Internet-speak is of course never acceptable. Like texting or having a London accent it is simply an ugly primitive form of communication (yes yes, language is constantly evolving I know, if Shakespeare was alive today he'd probably be a rap artist etc.), but amongst 13 year old girls it is at least to be expected, even pardoned given that, well, ( Read more... )

Band name: Third Avenue Elevated ( Read more... )

There are a relatively small number of things you expect to find in the record sleeve of an LP by German house/hip-hop pioneers Snap! A Snap! record is perhaps number one on that list; maybe a till receipt or a bit of fluff would also be commonplace. Towards the bottom of that list would be a short essay on revenge by a nine year old with a ( Read more... )

I am finding Far from the Madding Crowd somewhat hard going. I think the writings fine, the characters are portrayed with warmth and humour (not like the ghastly little protaganist in the last book I read - Sons and Lovers), and things look like they're about to go wonderfully tits up. This is all good. It's just that I keep waiting for all the ( Read more... )

So I just changed a fuse. No biggie ( Read more... )

I may have become mildly addicted to Rose and Camellia. It's possibly my favourite flash-based female aristocrat slap 'em up of all time. You can stick your xbox360 up your arse.

The day has finally arrived. In about 12 hours I will be attempting to justify the last 4 years in my viva interview. I really reallly really hope I don't bollocks this up.

Late in the day a box of books were donated. The woman who brought them in was unremarkable - elderly, prissy, of the type that roam Cumbria in great herds - the books were from a friend who'd died recently she exaplained. They were old books, not antique or even very valuable, but old paperbacks from the 60s mostly. The spines were a little ( Read more... )

Far be it from me to belittle the seriousness of a young girl being kidnapped, but does Madeleine McCann's abduction really deserve to dominate the news for quite so long? In recent weeks Blair has finally stepped down, a right-wing government has been elected in France, there's escalating conflict in Palestine, and the usual range of scientific ( Read more... )

I may give up going to the pictures. I don't consider myself overly elitist where entertainment is concerned; over the last couple of years I could list at least 5 great tv series, books, or bands I have enjoyed immensely. But for some reason every time I go the cinema I am consistently underwhelmed. In the last month I have been to see three films ( Read more... )