Self-portraits, dolls, cannibalism and writing blogs

It is shameless plug time again.
The wife has created a book from the 366-day self-portrait photography project she completed in May.
It was never Rachel’s original intention, but the project chronicles her struggle to cope with her illness and all its implications over the course of the year.
I’m obviously completely and utterly biased when I say it is an amazing [...]

Crime never pays and other food for thought

Some interesting Sunday reading around today.
Various things have caught my eye whilst having a trawl.
The story behind the biggest attempted bank fraud in British history sounds a bit like the plot for a thriller and the fact that the young bank clerk jailed for the crime won’t divulge his accomplices adds a twist that means [...]

Writing for fun

Words is my life.
Its official, I’ve even got the t-shirt to prove it thanks to Rachel.
I love reading them, I enjoy writing them even more.
Blogs are brilliant as I get exposed to so many words, ideas, styles, prejudices and plenty of inspiration whenever I want it. Best of all, these words are pinging at me from [...]

Signs of modern times

I’ve been reading and surfing mostly this week and what I’ve found, for a variety of reasons, sums up the state we’re in.
So, in no particular order, here goes:

Has rampant consumerism reached its zenith - Louis Vuitton bin bags anyone?
Is it bye-bye Jamie, Gordon, Delia et al as YouTube provides us with cookery lessons and makes [...]

Editors complain about too much choice

Having mulled over the BBC’s plans to increase its local video output online and the less than enthusiastic response of The Newspaper Society for a few days I’m still left with the same question.
Isn’t one of the big plus points of the “digital revolution” the fact that we now have more choice?
So the Society’s attitude would [...]

Off to paddle a canoe

No, really. I’m off to paddle the River Wye in a canoe, thanks to my wife.

So I’m going to be quiet, blogging-wise, for the next couple of days.
After I revealed a desire to canoe the Usk Valley of my childhood as part of my 40th birthday list, Rachel wanted to make sure I could do [...]

Blogging - newspapers; the law; education

Several interesting items scattered around today on all things blogs.
First up, a warning from legal types about legal implications of what you write on a blog.
Only five per cent of internet users are clear on their legal rights and responsibilities when posting comment online, according to new research from law firm DLA Piper.
The journalism and [...]

Coca-Cola aid campaign - its good to talk

Yet more encouraging news from Simon Berry, who is spearheading the campaign to get Coca-Cola to use their distribution muscle to provide basic aid to communities in developing countries.
Simon has held a conference with senior representative of Coca-Cola and received some positive feedback.
The next step is a planned face-to-face meeting between Simon and the company’s [...]

Social networking - friend or foe?

Nine out of ten people want specific guidelines for the media on the use of personal information published online.
According to the study carried out by the Press Complaints Commission, 89% of those questioned believe clear regulations were necessary and would help them more easily seek redress if material is wrong or intrusive.
Concerns about the amount of [...]

Blogging in newspapers - the 3Cs still apply

One of my old editors kept banging on about the 3Cs - credibility, credibility, credibility.
If there was one basic mistake in a front-page exclusive splash then that story was ruined in his eyes.
His attitude irritated the hell out of me when I was a reporter because I felt he couldn’t see the bigger picture - [...]