A couple of weeks ago my daughter bought me a present. Actually it was a combined birthday and Father’s Day gift. It was a Google Home Mini. She knew that I hadn't got one and so she kept the receipt just in case it was not up my street. But I’ve kept it and it's … Continue reading For the love of it
A self made-up man
I am such a person. Everything I am is a narrative I tell myself. All of the good bits I scrub and polish until they shine while all of the bad bits are overlooked or put in a draw never to see the light of day again. I nurture this persona through the things I … Continue reading A self made-up man
Happy Birthday GDPR
GDPR is a year old. How cute, I remember when we were all excited about it arriving, getting everything ready and all the fuss that was made. Now it’s had its first birthday and it is really starting to grow up. Since its delivery, GDPR has quite rightly been all over the news. Big fines … Continue reading Happy Birthday GDPR
Damn those Romans
You can’t beat buying pot plants for instant gardening. If it’s colour you want them simply pop off to your local garden centre, buy something in bloom and take it home with you. Once it has gone over and lost its appeal the you can simply remove it and replace it. At this time of … Continue reading Damn those Romans
Young people trapped in small towns
The headline in the Big Issue (issue #1362) said that spiraling rents are forcing young people to stay in small towns instead of moving to cities with better jobs. This follows some research by the Resolution Foundation. The implication is clear, small towns are bad for young people. They do not offer them the range … Continue reading Young people trapped in small towns
Understanding poetry
I never know if I understand poetry but that is a silly thing to say. Does it really matter? It is just the same as when I am reading a book. Sometimes I understand the twists and turns of the plot, the interrelations of the characters and the underlying story that the author is trying … Continue reading Understanding poetry
Buy a newspaper
I’ve done something I haven’t done for a long time. I’ve bought a newspaper. It must be fifteen years or so since I last bought one and this was around the time when online news was starting to take off seriously. This isn’t the reason I stopped however. I had been reading a copy of … Continue reading Buy a newspaper
Forcing creativity
This is a topic I have covered before and is the third to come out of the amazing Thinking Digital 2019. It is something that divides opinion. Can you force creativity? In other words are there circumstances that encourage or even determine people to be creative? One of the speakers, Roger Mavity, the Creative Conjurer, … Continue reading Forcing creativity
Thinking Digital is good for the soul
This is my second blog from this year’s Thinking Digital conference. It is the must attend event in the region for me, not wishing to denigrate any others . I think I have been coming for about ten years and have got to know @herbkim, the driving force behind the event, quite well. It is … Continue reading Thinking Digital is good for the soul
Both sides of the crime
Doesn’t time go fast when you are enjoying yourself. I can’t believe that Thinking Digital has come and gone again for another year. It is such a good event that I end up buying my tickets for next year the day they go on sale. I always get a few blogs out of it as … Continue reading Both sides of the crime
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 