new force

'After painstaking behind-the-scenes negotiations the ballot papers will carry the title "Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force".'



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orphaned

Dave is mothering some orphaned guinea pigs. He had one too many lollipop last night (read: one in total) and declared this should be broadcast live. Don't think he's gone the whole hog (aha) and built a site for them yet, but in the meantime here's the UStream...

Stream videos at Ustream

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changing rooms

The hero of our times (and recurring overachiever) that is Micah has just launched the website for an absolutely blinding series of events in Belfast next month called The Changing Room. To quote his blog directly:

'it's an event about ethical fashion and lifestyle as well as fair trade clothes, second hand clothes, food, workshops on urban gardens, fixing clothes and herbs!'

Two words: Be there. The site alone has completely sold it to me, but only cause I'm a sucker for sexy graphics. The events themselves sound not only completely wonderful, but backed by a very important message. Go on, my son.

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art with a purpose

Whilst the title is debatable (as I of course back art for art's sake), much of what new media offers as art often falls flat on its proverbial when it is revealed as not really very purposeful at all. [See deviantART for several years' worth of appalling content for your browsing displeasure, for example. Yes, there is a completely neglected mediatree page.]

However, one extremely important project, of which I am an immense fan and have mentioned before is Frank Warren's PostSecret project, an 'ongoing community art project, where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.' If you haven't come across it, you must stop reading this now and go browse for a while.

One thing that makes this particularly special is the apparent wonderous selflessness with which Frank administers the project; so it is with little surprise to discover that, upon being awarded $10,000 by Myspace, he's giving the whole lot to the anti-suicide charity Hopeline, run by the Kristen Brooks Hope Center. PostSecret is a deeply moving and personal, yet obviously cathartic experience for thousands of people, and Frank can only be commended for having the foresight to set it up.

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cricket scores

Simultaneously attempting to follow football, cricket and rugby, whilst drafting an application form... it's all go on this spring-like Sunday! However, life has been eased slightly by Cricket Score, and Cricket Score 2, two mac applications which track scorecards straight to your desktop. My only issue is that I have downloaded both versions as the newer, much more useful one is tracking Australia v New Zealand, whilst the original miniscule one is providing the England v Windies score. Still worth a looksie though.

Also, if anyone can work out how to install facepacks, badges etc. to FM2008 for Mac, I would be eternally grateful!

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naturally 7 are amazing

The Flying Pickets they most certainly ain't... New York's sensational Naturally 7 are breathtakingly brilliant. Worth it for the vocal bass line alone. Must. Buy. Everything. Ever. Released.



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chickens, home, roost, etc.

First day against the Windies, and who was the first not to fall flat on his face? KP delivers 97 after Strauss for 7 off 15 and Cook for 4 off 20... this could be a headache of a series for the "new" England setup if, as today would indicate, the prodigal son remains their best player. Time (and the next few weeks) will tell.

don't say that...

Let's be clear: I am in no way anti-semetic, and so what follows is entirely taken out of context compared to how my lovely other half (who is also not anti-semetic) said it; it's a very funny story, worthy of relation, but it's late at night and I can't be bothered.

Suffice to say, I just received an e-mail with the following attachment from Dave with the flattering subject, "You are the ONLY person on the internet ever to have said..."