Thursday, September 29, 2011

"In 2010, the economic welfare cost of reported road accidents was estimated to be around £15 billion."

http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-accidents-and-safety-annual-re...

And bear in mind that the estimated total is vastly higher than the reported number. I drive, I bike, I walk, so I'm including myself in the blame for this, although I've never hit anyone. But this is the cost of car ownership you don't see. And if you add in the health costs of people who would cycle or walk but find the local roads oppressive, and it's even higher. Sent from my iPad

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Michael Schur and Nate DiMeo try their hand at learning cricket - Grantland

The idea of getting people who know nothing about sport to cover a match is an old and rather tired trope. But these guys make a pretty good fist of covering a televised cricket match, and capture the experience well in the writing. 

Michael Schur and Nate DiMeo try their hand at learning  cricket - Grantland

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6657523/view/full/so-cricket-maybe

(via Instapaper)

Sent from my iPad

Repost: Alex off to ballet

P93

Cute!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

This is where they walked, swam, hunted, danced and sang

So, farewell REM. You've been a part of my life since I saw you playing Can't Get There from Here on The Tube, and I borrowed Neil's copy of Fables of The Recontruction - not the best album to try first, but it was enough for me. I remember The One I Love being played on Radio 1 at least four times in one day when I drove Sophie and a Land Rover full of her stuff down to Hornsey and back in a day. Green was the soundtrack of my transitional year at University in 1988/9, and of course Out Of Time was even more so in my last, wonderful year at Edinburgh.Craig, Neil, Michelle, Ed, Michael, Avi, Steve, Robert - so many people are there with me in those tracks.

If the band had split up after Bill Berry left, they would have left behind a near-perfect body of work. Instead we had three albums of a band struggling to find a voice and a direction - although still blessed with a way to produce at least one great single per album - and a tired sounding first official live album.

If they had split up at that point, we'd have said about time too, and tried to forget the recent stuff. Instead they took something to heart, worked with a new producer and turned out two late gems, and a fantastic live album.

Like a prize fighter who has been struggling, but then wins three successive fights by knockouts, REM can go out on a high. Not the peak they'd have left behind if they'd quit in 1997, but a late flurry of brilliance. Having rightfully reclaimed our attention, they are going on their own terms.

What's been interesting is that we've had no solo albums by any of the members, even during the long gaps in the later part of their career. Peter Buck seems willing to turn up and play with anyone who asks, Michael Stipe has been producing films, and Mike Mills presumably just spends his days being nice, but none have taken the lead on anything musically. This could be interesting.

The career overall speaks for itself. Thanks guys.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8780463/R.E.M.-announce-s...

http://www.salon.com/news/music/index.html?story=/ent/music/2011/09/21/remembering_r_e_m

 

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

My favourite band are no more. Thanks for everything*, Bill, Michael, Mike and Peter.

http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=1446

And yes, I will be listening to nothing else for the next 24 hours. Please do not interupt.

And double yes, its the end of the world as I know it, and I feel fine.

*Except Around the Sun - that did suck.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Once-in-a-lifetime as Lancashire finally step up as county champions | Andy Wilson | Sport | The Guardian

iHealth Brings a Virtual Doctor’s Office to Your iDevice | Cult of Mac

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Lancashire la la la, Lancashire la la la

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/sep/15/lancashire-win-county-championship

77 years of hurt over. At the weekend I really thought we'd blown it.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Media ignore huge Ulster story

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Car boot sale tribute to the twin towers

P109

Seen at a car boot sale in Pimlico. On September 11.

Why we can never escape our siblings - Children - Salon.com

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Less funny than it at first appears... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSy3zbavGFs&feature=player_embedded#! #savethenhs

PS LibDems: Thanks for nothing.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Come and see @sophiescott, @angelagriggs and others being clever and interesting about speech, communication and yer gob

Thursday, September 01, 2011

The Tour of Britain 2011 – The Race – Stage 7 Route