Monthly Archives: July 2003

40 Days and 40 Nights

Josh Harnett in 40 Days and 40 Nights

Last night PY and I watched Josh Hartnett in 40 Days and 40 Nights – thanks to the delights of Sky Box Office. It was a well-made film, and I enjoyed it as a movie you can watch on an evening when you want to sit down and watch something that doesn’t make you think too hard.

The premise is that Matt is tired of his sex life and the way it seems to run his life. So, he gives up sex for Lent and, of course, meets somebody during that time. It was OK, but I think it was supposed to be either satirical or out-and-out funny (I believe there’s a difference). Yet I didn’t really laugh. Which is a shame because it’s OK.

Verdict: Watch when you don’t want to use any brain cells. Watch if you want to see Josh Hartnett with no shirt on!

On this day…

2005: Fans Vote On Qualifying Rules
2003: Consumers Around Your Product
2003: No More Netscape
2002: London Life Underground
2002: 50 things
2002: I say “medieval” – You say “medireview”

Consumers Around Your Product

If you can build the trust of your customers, it is a wonderful thing. I was about to post a link to Jason Kottke’s wonderful doughnut man piece (and there, I have done) but then I found this from Matt Haughey, which I thought was an interesting twist:

The story of the donut man reminds us all there are two ways a business can view people crowding around their valuable products: either as thieving pirates that must be stopped at all costs, or as potential customers that can bring in a lot of money

[Donuts ‘n Porn]

On this day…

2005: Fans Vote On Qualifying Rules
2003: 40 Days and 40 Nights
2003: No More Netscape
2002: London Life Underground
2002: 50 things
2002: I say “medieval” – You say “medireview”

No More Netscape

I am only posting this for the record.

You could argue that yesterday was the day Netscape died and, as that browser has played an important part in my working life, I thought I would note the moment.

On this day…

2005: Fans Vote On Qualifying Rules
2003: 40 Days and 40 Nights
2003: Consumers Around Your Product
2002: London Life Underground
2002: 50 things
2002: I say “medieval” – You say “medireview”

Rain Breaks Heatwave

Picture of Piccadilly Circus, London, 17 July 2003

It’s been very hot in London recently which has been lovely really but a little sticky if you happen to be working in an office that has no air-conditioning. Today, the rain has properly broken through – which will be good for my garden – and forced tourists and office workers to put up their umbrellas. Looking around Piccadilly Circus at lunch time I was struck by the grandeur of some of the buildings. The dome on this one – not sure what it houses – is something I’ve never noticed before. Isn’t it fantastic how, just by looking in a different direction, you can see a city in a whole new light?

On this day…

2005: links for 2005-07-17
2005: In Case Of Emergency
2003: Gay Consumers Are Good
2002: Amazon Light

Gay Consumers Are Good

I always knew that I was desirable to marketers. It must explain the excessive junk snail and e-mail that I get, those telephone calls in the evening offering me deals on kitchens and the voice mail advertisements on my BT1571 service.

Gay men and women are among the first to adopt new devices and online tools, making them an important demographic for online marketers. [Forrester Research Finds That Gay Consumers Are Among The Earliest Technology Adopters]

I wonder if this means anything at all, or if it’s just another piece of research that will be buried.

On this day…

2005: links for 2005-07-17
2005: In Case Of Emergency
2003: Rain Breaks Heatwave
2002: Amazon Light

A 4 Minute Warning

Mark Owen 4 Minute Warning

Since I opened comments on the Man of the Moment section, I have been wondering about their validity. Not that there is anything wrong with fellow fans declaring undying love for Dermot O’Leary, Mark Owen or Justin Timberlake. I had hoped, however, that there might also be some useful fan information that comes from opening the comments up.

I was, therefore, delighted to see the recent increase in activity on the ex-Take That member and Celebrity Big Brother winner Mark Owen’s page. It is through the comments on that section that I know Mark’s new single, Four Minute Warning, is out soon (in fact, on 4 August 2003 for those that may have an interest in such things).

So, on the back of all this comment, I ventured across to the Official Mark Owen site – where I was pleased to see there has been a major re-design and the announcement Mark will be playing the G.A.Y. club on 2nd August (why is it that anytime I want to see a band there I am always doing something else?).

Anyway, it’s very good to see that the single, Four Minute Warning, picks up where the album Green Man left off. It’s fashionable to knock the solo efforts of ex-boy band members, but Green Man was a superb album. The teen music press seemed to dismiss it, as the more indie/rock sound was not quite so fashionable then amongst their market, and the adult music journalists dismissed it because Mark was an ex-boy-band singer. I still believe they were wrong, and it sounds like the new single is very much in the same vein – perhaps a little more rounded and mature but a natural progression nonetheless.

Picture from the Official Mark Owen Site.

On this day…

2006: Changing The Face of Pop
2005: Trafalgar Square Vigil
2002: Spending Money At Last

1789 And All That

And before I forget, in 1789, the French stormed the Bastille, an event which started the French Revolution and led to the formation of modern French democracy. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to visit the Bastille on my trip, but I think we should be celebrating with the French today. Happy holidays.

On this day…

2005: Two Minutes Silence
2003: Wind Power
2003: Power of the Idea
2002: Number One
2002: Ask Homer (and remember HotWired)

Wind Power

It must be good news that the UK has announced the extra investment in wind power across the country and, typically, the BBC has a useful graphic to show me how it all works. The BBC also has the full story of the UK’s expansion plans for offshore wind-generated electricity.

On this day…

2005: Two Minutes Silence
2003: 1789 And All That
2003: Power of the Idea
2002: Number One
2002: Ask Homer (and remember HotWired)

Power of the Idea

The weapons you are looking for are currently unavailable. The country might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your weapons inspectors mandate.

I am back from Paris. It was truly delightful, and I had a fantastic time in the sunshine. Really, I would rather not go back to work today. Still, it seems that while I have been avoiding the web for the weekend, there have been some interesting things published. My favourite shows that the web really remains personal publishing for every-and-anybody.

In spite of all the terrible e-marketing, spam and viral promotions that swamp our online lives, it’s good to know that somebody with a great idea and a little bit of talent can still get noticed and recognised by the online world.

In The Guardian online last week, Anthony Cox described how his spoof error page turned into a so-called ‘Google bomb’ for weapons of mass destruction.

On this day…

2005: Two Minutes Silence
2003: 1789 And All That
2003: Wind Power
2002: Number One
2002: Ask Homer (and remember HotWired)