"Every little deal is a big deal."
Fishes Interview #8 with Albert, of retinascope.co.uk
a delightful peek into retinascope's unusual, oddball and humorous photographs and animated films portfolio. Albert is also a collector of old wireless, a comedian and a opinionated ole coot!
about the father's business - Fishes Interviews
Candid interviews with web site builders & designers "A series of interviews with online shop owners, artists, musicians and business owners, all are celebrities in my book. Level of web design, W3C Validation or CSS and HTML expertise is not as important as their hopes, dreams, struggles and accomplishments. "
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Welcome to the Fishes Candid Interviews | design by atfb, web design and custom graphics, photograph restoration, photograph enhancement and logo creation.
Albert, are you ready? Let's go!
QUESTION: I know you are familiar with the fish image and the history, so Albert, if you would identify yourself with a fish in the image and tell us why you did so.
Answer: I would be the Tiddler if one is there....tiny, quick with a few spikes!
QUESTION: If you don't mind, what do you do in "real life".
Answer: Not sure what "real life" is? Most of my life seems "unreal" at times!
QUESTION: What site domains or subdomains constitute your site(s)?
Answer: Blimey, here come the technical questions. www.retinascope.co.uk
QUESTION: Where are you located? You don't have to provide me with details, just a overview, like country.
Answer: The UK. Tucked away in a tiny corner of an English village with Honeysuckle around the door and windows. (they need a clean!)
QUESTION: Albert, how did you settle on your domain name (s)? How long has your site been online?
Answer: A retinascope is an instrument for bringing an image to a sharp focus on the eye's retina, so retinascope followed from that. On line 1.5 years.
QUESTION: What prompted you to build your web site (s)?
Answer: I wished folk to see something rather unusual. So much of the web is run of the mill stuff, so I try to add a little different sparkle if I can.
QUESTION: What Albert, was the "dumbest" question you've ever asked concerning website design or implementation? Feel free to elaborate if you need to.
Answer: There isn't one that I can think of. Most of my questions are pretty dumb and I'm dumber still, in that I seldom understand the answers given!
QUESTION: Do you feel your site is finished or do you still have grander goals? Elaboration is expected.
Answer: My life's philosophy now is to attempt to make at least one person smile or laugh every day. My website helps me do this. Grander goals? To make two people smile every day!
QUESTION: Your photographs indicate that you see things a bit differently then most. Do you? Which is your favorite photo and why?
Answer: Although I am 73 years of age I try to see the world partly through a child's eye. Many adults loose that imaginative creativity that we see in children as they mature into adults. I help keep mine by doing many childish things. Kicking through the leaves in Autumn being one. My favorite photo? Horse Brasses," because it combines my engineering background (the 2BA brass nuts!) with my imagination, and it also reflects the vulgarity that I have in my nature!
QUESTION: You're also a avid collector of old wireless. I read on your site that you've slept fully clothed in an armchair, so you could rise early and tramp around London looking for them, do you still do this?
Answer: No, cannot do that anymore as I no longer live in London....and getting rather past it for tramping, but I do tramp around eBay now!
QUESTION: Albert, what was your most profound moment as it relates to your web site (s)? And if you can, what was the most disastrous moment?
Answer: When I first typed my URL on my keyboard, pressed 'return' and up came my index page on screen. Sheer magic! Never had a disastrous moment yet. (Says he, tempting providence!)
QUESTION: How do you balance your web building time and your life time? Do you feel you balance it well? Does your wife venture forth with you on photo and or filming expeditions?
Answer: My wife has made animated films too which are on my site. My site is updated every two months with new photos etc, so don't spend much time on it. My wife, bless her little cotton socks, supports me in everything I do, as I do her.
QUESTION: Many elderly citizens shy away from the internet as being 'beyond them'. You seemed to have jumped in and embraced the new technology. What advice do you have for those who think they're past it?
Answer: Gosh, me, an elderly citizen!! If you're past it like me then, just turn around and go back until you are level with it again!
QUESTION: Albert, what are your dreams and aspirations? They don't have to relate to your website.
Answer: I would like to have replied, "To go back to the 1930's," but as that is not possible I guess my answer is always stay young at heart and meet my black oblivion when it comes with a smile and hopefully even a laugh and a joke! ("Hello, oblivion, when did you die?")
QUESTION: What would you say was the most difficult part of building your site (s)? What would you say were the easiest parts?
Answer: Ah, more techy questions. As you may know I am the most ignorant of web site builders so my most difficult part was in trying to understand how to use my site builder which is a WYSIWYG application. WYG (or what I get!) not always turning out to be WYS! hee hee
QUESTION: How do you feel about following the W3C validation recommendations?
Answer: I do not feel qualified to express any answer here either way. The knowledgeable say one should but in my bolshy ignorant way, I don't!
QUESTION: How much attention do you feel you pay to web standards and accessibility issues?
Answer: Very little. For example, I know that images should have alt tags but I forget to put them in on many occasions. My untidiness shows on my website too.
QUESTION: I read recently that the program you use to build and maintain your site is now offering a upgrade, one that is promoted as being better equipped to produce cleaner more compliant code. Are you Albert going to utilize it?
Answer: Probably not. My experience with upgrades has not been very good, probably because half of the time I don't know what I am doing and in the other half I know what I am doing but my PC doesn't know what I am doing.
QUESTION: If you had one bit of advice or a tidbit of knowledge to impart, what would it be?
Answer: Try to be as original in all things as your last drop of blood will allow you to be. It will help keep you and those around you fresh and young in outlook.
QUESTION: If you could post two links to websites, that you consider to be outstanding sites what would they be? They don't have to be outstanding due to validation, css or web standards just outstanding in that they are interesting, helpful and or contribute to the overall betterment of the web wide world.
Answer: That's easy. Google and eBay.
QUESTION: I've asked other's and would like to ask you, what is your natural born talent (s)? Would you agree that everyone has them?
Answer: Seeing things that others might miss. (to look is not to see.). Linking my engineering background with my creative side. I am rather dubious about the second question, having met some in my longish life that do not seem to have any talent, except for rudeness, greed and selfishness etc. So yes, everyone has talent, but not always good.
QUESTION: Are there any questions you would have liked me to ask but I didn't? If so please do elaborate.
Answer: Depends on whether we can wander away from websites. Questions on religion,life and death maybe? My greatest hate is the religious indoctrination of innocent children. Thankfully, my parents brought me up as a free thinker and that is the greatest gift that a parent can bestow upon any child. (Thanks, Mum and dad.)
QUESTION: How do you feel about this interview and the process? Do you have any recommendations or suggestions to make?
Answer: I would expand the range of questions to find out more what makes people tick. Put 'em through utter hell!
QUESTION: I know you are a writer of poetry and witty original quotes and or sayings, can you leave us with one?
Answer: Some might say rather vulgar, although I am pleased to have thought of it myself. It's taken from my website....... " If the Buck stops here, how can the Doe go all the way?"
Thank You Albert! I found myself fascinated with the Tie Bar Photographs and their functions.
