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Life of Brian
My old university town of Aberystwyth has hit the headlines again.
The Monty Python film - The Life of Brian - has been banned in the town ever since it was launched in 1979 on the grounds that it is blasphemous.
Aberystwyth's new mayor Sue Jones-Davies, who played the lead character's girlfriend in the film (how coincidental is that?!) is trying to get the ban lifted, but is coming up against strong opposition from the vicar who says it offends Christians.
The thing that made me laugh the most was a quote from the vicar who said that he would be offended if a film insulting his wife was released, so this film is even worse becuase it insults Jesus who he 'loves more than his wife'. I'm sure she is delighted about that!
See the BBC story here
Too much time on their hands
A friend of mine sent me one of those bizarre emails today about a Molluskan Zodiac. I'm not sure if she saw my post yesterday about the slug in the lettuce, but it is quite eerie timing!
However, someone has sat down and devised an alternative zodiac calendar based on invertibrates. Strangely there are only 11 'signs' for this calendar including a Barnacle, a Clam, a Limpet, an Octopus, a Squid, a Slug and a Snail.
If anyone is sad enough to actually want the calendar I can email it to them (I am a Barnacle by the way).
What amazes me is that someone actually has the time to sit down and seriously devise these types of things. Don't they have a day job?
Mollusc with your lunch?
There seems to be a theme emerging here.
I was speaking to a contact of mine earlier today and the subject matter of the insect eggs in the old rocket salad came up again (see 24 July post - Nausea).
However they seem to have beaten my experience - one of their colleagues was eating a nice refreshing salad in the office today and when they lifted up a leaf - and found a slug.
Not only that, but it was still alive.
I suppose it shows that the salad was fresh. Either that or the growers use a completely useless brand of pesticide.
Can anyone top that? Do I really want to know?
Spider bots - Ugh!
Following my nasty bug experience yesterday - an article I was reading in the Metro this morning made me shudder.
In the era of Nano-technology, the US military is investing millions into the development of tiny spy-bots in the form of spiders, flying bugs and even squashy caterpillar type things.
A very clever concept because these bug bots can get into the most remote of places without being noticed, and give soldiers a good view of the site without putting them at risk.
Still, the pictures of the things look so realistic that it makes the skin crawl.
Exclusive: Read all about it
The word exclusive is an interesting concept in today's world of online news.
In the good old days of print, exclusive literally did mean you had the exclusive on the news for at least a whole day or sometimes even a week, but now you are lucky to hold onto the news for a minute with the amount of online coverage a good story receives on the world wide web.
This is a debate we have been mulling over at CRN - if two news organisations post the same story up at the same time, but one goes live literally a minute before the other - who really can claim they have an exclusive?
The answer in my opinion is neither.
Nausea
I'm feeling a little worse for wear this nice sunny afternoon.
Not I hasten to add, through any alcoholic beverage consumption - but the aftermath of a nasty experience during a very nice business lunch.
I had ordered a very nice risotto and rocket side salad, and was just getting into a conversation about the benefits of social networking and Web 2.0, when I glanced down at my plate.
On the underside of one of the pieces of rocket were rows upon rows of orange insect eggs.
I didn't look to closely to determine the species - but it wasn't the most pleasant thing to see in a supposedly plush Soho restaurant. I also didn't want to wait around for the mummy insect to start looking for her would-be offspring.
I did feel sorry for my dining companions because it also put them off their meal, and the restaurant staff did their best to make amends, but sadly the damage has been done.
Needless to say I won't be hurrying back there.
Deadlines
I am getting a lot of complaints at the moment from companies that have managed to get their channel awards entries in on time - and are now furious that the deadline has been extended.
They do have a fair point. If some people have worked very hard to stick to the deadline and others haven't - should those that have had the same amount of warning be allowed extra time?
It is a difficult scenario - as a journalist, deadlines are there for a reason and there is absolutely no way we can extend them - or the magazine ends up with gaping holes. Not an ideal situation.
All I can say to those people is we do appreciate you sticking to the deadline and next year I will be looking very carefully at the deadlines we set. You also have the chance to amend your entry in the few weeks we have left before 15 August - so it is not all bad.
But let me say now - 15 August really is the final deadline - I do not care who the company is - there will be no exceptions. Entries received after 5.30pm on the 15 August will be discounted. I will personally be checking.
Take That
I had a very enjoyable day off last week and went to see the Take That musical - Never Forget. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea - it was great fun and something I would definitely recommend - especially to the girls out there. However I was surprised to see a number of blokes (middle aged as well) in the audience who appeared to know all the words to all the Take That back catalogue. It just goes to show how deceptive appearances can be.
No-one likes a gloater
Some people are more unpleasant than others - that is a fact of life. But one of the worst group of people is those that gloat when they hear bad news. It is definitely not a nice trait in anybody at whatever level. The news might be about someone you don't like, or is a rival - but the sporting thing to do in my opinion is not to crow and bask in the news like it is some petty victory, but in fact to show a little compassion for those who have been most affected. But those gloaters out there should beware - there is a very good proverb that I truly believe in. What goes around, comes around.
Channel Awards Entries
I am getting an amazing number of phone calls from people asking me about channel awards entries and whether there is going to be an extension to the deadline which ends tomorrow. While I cannot reveal too much - let us just say that if you were a couple of days late with your entry (just a couple mind) it would not be the end of the world. And, watch out for an announcement along those lines coming soon.
Doom and gloom
Another cheery email landed in my inbox this morning entitled - Bankrupt Britain. More of a personal finance-type release, rather than one aimed at businesses. Nothing like a light-hearted email to get the spirits soaring. It contained five reasons why the UK is spiralling into a crisis - and to top it all off insinuated that retirement dreams have been smashed by the underperforming stock market. Apparently the UK is being cushioned at the moment - but things are going to get worse. It doesn't need a detective to work that out. I had the misfortune to visit my old hometown last weekend - and the number of closed-down shops in the high street speaks volumes. I was speaking to a contact of mine recently who was telling me about the number of people that are in such bad debt, they are declaring themselves bankrupt at an alarming rate. This is what years of living beyond their means has done to people. I am so glad that I cut up my credit cards when I bought my first house 11 years ago. Credit cards are a slippery slope indeed.
Tiny printers
I try to avoid being an I want one of those type person - but i have just been sent a press release about a new mini printer that is coming to the UK. The Printstik printer, measuring just 48mm x 25mm x 280mm, is Bluetooth enabled and works with devices such as phones, PDAs and laptops. I really am keen to get my hands on one. It looks great and can print three pages a minute when needed. Especially handy for anybody looking to get copies of sensitive government documents when they are conveniently left on a train for all to see.
Rabbits
I have just seen a story that blamed a rabbit for water contamination in my old hometown of Northampton.
Thousands of people were affected by a mysterious bug that contaminated the water system in the area - meaning bottled water had to be used to brush teeth, drink and wash up. It caused chaos.
Luckily for me I moved away from Northamptonshire last year, but most of my family in the area came down with a stomach bug as a result - not a pleasant experience.
I'm not sure what the rabbit did exactly - but maybe someone had upset him? Rabbits can be quite vindictive if you have offended them in the past.
Note to self - be nice to rabbits.
Quiet coach?
I think I'm turning into one of those grumpy old women at the grand old age of 33 - but when I commute home every evening I like to sit in the quiet coach of my train, which is mobile phone and general noise free. Miserable, yes, but it allows me to sleep or sadly catch up on some work that I have been unable to finish.
Now last night - I had been out for a couple of drinks (thanks Catalysis!!) - it was definitely Pimms O'Clock time at 6pm yesterday. Unlike a couple of the CRN team, I managed to leave before the dreaded beer goggles took hold, and all I wanted to do was have an old git nap in the corner of the carriage and read my freebie paper.
No such luck - there were two girls sitting in the quiet coach who read the signs and then decided to call all their friends on speakerphone for the entire journey - interspersed by throwing cheap plonk down their throats as quickly as possible.
How I managed to resist saying something I don't know - but I was not in a very good mood when I arrived home.
Air Con
I am sitting here in the middle of the UK summer - wondering where on earth I can find some fingerless gloves to wear in the office. I don't know about everyone else - but our air con is just too extreme. It is a choice of mega blasts directly onto your fingers and torso - resulting in constant shivering and blue fingers, or the other alternative is to slowly cook in your own juices as the office temperature rises to an unbearable degree. However some parts of the office are hotter than others, meaning the air con has absolutely no effect one way or the other. So no sooner do the blue people turn it off, the red-faced people switch it straight back on again. I'll just have to get out more!
CRN TV
Today is a momentous day for CRN TV.
Our exclusive interview with Josh Claman, vice president of EMEA channels, is finally live. During the interview I ask him about Dell's decision to enter the channel, its plans for partners going forward and also how it plans to help partners maximise the opportunites in an increasingly difficult market.
In the Studio is the new editorial TV interview format, which replaces the old 'On the Sofa with Sara' programmes, that my predecessor, Sara Driscoll, did so well.
There are a couple more interviews in the pipeline - so stay tuned!
The Hoff
I have just joined the official Hoff web site which is absolute genius.
I have been known for my very sad obsession with all things Hoff - I just think the guy is hilarious and I was fortunate enough to meet him a couple of years ago at a press launch - the picture of which still adorns the CRN office wall.
Apparently he did have a Facebook and MySpace site - but he was bombarded with imposters posing as him, so he decided to launch his own dedicated site. Brilliant.
I'm off to have a quick nose around the site - but remember - Don't Hassel the Hoff!
No Brit left in Wimbledon - again
So, Andy Murray crashed out of Wimbledon yesterday I see.
I can't say I'm that upset about it - after all he managed to alienate a huge proportion of the population with his comments about supporting anyone but England in a recent footie tournament. Sporting fans have a very long memory unfortunately for him.
You certainly haven't seen the support for Murray that Tim Henman used to command and I'm wondering if he regrets his rash statement every time he steps out onto Centre Court.
Speaking Geek
I have just been sent an email offering to teach me how to speak geek. I'm not sure how much geek I would actually like to speak - most of my friends think I'm pretty geeky just by the job I do - but it is sometimes fun foxing people outside the IT industry with the terms we all love so much.
On a serious note, the offer is aimed more at managing directors that have to understand what their IT department is on about before making a decision to invest in a certain technology. After all, if the average director of a non-IT company was asked his views about pod-slurping - the unfortunate employee might find their P45 waiting for them on their desk!
