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  • Working from home

    I'm working from home today, it's nice to get up late and doddle around, sitting in ones shorts, drinking coffee, not having to have faced the grind of going on the train and messing around w/ parking and walking about.

    Actually, as a result I tend to get a whole lot more done too (when I'm not blogging that is) . It isnt for everyone though, some people are that disciplined, some people might just lol around all day doing nish, needing the office or work environment to get on and do what they do.

    Inabit

  • Micro Blogging with Twitter

    I spend a lot of time on twitter these days, I have done for a while, since March 2007.

    Here is a selection of my tweet timeline , most of them are boring, some are pithy, some are just networky sharing things.

    tweets17-02-2009 10-52-04

    Do you tweet? What is your @name?

  • Gambling at Casinos who do you choose online?

    I haven't been to a Casino in a while, in fact the last time I visited one was back in 2002 with a bro in law and I lost £100!

    The main reason is that today you can gamble online almost anywhere these days Virgin have a Casino where you can play Poker or  Bingo or  Roulette or any other number of related games.

     Nothing new there of course 888.com have similar as do getminted.com  (same company)

    The first page of Google leaves you with bundles to choose from, just take a look at this screen shot for the search term Bingo.

    bingo serp

    But seeing that, who do you use? What informs your choice? How do you decide?

    I went the safe route, having used others in the past ( and ending up worrying about being ripped off) I opted to use Virgin games. Not because their games are better or you win more, but simp[ly because they are a big brand name who are less likely to have me over.

    What about you? Do you gamble online? Who have you used?

    P.s If you are a linkspammer looking to get a free link to your dodgy affiliate program, then please, don't bother I'll delete it in a heartbeat.

  • SEO London Job post

    I wrote a little blog post here on the subject of looking for an  SEO Job London.

    If you know of anyone who's looking for work or has been playing around in the space who has a bit of talent for the gig, then do please ask them to check it out!

    Thanks :)

     

  • Harley Davidsons rock, according to Dave

    I was talking with my friend Dave over MSN this morning about his Harley Davidson Motorbike. He’s nuts on the things, he puts on all the leather and dark glasses and all the other biker stuff and just gets into it.

     

    I asked why he liked the things so much, he said didn’t know whether it was seeing photo’s of the old ‘Knucklehead’ as he called it or sitting on his dad’s ‘Shovelhead’ that first got him attracted to them but as far back as he could remember, he’d had a loving interest in what he described as ‘these beautiful machines’.


    The looks.  The smell.  The noise.  Take two of these away and he reckoned he’d be able to tell you if it was a Harley Davidson.  The iconic look, the unique oily-leather smell and that unforgettable noise.  Beautiful.  

    My response being, to each to their own!

    For the past 15 years, he’d only ever owned Harley motorbikes.  He’d had a brief encounter with an old Kawasaki a few years back, but apparently you don’t talk about that (according to him).  His first Harley was a 1985 Harley Davidson XL Ironhead. He’d bought it second (or possibly third, fourth or fifth) hand. 

    Its leather was torn and scuffed.  The headlight was missing, a mirror was smashed and the exhaust had practically rusted away. 

    But it was his.  He had his own Harley Davidson and no one could take that away from him.  Well, except those guys who managed to hot wire it whilst he was on holiday. 

    He never got it back, but got a tidy sum from the insurance company, which went towards his next Harley – a 1996 Evolution.

    Funny reading someone talk with such passion for a big old lump of metal - He’d had this Harley for just less than 10 years and still wishes he had it.   To see him rap on about ‘The 45 degree V-twin air cooled engine’ which he said felt like Michael Parks in “Then Came Bronson” with his first Harley. 

    It felt…amazing.  It was stunning, absolutely stunning.  Unfortunately, times were hard and he needed some cash so his beloved Evo had to go.  It was a sad day.


    He went on to say how three months later he’d gained a significant promotion at work and decided to treat himself.  Have a guess what to…got it in one.  A brand new 2004 VRSCA V-Rod Harley.  His words.

    Not second hand.  Not tried and tested and taken back, but 100% brand new, off the production line.


    He still drives it today.  Although he say he misses his Evolution, but he’s never going to have it back.  It’s in the past and it was a good time in his riding life.  Now he’s got a VRSCA and couldn’t be happier with it. 

    Saying that, he said he'd just seen some photo’s of a 2009 touring model – new frame, 17 inch wheels and a six gallon tank! I think he’d better start saving now as Harley Davidson Insurance can cost a bomb! Especially if you don't lock it down tight with a good bike chain using a floor anchor with it

     

    I don’t know if I’d ever get into bikes again, the last one I had was a Yamaha DT 125 R trial bike, which to bike enthusiasts like Dave aren’t even bikes! I used to fall off of the thing with regularity, so I think I'll stick to four wheels
  • Drinking perfume is dangerous but might get you drunk

    Apparently drinking  perfume is dangerous but it  might get you drunk. Really? No Shit sherlock.

    That's the conversation that went on in a pub the other day. There were these group of 20 somethings, talking about various crap when one of them pipes up and talks about how he'd tried it out with his GF's cheapest perfume!Saying he did it because he knows these products have been tested and they wouldn't sell them if they weren't safe!

    Well duh, bleach and toilet cleaner is sold and you shouldn't drink that either, as in cyanide and all manner of other nasty chems that'll make your heart stop in 30 seconds flat.

    His mates did laugh and rib him though, shaking their heads and asking him if he was the full shilling, but hey, thats the world of today eh.

    I didn't hear if it got him drunk or not, I missed that part. I'm assuming he didn't drink enough of the stuff. His brain was obviously pickled before he started! You'd think his bodies natural reaction would just eject the stuff; perhaps he was just trying to impress his mates.

  • No Summer sucks

    Just looked at the weather and it looks like its going to rain again this weekend, so any aspirations to cycle from Hitchin to Borehamwood I may have had are out of the window.

    Lately, In an effort to alleviate my boredom Ive been playing around on seesmic, a cool little threaded video conversation thing. If you aren't camera shy its worth checking out.

    Has anyone seen that film Jumped or Jump? Some kind of time travel thingy. I might check that out The film perfume is meant to be good too, so I might hop into the motor and go to blockbuster.

    What you doing today?

  • Something to make you feel up when you are a little down

    Jetlagged? - Try Viagra!

    Erection problems are one of the top embarrassing complaints amongst UK men, alongside baldness. But the truth is erection problems affect a massive percentage of the population at some point in their lives. Most men will experience erection problems such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction at some point. It’s now possible to buy herbal Viagra online without having to feel humiliated in front of your doctor. But now there’s a new excuse men can use to be prescribed Viagra  for and it’s jetlag! 

    If you’re too embarrassed to go to the doctor about erection problems, you could go under the guise of suffering from jetlag. New research shows that Viagra can help alleviate jetlag symptoms. The drug was tested on hamsters and scientists at the National University of Quilmes in Argentina. Researchers discovered that in conjunction with light therapy, flying in one direction (eastbound) Viagra could help alleviate symptoms. The fact that it also cures erection problems was probably considered an added bonus!

    The tests on the hamsters revealed that light-dark cycles regulate the body’s time clock – and it’s our biological clocks that tell us when to be active and when to sleep. Using shifts in the light cycle alongside an injection of Viagra helped the mammals adjust to the new time. Viagra was originally developed to treat heart problems – such as blood pressure and angina – but is now used mainly to help alleviate erection problems.

    Well all know that Viagra has helped millions of men suffering with erection problems. It’s uses as a drug however seem far reaching, although if you are prescribed Viagra it’s recommended you only use it according to doctor’s instructions (i.e. for erection problems, not jetlag). The hamsters were given a much lower dosage of the drug then the dose used for men with erection problems. Scientists are also hoping that Viagra also has potential to help heart problems as well as erection problems. Although Viagra is now automatically association with erection problems, it can also boost other parts of the body – such as blood vessels in the heart and lungs. So much so that a premature baby’s life was saved when he was given Viagra – and now doctors have gone back to investigating the original purpose of Viagra. The alleviation of erection problems was merely a side effect that ended up offering a more lucrative market for the drug.

    Natural Herbal Alternatives?

    Of course, you might not want to go the pharmaceutical route, in which case there’s always Herbal Viagra to try sooth your woes away. I've never tried Viagra personally, Ive heard the odd anecdote from those who have though. Still, it makes you wonder is this one of those dodgy stories put out by the industry or is it really true...

  • Public Relations Media and Privacy

    Most Media PR Firms  today do a good job at managing the media. People like Max Clifford are well known for getting people out of all sorts of holes.It's pretty amazing when you flick through his site and see who he has associated with over the years. He even has a photo of OJ Simpson on his site.

    Of course , who they are shouldn't really matter should it? We all know what a bastard the media can be. Once it gets its claws into a person then, if the content is juicy enough and a bigger story doesn't come along, then they'll just churn things out for as long as they can bringing up account after innuendo after slur, in ensuring that, in the eyes of their readers at least, the person at the sharp end is seen to be as evil or as sleazy, or as heinous as they can possibly paint them to be.

    It's no surprise though. People want to read this stuff after all. People want scandal and intrigue and outrage. They want to read about alleged nazi dress orgies , and if the person at the centre is respected or well known then even better still. If the appetite for it exists then who can blame the media for feeding it? It's a 'free' society after all, right? Yet free for who? Free for us to read what we want? Free for us to go about our business free of any fear of harrassment by some organisation larger than us. Free for any organisation to report on an issue that it feels to be of public interest?

    The list could go on, one mans freedom is another mans chains it seems. What is right and proper to me, may not be neccessarily so for someone else and that person will proclaim very loudly that they should be free to attack or condemn something that they feel is wrong or injust or bad in general. We are left to entrust such outcomes to our courts. The law of libel being one such mechanism for redress, provided you can afford it of course.

    It's clear from that statement that I'm not too far away from a view that would suggest that the existing system isn't very fair at all. How can it be right that money, or access to, should be the determinant to getting an open hearing or justice at some perceived wrong? Isn't it time that we had  privacy laws that protect us from this, or  are you happy with how it all works? Should it be open season to say what you like when you like and how you like?

    In an age of digital communications whereby anonmyous bloggers can * start stories and paint them as true   even when they have no basis in fact it's not such a huge leap to imagine how such things could be bent and twisted to suit all manner of aims and objectives.How long before you'll need the services of a PR Company?

    *The story referenced managed to find its way into a radio4 broadcast a national televison broadcast and numerous big circulation newspapers

  • Canned Laughter

    So it's Saturday morning I've had my barnet cut and am having a little laze around doing not very much at all. There's this thing on telly that Amber is watching 'Wizards of Waverley Place' about this person who has a talking zit on his forehead, a zit that insults and threatens him. Canned laughter, smiley Americans, whizz cut throughs to the next scene, you know the type; a little fast ditty, a whoosh and kazaam the next scene. What get's me though is that every single line that is uttered is followed by a chorus of audience laughter, what is it with that? Some of is is funny, but most of it isn't. I'm thinking to myself is there this school of thought in the 'make people laugh biz' that says if you do this then people will think it's funny? Is it the laughter is infectious theory? Did only fools and horses do this? Tommy Cooper shows didn't, neither do most funny films either. Can you imagine a movie that did canned laughter? No me neither.

  • Top Ten Things To Do In Liverpool

    Top Ten Things To Do In Liverpool

    Liverpool is a city in celebration.  Wining the 2008 Capital City of Culture award has brought fresh investment intended to match the amenities of the old city to the passion of its devoted citizens.  With money poured into renovating the city centre, improving shopping facilities and areas for nightlife along with the rapid growth of Liverpool as a city of art and culture Liverpool is the booming city of the North, genuinely a city that has something for everyone. It is certainly worth a visit with lots of places to stay too.

    The Cavern Club

    The self-proclaimed ‘most famous club in the world’ is the legendary birthplace of the Beatles and without doubt one of the most important cultural landmarks in Liverpool.  Inspired by Parisian cellar bars the Cavern Club opened in 1957 but it wasn’t until November 9th 1961 when the unknown Beatles were introduced to Brian Epstein that the club cemented its place in pop history.  Since the Beatles completed their 292 show residency artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who and recently the Arctic Monkeys have gone on to play at The Cavern defining the club as a hot-spot for emerging talent and an icon in world music.

    The Cavern Club is situated along the lively Mathew Street just off the city centre and is open daily from 12pm holding live music nights and DJ events playing anything from Mersey Beat to Brit Pop.

    http://www.cavernclub.org/

    Albert Dock

    This secluded patch of Liverpool’s heritage offers a break from the city centre with plenty to see and do across a picturesque waterfront.  Combining bars and restaurants with museums and tours the Albert Dock has something for everyone.  The Merseyside Maritime Museum and the National Slavery Museum as are certainly worth a look and Babycream and Panamerican Club are both great places for something to eat or a quick drink.

    http://www.albertdock.com/

    Turning The Place Over

    Described as the most daring piece of public art in the world, Richard Wilson’s revolving slice of condemned office block is a sight to be seen.  Set just outside the city centre in Moorfields and only viewable during daylight hours Wilson has cut out a huge 8-metre oval from a building’s façade allowing it to rotate in its place exposing glimpses of the inside to passers by.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBXwA0gcBm4&feature=related

    China Town

    Liverpool has one of the largest and most established Chinese communities in Europe.  The Imperial Arch on Berry Street acts as a gateway to an area revitalized with the Capital of Culture award.  With bars and restaurants open daily and a busy market selling clothes, herbs, food and drink open on a Sunday Liverpool’s famous China Town is a colourful escape from the city centre.

    Tate Liverpool

    Founded as part of the 1988 renovation of the Albert Dock the gallery houses important works from both contemporary and classical artists and offers fresh non-permanent exhibitions and a full package of activities for children.  The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday 10pm – 5pm.

    Concert Square

    The hive of Liverpool nightlife is always busy as bars and restaurants compete for custom with staggering drinks deals and nauseatingly infectious Scouse House music.  Modo and Arena are two of the best while Walkabout is always a lively place to watch any football, cricket or rugby matches.

    Rawhide Comedy Club

    Always good for a meal and a laugh the Rawhide Comedy club at the Royal Court on Roe Street has hosted the likes of Peter Kay, Jimmy Carr and Johnny Vegas and continues to attract the best emerging comedy talent from around the world.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the main nights but be sure to book early as tickets are usually sold-out on the door.

    FACT

    The Foundation for Art and Creative Technology is the UK's leading organisation for the commissioning and presentation of film, video and new media art forms.  Situated just off Wood Street in the Ropewalks area of the city centre FACT is a resource for artists and creatives but also an entry point into the world of new media with regular short film competitions and commissioned work from the likes of Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger and documentary filmmaker Isaac Julian.  FACT is also the best cinema is the city showing both independent movies and major Hollywood releases.

    http://www.fact.co.uk/?group=1

    Anfield Tour and Museum

    You can’t go to Liverpool without at least one proud local reminding you that the football club representing the red half of the city is the most successful British club around.  The tour takes you behind the scenes at the club, visiting the dressing rooms and sitting in the team dugout while the museum holds a large number of trophies and memories including the European Cup installed permanently after Liverpool’s fifth victory in the 2005 final in Istanbul.

    Walker Art Gallery

    This gallery really is the ‘National Gallery’ of the north.  Situated across from Lime Street station on William Brown Street the neo-classical Walker Gallery has a large collection of work spanning the years from the pre-Raphaelite works of Rembrandt and Degas to contemporary works from Lucien Freud and David Hockney.  Entrance is free and the gallery is open between 10-5pm daily.

    http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/visit/

    Staying in Liverpool

    Liverpool offers a diverse range of different types of accommodation. You can find a nice hotel in Liverpool at reasonable rates. Liverpool Accommodation - includes hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs & inns if you need a Liverpool Budget Hotel – offering value for money hotels for those wishing to keep to a budget then these are ideal. Or perhaps you want to stay in an Apartment - primarily self-catering accommodation for the more independent guest .Enjoy your stay in Liverpool!

  • Travel Flyers and Inspirations

    I want to get some flyers done for a little project I had in mind.

     I'm thinking of creating a new project, suitably inspired by this Hotel website. I like what they are doing with their locations pages. Check out their Newcastle, Shrewsbury and Canterbury sections for an example of what I mean. Unlike most crap websites out there that just bang out an old affiliate feed or two this one has real people working for it creating real content.

    They have this cool Alton Towers section too, showing all the rides with reviews of each one.

    I'd like to see a few more pictures though, perhaps a video or two as well but overall a nice piece of kit.

    So what is it I'm going to do? Aha! That would be telling of course, suffice to say it'll be a damn site better than some of my past spammy efforts. The only thing I have to do now of course is to find a little more time.

    Now where's that guru.com bookmark I had...;)

  • Buying Property Abroad - Dubai

    I've never been to Dubai although I know a few people who have and all have remarked on how beautiful it is. Wall to wall sun, nice people, good golf, very Western .

    Just browsing about this morning, I came across this Dubai Property site  and was surprised to learn how relatively cheap the properties are. Did you know you can buy a 1 bed apartment from as little as £57k or a 2 bed from as little as  £114k. Compared to places like London which has guaranteed rain and grumpy bastards, I thought this was a pretty good deAL

     A further look into that domain itself revealed that on average investors could look at a return over 3 years of  8%, guaranteed!

    Time to get those pennies out of the bank perhaps.

  • Bike Insurance

    I'm looking to buy a bike but before I did so, I wanted to check out the bike insurance market.

    I'm not sure, like I said it's a new thing for me, maybe some of you guys here had an idea on the topic?

    Cheers

  • Death Proof

    Death Proof - Tarantino does it again. Wicked film, cleverly shot, cool script, great soundtrack, great little goofy quirks...get out and watch it!

    Here's a song from the soundtrack, 1965 would you believe!

    The scene its associated with in the film is a little brutal, hold on make that a LOT brutal. Genius nonethless.

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