Recently in Everything Else Category

Not really said much on this subject, about the paltry political donations (compared to the costs of, for example, the Iraq war,) or indeed about how it has affected me generally.

For now I'll just highlight a blog, which I think is well worth a look at if you want to help, but don't know how to (aside from purely giving a donation).

Do check out The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog - which contains news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts.

It's particularly useful for people who want to volunteer and want to know how to go about it - have a look and see what happens.

This from Jon Snow's daily email yesterday:

**********************

"Brief Snowmail tonight: Nelson Mandela's last surviving son has died of AIDS.

This on a day when we learn that AIDS claims the lives of the equivalent of all those who have perished in the Indian Ocean Tsunami roughly every eighteen days."

Every 18 days? A chilling thought indeed... let's hope that the public and Government can be similarly mobilised on this - still stigma carrying - issue.

It's my last week working on my now not so secret digital radio project (owners of this will know what I mean).

In some respects I shall be sad for the work to be done, because I've enjoyed it hugely. In others I will be glad that after 6 weeks of working 15 hour days (plus weekends) that I can get my life back.

But what I shall miss most of all is going to work in Classic FM House. Situated just off Oxford Cirus this marvellous office block pipes Classic FM into all the hallways and even the toilets, which it has to be said is rather calming and civilised.

More companies should broadcast bite sized chunks of classical music's greatest hits into their lavatories, no doubt the workforce would be more cultured, relaxed and at ease with the world as a result.

Then again, perhaps not.

I use Google all the time, but never the "I'm Feeling Lucky" function unless someone tips me off about using it because somebody somewhere has been having a larf...

Here's a good one - type "Weapons of Mass Destruction" then hit the lucky button and carefully read the "error message".

It's very funny - although it took me a while to clock it - beasue the layout is so similar to a usual 404 my mind didn't actually see what was on the screen until I really looked at it...

In case this has moved, you can also see what the screen looked like here.

Quality!

The Media Guardian has an interesting article entitled: "Now BBC gives pets their own station..."

This must be a spoof, surely...

(It's not a spoof, and don't call me Shirley - Ed)

I'm not having a great day today - IT problems being the main source of angst - but it's worth remembering that however bad things are, someone else always has it worse...

Interesting article in the Sunday Times yesterday about one of my favourite websites, Belle du Jour.

No real surprises in that:
a) I've always suspected that the blog was the work of a journo

or indeed that that:

b) it's being turned into a book and no doubt a film

but interesting nonetheless.

The site deserves to become a roar away bestseller because it is edgy, funny and IMHO much funnier than Bridget Jones and those both BBJ and ABJ. I for one will be first in the queue to buy the book when the day comes...

Good luck to her / him / it - whoever you are - may you find the audience you deserve and may your anonymity remain forever a mystery....

Nice letter from the Inland Revenue this morning informing them that I owe them a sum some unpaid tax from 2002-2003.

The letter, dated 9th March 2004, asks that I pay the money by 31st January 2004.

And the sum I owe?

£3.19.

It must cost them more than that to process it...

First batch of photos from the Murder Mystery Dinner now up.