This economist is promiscuous when it comes to technology and rates the BBC website highly

What is your favourite website?

I’d like to say something original and interesting, but the truth is I rate the BBC website. For me it’s a benchmark. I’m a great fan of the Beeb anyway and the website provides a sound point of reference.

What is your worst digital habit?

Meandering. What’s worse I forget the pearls of wisdom I consume on the long and winding road back to more productive work. I kid myself it’s browsing, but I’m easily distracted and find myself following odd links out of curiosity.

iPhone/Blackberry/Android. Which side are you on?

No side. I’m promiscuous when it comes to technology, but I opted for Android.

Are you into social networking? (Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook etc)

Well. I signed up to Linkedin, but don’t really use it in any productive way. I tweet as @brickonomics, which I hope has some value, but that isn’t really me, it’s the blog speaking and that has to be “independent”. I’m toying with setting up a non de plume to give me scope to twitter on with opinions and comments more freely.

Are you on Twitter? If so who do you recommend to follow?

I took up the habit in May, after being badgered. I don’t regret it. For keeping me up with aspects I’m lax about tracking, I’d recommend @jules_birch on social aspects of housing, @melstarrs on green issues. For keep up with dodgy use of stats I’d say @FullFact or @Straight_stats. For masterclasses in scatology it’s hard to beat @bengoldacre. I toyed with unfollowing, but somehow the weirdness is addictive.

What is your favourite app?

Android Finance it helps me trade on the go. Just kidding. Bubble Popper, because it keeps the kids happy when we’re stuck with a long wait and I’ve run out of stupid faces to pull.

What is your preferred means of communication? (eg. Email, phone, face to face, text etc)

Face to face, preferably with a pint in hand.

What did you last buy online?

I can’t remember. I prefer shops with people.

PC or Mac?

PC. But I’ve always preferred the Apple concept since the late seventies when I caught sight of an Apple II through the plate glass window of a small architects’ practice. So taken was I and the friend I was with that we walked in to the office to quiz the guys about it. Blown away. 48kB of RAM, floppy disks and everything.

Guilty pleasures: Most played tunes from iTunes/Spotify?

I never really got over the switch from vinyl to cassettes. Digital takes me further from the ritual of “putting music on” and I haven’t really tapped the pleasures available with spotify. Outside the obvious likes of Dylan, Pulp, Tom Waits, Verdi and the Flying Burrito Brothers, the single tune I most often listen to on the ipod, I guess, is Amancer by Mongo Santamaria.

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