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?

Jetlagged? - Try Viagra!

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

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

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 9^th 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!

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.

• Theme Park - Ride Guide    
• Theme Park - Events    
• Theme Park - Visitor Tips    
• Map of Attractions near Alton Towers    
• List of Attractions near Alton Towers    
• Cariba Creek    
• Extraordinary Golf   

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...

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.

I'm looking to buy a van but before I did so, I wanted to check out the van insurance market. The link I just reference is to a company named Motor direct.

Here's what they say on their website.

 Motor Direct is a specialist motor vehicle insurance centre of A-Plan Insurance, a leading UK insurance intermediary, offering individual solutions for a wide range of car insurance, van insurance, commercial vehicle insurance and minibus insurance requirements.

Whatever your car insurance or van insurance requirements, we have access to a wide range of schemes from some of the UK’s leading insurers and the specialist knowledge required to find you competitive motor insurance quotes.

We understand that selecting the right motor vehicle insurance is about more than finding the cheapest premium. We consider your individual circumstances before recommending a policy. You will appreciate the care we take when selecting your insurer if you ever need to make a claim.

Cheers