Wired Nomad

Topical Video from the Book Festival

If you've been following the events in Georgia recently, the Book Festival have a topical video on the website in place of the appearance of the author at today's Festival.

A former Russian conscript who fought in Chechnya, Arkady Babchenko was unable to make it to his event today due to the situation between Russia and Georgia. Here he makes a special, very personal, recording for the Book Festival for their Anna Politkovskaya memorial event.

A Day of Different Cultures

Off to Dawyck Botanic Gardens this morning, one of four gardens that comprise the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland, on a fine spring day, for the official launch of the new visitor centre by Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead.

The garden is already among the Borders top paid-for attractions but the new centre should take visitor numbers from 21,000 to more than 30,000 by 2017.

Overall, a fantastic, environmentally sound improvement for an already beautiful tourist attraction in the Scottish Borders.

Caught up with some clients, also past colleagues, Peter Nowell (now head of Brand Vista Scotland) and Janet Sylvester (MD of ScotInform).

Early evening, rare social event - 3 friends from the village and I (age range 18 - 48) head off to the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow for an evening of Joe Satriani, who graduated from the University of Life with a First in Admiration of Jimi Hendrix plus a PHD in the art of plank spanking. Most people I mention it to say - who? Hard rock American guitarist, famous from 1992 for his album The Extremist; whole gig enjoyable but a bit long, 3 hours including similar support act Paul Gilbert (flashy, no emotion), but can't complain about ticket value.

Was also impressed with the quality of the images from Jamie's Samsung phone (see examples) which I think has a 5 mega pixel camera built in.

Politics and Cartoons

Just waiting for a couple of projects to go live, and thought I should post another blog entry before then and loved this one I came across on Slate about the difference between Hilary and Obama, Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny.

Now I need some time to work out the comparisons in the UK... The only problem is I can't see Gordon Brown as a cartoon character at all. Possibly Spike the angry dog from Tom and Jerry?

A day off from the iPod

Number 1 daughter had to borrow my iPod as hers has shuffled off its mortal coil, so when out in the car this morning I had to listen to the radio and thought how last century it seemed! I tend to catch up with my podcast listening in the car. I've been checking the content on the Book Festival podcasts for iTunes rating (Julian Clary & Rhona Cameron are not suitable for the faint-hearted), listening to the All Day Breakfast Show and of course, Guardian Newsdesk.

So I listened to Radio 5 Live, Victoria Derbyshire. She was talking about anthems for cities, Waterloo Sunset for London being one example, and she said "I'm surprised no-one has suggested London Calling by The Jam" and to compound it, the caller said, "Yeah, by The Jam"! Incensed by this inane conversation, I texted the Beeb and sure enough 10 minutes later my (and to be fair, a few others) message was read out, and The Clash were rightfully identified.

Bring back my iPod.