bookmark_borderJust came down from…

Like many people, I recently “spent” 3 days holiday allowance to get an 11 day holiday (wonderful combination of bank holidays and the royal wedding).

So, what did I do on this mini-holiday?

Spent a couple of days surrounded by amazing scenery on the Isle of Skye for starters. We took a small (four car max) ferry across to the island, dined in a wonderful fresh fish restaurant on Portree harbour, fed some Highland cows, stood at the top of a big cliff, lost count of the number of times we both exhaled a “WOW” at the stunning views, took a boat trip out to see the seals, and experienced the settling of the gloaming as we drove back down through Glencoe. It was an eery half-light as night crept in, driving along at the foot of the mountains, soundtracked by The Villagers, I Saw The Dead. Spooky.

Also had some time catching up with old friends (that’s friends I’ve known for a long time, not old people, although Scunner is getting on a bit these days…), sitting in a beer garden on glorious sunshine. They are the type of friends that, no matter how long it’s been, you fall back into the same patterns with. The jokes and ribbing, the memories all combining to make it a great day, topped off by curry (which finished me off, I’m blaming the lime pickle).

And just yesterday I had a day in Stirling wandering around the university campus, feeding some very confident ducks that took the bread from the palm of your hand a day before a drive to Callander then a wee diversion to Balmaha (for some fab hot chocolate for me, bloody mary for Kirsty).

Aside from that, I spent far too much time playing with my new iPad, including a day of fighting off the lurgy, and not enough time setting up a test server for a website I’m currently building… oopsy.

And, with all that passed, it’s back to work.

Time to plan the next batch of fun!

bookmark_borderMatchstick men

WOW, what a Super Bowl!!! I’ll let Jen fill you in on the details.

What do you mean you didn’t stay up to watch it? I managed it…

*yawns*

OK, I’m a little tired, but I’ve got three days of training to sit through so I figure a little snooze at the back of ‘class’ will suffice. I only hope I don’t fall asle…

bookmark_borderScrewed again

CD settlement forces prices up.

OK, strictly speaking CD-WOW were breaking a law (I think, I can’t actually find proof of this anywhere, but I’ve not looked too hard), but considering the ‘threat’ to CD sales (which appear to be rising NOT falling) that the record industry keeps moaning about, you’d think they’d be glad that any CDs are getting sold at all.

In saying that, I’ve heard little from the BPI as it sits quietly in the background letting the RIAA take the spotlight in the battle against evil ‘downloaders’, so it’s hardly surprising that, when given the opportunity to prove they are still doing something they grab it with both hands. I should also temper this ‘rant-ette’ with the knowledge that CD-WOW

Thing is, as it stands at the moment, the record labels still get the same from each sale, CD-WOW will benefit from “any press is good press” and they will have the larger sales margin which has been enforced on them (I’m quite sure that the increase won’t ALL be spent obtaining CDs from other sources), so who is getting screwed in all this?

Ohh yes, the consumer.

In related news, whilst digging around to get some background to this, I came across some UK piracy figures (nice to see they are up-to-date…).
It should be noted that of counterfeit sales units were estimated to be costing more than double the value of pirate downloads in 2002, i wonder what that figure is now?

The Game
Isn’t it funny how art imitates life, or is it life imitates art? And who am I to say that the film The Game is art?
Either way, I’m not sure if I would really want this as an Xmas pressie, if you REALLY want to get me a present (seeing as you missed my birthday) check out my Wishlist (but if you are getting a CD – get it from CD WOW… cheaper and free delivery)