One for the Sky Plus tonight

Ross Kemp in Afghanistan tonight on Sky 1, Guardian Interview here (worth a read)

Update : Woolworths stupid elsewhere too…

So I took the risk of a second trip to Woolworths, it really was a risk as I can’t think of any other reason to go into Slough Town center on a wet sunday morning, but we did. Lo’ and behold – 3 cases for The Golden Compass on the shelf, but none in stock, it sounds like its a company wide policy…so we came away disappointed again.

I did note that for some titles – there were stickers on the shelves marked ‘sold out – try online’, but for those games – there were no product cases on the shelf.

Great work Woolies – I cannot wait for your reply!

Oh yes, and you cannot pay by gift card online – so we’re sort of stuck with gift cards and no product at the moment…going to need to figure this one out!

Woolworths are stupid…just my opinion of course.

I often wonder how the Internet Age is affecting the dynamics of shopping for most people. I use the internet for most of my personal shopping now (excluding clothes), and this christmas we did the majority of our gift buying online. Nothing unusual there, but still I see the high streets thronged with people.

However, shops must be suffering because they are all developing online entities and advertising them like crazy, so they are competing in a new landscape, against established players like Amazon, Play.com, Ocado and Tesco.com, clearly there is a fight to be had.

So picture the scene when you go into a well known high street store and the following happens…Click ‘Read More’ to hear the absurd methodology that Woolworths use to push you towards the web channel and read the email I have just sent to their customer relations address.

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Introducing Soko

I’d like to introduce you to my new friend, she’s called Soko and she is from France  and makes great music – she is also super cute, but that is a different story.

Last year, Soko released an EP called ‘Not Sokute’ and I just had the pleasure of listening to it. Over on Last.FM, they compare her with Kate Nash, Feist and Camille – which are not bad comparisons – I also think she sounds a bit like Robyn, but definitely you should find the ‘No Sokute’ EP and give it a listen and make your own decisions.

There are five songs, with ‘I’ll Kill Her’ and ‘Take my Heart’ being the best of the bunch in my opinion, the lyrics are really funny – like this:

So, of course, you were supposed to call me tonight
you were supposed to call me tonight
we would have gone to the cinema
and, after, to the restaurant, the one you like in your street

we would have slept together, have a nice breakfast together
and then a walk in a park together, how beautiful, and then
you would have said “i love you” in the cutest place on earth
where some butterflies are dancing with the fairies…

Soko – I’ll Kill Her (2007)

Actually – on the screen, that lyric looks really sappy but coupled with her very quirky vocal that sounds almost Scandinavian at times it comes out much better than it reads.

So – if you haven’t already followed one of my links – you should do that now, there is some more stuff over at MySpace – but everyone knows that MySpace sucks but everyone knows that MySpace is not great for downloading music, and you might have better luck looking elsewhere for music from Soko. (Sorry Mum!)

Frensham Pond – 1918

Frensham Pond, sent in 1918 from Barracks in Aldershot to Harrow Road, Paddington. I like the urgency of the message, ‘Write at Once’

Click more to see the full message

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Bobby Fischer dies – age 64

Check Mate – Bobby Fischer, one of the worlds greatest chess minds dies, age 64

Seth Godin on Workaholics

The new workaholic – a person who works out of passion and curiosity- not fear

The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom

The Wonderland series started on BBC2 last night, a sequence of documentaries that will focus on the lives of interesting people. Yesterdays episode followed one of my favourite comedy legends, Sir Norman Wisdom and his family dealing with his life as he approaches his mid nineties.

You can watch the programme here on the wonderful BBC iPlayer, and find Normans official web page here.

Clearly Norman was a handful, both for his existing carer and his family, who at times seemed impatient with his antics. Physically fit, but becoming forgetful, we saw him creating problems (but still getting laughs) at his house in the Isle of Man and then at the family houses in Sussex. Finally, his son and daughter made the difficult (but ultimately) rewarding decision to put him in a home on his beloved Isle of Man. It was here that he found the best solution, a permanent audience that he could act up to.

It was a thoughtful and touching story, that made me a bit angry in places as his family made those decisions, but seeing the energy and life in a comedy legend was really poignant. It was fantastic seeing him comfortable in his old peoples home, making his peers laugh and clap like so many times before.

Amelia is four today

A great post over on my colleague Nicoles blog today, Amelia is four years old and frankly lucky to be there, bravely dealing with a rare autoimmune disease (and we know about those over at Chez Rutherford). Reading Nicoles post made me realise just how lucky and blessed I am.

Ipod Touch Owners Rebel!

Apple want Ipod Touch owners (like me) to pay for new apps – customers say no way, sign a petition here and see if this puts pressure on Apple.