiative is exciting and we look forward to creating new opportunities for the future. We hope to have the first site up and running in about two weeks and the others will follow on as soon as is possible.

Our aim has always been to provide high quality products and services to our customers and this policy will continue as we move forward.

Scary online stuff

2010-04-20T14:29:00.000+01:00

There's usually never a day goes by with some kind of scare about online security but this story on the BBC technology pages illustrates just how sophisticated cyber criminals have become.

Toolkits are being created and sold that allow novice cyber criminals to build their own malware - and the 'makers' are even offering telephone support to help them on their way!!

Well worth a look and you can see the full story here.

Training not plane-ing!!

2010-04-20T13:52:00.000+01:00

With the disruption in air travel, lots of commuters are being forced to switch to alternative forms of transport. I've joined that club today as I travel by rail in the company of a client for a photo-shoot in Stratford.

In terms of journey time, it is of course much slower, but It's also easy to forget the advantages of rail travel.

No need to be at the departure point two hours in advance, none of the increasingly more invasive security measures and when 'on board' much more comfortable - and roomy - seats.

But it wouldn't be the done thing not to have a gripe and in our online age, it's a bit disappointing for the train not to have free wifi.

Not that I'm mean in any way but even when traveling on a Stagecoach bus, there's free wifi. They are looking for more business passengers and this is a naturally attractive feature.

I do have a dongle for web access but even in the short time since leaving Edinburgh, I've had to reconnect numerous times.

If the rail companies want to attract more customers - of both the business and leisure variety - I think this had to be a 'given'.

Train travel allows passengers to work while on the move but as railways, by their very nature, are routed through the countryside, mobile reception can be somewhat intermittent. Wifi would surely eliminate that problem.

Apart from this, it's nice to enjoy the space and not having to obey the 'fasten seatbelt' sign!!

Of course, I'll be returning by the same route tomorrow evening and I wonder if I'll still feel the same way after my almost 7 hour homeward journey!!

Anyway, what next?? A Chris Ryan novel or my trusty iPod ... ??

Annoying or What??

2010-04-18T20:32:00.000+01:00

Let's face it, we all get annoyed by different things. Something that bothers me a lot, may simply wash over you and that's just one of those things.

Now, I'm not an international jet setter but do have to fly from time to time and something that really annoys me are the 'discretionary' fees charged by budget airlines.

Most of us have been there. Flight for £5 but when it comes to the bottom line, it ends up at something like £55 - or more - and the element that really bugs me the most is the charge they make for using your credit or debit card.

Not just a one-off fee, but more than likely, a fee for each person in the party. So instead of a one-off (say) £10 'credit/debit card fee', a family of four would pay £40.

What's that all about?? The bank charge for using a debit card would probably cost the airline less than 50p and for a credit card, around 3% of the value of the transaction.

It seems a bit obvious that it's all part of the illusion to make the flights seem cheaper than they actually are.

Even the Visa Electron card formerly touted by Ryanair as being free to use, now it would seem attracts a fee.

However, there are cards you can use to eliminate these charges and I've picked up all this info - and more - at 'money saving expert'.

You can read Martin Lewis' tips on what cards you need here - and it's well worth taking a look.

As well as credit/debit card info, there's also tips on how to avoid - or at least reduce - other budget airline charges.

The retirement question!!

2010-04-18T19:20:00.000+01:00

I was out on a photo-shoot recently with a client I've known for many years and, out of the blue, he asked me if I had ever thought about retiring. Now I don't think for a minute there was any ulterior motive but I had to say that it's not something that's presently on my agenda.

Indeed, my wife often says that if we won the lottery, SHE would retire, adding that she knows I couldn't suddenly stop working. And why would I want to??

There are lots and lots of people who just don't like their jobs and in today's high pressure work environment I think that's simply a sad fact of life but, for me, I just enjoy what I'm doing.

In photographic terms, I get to go places I would never normally have access to and to photograph people I would never usually get close to.

For our non-photographic work, I'm looking to launch two new web sites in a bid to attract more business so no retirement for me!!

I just hope and pray that I continue to be lucky and enjoy what I'm doing and when the time comes to set aside my working tools, it will all be very obvious.

But in the meantime ........ thanks but no thanks!!

A worrying addiction - not an April Fool ..!!

2010-04-01T11:52:00.003+01:00

As I start the second month of our new business financial year I find myself getting a strange enjoyment from using our new accounting system - KASHFLOW.

Nothing unusual here you might say, but I'm the kind of person who has NEVER taken an interest in this side of the business. It's always been someone else's job. The words 'barge pole' come to mind - and a long barge pole at that!!

It might seem strange then that it was me who researched and introduced the new system for 194media.

In 1997, we began using PC based payroll and accounting software from a well-known company. However, when the annual support charge for payroll went up to what I felt was just too steep, we switched to the Payroo online system.

With no backups to worry about and all the tax legislation automatically updated, it was - and is - very quick and simple to use, with end of year figures submitted to HMRC.

Support for our accounting programme came to an end and I always worried about computer crashes and lost data - not to mention that we had almost completely switched to using MACs.

I started looking around at the start of the year and took the free three month KASHFLOW trial. It was great. Easy to get around and simple to use - and being an online system, programme updates are a thing of the past - they just 'happen'!!

There are lots of optional add-on features as well. But wait, I've said enough. This is not like me at all and any suggestion that I might start to 'enjoy' getting involved in managing accounts is very worrying indeed!!

Firefox Concern

2010-03-23T19:17:00.000Z

As an enthusiastic user of the the 'Firefox' browser, I was a bit concerned to read about the possible security threat in version 3.6. (See BBC web site)

I happen to think that Firefox is a great browser, well ahead of the competition, but this is of course is down to personal preference.

The vulnerability has been fixed by the early release of an program update and - needless to say - I have updated Firefox on all my computers.

This is a problem frequently associated with another well-known browser but goes to show that we can never be complacent about anything to do with internet security.

Firefox is 'supported' by an awesome array of add-ons and unless there is an on-going threat, will probably remain loyal.

From football to golf

2010-03-22T18:53:00.000Z

Business seems to be tinged with a sporting theme right now!! Called in to see a client today about photographing a range of golf-related products and the work will keep me busy of the next couple of days.

These images are for use in a catalogue as well as on online and I wouldn't like to take a guess how long ago it was we did our first set of photographs for this long-established West Lothian business!!

Pumpherston United Sponsorship - Photo Update

2010-03-22T16:14:00.003Z

Here are the Pumpherston United '1997' team with their new training tops.
More details on the club website.

Congratulations to Radio Telecom Services

2010-03-21T17:31:00.000Z

We'd like to extend congratulations to our client Radio Telecom Services on their appointment as sole distributor for a new rescue communications helmet range.

The equipment was praised by a leading Incident Commander at the recent Cumbria Floods and the full press report can be seen here.

The product will be on show at Bapco 2010 London in April.

Pumpherston United

2010-03-21T17:20:00.000Z

I was delighted to be able to provide some sponsorship to Pumpherson United '1997' team in the form of new training tops.

I should state a declared interest in that my Grandson Ryan is team captain but the boys are doing really well at the moment, sitting 3rd in the league. On 20 points, they are just three points behind the leaders, who have played four more games.

As we say on the touchline, 'C'mon the Pumphy!!'

New Year - New Blog!!

2010-03-21T17:08:00.000Z

As 194media begins a new financial year, I felt the time must be right to finally create - and maintain - a new 194/Murrie Thomson blog. The idea has been there for a while but now I really must put my thoughts into action.

Our new financial year began on March 1st and the month so far has been very encouraging. Along with other new business, we've picked up a 'design & print' client in the form of an newsletter and in photography terms, this past week has been one of the busiest for a long time.

I've said it before but I have to say again that we are very lucky in having clients who have been with us for many, many years and for their on-going loyalty, I once more extend my sincere thanks and appreciation.

An important decision we also took earlier in the year was to switch to a new accounting program. The one we have used since 1997 was PC based, with all the data stored on the hard drive.

I've always been a bit paranoid about this and, as we have now switched completely to MACs, needed a new accounting system.

For several years now, we have been using 'Payroo' to handle our payroll. This online system is simple to use and is automatically updated with any new PAYE or Tax legislation. It's fully approved by HMRC and, apart from a small fee to submit end of year returns, is completely free.

In searching for a similar system to manage our accounts, we opted for 'KASHFLOW'. It's not free, but for a non-accounting person like myself, it's very simple and easy to use. I've also been impressed by the amount of information that's instantly available at the ubiquitous 'touch of a button'.

Completely online, these systems are suitable for both MAC and PC.

You can find more information on 'Payroo' here and too visit the 'KASHFOW' website, just click here.