Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present a new breakthrough in web site design and development - the Alcohol Based Usability Testing Theorem (hereafter ABUTT).

The basis of ABUTT is that usability testing can be difficult to organise but that so long as you can organise the proverbial piss up in a brewery you can still gain most of the benefits of usability testing and improve employee happiness at the same time.

How ABUTT works

First, take your team to the pub for a good old fashioned liquid lunch.

Then, take them back to the office and ask them to test the web site. With the alcohol coursing through their bloodstream their co-ordination, memory, reading and comprehension skills are all impaired. In other words, they begin to approach the level of web use skill demonstrated by the average man in the cyber-cafe.

Watch and take notes.

Well it should demonstrate Fitts’ Law if nothing else.

One of the few joys in commuting through Victoria station is the chance to admire the Dalek toilets. The what? you cry. Well, next time you’re at Victoria look at the sign above the toliets on the main concourse. There you will see four icons indicating, from left to right, that there are toliets for women, men, wheelchair users, and Daleks. And now you know why you thought the sound of the announcer’s voice was familiar.

This is the third monthly census of TMP region from the NationStates game. The Great Clans of Neandethalia (which is me) is proud to serve this noble region as their UN delegate.
August’s census | September’s census
Statistics compiled with the aid of NSEconomy .

Census highlights

• 32 member nations, (down 15 - 1 new arrival, 1 departure, 15 nations ceased to exist),
• 8 UN members (down 3).
• Most prevalent UN category is Inoffensive Centrist Democracy with 10 nations,
• Most prevalent UN category amongst UN members is Inoffensive Centrist Democracy with 3 nations.
• Total regional population is 19,811 million,
  Largest population is The Dominion of Plethasaurys (1,448 milliom),
  Smallest population is The Rogue Nation of Yorkshiremen in exile (100 million).
• Largest Trade Surplus is The Dominion of Plethasaurys ($289 billion),
  Largest Trade Deficit is The Protectorate of Cousin IT ($120 billion).