ibollocks

So far I've resisted the lure of the iPhone, even with all those sexy apps.  It would just be one more screen that I would be required to look at in the course of a day.  If one good thing has come out of the requirement for modern day workers to perform their daily tasks at computer terminals, it might be, if they're anything like me, that they watch less TV.  Sometimes I just can't face the goggle box after a day in front of several other screens. Its BBC Breakfast for me while I'm spooning porridge or eggs down my gullet, then a monitor for 8 or so hours at work if I'm freelancing for someone.  Then it's the laptop when I get home for a bit to deal with all the emails I swerved during the day, for Facebook and Twitter, for this blog and others.  Depending who is online, it might also be time for a Skype or MSN.   Then there's always the lure of 'Enders or the 9pm movie on Film4 and Family Guy is always hard to resist, right?  Even in the pub I might find myself looking into someone's photos on their phone or a video of them goofing about.  If it's not on screen, does it even exist anymore?

So the release of the iPad is just another gadget that will add to my paranoia about the amount of time I spend looking at a screen.  Sure I want one; if the success of the Pod and the Phone are anything to go by it seems inevitable that in a couple of years you'll find me on a train running my finger over the screen of one more tenderly that I would a new lover.  Damn them if the bods at Apple haven't found another way to eat into some of the rare non-screen time I had left.  Shitty weather makes me happy as it gives me an excuse to forsake my bike and get on the train, which means I can read.  Old fashioned paper with words printed on it: a book, a newspaper, something tangible in my hands.  Even reading a restaurant menu these days provides me with a thrill, albeit relatively minor. How long before I'm tapping on the table to order and the job queues are full of ex-waiters?

And in other news, the answer to the question this blog poses recently was yes - I ended up writing for Shortlist.  Now I'm off to get on the laptop to find out how long it is before they release the iPad in this country...

He Said, She Said

One thing I have never done on this blog is big up another writer that I like so it's about time I addressed that.  If you've never read The He Said She Said Review before you should if only because people, it's January.  The cold breeze of winter is blowing up your trouser leg and you're considering long johns even though you previously thought they were for old people and the very fact that you're considering wearing them has got you worrying that you're middle aged already and you haven't even done anything with your life yet.  That combined with the lack of light in the day and not being able to go out because you're skint after Christmas and because its buggering freezing (did I mention the weather?) is getting you down.  You need a laugh.  Therefore you need to read Chris and Emily's gig reviews.

They shouldn't be funny.  Basically the two of them seem to get pissed, muck about, not really know what to say to the bands and occasionally have a fight.  We've all done that and usually when we relate that sort of thing to our friends, they do a sort of fake guffaw or maybe a nose-blow of a laugh and pretend like its amusing in a supportive kind of way.  Realising your hilarious story probably only seemed hilarious because you were inebriated, you change the subject and move on.  So I don't know why even though most of their posts are pretty similar, I still want to go back and read each new one.  I think its a bit like watching the Royle family - I'm laughing because its holding up a mirror to what is familiar.  Just like I've sat around a telly with my family and, if I 'd thought about it later, it would have made me smile, so hesaidshesaid feels like I've done that or I've seen people doing that and plain and simple, human behaviour can be very funny.  Treat yourself and hit the link.