IT consultants need to start acting like accountants, solicitors, and architects
In the wake of IR35 legislation, I believe there is an exciting opportunity for IT contractors... if they start acting like accountants, solicitors, and architects.
Aug 19, 2024
Software Development
I will not do you a quick favour
After many years of being asked to do 'quick favours' for friends and family, I had no choice but to start saying no.
Jul 28, 2024
Software Development
Fat Tony’s Under Water: My Dream Startup Incubator
In 1946 George Orwell wrote his short essay ‘The Moon Under Water’, describing what his dream pub would look like. Heavily influenced by this (in fact, some paragraphs are nearly identical), I have decided to write a modern version of Orwell’s essay, describing my dream startup incubator.
May 29, 2024
Fat Tony's Pubs Software Development
From the Anti-Library: Poetry
Over the course of its lifetime, the Fat Tony’s Discord server received thousands of posts in it’s Anti-library channel. In the first of series of articles, I’m going to group the best of these book recommendations by genre and present them here for posterity
Aug 10, 2023
Fat Tony's Misc
Know your Razors, Guillotines & Hammers
Navigating modernity can be tough. Luckily philosophers, poets, and great thinkers over the centuries has developed a number of mental shortcuts, in the form of heuristics, razors, guillotines, and other aphorisms.
Jul 16, 2023
Misc
Farewell to the Gardeners Arms
The other day I received bittersweet news that the Gardeners Arms in Oxford had closed; bitter because it’s my favourite pub in the world. Sweet, because I know long time custodians David and Jenny are now enjoying a well deserved retirement after 30 years behind the bar.
Apr 28, 2023
Pubs
Au Revoir to Discord
After two wonderful years of Happy Hours, Book Klubs, and thousands of conversations, we will be closing down the Fat Tony’s Discord server on November 13th.
Apr 04, 2023
Fat Tony's
Welcome back to the Lamb & Flag
Last week I received great news — The historic Lamb and Flag in Oxford has reopened.
Mar 09, 2023
Pubs
Micro-hubs are the Future of Work
Working from home sucks for a lot of people. Conversely, people are in no rush to return to long commutes to soulless city centres offices. A decentralised network of micro-hubs would allow people to work locally, inject accountability into communities and help regenerate the high-street.
Apr 14, 2022
Misc
Heuristics and Aphorisms from a Decade in Software Development
An average developer who is a great communicator will be far more successful than a great developer who is an average communicator.
Feb 20, 2022
Software Development