Slightly Askew

James and I did a radio interview today. It was fun.

They asked me about how everything was going. I said I was having fun; we were creating stuff that was hopefully achieving good things for our clients.

I felt a bit guilty for having all this fun. I shouldn’t, of course, because creating a culture of head-down, shut-up, I’m-in-charge fear does nobody any favours. it kills good ideas before they can grow into great ones.

People aren’t delighted by seriousness. Have more fun.

Tweet this post.

Webfusion called me today, apologised for their poor service, and then did everything they could to resolve my issue.

We all make mistakes. But when you’re apologetic and genuine about them, they’re so much easier to forgive.

Tweet this post.

My nephew, Bradley, Christmas 2007.

My nephew, Bradley, Christmas 2008.

Tweet this post.

At 8.26pm UK time today (Thursday, 15 January 2009) I was sat in my bedroom browsing the internet. Just round the corner, the Co-op was preparing to throw out today’s newspapers. It shuts at nine.

In New York City, it was 3.26pm. US Airways 1549 was taking off. Minutes later, it suffered some FOD – that’s foreign object damage, kids – thought to be a flock of birds ingested in the engine. It lost power, and ended up crashing into the Hudson.

All 148 passengers and five crew are thought to be alive and well.

I know this because of this article, found via my iGoogle about half an hour ago.

What will tomorrow’s newspapers say? Will they have the full story? Have they gone to print?

The real question, of course, is does it matter? My blog is reporting this news before it’s in newsprint. Little old me in Ipswich. With a silly blog and a Macbook and an internet connection.

Printed newspapers are dying a miserable death. If you needed it, this post is your evidence.

Tweet this post.

When your friends pop in for a cup of tea, serve it in a chipped teacup.

Use it up … Wear it out … Make it do … Or do without

Tweet this post.

Zhong nan hai by Carsick Cars.

It’s all in Chinese but nevertheless quite breathtakingly brilliant.

Tweet this post.

[photo by hugovk]

I am delighted. Chuffed to overenthusiastic bits, perhaps. Today, I stumbled upon Good Copy Bad Copy.

It’s one of those scary grammar blogs that sends a wave of panic crashing over me. As I read, I worry about whether I’m punctuating my thoughts properly or not. I’m shaking as I type this. Honestly.

But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (well, apart from a debilitating disease).

Clare clearly knows her stuff, so it’s fantastic to be able to digest and learn.

Mingin’ purple, though.

[edit: I tried linking to the website, but some strange redirects are occurring. Don't let that put you off. Copy http://www.daccreative.co.uk/goodcopybadcopy/ into your browser.]

Tweet this post.

I usually refrain from posting football humour, but this is hilarious.

Especially when the joke’s on him.

Tweet this post.

Q. When does a catalogue that should be selling you stuff become a book you want to read?
A. When the people at Howies write it.

Tweet this post.

I’m a sucker for cute ’50s Americana, so when I noticed a beautiful ice cream van in the latest issue of Vice magazine, it was like a 99-fuelled sugar rush – only much healthier.

The van appears in a strangely moving collection of snaps by photojournalist James Ball. ‘Bring Me Sunshine‘ captures the modest resurgence of Morecambe – a quintessentially English seaside town – in 22 splendid shots.

The ice cream van in question is owned by Kate Drummond, a graphic designer (hence the sexy menu, above). You’ll find the Sunset Ices van next to the Midland Hotel; you can’t miss it – it’s the one with the slogan (and this is the masterstroke) everyday is like sundae.

Tweet this post.