tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155957762024-03-13T01:42:59.901+00:00The Sound Of SilenceJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-82723172989960590482009-01-27T23:43:00.003+00:002009-01-27T23:45:46.543+00:00The Damned United Trailer<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LYzsswqPk6s&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LYzsswqPk6s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It's fair to say that ever since I read the greatest football novel ever written last March I've been waiting for this trailer and the subsequent movie. Having just watched it, a huge part of me wants to pretend I'm not disappointed with it. I really do. I really do.</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-78374259597316610412008-12-31T16:33:00.000+00:002008-12-31T16:33:01.177+00:00The Sound of Silence 2008 in Words<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm0tSnUIR4CUKE8WD1wtog5e4Bqy42o-B6QjXlXpObY3pFZ474peVXEVRDwyAoeJQwKFqdyxsKFXeaFGou1zaJfQP-uYXI1gYtASF9J0mCNeUh48AbmulAYiy9i6Zmc8fWutl/s1600-h/Wordle+-+Untitled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm0tSnUIR4CUKE8WD1wtog5e4Bqy42o-B6QjXlXpObY3pFZ474peVXEVRDwyAoeJQwKFqdyxsKFXeaFGou1zaJfQP-uYXI1gYtASF9J0mCNeUh48AbmulAYiy9i6Zmc8fWutl/s400/Wordle+-+Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282654130738894018" border="0" /></a>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-47702865407243459142008-12-29T16:25:00.003+00:002008-12-29T16:57:27.639+00:00Twitter Ye Not - Why The A-List Should Start To Tweet.<span style="font-size:85%;">So all the world is in a twitter at the moment. Mini updates of what people are doing appears to have really hit a tipping point with nods to the micro-blogging tool on both the BBC and The Guardian in recent days. With the Fail Whale seemingly sleeping at the bottom of the Web 2.0, presently Twitter is enjoying its day in the sun and rightly so.<br /><br />This year I've learnt to use the free service in a fantastic variety of ways that has seen me juggle work, friends and entertainment . I'm not saying it is the be all and end all, but it has certainly helped to make my life a little more efficient.<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;">At work, we use the twitter service to update users and followers on the status of the site and the service. In a tricky year of tech releases it has been a great tool turn to. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">I've kept in touch with friends and colleagues that perhaps are not normally on my to-call list. That may sound mean but hey there is only so much time and so many people you can catch up with. Twitter has helped to fill the gaps.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">I've got updates on various news events, sporting events (I love the <a href="https://twitter.com/bbctms">Test Match Special</a> feed that went out in the summer and expect great things of it come Ashes time) without having to rifle through various websites or RRS feeds. It has in that respect been a great time saver.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">It's made me learn of new things, new web sites, new opportunities and new people. You can follow thought leaders in every sense without having to necessarily know them or connect with them. That is very useful and one of the more generous facets of Twitter.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">I've laughed and cried at the various tweets that people leave. You can learn a lot more sometimes in 140 characters, where brevity is king, than you would from an elongated blog post.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:85%;">Looking ahead 2009 will be the year where Twitter goes mainstream and where at some point it will have to start driving revenues. Like Facebook before it, it has the momentum, the fandom and the adoption, it now needs to prove itself in the big grown up business world. Us twitterers wait to see how the service unfolds. For me, its simplicity, is its core delight.<br /><br />I do though have one hunch that I wanted to share. When I started to follow <a href="http://twitter.com/stephenfry">Stephen Fry</a> recently I enjoyed the chance to "hang out" with a celebrity for a while. It was interesting to see what he was doing, where he was going, what projects he was working on. When he started to follow me in kind I have to admit I was rather stunned and it got me wondering if this was the tool that all celebrities should start to embrace. Given that they all have mobile phones and that there is a plethora of good Twitter applications for mobile use, it seems that perhaps this is the mode through which celebrities, politicians and the like can start to keep their fans or followers up to date whilst perhaps dilutting the demands of the papperazzi. Now for some (the god awful Jodie Marsh immeadiately pops into mind), the oxygen of publicity is what fuels their success, but I can see how for some fans, just knowing what their heroes and idols are up to is enough. If I look at it from a Watford supporting angle I would love to hear what some of the players do and think at certain points of the day (if only to confirm that its not all rounds of golf and playstation 3). If it gets too boring, simple, you just unfollow them.<br /><br />It has worked for <a href="http://twitter.com/stephenfry">Stephen Fry</a>, and I'd wager has helped him develop a new base of followers (read fans). <a href="http://twitter.com/Wossy">Jonathan Ross</a> appears to be convelessing his way through his recent trials and tribulations via Twitter and last week I was able to read what ex-England Rugby captain <a href="http://twitter.com/willcarling">Will Carling </a>thought of the Christmas presents he received. For the celebrity it keeps them alive, it keeps them active in their fanbase's mind and probably pleases their agent and publicists no end. It also goes someway to proving that we are all human and somewhat similar when you peel away that top veneer of global success. I quite like that aspect of it really.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">You can of course follow me <a href="http://twitter.com/jamieparkins">here</a></span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-83057916201588430362008-12-24T12:45:00.000+00:002008-12-24T12:52:17.884+00:00You Can Leave Your Light On!<span style="font-size:85%;">Well knock me down with a feather and call me Martin Lewis! In these times of hardship and penny watching, I was delighted to see that at last one of the energy providers was helping their customers understand how their bill breaks down. Traditionally its all been presented to the consumer in kilo jewels and gigawatt's that only Doc Brown would be able to quantify. As a result it has always nagged away at me that I can't compare how my use of electricity and gas has compare year on year given that the cost per unit continues to grow.<br /><br />Eon - when they are not sponsoring the FA Cup, have put their energy into (badda-boom!) a neat little tool called your Energy Tracker and lo and behold I'm an EON customer so its a bit of a result really.<br /><br />Below is a graph charting my use of gas and electricity (combined) for 2008 (bar) against 2007's (line) and there are a few things I can excitedly draw:<br /><br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAaMMoVmSUuEv2g3Unj7yb5ZvE-8_brk5OvuKjvX0xMckDkPZFOF11q55Ld1Cdyip5NwM38A6ghd3v5F-k_f9DjA2Viyg67K1bMlP4py7NJjNYljnnz1pj9bv77U8Ei_7zSd9/s1600-h/Consumption+Tracker+_+Energy+Tracker+_+Your+Account+_+At+Home+_+E.ON.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAaMMoVmSUuEv2g3Unj7yb5ZvE-8_brk5OvuKjvX0xMckDkPZFOF11q55Ld1Cdyip5NwM38A6ghd3v5F-k_f9DjA2Viyg67K1bMlP4py7NJjNYljnnz1pj9bv77U8Ei_7zSd9/s400/Consumption+Tracker+_+Energy+Tracker+_+Your+Account+_+At+Home+_+E.ON.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283334253101226066" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">The chart follows the seasonal path one would expect with my consumption (and therefore cost) dropping through Spring and into Summer. I would have laid a bet on that happening but its nice to see it in pictorial form and reassuring to know that I didn't leave the lights on whilst I was away on holiday.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Was February 2007 really that cold or did I spank more because it was a leap year? If so we should ditch the 29th Feb. Useless old date.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Likewise what was going on in May 2007 for me to use nearly 100% more than the following year. Is that global warming? I don't recall seeing any exotic wildlife in the garden.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">We had a faulty hot water tank and boiler this time a year ago and had it removed in the first weekend of December which leads me to think that man it was on its last legs in the month before. I do recall it wheezing quite a bit as it tried to push water up three flights of stairs! Maybe these new boilers are as efficient as they say?<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Did we turn the Christmas Tree lights on early last year?<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-size:85%;">And so here endith the lecture, brought to you in association with those wonderful white coated people at EON.</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-86523778956138398862008-11-19T10:47:00.002+00:002008-11-19T10:57:13.960+00:00Racists to the Left of Me, Racists to the Right<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqkMeagRIf6rB9YHf6ifPhS9dbRpiGncloUWYoEiSUVQwdYd_oFP_ZkFEt0CSCr5FWz-KVSwqXiW3aVSC-_wUbEqLj2WkHLZ2028G8DLlx0tKqHQn-JnaXgcQABUTNIm4gLth/s1600-h/Leaked+BNP+Member+List+Map.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqkMeagRIf6rB9YHf6ifPhS9dbRpiGncloUWYoEiSUVQwdYd_oFP_ZkFEt0CSCr5FWz-KVSwqXiW3aVSC-_wUbEqLj2WkHLZ2028G8DLlx0tKqHQn-JnaXgcQABUTNIm4gLth/s400/Leaked+BNP+Member+List+Map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270320925902364482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Some clever boffin has mashed up the leaked BMP membership list on to Google Maps which is rather handy for a number of reasons:<br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-size:85%;">I can now plan where I want to live and where I don't want to live safe in the knowledge that there are just about some enclaves of England that remain tolerant and full of understanding. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">London seems awfully racist. Awash you might say. I better be careful who I look at and what I say on the way home tonight.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">There is one mad racist person in Berkhamsted, my home town. I think it might be the guy that used to run my Cub pack.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">There are no frothing at the mouth racists in Aston Clinton. Phew. That means my parents do like my wife and her family after all. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Racists seem to live on major roadways. Best taking the country option here on in.<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-56930489589973329152008-11-04T11:41:00.003+00:002008-11-04T11:43:54.738+00:00Presidential Run In 2008: Bush Country<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xGyFFlsIIRoJ4eKFPWFzngc_xvFypZAv-xbIozj6I7i03hQpONnEbvz2f8psu7u3JC91k1QmB0MjRtCn-NdYJ8O2FyQWyfAoA1z1RnHTv-3dyexioxZ5lL2wT1K060TqKTTx/s1600-h/bush-2004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xGyFFlsIIRoJ4eKFPWFzngc_xvFypZAv-xbIozj6I7i03hQpONnEbvz2f8psu7u3JC91k1QmB0MjRtCn-NdYJ8O2FyQWyfAoA1z1RnHTv-3dyexioxZ5lL2wT1K060TqKTTx/s400/bush-2004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264766673886949794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Interesting to see that just 4 years ago this was the lay of the land in the United States. That's a lot of red Republican votes I can see there.<br /><br />As Obama keeps telling us, <span style="font-style: italic;">"its a time for change..."</span></span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-63737249253126819032008-10-27T17:24:00.002+00:002008-10-27T17:29:49.152+00:00The BBC & Oasis Go All The Way To Eleven...Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jxUJKVPuWdY4Kp9sPemslKhR2he-ZYCDzf0UxQAg5P6DCPpfAOUPM4DNeNTO9LB7WeKK8jEuh5xhbZD5WL0W9d0ExKQM1NXuGpQB6DLWd0Wr8OoSx0OJsd7XcWqedRXLAu-W/s1600-h/BBC+-+Electric+Proms+-+Videos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jxUJKVPuWdY4Kp9sPemslKhR2he-ZYCDzf0UxQAg5P6DCPpfAOUPM4DNeNTO9LB7WeKK8jEuh5xhbZD5WL0W9d0ExKQM1NXuGpQB6DLWd0Wr8OoSx0OJsd7XcWqedRXLAu-W/s400/BBC+-+Electric+Proms+-+Videos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261886934417998658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A lovely little touch on the BBC iPlayer that I've only just noticed. Their volume bar goes all the way to 11 just like Spinal Tap said they should. I can only presume the BBC are "<span style="font-style: italic;">one louder</span>."<br /><br />See the <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=d54UU-fPIsY">original reason</a> why all things should go to 11 here. </span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-71238163988735560132008-09-24T15:13:00.003+00:002008-09-24T15:34:16.221+00:00Empire Magazine's Top 500 Movies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuankO5dAq2jA-Ng2PjJ3Yzo6KdYqLyEG6-xwwUNOBp5sV5RhWyAQApuT6AwkNeYlxPUB1UB1rCs7EGcVtAwaLrDUKMfP49gZuqgHcEGegEsWlFf66NLVNnkfZ1UkfRz9iHXk_/s1600-h/Empire_+Features.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuankO5dAq2jA-Ng2PjJ3Yzo6KdYqLyEG6-xwwUNOBp5sV5RhWyAQApuT6AwkNeYlxPUB1UB1rCs7EGcVtAwaLrDUKMfP49gZuqgHcEGegEsWlFf66NLVNnkfZ1UkfRz9iHXk_/s320/Empire_+Features.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249611543896605570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Back in 1992 I fell in love with movies big time and thanks to Empire Magazine I was able to devour film. It ended up with me running a video store for a year which I loved (although looking back, the pay was abysmal!).<br /><br />As you do, sometimes you grew out of things, and over time Empire became less and less a staple part of my film going needs. The internet had arrived, I discovered The Guardian and besides I was a student watching the pennies.<br /><br />However, celebrating the <a href="http://www.empireonline.com/500/">Top 500 Greatest Movies of All Time</a> (until the next survey...), they've hooked me back in with a really polished and fun mini-site. You can dip into a number of modern day reviews which are as fresh and contemporary, but fair as you could hope for. To be fair I couldn't give a toss for the merits of who is and who isn't in the top 500 as these things are so subjective but here are some worth sharing:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=132851">Ferris Bueller's Day Off</a><br /><a href="http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?DVDID=5334">Heat</a><br /><a href="http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=117480">Children of Men</a><br /><a href="http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=6200">Midnight Run</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Indulge the inner critic in you.</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-11217336312705137592008-08-24T10:09:00.004+00:002008-08-24T10:20:19.666+00:00Falling In Love With the Beijing Bird's Nest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHUSqsk-jJSvqJqPfx_2dhatBbnSznwRdgUXq_gyP9o8OtiVigBH-fPL4no2Z57f9gilkUNtyUgpJKYqRQQUjR3qg_8suGDbmNsxmhJHkLEjtG8Unjswovl6zy0l4rTuhOEOl/s1600-h/nest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHUSqsk-jJSvqJqPfx_2dhatBbnSznwRdgUXq_gyP9o8OtiVigBH-fPL4no2Z57f9gilkUNtyUgpJKYqRQQUjR3qg_8suGDbmNsxmhJHkLEjtG8Unjswovl6zy0l4rTuhOEOl/s320/nest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238026809319352850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Ever since my first visit to Vicarage Road, I've always had a bit of thing for stadiums or stadia as my mother would tell me to say. There is something about the juxtaposition between concrete pillars, structural beams and the spaces that they are forced to inhabit.<br /><br />Having watched the Beijing Olympics this summer, there's definitely something quite alluring about The Bird's Nest. Not only is the name an apt description for it's look and feel but it really is a thing of beauty and I think it sits along side many of the gold medal winning sportsmen and women as one of the true stars of the games.<br /><br />You can overdose on a whole host of pictures of The Bird's Nest <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=birds+nest+beijing&s=int">here</a><br /><br />Naturally because I'm a man of lists here is my top three that I visited in person:<br /><br />- Wrigley Field, Chicago, home of the Chicago Cubs<br />- Lords, the home of Cricket<br />- The San Siro, Milan, home to AC and Inter Milan<br /></span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-36856784992639331532008-08-04T21:35:00.003+00:002008-08-04T21:38:43.635+00:00Monkey Tennis?<span style="font-size:85%;">You could call this a lazy post. I might even accept that but nonetheless I think this has to be the most outstandingly exquisite comedy sketch I've ever seen. It is flawless. Enjoy.</span><center><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IEwZ-1s9-SU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IEwZ-1s9-SU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></center>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-63499225869178564592008-07-30T13:01:00.004+00:002008-07-30T13:22:40.630+00:00Holy Bat Phone Robin!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYD_UC1sHf9vwLtXJl7tyMqiS53hE9c0kzAc6kNbDiEF0rMNBnJk_LU4FWT3TpS9zFYFcwoqbJuxlXBaOTu5EElfXZ8lT_97F9rn3IiqA_-nsxswVHHX15pY7lquAxNDNzK5k/s1600-h/iphone_pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYD_UC1sHf9vwLtXJl7tyMqiS53hE9c0kzAc6kNbDiEF0rMNBnJk_LU4FWT3TpS9zFYFcwoqbJuxlXBaOTu5EElfXZ8lT_97F9rn3IiqA_-nsxswVHHX15pY7lquAxNDNzK5k/s320/iphone_pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228796648823596082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">So I've now sold my <a href="http://jamieparkins.blogspot.com/2008/07/obligatory-iphone-blog-post.html">crappy old phone</a> and for £35 no less which was nice and I've now turned all Steve Jobs like, taking to wearing black turtle necks and laughing at all on the fruit based conglomerate in-jokes in Wall-E last week. The point I'm fumbling to make is that I now have my 3G iPhone and very shiny it is too.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />So last night was my first real test. Alpha Steve would call it. Fresh from leaving the IMAX having watched The Dark Knight I had picked up enough geek vibes and so on the train home between London Euston and Watford I managed to:<br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/jamieparkins/statuses/871908917">Twitter</a> about how dark I thought The Dark Knight was</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Answer work emails having synched my mail.app<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Play one game of Sudoko (Expert) finishing it in record time - yes!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Watch the new trailer for the film <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHsUpCv7iRU">Cass on YouTube</a> (it looks like yet another hoolie-by-numbers movie)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Catch up on all my RSS feeds</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Read all my Gmail emails regarding Waford FC, Pregnancy Updates and assorted other creatures</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Pay for a book I won on eBay via PayPal</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">All whilst listening to <a href="http://www.thisisgenova.com/news/Interpol-Antics-Frontal.jpg">Interpol's Antics</a> on the iPod mode</span></li></ol><span style="font-size:85%;">Now I reckon that's all pretty amazing, from one piece of kit, with 3G access (you know, it does what is says on the tin). But I'm also underneath a little scared that its all a little bit sad. What do you think?</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-80314525596891887942008-07-15T09:17:00.002+00:002008-07-15T09:22:03.512+00:00The New Oasis Album Cover: Dig Your Own Pavement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKbbwH0q9lbMkguhRye3MIkaXJsTItqsRYAIcM5TcWZzriTuA_83-PW-ow6SevT-XAm7rMOTOI7pcVu1HSTzymk6uofwoBIyDtzc05NDHj5qfzXi1hnP0QRn_Dm2ruV9ecKYU/s1600-h/Dig+the+cover+art%3F+%7C+Music+%7C+guardian.co.uk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKbbwH0q9lbMkguhRye3MIkaXJsTItqsRYAIcM5TcWZzriTuA_83-PW-ow6SevT-XAm7rMOTOI7pcVu1HSTzymk6uofwoBIyDtzc05NDHj5qfzXi1hnP0QRn_Dm2ruV9ecKYU/s400/Dig+the+cover+art%3F+%7C+Music+%7C+guardian.co.uk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223167641384974594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This apparently is the new Oasis cover for the autumn album Dig Out Your Soul. It's frankly a little weird and a little pretentious and a lot like the <a href="http://991.com/newgallery/Pavement-Westing-By-Musket-334532.jpg">single covers</a> that Pavement were knocking out in the 1990's. Unlike Noel to copy others...</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-81867500842951333262008-07-12T12:41:00.003+00:002008-07-12T12:48:37.622+00:00The Obligatory iPhone Blog Post<span style="font-size:85%;">I went to my first <a href="http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/07/11/techcrunch-pitch-mini-wrap-up/">Tech Crunch event</a> this week which was fun but somewhat intimidating as you were no one unless you were live blogging or twittering on the event. Everywhere I looked there were iPhones or fancy flip videos and as a result I was a little embarrassed and made sure that my crappy little phone didn't see the light of day.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hNpzE2Sh-ISZgzzlDH2LN0ziOZLR-PWlfKM22e7sLaarFPLAqbZPf1JpjkdpHgGd0SNyRxPnllV4YeQ6sFDjbDfpkZXz-eiCNsN9dAbbmEsS74dwxwxj7gXno0ajjcXFW3jn/s1600-h/Zoom+view+for+Nokia+6230i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hNpzE2Sh-ISZgzzlDH2LN0ziOZLR-PWlfKM22e7sLaarFPLAqbZPf1JpjkdpHgGd0SNyRxPnllV4YeQ6sFDjbDfpkZXz-eiCNsN9dAbbmEsS74dwxwxj7gXno0ajjcXFW3jn/s320/Zoom+view+for+Nokia+6230i.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222108306980391218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Thankfully in a few days time all that changes as my brand new, 16gb, sparkly iPhone arrives at Parko Towers! Happy days.</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-60970721428788960012008-07-06T08:31:00.007+00:002008-07-08T14:37:29.523+00:00During The Month Of June I...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saw</span> my eldest sister Claire marry Matt on a fantastically bright sunny day in Burnham. I got to introduce the first dance and am so proud to see my sister find her soul mate at last. In return I gain a new brother-in-law which gives me someone to play football in the garden with. Everyone's a winner.</span><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2642038170_9ba3872af4.jpg?v=0" /></center><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fell in love</span> with Chicago, Illinois. It is a really stylish weekend city and one that I’d heartily recommend. When we weren’t eating our body weight in food, Nina and I were stretching in the 7th innings at Wrigley Field, taking a ride to the top of the Sears Tower and giggling at the silly reflections of the Bean. I also got to fulfill a boyhood fantasy and stand staring at the <i>Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte</i>, by Georges Seurat like Cameron Fry in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LSlqI0zmrvQADzR5x0MeGD6SDhDi5mB1VLC_tD8QAFyKSgmw5Bv4Fcz3P9GisOa16PObx9GIcrqf-CMWtCehBasa1i4A8ASL0euHKnS06URISkMX0C7QqnH8JYX_mnHZUxoI/s1600-h/Kodakgallery.com%C2%A0Slideshow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LSlqI0zmrvQADzR5x0MeGD6SDhDi5mB1VLC_tD8QAFyKSgmw5Bv4Fcz3P9GisOa16PObx9GIcrqf-CMWtCehBasa1i4A8ASL0euHKnS06URISkMX0C7QqnH8JYX_mnHZUxoI/s200/Kodakgallery.com%C2%A0Slideshow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220649944270881714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9JKCM04tn5LV_QROGRv4gSjlQTvKPunz2SPbi6BGjJhp0LxtPywszdg5OT107-jPgqyXcjsAIzYFiUI-uWqeDI2u-CmcdtA-yVjW7RDx-W2GM7fOwB9RYqi0xd3mzMuGPW5h/s1600-h/Kodakgallery.com%C2%A0Slideshow-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9JKCM04tn5LV_QROGRv4gSjlQTvKPunz2SPbi6BGjJhp0LxtPywszdg5OT107-jPgqyXcjsAIzYFiUI-uWqeDI2u-CmcdtA-yVjW7RDx-W2GM7fOwB9RYqi0xd3mzMuGPW5h/s200/Kodakgallery.com%C2%A0Slideshow-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220649809446456914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5qlu5nppchGYVNPi1SGrDuyQcKlTwPhth_d9m2Zn7noIKdiXw2zYObKzNBN2C0f3BykJ1ZbS8RtuvXlImoJZaIeGZVZAmYTCY4O2-usaR3-i5bWN2dUSitevPMu-Dogm7B4r/s1600-h/Kodakgallery.com%C2%A0Slideshow-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5qlu5nppchGYVNPi1SGrDuyQcKlTwPhth_d9m2Zn7noIKdiXw2zYObKzNBN2C0f3BykJ1ZbS8RtuvXlImoJZaIeGZVZAmYTCY4O2-usaR3-i5bWN2dUSitevPMu-Dogm7B4r/s200/Kodakgallery.com%C2%A0Slideshow-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220649887431260402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Took on</span> an increasing amount of work at vzaar HQ. As COO, I’m now tasked with growing the business whilst trying to also run the business. It is a fascinating, challenging and fun time. I’m learning loads about balance, priorities and determination.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Was finally</span> able to see Bean 1.0 our unborn child on the big screen baby scanner! Yes, I’m becoming a Dad in around 6 months time and at last I can start to share the most amazing of secrets. Of course there is a long way to go, lots of names to be deliberate over, a car to upgrade and a life to reassess, but I honestly wish it was January 2009 already.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBfw6GbZDGJGiqXso-7O7x5Hqg8fnN9G7Pr5Iuc5zOfg-mh5mTxC5pVTd5Meuw5GuoB0ZOuCEU48rNZCIMzeNs8hPyCQJ7KkIOTnfco7YtHBJWlTFrpBa-cfs8xRqVfCeMSbm/s1600-h/Parkins+Jnr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBfw6GbZDGJGiqXso-7O7x5Hqg8fnN9G7Pr5Iuc5zOfg-mh5mTxC5pVTd5Meuw5GuoB0ZOuCEU48rNZCIMzeNs8hPyCQJ7KkIOTnfco7YtHBJWlTFrpBa-cfs8xRqVfCeMSbm/s200/Parkins+Jnr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219832296212758962" border="0" /></a>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-51310071376339252822008-06-13T09:21:00.006+00:002008-06-13T09:34:57.006+00:00Viva La Vida by Coldplay: My First Listen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMipVx5TlcuBwprxmUBG3mXVCP73V678UgzXNjPuLexhhB4epkH3DaQnBgfKKnw17WLXeimI_xTkCAMg4Wvv_DuyWQH2_w3geb_OB5gSf-Id2Ylv_In7jOpyQfwM4dfNgHpyPx/s1600-h/VivaLaVida.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMipVx5TlcuBwprxmUBG3mXVCP73V678UgzXNjPuLexhhB4epkH3DaQnBgfKKnw17WLXeimI_xTkCAMg4Wvv_DuyWQH2_w3geb_OB5gSf-Id2Ylv_In7jOpyQfwM4dfNgHpyPx/s320/VivaLaVida.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211296344268663138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">It's always nice to be able to look forward to the first listen of a record. Thankfully I've managed to avoid most leaks of the new Coldplay album and so am hearing the album as it was intended. That's often the best way but not so easy nowadays. So first thoughts after 3 plays on loop?</span><ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;">It's not as high concept as X&Y which may disappoint some fans. I think the change to a more stringsy, folk sound is required if still a little safe.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Chris Martin is still obsessed with planets and the sea. Someone buy that man an atlas.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Lost is the most obvious stadium-sing-a-long track on the album. The band know their bread and butter.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">There are huge similarities with Simple Minds circa late 1980s from albums such as <a href="http://simpleminds.com/discography/?id=174">Street Fighting Years</a> and <a href="http://simpleminds.com/discography/?id=175">Real Life</a>. That's no bad thing by the way, just expect a song soon about a jailed activist.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">The band have also been listening to Blur's Think Tank.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">It will sell bucket loads but will not be recalled as their best album.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:85%;">There you go pop pickers...</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-70395720591900564192008-06-06T12:35:00.003+00:002008-06-06T14:04:53.676+00:00Euro 2008: Office Sweepstake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKvo2oXBcdcpA-pdeYocVb3A-wbeiHumFJmXh-KR73QEQ44SOSt1DiBNPfd3YTBuP0gMQktFT_IYzf5TX8tvIfW_wqdPswteY_heVrnYolkWMhlz4dvxZFdRXDsRlxe49H1d7/s1600-h/euro2008_logo(1).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKvo2oXBcdcpA-pdeYocVb3A-wbeiHumFJmXh-KR73QEQ44SOSt1DiBNPfd3YTBuP0gMQktFT_IYzf5TX8tvIfW_wqdPswteY_heVrnYolkWMhlz4dvxZFdRXDsRlxe49H1d7/s200/euro2008_logo(1).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208746975968511874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">So with England not even bothering to turn up I need to hang my hopes on one team. Hence I'm organising the vzaar office sweepstake for Euro 2008. The teams have been nicely printed, folded and put in a metaphorical hat. No doubt I'll get two of the worst teams. Watch this space...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1P8RlI4LHttl4exO8eVWjnNRvNyhtbjEx05qXFnKtZmEvJOMXBlkcbJGBHldVsiSR41N8Bye6FjJozr9PAwWk5-G3hjEpJWJWLVu4cgSwNK0CwLb8DkQNeuz3OLdUwG5iAFGx/s1600-h/euro2008sweepstake.pdf+%28page+1+of+2%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1P8RlI4LHttl4exO8eVWjnNRvNyhtbjEx05qXFnKtZmEvJOMXBlkcbJGBHldVsiSR41N8Bye6FjJozr9PAwWk5-G3hjEpJWJWLVu4cgSwNK0CwLb8DkQNeuz3OLdUwG5iAFGx/s320/euro2008sweepstake.pdf+%28page+1+of+2%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208768578077524322" border="0" /></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1P8RlI4LHttl4exO8eVWjnNRvNyhtbjEx05qXFnKtZmEvJOMXBlkcbJGBHldVsiSR41N8Bye6FjJozr9PAwWk5-G3hjEpJWJWLVu4cgSwNK0CwLb8DkQNeuz3OLdUwG5iAFGx/s1600-h/euro2008sweepstake.pdf+%28page+1+of+2%29.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhNAgto7-5C9gbXY1f7oIdhXV8sCTks8BsVMr18v4oQ4DoklenZP_CHQJj_zofTQQ6Icunw0azjHOrPq1-lnVd798x3DBuT-e3trNE_i75pgeIah_xrLn0OWa8ICpMGYRLo7E/s1600-h/euro2008sweepstake.pdf+%28page+1+of+2%29-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhNAgto7-5C9gbXY1f7oIdhXV8sCTks8BsVMr18v4oQ4DoklenZP_CHQJj_zofTQQ6Icunw0azjHOrPq1-lnVd798x3DBuT-e3trNE_i75pgeIah_xrLn0OWa8ICpMGYRLo7E/s320/euro2008sweepstake.pdf+%28page+1+of+2%29-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208768517956845234" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Damn! Romania and The Netherlands. Two from the so called <span style="font-style: italic;">Group of Death</span>. I'm not ultimately that confident of winning it it has to be said.<br /></span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-66367548157417523532008-05-27T15:52:00.002+00:002008-05-27T16:00:31.524+00:00Last FM: This month I've mostly been listening to...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQRmKZrxni-764LGoH1bkUUIdWj0p34sL8V6yceY1yZg3yyiY31zVUL0f8bqS9KBC8tCvIes2xf_cl0PcR4LI1QXd7N1tNpibgKA1Oa2EhDUQvLlaV7-z23Mtc0WLX1_EOIH5/s1600-h/graph_1207.pdf+%281+page%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQRmKZrxni-764LGoH1bkUUIdWj0p34sL8V6yceY1yZg3yyiY31zVUL0f8bqS9KBC8tCvIes2xf_cl0PcR4LI1QXd7N1tNpibgKA1Oa2EhDUQvLlaV7-z23Mtc0WLX1_EOIH5/s400/graph_1207.pdf+%281+page%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205086245540338722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">...Kasabian and LCD Soundsystem by the looks of things! I really like this chart. It is one of those slightly pointless mashups that makes the internet such fun. It is useful? Well I like the colours and the shape. It looks funky and therefore interesting. In addition it accurately portrays the types of music I traditionally listen to and buy and I can kinda see how one could present this data to users and seek to monetise the listener. Therefore it is now also useful. But over and above that it underlines what a wondeful waste of time the internet can so often be!<br /><br />If you want to do the same and are a Last FM user then click here at <a href="http://lastgraph3.aeracode.org/">LastGraph</a><br /></span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-64881060332311626462008-05-21T16:38:00.003+00:002008-05-21T16:48:32.914+00:00Bakers Half Dozen: 6-0-6 Update!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGcnd_FJMs_3aufiBu8FZ-ZnfheOSxbxyHCnJ-WlSD837-OZ5PDcJGt-Pj4B7CZUJZCrp_b-_yaTNZED-cgAr4vEwrq__HkrcBAY5-MEHqFY2XZFpW36L5a8uDBQjR2c9iDOC/s1600-h/old_fashion_radio_microphone_hg_wht.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGcnd_FJMs_3aufiBu8FZ-ZnfheOSxbxyHCnJ-WlSD837-OZ5PDcJGt-Pj4B7CZUJZCrp_b-_yaTNZED-cgAr4vEwrq__HkrcBAY5-MEHqFY2XZFpW36L5a8uDBQjR2c9iDOC/s200/old_fashion_radio_microphone_hg_wht.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202873316005563250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Just heard that <a href="http://www.internettreehouse.co.uk/">Danny Baker</a> will be back on the airways again thanks <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/606/">Radio Five Live's 6-0-6</a></span>. <span style="font-size:85%;">I could try explain how happy I am at this news but instead here's some official quote to plunder:<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Undeniably funny, occasionally as boorish and rude as Alan Green, but with a better sense of the absurd, none of the pomposity and a lot less self-regard, this spiky Cockney's long overdue return to the 5 Live phone-in fold should provide a much-needed jab in the arm for a radio show that, through every fault of its vacuous incumbent presenters, has come to resemble a refuge for the mentally lame and halt. Listen up during Euro 2008 to hear Danny Baker spank all concerned with six of the best.</span></span><br /><br /></div>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-65639633314058123802008-05-08T22:22:00.006+00:002008-05-09T10:50:39.809+00:00Lost In Translation: An Evening with Roberto Donadoni<span style="font-size:85%;">Last week I was invited by <a href="http://www.bbk.ac.uk/manop/management/mscmres/sbseminars.shtml">Birkbeck College</a> to attend a special Question & Answer session with the Italian national manager, and former AC Milan midfielder, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwx-K5UUnBQ">Roberto Donadoni</a>. The chance to hear one of the great stars of the 1980s who won everything at club level was not one I wanted to miss and I was looking forward to his insight and thoughts given the academic setting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV6m7l2eAudBw5yNLTTsjsxUdEEEidwQNbAF-XZoONOCRU_Q0e6BI3Ss6fh1zTI5i7kJIxGtRqEYHDNilUvZx6HWAMGxJzdoPy3VgBKfZNWa-VCCALMA_fBTs771fI_oUhmCs/s1600-h/The+School+of+Management+and+Organizational+Psychology,+Birkbeck+University+of+London.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV6m7l2eAudBw5yNLTTsjsxUdEEEidwQNbAF-XZoONOCRU_Q0e6BI3Ss6fh1zTI5i7kJIxGtRqEYHDNilUvZx6HWAMGxJzdoPy3VgBKfZNWa-VCCALMA_fBTs771fI_oUhmCs/s320/The+School+of+Management+and+Organizational+Psychology,+Birkbeck+University+of+London.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198328627878071026" border="0" /></a><br />Sadly what the audience got was what I can only describe as a media briefing or press pack style interview. With the Italian and UK press in attendance the chance to hear his real thoughts on the dilemma of club versus country priorities or advice on the development of young players in Italy and England was lost as we were instead, thanks to some pretty mediocre translation, treated to a series of stock and cliched answers that did little to further my knowledge of the game. A crying shame really given the man's wealth of experience and the huge collective appetite of the audience. That Donadoni was not given more of a platform or the means to share his thoughts in more detail meant this was a real missed opportunity.<br /><br />Tropping out afterwards, I was overtaken by a perma tanned <a href="http://www.lfchistory.net/images/clemence.ray/clem088005a5.JPG" _blank="">Ray Clemence</a> of the FA who I overheard commenting to his colleague "<span style="font-style: italic;">...well that was hardly rocket science was it.</span>" Quite! </span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-77290561110551787562008-05-07T13:13:00.007+00:002008-05-08T21:08:14.900+00:00My flickr 10k Run<span style="font-size:85%;">So after around 24 months of use I've finally passed 10,000 photo views on my flickr account which I guess goes to prove that the tagging works. I really like the community aspect to flickr and it has been such a useful resource for me over recent trips abroad. Just today in fact I was pinged by a girl who is getting married at the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamieparkins/sets/72157601518249458/">same venue</a> as me and wanted to ask some questions regarding that. That's how a community should work.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiCjBxemRGMxkc2ltBo0WBb9Nx9PPuekIz76xMd9YIjjEwh1D64lkpeu-QOBKD2Xt6p9zuwiiO1eJVWDyoe_lkuGiEtIi9tlDY_-2fwp8gGvDzhXaIY88XnZzDEKi4zVcaOwF/s1600-h/Flickr_+jamieparkins_+Photostream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiCjBxemRGMxkc2ltBo0WBb9Nx9PPuekIz76xMd9YIjjEwh1D64lkpeu-QOBKD2Xt6p9zuwiiO1eJVWDyoe_lkuGiEtIi9tlDY_-2fwp8gGvDzhXaIY88XnZzDEKi4zVcaOwF/s400/Flickr_+jamieparkins_+Photostream.jpg" target="_blank" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197624086500697058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Sadly it seems that not quite all my viewers have similar intentions! This was left for me last week. Thanks Ashish!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat8ZUgSbBymf81akAM7XWKVP9h26sK7s2HdpPpTpl-Zl7e9qnEEpMn8LuiFO0zXcrDuM-QeC6j7P4tLsGqmzecNPVuGC5MaG_cbFo7VHC3tNGgCGGGgmiijaC5DO2epKHRb0G/s1600-h/Jamie+%26+Nina+on+Flickr+-+Photo+Sharing%21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat8ZUgSbBymf81akAM7XWKVP9h26sK7s2HdpPpTpl-Zl7e9qnEEpMn8LuiFO0zXcrDuM-QeC6j7P4tLsGqmzecNPVuGC5MaG_cbFo7VHC3tNGgCGGGgmiijaC5DO2epKHRb0G/s400/Jamie+%26+Nina+on+Flickr+-+Photo+Sharing%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197624365673571314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">To follow me you can click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamieparkins/sets/" target="_blank">here</a></span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-58380509188600179432008-04-25T16:00:00.002+00:002008-04-25T14:59:23.297+00:00Euro 2008: Time To Get Shirty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKt5CNL89bVtIAgv06LTCR39RQP6OAmFMtYXpBGovTth3ZSRcYIpJStl0WooaTjGZCxd-TsIAah3SQLPgFIuSMZ2lQwfNPsxxCXejm-38NaTAjjBBbfuMXLkoRuhU_Jb8LyfH/s1600-h/russia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKt5CNL89bVtIAgv06LTCR39RQP6OAmFMtYXpBGovTth3ZSRcYIpJStl0WooaTjGZCxd-TsIAah3SQLPgFIuSMZ2lQwfNPsxxCXejm-38NaTAjjBBbfuMXLkoRuhU_Jb8LyfH/s320/russia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191435266648652066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">So with England taking a Steve McClaren induced break from this summer's footballing fun, I now have to decide who to follow in Euro 2008. Normally this would be based on footballing beauty or perhaps which players have a historical link to Watford FC, but with both factors unlikely to really influence me, it can only come down to who has the best kit. Shallow perhaps but I've always had something for the under appreciated asthetic quality of footballing polyester.<br /><br />So here is my guide for Euro 2008 and it looks like it will be a tournament for the plucky under dog thanks to the ghastly input from the established footballing nations.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Favourites</span><br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/sweden.jpg" target="_blank">Sweden</a> - although I'm not mad for the flag motif in the collar the combination of bright yellow and blue again comes up trumps.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/russia.jpg"target="_blank">Russia</a> - the slight retro feel is a welcome change from Russia's usual dirge and the collar is a cute final touch.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/greece.jpg"target="_blank">Greece</a> - very simple, very classy. Lose the adidas badge and it's perfect.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/romania.jpg"target="_blank">Romania</a> - meanwhile this badge looks like it has come straight out of the MLS circa 70s. Beautiful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dark Horses</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/spain.jpg"target="_blank">Spain</a> - it needs more yellow and the badge looks like a beer mat.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/holland.jpg"target="_blank">Netherlands</a> - normally a fan but the collar is overly fussy.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/croatia.jpg"target="_blank">Croatia</a> - it would be easy to muck this up so simple is best.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/portugal.jpg"target="_blank">Portugal</a> - it just looks a bit boring and way to close to rivals Spain.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Early Exits</span><br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/italy.jpg"target="_blank">Italy</a> - what on earth does gold have to do with Italy? They are setting themselves up for a fall.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/france.jpg"target="_blank">France</a> - looks like they have been slashed across the stomach by a mad farmer.<br /><a href="http://www.twohundredpercent.co.uk/euro2008shirt/germany.jpg"target="_blank">Germany</a> - nice initial try with the piped shoulders and then it all went wrong and the wheels fell off half way down the shirt.</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-30495126675402113592008-04-25T08:12:00.002+00:002008-04-25T08:13:16.117+00:00Batman: The Dark Knight - Mmmm Tasty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvgBkjkRQ3jxS-DKukItPGvj6cp-hGcETT2yCwr1uRfEJMQDXmk-0RUZOyuYt9lhJrOW4O83U2nyyYAWynq3s2FxiAxzbML2MJHhGMQX7CHHfmQVGQhyphenhyphentOV9NRyuDjhxOezqz/s1600-h/batman"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvgBkjkRQ3jxS-DKukItPGvj6cp-hGcETT2yCwr1uRfEJMQDXmk-0RUZOyuYt9lhJrOW4O83U2nyyYAWynq3s2FxiAxzbML2MJHhGMQX7CHHfmQVGQhyphenhyphentOV9NRyuDjhxOezqz/s400/batman" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193092919827144866" /></a>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-81546359194822234812008-04-08T15:45:00.003+00:002008-04-08T16:20:46.755+00:00Pete Doherty Jailed!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ60E6WwOPCDf82msXKFJiR92CpdcFxo8mGb5x2kO06NQ2eI24gmHMy9nkdp7WJmzqn643QCXt8Sz9WBK3mSthHgs30rJZ4SlFw4mdUL2gircGVM_p9KyqHjIVWGu0iTbWFD1K/s1600-h/pete-doherty-busted-400w.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ60E6WwOPCDf82msXKFJiR92CpdcFxo8mGb5x2kO06NQ2eI24gmHMy9nkdp7WJmzqn643QCXt8Sz9WBK3mSthHgs30rJZ4SlFw4mdUL2gircGVM_p9KyqHjIVWGu0iTbWFD1K/s320/pete-doherty-busted-400w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186909950513600770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A victory for <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7337212.stm" target="_blank">common sense</a> at last! How the guy has evaded jail so far is simply beyond me. The whole charade seems to have played out like a rock n roll game of cat and mouse for what feels like an eternity without ever once someone actually taking some form of moral responsibility and standing up to the music industry to say <span style="font-style: italic;">enough is enough</span>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">All in all, these 14 weeks of incarceration come way to late. The damage has been done. If you take drugs, drive under the influence of drugs and persistently give the courts the royal run-a-round but you have the power and circulation pressure of the musical and tabloid press behind you can get away scot free it. Your civil liberties remain unchallenged. Try explaining that to the disaffected youth.</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-36703743631252434052008-04-05T11:54:00.004+00:002008-04-06T18:56:52.989+00:00So Far This Month I've<span style="font-size:85%;">...spent a day filming a new ad with the world's largest car dealership CarGiant. More to come but my role as </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Volvo passenger</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> is already the talk of Hollywood.<br /><br />...lost my rag with the Football Association for staging both FA Cup semi finals at the new Wembley. It is decision borne of bad financial management and one that makes a mockery of the traditions of the Cup. The reward for making the final should be a day at Wembley for players and fans alike and something to savour. You could have still kept the magic of the cup with West Brom v Portsmouth at The Emirates and Cardiff v Barnsley at Villa Park but that would have been too convienent and probably too cheap for fans. Better the FA to fleece them at Wembley once, if not twice.<br /><br />...discovered the delightful <a href="http://www.chachachacafe.co.uk/">Cha Cha Cha</a> in Cassiobury Park Watford. On Thursday it plays home to an acoustic night and I have to say I rather fell for the eclectic charm of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thestrawbearband">The Straw Bear Band.</a><br /><br />...been pouring over the financial pages. It's time to get a new mortgage and I'm on the hunt for a killer deal.<br /><br />...looking forward to the release of Son of Rambow. It is <a href="http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/berkhamsted-news/Rambow-revisited-in-teen-movie.3890870.jp">filmed in Berkhamsted</a> and the majority of the school scenes at my old haunt Ashlyn's School. By no means my favourite school years it is still a wonderfully imposing building that I'm looking forward to seeing on the big screen.</span>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15595776.post-16890311594708722452008-03-14T18:14:00.002+00:002008-03-14T18:18:27.073+00:00Moo: My new vzaar Business Card<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.vzaar.com"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXKK__YuXE9hlwofhVcWsCMfgbpxB9GWUjZf0Cekbcx0DCRLMrXggmci-X6EaxCiJn19G-z_f66tzJ5CVsfktrBjQzlSWYA-qfkvYt_WV5GGoD6h46MZXYm-VblHliZfWK3dp/s400/moo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177663183470291954" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SMPpbBwy9sHcdAS3v3rAxE91pzRINXEkv6OBPCsXe353vVvp3kfKoDwQsZVrwK8dOqfYwFWW3q2YilucMfZZP3ahAnYVdt4AaJ3XPxZ3Xd8mp4UJD5pzGYiUGLXD67lgkW8n/s1600-h/moo.jpg"><br /></a>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323160882017374870noreply@blogger.com1