When the F*** did THIS happen?

(NSFW. LOTS of swears and some of them in size 128pt font :) )

Well, that’s the first hour long stint on the exercise bike done, and it really wasn’t too bad. Was watching The Rock to let the time fly by – a classic film, although much more “Michael Bay”-esque than I remembered.

What’s that? That electric tram’s going to hit that parked car? MASSIVE EXPLOSION! TRAM FLIES IN THE SKY! TRAM CONDUCTOR (who happens to be black but you’ll never guess from this next not-at-all stereotypical line) SHOUTS “DAMN! YOU MUTHA F***AS JUST RUINED MY DAY!”.

The only thing missing is Megan Fox draping her over a bike. Instead, we get Nicholas Cage draping himself over a rocket. As much as I’d like to say otherwise, it’s not quite the same. Fortunately, it’s massively less objectifying and it’s good to see Michael Bay has come a long way sinc… oh, shit, The Rock was made years before Transformers.

Oh dear. Still, at least it didn’t suck as much as Pearl Harbour (which sucked justalittlebitmore than I… miss… you…)

And I’ve just burned lots of calories. Tonight = Win.

Toodles,

Pat

Feeling: Good
Song in Head: Trey Parker – End of An Act

Hi,

I’m assuming you’ve read in the news about Aung San Suu Kyi’s re-arrest through the “American man swimming across a lake to her house” debacle recently.

This saddens me. If you feel the same, please have a look at this Amnesty page – and if you want to have your opinion heard by the Burmese government, fill in the email form at the end of the page. I just have:

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=343

Thanks,

Pat

Feeling: Ok
Song in Head: Various tunes, courtesy of Claire’s iPod here at work (working late tonight on a system upgrade). Er, not that I’m at work writing this. I’m at home. Just “reliving” work? Er… yeah? Ahem.

…here’s a video of the tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Ka:

In The Front Row

Oh and another one…

Checking the brakes

Scared of heights? If so, then that second video is, in the words of Garth Marenghi, a chilling future-shock that’ll shit you up. Possibly not so much of the “future-shock” though.

Wooh!

Pat

Hello!

I’ve forgotten to write a blog entry, what with sorting out some other bits on this here laptop this evening. So… er… let’s talk about what I’ve been using to sort things out:

Specifically, I’ve been using Open Office in Ubuntu to write a couple of documents, and I must say that it’s pretty damned good. There are some “quirks” with bullet points in Open Office, but overall I’ve now found that – aside from Audio Editing (anyone who’s tried using Audacity will know what I mean) – Ubuntu/Linux does the job perfectly for everything you need.

I think the last time I booted into Windows on my laptop was June. I use this almost every day. That’s quite something. Yay Ubuntu!

Now, if someone can try and make a decent multi-track audio editor for Linux that’d be much appreciated, ta.

Toodles,

Pat

Feeling: Pretty good (having ticked some stuff off his task list tonight)
Song in Head: The words of Ben Goldacre ringing in my head – awesome stuff from him on last week’s Now Show

Ah wonderful, it’s time again for a Tory spokesperson to say that Radio 1 should be sold off by the BBC to the highest bidder.

Brilliant.

This time it’s Ed Vaizey, shadow minister for broadcasting.

So, Mr Vaizey, let’s list your points justifying the sell off:

1) It’s a youth station, yet the median age is those listening in their thirties
2) It’s unfair that the BBC gets 5 national FM frequencies and the Commercial Industry only gets one

Firstly, to point 1: really? Where’s the evidence? And are you, as usual, just cherrypicking from Moyles’ listeners?

Secondly, point 2:

• So the only way to address the balance is to sell off R1? You’re telling me there’s no opportunity for a reshuffle of FM frequencies in order to fit one – or two – new national commercial FM stations in?
• FM is a dying medium, at least that’s the plan. In the next 10 years, DAB(/DAB+), which features a national Commercial multiplex, will have a much higher penetration – and I predict Internet Radio will also be commonplace in homes, cars and offices. So what’s the long term benefit of more national commercial FM licenses anyway?

To be fair, I think it’s awful that commercial radio only gets 1 FM frequency. Why? Because it’s lead to the quasi-nationalisation of our location commercial stations. But we’re about 20 years too late to do anything about it, Mr Vaisey.

Also, if R1’s targetting is off the mark as much as you say, surely this can be addressed by the BBC?

And finally, a clarification:

You want a popular, refreshing, varied service that by-and-large provides a public service through the exposure of brand new music from a myriad of genres that commercial broadcasters couldn’t do (as niche music shows don’t bring in the cash, alas), coupled with decent (by-and-large) presenters and – oh yes – no ads, with… Heart?

No offense Ed, but you’re a bloody idiot.

Pat

Feeling: A teeny bit hungover
Song in Head: Weebl & Bob – Take On Me

So let’s make up for it with some exciting update action:

This week I’ve actually been using the exercise bike, which is ace – 4 times in the past four days, no less. I’m reading Ben Goldacre’s essential Bad Science book, and through doing so the time on the bike flies past. I think I’ve found my “thing” to get back into the world of exercise. Winner!

Rich and I (well, mainly Rich to be honest :) ) have been looking at hotels for our trip to Thailand/Cambodia/’Nam next year, which is exciting. Excitingly, we’ve now booked! Admittedly, the hotel booked so far is the Holiday Inn at Gatwick.

But it’s a start, right?

What else? Well, my working hours have been all over the shop this week due to system launches (which by and large have gone well) and as a result of that I’ve been a bit spaced out this week. Couple that with some not-feeling-particularly-well for a fair amount of it, and some general stressing at work, it’s been a tough one. Got some stuff to sort out next week, but should be a better week at any rate.

No Radio Squage this weekend, in fact not until September, as I want to spend my free time a) relaxing, b) enjoying myself or c) doing something productive. Alas, of late Radio Squage isn’t fitting into any of those. So a bit of rethinking how it all works is going to be done, and hopefully it’ll come back stronger and more sustainable as a result.

Instead, this weekend’s gonna be chilling massively, which I can’t wait for. Hell, what am I saying? I’m enjoying it already. Might phone the guys and head down the pub.

Woooooh!

Pat

Feeling: Stressed, but unwinding
Song in Head: Whatever it is that Vernon Kay’s playing on Radio 1 at the mo

I’m fed up. Can I win the lottery please?

Thanks,

Pat

Feeling: Esctati… no, wait: fed up.
Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up (no idea. Literally no idea.)

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a168550/ofcom-targets-change-in-local-radio.html

Pat

Feeling: Still a bit ill, and now annoyed too
Song in Head: Lots, as I’m playlisting Squage Party at the mo…

Now, you’ve probably seen this already as I suspect it’s been around for most of the year (given its title), however I’ve only just stumbled across it whilst idly looking around Psychoville stuff on BBC online.

It’s some more amusing stuff from David Firth:

Musical Predictions 2009

“What do you want to hear repeatedly on the radio this year?”
“Something that sounds like the music I already listen to but with different words”

Pat

Feeling: Bit ill, boooo
Song in Head: Bruce Hornsby & The Range – The Way It Is